Author Spotlight - Excerpt from "A Gentleman and a Rogue"

Thank you so much for supporting me during my week in the spotlight. Leave a comment today, Saturday, Sunday, along with your email and I'll pick a winner on Monday to receive a PDF copy of Book 1 of The Windsor Diaries, "Victorian Scoundrel."

Enjoy the Excerpt!
Moderator Steph

********

Alice nodded and Edmund brought up the rear. They skulked down the hall, made a right, and Keira placed her hand on the study's knob, twisting it. "Locked."

Alice withdrew a long, thin hair pick, slid it into the lock and the door clicked. "Impressive," said Edmund.

Alice flashed him a slight smile.

Keira walked in. "Oh, dear, we need a light."

Alice dug into her reticule and removed a small slender cylinder. She pressed a button and a beam of light shot out.

"Amazing! How did you do that?" asked Keira.

"It runs on a battery that generates electricity." Alice walked over to the desk and examined the locks. She fussed in her reticule some more, pulled out some picks and went to work.

Edmund stood next to Keira and placed his hand in the small of her back. "She's brilliant, don't you think?"

"A girl after your own heart, I see."

"Alice may have popped my dirigible, but I respect her all that much more for doing it." "You are incorrigible."

"Come, let's talk." He guided her away from the desk and next to the window. The drapes were pulled back, allowing the dim, natural light from the stars and moon to filter into the room. Keira's heart pounded in her chest. Determined to stay strong in Edmund's tempting presence, she crossed her arms.

"Did you tell me everything back in my study?" she whispered.

He looked her over seductively, talking softly. "I told you I would the next time I saw you, and I have."

"Oh."

He placed his hand on her shoulder, trailing his finger up the soft skin of her neck, cupping her cheek. His eyes never left hers. "I want to see you again. Soon."

"It isn't wise."

"I know. I don't care." His voice grew low and husky.

Keira hesitated. Her body thrummed with warmth from his touch.
Uncomfortable heat pooled in her core. She tried to fight, to set her resolve and step away from him, but she couldn't. His gaze riveted on her face and moved over her body slowly. "I didn't forget you. I
couldn't. You're never far from my thoughts."

Logic. She needed logic. "You're from the future. I'm your past."

He shrugged. "I don't see it that way."

Her knees weakened. "How do you see it?"

"I see a woman who enjoys being around me, who looks into my eyes with honesty and sincerity. She's clever and knows her own mind. She accepts me for what I am -- mischief and all."

She swallowed. Edmund made her toes curl. His thumb gently stroked her jaw, stoking the growing desire for him in her heart.

"This is impossible. You and me and time traveling..."

"No, it's not. Look at Alice and Grayson. It works for them."

She placed a hand over his heart, unable to resist. "I have to find a man in my own time."

"You have. You've found me." He put his hand over hers and squeezed her fingers gently.

"Ed--"

Q FOR YOU: What do you think happens next? Does she kiss him or push him away? Don't forget to leave your email!

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Author Spotlight - Jules Verne Wore Leather and Goggles

Jules Verne was steampunk when steampunk was contemporary. He wrote his stories during the Victorian Age and along with HG Wells is considered one of the Founding Fathers of steampunk literature. (umm...he looks a little like Alan Rickman as "Lord Ridgecroft," doesn't he?)

(side note: The Windsor Diaries pays homage to both Verne and Wells – Can anyone tell me where their statues are placed in the series?)

Jules Verne was born in France in 1828. His most famous literary works include:
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1870)
Journey to the Center of the Earth (1864)
Around the World in 80 Days (1873)

What makes Verne stand out is that he was writing about space, air, and underwater travels in a practical way before methods had been developed to do so. (He's also considered one of the Founding Fathers of the Science Fiction genre, too)

As a young boy, Jules' family had a summer home in Brains, France on the banks of the Loire River and it was here that he cultivated a love of adventure. This love of adventure would play into his writing.

Jules studied to be a lawyer, but he had no heart for it and dropped his studies to work on his writing. He even met with writing contemporaries Victor Hugo and Aexandre Dumas.

Jules got married in 1857 and had a son, Michel. Michel proved himself a pistol. The boy had 2 kids with an underage mistress, married and actress and buried himself in debt.

In 1862, Jules traveled through Sweden. "A Hot Air Balloon Trip Through Africa" was published in Sweden in 1863, making it his first full length book!

Shortly afterwards Jules met Pierre-Jules Hetzel, a very well known and important French publisher. Hetzel helped improve Jules' writing. Until Jules met Hetzel, he was repeatedly rejected.

