Speaking of Writers.....

Yesterday I posted about an event celebrating the life and writing of Kate Chopin. Today I'd like to welcome and introduce another writer....my friend, T.K. Richardson, author of Shield the Heart. I'm happy and honored to be one of the stops on this special blog tour.

T.K. ......Take it away!

Hi Becky, thanks for hosting this stop on the blog tour for Shield the Heart!

The theme for this blog tour is a little different and I hope all of you will enjoy it. It’s titled ‘A Russian Tour’ because each day during the blog tour we’ll explore the Russian cities and historical sites that are the backdrop for my new YA novel Shield the Heart.

Sometimes the setting of a novel is so interesting and unique that it deserves a closer look, and that’s why I thought this blog tour would be so much fun. ‘A Russian Tour’ will give my readers a chance to get a better view of where everything in Shield the Heart takes place.

After all, these are the places that have inspired me, and I hope they inspire all of you, too.

Today on our itinerary we’re visiting Moskovsky Train Station!

To follow along each day and visit some of the places found in Shield the Heart, be sure to follow the blog tour.

Okay, onto our destination! 

Московский вокзал

Sometimes the thought of traveling by train brings to mind unique and beautiful images. But traveling by rail can also present the opportunity for danger and mystery, as well. In Shield the Heart it added a bit of mystery, intrigue, and a healthy dose of danger. Because, after all, some of the best scenes seem to happen on a train, and that’s how I viewed Moskovsky Train Station in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Although there isn’t a ton of description about this railway station in Shield the Heart, there is enough to see what the main character, Lilly, sees and give the reader a view they may never witness in real life. Busy and packed with people, Moskovsky Train Station was the perfect setting, and provided me a great opportunity to learn more about it.

[note: all images are fromgoogle images]

A little history:

“While serving as the terminus of many different lines, it is most recognized as the rail terminal for trains running to and from its twin station (Leningradsky Station) in Moscow.

 Also called: Moscow Rail Terminal, Moskovsky Railway Station, Московский вокзал, Moskovsky Vokzal, Moscow Station. Moskovsky Railway Station is the "main" line terminal station in Saint Petersburg and as such, sometimes appears in Russian as Главный вокзал (Main Station). Constructed in 1851, Moskovsky Station is the oldest preserved railway station in Saint Petersburg.” (russia-ukraine-travel.com)

As you can see this railway station is beautiful and unique, but you may be wondering how it fits into a young adult novel that centers around a girl with a special gift, an old Russian prophecy, and one life changing choice…

Well, I hope you’ll read the story to find out!

Character quote~

It wasn’t until the train left the station that I put the paper down and stared out the window. They couldn’t stop me, now. ~ Lilly Paige, Shield the Heart

I hope you’ve enjoyed this mini tour of Moskovsky Train Station. Be sure to follow us to our next destination. Tomorrow on the blog tour we’ll visit Freedom Square in Georgia!  http://eveningfades.blogspot.com/p/shield-heart-blog-tour.html

Becky, thanks again for hosting me on the blog tour. I hope you and your blog followers enjoy my new release!

One Gift, One Prophecy, One Choice

Shield the Heart

 (Note: This book is part of a series. Book #1 Return the Heart. Book #2 Shield the Heart.)

What if the battle was in your heart?

Lilly’s gift of reading the heart seemed like a curse, but when she discovered her gift was linked to an old, Russian prophecy it changed everything. What she never questioned, though, was her own heart.

When the prophecy pulls Lilly back to Russia and demands to be fulfilled she is torn between love and loyalty. She must make the most difficult decision of her life and choose between the two. But Lilly’s decision is farther reaching than even she is willing to acknowledge. It stretches from East to West - from the past to the future.

Lilly discovers there’s more to the old prophecy than she realized and enemy forces are bent on stopping it from unfolding.

One thing is certain - there will be casualties. And sparing those closest to her may be impossible. While Seth attempts to shield Lilly from the truth, Nikolai reveals secrets that could change everything.

As Lilly falls into the arms of Russia she must decide: will love or loyalty reign? And can she live with the consequences? Two sides compete for Lilly’s heart and she must find the answers she needs before her enemies find her.

Shield the Heart, by T.K. Richardson, is the riveting second book in the series and takes Lilly deeper into Russia’s mysterious past… and her future.

Available in paperback and ebook 
 (Link to Amazon)

 For a chance to win a Kindle Fire and a signed copy of Shield the Heart, check out my contest!

About the author~

T.K. Richardson is the author of YA books Return the Heart, Shield the Heart, Simmer: Recipes for the Teen Palate, and Love, Me: Anthology of Short Stories. She is the founder of Partners In Print.org, a program that donates books to children in the foster care system. She also hosts  Compass eBooks and runs The Writers Resource Directory, a great site for writers filled with publishing and writing links, tips and advice. Her next books are due out later this year.  Find out more at http://tkrichardson.com


*One last note: Welcome to my newest follower, Mona I hope you'll stop by often and always enjoy what you read and see. Thank you!*