Peyton’s Promise: A Surprise Reunion
Here’s an excerpt from Peyton’s Promise. I hope you’ll pick up a copy and enjoy…the rest of the story.
“As I live and breathe, could it be the fair young lassie who stole my heart while I was still in breeches? Where be your buttercream braids and toothless grin?”
Peyton almost dropped her heavy basket of treasured upholstery tools—the tailor’s chalk, rubber mallet, scissors, stapler, and so much more she’d worked so hard to obtain. She spun around searching for the owner of the familiar voice. High atop a ladder that had to be ten feet tall, a man chuckled, backlit by the morning sun shining through the window. She couldn’t identify his face or make out his features, but she knew that voice, that endearing tease in his deep Irish lilt.
“Paddy? What in heaven’s name are you doing here?” Setting the basket at her feet, she moved closer toward her long-lost chum.
She’d not seen him in nearly three years, ever since he’d taken a carpenter’s apprenticeship in Ogdensburg, New York, fifty miles north. A year later, she’d traveled twenty miles south to Watertown for her upholstery apprenticeship with Mr. and Mrs. O’Cleary. She’d heard tales of Paddy’s success as a finish carpenter, working for the famous architect, J.B. Reid. Yet she’d not been informed of his return nor that he’d be working on Calumet Island in the castle with her.
“What are you doing here, Miss Peyton Quinn?” Paddy descended the ladder and stood mere feet from her.
She wobbled back on her heels and gasped. He was much taller and handsomer than she remembered, and his shoulders had broadened. His short, well-trimmed beard appeared soft to the touch, not wiry like her father’s. When did that scrappy lad become a man?
“Peyton Pie? Aye, did you lose your tongue, my fair lass?”
He stepped closer and scooped her free hand into his, planting a kiss on it and holding it until she replied.
“I … I am bewildered at your presence, is all. No one told me you’d be here.”
Peyton’s heart raced and she swallowed hard, blinking back her surprise—and her ire at the memory of their last curt words, words that cut to the very depth of her heart. She withdrew her hand.
“Are you vexed, oh dearest of my childhood friends? I hope not, for I believe we will be working toward the same goal of preparing this fine castle for the grand affair in just two months.” He winked, sending her nerves soaring like he always did. “And it is Patrick Taylor, if you please. Paddy was a skinny, silly Irish lad who finally grew into this strapping man you now see.”
When he thumped his chest, chin high and smile wide, she giggled in spite of her ire, relaxing under his easy way she so well remembered. “Patrick, it is. Or is it Mr. Taylor, since you’re the Calumet Castle carpenter?”
“Patrick, please. We’ve too much history to plod through formalities.” He shrugged, waving toward three empty chairs perched against the wall. “Shall we? Just for a moment?”
Meet author Sandra Orchard
Sandra Orchard writes fast-paced, laugh-out-loud whodunits and romantic suspense. Awards for her novels include: a Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, a Daphne DuMaurier Award of Excellence, a Holt Medallion Award of Merit, a National Readers’ Choice Award, and several Canadian Christian writing awards. When not writing, Sandra hones her imagination by playing make believe with her young grandchildren. She also enjoys gardening, sewing, knitting, crocheting and woodworking.
Tell us about your newest book.
After spending the last twenty Christmas seasons in California, native Georgian Jillian Green celebrates returning to her family’s antebellum mansion by joyfully decking the halls of Belle Haven for the upcoming Moss Hollow Merry Mansions Tour. However, Jillian’s holiday cheer takes a nosedive when she discovers Herbert Gordon, a new friend of her great-aunt Cornelia’s, dead at the base of a tree while he’s helping string lights outside Belle Haven.
Although at first Herbert’s death appears to be a tragic accident, Cornelia insistently blames foul play, and handsome local coroner Hunter Greyson soon confirms her suspicions. Needled into action by Cornelia, Jillian takes a break from making merry to pursue a murderer. Unfortunately, Jillian quickly realizes that this case is more tangled than a strand of twinkle lights, and lead after lead winds up in a dead end.
Stressed out by exploring the limbs of Herbert’s family tree, helping a Chocolate Shoppe Bakery customer track down his high school sweetheart, and worrying about her grandmother, Bertie’s, odd behavior, Jillian feels her holiday spirit slipping away. However, she knows the best way to restore her festive mood is to uncover the killer before someone else in Moss Hollow gets hurt—if she doesn’t, Herbert’s night might not be the only one silenced this Christmas.
