Welcome to the Blog Tour for A Siege on Her Heart by Jessica Brousseau, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

CB: Hi, Jessica! Thank you for taking the time to respond to my questions. I love interviewing authors and hearing about all their inner workings and thoughts. And of course, learning more about the latest books. Let’s jump in and learn more about you and A Siege on Her Heart. 

What part of the writing process brings you the most joy as an author, and why?

JB: I absolutely love imagining the deep backstories of characters and how their “emotional wounds” and desires and dreams and past experiences motivate everything they do and say. It is fulfilling to know my characters so deeply and create a story that truly illustrates their motivations. It also makes writing their love story so much more enjoyable because I can create a character that fits exactly what they need! The initial plotting and drafting of all this is very exciting.

CB: How does your faith influence your writing? 

JB: I don’t know if all of my books will have a faith arc with characters having their own faith journey. But my faith influences every part of my life. Connecting with God guides me in my daily decisions and brings peace to my soul. So when the characters in this particular book were having such tumultuous challenges, it seemed fitting that they would turn to God to find healing that simply wasn’t possible in any other way.

CB:  What do you hope  your children notice when they see their mama working so hard on a book? How do you want your calling as a writer to influence them? 

JB: I hope that they see that it brings me fulfillment. And that it helps them realize that they can chase their dreams and that they won’t be afraid to work hard (and long) at what they want in life.

CB: I read your post on why you wrote A Siege on Her Heart, in it you speak to why you love historical romance. When did you first fall in love with this genre? Is there a particular book that influenced you?

JB: I’ve loved historical fiction from a very young age. Learning about history transported me to another time and taught me important lessons about the suffering and resilience of others. When I was in my early teens I was introduced to my first historical romance written by a modern author. It proved a little more accessible than Jane Austen and Shakespeare(although I certainly have a history with those works of literature too). I started reading clean Regency romance novels voraciously. I loved to learn about the time period and the love stories felt so pure and romantic. Jane Austen’s works are obviously my biggest inspiration. But I have also been very inspired by Sarah M. Eden and Julie Klassen to name a few incredible authors.

CB: You did a lot of research on The Siege of San Sebastian. One thing that may have been hard to get to is the emotional toil it had on Peter. How did you approach that? 

JB: This was particularly difficult since every reader (and writer) in this genre often wants a happy ending. But since I was writing about a historical event that already happened and turned out tragically, I couldn’t guarantee a happy ending in some regards. Sadly, the victims of the sacking of San Sebastian didn’t get to see their day of justice. And the disillusioned soldiers, like Peter, had to live with their guilt for many years to come. As I started writing, it was a battle. Just like Peter, I wanted for there to be some retribution. But both Peter and I had to come to terms with the fact that justice would never be had. Once I leaned into that tragic truth and started reading from historical accounts (journals, letters etc) written by soldiers involved in the Peninsular War, it was easier to embody the heartache and disillusionment he suffered from.

CB: You spoke about Ana and her struggle with postpartum depression (melancholy) and your own experience with this. Are there any other traits or characteristics in Ana that you also share? But only share if you won’t spoil the book for us!

JB: Ana is bold and vivacious. She’s never afraid to show affection or speak her mind. Honestly, I’m usually a lot quieter and more introverted than her in social settings! But I lived in South America for a few years (Argentina and Uruguay) and have many close Latina friends who helped to inspire Ana’s passionate personality. It was fun to reminisce on precious times and incorporate my dear friends into this character.

CB: How do you hope readers who have experienced trauma or deep grief connect with Ana’s story?

JB: Already, I’ve had readers reach out to me to tell me that Ana’s journey inspired healing and resilience in them as well. Those are absolutely my favorite reviews and messages to receive. I hope that every reader feels that their pain and grief are validated by this story. I hope that they also realize how resilient they have been as they have pushed through and learned from their pain or grief. Most of all, I hope that they remember that they can always lean on those around them, as Ana learns to do with her found family. Sharing life’s burdens makes them more bearable. And it is important to note that my readers don’t have to be mothers to connect with Ana and resonate with this story in this way.

CB: What do you hope readers carry with them after finishing A Siege on Her Heart?      

JB: “I am learning that God will heal your wounds which time—and I—cannot. We must trust Him.”

Right before I turned in the final edits for A Siege on Her Heart to my publisher, God wrote this line in my mind. This is something that Peter says to Ana in a pivotal moment. And this is the biggest message that I hope readers carry with them after finishing this story. Your spouse or family can’t always heal your wounds. And some wounds seem to last forever. But when we have faith in God and follow His will to trust in and lean on those around us, He will heal the wounds that time cannot. I know that is true because I have seen God work this way in my own life.

CB: I appreciate your time to connect with us here on the blog. I’m sure between kids and writing, you don’t have a lot of time to spare. I pray you have great success with your debut novel. 

JB: Thank you for your thoughtful questions and heartfelt well wishes!