I've interviewed Captain Alex Thomas, the hero from the short story 'Beacon of the Night' (Book 1 in The Lighthouse Anthology). He's gorgeous and fearless!!! Take a look Hi Alex. Welcome to my page. Alex: Thank you. It's great to be here. We’ve got a lot o people anxious to meet you so let's get this interview started. Alex: Ready when you are. Okay. I see you are now the Lighthouse Keeper on Destruction Island with Sylvia Ross. Alex: I am. It’s an interesting profession, to say the least, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Although, I think Sylvia is better at the job than I am. She’s so in tuned to the mystical qualities of the ocean, she knows just when a rescue is imminent. What was the scariest moment of your life? Alex: I would say when I realized my ship, The Justice, was going down. Black Bellamy had gotten the drop on us and blew a hole through the port side. I lost a lot of men that day, and that will haunt me forever. I’m sorry to hear that. Did you always want to be a sailor? Alex: I wanted to be a farmer like my father. Pirate hunter and entrepreneur just sort of fell into my lap. What are you passionate about these days? Do you still hunt pirates? Alex: *chuckles* No, thank God. Sylvia saved me from that. I can’t get enough of her. She’s so brave and innocent I fall in love with her each morning when we wake. I still think I don’t deserve to have her. I would say my passion is reserved for her only. So what do you do to unwind and relax? Alex: I like to sit by the fire while Syl reads me a passage from whatever novel she is currently reading. I don’t particularly care for the stories, but I love to hear her speak. How romantic! If you could apologize to someone in your past, who would it be? Alex: Sylvia. For leaving her when I should have stayed. But you came back, so that’s something. Alex: I suppose, but I have a lot of making up to do for leaving in the first place. What one word best describes you? Alex: Determined I’d say. Black Bellamy didn’t stand a chance. Unfortunately our time is up, I know you need to get back to the Lighthouse, but I think we have enough time for one more question. So what is something people would be surprised to know about you? Alex: I can make a delicious loaf of bread. You know, years on a ship with only one cook, you eventually learn some skills in the galley. I think every man should learn how to cook. Thank you for leaving the island to join us today, Alex! Alex: Anytime. Thank you for stopping by and visiting with Alex. If you’d like to keep reading, here is an excerpt and blurb for the Lighthouse Anthology which is available from Amazon Blurb When violent ocean forces become too strong, the keepers are watching. They are strong, determined, and afraid of nothing. They will risk their lives to save others, and risk their chance at love to serve their country. Can love overcome the obstacles thrown in their path and shine the light in their hearts? They are the ladies of the Lighthouse Service and men of the Life Saving Service. Those who have vowed to watch and protect. They are…the keepers. Beacon of the Night Alone in the world, Sylvia single handedly runs the Destruction Island Lighthouse. Courageously, she puts her life in danger to save shipwrecked sailors. When she rescues a man during a storm, she learns that this notoriously handsome Captain has a notorious secret. I Heard the Bells Ever since she was young, Abigail has been infatuated with her brother’s best friend Gavin Walker. She is the lighthouse keeper’s niece, and not at all inclined to join in the deadly ocean rescues. He is a local hero and second in command at the Lifesaving Station in Cape Disappointment. A place known to many as ‘The Graveyard of the Pacific’. Can Gavin help Abbie save her brother, and nurse her uncle back to health before Christmas? The Ghost ships Cry Wade Alston is keeper of the Little Island Life Saving Station. He is haunted by his past, and the spine-chilling cry of the ghost ship that lies just outside the shoreline. To top it off, a crewman from the wreck is missing, and the man’s wife and daughter, Laura, continue to plague his life with a request that is not only against the rules, but downright dangerous. Laura asks him to attend her father’s Wake, and Wade becomes the victim of deception. During which, he finally gets the courage to tell her how he has felt for years. But will her desperation to find her father jeopardize any future they may have together? Burning Light Within Vanessa has taken on the task of Dry Tortuga Island's lighthouse keeper in place of her late husband. As keeper, "Nessa" rescues those who find trouble in the warm Florida Key waters. The brave young woman is challenged by a man she saves from the water -- a man from her past. Will he raise the longing she once felt, or will