Title: The Ransom
Author: MaryLu Tyndall
Publisher: Ransom Press
Book Four in the Legacy of the King's Pirates series
Can a woman run a business and provide for a family in Jamaica in 1692? Juliana Dutton intends to find out. With an ailing father and a wastrel for a brother, she has no choice. But she must keep her activities a secret or face destitution. When a nosey suitor threatens everything, she spurns him and instead becomes engaged to the town idiot, Lord Munthrope. But is he an idiot? The more her problems push her closer to the man, the more she realizes he is not who he seems.
Alexander Hyde, the Pirate Earl, is the most feared pirate in the Caribbean—feared, successful, wealthy, handsome, and bored, so terribly bored. When an unexpected event allows him to get close to Juliana, a woman he has loved from afar for years, he takes it. But leading a double life causes more problems than it’s worth. A restless crew and a long-time enemy out to capture and hang Alex, put Juliana in grave danger.
As tremors rock the city of Port Royal, Juliana’s faith in God is equally shaken. Not only have things gotten worse, but she is confused by her feelings for both Munthrope and the Pirate Earl. Deception, intrigue, mutiny, death, betrayal, all attempt to tear the lovers apart. But the final blow comes when a massive earthquake strikes the city and threatens to sink it into the sea.
"The Ransom is a journey not soon forgotten..." Cindy Vallar, editor Pirates and Privateers
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| MaryLu Tyndall ~ Author |
After I read MaryLu's The Ransom I needed to know why she decided to publish independently. And here are her frank answers to my questions....
~Why did you decide to publish independently?
For a number or reasons. Most people don't realize that when you write for a traditional publisher, you may be locked into what they want you to write. Or more importantly in my case, what they don't want you to write. I wanted to write pirate stories and colonial stories but my publisher wanted westerns and 19th century America. Also once you sign a contract with a publisher, you give them all rights to your book. The author no longer owns her book. The publisher can put whatever cover on it, edit it or not, even decide not to publish it (within limits). They also fix the price and decide how much marketing they will do. In addition they get a higher percentage of each sale. After 14 books, I longed for control over my own career. I longed for the freedom to write what I wanted, design my own covers, set my own price, and keep most of the profits from my hard labor. So, that's what I did!
~ Do you still intend to publish traditionally too?
I won't say that I never will. It depends on the publisher and the contract details. My goal is to reach as many people as possible with my books, so if a publisher allows me to write what I want and they can extend my readership, I might consider it.
And coming July 2014....
Abandoned Memories ~ Book Three in the Escape to Paradise Series
Publisher: Barbour
In MaryLu Tyndall’s stunning conclusion to her Escape from Paradise series, Angeline Moore longs to make a fresh start in the Confederate colony of New Hope, Brazil. James Callaway longs to create a city free from immoral women who caused his failure as a preacher. But a series of strange happenings soon lead the colonists to believe they have been brought to this place for a divine purpose.
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As an added gift giveaway to MaryLu's "The Ransom" .... A hand-crafted necklace from Misty Isles Design (that's me!) of ocean-blue and foam white beads, silver "life-preserver" links, and an anchor pendant. Great for summer-time wear, it's 28" long (opera length) so it can be slipped easily over the head without struggling to close a clasp.
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...And as MaryLu found her mission as an author in order to reach as many people for the Lord as she can, we pray that you do too. Blessings on your summer!
Find out more about MaryLu and her books at: www.marylutyndall.com
