Jean Grant Author of Soul of the Storm
Give a warm welcome to Jean Grant author of Soul of the Storm! A Deerbourne Inn novel. Pull up a chair, grab a drink of your choice from the cooler, a Chocolate Chip or Peanut Butter cookie from the plate, and let’s find out a little about Jean and Soul of the Storm.
Thanks for stopping by Jean. I see you’ve brought guests?
Yes Matiu Christiansen and Charlotte MacGregor from Soul of the Storm tagged along with me.
Wonderful! Let’s start with Matiu. Tell us about the real you—
Kia Ora! Well, that’s a choice question. I’m knackered tonight. Too much time on my feet. Worked two jobs today. Wait, what was the question?
Tell us three things we’d find if we looked under your bed?
Dirty laundry, old (probably important) papers or bills, and a stack of outdoor enthusiast magazines.
……What makes you laugh out loud?
Funny jokes my cuz back in New Zealand tells me.
……What makes you angry?
Feeling judged or when people try to change the real me. They try to take the Maori out of the mate.
What event in your past has left the most indelible impression on you?
A few bad years with the wrong bros while I was in my teens. Back when I lived in New Zealand. I’ve been in Vermont now for ten years.
What do you most value?
Nature. Family. Competence. Ambition.
…..What do you sleep in at night?
Usually my work clothes, as I’m too tired to change out of them and I crash on the couch.
What is the type of woman you want to spend the rest of your life with?
Somebody who loves me for me and doesn’t try to change me, somebody who is sweet, kind, and genuine. A love for the outdoors is a plus. I work at the outfitters, do trail mucking, and offer guided kayak tours.
What do you consider most important in life?
Family and my own inner soul. Keeping to your roots.
What is your biggest secret?
I’m opening a business back home in New Zealand later this year…and I kinda met this gal. She’s sweet. But I don’t know how to tell her I’m leaving.
Thank you so much. Now lets put Charlotte on the hot seat. LOL
Who are you really?
That’s a loaded question. I’m, well…I-I like to keep to myself these days. Not sure who I am anymore.
Tell us three things we’d find if we looked under your bed?
Nothing but emptiness. I’m kind of a neat freak, like routine, (that’s a long story) and I’ve been getting rid of things that remind me of my past. Trinkets, old photos, that sort of thing. Now…inside my closet you’ll find a box tucked away with, well…never mind.
……What makes you laugh out loud?
I don’t laugh much anymore. My sister used to tell the best jokes though especially about her adventures abroad.
……What makes you angry?
My controlling ex. Though he’s long gone.
……What do you sleep in at night?
You mean when I do sleep, right? Well if my OTC meds work and I’m not haunted by nightmares—uh, that’s a long story—I like a thick, warm blanket and flannel pjs. I’m always cold.
Who were the biggest role models in your life?
(silence)
Charlotte?
(sighs) My sister was, but she passed away a few years ago. I’d rather not talk about it. Though she loved life and we used to conquer mountains together.
What kind of man do you want to spend the rest of your life with?
Someone who is not controlling, loves nature, and can see past all my uh, well, my inability to move past something that happened.
What kind of man would you never choose?
Somebody like my ex: controlling, cheating, lying, narcissist. A guy who won’t let me see my family.
What is most important to you in life?
Family.
What is your biggest fear?
(pauses) Mountains.
But I thought you liked to conquer them with your sister?
That was before. This is now. (shudders) No, I just can’t climb another mountain after-after what happened.
Jean, tell us a little about writing this story. Was it fun or difficult? Do your characters always act as you expect? Are you a plotter, or fly (write) by the seat of your pants?
This was a fun one to write! My first novella and my first book in a multiple-author series. I live in New England and was excited to write about a region near me. I hightailed it to Vermont to do research, go on some hikes, talk with locals. I also traveled to New Zealand years ago for my honeymoon, so from that amazing experience I came up with my hero, Matiu. I like his backstory. He was adorable and inspiring to write. (I tend to love all my heroes). And Charlotte’s backstory just came to me (some inspired by life, some just felt like it naturally applied to her character), too. She is a woman with a tragic past, but who loves the outdoors, and needs to move past some pain and guilt. Matiu is the perfect fella to help her with that.
A little about Soul of the Storm
Tagline: Will love help her summit one more peak?
Blurb:
Charlotte MacGregor lost the thrill of conquering mountains five years ago when her sister disappeared on a hiking adventure without her. Still guilt-ridden, Charlotte heads for a vacation to rustic Vermont with a friend—where she’s surrounded by reminders of her devastating loss and plagued with unanswered questions.
Matiu Christiansen is an outdoors buff. He works multiple jobs to save for his dream of owning an outfitter in New Zealand. He’s never quite felt at home in the United States and he yearns for his Maori roots, but his attraction to Charlotte puts a kink in his plans to move home later this year.
Thrown together by coincidence, Charlotte and Matiu form a kindred bond through their shared love of the outdoors. Can Charlotte surmount her demons to assist Matiu on a rescue when a late-season snowstorm hits? And can Matiu help Charlotte heal from the pain of the past?
Excerpt
She went to feel her ring on her finger with her thumb…but the ring wasn’t there. That old habit would not die even years later.
A dog bark intruded. The man crossed to the back door. “Reka, sweet girl, take your nap. Only a few hours here and then home, okay?” He spoke to her like a father to a toddler. The dog barked again. “A swim and walk this morning weren’t enough for you?”
He approached the dog, petted it, and whispered affections.
Charlotte made a soundless “Aww” and kept perusing.
The man returned, nearer. Residual sweat traced his brow. He pointed to a selection of books in the middle. “These are the best. Depends on what you’re looking for. Honest reviews or glorified fantasies?”
“Honest reviews, always.”
He stroked a hand through his neck-length black hair, the longer top layer falling over his forehead. He squatted and withdrew a few books from the lower shelf. “You could go with the popular or famous names, sure, but I like these authors.” He handed her one.
A book on South America sat in her hands. She muttered, “Thanks. Don’t need that one.”
“Oh, already been there, eh? All good, all good.” He took it and shoved it back on the shelf. “Where do your dreams lie then?”
She swallowed. No, I wasn’t there in that way. I was supposed to have been there. Five years ago. Instead she said, “Well, Vermont for now.”
“You’re in luck. I’m from Willow Springs.”
Buy links for SOUL OF THE STORM:
About the author:
Jean’s background is in science and she draws from her interests in history, nature, and her family for inspiration. She writes historical and contemporary romances and women’s fiction. She also writes articles for family-oriented travel magazines. When she’s not writing or chasing children, she enjoys tending to her flower gardens, hiking, and doing just about anything in the outdoors.
You can find Jean on her Social Media links:
Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Goodreads ~ Bookbub ~ Amazon Author Page ~ The Wild Rose Press
It was wonderful having you with us today. Please feel free to stop by anytime. Good Luck with Soul of the Storm!
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Contemporary Romance, Deerbourne Inn Series, Jean Grant, Soul of the Storm by Tena Stetler with 15 comments.
