Laura Frantz--Critique, Interview and Book Give Away

"LOVES AWAKENING" AND INTRODUCTION TO "LOVES FORTUNE"

Critique:

Laura Frantz did it again….my fingers couldn’t resist flipping pages well into the night as Ellie and Jack’s story unfolded. My second reading this year of Love’s Awakening did not lose it's luster. Laura intricately weaves the strengths, weaknesses, and situations of each character—driving me to distraction with concern and curiosity. Her deeply layered characters and the society in which they live nearly come alive on the page! She wields her pen so skillfully with such natural flair that I easily envision that I’m stepping onto the nineteenth century streets of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The fragrance of blooms and tension from danger—lurking just around the corner, as well as the joys and frustrations born naturally from human relationships kept me captivated. This Ballantyne Legacy novel absolutely lacks nothing in comparison with the first of the series, Love’s Reckoning.  Now that book three, Love’s Fortune, is published my advice to you is to run out and purchase them all-- if you have not bought the other two previously. I could read this novel till the pages fallout from overuse and not find myself bored.

Questions for Laura:

1.      Laura, how did you come up with Ellie Ballantyne and Jack Turlock’s personalities?  (Were their personalities inspired by anyone that you know?  Or maybe a combination of a few people?) 
LAURA - For Ellie, I tried to create a blend of her father and mother, Silas and Eden, yet made her the baby of the conflict which brought some conflict. Jack is a real man’s man, capable of great tenderness but saddled with an ungodly legacy. I’m not sure where Jack came from as he’s so very different than my usual godly heroes, but he’s wonderfully redeemable!

2.      Ellie and Jack’s story is so different from Eden and Silas’s story and yet so connected. Was it difficult deciding how this second story played out? 
LAURA- The tricky part was having the story take off in a direction I never intended, mainly the Underground Railroad theme. Yet it seemed to fit with Silas and Eden’s nature and those that followed them since Pennsylvania was such a pivotal state in terms of slave activity/abolitionists. Having the Turlocks support slavery and the Ballantynes dead set against it added to the story’s tension, or so I hope!

3.      I imagine that the span of research you accomplished for this series was massive. Was there a time-period you favored? 
LAURA - Yes, the research was quite daunting though I left 98% of what I learned out of the novel. Every era in this series fascinated me and each was vastly different, but I must say my love for the 18th-century and Silas and Eden’s day won out.

4.      Did this span of years effect how easily (or not) it was for you to write this story entitled Loves Awakening?
LAURA - Jumping 30 years or so between stories is hard to do both for the author and the reader as so very much is left out. But I tried to focus on the historical events that made the 1780’s and then the 1820’s unique and interesting.

5.      When do you gather photos of people that remind you of your characters as you imagine them? Your Pinterest collection is amazing! 
LAURA -Pinterest (http://www.pinterest.com/laurafrantz/)is a virtual feast for me and by far my favorite form of social media if it can even be called that. I am constantly fed a stream of beautiful images that pertain to the story or give me ideas for another. Truly inspirational!

6. I saw your blog (http://laurafrantz.net/) and I clicked on the trailer for your third book, Loves Fortune. You seem very involved with the design for your cover. Have you been that active in the design of the other two books in this series? 

LAURA - The credit for my involvement goes to photographer/designer Brandon Hill http://brandonhillphotos.com/ who is a very gracious, hands-on artist. He invited me into the studio for the cover shoot of Love’s Fortune and then we decided to maximize the day by creating a video, thanks to my publisher, Revell. It was a real thrill meeting the model that was my Wren (heroine) and also putting my paws on that lovely, historic gown. Truly a once in a lifetime experience! I’m so thankful.

7.      Laura was there anything more that you wanted to share with us about Ellie and Jack or other characters in this novel?
LAURA - I wanted to create two families, the Turlocks and the Ballantynes, that were quite opposite and left very different legacies, much like families today. The Camerons also come in in book 3, taking the story in a new direction.

8.      Would you suggest any historical sites to see in Philadelphia or Pittsburgh for those history buffs who can’t get enough? 
LAURA - Oh, how I love those 2 cities which are vastly different in terms of history. If you’re a colonial lover, Philadelphia is top notch with the Betsy Ross house and Elfreth’s Alley, Independence Hall and Christ Church. Pittsburgh has more of a frontier feel with Fort Pitt and the three rivers. Taking the railway between the two is an amazing way to see this richly historic, beautiful state!

9.      Everyone reading this post can visit susanmarlenekinney.blogspot.com for the interview we did on Loves Reckoning last year in August 2013. (I loved Laura’s answers and examples she shared!) I invite any interested parties to read her last interview to learn more about the Ballantyne Legacy!

10.  Do you have a favorite novel from this series? Why if you do? 
LAURA - Each of these books is like a child to me so they’re each dear to me for different reasons. But I know readers have favorites of the 3 which always mystifies yet delights me!

11.  Do you wish to tell us about your next novel or series you are working on? 
LAURA - I return to the 18th-century for a story set just after the Revolutionary War in Virginia. Cover art and titling are being decided now, my favorite part of the process.

12.  How do you want your readers and interested parties to contact you?

FB        https://www.facebook.com/LauraFrantzAuthor

Twitter      https://twitter.com/LFrantzauthor

Blog       http://laurafrantz.net/

Email     lauran@tfon.com

This is Laura's latest Ballantyne Legacy available in the stores this month! I've started my read and I invite you to begin yours!

 

To be a part of the book give away  please leave a comment with your email so that Laura can send you a signed copy of  her book! I wish you all could win and so does Laura...she is big hearted that way but only one of you can...maybe it will be you!!!!!!