The Story Behind the Story of SOARING EAGLE’S EMBRACE and Paperback Give Away

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Good Morning (or Afternoon) and Welcome to another terribly terrific Tuesday!

Before I get into the the main part of the blog today, let me remind you that I’ll be giving away a mass media paperback of the book, SOARING EAGLE’S EMBRACE,to some lucky blogger.  So please come on in and leave a message.

 

I love this book.  But before I get into that love, let me tell you of another love of mine.  I think I must have been all of ten years old when I first saw the movie “Naughty Marietta,” on television.  Jeanette McDonald and Nelson Eddy.  Struck by one of the last scenes in that movie (their love doesn’t stand a chance and she and he are singing their hearts out to each other — she on the stairs, and he staring up at her),  I have always loved them.  So much so that I wanted to be an opera singer when I was about 10 — until my mother spoiled that ambition by telling me that all opera stars are not particularly pretty… (I now know this is not entirely true.)  But, it was more true, I think, during my mother’s day and age.

As I grew older, I eventually saw all of the movies they did with each other — and I became aware that these two people were very much in love.  If you don’t believe me, look at the movie, “New Moon” and their duet together beneath the trees and stars.  He can’t keep his hands off of her and she stares into his eyes with a passion that isn’t acting.

That lead me to another book entitled SWEETHEARTS by Sharon Rich, and I found out that I, indeed, was right about these two star-crossed lovers.  They were very much in love — were in love all their lives through — but due to studio (MGM) pressures and outright suppression, they never married, although in the filming of ROSE MARIE, Nelson proposed to Jeanette and she accepted.  But executives at MGM at the time weren’t about to let these two lead happy lives — they needed to sizzle on the screen…

You might be wondering what all this has to do with SOARING EAGLE’S EMBRACE.  Well, at the time I was writing SOARING EAGLE’S EMBRACE, I was reading Sharon’s book, SWEETHEARTS.  I even went to a fan club meeting…

I’ve often called SOARING EAGLE’S EMBRACE my musical.  Yes, yes, I know it’s only a book.  Yes, I know there isn’t a song going to jump out at you when you open the book.  Still, it’s my “musical,” inspired by Jeanette and Nelson.

I highly recommend getting and reading Sharon Rich’s book, SWEETHEARTS.  Jeanette and Nelson were on again, off again lovers, forever misunderstanding one another and thus, often going head to head — however, they remained true to each other all through their lives.  Jeanette died in her sixty’s of heart failure and Nelson soon followed her two years later.

A story told to me by someone in my church (Nelson was a member of my church) said that Nelson had come into the church shortly after Jeanette’s death, and told him that Jeanette was with him always.  Shortly after that — so the story goes, he followed her in death.

Now another interesting little tale that I thought I’d share with you comes to me from Grandfather George, who, before his retirement, was an actor.  He also taught acting classes.

Grandfather George told me the story of MGM in those days taking a disliking to Nelson, who was forthright and honest.about his ideas.  They disapproved of the romance between Jeanette and Nelson and kept pulling them apart using lies and other devices — even blackmail to try to destroy their love.  They (executives, I guess) even arranged a marriage for Jeanette, which she later regretted — according to Grandfather George. The book by Sharon, SWEETHEARTS, also tells this story.  But this isn’t all of the story that Grandfather George related to me.  He told me that one day, (now here I have to to rely on your imagination) these two people (young people in the 1990’s) approached him, and told him the story of who they were, that they were Nelson and Jeanette and that now, at last they could be together…

I asked Grandfather George once who these people were in today’s world, but George told me they had sworn him to secrecy.  But after reading their love story (tragic though it was), it was nice to have a “happy ending.”

What does this have to do with the book, SOARING EAGLE’S EMBRACE?  Well, I was enraptured with their romance (and all of their movies) as I was writing this book — thus, I call this book, my musical.  Now before I go, I’ll leave you with a link to my book, SOARING EAGLE’S EMBRACE, but also with a link to two of the most impassioned scenes caught on film.  Enjoy!

