FORTUNE…SACRIFICE…PASSION...and SECRETS
A tale of mystery, social morality and second chances during America’s Gilded Age, The Art of Love will take you on an unforgettable journey from the last frontier of the Yukon Territory to the new Sodom and Gomorrah of its time - the boomtown of San Francisco.
After digging a fortune from the frozen fields of the Klondike, August Wolff heads south to the “Golden City,” hoping to put the unsolved disappearance of his wife and daughter behind him. The turn of the twentieth century brings him even more success, but the distractions of a hedonistic mecca can’t fill the gaping hole in his life.
Amelia Starling is a wildly talented artist caught in the straightjacket of Old New York society. Making a heart-breaking decision, she moves to San Francisco to further her career, all the while living with the pain of a sacrifice no woman should ever have to make.
Brought together by the city’s flourishing art scene, Gus and Lia forge a rare connection. But the past, shrouded in mystery, prevents the two of them from moving forward as one. Unwilling to face society’s scorn, Lia leaves the city and vows to begin again in Europe.
The Golden City offers everything a man could wish for except the answers Gus is desperate to find. But find them he must, or he and Lia have no chance at all.
What inspired you to start writing?
That’s a clever question because most interviewers ask, “What inspired you to want to be a writer?” and those are two different things. I always wanted to be a writer (partly because I loved stories and I was good at stringing sentences together). But being practical, I used my (dubious?) talent to earn a living writing promotional material in the public relations, marketing and advertising fields. It wasn’t until my youngest son was almost out of the nest that I gathered enough courage to write the kind of stories I really enjoyed reading. I’d say it was one of those “It’s now or never” kind of moments—I wasn’t getting any younger!
What was the hardest part about writing this book?
I originally intended The Art of Love to be a historical romance, and only realized later that it didn’t quite fit the mold of that specific genre (now I consider my work “romantic historical fiction.”) There are a couple of love scenes in the book, and they were difficult for me to write (maybe I’ve been married too long – ha! ha!). Each of my books contains romance, but it’s not necessarily the focus of the story, as it would (and should) be in a historical romance.
Does one of the main characters hold a special place in your heart? If so, why?
I love the male protagonist, Gus Wolff, because he was such a hard worker and made something of himself out of sheer strength and determination. As the book begins, he’s a miner trying to strike it rich in the gold fields of the Klondike. I’m not ashamed to say he’s a man’s man. He’s vulnerable in some ways, yet secure enough that he can see how important it is for his mate to be just as strong as he is. I think he’ll also remain special because he was my “first”—main character, that is!
If your book was to be made into a movie, who are the celebrities that would star in it?
I’d pick Daniel Craig because he’s so masculine and, well, craggy. As anyone who saw “Skyfall” can tell you, he knows how to hold emotion inside while still letting the audience know it’s there. For Lia, my artist, I’d cast his real-life wife Rachel Weisz. She portrays both strength and vulnerability in many of her roles. The only problem with casting them is they’re both about ten years too old for the parts. If we could only pop them into a time machine…
What do you hope your readers take away from this book?
Aside from being entertained, of course, I’d like them to have a greater appreciation for the different kinds of love that we are all capable of. What Lia does out of love for her sister is mind-boggling to me, but I have known others who have made similar sacrifices. What Lia’s friend Sandy does for her is heroic, and what Gus goes through out of love for his family is gut-wrenching. And yes, what the two main characters are willing to put up with because of their love for one another is inspiring.
Buy the series:
A native of California, A.B. Michaels holds masters’ degrees in history (UCLA) and broadcasting (San Francisco State University). After working for many years as a promotional writer and editor, she turned to writing fiction, which is the hardest thing she's ever done besides raise two boys. She lives with her husband and two spoiled dogs in Boise, Idaho, where she is often distracted by playing darts and bocce and trying to hit a golf ball more than fifty yards. Reading, quilt-making and travel figure into the mix as well, leading her to hope that sometime soon, someone invents a 25+ hour day.
Social Media Links:
Website • Twitter • Facebook • Pinterest • BookBub • Amazon Author Page • Goodreads
Tour Schedule
You can follow the tour HERE.
Tou
What a great interview!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for hosting today's blog tour stop.