LINDA SWIFT--GUEST AUTHOR

Please welcome Linda Swift, guest author, as she reveals her newest release titled This Time Forever, a Civil War novel.
Posted by Celia Yeary
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To quote the famous lines of Sir Walter Scott,  "Breathes there the man with soul so dead"… Or "Southern author who has no Civil War book in her head."

I have always known I would one day write a story about this fascinating war when brothers fought brothers and a whole way of life disappeared forever.

 Gone with the Wind remains my all-time favorite book and movie (and not because Clark Gable played Rhett Butler although that was a plus). And later the TV mini-series North and South  took  permanent first place for TV shows.

My story was a long time in the making and it has had a difficult journey thus far. Kentucky is a border state and I had to live in Alabama and Tennessee before I absorbed true Southern culture. Then I spent time in New York State and experienced a different way of life.

Somewhere along the way, Philip Burke appeared.
In the same way, Clarissa came to live in my head.

Philip was a good man, but he was conflicted. He wanted to be something his family opposed but he did not want to oppose his family. Fighting a war was not in his plans but his conscience would not let him do otherwise. He believed himself to be in love with a "suitable" woman and asked her to marry him. Then fate brought him to Whitehaven and Clarissa and his first word to her foretold his future.

 Clarissa was a true Southern belle, beautiful and genteel but underneath had the courage and determination of a "steel magnolia" to quote this overused cliché.  She had married of necessity and had no idea what passion was until Philip defined it. She, too, was conflicted. She had a mother's deep devotion to her children, but revulsion for a husband who used and abused her. Then she was confronted with desire and denial and guilt. At times, I wanted her to be more aggressive and independent than she was, but the restraints of the times held her back and I couldn’t rewrite history.

 

There were certain poignant sections of history that I made great effort to include such as the Christmas Eve when both armies were facing, ready for battle, but joined each other singing Christmas carols and patriotic songs. Who could not read that and weep?

 And who  could  not weep when they got a rejection letter after such a marathon writing frenzy? And only because it was "more story" than this publisher was currently accepting. More rejections followed but finally an acceptance and publication in the first year of the CW Sesquicentennial. I am embarrassed to say that I did not promote it as it deserved and it went largely unnoticed.

THREE ACTORS IN THE FILM
CLARISSA'S WAR-ADAPTED FROM THE NOVEL
THIS TIME FOREVER



 Now in the last year of the Sesquicentennial it is being released again,

and this time I hope to do it justice.

And since a short film titled Clarissa's War has been adapted from the book and is being filmed this autumn in Nashville, TN by Reel Cool Films,

I think This Time Forever is finally going to fulfill its destiny.

 

~~*~~LINDA SWIFT - BIO

     Linda Swift divides her time between her native state of Kentucky and Florida. She is an award winning author of published poetry, articles, short stories, and a TV play. Linda holds an Education Specialist Degree from Murray State University with post-graduate work from U. of Alabama and was a teacher, counselor, and psychometric in public schools in three states. She credits her husband and adult children for providing encouragement and technical support necessary for survival in the cyberspace world. 

Linda's first two books were published by Kensington. She currently has thirteen e-books (and print) available from Amazon and other distributors. This Time Forever was released Oct. 1st and a short film titled Clarissa's War is being adapted from the book by Reel Cool Films of Nashville, Tennessee.

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Blurb:

The Civil War brought casualties beyond the bloody battlefields as North fought South. Philip Burke, against his family's wishes, volunteered to defend the Union and became a prisoner of war who bartered his medical expertise to remain out of prison. When the Union Army invaded Tennessee, Clarissa Wakefield's antebellum mansion became a Confederate hospital.  Philip was placed in charge and against propriety she volunteered to stay on and help nurse the wounded. Clarissa's husband was a Confederate soldier and Philip's fiancée waited for him in Oswego but the fire between them soon raged out of control.
As the opposing armies fought for possession of Chattanooga, Clarissa and Philip faced their own battle. Caught in the passions of war and love, with hurt inevitable either way, would they be faithful to their vows or listen to their hearts?