What inspired you to write Boughs of Folly?
Boughs of Folly is part of a special three-book set—Jingle Book Mysteries—releasing just in time to celebrate Christmas in July. They are set in the world of the Chocolate Bakeshop Mysteries by Annie’s Fiction and I was invited to write the first book. Once I acquainted myself with the characters of Moss Hollow, Georgia, and with Georgia’s Christmas traditions, I decided to create a cozy mystery that would be a twist on the ghost of Christmas past.
What genre do you focus on?
I write mysteries and romantic suspense because I love creating fast-paced plots that keep readers guessing to the end.
Who is your main character, and how did you choose that name?
My main character’s name was already established by the previous series, but I chose names for all the new characters I brought to Moss Hollow, like my poor victim Herbert Gordon. His first name just came to me, and when I looked up its meaning—noble—I decided it suited my character both in meaning and by sounding like an older person’s name. For his last name, I searched common surnames in Georgia and then chose the one that fit best. Gordon was #120 on the list.
What is the hardest part of being an author?
Writing the story. I love brainstorming the plot and creating twists and turns and I love editing it once it’s finished, adding extra layers to intensify the emotions and suspense. But the actual writing is hard slogging. It has become somewhat easier with writing for Annie’s since they require a chapter-by-chapter outline be approved before I start, since other authors are simultaneously writing books with the same characters later in the series timeline. But inevitably, while writing I still hit a point where I’m sure the plot isn’t working, something’s missing or …something!
What’s the best part of your author’s life?
I love the ministry opportunities it affords me—meeting people from all walks of life, the amazing stories I get to hear from my readers, the opportunities to pray for them, and I so very much appreciate the support of my readers and those in the writing community, especially the amazing prayer cover they gave our family during the difficult months after Jed’s accident.
What’s one unusual fact about you?
Although I graduated from university with an Honors Arts and Science degree, people are usually surprised to hear that I majored in mathematics—my favorite subject.
How have you changed or grown as a writer?
Turning to God for inspiration and guidance as I crafted stories that would have an impact on readers came naturally. What I didn’t expect was that messing up my characters’ lives and making them face themselves, their dreams, and the lies they believe would teach me so much about myself and how I need to change and grow.
What is your favorite pastime?
My newest hobby/passion grew out of the research into herbs and herbal remedies I did for my Port Aster Secrets Mysteries a few years ago. It inspired me to start growing herbs and wild-foraging for food, teas and medicines. The last couple of summers, I especially focused on infusing oils to create pain-relieving salves and drying herbs useful for sore throats, hormone balancing, respiratory issues and to boost immunity and nutrition, as well as making natural soaps and hand lotions. Given the pandemic, it proved to be a timely hobby.
Do you have other books? We’d love to know.
Boughs of Folly is my 25th published novel and this interview is part of a whirlwind blog tour to celebrate, during which I’m also giving away 25 books to randomly selected newsletter subscribers, Facebook followers and via a rafflecopter giveaway. I have a dozen titles from various multi-author series available through Annie’s Fiction. I have seven Love Inspired Suspense titles and two trade-book length mystery series—Port Aster Secrets set in Niagara, Canada, about an herbal researcher, and the Serena Jones Mysteries about an FBI agent, who specializes in art crime investigations. This fun series has been described as Miss Congeniality meets White Collar.
What are you working on now?
I’m currently working a trio of romantic suspense for the McCades of Montana series, a multi-author series from Annie’s Fiction. The first novel will also be a Christmas story, set at a guest ranch inn and Christmas tree farm. I love writing Christmas stories!
Website: www.SandraOrchard.com
Link to book: https://sandraorchard.com/books/1-jingle-bell-mysteries/
Social media links: www.Facebook.com/SandraOrchard https://www.pinterest.ca/AuthorSOrchard/https://www.bookbub.com/authors/sandra-orchard
Rafflecopter 10 book giveaway: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/ad4cf14d11/
NEW RELEASE! Peyton’s Promise is here
Peyton’s Promise, my eighth Thousand Islands story, released yesterday! I hope you’ll pick up a copy and enjoy the story. Here’s the gist of it:
Summer 1902
Peyton Quinn is tasked with preparing the grand Calumet Castle ballroom for a spectacular two-hundred-guest summer gala. As she works in a male-dominated position of upholsterer and fights for women’s equality, she’s persecuted for her unorthodox ways. But when her pyrotechnics-engineer father is seriously hurt, she takes over the plans for the fireworks display despite being socially ostracized.
