ABOUT BOOK: Torn between loyalties to family and flag, one young woman is about to discover that her most important allegiance is to her heart.
It is 1776, and all along the eastern seaboard the American struggle for independence rages. But in the British-held southern port of Mobile, Alabama, the conflict brewing is much quieter--though no less deadly.
Lyse Lanier may be largely French in heritage, but she spends most of her time in the company of the ebullient daughter of the British commander of Mobile. When a charming young Spanish merchant docks in town, Lyse is immediately struck by his easy wit and flair for the dramatic. But is he truly who he makes himself out to be? Spies abound, and Spain has yet to choose a side in the American conflict. Is Lyse simply an easy mark for Rafael Gonzalez to exploit? Or are his overtures of love as genuine as Spanish gold?
With spectacular detail that brings the cultural gumbo of the Colonial Gulf Coast alive, Beth White invites you to step into a world of intrigue and espionage from a little-known slice of the American Revolutionary War.
ABOUT AUTHOR: Beth White is the award-winning
author of The Pelican Bride. A native Mississippian, she teaches music at an
inner-city high school in historic Mobile, Alabama. Her novels have won the
American Christian Fiction Writers’ Carol Award, the RT Book Club Reviewers’
Choice Award, and the Inspirational Reader’s Choice Award. Learn more at www.bethwhite.net
“Duplicity, danger, political intrigue, and
adventure.”—Booklist on The Pelican Bride
“New France comes alive thanks to intricate
detail.”—Publishers Weekly review of The Pelican Bride
“The brutal New World [is]
captured with distinct detail in this fast-paced romantic adventure.”—RT
Book Reviews on The Pelican Bride
How did you come up
with the idea for The Creole
Princess?
I conceived the Gulf Coast Chronicles as a
series similar to Elswyth Thane’s classic Williamsburg series—which was written
and published in the 1940’s and ‘50’s, but which still holds up as wonderful
romantic historical adventure—but set on the Gulf Coast. The idea was to take a
couple of central families and build a sort of epic dynastic tale which would
touch on major historic events. Book 1, The Pelican Bride, launched the series with the establishment
of the Lanier family and the city of Mobile, Louisiana Territory, during the
French Colonial period (1704).
The Creole Princess, Book 2 of the series, skips a couple of generations and places the reader in
Mobile at the outbreak of the American Revolution. Events in Mobile (held by
the British) and New Orleans (held by the Spanish) helped dictate what happened
to my characters. But I had to decide which events to focus on, so I did a lot
of preliminary reading and learned some surprising facts that aren’t generally
taught in American history classes.
For instance, it isn’t generally known that
the British actually had fifteen
colonies; besides the thirteen that broke away and formed the United States,
they also held East and West Florida, which remained loyal until the Spanish
wrested them away near the end of the war. Also, documents are just now coming
to light revealing Spain’s secret involvement in funding and supplying the
Patriot cause—years before she actually joined France in military engagement on
the American side.
Anyway, with those two central surprising
facts in mind, I bounced around ideas with my son, Ryan, who turns out to have
quite a good brain for developing story ideas and a great grasp of history. His
contribution was a confiscated shipment of Spanish gold, which I loved! But
character drives story for me, and in answering later questions I’ll explain
more about how I developed the hero and heroine, Rafa and Lyse.
Nora: Interesting history. I liked the Spanish gold element in the story. Fun that your son can contribute to the story.
Both of you helped me get a grasp on this time period. I was full engaged and
adored your characters. Thanks for sharing the map too!
What was your
favorite scene in The Creole
Princess? Which was the most fun to write? Which was the hardest? Why?
Okay, sheepish confession here. I’m a romance
fan from preteen years, so my favorite scene is the first kiss between Rafa and
Lyse. I have gone back and read it multiple times, which is crazy since I wrote it! haha!
Nora: Fun! It was a precious moment! Loved it!
