|
Miss Isadora Delafield may be an heiress, but her life is far from carefree. When her mother begins pressuring her to marry an elderly and uncouth duke, she escapes from the high society world she's always known and finds herself to be an unlikely candidate for a housekeeper position in rural Pennsylvania.
Mr. Ian MacKenzie is known for his savvy business sense and has built his reputation and fortune completely on his own merits. But when his adopted parents are in need of a new housekeeper and Isadora is thrown into his path, he's unexpectedly charmed by her unconventional manner.
Neither Isadora nor Ian expected to find the other so intriguing, but when mysterious incidents on the farm and the truth of Isadora's secret threaten those they love, they'll have to set aside everything they thought they wanted for a chance at happy-ever-after.
Mr. Ian MacKenzie is known for his savvy business sense and has built his reputation and fortune completely on his own merits. But when his adopted parents are in need of a new housekeeper and Isadora is thrown into his path, he's unexpectedly charmed by her unconventional manner.
Neither Isadora nor Ian expected to find the other so intriguing, but when mysterious incidents on the farm and the truth of Isadora's secret threaten those they love, they'll have to set aside everything they thought they wanted for a chance at happy-ever-after.
ISBN-13: 978-0764231674
Q&A with Jen Turano about her
new book Flights Of Fancy
|
What was the inspiration for this book?
I got the idea for the whole series after reading “ The Glitter and the Gold” by Consuelo Vanderbilt Balson. Consuelo was the daughter of Alva Vanderbilt – Alva’s ball being the inspiration behind my book, “Behind the Scenes,” and after I was finished with Consuelo’s book, I couldn’t help but wonder what would have happened to her if she’d balked when her mother insisted she marry the Duke of Marlborough in 1895. Consuelo and the duke were hardly suited to each other, and in fact, both of them were in love with other people, but they married anyway and lived a less than pleasant life with each other until they finally divorced. That got me to thinking about all sorts of ‘What if’ scenarios, and before I knew it, the American Heiress series was born with Miss Isadora Delafield getting the first story in the series. |
Consuelo Vanderbilt Balson
|
How did you name your characters?
I found Isadora in an obituary notice from the 1800’s, while getting Delafield from one of my books about the New York Four Hundred. Ian was a little trickier. At first, he was going to be a Duncan, but he apparently didn’t want to be Duncan, so after trying at least thirty different names (and by trying, I mean I write the name into the scenes, and then write for about a chapter before they let me know whether it’s a go or not) Ian finally seemed to work, and then I got MacKenzie from an obscure research paper – “Memoirs of Allegany County.” The character Birdie was one that really gave me trouble. I knew who she was, but all of my attempts at naming her weren’t working until…I ran across this woman on the trail while I was walking. She was walking her dog, a darling beast of a mutt that certainly seemed as if he wanted to bite me since he was growling and showing his teeth. The woman was convinced her dog simply adored me, and while she was trying to get me to pet her little killer, she told me her name was Birdie, and even though I was not, as in ever, going to give in to her wishes and pet her dog, I had my name for my character and…I got away from Birdie with all of my limbs intact.
I found Isadora in an obituary notice from the 1800’s, while getting Delafield from one of my books about the New York Four Hundred. Ian was a little trickier. At first, he was going to be a Duncan, but he apparently didn’t want to be Duncan, so after trying at least thirty different names (and by trying, I mean I write the name into the scenes, and then write for about a chapter before they let me know whether it’s a go or not) Ian finally seemed to work, and then I got MacKenzie from an obscure research paper – “Memoirs of Allegany County.” The character Birdie was one that really gave me trouble. I knew who she was, but all of my attempts at naming her weren’t working until…I ran across this woman on the trail while I was walking. She was walking her dog, a darling beast of a mutt that certainly seemed as if he wanted to bite me since he was growling and showing his teeth. The woman was convinced her dog simply adored me, and while she was trying to get me to pet her little killer, she told me her name was Birdie, and even though I was not, as in ever, going to give in to her wishes and pet her dog, I had my name for my character and…I got away from Birdie with all of my limbs intact.
For the Heroine – Miss Isadora Delafield
What one piece of advice would you like to give readers?
Never trust a chicken no matter how adorable they may appear.
They can be tricky creatures and one never knows when they may decide to attack.
What one piece of advice would you like to give readers?
Never trust a chicken no matter how adorable they may appear.
They can be tricky creatures and one never knows when they may decide to attack.
For the Hero – Mr. Ian MacKenzie
What is your greatest strength and greatest flaw?
I would think my greatest strength would be my ability to spot a great investment. As for my greatest flaw, well, according to my Aunt Birdie, that would be looking for a wife who can improve my social connections which will
increase my standing in the business world. She thinks I need to find a lady who understands me and will want to
be with me for me and not for the fortune I’ve managed to obtain, but I’m convinced my aunt is wrong about that.
What is your greatest strength and greatest flaw?
I would think my greatest strength would be my ability to spot a great investment. As for my greatest flaw, well, according to my Aunt Birdie, that would be looking for a wife who can improve my social connections which will
increase my standing in the business world. She thinks I need to find a lady who understands me and will want to
be with me for me and not for the fortune I’ve managed to obtain, but I’m convinced my aunt is wrong about that.
Tell us something interesting that happened involving this book.