Patrick Taylor, Calumet’s carpenter and Peyton’s childhood chum, hopes to win her heart, but her unconventional undertakings cause a rift. Peyton has to ignore the prejudices and persevere or she could lose her job, forfeit Patrick’s love and respect, and forever become the talk of local gossips.
~ ~ ~
And here’s…the rest of the story:
In the 1980s I had the privilege of staying on Calumet Island when it was a bed and breakfast. My time there was so inspiring that I knew I had to write a story about it one day. Then, last summer, the caretaker graciously brought me over to the island for an afternoon of touring it, hearing stories, and recapturing the essence of the island.
Calumet Castle actually predated Singer Castle on Dark Island, setting for my recent novel, Devyn’s Dilemma, and Boldt Castle on Heart Island, a popular tourist attraction today. Construction on Calumet Castle began in 1893 and finished a year later. Though not as elaborate as the other two, Calumet Castle had thirty rooms, plus the ballroom, as well as the many outbuildings you read about.
The Emerys are real. Charles Goodwin Emery was a New York City resident, entrepreneur, and tobacco tycoon. He made The New Frontenac Hotel on Round Island near Calumet Island a world class hotel that provided a wide variety of amenities and high standards of service at the luxury resort. He also donated to many causes and was a prominent benefactor around the islands.
In 1907, five years after this story, Mrs. Emery died on her husband’s birthday, July 20. She’d been ill and it was her wish to spend her last days on the island. After that, Mr. Emery closed the castle.
Thanks to high taxes, the heirs abandoned the castle, and in 1956, the castle burned to the ground. Fortunately, the outbuildings, including the caretaker’s house and the tower, remained unharmed. Since then, the island has been a marina, a bed and breakfast, and a restaurant. It is currently a privately owned summer retreat.
Patrick and Peyton—and their parents—as well as the other servant characters are fictional. I had lots of fun creating these people, many from bits and pieces of friends and family I love so dearly. Watch out, friends, you may be in my next book.
Calumet Island is still a popular landmark in the Thousand Islands. I hope you enjoyed hearing their stories and learning about this Gilded Age family, castle, and island.
A Thousand Islands Vacation Planner
After reading my Thousand Islands Gilded Age books, dozens of you have said that the Thousand Islands is now on your Bucket List. So, to help you plan for your great adventure, I thought I’d give you some ideas of what to do while you’re there.
The Thousand Islands sit in the St. Lawrence River on the border between northern New York State (USA) and southeastern Ontario (Canada). There are 1,864 islands, but to be an island, it has to have one living tree and stay above water 365 days a year. That can be a challenge when the water can rise several feet each spring.
As I write in my books, there’s a lot of rich history in the islands. Gilded Age castles, mansions, and grand summer homes abound. Pirates and bootleggers once ruled the river where vacationers can now enjoy boat tours around the islands, see the area’s beauty, and experience nature at its finest. If you take a boat tour, you’ll pass by Pullman Island, setting for my novel, Katelyn’s Choice, and the place where it all began when President Ulysses S. Grant visited.
Accommodations are many, from hotels to motels to campsites to private homes. You can find lodging on Air B&B and other sites. You can even rent entire mansions like Casa Blanca that was the setting for my book, Reagan’s Reward. You also stay at Singer Castle, the setting for Devyn’s Dilemma!
If the borders are open (ahhh…COVID), be sure to bring your passport and see the Canadian side of the islands. You can drive over the beautiful Thousand Islands bridge or take a ferry from Cape Vincent to Wolfe Island, Canada, the largest of the islands and the setting for two of my novels, The Fabric of Hope and Christmas Charity. In case the borders aren’t open, I’m focusing on just the American side.
Susan’s top picks:
- Take a boat tour. There are several companies and lots of choices to see Millionaire Row, Singer Castle, Boldt Castle, Rock Island Lighthouse, and dozens of islands and Gilded Age mansions. You can take a sunset cruise, or a lunch or dinner cruise, too. All are fun, educational, and memorable.
- Visit Singer Castle and Boldt Castle. Wow! The history and magic are worth every moment you spend there.
