Elva Cobb Martin is a wife, mother and grandmother who lives in South Carolina with her husband and a six-pound chiweenie named Priscilla. A life-long student of history, her favorite city, Charleston, inspires her stories of romance and adventure. Her love of writing grew out of a desire to share exciting stories of courageous characters and communicate truths of the Christian faith to bring hope and encouragement.
Visit Elva Cobb Martin online
The Gamekeeper's Reluctant Bride
She fled from a gilded cage, only to find herself trapped in a marriage of obligation. Helena Allston had it all—wealth, beauty, and a life of luxury on her family's plantation. But when her father arranges a marriage to a man she despises, Helena takes matters into her own hands, fleeing on horseback, only to find herself half-drowned and memory-less in a simple cottage. And when her memory returns, Helena ends up back where she began—arranged to marry, this time to the handsome gamekeeper who rescued her. Could there be more than obligation to this marriage? Or is he only after the Windemere Plantation her father promised him? Gideon Falconer is at a loss when it comes to the stubborn, beautiful woman he rescued from the Ashley River. His predicament only worsens when he returns her to her family's plantation, where her father shocks him with a demand that Gideon marry his daughter to prevent a scandal. As a man new to his faith, he feels compelled to do the right thing, but his own secrets and the past left behind in England threaten to complicate matters further. In a marriage that began as a mere obligation, can Helena and Gideon find the strength to let love and trust conquer all, despite a determined enemy's schemes to wreck their hope?
- ISBN: B0D54JZRKB
- Publisher: Wild Heart Books
Interview with Elva Cobb Martin
Congratulations on your new book, The Gamekeeper’s Reluctant Bride. Describe in five words why readers are going to love it...
Thank you, Edwina, for this interview! Here are five tropes readers will enjoy in The Gamekeeper’s Reluctant Bride: Woman in peril, arranged marriage, determined enemy, Charleston plantations, and abolitionist dream.
I’m currently reading In a Pirate’s Debt and have been blown away by your attention to historical detail. Do you enjoy researching as much as you enjoy writing the actual stories?
I really do. In fact, one of the things I pray daily for my writing is that I won’t spend TOO MUCH time on research and miss making good progress on the story plot.
You’re passionate about intercession. What’s one thing you would like others to know about that?
Jesus told us that His church would be first of all a house of prayer (Luke 19:46). Think about that. The main thing was not to be preaching, teaching, serving, even worship...but prayer. Praise, of course can be preparation for prayer. One of my daily petitions is that every church will become Jesus’ S.W.A.T. House of Prayer. That’s one of my law officer son’s terms. It means Secret Weapons and Tactics, which special law officers are trained to use in their work of protection and stopping crime. You and I as Christians are God’s special ops on earth! We have been given Christ’s authority and spiritual weapons and tactics to use in spiritual warfare to bring God’s kingdom of peace and love on earth. Jesus us gave the key in Luke 10:19. Behold, I’ve given unto you power to tread upon serpents, scorpions and over all the power of the enemy. I have published a booklet on this text, Power Over Satan, always on Amazon for $.99 to train believers how to use Christ’s authority to defeat all plans of the enemy. I am convinced America would not be where we are now with widespread abortion and homosexuality if we the church had been learning and using Christ’s authority to pray and defeat evil--and voting for leaders who stand for righteousness. I wrote this booklet after a nude club opened in our quiet little Southern town. In desperation we decided to learn about spiritual warfare and our authority in Christ. We gathered and trained an interdenominational group of prayer warriors in spiritual warfare, and then we did onsite prayer to break demonic strongholds that went back years in our city, starting at our Court House. That nude club shut down within 24 hours of our agreeing prayers and never reopened. There is a booklet that will help you understand and begin using your authority in Christ in these critical days. Get others to learn and agree with you! https://amzn.to/3YZU13h or read for free on Kindle. Some have asked me how to pray for America in this election season. I have a two-page scriptural petition I lift up daily to the Lord that covers many bases. Anyone desiring a copy may email me at elvacmartin@gmail.com.
You and your husband were church planters. What’s something you learned through that about persevering and trusting the Lord?
God will always provide where He guides. But we must take that first step He shows us, even if it feels like we’re stepping off a cliff.
What was your favorite book as a child?
Grimms Fairy Tales and Black Beauty
How important is it to you that you weave your faith into your stories?
I’ve told several writing friends that I would have never gone through all the study, work, and plain sweat it takes to write novels unless I knew I could include a spiritual takeaway to help readers come to know about the Christian faith, or to increase their faith in Jesus Christ and God’s love, care, and plan for mankind.
How would you say your writing style differs from other Christian romance authors?
I called another historical Christian romance author friend who has read most of my books (and I’ve read hers) and she confirmed what came to my mind. It is that my books have a lot of adventure, swashbuckling heroes, and the plot moves pretty fast.
Are you a plotter or a pantser? What does a typical writing day look like for you?
I’m a bit of both plotter and pantser. I do a short, general plotting outline, but expand it as I write and save it in my numbered Chapters and Scenes file.
