Her daring bid for freedom could be her greatest undoing.
Amid the Great War in 1918 England, munitions worker Rosalind Graham is desperate to escape the arranged marriage being forced on her by her ruthless guardian and instead follow her own course. When the Chilwell factory explodes, killing hundreds of unidentified workers, Rose realizes the world believes she perished in the disaster. Seizing the chance to escape, she risks all and assumes a new identity, taking a supervisory position in Gretna, Scotland, as Miss
Tilly Lockhart.
RAF Captain Alex Baird is returning home to Gretna on a secret mission to uncover the saboteur suspected in the Chilwell explosion, as Gretna's factory is likely next. Fearing for his family's safety, he's also haunted by guilt after failing to protect his brother. Alex is surprised to discover a young woman, Miss Lockhart, renting his boyhood room, but the two eventually bond over their mutual affection for his family--until Alex receives orders to surveil her. Rose squirms beneath Alex's scrutiny while she struggles to gain her workers' respect. But when her deception turns to danger, she and Alex must find a way to put their painful pasts behind them and together try to safeguard the future.
Amid the Great War in 1918 England, munitions worker Rosalind Graham is desperate to escape the arranged marriage being forced on her by her ruthless guardian and instead follow her own course. When the Chilwell factory explodes, killing hundreds of unidentified workers, Rose realizes the world believes she perished in the disaster. Seizing the chance to escape, she risks all and assumes a new identity, taking a supervisory position in Gretna, Scotland, as Miss
Tilly Lockhart.
RAF Captain Alex Baird is returning home to Gretna on a secret mission to uncover the saboteur suspected in the Chilwell explosion, as Gretna's factory is likely next. Fearing for his family's safety, he's also haunted by guilt after failing to protect his brother. Alex is surprised to discover a young woman, Miss Lockhart, renting his boyhood room, but the two eventually bond over their mutual affection for his family--until Alex receives orders to surveil her. Rose squirms beneath Alex's scrutiny while she struggles to gain her workers' respect. But when her deception turns to danger, she and Alex must find a way to put their painful pasts behind them and together try to safeguard the future.
ISBN: 9780764237485
Interview with Kate Breslin
#1.What started you on the “Alpine Path” (writing career)?
My love of writing began as a child—adding my own poems and prose to family birthday cards, keeping a diary, then crafting a few short stories for class. Writing novels didn’t happen for me until much later, in my adult years. I was a voracious reader, enjoying historical fiction and romance, and once I ran out of books by my favorite authors I decided to try my hand at writing one of my own. Not as easy as I imagined! It took me many years to finally become published, and I still love being able to create inspirational, romantic tales to share with readers.
My love of writing began as a child—adding my own poems and prose to family birthday cards, keeping a diary, then crafting a few short stories for class. Writing novels didn’t happen for me until much later, in my adult years. I was a voracious reader, enjoying historical fiction and romance, and once I ran out of books by my favorite authors I decided to try my hand at writing one of my own. Not as easy as I imagined! It took me many years to finally become published, and I still love being able to create inspirational, romantic tales to share with readers.
#2.Are you a full-time author or do you have another job?
I write full-time, usually 4-5 hours a day during the work week, though when I’m on deadline, I’ll camp out in front of my computer for as long as it takes to finish, sometimes late into the wee hours each night!
I write full-time, usually 4-5 hours a day during the work week, though when I’m on deadline, I’ll camp out in front of my computer for as long as it takes to finish, sometimes late into the wee hours each night!
#3.How has becoming a published author changed your life?
First and most importantly, it’s made me realize I am powerless to do this job without God’s help. Creating a 100K-word novel that’s not only seamless but plausible can be a thrilling, challenging and yes, sometimes even terrifying experience. I’ve come to rely on the Lord completely, to inspire me daily to sit at the computer and write my stories.
First and most importantly, it’s made me realize I am powerless to do this job without God’s help. Creating a 100K-word novel that’s not only seamless but plausible can be a thrilling, challenging and yes, sometimes even terrifying experience. I’ve come to rely on the Lord completely, to inspire me daily to sit at the computer and write my stories.
| Secondly, it’s made me appreciate the value of time, and the fact my husband is a wonderful cook. I work longer hours now as a published author and oftentimes that means sacrificing my personal life for the sake of meeting my writing deadlines. The upside: I love dreaming up stories and being able to connect with my readers, they’re the best! And it’s a wonderful feeling to hold that first copy of the next book in my hands. |  |
#4.What genre(s) do you write and what drew you to it/them?
All of my published novels are historical fiction, though I have a contemporary novel (the first in a planned trilogy) that is as yet unpublished. I wasn’t a fan of history in school, but years later I found I loved learning about the past through reading novels by historical fiction authors. Now that I write, I hope to pay forward that gift by sharing history through my own stories, so that other readers will come to enjoy it, too.
All of my published novels are historical fiction, though I have a contemporary novel (the first in a planned trilogy) that is as yet unpublished. I wasn’t a fan of history in school, but years later I found I loved learning about the past through reading novels by historical fiction authors. Now that I write, I hope to pay forward that gift by sharing history through my own stories, so that other readers will come to enjoy it, too.
#5. If you could give your younger self one piece of advice what would it be?
The same advice I would give aspiring authors today: Focus on writing in one genre (sub-genre) rather than jumping around or trying to follow the market. I know we writers sometimes have to test various genres to discover what we really want to write, but the market is ever changing, and we should always write what we feel passionate about. If my younger self had stayed with writing historical fiction, she would have had a backlist of stories to offer a publisher rather than a single title when finally landing that first contract. Also, keep writing. Don’t stop to wait and hear back from agents and publishers, start working on the next book. Again, you have a unique opportunity with both time and space to create a backlist for your future sales. And words on the page are always easier to edit than nothing on the page. ☺
The same advice I would give aspiring authors today: Focus on writing in one genre (sub-genre) rather than jumping around or trying to follow the market. I know we writers sometimes have to test various genres to discover what we really want to write, but the market is ever changing, and we should always write what we feel passionate about. If my younger self had stayed with writing historical fiction, she would have had a backlist of stories to offer a publisher rather than a single title when finally landing that first contract. Also, keep writing. Don’t stop to wait and hear back from agents and publishers, start working on the next book. Again, you have a unique opportunity with both time and space to create a backlist for your future sales. And words on the page are always easier to edit than nothing on the page. ☺
Bonus:
Jasmine, thank you so much for this opportunity to share with your readers! In closing, I’d like to offer this verse from Scripture, a promise of hope to those of us in these difficult times who have doubts, or worry, or need encouragement--
Jasmine, thank you so much for this opportunity to share with your readers! In closing, I’d like to offer this verse from Scripture, a promise of hope to those of us in these difficult times who have doubts, or worry, or need encouragement--
Blessings!
Kate
Kate
 Kate Breslin | Former bookseller-turned-author Kate Breslin enjoys life in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and family. A writer of travel articles and award-winning poetry, Kate received Christian Retailing's 2015 Best Award for First Time Author and her first novel, For Such A Time, won American Christian Fiction Writers 2015 Carol Award. Kate's fifth novel, As Dawn Breaks released November, 2021. When she's not writing inspirational fiction, Kate enjoys reading or taking long walks in Washington's beautiful woodlands. She also likes traveling to new places, both within the U.S. and abroad, having toured Greece, Rome, Barcelona, and much of Western Europe. New destinations make for fresh story ideas. Please visit her at www.katebreslin.com |
