Cover reveal with Roseanna White

Guess what? It's time for Kara's and mine very first cover reveal! (unfortunately, it's not for a book by either of us... but it's still exciting!) :)

 
Roseanna M. White pens her novels beneath her Betsy Ross flag, with her Jane Austen action figure watching over her. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two children, editing and designing, and pretending her house will clean itself. The Lost Heiress is Roseanna’s tenth published book. Her novels range from biblical fiction to American-set romances to her new British series. She lives with her family in West Virginia. Learn more at www.RoseannaMWhite.com

Mrs. White was kind enough to answer a few questions along with the cover reveal. So, here it goes!

1.      What inspired you to write this novel?

Oh my. This is a hilarious question, because the original idea came when I was 12, and I first wrote the book over a year and a half then, finishing when I was 13. This version is a rewrite of a rewrite of a rewrite of that, LOL. I don’t remember much of what inspired me, other than Lori Wick’s The Hawk and the Jewel—my favorite book at the time. =)

I can tell you, though, that the inspiration for this version came about by my agent asking, “Say, do you have anything Edwardian? Or that you could make Edwardian?” I went through my folder of completed, unpublished manuscripts, and got a definite, “Hmm…” when I saw this one. It had been Victorian in its setting, but as I considered the personalities and plotline, I realized that Brook would work much better in the changing mindset of the Edwardian era than she did in the 1860s. I dove into this final, enormous rewrite with glee. I took out some extraneous aunts and uncles and cousins, gave her a father (who had in previous versions been dead) who totally stole the show in some ways and became one of the most awesom characters I’ve ever written, LOL, exchanged a few horses for automobiles, and just knew that this was the way this book was always meant to be. =)

2.      Can you name a few books that are similar to this one?

Well, the original did bear a definite resemblance to that Lori Wick book, LOL. These days, not at all. I now say it’s Anastasia meets Downton Abbey…which aren’t books, I realize. =) But there are a whole host of books right now set in the Edwardian Era or Gilded Age, thanks to how Downton has popularized it.

3.      Was there an overall Biblical theme you kept coming back to? (whether on accident or on purpose)

Love this question! I thought, as I wrote the first draft of this version, that it was forgiveness. But as I was working on the revisions my editors requested, it required tweaking some motivation for my heroine…and then I realized in a flash that Brook’s issue wasn’t with forgiveness after all. It was with fear, and with trusting God to protect her heart. This is one of those deliciously ironic themes, because Brook always comes off as fearless…when it comes to wild horses, automobiles, or wearing trousers. But when it comes to love—not so much.

4.      What is one thing you want readers to come away with after reading this book?

I think my editor put it best when she said, “The romance is great, and we love it. But what makes this books so special is family.” Brook has to find her family, and her place in it, throughout the book. And even though most of us know where we belong in name, at least, I think most of us struggle at some point or another with finding our true place within that family or school or workplace. I hope readers come away knowing that they have only to be who God made them, and trust in Him to lead them on the path He wants them on.

5.      Do you have any advice for any authors out there?

“Always move on…never give up.” This book was 19 years in the making. Had I just deleted that file or tossed the original handwritten manuscript because it wasn’t “good enough,” then The Lost Heiress wouldn’t exist today. And yet, had I not put it aside and worked on all those other books in between, I don’t think I could have done the story justice. I’ve learned SO much in those 19 years, both about writing, the industry, and what I want my stories to mean. So for other writers on the path, just let me assure you that you don’t need to rush, you don’t need to stubbornly cling. You just need to be always willing to learn…and always willing to work hard to make your dreams come true!

The back cover: 
Brook Eden has never known where she truly belongs. Though raised in the palace of Monaco, she’s British by birth and was brought to the Grimaldis under suspicious circumstances as a babe. When Brook’s friend Justin uncovers the fact that Brook is likely a missing heiress from Yorkshire, Brook leaves the sun of the Mediterranean to travel to the moors of the North Sea to the estate of her supposed family.

The mystery of her mother’s death haunts her, and though her father is quick to accept her, the rest of the family and the servants of Whitby Park are not. Only when Brook’s life is threatened do they draw close—but their loyalty may come too late to save Brook from the same threat that led to tragedy for her mother.

As heir to a dukedom, Justin is no stranger to balancing responsibilities. When the matters of his estate force him far from Brook, the distance between them reveals that what began as friendship has grown into something much more. But how can their very different loyalties and responsibilities ever come together?

And then, for a second time, the heiress of Whitby Park is stolen away because of the very rare treasure in her possession—and this time only the servants of Whitby can save her.

If you want to check her website, here you go! Or her blog here. You can also add The Lost Heiress on Goodreads, you can also preorder it, and sign up for her news letter!

And now, the moment we've all waited for.... *drum roll* The cover of The Lost Heiress! (isn't it pretty? :) )

 

Thank you all for stopping by! Tell me what you thought about the post in the comments. :)