It’s easy to think that most published authors are overnight successes-but more often than not, writers have worked long and hard to achieve publication. Agatha Christie, for example, was rejected for five long years before she was published-and now she’s a household name! So for those looking for some inspiration to keep the faith in their writing, I have the lovely Alison Stuart with me today to share the story of how her new release, And Then Mine Enemy, came to life. “Hi Darcy… thank you so much for hosting me today. You have asked me to talk a little bit about the ‘behind the scenes’ story of And Then Mine Enemy. Firstly it is no small feat to write a story (or at least 2 books worth of story!) spanning the most active years of the English Civil War (1642-5) and this story has been a very, very long time in the coming! The research required was extensive but fortunately I have been living and breathing the English Civil War for pretty much all my life so the research was not as onerous as it could have been, provided you know where to look and odd little books picked up on the journey of the lifetime (such as the English Civil War in Stratford) proved invaluable resources. The hard bit (for me!) was the writing! I began this story at the very start of my writing career and while I loved the characters, I just couldn’t seem to get it to ‘sit right’ so it went into the cyber sock drawer for many years. Last year I came across it accidently and started reading it and could immediately see why it never felt right. Way back then I didn’t understand story structure and I could now clearly see that the story in fact had 2 separate arcs… hence the reason it is now 2 books. So, while there was an overarching story arc, the hero and heroine’s individual journeys divided into two quite separate arcs, coming to a ‘happy for now’ resolution at the end of Book 1 before beginning the whole journey again in Book 2. It would never have worked in a single book.” Thanks Alison! Here’s the blurb for her new release And Then Mine Enemy: 
A family ripped apart in a country divided by war . . . England 1642: Hardened mercenary, Adam Coulter returns to England sickened by violence, seeking only peace, but he finds England on the brink of civil war. He has seen first-hand what that will mean for every man, woman and child and wants no part of it. King or Parliament? Neutrality is not an option and Adam can only be true to his conscience, not the dictates of his family. Having escaped a loveless marriage, Perdita Gray has found much needed sanctuary and the love of a good man, but her fragile world begins to crumble as Adam Coulter bursts into her life. This stranger brings not only the reality of war to her doorstep but reignites an old family feud, threatening everything and everyone she holds dear. As the war and family tensions collide around them, Adam and Perdita are torn between old loyalties and a growing attraction that must be resisted. BUY LINKS Amazon, Kobo, iBooks, Nook, Smashwords. To celebrate the release of http://bit.ly/MineEnemy Alison is giving away a $20 Amazon Gift Card. Enter here: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/0d923dde9/? 
ABOUT ALISON STUART Award winning Australian author, Alison Stuart learned her passion for history from her father. She has been writing stories since her teenage years but it was not until 2007 that her first full length novel was published. Alison has now published seven full length historical romances and a collection of her short stories. Her disposition for writing about soldier heroes may come from her varied career as a lawyer in the military and fire services. These days when she is not writing she is travelling and routinely drags her long suffering husband around battlefields and castles. Connect with Alison at her website, Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads or subscribe to her newsletter for exclusive free reads, contests and more…
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