Steph Burkhart Talking about THE FABERGE SECRET

NICOLE: It's great to have you visit, Stephanie. Tell us about your latest release, "The Faberge Secret."

STEPH: It's a contemporary romantic suspense with an international setting. My heroine, Elise Goodwin, runs a colonial heritage museum in Brattleboro, Vermont. She travels to Boston and acquires a rare Faberge egg. She also meets Dimitri Romanov, a Russian businessman who is the rightful owner of the egg. The sparks fly between Elise and Dimitri, but Dimitri's rival, Gustav Kelch, discovers Elise is in possession of the egg and his pursuit of Elise places her in danger.

NICOLE: Where did you find the inspiration for the story?

STEPH: I've always had a soft spot for exploring a Russian Orthodox Christmas so I wanted the plot to center around Christmas. The Russian royal family was known to give each other the elegant and romantic Faberge egg. They usually exchanged these eggs around Easter, not Christmas, so I put a nice twist in the story to explain the Faberge Christmas eggs in the story.

The inspiration for the story is found in my deep love for exploring the Russian culture. When I was 17, I took a Russian History class in High School and was drawn to all things Russian in a way I can't explain, except to say there is a deep resonance in my soul.

NICOLE: For the "American" part of the story, you take us to Brattleboro, Vermont. Have you ever been there?

STEPH: Yes, I have fond memories of visiting my aunt who lived there. The rolling hills and quaint buildings give the city an early 20^th century feel. Since I grew up in New England, I enjoy weaving a New England setting into my contemporary stories.

NICOLE: Did you do a lot of research for the novel?

STEPH: I researched Faberge eggs, Carl Faberge, Orthodox Christmas customs, and St. Petersburg, Russia, as I've never been. I always enjoy the research aspect of a project because I often learn something new.

NICOLE: Tell us a little about your heroine, Elise Goodwin. What's her strengths? What attracts her to Dimitri?

STEPH: I'd like to think that Elise embodies the every day ordinary American girl who is career driven and won't settle when it comes to love. For me, Rachel McAdams comes to mind. Elise's strengths are her loyalty and steadfast nature. Dimitri's been hurt previously, so he finds her loyalty refreshing.

Intitially, Elise is attracted to Dimitri's classic Nordic looks, but what draws her to him is how fiercely protective he is of her.

NICOLE: How long did it take you to write?

STEPH: Approximately two months.

NICOLE: Did you make the book trailer yourself?

STEPH: Yes. For the music I choose "Jesu, My Heart is Desiring," by Kevin MacLeod. The song captures the ambience of the holidays and has a nice suspenseful undertone to it. Kevin's music is royalty free and can be found on Incompetch.com.  Then I used royalty free photos from Dreamstime. In my trailers, I try to establish the setting and mood of the novel as well as give the viewer a sense of the characters so this way, when you go to read the story, you can draw on the visuals to inspire your imagination.

NICOLE: For fun, what's your favorite TV Christmas special?

STEPH: How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

REVIEWS:

Sue Perkins, Author of "Blitz"

The Faberge Secret exceeded my expectations. Definitely worth reading more than once. What more can I say? It is such a good book.

BOOK TRAILER

BLURB: Elise Goodwin finds herself faced with danger when she learns the Faberge egg she's bought belongs to a Russian mogul, Dimitri Romanov, but is Dimitri playing a game with Elise's heart to get his heirloom back?

ENJOY THIS EXCERPT:

Dimitri scrubbed his hand against the nape of his neck, and then said, "I've been trying to puzzle this out. Your friend stated that the men who ransacked your room mentioned the name Kelch."

"Yes?" She cupped her mug with both hands.

"Gustav Kelch is my rival. We've been rivals since childhood. He owns the other shipping company in St. Petersburg. He also collects fine art, and he possesses a collection of Faberge eggs. He knows I have a collection of Faberge eggs, as well. Alexi believes Kelch stole my egg, but he has no concrete proof."

"Really?" She paused. What had Alistair said? She snapped her fingers. "Well, Faberge did make eggs for Alexander Kelch."

