by Dina Sleiman
Stories come to authors in all different forms. The impetus for my new novel first came from my agent who asked me to write a historical romance novel set in America during the 19th century. From there we narrowed down the setting to Virginia or Pennsylvania, the two states I know the most about. Then after several weeks of prayer, the initial idea came to me in the form of the title, Love in Three-Quarter Time. So I knew it would have something to do with the waltz.
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Regency Era Waltz |
Next I needed a place for my story. It seemed that it should start in Richmond and move to a gorgeous Southern plantation home nearer the frontier. So I created the fictional White Willow Hall just off the famous Three Notch'd Road which ran through Charlottesville, Virginia. I decided my plantation would be set in rolling hills with a weeping willow, lots of flowers, and a small pond out front. For the architecture, I thought my Beaumont family might have chosen something similar to the nearby Monticello. Oh! And I would include a few scenes at Monticello for an added historical touch.
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Monticello |
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Dina at Birdwood Pavilion (Now a Conference Center) on Three Notch'd Road |
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Garden Pavilion at Monticello |
I had so much fun with the setting of this story. I hope you'll enjoy it too! Look for Love in Three-Quarter Time coming with Zondervan First October 23rd 2012.
What's your favorite historical time and place? Do you enjoy Southern plantations and old mansions? If you could set a book anywhere, where would you choose?
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Dina Sleiman
writes lyrical stories that dance with light. Most of the time you will
find this Virginia Beach resident reading, biking, dancing, or hanging
out with her husband and three children, preferably at the
oceanfront. Since finishing her Professional Writing MA in 1994, she has
enjoyed many opportunities to teach literature, writing, and the arts.
She was the Overall Winner in the 2009 Touched by Love contest for
unpublished authors. Her debut novel, Dance of the Dandelion with Whitefire Publishing, is now available at amazon and other online and ebook distributors. Her latest novel, Love in Three Quarter Time, will be the launch title for the new Zondervan First imprint. Dina is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of The Steve Laube Agency.
She has recently become an acquisitions editor for WhiteFire as well.
Join her as she discovers the unforced rhythms of grace. For more info visit her at http://dinasleiman.com/
The pictures are so lovely, Dina. I love going to the different places where I set my novels. It's so fun to do research and it really helps me draw upon the sensory images I experienced.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, and I can't wait to hold that book in my hand.
Well, it will probably be the ebook :) I hear the print prices will be a little steep.
ReplyDeleteI should slap myself in the head and say, "duh". Dina, I knew that - don't know what I was thinking. I can't wait to have the book downloaded into my Nook. ;-)
ReplyDeleteI remember your excitement when you traveled and found the setting of your book! What a great feeling. I definitely love Southern mansions and your setting/time is wonderful!
ReplyDeleteI hope to move around the 19th century a bit but I doubt I'll ever have need to leave the east coast/north east or the UK as settings. There are so many amazing writers who do the prairie and the west so well that I'm happy to read them and stick to my UK settings.
As I told you Dina, I've been obsessing about visiting the UK lately. Maybe it's the olympics or the fact that my knees are starting to bother me but I don't want to wait too much longer to go to England, Scotland and Wales. There's just so much you can do with the internet -- nothing beats seeing your setting in person!
Loved the photos again. I made it to Mt Vernon but never to Monticello. Must make a point of visiting.
Where will your next book take place?
PS - looking forward to Roseanna's Savannah book!
You should go to the UK, Deb! I was in England the summer I turned twenty. Loved it.
ReplyDeleteHopefully my next book will be the sequel. If I have my way I'll do a trilogy and use another famous home in each one, but all within a day's drive of Charlottesville.
What a cool trip you got to make for research! Thank you for sharing your pictures and I will definitely be looking for your newest book :)
ReplyDeleteRight now I'm really into WWI era stuff maybe partially because of the Downton Abbey fever lol :)
Faye, most of the books I've read this summer were set between 1895 and 1920. Heiress was my favorite so far.
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