I'm thrilled to have Sarah Barthel, author of Mackenzie's Cross, with me today. Sarah is not only an amazing author, she's a great friend and critique partner and I'm very excited about her debut novel.
Mackenzie's Cross
by Sarah Barthel
Synopsis:
~SWEET HISTORICAL ROMANCE~
Mackenzie’s life has always been one of duty. However, in a land where even the Brotherhood of the Knights are becoming power hungry mongers, how can a young kitchen maid maintain her morals when tempted with all she’s never had? In the end, the truth is even more complicated than Mackenzie had ever imagined. Medieval Historical Fiction, Sweet, Christian, & Inspirational Romance
Isn't the cover beautiful!
Please help me welcome Sarah to my blog.
Cherie: Tell us about
your novel, Mackenzie’s Cross, in your own words.
Sarah: Mackenzie’s Cross
came about because I kept reading historical novels in which a male character
was threatened with a huge change in social station. I wanted to explore what would happen were a
female to find her life turned upside down by something other than
marriage. When I started I didn’t
realize it was going to be a murder mystery, but as I wrote the Duke died and
the plot shifted.
Cherie: I enjoy stories that whisked me to another time, and I love that you have a strong female character who has to help solve such a terrible crime. Can you tell us a little about your
writing process like?
Sarah: Typically, I start
with an idea and form it into a really basic plot. Then, after writing the first draft (which is
usually terrible), I start working on characters and molding the rough edges of
the story. I’m a big outliner and find
that with each draft I add more chapters and more details. I know some writers which operate the
opposite, but for me, each time I visit my story there is something more to
tell.
Cherie: Oh, I agree! I'm always adding to my W.I.P. too. Where did you get
the idea for this novel?
Sarah: For Mackenzie’s
Cross, it started with that initial question, how would a female in the middle
ages handle a change in her station. As
I developed Mackenzie’s character, the idea continued to develop. A lot of the characters you meet were brought
in through questions I had in research.
For example, Lady Elizabeth was formed because of a side note I read
that psoriasis sufferers were often condemned as Lepers because of the
similarities in the rashes.
Cherie: That is interesting, and it's a bit scary how easily it was to be condemn back then. What was your most difficult chapter to write?
Sarah: There is a scene
after the Duke dies in which Lady Evelyn comes to speak with Mackenzie. Because it is so heavy on dialogue it was
difficult to make it read authentically.
Cherie: Can you share
with us something about Mackenzie that we don’t learn about them from reading
the book?
Sarah: She is really
athletic. I imagine she hikes, runs and could probably give Patrick a run for
his money horseback riding.
Cherie: I like her already, and love knowing more about her. So tell us, what are you working
on now?
Sarah: Currently I’m working
on a novel set in 1875 Illinois where a girl pretends to be insane to avoid
marriage to her fiancé, whom she knows to be a murderer. While in the asylum she befriends Mary Todd
Lincoln and discovers what is really important in life.
Cherie: That sounds intriguing. I can't wait to learn more about it. Now that we know
about your book and you as a writer, I have some fun questions for you. Try to
answer in five words or less:
Favorite color? Blue
Secret crush? (It can be
anyone real or fictional.) Mr. Darcy from
Pride and Prejudice and Gilbert from Anne of Green Gables.
Do you believe in love at
first sight? Definitely
Have
you ever experienced that head-over-heels, tingly, have-to-get-to-know-someone
feeling yourself? Yes, with my husband.
Who are you drawn to the
good guy or the bad guy? Drawn to the good guy except in Les Mis.
What’s the first thing
you notice about a guy? His eyes.
Favorite movie or
television show? Wizard of Oz and Mrs. Arris Goes to Paris.
Guilty pleasures that get
you through the writing/revising process? I put on Les Mis soundtrack and
drink ice water.
Favorite place to write? Panera.
Are there any types of
books you don’t read? I don’t tend to read science fiction—I try, but usually
don’t finish them.
It has been a pleasure to have Sarah here today. You can get Mackenie's Cross today! What are you waiting for?