she be reminded of a past that once was but is no more? Excerpt Excerpt from ‘Ghost Ships Cry’ Laura scooted closer to the edge of her seat so her mother could enter the carriage without mishap. She waited until the door closed before bringing up the subject that bothered her since its inception. “Are you sure it will work?” “It has to,” Parthena said. She settled in and fluffed her large, full skirt. “We need him, and we know he’s there. So there is no other option, if you want to see him again.” Laura pulled her lips into a thin line. The plan they hatched was dicey—at best. There were so many ‘ifs’, that it made her uncomfortable. The carriage jerked and she bounced in the seat. She snuggled deeper into the bench cushions to draw out as much warmth as possible. “I just don’t like it, Mama. He is such a nice man, and I’ve known him since school. Isn’t there any other way we can do it?” “Well…have the couple of times you pleaded with him worked?” “No.” “Then there is your answer. There is no other way. It has to be like this, and it has to be now.” Excerpt from Beacon of the Night Washington Coast, October 1895 The sea looked dark, a catalyst for the abyss and the final resting place of the brave men surrounded by the dark waters. Davie Jones called to them, beckoned his crew to the afterlife of a sailor. He was the only one left, clutching the floating plank of his ship and desperate for survival. He would live to get his revenge on the bloodthirsty pirate who did this to his beautiful ship, The Justice. The sea grew angry, driven mad by the deadly storm that dominated the sky. Alex watched the waves, each one a wall of water as it reached to heights of up to sixteen feet, and the water cold enough to slow his body. He looked up and saw the land and flashing light of the lighthouse, a beacon of the night. They were close to shore when the storm—and the pirate—hit. Alex could see the dark outline of the land he needed to reach; his only hope for survival. He clung to the wood, buoyant against the raging ocean force. He kicked his feet and swam against the current, with no effect. He tried to reach the light. He struggled to keep his head up, his gaze on the horizon, and swim with all the energy he had left. His strength drained rapidly as the ocean temperature and physical exertion took its toll. No matter how hard he tried, it didn’t seem to work. The land stayed out of reach, and taunted him with its closeness. There is a breaking point in every man. He saw it on many occasions with his crew, but never thought he would experience it. Now he knew differently—this was his. Mere moments after he hit the ice-cold water, he wanted to give up and let God take him. He loosened his grip on the wooden plank and let his body sink. The water slid up to his waist, then chest, neck, and face. Just as his head sank below the water’s surface, he felt a sharp scrape against his back and he was pulled against the water’s current. Against his will, he reached the surface and glided across, to land with a thud against a wooden boat. Buy Links Amazon Biography A country girl born and bred, Dawn Luedecke has spent most of her life surrounded by horses, country folk, and the wild terrain of Nevada, Idaho and Montana. As a child, she would spend many afternoons reading books, watching western classics, and Rogers and Hammerstein movies. When she grew up she decided to leave the quiet country life for a chance to find adventure by serving a successful tour in the United States Coast Guard. During that time, she found her soul mate (and alpha male) and started a family and writing career. She enjoys writing historical and paranormal romance and spends as much time as she can working on her current manuscript. For more information visit www.dawnluedecke.com. Social media links Website www.dawnluedecke.com Goodreads Youtube Book trailer
Marlow
7/24/2014 08:00:29 am
My pleasure Dawn. I loved your interview with Captain Alex. He's such an appealing character. 7/24/2014 06:01:02 am
As promised, each blog I have along my Blazing the West Book Tour, I will write about my adventure in the comments section. On August 15 I will ask one question from these comments and the first person to answer it right wins a $25 Amazon Gift Card. 7/24/2014 06:01:08 am
As promised, each blog I have along my Blazing the West Book Tour, I will write about my adventure in the comments section. On August 15 I will ask one question from these comments and the first person to answer it right wins a $25 Amazon Gift Card. 7/24/2014 10:32:10 am
Having read all the Lighthouse series, I found all them so well done and I think we're all fascinated by lighthouses and the lives of the keepers. What a great interview. Good luck in Alaska!! Stay warm:) Comments are closed.
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