Talk About My Favorite Authors: Linore Rose Burkard creator of "Inspirational Romance for the Jane Austen Soul."

Today I have a special Guest Blogger named Linore Rose Burkard. I found her and her debute novel Before the Season Ends through a friends blog and I'm glad I did because I'm going to be reviewing her novel sometime soon. I really loved the cover of her novel along with the title but when I read the blurb of her book it really hooked me so I went to her website. I found this little trailer she had of her novel and after I finished watching it I knew I had to get in touch with Linore so I can review her novel as well as have her here on my blog as a guest. Even though Linore's novel is considered a christian romance novel and I've never really read any christian based novels I still wanted to read it. I'm always telling everyone that I love reading new types of genres except non-fiction which I really don't like reading so I'm going to read this novel even though I've never read a Jane Austen book either. Here is a mini bio that I got from her website:

MINI BIO Linore

Rose Burkard creates Inspirational Romance for the Jane Austen Soul. Her characters take you back in time to experience life and love during the Regency England era (circa 1800-1830). Ms. Burkard's novels include Before the Seasons Ends and The House in Grosvenor Square (coming April, 2009). Her stories blend Christian faith and romance with well-researched details from the Regency period. Experience a romantic age, where timeless lessons still apply to modern life. And, enjoy a romance that reminds you happy endings are possible for everyone.

Now here is a Q&A that she had on her website for bloggers that I really enjoyed reading and thought to include it here in my post for everyone to read and enjoy:

Q&A with Linore Q: Linore, what drew you to writing Regency Romance novels? A: Georgette Heyer and Jane Austen books gave me a love for the period, and there weren't any Christian regencies to be found. I wanted to change that. Q: Where did you find your inspiration for Ariana and Phillip? A: I'm not sure. I think they're both amalgamations of people I've read about and known. Q: What do you think we could learn today from how society operated in the Regency period? A: England in the 1800s is a world away from the 21st century. Times have changed, but people haven't. Men and women of the time were concerned with their appearances, their finances, their futures, finding the right spouse, and so on, just as we are, today. How they went about pursuing these ends is where all the difference lies, however, and this is precisely where the interest and adventure opens up for writers. Bringing to life the means and methods of everyday life and timeless concerns from the regency. It is fun and enlightening as a glimpse into the past, but readers can also identify with the basic human need to be genuinely loved for oneself, no matter the setting or time period, and to be certain of one's convictions concerning life, eternity, and faith. Having said that, it is good to remind modern readers that valuing one's purity can be mainstream, as it was then; or that the struggle to find a true love and a sense that one's life has value, has always been a human issue. Q: What do you hope readers will take away from your books? A: I hope my readers will feel as though they've been transported to the Regency for a good, satisfying visit; While they're visiting, they'll be reminded that God is involved in their life, and that happy endings are possible for everyone. Q: Any Regency romance is going to be compared to Jane Austen's novels ~ how are your books similar / different? A: I don't think most regencies are written with this comparison in mind at all. However, other people say my book is "Austen-like." That is a huge compliment, and one I would love to live up to.

