Into the Mist
Moonseed Trilogy
Book 3
Judith Ingram
Genre: paranormal romance
Publisher: Vinspire Publishing, LLC
Date of Publication: July 30, 2015
Number of pages:
Word Count: 91,500
Cover Artist: Elaina Lee/
For the Muse Designs
Book Description:
For the past six months, time-traveler Victoria Ashton has been living life as Katherine Kamarov on a ranch in rural California, circa 1890. A contrast to Katherine’s brash personality, shy and gentle Victoria has won the hearts of Katherine’s family and particularly her cousin Michael. Despite her deepening love for Michael, she has rejected his offer of marriage and sent him away, knowing that she must return to her own time on the night of the new spring moon.
In this third and final book of the series, sinister forces threaten Victoria’s new family, her property, and even her life, testing her for courage and ingenuity. A confident new self emerges, and when Michael unexpectedly walks back into her life, she questions whether she must remain a victim of fate or can find a way to determine her own future.
Meanwhile, Katherine has been living a parallel year of exchange in Victoria’s modern-day life, married to the handsome but remote Ryan Ashton. Hardened by her past, Katherine nevertheless falls for Ryan and, like Victoria, begins to search for a way to defy fate and keep the life she has come to cherish.
As the night of the new spring moon approaches, both women must search their hearts to discover how to hold onto what matters most, even if they should be forced back through the barrier of time.
He didn’t hear her slide the door open and step out behind him. Her arms circled his waist, and the faint scent of ginger spice shot twin arrows of joy and pain through his body. Wordlessly, he turned and brought his mouth down on hers. Enveloped in the soft twilight hush, they shared a kiss that was deep and long and achingly sweet. When they pulled reluctantly apart, Ryan let his eyes linger over her, already naming the vision being etched in his memory. This is how my love looked in twilight.
She was wearing her white robe, and her blond hair curled softly, just brushing her shoulders. It’s gotten longer, Ryan thought. He suddenly wanted her to cut it again, as if keeping her hair short would somehow help her to keep her claim on this body—on this life—and prevent Vicki from coming back.
Tori moved to the rail and stared out over the city deepening into dusk. “It’s started, Ryan,” she said quietly.
He moved to stand beside her. “What’s started?”
She turned and leaned an elbow on the rail, holding him with a steady gaze. “What we’ve dreaded. I dreamed about the bridge.” She lifted a shoulder. “It’s only a week away. I should have expected it.” She drew in a breath that trembled. “She was already there, standing on the bridge. Waiting for me.”
At his look, she put out her hand and covered his. “Don’t hate her, Ryan. She didn’t ask for this to happen any more than I did.” She smiled faintly. “I would have, though, if I’d known you would be here. I wouldn’t have missed this time with you for anything. No matter what happens, I’ll carry you in my heart until the day I die.”
Ryan couldn’t speak. He couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe. He could do nothing but stare at her in mute despair.
She turned her back on the glittering city and leaned both elbows on the rail, staring through the glass doors into their living room. The soft light of the table lamps was growing imperceptibly brighter as the dusk surrendered to night.
“Do you ever wonder, Ryan, what Victoria will be like when she comes back?”
“She’s not coming back.” His voice cracked.
“She’s had a whole year, Ryan, just like me. A lot can happen in a year. She may surprise you.”
“She won’t get the chance.” His jaw tightened. “I’m not letting you go, Tori. I can’t. Vicki doesn’t belong here anymore. This is your home, with Christina and me.” He covered the crack in his voice with harshness. “How can you stand there and calmly talk about Vicki coming back while you just up and vanish from our lives? Like it’s already decided, like it’s so easy for you—”
Did you always wanted to be a writer? If not what did you want to be?
No. I wanted to be an opera singer (but no talent!), a nurse, a lawyer, a microbiologist, and a stay-at-home mom. Stay-at-home mom won out, and it was the right career for me!
When did you first consider yourself a “writer”?
There never was a time when I did not consider myself a writer. I’ve always loved putting words together. I became an “author” when a small publishing house took my work seriously and offered me a contract.
How long did it take to get your first book published?
My first published book was a non-fiction Christian devotional on forgiveness. I finished the manuscript in December, and the following March I was offered a contract. I am certain God made that happen! However, the first book I wrote was fiction and took several years to get noticed. Into the Mist is Part 3 of that fiction work.
What is the name of your latest book, and if you had to summarize it in less than 20 words what would you say?
Into the Mist is the conclusion to a time-travel romance trilogy: Two time-travelers switch lives for a year, but when each falls in love, they don’t want to switch back.
Who is your publisher? Or do you self-publish?
I was privileged to have my work picked up by Vinspire Publishing, LLC. Dawn Carrington is editor-in-chief and does a tremendous job in helping new authors get started.
What can we expect from you in the future? ie More books of the same genre? Books of a different genre?
I am working on a new novel, again set in California’s beautiful Sonoma wine country. A young woman grieving a failed marriage and her mother’s recent death learns that she has a birth twin and decides to invite this stranger into her life. I’m also working on a non-fiction book of 365 daily devotionals on forgiveness, based upon my weekly blog devotionals at judithingram.com.
What genre would you place your books into?
My non-fiction is Christian inspirational. My fiction work is time-travel romance, but the next novel won’t have that paranormal aspect.
What made you decide to write that genre of book?
I wrote the book without regard to genre. The seed idea was to escape—my character Victoria wanted to escape her life, and she ended up waking up in another woman’s body in a different century. I was suddenly writing a paranormal novel!
Do you have a favorite character from your books? And why are they your favorite?
