Spotlight & Giveaway: The Breath Between Waves by Charlotte Hamilton

Today it is my pleasure to Welcome author Charlotte Hamilton to HJ!

Hi Charlotte and welcome to HJ! We’re so excited to chat with you about your new release, The Breath Between Waves!

 
Hey! It’s lovely to be here!
 

Please summarize the book a la Twitter style for the readers here:

It’s a sapphic romance set aboard RMS Titanic where the main character, Penelope, is sharing a room with a spunky Irishwoman, Ruby, and feelings arise.
 

Please share the opening lines of this book:

The docks were wild.
Penelope had never seen anything like it.
She couldn’t count the number of bodies; a huge variety of people from different backgrounds. She passed upper- class ladies with maids trailing behind them with their luggage. Young children ran off in front of their parents as they headed towards the steerage entrance.

Please share a few Fun facts about this book…

• The idea came about from my editor who messaged me in the morning with “u + gay romance set aboard the Titanic”.
• From that message to the deal, it took 6 months.
• There are several references to real passengers who were aboard the Titanic
• There is a reference to my next release OF TRUST & HEART in this book as well.
• The Edwardian period is my favourite for fashion and so I reference the dresses the girls wear a LOT and took several descriptions from extant garments.

What first attracts your Hero to the Heroine and vice versa?

Penelope, the main character, is attracted to Ruby first because she’s beautiful, and also because she’s just so bold and exciting. For Ruby, she’s attracted to Penelope because she’s a little hard for her to read, a little timid and Ruby likes getting to know people.
 

Using just 5 words, how would you describe Hero and Heroine’s love affair?

Whirlwind. Exciting. Tense. Suspenseful. Sweet.
 

The First Kiss…

is one of the most favourite scenes in the book because of how it perfectly captures the tense nature of queer relationships at such a time, but the relief of finding someone similar who returns your feelings. I’m really proud of how it happens.
“Before Penelope’s mind could catch up with her heart, she surged forwards, her hands cupping either side of Ruby’s face and bringing their lips together in a fierce kiss.”

Without revealing too much, what is your favorite scene in the book?

There’s a certain point where the girls decide they want to see more of the ship than they’re able to. They get a little tipsy and decide to do so. And it just leads to a brand new way for them both to see each other and their lives.

“Before she could start letting out her anger, a voice cut through the silence. “May I help you?”
The pair whirled around. A steward, dressed in fine livery with his hair smoothed to the side and his arms folded behind his back, stood at the base of the staircase.
As soon as they turned, the realisation that they didn’t belong there seemed to slowly dawn on his face—whether due to their clothes, their flushed cheeks, their guilty looks, or even because he simply didn’t recognise them, Penelope had no idea.
Penelope grabbed Ruby’s hand and shrieked, “Leg it!” Then she promptly took off up the staircase towards the Boat Deck above.”

If your book was optioned for a movie, what scene would be absolutely crucial to include?

The epilogue! There’s just something about seeing Penelope and Ruby ten years later, still together and happy, wearing scars from everything they went through. The romance and sinking are important, but I definitely feel it’s important for the movie to include a quick five minute scene showing that, no matter what happens, queer people deserve their happily ever afters.

“Penelope curled her body closer towards the fire.
She shuffled forwards so that her toes grazed the grating that protected the burning coal, until her hands could reach out and caress the flames should she wish. They were, however, occupied with the small hoop that she was working on. The piece that she was only ever able to work on in the wee hours of the morning, after the nightmares had woken her up.
Her back ached. She had no idea how long she had sat there working on her embroidery with her Golden Retriever, Kaidan, resting his head on her thigh.”

Readers should read this book …

If they want a sapphic romance that is equal parts sweet and angsty set against the backdrop of the Titanic tragedy. With some steamy scenes thrown in for good measure.

What are you currently working on? What other releases do you have planned?

I have another sapphic romance set in the 1920s releasing on 19th October 2020 called OF TRUST & HEART. I’m also working on a few other things, such as a companion to that novel and a sapphic romance set in the 1890s between a conwoman and an artist.

Thanks for blogging at HJ!

Giveaway: A free ebook copy of THE BREATH BETWEEN WAVES.

To enter Giveaway: Please complete the Rafflecopter form and Post a comment to this Q: What historical fashion period is your favourite?

