Monday, February 14, 2011

Teryl Cartwright's "Courting Constance"


We're happy to have Teryl Cartwright with us today talking about her book Courting Constance. To learn more about Teryl and her book, read on!

Title: Courting Constance
Publisher: Vinspire Publishing LLC

Cover blurb: “I will make him love me again.” With this vow, Constance Alford, realizing she may have lost the only love of her life, pursues her former fiancé relentlessly. She isn't surprised to discover Sir Geoffrey isn't at all interested his not so “secret” admirer. And when her creative attempts to win him back fail, Constance began to think that her best, most daring plan of all still won't be enough.
Still suffering from the sting of Constance's earlier rejection, Sir Geoffrey also has a plan for the resourceful Miss Alford, although his ideas revolve more around revenge. She would pay for trifling with the love he once offered her. He would make her truly love him and then walk away from her, finally and forever. But his heart gets in the way of his ideas and he soon finds himself at the mercy of his own plans.

1) How did this story come to you?
When I started dating and even after I married, I got very creative in my gift giving to my husband. I had accordion player serenade him, got him an autographed book by his favorite coach, wrote poetry and set up scavenger hunts, etc.—you name it. The story of Courting Constance came when I asked myself what would happen if something went wrong every time a creative gift idea was tried out? What if the serenade was more earsplitting than romantic? What if the recipient was allergic to the food? So you can imagine the fun I had writing this book for a very persistent, creative heroine and her victim (I mean the hero) who learns to have a sense of humor and a bit of patience.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
Like my first book, Courting Constance was a “Nano-book”, a fifty thousand word first draft that was written in a month in a Nanowrimo.org contest a few years ago. I then had to do a lot of research to make sure the Regency was accurate for Bath, England which helped add another 20 thousand words. This research meant going to the internet for pictures and even having a librarian from Bath help me find books with maps and more history. When I submitted the revised manuscript to Vinspire Publishing and got accepted I went through several edits. Although I had been through two and a half with one editor, when another took over, I had to go through a few more since each editor is different in their preferences and editing style. It took around two years from first draft to its publication.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1. I was crazy enough to go to Hollywood to pitch my first book for movie producers—and I’ll be back when better prepared!
2. I’ve written stories in many genres from sci-fi to satire, but have only been published in romance, drama and curriculum thus far.
3. I like to sneak inside jokes into my books—such as picking on stereotypes and putting in favorite author names as well as some street names where I live. I’ve even tucked in a reference to an actor I admire just for fun.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I’m working on a historical romance is called Scottish Made which is about what happens when a girl has amnesia and doesn’t know who to trust with this secret in an intrigue filled society of highland and lowland Scots. The other book I've started is nonfiction, Dramatic Sunday School for Adults, which focuses on how to use drama in class as an special way to experience scripture.

5) Parting comments?
God is at work in so many wonderful ways; we just have to be looking, asking for and recognizing these blessings. While we writers inspire each other, you, as a reader, do this too. You'd be surprised how much a comment can make someone's day, because we really do appreciate the connections that are made. Writing is not a solo endeavor, there are editors, researchers, mentors and readers involved. Thanks for reading--you make our books stay alive!

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
www.terylcartwright.com

18 comments:

  1. This would be a great book to curl up on the couch with a blanket, cup of tea and stay there all weekend. I can't move any way hip not working, so Im looking for good books to read. I cant wait to get it.
    Thanks
    God Bless
    Heidi
    heidijohnjeff@verizon.net

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  2. What an interesting name! I'd love to know how your parents came up with that. Good post.

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  3. I'm a subscriber . I'd love to be entered thanks
    ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

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  4. Sounds like another great read,I like how you used your gift giving your husband as platform for your story, I always amazed how God' uses our imaginations they He gave to use to start with . mrhpets@gmail.com

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  5. I'm a subsciber. Would love love to win this book, please enter me!

    dancealert at aol dot com

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  6. Your adult Sunday School Class book sounds very good...I would love to read your Regency era
    romance book! Many thanks, Cindi
    jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

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  7. Thanks, Teryl and Dawn for the chance to win this delightful sounding book, and for sharing the interview. mitzi_wanham[at]yahoo[dot] com.

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  8. This sounds like a great book! Please include me! Thanks for the chance. I'm an e-mail subscriber.

    nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

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  9. Please enter me to win this book! Lovely cover!


    dianalflowers@aol.com

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  10. Can't wait to see what lengths Constance goes to win her sweetie's heart ... and how he tries to break her heart but breaks his own in the process.
    Bring it on! Nan - potter1165@hughes.net

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  11. This sounds like a fun story. I'm a subscriber, thanks for entering me!
    twinwillowsfarm at gmail dot com

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  12. Regency is my all-time favorite genre. I would love to read this one! Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy :)

    homesteading[at]charter[dot]net

    I'm a subscriber, as well.

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  13. Teryl...pretty name...you sound delightful and confident! Love your ideas! Please include me.


    alekee02[at]yahoo[dot]com

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  14. Thank you all for your comments and for reading my blog. God bless!

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  15. This sounds like a fun book to read! I like how you started it for nanowrimo. Please enter me in this giveaway.

    seizethebookblog(at)gmail(dot)com

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  16. Ooooh, this sounds like an excellent book for me to read since I'm such a romantic at heart. I awed by the description of this book.

    Thanks for telling us about it.

    Lmaria23@hotmail.com

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  17. The cover is lovely and I'm quite attracted to Teryl's imaginative style and humor. Sometimes, I require something special to make me laugh. I enjoy laughing because it is so healthy and healing...and it's great exercise for the tummy. Thanks for offering this good book for giveaway and the chance to win it. I hope I win it!

    Sharing His Love,
    Barb Shelton
    barbjan10 at tx dot rr dot com

    ReplyDelete

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