Charlotte-Genesee Lighthouse

Charlotte-Genesee Lighthouse
Charlotte-Genesee Lighthouse ~ Photo: Mark Papke

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Whispers from the Shadows

Welcome. This week we're hi-lighting Whispers from the Shadows, by Roseanna White, and third story in the Culper Ring Series which will release this week on August 1, 2013. Read a little about Roseanna's books, and how she became interested in the actual group of General Washington's spies called the Culper Ring. You'll also hear that coincidentally, a film is being produced about this same group of spies! visit Roseanna at www.roseannawhite.com    

Our giveaway: a copy of Roseanna's book, Whispers from the Shadows, a beautiful print of Louis Tessier's 18th century classic painting, "Bouquet of Roses" which you might have found in the finer homes of the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, Twinings tea, a silk fan for warm summer days and a lovely hand-crocheted cross bookmark.     





Title: Whispers From the Shadows
Author: Roseanna White 
Publisher: Harvest House

This exciting and adventurous romantic spy novel is the second book in a new series from Roseanna M. White. Whispers from the Shadows combines fascinating cloak-and-dagger secrets with a tale of love and intrigue during the War of 1812.

Treachery causes Gwyneth Fairchild's world to crumble. The daughter of a British general, she barely saves her life by fleeing London aboard a ship to America. Her goal is to find refuge with the Lane family in Maryland, having been told by her father she could implicitly trust Winter and Bennet Lane, even though their nations are once again at war. After meeting their son, Thad, she wonders how safe she truly is when she discovers that the Lanes trade in a dangerous commodity--espionage.

Not long after Gwyneth finds refuge in his city, Thad Lane experiences the tug of love, though he fears it may blur lines of loyalty. With family playing the part of enemies and enemies proving themselves friends, a future with Gwyn is uncertain. But at this moment, with the British advancing on Washington and Baltimore, they have only their shared faith in God as a shield about them.

Author: Roseanna White







 

Hot New AMC Show Filming In Richmond 

Casting call out for Washington spy drama 

by Brent Baldwin




Looking for your breakout moment on television? You could do a lot worse than a hotly anticipated new AMC television series pilot, “Turn,” slated to begin shooting in Richmond in April. Based on the book “Washington’s Spies” by Alexander Rose, “Turn” is a period drama set in 1778 that tells the story of George Washington’s personal spy ring, the Culper Ring. The show is set to be directed by Rupert Wyatt (“Rise of the Planet of The Apes”) and is written by “Nikita” creator and executive producer Craig Silverstein.
Some big name Aussie stars are already attached, including Meegan Warner and Daniel Henshall. British actor Burn Gorman, who played Phillip Stryver in “The Dark Knight Rises," will play Major Hewlett, a British officer assigned to the colonies. The show will tell the story of New York farmer Abe Woodhull, who bands with a group of childhood friends to form a spy ring that helped turn the tide in America’s fight for independence.
Marnie Black, senior vice president of public relations at AMC TV, says it will likely take several months to shoot the pilot, six months to consider whether the pilot will become a series, and if the show is made into a series, the earliest you would likely see it is probably 2015.
A current local casting call is seeking “Caucasian males between 18 and 35 for a variety of roles, some of which require accents (British/Welsh/Scottish/Irish).”
Check the Virginia Film Office website for information under Crew Call.

 


Bouquet of Roses ~ Louis Tessier

Thank you all for stopping in and God's Blessings!

Sunday, July 21, 2013

Return to Shirley Plantation and Bachelor Buttons




Welcome to Shirley Plantation (built 1613) in Charles County, Virginia, the setting of our first story, Return to Shirley Plantation by Carrie Fancett Pagels. We will also be joined by author Kathleen L. Maher who  has written volume three Bachelor Buttons in the Cry of Freedom series. Please join us as we note the 150th anniversary of the American Civil War. Enjoy coffee, lemonade and iced tea and delicious sweets as we meet our authors.


PLEASE LEAVE YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS IN YOUR COMMENT IN ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE TO WIN OUR DELIGHTFUL GIVEAWAY! 

~ an ebook or paperback copy of Carrie's and Kathy's books, reader's choice

~ a mug from Carrie with RtSP cover and her name/website
~ Shirley Plantation book by Julian Charity
~ A Shirley Plantation ornament
~ A teal-colored picnic tablecloth (Kathy's favorite color)



CRY OF FREEDOM:  150 years ago the history of America changed forever. Live 1863 through the stories of some of our finest writers – the passion, the romance, the tragedy, and the triumph.

The plantations. The Underground Railroad. Chancellorsville. Vicksburg. Gettysburg. Little Round Top. Chickamauga. Chattanooga. Missionary Ridge. The soldiers in the field. The families at home. The nurses in the hospitals. The speeches at Richmond and Washington. The prayers in churches North and South. It’s all here in one of the most dramatic series ever produced. A new story by a different author released every two weeks between April and November. Join us for one of the most exciting events in American inspirational publishing – Helping Hands Press presents CRY OF FREEDOM! The volumes in order of appearance....






Title: Return to Shirley Plantation (Vol. 1)
Author: Carrie Fancett Pagels
Publisher: Helping Hands Press


Abducted against his will, Matthew Scott is conscripted into the Confederate army because of his Copperhead father’s political leanings. Injured at Malvern Hill, Matthew is taken by the Union army to Shirley Plantation in Virginia where he is tended by seamstress Angelina Rose, a freed slave. Given an opportunity to leave the South and start a new life for herself, Angelina remained for the sake of her sister’s orphaned twins who are still enslaved. Will Matthew’s return to Shirley Plantation settle a mystery concerning his father’s past? And help Matthew find the family he longs for.



