Today I am so pleased to welcome Rowan Speedwell to Joyfully Jay. Rowan has come to talk to us about her latest release, Angel Voices. She has also brought along a great giveaway. Please join me in giving Rowan a big welcome!
Hello! This is Rowan Speedwell checking in with more stuff about life, the universe, and “Angel Voices,” the second edition of my Christmas story, out November 28th. Since it is the holiday season, what better way to celebrate than with a drawing for a $15 Riptide gift card? Here’s the catch—you can’t just comment randomly. No, you have to ask a question—one I can answer, no “what’s the airspeed velocity of a laden swallow” sort of thing. And no math. And keep it clean! I’ll answer you back and at the end of the blog tour do a drawing for the gift card from all the entries!
One of the main themes of “Angel Voices” is family. Will’s family is deeply dysfunctional—his father is abusive, his mother disconnected, and his brother “goes along” just to keep himself safe. Contrast that to Quinn’s—warm, supportive, and welcoming. Quinn’s is the kind of family we all want, but too often, Will’s is the kind we get.
I’m one of the lucky ones. I have five loving brothers, all of whom married wonderful women. Do we always get along? Hell no. I’ve fought with all of them, and will do so forever, probably. Are they perfect? Hell no. Just me. (Hah!) Sometimes they drive me freaking nuts. They don’t do what they say they’re going to do when they say they’re going to do it. They get snippy. (Yes, guys do get snippy.) They argue with me when they KNOW I’m right. But when I need them, they’re there.
Over the last couple of years, we’ve lost my mother and my aunt. In both cases, there were estates that needed to be settled, and in the case of my mother, the care of one of my brothers to manage. (He’s disabled.) In both situations, no matter who was the executor, everyone stepped up to the plate to help—even my sisters in law. None of us had to handle anything alone. And since I was one of the executors in question, I am immensely grateful.
Oddly, they told me the same thing—that they were grateful for me, and for all I did for them. Really?
As I write this, Thanksgiving is on the horizon. A couple of years ago, just before my mom died, I took on a personal project. That was to stop every day and think at least once of something I was grateful for. I was pretty consistent, and to tell you the truth, it helped me through a couple of really rough years.
The biggest thing I’m grateful for is having a family like Quinn’s, and not Will’s. But there are too many like Will’s. Fortunately, you don’t have to accept them as the only family you have. There are other ways of making a family.
This has been a rough year, not only for me, but for so many others. We’re scared. We’re tired. We look at the world and hope trembles. It’s time like these that we need family around us. It doesn’t have to be your birth family. Maybe they’re like Will’s. Maybe your family is one you’ve built yourself. Whatever you perceive them to be. Be grateful for them.
Because they are grateful for you.
Blurb
One frigid winter night a week before Christmas, college student Will stumbles into a church during choir practice, bruised by his own father’s hands. He’s out of the closet now—there’s no going back since his fundamentalist father learned the truth—but he’s also out of a home, a family, and a future. Will has nowhere to turn. No one to care.
Except . . . Will’s roommate, Quinn, cares. Maybe too much. He’s been attracted to Will since they moved in together, but never dreamed his crush was gay. With Will’s life in pieces, Quinn doesn’t want to push. He also knows he has more experience than Will, who’s never even been kissed.
Then Will’s father makes a reappearance, and Will has to learn to trust his heart more than the voices of his past. But it’s the season of miracles, faith, and hope, and Quinn is determined to teach Will how to love and be loved.
Bio
An unrepentant biblioholic, Rowan Speedwell spends half her time pretending to be a law librarian, half her time pretending to be a database manager, half her time pretending to be a fifteenth-century Aragonese noblewoman, half her time . . . wait a minute . . . Hmm. Well, one thing she doesn’t pretend to be is good at math. She is good at pretending, though.
In her copious spare time (hah) she does needlework, calligraphy and illumination, and makes jewelry. She has a master’s degree in history from the University of Chicago, is a member of the Society for Creative Anachronism, and lives in a Chicago suburb with the obligatory Writer’s Cat and way too many books.
Connect with Rowan:
- Website: rowanspeedwell.com
- Twitter: @RowanSpeedwell
- Goodreads: goodreads.com/Rowan_Speedwell
Giveaway
To celebrate the release of Angel Voices, one lucky winner will receive $15 in Riptide Publishing credit! Leave a comment with a thoughtful question and your contact info to enter the contest. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on December 3, 2016. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. entries. Thanks for following the tour, and don’t forget to leave your contact info!
- By entering the giveaway, you’re confirming that you are at least 18 years old.
- Winners will be selected by random number. No purchase necessary to win. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning.
- If you win, you must respond to my email within 48 hours or another winner may be chosen. Please make sure that your spam filter allows email from Joyfully Jay.
- Winners may be announced on the blog following the contest. By entering the contest you are agreeing to allow your name to be posted and promoted as the contest winner by Joyfully Jay.
- Prizes will be distributed following the giveaway either by Joyfully Jay or the person/organization donating the prize.
- All book prizes are in electronic format unless otherwise specified.
- By entering you are agreeing to hold Joyfully Jay harmless if the prize or giveaway in some way negatively impacts the winner.
- Readers may only enter once for each contest. Duplicate entries for the same giveaway will be ignored. In the event of technical problems with the blog during the contest, every effort will be made to extend the contest deadline to allow for additional entries.
- Void where prohibited by law.
I’m from Asia so I wonder if you’ve ever been, and if you haven’t – where in Asia you wish to visit? Who knows, you might got a couple of ideas for your book here. 😉
Congrats on the book re-release, Rowan.
puspitorinid AT yahoo DOT com
I have never been to Asia, although I’d love to go. As to where–there are SO many choices! I think I’d like to take a year and just travel around. I’d love to see China, Viet Nam, India, Japan, Indonesia… One of my brothers travels a lot for business, and has been to a number of places in the East and I have been SO jealous!
