New interview with historical romance author JA Boulet

A special welcome back to today’s guest, historical romance author J. A. Boulet. This time around we’re chatting about The Origins.

During her virtual book tour, J. A. will be giving away a $15 Amazon or Barnes and Noble (winner’s choice) gift card to a lucky randomly drawn winner. To be entered for a chance to win, use the form below. To increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit her other tour stops and enter there, too!

Bio:
J. A. Boulet is the passionate author of The Olason Chronicles, a historical saga of war, courage, love and strength. Her newest novel The Origins Book 4, the final book in the series, was released on June 8, 2022. J. A. Boulet was born and raised in Western Canada as a first generation Canadian from European descent. Her father enlisted with the Hungarian military and fought bravely during the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, changing sides to stand up for what he believed in. He was granted asylum in Canada and built his family here.

J. A. Boulet was born many years later, raised with strong morals and values, which she stands behind to this day. She started writing poetry at the age of five and progressed to short stories and novels. She has a keen interest in ancestry, healing, family bonds and military history. J. A. Boulet writes with a spine-tingling realism like none other, grabbing your emotions and refusing to let go. The Olason Chronicles is the series you’ve been waiting for. Watch for the next book 1956: Love and Revolution (Dec 2022), a standalone historical romance novel taking place during the courageous Hungarian Revolution.

Welcome back to Reviews and Interviews, J. A. Please tell us about your newest release.
A young mother, Mt Askja and an unbreakable love

In the harsh landscapes of Iceland in 1850, a young girl loses her mother and struggles to grow into a woman alone with only her father’s help. Throughout the breathtaking 20-hour daylight summers and the bleak darkness of winters, Margret falls in love and dreams of a large family but the path to her future is rougher than she expected. The Origins will take you back in time delighting you with endearing Icelandic heritage, visual feasts for the mind and gripping you with the struggle to stay alive on a volatile island.

THE ORIGINS

Experience the rich journey of a 19th century woman who proves that even the weakest people can become stronger than anything you can imagine.

What inspired you to write this book?
It is the final book in The Olason Chronicles series and I was inspired to end the family saga from the point of view of the young mother who gave birth to the man who later becomes a fearless explorer. The start of the family is documented from the heart and strength of the willful mother who refuses to gives up.

 

Excerpt from The Origins:
The sun slowly lost its shine when nobody was looking. Margret and her father tried everything to help Momma, but she wasn’t getting any better. It was frustrating and heartbreaking. Margret cooked all the food and cleaned the house, trying to become the woman of the homestead while her mother was sick. Margret thought if she worked harder, then God might smile upon them, and good things would happen. Her father took care of Momma in bed, cleaning her delicate pale skin with a wet cloth. Margret fed her and made sure Momma always had water. But Momma wasn’t getting any better.

The clouds had turned grey today, and the skies were bleak. Spring was not bringing the new beginning she had hoped for.

Margret tried to stop the shaking in her hands, but it was futile. She was too upset. Her father stood beside her smoothing her hair slowly, almost absentmindedly. The old blankets were laid straight over the bed, covering her Momma’s body and face.

“She’s gone, my dear,” Father said, his voice shaking and cracking with emotion.

“No!” Margret shouted, looking at her Pappa like he somehow had lied, and this was all a dream.

“Your Momma has died, sweetheart,” Father replied sadly. “The doctor tried what he could, we all tried what we could, but it didn’t work. She was too sick.”

Margret opened her mouth to speak and closed it. She tried again and lost her words. There were no words she could speak that would make anything better. The worst had happened. The very thing she had prayed for never to happen had just destroyed her life. She suddenly felt faint, like the floor was light beneath her feet.

Her mother had died.

She fell towards the floor as her father caught her falling body from hitting the hardwood.

Pappa picked up her petite body, cradling Margret in his arms and wept for himself and their future.

 

What’s the next writing project?
My next book is called 1956: Love and Revolution. It is a standalone historical romance set in the tumultuous years of the Hungarian Revolution.

What is your biggest challenge when writing a new book? (or the biggest challenge with this book)
I think my biggest challenge when writing a book is simply making enough time in the day to get everything done. Writing the book, research, editing, working with designers, interviews, readings, updating websites and mailings. It is truly a full-time job with no overtime pay LOL.

If your novels require research – please talk about the process. Do you do the research first and then write, while you’re writing, after the novel is complete and you need to fill in the gaps?
I do it in several ways. With smaller tidbits, I research while I write. For instance, I had to find out what food they ate so I began researching into several different cuisines. In larger scenes, like the 1875 Mt Askja volcanic eruption, I spent considerable time researching before writing the scenes. And finally, I contacted the Icelandic museum and requested a historical fact check. I go back and edit any areas that I can.

What’s your writing space like? Do you have a particular spot to write where the muse is more active? Please tell us about it.
I write on my sofa with a blanket over my shoulders LOL.

What authors do you enjoy reading within or outside of your genre?
I enjoy Ken Follett, Patrick Dewitt in historical fiction, John Grisham in legal drama and Jodi Ellen Malpas in romance.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers today?
Thank you so much for having me and I hope you love travelling to 1850s Iceland in The Origins!

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