Lyn Cote and Why She Writes About the Quakers

Lyn Cote

Hi, everybody.
Occasionally I have the privilege of welcoming another author over to write in my writer’s journal. Today I’m especially pleased to welcome Lyn Cote, multi-published, bestselling author of books that tell brave stories about strong women. I’ve been fortunate enough to visit her blog a few times so today she’s returning the favor. As a bonus she has a special offer for all your readers about some free or discounted books. Read the links and titles at the end of her interview and be sure to let Lyn know how much you appreciate her generosity.

First, welcome, Lyn. As you know I have several books about the Shakers, who have a few similarities to the Quakers that you have used as central characters in books you have written. What caught your interest and started you writing about the Quakers or Society of Friends?

I’ve never analyzed before why I have always been drawn to Quakers. I know that like Ann who writes about the Shakers, I’m going against the current “Amish” flow. 🙂

I think that the Quakers or Friends strong moral stands which ran counter to the prejudices of the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries is what attracted my crusading spirit. My brand is expressed as “Strong Women, Brave Stories” since my heroines are usually crusaders who are at the forefront for change in their times.

According to Wikipeida: “Historically, Quakers have been known for their use of thee as an ordinary pronoun, refusal to participate in war; plain dress; refusal to swear oaths; and opposition to alcohol.” Indeed in our history, they were instrumental in settling our nation and in the 19th century were the Christians who pushed for the rights of women, abolition and the temperance movement.

I’ve always admired the Quakers and wanted to know more about them. Sounds like your stories will help me there. Tell us about the series you just finished.

I just finished the Gabriel Sisters series which portrayed three Quaker sisters who try to bind up the wounds of our nation after the Civil War. One goes to teach at a Freedman’s school in the South; one established an orphanage for the many orphans left by the war and the third who was a nurse in the war becomes a doctor in the West. Recently I agreed to write another Quaker series which will dramatically portray the Quakers’ part in establishing the Underground Railroad and working toward abolition.

All those books sound really exciting. I love reading about women who made a difference in our country’s history. Definitely all these ideas sound as if they easily fit into your brand of brave stories about strong women. What else have you been working on?

Last year, I had time to revise and polish my very first manuscript, La Belle Christiane. This book never sold because it didn’t follow some of the unwritten rules of Christian fiction. I still thought it’s a good story and now it’s FINALLY available in digital and print. I did this because I didn’t want it to sit ignored in my files forever. Interestingly I find that La Belle Christiane included my fascination with the Quakers (I have an older couple of Friends) and I have a crusading heroine. Here’s a short blurb:

In the 1770’s, after her mother’s violent murder, Christiane Pelletier flees France. Daughter of a French courtesan to frontier wife to companion of Lady Washington, Christiane moves into the heart of the American rebel elite. But one man in her life can never be forgotten. Once he was her friend. Now he is her enemy. Will he become her destiny? Only God knows.

What fun to have that very first book that you’ve always loved finally available to readers! Thanks for telling us about it. And thanks for these special offers to my blog readers.

Okay, everybody, here’s your chance to get some great reads downloaded on your e-readers for free or to get a discount on a print book. Instead of offering one free download (not print copy) of this book, Lyn is offering a free coupon to anyone who wants it today. Go to http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/92021 and enter this discount code VM67X . This offer is good for today only. To buy a print copy, go to https://www.createspace.com/3669135.

For a discount code for $3 off $15.99 print edition, go to http://LynCote.net and click Contact and email Lyn.

And as an additional offer, you can get Lyn’s Autumn’s Shadow free on Kindle through Monday March 5, 2012.

http://amzn.to/y9PY6Q
The first book in the series is priced on sale at 99 cents on Kindle the same days.http://amzn.to/v8BqEz

Now Lyn has a question for you.

Did you know much about Quakers before today? And does a heroine using “thee” bother you as you read?

Lyn, thank you so much for coming over to visit and letting us know more about the Quakers and your books. And thank you, readers, for dropping by and for answering Lyn’s question. We’ll look forward to you sharing your thoughts, and Lyn will be back over to talk with you too.

If you want to know more about Lyn and her books, please check out her website, http://booksbylyncote.com.

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