Oh, yes. Michael is my favorite. He is so honest and tender and funny. I enjoyed every scene I wrote for him. Truthfully, I was a little jealous of Victoria when I wrote their love scenes! J
How long have you been writing?, and who or what inspired you to write?
My first efforts at writing call to mind my Aunt Elsie's old Underwood typewriter. In a way, that old typewriter was my first inspiration because I adored the physical process of slapping the keys through an ink ribbon and leaving a trail of neat type across a white page. It didn't matter what I typed; it just looked so cool to see those rows of type making sentences and then paragraphs and then chapters. Seated on two phonebooks at first and one as I got taller, I would peck away the afternoons while my sisters played under the leafy magnolia in my aunt's backyard. When I finished typing, I stapled the sheets together down one side to make a "book." I wish now I had kept even one of those "books" so I could peek into that child's mind and see what ideas were burgeoning.
Do you read all the reviews of your book/books?
Yes, I do read all the reviews I can find. Even though the harsh reviews hurt, I appreciate when people take the time to comment, and many times a criticism will point out a flaw that I need to fix in my writing. We can be so blind to our own faults. The trick is to sift through a review for valuable feedback while dismissing groundless rants or viewpoints with which I flat out disagree.
Do you choose a title first, or write the book then choose the title?
I play with titles all through the process of writing. I change the title umpteen times. Until the book is finally published, I consider the title a working title, subject to change. Sometimes we get to the end of a project, and the product is very different from the idea we had at the outset. The title should reflect the final product, not necessarily the germinating idea.
How do you come up with characters names and place names in your books?
Like titles, I am always playing with names. I notice names in everyday conversations, in news media, in books I'm reading. I try first and last names together to see how they fit, what feelings they generate. However, once I settle on a character name, I rarely change it. The name is so important that my concept of the character roots itself in the name, and they become permanently bonded. Hard or soft consonants, the rhythm of syllables, the look of the name printed on a page all reflect the personality of the character I'm creating. I can't think of any character trait more significant or persuasive than a person's name. Place names are also very important, but I choose them to reflect the needs of the characters. For example, Summerwood Cottage—the little house Victoria loves and decides to restore—suggests the warm summer season when growing things flourish and ripen, much like her life in Katherine's world. Rosswood House has a more commanding sound to it, and as "Ross" is another word for "Russian," it reflects and personifies its arrogant builder, Katherine's father, Alexander Rostnova.
Do you decide on character traits (ie shy, quiet, tomboy girl) before writing the whole book or as you go along?
I know from the beginning what personality traits my characters will have. These traits play so strongly into the fundamental story conflicts that I can't leave them to whim. I get those ironed out as I'm hatching who is the protagonist, antagonist, etc. With all that said, characters do tend to correct me as I'm writing, and I need to listen to them. For example, when I began to write Moonseed, I had a clear idea of Victoria as my protagonist. I imagined Katherine to be merely her shadow side, essentially selfish and corrupt, necessary to the plot only to help tell Victoria's story. Katherine herself, however, had different ideas. She refused to let me write her as a mere shadow side of Victoria but revealed herself as a passionate and complex personality in her own right. As a result of Katherine's persistence, Moonseed evolved into a narrative of two complete and parallel stories told in three volumes: Bridge to the Past, Borrowed Promises, and Into the Mist.
Are there any hidden messages or morals contained in your books? (Morals as in like Aesops Fables type of "The moral of this story is..")
An underlying message in Moonseed says, When life opens a door, don't be afraid to walk through it. Adventure and fulfillment await those willing to take a risk and follow their hearts.
Which format of book do you prefer, eBook, hardback, or paperback?
I like hardcover best, even though some bigger books get heavy. I like to hold a book in my hands and smell the pages and browse through the front and back matter. When I read a book on my Kindle, I tend to forget the title and the author's name and later cannot recall where I saw a particular passage. That's so annoying when I want to go back and reread something or clarify a point.
Do you think books transfer to movies well? Which is you favorite/worst book to movie transfer?
Yes, I am a big fan of movies, and I think the transfer can be done well. Star Wars is a good example of a movie that was actually better than the book. I thought Lord of the Rings did a good job of translation. That story is so big that the movie had to compromise on scenes and ended up combining concepts, but still it kept the mood and characterization right, and the essential story came across with beauty and strength that reflected well on Tolkien. When I think of poor translations, the 1940 Hitchcock rendition of Rebecca comes to mind, with Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine. The movie version of the story was twisted and stilted and left out so many essential details. The remake with Jeremy Brett and Joanna David was a little better. Perhaps I am not the best one to judge because I adore Daphne du Maurier, and reading her is such pleasure that probably no movie would satisfy me.
Your favorite food is?
A really good cheesecake. I don't think oatmeal would qualify as a favorite food, but I do have a bowl for breakfast nearly every day of my life.
Your favorite color is?
Blue, especially a soft ocean blue.
Your favorite Author is?
You guessed it! Daphne du Maurier. Her writing is exquisite, her stories compelling, and she is magnificent at creating atmosphere.
Judith Ingram weaves together her love of romance and mystery as well as her training as a counselor to create stories and characters for her novels. She is also the author of a Christian guide to forgiving and posts weekly devotionals on the role of forgiveness in healing relationships. She lives with her husband in the San Francisco East Bay and makes frequent trips to beautiful Sonoma County, where many of her fiction characters reside. She confesses a love for chocolate, cheesecake, romantic suspense novels, movies that require three hankies, and all things feline.
Website, blog and free weekly devotional: http://JudithIngram.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JudithIngramAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/@judithingram20
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/pub/judith-ingram/a/122/62
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5356538.Judith_Ingram
I enjoyed this interview! Ms. Ingram is a prolific writer. I'll be interested in her next book, as well as her 365 day devotional book!
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