Aimie K. Runyan, member of the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers and Women's Fiction Writers Association, has been an avid student of French and Francophone Studies for more than fifteen years. While working on her Master's thesis on the brave women who helped found French Canada, she was fortunate enough to win a generous grant from the Quebec government to study onsite for three months which enabled the detailed research necessary for her work. Aimie lives in Colorado with her husband and two children.For more information please visit Aimie's website. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Goodreads.
Where did you grow up?
Placerville, California. A tiny town in between Sacramento and Lake Tahoe. To give you an idea of what it’s like—Thomas Kinkade lived there for many years, and for better or worse, the town greatly resembles his paintings.
When did you begin writing?
Seriously, February, 2013. I first became enamored with writing in the third grade. I got a notebook, handmade by one of the class grandmothers. It was cardboard and notebook paper covered with cheap leopard print fabric. I loved the thing. We were told to write whatever story we wanted and I was positively giddy at the prospect. I dabbled in awful poetry, the occasional short story, and even a novel when I was in middle and high school. I hung up the fountain pen for many years until I took a writing course in graduate school. I wrote a short story that stuck with me for many years, and finally decided to novelize it when my children started sleeping through the night and I was coherent enough to string sentences together.
What is this book about?
Three women, Elisabeth, Rose, and Nicole, who come from very different walks of life and fall on hard times. They accept Louis XIV’s offer to travel to his colonies in Canada to marry settlers. They face trials and triumph in equal measure, but find their way in the new world chiefly because of the friendship they forge on their crossing.
What inspired you to write it?
A lecture in a grad school class! I was taking a Canadian Civilization course as well as a creative writing class. The professor mentioned these brave women who gave up their lives in France to marry strangers… I was intrigued. I also needed to write a story. It was possibly the fastest I’ve ever put 10,000 words on paper. The story got a great response from the class and I shelved it as I went on a teaching career, marriage, and children. It never truly escaped my brain, and will probably remain the dearest story to my heart.
Was the road to publication smooth sailing or a bumpy ride?
Remarkably smooth! I say this not to brag, but to encourage. I went from a blank page to an agent in about 14 months and a book deal 6 months after that— we did a heavy edit together and only one round of submissions. It certainly hasn’t been a Hollywood-worthy story, but I’m perfectly fine with the lack of angst!
Where can readers purchase a copy of your book?
Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Books A Million, Target, Walmart, Hudson Booksellers... my office…
What is one piece of advice you would like to share with aspiring authors everywhere?
It’s a grueling business, but a good tribe will keep you sane. Write the book of your heart and keep working on your craft. Whenever things go badly—just keep writing.
What is up next for you?
The next book in the Daughters of New France series, Duty to the Crown, releases in October from Kensington. You’ll get to follow three of the younger women from the first book as they find their own places in the society of New France.
Promised to the Crown (Daughters of New France, Book One) by Aimie K. Runyan
Publication Date: April 26, 2016
Kensington
Paperback & eBook; 352 Pages
Series: Daughters of New France
Genre: Historical Fiction
Bound for a new continent, and a new beginning.
In her illuminating debut novel, Aimie K. Runyan masterfully blends fact and fiction to explore the founding of New France through the experiences of three young women who, in 1667, answer Louis XIV s call and journey to the Canadian colony.
They are known as the filles du roi, or King s Daughters young women who leave prosperous France for an uncertain future across the Atlantic. Their duty is to marry and bring forth a new generation of loyal citizens. Each prospective bride has her reason for leaving poverty, family rejection, a broken engagement. Despite their different backgrounds, Rose, Nicole, and Elisabeth all believe that marriage to a stranger is their best, perhaps only, chance of happiness.
Once in Quebec, Elisabeth quickly accepts baker Gilbert Beaumont, who wants a business partner as well as a wife. Nicole, a farmer s daughter from Rouen, marries a charming officer who promises comfort and security. Scarred by her traumatic past, Rose decides to take holy vows rather than marry. Yet no matter how carefully she chooses, each will be tested by hardship and heartbreaking loss and sustained by the strength found in their uncommon friendship, and the precarious freedom offered by their new home.
An engaging, engrossing debut. Greer Macallister, USA Today bestselling author of The Magician s Lie
An absorbing adventure with heart. Jennifer Laam, author of The Secret Daughter of the Tsar
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound
Blog Tour Schedule
Tuesday, April 26Review at Historical Fiction Addicts
Wednesday, April 27
Review at Let Them Read Books
Thursday, April 28
Interview at Book Nerd
Interview at Books and Benches
Friday, April 29
Review at A Chick Who Reads
Saturday, April 30
Review at With Her Nose Stuck in a Book
Monday, May 2
Review at A Book Drunkard
Tuesday, May 3
Review at Seize the Words: Books in Review
Wednesday, May 4
Review at Ageless Pages Reviews
Interview at A Literary Vacation
Thursday, May 5
Review at Reading Is My SuperPower
Friday, May 6
Review at Puddletown Reviews
Monday, May 9
Review at Cynthia Robertson, writer
Tuesday, May 10
Review at A Bookish Affair
Wednesday, May 11
Review at Creating Herstory
Thursday, May 12
Interview at Creating Herstory
Interview at Author Dianne Ascroft's Blog
Monday, May 16
Review at Beth's Book Nook Blog
Tuesday, May 17
Spotlight at Passages to the Past
Thursday, May 19
Interview at The Book Connection
Monday, May 23
Review at CelticLady's Reviews
Tuesday, May 24
Review at A Holland Reads
Wednesday, May 25
Review at Curling up by the Fire
Thursday, May 26
Review at Just One More Chapter
Friday, May 27
Review at Bookramblings
Monday, May 30
Review at Broken Teepee
Tuesday, May 31
Review at So Many Books, So Little Time
Giveaway
Two copies of Promised to the Crown by Aimie K. Runyan are up for grabs! To enter, please use the GLEAM form below.Rules
- Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on May 31st. You must be 18 or older to enter.
- Giveaway is open to US residents only.
- Only one entry per household.
- All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion
- Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.
Promised to the Crown
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment