The Best of the West with Holly Bush

THE MAID’S QUARTERS

A Crawford Family novella

1893 . . . Alice Porterman is released from her duties as a maid and travels home to help her mother care for her sickly brother. But her mother and brother are not in their family home when Alice arrives and she learns the landlord, Albert Donahue, has evicted them into the harsh Boston winter. Alice goes in search of him and is surprised at what she finds. 

Albert Donahue, an up-and-coming member of Boston’s elite, made his fortune through hard work and shrewd business deals. But his dreams of a family to share it with have not come true, perhaps until an impertinent young woman enters his home and won’t leave until she speaks to him.

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HOLLY BUSH writes historical romance set in the U.S.in the late 1800’s, in Victorian England and recently released her first Women’s Fiction title. Her books are described as emotional, with heartfelt, sexy romance. She makes her home with her husband in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. 

THE Q&A

E.E.: How often to you get lost in a story?

HOLLY: Plenty of times and probably more than I should considering my schedule. There is nothing better than to be completely lost in what the characters in the book you’re reading are doing or thinking.

E.E.:  What will always make you smile, even on a bad day?

HOLLY: I don’t have too many bad days, truthfully. I’m very fortunate. I like my regular job and my boss, I’m healthy, and so is my husband and family, I’ve got a roof over my head, I enjoy luxuries that some folks only dream of, and I get to do what I love – write books. Even when things are stressful, I try to remember it could always be worse, and then I smile. I’m such a lucky person!

E.E.: Which already filmed movie represents your writing style?

HOLLY: Hmmm. Maybe Rudy. It’s my all-time favorite sports movie and a real testament to perseverance. I like to think I don’t give up when it comes to writing.

E.E.:  What’s the best birthday (or any holiday) present you ever received?

HOLLY: My youngest daughter was born 3 days before my birthday and aside from the fact that I love her dearly, she was 3 weeks late and I was really ready to be not pregnant! Greatest gift ever!

E.E.: Describe an absolutely perfect day.

HOLLY: I’m an early riser, so I love to be up at sunrise, have a cup of tea, write, and then spend the evening with my husband and children. And if I can squeeze in some reading time, then that’s the icing on the cake!

E.E.: What inspires you daily?

HOLLY: I get to do things I love to do!

E.E.: What has surprised you the most about being published?

HOLLY: I really didn’t anticipate the number of readers that my books would have. It’s been gratifying to have so many people follow my writing, ask when my next book is coming out, or tell me about a favorite scene or piece of dialogue that struck them.

E.E.:  How did you come up with the idea for your book?

HOLLY: I don’t really come up with an idea, but rather see a scene in my head of a character that is new to me or is already in one of my books. The first scene in The Maid’s Quarters was very vivid for me. I already knew Alice Porterman as she was Jolene Shelby’s (Contract to Wed) personal maid, and knew that Alice had gone home to Boston to help her mother care for her sickly brother at the end of that book. For whatever reason, I was rereading the end of Contract to Wed and caught myself daydreaming. I saw Alice speaking to her mother’s neighbor and asking her why her mother and brother were not at home. And there began that novella.

E.E.’S GOTTA ASK:  Complete this sentence. When I want to relax, I. . .

HOLLY’S GOTTA ANSWER: Kick back on my patio in the summer, or curl up near the wood stove in the winter, with my Kindle and a glass of wine! Heaven!

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HOLLY WANTS TO KNOW… I’d love to know how the readers would complete this sentence: When I want to relax, I…