YOU THINK FOOTBALL AND HOCKEY ARE ROUGH?

Please welcome Mary Adair, the latest member to join Smart Girls Read Romance. Mary is the Amazon bestselling author of Native American romances with her Passion series set in 18th century Carolinas and England. She'll be posting on the 8th of each month. Here's Mary's first post:

YOU THINK FOOTBALL AND HOCKEY ARE ROUGH?

By Mary Adair

I did not know when I started writing Native American Romance that I would enjoy it as much as I do. But I struck out on the path, and what a journey it became. When I researched Cherokee culture for my Passion Series I was drawn in by the culture's richness from the games, the spirituality, and the love of nature and all creation. A good example of how even their games held a high place in their society and preparation for life is the game of stickball

Many players decorated
their playing sticks with
hair from animals such
as horses or raccoons,
hoping to match desirable
qualities of that animal, 
such as speed or agility

I am passing on the information I gleaned from a book written in that time period by James Adair, an ancestor of my husband’s. The game of stickball, also called “The Little War” was a favorite sport. This game was not simple and players wore no protective gear or helmets. It brought villages together, was used to teach team cooperation, bravery, agility, and brute strength.

The winners and the most accomplished players won respect and great honor. There was no such thing as cheating. From what I read in this old book, the game made football and hockey seem tame. But if someone were injured in the game, or even killed, there would be no retaliation.

The game could last for days but when it was over there would be a celebration. A blanket would be laid on the ground. Anyone wanting to participate in the dance describing the memorable plays would deposit an offering to be given to villagers who were in need.

The rewards earned by the players were comprised of honor and respect for their prowess, an experience that would aid them on the hunt and strengthen them for war. Their generous gifts to the needy endeared them to the villagers as well as bringing them honor for being providers and protectors of the people.

It was truly a time in history when one's very survival depended on honor, strength, and the strength of the village.  You can read about one of these games in RAVEN'S PASSION.

A coming-of-age story of a young man and the girl who
 loved him in an era where one's very survival
depended on honor, strength, and the strength
of the village.

RAVEN'S PASSION is now live on Amazon. I am so excited about the 5 star review it received from Readers’ Favorite! RAVEN'S PASSION is available from Amazon here.

The other books in the Passion Series are:

 

PASSION'S VISION, book one. A story filled with romance, excitement and danger and the first of the Passion series. This story features James Fitzgerald, an agent in the court of King George II, and New Moon, sister to Cherokee Chief Dancing Cloud. PASSION'S VISION was awarded the Betty Hendrick Award for Most Publishable Romance at the Dallas Writer’s Association.

 

PASSION'S PRICE, book three.  The Great Spirit has blessed Golden Dawn with a gift of visions as great as those of her mother, New Moon. A vision sends Dawn to England to protect her childhood friend, Raven Cloud. Will she be strong enough to stand between Raven and the danger threatening him? Can she convince her beloved Raven their paths are destined to be joined forever while he denies his own passion to keep her safe?


CALLIE HUTTON SHARES INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT HER LATEST RELEASE--PLUS A GIVEAWAY!

Thanks for having me here today, ladies. I’m excited about my new book, THE DUKE’S QUANDARY, which released today! This story is the second book in my Marriage Mart Mayhem series. The first book, THE ELUSIVE WIFE, was the story of Jason, Earl of Coventry.

THE DUKE’S QUANDARY, for those of you who read THE ELUSIVE WIFE is about Drake, Coventry’s best friend. The story is about a shy, socially backward, somewhat clumsy botanist, who is forced by her aunt and trustee to travel to London and stay with Drake’s family for the Season. The inspiration for this story actually came from a 1971 move with Walter Matthau and Elaine Mays, entitled “A New Leaf.” Elaine Mays plays a character similar to Penelope in my story. However, the stories themselves are not similar.

An interesting facet of my research for this book was the information I got online about The Linnean Society, which is the organization my heroine, Penelope, belonged to under a man’s pseudonym. I wrote to the PR person at the society, and she gave me some interesting facts. One of which is that author Beatrix Potter offered a scientific treatise for the organization, but because she was a woman, she was unable to present it.

Since there are still another five books in the series, two of which will release this year: THE LADY’S DISGRACE (October) and THE BARON’S HOMECOMING (December), I found it necessary to keep quite an extensive list of characters. If my character in THE DUKE’S QUANDARY visited Coventry, I needed to know the name of the butler at his estate. I imagine as the series continues, my list will grow quite long.

Thank you for stopping by today and visiting. I’d like to offer an autographed copy of THE ELUSIVE WIFE to one US commenter, or an ebook copy if the winner is international. If the winner has already read THE ELUSIVE WIFE, I will offer a copy of another of my books.

Callie Hutton

www.calliehutton.com

Buy links: Amazon: http://amzn.to/1cEfS2r

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1bzDebf

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1pdjAFz

Author Callie Hutton

Callie Hutton always knew those stories she made up in her head would be written down one day. There was nowhere else for them to go. After years of writing articles and interviews for magazines and company newsletters, she decided to tackle writing a book. That was back in 2010. Now with twelve books under her belt, and seven more contracted, the relief at having somewhere to tell those stories is wonderful. She lives in Oklahoma with her husband, adult children and three dogs.

Author Social Network links:

Twitter: @calliehutton

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Callie-Hutton/206166449404454;

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5349775.Callie_Hutton

Remember to leave your email in your comment to be entered for a copy of Callie's  THE ELUSIVE WIFE.