Today I’m delighted to introduce you to my new friend Brandy Vallance. Her debut novel The Covered Deep released recently, and I read it after my friend Kristy Cambron raved about it. After I read it, I understood why. This book is an adventure novel in the lines of Indiana Jones or Romancing the Stone. Bianca, the heroine, is selected by a British lord to participate in an adventure to Israel. The four people he’s selected are on the trip as an experiment. As they race around the globe, Bianca is attracted to a man who captures her heart, but there are so many roadblocks in the way it appears impossible for them to come together.
I loved this book so much that I bought a copy to giveaway. Read to the end to make sure you enter the giveaway. Without further ado, let’s chat with Brandy.
Brandy, you’re book The Covered Deep is a fun mix that felt a bit like an Indiana Jones movie set in the late 1800s. How did you come up with this fun proposition?
Thanks, Cara! Paul Emerson, the hero and historian of the British Museum, does have a little Indiana Jones in him. I loved the movies when they came out and I’m a complete history fanatic. I originally wanted to be an archaeologist or a historian, so my passion just wove its way into the story.
Your heroine literally travels the world. How did you come up with her?
Bianca has a little Anne of Green Gables in her. She’s an incurable romantic with the guilty pleasure of reading Gothic romance novels. She longs to get away from her small town—Portsmouth, Ohio—and find the perfect romantic hero. I lived in Portsmouth for a while and I visited Southern Ohio every summer as a child. Some of my favorite memories come from that area. I wove some of that into Bianca’s backstory.
What did you learn as you were writing this book?
Researching was loads of fun! I corresponded with the British Museum and was able to go to England in 2011. I also poured over tons of Victorian etiquette books so I could have a frame for Bianca. Personally though, the process of writing this book taught me how to persevere. The final manuscript of The Covered Deep was my eleventh draft!
Tell us about the amazing way this book came into existence.
The Covered Deep won the Operation First Novel contest through the Christian Writers Guild. The winner received a contract with Worthy Publishing. It was a total dream come true.
What do you hope readers will take from this story?
True love has to be fought for daily.
What are you working on next?
I’m over the moon excited about my second novel, Within the Veil. It’s set in 1885 Scotland—a sweeping romance between an English Royal Horse Guard and a half-Scots gypsy. I just started my third historical romance, set in an exotic location.
How can readers connect with you?
Facebook (both my Author Page and personal page),
Twitter @BrandyVallance, Goodreads, Pinterest &YouTube (Brandy Vallance Inspirational Historical Romance).
Thanks so much for joining us, Brandy. Now be sure to enter the giveaway. Do you have a favorite adventure film?
Comments 23
My favorite action romance movie would either be the National Treasure movies or the Fast and Furious movoes. I love action movies, which include romance in them.
Author
Kelly, I agree that the National Treasure movies are such fun!
I really enjoyed meeting Brandy and her husband at lunch one day with Peter Leavell. It was a great Mexi lunch here in Colorado Springs. Her book sounded fascinating then and still does now!
Author
That would have been such a fun lunch!
By the way, my favorite action/romance movie has always been, will always be, The Princess Bride. Perfect in every way.
Author
Michael, don’t laugh, but I still don’t get Princess Bride — haven’t since the first time I saw it in the theater. #nofunnybone.
Romancing the Stone is one of my favorites.
I love National Treasure and Pearl Harbor! Those are two movies I could re-watch over and over. I have heard good things about your book as well. Same person put the bug in my ear as Cara. 🙂 I hope to get a copy so I can read it!
Lately, my favorite has been the Secret Life of Walter Mitty.
Cara you have me really interested in this book! Movies? What are they? I’m too busy reading! The movies are never as good as the books anyway.
Romancing the Stone was an absolutely hilarious adventure movie. This book sounds right up my alley. ty for the chance to win a copy.
Hmm, it’s hard to say but I think my favorite adventure/romance would be The Saint. This sounds like a great book!
I loved Romancing the Stone! Thanks for the interview with Brandy. I can’t wait to read The Covered Deep.
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Pleasantville. Loved it.
For some reason I’m going with humor so I’d probably say The Mummy. I loved that one. But for serious drama I love The Last of the Mohicans.
Author
I don’t think I’ve ever seen all of The Mummy. Loved Last of the Mohicans.
One of my fave action/adventure movies of all time, though not considered a romance there is a small underlying thread of romance is Goonies! In my opinion it’s one of the best movies ever! But Romancing the Stone was cute too, as well as Knight and Day! Btw, I’ve been dying to read The Covered Deep since I first read about it a month or so ago! Thanks for the chance to win a copy!
One of my fave action/adventure movies of all time, though not considered a romance there is a small underlying thread of romance is Goonies! In my opinion it’s one of the best movies ever! But Romancing the Stone was cute too, as well as Knight and Day! Btw, I’ve been dying to read The Covered Deep since I first read about it a month or so ago! Thanks for the chance to win a copy! kam110476 at gmail dot com
Author
Goonies! That’s a flashback to my childhood. 🙂
I enjoy the Princess Bride and all the Indiana Jones movies. I’ve been reading good reviews about The Covered Deep so am excited to have a chance to win a copy. Thanks for the chance, Cara.
The Princess Bride.
My favorite adventure/romance I’ve seen recently is The Man Who Cried. Set just before Hitler took Paris a Jewish girl falls in love with a gypsy. Beautifully written.
A favorite adventure romance film…hmm…The Tourist is a good film with a great plot and some romance thrown in. The old Doris Day film Calamity Jane is a good one too. 🙂 Ooo, National Treasure is as well. I’ve heard great things about Brandy’s story and I look forward to a chance to read it.