Developing the Characters

When I first conceived the idea of Sweetbrier Academy, I knew that I wanted to tell at least three stories. Each one of the girls would be different. Faith was probably the younger of the three. She believes in true love and love at first glance. Hope is older. She's seen some hard things in life and suffers greatly in her story. She's takes well to the mothering role. Charity had to be a strong woman. She is what they call "Passe Blanc" which meant while she was of African American descent , her skin was light enough to pass for white.

It was a risky gamble. But you can't tell a story about New Orleans and not include this. Charity is a strong willed woman. She does not go easily into anyone's mold. She demands a better life and when she is told because of her skin and her heritage she can't make the step up, her temper is something to behold. Yet, it is her quest for a better life that leads her to Tobias Meriwether. Tobias sees her for what she is a beautiful woman. He is also a wounded soul so they blend well together. I think my favorite line in the story is when they are making love and he tells her, "To forgive this southern his transgressions". I can't write that without hearing a deep southern drawl.

I hope you will pick up a copy of Sweetbrier Academy and take a chance on a new author.
Nancy O'Berry

Mainstream Romance: Historical/Period, Western
ISBN: 978-1-60435-360-0
Cover Artist: Nancy Donahue
Editor: Michelle Ellis
Word Count: 65,130
In ebook format only

To buy link:
http://redrosepublishing.com/books/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=218&products_id=486

When Opal Benedict offers Charity Wilson a chance to further her horizons, she travels to Virginia City and accepts the job of personal secretary for the wealthy J. T. Merewether. Here she plans to sort out her personal life and better herself.

Unaware of the tension between Merewether and his business partner, Charity is entangled a love affair that may well exact the highest price of all when she falls for the genteel Silver Baron.

Can Tobias Merewether overcome his dark past and fulfill their destiny?

“You’ve heard what they say. Sweetbriar women make the loveliest escorts and the most intriguing wives.”


Treat yourself to a sensual romance from Red Rose Publishing. Come and meet the ladies of Sweetbrier Academy as Faith, Hope, and Charity discover there is life beyond the confines of being a woman of pleasure. Nancy O'Berry, author.

Summer is a comin'

Well her it is nearly the middle of June and we are beginning our second battle with heat and humidity along the eastern seaboard. My vow not to cut on the air conditioner was blown out the water when the temp in the house with fans going went beyond the register. I had just gotten use to all that lovely spring coolness too. Ah, sigh.

I know when I was younger, my parents beat the heat by sitting on the porch and drinking hand squeezed lemonade while we danced through the sprinklers in our bathing suits. Somehow, the weather didn't seem to bother us much then as it does now. Of course we had more green spaces to soak up the heat from the sun.

Now, I find myself drawn to the even coolness of central air. I suppose I'm a wimp, but at my age, I look better with more clothes on than off. So here's to the boys and girls of summer. May your days be warm and breezy without the cares of school. To the older generation, enjoy your porches and sip that cool glass of lemonade while you watch lighting bugs dance on the early evening lawn. Ahhhhhhh youth.