The Tilting Leaves of Autumn (Seasons #2) by Robin E. Mason -- Book Tour Spotlight + Giveaway

About the Book

Series: Seasons
Genre:  Historical, Romance
Publisher: Bird’s Nest Books
Publication date: November 22, 2017
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The southern town of Saisons lies at the crossroads between North and South, progressive and genteel antebellum life. Between East and West, between history and heritage, and new frontiers. Downton Abbey meets Gone With the Wind.
It’s 1912, in a world where slavery is dying and women’s rights are rising, and four young women who once shared a bond—and experienced a tragedy—question their own truths.
Scarlett was the shrinking violet in the group. Faithful to her friends, and hiding secrets of her own. When Mercedes steps in to rescue her, she unknowlingly plucks the thread that unravels Scarlett’s whole world.
But as Scarlett strives to hold fast to what is familiar the fabric of her life continues to come undone and secrets that are best kept hidden are exposed.

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About the Author

I’ve always had voices—er, stories in my head. I once said I should write them all down so someone could write them someday. I had no idea at the time that someone was me!

I have been writing since 1995, and began working in earnest on my debut novel, Tessa in 2013.  Meanwhile, I cranked out a few dozen poems, made countless notes for story ideas, and earned my BFA in Interior Design.  I lived with depression for many years, and the inherent feelings of worthlessness and invisibility; I didn’t want to be who I was and struggled with my own identity for many years.  My characters face many of these same demons.
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I write stories of identity conflict. My characters encounter situations that force the question, “Who am I really?” For all who have ever wondered who you are or why you’re here, my stories will touch you in a very real—maybe too real—and a very deep way. I know, I write from experience.

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Author Interview

Check out the interview with the authorHERE.

Ten Behind the Scenes
Facts About the Book

1. The first bit I got of this series was the four names of the friends: Mercedes, Simone, Scarlett, and Pearl. They became the main characters of each of the books.
2. The story, however, is not what I had first thought it would be.
3. Nor is the setting—I didn’t know it was 1912 and 1913 until I started trying to place it. For a brief moment, it was set in the ‘60’s, and they were kids.
4. This is my first go at writing in first person. I like it, and have been told I’ve “found my voice.”
5. At one point, Simone calls Mercedes “pragmatic,” and I realized each of my four main characters is one of the four temperaments: phlegmatic, sanguine, melancholic, and choleric.
6. I knew the general setting, and used Google maps to find a town to “borrow.” Saisons is based loosely on Lake City, SC—until I moved it south a little on the Edisto River rather than the Santee.
7. I didn’t know the extent of Scarlett’s abuse until I was writing it. (And no, I’ve never suffered physical abuse.)
8. I know all too well the fight to let go of wrong thinking.
9. I didn’t know Scarlett was a fashion designer until I was writing it. I can visualize her style, and did my best to find images to represent it.
10. I find sanctuary being outdoors like Scarlett did. If there are trees and a river, even better

​BONUS BEHIND THE SCENES FACT - Chapter 37 opens with a dream. That dream was real, one that i had when i was 11 and 12 (recurring.) I tweaked it to fit the setting (Versailles rather than NC mountains) but the components are the same.

​Top Ten Favorite Desserts

Ice cream
Cheesecake
Cookie… dough
Chocolate cake with chocolate frosting
Fudgy mint brownies
(I don’t really eat desserts so much)

Snippet

I lost myself in my drawings. They were my secret, my escape.
And now Avalina had found one of my sketch books. She couldn’t know the oppression I had endured. She wouldn’t know my only escape was within, in my imagination, in my designs.
I knew none of my designs would ever be reality. No woman would want to wear something so simple or silly. But I loved them. I loved the color and the flow of the fabric.
I remembered the silks and satins and brocades of Mamá’s gowns. After she was gone, I would escape abovestairs and hide away in her dressing room, curled up beneath her beautiful gowns and robes.
The smell of her lingered there, but more than that, I felt as if I were wrapped in her arms just touching her things. It brought me comfort.
When I was eight, I found the door to her apartments locked and I never was able to enter the rooms again. So I started drawing what I remembered. Her blue summer dress she wore to my birthday party. The yellow chintz at the beach, a pink silk dressing gown, a brown striped day dress, her white linen Sunday dress. And my favorite, Mamá in her red velvet Christmas gown.
I drew them all, clinging to tender memories of my dear Mamá.
I had thought to share them with mon papá. Instead that’s when I knew, even in my immature mind, that I had not only lost ma mère but mon père as well. He did not react with kindness nor did he appreciate my efforts. There was no tender embrace as my young heart had hoped.
Instead he raged at the sight of them—my drawings bore the likeness of ma chère mamá, a vision his heart could not bear. I did not understand at the time, only stood trembling as he tore my drawings to shreds and tossed them in the fireplace.
He stormed from the room then without a word, leaving me there dissolved in tears.
I refused to come out of my room for days, refused to eat, nor did I sleep. Mamá’s absence I understood, if not fully; death had taken her from me.
But Papá. As a child I knew nothing of the intricacies that had led to Mamá’s death, only vaguely aware that the fire had been intentionally set, and even more vaguely that Tante Lissette was responsible.
But the reasons for her vehemence against her sister-in-law, her cavalier determination to take her life—I later learned this had not been her first attempt—as a child I had known nothing of this. As a child, my own grief yet swallowed me. And as a child I could not fathom the depths of the love ma mère et mon père had shared, nor the double-edged grief mon papá now suffered.
As a child all I knew was one parent was lost to death and the other was lost to grief and a foul temper.
I resigned myself to Tierney’s care, and kept my drawings to myself, hidden even from my surrogate mother’s eyes.

Giveaway

​Prize pack includes the following: Print copy of the book, tea cup, sample of Saisons Plantation Tea, Earings, Candy, Book mark, pocket watch necklace, and a secret Christmas surprise.
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Giveaway ends December 10 at midnight.

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Tour Schedule

December 4-Reading Is My SuperPower
December 5-Among the Reads
December 6-
December 7-Singing Librarian Books
December 8-Ponderings of a Poet & Procrastinator
December 9-Encouraging Words from the Tea Queen ​