Monday, December 7, 2009

Gwyn Ramsey & Her Historical Family Series in Bookland Heights

JOURNEY TO TRACER'S POINT:

They left Virginia with dreams of getting rich quick. When lured by his brother, John, to seek adventure in the California gold fields, Alexander Anderson sells his farm, packs up his family, and heads west cross-country in a covered wagon along
the unmarked trails.

Heavy hearted and compelled to make the perilous journey West, Caroline Anderson does not want to leave her comfortable home in Virginia and dreads the possibility of unknown hazards facing her and her family on such a long, dangerous trip.

When Caroline is abandoned, afraid of what lies ahead, she is forced to make a life-threatening decision. Determined to survive she trudges forward through uncharted land to conquer rugged mountain terrain, treks through treacherous Indian lands and crosses a searing desert. Her dim but only hope now is to find her brother-in-law and try to obtain her husband’s share of
the gold claim.


WINDS OF CHANGE:

After struggling through the throes of being kidnapped by Indians and traded for goods to the Arapahos, Sarah Anderson proves herself worthy of the Indian name Vision Seeker, becomes the wife to Running Swift and the mother to Little Feather.

Sarah settles into the comfortable daily routines of Indian wife and mother until her life is again changed when the Army charges into the village to arrest the warring warriors only to find Sarah living among the natives.

Returned to Fort Laramie, Sarah must now face the difficult task of transitioning back into the white world with an Indian child. As a soiled dove she is shunned by the white populace. At the fort, her path crosses that of Patrick O Brien whom she once loved and believes can no longer have.

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Gwyn Ramsey is the author of two published novels in a historical family series, Journey to Tracer’s Point and the latest Winds of Change.

She is a member of EPIC, Mystery Writers of America, Women Writing the West, Romance Writers of America, Western Writers of America, Tampa Area Romance Authors, and Peace River Writers. Gwyn makes her home in Port Charlotte, Florida and is a member of the Port Charlotte Reading Council. Visit her blog at http://gwynramsey.blogspot.com/
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BH: What or who most influenced your writing?

GR: As a young person, I enjoyed the spaghetti westerns at the show. What an adventure each weekend brought to my life. I sat with a small bag of popcorn and watched the western stars ride across the screen. John Wayne captured my attention with many of his film. Then I began reading Louis L’Amour, Dana Ross Fuller, Zane Grey, and other western writers. Now I enjoy the challenge of bringing back the old west in my writings. A journey of where we came from.

BH: What is the one thing you want readers to know about your book(s) and/or writing?

GR:As a researcher at the Library of Congress, my books are fiction based on fact. I wrote my novels as fiction to entertain, but wanted to bring out the history of our wonderful country and what it truly was like back when people struggled to settle our land, being it pioneer, slaves, or Indians. The challenges they faced, the struggles they endured, and the disasters that befell them are what we must remember, it's who we are.

BH: What is your next project and when can we expect to read it?

GR: My latest book, Winds of Change, was released in April 2009, the second in the series about the Anderson family. The storyline is about Sarah Anderson, her life as a wife to an Arapaho Indian and the mother to his child.

My next project, Bound for Texas, is a work in progress and should be out in 2010. The story is the life and challenges of James Anderson who, as a young boy, is rescued from a river bank, hauled to Texas by two drifters and becomes a rancher, all the while searching for his family who journeyed west to California in Journey to Tracer's Point.

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Brought to you in part by:
BUY: WOOF: Women Only Over Fifty , BUY: Wendel Wordsworth, BUY: Cynthia's Attic




25 comments:

  1. Hi, Gwyn! And welcome to Bookland Heights...

    I see you were a researcher at the Library of Congress. Did you enjoy it, and how did it help prepare you for your writing career?

    Diana
    http://www.woofersclub.blogspot.com
    http://www.dianablack.net

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  2. Welcome to Bookland Heights, Gwyn! I see that your stories about the Anderson's is a series. Do you enjoy writing series books? Any idea how many you want to write?

    Mary
    http://cynthiasattic.blogspot.com
    http://marycunninghambooks.com

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  3. They are both good reads! And Gwyn is a dynamo!! Good interview.

    Don't forget, all, books make great Christmas presents!
    Heidi

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  4. Agreed, Heidiwriter! Thanks for stopping by.

    Mary
    http://cynthiasattic.blogspot.com
    http://marycunninghambooks.com

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  5. Diana,

    Being a researcher at the LOC is fantastic. The atmosphere is beyond belief. Yes, I do enjoy going and sitting there in the Jefferson Room. When I shut my eyes, I can almost imagine Thomas Jefferson sitting behind one of the desks near me.

