Showing posts with label history. Show all posts
Showing posts with label history. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Meet Author Laura Vosika


 Write from the Heart warmly welcomes Historical Author, Laura Vosika

 
Hi Laura, Congrats on your new release, The Minstrel Boy.  Please tell us about your series:
Hi, Lynn.  Thank you! 
 
The Blue Bells Chronicles is the story of two men, polar opposites except for their looks and love of music.  Shawn Kleiner is an arrogant, self-centered philandering musician of the twenty-first century who finds himself caught in the life of his cross-century look-alike, Niall Campbell, with the fate of medieval Scotland resting on his irresponsible, party-loving shoulders.  The devout medieval Highlander, Niall, is no happier to find himself in Shawn's modern life of ease, dealing with the fallout of the messes Shawn has left behind--a pregnant girlfriend, angry mistresses, amorous fans, and a conductor threatening to 'fire' him--as he tries to find a way back to save his people.
 
As their story progresses through the series, they each grow and change, influenced by one other and the unlikely friendship that springs from their original animosity.
 


 
These books give a different twist to time travel. Where do you get your ideas from?
I think it is less common to have a time travel story where two people switch places.  Blue Bells of Scotland was originally Shawn's story, but the rest grew from asking questions about what the other characters were doing while he was gone and the What if's that kept popping into my head as a result.  I'm fascinated by the way people view times and places different from what they know, and how attitudes change through the years.  It was interesting to me to see how someone from medieval times might react to what Shawn considers normal, while at the same time seeing how Shawn reacts to Niall's world and what he considers normal.  As the story progresses, they have some discussions about this.  At the same time, I think many parts of human nature, emotions, and experience never change, and this is a place where Shawn and Niall find that we're not so different underneath it all.
 


If you could time travel would you go to the past or the future?
Definitely the past.  I would love to witness some of the events we know of from history, or learn more details, learn the things that we don't yet know from historical records, learn more about the way people really lived and thought.
 
Which character do you like the most? The least?
Wow, that's a tough question.  I like most of them in different ways.  I like Niall because he's definitely more of my mindset, but Shawn is fun to write.  (Or should I say, it's fun to watch and see what he'll decide to do next?)  Yes, he's arrogant and obnoxious, but I think these characters are often fun because we all sometimes wish we could bulldoze through life doing as we please.  I also like him because, despite his many, many flaws, he is usually cheerful, makes people feel valued, and is capable of finally learning and redeeming himself.
 
I guess the character I'd have to say I like least is Rob.  He certainly thinks he's nicer than Shawn.  He behaves with more integrity and morality, and would never cheat on Amy, but he's an annoying, clueless sycophant who is, in his own way, as unable as Shawn to think of what anyone else wants or needs.  And it takes Rob awhile longer than Shawn to see where he needs to make changes.
 
 
What inspires you to write?
Well, I think I'm similar to many writers in that these stories and people are just there, and they really need to get out of my head.  I can't not write.
 
Where is your favorite place to write and why?
I'm not very particular.  My laptop goes everywhere with me, and whenever I have spare time, I write--in my music studio, at my kitchen table, in my office, living room, in my car in a parking lot or at a coffee shop or the library if I'm out and about and have time in between appointments.
 
You are blessed with many children, are any of them interested in writing?
Yes, I have nine children, from 22 down to 6.  At least three of them--two sons and my younger daughter--like writing.  Another draws cartoons with stories.  My older daughter writes movies with her cousin and friend, which they then film.  Most of them are big readers and all are creative in some way, if not writing, then in music or art.
 

A Trilogy is mentioned, do you have a date or title for the last book?
Well, it seems I've inadvertently followed in the footsteps of Douglas Adams, and my 'trilogy' now has more than three books.  So The Blue Bells Trilogy has officially been renamed The Blue Bells Chronicles.  The Minstrel Boy, Book Two, was just released.  Book Three, The Water is Wide, is scheduled for 2013.  The last two books are titled Westering Home and When the Battle is Over, and I'll be aiming for releasing one each year. 
 



Where can your fans find you?
I'm at www.facebook.com/laura.vosika.author and www.twitter.com/lauravosika. I also keep a blog, largely on medieval Scottish history, but also touching on topics in theChronicles such as time travel, music, and instruments, at http://bluebellstrilogy.blogspot.com
 

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Tracing the Past


Tracing the Past

One of my resolutions for the year was to do new things. So when I spotted the DAR (Daughters of American Revolution) event on Patch.com I made plans to attend.

I have always been fascinated by the Revolutionary War. The birth of our nation, when men and women accomplished what no one believed they could. It inspired to me to write "A Christmas Crossing" and I'm currently working on a follow-up book.

So I as I stepped into this room full of history, I couldn’t help but be in awe. These strong women bound down with pens, paper and notebooks have traced their ancestry to the Revolutionary War and beyond.  
I’ve never really thought about my ancestors before. It’s hard to focus on people you’ve never met. The only stories I remember my Grandmother telling me when I was a child were ghost stories. One of the scariest was of “Timtodd” a red eyed Troll who lived in the ditch by the road. Needless to say, in our romps over the yard we avoided the street at any cost. 

I am greeted warmly as the meeting starts, the pledge is recited, prayers are said and “America the Beautiful” is sung. Every meeting they have a Guest speaker, the one today happened to be related to George Washington.

She speaks eloquently as she tells us about privateers plundering enemy ships during war time. I was offered assistance in looking up my ancestors and I took them up on it. These women have a wealth of knowledge about genealogy and are more than glad to share.

 If you are interested in tracing your past contact them, they would love to have you! For more information about DAR or SAR (Sons of the American Revolution) contact them at: