Tuesday, August 10, 2010

CAPTURED BY DESIRE: PREVIEW, AUTHOR GUEST POST, AND GIVEAWAY

BLOG TOUR--WIN YOUR COPY HERE!
GIVEAWAY ENDED
CAPTURED BY DESIRE

BY KIRA MORGAN

ABOUT THE BOOK:

In 16th century Scotland, young Miss Florie Gilder runs away from her drunken foster father to find her real father and her noble heritage. Along the way, she is accused of theft, becomes a fugitive hiding in a forest, and is accidentally wounded by a handsome local huntsman. The huntsman--a Robin-Hood figure who poaches wild game from the landowner's estate to feed the starving poor--carries the beautiful maiden to a church where she is guaranteed 40 days of sanctuary from the law. During that time, he learns her true story, falls in love with her, and helps her in her quest, at the risk of his own life.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


Kira Morgan is a third-generation California girl who is an avid traveler, the wife of a rock star, the mother of two fascinating children, and the beloved master of a pug named Worf.



AUTHOR GUEST POST:

When I asked, "Can you write about some of the enjoyable things you encounter in research for this book and what came of it?", here is what Kira said. "
My best and most enjoyable research comes from touching, smelling, tasting".

And here is the rest of Kira Morgan's Guest Post...thank you, Kira!


I had some great adventures doing research for CAPTURED BY DESIRE, and I’d be delighted to share them...

My mom once said that if you’ve got a pen and a clipboard, you can ask anyone anything and usually get an answer. If you tell people you’re an author, they’ll spill their guts!

People are an invaluable source for research--especially reenactors. When I needed to know what Tudor-period bow and arrows looked like, I talked to a hunting reenactor, who showed me his weapon and let me fire off a few arrows. To investigate the costumes of the 1500s, I contacted a couple who gave me a personal fashion show, allowing me to inspect their garments. My author friend, Lauren Royal, used to own jewelry stores, so she showed me various gold pieces my heroine might create. People are generally excited to demonstrate their knowledge and expertise in the most offbeat subjects, particularly when they know it might appear in your next book.

Places are also a rewarding source of history and sensual imagery. For CAPTURED BY DESIRE, I was lucky enough to be able to commandeer Roslin Castle in Scotland with a couple of friends! Besides being a haunted castle, it was located in the heart of a forest not far from Selkirk, where my book is set. I was able to explore Roslin Glen, absorbing the natural surroundings as they might have been in the time of Mary Queen of Scots. I drank in the woodsy scents, felt the muted crunch of the mulch beneath my feet and the dewy air of the morning, listened to cheery birdsong and gurgling water, and recorded in photos the lush colors of the countryside. (If you’d like to see the photo diary from my Scotland trip, visit my website at www.glynnis.net/kiramorgan or www.facebook.com/kiramorganauthor .)

From Roslin, I took a side trip to a museum that contained a Renaissance goldsmith shop, which is where I learned about Florie’s craft. Another museum contained fabric swatches with dyes that had been used in Tudor times, which was useful. And I spent an afternoon climbing hundreds of slippery steps to seaside Doune Castle in the pouring rain, an experience that inspired the raging storm near the end of CAPTURED BY DESIRE.

Sometimes a perfect place can be relocated to fit a book’s purpose. I’d discovered an ideal church for Florie’s sanctuary--St. Mildred’s of Canterbury, England--on a previous trip and moved it to Selkirk, Scotland. (I didn’t tell St. Mildred’s caretaker--I’m afraid he wouldn’t approve!)

Perhaps the most enjoyable adventure in research is dining on the local fare. Traveling through the Scottish countryside, I stopped at many a pub and sampled meat pies and thick stews, oatcakes and hard ciders, which haven’t changed much in hundreds of years. Sitting in the dimly lit corner of a tavern, I could stare into the flames of a medieval hearth, savor the hearty flavors, listen to the thick accents around me, and study the sweet and weathered faces of the natives, immersing myself in their rich culture.

Research is half the fun of writing, and writing has taught me to absorb my surroundings, to pay attention to details, to be inquisitive. Even if you don’t write, it’s a wonderful way to enjoy life. So grab a pen and a clipboard, and let your journey begin!

