Elaine Marie Cooper Author

Historical Fiction That Grabs Your Heart and Feeds Your Soul

emcoop

Announcing the Winner of the Series Title!

by 2 Comments

I was SO impressed with the submissions for this contest! All of the contestants were very creative and it made it difficult to narrow it down. When all was said and done, however, a choice had to be decided. So my publisher and I have chosen…

 

IN PURSUIT OF LIBERTY AND LOVE

Saratoga Letters will be Book 1 in this series.

 

And the WINNER IS:

BECKY SMITH!!

 

Congratulations, Becky!! She will receive a signed copy of Saratoga Letters, plus a $10 Amazon gift card.

THANK YOU once again to all of my faithful readers who helped us pick out a title for this brand new series! Be blessed, friends.

9781938499142

“Saratoga Letters” is sure to captivate every romantic at heart. Through the use of period writing, Elaine Marie Cooper creatively depicts two love stories set in separate centuries within the same book. Her brilliant use of letters to bridge the stories of Abigail and Abby brings mystery and suspense while piecing together their connections after 200 years. If you enjoy both historical and modern day romance, then Saratoga Letters is a double delight.” — Amazon reviewer

To purchase Saratoga Letters, click here.

Series Title Contest!

by 8 Comments

Dear readers,

My publisher and I would like to come up with an idea for a series name, with Saratoga Letters being Book 1 in the series. Are you feeling inspired?

Well if you are and your series name is chosen, or your suggestion is closest to the final decision, you will win a signed copy of Saratoga Letters plus a $10 Amazon gift card.

Here are the guidelines:

– It should reflect the American Revolution, possibly with a phrase from the Declaration of Independence

– It should have a definite hint of romance

– It should be no more than a 4-5 word phrase

I know you can do it! Just leave your entry in the comment section on this blog post. Or if the comments are not cooperating (sometimes they don’t!), just email your suggestion to elainemariecooper (at) yahoo (dot) com

Winner will be announced here next Thursday, November 10.

Thank you for helping us out!!

9781938499142

To purchase Saratoga Letters, click here.

Making the Cover Photos: “Saratoga Letters” Part 2

by Leave a Comment

If you missed Part 1, here is the link. Click here.

Part 2

Starbucks orders were taken and a predawn trip made to the local coffee shop. The drive-thru line was long so I parked, ran inside, and was first in line! I headed to Maddie’s home where everyone—photographer Nicole, costumer Laura, makeup artist Sharla, and myself—converged to begin preparations.

IMG_1529

First order of the day was to distribute the coffee and then fill everyone in on the details of the photo shoot. Although the setting for 1777 required minimal makeup, a “natural” look of applied coverage would be needed for the bright lights. While Sharla applied Maddie’s makeup, I explained a bit to Maddie about the scenes she would be portraying in the photos. She was a quick learner!

Once the makeup was finished, Maddie put on part of her costume. We saved the outer gown that would wrinkle from a seatbelt. That wasn’t a problem for ladies in 1777. 😉

IMG_1533-1

We must have looked like a convoy as we drove over to the site that Nicole had found previously. It was a wooded area open to the public. Laura helped Maddie do the finishing touches to the costume and we traipsed through the grass until Nicole determined the perfect locations. The shooting began, with Nicole’s mom, Deb, holding up the light shield for the perfect lighting.

Maddie posed like an expert, conveying the fear that Abigail Gillingham experienced as her evil uncle abducted her to the enemy camp to nurse the wounded soldiers.

Hundreds of shots later, 1777 photos were complete. Now we had to shift into 1977 mode!

IMG_1607Sharla had to add lots of extra makeup to Maddie’s “natural” look. Then the costume change occurred as Maddie donned typical clothing of 1977, including flared jeans and a gauzy rust-colored top. So grateful for Etsy’s vintage clothing!

Now Maddie had to portray Abby, reading a letter written by her ancestor 200 years prior. The yellowed paper represented a typed letter that her grandmother had copied from an original parchment. The actual pages that Maddie is holding were a children’s story that I’d written years ago and is now in the care of my agent who is trying to find a publisher. LOL!

Hundreds of photos later, it was a wrap. Two hours that were the culmination of months of preparation. Breathing a deep sigh, I thanked each and every member of the team, paid them for their time and effort…and thanked God who made it all possible.

9781938499142

 Saratoga Letters releases October 4. Here is the link to pre-order Saratoga Letters

Making the Cover Photos: “Saratoga Letters” Part 1

by 6 Comments

As I had done with the cover of Fields of the Fatherless, I took on the daunting task of setting up a photo shoot for Saratoga Letters. Everything seemed to be going fairly smoothly—until the model we had scheduled had a medical emergency three days prior to the photo shoot!

