Native Georgian Denise Weimer holds a journalism degree with a minor in history from Asbury University. She is the author of numerous magazine articles about her home state, The Restoration Trilogy (WHITE, WIDOW and WITCH), and The Georgia Gold Series (SAUTEE SHADOWS, THE GRAY DIVIDE, THE CRIMSON BLOOM and BRIGHT AS GOLD), historical romance set between the Georgia Gold Rush and Reconstruction with a touch of mystery. BRIGHT AS GOLD won the 2015 John Esten Cooke Award for Southern literature. A wife and swim mom of two teen daughters, Denise always pauses for coffee, chocolate and old houses.
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Welcome to the blog, Denise. I’m so excited you could join us! Congratulations on your new release of White and The Restoration Trilogy.
Where did the early idea for this series come from and when did you first start writing it?
Hi, Savanna, I’m delighted to chat with you and your readers today. Hello, readers! To answer your question, the idea for The Restoration Trilogy (White, Widow and Witch) came from my parents’ real-life property renovation. They wanted to settle in the country but in a community, and came across this run-down but charming house and apothecary shop in a once-thriving railroad town. Come to find out after they bought it, the property had connections to a locally famous line of doctors tracing back to Revolutionary War times! I debated making these stories totally historical like my Georgia Gold Series, but with a little feedback from my readers, I decided a modern restoration romance where the main characters applied lessons they uncovered from a historic back story in each novel would work best. I also included a dose of suspense/mystery. I started research in spring of 2015 and completed the third novel right at Christmas, which was neat because that timeline paralleled the seasons in the trilogy. My parents are still working on the apothecary and hope to have it open under the shingle “Coffee, Tea and History” this fall.
That is so cool! Sounds like you’ve been busy. 🙂 That’s exciting!
It’s obvious to see you love history. What is your favorite time period to read and why?
I love reading a well-written story set in just about any period, but I guess American Colonial through Civil War would remain my favorite, probably because I’ve done the most research between those dates and find the setting easiest to visualize. And yep, I’m a sucker for the costuming.
I LOVED seeing pictures on your website and Facebook of your reenacting and vintage dancing. What’s been one of your favorite events to attend? We’d love to hear a little more about it. 🙂
Yes, I think we have a love of living history in common. I decided at age 15 that re-enacting would help bring my writing to life, so I convinced my parents to start taking me to events. I’ll never forget my first re-enactment; when we drove up, a cavalryman sat atop his dappled gray horse in a huge field studded with tiny yellow flowers. I think my heart stopped. I knew I was where I belonged.
When I finished college near Lexington, Kentucky (Asbury University), my husband and I were invited to an event at a historic home that served as the club house for a golf course. In the candle-lit double parlor, The Lexington Vintage Dancers performed. It was like watching history come to life on an elegant and professional level. What’s better, they included us in several dances. At the time we moved back to Georgia, I became aware that authentic dancing was not being done at re-enactments. Several families from church and the community wanted to try civilian re-enacting, so I started researching and teaching them advanced dance of the mid-1800s, even traveling to Boston for instruction at a ball. Performing locally at Traveler’s Rest stagecoach inn, Toccoa, was always a highlight, as was dancing for the release of American Girl Alpharetta’s 1850s dolls. As the mom of two daughters now teenagers, I focus most of my time on their activities and book writing and promotion, but I’m always happy for a good occasion to “dress out” to sell books!
That sounds like such fun! I’d love to participate in something like that someday. 🙂
Can you share with us a special favorite endorsement one of your books received?
For different reasons, I’m struggling to mention just one. For The Georgia Gold Series, Laura Frantz because I so admire her as a historical author and Brenda Knight Graham because of her stylistic comparison of those books to Eugenia Price’s. For White, Amazon ebook best-seller and social media savvy Heather Frey Blanton touched my heart when she e-mailed that she found the story “spell-binding.”
Name a favorite author you would like to meet someday.
Francine Rivers. I’ve never gotten over Redeeming Love. Occasionally you run across a fictional story so powerful you know the hand of the Holy Spirit was heavy upon it. That’s the kind of writing I yearn to do. I’d love to sit down to tea with her and talk about the inspiration and writing process specifically for that novel.
Oh, me tooooo! I’ll never forget that book. 😉
Thank you so much for joining us today, Denise! Is there anything else you’d like to add? Any upcoming projects you can share with us?
Yes! I aim to re-release my very first novella, Redeeming Grace, set in 1886 at “The Niagara of the South,” as an ebook in time for summer vacation reading. This sweet romance features a vacationing New York opera star who falls in love with a local minister. I’ve also just completed a Revolutionary War in Georgia novella, Across Three Autumns, slated to be part of a “Backwoods Brides” anthology. Very excited about it because my heroine is inspired by Nancy Hart, and the hero is a Scottish scout for Elijah Clarke! Please keep an eye on my web site, http://deniseweimerbooks.webs.com.
