Excerpt: Meet Ryan and Lewis

PATRIOT'S COURAGE tells the tale of the twins, Ryan and Lewis, who were introduced in Patriot's Heart. They were only three years of age in that book and liable to get into trouble, though their mother kept a tight rein on them. The twins were first cousins to Agnes and Margaret. 

Here's a short excerpt from Patriot's Heart featuring young Ryan and Lewis. Enjoy!

“Where’s Jonas?” Ryan and Lewis had seen them coming and ran toward them. 

“He’s taking a nap with Edwin,” Margaret explained.

“Why is Edwin napping at this time of the day?” Aunt Sally demanded from the doorway of her house. 

“Hobart gave him strong spirits to ease the pain in his leg,” Agnes explained. 

“Your mother’s cousin is more trouble than he’s worth,” Aunt Sally pronounced.

“Edwin is nice,” Margaret stated. “Puddles likes him and so does Jonas.” 

“They are animals,” Aunt Sally sniffed. 

Agnes, Margaret, and the twins stepped into the kitchen. Margaret sliced the bread. Agnes lifted the kettle to pour the tea, but beside her mug on the table lay two pieces of a chain. The one Aunt Sally used to hang her pot over the coals. 

“The twins broke that,” Aunt Sally said as she ladled stew into the bowls. “I’ll be needing it fixed by this evening. The stew nearly burned.”

“How did they break it?” Agnes held up the chain and examined each link. 

“Ryan did it,” said Lewis.

“Lewis broke it,” said Ryan.

“There will be no trifle for either of you,” Aunt Sally scolded.

The twins lowered their heads and sobbed in perfect unison. 

Agnes did not believe they did it. They were so cute and sweet. Too tender to be so destructive. Besides, Aunt Sally seemed to watch over their every move. 

Setting the broken chain to the side of her bowl, she sat. Everyone said the blessing, and ate.

If you haven't read Patriot's Heart and Patriot's Pride, now is the time to download them! Both are available for FREE on Kindle Unlimited. 

My Book Trailer for PATRIOT'S PRIDE

I spent a considerable amount of time putting together a book trailer for PATRIOT'S PRIDE. You can view the result of my efforts below. I have fun with this type of activity. I keep expenses at a minimum by using as many of my own photos as possible. I purchased the video of the sailing ship and the man writing with a quill pen, but the castle is actually Lambert Castle in Paterson, NJ, which I've visited a few times. I snapped the photo of the antique medical apparatus at an encampment at Sandy Hook.

To make inexpensive book trailers, I strongly suggest you walk around with a camera and take photos of everything.

The video was made with iMovie on my Mac. 

The book is available for FREE with #KindleUnlimited. Go to https://www.amazon.com/Patriots-Pride-Penelope-Marzec-ebook/dp/B07QMYKX4V/

Watching Over Me

I sure hope my angel is watching over me and doesn't get distracted from that task. My life has been getting more and more complicated every day. In addition to going through my radiation treatments, hubby and I have now been faced with another huge problem because my mother-in-law wound up in the hospital with pneumonia a few weeks ago. She's been doing better in rehab, but we're due to talk to the social worker about what comes next for hubby's mom this week.

Despite all the biopsies, doctor visits, other tests, and surgery I've had from October onward, I've been making a valiant attempt to write PATRIOT'S COURAGE, but it's been moving slowly. I've signed up for the annual JerRoWriMo, the New Jersey Romance Writers' 30,000 word challenge to speed things up a bit. I need some cheerleaders to push me to the end of the story.

Of course, writing a book is always a giant leap of faith. I don't know if any publisher will want it once I've written it. I say this even though I've had seventeen books published so far. If I do get it published, there's no guarantee readers will buy it. Selling books in this day and age is an extremely impossible job. Pressed for time, I've bought ads on Facebook. Those haven't helped much--though if I didn't buy ads, nobody would see my news at all.

However, I will be giving away four free books on Valentine's Day. If you want to take a chance on getting one of them don't forget to sign up HERE. The book I'm giving away is PATRIOT'S PRIDE (the genuine PAPER edition), which is the sequel to PATRIOT'S HEART. If you haven't read PATRIOT'S HEART, you ought to download it now. It is only $0.99--a true bargain for a full-length book.

Grammarly

My Patriot's Saga Heads West

This is a portion of the Cuyahoga River. I saw it last year when hubby and I attended a reunion of my mother's cousins. Long before our trip, I considered extending my Patriot's saga by having some of the McGowan clan head west. The past few weeks, I've been researching the Ohio Territory and I've settled on a place and time for my story's beginning. While this latest addition to the Patriot's saga will not be set along the banks of the Cuyahoga, it won't be too far from it.

