Allison Bruning

We are having a give away going on for March.

What item are you giving away? (Anyone can win the item by going to the rafflecopter on the right hand side of the pg.)

 I will be giving away a copy of Elsa (The Secret Heritage Series: Book 1)

First why don't you tell us a little about yourself?

Hello. Thank you for having me.
I am a bestselling author originally from Marion, Ohio but live in Indianapolis, Indiana. I have
been writing novels for six years and have recently transitioned into screenwriting. I mainly
write historical fiction with strong female leads and all of my books are family oriented. I am
the author of five historical fiction series: Children of the Shawnee, The Secret Heritage, Irish
Twist of Fate, New Hope and Cherokee Tears. The first books of Children of the Shawnee
and The Secret Heritage have already been released.
I have been writing since I could hold a pencil. I wrote poetry and short stories in my youth.
I dabbled with screenwriting in High School. I loved taking English courses in college and
many of my professors tried to get me to publish my work. I think I always knew I was writer
but was scared to pursue my dreams. I finally submitted to my calling after my husband and I
moved to Kentucky in 2008. I wrote 700 pages in two months.
I hold a BA in Theatre Arts and MFA in Creative Writing. I love anything that has to do with
art. In my spare time I like to paint, draw, hike, read, camp, visit museums, go to the theatre
and anything else artistically I can get my hands on.
I straddle both the literary and media worlds, which is very hard to do for any writer. I love
to take a story and expand it into different forms of entertainment such as film, TV shows,
games, novels, shorts, etc. I recently had a music video I wrote for the band, Highland Reign,
produced and released on YouTube by FilmSmith Productions. I have a short story that I
wrote for a contest and won that I converted into a full-length feature film. I am in the process
of converting that into a novel.

Newest release?

My newest release will be Kathleen’s Revenge. Kathleen’s Revenge is scheduled to be
released by Mountain Springs House on March 14th
the Irish Twist of Fate series and is the story of Calico’s grandmother in Ireland. Calico is the
main character in my Children of the Shawnee series. I am working on developing a family
saga that begins with Kathleen and ends with Calico’s daughter. The saga will have four
series, each told from the perspective of a woman, and will cover the timespan from early
18th century to the end of The War of 1812.

Here’s the blurb of Kathleen’s Revenge:

Born into poverty by parents who once ruled over Kilmore, Kathleen McGillpatrick never
longed for an affluent life just a peaceful one. Death and destruction follow her as her older
brother, Bailey, leads Irish rebels to depose Earl Isaac Turner and reclaim his birthright as
heir of Kilmore. Kathleen's chance encounter with Earl Turner gives Bailey an idea. Since
the English Earl is so smitten by Kathleen, she should seduce him and reclaim the estate
through marriage. There's only one problem. Kathleen loves Isaac and despises Bailey.
Torn between her love for the English noble and her family loyalty, Kathleen must chose to
honor one or the other in order to stop Bailey before he destroys everything.

What can we expect from your stories, action, drama, romance, sex, blood and guts?

My stories are unique because they offer a point of view that is often unheard from in history.
My protagonists are strong female leads. My stories are family oriented. There’s action,
drama, romance, sex (not graphic), blood and guts. I thrust my readers into a world that has
been described as being so real it’s hard to leave once the story is over.

Do you have a favorite character in your stories? Who? and Why?

Oh, that’s a tough question. I think my favorite character so far as been Calico Turner. She’s
the lead in my Children of the Shawnee series. I like her the best because she’s intelligent,
stubborn and strong but most of all because she’s a powerful medicine woman. She has
a mysterious side about her. Calico is a short, petite woman who isn’t scared to confront
anyone or anything that stands in her way. She’s a but misguided at times but overall she
has a good head on her shoulder. You don’t met many woman in her time period who aren’t
afraid to stand up for what’s right in their world.

How about your least favorite character? What makes them less appealing to you?

