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Monday, August 15, 2011

Interview with MaryLu Tyndall - New release "Surrender the Dawn"










MaryLu Tyndall is the author of Surrender the Dawn


Published by: Barbour (August 1st, 2011)


Interview by Carrie Fancett Pagels



MaryLu Tyndall is also the author of 10 books. She is a member of Colonial American Christian Writers and has a three book series set during colonial times.  Her latest series has been set during and after the War of 1812, which many historians refer to as the second war for independence. 

MaryLu, what got you interested in the colonial time period?
I’ve always been drawn to this time period. I suppose because it was such a volatile time, a time of adventure, exploration, new worlds, and new beginnings. A time when people left the comforts of home abroad for opportunity and freedom and then had to fight not only the elements but natives and marauders in order to carve out homes for themselves in the wilderness. This was also the Age of Sail when tall ships ruled the seas. To me, it is it such a romantic, adventurous time period! What’s not to love?

What inspired your latest book?
Two things: The War of 1812, which, in my opinion, is one of the most fascinating, patriotic, and miraculous wars our nation has ever fought.  America had virtually no navy and a ragtag army, yet we defeated the most powerful empire on earth at the time—the British. Those same British arrogantly boasted how easy it would be to take back the American colonies. How shocked they were when, with the help of Almighty God, we sent them packing!

Also, I like to interject a strong spiritual theme into each of my books. This series revolves around the theme of destiny—how to find your God-given purpose on this earth. Each book represents one thing that can prevent you from finding that purpose: Insecurity, fear, and unbelief. I show through the story and characters how to rid yourself of these encumbrances and then seek God for your destiny. Each of the heroines in the books play a grand part in the war and hence in the deliverance of America from the British invaders. And of course they all fall in love with dashing heroes!

Do you have a favorite colonial place you like to visit and why?
Can I have more than one? LOL. I guess Charleston, South Carolina would be my favorite. There is such a rich history there, beautiful historic homes, cobblestone streets, tall ships—you can almost feel the history in the air. I also love Annapolis and Baltimore for similar reasons. As you can see, I love port towns. They were the center of activity, commerce and culture. Plus they were often attacked by marauders, enemies and pirates. Which makes them very exciting places! My favorite thing to do is to explore historic buildings where the echoes of those who came before us still ring through the brick walls, or gaze out over the bay and envision the tall ships rocking at anchor in the water. Ah, to be transported back to that time!

If you care to say, you can tell readers where you live and what colonial places you have in your state or your home state if different.  Unfortunately I live in California. No colonial places here at all. L  And I grew up in South Florida which was largely Spanish for years. 

Surrender the Dawn is a story set during the War of 1812 in Baltimore. It is about a young lady desperate to care for her mother and sisters in a war that has robbed her of her father and brothers. Since no honorable privateer will allow her to invest her money, she is forced to align with the town rogue and his broken-down ship.

Tortured by guilt over his parents’ death, Luke Heaton longs to redeem his reputation and win the affection of the beautiful Cassandra. At first he is quite successful as a privateer but things take a terrible twist when the British blackmail him into selling them supplies off the coast.

Though everything seems against them, the couple fall in love, but Cassandra is suspicious of Luke’s traitorous activities. Setting out to catch him in the act, she is tossed head-first into a massive British invasion of Baltimore and one of the most decisive battles of the war where lives, liberty and the future of a nation are at stake.

Giveaway:  Leave your email address for a chance to win a copy of Surrender the Dawn. Surrender the Dawn is also available for purchase through CBD and Amazon

21 comments:

  1. This is a such a great story! :) I loved how the characters faced not only external struggles of war and such, but also their own internal giants. It made them feel larger than life and people I could relate to.

    My hat goes off to you, MaryLu, for being able to write gripping stories and keep history accurate all the while.

    Big fan! :o)

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  2. Thanks Sheri! that means a lot coming from a fellow writer!

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  3. Great interview. I agree, Charleston and Baltimore are great colonial places. I enjoy historical port towns as well. Another place I'm considering setting a book is Georgetown, SC. It's a colonial port town as well.