Hmmm…that’s a tricky one – but…okay, I have it now. I decided to set part of this book in Pittsburgh because my mom was born around Pittsburgh but she didn’t grow up there because her dad, my grandfather, died when she was only four. He was a prominent attorney but I never really knew much about him because, again, he died before my mom really had a chance to know him and then her mom remarried and life goes on. Anyway, as I was looking for some research material, I stumbled on this “Memoirs Of Allegany County” and get this – I found a piece written about my great-grandfather, Fred Gerdts. I had no idea he’d originally owned a grocery store before his store burned down and he went into real estate, or that, besides my grandfather and great-aunt, my great-grandparents had another son – one I’d never heard about because he apparently died relatively young. Fascinating glimpse into my family tree that I certainly wasn’t expecting to find while doing book research.
Hmmm…that’s a tricky one – but…okay, I have it now. I decided to set part of this book in Pittsburgh because my mom was born around Pittsburgh but she didn’t grow up there because her dad, my grandfather, died when she was only four. He was a prominent attorney but I never really knew much about him because, again, he died before my mom really had a chance to know him and then her mom remarried and life goes on. Anyway, as I was looking for some research material, I stumbled on this “Memoirs Of Allegany County” and get this – I found a piece written about my great-grandfather, Fred Gerdts. I had no idea he’d originally owned a grocery store before his store burned down and he went into real estate, or that, besides my grandfather and great-aunt, my great-grandparents had another son – one I’d never heard about because he apparently died relatively young. Fascinating glimpse into my family tree that I certainly wasn’t expecting to find while doing book research.
What is the craziest things you’ve done in the name of research?
Most of my research involves me and the research librarians at my local library, although I have traveled to all of the places I’ve set my stories in. This summer was somewhat amusing as pertains to research. I’d gone back to my hometown for a high school reunion – stayed with one of my oldest friends, and while we were out and about, I had her stop at this old one-room schoolhouse – I’ve passed that school thousands of times over the years and never thought to stop – it was great – and get this, as I hiked over this dirt road, I found another ramshackle building, plants growing all over it, but I found a plaque with a faded picture on it, showing that this building had been a big draw on route 40 for people driving across the country and had been some sort of tavern/inn. I had no idea – My girlfriend was slightly taken aback about how enthusiastic I was about finding that crumbling building – and if I’m recalling correctly, after I badgered her into going to The Frick museum with me when she took me back to Pittsburgh to catch a flight to my next destination, she might have asked me when it was that I turned into such a history nerd. I can understand why she’d be so curious about that since I do tend to go a bit crazy with the research these days, a habit I certainly didn’t have in my younger years. However, I have to say that this friend of mine might be turning a bit nerdy as well since she decided that the museum wasn’t so bad after all and she did ask me a few questions about that tavern I found.
Most of my research involves me and the research librarians at my local library, although I have traveled to all of the places I’ve set my stories in. This summer was somewhat amusing as pertains to research. I’d gone back to my hometown for a high school reunion – stayed with one of my oldest friends, and while we were out and about, I had her stop at this old one-room schoolhouse – I’ve passed that school thousands of times over the years and never thought to stop – it was great – and get this, as I hiked over this dirt road, I found another ramshackle building, plants growing all over it, but I found a plaque with a faded picture on it, showing that this building had been a big draw on route 40 for people driving across the country and had been some sort of tavern/inn. I had no idea – My girlfriend was slightly taken aback about how enthusiastic I was about finding that crumbling building – and if I’m recalling correctly, after I badgered her into going to The Frick museum with me when she took me back to Pittsburgh to catch a flight to my next destination, she might have asked me when it was that I turned into such a history nerd. I can understand why she’d be so curious about that since I do tend to go a bit crazy with the research these days, a habit I certainly didn’t have in my younger years. However, I have to say that this friend of mine might be turning a bit nerdy as well since she decided that the museum wasn’t so bad after all and she did ask me a few questions about that tavern I found.
What’s coming up next for you?
Coming out later in 2019 will be the second book in the American Heiress Series, “Diamond in the Rough.” It’s Miss Poppy Garrison’s story and I do believe it’s rather amusing. I’ll also be in a novella collection about the Harvey Girls, coming out in Fall 2019, and then the last book in the American Heiress series will release in 2020, but it’s currently untitled as well as…not written.
Coming out later in 2019 will be the second book in the American Heiress Series, “Diamond in the Rough.” It’s Miss Poppy Garrison’s story and I do believe it’s rather amusing. I’ll also be in a novella collection about the Harvey Girls, coming out in Fall 2019, and then the last book in the American Heiress series will release in 2020, but it’s currently untitled as well as…not written.
Thanks for stopping in to visit. Happy Reading Everyone!!!!
-Jen-
Jen Turano
|
A USA Today Best-Selling Author, Jen Turano has written the critically acclaimed Ladies of Distinction series, and A Class of Their Own series, published through Bethany House Publishers. Her novel, After a Fashion, was chosen as a top pick from Romantic Times, as well as being named a top ten romance of 2015 from Booklist. It is also a nominee for Romantic Times 2015 Reviewers’ Choice Award. Her book, A Most Peculiar Circumstance, was chosen as a top ten romance by Booklist in 2013. Her seventh book, Playing the Part, released in the spring of 2016, and will be followed by a new four-book series, Apart from the Crowd. When she’s not writing, Jen spends her time outside of Denver with her husband and neurotic Cattle Dog, enjoying herself as an empty-nester since her son recently abandoned her for the college life.
|
It's Time For A Giveaway!
Jen Turano is generously giving
away a print copy of Flights Of Fancy.
away a print copy of Flights Of Fancy.
USA Only
|