Thursday, July 4, 2013

An Independence Day Twist

Louise Gouge
Sandra Orchard here, and I've invited award-winning, Love Inspired Historical author, Louise Gouge, here today to share a bit about the inspiration behind her newest regency.  

As an added bonus, she is giving away a copy to a randomly selected commenter (US only, sorry).

Thanks for having me back on your blog. I want to wish all those in America a happy Independence Day, when we celebrate the day the world was turned upside down by thirteen small English colonies in North America. I am blessed to say I was born in the U. S. A., and I’m so thankful to have grown up in numerous states. (My dad was in the newspaper business, which required frequent moves.) I got to see so much of the country and learned to appreciate people from many different cultures. This has greatly informed my writing.

My love for my country is revealed in my first three Love Inspired books, all set during the Revolutionary War. In each book, the hero and heroine were on different sides in the War, so that made for great conflict.

After completing that series, I decided to write about the English Regency period. One branch of my family came to America from England in 1665, so I have always loved our “mother” country.

The third book in this new series, released this month.


Ironically, this diehard American is putting out a book about the English aristocracy on our Fourth of July!


Isn’t that what we were fighting to separate from? Oh, well. Such is the world of fiction.

This series is about three young ladies who must go to work as companions for wealthy English aristocrats. In A Lady of Quality, Catherine Du Coeur is determined to uncover the truth about wealthy Lord Winston, who falsely accused her father of treason. But the closer she gets to the handsome young nobleman, the more she wonders how such a benevolent gentleman could have conspired to commit such evil. Baron Lord Winston has had little success in finding an accomplished aristocratic bride who is suited to his diplomatic aspirations. But when he meets Miss Du Coeur, a countess’s lowly companion, he finds that family connections are far less important than matters of the heart.

I was inspired to write this series after reading another author’s book in which a wealthy lady’s companion was a poor relation who lived in the shadows of life. I learned that these companions, aristocratic ladies who had no money, suffered greatly because during the Regency period, wellborn ladies simply did not work. To do so was considered shameful in Society’s eyes. (Think of how different things are today!) Feeling sorry for those women of a bygone era, I imagined what it would be like to live under those circumstances. I came up with three different scenarios, and thus my series was born.

Psalm 47:4 is my favorite scripture verse: He shall choose our inheritance for us. I believe God has a plan for every person, and when we walk with Him and seek His will, He will show us that plan. There can be no greater reward in life. In my stories, I always include a faith element, showing real life spiritual struggles and how my characters grow closer to God through their trials.

Sandra Orchard, again:  Thank you, Louise for visiting with us today! If you'd like a chance to win a copy of A Lady of Quality, please share your favorite scripture verse in the comments. Please include you're email addy.

A Lady of Quality can be found at your favorite online bookstores, and at The Book Depository, which offers free shipping to 110 countries worldwide.


Sandra Orchard is an award-winning Canadian author of inspirational romantic suspense with Love Inspired Suspense and Revell. (Deadly Devotion, June 2013)

To find out more about her novels, and to read interesting bonus features, please visit www.sandraorchard.com or connect at www.Facebook.com/SandraOrchard

7 comments:

  1. I love the Regency period in literature and have edited for a couple of Regency writers from time to time. Great concept.

    Only God knows our future, no matter the appearance of today.

    Jeremiah 29:11
    For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

    jrlight620 (at) yahoo (dot) com

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  2. Thank you for your comment, Judith. I love that verse, too.!

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  3. One of my favorite verses is my daily prayer as I start my day. Psalm 19:14 "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer."
    Love your books, Louise!
    Worthy2bpraised at gmail dot com

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  4. Every year I pick a verse or two to go with my word of the year. I read the verse(s) every morning and hopefully memorize it/them. This year my word is "work" and one of my verses is Colossians 3:23 "Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men,"

    I always have enjoyed reading about a lady's companion. I'm looking forward to reading A Lady of Quality.
    may_dayzee (at) yahoo (dot) com

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  5. Thank you for visiting us, Louise. I'm enjoying reading everyone's favorite verses. I like to choose a verse for each of my characters when I write--something they need to come to know, or something they live by. Most recently my heroine has grown to appreciate Isaiah 26:3 "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you."

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  6. Thanks, Sandra. It was my pleasure! Thanks to everyone who shared.

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  7. Hi! I know I'm getting here a little late, but I just had to say this was a great post! I totally agree with you about that verse. I do know that God loves each of us, and has a plan for us--thank you for sharing that!
    I LOVE that you love the RevWar! That is my very favorite time in American History. I'll have to read those books!
    As for my favorite Bible verse, I would definitely say John 16:33. I love knowing that even though we have trials in this life, God has overcome everything and so we can put our trust in him, and have overwhelming peace.
    Thank you for this! And I would be honored to enter the drawing:
    historicalchristianreview(at)gmail(dot)com
    God bless!
    Amber

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