The End of the Road

The flavor of today is bittersweet. On the one hand, Road from the West received an excellent review from The True Book Addict who called it a "well-researched and captivating account." Yesterday, the same blog offered a giveaway of my book and featured a guest post I'd written titled, "Modern Perceptions of the Crusades." What could be more exciting for an author?

On the other hand, today marks the close of the Road from the West blog tour with Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours, and I'm a little sad to see it end. It's been a fabulous month and a half traveling the blogosphere with reviews, giveaways, guest posts, and author interviews, stopping at around 25 of the best book blogs out there. Amy Bruno, from HFVBT, has been the consummate professional in organizing this blog tour, keeping me apprised of every detail and making sure books are mailed, interview questions are answered, and reviews are posted on time. If you are a historical novelist looking for a publicity outlet, I strongly recommend HFVBT.

Thank you, thank you, thank you to all the bloggers who participated in my book tour! The help that you give to authors is invaluable as we reach out to find an audience for our work. I've greatly benefitted from both your criticisms and your accolades, and I've discovered some new favorite blogs that I'll definitely be visiting now and again.

Reviews by Molly - Author Interview

Today I have an author interview over at the blog Reviews by Molly. Molly asked me an assortment of interesting questions: how I chose to write historical fiction, what avenues I use for marketing, and whether I prefer my cake with or without ice cream. Head on over to her blog if you'd like to see my answers to her questions!

Erin Reads - Review

Today Road from the West received a really good review over at the blog Erin Reads. It's always fun to see that someone really enjoyed your work.

Rosanne Lortz writes in a style I’ve found rare in my admittedly limited experience with historical fiction. Over flowery language and paragraphs that drip with details, Lortz favors simple prose and sparse yet effective bits of atmosphere. Rather than describe exactly how something is done or precisely what a scene looks like, Lortz writes just enough that the reader knows and can picture what is happening yet has plenty of room to utilize her imagination. In this respect Road from the West reads a bit like contemporary fiction does, the author assuming the reader and characters share common points of reference that make extended explanation unnecessary. I found nothing lacking in Lortz’s approach and enjoyed how she let Tancred’s story be the novel’s focus.

This is the last week of the virtual book tour for Road from the West. It's been a fun month and a half and I've loved getting feedback from bloggers and comments from the historical fiction community.

Reviews by Molly - Review

I hope you're not getting tired of seeing review excerpts from the virtual book tour for Road from the West! There is only one week left of the tour, and it has been so much fun to work with all the book bloggers and with Amy Bruno from Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours.

Today Road from the West is being reviewed over at Reviews by Molly. Here is an excerpt:

There is so much to say about it...faith, devotion, redemption, love, honor.....so much more, including the spoilers, so I'll stop. I will say this, READ IT. If you are a history lover, a Christian, or just wanting to know more about a time in history that many people don't look back on, then get a copy NOW. Ms. Lortz' passion for her history knowledge shines through. She brings a life-like story to her readers, creating a 4 Book worthy start to a fantastic new series. I can't wait for the second book in Tancred's story! FANTABULOUS work, Ms. Lortz! 

Words and Peace - Review

Today, Words and Peace is featuring a review of Road from the West as part of my virtual book tour.

I think the author did a fantastic job at retelling the historical setting and what happened with lots of accuracy – I read since a few things on this crusade to compare (you could read this article for a first introduction). I especially enjoy the way she focuses on the character of Tancred. She manages to make him a very human and lively character, inserting in the novel some elements of romance which fit nicely.

Emma, the reviewer at Words and Peace, is also an artist who specializes in painting on rocks. I've been enjoying looking through her galleries this morning, and I especially love this nativity painting of the infant Jesus. It's making me all excited to start decorating for Christmas....

The Owl Bookmark Blog - Interview and Giveaway

Today, as part of my virtual book tour, I am being interviewed over at The Owl Bookmark Blog where I get to answer questions like, "What was the easiest part of writing Road from the West?" and, "What do you have planned to write next?" Rumor has it there's also a giveaway in full swing, so if you still want to win a copy of Road from the West, head on over there to enter.