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Excerpt: Philip and Clarissa meet

            Clarissa made a slight curtsey to the lieutenant as he took her proffered hand and bowed politely.

             "My pleasure, madam."

            Then she extended her hand part way toward the captain before she saw that he wore a faded Federal uniform. She stopped and glanced uncertainly at Lieutenant Johnson.

            "Captain Burke is a Confederate prisoner, ma'am," he told her, "but you have nothing to fear. He is also a surgeon and will be in charge of the hospital here."

            "Oh, I see." Unsure what protocol dictated, again she tentatively extended her hand. It was taken with a touch so gentle she would not have felt it except for the tremor that passed between them at the contact, causing her to look up into the most penetrating eyes she had ever seen.

            For a long moment they stood, warm brown eyes lost in the depths of cool deep blue, then the captain made a visible effort to break the spell and spoke softly. "Charmed."

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The print and ebook are now available at Amazon and Smashwords.

 http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=This+Time+Forever+by+Linda+Swift

 http://www.smashwords.com/books/search?query=This+Time+Forever+by+Linda+Swift

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 Linda Swift
"Tales That Touch The Heart"
My Facebook Page
My Amazon Page
My Website

A Civil War Love Story--THIS TIME FOREVER--LASR Five Star Book of the Week-by Linda Swift

 If you haven't met Linda Swift, now is your chance. I consider her one of the best "classic romance authors" in the business. She has a long history of publication when Kensington was her publisher. Now, she's discovered small presses and is enjoying a resurgence of creativity. Meet her in her own words.

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A four-year commemoration of the American Civil War Sesquicentennial has begun. And with an existing plethora of Civil War books, both fact and fiction, why should I feel compelled to write another one? Hasn't Margaret Mitchell said it all? Since reading Gone With The Wind, I have been fascinated with this period in our nation's history. The magnificent plantations, southern belles in their exquisite gowns, not to mention Rhett Butler, are the stuff dreams are made of.

SOUTHERN PLANTATION HOME, PERHAPS LIKE WHITEHAVEN 

I was born in the border state of Kentucky. I attended university in South Alabama. And I lived for a few years in Chattanooga, Tennessee with its hallowed battlegrounds at Chickamauga Creek, Missionary Ridge, and Lookout Mountain. Swept up in the tragic history of this location, I wanted to tell a story of my own. Although the setting of the book is mainly Chattanooga, I have also included Oswego, New York and a family loyal to the Union.

I usually dedicate my books to  my husband but I have dedicated This Time Forever to three other people. First, my deceased mother, who loved all things related to the "old South." Then to my late cousin, a professional educator, who was terribly worried about my "wasted mind" when I began writing romance books. I think the research required for this story proves that my brain cells are still intact. And last, to a dear friend's son, a Chattanooga newspaper photographer who died from a staph infection following elective surgery. It saddens me to know that these three who would have enjoyed this story best of all I've written, will not have that opportunity.

My dedication is: "I wish you could have read this book."

AUTHOR LINDA SWIFT

And now I extend the invitation to you. If you only read one new book about the Civil War this year, I hope you will read this one. I will take you behind the battles into the hearts of both Yankees and Rebels as they live and die for the cause they believe in.

THIS TIME FOREVER is available from:

http://www.champagnebooks.com

and  

http://www.amazon.com/This-Time-Forever-ebook/dp/B005A90G1E/ref=sr_1_6?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1310999208&sr=1-6 

  Or you may find out more about it from my website at

www.lindaswift.net

Blurb:

The Civil War brought casualties beyond the bloody battlefields as North fought South. Philip Burke, against his family's wishes, volunteered to defend the Union and became a prisoner of war who bartered his medical expertise to remain out of prison. When the Union Army invaded Tennessee, Clarissa Wakefield's antebellum mansion became a Confederate hospital.  Philip was placed in charge and against propriety she volunteered to stay on and help nurse the wounded. Clarissa's husband was a Confederate soldier and Philip's fiancée waited for him in Oswego but the fire between them soon raged out of control. As the opposing armies fought for possession of Chattanooga, Clarissa and Philip faced their own battle. Caught in the passions of war and love, with hurt inevitable either way, would they be faithful to their vows or listen to their hearts?