The book will be called Patriot's Courage and it will be a historical Christian romance like Patriot's Heart and Patriot's Pride. It may take me a while to put it altogether, but I'm looking forward to it. Ohio is a lovely place to visit. :-)

Travel in the Olden Days

PATRIOT'S PRIDE is set in 1784, after the American Revolutionary War when Margaret must travel to England for the reading of her grandfather's will. She endures a long, perilous ocean voyage and then must travel overland to her destination. Riding in a stagecoach during that time period was difficult, uncomfortable, and dangerous. The prevalence of highwaymen made the trip even more fearful.

So far, PATRIOT'S PRIDE has garnered ten excellent reviews on Amazon! Join Margaret on her journey and try a sample today!

Surgery in the Old Days

Surgery in the old days had a very poor success rate. This is a doctor's amputation kit from 1822, it isn't much different from the tools used by the hero in my historical, PATRIOT'S PRIDE. My story is set in 1784, and the hero, Derrick Fortune, is very familiar with the use of the saw. He attended lectures at the School of Medicine in Philadelphia. However, when the Revolutionary War broke out, he and most of his fellow students along with the faculty  were pressed into service to tend to the wounded.

Derrick was quick with the saw, but despite his best efforts many of his patients died. In fact, only a third of those who went through an amputation lived. They died of infection. No one knew about bacteria in those days. (You can read a brief overview here: http://www.ushistory.org/brandywine/special/art06.htm)

After the war, Derrick decides to go to England to study with John Hunter, a renowned surgeon. (You can read a brief summary of John Hunter's life here: https://www.rcseng.ac.uk/museums/hunterian/history/johnhunter.html) Derrick hopes to find a way to prevent sepsis and he believes science holds the key.

It is on the ship that Derrick meets Margaret. The two clash immediately since she, like many of her female counterparts during that time, used herbs and various concoctions to aid in healing family members. She abhorred bloodletting. He believed in its efficacy in many diseases.

I have a board at Pinterest with more examples of Antique Medical equipment. You can find it here:
Follow Penelope's board Antique Medical Apparatus on Pinterest.

You can read more about PATRIOT'S PRIDE at

PATRIOT'S PRIDE

Check out the wonderful reviews at Amazon, too!

Trust

History Happened Right Here

This is a map of Leedsville. It isn't called Leedsville anymore. The little town has changed a lot over the years. However, I used it as the setting for Patriot's Heart and the heroine of Patriot's Pride, Margaret, grew up there and hates being far from her family who still live there. Though she journeys to England, she longs to return to little Leedsville.

I live there now, which is why I choose the location. I am fascinated by history and there's plenty of it in the area. I did one blog post on the topic http://penelopemarzec.blogspot.com/2014/02/where-did-idea-for-patriots-heart.html when Patriot's Heart was released. 

Hubby and I regularly visit historical homes and museums in the area. I've lived in Monmouth County since I was five years old. I was fascinated with the tale of Captain Kidd from an early age. My parents took me and my siblings to see Molly Pitcher's well--or what people thought was her well, now the opinion about the location has changed. Still, 296 engagements with British troops occurred within New Jersey, more than in any other colony in the Revolutionary War.

History happened right here. 

PATRIOT'S PRIDE Release Day!

Today's the day!

PATRIOT'S PRIDE is now available. The cover shown above is that of the print edition, which you can find on Amazon at Patriot's Pride, print edition. Set after the American Revolutionary War, it is the sequel to PATRIOT'S HEART and follows Margaret, the younger sister of Agnes.

Below is an excerpt from the beginning of the book.

CHAPTER ONE
May 24, 1784 New York

Margaret McGowan watched the distance between the ship and the pier widen into a watery chasm. Swamped by an overwhelming sense of loneliness, she clenched her teeth and scolded herself for being such a ninny. She had the opportunity to go to England. She would visit Broadcraft Hall, the ancestral home where her mother was born and her grandfather had died. In all her eighteen years, she had seldom traveled far from Leedsville, New Jersey, until now.

A grand adventure awaited her.

Despite reasoning with herself on the importance of this enterprise, a renegade tear rolled down her cheek as she leaned on the rail. She loved her family, but they barely scraped by after losing the house and the livestock during the war. The doling out of a hundred acres for every soldier in the Continental army had been an empty promise. Worst of all, though Uncle Fitz had returned from his service, her father never did. He died on a prison ship.

