Beth Trissel lives on a farm in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley with her husband, children and multiple animals.
The beauty of the valley and uniqueness of rural life has led her to write a collection of atmospheric personal essays compiled into a work of nonfiction, in addition to several historical paranormal romances.
I had the pleasure of meeting, Beth Trissel, two years ago on the Pink Fuzzy Slippers blog and we finally “saw” each other last year at RWA in San Francisco. Beth’s historical Through the Fire was nominated for a Golden Heart Award in 2008. It will be released by the Wild Rose Press on May 22nd, 2008, both as ebook and paperback. Beth has two other novels coming out at The Wild Rose Press, on May 1, Daughter of the Wind, and on May 8th, Enemy of the King.
[I am posing with Beth just before the Golden Heart reception].
Is Daughter of the Wind a historical romance?
Daughter of The Wind is a light paranormal romance with strong American Historical roots. Set among the clannish Scots-Irish in the mist-shrouded Alleghenies. It’s the tale of the clash between peoples and young lovers caught in the middle. Ever influenced by my regard for Eastern Woodland Indians, I interwove mystical Native American elements with “Daughter”.
How do you characterize your heroine?
A change was coming as surely as the shifting seasons; Karin McNeal heard the urgent whispers in the wind.
Karin yearns to know who she truly is. The secrets of the past are guarded by her fiercely possessive grandfather and uncles. Only an elderly aunt will shed any light on the tantalizing mystery. No one will speak of her father or utter his name as if fearing to conjure a demon from the shadows. Then a newcomer arrives at the McNeal homestead on the eve of Karin’s twentieth birthday and anniversary of her mother’s death.
What about your hero?
Leaves swirled through the blackened doorway and a young man staggered inside, his face partly hidden under a wide-brimmed hat, chestnut hair pulled back. He wore the rugged dress of a frontiersman, a brown, green-fringed hunting shirt, leggings, and deerskin moccasins well up his calves. Wet through from the blowing rain, he fell forward. Blood streamed down his sleeve from a wound to his shoulder.
Grandpa reached out to steady him. “What on earth?”
The injured man collapsed in his arms. “I’m shot—” His musket slid from the woven strap over his other shoulder and thudded to the floor.
Former Shawnee captive, Jack McCray, has known a lot of winter in his life. A man of war, he’s battled more years than not. The long bloody Revolution is finally behind him, but he didn’t fight on the same side as his former kinsmen and resentments run deep. His quest in returning to the clannish settlement must be kept secret or his homecoming will be his funeral. He sees in Karin’s eyes that she’s in ignorance of her past, one he knows well. He also has a scheme for her future; he just hadn’t planned on his overpowering reaction to this unusual young woman.
Jack fluttered his eyes and looked beyond his weeping mother to Karin.
His gaze drew her almost against her will. She leaned toward him.
“Someone seeks for you, Shequenor’s dahnaithah,” he whispered.
The message rippled through her with a prickling shiver. And she knew—his was the inviting summons in the wind.
Short Synopsis:
Autumn, 1784: A tragic secret from Karin McNeal's past haunts the young Scots-Irish woman who longs to know more of her mother’s death and the mysterious father no one will name. The elusive voices she hears in the wind hint at the dramatic changes soon to unfold in her life among the Scot’s settled in the mist-shrouded Alleghenies. Jack McCray, a wounded stranger who staggers through the door on the eve of her twentieth birthday and anniversary of her mother’s death, holds the key to unlocking the past. Will she let this handsome frontiersman lead her to the truth and into his arms, or seek the shelter of her fiercely possessive grandfather? Is it only her imagination or does something, or someone, wait beyond the brooding ridges—for her?
Daughter of The Wind is a light paranormal romance with strong American Historical roots. Set among the clannish Scots-Irish in the mist-shrouded Alleghenies. It’s the tale of the clash between peoples and young lovers caught in the middle. Ever influenced by my regard for Eastern Woodland Indians, I interwove mystical Native American elements with “Daughter”.
