Your trilogy of Civil War romances offer a blend of American historical fiction, sweet romance, and a gentle faith. How do you blend those to satisfy fans of each of those genres?
This actually came rather easily to me, because this is the kind of book that I have been looking for since I started reading historic romance novels in high school. I love writing books that are based in fact, involving real-life figures and that highlight historical events in an engaging way. The primary characters in my books are Catholic, so featuring how their faith, like mine, is interwoven into their day-to-day lives came naturally to me. As far as the sweet romance goes, everyone loves a good love story with a satisfying ending! My preference in what I consume and in what I write is to give readers a glance at our couples’ romance without describing every detail. The rest is up to their imagination!
What about the American Civil War era drew you to set your novels there?
History was always my favorite subject in school. Maybe it’s because I grew up as the daughter of a military vet (I went to three different high schools in four years), but I have a particular fascination with war history — specifically, the Civil War. What I find so interesting about the Civil War is that it is a parallel to what is currently going on in our own country, with the severe divide between people on opposite sides of the political spectrum. Hopefully my novels will cause people to look at the big picture and realize that, as Americans, we have more things in common than not, and that we would be better served by celebrating what we have in common than focusing on our differences.
I live near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and I’ve seen firsthand the timeless attraction people have to the Civil War battles, the era and culture, and the stories that have been passed down about it – from families and lovers with divided loyalties to ghost stories and more. What is it, do you think, that continues to fascinate us?
It’s almost unbelievable that only three or so generations back there was a war waged on the soil of the United States. This was the first war that has actual photographs and film footage of events that transpired during that time frame. It makes it more real for people. Maybe for that reason, the period has been romanticized. Despite the war going on, it seemed to be a simpler, more polite time, when loyalties were clearer, and communication was most often face-to-face. Deep down, people dream of living that kind of less-complicated and more down-to-earth life.
I know your heroines bear some resemblance to your daughters. Would you explain how they are, in some ways, similar?
When I wrote A World Such as Heaven Intended, Amara was loosely based on me or the person that I would like to be. However, after the book was complete I realized Amara’s character was very much like our oldest daughter, Stephanie. She is intelligent, determined, passionate and an achiever. When I decided to add to more books to the series, my editor wanted each of the three female protagonists to have distinct personalities. After thinking about it, it dawned on me that I had the three ideal role models for my characters. Bridget, in A Life Such as Heaven Intended, is sweet, faithful, empathetic and much stronger than she realizes, just like our middle daughter, Samantha. Josephine, in A Love Such as Heaven Intended, it a match for our youngest daughter Elizabeth who is adventurous, humorous, loyal and a go-getter (and maybe a bit spoiled as the youngest of four children)!
How does novel writing fit into a busy life with other responsibilities – professional, familial, and social?
This is my mission, so I schedule time to work on writing my novels, even though I still work full-time with my health and wellness business, writing, proofreading, copy-editing, acting and modeling. Plus we are active volunteers at our parish. For the last several years I have committed to NANOWRIMO, so I have written the first 50,000 words of a novel each November. Then I spend the rest of the year finishing writing, copy editing, rewriting and marketing the final product.
What project(s) are you working on now?
My next series is set in 1974 and is a story about a 7th-grade girl who attends a small-town Catholic school and is bullied by the class jock. It’s based on a real-life experience, so at my age this is probably considered historic fiction! There are two books in the series, the first one is told from the perspective of an adult looking back to that pivotal year in junior high, and the second book is the same story told from the perspective of that woman’s 12-year-old daughter from 2019 who gets a concussion the day before the first day of 7th grade and ends up waking up in her mom’s body and living her mom’s life for one school year. Talk about a shock to the system! The series depicts growing up in the “Wonder Years,” it’s a blast from the past for Baby Boomers and those who remember the 1970s, and it’s a story about redemption, forgiveness, and people who step up and become real-life heroes for someone who needs them. I’ve gotten a great response from my beta readers so far. I’ll polish the books up this summer and find a home for them with a publisher or publish them independently if I don’t find the right fit.
Thanks so much, Carolyn, for inviting me to be a guest on your blog!
An avid reader and history buff since childhood, journalist and professional proofreader/copy editor Amanda Lauer fulfilled a lifelong goal with the publication of her debut novel, A World Such as Heaven Intended, on October 29, 2014. The second book in Lauer’s Heaven Intended Civil War trilogy, A Life Such as Heaven Intended, was published April 1, 2018. A Love Such as Heaven Intended was published April 20, 2019. This CALA award-winning and best-selling wholesome romance series was inspired by the true story of a Civil War hero. “All gave some; some gave all.”
Links:
Blog: https://aworldsuchasheavenintended.wordpress.com/
Website: http://www.fullquiverpublishing.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/amandalauer23
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