Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Black Lion Tours: "Sound of the Heart" by Genevieve Graham Guest Post/Giveaway (Ends 12/21) WW


From Genevieve Graham, author of Under the Same Sky, comes a sweeping romantic historical novel of one man’s strange gift and dangerous battles…
Dougal MacDonnell, a fierce warrior from the Highlands of Scotland, is able to hear the thoughts of other men and dream how the future will unfold. Devastated by the loss of his family during the Battle of Culloden in 1746, he fosters a deep hatred for the English. But when Glenna, the love of his life and a Scottish outlaw, is captured and shipped overseas, Dougal is forced to join an English army made of vanquished Scots. Now fighting on the side of his sworn enemies, he embarks on a journey that will take him across the seas to the colonies. There he will risk everything for the chance to find his true love.

Book Information

Release Date: May 1, 2012
Genre: Historical Romance
Formats: Trade Paperback/All eBook types
Pages: 336
Publisher: Berkley Sensation / Penguin US

Author & Book Links






Here is my five-star review!

Facts Behind Historical Fiction.

I love reading great historical fiction, losing myself to adventure and romance. I started writing about 18th century Scotland after reading the most vivid, exciting stories I could imagine. When I ran out of authors, I decided to create my own adventure. Scotland? Why not? The Highlands: a wilderness bursting with adventures as yet untold. Plus, my ancestry is all Scottish, so what could be more perfect for my virgin foray into writing? My never having seen the country seemed a minor detail.

I launched into the story with more exuberance than brains, typing page upon page of ideas that … sort of worked, but lacked something. Oh. Right. Some kind of fact. I’d slept through most of my history and geography classes in high school and have a memory somewhat like a sieve, so the thought of actually researching my story was daunting. Then I looked through some of my dad’s old books, flipping through renderings of dapper, kilted men, dramatic waterfalls, and mountain ranges, gawping at remains of centuries old castles. I was hooked. I hit the library hard, bending double under the weight of too many musty-smelling books, taking so many notes I could have eventually compiled my own musty-smelling book.

Then I started nodding off. I admit it. There are only so many dry history texts I can handle.

So I joined the 21st century and googled everything I could think of. What a fantastic thing, this internet! Except … there are so many discrepancies online. One site says one thing, another says something entirely different. It was driving me nuts. So I decided to ask for advice. Who, I asked myself, cares about this stuff besides me?

Re-enactors, that’s who. Those guys who dress up in old uniforms, grow scraggly beards, and carry muskets. I visited their sites, hit the “Contact Me” button, and usually got one or two replies. I hounded those experts (thank you, http://historichighlanders.com/!). Oh, the things I learned! My Highlanders, who originally galloped wildly through the mountains, lost the horses. Only the very wealthy, I learned, rode, and they were on garrons, not horses. Those six foot broadswords heroes hefted around like toothpicks? Out of style by the time my characters were swinging them. The length of the hilt? The ingredients of grapeshot? The lack of windows/chimneys/ventilation in shacks that burned peat full time? The fact that clans did not originally have their own tartans? All this was incredible to me. I practically drooled as I incorporated it all into my novel. Rewrite after rewrite followed, and my book eventually became a relatively secure piece of historical fiction.

But when I learned that most Scottish Highlanders of the mid-18th century grew no taller than five feet, and their lack of both hygiene and attractive hairstyles gave them a close resemblance to the sasquatch, well, that’s when I recalled that I was writing fiction.

My Highlander hero (Dougal MacDonnell) in “Sound of the Heart” is six feet tall, with brown waves that tickle his shoulders. He has chocolate brown eyes and a brooding gaze, but they are consumed with finding the only woman he’s always loved. Oh. And he bathes.

So many different styles of writing, so little time! What’s your favourite historical fiction read? Would it be gritty and realistic? Or are you more a fan of romanticized and sanitized?


 Genevieve Graham graduated from the University of Toronto in 1986 with a Bachelor of Music in Performance (playing oboe). While on a ski vacation in Alberta she met a really cute guy in the chairlift line-up and they skied together for two days. After the second day she decided she had to have him ... permanently. The couple (now husband & wife) subsequently moved to Calgary and brought two beautiful and talented daughters into the world. They have recently settled in a small, peaceful town in Nova Scotia and are loving their quiet life.
Writing became an essential part of Genevieve's life a few years ago, when she began to write her debut novel, "Under the Same Sky". Her second book, "Sound of the Heart" was released on May 1, 2012.
Learn more about Genevieve at: http://www.genevievegraham.com.

There is a fantastic giveaway associated with this book tour.  One person will win a $35 Amazon gift code.  While comments are encouraged, be sure to enter on the rafflecopter for your chance to win! Be sure to check out the entire tour here.



a Rafflecopter giveaway

10 comments:

  1. Thank you for hosting today! I'm glad you're enjoying the book--I know I did.

    Genevieve--great post. I have to admit that what originally drew me to your books was the Highland setting. I'm thrilled that you turned out to write great books. :)

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  2. Thanks so much, Ruth. I'm looking forward to seeing your review!

    Oh, and MK, thank you for checking them out. I know I'm always attracted to those Highland settings!

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  3. thank you a lot! i'm still hoping to get book 1 but i haven't been lucky so far ( and the opportunity of winning it for international were very few)so if i'm lucky enough to get this amazon gift code i could have it!!
    thank you so much for thinking about us!!

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  4. thanks so much for the giveaway.......need something new to read

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  5. This looks fun! I love historicals that do the research.

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  6. thx u so much..
    i love reading historical :)

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  7. I like historicals and the hero looks so manly! Thanks!

    raffle name: Nikki O

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  8. always wanted to read more about scotland thanks for the giveaway! - regnod(at)yahoo(d0t)com

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  9. michelle gilliland mcafeeDecember 16, 2012 at 7:14 PM

    I like historical fiction, this looks like a good read. Thanks for the great review and giveaway.

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  10. Thanks for the giveaway. Looking forward to reading this one
    JWIsley(at)aol(dot)com

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