Your first assignment? Research and describe the area around your computer. Is it messy or neat? Do you have scented candles? A cup of coffee? Music playing? A copy of CAPTURED BY DESIRE waiting to be read?


GIVEAWAY

THANKS TO ANNA AND THE GOOD FOLKS
AT THE HACHETTE BOOK GROUP,
I HAVE 5 COPIES OF THIS THRILLING
ROMANCE BOOK TO GIVE AWAY!

THE RULES:

--U.S. AND CANADIAN RESIDENTS ONLY
--NO P. O. BOXES, PLEASE
--INCLUDE EMAIL ADDRESS IN COMMENT
--ALL ENTRIES/COMMENTS MUST BE
SEPARATE IN ORDER TO COUNT
AS MORE THAN ONE ENTRY



HOW TO ENTER:

+1 ENTRY: COMMENT ON SOMETHING YOU FOUND INTERESTING ABOUT CAPTURED BY DESIRE AND/OR AUTHOR KIRA MORGAN ABOVE THAT MADE YOU WANT TO WIN THIS BOOK

+1 MORE ENTRY:
BLOG OR TWEET ABOUT THIS GIVEAWAY AND LEAVE A LINK I CAN FOLLOW IN THE ENTRY


+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON ONE WAY THAT YOU FOLLOW THIS BLOG.

+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON SOMETHING YOU FIND INTERESTING IN THE "FIVE FUN FACTS" FROM HACHETTE ABOUT THE AUTHOR BY GOING HERE


GIVEAWAY ENDS AT
6 PM, EST, AUGUST 24!


GOOD LUCK!

51 comments:

Beverly said...

Thanks for hosting. Please enter me. I am a gfc follower.
bevsharp@desch.org

Beverly said...

Thanks for hosting - please enter me.
bevsharp@desch.org

I think it's great that she gets 40 days of safety and in that time falls for the hunter!!!

Anonymous said...

This sounds like a fabulous read and I would love to read it. I have not read this authors work before but she has me hooked. I love the way she said writing taught her to absorb her surroundings we all need to do that.

I am a follower! Please enter me!

lead[at]hotsheet[dot]com

Jane said...

I'm interested in reading this book because I haven't read a romance set during the 1500's in a long time.

janie1215 AT excite DOT com

Jane said...

I learned that the hero Rane MacAllister was inspired by two heroes of archery Robin Hood and Legolas.

janie1215 AT excite DOT com

Jane said...

I'm a GFC follower.

janie1215 AT excite DOT com

elaing8 said...

please count me in.

This book sounds really good. They both have to learn to trust one another within 40 days,they fall in love, and are hunted by others. Sounds like an action packed book.

elaing8(at)netscape(dot)net

elaing8 said...

tweeted
http://twitter.com/elaing8/status/20828849292

elaing8(at)netscape(dot)net

elaing8 said...

She studied Norse mythology to come up with epithets unique to her characters Rane MacAllister's ancestry

elaing8(at)netscape(dot)net

holdenj said...

It looks wonderful! I think her trip to Scotland and research at the castle sound very interesting.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

holdenj said...

I thought one of the more interesting five facts was the one about how she made these two characters "commoners".
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

Kira Morgan said...

Thanks so much for all your comments! I'm honored to be a featured author, and I hope you'll continue to read my books and share my adventures.

gcpeach17 said...

First, I love her name Kira and I would love to be with her on her research adventures. That does sound like half the fun. So much research and it sounds like a very interesting read.

gcpeach17 at aol dot com

gcpeach17 said...

I am a follower on Google Reader.

gcpeach17 at aol dot com

gcpeach17 said...

The author's interview was very interesting. I truely enjoyed reading it and she sounds like a very interesting person. Please, enter me to win this book.

gcpeach17 at aol dot com

Cecile Smutty Hussy said...

Of course I want the book, I would not be here if I did not want it... but this is what I loved the most about this post... "My mom once said that if you’ve got a pen and a clipboard, you can ask anyone anything and usually get an answer. If you tell people you’re an author, they’ll spill their guts!"

Your mom is a character Ms. Morgan!
Please count me in!
I am a follower!
alliwantandmorebooks@ gmail.com

debbie said...

