Brenda Sorrels, author of page-turning historical fiction: THE BACHELOR FARMERS
“[A] beautifully written love story that grabs you at the beginning and refuses to let go… Along with Stephen King, James Patterson, Patricia Cornwell and Ed Mcbain, just to name a few, Brenda Sorrels is one of my favorite authors. Oh how I wish I could see this story on a big screen!” (Linda K. Jackson, Amazon Review Excerpt)
Amazon reviews at http://www.amazon.com/The-Bachelor-Farmers-Brenda-Sorrels/dp/1105424421/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top
Welcome, Brenda Sorrels. It’s great to have you with us today at 4writersandreaders. We’d love to find out more about you and your writing. First of all, tell us a little about yourself and your life in general.
I grew up in Fargo, North Dakota then headed east for college. After graduating from Manhattanville College in Purchase, NY, I worked in NYC as an editor for Mademoiselle Magazine. I moved to Wilton, Connecticut with my first husband and lived there most of my adult life. My first husband died suddenly at a young age, and I decided Los Angeles would be a great place to start anew. I ended up working for the Fox Broadcasting Company in National Media, where we promoted the shows that ran on the Fox Network. Movies and storytelling is what LA is all about, and it was here that my interest in writing really began to take shape. For the next five years, I took countless classes through the UCLA Extension program on storytelling, character development, script analysis, etc. However, I missed the change of seasons, my house, the beauty of Connecticut and eventually moved back East.
Can you tell us a little about your family?
Eventually, I married Barry Sorrels, my college boyfriend (he went to Columbia University in NYC) and moved to Texas. I live in Dallas now with my husband and small dog, Charlotte. I have two step-daughters who are grown but are a big part of my life. I like to return to Wilton to write, especially over the summer months when it’s too hot in Texas.
How long have you been writing and what type of writing do you usually do?
I’ve always loved to write, but I didn’t get serious about writing fiction until around eight or nine years ago when I wrote my first novel. I took it with me to several workshops and kept working it, but one day I slipped it into my desk drawer and wrote a short story that was ironically, set in the Midwest. I showed it to a literary friend who encouraged me, and I kept going from there. Short stories were a great way to hone my skills and become a better writer. After several short stories, I decided to develop one of them into a novel which became The Bachelor Farmers.
From the back cover: THE BACHELOR FARMERS takes us into a world where true meaning and healing are found in the complexity of human relationshps and in the choices that are made in the face of adversity.
Can you give us a brief synopsis of your book and a few of its highlights?
The Bachelor Farmers is a lyrical and moving love story set in northern Minnesota in the winter of 1919. It tells a story of two Norwegian brothers who learn the meaning of love from a most unlikely source.
Hans and Jon, the youngest of four immigrant brothers, have just inherited land from their recently deceased father and set out to develop it, thus perpetuating the family dream of success in America. When Jon learns that the husband of Mahal, a beautiful half-breed Ojibwa woman, was injured on their property and cannot work, he hires her as their personal cook.
Under the eye of his disapproving brother, Jon finds himself falling in love, but when a terrible blizzard blows into town without warning, the three of them must deal with the consequences and make decisions that will ultimately reshape their lives in profound and unimaginable ways.
What prompted you to become a writer, Brenda?
I think it was the sheer urge to tells these stories that are running around in my head! At this point in time it’s hard for me to imagine writer’s block because I have so many ideas on what I’d like to write. For me it was a strong feeling—so powerful, that I couldn’t help myself. I just started getting things down on paper and reworking them again and again … and again!
Do you have a favorite line from THE BACHELOR FARMERS?
If I had to pick one line it would be in the prologue where the family patriarch, old man Gustafson, is on his death-bed struggling to find the strength to impart to his sons one last bit of wisdom. He says:
“I have divided the land among you, so that you may not only live, but also thrive. Remember though, you can only live with the land. To thrive, you must love. Love is the most important thing, more important than the land.”
Who is your favorite character from your novel and why?