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  4. I can't wait to read this! I have all of her other books besides this one. =) Just got a friend hooked on her books too.
    Battles2001@hotmail.com

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  5. I got this on my Kindle Sat., and had gsons all afternoon and night; had two church services yesterday, and thought I would burst if I didn't at least get to take a peek before I went to bed last night! Only made it to chapter 5 before my eyelids started drooping (not from boredom, I assure you!), but I got my peek, LOL! I especially love the cover on this one, MaryLu, and also the fact that you incorporate overcoming insecurity, unbelief, and fear in every one of your novels, which everyone is plagued with from time to time.

    Can't wait for Veil of Tears, which takes place on a plantation in my neighboring town of Charleston, SC! My favorite genre of book...plantations and the South!:) Fabulous interview Carrie and MaryLu!

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  6. MaryLu is a wonderful author, and this book looks absolutely delightful.

    blissful63(at)gmail(dot)com

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  7. OOPS-Sorry, my daughter was talking to me the whole time I was typing comment above and I can't walk and chew gum at the same time:)...I meant Veil of Pearls not Tears! I know a song by the name of Trail of Tears, hence the misprint. Oh, brother...

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  8. Great interview & can't wait to read the book.
    Love the cover .

    Wilma

    wilmamet6(at)gmail(dot)com

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  9. Thank you, Jennifer! Yes, Georgetown is a good place too with lots of history! Well, I guess there's tons of them.. Ah so much to write! :-) I'm looking forward to your next release!

    Melissa, thank you! And thanks for spreading the word about my books too. Lord knows, I need it!

    Waving at Diana! I'm putting the finishing touches on Veil of Pearls now! It's due Sept 9th. I hope you like it. Well, what's not to love about Charleston in the 1800's?

    Hi Lauralee! Thank you for your kind words!

    And thank you Wilma for dropping in and entering! I saw your comment on Facebook. :-)

    I also want to thank Carrie and Carla for having me on Colonial Quills! I hope to participate more on this blog when my writing shifts back to Colonial times.

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  10. I've never read a book by MaryLu, but I'm planning to in the near future :) Great interview.

    Please enter me

    crazi.swans at gmail dot com

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  11. MaryLu is one of my go-to authors and I've enjoyed this 1812 series. Looking forward to this one as well.

    Seems it wasn't that long ago you were speaking of your research trip to Baltimore!

    Thanks Carrie and the quillers!

    Debraemarvin at yahoooo

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  12. Thanks Faye, should you get to read one, I hope you enjoy my books!
    And thank you Debra!!!. Yes, it does seem like yesterday I was in Baltimore.. but methinks it was over 2 years ago. Good grief. Time flies. I do love that city, though. Especially the harbor area. I hear it used to be crime-ridden, but they've really cleaned it up. Yum, I'm feeling an urge for crabcake!

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  13. I got started on Surrender the Dawn and was enthralled and Diana told me she needed something really good to read. Our webmaster for CQ is here to visit at CW and Jamestown and so my reading has been postponed until Diana finishes up the loaner on Kindle. This looks like the best book yet for you, MaryLu!

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  14. Thanks Carrie! I had fun writing it. Hope you like it. :-)

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  15. I am entering a comment for my sis-in-law who can't enter one:

    I would love a chance to read this book! Thanks for the opportunity to win it!
    Barbara Smith~

    thatoldgal@gmail.com

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  16. When Luke had to surrender and the British captain came on board, I thought--"That's it! How does he get out of this one?!" So I'm up half the night turning pgs.! A down-right super story. Also, I dog-ear the pgs. with a strong spiritual message if I need to refer to them when something comes up in my own life. And that's how I read your books MaryLu! :) You'll find me in line for Veil of Pearls next....and did I just see in one of your comments, "when my writing shifts back to Colonial times"? Any idea when? :)

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  17. Melissa, you have been blessed by winning a copy of MaryLu Tyndall's new release "Surrender the Dawn" from the Colonial Quills blog (http://colonialquills.blogspot.com)! Congratulations. You left the winning comment on my interview with MaryLu as selected by random.org. Will be emailing you as well!

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  18. Thanks Pat! Glad you're enjoying the story!! I'm contracted for 4 more books, all set in the 1800's, but then I'm heading back to Colonials. My pirate series was my favorite and it was set in 1665. Love that time period!

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  19. Melissa, congratulations! I hope you enjoy the book! Thanks for entering... God Bless!

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  20. Hi, Carrie!

    What a fun and beautiful blog!

    Blessings to you this week. See you soon!

    Mel

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