Hello fellow readers! Today I'm happy to be hosting a stop on the Alaina Claiborne Book Tour. Read on to learn more about the book, and read an interview with author M.K. Mclintock. In addition to the tour wide giveaway listed below, there is also a giveaway for an e-book copy as a part of this stop on the tour. All you have to do to be entered to win is leave a comment on this post! Be sure to follow along with the rest of the tour and enter the tour wide giveaway as well.
In nineteenth-century England, Alaina
Claiborne had a loving family, a cherished friend, and devoted servants. She
spent her days riding across the grassy hills of the English countryside,
joyful and at peace.
Then tragedy strikes and her world is
forever changed. Searching for those responsible is her only focus . . . until
she meets Tristan.
Tristan Sheffield, a man of many talents,
searches out those who don’t want to be found. His past is filled with secrets
and deeds he would rather leave deeply buried. However, when his life
unexpectedly entwines with Alaina's, he soon discovers they share more than a
mutual desire to catch a murderer.
On their hunt for a man driven by greed,
Tristan and Alaina find that love is the greatest weapon against evil, and they'll
stop at nothing to survive.
Available now at Amazon
Interview With M.K Mclintock:
When did you first know that you wanted to be a
writer?
I’ve
always enjoyed writing, whether it was short stories and poems in school or
speeches for competition—I just enjoyed the research and the stories. The
desire grew little by little until I realized the next step was to finish a
book and publish it. It felt like a natural path to take.
Where did the inspiration for Alaina Claiborne come from?
Honestly,
there wasn’t “inspiration” for this book, I just sat down one day and began
writing the story. Usually the character develops first, often out of nowhere specific,
and if I like that character, and they’re someone I’d like to know more about,
I’ll write their story.
Who is your favorite author?
I don’t
have just one, but Kathleen E. Woodiwiss usually tops the list. Anyone who can
write a book I want to read over and over deserves to be at the top of my list.
Edward Rutherford and Johanna Lindsey are at the top of the list too.
Do you have writing routine? A special pen, a certain type
of music, time limits?
My
routine has changed since I published my first book because prior to that I had
no routine. I wrote only when the mood struck or I had the time. Now I make it
a point to write as often as my schedule permits. Early morning hours are
always best for me. I enjoy listening to music as I write, but what music
depends upon the story or scene I’m writing. I always have my stack of notes,
an extra notepad, pens, highlighters, and research material close by, flowers
on the desk . . . oh and chocolate—always a good supply of high-quality
chocolate.
Do you enjoy edits/rewrites?
I
didn’t always. My editor has helped me to see the joy that can come from edits,
but the most rewarding part of it, is seeing the book come together and
realizing all that hard work will pay off.
What prompted you to write historical fiction/romance
rather than any other genre?
I’m
somewhat old-fashioned and have often imagined, even wished, that I had lived a
century or two (or three) ago. Historical fiction just felt like a natural fit.
Give me a horse, a wagon, and a take away technology, and I’d be on board.
Do you think you'll ever try your hand at a different
genre? If so, which one are you leaning toward?
Historical
romance will always be my preferred genre, but I’ve been toying with the idea
of a mystery/thriller series. I can’t say when it would happen, but it’s a
definite possibility.
Which character was your favorite to write and why?
I tend
to have a soft spot for the hero in whatever book I’m working on at the time. I
like strong heroes, but I also prefer they have some flaws—perfection is so
boring. In this story though, I’ve become attached to Alaina, for her strength,
her perseverance, and her ability to smile even after the worst has happened.
How do you come up with your character names?
Sometimes
the names are just there in my mind—no method to it. When that doesn’t happen,
I rely on baby name lists. I try to find names that fit not only the
characters, but also the time period, the culture, region, etc. The names
always serve a purpose, even if I’m the only one who realizes it.
Please tell us a little bit about your journey to
publication.
A rocky
and winding, uphill slope with a few stumbles along the way. It’s definitely
been rewarding, but I’ve learned a lot, and still have a lot to learn. With the
help of other authors, and an amazing editor who challenges me to discover more
and more about myself as a writer, I’ve managed to get to a point where I can
now see a long future as an author.
What is the most difficult aspect of being a writer?
For me,
it’s focusing on book edits when I want to be writing the next book.
What is the most enjoyable part of being a writer?
All of
it.
What is the main thought or feeling that you hope readers
of this book will walk away from it with?