How do you characterize your heroine?
A change was coming as surely as the shifting seasons; Karin McNeal heard the urgent whispers in the wind.
Karin yearns to know who she truly is. The secrets of the past are guarded by her fiercely possessive grandfather and uncles. Only an elderly aunt will shed any light on the tantalizing mystery. No one will speak of her father or utter his name as if fearing to conjure a demon from the shadows. Then a newcomer arrives at the McNeal homestead on the eve of Karin’s twentieth birthday and anniversary of her mother’s death.
What about your hero?
Leaves swirled through the blackened doorway and a young man staggered inside, his face partly hidden under a wide-brimmed hat, chestnut hair pulled back. He wore the rugged dress of a frontiersman, a brown, green-fringed hunting shirt, leggings, and deerskin moccasins well up his calves. Wet through from the blowing rain, he fell forward. Blood streamed down his sleeve from a wound to his shoulder.
Grandpa reached out to steady him. “What on earth?”
The injured man collapsed in his arms. “I’m shot—” His musket slid from the woven strap over his other shoulder and thudded to the floor.
Former Shawnee captive, Jack McCray, has known a lot of winter in his life. A man of war, he’s battled more years than not. The long bloody Revolution is finally behind him, but he didn’t fight on the same side as his former kinsmen and resentments run deep. His quest in returning to the clannish settlement must be kept secret or his homecoming will be his funeral. He sees in Karin’s eyes that she’s in ignorance of her past, one he knows well. He also has a scheme for her future; he just hadn’t planned on his overpowering reaction to this unusual young woman.
Jack fluttered his eyes and looked beyond his weeping mother to Karin.
His gaze drew her almost against her will. She leaned toward him.
“Someone seeks for you, Shequenor’s dahnaithah,” he whispered.
The message rippled through her with a prickling shiver. And she knew—his was the inviting summons in the wind.
Short Synopsis:
Autumn, 1784: A tragic secret from Karin McNeal's past haunts the young Scots-Irish woman who longs to know more of her mother’s death and the mysterious father no one will name. The elusive voices she hears in the wind hint at the dramatic changes soon to unfold in her life among the Scot’s settled in the mist-shrouded Alleghenies. Jack McCray, a wounded stranger who staggers through the door on the eve of her twentieth birthday and anniversary of her mother’s death, holds the key to unlocking the past. Will she let this handsome frontiersman lead her to the truth and into his arms, or seek the shelter of her fiercely possessive grandfather? Is it only her imagination or does something, or someone, wait beyond the brooding ridges—for her?
Daughter of the Wind is available at The Wild Rose Press and Amazon.com
11 comments:
Interviewing Beth is a great idea Mona. I think you captured her spirit.
And Beth, what can I say about you, other then that you amaze me with your talented muse, and the genuine goodness in your heart comes out in all of your books. Way to go Beth!!
I've always liked stories set in that era and this one sounds most intriguing.
This sounds like a wonderful story Beth, original and haunting. I love the excerpt. Good luck wikth this I bet you can't wait for its release.
Great job on today's 'getting to know you' session, Beth & Mona! You're both awesome. :-)
Cool interview, Beth. Shenandoah Valley, hey. One of my favorite old time shows is Shenandoah. I love that movie.
Great excerpt, caught my attention.
Patsy
P. L. Parker
Thanks so much, ladies, and now we will all join together in singing 'Oh Shenandoah!' Loved that movie too, and the song gives me chills.
Shenandoah means Daughter of the Stars. Beautiful name.
Thank you ladies for your comments. Beth is so easy to interview and her books so delightful to read.
Beth, your novel sounds superb and your excerpts are beautifully written. Congratulations! Good job on a great interview, Mona!
Nice interview, ladies. I agree with Lyn. It does feel as if it has a haunting quality about it. I adore the cover. too!
Sounds like a great story, Beth! Love the cover!
Great interview Mona and Beth! I love historicals and with a little paranormal thrown in all the better!
Scarlet
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