Welcome to a guest post from the amazing and talented author, Parris Afton Bonds! She has a brand new book release in her Texican Series, and I’m thrilled to have her visit with us today! Take it away, Parris!
When Jan graciously said she would make room for me in one of her blogs to talk about the Paladin clan of The Texicans series, I was reminded of how the Paladin horde had commandeered every inch of room space from my office.
My writer’s cell is four-feet-wide, and here I stumble, fumble, and grumble through writing my novels ~ but here, also, is where I fulfill my soul’s passion. My spirit takes flight and soars.
Here, also, is where the phantasmic patriarch of a founding family of Texas, the English-born rogue, Lord Alexander Paladín, first leaned over my shoulder and whispered in his husky voice, “The Paladín’s and their Texican’s story needs to be told, mi quierda.”
Foolish me. I nodded my assent. Who could resist Alex Paladín? I could tell his story, of The Brigands and how the penniless Baron Alejandro de la Torre y Stuart came to the Mexican colony of Tejas to claim his deceased older brother’s land grant in 1835 and ended up fighting alongside Sam Houston at the Battle of San Jacinto for independence from tyrannical Mexico.
Little did I know that over the next 4-1/2 years, the increasing numbers of the Paladín clan would crowd into my miniscule office, each to tell their own story that clamored of heartbreak and triumph, of risks requiring all, of love that surpassed even death.
Here in my small office arrived the Irish traveler Niall Gorman, who confessed to falling in love with his best friend Alex’s bride. Here, also, into my cubicle nudged for room the Baron Karl Von Hess Lippe, to remind me that the predominant language of Texas had once been German and his desire had always been predominantly for Niall Gorman’s wife, the lovely Spanish aristocrat Rafaela Carrera.
The Tejano Jew Moses Solomon reminded me how he had staked his interests in land and banking to provide vessels for a navy of Tejas’s newly formed Provisional Government. Also, elbowed in Kerry Paladín, to reveal in Volume II of The Texicans, The Barons, how he would lose his left arm in a minor skirmish of the Civil War, lose his libido, and almost lose the love of his life.
If there weren’t enough Paladíns already, Drake the Rake cleared a path to my chair and proceeded to tell how in Volume III, The Bravados, he would clear a path of its debris of bodies, deposited by the greatest natural disaster in U.S. history, the Galveston Hurricane of 1900, to look for the young woman he could never forget.
By now I was feeling claustrophobic and wanted nothing more than to edge my way out of my tiny office. But, oh no, another arrives, the lone wolf Preston Paladín, determinedly insinuating a path through to me. “How can you neglect my cousin Hannah’s courage under Nazi torture, sweetheart? That has to be the heart of Volume IV of The Betrayers!” And, naturally, he revealed how he, the lone wolf, would be no longer lonely.
The Paladíns are completely taking over my office and my life. A horde of Paladíns now camp out in my four-foot-wide office, night and day.
Relentless, they hound me, insisting I must pen Volume V of The Texicans, The Banshees. Byron Paladín faces a nuclear meltdown at Los Alamos, Jack Paladín faces a Russian cold-war torture as a captured U2 pilot, and Sam Paladín faces both a political betrayal and the presidential assassination in Dallas, Texas in 1963.
And, oh, there are so many more Paladín men and women with their both harrowing and happy stories occurring during the Spanish American War, World Wars I and II, and the Viet Nam War. Either I shall have to get a larger office ~ or stop the telling of the Paladíns story with Volume V, The Banshees.
“But, mi amor,” whispers still another intoxicating Paladín voice, as sensuous as sin, “you have yet to tell our own love story.”
eBook is available for only 99 cents!!!
PURCHASE LINK: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08NR7WV7J/
About the Author:
Parris Afton Bonds is the mother of five sons and the author of nearly fifty published novels. She is co-founder and first vice president of Romance Writers of America, as well as, cofounder of Southwest Writers Workshop.
Declared by ABC’s Nightline as one of three best-selling authors of romantic fiction, the New York Times best seller Parris Afton Bonds has been featured in major newspapers and magazines and published in more than a dozen languages.
The Parris Award was established in her name by the Southwest Writers Workshop to honor a published writer who has given outstandingly of time and talent to other writers. Prestigious recipients of the Parris Award include Tony Hillerman and the Pulitzer nominee Norman Zollinger.
She donates spare time to teaching creative writing to both grade school children and female inmates, both whom she considers her captive audiences.
Follow Parris:
https://www.parrisaftonbonds.com
https://amazon.com/author/parrisaftonbonds
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parris_Afton_Bonds
I love how the horde of Paladin men and women are crowding Parris’s writing space. Congrats to her on the latest book. Thanks for sharing, Jan.
I loved that too, Diana. I could see them all on top of each other, vying for her attention. 🙂 Thank you for stopping by!
I imagine the research into writing this series must be so interesting! Congrats on your new release!
Thanks for stopping by, Jacquie! I agree. The research would be fascinating!
Fascinating, Jan. Thank you for introducing Parris. I’m totally intrigued!
Wonderful, Gwen. I’m so glad you stopped by to check out the new book from Parris!
How compelling these Paladín men and women wanted to be part of your book(s), Parris. Best wishes to you. Thank you, Jan, for introducing her to us.
I totally agree, Miriam. Exciting! Thank you for stopping by!
You’re welcome, Jan!
Wonderful, Parris! I love the colorful characters and the throught process you went through…much needed escape for me right now. Can’t wait to read the full book.
Wonderful, Julie. I too loved the writing process Parris describes here and how the characters invaded her life! Thank you for stopping by! Much appreciated!
Best wishes with your new release, Parris!
Thank you, Terri!!
Teri, how kind of you to take time to reply ~ thank you!
Teri ~ thank you. I am dancing on sunshine with this newest release in THE BRAVADOS!
My best,
Parris
Thank you Jan, for introducing us to Parris (an interesting name.) Wishing her success with her new venture that sounds compelling.
Thank you, Balroop! I’m happy you stopped by. Yes, I agree that Parris is a most interesting name.
Jan ~ thank you for taking time to comment. And, yes, that is my real name. A pleasure meeting you here, and, Jan, thank you for the opportunity to connect with your followers!
Parris
My pleasure, Parris!
Balroop ~ thank you for taking time to post ~ and, yes, this is my rea name. Your name is interesting, as well!
Dancing on sunshine,
Parris
Parris is the best! Her stories are so wonderful – I’m really excited to read more about the Paladin clan!!
Thank you for stopping by, Diane! I agree. I want to know more about the Paladin clan! I love how they took over her life! 🙂
Motina Books ~ you’re the best!
Parris
When I lived in Arkansas, I worked with a publishing company that introduced me to her work. I’m always amazed at how small this industry is and how all the circles intersect. Wishing Parris all the best with her latest release. Thanks for hosting, Jan.
I have a friend who always says, “small world, big God.” That pretty much sums it up. I am honored to have Parris visiting my blog today and I LOVED how she described these characters taking over her life! Thanks for stopping by, Staci!
Staci ~ I feel amazed at our Circle of Life. Thank you for taking time to respond!
Dancing on sunshine,
Parris