6/26/2013

Amy Atwell's Ambersley


AMBERSLEY
Lords of London, Book One

An heiress to a fortune disguised as a gardener’s son. An heir to a dukedom who doubts his own legitimacy. Separated by status and their own well-guarded secrets, can they take their rightful places in Regency society and
find the love they deserve?

Traumatized by a blaze that killed her parents, young Johanna remembers nothing of her privileged past and remains ignorant of the dangers that surround her. She grows up among the servants, where she develops a sense of purpose that helps her survive the betrayal that unmasks her true identity. Once she is forced to take her proper place in Regency society as the highly sought heiress to the Ambersley fortune, she must defy the relatives who would make her a pawn in their struggle for power.

When Derek Vaughan inherits the dukedom, his dubious parentage makes it a sacrilege to accept. But touched by the ravaged estate and its destitute staff, he braves a society that once shunned him while he rebuilds Ambersley and guards it from his stepmother’s bankrupting clutches. He intends to grant the title to his half-brother when the boy comes of age, but Derek’s plans go awry from the moment the gardener’s apprentice—once his trusted young friend—is revealed to be not only an heiress of beauty and spirit, but the one woman who may finally capture his heart.

EXCERPT

ALL ABOUT AMY ATWELL
Award-winning and bestselling author Amy Atwell worked in professional theater for 15 years before turning from the stage to the page to write fiction. She now gives her imagination free rein in both contemporary and historical stories that feature smart women and noble men who find love while managing to mend their meddlesome families. Her manuscripts and books have earned her a Golden Heart® nomination, over 25 other contest finals and her self-published historical romance Ambersley has been featured on the Top 100 Books lists for both Amazon Kindle and Barnes & Noble Nook. An Ohio native, Amy has lived all across the country and now resides on a barrier island in Florida with her husband, two Russian Blues and a demon kitten.

FINDING THE ANSWERS
ANGI: How often to you get lost in a story?
AMY: As often as I can! All I have to do is open a book, and I'm usually oblivious to anything else around me.

ANGI: What’s the first book you remember reading?
AMY: The first one I remember reading for myself was big picture book edition of The Night Before Christmas. I crayoned some of the pages. Despite that, I kept that book until a few years ago, when I sent it off to my niece. My other early reading memories were children's classics: Ferdinand the Bull, Make Way for Ducklings and Ping. Hmm, maybe that's why my next Cosmo Fortune book features a duck.

ANGI: Can you tell us about a real-life hero you’ve met?
AMY: Maybe not a traditional hero, but one who made a very real impact on me is Kathy Kidd. Kathy was a serious horseback rider and trainer. Working with a horse one day on a "reining pattern", the horse was backing up very quickly, tripped over itself and fell backwards on top of Kathy. Her pelvis was fractured in 5 places and she was in traction for 2+ months. Doctors told her she would never ride again--she would be lucky if she walked again. But Kathy was back on her feet and back in the saddle in about 6 months. She wasn't about to accept anyone telling her she could no longer do something she loved, something that defined her. I try to surround myself with possibilities instead of roadblocks.

ANGI: What’s your favorite fairy tale?
AMY: Beauty and the Beast. I love that the beast has to learn to accept himself and open himself to love.

ANGI: What’s your favorite cartoon character?
AMY: I'm addicted to old Bugs Bunny cartoons. Is that bad?

ANGI: What do you like about the hero of your book?
AMY: My current series, The Lords of London has three very distinct heroes. Derek (from Ambersley) was a soldier who has become a duke. He carries a heavy sense of responsibility and he has to overcome a lot of doubts about whether he deserves the good things he's been granted in life. Harry (from Portman Square) treats life as a lark. He's clever and optimistic, the son of a wealthy tradesman, he's never needed a title. But he finds a darker side to his nature when he falls in love. St. John (from Worthing) is a stickler for tradition and wants no part of any scandal. But that doesn't stop him from helping those in need. I loved introducing all three of these men in Ambersley, and I look forward to more interaction between them in the next two books!

ANGI: What sound or noise do you love?
AMY: The purring of cats.

