The Rose of Winslow Street, by Elizabeth Camden - FREE book

Tell us about your book.


The Rose of Winslow Street is set in 1879. Libby Sawyer’s quiet, respectable life in Colden, Massachusetts is shattered when a bold stranger from Romania invades her world. In short order, Michael Dobrescu seizes her home and declares ownership in an attempt to unravel a century-old mystery that is hidden deeply within the house. Fascinated by this enigmatic man, Libby uncovers layers of mystery surrounding Mr. Dobrescu’s amazing past….and his plans for the future in which she plays a startling role.

Can you give us a sneak peek?

You can link to the first chapter here:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/71155637/The-Rose-of-Winslow-Street


What inspired this book?

Like a lot of writers, I glean tidbits from real life stories. A few years ago there was a case in my hometown in which a man doing home renovations found $200,000 hidden in the ductwork of his house. He thought he hit the jackpot until the previous owner showed up and wanted it back. A nasty court case ensued, and it is still wending its way through the system. This incident provided the seed of an idea in which a descendant of the previous home-owner shows up at a house claiming ownership, but that is where the resemblance the real-life story ends.

The Rose of Winslow Street is set in 1879 and features a mysterious band of strangers from Europe who come to a peaceful village where they seize a house, dispossessing the heroine and her family. In order for the plot to work, I needed both sides to be highly sympathetic, yet set against each other in stark opposition, with no easy solution in sight. Michael and Libby are natural enemies, but they are also both exceptionally smart people who develop a grudging respect for each other. And sometimes the attraction of forbidden fruit is a powerful romantic draw, as Libby soon discovers.

What is your favorite thing to write about, (i.e., forgiveness, rebellion, etc)?

My favorite thing is to write about is a good stormy romance! In order to develop a compelling love story, you must have loads of authentic conflict to keep driving the story forward. My heroes and heroines are always fiercely intelligent people, so figuring out how to build believable conflict with no easy solution is a challenge. I always want them to be profoundly attracted to each other, but face a mounting series of challenges in order to get to the finish line. I want them to experience laughter, joy, and tears along the way. In The Rose of Winslow Street, Michael is a tough, aggressive man who is fighting for his family’s survival. Men who are painted into a corner fight hard, and in this case, the only way for him to get out is plowing straight through Libby. This makes for great conflict as they fall in love with each other. So although I say I am writing about “love,” I am also writing about trust, forgiveness, adventure, and faith.

What do you hope readers will take away from this book?

I want them to have a wonderful, exhilarating time as they watch Michael uncover layers of mystery, long-buried secrets, and fall hopelessly in love. My favorite novels make the reader feel like they have just made friends with a bunch of captivating people, and are sorry to close the last page. I hope this is the kind of experience The Rose of Winslow Street will deliver.

What is your favorite color?

Scarlet and gray (aka Ohio State’s colors!)

Do you have a favorite recipe?

Anything with five ingredients or less. I like healthy food, but don’t have much time to cook. Here is a tasty recipe with things I usually have on hand:

Make a large pot of pasta, and add a bag of frozen broccoli or chopped spinach to the water just before the pasta is done cooking. Drain, then stir in one jar of prepared pesto, one small tub of feta cheese, and about a pound of diced cooked chicken. Done!

If you could travel back in time when and where would you go?

Probably gilded age America. This is a time when modern inventions and progressive ideas were beginning to take root, but there was still a whiff of the grace and gentility that I think we have lost in this modern era. I work on a college campus, and I see kids going to class in their pajamas. Pajamas! Although I’m grateful women aren’t forced to wear corsets anymore, a little decorum would be nice!

What project are you currently working on?

My next book features a character from my first novel, The Lady of Bolton Hill. It is entirely a stand-alone book, so readers will be able to hop right in, even if they didn’t read the first. Alex Banebridge was a wonderfully fun, whiplash smart character in the first book, even though he was only seventeen years old. In the next book, Alex Banebridge is all grown up and is ready to set the world on fire. Look for it in late 2012.



For there to be a contest at least 10 people need to leave a comment WITH email addresses. Or you can email me at srstormo@yahoo.com and put "contest" in the subject line. Valid in US and Canada only. Winner announced 1/25/12.