STEPH:
Rosanna, thanks so much for having me on your blog today. Just a little about
me: I grew up in New Hampshire and joined the Army when I was 18, wanting a
great adventure. I met my husband in the Army and we settled in California. Now
I work for LAPD as a 911 dispatcher. I'm a romance and children's author.
ROSANNA:
Tell us about your latest book.
STEPH:
My latest book is a YA mystery, "First Flag of New Hampshire." High
school juniors Alyssa Rydell and Miguel De Soto are given a "history
mystery" to solve by the end of the semester – where's the first flag of
New Hampshire?
ROSANNA:
If you could have a romantic evening with any character from romance literature
who would it be and what would you do?
STEPH:
I really enjoyed Jillian Hunter's Boscastle series, and my favorite hero of the
series was Drake Boscastle. And knowing Drake, we'd end up doing something
naughty by the end of the night.
ROSANNA:
What was the first thing you ever wrote?
STEPH: A Spiderman comic book when I was six. Does that count?
ROSANNA:
What is your favorite book of all time and why?
STEPH: Oh that's a toughie because I have a lot of "favorite" books. I would have to say JK Rowling's "The Deathly Hallows" for its easy reading style and how it used the clues given in previous novels to present the ending the series deserved. Well done.
ROSANNA:
What was the first thing you did when you discovered you were going to be
published?
STEPH:
Treated myself to a bowl of ice cream – with chocolate. J
ROSANNA:
If you could live in any of your plotlines which would it be and why?
STEPH: I've always been interested in history's mysteries and what if scenarios. That said, I wouldn’t mind going on the hunt for the first flag of New Hampshire with Alyssa and Miguel.
ROSANNA:
Tell us about the lead characters from "First Flag of New Hampshire."
STEPH:
Alyssa Rydell is very determined. She's very goal orientated and likes to run
track to relax. Miguel De Soto is very easy going. He goes with the flow. His
common sense smarts compliments Alyssa's book smarts. They make a good team.
ROSANNA:
Do you ever borrow any plot lines from real life?
STEPH:
Generally, no. I'm a 911 dispatcher for LAPD and while I hear a lot of crazy
stuff, I've yet to find inspiration from that. For my contemporaries, I find I
like international settings (inspired by my time traveling in the Army) and
heroes who are searching for something and heroines who help them find what the
hero is looking for.
ROSANNA:
What are you working on now?
STEPH: A steampunk romance called "A Gentleman and a Rogue." It's Book 2 of my Windsor Diaries. Modern day royals Edmund and Alice Windsor travel back in time to set the time line straight, but can they overcome the obstacles in their path? There's plenty of steel, brass, and coal including whuzzies, datamancers, and transmogrifiers. There's even a guest appearance from Queen Victoria.
ROSANNA:
What would you be doing if you couldn't write?
STEPH: Well, I'm already a 911 dispatcher so I'm doing it. It's like the best of both worlds.
BLURB FOR: FIRST FLAG OF NEW
HAMPSHIRE:
Alyssa has to take American Studies
for college prep, and she hurries to the first class. She’s paired with
classmate Miguel De Soto to find the first flag of New Hampshire, but the flag
has flown only four times in New Hampshire’s past. Can Alyssa and Miguel track
the flag through history before time is up?
BOOK TRAILER:
Hunt For the Flag Giveaway:
Answer the following questions
about New Hampshire. I’ll pick a winner to receive a spring book bag (made by
my talented friend, Lori Powell), full of goodies to include a GC to Starbucks,
chocolates, a magnet and more. Please leave your email address so I can get a
hold of you if you win.
Question: What's the type of ship
is on the NH State flag?
Bonus: What New Hampshire landmark
collapsed in 2003?
BUY LINKS:
PUBLISHER’S WEBSITE:
AMAZON:
BARNES & NOBLE:
Find me on the Web at:
WEBSITE:
TWITTER:
FACEBOOK:
https://www.facebook.com/StephanieBurkhartAuthor
GOOD READS:
YOU TUBE CHANNEL:
http://www.youtube.com/user/botrina?feature=mhee
Stephanie, congrats on your book..It sounds like a lovely read...
ReplyDeleteSavannah, thanks for popping in. I grew up reading the Hardy Boys and while the book isn't as long, I'd like to think the mystery is an interesting one.
ReplyDeleteRosanna, thank you so much for having me here today.
Smiles
Steph
Steph, that was a wonderful interview. Congratulations on your release.
ReplyDeleteThank you for popping in, Sweetie.
DeleteSmiles
Steph
Just cruising by to say hello. Nice interview, Steph. I like how focused you are on your writing, your career, and your family. You've managed to create separate but compatible worlds, something most of us aspire to. Best of luck with this new YA release!
ReplyDeleteMaggie, it's certainly a challenge, but one that I find very fun most of the times.
