Hello, everyone! I am pleased to welcome fellow author Elle Marlow onto my blog today. She is here today sharing a clean historical romance with us (right up my alley!). If pirates and adventure and romance intrigue you, this seems like the book for you. So, let me get out of the way and let you hear more about it (and the author) from Elle:
Thanks for being on the blog today, Elle. First, can you tell us a little about The Black Raven, White Dove?
I’d love to! The Black Raven, White Dove is a sweet, historical romance with light adventure and suspense. It is about 40k words in length, making it a larger novella. The time period of the story is in the 1700 when Portugal ruled the trades, especially by sea. After doing some research into the coastal area, I was completely taken by the beauty of it, and so, decided that a romance must take place!
There’s always room for romance! Did you always want to be a writer? If not, what did you want to be when you were a child?
When I was a child, I wanted to be a Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader! LOL. But somewhere around my 20’s I started writing. I have written (and lost) more manuscripts over the course of the years, but one of those I kept, and it sat on a shelf for over 15 years until it finally found a publishing home. So, even if you set your dreams aside for a bit, never give up. I’m an example of better late than never.
Isn’t that the truth! It’s never to late to pursue your dreams. I know that, while writing is something we enjoy, that not all of it is roses and sunshine. There are parts of the process we don’t love so much. What about you? What part of the writing process do you dread?
The synopsis. Seriously, dread the synopsis.
I totally understand. Not my favorite either! I have learned myself that we hone our craft through workshops and conferences, but also through reading. Always reading. Some of what we learn about writing is intuitive I think. What are you currently reading?
Right now, I’m reading A.J. Kohler’s romance titled Repeat. It’s fantastic!
I love a good recommendation! Now when I need to get in the mood to write, I need to have the right atmosphere, but I also need the right music to get in the right headspace. What kind of music, if any, do you listen to when you write?
My all-time best selling romance is a contemporary western, Josey’s Mountain. I wrote that novel to country music hottie, Luke Bryan’s song “That’s my kind of night.” Okay, we can argue that he isn’t real country, but that book produced real results, so I kind of love him.
Can’t argue with results 🙂 How long does it take you to write a book?
Generally, speaking, a novella will take three months. A full novel up to six or seven. Josey’s Mountain is a full novel and I wrote it in six weeks. (Don’t ask me how.)
Everyone is different. But I know how that happens sometimes. It just flows out of you. Tell us something about The Black Raven, White Dove that is NOT in the blurb.
I loved writing this story because of the good messages within it and the beautiful setting. I wanted to stay there with Bianca and her pirate, Stefan. I was sad when it was over.
That’s good to hear. It is hard to let go of good characters. Do you have any current projects your working on? Care to share?
Sigh. Right now, I am going through a contemporary western novella titled, Horses from Heaven. I cannot decide the heat level. It’s a beautiful story dealing with a young woman who becomes a widow and her journey back to finding love again. I go back and forth in my mind just how much intimacy to add, and if this should be a clean reads or not. It could go either way. It’s the emotional connection I really want to convey, so we’ll see.
Sounds intriguing. Thanks again, Elle, for sharing with us. And now, let’s take a closer look at The Black Raven, White Dove…
The Black Raven, White Dove
Known as the Ice pirate, Stefan Ice captains the Raven, a wicked ship filled with treasures and haunting secrets. The one thing missing from Raven’s coffers is revenge. The only thing missing from Stefan’s life is love. Bianca is the jewel in her father’s crown. When she is captured and bound on the Raven, she becomes an unwilling pawn in an unknown feud between the dark pirate and her father. With every rock of the ship, Stefan steals her heart and unravels their tangled and tragic past. Bianca will need to rely on her faith and her heart to find God’s purpose for her life. Is it with the legendary pirate?
Buy Links
Also available on iTunes
More About Elle Marlow
Hello, everyone! My name is Elle Marlow, and I am thrilled about my latest release, The Black Raven, White Dove. Never, would I have imagined penning an exciting pirate tale. See, I’m known for my western romances which can range from sweet to sizzling. So, when the inspiration came to return to my love of Christ and find a way to speak of it in and unique and fun way, pirates came to mind!
Crazy, right? Well, the way I see it, what a better way to showcase our true growth then through adversity. Bianca and Stefan have plenty to overcome in this romance. And when you’re on the high seas with such a rough crowd as the crew of the Raven, there are multitudes of ways in which to bring about hope and inspiration, and to show that God’s grace is for all—even crusty old pirates.
I had so much fun trying to take my “writer’s voice” to a whole new level with this story. I’m used to the familiar, “Yes, ma’am and howdy,” of my heroic cowboys. But, a good pirate isn’t too different from a good cowboy, I just had to think outside the box and reach outside my comfort zone.
I would love for you to dare to climb aboard the Raven take this, and many other journeys with me.
Follow Elle Marlow and her books
Or follow one or both of my FB pages:
www.facebook.com/kelly.hyatt.1671 This FB is more personal and candid.
Or, if you prefer not all the small talk, there is my official FB page that is strictly for Elle Marlow current information and new releases. www.facebook.com/AuthorElleMarlow/