Fab cover...
Five Fascinating Facts about The Defiant Bride and Lesley
1. A "behind the
scenes" scene where you tell us something about one of your lead
characters that doesn't appear in the book.
William had no illusions about
romance or marriage. He thought love was something the bards made up to make
for more interesting songs. When he met Dariana for the first time, he actually
questioned his sanity. Something he had never done before. And when he realized
he was obsessed with her and she might not even be real, he had never been more
frustrated in his life. When he found her, he had to rethink his emotional
makeup. Love not only existed, it changed him completely.
2. What was the most
surprising thing you discovered while writing this book? (About yourself, your
writing or something you researched during writing)
When I began the research on
"The Defiant Bride", I was fascinated by everything about the time
period and the people. I wanted more. I became so immersed in this world and
this time, that when the phone rang here I had no idea what the sound was.
"The Defiant Bride" taught me to 'go there' when I write and look
around at the world and actually experience it. It was an incredible journey
and has definitely made me a better writer.
3. Your top 10 music
playlist for lift or writing
The truth be told: I love music but
not when I write. I have to have quiet. And when I need a lift, I might get up
and dance to any rock and roll. So, I
don't really have a top ten playlist.
4. Your top 5 favourite
books and why they mean so much to you.
1. Ashes in the Wind by
Kathleen Woodiwiss
2. Shanna by Kathleen
Woodiwiss
3. The Black Lyon by Jude
Devereaux
4. The Velvet Series by Jude
Devereaux
5. Misery by Stephen King
The first four are obvious. Kathleen
Woodiwiss changed the face of romance novels. Her work is set the bar high and
is classic. Her characters, settings and impeccable research draw you in and
don't let go. Reading her work inspired me and I have re-read her novels over
and over again.
The same goes for the Jude Devereaux
books. Wonderful, rich characters, great settings, thorough research. Fabulous.
These women are my gold standard.
As for "Misery", Stephen
King verbalized what I feel as a writer. You sit down and do this work because
you have no other choice. No matter what…it's what you do.
5. Your typical day as a
writer, the good, the bad and the ugly J
My glamorous writer's life begins
about 6am. I pump caffeine into my system and sit at the keyboard. E-mail
first, pay bills, maybe a game of Hearts to clear my head. Then, writing. In
between, I'll get up to do laundry, go to the grocery, walk the dog, clean the
house. I keep waiting for my entourage to show up and help.
And we even get the blurb and an excerpt...
Dariana refuses to be forced into marriage,
even if it has been ordered by the king, so she fakes her own death only to be
discovered and tricked into marriage with William, a man she may not be able to
forgive.
Furious at being used as a
political pawn, the Lady Dariana defies King Henry VII by faking her own death
to avoid marrying a man she has never met. Praying the king will not retaliate
against her father, she seeks refuge in the forest and learns to fend for
herself. When William, a warrior knight, is felled by an arrow, she saves his
life and arranges his rescue before fleeing to avoid discovery.
William awakes from his
injury to be told he imagined the beautiful woman in the forest. Besotted and
determined to make her his own, he hunts her down and tricks her into marrying
him, intent on turning her defiance into love. But even as he begins to
succeed, their enemies join forces to end the marriage—even if it means that Dariana
must die.
When Dariana is abducted,
William must track her down to fight for her life and their happiness. And,
Dariana, once the most defiant of brides, must channel her own strength of will
into survival, both for herself—and for the child she now carries.
Dariana gazed into the pool of
water; the vibrant rays of sun twisted this way and that, dancing on the
crystal surface. Her thoughts were mingled, flashes of memory, visions. A part
of her took great pride in her survival in so different an existence, but what
had she gained? She had lived through cold nights and painful loneliness, but
to what end? She was unmarried, yes, and not exiled to a land where even the
language was foreign, but she was thought dead.
Perhaps she could do something
else, something that would give her life meaning after all. Her thoughts
continued to wander and she dipped her hand into the cool water and watched as
the ripples further disturbed the shafts of light in their attempts to float on
the surface.
All at once, a reflection joined
her own. She was jolted at the image, then chided herself for allowing her
imagination to conjure it. She stared at the shifting shape and reached out her
hand, wishing so dearly it would be real. The water stilled and the reflection
behind her grew more clear. Could it be?
Her instinct was to throw
herself into the warmth and protection of his arms, but she feared she might be
hurling herself into nothing more substantial than the cold water, so she
hesitated, waiting for the apparition to dissolve.
"Did you miss me?"
William questioned softly. "For I have thought of nothing but you since
the day you came to my aid."
She stood and turned, staring
at the man who faced her, a smile tilting his chiseled mouth upward. She shook
her head, then met the dark gray eyes with her own. He reached out his hand and
feathered his knuckles along her cheek. She pulled back as if burned, then
touched the place where his hand had been, still disbelieving. He had come
back. But at what price? Her secret was uncovered and now her father would pay.
She jumped up and ran. The land
was familiar to her and offered her the advantage. She darted between trees and
around rocks. Dariana raced until her lungs felt like they would burst, her
body screaming from the exertion until she had no choice but to stop and catch
her breath. She leaned over at the waist for a moment, inhaling. She lifted her
head and he was there, in front of her. She screamed her frustration, but she
was winded and no sound emerged. She spun, ready to fly again, but he grabbed
her around the waist. She lost her balance and he twisted as they fell. She
landed on top of him. The feel of his body was like a lightning bolt through
her. Her senses reeled. Her breathing increased. She knew struggling would be
futile, so she relaxed.
"I have come for you and I
will not be denied," he stated, a man used to his orders being obeyed. He
moved her to the side, rose, and held out his hand to assist her.
She ignored it and stood.
"I know who you are, my
lady, and I will protect you. But I will not leave without you."
"My lord, I cannot go with
you." She needed to find a way to dissuade him. "Please, I beg you.
Go away."
"William. My name is
William and I cannot live another day, another moment, without you."
~~~~~
Leslie Hachtel was born in Ohio, raised in
New York and has been a gypsy most of her adult life. Her various jobs,
including licensed veterinary technician, caterer, horseback riding instructor
for the disabled, and advertising media buyer have given her a wealth of
experiences.
Her favorite stories as a child—and stretching
into the adult years—were fairy tales by Hans Christian Andersen. It was the happily ever after that was so full of
hope and inspiration. It was the love of those stories that led her to
eventually want to write romances.
Of all of her jobs, it is writing that has
consistently been her passion. That desire was fueled when she sold an episode
of a TV show and had a screenplay optioned. Those successes led to her first
published novel, Harriet, the story
of a female serial killer. Although that was a satisfying piece, it was the
lure of the romance that drew her back. So far, she has produced four novels in
that genre. One of her historical novels, Captain’s
Captive will soon be published by Black Opal Books. Her contemporary
romance, Texas Summer is available on
Amazon and through Secret Cravings Publishing. And now, of course, The Defiant Bride from Breathless Press.
Leslie lives in Memphis, Tennessee with a
fabulously supportive engineer husband, a wonderful stepson, Matt and her
writing buddy, Jakita, a terrier.
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