Tuesday 27 September 2016

Author Interview: Sara R. Turnquist



Sara R. Turnquist will be awarding a $50 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

 
Have you ever had an imaginary friend?
No so much a friend as an imaginary pet. I had a small dog named “Germ”. There was a child’s song I learned about a dog named “Germ”, so he became my invisible pet dog. It wasn’t a very strongly held illusion. I only remember “playing” with Germ once or twice.

Do you have any phobias?
Yes. I am arachnophobic and acrophobic (seriously, I can’t climb a step stool without getting light headed).

Do you listen to music when you're writing?
Yes. Mostly instrumental. I love the music of Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings, and the Dark Crystal. And I listened to a lot of Celtic Woman when writing my debut novel.

Do you ever read your stories out loud?
Yes, I think this is vital for every author. You catch more errors this way. And you discover more about the rhythm of your work. And I just love to read it out loud. Whenever I get done with a scene I have to read it to my husband for instant feedback.

Tell us about your main character and who inspired him/her.
Ismene is more introverted, naïve, younger woman. She is unsure in this new land in which she finds herself, and insecure about marrying this stranger in light of the fact that her heart belongs to a young man she left in Athens. Though she is timid, she is strong of spirit and has a fire in her. I learned about the Ptolemaic Period (the era in which Greeks ruled Egypt) in a history class in middle school and it became one of my favorite time periods. So it just made sense to me to set my first novel then (this was the first novel I wrote, but the second one published). I have seen a lot of movies and television shows. Several of Ismene’s qualities are taken from favorite characters.

BLURB:
“Go home!” Ismene is speechless as she reads those words written in blood on the walls of her new home. The young, raven-haired Grecian beauty had traveled all the way from her homeland to marry the Pharaoh’s top general. But she never expected this. The hatred of the Alexandrian mob for their Greek rulers is right in front of her. It is the first of many threats she will receive.

Things are escalating out of control. Damaged crops and horses turned loose at night are one thing. But when Ismene receives a death threat, it becomes clear that there is a spy within her own household. She would turn to her husband to deal with this issue, except he left for battle by order of the Pharaoh. Not knowing whom to trust, she fears for her safety as well as the entire ruling class of Egypt.



Excerpt
Once they were alone, he gathered Ismene into his arms. “Love, are you truly all right?”

“I am.” She sighed, closing her eyes and just breathing in the scent of him. “Now.”

He kissed the top of her head and rubbed her back. When he closed his eyes he could still see the scene that he had come upon when he had found her on the balcony, and his blood ran hot. He forced his mind back to the present.

“I have a surprise for you.”

“Truly?”

“I thought I might read to you.”

“Oh?” She pulled back to look into his face. “That is a pleasant surprise. I think, sir, that you have found my weakness.”

“I think you know mine too, milady.” He said, drawing her in for an intimate kiss.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Sara is originally from middle TN. After a short stint in Memphis, where she earned a degree in Biology and began a career as both a Zoo Educator and a Sleep Technician, she then followed a dream to work for a large zoo in Orlando, FL as an Educator. Once she and her husband started their family, they moved back to Tennessee. Sara and her husband now enjoy a full life with their three beautiful and very active children. Sara enjoys many creative outlets – singing, piano, drawing, drama, and organizing anything. And even though she has enjoyed her career as a Zoo Educator, Sara's great love of the written word continued to draw her to write. She has always been an avid reader and, for many years, has been what she terms a “closet writer”. Her travels and love of history have served to inspire her to write Historical Fiction. Sara has made several trips overseas to the Czech Republic. Her time among the Czech people and the landscapes of the country inspired her and greatly influenced her work on her debut novel, The Lady Bornekova, set in Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic. Sara is also a member of the ACFW.

How to reach me:
Website/URL: saraturnquist.com
Twitter: @sarat1701
Facebook: Sara R. Turnquist, Author - www.facebook.com/authorsararturnquist

Buy Links:
Amazon:

Barnes & Noble:

Kobo:

Smashwords:

iTunes:


http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f1913/" rel="nofollow" data-raflid="28e4345f1913" data-theme="classic" data-template="" id="rcwidget_6781an36">a Rafflecopter giveaway


14 comments:

  1. congrats on the tour and thanks for the chance to win :)

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  2. Do you have a favorite classic love story?

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    Replies
    1. I think it would have to be Robin Hood and Maid Marian. Torn apart by their circumstances, yet their love prevails.

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  3. Really great post - thanks for sharing :)

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  4. Sounds like a great read, thank you for the interesting interview!

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  5. Heights make me pretty nervous, too!

    --Trix

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    Replies
    1. I know, right? I have little issue with flying in an airplane strangely enough, but try me on a paint ladder and I'm getting light-headed...go figure!

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