Excerpt:

Tip-toeing past the snoring guard, Clarissa stepped onto the moonlit veranda and made her way toward a wicker chair facing the river. It was only as she sat down that she saw the glow of Philip Burke’s pipe.

“Oh, excuse me, I thought—”

“That you would be alone? I was just finishing my pipe.”

 He made a move to stand but she said quickly, “Please don’t go. It is I who have intruded.”

“I scarcely think so. This is your home after all, Mrs. Wakefield.” He settled back in his chair and took another puff.

“Let’s not belabor such a trivial matter, Captain Burke. I’m glad of someone to talk to.”

“Then I’ll stay for a while longer with your permission.”

“Yes, do. The quiet seems eerie. As if we’re suspended in motion,

waiting for something to happen.”

“Waiting for all hell to break loose.” He didn’t appear to notice his offensive language and she forgot it with his next words. “I’ve experienced this before. It’s the lull before the battle.”

“Do you really think so?”

“It’s inevitable, with the Army of the Tennessee on the march and the Army of the Cumberland right on their heels.”

“Perhaps General Bragg will just go on to Atlanta.”

“With thousands of battle-ready troops at his command?” Philip asked drily. “Not likely.”

“When do you think it will begin?” Clarissa asked with dread.

“Perhaps tomorrow. If not tomorrow, soon.”

Clarissa shivered. “I wish my son was back at Fleur-de-Lis. What if the Union…?”

“Have you forgotten I am a Union officer? You and yours will be safe as long as I’m here.”

“Thank you, Captain.”

Clarissa silently regarded the man who sat near her, his features highlighted each time he drew on the coals of his pipe. It was difficult for her to remember that he was a prisoner but that must have been the thought

uppermost in his mind all these months.

The night sounds of early autumn filled the silence—dry flies and tree frogs and raucous insects too numerous to be identified. Clarissa became aware of Philip’s eyes on her and a warm sensation began in the pit of her

stomach and spread to her breasts and thighs. She watched his slender hand as he knocked the ashes from his pipe and imagined the hand touching her.

She felt her heart flutter and said with a catch in her voice, “I should go in now. It’s getting quite late.”

He stood at the same time she did and they were only inches apart.

Clarissa felt his warm breath on her face and dared not look up.

Her hair was luminescent silver flowing about her shoulders in the moon glow. Philip reached out to touch it and willed himself to stop. But his hands with a will of their own moved to her shoulders and she raised her

head and met his eyes.

In a dream-like motion they closed the space between them as their mouths slowly met and with a long-repressed hunger they sated themselves. Their bodies melded, soft against hard, silk against wool, and a fire blazed between them that blotted out all else except their awareness of each other.

He brought his hand to the back of her head and wove his slender fingers into her silken tresses; the kiss deepened as his tongue became a licking flame in her mouth. When the kiss finally ended, the flame licked the hollow of her throat and the rise of her breast as he pushed aside the fabric of her gown. Fire burned against her flesh in every place his tongue touched and she arched against him, eager to be consumed by it.

“Clarissa, my beautiful Clarissa,” he whispered. “No matter how hard I fight this, I can’t stop wanting you. There’s never an hour that you’re not in my thoughts. I am obsessed by you.”

She moved her hands from his chest to caress the sides of his face and he groaned with pleasure. “And I you.”

He cupped her against him and she linked her arms at the back of his neck as he bent his head to take her mouth again with greater intensity. “I tell myself that you are married but it doesn’t matter in what I feel. And I think you feel it, too.”

“Yes, oh yes,” she whispered.

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Thank you, Linda. Guests—please leave a message to be eligible to WIN a pdf copy of THIS TIME FOREVER.

Celia