The scene that was the most fun to write was
sort of in the middle of the book when I knew that Rafa would have to either
ask Lyse to marry him and take her out of Mobile—or leave her there, vulnerable
to prosecution as a traitor. When I began writing that scene, I honestly didn't know which way it was going to go (and I’m not going to provide a spoiler
here). But as the dialogue unfolded, it took on a life of its own, Rafa was so
perfectly “himself,” and I couldn't be happier with the story solution.
Nora: I like how you kept readers in suspense about his decision too!
The hardest scene to write was from the point
of view of Lyse’s cousin Scarlet, a slave who is sold away from her husband and
then finds herself pregnant with his child. Putting myself inside the skin and
mind and heart of such a desperately sad person was emotionally grueling. It’s
one of the darkest scenes in the book, so I had to find a way to lighten it
with hope—and a delightful character named Blackberry came to life. I hope
readers will like the scene as much as I do.
Nora: That scene about ripped my heart out. The events seemed unthinkable and crazy because it was legal. Slave owners didn't give it a second thought to what they were doing.
Can you give us a
sneak peek into what you are working on now? When will it be out?
I’m working on the third book in the series. Set
one generation after Creole Princess,
during the War of 1812, it features a British naval officer with amnesia and
the only daughter in an American ship-building family. The Battle of New
Orleans and Andrew Jackson’s career-establishing heroics figure prominently in
the second half of the book. But don’t worry—the romance stays
front-and-center! It will be out in April 2016.
Nora: I’m looking forward to reading it Beth!
You state, “The
history surrounding the American Revolution is complex, fascinating, and
surprising – much too complicated to distill in a one-paragraph explanation.”
What fascinating and/or surprising things did you discover in your research
that did NOT make it in your book? Why didn’t you add it? What treasures did
you share in your book?
One of my favorite discoveries about the
Spanish alliance in the Patriot cause is a 550-mile cattle drive undertaken
right around the time Spain declared war on England and entered into treaty
with France. In order to feed two battalions of soldiers due to arrive on six
transport ships from Havana, Spanish Louisiana Governor Bernardo de Gálvez
ordered a group of vaqueros to escort
2000 longhorns from Béxar, Texas, to New Orleans during the summer of 1779.
My mind was totally blown, picturing that
giant herd milling around the swamps and bayous of New Orleans—in the middle of
a hurricane! Okay, I couldn’t resist sending my hero to be part of that
assignment, though it happened “off-stage.” One day I may write the whole
scenario into another story and let the Western adventure begin!
Nora: Wow! I look forward to your Western adventure!
I loved Lyse Lanier –
she is feisty, hardworking, loyal, loving and passionate about her family. How
did you create her? Is she based on anyone? What do you hope readers learn from
her?
Lyse sort of appeared in my head full-blown.
And, no, she isn’t really based on anyone I know—though some of my students
I’ve taught in urban Mobile have faced the same kinds of challenges (messed-up
parental units, dependent younger siblings, limited financial resources, etc.).
There were some emotional and cultural things I wanted to explore with
her—mixed racial heritage, mixed religious background, feelings of inferiority,
survivor guilt…
So I gave her a disgraced alcoholic papa and
a mother who was a beautiful freed slave. I gave her a beloved cousin who
remains a slave. I had her fall in love with a wealthy young Spanish merchant
who seems light-years above her socially—and deal with the hurt of his parents’
disapproval. I forced her to learn to make her own way and accept the
generosity of others, but at the same time trust God’s goodness and justice.
My hope is that readers will identify with
Lyse so closely that her hurts and worries and victories will bring them closer
to God right along with her.
Nora: I identified with her very much. She had a lot to push through. I enjoyed
reading how she found her way and learned to trust God. It was believable.
Don Rafa was so much
fun. He was charming, inventive, clever and suave. How did you come up with his
character? What do you hope readers take away and/or learn from Rafa?
Rafa is one of those characters who has
become so real in my brain that I think of him at random moments and laugh.
I’ve always wanted to write a Scarlet
Pimpernel-type hero and finally got the chance (I don’t know how many times
I’ve read that book, but “Sink me!” is to this day one of my favorite lines).
So I kept telling myself, Make him seem
stupid but make his actions brilliant—not an easy task. I hope I succeeded.