My review of Return to Shirley Plantation:

As I read Return to Shirley Plantation I was impressed. it showed a maturity in fiction writing, and a depth revealed in Ms. Pagels' characters' unique internal conflicts. She doesn't just stop as many do with an external conflict, she goes much deeper into her characters' lives and feelings.


I also appreciated her details; they lend a very real and sensitive note to the story. For instance, I never realized slaves' skin could not come in contact with white owners or their clothing. I always feel if I've learned something new after reading a story, it's enriched it for me all the more. The gentile setting. and lovely way Angelina's & Matt's relationship is handled makes this a memorable debut for this author.

Ms. Pagels tells a strong story with a delicate touch. 





Title: Bachelor Buttons (Vol. 3)
Author: Kahleen L. Maher
Publisher: Helping Hands Press


The daughter of immigrants who fled the Irish Potato Famine, Rose Meehan longs for a better life than the tenements of New York City. Courted by two men--a young doctor who represents material security, and a poor violin instructor who has captured her heart--she must choose between a life of advantage-grabbing or a life of faith. When Manhattan explodes in mob rule following Lincoln's unpopular draft, the heroic action of one suitor brings provision for those she loves, and reveals God's plan.


Kathleen L. Maher’s novella Bachelor Buttons released through Helping Hands Press in May, 2013 as part of a Civil War sesquicentennial collection. Her manuscript Closer than a Brother won the historical category of ACFW’s Genesis contest in 2012. Her work has finaled in several writing contest since 2009. She is represented by Terry Burns of Hartline Literary Agency.

Kathleen blogs about New York State history and enjoys reading and writing reviews for historical CBA releases. She and her husband live in a 100-year-old farmhouse in upstate NY with their three children. Two rescued Newfoundland dogs and a tuxedo cat complete their family.


My Review of Bachelor Buttons:

Admittedly I was first drawn to this story because Kathy and I share so much background though I've never met her--we are both New Yorkers, have ancestors who came here during the Irish potato famine, and even share an ancestral name--Meehan.

I've read some of Kathy's other work and am especially impressed by Ms. Maher's writing style; it is lovely, lyrical writing. She brings the spirited Rose, William and Ian to life as they struggle to seek fulfillment in the tenements of New York during the upheaval of the draft riots. I was immediately captured by Rose's story and the choice she must make--for herself and her family.


Monday, July 15, 2013

Author: Jocelyn Green



Beginning this week on H.I.S., I'm pleased to welcome author Jocelyn Green and her latest release, Widow of Gettysburg. 
 

...Greetings and welcome to open-house at the new Liberty Inn. Please have a seat and enjoy some coffee, tea or hot chocolate and sweets before you sign in at the desk. (leave a comment on this site for my giveaway) Then step into the parlor (the author's site for another giveaway at:  
 http://wp.me/p1bLl3-pi ) and visit with Jocelyn to learn more about her latest release,Widow of Gettysburg, where her heroine, Liberty Holloway struggles to survive while hiding a life altering secret as the battle of Gettysburg rages around her.
 



Title: Widow of Gettysburg (released: April 2013)

Author: Jocelyn Green
Publisher: River North

When a horrific battle rips through Gettysburg, the farm of Union widow Liberty Holloway is disfigured into a Confederate field hospital, bringing her face to face with unspeakable suffering--and a Rebel scout who awakens her long dormant heart.

While Liberty's future crumbles as her home is destroyed, the past comes rushing back to Bella, a former slave and Liberty's hired help, when she finds herself surrounded by Southern soldiers, one of whom knows the secret that would place Liberty in danger if revealed.

In the wake of shattered homes and bodies, Liberty and Bella struggle to pick up the pieces the battle has left behind. Will Liberty be defined by the tragedy in her life, or will she find a way to triumph over it?

Widow of Gettysburg is inspired by first-person accounts from women who lived in Gettysburg during the battle and its aftermath.Go to this link for a second giveaway: http://wp.me/p1bLl3-pi 
or: www.jocelyngreen.com

Title: Wedded to War (released: June 2012)
Author: Jocelyn Green
Publisher: River North







Wedded to War 

It's April 1861, and the Union Army's Medical Department is a disaster, completely unprepared for the magnitude of war. A small group of New York City women, including 28-year-old Charlotte Waverly, decide to do something about it, and end up changing the course of the war, despite criticism, ridicule and social ostracism. Charlotte leaves a life of privilege, wealth-and confining expectations-to be one of the first female nurses for the Union Army. She quickly discovers that she's fighting more than just the Rebellion by working in the hospitals. Corruption, harassment, and opposition from Northern doctors threaten to push her out of her new role. At the same time, her sweetheart disapproves of her shocking strength and independence, forcing her to make an impossible decision: Will she choose love and marriage, or duty to a cause that seems to be losing? An Irish immigrant named Ruby O'Flannery, who turns to the unthinkable in the face of starvation, holds the secret that will unlock the door to Charlotte's future. But will the rich and poor confide in each other in time?

Wedded to War is a work of fiction, but the story is inspired by the true life of Civil War nurse Georgeanna Woolsey. Woolsey's letters and journals, written over 150 years ago, offer a thorough look of what pioneering nurses endured.

Jocelyn Green's debut novel is endorsed by historians and professors for its historical accuracy and detail, by award-winning novelists for its spell-binding storytelling, and by entertainment journalists and book club leaders for its deep and complex content, perfect to share and discuss with others.

My giveaway: (see below) A 15" hand-made Civil War era doll, silk fan, Godiva chocolate, and a Currier and Ives print suitable for framing called "Farmer's Home in Summer"

 

Farmer's Home in Summer - Currier & Ives print
                                                                                         


Wedded to War Doll










Please leave your e-mail address if you want to be included in the drawing. Thank you for stopping in...and God's blessings!