"Yes, he did." Dimitri measured her with a cool, appraising look. "How did you know that?"

"My appraiser told me Faberge didn't just make eggs for the Romanovs."

"Very good. Gustav's great-grandfather was Alexander Kelch."

"And yours, I suspect, was Vladimir Romanov."

"Yes," he admitted. He paused and studied her thoughtfully for a minute.

A bit unnerved, she continued, "My appraiser knew that Faberge had left this particular egg in Vladimir's possession with the intent that Vladimir give it to the Czar's daughters."

"Very good, Elise. Unfortunately, my great-grandfather never had the opportunity to do that. The eggs stayed with us."

 "How was that egg stolen?"

"I loaned the entire set of eggs to a local museum. A man wearing a mask of Prime Minister Putin stole it. My cousin, Alexi, has been working diligently on the case. His contact told him the egg would be sold at auction today."

Fascinated by Dimitri's story, Elise sipped her warm milk. "Boris' van was in front of the auction house. He told me the auction didn't want his items. They didn't think they were valuable enough."

Dimitri snapped his fingers. "Ah, all right. That makes sense, but how could they miss the egg? They had to know it was valuable."

"Perhaps they didn't want it. Perhaps they suspected it was stolen and didn't want anything to do with it."

"So why did you buy it?"

"How could I pass up something so precious? I love the beauty of it."

"I'm glad you appreciate the craftsmanship and beauty of the egg."

"Of course I do. I'm an art history major."

Dimitri continued to look at her thoughtfully. He rubbed his chin. "Alexi didn't tell me, but I wonder... could Boris have been his contact?"

"Boris?" Elise sipped her milk. "I doubt it. If you want my opinion, he didn't strike me as the informer type."

"No... Boris mentioned a name. Anatoly, I believe, when I talked to him. I wonder if he was Alexi's informant."

Elise shrugged. The name wasn't familiar to her.

"Perhaps... yes. Perhaps Anatoly was Alexi's informant, and he stole the goods to give to Boris. Boris was supposed to use the auction house to sell them, but they didn't anticipate the auction house not wanting the items, so Boris sold them on the street," Dimitri mused.

"It's plausible, but how did Kelch's men know to track us down?" Elise asked.

Dimitri scrubbed his eyes with the palm of his hands. "No... no... but..."

Elise put down the mug and placed her hand on his waist. The contact sparked a fire in her limbs. "What's wrong?"

"Your receipt--" He lowered his hands. Guilt splayed across his face. "I saw it, and that's how I knew Boris had sold you my egg. I... I crumpled it up and threw it on the floor of the van. Kelch must have broken Anatoly, and then sent his men to find Boris. And if they found him--"

"Oh." Elise swallowed at the fear glittering in his eyes -- fear for her. "They found the receipt with my name."

"Yes. Damn it! I should have pocketed the receipt, but I was furious. All I wanted was my egg."

Apprehension coursed through her. That's why Lucy had been attacked. Kelch and his men hoped to find the egg because they knew Elise had bought it. Lucy had just happened to be in the hotel room because Elise was on a date -- with Dimitri.

He pushed her hand off his waist, clenched his fists, and marched into the living room, halting close to the window. Was he angry at her, or at himself? Well, a part of her was angry at him, too. She and Lucy were in danger -- real danger -- because of that egg, but a part of her just wanted to reach out to him, to comfort him, to tell him everything would be all right.

Elise shifted from foot to foot. Dimitri truly had protected her and Lucy tonight, but how much could she trust him? Was it all about his egg? That's all he'd thought about when he'd thrown the receipt on the floor. No. This man respected his family. He honored Christmas. He was spiritual. She couldn't let him beat himself up for a mistake.

She left the kitchen and walked up behind him.

He stiffened. "Elise, now is not the time. I want to be alone."

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Berlin Blog from guest blogger Steph Burkhart

Berlin Blog Tour #2 – Nicole Zoltack

9 JULY 2010

First, I'd like to thank Nicole for having me today on her blog in support of my Destination: Berlin blog tour. Just a little about me: I was born and raised in Manchester, NH with a hungry appetite for reading gothic romance, especially by Victoria Holt. I served in the Army for 11 years from 1986 to 1997 and spent 7 years in Germany. My time in Europe inspired two passions – my love of history and the paranormal. Currently, I live in California and work for LAPD as a 911 dispatcher.

