Friday, August 12, 2011

Aloha to Darlene Marshall and SEA CHANGE




Each morning, I walk along the Pearl Harbor Channel.   I often hear the National Anthem as the Navy Yard raises the US flag.  The music takes me back to Fort McHenry and its multi-media presentation of the Bombardment of Baltimore during the War of 1812.   On September 14, 1814, as the sun rose over the harbor, Francis Scott Key spotted a tattered US Flag still flying over the fort.  The glorious sight inspired him to write the poem that became our National Anthem, land of the free and home of the brave.  The  presentation ends as the curtain pulls back for the audience to see a replica flag flying with the Naval Academy Glee Club singing the National Anthem.

Fort McHenry with replica flag

I often wonder why American readers (including myself) gobble up Regency Romances when:
(1) the British burned the White House during this time
(2) we have our own heroic history.

Dolly Madison grabbed Washington's portrait as the British 
marched on  Washington DC to burn the White House. 

Enter Darlene Marshall who pens historical romances in the early 1800s set in North America.  Her newest book, SEA CHANGE, delivers us a dashing American privateer and an unorthodox British heroine: 

A war is raging on the world's oceans and two enemies will fight their own battle and their attraction to each other as they undergo a sea change neither of them is expecting, but cannot deny .... 

David Fletcher needs a surgeon, stat! But when he captures a British merchantman in the Caribbean what he gets is Charley Alcott, an apprentice physician barely old enough to shave. Needs must, and Captain Fletcher takes the prisoner back aboard his ship with orders to do his best or he'll be walking the plank.  

Charley Alcott's medical skills are being put to the test in a life-or-death situation, Charley's life as well as the patient's. Even if Charley can save the captain's brother there will still be hell to pay--and maybe a plank to walk--when Captain Fletcher learns Charley is really Charlotte Alcott. 


Veterans of the War of 1812
rochesterhistorical.org


Darlene is giving away an autographed copy of SEA CHANGE to one randomly selected commenters.  To enter the giveaway,

1.  Leave a comment about a favorite moment in American history.

2.  This giveaway is open to US residents only but I welcome our international readers to share a glorious moment from your country's history.

3.  Comments are open through Saturday, August 13, 10 pm in Hawaii.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, August 14.


Mahalo,


Kim in Hawaii


Check out Darlene's other historical romances at her website at this link:








14 comments:

  1. One of my favorite moments in history is the ride of Paul Revere.

    Sea Change sounds like a great read.

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  2. Mary Pickersgill made the flag Key memorialized at a home near Fort McHenry.
    http://www.flaghouse.org/index.php/flag/info/the_experience/

    Paul Revere's ride is exciting, and Sybil Ludington performed a similar feat.
    http://petticoatsandpistols.com/2011/06/15/the-midnight-ride-of-sybil-ludington-tanya-hanson/

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  3. My favorite moment must be when Our national Anthem was written. It must have been very dramatic and unforgettable.

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  4. I have always been proud of our service men, and the men of WWII will always be extra special (Great uncle and Great grandfather). I am also very proud of my younger cousin, who served in the middle east. He has grown into such a great young man.

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  5. The first man on the moon is a cool moment of history that is a favorite of mine. I was not born yet when the mission occurred, but I still enjoy watching documentaries about that time period, the race for the moon, etc.

    csolinda (at) hotmail (dot) com

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  6. I would say either the signing of the Declaration of Independence or the end of WW II.

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  7. My favorite moment in American history would have to be when we sent a man to the moon.

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  8. Aloha! I am home and catching up on the blog!

    I'd love to hear from our international readers, too - what is your favorite event in your country's history?

    Mahalo,

    Kim

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  9. Aloha, Kim!

    My favorite moment in American history is also the moon landing even though he screwed it up (it was supposed to be "...one small step for a man, one giant leap...").

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  10. Wow, you know I never really thought much about our American history save learning it. The many impacts and such. People have brought up so many cool moments that it is really difficult to choose one.

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  11. My favorite thing in history is also the Moon landing and walk. I remember watching it with my parents and brother. Also the ending of WWII and the Vietnam wars. Florence Nightingale was special as well.

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  12. Aloha, Kim! You must be feeling better[g]. Thanks for running the contest, and for mentioning my books.

    I am a great fan of our country's rich history, and as a first generation American I feel a special bond to this land. Last week we buried my uncle, the last of the Greatest Generation in our family. All of my uncles fought for their adopted home in WWII, some in the navy, some in the army air corps, my father on the USS West Virginia at Pearl Harbor. All of those men and women are heroes in my eyes.

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  13. There are so many to choose from. I am going to say parts of the French American War. Fort Pitt is very close to where I live and it's all very interesting. I like historicals in any setting.

    Hope you are feeling better!!

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  14. Oh darn, that last comment was from me - catslady.

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