Building Celebration House
The Celebration House Trilogy
Volume 1
Annette Drake
Genre: Women’s fiction/paranormal romance
Publisher: Baskethound Books
Date of Publication: 3/1/17
ISBN: 978-0-9916118-9-8
ASIN: B01NBIK7KJ
Number of pages: 234
Word Count: 52K
Cover Artist: Elizabeth Mackey
Tagline: How can she plan a future with a man who has only a past?
Book Description:
Carrie Hansen spent her life caring for cardiac patients. Little did she know she would become a patient herself.
After recovering from her own heart surgery, she learns she has a special talent: the ability to see and talk with the dead.
Now, with her health failing, she leaves the bustle of Seattle behind and returns to Lexington, Missouri, the small town where she spent her childhood. Here, she sets out to restore an abandoned antebellum mansion and open it as a venue for celebrations.
Carrie’s unique gift allows her to build relationships with the mansion’s ghostly occupants, especially Major Tom Gentry, the handsome Civil War soldier who died 100 years before Carrie was born. He encourages and comforts her, though not in the physical way they both desire.
Will Carrie finish restoring the celebration house or will it finish her? And how can she plan a future with a man who has only a past?
Excerpt:
When Carrie
opened the door and stepped inside, sunlight streamed in through the dirty
windows. Even though the barn had been vacant for years, the air smelled of hay
and horses.
Looking to her
left, she saw a man shaving. He’d glanced up when Carrie opened the doors, but
returned his gaze to the small mirror tacked to the wooden beam. He was bare
from the waist up. His chest was lean and muscular, with dark brown hair from
mid-chest to his waistline. His arms were powerfully built, and his right hand
was steady as he scraped the white soap from his angular jaw with a razor. His
dark blue uniform pants with gold braid down the side were tucked into
knee-high black leather boots. He stood at least six feet tall, and though
Carrie hadn’t made her living in the carnival, she guessed he was probably
younger than her, likely in his mid to late twenties. He peered at the small
mirror, tilting his chin to swipe away the shaving soap. Carrie waited to speak
until after he’d finished with the ivory-handled straight blade and dipped it
into the basin of soapy water.
“Good morning,”
she said.
His expression
was an equal mix of surprise and annoyance. He dropped the razor and grabbed
his shirt off a nearby nail. He turned his back to Carrie and pulled it on.
“You can see me,
madam?” he asked, buttoning his shirt and stuffing it into his pants.
“Yes. Can you
see me?”
“I can, but I
believe I have the advantage. I’m dead. You are not.” He turned and glared at
her. His eyebrows furrowed as though he wasn’t quite sure how they’d arrived at
the point of introductions.
“I’m sorry to
intrude. I’m Carrie. Carrie Hansen.” She extended her hand.
He reached to
shake her hand, but his fingers passed through hers. They both jerked back.
“I’m sorry. I
really didn’t mean to intrude,” she said.
“You surprised
me. That’s all. We seldom receive visitors, especially living ones who can see
us.” He put on his blue uniform coat and fastened the long row of brass
buttons. “I’m Major Thomas Gentry, at your service.” He bowed.
“I’m sorry I
startled you. I sometimes forget ghosts aren’t accustomed to being seen.”
His eyes
narrowed and he frowned. “How may I be of service to you, Miss Hansen?”
“Where can I
find Colonel Stratton? I need to speak with him.”
His dark blue
eyes showed his increasing puzzlement. “The living do not go looking for
Colonel Stratton. What business have you with him?”
“I bought this
house, and I intend to live here.”
“You bought
Stratton House?”
“And I need to
speak with the colonel.”
Major Gentry
shook his head as though to sort through the details. “Please forgive me. You
bought Stratton House, you intend to live here, and you wish to speak with the
home’s proprietor, Colonel Stratton?”
“I thought we’d
covered that,” she said. “You don’t get many visitors, do you?”
About the Author:
Annette Drake is a multi-genre author whose work is character-driven and celebrates the law of unintended consequences.
She makes her home in Washington state. A member of the Romance Writers of America, she loves ferry rides, basset hounds and bakeries. She does not camp.
Website: http://annettedrake.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/annettedrake13
***
Do
you plan everything or just let the story flow?
I always know how the book starts and how it ends. It’s that darn middle part!
Initially,
I was a pantser – flying by the seat of my pants. But I’ve now
started using more of an outline, especially with my romance novels.
These readers like a familiar story structure, so I’m doing my best
to give them one. Long story short: I plan.
Do
your characters ever want to take over the story?
Yes! Absolutely! And my nine-year-old wants to only eat popcorn and bathe once a year. But, sometimes I have to say no.
Yes! Absolutely! And my nine-year-old wants to only eat popcorn and bathe once a year. But, sometimes I have to say no.
What is your favourite food?