My least favorite character is Cora from The Secret Heritage Series. I really loathed writing
her because she uses her brother, who has Aspergers Syndrome, to her advantage. I hate
people that pick on the disabled or mentally challenged.

Give us an interesting fun fact or a few about your book or series:

All of my books are inspired by actual people and events.

Has there been any other authors who have inspired your work or helped you out with your 
stories?

Yes, I am inspired by the works of Laura Ingalls Wilder and Margaret George. I love the way
Margaret George is able to transport her readers into the world she has created and how she
writes a female’s point of view so realistically you want to get to know her characters more.

What can readers who enjoy your book do to help make it successful?

Write a review on Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes and Nobles, Kobo, iTunes, etc.
Spread the word about my work.

Do you have any tips for readers or advice for other writers trying to get published?

Don’t write you novel by the seat of your pants but do write if you feel the need to. I know
that sounds contradictory. Writing is an art form. As with all art forms the more you practice
the better you become. I have a journal where I keep all my plot ideas. Whenever I have a
moment where the start of project comes to me I write it out and then push it to the side. I
won’t abandon my ideas but will develop them more. Whenever I need a new story I will take
out one of my ideas and plot it out on story arc. You really need to do the pre-writing work
(character development, research, developing the three act structure and story arch) before
you lay a single word down. Your readers will thank you for it as will your editor.

Do you have a favorite author? If yes, what draws you to that person’s work?

Yes, I love to read the works of Margaret George. I’m drawn to her work because of how
she is able to tell believable story from the perspective of someone history knows about but
doesn’t truly know them personally.

Can you remember one of the first things you wrote? What makes it memorable?

I wrote a Star Trek: TNG fan fiction piece in high school that I am in the process of
converting into a graphic novel called Mystique. What makes it so memorable to me was that
it was my first attempt at screenwriting. I was obsessed with Star Trek and wanted to get my
story on the screen but never went through with the submission process.

Where do you gather most of the inspiration for your works?

Most of my stories, with the exception of Calico, come from my family history. I have been
doing my family’s genealogy for over twenty years.

Do you have any other interesting hobbies, pets or stories you would like to share?

I have an Austrailian Cattle dog named Lakota Sioux who is my constant companion. She’s
such a momma’s girl that she doesn’t like it when my husband tries to kiss me.

Favorite places to travel or visit?

I would love to visit the villages in Germany where my grandparents lived before they came
to the United States.

And now, before you go, how about a snippet from your book that is meant to intrigue and 
tantalize us:( Include links to were we can find your work)

