Susan Page Davis' "The Lady's Maid"

Title: The Lady’s Maid
Publisher: Barbour Publishing

Cover blurb: The Lady’s Maid features Elise Finster, who accompanies her young mistress, Lady Anne Stone, on a voyage to America in 1855. Lady Anne’s father has died, and her Uncle David is the new Earl of Stoneford—if he steps forward and claims the title. But David disappeared into the American West when Anne was a baby. Now it’s up to her and Elise to find him. Obstacles abound. Mules to tend, a lazy hired man, rugged mountains, unexpected romance, and a sinister stranger stand in their way. The Lady’s Maid is the first book in the Prairie Dreams series, and released October 1, 2011.

1) How did this story come to you?
My editor asked for a prairie story, and I was working at the time on a different book that involved royalty (Love Finds You in Prince Edward Island). I read a lot about the customs and protocol of the day. The idea of aristocrats on a wagon train struck me as a fun way to bring the Victorian period to the West.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
Although this book was requested by the editor, I did have a false start. At first I had suggested another idea. She liked it “all right” but wasn’t crazy about it. I certainly wanted to give her a story she was crazy about, so I did some brainstorming and came up with my elegant ladies crossing the plains.

Once that was settled, it was a matter of fleshing out the plot, writing the book, rewriting, doing edits and revisions, and so on—the usual journey of about eighteen months from idea to publication.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
It’s really hard to surprise people these days, but I’ll try. I am a Mayflower descendant and a stroke survivor, and I have no sense of fashion whatsoever. Oops, for anyone who knows me, that is no surprise.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I am working on the third book in this series, A Lady in the Making. (Lady Anne’s Quest comes in between). After that, I’ll be writing a contemporary mystery.

5) Parting comments?
Thanks for having me over, Dawn. This series is a lot of fun to write, and I hope the readers love the characters and their adventures as much as I do.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
My website is at http://www.susanpagedavis.com/.

Purchase links:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/161626439X/suspagdav-20
Barnes & Noble: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Ladys-Maid/Susan-Page-Davis/e/9781616264390?itm=1&usri=the%20lady%20s%20maid
CBD:
http://www.christianbook.com/ladys-maid-prairie-dreams/susan-davis/9781616264390/pd/264390?item_code=WW&netp_id=881498&event=ESRCN&view=details