A new author to me, Valerie Fraser Luesse writes brilliant historical Southern romance with a unique perspective and delightful story ideas.
We chatted about where she gets her ideas, how her role as Senior Travel Editor for Southern Living Magazine gives her fun insights into books, and all from the hospital where her husband was a patient! That’s dedication, folks!
You’re Going to Love the Unique Story Behind this Historical Romance
My first taste of Valerie Fraser Luesse’s writing came with The Key to Everything. That book… oh, man that book. It opened with a scene where the main character, Preston, sees his parents in an intimate (no not that kind of intimate) moment and it changes him… and doesn’t at the same time. It just makes him a richer person for it. You see who he’s going to become just from his reaction.
Learning that this book came from a true story about a young man who rode his bicycle down the east coast Route 1 Highway to Key West from Savannah. The reasons and impetus in that book are different from the original story, but the book… wow. I just have to say, wow!
And you don’t want to miss Valerie’s tale about a few interesting reviews she got about it. Hint: if you’re looking for an erotica collection, you won’t find it here. That’s all I’m sayin’.
We chatted about a few of her other books (guess what, I had one on my shelf and didn’t even know it was hers! EEEP!) .
But that’s not telling you about Under the Bayou Moon
Seriously, the story about how she got the idea for the book and the research she did. You don’t want to miss it. I think being that Senior Travel Editor for Southern Living Magazine gives her a great opportunity to find unique settings and hear wonderful stories that spark exciting ideas. This one is no exception.
Oh, and don’t forget to pay attention the ‘gators. Just puttin’ that out there.
About Under the Bayou Moon by Valerie Fraser Luesse
Restless with the familiarity of her Alabama home, Ellie Fields accepts a teaching job in a tiny Louisiana town deep in bayou country. Though rightfully suspicious of outsiders, who have threatened both their language and their culture, most of the people in tiny Bernadette, Louisiana, come to appreciate the young and idealistic schoolteacher as a boon to the town. She’s soon teaching just about everyone–and coming up against opposition from both the school board and a politician with ulterior motives.
Acclimating to a whole new world, Ellie meets a lonely but intriguing Cajun fisherman named Raphe who introduces her to the legendary white alligator that haunts these waters. Raphe and Ellie have barely found their way to each other when a huge bounty is offered for the elusive gator, bringing about a shocking turn of events that will test their love and their will to right a terrible wrong.
A master of the Southern novel, Valerie Fraser Luesse invites you to enter the sultry swamps of Louisiana in a story that illuminates the struggle for the heart and soul of the bayou.
Releases August 5, so get your preorders in!
You can find more about Valerie on the “About” page of her website.
That’s also where you can also find her links to social media about halfway down the page or so.
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