ℚ♫ Fearless Destiny - Annette Bower

Today we have the pleasure of meeting up with author Annette Bower to talk about Fearless Destiny (3 August 2016, Soul Mate Publishing, LLC, 275 pages), a Women's fiction novel with romantic elements.

"Every reader of Annette Bower's powerful, third prairie romance will fall for Will, a challenged and challenging idealist and Tiffany, a plumber and sculptor torn between duty and desire.

Their destinies merge, seem to part, then come together again in a story as old as the horizon yet as fresh as the crocus lifting its head beneath a young sun." - Byrna Barclay

Author Q&A | Synopsis | Teaser | About the Author | Giveaway & Tour Stops

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A very warm welcome to Annette Bower; thank you for joining us on BooksChatter!

As we love music Annette has shared with us her music playlist for Fearless Destiny - enjoy!

How much of yourself is reflected in this book, and how?

"I was inspired to write this story for two reasons. First, I’ve read in Social Media and in news reports about the struggle women artists have when they try to devote their lives to their art, be it writing, music, art, dance, etc. For women especially, something has to give, either the art gets sidelined or family and friends. And it is hard to do, especially if you have young children, a child who requires medical attention, or elderly parents. I know that I started my writing life late and I write slowly because of family commitments. I have responsibilities to my parents, healthy 93 and 92, and I also have grandchildren and I do not want to miss these formative years while they still like granny.

This is Tiffany’s struggle in Fearless Destiny. Her parents want her to return to the family business, but she has discovered art and is on the verge of becoming a successful fresco artist. She is merging an old technique with a new form, in a new space, similar to what women today are doing with their careers and family life.

Second, I live in downtown, Regina, Saskatchewan, CA and I see many people with mobility issues trying to negotiate our streets. Also, during my travels, I think about how people who are differently abled can travel, or even live in some of the older cities. In a previous career, I was a rehabilitation nurse, so these issues are close to my heart.

Will joins Tiffany in Fearless Destiny. Will was born with mobility issues, went through the necessary surgeries during childhood, became an architect who is now using his knowledge to build an accessible, barrier-free neighbourhood, taking advantage of boom coming to Apex, Saskatchewan and wanting to leave the community better off than it was before the mine began.

I am Canadian and I write about my home because I believe it is as exotic to readers as many other countries I have visited."

The first thing that draws me to a book is its cover. Can you tell us about your cover for Fearless Destiny - why you chose that concept and who the artist is.

"Thank you for asking about the cover for Fearless Destiny. Soul Mate Publishing assigned Wren Taylor as my cover artist.

Each author is required to complete a cover detail page, describing the characters, time and setting. Will and Tiffany are sharing a chaste kiss, indicating that this is a sweet novel. Will and Tiffany are contemporarily and casually dressed to set the time and tone of the novel. I asked Wren for a female with short hair as most romance heroines have long hair. I wanted Tiffany to represent a different woman.

The sun is rising and the grass is green suggesting spring, a time of growth. This novel is set on the Canadian Prairie, not in a large city, therefore whenever we need to go places we drive on the highway.

A cover is so very important and Wren Taylor tells the story of Fearless Destiny in a wonderful image."

Why should we read Fearless Destiny and the Prairie Romances series? What sets it apart from the rest? 

"What makes my books unique is that I write about diverse Canadian heroes and courageous heroines. They don’t kick ass, they go along in life wanting to make a difference. They want to fall in love but don’t want to sacrifice who they are, for love.

In my book, Moving On, Nick returns home to the farm he grew up on but left so cavalierly to experience the world. He returned home injured but wants to resume his tour of duty, and protect the world. Will, in Fearless Destiny, wants to be out doors and so he is.

And all three of my novels are set in Saskatchewan, where roads and transportation are important.

My heroine, Anna, in Moving On, is an almost widow. Her fiancé died on the job, just before the wedding. She inherits a cottage in a small town, and leaves the big city behind along with the sorrow, pity, and pain, she hopes. She meets Nick but she cannot love a man who may die doing what he loves again.

Robbie, in Woman of Substance, wears a disguise most regular women would not do. She appears to be a woman of size and experiences the world as it affects women whose pantie sizes are in the double digits. Archeologist Jake, returns to be with the only father he knew, his grandfather, while he dies. His grandfather suggests Jake should explore his own roots for a change. Both of these characters develop a deeper understanding of their fellow human beings.

Tiffany, in Fearless Destiny, is pulled by her roots to return home and be the daughter she used to be, but she knows another kind of life. She learns from Will’s determination to create his life, that she can too."

What is your writing process?

"Thank you for asking about my writing process. I begin with an idea for a diverse character that chases me around for a while. I will start forming an idea of my hero or heroine and who would be the person to love them, then setting and a lightly tapped social issue, along with a romance. I work toward the HEA ending, with a plan for a marriage and a future together. I will usually write some opening scenes and then begin my research to deepen my understanding of my characters, motive and the story arch.

I check through my name book, horoscope book, and family order and write a back story for each of my main characters. I’ll gather pictures from magazines for an idea of their clothing, their house, their car and if they have any pets. I seem to like dogs recently. All three of my novels have featured a dog. Then I will research the issue.

I aim for good old fashioned love stories where I allow my readers to imagine the future for my characters after the proposal and acceptance.

During my research for Fearless Destiny, I toured the oldest and largest potash solution mine in Saskatchewan. You may see by the picture that I’m pale. The area was warm and I almost fainted. I imagined my handsome, young tour guide having to do the-fireman-carry me to safety. But he assisted me to an air conditioned office and gave me water for my dehydration. I forgot to have a picture with my helmet on."

And as a final quirky thing, to get to know you a little bit better... do you have a pet or something that is special to you that you could share with us?

"My quirky thing is my Townie Bike. I ride around my home city of Regina. My Yakkay helmet gives me style.

I usually end up with more than my basket can hold when I go to the grocery store for a few things. Other riders will pass me holding onto their coffee cups but that’s okay with me. I just pedal along and enjoy myself. I use my hand signals and at times my phone is in my basket with my GPS on giving me directions, because I’m directionally challenged. Recently, the wind was so strong, it lifted my helmet off my head. I turned around and allowed the wind to push me home.

This is a picture of me beside Wascana Lake which is in the middle of Regina and just two kilometers from my home."

You are very brave cycling around around town! I am not sure I would be confident enough!

Thank you again for chatting to us today and sharing all those wonderful pictures with us! (we like that a lot!)

"Thank you, Flora for hosting me in the Goddess Fish Book Tour for Fearless Destiny.

I look forward to checking in and replying to all the comments from your followers."

Fearless Destiny
Available NOW!

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