Starting today and running through mid July, Craftie Ladies of Romance is going to be introducing all of you to the RITA finalists. Our first guest is Miss Against the Tide by historical romance author Elizabeth Camden.
Hello there, Miss Against the Tide. Let me start by giving you a big, Craftie-Lady welcome, and thank you for interviewing with us today. It's always fun to have new books stop by. Can you tell us when you were born?
Ah, October would be a lovely birthday month, with all those beautiful tree leaves changing colors. Where were you born?
I was born to author Elizabeth Camden, who’s a research librarian at a small college in Florida. I'm personally very grateful for my mom's career, as her love of history and research had great influence on my story.
With your mother living in Florida and your story taking place in Boston, that's quite a jump. I would have guessed your mom lived in New England because of the way she so beautifully depicts the setting in your story. Do you have any brothers and sisters?
I do. I've got two older and siblings and another sister about to be born later this summer, but I'm closest to my oldest sister. In fact, my novel is a bit of a sequel to my mom's first child, The Lady of Bolton Hill.
What do you think made you a RITA finalist?
Some of the historical research my mom did really made my story stand out. She addresses the overuse of laudanum in the book in a rather interesting fashion. I think most people will be shocked when the find out more about how such a devastating drug used to be given to babies under the guise of an infant cough syrup. And since laudanum didn't used to be listed as an ingredient on medicine bottles, a lot of innocent mothers never even realized they were drugging their babies by giving them cough syrup.
Wow, that sounds like a really interesting aspect of history for your mother to explore. I'm glad you get to help inform people about the past in such an interesting manner. Now can you tell us a little more about yourself?
As a child, Lydia Pallas became all too familiar with uncertainty when it came to the future. Now, she's finally carved out a perfect life for herself--a life of stability and order with no changes, surprises, or chaos of any kind. She adores her apartment overlooking the bustling Boston Harbor, and her skill with languages has landed her a secure position as a translator for the U.S. Navy.
However, it is her talent for translation that brings her into contact with Alexander Banebridge, or "Bane," a man who equally attracts and aggravates her. When Bane hires Lydia to translate a seemingly innocuous collection of European documents, she hesitantly agrees, only to discover she is in over her head.
Just as Bane's charm begins to win her over, Lydia learns he is driven by a secret campaign against some of the most dangerous criminals on the East Coast, compelled by his faith and his past. Bane forbids any involvement on Lydia's part, but when the criminals gain the upper hand, it is Lydia on whom he must depend.
Thank you for being with us today, Miss Against the Tide. And congratulations on being a Rita Finalist. You must be thrilled!
Posts
Wow, you've convinced me. I need to read this.
ReplyDeleteI really loved it, Pam. One of the best historicals I read last year, so I thought the RITA nomination both fitting and well deserved. :-)
ReplyDeleteRandom and off-topic-ish, but for research I asked my obgyn something about laudanum and he had no idea what it was! I was slightly shocked about that, and even after I explained the ingredients he didn't say "oh yeah, laudanum, I knew that"......
ReplyDeleteThis little baby is already on my shelf. Need to get to it!
Melissa,
ReplyDeleteWow, that's surprising. You think maybe laudenum is now something only 'readers' know. I remember it figured prominently in one of the Tombstone movies. The one with Kurt Russell.