Introducing novelist, Jennifer Delamere, and The Captain’s Daughter, the first book in her London Beginnings trilogy. Jennifer talks about her childhood, Kara Isaac, and choosing the name of her hero. Be sure to enter the giveaway below!

The Writer

Please describe yourself in three words (ask your best friend or family if you are struggling!)

Hmmm…I’m going to go with friendly, earnest, and independent.

What’s your favourite season, and why?

I love autumn. I love to see the colours change, to feel a breath of coolness in the air after a hot summer. It’s the best time of the year for hiking, which is one of my favourite things to do.

What is the best part of your day?

At the end of the day, thinking over the events of the day – rejoicing if I’ve accomplished my goals (including the fun ones), or, if I haven’t, letting go of disappointments and looking forward to a fresh start tomorrow.

What do you miss most about your childhood?

All those days with seemingly endless hours to fill! (Although I have to say that even then, I never went to my mum and said, “I’m bored!” Not with so many great books out there to read!) Now, of course, the problem is how to squeeze everything I want to do into the hours available. Recently, I worked a 22-hour day in order to meet three converging and immoveable deadlines. I don’t recommend making a habit of it. 😉

Which TV talk show host would you like to be interviewed by? Why?

Craig Ferguson! Because he is so clever and hilarious, and I know it would be a blast—even though I am terrible at coming up with snappy responses off the cuff. He would make the experience fun.

You are at a fruit market – what do you reach for first?

I am a fairly eclectic and adventurous eater. I’d reach for whatever looked most fresh, in season, and appealing.

What was the first Christian Fiction novel you read?

I believe it was Deeanne Gist’s “A Bride Most Begrudging”. I love how well-researched her books are, and the touches of humour as well.

What is one author and/or book you always recommend?

I love the romantic suspense novels of Mary Stewart. She pretty much invented the genre. In addition to gripping storylines filled with danger and suspense, they are also romantic and filled with lush, detailed descriptions of the countries where they take place. I discovered these books in high school, and they surely bred my desire to travel to France, England, and Greece. (Still working on getting to Greece!) My personal favourites are “Nine Coaches Waiting,” “Madam, Will You Talk?” and “This Rough Magic”.

What book character has stuck in your mind from a book you have read this year?

I would have to say it’s Allison Shire from “Close to You” by Kara Isaac. She is smart, funny, and vulnerable, and perhaps a bit damaged after some of the things she’s gone through. And yet she also manages to make a career out of her passion. She holds her ground, even when faced with a hero who short-circuits her best defences. And when she finally gets her Happy Ever After, it is very satisfying. [Bonus is that Allison is a New Zealander and the book takes place there—which, along with Australia, is high on my bucket list of places to visit!]

I’m very pleased to hear that, Jennifer! Come on down 🙂

The Book

Warm-Hearted Victorian Romance Brings 1880s London to Life

When a series of circumstances beyond her control leave Rosalyn Bernay alone and penniless in London, she chances upon a job backstage at a theater that is presenting the most popular show in London. A talented musician and singer, she feels immediately at home and soon becomes enthralled with the idea of pursuing a career on the stage.

A hand injury during a skirmish in India has forced Nate Moran out of the army until he recovers. Filling his time at a stable of horses for hire in London, he has also spent the past two months working nights as a stagehand, filling in for his injured brother. Although he’s glad he can help his family through a tough time, he is counting the days until he can rejoin his regiment. London holds bitter memories for him that he is anxious to escape. But then he meets the beautiful woman who has found a new lease on life in the very place Nate can’t wait to leave behind.

What was the working title?

It’s rare for a book to keep its title all the way to publication, but this one has always been “The Captain’s Daughter.” Perhaps because it is so integral to the story, which takes place backstage at the original production of the Gilbert and Sullivan operetta “HMS Pinafore.” The title is a reference to a lyric in the show, as well as a nod to the heroine’s background.

Describe your book in 5 adjectives

Exciting! Well-researched! Absorbing! Heart-warming!  [Wait, is that four or six…?  Thankfully, the book itself is not overloaded with exclamation marks..!]

Which character took you by surprise?

That would be Mary Moran, the sister of the book’s hero. At seventeen, she is clever, book-smart, and appealingly self-assured in a way that only young people can be. I hope to write her story someday as well.

What was the latest you stayed up working on this story?

In my case, the better question is “how early”! My writing brain will not function after midnight. But there were many days when I got up at 3 a.m. to write—especially as I got closer to the book deadline.

Which character’s name was the hardest to choose? Why?

I put the most thought and research into Nate Moran, the book’s hero. I wanted his family name to plausibly fit the part of Ireland his family was from and to reflect their history. I even ran some names by an Irish friend of mine. Although I never get to spell this out in detail in the book, I did develop quite a back story for the Morans, reaching back to the Irish famine in the 1840s and further still to the Napoleonic wars of the early 1800s. Perhaps one day I’ll get to write that story too!

What’s something that didn’t make it into the final copy?

A scene where the heroine, Rosalyn Bernay, learns to perform the aria “Poor Wand’ring One” from “The Pirates of Penzance.” The aria is both a tour de force for the performer and also very funny when done well. I had great fun writing it, but alas, it had to be cut.

Thanks Jennifer!

Jennifer Delamere writes tales of the past…and new beginnings. Her novels set in Victorian England have won numerous accolades, including a starred review from Publishers Weekly and finalist for the Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA® award. Jennifer earned a B.A. in English from McGill University in Montreal, Canada, and has been an editor of nonfiction and educational materials for nearly two decades. She loves reading classics and histories, which she mines for the vivid details to bring to life the people and places in her books. A longtime resident of North Carolina, Jennifer can often be found hiking the mountains with her husband or planning their next travel adventure.

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Visit Jennifer’s website and blog
Buy at Amazon: The Captain’s Daughter or Koorong

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