What a Good Editor does for you:

Prior to working with Hetzel, Jules' writing was "too" scientific, too pessimistic, and not too enthusiastic about technology and human progress. Jules was a pessimist.

Hetzel insisted Jules' work always had an optimistic feel to it and Jules was so grateful to be published he willingly agreed to Hetzel's changes.

Interestingly, Hetzel rejected one of Jules' novels called "Paris in the 20th Century."

Jules wrote "Paris in the 20th Century" in 1863. It's the story of a young man who lives in a glass skyscraper with high-speed trains, gas powered cars, calculators, and has a high-speed communications network. Our hero, however, can't find happiness and comes to a tragic end. Hetzel suggested Jules wait at least 20 years before publishing it. Jules locked the story away in a safe. But can you imagine! This is why Jules is one of the fathers of science fiction and steampunk! Heck, he was writing about the Internet over 130 years before it came into existence! And one of the "core" elements of steampunk is the addition of "futuristic" gadgets in the story.

What Happened to "Paris in the 20th Century?"

The novel, rejected in 1863 was locked in a safe. Hetzel died in 1887 and Jules never did have a chance to revisit the story. He passed away in 1905.

Michel, Jules' son, published some of his father's stories after his death – "Invasion of the Sea" and "Lighthouse at the End of the World," but Michel being the pistol he was made extensive changes to the stories. The original Jules Verne novels were discovered and published in the late 20th Century.

In 1989, Jules' great-grandson found the safe Jules had stashed "Paris in the 20th Century." The novel finally found print in 1994. Jules Verne had come full circle.

DID YOU KNOW?

Verne is one of the top FIVE translated authors in the world?

Question for readers: What's your favorite Jules Verne story? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Reference for this blog post: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jules_Verne

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http://amzn.com/B00A5CF24C

FIND ME ON THE WEB AT:

WEBSITE:
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TWITTER:
http://twitter.com/StephBurkhart

FACEBOOK:
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GOOD READS:
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Author Spotlight - When Steam Rules The World...

…chances are you're reading a steampunk story. So what's a steampunk? Generally the story takes place between 1837-1901, during the reign of Queen Victoria, when the Industrial Age came into its own and steam powered the world. When it comes to setting, it's not limited to England. I've read stories set in the American West, Siberia, Brazil, and Egypt. Steam is what drives the story, thought.

There are "futuristic" gadgets to the time period, but not the reader. There's dirigibles, transmogrifiers, datamancers, and anything else you can come up with including a steam run coffee pot.

There's also a paranormal element to a steampunk story. There can be vampires and werewolves, but in "The Windsor Diaries," I use time traveling. Nothing like having good old fashioned brass and iron time machine, I say.

Never heard of steampunk, you say? The recent Sherlock Holmes movies with Robert Downey Jr., and Jude Law really capture the ambience of the genre.

Question: Have you read a good steampunk story? Seen a good movie? What the TV show "Revolution?" Where the world is thrown back to the time of steam? I'd love to hear your thoughts, comments, and recommendations.

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http://amzn.com/B00A5CF24C

FIND ME ON THE WEB AT:

WEBSITE:
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TWITTER:
http://twitter.com/StephBurkhart

FACEBOOK:
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GOOD READS:
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Author Spotlight - Meet the Cast of "A Gentleman and a Rogue"

I enjoy casting my characters. For me, it really plants a great visual in my mind. If they let me cast the movie, here's my picks for "A Gentleman and a Rogue."

EDMUND WINDSOR – Robert Pattinson

Edmund's the hero. He's gone back in time with the intention of setting the time line straight, but all his plans might go out the window when he sees Keira again.

KEIRA RUSSELL – Keira Knightly

Keira is the heroine. She's managed to develop the practical applications needed for compressed natural gas to work, but she's got a lot of competition and Edmund proves a definite distraction.

RICHARD WINDSOR – Christian Cooke

Richard is Edmund's older brother and determined to put an end to Edmund's mischief making – until he meets Jocelyn.


JOCELYN DUNKIRK – Nina Dobrev

Jocelyn believes in her father's black oil project. Aside from her steampunk taste in clothes which includes leather skirts and poofy shirts, she's loyal to bone to her friends.

LORD RIDGECROFT – Alan Rickman

Jocelyn's father is very protective of her. He's grateful for her help with black oil. He's also a bit of a brass and iron inventor.

ALICE WINDSOR – Mena Suvari

Alice is up to her old mischief making tricks picking locks and planning to steal rivets.