I would have to say my favorite is, Mahal. She is a complicated character who has not been dealt an easy lot in life. Born from the union of a French trader and an Ojibwa woman, Mahal is a half-breed, torn between the Native American traditions of the Ojibwa and the world of the white settlers. Losing her mother at a tender age she is married off to a man who roughs her up from time-to-time. She falls into that category of women who can’t seem to leave their abusive relationships. When circumstances land her in the Gustafson home, with both brothers vying for her affection, she has the power to choose. Ultimately, she goes back to her husband, though she does not love him. Mahal wants to follow her heart, but the forces of her existence and her past overpower her. She cannot escape.
What was the hardest part about writing your book?
The most difficult part was the ending. I had a couple of different endings that really didn’t work. I kept asking myself “what would happen next, what would they do?” There is a culmination of pent-up emotion at the end between Jon and Hans on the mountain ride with the horses. It seemed natural that after Jon’s discovery of Nathaniel, when the truth could no longer be denied, he would be exploding with an array of feelings. What happens is spontaneous… it can’t be helped.
Do you do anything besides write?
I am writing full-time now…. I love to travel, especially to historic places where there is always a good story to be heard. I watch a lot of movies and read a lot of books. It’s heaven!
Sounds like the perfect place to be, Brenda. How can my readers get a copy of your book?
The book is available on Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble.com, the iTunes store … Paperback, hardback and e-book. Here are the links:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-bachelor-farmers-brenda-sorrels/1109720454?ean=9781105424427
What’s next for author Brenda Sorrels?
Find out about Brenda’s upcoming novel. Check her website for more details.
I am currently in the final stages of my new book, The Way Back ’Round. It’s the story of family and friendship—of a young boy named, Jake, who makes an innocent, but terrible choice that haunts him for life. Jake must deal with the consequences of his decision and find his way back to the family that he loves. You can read more about it on my website at: www.brendasorrels.com
Thanks for joining us today, Brenda. I’ve just finished reading THE BACHELOR FARMERS. I couldn’t put it down. I highly recommend your novel to all of my readers, especially those who love historical fiction. Now, I can hardly wait to get my copy of THE WAY BACK ‘ROUND. It’s been a delight having you visit us at www.4writersandreaders. I’ll be following you along the Tour! ~ Bette A. Stevens
THE BACHELOR FARMERS Book Blog Tour continues… To find out more about Brenda Sorrels, her life, her writing and more, follow the tour with us:
Great twist to an old tale! Have you read with a child today? Bette A. Stevens
The Princess and the Packet of Frozen Peas
by Tony Wilson
Sue deGennaro, illustrator
Peachtree Publishers
5 Stars
Inside Jacket: All the princesses who want to marry Prince Henrik are beautiful and sensitive. Too sensitive. They complain about everything. “If these are real princesses,” Henrik says, “I want to marry the opposite.” Determined to find someone less delicate, the frustrated prince comes up with a new twist on a time-honored test. Instead of a stack of mattresses and a single pea, his plan involves a camping mattress, an old sleeping bag, and a whole packet of frozen peas. But it is not always easy to find the perfect princess, even when she’s right under your nose . . .
“Once upon a time there was a prince called Henrik . . . yes, Prince Henrik; he was the athletic-type who liked camping, and field hockey. His brother, Prince Hans, gives…
View original post 686 more words
Excellent, in-depth review of a timely tale for all ages. A fantastic book whose story reveals our personal and environmental vulnerabilities! Well-deserved KUDOS to both of you — A.E. Curzon and Mungai and the Goa Constrictor! —Bette A. Stevens
Related articles
- Woo Hoo! “Mungai” is the Main Feature This Week on The Bridge of Deaths Blog (ameliacurzonblogger.wordpress.com)
I have just received the most spectacular in-depth review for Mungai and the Goa Constrictor. My heartfelt thanks to the very erudite Jane Whiteoak for taking so much time to write this review. I hope many of you will find the time and the irrepressible urge to read it.
Select a place..any where in the world and you most probably have heard stories about a pair to be very wary of, like Mungai and the Goa Constrictor! Likely, you’ll have heard them directly, from the innocent victims left strewn aside in their wake. This is a story about nature, reforestation, gold mining, animals both two-legged and four-legged and the most nebulous kind of all… that of the cold and calculating… psychological nature.