    As far as it helping my career, being part of the LOC library gives me the opportunity to search through a multiple of books that I cannot get anywhere else. Some are so old.

    Thanks for dropping by. Love your questions.

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  6. Mary,

    Thanks Mary. This blog is fantastic. Yes, my stories are a series which I totally enjoy writing. Actually it started out as maybe two books, but now I have no idea how many. Ideas keep popping into my head. So I write the first chapter and put it away until I've finished the WIP I'm working on. It's like Little House on the Prairie, Lonesome Dove, and other.

    Thanks for leaving a comment. Enjoyed meeting you electronically.

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  7. Hi Heidi,

    So glad to see you drop by. Thanks so much for the lovely comments about my books. Not sure about the dynamo part, I try. HA HA HA

    Looking forward to your next book. Keep writing.
    And, yes, books are a great Christmas gift.

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  8. Great interview, Gwyn! I've read both your books and this interview just brings back the journey I took with your Anderson's. As Heidi said, good reads.

    Alice

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  9. Gwyn,your experience in the Library of Congress reading room brought back my own visit to that awesome place. My mother had researched there in the 1930s and I felt like I was sharing a special experience with her. Great interview.

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  10. Gwyn,
    So James Anderson survived. That was a surprise. I'm looking forward to this another story in the series.

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  11. Gwyn -- Your comments are so interesting. I love both of your books, and look forward to more to come. You are a great Western writer! JL

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  12. I see that your stories about the Anderson's is a series. Do you enjoy writing series books? Any idea how many you want to write?

    Work from home India

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  13. Very nice review of Gwyn's books and interview. One thing certainly stands out clearly--Gwyn loves writing, loves life, and loves to have people enjoy her work. She's a success in all these endeavors.

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  14. 0indy, I love the beautiful LOC and know how you feel about the awesome place. What a wonderful expereince to have shared our gogeous library with your mom. Thank you for visiting Bookland Heights. I so enjoyed your comment.

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  15. Eunice, Loved having you stop by and visit Bookland Heights. Yes, the third book is about James Anderson and I know you will love this story. It was a real challenge to write. See you at the next conference.

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  16. Joyce, What lovely compliments from such a prolific writer. I enjoy reading westerns and have spent time with John Wayne. I guess I'm a cowgirl at heart. Thanks for dropping by and leaving a comment. Will get with you soon.

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  17. Sanjeet,
    The first book started out as a stand alone, but then I decided to write another one and now it is an ongoing series about the Anderson family. Being a genealogist, I truly do love series and how no idea how many I will write. I have finished the third book and have started the fourth on the Anderson family. I just keep writing. There is so much to tell. Thank you for visiting Bookland Heights. It's a great blog.

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  18. Mary, How wonderful to visit with you on Bookland Heights Blog. A great place to discuss books. Thank you for all the lovely compliments. I do love to write, it's getting my behind in the chair that's the hardest thing to do. Sometimes the Florida sun calls me out. I need to get a laptop for my lanai. A great adventure. . .typing outdoors. Have a great holiday season.

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  19. Diana, Thank you for being a gracious hostess. I have enjoyed visiting your blog and appreciate your having me. Until we meet again, enjoy life and keep writing.

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  20. Alice, Thank you for reading my books and loving my stories. They were fun to write and quite a challenge. Every time I write one, I learn so much about my characters. Hope you enjoyed visiting Bookland Heights. It's a great blog. Thanks again for dropping by.

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  21. Great interview! Researching at the Library of Congress must be fascinating. I've been getting into geneaology, first for accuracy in the book I just finished (a book of ghost stories and mysteries; I was trying to find someone who "disappeared" and was presumed to have been murdered -- but I found her! She lived to a ripe old age!) and now for my own family. It's addictive. I joined Ancestry.com for the US, and next year may get the World membership. Everything I find there seems to be a seed for a new book! I'm going to find your books, Gwyn!
    Lori Orser

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  22. Hi Lori, Good luck with your genealogy. Yes, it's addicting. I can say that after 40 years of research. If you are interested in Journey to Tracer's Point and Winds of Change, just email me at gwynramsey@yahoo.com. Be glad to help you out. Isn't Bookland Heights a great place to meet authors? Merry Christmas.

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  23. Gwyn, it's been such a pleasure "meeting" you here in Bookland Heights! Thanks for sharing all you have, and best of everything to you throughout the holidays and all of 2010!

    Diana
    www.dianablack.net

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  24. You are more than welcome, Diana. It's been a pleasure.

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  25. I am sadden to say September 26th my sister, the author of these books, Gwyn Ramser has passed away. She fought cancer for over 20 years and it finally took her life. You are loved where ever you are sis.

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