I am one again taking part in a virtual blog tour with The Coffee Pot Book Club. Today, I had the pleasure of interviewing historical fiction author Jean M. Roberts. But before we get to the interview, let's check out the book.
An invitation arrives; Abbey Coote, Professor of American Studies, has won an extended stay in an historic B&B, Pine Tree House. The timing is perfect. Abbey is recovering from an accident which left her abusive boyfriend dead and her with little memory of the event.
But her idyllic respite soon takes a terrifying turn. While exploring the house, Abbey comes face to face with Mary Foss, a woman dead for 350 years. Through a time/mind interface, Abbey experiences the horrors of Mary’s life, living at the edge of the civilized world in the 1690’s New England.
As Abbey faces her worst fears, she struggles to free them both from the past.
What inspired you to start writing?
I never thought of myself as a ‘real’ writer. I have a keen interest in genealogy and family history and for years wrote a blog about my research. I slowly realized that the stories of my ancestors were worthy of full-length novels. Who better than me! Weave a Web of Witchcraft is the story of Hugh and Mary Parsons, a New England couple accused of witchcraft in 1651 and Blood in the Valley, is about my family’s experience during the American Revolution. For The Heron, I wanted to do something a bit different. I wanted to tell a story and frame it with historical context but make the emphasis on the characters.
What was the hardest part about writing this book?
I knew when I started The Heron that I wanted to do a time-slip type story but I didn’t want it to be the typical slip where a modern character finds themselves physically in the past. I wanted to work out a mechanism for my modern character to view 1690s New Hampshire. I did research on time travel and methods of transport and finally came up with what I think is a unique solution. You’ll have to read the book to find out!
Does one of the main characters hold a special place in your heart? If so, why?
My character, Mary Foss, ended up being a very complex and conflicted young woman. She lives in New Hampshire in the 1690s. The culture is restrictive, Puritan theology and social norms control her life. She loses her fiancé and reluctantly marries a man she doesn’t love. He is jealous and abusive. She fights to survive, sometimes making poor or painful choices. She made me angry and then made me want to wrap my arms around her and comfort her.
If your book was to be made into a movie, who are the celebrities that would star in it?
Hum, this is a tough one. I think that the American actor, Blake Lively, would make a perfect Abbey. For the role of Mary, I’d choose the British actor, Anya-Taylor Joy. She starred in the movie, The Witch, so has some experience with portraying a Puritan woman.
What do you hope your readers take away from this book?
First of all, I hope the reader is entertained by the story. There is a lot of history, some of which might surprise people, especially the level of violence, both casual and military conflict that abounded in that era. What I really want the reader to see is that the major issues in the life of my modern character, Abbey, and that of Mary, are the same. We all want to be happy and to be loved. The people who came before us are no different. They were real flesh and blood humans who faced similar dilemmas to those we face today.
Buy this Book
Jean M. Roberts
With a passion for history, author Jean M. Roberts is on a mission to bring the past to life. She is the author of three novels, WEAVE A WEB OF WITCHCRAFT, BLOOD IN THE VALLEY and THE HERON. After graduating from the University of St. Thomas, Jean served in the United States Air Force, she has worked as a Nurse Administrator and is currently writing full-time. She lives in Texas with her husband.
Social Media Links:
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Such an interesting interview.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for hosting today's blog tour stop!
Jean M. Robert's best novel is BLOOD IN THE VALLEY, that i read many times. Moreover, from our Inflatables Rental Services in San Diego CA you can get the customized solutions for inflatables rental services.
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