Monday, November 25, 2013

Christmas Release 2013 Series: A Hero for Christmas by Jo Ann Brown


Jo Ann Brown

Hey, everyone! Annette here. We're getting closer to Thanksgiving, and continuing to feature Christmas titles here on Seriously Write Mondays. (We start early so we can fit more in. *smile*) Here's an interview with Jo Ann Brown to discuss her holiday title, A Hero for Christmas, which releases next week. Enjoy!

An Interview 
with Jo Ann Brown

Welcome, Jo Ann!


How did this project take shape?

It is a sequel to my first Sanctuary Bay book (The Dutiful Daughter), and the hero and heroine of this book were secondary characters in the first book. Because of my own experiences in the military, I have long been interested in how warriors return to civilian life. The three heroes in this trilogy are all making that transition.  

Share some themes of your novel:

The main theme is that we all fight battles–some on a battlefield, some with our faith, some with our hearts...and some with ourselves.  

What makes your project stand out from other Christmas titles?

It is set in Regency England, but not in London. The setting is in North Yorkshire.  

Please share an interesting fact about your book.

Sanctuary Bay is based on the real Robin Hood’s Bay in North Yorkshire, a fascinating village set on a steep cliff down to the North Sea. Nobody knows why it was named for Robin Hood, and it was once a hotbed for smugglers.  

What’s next for you as an author?

My next book is the third book in the Sanctuary Bay series–A Bride for the Baron, which is scheduled for March, 2014.  

What else would you like to share about this project?

Christmas in Regency England was celebrated with medieval traditions rather than the Victorian ones we are familiar with now. I had a tough time finding carols to include in the book, because most of the ones we sing were either not written yet or not yet put to music. Again, I had to turn to medieval sources to find the songs known in the early 19th century.

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A Hero for Christmas
Releasing December 3, 2013 from Harlequin Love Inspired Historical: A Hero for Christmas.

Jonathan Bradby would gladly return to fighting the French if it meant avoiding his new title: war hero. Only he knows the reputation isn't deserved. Then a visit to Sanctuary Bay brings renewed acquaintance with the lovely Lady Catherine Meriweather. He's drawn to her, yet Cat surely deserves a real hero. 

Overwhelmed with organizing a Yuletide celebration and her sister's wedding, Cat gladly accepts Jonathan's help. Soon she sees the gentle heart he conceals beneath his wit. But Jonathan's need to prove himself could drive them apart—unless they're bold enough to seize the unexpected gift of love.  

Sanctuary Bay—where three war heroes find the healing power of love.

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Jo Ann Brown has been creating characters and stories for as long as she can remember. She wrote her first novel in high school, and it happily resides in the very back of her file cabinet. Fast forward through college, serving in the US Army as a quartermaster officer, getting married, and increasing her blessings with three children...and Jo Ann sold her first book (a western historical romance) in 1987. Since it was published in 1988, she has sold over 100 titles and has become a best-selling and award-winning author. Romantic Times called her "a truly talented author." She writes romance, mystery, and paranormal under a variety of pen names. Her books have been translated into nearly a dozen languages and are sold on every continent except Antarctica. She has always lived on the east coast, but now resides in Nevada with her husband, who is her first reader, and a chubby tiger cat.