- Visit the Cornwall Brothers Museum in Alexandria Bay, and the Thousand Islands Museum and Antique Boat Museum in Clayton.
- Visit the War of 1812 historic Sackets Harbor, and the Rock Island Lighthouse and Tibbets Point Lighthouse.
- Leave your diet behind. Dine by the river’s edge and be sure to stop for ice cream at one (or several) of dozens of roadside ice cream huts. Yum!
Finally, be sure to enjoy the quaint downtown areas of Alexandria Bay, Clayton, and Cape Vincent. Whether you like boating, fishing, swimming, diving, mini-golf, batting cages, go-karts, arcades, a hedgerow maze, zoos, aquariums, golf, tennis, or guided fishing charters, there’s so much to do. And do you enjoy special events? Try these: Bill Johnston’s Pirate Days. Powerboat Poker Run. Blues in the Bay Festival. Fourth of July Fireworks over Boldt Castle. Fish Day in the Bay. Roaring ’20s Weekend. The Cape Vincent French Festival held near Bastille Day on the second Saturday in July.
Ready to make plans? I am. Hope to see you there.
Meet author Emily Wright
Emily Wright is a writer of inspirational historical fiction. She is the author of the three-part Civil War narrative Trials of the Heart series and has been published in The Copperfield Review and The Tennessee Magazine. Emily lives in Tennessee with her husband, daughter, and Labrador Retriever.
Tell us about your newest book.
Trial of Courage is the final installment of a Civil War trilogy called Trials of the Heart. The series follows two main characters: Elizabeth Campion and Tom Murphy. Trial of Courage follows the conclusion of the Civil War and the beginning of the Reconstruction period in Memphis, TN.
What inspired you to write Trial of Courage?
The series originated about eighteen years ago, when I was a middle school student. The original set of short stories was inspired by a visit to Shiloh National Military Park. The series was always in the back of my mind and eventually served as part of my senior thesis in college. After graduation, I decided to completely rewrite the entire series with eventual publication as my ending goal.
How would you describe this book to someone in a 30-second blurb?
Overcome with grief, Elizabeth Campion and Tom Murphy must learn to move forward during the aftermath of the Civil War. As Memphis falls under the control of a lawless mob, Tom is soon forced to join with an unlikely ally to save innocent lives. With their entire world crashing down, will Tom and Elizabeth have the courage to pursue a future together?
What genre do you focus on?
I focus on historical fiction because history has always been a fascination of mine. I feel that there is so much we can learn from the past. To me, historical figures are not just a bunch of random black-and-white photographs; they’re real people who are more like us than we think.
Why do you write?
My passion for writing began when I was in kindergarten. I thought that creating stories was the coolest thing ever, and I’ve been writing ever since. I feel that every person has a story and has something to share with the world: a lesson, something that people can learn from. I believe that the need to create was given to us by God. If I can use my writing to point people to Him, then I am successful.
Who is your main character, and how did you choose that name?
The main characters are Elizabeth Campion and Thomas “Tom” Murphy. When I first wrote the series, I was also interested in Queen Elizabeth I and thought that the name was very pretty. I chose the name Thomas because I thought the name sounded nice; ironically, I am now married to a Thomas and have a daughter named Elizabeth!
What is your work schedule like when you’re writing a book?
Since I am also a high school English teacher, my writing schedule is mostly limited to weekends and breaks. I usually write in the mornings or at night in the office room in our house for a few hours at a time.
What is the hardest part of being an author?
Learning how to market has been the toughest part for me as an author. Since I knew next to nothing about marketing when I first started, I had to meet with consultants in order to figure out how to get my name out there. I’m still learning!
What’s the best part of your author’s life?
Who would’ve thought that three stories I wrote in middle school would someday be my first published series! To me, that is the coolest thing ever. The fact that people are reading my novels and enjoying them makes me happy for that little seventh grader in English class.
How have you changed or grown as a writer?
I have grown into a painstaking reviser/editor. I think being an English teacher makes me even more critical of my own work in that I go through every paragraph with a fine-toothed comb. With historical fiction, I also have to make sure that everything makes sense and feels as real and true to fact as possible.
Do you have other books? We’d love to know.
Yes! The first novel in the Trials of the Heart series is called Trial of Strength, and the second novel is Trial by Fire.
What are you working on now?
