It has been an eventful summer for my work in progress, which currently has the working title Bright Light on Blue Water.  It recently won in the Romance category of the Historical Novel Society’s First Chapters contest!

The novel is set aboard an ocean liner in 1924. Here’s a taste of what it’s about:

On a transatlantic voyage to rescue his wayward sister from scandal, a battle-scarred English veteran of the Great War who still mourns his fiancée killed by German soldiers finds his heart unexpectedly awakened by a fresh-faced American heiress. But there are old enemies aboard the ship, leading to a brutal showdown that will force him to confront his own darkness and choose between vengeance and redemption.

The contest had entries from around the world, so I’m thrilled to have received this accolade. I happily anticipate that this is a harbinger of good things to come!

Next month I’ll be traveling to Ireland for the Historical Novel Society’s annual conference, where the overall winner of the contest will be announced. This will be my 5th time attending an HNS conference. I’m always thrilled to hang out with talented and dedicated writers who love all aspects of historical fiction.

Although I won’t be traveling to Ireland via ocean voyage, I was able to do the transatlantic crossing last summer on the Queen Mary 2, traveling from Southampton, England to New York.

The 7-day voyage provided me with a taste of the past, as well as the enjoyments of great food, entertainment, and an amazing library with comfy chairs and ocean views.

I was even able to take an extensive “behind the scenes” tour and see where the crew worked and spent their off-duty hours. All these experiences gave me plenty of ideas to bring to the pages of my novel.

I look forward to announcing more great news soon!