ANGI: What was the first story you remember writing?
AMY: I still have it! It was a short story called The Fate of the Glass Horse, and I wrote it for my high school creative writing class. I sometimes think about putting it up on my website, but I hate the
idea of taking the time to retype it into the computer. (Yes, I went to high school before computers!)

ANGI: What’s your favorite movie of all time?
AMY: How's this for obscure? THE QUIET MAN featuring John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara. It's my favorite because it sums up exactly the kind of story I like to write--a love story that's set within a family and/or community with a large cast of interesting and interrelated characters. A story with lots of points of view. A story that stirs deep emotions and laughter. The next three runners up would be Casablanca, Roman Holiday and The Bishop's Wife. All classic love stories where the guy doesn't get the girl and the lead characters go on to fulfill their destinies for the greater good. Such sacrifice is beautiful!
ANGI: Not obscure at all! And your reasons are lovely. I love that!

ANGI: What is your biggest vice?
AMY: Drinking wine. Not for breakfast, though. That's what chocolate is for. <g>

ANGI’S GOTTA ASK: Hello my good buddy! I'm so glad you finally joined us here on GLIAS. You recently took an extended cruise, unplugged (for the most part), and wrote. How was that feeling, did it influence your story and care to share one of your favorite pics?
AMY’S GOTTA ANSWER: It was a fantastic trip, two weeks cruising from Miami to Los Angeles via the Panama Canal. The weather was perfect, we saw dolphins and whales, and if I could have a writing office with a view of the ocean, I'd be all over it. Unplugging definitely helped open up my characters, and I resolved the issues I was having with my villain. I can't say that the trip influenced the story, but it a welcome breather. It reminds me how important it is to unplug the noise (whether it's the Internet or other distractions) and just WRITE.

FIND AMY:
Contact    Email    Website    Facebook    Twitter
Goodreads    Pintrest    Blogs

UP NEXT for AMY: 
PORTMAN SQUARE

A gentleman scorned. A lady compromised. A love that conquers all—even
marriage.

Harry Coatsworth has never wanted for anything. An accomplished diplomat with an engaging with and personal fortune, he's never coveted a title nor pined for a lady. When a chance meeting ensnares his heart, Harry must prove his worth not only to his love but to her powerful family. He never
expects to lose—least of all, his heart.

When Marianne Trevarthan, the youngest sister of the Marquess of Worthing, undertakes her first London season, she knows her family expects her to make an advantageous marriage. And although Harry captures her heart, circumstances push her into defying him and her family in one ill-judged
action that embroils her in scandal. Despite her ruined reputation, Harry offers marriage, but Marianne soon learns that a man, once scorned, can be cold, and it's up to her to reignite the love she knows they share and melt the ice that separates them.

PREVIOUS RELEASE by AMY
Lying EyesThe Daughters of Cosmo Fortune, Book 1
Carina Press, 2010
Available as ebook & audio book


AMY IS GIVING AWAY:
a signed print copy of Ambersley to North America Readers and a digital version of Ambersley OR Lying Eyes --winner's choice for her International giveaway.

Note: COMMENTERS are encouraged to leave a contact email address to speed the prize notification process. Offer void where prohibited. Odds of winning vary due to the number of entrants. Winners of drawings are responsible for checking this site in a timely manner. If prizes are not claimed in a timely manner, the author may not have a prize available. Get Lost In A Story cannot be responsible for an author's failure to mail the listed prize. GLIAS does not automatically pass email addresses to guest authors unless the commenter publicly posts their email address.

Don’t forget to FOLLOW us on Twitter #GetLostStories or LIKE us on Facebook to keep up with all our guest authors and their prizes. Join me Friday July 5th when the award-winning Susan Mallery returns. And come back tomorrow when Alexa hosts Rosemary Morris.  ~Angi 

AMY WANTS TO KNOW:
I dubbed 2013 the Year of Living Dangerously (Again)--it's a year I'm challenging myself to take risks and do things I've always wanted to do or never dreamed I would do. The Panama Canal trip, running a half-marathon, riding a camel, and zip-lining are already crossed off my bucket list.

How about you--what's on YOUR bucket list? Maybe there's a story there…

17 comments:

  1. I actually don't have a bucket list and I'm not really the adventurous type. I think I had enough of that when I was younger. I would love to travel more though - in comfort.

