New Release & A Giveaway
Hooray for release week! My latest western fairy tale retelling – Part of Your World – has officially released! I can’t wait to share this Little Mermaid story with you.
This one is extra special to me, because it is the first Disney movie my husband and I watched together when we were dating. Also, my husband courted me with letters while we were apart for the summer, and in one of them, he quoted all the lyrics to Kiss the Girl. This was pre-Internet, when you had to listen to a recording of a song over and over and write down the lyrics by hand. A true gift of love. (Happy sigh.)
In order to have a woman nicknamed “Mermaid,” she had to live near the sea, which left only one Texas setting as a good option – Galveston. During my research, I learned that during the 1880’s Galveston was the largest and wealthiest city in Texas. It possessed one of the busiest ports in the country and was second only to Ellis Island as a part of entry for immigrants. The perfect place for my poor heroine to dream about being part of a different world, one filled with wonderful things to spark her imagination.
Galveston, TX 1880
The best thing I found during my research, however, was that was was a real “Ursula” in Galveston during this time period.
There was a convent in Galveston that offered boarding school education to wealthy young ladies. And it was known as . . . St. Ursula’s By the Sea – established and run by an order of Ursuline nuns, an order dedicated to the education of young women.
How perfect!
Of course, I had to find a way to tie my villainess to this place. I didn’t want to corrupt a nun, but it seems reasonable to assume that the nuns might have brought in teachers to instruct their girls on more specialized subjects – such as music. So, Octavia Underhill is going to teach music at the Ursuline Academy. This will give her access to the socially elite and will place her in a position of power and influence.
The academy received an amazing architectural remodel in the years after my story (finished in 1895), turning it into a Victorian Gothic masterpiece. Designed by the local architect that my hero is going to apprentice with. 
This new building was one of the few to withstand the 1900 hurricane, and the nuns opened it to the public as a hospital and shelter. Unfortunately, a different hurricane in 1961 damaged the aging structure, and in 1962, they demolished this Victorian beauty.
Making this discovery, however, felt like such serendipity! It’s moments like this that make me feel like the story was meant to be.
And now this story can be yours! I hope you’ll give Zane and Muriel a try this summer. It’s the perfect beach read!
Have you ever toured a historic home or building?
What is a local historical tidbit that you think people would be suprised to learn about your hometown?
Giveaway
One person who comments today will receive an audio book download code for Taming Lady Temperance, Book One in my Secret Society of Spinster series.
Winner will be announced in the comments on Friday.
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I started reading this week on KU and it is fabulous! Those ferrets! Hilarious!!
Oh, I’m s glad you are enjoying it, Colleen. 🙂
I’ve already ordered and am particularly excited about Part of Your World. My great grandparents immigrated through Pelican Island (Galveston) as did most Slavic immigrants. LOVE the romance of Kiss the Girl from your hubby. Aww.
How fun to have that connection to Galveston, Susan! I love that you can trace your family history back that far.
Karen, what a wonderful setting for Part of Your World! Galveston is a fascinating place. I can’t wait to read your book!
Thanks, Teresa! I loved learning some of Galveston’s history. Such a fascinating place.
Just received my copy in the mail a couple days ago and can’t wait to start reading it! The little mermaid was always my favorite princess growing up, so out of all the books in this series I am definitely most excited for this one. Thank you for providing us with such wonderful stories to read!
Thank you for the sweet words, Caleigh. What a blessing your are to this writer’s heart.
Wow! So excited about this book and the Galveston connection. I taught 5th grade for 23 years in Virginia Beach. In one of our reading programs, a final unit assessment (reading selection and writing response) was based on the Galveston flood in 1900.
As a native born Virginian, I grew up among so much history and toured Jamestown, Williamsburg, Yorktown, and Monticello numerous times, and many others. We always took our 5th grade classes to Williamsburg for our major field trip in the spring. For a literary historical connection, I was born and raised in Richmond, where Edgar Allan Poe was raised from a toddler through teenage years by the Allan family, who were friends of his mother and took him in when his mother died. That’s where his middle name comes from. The Poe Museum in Richmond is recognized as having the most extensive collection of Poe among all of the museums. For a little known fact, Berkeley Plantation, southeast of Richmond, celebrates the first Thanksgiving in 1619. Is it no wonder that historical fiction is my favorite genre?