I am actually taking a small step away from historical fiction at the moment and trying something completely new and different for me. I am working on a novel called If We Stay Silent, and it is about a futuristic world in which Christians and other religions are being severely persecuted and sent to concentration camps. My goal is to mirror Nazi Germany in the events that take place (banning books, burning churches, etc.). I’m not very far into it yet, so we shall see what happens!
Website: www.emilywrightofficial.com
Link to book: Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Trial-Courage-Emily-Wright/dp/B09PMKKRG7/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1Q7DOUBLDUCV7&keywords=emily+wright&qid=1645995269&sprefix=emily+wright%2Caps%2C211&sr=8-1
Social media links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wrightemily20/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilywrightauthor/
Meet author Tara Taffera
Tara Taffera is an avid reader who writes contemporary Christian romance enveloped in God’s grace and love. Love Unfailing, book two in her series, won the silver medal in the 2022 Illumination Book Awards in the romance category. She lives in Virginia with her husband of almost 25 years, who provides valuable advice on her books—all those baseball scenes! He is one of her biggest cheerleaders, along with her three daughters.
Tell us about your newest book.
Elizabeth Carlson turns heads wherever she goes but has never moved on from Tyler Williams, with whom she shared a whirlwind relationship her senior year of high school. After only a month together, Elizabeth ran away from her past and her broken family. Ten years later, Tyler comes crashing back into her life, eager for a second chance. But she can’t forgive him for the order he issued all those years ago. Slowly, a high school romance turns into so much more, but her secrets, and his anger, threaten to ruin their happily ever after. Will God’s grace and love lead them back to each other?
What inspired you to write Love Reunited?
This is book three in a series, and Elizabeth was a strong character beginning with book one. I was excited to eventually tell her story. I knew she was a strong woman who would have a fascinating tale, though at the time, I didn’t know all the details. Coming up with all that was the fun part.
How would you describe this book to someone in a 30-second blurb?
A woman harbors a secret so big it threatens her chance at happily-ever-after.
What genre do you focus on?
I love to read contemporary romance so, that’s what I wanted to write. I had the idea for my first book more than 20 years ago, and at the time, it wasn’t necessarily a Christian romance. It was actually more women’s fiction. When I started writing again, the romantic element became stronger. And when I set a goal for myself and committed myself to my writing, I immediately knew it would be a Christian romance.
Why do you write?
I want to touch people with my stories. For the past several years, I kept thinking, “there is more to life. I have a larger purpose.” So when I started writing again, I knew I was called to bring a biblical element to my books.
What is your work schedule like when you’re writing a book?
I have a full-time job, so adding in my writing is challenging. I write early in the morning before work and spend much of my weekends writing as well.
What is the hardest part of being an author?
Fitting in writing and the marketing is a full-time job in itself, so it’s hard to fit it all into my daily life. And I haven’t figured out how to write and market simultaneously. It seems I’m focused primarily on one or the other.
What’s the best part of your author’s life?
Writing a book and then hearing how much people love it is the best!
What’s one thing your readers should know about you?
I’m a super-fast reader! It’s a skill that comes in handy, so I can devour book after book. I have always been that way. My mom said she was constantly taking me back to the library to get more books. Now that I write, I read more than ever, although I am busier. It helps me grow as a writer.
How have you changed or grown as a writer?
This is my third book, and with each one, I improve my craft. I know I will make that same statement when I get to book ten. I always want to improve and learn from others.
What is your favorite pastime?
In the past year and a half, it’s been working and writing. But I enjoy exercising, and I like to bike with my husband. I have to figure out how to work that back into my schedule. It’s a challenge, for sure.
Do you have other books? We’d love to know.
Yes, Love Ordained and Love Unfailing.
What are you working on now? My next book will be a Christmas romance. I only have the first chapter, but once I get through this launch, that will be my focus, and I’m excited. I reread the chapter the other night, and it made me eager to get back to it.
Website: www.tarataffera.com
Link to book: Love Reunited (A Divine Love Book 3) – Kindle edition by Taffera, Tara. Religion & Spirituality Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.
Social media links:
https://www.facebook.com/authortarataffera
https://twitter.com/TaraTaffera
https://www.instagram.com/tarataffera/
https://www.goodreads.com/Tara_Taffera
https://www.bookbub.com/profile/tara-taffera
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tara-taffera-b092545/
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