She offered a heartfelt prayer for her dear ones. In truth, this journey was for them too.

Calmer, she opened her eyes and took in a ragged breath. The harbor blended into the line of hills in the distance, and she turned away from the rail. She pulled the shawl tighter about her body and set her jaw. This trip was essential. In his last will and testament, her grandfather, the Earl of Broadcraft, stipulated that either Margaret or her sister must be present for the reading of the will. The solicitor explained much concerning the entail in a long letter. Since her mother had married a commoner, neither Margaret nor her sister would inherit the estate or, as women, the title.

Therefore, the entail and title belonged to Lord Isaac Whittington, the earl’s first cousin, once removed. Yet, everyone assumed Margaret and her sister would receive something of value. Otherwise, why should one of them be present when the will was read?

Margaret hoped for a portrait of her mother, whom she had never known, and perhaps even a portrait of the earl himself. In the past six years, they had corresponded by letters. She would value a likeness of her grandfather as a true treasure. 

Her gaze swept the deck, and a shiver of apprehension moved through her. Though the ship was far larger than the McGowan’s barn, the vast ocean surrounding it made it appear quite small. What if it sank? 

She shoved the frightening idea to the back of her mind and watched the other passengers strolling on the deck. In the front of the ship, she spied the two women who were to share a tiny cabin with her and her companion. Cecelia Cavendish, who was blind, and her cousin, Louisa Boulton, were young, probably near to Margaret’s own age of eighteen. Cecelia intended to go to Paris to meet Franz Mesmer, who claimed his treatment cured blindness. Margaret never heard of Franz Mesmer. Furthermore, she doubted his method. Only the Lord performed the miracle of giving sight to the blind. 

Louisa’s behavior disturbed her. Shying away from everyone, Louisa muttered to herself. She sat tucked between a mast and a barrel, staring at her fancy shoes. It seemed apparent the two women with their silk gowns came from wealthy families. Cecelia wore dark glasses, but possessed fine features. She sang in a sweet voice, entertaining the sailors as they went about their chores.  

Margaret glanced down at her plain brown frock, which she wore to church on Sundays. The midwife had given it to her three years ago in exchange for her baked goods. Cecilia and Louisa came aboard with two large trunks each, while Margaret’s necessities fit into a single small one. Still, the cousins must travel farther, for the ship would be going on to France after it stopped in London. Cecelia claimed she and her cousin spoke fluent French. 

Margaret did not know French. She’d acquired several German words from Hobart, her family’s hired man, and some Latin from her brother-in-law, but few Frenchmen stopped for any length of time in the small town of Leedsville. 

She rubbed the top of each shoe on her stockings to remove the dust. Despite her common clothing, she was the granddaughter of an earl. With her head held high, she decided upon a promenade around the deck. However, walking became difficult when the ship reached open water. Monstrous waves soon stymied her plans.  

She stumbled twice, holding onto railings as the ship went up and down. Out of nowhere, something hit her in the face. Unprepared for the force of the blow, she lost her balance and fell backwards. Two strong arms caught her, which prevented her from crashing on the wooden deck in an ungracious heap.

“Are you hurt?” The deep male voice came from behind her as he set her on her feet.

She stared at the rather elaborate hat on the deck in front of her and touched the welt swelling on her forehead. “No. Startled, though. I didn’t realize I needed to watch out for flying hats. Thank you for catching me.”

“My pleasure.” He steadied her as she straightened her skirts. “If I may introduce myself, I am Derrick Fortune, of Philadelphia.”

He carried an unmistakable note of pride in his tone. Did he think she had heard of him? Well, she had not.

“Miss Margaret McGowan, of Leedsville, a small town in New Jersey.” She fussed with one flounce before she stepped away, turned, and glanced upward. He stood rather tall, forcing her to tilt her head back. His clothing, though somber, was fashioned from fine cloth and showed the lines of impeccable tailoring. She would not call him handsome, for his sunken cheeks gave him a gaunt appearance. A disturbing thought heightened her anxiety. Did he suffer from consumption—the same disease which had taken the life of her dear Francis?

“Is Leedsville near a more notable city?” he asked.

She frowned. “We have no cities nearby, but there are larger towns like Monmouth Courthouse. That’s where the Battle of Monmouth was fought.”