Alaina
is a survivor, and one of her most remarkable traits is her ability to adapt
and endure. I hope readers see that in her.
When you're not writing, what are your other
hobbies/passions?
I like
to keep busy. When I’m not writing, I’m often outdoors hiking, swimming,
walking along the river, or taking photographs. I enjoy baking, reading, and
finding new projects around the house. I’m also a bit of a workaholic.
Are you working on any new projects?
Always!
I’m currently writing the third book in my Montana Gallagher Series,
“Gallagher’s Choice.”
Quick
Fire round:
Coke or Pepsi?
Water
(I don’t drink soda)
Chocolate or Vanilla?
Chocolate
Rainy winter days or blazing hot summer days?
Rainy
winter days!
Hard Copy or e-book?
Definitely
hard copy.
Favorite book?
Choose
one? Not going to happen.
Last book you read?
At the
time of this interview—“Rocky Mountain Christmas” by William J. Johnstone
What's a quote that inspires you?
“The
only thing necessary for the triumph of evil, is for good men to do nothing.” –
Edmund Burke
What's your favorite comfort food?
Beef stew and cornbread
Enjoy Excerpts from Alaina Claiborne
(Excerpts
may or may not be in the order in which they appear, and may differ slightly from the final book.)
Excerpt One:
The moon shone brightly through the
clouds of the dark night, and fatigue soon encouraged she lay her head down on his
shoulder, falling into a deep slumber. She felt safe in his embrace and nothing
seemed to disturb her. Her senses became aware of his strong arms wrapping a
little tighter around her. She felt the carriage bounce as they hit a rut in
the road, but she enjoyed his comforting warmth too much to let it disturb her.
Then she became cold and her eyes opened, watching as her body rolled down a
hill, but no sound escaped her though she frantically sought a way to breathe.
She felt those strong arms push her toward the broken door as the carriage
continued to roll. Somehow she landed on earth, coldness seeping through her
clothes. Her head ached, but the source of the other pain remained elusive.
A bush. She had landed in a bush and the
branches hurt, but not as much as the pain inside of her. What’s happening?
She fought her way to the ground and then stopped moving. Silence shrouded the
night.
Excerpt Two:
Across the acres, darkness enveloped
another, her surroundings illuminated by the flickering flame of a lamp. Alaina
moved around in the attic, searching through trunks of the items that had come
from her mother’s cottage in Ireland. It was difficult to see so many memories
that reminded her of her parents, but she also found it calmed her. She had
avoided these things since they had been delivered years ago, but now her fears
became secondary. She hoped that something from her parents’ past would shed
light on what was happening in the present.
Alaina
rummaged through a trunk of some of her mother’s clothes, pulling them out and
smelling them, hoping for a faint whiff of the soft rose scent her mother used
to wear. There was something lingering around the old clothes, and it took
Alaina back to a time when she was a little girl. Nevertheless, the memory
ended there. She paused for a moment, as if the scent reminded her of something
else besides her mother. She subsequently released the memory when she saw the
bottom of the trunk was not as deep as it should have been. She pulled out the
remaining dress and ran her fingers along the bottom and edges. She next looked
on the outside of the trunk. Nearly six inches of extra space remained near the
bottom on the inside.
Alaina felt along the inside edges and
became excited when she found a gap. Slowly reaching her fingers into the hole,
she simultaneously pushed down on the other edge for leverage and surprised
herself when the bottom tilted to reveal the extra space beneath. Removing the
thin board, she set it aside and gasped when she turned back to the trunk.
“Oh, Mother. What did you do?”
Book Information
Release
Date: January 7th,
2013
Genre: Historical Romance
Formats: Paperback and Kindle
Publisher: Trappers Peak Publishing
The Author
MK McClintock is an over-worked entrepreneur,
baker of decadent desserts and all things chocolate, photographer of beautiful
places, and most importantly, a writer.
Tour Giveaway
Three Winners!
1-$25 Amazon Gift Card
2 Autographed copies of "Alaina Claiborne"
Open
only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift
Code. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize
being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter
or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by Rafflecopter and announced here, as well as emailed, and will have 48
hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no
way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter, or any other entity
unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received
determines the odds of winning. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
3 comments:
Thank you for having me at your blog today Melissa!
OoO I love the cover and sound of this Melissa thanks for sharing this and the interview
@MK: Thanks so much for the chance to be on the tour!
@Kimba: I'm glad you liked it! :)
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