Mungai, escapes from a zoo by literally biting the hand that feeds him, to obtain his freedom. Along the way he connects with a self-centered, narcissistic snake named…
View original post 470 more words
Irina Shapiro, author of THE HANDS OF TIME, historical romance with a hint of the supernatural and a dash of mystery.
“I was born in Moscow, Russia during the height of Communism and “enjoyed” the life of an average Russian child until my family’s immigration to the United States in 1982. We settled in Brooklyn, NY where I finished school and then graduated from Bernard M. Baruch College in New York City with a degree in International Business. Despite my business degree, history and travel have always been my passions and I have tried to incorporate my knowledge and experiences into my stories.“I live in New Jersey with my husband and two children.”
Reviewers call Shapiro’s novel, THE HANDS OF TIME, exciting and thought-provoking —
“This was my third book by this author and I wasn’t disappointed. I could feel Valerie’s fear and despair as she found herself trapped in the past and tried to make a life for herself in the 17th Century…” –FRYEHI, Amazon review.
“The Hands of Time is a fun and emotional read. Irina Shapiro puts a clever spin on romantic time travel and takes readers’ breaths away… [This book’s] story is not yet finished, the sequel will be just as exciting and thought provoking!” – Lovey, Dovey Books, Amazon review.
Welcome, Irina. Can you tell us a little about yourself and your writing life?
I graduated from Bernard M. Baruch College with a degree in International Business and worked in Advertising and Import/Export for years. After leaving the work force in 2007 to stay at home with my autistic son, I began to write, and have written seven novels since then. My latest is coming out in early January.
What about your family?
I live in New Jersey with my husband and two children. My daughter has just started High School, so the fun has begun.
How long have you been writing and what type of writing do you usually do?
I’ve been writing seriously for about five years. I like to write the type of books that I, myself, like to read. My novels are historical romance with a hint of supernatural and a dash of mystery.
Can you give us a brief synopsis of your book?
When a young woman vanishes without a trace from a quaint fishing village on the coast of England, only one person knows the truth, but he remains silent allowing the authorities to search for her in vain.
Meanwhile, Valerie Crane finds herself transported to the year 1605. Terrified and confused, she turns for help to the Whitfield brothers, who take her in and offer her a home. Both Alexander and Finlay Whitfield fall in love with the mysterious woman, who shows up on their doorstep, creating a love triangle that threatens to consume them all. Valerie must make her choice, deciding between the brother who will lead her down the path of destruction, and the one who will give her a love she couldn’t find in her own time.
What prompted you to become a writer?
I’ve always wanted to be a writer, but didn’t think I had the talent or the imagination. After being at home for a while, I needed something to occupy my mind and distract me from the daily stress of dealing with an autistic child. Writing was an escape from reality – time travel of the mind. I never dreamed of publishing my work, but after getting some very positive reviews from the people who’ve read it, I decided to take a chance and see where it would take me. It’s been an amazing journey.
Do you have a favorite line from THE HANDS OF TIME?
I do, but I can’t share it because it would give away a crucial point in the plot.
Who is your favorite character and why?
My favorite character is Valerie because she is based on me. I couldn’t create her without trying to envision what I would do in her situation and how I would deal with the difficulties that arose.
What was the hardest part about writing your book?
The hardest part is to come up with an original plot; something that hasn’t already been done by other authors.
Do you do anything besides write?
I enjoy anything that requires a degree of creativity. I love pottery, drawing, and photography, as well as experimental cooking, which I inflict upon family and friends. Haven’t poisoned anyone yet.
How can my readers get a copy of THE HANDS OF TIME?
My book is available for purchase at Amazon, as is the sequel: A Leap of Faith. http://www.amazon.com/The-Hands-of-Time-ebook/dp/B006JRO9WS/ref=lp_B0068O1DFS_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1334015717&sr=1-4
What can we expect next from Irina Shapiro’s hand?
I’ve just finished the third book of The Hands of Time Trilogy. It’s currently with my editor and will be released very soon. I must admit that finishing the story left me desolate. These characters have been with me for so long, that I miss them as if they were real people. It’s difficult to move on to other projects.
