Denise Weimer on Let’s Chat

Welcome, everyone.

Denise Weimer is our author guest this week. This is a return visit for Denise, so you may have met her before. But she’s such a fine writer, you’ll want to know her latest news.

Denise writes historical and contemporary romance and romantic suspense, mostly set in her home state of Georgia. She’s a wife and a mother of two young adult daughters, and she always pauses for coffee, chocolate, and old houses. 

Denise has authored a dozen traditionally published novels and a number of novellas. As a managing editor for Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas, she also gets to help others reach their publishing dreams.

“There’s nothing like rejoicing with an author when they first see their book cover and again on release day,” says Denise.

Denise Weimer, a word from the author

Denise Weimer here, very pleased to join you today. I love visiting on Linda’s blog! She always does such a great job as hostess.

How did my latest story, Bent Tree Bride, come about? Well, I absolutely love to read and write romances set on America’s Eastern frontier. There’s endless fodder for an exciting plot intrinsic to the setting.

One of my author/editor friends had the idea for a Native Patriots Series where the heroes would all have served in a different American war. I chose the War of 1812 because I’d just written a novel set in the decade prior.

The Witness Tree by Denise Weimer, story of Moravian marriage of convenience and dangerous assignment in Cherokee Territory c. 1805

The Moravians are now a mainline denomination, but during the 1700s and early 1800s, they were a lesser-known sect of plain people with some fascinating traditions. How neat, I thought, if one of the boys from the Moravian mission school for the children of Cherokee chiefs could grow up and fight in the Cherokee Regiment during the War of 1812.

Many people have no idea that—in hopes of keeping their land—the Cherokees fought alongside the Americans under Andrew Jackson. For the same reason, many of the Creek Indians allied with the British, becoming known as Red Stick Creeks. Thus, the war for what became Alabama Territory, the Red Stick War, occurred in 1813-14. At the Battle of Horseshoe Bend, the Cherokee Regiment turned the tide of battle in favor of the Americans.

The series didn’t get picked up, but I’m glad I get to share my story with you through Smitten Historical Romance. It’s the type of forbidden love story and heart-pounding action that I hope echoes my favorite movie, Last of the Mohicans.I sure think the cover does!

A note to the sensitive reader … while I cut some battle scenes short and avoided unnecessary detail as much as possible, some intense fight scenes are part of the plot. Part of Sam’s interior journey reflects the effort to balance the scholar and the warrior—like the two wolves of Cherokee lore. His personal struggle is representative of the larger struggle of his people … whether to embrace the education and ways of the white man or keep their tribal traditions. Added to this an attraction to his colonel’s daughter at a time when it was uncommon for a mixed-blood man to marry a white woman, and you have plenty of conflict!

Step into the Southern frontier during the War of 1812 with Bent Tree Bride by Denise Weimer

Susanna Moore can’t get him out of her mind—the learned lieutenant who delivered the commission from Andrew Jackson making her father colonel of the Cherokee Regiment. But the next time she sees Lieutenant Sam Hicks, he’s leading a string of prisoners into a frontier fort, and he’s wearing the garb of a Cherokee scout rather than the suit of a white gentleman.

As both Susanna’s father and Sam’s commanding officer, Colonel Moore couldn’t have made his directive to stay away from his daughter clearer to Sam. He wants a better match for Susanna—like the stuffy doctor who escorted her to Creek Territory. Then a suspected spy forces Moore to rely on Sam for military intelligence and Susanna’s protection, making it impossible for either to guard their heart.

I hope you’re sufficiently intrigued to pick up a copy of Bent Tree Bride. I do believe it’s my best writing yet. Buy link: https://www.amazon.com/Bent-Tree-Bride-Denise-Weimer-ebook/dp/B08Q8K5YD6

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Blessings, Denise Weimer

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Lord, please bless each word Denise writes for you.
~ For Jesus’ sake ~