Introducing---The amazing Laurie Alice Eakes!

What do romance, mystery, intrigue, and elegance have in common? All of them could be used to describe a novel by our guest this week.....Laurie Alice Eakes. I was privileged to meet Laurie at the ACFW conference in Dallas and am so blessed she decided to do this interview for all of us. Getting to know the "real" person behind the "writers" who write the delicious books we read is a real treat. So without futher ado, I will hand the stage over to Laurie so we can learn more about her and her writing. Don't foget to sign up for the giveaway at the end, Laurie's wonderful book A Necessary Deception, the first in her "The Daughter's of Bainbridge House" series.

WELCOME LAURIE!!

1 – Laurie, what’s the most unusual thing you’ve ever done for research?

            I went sailing on an eighteen century frigate, the same vessel used in the movie Master and Commander. Climbing the rigging was a little scary, and I had to know what the roll of the ship felt like above the deck. And a body needs some muscles to haul lines.

Wow, how fun! I would love to tour a sailing vessel!

 2 – If you could have dinner with one of your characters, who would you chose and why?

            Dominick would probably be my choice. He’s someone who would be a good conversationalist no matter what the circumstances and would know how to put even a shy person at ease over the poached salmon or roast beef, or whatever the meal.

Oh, Dominick would be my pick too! I can imagine him sprinkling the conversation with well-chosen antidotes! And of course, Tabitha would have to come along.

3 – How did you come up with the idea for The Midwifes series?

            I was studying the history of medicine in graduate school and ran across information on midwives. Unlike other women, they had a great deal of power and respect, and even fear of them, in society. Midwives, for example, were among the few women who were allowed to testify in a court of law. Their wisdom and ideas of cleanliness—new to doctors—and other ethical principles fired my imagination.

That is interesting! Makes me think of the new British drama "Call the Midwife".

4 – If you could pick one character and live the life of that character, who would it be?

            I can’t decide between Phoebe from Heart’s Safe Passage and Cassandra from A Flight of Fancy. Phoebe gets to live in the mountains of Virginia, one of my favorite places, yet in a town, so civilized, and is married to Rafe, but then, Cassandra gets Whittaker and gets to do fun things like mix dangerous chemicals and fly in balloons while living in an English country manor.

Oh, definitely Cassandra! English country manors hands down!

 5 – You’ve been contracted for a three book Regency series with Zondervan, plus many of your other novels have a Regency theme. Thus, I assume you love Jane Austen. Which of her novels is your favorite and why?

            I’ll answer the last question before making my confession. Emma is my favorite austen novel because I like Emma’s personality and the way she grows in the story. Now for the confession—I never read Jane Austen until a few years ago and have still never read Sense and Sensibility and didn’t finish Mansfield Park. You see, Georgette Heyer and Patricia Veryan, Jo Beverley and Clare Darcy, 20^th century writers, got me interested in the Regency. After them, Ms. Austen’s books are a little slow for my taste, though I won’t deny her wonderful portrayals of human nature.

Emma is one of my top favorites too! And Georgette Heyer is soo good! I read and reread her novels!

 6 – Do you listen to music when you write? Have you ever been inspired by a particular movie soundtrack?

            Music is important to me, and I listen to it a great deal. . .but not when I write. I find it distracting. Being the historian and romantic that I am, I simply adore old movies with actors like Humphrey Bogart and either Hepburn lady. That said, “Moon River” from Breakfast at Tiffany’s has a fascination for me. My characters are like the characters in the song—two people drifting, trying to find their ways in the world in one way or another, and needing one another to make life’s journey together. Can’t you tell I spend much of my brain power in the past? I love a number of more contemporary movies, and they don’t seem to work well for my historical fiction inspiration.

Love old movies too! Anything with Gregory Peck or Clark Gable is a winner!

 7 – In doing your research about the Regency era, what research or fiction books have you found most helpful?

            Google Books has been an invaluable source. I use it constantly, especially in researching A Flight of Fancy and the history of ballooning. I also love Social Life Under the Regency and A Regency Companion. And I could go on and on with the wonderful books I have uncovered in used bookstores and at garage sales and. . .

I’d never heard of either of these, but got A Regency Companion from the library and it’s a definite gem!

 8 – Have you ever taken a trip to England? If so, what did you enjoy the most about it?

            Alas, although I have been to the continent three times, I have never gotten to England. Portugal may be my favorite country I’ve visited so far.

Sounds as if you are very well traveled! Would love to visit the continent, although England would probably be my first stop. J

9 – If you could go back in time to any era, which era would you choose and why?

            This one always stumps me, but I think I would go back to Colonial Williamsburg. The collective minds that gathered there absolutely must have been amazing to listen to speak, and I love eighteenth century fashions.

Sigh…eighteenth century fashion!

 10 - Tell us a little about your newest release?

A Flight of Fancy, the second book in the Daughters of Bainbridge House series, just released. It is the story of Cassandra, who makes some bad choices and suffers the consequences that cost her her fiancé and nearly her life. Choices of the Heart, the third of the midwives books, releases in January. This is the story of Esther, who is Dominick and Tabitha’s daughter. A tragedy sends her running away to the mountains, where she ends up in the middle of a family feud. Don’t worry. I don’t kill off Tabitha or Dominick.

 

Whew! Having Tabitha or Dominick die would be just too much!

 

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY, LAURIE!!

Well, ladies and gentleman, there you have it, some of our curiosity satisfied finding out more about Laurie and the in's and out's of her writing life. Thanks so much for stopping by Laurie and giving us all those juicy tidbits about yourself and your books!  For all you regency fans, I have a special GIVEAWAY this week, Laurie's first book in her recent series, A Necessary Deception. You will love this book as much as much as I did as it is wonderful! Leave your comment along with your email address and I will pick a winner this Friday. Don't forget to also get Laurie's newest book, Flight of Fancy, which has just been released and is available right now on amazon, CBD, Barnes and Noble.com, and in your local Christian book store. You can also find out more about Laurie at her website: http://www.lauriealiceeakes.com/

 

 

 

***This is going to be a busy week here! While we are enjoying having Laurie here with us this whole week, on Wednesday, we will also be taking a sneak peak at my friend Julie Lessman's newest book coming out on November 9th, called "A Light In The Window". This is a prequel to Julie's first book "A Passion Most Pure", Book 1 in her Daughters of Boston series. So stop by Wednesday as I let you readers in on the details all about this soon to be released (in Kindle format) book by Julie!

 

 

As always, happy writing and reading!

Amanda