#CBLSPromos, Interview & Giveaway: Moira's Time by Dayna Leigh Cheser

Moria's Time

Moria's Time
TIME Series, Book 2
Dayna Leigh Cheser

Genre: Historical Romance
Publisher: AuthorHouse

Date of Publication: August 15, 2013

Number of pages: 331
Word Count: 103,300

Available at the following retailers:
Amazon     BN     Kobo 

Janelle Grayson is distraught over a troubling vision. Old Agnes MacKendall has seen her infant daughter, Moria, as a young woman, years in the future, traveling afar to a perilous place, fraught with danger.

Janelle and her husband, Richard, are both concerned about the vision. They decide to do all they can to prepare their precious little girl for what likely lies ahead for her. It’s a future charged with risk the likes of which, for the unprepared and ordinary person, could spell certain doom.

So begins Moria’s Time—Book 2 of the TIME Series.

At six-years old, Moria starts to learn about her heritage. Like her mother, Moria is a MacKendall. The women of this Scots clan have unusual powers including, among many other skills, natural medicine—which Janelle soon discovers is Moria’s special and strongest gift. Richard agrees with Janelle that she should train Moria, focusing on, and nurturing, her rare strengths in preparing for her future. By the time she’s a teen, Moria is a talented natural healer.

At fourteen, Moria meets Elizabeth Blackwell who befriends and mentors Moria, guiding her through the long and arduous journey to her goal of becoming a doctor.

Later, while visiting family in England, Moria meets Florence Nightingale—who will figure significantly in her life in the future. The family also meets Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.

Later, Miss Nightingale summons Moria to London, where she works at a charity hospital and meets Dr. Simon Hensley.

Moria becomes one of the first 38 nurses bound for Scutari, Turkey with Miss Nightingale. Dr. Hensley, in love with Moria, follows her, much to her chagrin, but she’s skittish—about men, relationships, anything and anyone that might distract her from the challenge of being a woman daring to want a career in the male-dominated field of medicine—and, so … she rebuffs him.

At home for a visit, Moria is overjoyed to reconnect with her twin sister, Adelle, and meets her beau, Walter. He and Adelle convince Moria that Dr. Hensley isn’t the enemy. He may well be the one to protect her from the men she fears. Back in Turkey, Moria and Dr. Hensley work things out.

Simon and Moria return to London after the war. At Devonwood, the Grayson family estate, Moria’s Grandmother convinces Moria can marry Simon and not endanger her future. Simon proposes; Moria accepts. The twins plan a double wedding.

After the wedding, Simon and Moria visit medical schools for interviews. Moria is turned away from school after school, simply because she’s woman. Finally, a school in Pennsylvania accepts Moria who graduates at the top of her class.

Does Moria have the right to impose what her needs on Simon? How long will Simon put his life on hold while she pursues hers? Do they really want to open a practice? As doctors, is a practice all that’s available to them? There are so many questions, and too few answers.

Warning: This title is intended for readers over the age of 18 as it contains adult sexual situations and/or adult language, and may be considered offensive to some readers.

Excerpt: 

Richard, savoring a moment before bed to think, recalls an earlier discussion with Angus about Janelle.

He's worried that Janelle will defy his wishes and travel into the future, looking for Moria, to protect her. His wife has always had a mind of her own.

<><><><><><><><><><>

(Richard) He played over in his mind the brief conversation he’d had with Angus while Maura and Janelle were doing the dishes.

“Is something is worrying you, Richard?” Angus had asked.

“Are my emotions that transparent?”

Angus chuckled. “I’ve known Janelle for a long time.”

Richard nodded. “Aye. I am worried. While we were still in England, she was ready to go charging into the future, looking for Moria. I made her promise she wouldn’t do it. I had to make her promise … several times … using different criteria each time to cover every angle.” Angus laughed. “That’s Janelle. She is a bit headstrong and she does find herself into all sorts of situations. Do you think she’ll go off on her own?”

“I hope not. But, she’s determined to protect Moria at all costs, even if it means putting herself in danger in the process.”

“She’s a mother, Richard.”

“And I’m a father, but I wouldn’t go off on this wild goose chase.”

“Don’t worry. She’ll see getting obsessive is pointless.”

Richard, looking out over the moonlit lake, sighed.

‘Well, Janelle, I certainly hope you see this obsession is just that—pointless.’ Richard let his mind wander, which meant it went straight to the baby in the next room. He had to get inside her head.

‘What are you up to, my little one? Where are you going and what will you do there? Is helping others so important to you?’

He sighed again.

In the moonlight, the image a young woman drifted in the space outside the window. He searched for the details of her face, but the image wasn’t clear. An older woman, perhaps ten to fifteen years older, drifted into the scene. Her dark hair parted in the middle and pulled back into a bun, she was slender with a long neck, but very plain. She was speaking and the younger woman was listening.