A pained expression crossed his features. “Yes. I know of it.” The look in his soulful dark eyes caught her, and a curious sensation swept over her, leaving her somewhat bewildered. Perhaps the excitement of the journey affected her more than she thought at first, or the wretched movement of the ship unsettled her. 

 You can find PATRIOT'S PRIDE at the publisher's site, Prism Book Group, as well as at All Romance Ebooks, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, and other book distributors. The ebook edition is only $3.99! A true bargain. :-)

Cover Reveal for PATRIOT'S PRIDE!

Available on June 19th! 

PATRIOT'S PRIDE

WITH KNOWLEDGE, HE BELIEVED HE COULD FIND ANSWERS. SHE HAD ONLY FAITH.

Derrick, a surgeon, is haunted by his brother’s death. When his prayers went unanswered, he turned his faith to science. He believes studying with an esteemed surgeon in England will return meaning to his life.

Margaret’s fiancé died at the hands of a doctor who bled him to death.  On board the Prosperity, she meets the arrogant Doctor Fortune who considers her no less than a milkmaid. She considers him a butcher. Though she must journey to England to hear the reading of the will of her grandfather, the Earl of Broadcraft, she finds herself constantly confronting Derrick on his methods of healing. Yet, there is something about his soulful eyes that attracts her.

When a British ship presses the Prosperity’s sailors into service, Margaret and Derrick must work together if they are to reach England. But can they ever learn to trust each other enough to allow love into their hearts?

PATRIOT'S PRIDE is the sequel to PATRIOT'S HEART, but it can be read as a stand alone. Click on the image of the cover of Patriot's Heart to go directly to Amazon where you can read the reviews for that book. 

Book Trailer for PATRIOT'S HEART!

This is short. It takes all of forty seconds. I went to the annual Battle of Monmouth Reenactment during the summer in the hope I would get a few good visuals specifically for this project. So I finally sat down and put it all together. The book was released in February--but, of course, it's still available AND the sequel, PATRIOT'S PRIDE, will be coming out in June 2015. I hope that's not too long for anyone to wait! :-)

You can buy the book at Amazon as well as Barnes & Noble, Kobo, etc.--or just go to the publisher's site: http://www.prismbookgroup.com

Off to England--In a Book

That's me. I went to England and Scotland many, many years ago. My friend, Liz, went with me. It was a two week tour--one week in London and one week in Scotland. Obviously, Liz took this photo. It was fuzzy. I tried to fix it. :-(

I enjoyed visiting England and Scotland. Everybody spoke the same language--sort of. I drove a little Hillman Avenger all over Scotland--quickly adapting to being on the left side of the road instead of the right. I wish I could have stayed longer. I came home with a tea set and little English teaspoons (so cute and small!).

I decided to write a book so I could take myself back to England for an extended stay. Yesterday, I signed a contract with Prism Book Group for PATRIOT'S PRIDE. The story is the sequel to PATRIOT'S HEART. While Patriot's Heart was Agnes's story and set in New Jersey during the Revolutionary War, Patriot's Pride is about her sister, Margaret. She sails off to England after her grandfather has passed away. It's an exciting voyage and one you won't want to miss, especially if you read Patriot's Heart. :-)

I hope you'll save room in your Kindle for Patriot's Pride!

With a Little Help From JeRoWriMo

I finished the JeRoWriMo Challenge last night, typing across the finish line with 30,000 words.

The book is not complete. I have another major, climatic scene to write. However, the progress I made this month was considerable and I know it wouldn't have happened without a little help from my friends at the New Jersey Romance Writers, and especially from Nancy Herkness who hosted the event. Whether an author wrote 160 words or 3,000 words in one day, she cheered them on and offered encouragement. Nancy was also writing her own book at the time, so my kudos go to her for all her efforts.

I could not have taken on this writing challenge without help from my family. They understood the importance of it. So I thank my nearest and dearest for cutting me a bit of slack this month.  The gourmet meals will soon be returning to our table. :-)

For those who haven't tried a writing challenge, I recommend it. I have never tried the NaNoWriMo challenge and I probably never will. To finish in that one, a writer must log in 50,000 words in the month of November--a month which includes Thanksgiving and holiday preparation for Christmas. I knew that would be impossible for me, but 30,000 words in the month of February is more realistic.

Now I must get back to the manuscript and write that final scene. Then I will have to go all the way back to the beginning and start the editing process. Watch for Patriot's Pride to be released in a year or so. :-)

Meanwhile, read Patriot's Heart, which is available now. Patriot's Pride will be the sequel to that story.