It’s been great having you with us today, Irina. Historical fiction is my literary cup of tea. Add romance and mystery and your novels sound simply irresistible. I can hardly wait to delve into my copy of THE HANDS OF TIME. –Bette A. Stevens (www.4writersandreaders.com)
Follow Irina Shapiro’s Book Tour
January 2013 Tour Schedule:
4th Lightning Book Promotion Blog5th Phaedra @ Identity Discovery
6th Jackie @ Writing for Readers in a .com world
7th Bette @ 4writersandreaders.com
8th Andi @ Radiant Light
9th Stormi @ Books, Movies, Reviews. Oh my!
10th Drennan @ Speaking of Books
11th Susan @ My Cozie Corner
12th Cara @ Peace, Love, Books
13th Darryl @ Savage Lullabye
Find out more about Irina Shapiro’s novels:
http://www.amazon.com/The-Folly-ebook/dp/B007WNTXGK/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1335178325&sr=8-6
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Irina-Shapiro/307374895948375
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13381342-the-hands-of-time
J. Naomi Ay, author of the Science Fiction/Fantasy series, The Two Moons of Rehnor
”Excellent series! This author sucks you in with the depth of her characters… It is obvious that none of them are perfect, but that’s what brings you closer to them. The character of Senya is a most interesting combination of good, and what we normally think of as evil. One minute, I thought he was heartless, the next minute I changed my mind. The Senya character is constantly evolving throughout this series. The whole series is a keeper, and worth the price.”
Welcome, Naomi. It’s great to have you with us today.
Tell us a little about you and about your life on the Pacific Coast.
I am fortunate to live in one of the most beautiful areas in the country. In fact, it probably looks a lot like your beloved Maine. I live north of the Seattle area on the Olympic Peninsula on a small bay inlet off of Puget Sound. Dungeness crab season is open again, as we speak. In fact, my husband was just out on the water today dropping pots. Hopefully, that will be our Thanksgiving dinner.
Sounds like the perfect plate to me right now!
Tell us a little about your family.
I have a husband of 27 plus years, three kids and a Pomeranian. My boys are both adults now, one just graduated from the University of Washington and the other is attending, both majoring in Engineering. Our daughter is thirteen and still in middle school; and, a budding actress.
How long have you been writing and what type of writing do you normally do?
Since kindergarten. I write Science Fiction/Fantasy. Basically, I put contemporary normal people in odd situations and surround them with futuristic and not so contemporary people. That makes the stories both interesting and humorous, I think.
Is there a specific age or demographic group that you write for, Naomi?
I thought I was writing for women of my own demographics although that has of course shifted over the years. As I age, my characters have aged too. I find that I get the most fan mail from women but surprisingly, men like my series as well. I’ve had some lovely fan letters from men and my husband has become quite the cheerleader for me. In fact, in some of my recent novellas he complained that Senya wasn’t in them enough and he isn’t doing enough cool things. Food for thought as I craft more stories.
Can you give me a brief synopsis of your latest book and series?
The Two Moons of Rehnor series is about a very strange man who is created to be King of the planet Rehnor. The Rehnorian people have spent much of their history killing each other and so the two enemy kings finally figured out that they could stop the wars if they created a single man to rule everyone on the planet. A royal marriage was arranged and a prince was born. The prince turns out to be very different from what the two kings had imagined; and, unfortunately, bad things happen to him. The series follows him from birth to well into middle-age and is all told in first person narratives by the people around him including the love of his life — a normal, ordinary human girl from Seattle. I think what sets my series apart is that even though it focuses on Senya, nobody has a bit part. You will get very involved in the lives of people who are on the periphery of Senya’s life. I like to think of Senya as the hub and all of the other characters are spokes revolving around him.
What prompted you to write your stories?
Boredom or an undiagnosed and subsequently untreated psychological condition. Actually, I started writing the series more than twenty years ago and kept writing and rewriting it. Finally. earlier this year I decided, enough! After releasing it and coming to the conclusion that I can’t change what’s already published, I’ve been able to actually write something else! It’s amazing how all new characters and all new story lines simply popped into my head as soon as I dumped out that one.
Do you have a favorite line from your latest book?
Yes. In Metamorphosis, book 7 in the series, Senya says:
“Sometimes we need to make it snow in June so we will be thankful for normal weather.”
I’ve had that very thought myself a time or two, Naomi…
Who is your favorite character?
