Join Deborah Hawkins, author of the historical/contemporary romance novel, Dance for a Dead Princess, as she tours the blogosphere July 1 – September 27, 2013 on her first virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book! This tour is part of a huge Kindle Fire HD Giveaway. If interested in signing up for a review, interview, guest post, or book spotlight, please let us know by contacting Tracee at tgleichner (at) gmail.com or leave a comment below along with your contact information.
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ABOUT DANCE FOR A DEAD PRINCESS
Wall Street Attorney Taylor Collins, has something Nicholas Carey, the 18th Duke of Burnham, has been searching for since the death of the Princess of Wales: the videotape Diana made in January 1997 before her death in August, naming her assassins.
Determined to avenge Diana’s death by exposing her killers, Nicholas lures Taylor to England with his promise to sell his ancestral home, Burnham Abbey, to one of her clients, a boarding school for American girls. But Nicholas, who has dated American actresses since the death of his beloved wife, ten years earlier and who has vowed never to fall in love again, is immediately overwhelmed with feelings for Taylor at their first meeting.
Taylor, unaware that Diana’s tape is in the estate of Mari, her long-time friend and client, and nursing her hurt over her broken engagement to a fellow attorney in her firm, brands Nicholas supremely spoiled and selfish and is in a hurry to finish the sale of the Abbey and return to New York. But while working in the Abbey’s library, Taylor uncovers the Tudor-era love story of Thomas, the first duke and founder of the Carey family. As she reads Thomas’s agonizing struggle to save the love of his life and the mother of his child, she begins to see Nicholas in a new light as he battles to save his sixteen-year-old ward Lucy, who is desperately unhappy and addicted to cocaine. But just as Taylor’s own feelings for Nicholas become clear and at the moment she realizes she is in possession of Diana’s voice from the grave, she is confronted with evidence Nicholas may be responsible for a double murder. When Nicholas is arrested and taken to Wandsworth Prison, Taylor sets out to learn the truth once and for all about Nicholas Carey and the death of the Princess of Wales.
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Guest Post (by the author)
Dance For A Dead Princess is built around a tape that Diana, Princess of Wales made in January 1997 naming her killer. Recently, Scotland Yard announced it was investigating new information about Diana’s death. A former member of the British Special Air Services the (SAS) boasted to his former wife that the SAS had brought about her death. His former parents-in-law reported the claim to the military police who passed it on to Scotland Yard.
The original announcement was appropriately neutral. Scotland Yard informed the public of the information and indicated the police would assess it for credibility. But Scotland Yard also said it would not reinvestigate Diana’s death at this time, a wise conclusion since no one yet knows if the new information can be believed.
The press, however, have transformed this simple bit of factual reporting into a speculative circus. Some commentators insist all possible “conspiracy” theories have been debunked and only crazy people believe them while others see a plot lurking in every corner. Rather than the wait-and-see position of Scotland Yard, most press reports require the reader to take a position: believe or disbelieve. The press’s approach to the new information illustrates the rule that human beings like to organize data and reach conclusions just as they prefer to return to the tonic tone in melody. In other words, we don’t like unanswered questions.
But it isn’t likely that the “truth” of the princess’ death will ever be resolved. Or, if it is, the answer will be revealed a lifetime or so later. Think about it. If powerful governmental and multinational forces brought about her assassination, they have every tool on the planet available to perpetuate their cover up. They aren’t going to make any dramatic confessions based upon the ex-parents-in-law’s letter. And, if Diana’s death was a tragic accident, people who love a conspiracy are going to continue to spin their own yarns.
This whole controversy reminds me of speculation about the fate of Tsar Nicholas of Russia’s youngest daughter, Grand Duchess Anastasia. When I was growing up, a German woman named Anna Anderson made out a case that convinced many people she was the grand duchess and had miraculously survived the cellar execution in Ekaterinburg. Anna Anderson appeared to have information only the real Anastasia would have known. Some who had known the grand duchess believed Anna, but many others dubbed her an impostor. She wound up married to an eccentric professor of history in Charlottesville, Virginia, where she died in 1984. In 1956, Ingrid Bergman stared in a movie loosely based on Anna Anderson’s life and claims. Litigation to determine whether Anna was the real Anastasia never reached a conclusion.
In 1977, two investigative journalists, Anthony Summers and Tom Mangold, wrote a book called The File on The Tsar, claiming that not all of the royal family died at Ekaterinburg and the survivors became pawns in an international power game. They claimed Lenin, the Kaiser, the British royal family, and British intelligence were all involved. I read it at the time, and found it interesting and persuasive.
But The File on the Tsar illustrates how facts can be manipulated to fit the end the writer wants to believe. In 1991, the bodies of the Tsar, his wife, and three of their daughters were found in a mass grave near Ekaterinburg. DNA testing confirmed their identities. Then, in 2007, Alexi and the remaining daughter were found, and DNA testing confirmed that all seven Romanovs had died in the cellar that day. By that time, Anna Anderson had been established as an impostor because in 1984, when she died, DNA testing showed she was not related to the Romanovs.
The deaths of famous people hold our attention, especially when they happen under odd or mysterious circumstances. In fact, our fascination with these stories lies in our inability to know exactly what took place. If the facts were known and settled, we would go looking for another more interesting tale whose facts were not resolved.