That’s exciting, Denise. Congrats!! May the Lord bless you and your stories!
GIVEAWAY!!
Denise has graciously offered a copy of White to one lucky reader! The winner gets to pick between an ebook and a print version. Enter below and it could be YOU! 
Thanks for entering! Contest ends April 5, 2016. The winner will be notified by email. Happy Reading, everybody!
I enjoyed learning more about Denise. Especially when I find a fellow history lover like this. LOVE THAT HAT! I’d like to learn more about all your books, Denise. Thanks, Savanna. It’s also nice to meet you. What a great blog!
Thank you for stopping by, Debra! And for the hat compliment. 🙂
Welcome to the blog! We’re so glad you could join us, Debra! Hope you get a chance to read “White” soon. 😉
I am not sure it was a history re-enactment but I saw a western gunfight re-enactment. I was so cool. I enjoyed watching the guy pretend to be dying in the street. It was a hoot!
Speaking of hats and re-enactments, at CW re-enactments the wounded and dying soldiers always seem to have their hats conveniently fall over their faces. The spectators were often more entertained by them than the battle.
Yes! I’ve noticed that. I’ve always wondered if they do that to keep the sun out of their eyes and to keep from getting sunburned while they wait out the rest of the battle. 😉
Hi Stella! That sounds like such a neat thing to witness. I’ve never watched any Wild West themed reenactments before. 🙂
I enjoy visiting historical places. We even went to Williamsburg for our honeymoon!
We did, too! It was right after Christmas and I expected the Twelve Days of Christmas, but most things were closed and they were doing construction! However, it was still lovely.
Oh wow! I bet that was fun, Janice. I’d love to visit there someday.
No I haven’t but it would be pretty neat I think Thanks for sharing this book and for the chance to win a copy
Thank you, Linda, and good luck!
Hope you get to attend one someday, Linda. They’re really quite fascinating. Good luck in the giveaway too!
I have been to some historical battle reenactments along with a historical village museum here in Indiana called Conner Prairie. I enjoy going to Conner Prairie and listening to the people speak of their time and see how different things were 100 – 200 years ago.
That’s so funny, Ellen. Conner Prairie was one of the first living history villages my parents took me to visit as a young teen. I was captivated and it probably had something to do with my lifelong involvement of history and writing!
Ah, that sounds so cool! I’ve never heard of that place before. Now I have to go look it up. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by, Ellen!
You will love it, Savanna!
I can’t remember ever attending a historical reenactment. I love history though and am looking forward to reading all of Denise’s books! Thanks.
Thank you for stopping by!
Thanks for visiting, Misty! Hope you get to read her books soon too. 🙂 Good luck in the drawing!
I haven’t ever seen a reenactment but I do enjoy history. White sounds likes one that I would enjoy reading.
I do hope so. 🙂 I also spent some time at the local library going through old newspapers on micofilm. Amazing what a different world 1920 was!
If you ever get the chance to go to one, I highly recommend it. Especially since you enjoy history. It’s like taking a step back in time. 🙂 Good luck in the giveaway, Ann!
I’ve attended the Battle of Pilot Knob reenactment plus one in Kentucky and one in Virginia but don’t remember the actual sites.
When we lived in KY we attended the Battle of Perryville every October. A great event. As you can imagine, a lot of folks did cavalry impressions there in the Bluegrass!
Awwww, Joan, I’ve attended the Battle of Pilot Knob reenactment twice. That was the very first reenactment I’d ever attended and I won’t forget it. I ended up writing an article that was published in The Ozarks Mountaineer about that battle. It so inspired me! I’d love to go to Virginia and Kentucky and attend even more. 🙂
Cool! Where is Pilot Knob?
It’s in Southeast Missouri. It’s a really pretty area with a neat history. It’s unique too in that the reenactment is held on the actual battlegrounds. That’s not always an option these days. 😉
Would love to win. Thanks!
Good luck, Kim!
Best wishes! Winner chooses a print or an ebook. 🙂
No, I have not attended a re-enactment, but I do enjoy museums and finding out about the lives of my ancestors!
Yes, that is fascinating too, Barb! I love going to historical museums. Thanks for visiting. Good luck in the drawing! 🙂
What is the best historical museum you’ve ever enjoyed, Barb?
I’ve never been to a re-enactment, but I know for a fact I would adore those costumes! Also, these books sound so good! I’m excited to try them.
