Howdy!
Gosh, doesn’t the title of this blog sound like a dance? In a way, last week was a bit of a “dance,” and hustle. And, although it’s a brand new week, the hustle continues.
So, let me begin with the news. First, I have three (3) books on sale right now.
SHE STEALS MY BREATH is the first book in the Medicine Man series and is on sale for $.99.
WHITE EAGLE’S TOUCH is the second book in the Blackfoot Warrior series and is on sale for $2.99.
BRAUT DES EISERNEN WOLF’S — but wait isn’t this last book in German? Yes, indeed, it is. In English it is IRON WOLF’S BRIDE and it is on sale for $.99.
So this deserves a little bit of a story.
Slowly, I’m getting the Wild West series translated into German for the German market. The Eagle and the Flame was the first book I put up on the German market. But Iron Wolf’s Bride required a little more effort. The original cover did not have the layered file included and so my cover artist and I decided to do a new cover similar to the old one. And, this was the result. I liked it a lot and so we now have this cover for Iron Wolf’s Bride in e-book format (paperbacks take several extra steps).
And so, in celebration, I’m putting this e-book on sale at $.99.
Then, in other news about chances to win give-aways, Authors XP is putting on a sale of Romantic suspense books. And, I am participating in this event. This book, IRON WOLF’S BRIDE is not only a Historical Romance/Native American, set in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show, but it is also filled with suspense. The event starts today, Tuesday and goes on until next Monday. And here is the link to the event: https://AuthorsXP.com/giveaway
And, just another bit of news, while my latest effort, SHE BRING BEAUTY TO ME, is in editing, I’m writing another Young Adult Story under the pen name of Genny Cothern. This will be a little longer than my first Young Adult Story and its working title (what I call the book when I’m writing it), is: THE ADVENTURE OF GOOD EAGLE AND MISS STARLING. It is written a little differently than my Romantic Historical Books in that it is written in the first person (I saw the bird) as opposed to the 3rd person (She saw the bird.) I think this is, perhaps, natural since these stories of true adventures I’m reading for research are all written in the 1st person.
And so, I thought I’d give you a little taste of this new Young Adult Story. Remember, it is as yet unedited.
CHAPTER ONE
The Village of Saint Louis
1844
As I waited to start my passage aboard the steamboat, NIMROD, tears streamed down my face, but I did nothing to curtail them. I knew no one here in this far west fur-trading town of St. Louis, so what did it matter if I cried?
In my gloved hand was my paid ticket from Uncle Jed, who had also financed the various and different carriages that had brought me here. Indeed, due to bad weather, I had only arrived here on the previous evening, leaving little time for me to enjoy the town—if there were any joy to be found in this village…or anywhere.
It has been said this town is where the West begins. But, I little cared. Having spent little more than a few unrestful hours in a boarding house last night, I cared not for this village nor for the Western Indian Country. After all, I was journeying into the West not by choice, but rather by need.
My name is Starling Nelson. I was so named after the bird of English fame, the European Starling. When I was younger, my mother had told me the story of my grandfather gifting her a pair of the birds after he had returned from one of his visits to England. My mother, who had been quite young at the time, had fallen in love with the Starlings’ songs consisting of whistles and she had especially loved the warbling of the male bird. And so, when I had come around— I being my parent’s only child—I had inherited the name.
However, this was all in my past. Only the present seemed to matter now, and, unfortunately, my present no longer included my mother and father. Sadly, my parents had perished months ago on what should have been a short day cruise on the Hudson River. I was supposed to have gone with them, but due to a bad head cold, I had stayed behind, bed ridden.
An unexpected storm had gathered suddenly, and a bolt of lightning had struck the boat, sinking it and leaving no survivors. I had then been left alone in a world I was ill-equipped to survive in.
Because my mother possessed no living relatives—at least none we had ever spoken about—my father’s only brother had come to my rescue, offering his home to me, he who made his living in the dreaded Indian Country. Not that I required his guardianship. I was a girl of sixteen, after all. I could take care of myself, or so I had told myself, until the bills had come due, and then, having no means to pay them, I had realized how vulnerable I really was.
Imagine my surprise when I had learned my parent’s legacy to me was not to receive any of their riches, but rather, it was to instead pay my parent’s debts; added to this was the legal threat of sending me to an orphanage. This discovery, as well as the intimidation, had plummeted me into the depths of despair and, for a time, had caused me such misery, I thought I might never recover. Luckily, Uncle Jed —a man I had never met—had somehow discovered my plight and had paid my parent’s debts.
I had rejoiced for a time, but then had come the reality of my situation, as hunger had caused me to seek employment in an environment unfriendly to a working youngster. Imagine my surprise when I had received a letter from Uncle Jed, inviting me to come west to live with his family. It had said:
“My dearest niece,
“Please allow me to tell you how deeply saddened I am at the loss or your mother and my dearly beloved brother. I have now paid your parent’s creditors and hope I have taken this burden from your shoulders.