 
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Excerpt from The Breath Between Waves:

Back in their cabin after dinner, Penelope locked the door and moved towards Ruby, settling her hands on her hips.
With a seductive smile, she tilted her head towards Ruby’s and kissed her.
She released a soft whimper as her hands circled Ruby’s waist, adjusting the position of her head to deepen the kiss. Her hands travelled upwards, seeking out the small pearl buttons at the back of Ruby’s dress, but when they found them, Ruby pulled away.
“Wait, wait, wait.” Ruby took a ragged breath, resting her forehead against Penelope’s. The strands of hair she had left loose to frame her face tickled Penelope’s nose. “If we start that, we won’t stop.”
Penelope laughed breathlessly. “And why should we stop?” She pulled her head back and lifted her hand to cup Ruby’s cheek.
Ruby’s lips grew into that sure smile that Penelope had come to adore. “Because we have a party to attend.”
Penelope lowered her hand from Ruby’s cheek, cocking her head to the side as Ruby continued to grin at her. “Away and boil your head,” she said with a nervous laugh, almost expecting Ruby to declare it a joke. When that didn’t come, she pulled herself free from Ruby’s hold, stepping back to stare incredulously.
Ruby shrugged elegantly with one shoulder as she fiddled with the black lace around the neckline of her underdress. The emerald-green silk chiffon of her overdress clung stunningly to her figure, draping her like some Greek goddess.
“Why shouldn’t we go?” Ruby smoothed her hair, twirling those strands that had just been tickling Penelope’s nose around her finger.
Penelope had no real answer to that. It just seemed so risky.
Not only because her parents would be upset if they found out, but because they didn’t know anyone in Third Class. Whilst they weren’t wealthy duchesses decked out in diamonds and pearls, they were still better-off than those they’d be celebrating with.
You sound just like Father, her mind hissed at her, and she was just able to hold back a grimace. She hated that she was judging these people before she even knew them based purely on their societal status.
Ruby reached up and smoothed the wrinkles on Penelope’s forehead with her gloved hand. The action made Penelope smile and she relaxed, casting away her worries.
She took Ruby’s hand in hers, pressing a gentle kiss to her knuckles. “All right. But if you cast me aside for your Prince Charming, I will not be pleased.”
Ruby laughed loudly, closing the distance between them. “The chances of that happening are as likely as Titanic sinking.” Ruby placed a fleeting kiss on Penelope’s lips, just enough for her to want more, to crave Ruby’s fingers on her skin, before she pulled away and made her way back to the door.
Penelope watched as Ruby unlocked it and opened it just a little, looking from left to right to ensure that no one was around to see them. “Why do I feel you’ve done this before?”
Ruby turned back around with a wide grin. “Maybe because I have. Not a lot, but once or twice I’ve sneaked out to attend a party thrown by the duke’s servants. And the odd time I wanted to meet a pretty girl without the risk of getting caught.” Ruby winked before turning to face the front once more. “The corridor is clear—I can’t see your parents or my family, so I think we’re fine.”
Her expression softened when she seemed to notice how nervous Penelope was. She closed the door and came close to her again. “If you really don’t want to go, I won’t pressure you. I just didn’t want you saying no because of some misguided sense of propriety or honour or whatever other reason they use to prevent women from enjoying our lives.”
Penelope shook her head. “No. I do wish to go…” She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “Come on. Before Father comes back from the smoking room.”
Ruby’s smile was dazzling as she giggled, took Penelope’s hand, and led them out of the room.

Excerpts. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
 
 

Book Info:

Penelope Fletcher gave up everything to board the RMS Titanic.
Forced to travel to America for her father’s new job, Penelope left her home in Scotland, her beloved grandmother, and even her girlfriend, who promptly got engaged to someone else. Heartbroken, Penelope isn’t looking forward to the weeklong journey. Or that her parents want her to find a husband in America. To make matters worse, she also has to share a cabin with a complete stranger.
Ruby Cole, her spunky Irish roommate, is unlike anyone Penelope ever met. They become fast friends as they bond over crushing family expectations and sneaking into lush parties together. That Ruby likes women, too, comes as a surprise to Penelope, but she knows their affair can only be temporary. Because as soon as the Titanic arrives in New York, Penelope will have to marry someone of her father’s choosing.
Before long, though, they’ll both have to decide what–and who–is really worth fighting for.
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Meet the Author:

Charlotte Anne Hamilton is a blue-haired mermaid-wannabe who lives in Ayrshire, Scotland with her two fur-children, Izzy (chocolate lab) and Smudge (queen cat). She is currently studying Astronomy and Planetary Science and in her spare time she enjoys reading and gaming, as well as dabbling in all forms of art and her craft as an eclectic witch. Her main source of inspiration in writing and in life is the popular phrase: “but make it gay”.
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