#GiveAway - The General's Wife by Sara R. Turnquist

The General's Wife

by Sara R. Turnquist

Sara R. Turnquist will be awarding a $50 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Please use the RaffleCopter below to enter. Remember you may increase your chance of winning by visiting the other tour stops. The locations may be found here. 

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Q&A with Sara R. Turnquist:

Q: Any weird things you do when you’re alone?

A: Sometimes I make faces at myself. Just to see what I look like when I make dumb faces at other people.

Q: What is your favorite quote and why?

A: Why do I have to narrow it to one??? I have so many. Okay…

“All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.” – Walt Disney

I have found this to be true in my life. Especially with my writing. I used to be what I call a “closet writer”. I never let anyone read what I wrote. Then I let my husband read it. He encouraged me to let my VERY honest friend read it. She loved it. It gave me the courage to let him query some publishers and agents.

Q: Who is your favorite author and why?

A: Again, I have several. I’ll narrow it down to two: Michelle Moran and Melanie Dickerson. I love the detail in Michelle Moran’s Historical Fiction. It’s like you’re there, she paints the picture so well for you. Melanie Dickerson helps you get into the character’s head and heart so well. You feel what the character feels. It’s amazing.

Q: What, in your opinion, are the most important elements of good writing?

A: Being consistent with point of view (not head-hopping and not switching tenses). Having a deep point of view (really getting us into the character’s head, tell us what the character is thinking and feeling). Cut out excess words.

Q: Where did you get the idea for this book?

A: When I was in middle school, I learned about the Ptolemaic Period (the time in Egyptian history when the pharaohs were Greek and there was a blending of Greek and Egyptian culture). So, when I started getting serious about writing, placing a story during that time period made sense to me. The story seemed to emerge organically from there. And the more I researched, the more the story came to life.

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BLURB:

“Go home!” Ismene is speechless as she reads those words written in blood on the walls of her new home. The young, raven-haired Grecian beauty had traveled all the way from her homeland to marry the Pharaoh’s top general. But she never expected this. The hatred of the Alexandrian mob for their Greek rulers is right in front of her. It is the first of many threats she will receive.

Things are escalating out of control. Damaged crops and horses turned loose at night are one thing. But when Ismene receives a death threat, it becomes clear that there is a spy within her own household. She would turn to her husband to deal with this issue, except he left for battle by order of the Pharaoh. Not knowing whom to trust, she fears for her safety as well as the entire ruling class of Egypt.

GENRE: Historical Romance

Buy Links:

Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Smashwords | iTunes 

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EXCERPT:

A din of whispered conversation among the servants could be heard, but only just. No one wanted to speak out for fear of enraging the general further. Many of the servants were unable to read Greek and had no idea what important message was scarred into their master's most prized sanctuary. As if the vandalism alone wasn't enough to evoke a great anger in him, the message itself had pushed him closer to the edge of violence. They had never seen their kind master in such a state.

“What is everybody...” Ismene's voice interrupted their musings. No one, not even Alistair, had even noticed that she had arrived at the grand estate, least of all made it all the way out to the gardens. Her voice, which started light and happy, trailed off as she noticed the source of everyone's fixation.

There were many audible gasps as the servants, like Alistair, turned and saw Ismene's paled face, her mouth moving as if trying to form words, though none came forth.

Alistair rushed over to her, “Ismene, don't look...it's...” he said, trying to turn her away, to go back in direction she had just come.

It was only then that he realized—the message—it was for her. Ismene and Alonah came to the gardens each day to check on her tiger lilies. This wall faced the entrance into the gardens closest to her bedchambers, the entrance she came through every day. How did anyone outside of his house and Pharaoh's know that? His heart sank. There was a leak in one of these houses.

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Sara is originally from middle TN. After a short stint in Memphis, where she earned a degree in Biology and began a career as both a Zoo Educator and a Sleep Technician, she then followed a dream to work for a large zoo in Orlando, FL as an Educator. Once she and her husband started their family, they moved back to Tennessee. Sara and her husband now enjoy a full life with their three beautiful and very active children. Sara enjoys many creative outlets – singing, piano, drawing, drama, and organizing anything. And even though she has enjoyed her career as a Zoo Educator, Sara's great love of the written word continued to draw her to write. She has always been an avid reader and, for many years, has been what she terms a “closet writer”. Her travels and love of history have served to inspire her to write Historical Fiction. Sara has made several trips overseas to the Czech Republic. Her time among the Czech people and the landscapes of the country inspired her and greatly influenced her work on her debut novel, The Lady Bornekova, set in Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic. Sara is also a member of the ACFW.

How to reach me:

Website/URL: saraturnquist.com

Twitter: @sarat1701

Facebook: Sara R. Turnquist, Author - www.facebook.com/authorsararturnquist

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/saravturnquist/

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