Alas, I love chocolate. I think if it was illegal, I’d be living under a bridge. I’m trying to cut back, but it’s an ongoing struggle. I also love, love, love coffee.
Are you a morning person or a night owl?
I am an insomniac. So, sitting at my desk to start writing at 4 a.m. isn’t uncommon. To that end, I am in bed before 10 p.m.
Where do you dream of travelling to and why?
I dream of traveling to France. I’m starting French classes at my local community college next month because it’s my daydream to live there after I retire.
Do distant places feature in your books?
I don’t know. Do you consider Alaska a “distant” place? The book I’m currently promoting – Building Celebration House - and its two sequels take place in my home state of Missouri. Smack dab in the center of the country. All three heroines hail from Seattle, so there’s a little culture shock there.
Do you listen to music while writing?
Yes,
usually. My favorite Pandora stations depend on which book I’m
writing.
Could you tell us a bit about your latest release?
Could you tell us a bit about your latest release?
Building
Celebration House is about a woman who returns to the small town
where she spent her childhood and buys an abandoned antebellum
mansion, which she then renovates and opens as a place for people to
have weddings, anniversary parties, etc.
This
is my debut novel. It was first published in 2013 by a small press.
Last year, I bought my rights back and after revisions, I’m
republishing it. The sequels will debut on April 1st
and May 1st.
What have you learned about writing and publishing since you first started?
Routine
is essential. For me, writing every day is the only way to finish a
book. Also, I must give myself permission to write a bad first draft.
It’s all in the revisions.
Is there anything you would do differently?
Is there anything you would do differently?
Honestly,
I’ve spent a lot of my life trying to fix the past. I’m done with
that. So, no. I wouldn’t do anything differently. I’m the sum of
my experiences.
Who, or what, if anything has influenced your writing?
Who, or what, if anything has influenced your writing?
The
biggest influences have been the books I’ve read. Ray Bradbury,
Marian Keyes, J.K. Rowling, Stephen King, Jude Devereaux, Constance
O’Day Flannery, Heather Graham, J.A. Jance. My tastes vary widely.
But it’s all about story. Tell me a story.
Anything
you would say to those just starting out in the craft?
Write
the kind of book you want to read. Establish a routine – even just
10 minutes a day. And don’t let insecurity stop you, that voice
that whispers, “You aren’t good enough.” Silencing that voice
is, I think, the biggest hurdle.
What are three words that describe you?
What are three words that describe you?
Curious.
Kind. Persistent.
What's your favourite book or who is your favourite writer?
What's your favourite book or who is your favourite writer?
Just
one favorite book? Ouch. Okay, well, I love the works of Ray
Bradbury. I wanted to name my son after this author, but my husband
said no. I think my reading choices run the gamut, from Marian Keyes
to David McCullough. I love fiction the most. I love books where I’m
still thinking about the main characters after I’ve finished
reading the book. And that’s exactly what type of story I try to
tell.
Blurb of your latest release or coming soon book
Carrie Hansen spent her life caring for cardiac patients. Little did she know she would become a patient herself. After recovering from her own heart surgery, she learns she has a new skill: the ability to see and talk with the dead.
Blurb of your latest release or coming soon book
Carrie Hansen spent her life caring for cardiac patients. Little did she know she would become a patient herself. After recovering from her own heart surgery, she learns she has a new skill: the ability to see and talk with the dead.
Now,
with her health failing, she leaves the bustle of Seattle behind and
returns to Lexington, Missouri, the small town where she spent her
childhood. Here, she sets out to restore an abandoned antebellum
mansion and open it as a venue for celebrations.
Carrie’s
unique gift allows her to build relationships with the mansion’s
ghostly occupants, especially Major Tom Gentry, the handsome Civil
War soldier who died 100 years before Carrie was born. He encourages
and comforts her, though not in the physical way they both desire.
Will
Carrie finish restoring the celebration house or will it finish her?
And how can she plan a future with a man who has only a past?
List of previous books if any
Sure!
Building
Celebration House – published 3/1/17
Stay
at Celebration House – to publish 4/1/17
Return
to Celebration House – to publish 5/1/17
Trombone
Girl: The Josey Miller Story – published 3/1/14
A
Year with Geno – published June 21, 2014
A
Beautiful Day in Alaska – published 2/1/15
Death
Goes to the County Fair – published October 2015
Any websites/places readers can find you on the web.
Any websites/places readers can find you on the web.
Website:
http://annettedrake.com/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/AnnetteDrakeBooks?ref=hl
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/annettedrake13
Pinterest:
https://www.pinterest.com/annettedrake13/
Email:
Write2me@AnnetteDrake.com
Thank you so much for hosting me. I really enjoyed the interview!
ReplyDeleteBest wishes,
Annette
You're welcome :)
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