Here’s a sneak peek at Kathleen’s Revenge:
Kathleen turned and fell on her bottom as the tall, slender, handsome Englishman stood
over her with a pistol aimed at her head. “Who are you?” he demanded. Kathleen stared into
the man’s beautiful blue eyes. They captivated her. “I believe I asked you a question,” he
snarled, moving closer to her.
“Kathleen,” she answered, glancing at his gun.
“Very well, Kathleen. Why are you washing clothes in this lake?”
“And why, sir, did you take my clothes? Are you so desperate to be with a woman that you
would treat me as if I am some common whore?”
“Well you do have a mouth on you, young lady. Get up!”
Kathleen slowly rose from the ground. She held her hands up and stared down her
opponent. “Where’s your rebel base of operations?” he demanded, grabbing her by the front
of her gown.
“Rebel? What makes you think I am a rebel?”
He leaned close to her ear and snarled, “You must be a Catholic. I don’t know you and I
know every Anglican woman in these parts. I won’t ask you again, Kathleen.”
Kathleen swallowed hard as they glared into each other’s eyes for a long moment.
“Kathleen,” a familiar tenor voice came from down the road. The man holding her glanced
over his shoulder. He loosed his tight grip on her. Kathleen swung her right fist and slammed
it into her captor’s face. He stumbled backwards and dropped his gun. Blood flowed from his
nose. She grabbed the gun and held it over him. “Kathleen,” the other man’s voice said from
behind her as he placed his hand on her arm. “Don’t.” Kathleen turned her gaze towards the
medium-height Irish Earl Tomas Connelly.
“Tomas,” her attacker greeted him.
“Isaac,” Tomas replied.
Kathleen peered at Tomas with confusion. “Who is he?” she asked.
“A friend. Lower your gun, Kathleen.”
“That’s my gun, Tomas,” Isaac answered while rising from the ground, extending his hand
out to her.
“Give Lord Turner his gun, Kathleen,” Tomas ordered.
“Lord Turner. As in Earl Isaac Turner!”
“Ah, the lady has heard of me,” Isaac answered.
Kathleen pushed Tomas aside and aimed the gun at Isaac’s head. “I should shoot you right
now for what you did,” she threatened.
Isaac raised his hands and cocked his head, scanning her body with his eyes. “So was it
your mother or your sister I slept with,” he asked. “You know you Irish converts are such a
delight.”
Kathleen growled and began to pull the trigger. How dare this English Earl insult the Irish?
Those converts only did so in order to save their families. Some of the rebels had called
them cowards for not sticking to their beliefs and heritage. Yet there were some converts,
like Tomas, who had converted to keep their lands, wealth, and status, and were secretly
aiding the rebels and the Catholic Church. It was those converts who deserved to be
honored. They risked their lives to practice their faith and help restore Ireland.
Tomas grabbed Kathleen around her waist and thrust her backwards against the tree. He
pressed his body against her with his arm bent over her chest. Pain seared through her
body. She dropped the gun. “Enough,” he whispered to her.
“Why? Why would you call him your friend when you know what he has done to my
brothers?”
“He’s not my friend, Kathleen. I have to pretend to be his friend to help our people.”
“But he …”
Tomas placed his finger over her thin, red lips. “Stop. He’s already suspected you are with
the rebels. If you continue to act uncivilized you’ll only confirm his suspicions about you. And
that, Kathleen, can’t happen! Understood?”

And here’s a snippet of Elsa (The Secret Heritage Series: Book 1) available now on Amazon
at http://amzn.to/GADXKE

