Author Spotlight with Angela Breidenbach ( + Giveaway )

Today I’m happy to welcome Angela Breidenbach to the blog for an author spotlight, giveaway and more. Read through to the end to find out how you can enter to win.

• A talent or skill your main character has that readers would find interesting

In school, I’d finish my work too quickly for my teacher’s plans. Then, I’d chatter at anyone who would let me distract them. So, his solution was to get me a speed-reading tutor to keep me busy. Ironically the speed-reading skill made it worse for my teacher because at 600 wpm, I then finished my tests and reading work even faster. His next move was to send me to the library. Yep, I finished all the books in the library before school ended that year. Today I can still read quite quickly, but not at the speed I did then. I slow down to savor words and phrases like someone might savor a fine meal. But when I don’t like something or I’m under a deadline, I speed it up again by using the skills of outline patterns I learned in the 6^th grade. Sadly, no one taught me speedwriting, so my handwriting and typing are still pretty normal, whatever that speed is 😉

• How much of your life is in the book?

Flower of the Rockies was an interesting book for me to write because in the brainstorming of the character I realized a parallel existed between my childhood and hers. Emmalee’s illiteracy with letters became an emotional internal struggle for me when I realized she mirrored my illiteracy with people through my childhood and into my early adult years. I’ve set her age in the story at about the same age as I began to understand how to better connect relationally. The analogy deepened my writing experience and connection to her.

As Miss Emmie, her alter ego, she had a hardened exterior in order to live out the sacrifice for her family in a way she could emotionally handle. But the pain in crossing over into “acceptable” society brought Emmalee face-to-face with her demons. In a similar manner, I had to face mine as I learned to trust others and build deeper friendships rather than hold people off at a distance.

Different than Emmalee’s situation, I hadn’t learned how to “read” people because of growing up with a mentally ill mother and an alcoholic stepfather. In Emmalee’s world, when her mother died, and her father later disappeared circumstance left her responsible for two younger siblings. In the 1800s, and as a young teen, she had no protection or choice. She could only rely on herself and her limited knowledge of the world. Though not the same situation, the lack of emotional and physical support created a trust and connection problem for me. Writing this story allowed me to show that God uses ALL of our experiences for our good and to create some amazing testimony. We’re able to help others who have experienced life’s unfairness. There’s a beautiful redemption when we can comfort and come alongside people who need support and understanding because we’ve been there and felt the pain, too.

Sure, no one wants to experience pain. But none of us escape it. I want to use those experiences to spread hope, courage, love, joy, and bring peace to other people who are on similar paths. Finding that the past became a wealth of wisdom changes how I view it and the future. Courage, confidence, and the ability to grow into the person God intends helps me to love that little girl who had to make choices that hurt to survive. I hope in reading Flower of the Rockies, that you’ll be able to view past hurts as a well of wisdom and come to a beautiful peace that offers others a safe place to rest.

• Tell us about your next book & when is it being published?

Bride of the Rockies is in production now. The cover has been the hardest to design because the story crosses over from Chicago’s 1893 World’s Fair (called the Columbus Exposition) back to Montana and pits a citified botanist against a countrified miner. The true historical women who stunned the world with their botanical display and discoveries of new plants are featured. The events really happened and had to be told with a dollop of a fun, fictional romance to frame the story!

GIVEAWAY:

Readers, answer the question below to enter for a chance to win a eBook copy of Flower of the Rockies.

Have you ever realized a rough decision you’ve made in the moment was later redeemed by God for your benefit and testimony? Share if you are comfortable.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Helena MT, 1892-95 ~ Can you leave your past behind?
Flower of the Rockies, the 4th book in the Queen of the Rockies series set in picturesque Helena MT at the end of the Gilded Age. 

No one knows the real Emmalee Warren, or the sacrifices she’s made for love. An infamous soiled dove of no consequence turned miner’s widow. Men are coming out of the woodwork to stake their claim on her and the mine she inherited. They wanted her body before. Now they want her money, and they’ll do anything to take it. But love and acceptance seem out of the question for Emmalee. 

Society wants nothing to do with her regardless of her changed ways. Who can she turn to when her inheritance and chance at a future is at risk? Will she be forced back into the brothel to survive? Hiring a lawyer, Richard Lewis, to save her from financial ruin might let her start over somewhere else — if he can save a little of her finances from her husband’s partner. She’ll go anyplace else where no one knows Miss Ellie’s name. Anywhere to leave the scorn behind. Becoming an unknown is the only way to freedom…or is it? Can she leave her past and build a new future?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Angela Breidenbach is a professional genealogist, media personality, bestselling author, and screenwriter. She’s also the Christian Authors Network president. Angie lives in Montana with her hubby and Muse, a trained fe-lion, who shakes hands, rolls over, and jumps through a hoop. Surprisingly, Angie can also. Catch her show and podcast, Genealogy Publishing Coach!

http://AngelaBreidenbach.com

Social Media: @AngBreidenbach

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/angelabreidenbach

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/angela-breidenbach

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3370320.Angela_Breidenbach

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/AngelaBreidenbach

FIRST PAGE:

Chapter 1

Helena, Montana

June 1894

Infamous.

She couldn’t walk down a street in town without drawing attention—even fully clothed. No matter that she wore widow’s garb for a year. Longer than most in a town where men outnumbered women since its inception. No matter that she never looked at a man, other than her husband in two years. The men knew who she was, and they stared. Therefore, the women knew, and they ostracized. But they didn’t know she’d just been fleeced by a scoundrel! Would they care if they did?

Emmalee Warren seethed as the layered ruffles of her cotton skirt swished around her white kid boots like the summer windstorms blowing through the passes. Woe to another man that ever crossed her path! Only one had ever been kind. Unfortunately, every gold-digger within a day’s ride wanted to stake a claim on her, since Charles died in the cave in. Silver mines meant nothing these days. But owning a gold mine… if her past occupation hadn’t already marked her, being the heiress to a working gold mine brought men out like ants to a sugar pile. She didn’t need any of the pests. What she did need, right now, was a good lawyer!

The grocer’s shop door opened, spilling a youngster and his mama into her path. The woman’s smile flared as she made eye contact.

Emmalee smiled back.

“Oh!” And as fleeting, the good woman’s smile faltered. “Quickly son, move quickly.” Her words not even whispered as she snagged his hand and tugged the boy away.

Emmalee masked her disappointment under the wide brim of the elegant rose covered hat. It’d been the first smile she’d seen in a long time. “Excuse me.” She moved aside, allowing the mother and child to pass onto the sidewalk. Emmalee would not lower herself to treat another poorly. But after attempting for two years to be courteous to respectable folks, what more could she do? No one knew her or bothered unless they wanted something. No one cared that she wanted a fresh start. That she didn’t want to go back from whence she came.

The woman covered the little boy’s eyes. “We don’t notice people like that, Erwin.” “Why Mama? She’s pretty.” His little brows furrowed. “Why don’t we notice people like that?”