I think it is very interesting how the author did the research for the book. Getting to talk to different people about their crafts, eat food that was very similiar to how they ate at the time, and visit a castle, would help make the book very realistic. I would love to read it.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

Thanks for hosting. I am an email subscriber and follower. I love reading romance novels. Please enter me in contest. Tore923@aol.com

Young in TX said...

+1 ENTRY: COMMENT ON SOMETHING YOU FOUND INTERESTING ABOUT CAPTURED BY DESIRE AND/OR AUTHOR KIRA MORGAN ABOVE THAT MADE YOU WANT TO WIN THIS BOOK. I would like to win this book because it is historical.

Thanks.
Laura_in_TX
123yes456@gmail.com

Young in TX said...

+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON ONE WAY THAT YOU FOLLOW THIS BLOG. I bookmark your blog and visit it most every day.

Thanks.
Laura_in_TX
123yes456@gmail.com

Young in TX said...

+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON SOMETHING YOU FIND INTERESTING IN THE "FIVE FUN FACTS" FROM HACHETTE ABOUT THE AUTHOR BY GOING HERE. It's interesting she writes about common folk.

Thanks.
Laura_in_TX
123yes456@gmail.com

CherylS22 said...

I love books set in Scotland - that's why I want to win this book.

Thanks for the chance ~
megalon22 at yahoo dot com

CherylS22 said...

GFC follower
megalon22 at yahoo dot com

CherylS22 said...

I found it interesting that "Kira created the character of Rane MacAllister by combining two legendary heroes of archery — Robin Hood and Legolas."

megalon22 at yahoo dot com

Latter-day Saint Mom said...

Interesting that she is a wife of a rock star.
cparkins14 AT teancum.net

Latter-day Saint Mom said...

I am an e-mail subscriber and GFC follower.

rubynreba said...

I'd like to read this because I have not read about 16th century Scotland and it sounds interesting.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

rubynreba said...

I follow on google
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

rubynreba said...

The author studied Norse mythology to come up with epithets unique to Rane's ancestry.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

Anonymous said...

+5swag chirth7@yahoo.com

Jeff said...

+5swag jeff72768@yahoo.com

Shirley said...

+5swag shundelt@yahoo.com

Meredith said...

I love Kira's description of her travels to do her research!

meredithfl at gmail dot com

Meredith said...

I am a GFC follower.

meredithfl at gmail dot com

Meredith said...

I like that Rane is a combination of Robin Hood and Legolas.

meredithfl at gmail dot com

Shirley said...

https://twitter.com/Grandmamaof10/status/21828687841

shundelt@yahoo.com

Shirley said...

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/profile.php?id=100001087052807&v=wall&story_fbid=145922785430439

shundelt@yahoo.com

Shirley said...

http://www.stumbleupon.com/stumbler/shundelt45/review/45058841/

shundelt@yahoo.com

Shirley said...

http://bulletins.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=bulletin.read&authorID=540593519&messageID=6679500710&hash

shundelt@yahoo.com

Shirley said...

I follow via GFC

shundelt@yahoo.com

Shirley said...

I love historicals they are my favorite genre. I'd love to read this book! shundelt@yahoo.com

Shirley said...

To do historical research for Captured by Desire, Kira commandeered Scotland's purportedly haunted Roslin Castle for several days- very cool

shundelt@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

http://twitter.com/Romantic73/status/21829592068

chirth7@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

http://www.stumbleupon.com/stumbler/chirth7/review/45059053/

chirth7@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/profile.php?id=100000641625482&v=wall&story_fbid=148721088480302

chirth7@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

I follow via GFC chirth7@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

Kira created the character of Rane MacAllister by combining two legendary heroes of archery — Robin Hood and Legolas.

chirth7@yahoo.com

Allison said...

I love that this book is set in Scotland!

allisonsbj3(at)gmail(dot)com

Allison said...

I'm an email subscriber

allisonsbj3(at)gmail(dot)com

Allison said...

I love that the characters are "common folk."

allisonsbj3(at)gmail(dot)com

Jeff said...

I would love to win! I find in interesting she identifies herself as a 3rd Generation Californian. I dont think i have ever heard anyone say that! That makes me a 2nd generation Tennessean!

Thanks for the giveaway!

jeffintennessee at gmail dot com

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