Historical romance author Elizabeth Camden takes readers to the west coast with her turbulent romantic drama To the Farthest Shores (Bethany House). It contains her trademark blend of fast-paced romance with a hint of mystery. Set along the rural coastline of southern California, it tells the story of a young woman whose heart was once broken by a man who mysteriously disappeared–only to return six years later. Can she ever trust him again?
For readers who are unfamiliar with your writing, how do you describe your novels?
I write briskly-paced historical romances set during little-known aspects of American history. For example, I wrote about how Chicago rose from the ashes after the great fire of 1871 (Into the Whirlwind) and the challenges of building the Library of Congress in 1897 (Beyond All Dreams). I write about fiercely smart characters who have huge dreams and are willing to risk everything in order to make them happen. My ideal reader is someone who loves a good stormy romance, but also wants glimpses of wit, delight, and joy sprinkled in amongst the drama. I hope when readers finish one of my novels they feel like they’ve just made friends with a bunch of really terrific characters and are sorry to say goodbye.
Can you describe the plot of To the Farthest Shores in one sentence?
When a reluctant spy falls in love with an army nurse, they can’t imagine the web of intrigue and adventure heading her way.
Where did the inspiration for this novel come from?
I adore stories about reunited lost loves. To the Farthest Shores opens with two people who fall desperately in love in a rush of blazing infatuation that often happens in a first love. I think there is a purity to that sort of love that can be hard to recapture once people have their heart broken, and they become more guarded in subsequent relationships. I wanted to explore a love story in which the characters strive to recapture that dazzling feeling, but are forced to work through the chaos that tore them apart in the first place.
Are any parts of the plot or characters pulled from real life?
I love digging up rare and little-known facets of American history to weave into my novels, and this time I am looking at the history of spying. The C.I.A. was not established until 1947, but I can assure you the U.S. was keeping an eye on other countries well before that. A big part of the novel relates to how foreign intelligence worked during the Spanish-American War.
Can you tell us about any research you did for this novel?
Much of the plot is about the real-life race to discover how to create cultured pearls. Near the turn of the century, scientists all over the world were closing in on an answer to that secret. Both my hero and heroine have an abiding love of the sea, and they join forces in that scientific quest. In researching the novel I delved into pearl farming and the challenges of creating round pearls. I was never a big fan of pearls before I started work on this novel, but now I am fascinated by them.
Who’s your favorite character in the book?
My hero, Lieutenant Ryan Gallagher. Although I am known for writing larger-than-life alpha heroes, Ryan is my first beta hero. He is kind, gentle, and a little shy around girls. Despite his poet’s soul, Ryan is a mass of contradictions that force him into a daring profession when his heart is in the pearl farm. Ryan is the son of missionary parents and was born and raised in Japan. Even though he had never set foot in the United States, he idolizes the idea of America as though it was Camelot. When he arrives on American shores as a young man, ready to become an officer in the U.S. Navy, he has no idea the extent of the sacrifices his country is going to ask of him, but he does it without complaint. Until he falls in love with an army nurse, and that upends his entire world.
What is the take-away message you want readers to receive after reading the novel?
While I always aim for a thrilling story with equal parts history, romance, and adventure, I try to infuse the story with ethical challenges that are relevant to today’s reader. None of us are perfect, and our lives will be pockmarked by disappointments, but those challenges have the potential to inspire us to become more compassionate people. They can make us stronger as we learn to weather storms. Even during difficult times, our lives can be shot through with glimpses of joy and inspiration if we look for them.
Where will your writing take you next?
I am thrilled to announce I’ve started work on my first series, which is a historical romantic drama set in New York City. I confess to having been a little hesitant about setting a novel in Manhattan. Every time I’ve visited the city it felt so towering and overwhelming to my introverted-spirit, but the more I researched turn-of-the-century Manhattan, the more irresistible it became to me. I am loving it! Picnics in Central Park, the vibrancy of Wall Street, a wonderful blend of high society and ethnic enclaves. New York was the hub of the North American news industry even in 1903, which is a big part of the plot. The first in the series is called A Dangerous Legacy, will be available in October.
Find more about the book here:
To the Farthest Shores
Elizabeth Camden
Bethany House