The sequel, The House in Grosvenor Square, is releasing in 2009. Q: Do you have more Regency novels planned? A: My editor and I are tossing around ideas right now. I do have a few more regencies in mind. Q: What are you working on at the moment? A sneak peek, please. A: I'm exploring whether to do a third book in the Regency Series, which at present is comprised of Before the Season Ends, and The House in Grosvenor Square. Book three would begin about five years later (about 1818) and follow the lives of a number of people who were introduced in the first two books. I would also probably introduce one new couple. Q: Do you ever bang your head against the wall from the dreaded writer's block? If so, how do you overcome it? A: I do something else. If I can't write a scene for a book, I can always write an article. I can update my blog. I can't really force a scene when it isn't coming; I find that getting busy and doing something else is the best thing I can do for the book and for me (rather than beat myself up). One thing about having an online presence today is that there is never a shortage of tasks to be done, including a great many writing tasks. Since I write historical (regency) romance, there are always tons of subjects I can research and write about, putting them into articles for my e-zine, or out there on the web. Q: Novelists sometimes dig themselves into a hole over implausible plots, flat characters, or a host of other problems. What's the most difficult part of writing for you (or was when you first started on your novel journey)? A: I think for me the biggest challenge was to believe that I could write a novel in small increments. As a mom of five, four of whom are still home year-round (one is in college), having frequent interruptions is a fact of life. Writing takes a concentration so deep so that when I first started doing scenes, I would find myself getting woozy after standing up. I was shocked at the level of exertion it took to use my brain that hard, I guess! *laughs* It happens less now—I guess I've grown accustomed to it. And I've learned to appreciate those small blocks of time. Ten minutes in a waiting room can yield a part of a scene I couldn't get done at home. Every little bit counts. I don't despise small beginnings. There are times when I'm in a deep level of involvement with a story or a character, and then getting interrupted can break the mood; but I'm getting better all the time at picking up where I left off, no matter how deeply I've got to dive to get back into the character or situation. For people like me with busy households, this is a must-have ability. I believe it can be the difference between making that deadline or not. Q: How did (or do) you climb out (overcome it)? A: If I do get stuck at some point in the plot, I let it simmer in my mind. I also exercise—for some reason, when I am physically active, my brain gets going in a way that doesn't always happen when I'm sitting with my laptop before me. Swimming and doing the treadmill (walking) almost always result in wonderful new ideas I just can 't wait to get on paper. Sometimes, I've even had to stop walking and run to the pc just to get the idea down so I don't forget. By the way, I always pray for the right idea, too. There is no better writer than God. The second "nifty" way to solve a plot (or other) problem in a book is to let it sit awhile without reading it. When you come back to it after a long enough interval (as long as you can give it) solutions just present themselves. I find the same thing happens to me with crossword puzzles—if I'm stuck, I put it down and when I come back to it—even an hour later—the word is there. So the key is, give yourself permission to take a break. Q: Some authors report writing 5-10 thousand words a day. Do scenes flow freely from your veins, or do you have to tweeze each word out? A: In general, I write more than I need and later have to cut back. I don't use a word count, but I may set a goal of one chapter a day or two chapters for a busy week. Other times, I don't think in terms of chapters at all, just events. I may break an event down into four scenes, say, and so my goal for that day will be to get the whole event on paper. In other words, finish the four scenes. Life changes so rapidly with the children, that for me, a hard and fast writing goal just wouldn't work. And, I focus on results, not time spent. Instead of, "Now I'll write for three hours," I say, "Now I'll have this or that happen to a character, or, 'I'll show a different side to this person." When I have accomplished that goal, no matter how long it took, I feel satisfied, and only then. Now here is more about the actual novel Before the Season Ends which is part of a trilogy that Linore is writing and it's called the Regency Series. I look forward to reading and reviewing this novel and I'm also looking forward to the sequel The House in Grosvenor Square that is coming in April 2009. Here is the description of the novel from Linore's website:

BEFORE THE SEASON ENDS $ 12.99 (Book 1)

England 1813: Linore Rose Burkard's debut novel whisks readers into the Regency with the intriguing story of Miss Ariana Forsythe, a young woman caught between love for a man who doesn't

share her faith and her resolution to marry only a fellow believer in Christ. Trouble at home sends Ariana to her aunt's townhouse in the fashionable Mayfair district of London. There, she soon finds herself neck-deep in high society and at odds with Mr. Phillip Mornay, London's current darling rogue. Then, a scandal changes Ariana forever. Her heart, her faith, and her future are all at stake in an unexpected adventure that gains even the Prince Regent's attention. Will Ariana's faith survive this test? What about her heart? For it's Ariana's heart that most threatens to betray the truths she has always believed in. When she finds herself backed against a wall, betrothed to the wrong man, how can it ever turn out right? Jane Austen fans and readers of historical romance will love Before the Season Ends.

Excerpt PDF from "Before the Season Ends" You can either Buy from the author (autographed copy), Buy from ChristianBook.com, from Amazon.com or from Barnes & Noble.com.

Also here is the video trailer that I enjoyed watching so much for you all to enjoy watching as well:

Get Free Resources from Linore! Linore offers all kinds of interesting articles and resources for English Regency fans, such as a behind-the-scenes look at "The Regency Debutante", "Lizzie Bennet's wardrobe," and "The Rise of the Silhoutte." Note: If I get 10 readers to comment to this post Linore will be giving away one of her books for free to one lucky winner.

3 comments:

Linore Rose BurkardWednesday, February 4, 2009 at 4:35:00 PM EST
Hi, Phoebe!
What a lovely job you've done! I'm so glad you found the blogger's book review kit from my website helpful! Your book went out today, by the way, so I look forward to hearing your thoughts on it.
Also--if you get ten different commenters to leave a comment about this post, you can choose a winner and I'll send that person a book, too.
Just let me know!
Thanks and all the best,

Linore
CherylWednesday, February 4, 2009 at 9:44:00 PM EST
Ok, You have me intrigued about this author and her book. I have never heard of Linore but I will be checking her out.

What a pretty cover

Thanks
AnonymousFriday, February 6, 2009 at 11:06:00 AM EST
You've got quite a blog. Congrats. I wish you well at WRDF, well kinda anyway. I'm in the running, I hope. http://authorsandtheirbooks.blogspot.com
Ernie

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