Monday, August 15, 2011

Southern-Style Meet & Greet with Sandra Byrd


I'm so glad you joined me today for another Southern-Style Meet & Greet!  These posts just get "funner" every week (I'm Southern...it's okay if my grammar isn't a hundred percent *all* the time)!  :o)

We've got another great interview in store this week, but let me first extend another heartfelt thank you to last week's author, Tamara Leigh.  What a sweet, sweet person she is, and I was so honored that she was a guest here.  (Come back anytime, Tamara!)  And before we go any further, let's find out who won Tamara's book giveaway last week for a copy of her new book, Restless in Carolina.  A big congratulations to......

Cheryl (Ihhcheryl@....)

Cheryl, I'll be in touch with you soon to get your mailing address.  Hope you'll enjoy your new book!  :o)

And now, it's time for this week's featured author!  It's no secret that Sandra Byrd is one of my all-time favorite authors, and her books just keep getting better and better and better.  She visited with me here back almost 2 years ago, and I was just as giddy then as I am now that she agreed to do an interview (I was a newbie to author interviews back then)!  Anyway, she's got a brand new book out right now that is INCREDIBLE, and quite possibly, the best book I have read or will read in all of 2011.  So, our Meet & Greet is going to be a little different this week.  We'll still have our Southernisms, so no worries, but we're mostly going to talk a lot about her newest book.  :o)

Welcome back, Sandra!
_________________________________

You’ve been busy since your last visit here! A whole new YA series (London Confidential) plus branching out into the historical genre…  Are there any other genres you hope to conquer, or do you think you’ve found your niche?

I have loved writing everything I've written - from YA to Paris and back - it's been a privilege. But when I choose to read a book for pleasure, it's almost always historical, so I suspect that I will remain writing historical novels for as long as I can. I guess the readers will be the ones to decide if I've found my niche or not ... and I'll be listening!

I think you've found it, without a doubt!  Although, a new chick-lit book once in awhile wouldn't disappoint me.  :o)

For those who may not know that you’ve just released a new book, can you share a little bit about it, please?

This series, Ladies in Waiting, is a series of three books in Tudor England, each story being told from the point of view of one of the Queen's closest friends. From a young age, we women are wired for friendship. Little girls link arms in exclusivity with one another on the playground. The most devastating betrayals during our middle and high school years often come not from boys but from the friends we thought loved us and in whom we'd trusted. I have several friends with whom I've been close for more than twenty years and I know they have my back, and I, theirs, no matter what. So when I began to write novels set in the Tudor period I wondered, who were these Queens' real friends, those who would remain true in a treacherous court? Ovid wrote, "While you are fortunate you will number many friends, when the skies grow dark you will be alone."

I began with Anne Boleyn and her best friend, Meg Wyatt.

To Die For is the story of Meg Wyatt, pledged forever as the best friend to Anne Boleyn since their childhoods on neighboring manors in Kent. When Anne’s star begins to ascend, of course she takes her best friend Meg along for the ride. Life in the court of Henry VIII is thrilling at first, but as Anne’s favor rises and falls, so does Meg’s. And though she’s pledged her loyalty to Anne no matter what the test, Meg just might lose her greatest love—and her own life—because of it.

Meg's childhood flirtation with a boy on a neighboring estate turns to true love early on. When he is called to follow the Lord and be a priest she turns her back on both the man and his God. Slowly, though, both woo her back through the heady times of the English reformation. In the midst of it, Meg finds her place in history, her own calling to the Lord that she must follow, too, with consequences of her own. Each character in the book is tested to figure out what love really means, and what, in this life, is worth dying for.

Though much of Meg’s story is fictionalized, it is drawn from known facts. The Wyatt family and the Boleyn family were neighbors and friends, and perhaps even distant cousins. Meg’s brother, Thomas Wyatt, wooed Anne Boleyn and ultimately came very close to the axe blade for it. Two Wyatt sisters attended Anne at her death, and at her death, she gave one of them her jeweled prayer book—Meg.

To set the stage as it were, your readers might like to visit my blog to find some delicious Renaissance recipes or learn more about knights and ladies. Or take a walk through the Castles and Palaces page on my site, or visit the Tudor Hall.

