I’m delighted to have Elizabeth Camden back at Relz Reviewz. Elizabeth pens excellent historical romance novels featuring women who were ahead of their times in choice of career and attitude to their station in life. Her latest novel features biochemist, Dr. Rosalind Werner, trying to establish her talent and credentials in early 1900s New York. Enjoy getting to know a little more about Elizabeth and be sure to enter the giveaway for your chance to win a copy of A Daring Venture, thanks to Bethany House Publishers!

Thanks for sharing with us, Elizabeth…

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Why do you tell stories?

I love reading about admirable people who make me want to be a better person, and that’s the kind of novel I want to write, too. Jane Eyre, Frodo Baggins, Katniss Everdeen… we all know these aren’t real people, yet isn’t it odd how fictional characters can still inspire us? I’d like to imagine I could be that brave and steadfast. For all the attention Scarlet O’Hara gets, I think Melanie Wilkes is the more fascinating character. She is every bit as tough as Scarlet, but acts with quiet strength and still gets across the finish line with dignity. That is the kind of character I want to read about, root for, and write.

Elizabeth and A Dangerous Legacy

What emotion do you hope your books will generate in readers?

When a reader finishes my novels, I hope they feel like they’ve just made friends with a bunch of great characters and are sorry to see them go. I also hope they might take inspiration from how the characters respond to extraordinary circumstances. My characters aren’t perfect. They struggle with ethical quandaries and self-doubt. I think in an odd way, readers enjoy such novels because they get a chance to see others experience and survive these challenges.

What is your dream travel destination?

I’ve got a list as long as my arm, but most of them are right here in the United States. I want to see Mount Rushmore and the Grand Canyon. I want to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge and the fields of Gettysburg. I read about a tour in New England where you can see how lobstermen operate, what goes on in an apple orchard, cheese-making, and how maple syrup is made. I’m fascinated by how people make a living from the land, and plan on taking that tour next summer. The United States is such a huge place, but I’ve lived mostly in Texas, Ohio, and Florida. I’m itching to get out and see the rest of it.

A Daring Venture

As a biochemist in early 1900s New York, Doctor Rosalind Werner has dedicated her life to the crusade against waterborne diseases. She is at the forefront of a groundbreaking technology that will change the way water is delivered to every household in the city–but only if she can get people to believe in her work.

Newly appointed Commissioner of Water for New York, Nicholas Drake is highly skeptical of Rosalind and her team’s techniques. When a brewing court case throws him into direct confrontation with her, he is surprised by his reaction to the lovely scientist.

While Rosalind and Nick wage a private war against their own attraction, they stand firmly on opposite sides of a battle that will impact far more than just their own lives. As the controversy grows more public and inflammatory and Rosalind becomes the target of an unknown enemy, the odds stacked against these two rivals swiftly grow more insurmountable with every passing day.

Which character did you enjoy writing about?

Nicholas Drake! He is the newly appointed Commissioner of Water for the state of New York, and is plunged into a real-life court case set in 1908. He’s a tough, manly guy but falls swiftly in love with the ultra-feminine expert witness on the opposing side in the lawsuit. What I liked about him was that for as tough and masculine as he is, he isn’t afraid to be very upfront about his feelings.

What emotions do you hope this story will generate in readers?

I hope they glean some insight into the challenges and anxiety that comes along with implementing new scientific endeavors. The 1908 court case at the center of A Daring Venture effected the way all of us live today…there were no easy answers, and things got bitter as each side became entrenched in their points of view. Both the hero and heroine act less than admirably along the way, but they never lose respect for each other. I wish we had more of that sentiment today. Sometimes we demonize those we disagree with, and this is rarely the wise or logical course of action.

Share a favorite scene from your current novel.

I love the scene where the hero and heroine meet for the first time. Dr. Rosalind Werner is a biochemist who has been sent to persuade Nick, the newly appointed Commissioner of Water, to her point of view. They are on opposing sides of a huge lawsuit and the stage is set for them to be instinctively hostile…. but they are almost immediately bowled-over by each other. It is an unwelcome, unwilling, and overwhelming attraction. They are both fiercely intelligent, and neither of them believe in love at first sight…..but they can’t deny this reluctant attraction. Roadblocks on both the personal and professional level are immediately thrown into their path, so Nick and Rosalind have a bumpy ride….but their first meeting is full of charm, surprise, and a healthy dose of frustration. It was great fun to write.

Elizabeth Camden is a research librarian at a small college in central Florida. Her novels have won the coveted RITA and Christy Awards. She has published several articles for academic publications and is the author of four nonfiction history books. Her ongoing fascination with history and love of literature have led her to write inspirational fiction. Elizabeth lives with her husband near Orlando, Florida.

Relz Reviewz Extras
All Things Camden @ Relz Reviewz
Visit Elizabeth’s website and blog
Buy at Amazon: A Daring Venture or Koorong

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