THE EMERALD'S LEGEND
The Brigonne Emerald was brought to England during the Crusades. It is known to have been split into three pieces in the eighteenth century. The popular legend is that the pieces will only fall into the hands of people who need them—people who will use the stones for good. However, those who have actually owned the gem know there is more to the legend: the gem reveals the face of the owner’s true love.
A KNIGHT TO REMEMBER by Catherine Kean
Where is the emerald in your story?
The emerald is framed in gold and hung on a gold chain. The heroine, a medieval lady, finds it under crushed plants, close to where she finds a naked, unconscious man.
CATHERINE'S QUICK FACTS
favorite "emerald" city? Oz
Kelly or emerald green? Emerald
diamonds or emeralds? Emeralds
hiking boots or stilettos? Stilettos
HER PIRATE FROM THE PAST by Caro Carson
Where is the emerald in your story?
The captain of a pirate ship wears the pendant around his neck. By the end of the story, it’s been shattered into three pieces which turn up in interesting ways in the novellas that follow.
CARO'S QUICK FACTS
favorite "emerald" city? Dublin, Ireland
Kelly or emerald green? Kelly—my mom bought me “Kelly green” ribbons when I was little
diamonds or emeralds? Emeralds
hiking boots or stilettos? I wore combat boots as an Army officer, and I have to admit they are comfortable, if not fashionable.
WHEN WE GET TO PARIS by T. Elliott Brown
Where is the emerald in your story?
T. ELLIOTT'S QUICK FACTS
favorite "emerald" city? Green Cove Springs, Florida, a beautiful little town on the St. Johns River with—you guessed it— lots of natural springs.
Kelly or emerald green? Have to go with emerald.
diamonds or emeralds? diamonds
hiking boots or stilettos? I’m not averse to wearing stilettos, but I can’t live in them. So, I’ll have to say hiking boots.
EMERALD INTRIGUE by Wynter Daniels
Where is the emerald in your story?
Miami, Florida, present day, hidden in a trinket box that the heroine intends to sell in her thrift shop.
WYNTER'S QUICK FACTS
favorite "emerald" city? Miami, of course.
Kelly or emerald green? Emerald!
diamonds or emeralds? Emeralds. The stone is this girl’s birthstone.
hiking boots or stilettos? Well, if only I didn’t have foot problems, my answer would be an easy stilettos. But alas, hiking boots it is.
WHAT TO KEEP by Nancy Robards Thompson
Where is the emerald in your story?
Emma Conrad returns to tiny Iris Island, Florida, with her New York life in shambles. Her piece of the gem washes up from the sea, like an unusual piece of sea glass.
NANCY'S QUICK FACTS
Favorite "emerald" city? New York, New Orleans and Paris. They may not be traditionally "emerald," but I find all three places magical.
Kelly or emerald green? Emerald green
Diamonds or emeralds? Both. I never met a jewel I didn't like.
Hiking boots or stilettos? Both. I'm a girly girl, but I LOVE to walk/hike and it's difficult to do that in stilettos.
FORTUNE’S FOOL by Mimi Wells
Where is the emerald in your story?
Felicity Reeves is fighting through a series of misfortunes when she’s given a “lucky stone” from her cousin Savannah Oglethorpe, the heroine of Caro Carson’s Her Pirate from the Past. As far as Felicity knows, the green rock is just that—a rock. Little does she know it’s not only a precious gemstone, but it’s also the force that will change both her luck and her love life.
MIMIS' QUICK FACTS
BACKLIST: Debut Author!
favorite "emerald" city? Seattle. It’s so different from where I live, so it’s endlessly intriguing.
Kelly or emerald green? Emerald
diamonds or emeralds? Opals, actually.
hiking boots or stilettos? Neither—I’m a barefoot girl!
CHARMED BY THE THIEF by Katherine Garbera
Where is the emerald in your story?
The emerald is in three modern-day locations, but my heroine is based in London. Most of the story is set there.
KATHERINE'S QUICK FACTS
Favorite "emerald" city? Seattle is my favorite emerald city. I love the food there and the vibe of the city.
I’m hoping to visit Dublin soon so that might change! J
Kelly or emerald green? Emerald green
Diamonds or emeralds? I’m not partial to either. I like them both!!!
Hiking boots or stilettos? Stilettos but my husband likes to hike so I have hiking boots too!
ANGI: Emeralds are known to make the wearer more successful, clever, funny and to be an aphrodisiac. Without spoilers, can you tell us if and how you took advantage of any superstitions in your novella? 
CATHERINE K: The beautiful emerald in my novella has a legend attached to it, that it unites soul mates. That’s the unifying element that brings all of the couples together in the Enchanted by an Emerald anthology.