Diana, the photos that were captured while we performed vintage dances in costume were just breath-taking! 🙂 We got to dance at some beautiful old homes. It was definitely like experiencing time travel. But to be honest, doing the polka in full costume including corset …! Aunt Pitty Pat, where are the smelling salts? Finally had to specify we could not do outdoor summer performances. 🙂
You might enjoy the mid-1800s ball details in my Georgia Gold Series as well.
Oh, Diana, you’d love them! I hope you get the chance to attend one someday. Definitely look up Denise’s website and check out her reenactment pictures. It looks like such fun! 🙂
As an adult, no. 🙂 When I was in high school we did do the Renaissance period and put on a fair for the town.
Bet that was fun, but a lot of work!
That does sound like fun, Wenona! My hubby and I attended a Renaissance fair once. It was very unique and interesting! 🙂
I have never attended a historical re-enactment but I bet it would be very fascinating! I think it is so interesting how the premise of Denise’s book, White, is based on her parents experience of buying a charming house to fix up and then discovering an intriguing history of the house that unfolded all the way back to the Revolutionary War. That really grabbed my attention. Another great book to add to my TBR book list 🙂 Thanks for the opportunity of this giveaway!
I agree, Alison! 🙂 I hope you get to read “White” soon. Discovering more historical fiction to read is always fun! 😉 Good luck in the giveaway!
Thanks, Alison. Hoping to debut Book Two, WIDOW, with the opening of the real restored apothecary to the public! Who knows, maybe we’ll have period crafting and music like we did at the release of BRIGHT AS GOLD.
I have attended a couple of Civil War reenactments and it was interesting to see how they waged battle back then. It was also interesting to see how they lived and cooked and dressed back then.
Yes, Dianne! There is so much to learn. Walking through the soldier camps is always one of my favorite parts of the event. It feels so real. I love seeing the camps at night all lit up with lanterns and reenactors cooking over the fire too. 🙂
I loved seeing the camps at night, too. And following those lanterns to the dance tent. 🙂
I’ve never attended any kind of re-enactment but have always wanted to. We have a Civil War one right here in our town every year that I’ve heard so many good things about. It’s on my list of to-do things 🙂 We do also have a smaller re-enactment of the Salt Makers (Lewis & Clark) on our beach here for a few days during summer. We’ve attended that one and it’s really neat! You have to pretend you’re in 1805 when you talk to the actors and you can even “trade” things (salmon, veggies, or anything) for beads and other nifty trinkets. You’ll also “meet” Sacagawea 🙂 It’s a fun event.
I also am like you and Savanna, if I had to name a favorite book, it would be “Redeeming Love” by Francine Rivers. It still resonates with me, God certainly used it to speak to me!
Thanks for the author interview, I enjoyed it tremendously! You’re a new-to-me author and I love discovering new writers. The book sounds intriguing, I do so love historical fiction. My favorite would be the Regency or Edwardian period, thanks to Julie Klassen 🙂
Trixi, thanks for sharing! That was so encouraging. I’m so thankful for the opportunity to be on Savanna’s wonderful blog and e-chat with new readers who share common interests! I always loved first person events, attending them and helping with them, and I hope you get to read WHITE soon!
Hi sweet Trixi! Awww, the Lewis & Clark re-enactment you mentioned sounds like so much fun. 🙂 Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by and chat with us. Keep on reading, my friend, and have a great week!
I have not visited a re- enactment but I would love to.
Hope you can, but if not, a good book works as well. 🙂
Thanks for visiting, Melanie! Good luck in the drawing. 😉
I enjoyed this interview of a fellow Asbury alum. It has been many years since I saw a historical reenactment, like when I was a young boy in the 50s. I enjoyed them but don’t recall any specifics now – it was too long ago.
Hi, Edward, nice to hear from you. Best wishes to a fellow Asburian!
It’s always great to have you join us, Edward. 🙂
I’ve seen some military drilling on Mackinac Island, but I’ve never seen an actual battle reenactment. We lived in Pennsylvania for almost 2 years, but we never got to go to Gettysburg. I was so bummed!
Bet Mackinac Island was beautiful, though! Thank you for stopping by for the interview & giveaway!
Awwww, I hope you get to return and visit Gettysburg someday, Karen. It’s an unforgettable place!
I have attended several. I love to “peek into the past”! 🙂
Hey, Vicki G! Re-enactments really do make it easier to envision scenes in historical novels!
Yay!! Glad to hear it, Vicki. Good luck in the giveaway!
I have never attended a historical reenactment but I would like to. I’m sure I would enjoy it. Thank you for the giveaway.
Thank you for joining us!
Oh, I’m sure you would, Brenda. Hope you get that chance someday. Have a great week!