Senya, of course. He’s everything — amazingly beautiful, powerful, paranormal, brilliant, rich and vulnerable! (Sigh…) He also says incredibly smart things. It’s nice to channel a wise sage.
What was the hardest part about writing your book?
Originally, I wrote the whole thing in first person present tense. So for 20 years, that’s how I continued. Then I decided to self-publish and read that you shouldn’t use present tense. Uh, oh! I had to go back and change everything to past tense. Lots and lots of editing and lots and lots of mistakes, especially in the Book 1. By Book 4 and 5, I had figured it out and the stories were much cleaner.
Do you do anything besides write?
I do lots of things but the one that keeps me most busy is my sales job in the renewable energy sector.
How can my readers get a copy of your book?
Just about all of them are available at all major book and eBook retailers. Book 1, The Boy Who Lit Up the Sky is available from Amazon at this link:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007B77U8A
What’s next for you, Naomi?
I started another series earlier in the summer called Journey to Rehnor It’s set about 1,000 years before the Two Moons of Rehnor series. Book 1, The New Planet, was released in July; and, I’m currently scrambling to finish Book 2, Aran’s Gift and release it before the holidays. In the meantime, I’m also adding more and more novellas or novelettes to my novella collection. These are about 10,000 word fill-in-the-gap stories, giving more background on some of the characters. They are quick and fun to write, and they each sell for around $1.29.
I’m not done with the Two Moons series although Senya and Katie are hitting their golden years. I think I’ve got another novel or two about them before — well before — you know….
GREAT Adult Science/Fiction Fantasy: GET YOUR COPY TODAY!
Thanks so much for joining us today, Naomi. I am certainly enjoying your books. In fact, I highly recommend your series or individual titles, which can stand alone, to readers who tend to go for contemporary and historical fiction. Your Science Fiction/Fantasy series takes readers like me on a new journey, a welcome change of pace!
Find out more about J. Naomi Ay and her books:
Author Page on Amazon: www.amazon.com/-/e/B007BN8T7K
DON’T MISS THE VIDEO PREVIEW (click the link):
The Boy who Lit up the SKY and The Two Moons of Renhor Series :
Youtube Channel for trailers: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH0P1mSV-OgUmtB8Wc2g4oA/videos?view=0
Susan Speranza, author of The Tale of Lucia Grandi, The Early Years.
Hello, Susan. It’s great to have you with me today. Tell me a little about yourself and about your life in Vermont.
I was born in New York City and grew up on suburban Long Island. This became the setting of my novel, The Tale of Lucia Grandi, the Early Years.
Because Long Island is surrounded by water, all the things associated with water such as the ocean, the beaches, boating, fishing and swimming are an important part of the culture there. But that seemed to have so little influence on me; from the time I was a child, I always longed for mountains. The setting of many of the books I read was always rural — full of pastures, highlands, valleys, farms. It took many years – and a divorce – to help me achieve my dream. Eleven years ago I left Long Island, moved to Vermont and never looked back. Now, every day when I look out at my meadow and the mountain beyond, I know this is where I belong. I don’t miss the water or the ocean at all. And if on occasion I want to experience it again, I just travel three hours east to the coast of Maine and I’m good!
Well, Susan, when you’re hankering for a taste of the coast, give me a call; it would be great to share a cup of lobster stew with a fellow author.
I never refuse invitations, so be careful…that’s how I wound up in Vermont. My friend kept inviting me up, so after several years of visiting Vermont, I moved there permanently – and I bought the house next door to her!
The invitation’s an open one, Susan… Tell us a little about your family life.
Well, after a very unfriendly divorce, I took an eight-year hiatus, at which point I met a wonderful man (a fellow New Yorker transplanted to Vermont) and we are now engaged. There is definitely life after divorce.
I have many children but they are of the four-legged variety… years ago I took up the hobby of dog showing and breeding and have produced many Pekingese champions. The dogs I have now are the great-great-grandchildren of my original (or foundation) dogs. They sometimes seem to cost as much as human children — I think I have singlehandedly put all of my Vet’s offspring through college. Unfortunately, I can’t claim them as dependents at tax time…
How long have you been writing? What type of writing do you normally do?