I know you must have done a boatload of research for To Die For. In addition to pouring over books and historical data, did you take a trip to England to visit some of the places that were mentioned in your book?

I have been reading Tudor era fiction and nonfiction for most of my life, so I started with a fair amount of background into the stories. I avoided reading fiction set in the time period while I was developing and writing the books so I wouldn’t commingle my thoughts and story lines with anyone else’s, but I did read a large amount of nonfiction. Books, articles, websites, perhaps several dozen of each! I would outline and highlight each source, and then place them on a timeline so that when I was writing I could keep my facts straight. The research was an engaging labor of love though. For some reason, each book in the series has required more research than the one that came behind it. Maybe it’s a case of the more you know the more you realize what you don’t know!

While I was in England I visited many of the castles and palaces where scenes in the book are set. Hampton Court Palace, The Tower of London, and Hever Castle were among the many enchanting places I got to visit. It’s nearly like a pilgrimage for me to have trod on the ground many of the people I have long admired and read about once walked and rode. If you’d like to visit some of them “virtually,” please visit the "Castles and Palaces" page on my website where there are lots of wonderful photos.

England is on my bucket list of places to go at least once in my lifetime.  And I bet those castles and palaces would be amazing to see in person.  *sigh*

Anne Boleyn has gotten a bad rap over the years. What prompted you to share more of her story through the eyes of her close friend, Meg Wyatt?

Those reformation years were critical to refinement and revival in Christianity. Yet I found that while Anne's faith, and the faith of her friends, was well covered in nonfiction, fiction often ignored or downplayed her convictions altogether, often though not always portraying her as either vixen or victim. I wanted to add some shading and nuance to the genre and telling it from Meg Wyatt's point of view allowed me to do that. The fact is, the Boleyns in general and Anne in particular were instrumental in the English Reformation. The Wyatt family, too, produced more than Thomas the poet, as much as I like him. Meg, and John Rogers, played what I think were much more significant roles.

Are you currently working on another novel, and if so, can you give us a snippet about it?

The second book, The Secret Keeper, takes place during the queenship of Katheryn Parr. She, too, was a strong reformer, and a best-selling Christian author. But she had a soft spot for a bad boy and it led her, and those under her care, into trouble and distress. One of her ladies in waiting had the gift of prophecy, and Parr and her women also secretly supported Anne Askew, who was martyred for her faith.

The third book in the series will take place in the court of Elizabeth, and will be told from the point of view of one of her closest ladies. We often hear about Gloriana, her power and amazing intellect, but not as often about Elizabeth's softer side as it intersected with her friends and her loves. Elizabeth was loyal but could also be a tempestuous friend, which made being her lady in waiting a bit of a balance walk and dangerous in its own right.

Ahem...it goes without saying that I'll be first in line for both of those books.  :o)

What was the last Christian fiction book you read that you couldn’t put down?

I recently devoured Liz Curtis Higgs' book, Here Burns My Candle and am eager to dive into Mine is the Night!

Where can readers find you on the web?

Please visit me online at my website; you can also link to me on Facebook and Twitter from there. I hope your readers will also sign up for my e-postcards (where I am also giving away two Kindles) so I can keep in touch!

If you could visit anywhere down South, where would it be and why?

I'd visit Alabama because my husband went to school at Marion Military Institute. And then I'd go to Disney World again, because I love it.

Iced Tea—sweet or un-sweet?

Unsweet, but only because I need to lose a few pounds!

BBQ Pork or BBQ Beef?

Pork for sure!

You'd fit in perfectly in my area!  Beef is, um...not allowed to be barbecued around here.  (Ok, I'm exaggerating a little bit there.)

Elvis Presley or Dolly Parton?

Dolly. I admire her honesty.

Summer or Winter? (There are only two seasons down here…really.)

Summer since mine (in Seattle) is so hot. You can keep the humidity, though.

Oh, but I'd love to share the humidity!  Share it to all the ladies in the world who'd love to have frizzy hair!  Come on...don't you want some?!  :o)

Country gal or city gal?

Seashore gal. But city if I had to pick one.