GRAYSON KENTFIELD – Orlando Bloom

Grayson is right at Alice's side, but it's never easy trying to keep her from making mischief.

QUEEN VICTORIA – Emily Blount

What's Steampunk without a guest appearance from Queen Victoria?

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http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-windsor-diaries-book-two-stephanie-burkhart/1113777499?ean=2940015869538

AMAZON (KINDLE:)
http://amzn.com/B00A5CF24C

FIND ME ON THE WEB AT:

WEBSITE:
http://www.stephanieburkhart.com

TWITTER:
http://twitter.com/StephBurkhart

FACEBOOK:
https://www.facebook.com/StephanieBurkhartAuthor

GOOD READS:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4031660.Stephanie_Burkhart

YOU TUBE CHANNEL:
http://www.youtube.com/user/botrina?feature=mhee

PINTEREST:
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Author Spotlight - Q&A with Stephanie Burkhart

QUESTION: What is "A Gentleman and a Rogue" about?

STEPH: The novel is set in England in 1855. It's a steampunk romance with an emphasis on brass, iron and coal. Edmund Windsor is the hero. After realizing his world isn't powered by compressed natural gas, he travels back in time to set the time line straight with his cousin, Alice. Edmund's reunited with the love of his life, Keira, but love is complicated. Can Edmund win Keira's heart and set the time line straight again? Queen Victoria is back and there's some new characters including Edmund's brother, Richard, and the eccentric Lady Jocelyn Ridgecroft.

QUESTION: How long did it take you to write?

STEPH: About three months.

QUESTION: Did you do a lot of research?

STEPH: I took two weeks before I started writing to research. I studied Victorian fashion, the setting, compressed natural gas and Shakespeare.

QUESTION: How does the cover reflect the story within?

STEPH: I'd like to think the cover poses the question – who is the gentleman and who is the rogue? Edmund or his brother, Richard?

QUESTION: Keira is the heroine. What are her strengths? Weaknesses?

STEPH: Keira is a sharp cookie. She understands what she wants to do with compressed natural gas. She also knows if she lets Edmund back into her heart it just might ruin her. Keira also knows she's not a very good public speaker and that exposes her vulnerabilities. She needs help in that department.

QUESTION: What does the hero, Edmund, find appealing about Keira?

STEPH: Keira is honest to the bone and Edmund finds that refreshing about her. There's no pretenses when it comes to Keira. He's free to be himself, warts and all.

QUESTION: What's the theme of the novel?

STEPH: Trust in love. It will never fail you.

QUESTION: Do you have an ebook reader? If so, which one.

STEPH: I own a Kindle and Kindle Fire. I love them both. I use the text to speech feature on my Kindle to read to me going to work. With the Kindle Fire my boys enjoy playing with the apps. I like to play Angry Birds on the Kindle Fire and download TV shows.

QUESTION: Are you participating in NaNoWriMo this year?

STEPH: I am! My project is "Sunrise Over Brasov" It's book 3 of the Moldavian Moon series. Michael must rescue Rosa from an evil werewolf, however he discovers her memory has been tampered with. Can he make her fall in love with him all over again?

FUN QUESTION: How do you cook your turkey for Thanksgiving?

STEPH: I brine that bad bird a day in advance and we bake him. We used to fry the bird in peanut oil, but my 6-year-old son has a peanut allergy so we had to stop that. If anyone is interested in my brining recipe, let me know and I'll share it.

Q for Readers: I'd love to hear about your Thanksgiving traditions. How do you cook the bird? Do you have a favorite side dish you like to make? Pies like to bake? Feel free to share, especially if you have a recipe.

PUBLISHER'S BUY LINK:
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-366/The-Windsor-Diaries-Book/Detail.bok

ALL ROMANCE EBOOKS:
https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-thewindsordiariesbookthreeagentlemanandarogue-996194-141.html

BARNES & NOBLE (NOOK)
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-windsor-diaries-book-two-stephanie-burkhart/1113777499?ean=2940015869538

AMAZON (KINDLE:)
http://amzn.com/B00A5CF24C

FIND ME ON THE WEB AT:

WEBSITE:
http://www.stephanieburkhart.com

TWITTER:
http://twitter.com/StephBurkhart

FACEBOOK:
https://www.facebook.com/StephanieBurkhartAuthor

GOOD READS:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4031660.Stephanie_Burkhart

YOU TUBE CHANNEL:
http://www.youtube.com/user/botrina?feature=mhee

PINTEREST:
http://pinterest.com/sgburkhart/