A Bride So Fair by Carol Cox and Book Giveaway!

I'm giving away a brand new copy of today's book! Leave a comment with your email address so I can contact you if you win. I'll pick a name and announce the winner on Thursday, May 1. International readers may enter. Good luck!

After growing up in an orphanage, Emily Ralston loves being around children and thoroughly enjoys her job at the Children’s Building at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair. As the receptionist she helps check in the children and ensures they are safe and well cared for while their parents view the fair. She could not have known what God had in store for her…

When Columbian Guard, Stephen Bridger, drops off a three-year-old named Adam as a lost child, her life irrevocably changed. While the sparks of attraction are undeniable, Emily tries her best to ignore them as she and her best friend, Lucy, scheme to keep Adam safe and happy, far away from the orphanages they both know too well.

Soon Stephen learns about Adam’s mother while both the mystery and his relationship with Emily deepens. As they learn bits of truth, danger and deception now threaten to undermine their growing relationship. Why is a young woman murdered while surrounded by thousands of fairgoers? What secrets could a sweet, abandoned little boy possibly hold? Can Emily and Stephen solve the deadly mystery before time runs out?

Themes in A Bride So Fair : Emily and Stephen’s unique love story offers a fresh and inspirational lesson of trust and betrayal, faith and doubt, the meaning of family and God’s unending goodness.

About Carol Cox

Award-winning author of twelve novels and eleven novellas, Carol shares her love of history, mystery, and romance in the books she writes. A pastor’s wife, Carol makes her home with her husband and young daughter in northern Arizona. To learn more about Carol and her books, visit her Web site at www.CarolCoxBooks.com.


Q &A with Carol Cox, author of A Bride So Fair

Q. Where did you get the idea to write A Bride So Fair?

A. Several years ago, I came across a brief article that mentioned the World’s Columbian Exposition held in Chicago in 1893, calling it a pivotal moment in our nation’s history. And my response was, “If it was such a big deal, how come I’ve never even heard about it?” So I looked it up online and was overwhelmed at the wealth of information I found. I had no idea how many of the things we take for granted today were introduced at that fair—things like the Ferris wheel, Cracker Jacks, Cream of Wheat, Juicy Fruit gum, and the concept of the Midway. Familiar names from our history books were among the 27 million people who visited the fair. Thomas Edison, Scott Joplin, Frederick Douglass, Jane Addams, and Susan B. Anthony were all there. It was a moment in which our nation felt itself on the brink of major change, and the more I learned about the fair, the more excited I became. I knew I had to set a story there, and that initial idea turned into a three-book series, A Fair to Remember. A Bride So Fair is the final title, and it was hard to say goodbye to the setting and characters I’ve come to love.

Q. How much research is involved in writing a solid historical fiction novel like this one?

A. I was so fascinated by what I learned about the fair that I continued researching for two years before the first book in the series was even contracted. As I mentioned above, I found a tremendous amount of information online, including photos of the fairgrounds and its buildings. I was able to purchase several books printed during that time period that gave detailed descriptions of exhibits as well as the reactions of people who visited the fair. That was invaluable in getting insight into how it affected people of that day. I studied maps of the grounds and floor plans of several of the buildings until I felt like I could navigate them as easily as I can get around my home town.

All of that helped in getting my facts straight, but I needed to add sensory details to make the setting come alive. What would my hero and heroine experience on the shore of Lake Michigan? What would they see, hear, smell? How would it feel to walk across the vast fairgrounds or stroll along the edge of the lagoon? I made a trip to Chicago, where I spent a day at Jackson Park, the site of the exposition. All but one of the buildings are long gone, but simply being there and soaking up the setting added a myriad of details for me to draw on when writing the story. At that point, I could look at my research photos and feel like I could step into the scene and describe it as though I’d actually been there.

Q. What inspires you the most as a writer?

A. It’s always interesting to hear what sparks ideas for other writers. For some, it springs from a character; for others, the catalyst is an issue they’re passionate about. With me, the setting often comes before either the characters or the plot. A particular place will catch my imagination and I’ll wonder what kind of people might have been there and what would have happened to them. I love the challenge of bringing a setting to life so it becomes something a reader can experience rather than just read about.

Q. You’ve written quite a few novels already, do you have any advice for aspiring novelists?

A. Read in a wide variety of genres to discover which holds the most appeal for you. Your writing will show far more depth and passion if you're working in a genre you love.

Be patient. Prepare to learn and gear yourself mentally for a marathon, not a sprint. The learning process takes time.

Comments

  1. Sounds good! Thanks for the giveaway.

    ReplyDelete
  2. sounds like my kind of book, please sign me up
    Thank you
    Ingrid

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'm interested; please count me in!

    ReplyDelete
  4. This sounds like an interesting book!
    Please enter me.
    itsmyemail (at) bigpond.com

    ReplyDelete
  5. I love to read, but I must not have as much time as you do ~~ do you read while you are showering and driving too? Only kidding. I am lucky to get thru 2 books a week - and that's a good week and usually short (250 pages) books!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thanks for doing the giveaway, Deb! Count me in!! :o)

    Christy

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  7. Hello! I love the cover of this book.
    Romantic fiction set in earlier times
    are great books to read. I guess the
    St.Louis World's Fair was in 1904! Please enter me in your drawing. I
    really appreciate it.....Cindi
    jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  8. I am intrigued by the historical World's Fair setting, as well as this book's plot. Thank you for the opportunity to win a copy.

    cjarvis [at] bellsouth [dot] net

    ReplyDelete
  9. This sounds like another good book. Please enter my name into your drawing.

    Thanks!

    nerakdunbar[at]sbcglobal[dot]net

    ReplyDelete
  10. I've read this author before, but you make it sound so good. I'd love to read it!

    I'll also blog this soon.

    Best,
    callmeabookworm at gmail dot com
    ps - I've got a book giveaway going on as well, hope you'll stop by.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Please enter me, I would love to read this book, thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anonymous4:15 PM

    I would love to win this book, it looks wonderful. Please sign me up. Thanks, Pat
    email-worldwonder8th@verizon.net

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous6:13 PM

    please enter me and thanks!

    lisa d.

    ldneuhof@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  14. A BRIDE SO FAIR sounds like a wonderful read. Please enter me to win a copy.

    hawkes(at)citlink.net

    ReplyDelete
  15. Anonymous9:14 PM

    That sounds like a great book, please include me in your drawing. Thanks

    Debbie
    debsbooks -fr

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anonymous11:11 AM

    sounds like a great read :)

    ReplyDelete
  17. Anonymous11:19 PM

    Sounds like a lovely book with a warm message. Thanks for entering me.
    aliadam from FR

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  18. Anonymous11:39 PM

    Please enter me in the giveaway. Looks like a good book!

    carol (at) myweddingbug.com

    ReplyDelete
  19. Anonymous11:46 AM

    Sounds like a great read. I would love to read it. Count me in on the drawing.

    lead@hotsheet.com

    ReplyDelete
  20. What a delightful and special book. It is so appealing and fascinating. Thanks for this lovely giveaway.

    ReplyDelete
  21. This era and the story is wonderful. Thanks for the great choice.
    elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  22. Anonymous4:55 PM

    please enter me!
    Marilyn
    Fmartin816 (at) comcast(dot) net

    ReplyDelete
  23. sounds like a good book. my email address is bellesorrisa (at) gmail.com

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  24. it sounds like a lovely book to curl up with.

    i love the cover, too! :)

    ivan[dot]girl25[at]gmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  25. congrats to carole for winning!

    ReplyDelete

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