IMG_1520

Trying not to panic, I prayed…and God delivered a very capable and sweet replacement. Maddie slipped into the role of “Abigail” and “Abby” beautifully as you will see in the finished photos. (Our first model was fine within a short time, by the way, praise the Lord!)

Our professional costumer, Laura Poresky, was a joy to work with. She always went with the flow and abrupt changes of plans and I am so grateful for her sweet attitude. We scheduled another pre-shoot fitting with Maddie. Lo and behold, everything fit beautifully! The corset however was a bit of a challenge! And none of us who wear modern clothing have to deal with the tight restrictions of Colonial American “stays” that are the hallmark of the clothing in that era.

Laura, who is the head costumer for Living History Farms in Urbandale, Iowa, designed the blue linen short gown from an old pattern in her possession. She made the rest of the costume previously, including the fichu (neck scarf) that is visible on the cover photo.

IMG_1331

I designed (ahem…) the blue striped ticking bag that carried Abigail’s medicinals. As they would have done in 1777, I hand sewed the thick material—and developed a whole new appreciation for the strength needed to be a colonial woman tending to the needs of her household. A bag like this was filled with glass bottles of medicinals in the opening chapters of Saratoga Letters.

The lighting as well as the trees beginning to change their foliage color were both important for the setting which took place in both Fall 1777 and 1977. By now you may be scratching your head and wondering why two separate centuries! When you read Saratoga Letters, it will all be clear.

IMG_1336

As the date approached I prayed for perfect weather. Once again, the Lord came through and we could not have received a more perfect day: Clear, crisp air and just the right amount of sunshine. It was perfect.

As I took everyone’s Starbuck’s orders to begin the day, I prepared for the photo shoot and prayed all would be well…

(Continued on September 22)

To pre-order the paperback of Saratoga Letters, click here.

To pre-order the Kindle version, click here. Both versions are at a discounted price when pre-ordered.

Cover Reveal: “Saratoga Letters”

by 8 Comments

I’ll not toy with your anticipation but rather, proudly share the cover for the soon-to-release, Saratoga Letters. But first, here is the back cover copy:

It is 1777. The Battle of Saratoga, a turning point of the Revolutionary War, encourages the American Continental Army with their first great victory. But there seemed little to celebrate for one patriotic woman forced to nurse wounded British soldiers right in their war camp. Thrust into deception by a cruel Loyalist uncle, Abigail is forced to lie in order to survive, all the while dealing with fears that challenge her faith. Danger stalks her everywhere, yet her salvation springs from an unexpected source.

Then…

 Two hundred years later, on the anniversary of the Battle of Saratoga, thousands arrive from Europe and the United States to celebrate the event—including descendants from the war. One young American, Abby, meets another offspring of a British soldier. When her life is threatened, Abby turns to the only person she knows at the event—her British ally. Can she trust him with her life? Or will he betray her in the same way Loyalist spies betrayed her ancestors? Perhaps letters from long ago will reveal the truth.

So here is the cover for my newest novel releasing October 4!

9781938499142

 

Soon, I’ll share some pictures from the photo shoot done last fall. But I couldn’t wait to show you the final cover with the design from my publisher, Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas!

My Year of Living Sick

by 12 Comments

Many of you know about my recent health difficulties with a knee infection.

It all began in July of 2015 when I had a knee replacement. It seemed a simple enough procedure that is done by the thousands around the world. Unfortunately, I was in the 1% or less of people who develop an infection.

I knew I had a lot of pain during recovery and sessions of physical therapy. Somehow the signs of a slow growing infection were missed. It became VERY obvious ten months after the fact. I had to be sent to a SPECIAL specialist who removed my infected knee, inserted an antibiotic “spacer,” and sent me for six weeks on IV antibiotic infusions. I was allergic to the first drug, so they switched to another strong medicine that worked well, but not without some side effects.

My year of living sick led to anxiety and days of depression. It led to shedding 20 pounds—not that I wanted to hold onto them—due to my lack of appetite. It led to bouts of self-pity that the Lord coaxed me out of in His own amazing way. It also led to refocusing from my own pain and fears to focusing on others around me who had even greater health concerns than I did.

BR2A0302-2

I also was blessed with amazing friends who encouraged me, sent over food, prayed for me, and faithfully drove me to my daily appointments at the hospital.

 

As an author, I had to keep up with my work: Edits, a photo shoot for the cover of “Legacy of Deer Run,” launching “Promise of Deer Run,” and preparing to launch “Saratoga Letters” in October. How I did all of this is beyond my comprehension. God was faithful.

 

So tomorrow I face my NEW, new knee surgery. I am hopeful and trusting the Lord that all will be well. I would so appreciate your prayers as I undergo this last (Lord willing) surgery on this one knee. And please know how much your prayers and encouragement have meant to me in this last 12 months—my year of living sick.

 

“Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. Make level paths for your feet, so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.” Hebrews 12: 12-13 (NIV)