CARO: Captain Jonas Black, a pirate in 1740, is mesmerized by the vision of the woman he sees in the emerald, so I would say the aphrodisiac quality came into play. Jonas is certain he’ll keep his resolve to use the emerald to pay a debt of honor to his brother, but when the vision becomes a real woman who drops into his life from the year 2014, his willpower is put to the test.
TERESA: I didn't really use any of the superstitions about emerald in WHEN WE GET TO PARIS. The story's hero, Henry Stewart, is devastatingly handsome, witty, charming, sensitive, brave and irresistible, with or without his emerald.
WYNTER: I wouldn’t say I took advantage of any of those superstitions, but I will say that having possession of the magical stone certainly enhanced the attraction that Jack and Natalie felt toward each other. Before the stone came into their lives, Natalie had been holding back, but when she finally allowed herself to feel something for Jack, the aphrodisiac effect definitely came into play!
NANCY: WHAT TO KEEP is a reunion story. When the heroine discovers the stone, it definitely acts as an aphrodisiac. It also gives her clarity when she's trying to sort out her future.
MIMI: Absolutely! Both my hero and heroine have had a run of bad luck—stuck on the bottom of Dame Fortune’s wheel, they’d say. The emerald reveals their instant, hot connection and gives them both a lucky break.
KATHERINE G: TO CHARM A THIEF is a caper. The stone is tied to my heroine and her family. Her father has spent his entire life trying to retrieve the stone. Jules doesn’t really believe in the legend at first, she just wants the stone to thwart her father. But once Devlin enters the picture, the stakes change.
ANGI: What circumstances or who inspired the hero for Emerald Intrigue?
CATHERINE K: I need only look at photos of Viggo Mortensen (from Lord of the Rings) or Richard Armitage to see inspiration for my hero in terms of his darkly handsome appearance. J For his character, I had no direct inspiration—although for some time, I’d been thinking about a story of a naked man found in the forest by a lady. I took that idea and asked why he was left for dead, who would do that to him, and my plot unfolded from there.
CARO: I carefully—oh, so carefully—studied photos of pirates from Errol Flynn to Jack Sparrow to Hook on “Once Upon a Time,” but none looked as gritty and tough as I believe a real captain would have to be. I found the right kind of model in the artwork for the Assassin’s Creed “Black Flag” video game, however. Physically fit, heavily armed, constantly on the lookout for both danger and opportunity? Perfect! Let’s drop a woman into his arms from three centuries in the future and see what happens.
TERESA: I researched the archives of WW2 soldiers’ accounts that are now available on-line. These histories were all inspiring, but I found three soldiers’ stories that fit my plot line. Those soldier’s names are mentioned in my Dear Reader Letter at the end of the novella. I don’t want to give away Henry and Simone’s journey, but the major events are based on actual accounts.
WYNTER: Sounds corny, but my husband is always in the back of my mind whenever I write a law enforcement type of hero. Jack, though, is a wounded hero, one of my favorite kinds to write.
NANCY: I love reunion stories. They're my favorite ones to write. I'm also obsessed with the TV show REVENGE. I modeled Sawyer Sullivan after Nick Wechsler, who plays Jack Porter on the show.
MIMI: I enjoy reading about alpha men, but I’m too hardheaded to actually be in a relationship with one—we’d do nothing but argue! On the other hand, I’ve always loved artistic men, the ones brimming with wit and ideas, the fun ones who stimulate your mind as well as your body. Guys like this are often overlooked in the genre despite their sex appeal and intelligence and innovative, er, moves. Artistic hottie + creative brain = peel you off the sheets wow!
KATHERINE G: I love the movie “To Catch a Thief,” so when we were talking about jewels the first thing that popped into my mind was a jewel thief. And since Jules was going to be stealing gems, Devlin had to be the guy who wanted to catch her. I modeled him after Daniel Craig’s James Bond: suave when he has to be, physical all the time and a little bit broken when it comes it relationships.
ANGI: Is your hero superstitious? believe in lucky charms? or that destiny is set?
CATHERINE: He isn’t superstitious, but he’s intrigued by possibility and the legend that the stone can unite soul mates. In my story, he finds that the legend is definitely true. J
CARO: My hero must face the destiny question directly, since the heroine is from the future and knows how the famous pirate comes to his end. I don’t want to give any spoilers, but imagine if someone knew what happened to you. Would you want him or her to tell you?
TERESA: Like most soldiers in war, Henry Stewart holds on to his lucky charm and believes that it really is helping him.
WYNTER: Jack isn’t superstitious at first, until he notices that the emerald glows with Natalie’s image, which quickly makes him a believer. Doesn’t hurt that he’s wanted her for a while!