The idea behind Destination: Berlin

The Book's Blurb:

Stuck in a routine job in Cold War Germany guarding nuclear weapons, U.S. Army Corporal Sharon Cates thinks she is going to Berlin to attend an orientation tour. Unknown to her, the briefcase she carries contains top-secret information that the Stasi and KGB are willing to kill for.

Soviet Junior Sergeant Dimitri Nagory is an assistant to a high-ranking Soviet officer in his country's embassy in England. Dimitri isn't expecting a great adventure as he boards the duty train for a routine trip to headquarters in Berlin, and he certainly isn't expecting to meet any Americans.

The Stasi derails the train in the middle of East Germany, expecting to take the information from Sharon's dead body. But when the sudden explosion hurls Sharon and Dimitri from the train and into each other, Dimitri, too, becomes a target. With Sharon nursing badly bruised ribs and branded by her country as a traitorous thief for stealing top-secret documents, Dimitri goes against everything he's ever been taught to ensure her safe return to the West.

Remember 1988? For me it's a year I can't forget. I turned 20 in June that year. I was also in the military. I was active duty – a 95B, Military Police. My rank? Specialist. I was stationed in Münster, Germany at the 583rd Ordnance Company. In Münster, there were 10,000 British soldiers who were stationed there and only 200 Americans. My job? I guarded nuclear ammunition.

Unforgettable, huh?

In 1988, the 570th USAAG selected me as Soldier of the Quarter in January. Solider of the Quarter for a Battalion sized element is quite an honor. In July, 1988, I was selected to attend the Berlin Orientation Tour. It was an opportunity I was excited to have. Like Corporal Sharon Cates, my military career was soaring. My personal life was practically non-existent. 

Travel to Berlin in 1988 was limited. There was an air route, but usually high level officers used it. You could travel by car on one of two auto routes or you could take the duty train from Frankfurt to Bremerhaven.

I used the Duty Train out of Bremerhaven. When I traveled to Berlin that time I had to dot my "I's" and cross my "t's". I had to go in my dress uniform, fill out FLAG orders, a security briefing, and be at the station in Bremerhaven by 1000 pm.

The weekend after the 4th of July, I packed my bags and the company duty driver drove me up to Bremerhaven. It's on the northern seacoast of West Germany. In real life, only the British, French, and Americans could ride the duty train. In my novel, I include the Soviets since they were one of the four allies that won World War II. The duty driver dropped me off at 4 pm. I had a long wait. I found a café, bought a brotchen and the idea for my first book, Destination: Berlin was born.

I came up with the plot for the novel at that café – scribbling furiously on napkins that I shoved into my briefcase. Corporal Sharon Cates earns the opportunity to go to Berlin on the Berlin Orientation Tour. On the duty train, she meets Soviet Jr. Sergeant Dimitri Nagory. When the train derails in the middle of East Germany, Sharon and Dimitri must put aside their countries military philosophy and rely on each other to get to Berlin with the East German Stasi hot on their trail. 

Excerpt: 

Sharon walked slowly toward the tree branch with the unusual glint. As soon as she was in eyesight, she smiled. Her briefcase! The handle was caught on a branch. Thank God she'd found it. She stood under the branch and reached up on her tiptoes, grimacing. It was just out of her reach. Looking around, she spied a stick that might help her to jar it loose. Her upper body still felt stiff and sore with the slightest motion, but she would soldier through it.

Was it like this for her father, too? He had been a first lieutenant in the infantry during Vietnam. Certainly he'd faced intense situations like this.

"Corporal?"

Sharon stopped, realizing she hadn't gone far. "Over here, Jr. Sgt."

He approached, his eyes narrowing. "What are you doing?"

"I found my briefcase." She pointed to the tree.