You, you all, or y’all? 

I'm so afraid to use y'all lest I be seen as a poser. But I love the phrase and the gentle inclusiveness just the tone and style reflects. Maybe y'all will let me use it for today?

We sure will, won't we, y'all?  :o)
_______________________________________

Ahhh....did y'all have as great of a time today as I did?!  These Meet & Greets get more fun every single week!  (Didn't I say that already?  Oh, dear...)  I hope y'all look forward to them as much as I enjoy bringing them to you.  :o)

And guess what?  (Well, you probably already did.)  Sandra has been so gracious to offer a brand new copy of her new book, To Die For!!  How great is that!?!  If you do not have this book yet, it is an absolute *must-get* if you are a fan of historical fiction.

Giveaway rules:

1.  Leave a comment with your email address disguised like "yourname at yourdomain dot com" or something similar.  No email address, no entry...sorry.

2.  All entry comments must be left by Sunday, August 21st

3. Contest is open to residents of the US, the UK, Canada, Australia or NZ.

And for the first time on Southern-Style Meet & Greet...

4.  Become a follower for an additional entry, and let me know in your comment if you're a new one or an existing one.  (No need to create a separate comment for this.  Combining everything into one comment is sufficient.)  And the upside?  You'll know what's happening here with future Meet & Greets...a win-win, for sure.  :o)


31 comments:

  1. I have been a fan of Sandra's contemporary fiction and I would love to read a historical novel by her. This book sounds excellent. I would love to win a copy. I am also a follower. Thank you!
    carlyberd[at]yahoo[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Please enter me! I've wanted to read this book for a while. :) I am a follower and have been for maybe a month or so, not sure. :) I'm just not signed into my google account at the moment.

    photographer4ever832[at]gmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  3. I just recently read Asking for Trouble and loved it, so I would love a chance at To Die For.

    Sandra just won a place in my heart for picking Alabama!! ;)

    bluerosesheart at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  4. What a wonderful interview! Love your questions, Christy, and I love your responses, Sandra!! Awesome!

    (And those Southern-style questions are so fun! Love this one: "Elvis Presley or Dolly Parton?") ;)

    Your review was very convincing, Christy, and I am quite eager to get my hands on this book! (The next two in the series sound great, too!!) Please enter me for a chance to win. :)

    ~Amber

    P.S. I'm a follower! :)

    stokes[dot]a[at]suddenlink[dot]net

    ReplyDelete
  5. Another great interview, Christy. I always enjoy yours! I am an old follower. This sounds like a wonderful book and I would love the chance to read it. Please enter me.

    countrysunset40 (at) aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  6. Wow! Sounds like a wonderful book, and I love the cover! Thanks for the great interview and the giveaway, ladies. Please include me :)

    reneeasmith61 [at] yahoo [dot] com

    +1 I'm already a follower!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I would LOVE to win this! I'm a GFC follower!

    frequentreader19 (at) gmail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hahaha I love your Southern Style Christy, it's so fun! I love the fact that Christian historical fiction is starting to cover more diverse periods in history. Don't get me wrong I love me some western romances with hunky cowboys but it's awesome to see more that covers Tudor England. Very cool!

    XOXO~ Renee C.
    steelergirl83(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  9. So glad that To Die for is only the first in a series of three books. I love the Tudor time period of English history. I've been a follower of your blog for a few months.
    belovedgraceful(at)bellsouth(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  10. Sandra is a new to me author, and I enjoyed the opportunity to become more familiar with her and her work. Thank you for the great interview Sandra and Christy! From the rave reviews, this looks like a book that I need to read -- thank you for a chance to win a copy!

    I am a follower. Thanks!
    Michelle
    scraphappy71 at sbcglobal dot net

    ReplyDelete
  11. I have read a few of Sandra's books and have become a fan of hers. Really enjoy her style and humor.Thank you for a chance to win this book.