DeleteSmiles
Steph
Hi there Steph. Interesting interview and here's wishing you many sales!
ReplyDeleteAngela Britnell
Angela, thanks for stopping by.
DeleteSmiles
Steph
Hey Steph....what a nice interview. Your book sounds great and I wish all kinds of success!
ReplyDeleteI am going to go with a 32 gun frigate (thought my husband says it's a square rigger!)
AND it was The Old Man in the Mountain!
Penny thanks so much for answering the questions. Please leave an email address so I get a hold of you if you win. I'll be back tomorrow to pick a winner.
DeleteSmiles
Steph
I know nothing about New Hampshire. Shame on me. I'm going to see what I can find out. In the meantime, your book sounds interesting, Steph. Stories about historical events are some of my favorites. Best of luck to you.
ReplyDeleteBeverly, thanks for popping in. I enjoy a good historical. Please come back if you get the answers and leave a comment!
DeleteSmiles
Steph
Steph--I don't know how you write so many varied stories. My brain would freeze up, for sure.For one thing, you're still young. For another, you're just plain talented. New Hampshire? I could pick it out on a map, but know little else. Congratulations on the YA book!
ReplyDeleteCelia, I suprise myself all the varied stories, but they are fun! I'd like to think New Hampshire is a state that flies under the radar most of the time, but if you go ahead and explore it, you'll find it will surprise you.
DeleteSome NH Natives you might know:
Franklin Pierce
Daniel Webster
Christa McAuffle
Robert Frost
Jodi Picolt
Dan Brown
Adam Sandler
Smiles
Steph
Hi Steph, I think it's the Old Man of the Mountain that collapsed. Not sure when and not sure if I have the right name. I lived in Boston for thirteen years and used to go to NH very often. When my kids were small we visited the White Mountains, Indian Head and the Old Man, and always went to see the foliage. We have friends who still live in Nashua. At the time, we had dinner together once a month.
ReplyDeleteMona, Ah, the Old Man of the Mountain! I got a chance to see him back in 1992 with my husband and BFFs when we were on vacation in the Army. I'm glad I had an opportunity to since he's long gone now.
DeleteMy son's godparents live in Nashua. It's a nice town. I love the foliage. For me, that's one of the romantic times of the year.
Smiles
Steph
Hi, Steph. I always enjoyed visiting New Hampshire when I lived in Saratoga Springs, NY. I'd make an annual pilgrimage through Vermont and New Hampshire for the colors. Beautiful country. I think the Old Man collapsed in 2003. I was in North Carolina at the time and remember my mom telling me about it.
ReplyDeleteKeena, I lived in Romulus, NY near Geneva back in 1989 when I was stationed at the Seneca Army Depot. I loved the Finger Lakes region, gorgeous. Lake Ontario was about 1 - 1/2 hours away. Autumn is such a beautiful time in NE. I was in California when the Old Man fell down. My BFF's sent me a copy of Manchester's Union Leader with the article. They knew it meant a lot to me.
DeleteSmiles
Steph
I'm all admiration for your wealth of genres, Steph! It's great to write in different styles. I wonder where your army experiences fit in? Or is it just a general atmosphere that you can use from that?
ReplyDeleteLiz, First Flag of New Hampshire was inspired by the time I took "American Studies" in 1985 as a Junior in High School. It's a class I detested at the beginning but by the end of the school year, I knew it was going to resonate with me for the rest of my life.
DeleteIn other parts of my writing, my army experiences tend to help me with my international settings.
Smiles
Steph
Hey Steph,
ReplyDeleteI will admit I researched the questions. Unless you lived there I'm not sure you would know the answers. But hey it looks like a Clipper Ship/sailing ship to me and The Old Man of the Mountains which appeared on the New Hampshire state quarter collapsed.
Question what did you have to do to become a 911 operator? I think it would be fascinating and terrifying at the same time.
Hugs hope you're having a great May.
Kathy, I appreciate you researching the questions. Like Aly & Miguel hunt for the flag, I hope to have you hunt for the answers. *smile*
ReplyDeleteYou have to be 18 with a high school degree. There is a series of tests you have to take to become a dispatcher and the process for me took 7 months. There was a written test, a typing test, an oral interview, a background check, and a drug test. It can be challenging, but the only real skill you need to get the job is your ability to multi-task.
Smiles
Steph
Rosanna, thanks so much for having me on your blog. Congrats to Penny, the winner of my giveaway. Thanks so much to everyone who supported me on the blog this week. I appreciate it. My next stop on the Hunt Flag Tour will be Linda McMaken's blog next week.
ReplyDeletePenny, please send me an email to sgcardin1@yahoo.com or botrina_buchanan@yahoo.com so I can make arrangements to ge the giveaway out to you.
Smiles
Steph