Dimitri paused and pursed his lips. Sharon took a stick and smacked the branch holding her briefcase hostage. The briefcase fell to the ground, but Dimitri snatched it up. Sharon could sense a change in his demeanor and it unnerved her.

"Corporal," he said, "I need for you to be completely honest with me right now. Can you do that?"

"Of course," Sharon answered. "What's wrong?"

"Are you a courier? Do you have classified government documents with you? Documents the Stasi want?"

STEPH:  Here's a link to Destination: Berlin's Book Trailer on You Tube:

Destination: Berlin is a Print book only. Here's where you can buy it: 

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

IUniverse

Goodie Time: Post a comment. I'll pick two lucky winners out of a hat to receive an autographed postcard of the cover.  Follow me on my blog tour and earn a chance to win an autographed copy of Destination: Berlin. To find out the dates on the blog tour visit my blog, "Romance Under the Moonlight."

Visit me at: 

SG Cardin/Stephanie Burkhart Online

Romance Under the Moonlight

Guest Blog from Steph Burkhart - "The Hungarian" Blog Tour

What was life like in 1901?

I'm excited to be here at Nicole's blog, the sixth and last stop on my blog tour for "The Hungarian." My thanks to Nicole for having me today.

"The Hungarian" is set in 1901 in England and Hungary. So, what was life like in 1901? It was an interesting blend of old and new and a time of quick change.

AUTOS

Motor cars, or autos, as I refer them to them in novel, were beginning to make an impact, but most of the transport on the roads were horse and buggy. Mercedes was a popular model of car. Daimler and Benz each built autos in the mid 1880's. The Benz Velo and Mercedes became popular European model cars. During this time, it was usually the nobility who had motor cars, and those who couldn't afford it used the horse and buggy.

In London, 1901, all bus services were provided by horse and it led to a lot of congestion. Contemporaries at the time thought motor transport would help.

WOMEN

Married women stayed at home with their families. It was acceptable for single women to work. Poor married women usually worked. Households that could afford employed domestic servants, even a modest household, had a maid.

INVENTIONS

Interestingly, a lot of people did have indoor plumbing. Flush toilets had been invented in the 1880's, but most people did not have adequate drainage, and outdoor facilities were still popular.

Electric lights and telephones were also available, but not everyone had them. In fact, only two percent of homes had electricity. Usually the nobility did and those who made a modest living. There were phonographs, but there were no airplanes, radios, or washing machines.

MOVIES

The movies were in their infancy. Usually the films were short and silent. Berlin, Germany had a burgeoning film industry, as did Hungary.

MEDICINE

Over the counter remedies were popular in 1901. They included laudanum, which was opium based. In fact, there were a lot of opiate based pain killers, much more so than there are today. Working people relied on herbs and roots to help them.

AUSTRIA-HUNGARY

This was a monarchic union between the crowns of Austria and Hungary. It was formed in 1867 and lasted until the end of World War I. There were two capitols, Vienna and Budapest. The two nations maintained separate parliaments with their own prime ministers.

FRANZ LISZT

He was a Hungarian pianist who lived between 1811-1886. He was well known for his skill and his contemporizes thought he was a technically advanced pianist. In "The Hungarian," Matthias admires his skill.

In the story, you'll see Matthias use an auto, the telephone, and Resa using herbs and roots in a medicinal setting. You'll see electricity and central heating used in the story as well as trains.

This reference link, has a video of a London street in 1902. Note the mix of autos and horse and buggys.

We've come a long way since 1901, haven't we?

Excerpt from The Hungarian:

Matthias gave her a quick tour around the castle. It had been fitted with electricity, plumbing, and central heating. Her husband was very proud of his upgrades. He had never been one to brag, but she could tell from the tone in his voice that he was proud of his home. Then they went to eat dinner.

Sofia was just as good a cook as János. As Matthias, Emily, and Katherine finished their meal, Lazlo approached, holding a letter.

"It's for you, My Lady."

"Oh?" She raised a curious eyebrow.

