Sunday, April 22, 2012

Tour: North of Heartbreak by Julie Rowe (Guest Post)

Please give a warm welcome to romance author, Julie Rowe, who is joining us with her book North of Heartbreak


What I Learned About Heroes From Abraham Lincoln
By Julie Rowe

The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present. The occasion is piled high with difficulty, and we must rise with the occasion. As our case is new, so we must think anew and act anew. - Abraham Lincoln.

During his lifetime, Abraham Lincoln worked as a farmer, rail-splitter, flatboatman, storekeeper, postmaster, surveyor, the elected Captain of his company in the Black Hawk War (where he only fought mosquitoes), a self-taught lawyer and finally a President of the United States.  Elected President twice, he issued the Emancipation Proclamation that declared all slaves within the Confederacy forever free on January 1, 1863.  He was assassinated on Good Friday, April 14, 1865.

There is much to admire in Lincoln’s life and legacy.  He’s been the subject of numerous books and articles, and he continues to be the subject of research and study by scholars to this day.  But, none of this is what put him on my romance-writer’s “hero radar”.  What started the pinging were the words he left us with.  He wasn’t just smart, compassionate and idealistic; he was also self-sacrificing, courageous and a true student of human nature.  He knew, down to the last atom, right from wrong; truth from falsehood; oppression from liberation.

Here’s some of what I’ve learned about heroes from reading the spoken words and writings of Abraham Lincoln – my favorite kind of hero, a man of integrity, intelligence and insight.

Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm. - Abraham Lincoln.

A hero searches for justice, honesty and integrity, and when he finds it, defends it with everything he is.  Sometimes that means putting himself physically between the innocent, vulnerable and weak, and those who would oppress, harm or use them.  Other times that means defending an ideal through honorable actions.

Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt. - Abraham Lincoln.

Heroes don’t let their mouths get away from them.  Their dialogue is sharp, short and to the point.

Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing. - Abraham Lincoln.

Real heroes are complex characters, composed of a lifetime of highs, lows, successes and regrets.  It’s the writer’s job to consider, create and show the true depth of their hero in their writing.

Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe. - Abraham Lincoln.

Heroes are very, very good at what they do because they’ve spent large chucks of time working toward excellence in their chosen field.  They’ve tested themselves, practiced and worked until they are the best they can be and then some.  This leads to an unconscious confidence that carries over into the rest of the man.

I do not think much of a man who is not wiser today than he was yesterday. - Abraham Lincoln.

Real heroes accept that they’re not perfect, learn from their mistakes and grow to become a better person by the end of the book.

Important principles may, and must, be inflexible. - Abraham Lincoln.

Real heroes don’t compromise their moral code.  Ever.

Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power. - Abraham Lincoln.

Real heroes resist the temptation to use power for their own gain.  Instead they use it to help others and protect those he loves or is responsible for.

No matter how much cats fight, there always seem to be plenty of kittens. - Abraham Lincoln.

Real heroes have conflicts within themselves and with their heroine, but this doesn’t change his desire for her or hers for him.  Conflict adds to the sexual and emotional tension, and can take an average love scene and make it sizzle.

Julie Rowe is a Canadian romance writer and quote addict who’s been writing for over ten years.


North of Heartbreak
By Julie Rowe
Since her divorce, Willa Hayes has thrown herself into her work as a nurse practitioner in the remote town of Stony Creek, Alaska. She's regained her self-confidence and her heart is almost healed. Then her newfound peace is shaken by the arrival of sexy flyboy Liam Reynolds. Willa can't deny she's instantly, intensely attracted to him—even if she's convinced he's yet another Mr. Wrong.Liam has his own reasons for fleeing to the isolation of the north, and a relationship is the last thing he wants. He wasn't counting on being drawn to the pretty nurse who accompanies patients on his flights to southern hospitals.Fortunately, the temptation—and the desire to avoid anything serious—is mutual. So the pair comes up with an arrangement: sensual, steamy, no-strings fun. But when things heat up on a cold Alaskan night, the rules of the game may change forever...
Amazon - B&N


About the Author:
Julie Rowe’s first career as a medical lab technologist in Canada took her to the North West Territories and northern Alberta, where she still resides. She loves to include medical details in her romance novels, but admits she’ll never be able to write about all her medical experiences because, “No one would believe them!”
A double Golden Heart finalist 2006, Julie has two books out with Carina Press: ICEBOUND and NORTH OF HEARTBREAK. Her writing has also appeared in several magazines such as Today’s Parent, Reader’s Digest (Canada), and Canadian Living. She currently facilitates communication workshops for her local city college. You can reach her at www.julieroweauthor.com or on Twitter @julieroweauthor .

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