Actually, I have five file folders open on my computer as I write a novel:
a) Manuscript (ms) in progress (The actual story taking shape)
b) Plotting Rough Outline (I brainstorm this in the beginning with main characters description)
c) Chapter and Scene List (Here I expand the general plotting outline into scenes and chapters as I write them.)
d) Character Names and Places (Where I add names of places and minor characters as I write them in the story)
e) Appendix (Here I define words or phrases that need a further explanation)
My best writing day has been Tuesday which I’ve tried to fully dedicate to writing (no emails or social media) with TV dinners for lunch for hubby and me, and I write from 9 am to 6 pm. Other days I mostly write in the afternoons and take care of pressing stuff in the mornings. But EVERY morning begins with an extended prayer time and Bible study at 6 am or earlier. Several times the Lord has given me plot directions that I jot down during this prayer time. Usually, it is always best to write on the current novel before looking at emails, but sometimes that’s impossible with needy friends or family and other ministry. We are active in a church congregation, and I coordinate an internet prayer task force to alert prayer for major issues coming down the pike or coming up in the courts or the state house. Anyone interested can email me to be added to that list.
What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
I like to bake, grow roses, hike on trails, and READ. I’m usually reading three books at a time, two fiction, one NF. This is in addition to reading through the Bible each year. I also love to teach Bible studies and how to pray at every opportunity.
What is your biggest challenge in writing fiction? And what is your biggest joy?
My biggest challenge is when I run into a frustrating computer glitch that soaks up writing time and gets me off track. Gr-r-r. My biggest joy is reading the helpful reviews of those whom my books have blessed. Praise the Lord!
When things get tough, what is it that motivates you to keep going?
Deadlines from my publisher, prayer, and a talk with a writer friend.
Do you have any advice for up-and-coming Christian authors?
Yes! Never give up! I have a 9-part blog series in my archives about my “Journey to a Book Contract: Five Vital Steps.” You will learn exactly what it took for me to finally make it to a book contract! My first novel, Summer of Deception, was published thirty years after I wrote the first draft. Soon after that, my husband and I were called into the ministry. The draft, typed on a Selectric typewriter, and large box of research went into our attic for many years until we retired and I began work on it again. So, never give up! With God’s help, you will see that book published! The Gamekeeper’s Reluctant Bride, releasing September 10th, is my 8th novel. Nothing is impossible with our Mighty God! If you don’t give up and keep doing the five steps I mentioned.
Tell us what we can look forward to from you next!
Right now, I’m taking a breather. But the other day as I hiked across a wooden bridge over a little creek bounded by a cane break and briars, I suddenly saw a young southern woman in her fancy dress and her maid trying to hide there. I believe I even heard their voices.
"Ouch! I just got stuck with a briar. I hate this, Sari! And what about snakes? I think I'd rather just go ahead and die."
The muffled whisper reached her maid crawling, pressing, just ahead of her in the cane break growing around the plantation's Black Creek. "Miss Tiffany, if them soldiers catches you and me, it'll be worse than death for both us."
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Edwina Kiernan is the Christian author of eight novels, four of which are award-winning. She is a committed follower of Jesus (the Living Word), and endeavors to use her pen to point others to Him. All her books feature strong, gospel-centered faith and sweet romance, wrapped up in atmospheric historical settings you won’t want to leave.
When she’s not writing, Edwina loves spending time with her dashing husband and lively little son, reading and studying the Bible, getting lost in a captivating novel and drinking more types of tea than most people realize even exist.
Thank you, Edwina, for this interview! Here are five tropes readers will enjoy in The Gamekeeper’s Reluctant Bride: Woman in peril, arranged marriage, determined enemy, Charleston plantations, and abolitionist dream.
I’m currently reading In a Pirate’s Debt and have been blown away by your attention to historical detail. Do you enjoy researching as much as you enjoy writing the actual stories?
I really do. In fact, one of the things I pray daily for my writing is that I won’t spend TOO MUCH time on research and miss making good progress on the story plot.
You’re passionate about intercession. What’s one thing you would like others to know about that?
Jesus told us that His church would be first of all a house of prayer (Luke 19:46). Think about that. The main thing was not to be preaching, teaching, serving, even worship...but prayer. Praise, of course can be preparation for prayer. One of my daily petitions is that every church will become Jesus’ S.W.A.T. House of Prayer. That’s one of my law officer son’s terms. It means Secret Weapons and Tactics, which special law officers are trained to use in their work of protection and stopping crime. You and I as Christians are God’s special ops on earth! We have been given Christ’s authority and spiritual weapons and tactics to use in spiritual warfare to bring God’s kingdom of peace and love on earth. Jesus us gave the key in Luke 10:19. Behold, I’ve given unto you power to tread upon serpents, scorpions and over all the power of the enemy. I have published a booklet on this text, Power Over Satan, always on Amazon for $.99 to train believers how to use Christ’s authority to defeat all plans of the enemy. I am convinced America would not be where we are now with widespread abortion and homosexuality if we the church had been learning and using Christ’s authority to pray and defeat evil--and voting for leaders who stand for righteousness. I wrote this booklet after a nude club opened in our quiet little Southern town. In desperation we decided to learn about spiritual warfare and our authority in Christ. We gathered and trained an interdenominational group of prayer warriors in spiritual warfare, and then we did onsite prayer to break demonic strongholds that went back years in our city, starting at our Court House. That nude club shut down within 24 hours of our agreeing prayers and never reopened. There is a booklet that will help you understand and begin using your authority in Christ in these critical days. Get others to learn and agree with you! https://amzn.to/3YZU13h or read for free on Kindle. Some have asked me how to pray for America in this election season. I have a two-page scriptural petition I lift up daily to the Lord that covers many bases. Anyone desiring a copy may email me at elvacmartin@gmail.com.
