Today Lagniappe Welcomes...
Author - Christine Lindsay
Her latest release from Pelican Book Group's Passport to Romance series:
Londonderry Dreaming
STAINED GLASS WINDOWS by
Christine Lindsay
When I saw the submission call for the Passport to Romance line from
Pelican Books, I got really excited. Normally I write historical novels—my
series Twilight of the British Raj takes place in Colonial India. But Pelican
was asking for contemporary romance novellas to take place in specific cities
around the world.
One of those cities was Londonderry. As a person born in Belfast, N. Ireland
not far from Londonderry. I simply had
to write this book. I was salivating—I wanted to write this book so badly. I
mean, after all, we’re talking about my tiny little homeland. One of the unique
things about N. Ireland which includes the six north-eastern counties, is that
it is not part of Ireland, but still belongs to Great Britain. This was the
choice of the people of those six counties.
One of the nicest things about writing this book is I didn’t need to do much
research, but could draw on my own memories. In fact, I ended up dedicating Londonderry Dreaming to my Aunt Maggie
who is now with the Lord because I created the bed & breakfast in this
novella directly from her farm and beautiful Irish farmhouse. When my character
Naomi wakes up in that lovely mint-green bedroom, with the lace curtains that
open to a view of gentle Irish pastures, that is from my memories.
There were times I needed
to verify details. For example, it was an honor to communicate over email with
the Vicar of St. Augustine’s Church in Londonderry. Not only did I receive the
vicar's permission to use the ancient church in my novel, but a blessing as
well, and help from the congregation. That church, but mainly the stained glass
windows of St. Augustine’s, was the inspiration behind Londonderry Dreaming.
It was on a visit to
Ireland in 2006 that my daughter Lana and I visited St. Augustine’s. I was
admiring one stained glass window in particular—the one depicting Ruth and
Naomi.
That biblical story had
given me hope over the years when I was searching for Lana’s older sister,
Sarah. Sarah was the child I had
relinquished to adoption and was reunited with 20 years later. I took
encouragement as I read how Ruth and Naomi developed such a close, loving
relationship in their adult life. Thy
people shall be my people...thy God shall be my God. That entwining of
hearts and lives was what I hoped for with Sarah, the kind of relationship I already
shared with Lana.
God graciously gave me
that precious relationship with both of my daughters. What an indescribable joy
it was to see my daughters, Sarah and Lana, as the models on the front covers
of my first two books, Shadowed in Silk
and Captured by Moonlight of my
series Twilight of the British Raj. A bit like those gorgeous stained glass
windows depicting Ruth and Naomi.
Writing about the land
that I am proud to have been born in, and showing a small aspect of its unusual
beauty was a personal joy. I know what those emerald green fields are like. The
ancient stone boundaries, the medieval wall surrounding the old city of
Londonderry, the rush of the surf along the jagged coastline on the North Sea,
and the world-famous Giant’s Causeway.
A few readers of the book
have asked me about the Irish brogue. I really hope readers will enjoy this
humorous aspect, especially the dialogue from the 'Irish cousins'. I was born
in Ireland and was raised in Canada, but all my extended family is Irish---so I
know how they talk and think. I know their blarney...oh...my...do I know their
blarney.
For a short trip to N. Ireland, watch this minute long book trailer for
Acclaimed New
York artist, Naomi Boyd, and music therapist, Keith Wilson, loved one another
five years ago, until her grandfather with his influence over Naomi separated
them.
That root of
bitterness keeps them apart until a letter from Keith’s grandmother, Ruth,
draws Naomi to Londonderry to find she’s too late. Ruth has passed on. After
the death of his beloved grandmother, Keith has also come to Londonderry only
to open the door to his past…Naomi...beautiful as ever, the girl who broke his
heart.
A mysterious painting
in Ruth’s attic brings up questions about their grandparents’ entwined past and
their own broken romance. But more comfortable with the unspoken languages of
art and music, Naomi and Keith find it difficult to share their old hurts and
true feelings.
Will the
majestic coastline of Northern Ireland inspire them to speak the words to bring
peace to their grandparents’ memory and to rekindle love?
About Christine:
It was stories of her ancestors who served in the British Cavalry in Colonial India that inspired her multi-award-winning historical series Twilight of the British Raj, Book 1 Shadowed in Silk, Book 2 Captured by Moonlight, and Christine is currently writing the final installment of that series called Veiled at Midnight to be released August 2014.
Christine makes her home in British Columbia, on
the west coast of Canada with her husband and their grown up family. Her cat
Scottie is chief editor on all Christine’s books.
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Christine, thanks for sharing and for taking us on a short trip to Londonderry, Ireland!
Readers, thanks for visiting Lagniappe.
Be sure to leave a comment to let Christine know you've been here!
I pray that each of you find
"a little something extra"
in each of your days.
Marian
