Feature on Gina Conkle and $50 Amazon Giveaway!

Today's FEATURE is on author Gina Conkle and her NORSE JEWEL. There's also a chance to get in for a $50. Amazon GC giveaway! 

Gina’s a lover of history, books and romance, which makes the perfect recipe for historical romance writer.  Her passion for castles and old places (the older and moldier the better!) means interesting family vacations.  Good thing her husband and two sons share similar passions, except for romance…that’s where she gets the eye roll.  When not visiting fascinating places, she can be found in southern California delving into the latest adventures of organic gardening and serving as chief taxi driver.

Connect with Gina on the web:

Website   Monthly Newsletter      Facebook      Twitter    Pinterest

 

Over to Gina now...

Who is Gina Conkle?

 I am a wife and mom, a history nerd, and a reader and writer.  Consider me a wannabe healthy eater who backslides with diet soda and junk food. On my more serious side, our family has been involved in feeding the homeless in our city once a month for the past three years. 

What inspired you to be a writer?

 There have been points of influence.  First, my mom read Sir Alfred Noyes’s poem “The Highwayman” to me when I was a little girl.  I fell in love with that poem….the romance and history. Then in 5^th grade I read Gone With the Wind and that cemented my decision to write “someday.” Notice how I gravitate toward history?

Fast forward past college, marriage, and two young boys, and I came to a point in life where I decided “It’s time.”  My husband even recently told me, “It’s your turn.”  So much of life was about taking care of others and helping with what they wanted.  Now, I give greater focus to writing.

How did you choose your genre?

 That’s easy!  I LOVE Viking history.  I read the Sagas. I read history books (I even have some college textbooks on my shelf).  I also write Georgian romance to balance out the Norse hammers in my head.

I’ve noticed my Viking voice is more evocative and atmospheric with action/adventure.  My Georgian voice gets more complex and sweeping. It’s also a hotter.  I draw out the sexual tension in both sub-genres though.

 

What made you tell this story and why did you write this book?

 My favorite movie is “Gladiator.” I was watching the DVD yet again in 2003 while at the same time reading a Viking history book. I learned about interesting circumstances surrounding a Swedish king (who shows up in Norse Jewel).  My “what if” moment came while watching Maximus (Russell Crowe’s character in “Gladiator”) tell the emperor that he wanted to go home to his farm. 

What if a Viking chieftain wanted to lay down his sword and just be a peaceful farmer?  Really, the whole book was one big mind-movie that kept playing in my head.

How did you come up with the title?

Norse Jewel came from the sacrifice Helena made for Hakan…the cost of what’s truly important to you.

Norse Jewel

A stolen woman of rare qualities...

 Seized by marauders and taken to the icy northlands by the wolf-eyed Viking warrior, Helena will do whatever it takes to earn her freedom and return to France.

A mighty Viking Chieftain…

Betrayal has turned Hakan’s heart to ice, but the spirited Frankish maid warms him in a way he’s never known. The spell she weaves leaves them both breathless, but can he keep his promise to return her home even if it means he’ll lose his precious jewel forever?

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