Born of Persuasion

Eight years ago, I wrote a story in 20 minutes, had my sisters proof read it over chips and salsa (they missed the misspelling of frapuccino (I'm still not sure how to spell it)), and, on a whim entered a fiction writing contest. Because of that story and the fact that it made top 10 in a nationally recognized contest, I call myself a writer. And because of that story, I found my first critique group that we called the Upstarts.

I have no idea where most of them are now.

But I opened an email from one of the Uppies the other day that started with "I don't know if you remember me...."

Remember you? Really? Which part would I forget? The part where you were my roommate at my first writers conference and we stayed up late discussing whether he was a sociopath or psychopath, or the part where you fed me your book chapter by chapter every time I sent you a message that said, "MORE! I need MORE!"

Friday, that book was released so that the rest of you can finally enjoy Born of Persuasion by Jessica Dotta.

The press release reads, "Bronte meets Austen" and that just about sums it up. Witticisms over tea meet creepiness upstairs, but it's inherently readable for people who just. can't. slog through the old language.

I have been known to tell people that once I got used to the fact that Jane Eyre was a trilogy rather than a novel, I liked it. It frustrated me that there seemed to be a story that came to and end and just as I got used to the new story line, it switched to yet another one.

I've decided to eat my words. My only complaint with Born of Persuasion is that it is a true trilogy and that is just not cool. I would prefer it be long like War and Peace in the Jane Eyre almost trilogy style. How am I supposed to wait to find out the end? (When she was feeding them to me chapter by chapter, I only got 2/3 of what is now book 1).

Well done, Jess.

And yes, I noticed that you dropped your opening line about the dun hooded sky and your old English spelling of colour. I also know you sneaked "dun hooded" in later (editing win! now that I know what it means....). The big bad They did a nice job of retaining you and opening with action. Eight years did nothing but make your story great. And it taught lots of us patience.

Jess is hosting a virtual tea party and 31 days of (basically Downton Abbey) giveaways on her Facebook page. You should stop by. Right after you go buy her book on Amazon.

Here's her back cover copy:
Few events unfold in the way they are supposed to. And if you look closely, you'll find that every story has two sides and each player in that story wears a mask. Everyone has a face they show the world, and a face they hide.

And therein lies danger.

Seventeen-year-old Julia Elliston is hardly prepared to handle the complexities of the Victorian era, much less the duality of human nature. She lives in a society where workhouses and slums loom in every parish, and her need to find a husband is more pressing than that of the average young lady. She is uneducated, orphaned and living ont he charity of friends.

When a rich, titled dowager offers to introduce Julia into society she quickly accepts. Just when she thinks she's made an advantageous match, she finds herself a pawn amidst a deadly gave of chess playing out between two of England's most powerful men. Her only hope of safety lies with discovering who is telling the truth and who is lying.

Sometimes truth is elusive.