Her Own Legacy by Debra Borchert | Historical Fiction Spotlight and Author Interview

AUTHOR INSIGHT

“Every writer has a unique way of working. There is no one way to do it.”

Spotlight

I'm pleased to spotlight Her Own Legacy by Debra Borchert as part of the iRead Book Tours spotlight tour. Readers who enjoy sweeping historical fiction set during the French Revolution may want to add this one to their TBR.

Part of my ongoing mission here at GinaRaeMitchell.com to champion indie authors and stories worth discovering.

The first book in the Chateau de Verzat series, Her Own Legacy offers an immersive historical saga that explores legacy, resilience, and the personal costs of revolution. Set against the upheaval of eighteenth-century France, the novel promises rich historical detail and complex characters navigating a world in dramatic transition.

Related Reads on GinaRaeMitchell.com:
The Measure of Gold by Sarah C. Patten – a historical novel exploring ambition, identity, and resilience in nineteenth-century America.

About Her Own Legacy

Her Own Legacy
By Debra Borchert
Series: Château de Verzat #1
Published by Le Vin Press on 09/01/2022
Genres: Historical Fiction
Formats: eBook, Hardcover, Paperback
Pages: 870

A Woman Fights for Her Legacy as the French Revolution Erupts

Headstrong Countess Joliette de Verzat prefers secretly managing her family’s Loire Valley château and vineyards to the cut-throat politics of Versailles. For nearly three centuries, generations of families have toiled to produce Château de Verzat wines, and their homes and livelihoods depend upon Joliette. But ancient laws block her from inheriting property—unless she is widowed.

Revolution erupts. Thousands of women march on Versailles. Caught in the battle, Joliette risks her own life to save her lover’s. She flees to Paris, blazing with hatred for aristocrats, where she discovers her illegitimate half-brother, Henri—the secret rightful heir who disdains the nobility to which he unknowingly belongs.

As insurrection mounts, Joliette faces heartbreaking choices. She must risk all that she loves and trust the people she has saved to save her.

Reader resources:

Curious to learn more or see what other readers think? Explore the book here:

View Her Own Legacy on Goodreads

View Her Own Legacy on StoryGraph

View Her Own Legacy on BookBub

Content Considerations

Rating provided by the tour host: PG-13 + M

• Violence associated with the French Revolution
• A main character is illegitimate
• No explicit sexual content
• No strong language

Why This Book Stands Out

Historical fiction readers who enjoy immersive settings and sweeping character arcs may find much to appreciate in Her Own Legacy. Set during the turbulent years of the French Revolution, the novel promises a richly detailed backdrop where personal stories unfold against one of history’s most dramatic turning points.

As the first installment in the Chateau de Verzat series, the book introduces readers to a world shaped by legacy, identity, and the far-reaching consequences of political upheaval. With its expansive length and historical scope, the story appears designed for readers who enjoy settling into a fully developed historical saga.

Watch the Book Trailer

Author Interview with Debra Borchert

1. Are you a pantser or a plotter?

I have an adjustable desk, so I alternate standing and sitting, much the way I alternate my writing style: Sometimes, I just write up a storm. Then, I actually put my scenes into a spreadsheet to view where I’m going and where I’ve been. So, like my desk, my writing style is adjustable to my creative mood.

2. What contributes to your creative process?

Honoring my unique process. Every writer has a unique way of working. There is no one way to do it. Fortunately, I am not a procrastinator, except when the laundry piles up. I do not have trouble putting my butt in the chair—I usually spend too much time there.

So, if I feel like taking a walk or going to the pool, I do. I honor what my creativity asks of me. If I’ve been working on a scene and dialogue is not springing to life, I take a snap: a short nap, curled up next to my poodle. I allow myself to dream about the scene. Usually, within ten minutes, I’m back at my computer writing snappy dialogue.

3. How did you start writing?

When I lived in Manhattan, my modem dialed 911 and two policemen showed up at my door. Being an obstinate New Yorker, I would not open my door, thinking they could be actors or thieves or murderers.

Then my modem telephone line rang, and a 911 operator told me someone there had dialed 911. When I objected, she told me she didn’t know if someone was coercing me to say this. So I opened my door to two of New York’s Finest, with guns drawn.

They searched, found nothing and asked what number my modem dialed. I checked: 791-1136. The modem had skipped the seven and dialed 911.

I wrote this as an essay and sold it to The New York Times. That was the beginning of my writing career.

4. How do you name characters?

I love the process of naming my characters. I research the year when names came into our language, what names were popular during the character’s birth year, and I research the meaning of the name.

I just named a character Élodie, which means richness but also melody. In French the name sounds like a lullaby.

5. What is most rewarding to you as a writer?

I find talking with readers the most rewarding aspect of being a writer. When a reader asks how I came up with a character’s actions and how I worked out puzzles, I get to interact with that person and ask how reading that passage made her feel.

When readers tell me they miss the characters and ask when the next book is coming out, I am thrilled and gratified.

6. Do you enjoy the editing process?

I love the editing process. Every editor I’ve worked with has helped me become a better writer. I love the challenge of making my work better. My books and essays would not have received the reviews and awards they have without my having worked with editors.

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Watch the Author Interview

Meet Debra Borchert

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Where to Buy

Her Own Legacy is on Amazon

Prefer to support independent bookstores? You can purchase Her Own Legacy through Bookshop.org below.

Also available at:
Apple Books | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

Tour dates: March 16 - April 3, 2026. To see the full schedule of stops, visit the
iRead Book tours - Her Own Legacy Tour Page.

Enter the Giveaway

Her Own Legacy Spotlight Book Tour Giveaway

Prize: Autographed copy of Her Own Legacy and other prizes
Open to: USA
Ends: April 10, 2026

If the giveaway widget does not load, you can enter here.

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