You and your husband were church planters. What’s something you learned through that about persevering and trusting the Lord?
God will always provide where He guides. But we must take that first step He shows us, even if it feels like we’re stepping off a cliff.
What was your favorite book as a child?
Grimms Fairy Tales and Black Beauty
How important is it to you that you weave your faith into your stories?
I’ve told several writing friends that I would have never gone through all the study, work, and plain sweat it takes to write novels unless I knew I could include a spiritual takeaway to help readers come to know about the Christian faith, or to increase their faith in Jesus Christ and God’s love, care, and plan for mankind.
How would you say your writing style differs from other Christian romance authors?
I called another historical Christian romance author friend who has read most of my books (and I’ve read hers) and she confirmed what came to my mind. It is that my books have a lot of adventure, swashbuckling heroes, and the plot moves pretty fast.
Are you a plotter or a pantser? What does a typical writing day look like for you?
I’m a bit of both plotter and pantser. I do a short, general plotting outline, but expand it as I write and save it in my numbered Chapters and Scenes file.
Actually, I have five file folders open on my computer as I write a novel:
a) Manuscript (ms) in progress (The actual story taking shape)
b) Plotting Rough Outline (I brainstorm this in the beginning with main characters description)
c) Chapter and Scene List (Here I expand the general plotting outline into scenes and chapters as I write them.)
d) Character Names and Places (Where I add names of places and minor characters as I write them in the story)
e) Appendix (Here I define words or phrases that need a further explanation)
My best writing day has been Tuesday which I’ve tried to fully dedicate to writing (no emails or social media) with TV dinners for lunch for hubby and me, and I write from 9 am to 6 pm. Other days I mostly write in the afternoons and take care of pressing stuff in the mornings. But EVERY morning begins with an extended prayer time and Bible study at 6 am or earlier. Several times the Lord has given me plot directions that I jot down during this prayer time. Usually, it is always best to write on the current novel before looking at emails, but sometimes that’s impossible with needy friends or family and other ministry. We are active in a church congregation, and I coordinate an internet prayer task force to alert prayer for major issues coming down the pike or coming up in the courts or the state house. Anyone interested can email me to be added to that list.
What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
I like to bake, grow roses, hike on trails, and READ. I’m usually reading three books at a time, two fiction, one NF. This is in addition to reading through the Bible each year. I also love to teach Bible studies and how to pray at every opportunity.
What is your biggest challenge in writing fiction? And what is your biggest joy?
My biggest challenge is when I run into a frustrating computer glitch that soaks up writing time and gets me off track. Gr-r-r. My biggest joy is reading the helpful reviews of those whom my books have blessed. Praise the Lord!
When things get tough, what is it that motivates you to keep going?
Deadlines from my publisher, prayer, and a talk with a writer friend.
Do you have any advice for up-and-coming Christian authors?
Yes! Never give up! I have a 9-part blog series in my archives about my “Journey to a Book Contract: Five Vital Steps.” You will learn exactly what it took for me to finally make it to a book contract! My first novel, Summer of Deception, was published thirty years after I wrote the first draft. Soon after that, my husband and I were called into the ministry. The draft, typed on a Selectric typewriter, and large box of research went into our attic for many years until we retired and I began work on it again. So, never give up! With God’s help, you will see that book published! The Gamekeeper’s Reluctant Bride, releasing September 10th, is my 8th novel. Nothing is impossible with our Mighty God! If you don’t give up and keep doing the five steps I mentioned.
Tell us what we can look forward to from you next!
Right now, I’m taking a breather. But the other day as I hiked across a wooden bridge over a little creek bounded by a cane break and briars, I suddenly saw a young southern woman in her fancy dress and her maid trying to hide there. I believe I even heard their voices.
"Ouch! I just got stuck with a briar. I hate this, Sari! And what about snakes? I think I'd rather just go ahead and die."
The muffled whisper reached her maid crawling, pressing, just ahead of her in the cane break growing around the plantation's Black Creek. "Miss Tiffany, if them soldiers catches you and me, it'll be worse than death for both us."
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Edwina Kiernan is the Christian author of eight novels, four of which are award-winning. She is a committed follower of Jesus (the Living Word), and endeavors to use her pen to point others to Him. All her books feature strong, gospel-centered faith and sweet romance, wrapped up in atmospheric historical settings you won’t want to leave.
When she’s not writing, Edwina loves spending time with her dashing husband and lively little son, reading and studying the Bible, getting lost in a captivating novel and drinking more types of tea than most people realize even exist.
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