Welcome Rue Allyn, with the facts behind the fiction in her novel, The Creole Duchess
What you may not know about ‘the Underground Railroad.’
1. Just in case you are unfamiliar with the term, “The Underground Railroad was a network of secret routes and safe houses… in the United States used by enslaved African Americans…” to escape their bondage.
2. While most routes in the Underground Railroad ran north toward Canada, escape routes ran in many directions. “Various other routes led to Mexico, where slavery had been abolished, and to islands in the Caribbean that were not part of the slave trade.” Some routes led west in to land that was not yet part of the United States.
3. “The network now generally known as the Under Ground Railroad began in the late 18th century” and did not end until the Emancipation Proclamation became law.
4. “One estimate suggests that, by 1850, approximately 100,000 slaves had escaped to freedom via” the Underground Railroad.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Underground_Railroad
In my novel, The Creole Duchess, heroine, Celie St. Cyr-Duval aids a number of enslaved people of color to escape their bondage. She does so with the risk of being herself enslaved if she is caught and convicted. But freedom and the right to choose for oneself are guiding principles for this heroine, so she does not shirk. Even when others fail, she follows through on her commitment to her fellow human beings.
About The Creole Duchess
A duke in disguise, a creole miss determined to get her own way, a curse, and two nations at war, is love even possible?
New Orleans Creole, Miss Celestine St. Cyr-Duval refuses to live under the thumb of some man chosen by her parents. Celie will do everything to keep freedom of choice for herself and others. But fate interferes in the form of a duke disguised as British businessman, Caleb Elmond. A relationship with Caleb would find approval with her mother, but both Celie and Caleb have secrets that put them on opposite sides of a great conflict and could destroy them both.
With the Battle of New Orleans looming, can these two strangers from warring countries compromise and protect each other, or will fear and betrayal end both their lives?
The Creole Duchess, Duchess Series Book Three is expected to launch in late 2023. The pre-order price of $0.99 for this long-awaited conclusion to the Duchess Series ends on release day, Oct. 30, 2023
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About the Author
Author of historical and contemporary romances, Rue Allyn fell in love with happily ever after the day she heard her first story. (She claims she was a precocious little brat who read at the age of two but could hear much earlier than that.) She studied literature for far too many years before discovering that writing stories was much more fun than writing about them. One of her greatest pleasures as an author is being able to read the story before anyone else. Rue is happily married to her sweetheart of many, many years. Insatiably curious, an avid reader and traveler, she loves to hear from readers about their favorite books and real-life adventures. Crazy Cat stories are especially welcome.You can contact her at Rue@RueAllyn.com. She can’t wait to hear from you.
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