This is the scene from New Moon, where these two sing to each other — and it literally takes your breath away.  The song is :  Wanting you: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYrFvkp92Iw&list=RDLV1xpKeabZlEs&start_radio=1&rv=1xpKeabZlEs

And here’s the link to the scene that first started me loving this couple: — the song is “Ah Sweet Mystery of Life.”  Enjoy!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xpKeabZlEs&t=1s

And here’s the link to buy the book or to upload since the book is on KindleUnlimited:  https://www.amazon.com/SOARING-EAGLES-EMBRACE-Legendary-Warriors-ebook/dp/B074LWHB7W/ref=sr_1_1?crid=21FGCZL4L55Z8&keywords=Soaring+Eagle%27s+Embrace+by+karen+kay&qid=1689006713&sprefix=soaring+eagle%27s+embrace+by+karen+kay%2Caps%2C104&sr=8-1&tag=pettpist-20

Now, while I’m at it, let me also post one more link to one of the most beautiful duets ever caught on film.  This is from the movie, ROSE MARIE and the song is:  INDIAN LOVE CALL.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRl6_4uWsjc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8KesxHBVOU&list=RDGmCt60A9ihc&index=2

So yes, SOARING EAGLE’S EMBRACE is my musical.

Karen Kay
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KAREN KAY aka GEN BAILEY is the multi-published author of American Indian Historical Romances. She has written for such prestigious publishers as AVON/HarperCollins, Berkley/Penguin/Putnam and Samhain Publishing. KAREN KAY’S great grandmother was Choctaw Indian and Kay is honored to be able to write about the American Indian Culture.
Please refer to https://petticoatsandpistols.com/sweepstakesrules for all contest rules.

33 thoughts on “The Story Behind the Story of SOARING EAGLE’S EMBRACE and Paperback Give Away”

  2. The stories of old Hollywood are mostly sad ones. The movies could be amazing. I love the old movies and musicals.

    • Me too, David. I love these old movies and in particular the Jeanette McDonald and Nelson Eddy movies. You’re right, though. Not always were these stars’ lives easy. Thanks for coming here today.

  3. When people try to control others through force or coercion instead of respecting them & treating them with love, it never fails to create trouble! However, some of these tragic stories throughout history have also created such poignant tales that, even though those actions make my heart hurt, I do love how (at least in the stories with a happy ever after) the characters who suffer through these experiences also learn from them and grow stronger & more able to see and act with compassion as they move forward! What hope for the rest of us!

    • Thank you, Amy, for your heartfelt observations. Must say, I agree with you very much. Though many of those stars suffered, they gave us the beauty of their creativity and for this, I am grateful.

  7. They dont make movies like they did in the 40’s. I just find my old copy of Soaring Eagles Embrace. Dated 2003.Some books i keep to read over and over.

  8. Hi Emma! Oh, how it brings joy to my heart to hear this! Thank you for telling me about this. No, they don’t make movies like this anymore.

  9. I also, grew up in the era of Janette McDonald and Nelson Eddy.
    We had a 6 inch TV screen, and all 5 of us were huddled around it, enthralled in the beautiful harmony that those two voices could blend together. Indeed, over the years, through larger screens and color broadcasts, I am still glued to the set, when any of their black and white pictures come on. The thrill of their voices, declaring their love, still leaves me, wanting more.

    • Hi Nanci! Me, too. I can’t get away from the screen when they are on it. And, their singing was as though they were making love. Such beauty. Thank you for posting.

  10. I love your in-depth tale of Nelson and Jeanette. Such a love never to be consummated. Hollywood truly owned the lives of their actors in those days. They spoke and the actor had to follow their orders – or else. Such a tragedy. By the way, I was fortunate enough to read your book, She Captures my Heart, and it was beautiful. I have always been drawn to the lives of the Indians and the travesty this country pressed upon them. I do not carry any Indian blood, but still have a very strong empathy for them all. They were not treated right at all. Thank you for bringing such beauty to this people and their nation. You do a beautiful job, Karen.

  13. Wow!! Thanks you for sharing the story of a wonderful Hollywood couple, Karen! Ah, the wonderful old black and white movies back in the day. They were so heartwarming and worth watching compared to a lot of the stuff that comes out of Hollywood today. Which is such a shame. The folks in Hollywood could learn a thing or two from those back then concerning movie making. I love to think that Jeanette and Nelson did get their happily ever after because true love always finds a way. Thank you again for touching us all once again with such a wonderful tale. Have a wonderful day, my dear friend!!!

  20. Thank you for sharing about your inspiration. I love old movies and musicals. I remember watching and loving them when I was growing up.

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