As he watched, the image faded and then was gone. Richard put his hand on the windowpane, willing the scene to return. ‘Was it you, Moria? Were you the young woman? Who was the older woman? Will she influence your life, and how?’

When the vision didn’t return, Richard rose and eased into bed, gathering Janelle into his arms where she snuggled close in her sleep. He drifted off and dreamed of the scene outside the window over and over again.

Interview: 

Today, we welcome Dayna Leigh Cheser to Musings and Ramblings. Let's all give her a big Geeky welcome!

I have some questions for you that are writer specific as well as some fun stuff so that we can really get to know the real you. *grin* Plus we will finish things off with round of Think Fast. Ready to begin?

Writing Specific
1. Tell us something about yourself that's not in your bio.

I grew up in Watertown, CT, the oldest of 4. My father was the principal of the school I attended between 3rd and 6th grade.

2. What do you like to do when you are not writing?

If money were no object, I’d get a motor home and go see this great country of ours – with my husband. But, money is an object, so I’m happy to spend time doing whatever – with my husband. I used to have lots of interests and hobbies but since I’ve been writing full time, I don’t have much time for much else. Even finding time for reading is a challenge.

3. How did you choose the genres you write in?

English and American History were my favorite subjects in school. Then, at about the same time, I developed a love of historical romance, preferably hot (I’d discovered my mother’s hidden stash of ‘naughty’ books). So, that’s what my series it. After this series? Probably something different. I recently had an ‘idea’ pop into my head so I wrote 3,000 words around that idea, then stashed the file for future consideration – it’s contemporary, but I’m not sure yet what else.

4. Is there any particular author or book that has influenced you or your writing?

I’ve read lots and lots of authors and books, but probably the author who has most influenced my writing is Bertrice Small. Years ago, she was the queen of the hot historical romances with her Skye O’Malley series, and has over 50 books (I have over half of them) in several genres to her credit.

5. What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author?

I waited a year for a review to arrive only to have it be just 2-stars. She didn’t like it, but the reasons she gave were exactly the same reasons many other reviewers liked or loved the book (5-stars). I still don’t understand that, and I know other people who have had the same thing happen to them.

What has been the best compliment?

When one reviewer couldn’t put the book down … she sent me her glowing review within 24 hours of my sending her the book! She’d been unable to put it down. She was so excited … she wanted to feature me on her website, interview me, and all that stuff.

Fun Stuff
6. If you could have dinner with anyone, past or present, fictional or real, who would it be and why?

I thought long and hard on this one. I wanted it to be an American, but I couldn’t think of one I admire as much as I admire Princess Diana. She went from the ‘Shy Di’ to the ‘People’s Princess,’ and shook up the English monarchy along the way. England has changed so much because of her. The world is a better place for her having been in it. And, she was a wonderful mother to her boys.

7. You are going to be stranded on a deserted island and bring 3 luxury items. What would they be?

1) My computer. 2) Some sort of power capability (solar, wind, whatever) to run it – and a light. 3) WiFi, or a satellite hook-up so I can get onto the internet to do research and communicate with my friends and business colleagues. 

8. Pick two celebrities to be your parents. Who are they and why?

Ozzie and Harriet Nelson. They were TV stars in the 50s/60s, who were real-life and TV parents to two boys. If this were so, I’d be David and Ricky Nelson’s sister!

9. What would we find in your refrigerator right now?

Food. (You thought maybe a body or something? LOL)

10. If someone wrote a biography about you, what do you think the title should be?

'Behind the Scenes’

Think Fast
Summer or Winter? Since I live in Florida, winter.
Coffee or Tea? Neither, thanks.
Cake or Pie? Cake, but I can only look at it.
Car or Truck? Car, so long as it’s a mini-van.
Print or Electronic? I love my Kindle, but gimme a book!

Thanks for coming by and spending some time with us. Any final words of wisdom to pass along?

I’m living proof that it’s never too late to get started on a writing career. While I wrote my first book 10 years ago, I shelved it until 2009 when I started to get serious. In 2010, I retired at age 62 and then really got serious. My first book was published in 2012, the second in August of 2013. I have 3 more in the works and many years of writing ahead of me. If I’m ever able to get that motor home I mentioned earlier, I can write and conduct business while on the road, even while in motion! It’s the perfect business.

