Hello everyone! Today I am pleased to welcome back author Dean Pace-Frech to the blog. Dean is here to talk to us more about his release, A Place to Call Their Own. He has also brought a great giveaway to share. So please join me in giving him a big welcome!
Happy Earth Day!
Thanks so much to Joyfully Jay for having me as a guest once again! I chose Earth Day as an opportunity to share with you the story of one of my favorite early environmentalists, J. Sterling Morton, and how his life inspired me to write about some of the things Frank and Gregory do in A Place to Call Their Own.
J. Sterling Morton came to Nebraska in 1854, even before it was even organized as a territory. He built a four room structure on his meager 160 acre farm outside of Nebraska City, Nebraska, just twenty miles from where I grew up. That four room structure eventually became a fifty-two room mansion that today looks like the White House. He shared his love of the land not only with the people of the State of Nebraska, but also served as the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture under President Grover Cleveland from 1893 – 1897. Ever since I was a kid and looked at the progressive pictures of his house and how he added to it until it eventually became the mansion it is today, I’ve been obsessed with residential and commercial buildings and thinking about their probable transformations.
That’s why the research involved for my historical novels is so much fun for me. I shared in a panel discussion at RainbowCon last weekend, how much I love history and why this type of research doesn’t feel like work to me. Part of the research for A Place to Call Their Own included learning about these solutions used by the early pioneers on the unsettled prairie. In the same respect, Frank and Gregory work hard to turn meager claims into the successful farms battling weather and Native Americans among other things. They build a simple one room cabin that gets them through their first year on the prairie and, luckily, are able add a framed addition soon. All of this inspired by J. Sterling Morton and his home, Arbor Lodge.
Would the Mortons be rolling over in their graves if they knew their lives were the inspiration for a m/m romance novel? Maybe just because of the time in which they lived. But if they knew the impact that novel A Place to Call Their Own could have on a reader that a loving same-sex relationship can be normal for us in the 21st Century, they might be proud to inspire some of tasks that Frank and Gregory accomplish on the Kansas Prairie.
P.S. I am small part of the trend to return to a simpler way of life. I use a simple white vinegar and water solution for most of my cleaning. I use white vinegar as bleach and fabric softener. If my husband, Thomas, had his choice, we’d have a wind generator and live off the grid.
Are you doing anything special to celebrate/commemorate/honor Earth Day?
Blurb
Is it possible for two Civil War veterans to find their place in the world on the Kansas Prairie?
When the War Between the States ended in 1865 many Americans emerged from the turmoil energized by their possibilities for the future. Frank Greerson and Gregory Young were no different. After battling southern rebels and preserving the Union, the two men set out to battle the Kansas Prairie and build a life together. Frank yearned for his own farm, away from his family—even at the risk of alienating them. Gregory, an only child, returned home to claim his inheritance to help finance their adventure out west.
Between the difficult work of establishing a farm on the unforgiving Kansas prairie, and the additional obstacles provided by the weather, Native Americans and wild animals, will their love and loyalty be enough to sustain them through the hardships?
Buy Link: Amazon
About the Author
With inspiration from historical tourism sites, the love of reading, and a desire to write a novel, L. Dean Pace-Frech started crafting his debut novel, A Place to Call Their Own, in 2008. After four years of writing and polishing the manuscript, he submitted it for publication and Musa Publishing offered him a contract in early 2013. Disappear With Me is his second novel.
Dean lives in Kansas City, Missouri with his partner, Thomas, and their two cats. They are involved in their church and enjoy watching movies, outdoor activities in the warmer weather and spending time together with friends and family. In addition to writing, Dean enjoys reading and patio gardening.
Prior to novels, Dean did some technical writing in his career. He plans to write a sequel to both A Place to Call Their Own and Disappear with Me.
Email: deanfrech@aol.com
Blog: Dean’s Web Site
Facebook: Dean Pace-Frech, Author page or send me a friend request Dean Pace-Frech.
Twitter: @deanpacefrech
Google+: +deanpacefrech
Goodreads: L. Dean Pace-Frech
Pinterest: Dean Pace-Frech
Giveaway
Dean has brought an electronic copy of to A Place to Call Their Own to give away to one lucky reader. Just leave a comment at the end of the post to enter. The contest ends on Sunday, April 27th at 11:59 pm EST.
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