    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Mary--I agree, there's a lot to be said for comfort. That's why I love cruises. In fact, we just booked another one this winter--a classic movie cruise. I can't wait.

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  2. Good morning, Amy. So glad you finally joined us here on GLIAS. I have to get the baby out of Med school before I make another list for my bucket.

    Well, actually, in 2010 I concentrated on losing weight and began losing my fear. I might still be scared of a couple of things, but I'm more determined than ever to not let moments pass me by. No longer will I stay behind. So that's my adventurous life now.
    ~Angi

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    1. Angi, I've always thought you were adventuresome! As for losing weight, sheesh, but it gets tougher every year, doesn't it? I just turned 50 (shhhhhh! I ignore it for the most part!), and even though I'm working out and walking and running *miles* every week, I haven't lost a single pound in the past year.

      Regardless of the cards we're dealt, I do believe we need to seize the day. Carpe Diem!

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  3. Sounds like a great book! :)

    Hmm... Well... I always want to go on an around the world trip. I am limited by time and money though! I will definitely do it (or at least some form of it) when I retire!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. May, thanks for the compliment--I'm really proud of Ambersley. Here's hoping you get your around the world trip. I'd love to do something like that, but even a trip to Australia or New Zealand is on the back burner for now. If only we didn't need money, right?

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  4. Hi Amy!
    I loved your interview--your answers were so fun. Please, please someday post your first story--I love the title (it has 'horse' in it). But, I went to HS before computers too (in fact, I went to Journalism school and worked at my first newspaper before computers as well, but I was a prodigy so was really young :-P ) so I do understand not wanting (or having the time to) type it it. Just know that if you do, I'll be right there to read it!!

    My bucket list is always too full even though I've been so lucky to cross things off it as well. I would love to do some more long hikes--the national parks and a couple places in Europe. I'd love to get my husband to Australia. I'd love to see some parts of Africa--a zebra in the wild would be a thrill!

    Thanks for the fun column--can't wait to pick up your book, too!

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Hi Lizbeth-- LOL on my first story. It's so very short, you may have inspired me to type it up after all!

      I adore Europe--we got to do some hiking in Switzerland, and the Alps are breathtaking. And I should probably mention that I lived on a National Seashore for a summer as a caretaker for a ghost town. Yes, there are crazy volunteer opportunities out there for people who want to gain life experiences!

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  5. visit Tahiti

    bn100candg at hotmail dot com

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  6. I got "D" in HS typing class. My inability to master a typewriter kept me from serious writing. Word processors and instantaneous ability to "backspace" allowed me to type as I think (without looking at the keyboard).

    Big fan of yours, Amy. I'd prefer you call 2013 "The year of living adventurously".

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  7. Thanks, D.T.--I actually aced my high school typing class. Not that my accuracy would qualify me to be a real secretary. I, too, rely on that backspace key. And yes, 2013 has been an adventure, but, oh my, the pocketbook is taking a hit. That's what makes it so dangerous!

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    1. I already knew how to type in high school and was pulled out of class to type for the teachers. SCORE !! But the lack of a word processor did slow the writing down in the 90's. Sometimes it was easier to just start over. (and over and over and over)
      ~Angi

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    2. LOL--what I miss about those old computers was the 5.25 floppies....

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    3. I STILL HAVE SOME ! LOL And many chapters on the 3" --They're in a box...while I wonder if there's any brilliance waiting there.
      ~Angi

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    4. Forget brilliance--are you telling me you still have a machine that will READ them? LOL

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  8. Wow Amy, that is some list! Mine is quite the opposite. I'd be happy to be able to sneak more sleep on a regular basis. I get around 4-5 hours on weekdays & by the end of the week I'm feeling it.
    Love the sound of AMBERSLEY!

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    1. Thanks so much, Linda. I'll admit, every time I travel, I lose sleep both on the trip and then while I'm playing catchup on my return. (I'm in catchup mode this week, as it happens.) I love cruises because once you're on the ship, there's no more deadlines, and you can choose to do (or NOT do) what you want. Plus 24-hour room service. I sleep like a rock on the boat. Oh, and unplugging--it's so cool to unplug for a couple days...

      Wishing you extra sleep tonight!

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