Nora: YES, You Did!! Loved him. I haven’t read the book you talked about. Going to check it out. Sounds interesting and fun. (Kind of like your book!)
One thing I realized as Rafa did his thing
was how vulnerable he really was
underneath all that charisma. When you love someone, they are armed to hurt
you, and it’s unbelievably difficult to keep putting yourself out there. I
found his joking about Lyse throwing cake at him both funny and poignant. But
my favorite thing about him was his standing up to his mother (as much as he
loved and respected her) in defending Lyse. Men often don’t do that. And they
should.
Nora: I agree!
You state that if the
reader is a history geek they should check out “The American Crisis: Vol. 1 (1774-1779)
writings of Thomas Paine.” When you read Thomas Paine’s collection of common
sense essays; what did you think about it? Feel after you finished?
The common sense essays by Paine are amazing.
I had read pieces of them in high school, and I've even quoted the famous
“These are the times that try men’s souls” in a novella. But as I began to
write The Creole Princess, I read the
entire work all at one sitting. I’m not sure I can even articulate how it
affected me. “Euphoric” sounds silly, even over-the-top, but I think that’s the
closest I can come. 21st Century Americans take our freedom, our
basic equality in our human-ness, so for granted—and I suddenly realized what a
powerful, far-reaching impact Paine’s work must have had in waking people up,
galvanizing them to forcefully claim
that equality and freedom. The “American experiment” has been an astounding
success, and I hope I never get over the joy and pride in being an American.
Nora: You talked about this in the book in the story. It was an eye opener.
What two jobs have you had
that would surprise people? Do tell!
 |
| Dorm Room |
I worked in a Fort Worth bank while my husband and I were
in seminary, back in the early 80’s. Over the course of those four years, I did
a stint in the motor bank, I worked in auto loan collections, I managed and balanced
the ATM’s, and I served as the Customer Service supervisor. I like handling
money. I like balancing a cash drawer. I like counting and making things come
out even. It is the flip side of my creative brain, I guess.
The other weirdo job I had was being a Resident Assistant
in my college dorm. Hey, I got a room to myself! And I got to tell people what
to do (maybe that helped me become a teacher). It sure gave me some cultural
education!
Nora: Getting to know another side of you Beth.
Fun!
If you could have a day to
yourself (money is not an issue) what would you do?
 |
| Artwork |
When I have a day to myself, guilt-free (that means no
deadlines hanging over my head), I take an art lesson and paint something. I
grew up drawing with charcoal, mostly portraits of my friends and random
children, then graduated to chalk pastels. I actually have earned some money
with commissioned art. But last summer I took lessons in acrylic paints, and
I’m in love! All those brilliant colors! Eeeee!!
Nora: LOL! That sounds freeing and fun! You are full of surprises!
Name three things you’d
rather not live without? (Besides your family it’s a given)
Art (see above). iTunes. Sudoku.
Is there something you’d
like to try that you've always wanted to but haven’t so far? If so, what is it?
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| Beth conducting LeFlore Choir -Parent Appreciation Night Mobile |
I’d really like to learn to play the oboe.
One of my dearest friends was the oboist in our church orchestra, and I play
flute, so we sat next to each other week after week for years, until she was
killed in a car accident about eight years ago. So I’d kind of like to learn to
play oboe in Tammy’s honor.
Nora: I’m sorry to hear that about your friend. It would be fun to learn in
her honor!
Thanks for stopping by and helping us get to
know you and your books.
I’m thrilled about the Giveaway Opportunity at TBCN starting TODAY APRIL 21st at GO TO www.bookfun.org Answer one of the authors questions to be entered..
Looking forward to it to reading the participation between you and readers! It’s always so much fun! Everyone has to be a member of TBCN in order to participate. It’s Free and easy. Participate as your schedule allows.
SEE YOU THERE!!
Looking forward to it to reading the participation between you and readers!
It’s always so much fun! Everyone has to be a member of TBCN in order to
participate. It’s Free and easy. Participate as your schedule allows.
Nora :o)
Nora St. Laurent
