When I started writing about the Golden Age of Piracy for my new Captain’s of
the Scarlet Night series, I knew my female characters needed to be as
tough as they came. These couldn’t be the regency wallflowers or the fainting
‘rescue me’ heroines. These needed to be captains of their own fate (pardon the
pun). Woman who faced some horrifying futures and did what they had to do to
survive, and yet retain their feminine. A fine plank to walk!
In my debut book, WITHIN A CAPTAIN'S HOLD, I give you two such women. Best
friends against everything society dictated. A Lady and her maid. They were
raised together and shared everything. BFF’s forever. When my heroine’s life is
in danger, the two concoct a plan to keep them both safe. Was it a good plan?
Well…no. But it was made in desperation and required all the strength and courage
they could muster. I won’t spoil the ending for you, but it all worked out for
the best…hell, I write romance!
I love writing such strong female characters. It must be because I come from some
tough female stock. My family history is full of heroic women who survived some
incredible things. Fought and scrapped against odds I’ll never imagine. My great-
grandmother Collins worked as a cook at the age of eighteen in a logging camp at
the turn of the last century where she caught meningitis, which she survived but
which left her totally deaf by the age of twenty. She went on to live another
sixty plus years working, raising a family, burying a son and a husband, and
never once considered herself disabled.
Another grandmother, this one a great, great, sent four sons off to fight the
Civil War. Only two returned. One without both his boots. Strong women all who
came to this country, lived through wars and depression and raised their
families, lived their lives.
In keeping with the spirit of this week’s observance of Thanksgiving here in the
U.S., I’d love to tell you about another one of my ancestors. You see, I’m a
direct descendent from the Mayflower. Specifically, John and Priscilla Mullins
Alden. Talk about tough stock!
Priscilla Mullins left Surrey, England with her mother, father, and brother when
she was eighteen. First, she survived the crossing. No small feat there! The
Mayflower landed in Plymouth, Massachusetts at the end of November in 1620 where
they were unprepared for the harsh New England weather, non-existent housing, and
a lack of food and water. They spent their first winter still onboard the
Mayflower anchored off shore. Half the passengers didn’t survive to see spring.
Priscilla lost her entire family that first brutal winter. In fact, she was one
of the few women to survive at all. And survive she did!
As the story goes, being one of the few females to live, the bidding for her hand
in marriage became something of a legend. Evidently, there were two serious
contenders. Miles Standish and John Alden. So Miles asks his friend John to pop
over to Priscilla’s place and talk him up. You know, act as his wing man. Point
out his strong points. Tell her Miles is sweet on her and wants to be her beau.
Instead, Priscilla tells John to forget about Miles. Miles, who? She likes John
better and wants him to speak for himself. At least that’s the way Longfellow
told the tale! Can’t you see her getting all sassy? Well, as sassy as pilgrims
were allowed to get.
John and Priscilla did end up together. They married and had ten children. Ten!
Without the benefit of a hospital and epidurals, I might add. Hell, without
benefit of electricity and running water…or disposable diapers! They had seventy
(70!) grandchildren, and she and John lived to be well into their eighties, which
was remarkable for their time. Talk about a love story.
Writing the characters I do, I hope in some small pays tribute to the strength of
the women who made up my family history. They lived and loved some amazing lives.
I’d love to hear about some of your formidable mothers, grandmothers, and great
greats!
Lisa A Olech is an artist/writer living in her dream house nestled among
the lakes in New England. She loves getting lost in a steamy book, finding the
perfect pair of sexy shoes, and hearing the laughter of her men. Being an
estrogen island in a sea of testosterone makes her queen. She believes in ghosts,
silver linings, the power of a man in a tuxedo, and happy endings.
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Captain Jaxon Steele is a tall, sun-bronzed, fierce-fighting Pirate King. He
and the notorious crew of the Scarlet Night are both feared and respected for
their ruthless reputation. The Captain’s only love is the open sea and the ship
he calls home. When it comes to women, he has three rules: never sleep with
another’s wife, don’t take virgins into bed, and most importantly, never bring a
woman aboard—that brings the worst luck of all.
Annalise Gatherone has to leave London—tonight! Usually her only concern is the
color of her latest gown, but now she’s choosing between life and death.
Desperate to escape the clutches of an evil Duke, she stows away aboard the
Scarlet Night, hoping she’s bound for Port St. Maria. Winning Captain Jaxon’s
affections, she just might sneak by unharmed. But when her plans are altered in
ways she never imagined, she must batten down the hatches for a journey into
unknown waters…
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