One of the things I feel most grateful for is the love and support of my friends in the wonderful community choir I belong to, so I am intrigued to read that there seems to be a choir involved in this story. So, my question is – do you sing and have you ever belonged to a choir?
Oh, yes! I used to sing quite a lot in choirs and church shows–I’m an alto–but as my asthma has gotten worse I don’t have the breath control I used to, so I haven’t sung outside the car in a while. I loved being a part of a choir–the feeling of being a team working to bring something beautiful into the world.
Thanks for an enjoyable post, Ms. Speedwell, and congratulations on the release of Angel Voices. I’m an unrepentant biblioholic myself, so my question has to do with books. What are the three most recent books you’ve read (that aren’t your own works in progress)?
I’ve been on a het historicals kick lately, so I just finished the Survivors’ Club series by Mary Balogh. The books are about soldiers who have been injured in the Napoleonic Wars and form a friendship–and of course find love along the way. When I get stressed out, I like the simplicity of historical romances.
Thanks for coming back to answer the questions, Ms. Speedwell. I enjoyed reading all of your replies. I’m a Mary Balogh fan, too. If you haven’t already read them, I’ll recommend Sherry Thomas’ Delicious and Joanna Bourne’s The Spymaster’s Lady. (And I initially mistyped the latter as The Spaymaster’s Lady which was scarily funny.)
I haven’t read Delicious, but I am a HUGE fan of Bourne. I think I’ve read The Spymaster’s Lady about fourteen times.
I’ll look for Delicious, too!
We’re likely tied in our number of re-reads then of The Spymaster’s Lady. If you do read Delicious, I hope you’ll enjoy it.
Wishing you well!
Disney or Warner Brothers cartoons?
vitajex(At)Aol(Dot)com
Ooh, tough one. Warner Brothers shorts and Disney long-form. And Pixar, of course! Except for Cars. 😛
Thanks for the lovely post!
Do you have any things you like to do to “treat” yourself either to celebrate or pick yourself up when you are feeling down?
I like your idea of thinking each day of something for which you are grateful.
jen(dot)f(at)mac(dot)com
Going out to dinner by myself with a good book. When it’s real celebration or when I’m really down, I pick someplace more expensive than my usual, like a good steakhouse.
Of course, I take myself out to dinner even when I’m NOT celebrating–I like eating out!
What a great post, and yes family really is so special whether we are related to them by blood or not! 🙂 My question for you, what has been your favorite book to read this year?
Thanks so much and Happy Holidays! jenndonald00(at)gmail(dot)com
I average about a book a day (more on the weekends) so picking a favorite is really hard to do! It’s sort of like picking your favorite red blood cell… Probably Bill Bryson’s At Home: A Short History of Private Life. He has a lovely way of making what could be dry subject matter charming and entertaining. And it took me more than one sitting to finish it – always a plus!
Society for Creative Anachronism…I Googled it so I have an idea of the purpose, but what, exactly, do you do?
It sounds so interesting. 🙂
aelnova@aol.com
Everything. Hah! Seriously, whatever interest you have you can find someone who is also interested. We “selectively recreate” the Middle Ages: whether it’s crafts or arts and sciences or sword fighting or research. Practically every field of study short of computers has its beginnings in the Middle Ages–even the Renaissance was only building on what came before. And even computer science has roots in medieval thought and culture. (Gets down off soapbox.) We have multiple annual events, but we also meet monthly or weekly with smaller local groups to pursue whatever interests we have in common: for me it’s archery, brewing, sewing, and other things. It’s a great creative outlet!
It is wonderful to be like that. Great Post.
debby236 at gmail dot com
Thank you!
Thanks for the post. My question is do you cook & if you do what’s your favorite/specialty dish?
legacylandlisa(at)gmail(dot)com
I set fire to The Life and Times of William Shakespeare once while cooking. I’m not good in the kitchen. That being said, I make green bean casserole every Thanksgiving, and am famous for my ravioli casserole. That only has three ingredients, so it’s pretty safe.
Beautiful post, Rowan. Whether we’re born into them or find them along the way, having our family and being there for each other is a gift. I’m always curious about birth order, and you didn’t mention where you land in there. Were you the executor because you’re the oldest or the perfect one? 😉
caroaz [at] ymail [dot] com
There’s a five-year gap between myself and my older brother, and he’s always been more of an only child. I pretty much am the oldest child, and my personality sort of reflects that. I’m also the only girl, and I think that’s why Mom picked me as executor–there wouldn’t be any infighting that way because they all know I can smack them down at any time. 😉 And also because I’m the perfect one.
Thank you for the beautiful post, Rowan.
My question for you is: are you a cat person or a dog person? Or are you one of those no-pets type of person?
Susanaperez7140(at)gmail(dot)com
I don’t mind dogs much, but I am DEFINITELY a cat person. My feline companion is Pandora Eloise von Ravenclaw; she’s an 8-month-old tortoiseshell calico with a very strong, affectionate personality. She’s also known as Princess Pandy Prettipaws and Mistress Ticklewhiskers. She’s adorable. In fact, she’s Pandorable.
I am lucky to have my family as well. But let’s be challenging, for one, do you have a favorite sibling since you said you have five brothers *grin*
amie_07(at)yahoo(dot)com
Shh… it’s Matt, the youngest. He’s also a Libra; he’s very sweet natured and frighteningly intelligent, and he had the courtesy to provide me with my two beautiful nieces. Not that I don’t love my nephews, but really? Five brothers and four nephews? We needed some females!