Lazlo handed it to her. She opened it up and read it out loud. "Dear Lady Duma, Please forgive the sudden arrival of this correspondence, but your sister, Lady Seston, has sent me a letter asking me to expect your arrival in Budapest. I don't know if you remember me -- I was Amelia Gentry, your sister's piano teacher. I'm now Amelia Andrássy, Archduchess of Györ. My husband and I have a residence here in Budapest,
and if you would like to call, I've enclosed my contact information. Welcome to Hungary. Signed, Amelia."

Matthias smiled. "You have a friend already, Kate."

"Liz arranged it."

"It's good that your sister did that. I know the Archduchess's husband, Mikel Andrássy. We share similar views on many topics, including politics. You should call on her tomorrow."

"I will."

After their meal, Lazlo herded Matthias into his study to discuss business, leaving Katherine with Emily. Katherine stayed in the kitchen for a while getting to know Sofia. János helped as well. Like her husband, he had a look of contentment about him. Katherine could tell he was happy to be home.

Josef was a rambunctious little boy full of energy and needing direction. He played well with Emily. Katherine would have to ask Matthias if it would be appropriate to arrange for schooling with him as well as Emily. When it was time for Emily to go to bed, Katherine went through her routines. Emily's sweet smile of satisfaction warmed Katherine's heart.

It was the first time Katherine was alone in the castle. Unsure of what to do or where to go, she went to her new bedroom. The room was encompassed in dark shadows from the setting sun. There were three windows facing west, the curtains half- opened. The bed was against the north wall, made of maple wood with a headboard and a sturdy footboard. There were two matching bureaus and nightstands. A small bath area was off to the side, easily accessible. On Matthias's bureau rested a mirror as wide as the bureau, giving the observer a wide view of the room. Katherine ran her hand over her dresser. It was free of dust. The servants had done well cleaning, but where were the maids? She hadn't met any. Was there a butler? Katherine still had a lot to learn about her new home.

Matthias swung the door open, making her startle, and walked in. He wore a white shirt with the top two buttons undone. His sensual smile made her body tense up.

"Ah, there you are. I was in the study with Lazlo. I didn't mean to miss Emily's routine, but I had some pressing matters that I had to attend to."

"I understand."

He stopped directly in front of her, taking her hand in his. "Can you be patient with me? My affairs have been neglected. I'll need to spend several days on them to put them in order."

"Of course."

"Thank you. I want to show you something."

"Oh? What?"

"Follow me."

He led her down the stairs to his study. It was on the east side of the castle, near the main entrance. Several candles were lit, placed strategically to provide just enough light to see and the furniture was dark. It was hard to make out the style or the wood. He escorted her up to the bay window and motioned for her to look out of it.

There was a small walkway next to a steep cliff and then the land dropped off. The Danube was several hundred feet below them. On the other side of the river, the city was aglow in lights, but there was one building beaming like a rare diamond through the blackness of the night. It was tall, with long steeples and spires placed in proportionate distances from the center. In the center was a raised golden dome.

"Our Parliament building," said Matthias. He walked up behind her, placing his hands on her shoulders. "It was just recently finished and is the jewel of our country."

"It's mesmerizing."

"As are you."

Check out "The Hungarian's" Book Trailer

Goodie Time:

I'll pick two winners out of those who post on today's blog to receive an autographed postcard of "The Hungarian's" Cover.

To qualify for the GRAND prize: You have to post on every blog in the tour. I'll put your name into the "hat." Then I'll pick the Grand Prize Winner's name out of the

The GRAND prize: A coffee mug with "The Hungarian's" cover, a mousepad with the cover, magnets, and a set of autographed postcards.

The Hungarian is available 1 MAY 2010 with Desert Breeze Publishing.

Blog Award!

The wonderful Bethany Wiggins at Shooting Stars gave me this great blog award, the Blogger BFF. Thanks, Bethany!

There are so many awesome bloggers out there. My favorites are one from fellow authors as they chronicalize their writing journey.

And now it's time for me to give the Blogger BFF to some great bloggers.

Drum roll, please!

And the recipients are:

Aubrie Dionne
Cherie Reich
Sarah Simas
Steph Burkhart
Shawna Williams

All of your blogs are wonderful, and I always enjoy reading them. Keep up the great work, ladies!