Franklin turned his eyes towards the field, ignoring his sister’s constant pleas for him to drop
Elsa out of his life.
Abraham sang while he led the team of horses down another row with the reigns around his
neck. Abraham tripped over something and fell to the ground with the reins twisted around
his neck. Mindlessly, the horses picked up speed, dragging Abraham behind them. Abraham
screamed, “Frank!” Franklin jumped from his chair quickly. “Abraham,” he screamed with
a clumsy sprint towards the plow. Franklin’s heart pounded fiercely with each leap he took
towards the runaway plow. The muscles of his legs burned as he ran. He tripped over his
own feet several times between sprints. His brother’s body bounced on the hard ground. “Let
go of the reins,” Franklin yelled, rising from the ground where he had tripped and fell.
“I can’t!”
“Do it before you choke! I can’t run any faster!” Abraham sobbed as he moved his hands
towards the reigns. Franklin tried to run faster as the horses picked up speed. He peered
towards the horses. Side to side, the horses wove Abraham and the plow uncontrollably
down the acre. Abraham screamed then fell silent. His limp body bounced up and down.
“No,” Franklin whispered to himself. “Abraham,” he yelled after him. His brother never
responded. Franklin stared down at his feet as he ran. All his life his legs and feet had given
him problems. Uncoordinated, he could never run, skip, or hop like the other boys his age.
Even when he walked he was different. His gait was noticeably different when he walked,
even more so when he ran.
“Abraham,” Cora cried nearby. Franklin turned his head to the right. Cora ran a few paces
behind him. “Do something, they’ll kill him before they ever stop from exhaustion,” she
pleaded to her older brother.
Franklin glanced across the plow then turned to Cora. “Stay with him.”
“What are you going to do?”
“Don’t worry about me, worry about Abraham. Can you run any faster?”
“Yes.”
“Good, catch up to Abraham while I stop the horses.”
“Frank,” she yelled as Franklin sprinted towards the brown mares. He ignored his sister’s
pleas. Cora had every right to be scared. At the speed the horses were travelling if he made
the wrong move Abraham wouldn’t be the only one to die. At 1,000 pounds each, cantering
at twenty miles per hour, one slip of his foot and the four-year-old mares could stampede
him to death. Franklin lunged towards the larger horse and grabbed her by the bridal. The
panicked horse protested. With gusto, Franklin tried to pull himself onto the horse’s back.
The mare shook her body, his foot slipped and his leg slid back to the side. The horse gained
more speed. Franklin began to lose his grip. His feet hit the hard ground.
“Franklin!” Cora yelled.
“Shut up,” he yelled with annoyance as he regained control of his limbs. The last thing he
needed was Cora’s screaming. His fingers began to loosen their grip on the bridle. Franklin
grasped it tighter, inhaled a deep breath, and gathered what little strength he possessed.
With a loud grunt he lifted his leg over the mare’s large back and settled onto her back.
Franklin sighed in relief. He looked behind him at Cora then to Abraham. He didn’t have
much time until the reins around his brother’s neck suffocated him. Franklin quickly leaned
over the mare’s long neck with his hand on the left reign. He leaned across the second
horse, grabbed the other reign then pulled. “Whoa,” he ordered several times, pulling with all
his might.
“Hurry, Frank. The plow pulled him under! He struggles to breathe! The blades hit his legs!
He’s not reacting to it,” Cora protested with a sprint beside the horse.
Franklin jerked harder on the reigns and pulled himself back. “Whoa, Bess. Whoa, Sally.”
The mares finally submitted under his familiar command. With a long sigh of relief Franklin
tapped Bess on the neck. “Good girl.” Franklin lowered himself off the horse and ran towards
the back. Abraham lay behind the harrow with blood down his torn pants. Cora untangled
the reins from Abraham’s neck and threw them to the side. Abraham gasped with his eyes
bulged then coughed. Deep red marks circled his throat. Franklin rubbed his brother’s chest.
He scanned with his eyes then ran his hand down Abraham’s long, thin legs. Abraham
screamed at his touch. He peered up at Cora, “The leg’s broken. I can see the bone. We
need Doctor Riley.”
“The telephone’s broke. Pa tried to fix it but said he needed a new piece. We can’t use it until
he returns,” Cora replied.
“I’ll ride to Marion.”
“Doctor Riley’s at least an hour ride to Marion on a good horse and Pa took those with him to
Upper Sandusky.”
 Franklin lifted his eyes towards the road with frustration. Cora was right. Without the good
horses on the farm his trip would take too long. He thought about the options he had. They
could wait for their parents to arrive home but how long would that take? He could run to the
nearest farm for help but that was at least two miles away and the neighbors couldn’t afford a
telephone let alone a car. He turned his eyes towards Abraham. Abraham sobbed while Cora
applied pressure to the bleeding. “We can take you to the house and wait.”
Abraham shook his head, “No.”
“I won’t leave you and Cora alone.
“Pa has the carriage. I can’t ride. Go to Marion. Get the doctor.”
Franklin ran to Bess, untied her from Sally, jumped on her back, and slipped off. “Franklin,
maybe I should go instead,” Cora protested as he tried to climb on the horse's back and fell
again.
“I can do it,” he yelled, grapping tighter on the harness. He grunted as he pulled himself up
on her back. He turned back to his sister and brother. “Stay with him. I’ll be back with the
doctor as soon as I can.”
“Alright, Frank,” she said as she watched him turn around and ride quickly off the farm.

Thanks for visiting us here on JBR! We wish you great success!

Julie Ramsey
ADM JBR