“It has come to my notice that the League of Presbyterian Ministers recommends sending you to an orphanage where you should stay until you reach your majority. This has been done without consulting me. I, therefore, would like to offer you an alternate plan by opening my home to you, humble though my abode might be.
“While it is true that the West might be considered to be a rugged country, it has many advantages, which I think you would soon realize if you decide to become a part of my family here.
“My wife, who is of the Blackfeet, Pikuni, tribe, bids me to encourage you to make the journey here. She wishes me to tell you she will be the best mother she can be to you, and she adds that all she has will be yours.
“It is my hope you will look with a kind eye upon the arrangements I have made for your journey into what is known as “Indian Country.” The tickets I am sending you in this letter do not expire. Should you decide to come here, you have only to book the journey, which, as you can see, awaits you.
“Know that, upon receipt of your return letter and your wish to join me here, I will make arrangements for you to be met in St. Louis by the Captain of the steamboat, NIMROD, who will be tasked with the duty to bring you safely to the post that I command via Fort Union, a few thousand miles from Fort Benton, where I reside. Or, if my duties do not demand my attention, I should like to meet you at Fort Union, myself.
“You may, however, wish to remain where you are, and, if this is what you think would be best, I will honor your decision.
“I look forward to your letter informing me of your wishes.”
Yours truly,
Your father’s brother, Uncle Jed
Though the mere thought of traveling into Indian Country had frightened me, to be sure, I had yet answered my uncle’s letter at once, deciding a trip into the west was preferable to remaining where I was, where the threat of being constrained into an orphanage until I reached the age of twenty and one, loomed darkly upon my future. Besides, the environment I now found myself to be in reminded me constantly of my parents and my losing them and their love. At present, grief ruled my life.
And so, I had accepted my uncle’s offer to relocate myself and all my worldly possessions to his home…a home he had described to me in another letter as a fur-trading post, located deeply in the heart of Indian country.
“Are ye ready to board the steamship, Lassie? Ye be Miss Starling Nelson, are ye not?”
I gazed up at the tall, heavy-set man, who, dressed in a sailor’s coarse, dark- blue coat and a Captain’s hat, startled me. Yet, I found myself saying, as if by rote, “I suppose I am.”
“Good, Lassie. Good. As soon as I seen ye, I know’d ye to be Jed Nelson’s niece. Who else but his niece would have the golden color of hair, so like yer Uncle Jed’s?”
I simply stared at the clean-shaven man, not knowing how to respond. But, I was saved the effort because the man was continuing to talk.
“Well, now I be knowin’ yer uncle. A fine man. Aye, a fine man he be. But, let me introduce me self to ye, Lassie. Here be a letter from yer Uncle Jed. It be a letter of introduction, I bein’ the capt’n of this steamboat. Name’s Edward…Edward MacKenzie, though I be no relation to Kenneth McKensie, the Bourgeois of Fort Union. But, because I be the best steamboat capt’n on the Missouri, yer uncle trusted no one but me to get ye safely to him. So now, if’n ye be ready to board, I’ll be seein’ ye to yer quarters. Yer uncle’s to meet ye at Fort Union, but ye probably know this already and I be a tellin’ ye nothin’ new.”
“Yes, sir,” I said, trying my best to smile at the man. “I did know it. Uncle Jed sent me a letter and in it he told me a great deal about you, Mr. MacKenzie. I am glad to meet you. I am glad, indeed.”
“Pleasure be all mine. Now, this way, Lassie. Mind where ye step now. Would na want ye to be thrown into the Great Mississippi down thar.” He pointed to the river with a motion of his head.
“Thank you. I will, indeed, step carefully,” I replied.
****
Coming Soon, SHE BRINGS BEAUTY TO ME. Here is the cover of the new story, book number four (4) in the Medicine Man series.
I’ll be giving away an e-book of the English version of IRON WOLF’S BRIDE.
Sure hope you enjoyed the blog today. Be sure to leave a post. I very much look forward to reading your comments.
In GRAY HAWK’S LADY, I was treated to a hero, who, despite his anger at what heroine had done to him, did not sink to treating her in a bad way. In fact, he went on to give her respect, even protected her from others’ gossip. It was also this book I was writing when I met my husband, and Gray Hawk was quite willing to re-enact our first kiss, which is written in the pages of that book. Because of his care for this heroine who had, at first, treated him in a bad way, both she and I fell in love with his character.
Here is the new cover for the 25th Year Anniversary book of War Cloud’s Passion. And here’s link to the book at Amazon if you’d like to purchase it.
Howdy!
