Debra Holland: Wild Montana Sky

Wild Montana Sky
by Debra Holland
Buy links: Amazon * Smashwords * Barnes & Noble

Debra Holland, Ph.D is a psychotherapist and a three time RWA Golden Heart® finalist and one time winner. Wild Montana Sky, a sweet historical Western, won the GH in 2001 but didn’t sell (despite the efforts of two agents) because it was sweet, not sexy. In April, Debra took matters into her own hands and self-published Wild Montana Sky and the next book series, Starry Montana Sky.

About Wild Montana Sky:

A displaced Boston socialite travels to her friend's ranch in Montana. There she must adjust to the "wilds" of Montana and chose between the wealthy banker and the cowboy with only his heart to offer.

Contest!
A lucky commenter can win a free ebook of Wild Montana Sky.  Yay!

RTW: What aspect of life in the Old West intrigues you the most? Did you work that into Wild Montana Sky?

DH: I’m intrigued by how life was completely different than it is now. How hard people had to work just to survive. The determination of the men and women to carve a new life for themselves and their families. How a woman could have more freedom in the West then she could in Eastern (or European) society.

I'm showing aspects of these concepts in the different books in the series.

RTW: If you lived in 1893, what modern convenience would you miss the most?

DH: My cell phone. Not only for making phone calls, but texting, checking my book sales, and reading emails. :)

RTW: What common errors in western historical romances bug you? Please enlighten us. :)

DH: It's not that it's an error, but I'm often bothered about the sex in historicals. Not that I'm against sex in romances, but for most women in history, sex was something that happened when they married. Ruined reputations and the very real possibility of having a child out of wedlock meant that they (and those around them) prized their virginity. Therefore, historical romance authors often have to really justify premarital sex, and sometimes they don't do a good job of it. In fact some of my favorite authors use the “I want to explore my sexuality” justification. The truth is for most unmarried women, as much as they enjoy sex, they have it because they care about the guy and want a relationship. This would be especially true for historical women, who (in many cultures) didn’t have the sexual freedom women do now.

RTW: Why is your hero, Nick Sanders drawn to your heroine, Elizabeth Hamilton? How did you form these characters?

DH: I was briefly dating a young cowboy, and we had nothing in common. (But he was cute and fun!) I thought, "If he and I lived 100 years ago in the West, who we are just might work." From there came my story. My hero, Nick, is physically based on my cowboy. Elizabeth is a little like me.

This is first scene in Wild Montana Sky:

Laurence married!

Elizabeth Hamilton leaned against the blue and gold papered wall of the entry hall and stared in shock at the telegram from her brother. Her vision blurred into dark whirls. She tried to breathe deeply lest she faint into a heap on the tiled floor, but with her lungs constricted by more than the tight lacings of her corset; she could only gasp for air.

Katie, the parlor maid, rushed forward, putting a steadying hand under Elizabeth’s elbow.

“Are you all right, Miss Hamilton?”

Elizabeth glanced at the anxious face of the maid and tried to pull herself together enough to dredge normal words from the maelstrom of her feelings. “I’m fine. Just a little faint.” She strove for a semblance of calm. “I need to sit down.”

Leaning on Katie, Elizabeth crossed the hall into the parlor. She sank into her favorite blue velvet wing chair, slumped against the cushions and closed her eyes.

“Should I bring your smelling salts, Miss Hamilton?”

Opening her eyes, Elizabeth shook her head. “I don’t have smelling salts. I’ve never needed them.”

“I could borrow Cook’s?”

“No, thank you.” Elizabeth tried to smile. “I’ll be fine.”

Katie’s indecision flickered in her brown eyes. She twisted her hands in her white ruffled apron. “I know it’s not my place to ask, Miss Hamilton, but is it bad news about Mr. Hamilton? Should I send for anyone?”

“Actually, it’s good news. I was just taken by surprise.” Elizabeth was too shaken to care if she broke protocol by not first sharing the news with the housekeeper.

“My brother has married.”

Katie drew in a hissing breath through her teeth. “Mr. Hamilton married?” The puzzled look on the maid’s face reflected Elizabeth’s own confused feelings. She looked again at the telegram in her hand.

MARRIED GENIA BAXTER. ARRIVE HOME TWO WEEKS.

“We’ll have a new mistress.” The girl covered her mouth, then dropped her hand. “Everything’s going to change,” she whispered.

Yes, everything.

Elizabeth tried to give her a reassuring smile. “We have a well-run household, Katie. I’m sure the new Mrs. Hamilton will make very few changes.” She waved her hand at the door. “I’m feeling better, thank you. You may go.”

The lump of pain lodged in Elizabeth’s throat belied her casual words to the maid. She’d no idea her brother had been courting anyone. Now suddenly he was married! And without inviting his own sister to the wedding. Hurt and betrayal burned through her chest. She stood up, balled her hands into fists, crushing the telegram, then threw it into the fireplace.

Unable to sit still, Elizabeth paced the room, trailing her fingers across the blue and silver striped wallpaper. When she had redecorated the parlor, she’d resisted the current fashion for darker shades of red. Instead, she’d spent many hours searching for soothing blues, which were a more personal statement of her tastes.

She had deluded herself into thinking this day would never come--that her brother would never marry, and she’d always serve as the mistress of his house and hostess for his business affairs. Yet at times she’d sensed the emptiness in his heart, hidden beneath a stiff exterior and busy business and social life, and wished he could find a congenial life companion.

She glanced up at the portrait of Laurence and herself painted twelve years ago, at the start of her first season. Callers always admired the picture of the tall, blond-haired, blue-eyed siblings. A much younger Elizabeth, dressed in the white silk and lace gown she’d worn to her debutante ball, sat in front of her brother. Laurence, in formal evening clothes, stood behind Elizabeth with his hand protectively on her shoulder.

Hope threaded through her hurt. Perhaps in Laurence’s bride she’d find a true sister--filling the empty place in her heart caused by her best friend’s marriage and move to Montana. Even though they’d been separated for ten years, she missed Pamela so much. How wonderful to have a close confidant once again--someone to help banish the loneliness trailing after her like a phantom.

A vision of her personal ghost slipped into Elizabeth’s mind. Tall and handsome, with laughing brown eyes and a playful grin--Richard, her beloved fiancé.... The fingers of her right hand crept up to her chest--a familiar gesture--to clasp the gold locket containing his picture. If Richard had lived, he’d be teasing her now with outrageous descriptions of Laurence’s wife. In her laughter, she’d forget her pain. Of course, if he’d lived, this wouldn’t be an issue.

Somehow, after his death, eleven years had slipped by. Although she’d had offers, no one had measured up to Richard, and she’d refused to marry any man she didn’t love. Besides, her brother had always said he needed her.

Tears welled in her eyes. “I hope, Laurence--” she told the portrait “--you’ve found the kind of love Richard and I had.”

RTW: Thanks for the excerpt! What are you writing now? What's your next release? When?

DH: I'm writing the third book in the series, Stormy Montana Sky. I hope to have it out in the fall.

I also have the first two books of a paranormal series coming out in a few weeks.

RTW: Anything else you'd like to add?

DH: I’ve had fun becoming a self-published author. In ten weeks, I've sold over 5000 books! It's been a wonderful journey!

One lucky commenter will win a free ebook of

Wild Montana Sky!!!

Winner will be drawn on August 13 at 10pm Pacific Time.  Please remember to include your email address in your comment.