"You will not be able to read it only once in your life... Absolutely unforgettable!" ~ Detra Fitch, Huntress Reviews

"Excellent... a wonderful, interesting love story. What a joy to find a refreshing 'new' voice in the romance genre." ~ Vickie, Romance Reader at Heart

"(Laura Mills-Alcott) has crafted an amazingly intense and totally sensual tale, so complex and riveting that it will simply take your breath away..."  ~ Marilyn Rondeau, Historic Romance Writers

"I enjoyed 'The Briar and the Rose' very much." ~ Dolly Parton

 

Interview.

Dear Readers,

It's July, and we're about to celebrate Independence Day.

My son, Jared, is a US Marine, who came home from his first deployment in Iraq in mid-March, and will deploy for his second tour in August. Like every Marine Mom, I worry and fret the entire time he's away from home, while being very proud that my son has chosen to serve his country, and work to help resolve the situation in Iraq so the everyday Iraqis can enjoy the same freedoms and prosperity that we sometimes take for granted.

My mother was diagnosed with cancer, and has been going through a very aggressive treatment schedule, which includes 3 consecutive days of chemo, then 18 days off before starting another 3 consecutive days of chemo. She recently completed 3 weeks of radiation treatments, 2 times per day (and during the first week of the radiation, also had 3 days of chemo in between the 2 radiation treatments on those days). And in early August, she will begin "whole brain radiation" for 10 days - a treatment they use to help prevent the cancer from spreading to the brain (her type of cancer very commonly comes back in the brain, as well as the bones and kidneys or liver).

Mom has small cell lung cancer. It's vicious. It's deadly. And it's almost always found in smokers. Over 70% of those diagnosed with this cancer are not diagnosed until it has spread to other parts of the body - thus the reason for the high mortality rate (there are really no symptoms until it's advanced - Mom came down with pneumonia and coughed so hard she coughed up blood - from a broken blood vessel, but she didn't know that's what it was. So they did more tests than they would have done otherwise, and found the cancer while it was still limited to the lung. She was lucky).

Mom quit smoking, and she's doing very well in light of the terrible effects of the treatments. The cancer responded well to the treatments she's had so far. And we're hoping for a complete cure.

This has basically been my personal focus in 2008 so far - Jared in and out and almost in Iraq again, and Mom's cancer. Though I do hope to be writing more frequently soon.

In fact, I've been working on a historical romance that I hope to have completed by next year, that features Francis Scott Key as a secondary character and the Star Spangled Banner. I'm shooting for July 4th of next year:)

On August 1st, my daughter, Jordan, and I will be taking part in TNT's "24 Hour Theater" - she as an actor, and me as a writer.

It's a very cool concept. At 7pm on August 1st, directors, writers and actors show up. The actors audition and then go home. Then the writers are divided into teams, and each team works all night to create a 15 minute play (they are expecting 5 teams and 5 plays). At 8am the next morning, the actors and directors show up, get their scripts and start rehearsals. Then, at 8pm that night, they perform the plays.

Jared and Jordan have both been active in performing. Jared played "Danny" in the school's production of "Grease", and the father in "Bye-Bye Birdie". He also performed at Borders and the local skating rink. Jordan played his daughter in "Bye-Bye Birdie", had the lead in "Footloose" and played the mean girl in "High School Musical".

I have videos of the kids that I put up on YouTube on Jared's birthday last year so he could see them in Iraq. They include Jordan dancing to "All That Jazz" and singing "Hero" from "Footloose", and Jared singing a funny song he wrote ("Mexican Lullaby"). There's even one of my youngest singing Johnny Cash with his Uncle (they sang one song after another and Jake knew them all - at one point he sang "Daddy Sang Bass", and without missing a beat, launched into "Cocaine Blues", which, of course, he had no idea what he was singing about! Everyone listening about died laughing.)

If you enjoy watching videos of other people's kids <g> feel free to check them out:)

I wanted to take a moment to thank everyone who has read THE BRIAR AND THE ROSE. The emails and snail mail letters I've received are very much appreciated, because it lets me know that all the work that went into writing this book was worth it.

The hardcover version of THE BRIAR AND THE ROSE is out of print, but may be available as a paperback soon. You can also order a limited edition e-book (the purchase link is on the excerpt page).

The Briar and the Rose, set in late Regency Era England and Ireland, is based on the old and tragic ballad Barbara Allen. I invite you to read the reviews and a two chapter excerpt from the book.

Here's some fun I put up on the website for readers:

Listen to excerpts of BARBARA ALLEN, the ballad THE BRIAR AND THE ROSE is based on!
Read the Lyrics

WMA: Windows Media Player     RM: Real Player

Emmy Rossum Emmylou Harris Dolly Parton
WMA      -     RM WMA     -     RM WMA     -     RM

If you would like to purchase a CD copy of the ballad
THE BRIAR AND THE ROSE is based on (from Amazon), click here.

As for future books, THE LOCKET is in the final rewrite stages, and should be completed soon.

This story begins in the slums of London, during the coldest winter most have ever known. Mare, an orphan girl, near death, is found in the alley by Aidan, a young naval officer. He plays the good Samaritan by taking her to a boarding house, where he summons a physician, and then bargains with the proprietor to care for her in return for a monthly payment brought to her by his solicitor. Believing he's gone above and beyond the call of duty, and that she's well cared for, Aidan doesn't give the girl another thought. Little does he know the hell the Mare endures for the next seven years, and when a turn of events forces her to flee London, fate steps in and reunites Mare and Aidan. He's now a captain of his own ship, and she's no longer a twelve year old child, but a breath taking beauty.

Aidan and Mare's story takes them from a battle with assassins on the high seas, to the ballrooms of London. But a secret from the past threatens to steal any hope they may have of a future together.

After THE LOCKET is finished, next in line to be written is either A ROGUE'S SEDUCTION or LORD RAKE'S BRIDE.

Happy reading!

 

"The emotional pull of The Briar and the Rose is astounding... One of the best historical romances that I've read in a while... definitely not to be missed.  ~ Sharyn McGinty, In the Library Reviews

 

 PRESS Order

Burning Country published a feature on The Briar and the Rose and its basis on the ballad "Barbara Allen"

This book is now out of print and sold out at online booksellers.

 

 


 
 
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Laura's favorite charity is the IMAGINATION LIBRARY, a literacy program that helps bring FREE books to children each month, from birth to 5 years. Read more about this wonderful program and the woman who started it! Donate any amount and receive a free book!