Three Reviews + Kindle Nation Daily

I neglected to post yesterday, so today I have three new blog reviews of Road from the West to tell you about. The first is over at A Few More Pages:

....I definitely would like to continue reading about Tancred's adventures, and since this book only takes us part-way on the Crusaders' journey to Jerusalem, I am looking forward to picking up the next book in the series. There are too many questions still left to be answered: Will Tancred make it to Jerusalem? Will Alexandra win his heart? Will Bohemond gain the riches and power he is after? I must find out what happens!

The second review is at By the By Books:

Lortz's narrative is wonderfully written. The writing is very simple, but in a good way. I felt that this section of history, which is almost 1000 years old, was fresh and easily understandable for today's reader....

And the third review is over at The Owl Bookmark Blog, a website which has the most whimsically delightful header:

It is very obvious right off the bat that Lortz did her research and probably is as familiar with the Crusades (all of them)as she is with the back of her hand.  This novel is full of historical facts and anecdotes as well as a very realistic setting that allows Lortz's historical prowess to show....

 In other news, Road from the West is the featured sponsor over at Kindle Nation Daily today. KND is a website with a large e-mail subscriber list that alerts Kindle owners about great finds in the e-book world. The site owner, Stephen Windwalker, is a pleasure to work with, and we've really enjoyed the ads that he's put together for both I Serve and Road from the West.

Bippity Boppity Book - Review and Giveaway

Today Road from the West is being reviewed over at Bippity Boppity Book. This is a blog I love to stop by quite often, and it is also the host of the Chivalrous Deeds: Historical Fiction Challenge which I am participating in this year. Head on over there to participate in the giveaway or to read the rest of this review:

As someone who has never read a thing about the First Crusade, I enjoyed this book quite a bit.... I liked the main character Tancred because it is clear that even though he was raised by his Uncle, their ideologies are completely different and Tancred proves himself time and again throughout the Crusade that his Uncle’s way is not the only way.  Also as a former Soldier I liked that Tancred was all about what was best for his Soldiers and able to swallow his pride for their benefit....

The Musings of a Book Junkie - Author Interview

Today, The Musings of a Book Junkie is graciously hosting an author interview with moi. And I must say, it's one of my favorite sets of questions that I've had to answer so far. Head on over there if you want to see my responses to queries like, "The Crusades have a bad reputation. Why should we learn about the Crusades?"

Peeking between the Pages - Review and Giveaway

Today's stop on the virtual book tour is over at Peeking between the Pages. Head on over there for a giveaway and to read the rest of this review of Road from the West:

The author’s writing is very descriptive and really brought to life this time period for me. What I enjoyed most about this novel is that it wasn’t only about battles and blood and guts. It was actually about the people – the soldiers and what they were thinking and planning. Yes there were battles but I came away from this novel caring about some of the characters like Tancred and Alexandra.  From the beginning of the story I felt drawn to Tancred and his family and it made me want to read more.

Just One More Paragraph - Guest Post and Giveaway

On Monday, Just One More Paragraph gave a very favorable review of Road from the West, and today I have a guest post and giveaway at the same blog. Movies and history are the topic, and the title is "The Crusades and the Silver Screen." Head on over there to see my opinion of period pieces like Orlando Bloom's Kingdom of Heaven and Nicolas Cage's Season of the Witch.

The Musings of a Book Junkie - Review

Today Road from the West is being reviewed over at The Musings of a Book Junkie. Here is an excerpt:

Rosanne Lortz captures the First Crusade with all its glory. From preparations to battles, no detail is left out. Battles are fierce, but not gory. The hardships endured by the Crusaders are harsh, but accurately detailed.... I didn't know a lot about the First Crusade before I read this book. The Crusades have a bad reputation of sorts, and I just lumped all the Crusades into one. However, this book shows the mechanization of the Crusades and it makes for an interesting story. I would recommend it to anyone seeking to learn about the First Crusade. 