Don’t include me in the giveaway, as I just finished and loved Lady Temperance.
What rich history you have, Betty! I’ve never been to Virginia, but I would love to visit some day. So much history there!
Hi Karen, Part of Your World sounds wonderful! I loved the info about St. Ursula’s By the Sea. What a wonderful setting for the story!
Thanks, Carrie! I love uncovering historical tidbits that fit so perfectly and help shape my story. It makes them more real to me, somehow. 🙂
I have to say, I think this is one of my favorite books you’ve written! Such a great story.
That’s a HUGE compliment, D’Ann. Thank you so much for lending me your editing expertise as well.
I love that your retelling of Little Mermaid has some historical significance to it with the Ursuline Academy in Texas. It’s sad that a hurricane destroyed it but thankfully, there are still pictures of it. You are keeping it alive by preserving some of it in your story. The name of your villainess is very clever. I look forward to reading your story.
Thanks, Tammi. I have a lot of fun naming characters. It’s one of my favorite writing perks. There are a lot of inside jokes or puns that readers may or may not pick up on, so I’m glad you caught the nuance. 🙂
😉
I can’t wait to start reading this story later today! As always, I thoroughly enjoy your storytelling 💕
That makes my heart happy, Karen! Hope you love it!
I love the Little Mermaid and that the history you weave in the story so interesting. I live close to Chickamauga Battlefield where they fought in the civil war. I live in Fort Oglethorpe which was a Fort in the war also so it’s rich in history also. I can’t wait to read or listen in my case to this read.
So much history in your backyard, Tammy. Love that!
I’ve toured a few historical buildings. Hearst Castle in San Luis Obispo, CA – built by newspaper magnate William Randall Hearst. The Mission Inn in my hometown, Riverside, CA – generally considered the largest mission revival style building in the US. Built in the 1880s. 10 US presidents are among the notable guests. President Nixon and his wife were married there. President Reagan and his wife honeymoon there. It’s beautiful at Christmastime! 😊 I’ve also toured the Heritage House in Riverside. Not nearly as famous as the other two beautiful, but it’s a beautiful restored 1891 Queen Anne Victorian mansion that’s been turned into a museum.
(Please don’t include me in the drawing for the audiobook. I already own it. I’ve read and listened to both Taming Lady Temperance and Part of Your World! Both are fantastic!!)
What wonderful buildings, Ronya! I grew up about an hour and a half from Hearst Castle but only toured it once or twice. My hubby and I went back to California for our 30th wedding anniversary. We stayed in the Madonna Inn (not as historic, but very unique and where we spent our first honeymoon night) and toured the castle while we were there. It was a great trip!
I’m in – “Taming Lady Temperance” sounds like a great read/listen. 🙂
Thanks, Rachel!
The most famous or at least popular historic home that I have visited is the Biltmore Estate. The size and scale of it is absolutely amazing!
I’ve already read and enjoyed Taming lady Temperance, so don’t enter me.
I’ve heard the Biltmore in AMAZING. I’ve never been, but I would love to see it one day.
I absolutely love your books and the way you are able to craft such wonderful stories. The history you include feels so enriching. I can’t wait to see where this story takes me.
Thanks, Caitlin. 🙂
We have a winner!!!
Congratulations to Colleen! I’ll be emailing you, Colleen, with instructions for claiming your audiobook.
Have a lovely weekend, everyone!
Loved this glimpse into your research. Congrats on another release, Karen!
Absolutely LOVED “Part of Your World”!
If you’re a fan of hard rock band Cheap Trick is officially from my hometown of Rockford, IL.
They were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2016.
My daughter’s name is Ursula. No, she isn’t named after the sea witch. Although her older brother tease her about it. She is named after my grandmother who was a wonderful Christian woman. My daughter has always loved The Little Mermaid.