Scotland Yard had it right in its neutral announcement; and the press, insisting on belief or un, had it wrong. No one can really decide what happened in Paris on August 31, 1997, based upon this new little bit of information. More than likely whether Diana’s death was deliberate or an accident will never be resolved. Or if it is, the truth will come out after a much longer time, as with the Anastasia mystery. In the meantime, the circumstances surrounding Diana’s death create material for fiction writers like me. I wanted to write about a beautiful woman whom I admired because she grew up in difficult circumstances on the world stage. She transformed herself from a naive girl into a charismatic woman who spoke for compassion and love, and she was willing to share her struggles with the rest of us who are struggling. Dance For A Dead Princess is not an argument for or against what “really happened.” It is intended to be a highly entertaining story about interesting and lovable people.
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ABOUT DEBORAH HAWKINS
Deborah grew up in the South, wrote her first novel at the of age thirteen, and has been writing ever since. In graduate school, she studied Irish Literature and came to believe all Irishmen and Southerners are born storytellers. In addition to writing, she loves music and plays the clarinet. Now that her children are grown, she devotes her time to law, music, writing, and her two Golden Retrievers, Melody and Rhythm.
Deborah taught college English and worked as a technical editor before going to law school. She worked for several large East Cost firms before coming to California in the mid-1980’s where she developed a solo practice as an appellate attorney while raising her three children as a single parent. She is admitted to the bar in two states and the District of Columbia, is a certified appellate specialist, and has a Master of Laws in addition to a Masters in English. She believes that even a legal case always begins with a story.
Visit her blog at:
http://dhawkinsdotnet.wordpress.com/
WATCH THE VIDEO!
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Pump Up Your Book and Deborah Hawkins are teaming up to give you a chance to win a new Kindle Fire HD!
Here’s how it works:
Each person will enter this giveaway by liking, following, subscribing and tweeting about this giveaway through the Rafflecopter form placed on blogs throughout the tour. If your blog isn’t set up to accept the form, we offer another way for you to participate by having people comment on your blog then directing them to where they can fill out the form to gain more entries.
This promotion will run from July 1 – September 27. The winner will be chosen randomly by Rafflecopter, contacted by email and announced on September 28, 2013.
Each blogger who participates in the Dance for a Dead Princess virtual book tour is eligible to enter and win.
Visit each blog stop below to gain more entries as the Rafflecopter widget will be placed on each blog for the duration of the tour.
If you would like to participate, email Tracee at tgleichner(at)gmail.com. What a great way to not only win this fabulous prize, but to gain followers and comments too! Good luck everyone!
ENTER TO WIN!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Dance for a Dead Princess Virtual Book Publicity Tour Schedule
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Monday, July 1 – Book reviewed at The Phantom Paragrapher
Tuesday, July 2 – Book featured at Cindy’s Love of Books
Wednesday, July 3 – Book featured at Laurie’s Thoughts and Reviews
Thursday, July 4 – Interviewed at Read 2 Review
Friday, July 5 – First chapter reveal and review at Mom in Love with Fiction
Monday, July 8 – Up Close and Personal at Between the Covers
Tuesday, July 9 – Guest blogging at The Story Behind the Book
Wednesday, July 10 – Interviewed at Review From Here
Friday, July 12 – Book trailer reveal at Pump Up Your Book
Tuesday, July 16 – Guest blogging at The Writer’s Life
Thursday, July 18 – Interviewed at Literal Exposure
Friday, July 19 – 5 Things post at Literarily Speaking
Tuesday, July 23 – Book reviewed at Miki’s Hope
Wednesday, July 24 – Interviewed at Beyond the Books
Thursday, July 25 – Interviewed at Broowaha
Monday, August 5 – Book featured at Naturally Kim B
Tuesday, August 6 – Book featured at Maureen’s Musings
Thursday, August 8 – Interviewed and Guest blogging at Janna Shay
Monday, August 12 – Book featured at Literary Winner
Tuesday, August 13 – Interviewed at Beyond the Books
Thursday, August 15 – Book reviewed at Naturally Kim B
Friday, August 16 – Book reviewed at Bless Their Heart Moms
Tuesday, August 20 – Guest blogging at Allvoices
Wednesday, August 21 – Interviewed at Pump Up Your Book
Monday, August 26 – 1st chapter reveal at Literary Winner
Wednesday, August 28 – Interviewed at The Writer’s Life
Thursday, August 29 – Book featured at Plug Your Book
Friday, August 30 – Book reviewed at A Room Without Books is Empty
Tuesday, September 3 – Book featured at The Dark Phantom
Wednesday, September 4 – Book featured at Authors and Readers Book Corner
Thursday, September 5 – Interviewed at As the Pages Turn
Friday, September 6 – Guest blogging at My Devotional Thoughts
Monday, September 9 – Book reviewed at My Devotional Thoughts
Tuesday, September 10 – Guest blogging at She Writes
Wednesday, September 11 – Guest blogging at Review From Here
Thursday, September 12 – Guest blogging at Newsvine
Friday, September 13 – Interviewed at Examiner
Monday, September 16 – Guest blogging at Straight From the Author’s Mouth
Tuesday, September 17 – Interviewed at Book Marketing Buzz
Wednesday, September 18 – Guest blogging at Literal Exposure
Thursday, September 19 – Interviewed at I’m Shelf-ish
Friday, September 20 – Book reviewed at My Cozie Corner
Monday, September 23 – Book reviewed at Broken Teepee
Tuesday, September 24 – Book featured at Between the Covers
Wednesday, September 25 – Guest blogging at Redroom
Thursday, September 26 – Book reviewed at Emeraldfire’s Bookmark
Friday, September 27 – Book reviewed at Mary’s Cup of Tea
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My Devotional Thoughts | Pump Up Your Book: “Dance For a Dead Princess” by Deborah Hawkins Book Spotlight/Guest Post/Giveaway (Ends 9/27) U.S.