Just One More Paragraph - Review

Today's stop on the virtual book tour is at Just One More Paragraph (which, by the way, is one of the cutest--or, should I say, most aesthetically appealing--blogs I have ever seen). Here is an excerpt of the review of Road from the West:

Rich with history, this tale is told with a prose that will keep the reader captivated throughout the story, transporting them back to the late 1090's.... Truly a brilliant novel, this book would appeal to both the historical fiction lover as well as the reader that just wants a good story about a flawed hero. With no sex and minimal gore, this book would be a great resource for home school high school students. 

The Bibliophilic Book Blog - Guest Post

Today I have a guest post over on The Bibliophilic Book Blog titled "The Easy Part of Writing Historical Fiction." Here's a piece of the opening paragraph:

As a writer, I am frequently on the receiving end of comments from non-writers who have varying perceptions of my craft. Some people dismiss it as an effortless occupation, much easier than holding down a "real" nine to five job. Others immediately attach herculean difficulty to it: "Writing? That sounds so hard! How do you possibly think of a story to write about, and one that's long enough to make into a novel?" Usually, I just smile and murmur something conventional, but today I'm going to let you in on the truth. Today I'm going to tell you that it is actually very easy to think of a story--if you write in the genre that I do....

A Bookish Affair - Review and Giveaway

Today Road from the West finds itself at A Bookish Affair for a review and another giveaway! Head on over there and enter to win a copy and see the rest of this review:

One of the things that I liked about this book is that although it takes place during a war, there isn't a lot of time spent on the battles themselves. The book covers more of the behind the scenes of what's going on. It talks more about what people were thinking as they marched towards the unknown.... Bottom line: This was a great adventure story with an interesting perspective.

The Bibliophilic Book Blog - Review

Road from the West was featured on The Bibliophilic Book Blog today as part of my virtual book tour. Here is an excerpt from the review:

Road from the West captures the beginning of Tancred's journey from sinner to Crusader. Wonderfully descriptive language brings to life the characters and settings of the Crusades. From power struggles, bloody battles, treachery, and even romance, Ms. Lortz easily transports readers back over 1000 years in the past. Fantastic fiction woven through the backdrop of history will capture your attention and leave you stunned and amazed.

Broken Teepee - Guest Post and Giveaway

Broken Teepee, one blog that did a very nice review of Road from the West last week, is today featuring a Guest Post by yours truly and a giveaway. Head on over there to learn about "The Rise of the Knights Templar" or to enter for a free copy of Road from the West.

Author Interview and Giveaway - Unabridged Chick

Today as part of the blog tour for Road from the West, Unabridged Chick is featuring an author interview and a giveaway. Head on over for another chance to win a copy of my new release, or to hear the answers to exciting questions like, "What was the plot of your very first piece of fiction?".

Broken Teepee - Review

Today's stop at Road from the West's virtual book tour was at Broken Teepee. Here is an excerpt from the review:

I found myself drawn into the world of Tancred and his family from the very first page. While a novel of war it's not a book that is overwrought with scenes of blood and gore. The story progresses at a fast clip with unexpected twists and turns along the way. I am hoping that Tancred matures in the next books in the trilogy. He is a young, brash, impulsive character and he is going to need to develop as time and fate come for him.

Ms. Lortz has a way with words and most definitely has a way with writing about this era in history. I am certainly looking forward to Tancred's future as it's written by this author.

HF Virtual Book Tours

"It's a fact that in this modern world virtual book tours are fast replacing physical book tours and that more often than not authors are expected to be responsible for their own marketing."

To help historical fiction authors shoulder this responsibility Amy, author of the blog Passages to the Past, has developed a new service at a website called Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours. The website hopes to aid authors by "finding quality bloggers to review your book, setting up interviews and guest posts, as well as coordinating giveaways."

Yesterday marked the beginning of the virtual blog tour for Amy's "guinea pig" client Jules Watson. Her book The Raven Queen will be making the circuit of over a dozen blogs in the next several weeks with reviews and author interviews.   

It's a great concept for a business, and I can't wait to see if Amy is able to pull it off and make a profit out of this service. I might be interested in purchasing a "tour package"of my own sometime this summer when Road from the West (my current work in progress) is ready to be published.