    Blessings,
    Jo
    ladijo40(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  12. Thanks, y'all, for inviting me onto your back porch for sweet tea and books! I do hope you'll check out To Die For. It's a historical, definitely, but also about love, loss, tight friendship, faith, and amazing gowns. :) I was corrected early on by my historical research assistant. Gowns. Not Dresses. :)

    If I ever get to Alabama, Bluerose, I'll stop by. My husband so enjoyed his years there!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Thanks, y'all, for welcoming Sandra so warmly! I love that you folks love the "Southern-ness" of these interviews, and I hope that you enjoy meeting all these great authors every week.

    Y'all keep coming back, and I'll keep bringin' the authors (and the sweet tea, too)! :o)

    ReplyDelete
  14. I so look forward to these meet and greets! Thank you Sandra and Christy! :) This book sounds so good. I've been "stalking" it on Goodreads, haha.

    Beth
    bharbin07 at gmail dot com
    I became a follower as well! Definitely don't want to miss anything!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Great interview ladies! Christy I have always wanted to go to England too...definitely on my bucket list.

    And I'm adding read this novel to the list too!

    joygleeg(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  16. Loved this in depth interview with Sandra and the opportunity to learn more about the research behind To Die For. Hope you get a chance to visit the U.K. and experience the sites that Sandra sets her story in. I have great memories and pics of my visits to several of the palaces and castles mentioned on Sandra's site. I read and write historicals and this one sounds fantastic. Thank you, Christy, for the chance to win a copy of Sandra's novel. I'm now a follower of your blog.
    patjeannedavis[at]verizon[dot]net

    ReplyDelete
  17. I love your meet and greets and really loved learning about Sandra!! To Die For sounds like a really great book and I'm always looking for new authors to discover! Thanks for the chance to win!

    Courtney
    kcmelone at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  18. Great interview! I love reading books set in Tudor England and have been wanting this book for a while now.

    I've been a follower for a while now. :)
    sundaisy920 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  19. a great posting/interview :)

    thanks for the chance to read sandra's latest novel

    karenk
    kmkuka at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  20. I have read Sandra's other books so I look forward to reading this one.

    tbaxter630@yahoo.com
    tbaxter630(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  21. I really enjoyed this interview since I love historical fiction! I also enjoy the stories involving Henry VIII and that whole time period. It was such a time of unrest and so much happening.I would love to have this book and am looking forward to the series.
    Candace

    ReplyDelete
  22. I would love to be entered for this book! I have read some of Sandra's other books and enjoyed them. Thanks for the great interview! Love the "southern" talk:) I am a FL gal myself.
    I am an old follower.
    Thanks!

    esterried[at]yahoo[dot]com
    kingsdaughter1611 on PBS

    ReplyDelete
  23. I really enjoyed this interview with Sandra. To Die For sounds like a great read. I would love a chance to win a copy. Thanks and God Bless!

    judyjohn2004[at]yahoo[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  24. wonderful intro to Sandra! thankyou ")
    i have followed and would love to see you follow at FHC as well ") welcome...
    blstef1 at mts dot net

    ReplyDelete
  25. Have been following the tour and love reading each post. I would love to win a copy of this book. So yes I am entering the giveaway. I am following on GFC. Thanks

    mamaw1050 at att dot net

    ReplyDelete
  26. This was a very cute interview! Loved it! I am a new follower and please enter me in the drawing!
    Viajeradelmar @aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  27. Hi, I'm a new follower who loved the interview--found you from pbs. cnc[at]jonesfamily97 [dot] com

    ReplyDelete
  28. Thank you for the contest!
    Mindy B.

    thekoose (at) hotmail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  29. I thoroughly enjoyed this Meet & Greet because Sandra is a new author to me! How have I missed her books?!

    Ok, bbq pork is good, but you know, those good ole' bbq'd babyback ribs are pretty good, too ;)

    I'm an "old" follower :)

    homesteading[at]charter[dot]net

    ReplyDelete
  30. I have enjoyed Sandra Byrd's contemporary Christian novels. I am looking forward to reading her historical novel. It will be great to have a novel about the Tudors written by a Christian author.

    miss_lulu38[at]yahoo[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  31. It seems like a fun book. I am a huge fan of historical fiction, so I can't wait!

    Leigh Ann (followed on google blogs)
    insanityisnormal (at) gmail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete

I love your comments!! They make me happier than cold sweet tea on a hot summer day! :o)