Meet My Main Character Blog Tour

MaryLee MacDonald, author of the forthcoming Montpelier Tomorrow, asked me to participate in this blog tour. In her new novel, she writes about the challenges Colleen faces when her daughter’s husband takes ill. Wanting to help and support her daughter, Colleen must make the difficult decision to put her own life on hold (again) and become a caregiver for her daughter’s family. To read her post, click here.

And now, here’s more about my main character…

Question: What is the name of your character? Is he/she fictional or a historic person?

Rosetta Wakefield is the main character in my historical novel, I Shall Be Near To You. She is a fictional character, but she’s inspired by the letters Civil War soldier Sarah Rosetta Wakeman wrote home to her family, and accounts of the 250 documented women who are known to have disguised as men and fought in the Civil War.

Question: When and where is the story set?

The story is set in 1862– from late January to just after the battle of Antietam. It begins in Rosetta’s home town of Flat Creek, New York, and then as Rosetta’s regiment receives orders, the setting moves to Washington D.C., Virginia, and Maryland.

Question: What should we know about him/her?

What you should know about Rosetta is that she is strong-willed, determined, and brave, but also tender and loving.

Question: What is the main conflict? What messes up his/her life?

Rosetta and her new husband Jeremiah dream of having their own farm, where, as Rosetta puts it, they can do as they please. But they don’t have the money to start off on their own. When Jeremiah gets the idea to enlist in the Union Army to take advantage of the signing bonus and good monthly wages, he leaves Rosetta behind on his parents’ farm, where he thinks she’ll be safe until he returns. But Rosetta increasingly feels alienated, attacked, and alone. She decides her place is at Jeremiah’s side, and so she dons Jeremiah’s old clothes and sets out in search of him.

Question: What is the personal goal of the character?

When the book begins, Rosetta’s goal is to get her dream farm and get Jeremiah to marry her.

Question: Is there a working title for this novel, and can we read more about it?

There were two working titles for I Shall Be Near To You. The very first title was Daughter of the Regiment. The title it had when I landed my agent was There Will I Be Buried. You can read reviews and blurbs for the novel and also find events, radio interviews, articles, Q&A’s and all kinds of fun stuff on my website.

Question: When can we expect the book to be published?

The book was published in January 2014, and is available in hardback, ebook, and audio formats. The paperback is currently slated for release in September 2014.

And now, I’ve tagged these fabulous authors who have agreed to join the blog tour. Their Meet My Main Character blog posts will be online June 2nd.

M. Garzon knows horses and in her Blaze of Glory series she writes movingly about a young woman, Tea, whose dream is to ride professionally. In a story that touches on grief, domestic violence, and loyalty, Tea struggles to pursue her passion while balancing her family responsibilities and her developing attraction to a young man she has been forbidden to date.

M. Allen Cunningham‘s debut historical novel, The Green Age of Asher Witherow, is a lyrical portrait of a young man coming of age in a Northern California mining town where tragedy strikes. Cunningham’s second novel Lost Son is an exploration of poet Rilke’s life and work. His short stories have appeared in The Alaskan Quarterly Review, Glimmer Train, The Kenyon Review, Poets & Writers, Tin House, and many other journals. Two of his stories (“Gentle Knives” and “Highway”) have been nominated for the Pushcart Prize. You can also read more about his work on his blog.

Ariel MacArran writes historical and futuristic romances, with a flair for strong female characters, witty dialog, and blisteringly-fast pacing. She is currently at work on the fourth book in her Tellaran Realm series.

Liz Silver‘s debut novel, The Execution of Noa P. Singleton centers on a young woman who is six months away from being put to death for committing first degree murder. When the mother of Noa’s victim has a change of heart and begins working to have Noa’s sentence commuted, Noa is forced to confront the motives behind her crime. In addition to her novel, Liz’s stories and non-fiction have appeared in The Los Angeles Review, The Huffington Post, The Millions, and others.

And finally, I want to give a last shout out to MaryLee MacDonald for kindly inviting me to participate in this blog tour! Check out her post about Colleen from her forthcoming novel Montpelier Tomorrow.