I’ve been writing all my life. Even as a child I found communicating through writing easier than speaking. If I needed to say something important or explain something, I found I could do it better through writing, where I could measure my words and tame my thoughts. As a child I would write books and stories — imitating the books I loved. Some of them I’m sure involved copyright infringement as they were imitation to the point of plagiarism, but it was good practice and eventually, I learned to be original. When I was an adolescent, full of drama and raw emotion as most adolescents are, I found writing poetry was more fulfilling. I never really wrote for anyone but myself. The first work I wrote for public viewing was The City of Light — a fantasy or allegory — about the end of the world. That book has recently been reissued as an eBook. The Tale of Lucia Grandi is my first novel.
Can you give us a brief synopsis of your new book?
In this novel, a dying old woman is asked to tell the story of her life and so she tells about growing up in a troubled, warring suburban family in the 1950s and ’60s. It’s written as a memoir, where Lucia is the silent observer recording incidents in her family and illustrating the conflicts between them. Her conflict with her family grows as she grows, leading to the final crisis.
What prompted you to write Lucia Grandi?
I had so many stories I wanted to tell, but I’m not really a short story writer. A few years ago, while I was waiting to have my car repaired, an 83-year-old woman came into the waiting room where I sat by myself. She began talking to me — and before I knew it, she was telling me the story of her life. I thought of that afternoon when I searched for a framework in which to set the stories I wanted to tell. It seemed very compelling – an old woman looking back on a life she claims was not very interesting; yet, as the novel progresses, the stories she is telling are very interesting indeed.
Do you have a favorite line from the book?
There is actually a line Lucia (the narrator) says several times throughout the book in slightly different ways: “It was simple, really, all I needed was a kind word, a human touch – which never came…”
Who is your favorite character and why?
This is a difficult question in the same way that I find it difficult to answer people who ask me if I have a favorite dog. I always say no — I love them all (and I do!); but I am closer to some than to others. The same with my characters. I love them all, but some I had more fun with, and some were more challenging, harder to get right. With the mother, Ruth, it was difficult to find that balance; it’s easy to characterize someone as evil or selfish, but even such people as these occasionally have some redeeming qualities. Ruth was characterized as hard, cold, domineering; but there are many moments when her vulnerability slips through. I had to make sure that I didn’t make her one-dimensional. I had a lot of fun with Lucia’s sister, Lynn – the eternal drama queen. Again, I had to work hard at preventing her from becoming a one-dimensional character.
What was the hardest part about writing your book?
The hardest part about writing this book was finding the time to write it in the midst of an overwhelming, demanding life. I tried to get up at 4 a.m. to write, but I’m not a morning person. I can’t think straight that early. So I had to settle for writing on weekends, holidays and summer vacations. That’s why it took me six years to write my first novel.
Do you do anything besides write?
Most writers have day jobs — and mine is a high school librarian. The advantage is that I get a summer vacation when I can write every day. Writing a book seemed a natural extension of being a librarian; after all those years of being the keeper-of-the-books, I finally wrote one.
How can my readers get a copy of LUCIA GRANDI, The Early Years?
It’s available in print and as an eBook from Amazon and Barnes&Noble. It’s also available from the publisher, Brook House Press: www.brookhousepress.org. It can also be special-ordered through local bookstores.
What’s next for you, Susan?
The ending of the book requires a sequel. I’m not overly fond of sequels, but it was either that or writing an 800 page book, which I really didn’t think the public would go for. Hopefully, it won’t take me another six years to write that one!
Thank you, Susan Speranza, for sharing your story with me today. It was great to find out more about you and about your superb novel. I highly recommend Susan’s book to fiction lovers everywhere. Susan Speranza’s tale will hold your attention from the first word to the last:. This story of the human yearning to be loved, to be safe, cared for and understood, is told in words that will tug at your heart. My copy of THE TALE OF LUCIA GRANDI, The Early Years arrived at my doorstep last Tuesday. Don’t miss out… Order yours today!
Some links:
www.facebook.com/susansperanzaauthor
Author Interview by Bette A. Stevens
http://www.4writersandreaders.wordpress.com
Bette A. Stevens, Maine Author 
What readers are saying…