NANCY: Sawyer has never stopped loving Emma. Even though it seems as if life is determined to keep them apart, he believes they are destined to be together.
MIMI: My hero, Wyatt, is used to creating his own worlds. As a graphic artist, he’s more comfortable when he’s in control of his work, but since he’s come down with the world’s worst case of artist’s block, he’ll try pretty much anything to get his pencils moving again. In steps Felicity with that lucky stone and…
KATHERINE G: Devlin is a former Interpol agent so he’s not ruling out anything that comes up in an investigation. Also, his family believes strongly in the power of love, so he’s keeping an open mind.
FIND CATHERINE KEAN
FIND CARO CARSON
FIND T. ELLIOTT BROWN
FIND WYNTER DANIELS
FIND NANCY ROBARDS THOMPSON
FIND MIMI WELLS
FIND KATHERINE GARBERA
UP NEXT BY CARO CARSON:
NOT JUST A COWBOY
September 2014
UP NEXT BY NANCY ROBARDS THOMPSON:
A CELEBRATION CHRISTMAS
Celebrations, Inc.
October 2014
A CELEBRATION CHRISTMAS
Celebrations, Inc.
October 2014
UP NEXT BY WYNTER DANIELS:
THE SURROGATE HUSBAND
November 2014
UP NEXT BY T. ELLIOTT BROWN:
LIARS, CHEATER AND OTHER LOVERS
December 2014
UP NEXT BY MIMI WELLS:
STARTING AT ZERO
Tule Publishing’s Holiday Imprint
July 2015
RAFFLECOPTER DRAWING on Tuesday 9-23
ANGI'S back Wednesday with
SHARON SALA
UP NEXT ON GLIAS: Angela Quarles
or @GetLostInAStory #GetLostStories
OUR QUESTION FOR READERS:
Some of the heroes and heroines in these stories accept the visions they see in the emerald. Others cannot believe what they see with their own eyes. Do you think you’d be a believer or a skeptic if it happened to you?
I think I'd be a believer if I saw it myself. But then I read way too many fantasy books & have to admit to wanting to believe in magic
ReplyDeleteYes, I always read all the books in my school library about ghosts and Loch Ness monsters and UFOs. I want to believe, too! But I think I'd believe it at first, but after a week...a month...I'd start to convince myself that I hadn't really seen what I thought I'd seen.
DeleteThanks so much for having us here today, Angi! Get Lost in a Story is such a fun blog. <3
ReplyDeleteYou are so welcome. I'm glad it all came together. I began reading the stories last week on vacation.
DeleteAWESOME !!!!!
maybe a little of both
ReplyDeleteGot to believe in magic!
ReplyDeletei totally believe in magic!
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear it, Crystal.
ReplyDeleteYes I think I would believe my eyes ;) After reading so many paranormal, fantasy, and such I would hardly be surprised by it.
ReplyDeleteIt sure would be nice, SuziQ! But I must admit, I would certainly be surprised -- pleasantly.
DeleteThanks, Angi and authors. As Carl Sagan famously said, "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." So do I. But it's nice to dream, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteSeeing is believing. But I do believe in extraordinary things.
DeleteGreat quote, Mary Anne!
DeleteThank you for hosting us, Angi!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely Wynter !
DeleteAll these great stories...
Thank you, Angi, for making our blog look so beautiful!
ReplyDeleteYou are very welcome. Easy to do with beautiful stories and people!
DeleteThough have been called a dreamer I am very skeptic. :) Jan Vanengen
ReplyDeleteDepends on if it is good or not! I will probably believe it more if it is good.
ReplyDeleteI like that attitude! I feel that way about bad omens. Why bother believing in them if they are bad? But good omens....well, maybe those are meaningful. ;)
DeleteTotally a believer, we all want to believe that there is real magic in the world even if we don't admit it to ourselves.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Anne. Happily, I've seen some amazing things that have led me to believe.
DeleteI'd be a believer, but I'd still want proof through experience. LOL
ReplyDeleteWe’ve got 6 great prizes to give away:
ReplyDelete1. Crystal Hernandez: a print copy of THE DOCTOR’S FORMER FIANCEE by Caro Carson
2. May Pau: a digital copy of BEAUTY AND THE COWBOY by Nancy Robards Thompson
3. Linda Thum: a digital book of choice by Wynter Daniels
4. Jan Van Engen: a digital copy of BOMBSHELLS by T. Elliott Brown
5. Beth Barony: digital copy of BOUND BY A CHILD by Katherine Garbera
6. Vicki Rose Stewart: digital copy of BOUND BY A CHILD by Katherine Garbera