Character Interview – Blair Greyson, TO HEAL A HEART
Jana Richards: Hi, Blair. Thank you for agreeing to this interview. I want readers to get to know the real you.
Blair Greyson: (frowns) The real me?
JR: Yeah. The young woman who gave up an independent life so she could care for her grandfather, all while working a full-time job at the veterinary clinic in Masonville.
BG: (shifts uncomfortably) Don’t make me out like some sort of hero. Sure, I wanted to help my Granddad, and when the job came up at the clinic, I saw it as a sign. But I got a lot out of the move, too. I was able to bring my two rescue horses here to the farm with me. Boarding them at a stable was very expensive. Now I’m living rent-free in the farmhouse and all I have to do is cook a few meals and keep the house clean.
JR: And fix the barn floor and mend fences.
BG: Well yeah, but that’s because of my horses. Granddad hasn’t kept cattle on the farm for years, so everything we’ve done has been for my benefit.
JR: Let’s talk about the improvements you’ve made on the farm. Garrett did a lot of the work, didn’t he?
BG: Absolutely. Without him, I’m not sure I could have kept the horses here. I certainly couldn’t have continued to board his rescue horse Harry. I wouldn’t have had any idea how to fix the barn floor on my own. Garrett’s done a tremendous amount of hard, physical work and it’s all the more remarkable because of his disability.
JR: How do you feel about his disability?
BG: (narrows eyes) What do you mean?
JR: You know exactly what I mean. Do you think his amputation is ugly?
BG: No! Garrett is anything but ugly! He’s the most beautiful man—(she abruptly stops speaking)
JR: Go on. You were saying Garrett is beautiful.
BG: (clears her throat) Garrett is handsome, certainly. What I meant to say is that he’s a beautiful person, inside and out.
JR: I see. And how do you feel about Garrett as a man?
BG: (gets to her feet) We’re friends. That’s all. I should get ready for work.
JR: You’re running away, Blair. What are you afraid of?
BG: (sits down and averts her gaze) I’m afraid that if he knows who I really am, and what I’ve done, we won’t be friends any longer. I’m afraid he’ll hate me.
JR: What have you done that’s so awful?
BG: I have to go. (stands up and walks away)
JR: Blair?
(no answer)
JR: Oh, Blair. What have you done that you think is so terrible?
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/to-heal-a-heart-jana-richards/1136868654?ean=2940162717966
Blurb:
Garrett Saunders' world changed two years ago on a road in Afghanistan. Back home, he feels like a stranger. As he struggles to find his place in the world, he meets a horse destined for the slaughterhouse and a woman bent on rescuing the strays of the world, including him.
Blair Greyson moves to Masonville to look after her ailing grandfather and give her rescue horses a home. Right away she butts heads with a surly former Marine. Despite a rocky start, they come to an agreement: Blair will board Garrett's rescue horse and he'll help with repairs around her farm.
Garrett finds purpose working with Blair—and falls in love with her. But she's hiding a secret. Can she forgive herself and accept Garrett's love, or will she let guilt and regret continue to rule her life?
Excerpt #1 - 243 words:
He pushed himself to his feet, disconcerted by his unsteadiness. He made a few halting steps toward the gate as Blair ran into the yard.
“I forgot my sweater,” she said, grabbing the garment from the back of a chair and slipping it on. “It’s cooler than I thought. Are you sure you don’t want to watch the fireworks with us?”
“No, I—”
His words were cut off by a loud explosion, and his only thought was that he had to protect Blair. He grabbed her and threw her to the ground, covering her body with his. He was under attack. Why was Blair in Afghanistan? How could he keep her safe?
Through the chaos and noise he heard her muffled voice beneath him. “Garrett, you’re crushing me.”
He shifted his weight slightly. “Shh. I’m sorry. You have to stay down and quiet. I can’t let them hurt you.”
She stopped struggling. “Who’s going to hurt me?”
“Can’t you hear the mortar fire? I have to protect you.”
Her hand rubbed his back in gentle circles. “It’s all right, Garrett. It’s only fireworks. It can’t hurt us. We’re safe here.”
He lifted his head and looked around. He was in Cole and Lauren’s back yard in Masonville. There were no bombs, no shelling, no Taliban. He looked down into Blair’s face, into the pity in her eyes. He rolled off her, disgusted with himself.
Disgusted and scared. He was losing his mind.
Author Bio:
When Jana Richards read her first romance novel, she immediately knew two things: she had to commit the stories running through her head to paper, and they had to end with a happily ever after. She also knew she’d found what she was meant to do. Since then she’s never met a romance genre she didn’t like. She writes contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and historical romance set in World War Two, in lengths ranging from short story to full length novel. Just for fun, she throws in generous helpings of humor, and the occasional dash of the paranormal. Her paranormal romantic suspense “Seeing Things” was a 2008 EPPIE finalist.
In her life away from writing, Jana is an accountant/admin assistant, a mother to two grown daughters, and a wife to her husband Warren. She enjoys golf, yoga, movies, concerts, travel and reading, not necessarily in that order. She and her husband live in Winnipeg, Canada. She loves to hear from readers and can be reached through her website at www.janarichards.com
Social Media Links:
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Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/author/janarichards
Amazon UK Author Page: http://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B002DEVWWG
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This is an amazing story and I highly recommend it.
ReplyDeleteD. V. 🦉
Thanks, D.V. You've been very supportive and I appreciate it very much!
DeleteIt really sounds great!
DeleteWonderful interview and excerpt, Jana. Best of luck with TO HEAL A HEART!
ReplyDeleteThanks Judith!
DeleteDelightful interview, ladies :) Wishing you all the best, Jana :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Barbara. Glad you liked the interview!
DeleteSounds like my favorite kind story where the heroine and hero save each other. Congratulations, Jana!
ReplyDeleteYeah, they do. They both have much to overcome. Thanks for commenting Charlotte.
DeleteGreat character interview! Best of luck with To Heal a Heart!
ReplyDeleteThanks Karen! Thanks for commenting.
DeleteGreat interview. There's a character in need of healing. Thanks for telling his story.
ReplyDeleteBoth characters are in need of healing in this story. And it's actually "her" story here in the interview. That's what I get for giving my heroine a boy's name like Blair. But somehow, it just felt right for her. Thanks for commenting, Anna!
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