CFBA Blog Tour - Julie Klassen and The Girl in the Gatehouse

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
The Girl in the Gatehouse
Bethany House (January 1, 2010)
by Julie Klassen

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Julie says: My background is in advertising and marketing, but I am blessed with a dream job—working as an editor of Christian fiction. I have been writing since childhood, but Lady of Milkweed Manor was my first novel. It was a finalist for a Christy Award and won second place in the Inspirational Reader's Choice Awards. My second novel, The Apothecary's Daughter, was a finalist in the ACFW Book of the Year awards. I am currently writing one novel a year.

I graduated from the University of Illinois and enjoy travel, research, BBC period dramas, long hikes, short naps, and coffee with friends.

My husband and I have two sons and live near St. Paul, Minnesota.

The Girl in the Gatehouse
by Julie Klassen
Published by Bethany House

ABOUT THE BOOK

Miss Mariah Aubrey, banished after a scandal, hides herself away in a long-abandoned gatehouse on the far edge of a distant relative's estate. There, she supports herself and her loyal servant the only way she knows how--by writing novels in secret.

Captain Matthew Bryant, returning to England successful and wealthy after the Napoleonic wars, leases an impressive estate from a cash-poor nobleman, determined to show the society beauty who once rejected him what a colossal mistake she made.

When he discovers an old gatehouse on the property, he is immediately intrigued by its striking young inhabitant and sets out to uncover her identity, and her past. But the more he learns about her, the more he realizes he must distance himself. Falling in love with an outcast would ruin his well-laid plans. The old gatehouse holds secrets of its own. Can Mariah and Captain Bryant uncover them before the cunning heir to the estate buries them forever?

If you would like to read the prologue of The Girl in the Gatehouse, go HERE.

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MY REVIEW

As soon as this book arrived in my mailbox, I eagerly tore open the envelope and set the book on the nightstand, anticipating the start that evening at bedtime. With a toddler and a new baby on the way, plus my own writing deadlines, nighttime is the only "free" time I have...much to my chagrin. But, I knew any book by Julie Klassen was a MUST HAVE. Ever since we met at an ACFW Conference in Minneapolis and sat next to each other at lunch, I was excited about her books. And like her others before this one, I was not disappointed. Julie is a Christy-award winner and RITA award finalist. And with substantial reason.

It was almost a guilty pleasure turning the pages and reading each chapter. I wish I could have stayed up on all night, but alas, duty calls, and it took me about a week to finish. Since becoming an author myself, I confess to becoming much pickier in regard to which books I read and my opinions or reviews of them. Julie has yet to disappoint. And considering she works for Bethany House, I have a feeling she never will. She has her finger on the pulsepoint of what readers AND writers love. What an excellent example of top-notch storyline, characters, and plot, all rolled into one enticing package.

To top all this, the book was filled with quotes from books by Jane Austen. And what fan of historical fiction could NOT love that? The references lent an air of familiarity to the book and made me feel like I was holding a long-lost treasure in my hands, instead of a brand new book.

This book is a true delight, and I recommend it wholeheartedly to any fan of historical fiction, but more specifically to any fan of the Regency era. Julie has captured this era with such skill, you'd think she lived during those times. :) This read was quite a treat.

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CFBA Blog Tour - Julie Klassen and The Silent Governess

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
The Silent Governess
Bethany House; original edition - (January 1, 2010)
by Julie Klassen

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

JULIE KLASSEN says: My background is in advertising and marketing, but I am blessed with a dream job—working as an editor of Christian fiction. I have been writing since childhood, but Lady of Milkweed Manor was my first novel. It was a finalist for a Christy Award and won second place in the Inspirational Reader's Choice Awards. My second novel, The Apothecary's Daughter, was a finalist in the ACFW Book of the Year awards. I am currently writing one novel a year.

I graduated from the University of Illinois and enjoy travel, research, BBC period dramas, long hikes, short naps, and coffee with friends.

My husband and I have two sons and live near St. Paul, Minnesota.

THE SILENT GOVERNESS
by Julie Klassen
Published by Bethany House

ABOUT THE BOOK

Olivia Keene is fleeing her own secret. She never intended to overhear his.

But now that she has, what is Lord Bradley to do with her? He cannot let her go, for were the truth to get out, he would lose everything--his reputation, his inheritance, his very home.

He gives Miss Keene little choice but to accept a post at Brightwell Court, where he can make certain she does not spread what she heard. Keeping an eye on the young woman as she cares for the children, he finds himself drawn to her, even as he struggles against the growing attraction. The clever Miss Keene is definitely hiding something.

Moving, mysterious, and romantic, The Silent Governess takes readers inside the intriguing life of a nineteenth-century governess in an English manor house where all is not as it appears.

If you would like to read the prologue and first chapter of The Silent Governess, go HERE. You can also sign up as a Follower when you get to that page, and get announcements of the first chapters for all the great books we tour!

Readers, buy your copy of The Silent Governess today!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. What gave you the inspiration for this story?

The original idea for this novel was inspired by Mahler’s Third Symphony, which I heard on a long, solo car trip. Even though I rarely listen to classical music, that day as I did, whole scenes spun forth like a movie in my mind. Also, I have been intrigued by English governesses ever since my 6th grade teacher read Jane Eyre aloud to the class (with real emotion and even mascara-tears). My research into real-life governesses also inspired and shaped The Silent Governess.

2. How much of your own experiences influenced your characters? What aspects became traits that were theirs and theirs alone?

I intentionally try not to write about myself. I don't want all my characters to sound and think like me. However, an occasional anecdote from my childhood might sneak in from time to time. Also, I seem to like to give my heroines traits I wish I had. Lilly Haswell (The Apothecary’s Daughter) has a nearly flawless memory (I don't), and Olivia Keene (The Silent Governess) is a genius with numbers. Given complex arithmetic problems, Olivia instantly "sees" the numbers and solution in her mind. Wouldn't that have been nice back in school!

3. If your hero/heroine were an ice cream flavor, what would he/she be and why?

Olivia Keene would be something British (English Toffee? Currant & English Walnut?) with many hidden ingredients, because there is more to her (more depth, more secrets, more capabilities) than initially meets the eye.

4. Are there any themes in The Silent Governess that you hope the reader sees? Are there any themes that weren't overt but developed as the stories progressed?

One theme relates to identity--that we would all do well to ground our identity in our relationship with God, and not on someone or something else (family, profession, status, church). I also hope that readers who grew up with less-than-ideal dads will realize anew that, unlike imperfect earthly fathers, our Heavenly Father is just, yet merciful and endlessly loving.

5. What were your most difficult parts to write? Your favorite?

I struggled with several scenes that involve inheritance laws of the day, since I had to search out antiquated laws, navigate parliamentary procedures, and try to decipher unfamiliar legal language. "Legalese" is not a modern invention! But with help from some learned writer-friends, I hopefully managed to get the facts straight.

I really enjoyed writing the romantic scenes, of course, and scenes with the children (especially the boy, who was inspired by two rambunctious boys of my own). But, unexpectedly, my favorite scenes feature the book’s most curmudgeonly character. I hope readers will enjoy them as well.

6. When is your next book coming out and what is the story?

My next book is contracted and scheduled to come out in December 2010 (Lord willing). I have begun working on it, and can tell you that it is set in early 19th-century England as my other novels have been. I haven’t settled on a title yet, but will post more information on my web site (www.julieklassen.com) when I can.

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Thank you, Julie, for being in the spotlight.

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win your choice of a FREE autographed copy of The Silent Governess.

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