Over the last several years, I’ve had a grand time retelling classic Disney fairy tales in western settings. Next month I’ll be releasing my latest in the Once Upon a Time in Texas series – Part of Your World.
The Little Mermaid holds a special place in my heart. It first came to theaters when my husband and I were dating, and when we were apart the summer before our wedding, my husband wrote me a letter with all the lyrics to Kiss the Girl. Now, this was pre-Internet, so he couldn’t just Google the lyrics. He had to find a cassette recording then rewind it over and over to get the words down. Yes, we’re that old. Ha!
My heroine, Muriel Quinn is a long-distance swimmer who idolizes Agnes Beckwith. Agnes grew up the daughter of a swimming instructor and performer. She was performing in swimming shows across England from age four onward. As a teenager, she turned her attention to distance swimming. In 1875, at age 14, she made history by swimming five miles in the Thames from London Bridge to Greenwich. In 1878, she swam twenty miles. By 1885, she was appearing in the Royal Aquarium of Westminster billed as The Greatest Lady Swimmer of the World.
I styled Muriel’s bathing costume after those that Agnes wore, since she couldn’t possibly swim long distances in the typical bathing costumes of the day.
Muriel swims along the coast of Galveston in the Gulf of Mexico. And as you might expect, her swimming skills come in handy when our hero, Zane Erickson, has a boating accident and finds himself in need of rescue.
Muriel and Zane come from vastly different worlds. She is the daughter of a man who works at the docks. He is the only son of a socially elite family and is training to be an architect under the great Nicholas Clayton, one of the most successful American architects of the Gilded Age, especially in the south.
Zane has no interest in the marriage his mother wishes to arrange—until the mysterious young woman who saved his life reappears as a potential match. However, their reunion is no coincidence. Caught in a dangerous web of blackmail and deceit, Zane and Muriel must risk everything to protect their growing love—and the lives of those they hold dear.
Preorder Part of Your World Here
This is my first official beach read! Not a common occurrence when one writes historical western fiction.
Are you a beach person?
Do you like frolicking in the waves or do you prefer staying on shore?
Good morning Karen! I love the sunrises and sunsets and hearing the waves from beach. No, I do not get into the water at the beach. Not since the movie Jaws! LOL
I’ve read your Beauty and the Beast version! Can’t wait to read this one! I’m older than you. I took my daughter to see The Little Mermaid! Those were the good ole days before the internet! I feel so blessed to have grown up before it! Even my kids talk about the time before it! LOL
Best wishes Karen!
Hi, Tracy. Sunsets over the water are so beautiful! I grew up in California, so going to the beach was a common activity. I used to get in the water until I had a scary experience with an undertow. Now I prefer staying on shore. 🙂
Nowadays I’d be doing more wading than swimming if I were to visit an ocean beach. The story you’ve spun sounds intriguing Thanks for giving the P&P family a preview.
You’re so welcome, Mary. I’m definitely more of a wader than a swimmer. I stick to about ankle deep. 🙂
I prefer to sit on the shore and read a good book! There are times I just need to listen to the waves and chill. Especially in the early morning.
That is such a soothing sound, isn’t it? That gentle, rythmic lapping is like being rocked. So peaceful!
Even though I grew up going to the local beach at the reservoir I am not a beach person – prefer solid ground, four legs or four wheels!
I’m much the same, Teresa. I grew up along the California coast and went to the beach often with friends, but I much prefer inland bodies of water – lakes, streams, waterfalls. Those make my heart happy.
My daughter now lives in Daytona Beach, so I get to visit the ocean whenever I want! My health won’t allow me to swim in the ocean, but sitting and letting the waves wash over me is good enough. I’ve read every one of your books, so of course I’m looking forward to this one!
How wonderful that you can visit the beach as often as you like, Karen! So fun. And thank you for being a loyal reader. Your enthusiasm makes my heart smile!
Good morning. Oh but this sounds wonderful. I love the cover. I am one that prefers to stay on the beach. Never really enjoyed swimming.
Thanks, Lori. I’m super happy with how the cover turned out as well. I’m not a great swimmer, so staying on the shore is definitely more my speed. 🙂
We live near South Padre Island, so we can take beach trips often but personally I don’t enjoy the beach. I don’t like the hot humid weather, prefer to be indoors in the AC, the sand gets everywhere and the salty water irritates my eyes. When we do take family beach trips I stay under the shade and keep watch over everyone instead. We are a large family so there is always children to keep track of.
We all need people like you who are willing to watch the little ones and guard the stuff. 🙂 The older I get, the more I want to volunteer for that position. 🙂
I love the cover and can’t wait to read it .I love your books . I would be staying on the shore.
Thanks, Linda! I’m so excited to share this story with you.
I love the beach. As a kid, I’d play in the water, but as an adult, I’m content to read under a beach umbrella.
You and I are walking similar paths, Denise. 🙂 Reading under an umbrella sounds lovely.
I have only been to the beach once when my hubby and I were dating. I stayed on the beach since it was a cold and rainy day. Today I would want a comfy chair with an umbrella and a good book and I would be as happy as a lark. ?
That sounds like a perfect day, Barbara!
I like swimming in the waves sometimes and i enjoy the beach, but I much prefer swimming in a pool.
Much cleaner in the pool. 🙂 In California where I grew up, there was always tar and kelp to deal with. I didn’t mind as a kid, but it doesn’t sound quite as enticing now. Ha!
I like the beach, especially walking the beach and listening to the waves. However, I have to be really careful what time of day I go, as I burn very easily! I stay out of the water, as we have horrid rip currents off our beaches on the Space Coast of FL. We’ve actually already had quite a few deaths from people being caught in them so far this year.
Those rip currents are scary! I’ve always liked the idea of a walk along the edge of the water. It seems so romantic. Especially, if there aren’t very many people around.
I am a beach person! I could sit in the sand under an umbrella for hours enjoying the sounds and sights while reading a book:)
If I could get a private beach without all the extra people, I would be a beach person too. Ha!
I don’t know how to swim so I stay in the shallows or on the beach.
Good move, Karijean. I can swim, but not very strongly, so I stick to the shallows myself.
I love your cover, Karen, and I lover this idea. So original. : )
Thanks, Kay. I am so pleased with how the cover turned out!
Hi, your book sounds and looks like a great read! I stay by the shore, as I dont swim. I enjoyed reading your post. Have a great day and a great rest of the week.
Thanks, Alicia. I’m more of a shore-dweller myself. 🙂
I used to love jumping in the waves, now I like walking on the shore.
I am much the same, Debby. I’ll let the youngsters frolic and smile at their antics. 🙂
Little Mermaid has always been on of my favorite Disney movies. We are not beach people. I enjoy the coast, but more the rocky shores. No matter which type of coastline, the sight and sound of the waves is something special, whether the seas are calm or stormy.
So true, Patricia. The ocean is so majestic.
I stay on shore
I’ll join you, Bridgette. 🙂
Oh, Karen, I can’t wait to read Part of Your World! It looks so good. I am a shore person, but I love being at the lake or ocean especially when its warm.