TIDES OF CHARLESTON SERIES

PATRIOT SECRETS

The American Revolution has always fascinated me. My historical fiction book, Patriot Secrets, is based on a spy ring against the British during the turmoil. Influenced by my love for John Jakes' The Kent Family Chronicles, I began the Winds of Betrayal series. I have always intended to continue the series beyond Patriot Secrets, especially since Patriot Secrets ended after the Battle of Saratoga. The war's eyes turned South. So did mine.

After the Battle of Saratoga, the British needed to turn the tide of the war. They lay their hope of strong support from the Loyalist in the South. My previous exposure to the American Revolution focused on the causes of the rebellion, the beginning, the progression toward a democracy, and the battle that essential ended the war at Yorktown. What defines the American Revolution better than the Boston Tea Party or the speech by Patrick Henry- Give Me Liberty or Give me Death!

But the war down South was a different kind of war; a different culture; a different breed of people. Through out the colonies, the support for the war was divided. Not only was it divided between the supporters of the rebellion, Patriots, and the ones who stayed loyal to the Crown, Loyalists, but there was also a large group of colonists who were indifferent to the outcome. The difference down South was that whatever side they were on they felt it with a intense passion. There was no indifference to their feelings.

Case in point, Battle of King's Mountain. Up until the mountain men didn't care about the war. They enough to worry about with establishing their homes in a new frontier with the wilderness and the Indians. That was until British Major Patrick Ferguson made them mad.

One of the reasons, I believe, that the British lost the war was their arrogance. They greatly underestimated the colonists. And issuing a challenge to the mountain men 'to lay down their arms or he would lay waste to their country with fire and sword.' Those Mountain men didn't take too kindly to those words. The Colonial militia met up with Ferguson and his Loyalist at King's Mountain. It took less than an hour for the Colonial militia to defeat the British. The beginning of the end for the British. Not that the Patriots won the South out right, but they plagues the British. In the end, you know the story with Cornwallis moving North to Yorktown.

 When I turned my attention South, I found myself caught up with the characters and setting it provided. I was hooked on Charleston (Charles Town). Maybe it's my Southern roots although I don't know of any of my relatives that came from Charleston, more North Carolina I'm told, but I fell in love with the mystic of Charleston. 

THE JUDAS KISS

When I turned my attention South, I was caught up with the characters and setting of the South. I was hooked on Charleston (Charles Town). Maybe it’s my Southern roots although I don’t know of any of my relatives that came from Charleston, more North Carolina I’m told, but I fell in love with the mystic of Charleston.

Although the Tides of Charleston series is not part of the Winds of Betrayal, I wouldn't be surprised to see some of the characters cross in the coming books (Another Night Falls).

Starting Sunday, January 15th, my Tides of Charleston series begins with the release of THE JUDAS KISS. The Tides of Charleston series is historical romance mixed with suspense. The series follows two siblings, each with their own story to tell...Cathryn Blankenship, the beloved daughter of a former British Royal Governor told in THE JUDAS KISS  and THE PROMISE;  Sumner Meador, the bastard son, seen in ANOTHER NIGHT FALLS.

THE JUDAS KISS. Follow Cathryn leave Charles Town for the ballrooms of London. Her father sending her across the ocean with the hope of keeping her safe but instead she finds a world of betrayal...