Thursday’s Featured Author and Giveaway: Kathleen L. Maher

I’m so honored to have one of my favorite authors, Kathleen L. Maher, here today! Be sure to enter our giveaway extravaganza for a chance to win. 

Welcome, Kathleen!

I can’t tell you how excited I am to be here. My friend and brilliant writer, Candace West—our lovely hostess—has agreed to participate with me on a fun promotion for BOTH of our March releases. So, yes. I have a new release, actually a re-release, of my 2013 Irish Civil War novella Bachelor Buttons that I’m really eager to share.

But first, have you preordered your copy of Candace’s delightful and poignant sequel to Lane Steen yet? This story of hers, Valley of Shadows….I’m telling you.  This one I could not put down. What an amazing journey of heart-wrenching emotion and deep-reaching inspiration. This one held me in its grip, and I could not escape the whirlwind ride. All the characters you met and loved in Lane Steen return, but you ain’t seen nothin’ yet… just wait.

Earl—swoon! Yes, I did say that out loud. Sorry Mr. Maher, I still love you, but…I guess there’s just something about a man with a violin. Start practicing.

Anyway, great segue to introduce you to my March release Bachelor Buttons, and the main characters. Rose Meehan is a whirling dervish of red-headed fun. She has two suitors interested in her, and to help her decide which one to choose, she comes up with a cockamamie contest for them. One of her fine Irish lads is a distinguished doctor with his own practice in Manhattan’s high rent district, while the other is a humble violin teacher with ambitions to make a name for himself playing Irish fiddle tunes at dance halls. Whichever of these gentlemen Rose will choose could have far-reaching consequences not just for herself, but for those she loves, as war and mayhem intrude upon their city in the aftermath of President Lincoln’s draft edict.

So what is it about a man bearing the depths of his soul with heart-achingly beautiful music? The violin has such a versatile voice, too, from plucky and light-hearted, to the low sigh of many sorrows. I think Candace’s hero Earl Steen has a few character traits in common with William Lee, the Irishman determined to win Miss Rose’s hand. Aside from their instrument of choice and their gift to play it well, both are men who must prove themselves. But where William Lee is just starting out in his career and trying to win his girl’s heart and hand in marriage, Earl is looking back on a successful career and the wins and losses of a life that didn’t always go as planned. Both have a city or town depending on them to carry out a chance at redemption—a challenge that is bigger than they believe they are up to. Both must face dangers and storms in their own unique ways. And if successful, the prospect of peace and even the blessing of love may await them.

Both also have rivals. But I am not going to spoil any surprises. You’ll just have to read these stories for yourself to find out what becomes of the good doctor who tries to stand in William’s way, and what becomes of Earl’s competition.

You know, if I hadn’t written this five years before I met Candace and read her beautiful stories, I’d accuse myself of stealing ideas. But it just so happens that some themes revisit in literature, like beautiful refrains of a haunting melody, unique with each rendition and interpretation. I can almost imagine in our story worlds that William Lee, a native of Manhattan, lived out his career after the Civil War in the city both he and Earl performed in, and maybe a young Earl heard him play and it influenced him to take up the plaintive, soul-stirring instrument himself. I believe they would have been friends.

 

TRADITIONAL MUSICIAN’S PRAYER

LORD, KEEP ALWAYS BEFORE ME THE APPRECIATION OF MUSIC AS ONE OF YOUR GREATEST GIFTS.

NEVER LET ME STRAY FAR FROM THE TUNE;

HELP ME TO REMAIN FAITHFUL TO THE SPIRITS OF THOSE MUSICIANS WHO HAVE GONE BEFORE LEAVING THIS LOVELY LEGACY IN MY CARE.

LORD, LET ME ALWAYS REMEMBER WHAT YOUR GOLDEN RULE INSTRUCTS SO THAT I TREAT OTHER MUSICIANS AS I WOULD WISH TO BE TREATED MYSELF.

LORD, LET ME ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT YOU GIVE IRISH MUSICIANS A SPECIAL GIFT:
THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRAISE AND GLORIFY YOU WHILE SITTING AROUND PLAYING JIGS AND REELS IN DARK PUBS, ON CRUISE SHIPS, IN KITCHENS, ON CONCERT STAGES.

LORD, GIVE ME PATIENCE ALWAYS AND HELP ME TO REMEMBER THAT THE WORD “TRADITION” IMPLIES SHARING.

LORD, GIVE ME TOLERANCE ALWAYS AND HELP ME TO APPRECIATE THE GREAT MYSTERY: NOT EVERYBODY LIKES WHAT I LIKE.
NEVER LET ME SLIP TOO FAR INTO SELF-IMPORTANCE AND HELP ME USE AS NECESSARY WHATEVER SENSE OF HUMOR YOU MAY HAVE IMPARTED TO ME.

LORD, LET ME NEVER FORGET THAT I DON’T HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS AND THAT THERE’S NOBODY THAT I CAN’T LEARN FROM (EVEN BODHRÁN AND BANJO PLAYERS)

AND FINALLY, LORD – IF IT’S NOT TOO MUCH TO ASK – MAKE ME COMPETENT FIRST
THEN RESPECTED
AND EVENTUALLY BRILLIANT.
(BUT YOUR WILL ALWAYS BE DONE.)
AMEN.

Bachelor Buttons

The daughter of immigrants who fled the Irish Potato Famine, Rose Meehan longs for a better life than the tenements of New York City. Courted by two men—a young doctor who represents material security, and a poor violin instructor who has captured her heart—she must choose between the two. When Manhattan explodes in mob rule following Lincoln’s unpopular draft, Rose’s decision could mean the difference between life and death.

Purchase link:  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0851WX4JC/

Thank you so much for having me on your blog, Candace. Today I am offering a giveaway to one of your readers of an e-copy of Bachelor Buttons. All they have to do to enter is share this post on social media.  The more shares, the more entries.  Just tell me in the comments where you shared to claim your entry(ies). And a way for me to reach you if random dot org selects your name. (email is great.)

Candace and I are hostessing a huge Rafflecopter giveaway together. Please take a moment to enter for your chance to win one of these great prizes!

Our Rafflecopter runs from March 9-18^th Grand prize is $50 Amazon GC, second prize is a $25 Ammy GC, third prize is an Irish goodie basket. And finally, one lucky entrant will take an ecopy of both Bachelor Buttons and Valley of Shadows.
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/0cc4b6534/?

 

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day, everyone. May you always have a song to sing, a spring in your step, and the hand of the one you love to hold.

About Kathleen: “Where every underdog has his day.”

Kathleen L. Maher’s infatuation with conflicted heroes began with her preschool crush, Peter Rabbit, and she’s loved redeeming fictional bad boys ever since. “Love Brick by Brick,” a novella featuring her hometown history, appeared in Barbour Books’ 2018 Victorian Christmas Brides collection. Her Civil War romance, The Abolitionist’s Daughter (2018) opens up the Sons of the Shenandoah Series, winning the historical category of ACFW’s 2012 Genesis Award. Book 2, The Chaplains Daughter, (2019) follows the oldest Sharpe brother and his reluctant path to happily ever after. A second novella with Barbour appeared in their school teacher collection—Lessons on Love released in Oct 2019. Bachelor Buttons, a Civil War novella, launches on St. Patrick’s Day 2020, celebrating her Irish heritage. Kathleen shares an old farmhouse in upstate New York with her husband, children, and many, many animals.

Connect with Kathleen: Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Kathleen-L-Maher/e/B00D8EXO80/
Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/KLMaherAuthor/
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/kathleenlmaher/boards/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2531698-kathleen-l
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/kathleen-l-maher