If you’re just getting started, don’t expect that you’re the next Stephen King or JK Rowling. They are the exception, not the rule. Just keep writing and publishing – in whatever way you can get your books out there. It takes an average of over 3,500 hours to produce a book from concept to finished product. Faster is not better. Take your time, spend more time editing and finishing than the actual writing, and hire a good editor. Family and friends don’t make good editors as they’re inclined to say you’re wonderful, even if you’re not. Do your due diligence on publishers. They’re not all the same, and a large percentage of them aren’t even publishers, they use Amazon’s CreateSpace and KDP which is something you can do for yourself. But, above all, write, write and write some more. And, be patient. Good things come to those that wait.

I’m delighted to have spent this time with you and thank you so much for having me.

Dayna Leigh Cheser

Giveaway: 

GRAND PRIZE: $25 B&N Gift Card
5 RUNNERS-UP: eBook copy each of "Moria's Time".
Contest is tour-wide, open internationally and ends Oct 19. Must be 18 years of age of older to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Tour Info: 
Don't forget to check out the other stops on the Book Tour:

September 25:
Book Reviews

September 27:
Queen of the Night Reviews

September 30:
My Devotional Thoughts - Guest Post

October 1:
Ali's Books

October 4:
Crystal's Many Reviews
Jody's Book Reviews, Giveaways & Tours

October 5:
Crystal's Many Reviews - Guest Post

October 6:
Bunny's Book Reviews

October 8:
deal sharing aunt

October 11:
Musings And Ramblings - Interview
Samantha Holt - Guest Post

October 12:
Words of Wisdom from The Scarf Princess

October 13:
Brooke Blogs

October 16:
Celtic Connexions

October 17:
Dalene's Book Reviews - Interview

October 18:
Lusty Penguin Reviews - Guest Post & Review
Hot Blogging with Heart - Guest Post

Author Bio:

My mother, a non-fiction author, two brothers—one as a newspaper editor, the other, a copywriter—and a sister, a church newsletter editor, prove that clearly, writing ‘runs in my family’. Much of what I’ve written over the years was never published – much of it never shared with anyone.

My father, a school teacher/reading specialist, started teaching me to read after story-time one night when I was four years old. I’d stopped him mid-story to ask how he was able to say the same thing every time he read that story to me. My lessons started that night, beginning a life-long love affair with books—and for that, I am grateful.

The short stories I wrote in junior high school entertained my peers – and the occasional teacher who intercepted them in their travels. At the high school level, one English class assignment was to write an autobiography. In the teacher-specified chapter entitled ‘Future Plans’, being a published writer topped the list. I can’t remember not wanting to write.

After a college professor told me I ‘couldn’t write my way out of a paper bag,’ I stopped writing for years. It was not until the late 1970s, when I wrote an article for the now-defunct World Radio News (San Diego, CA), that my writing gene was reactivated. The article was about our amateur radio club providing communications for a March of Dimes Walk-a-thon. Seven of the twenty pictures my husband submitted with my article were used.

In early 2002, between jobs and wanting to write seriously, I obtained a third-shift position as a gated-community security officer and used the ‘free time’ to write what became Janelle’s Time. When the draft was complete, it went on the shelf. At that time, the industry was shifting from the Post Office to the internet – a very confusing time! In 2009, when I started my Twitter page, @Writers_Cafe, the WIP came off the shelf. What I’ve learned from my (now) 19,000 followers is prodigious – I feel like I’ve earned a degree! By August 2011, it was ready—at last—for submission.

@RileyCarney, a Colorado teen, and prolific YA fantasy author, who heads her own non-profit literacy project moved me to write an article about her. Never officially published, countless people have seen the article, thanks to Twitter retweets and some carefully chosen email inboxes.

On New Year’s Day, 2010, my shiny new blog, A Place for Writers, went ‘live.’ It evolved into a combination chronicle of my writing journey and helpful posts on publishing industry topics.

In the fall of 2011, I added ‘DIY Interviews’ to my blog (see the ‘DIY Interviews’ tab of my website for details on doing an interview). Not a primary task in the overall scheme of things, over fifty authors have submitted interviews to date.

Janelle’s Time is book one of my ‘TIME Series’ and was published in July of 2012. Book two, Moria’s Time, was my winning NaNoWriMo project for 2011. It’s now complete and will be released in August 2013. There are three more books in the series: Adelle’s Time (my winning 2012 NaNo project), Logan’s Time, and Clarissa’s Time (my 2013 NaNo project for 2013).

In September of 2012, I switched from my blog A Place for Writers, and went to a full website: www.DaynaLCheser.com. With thirty+ pages, my new blog, ‘Posts by Dayna,’ is there now, along with ‘DIY Interviews,’ and extensive information about the ‘TIME Series.’

My husband, Pete, and I have been married for forty-five years—no children—and have lived in Southwest Florida for over twenty years, originally hailing from New England.

To connect with the author online:

Email | Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | TIME Series Info | Amazon Author Page