LifeWay Christian Stores is currently pre-selling The Fiddler by Beverly Lewis. The book will be available on April 10. If you pre-buy before April 9, you’ll get it at just $10 plus receive one free copy of Beverly’s book Amish Prayers (while supplies last).
Yesterday I introduced you to Sweeter Than Birdsong, the new novel by Rosslyn Elliott. Be sure to check out the first chapter if you haven’t done so already. Rosslyn is stopping by today to give us a little bit of insight into why the story of the Hanby’s captivated her so much. I love reading novels that are based on true events and real people!
Welcome, Rosslyn!
Has heaven ever dropped a mission right in your hands, a mission so clear and unmistakable that it stunned you?
That’s the way I found the true story that became the Saddler’s Legacy series.
In 2006, I went to visit a small museum called Hanby House, in Westerville, Ohio. I had finally finished my graduate work and was free to try writing my first novel, so I wanted to do some nineteenth-century research at this local museum. But while I was there, the guide showed me a short video about the family who had lived in the home. I was struck by the faith, courage and romance of their story, and its power to encourage us today. As I walked away from the house, I marveled at the fact that no one had ever written an inspirational novel about this family before. The story demanded to be told. That day, I began my almost six-year journey of writing about the Hanbys.
Rosslyn visiting the historic Westerville home of the Hanby family
The first novel I wrote was the book now known as Sweeter than Birdsong. Chronologically, it’s the middle novel of the series, which is why my publisher chose to release it after Fairer than Morning. But I began in 2007 by writing Sweeter than Birdsong because it’s about the most famous member of the family, Benjamin Hanby, and his unusual romance with Kate Winter, one of the first female college graduates in America.
Ben Hanby is celebrated for composing “Darling Nelly Gray,” a song that became known as the ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin of song’ for its power to influence Americans against slavery before the Civil War. But my novel is the story of both Ben and Kate, and how their compassion and faith made their lives exceptional and moving.
I was drawn to their story because the Hanby family worked on the Underground Railroad, assisting fugitive slaves to escape to Canada in the turbulent decade before the war broke out. Working on the Railroad took courage because it was illegal, and if Railroaders were caught, they faced prison and fines. Through my research, I learned about abolitionists who were badly beaten or died in jail as a consequence of their aid to fugitive slaves.
The Railroad’s network included both white and black Americans, so I included another fascinating historical Railroader in Sweeter than Birdsong to complete the historical picture. His name was John Parker, and though he started his life in slavery, he eventually bought his own freedom and founded a business in Ripley, Ohio. He revealed his tough heroism as he helped fugitives get across the Ohio River time and again.
It’s important to remember the abolitionists and their willingness to risk their lives, because slavery is not just a problem of the past. In the twenty-first century, enslavement of women and children (often called human trafficking) is a tragedy both here and abroad. I hope that Sweeter than Birdsong’s true story of love triumphing over evil will encourage readers in their own efforts to help the poor and oppressed. The Hanby family’s legacy proves that ordinary people can change the world, with faith and perseverance.
One of my favorite novels from last year was the debut work of Rosslyn Elliott, Fairer Than Morning. Her second novel just released and I can’t wait to start it. Sweeter Than Birdsong is already receiving strong reviews so it promises to be an excellent read. Here’s a glimpse into Rosslyn’s new book:
In Westerville, Ohio, 1855, Kate Winter’s dreams are almost within reach. As the first woman to graduate from Otterbein College, she’ll be guaranteed her deepest wish: escape from the dark secret haunting her family. But with her mother determined to marry her off to a wealthy man, Kate must face reality. She has to run. Now. And she has the perfect plan. Join the upcoming musical performance – and use it to mask her flight.
Ben Hanby, Otterbein College’s musical genius, sees Kate Winter as an enigmatic creature, notable for her beauty, yet painfully shy. Then he hears her sing – and the glory of her voice moves him as never before. He determines to cast her in his musical and uncover the mystery that is Kate. Still, he must keep his own secret to himself. Not even this intriguing woman can know that his passionate faith is driving him to aid fugitives on the Underground Railroad.
A terrifying accident brings Kate and Ben together, but threatens to shatter both their secrets and their dreams. Kate can no longer deny the need to find her courage – and her voice – if she is to sing a new song for their future.
Check out the first chapter to Sweeter Than Birdsong.
Rosslyn will be joining us tomorrow here on the blog to share a bit more on her new book. We'll see you then!
In 2008, I had only four girls in my AP English Language class at Citrus Park Christian School. Class sizes are small here, but this was exceptional, even for us. Four students! Because this class focuses on reading and analyzing complex works of non-fiction, I felt like Starbucks would be the perfect classroom. Thankfully, I have a great principal and she agreed. And so “Starbucks’ Fridays” was born.
We discussed great works of non-fiction on those Fridays, but we also discussed life and struggles and the difficulties these young women faced. Having worked in youth ministry for over a decade, I had led small groups before; and, though this wasn’t a typical small group, it became one. These girls were like little sisters to me. I taught them how to think through what we were studying, but I also felt God leading me to teach them to think through the Christian life. What does it mean to follow Christ? What does it look like? How are we to be different – in how we talk, how we act, how we date?
From the two years I had with these precious girls (they went on to take AP Literature the next year), I learned that teens today are overloaded with information. They are told what to buy, what to wear, how to talk, where to go, who to emulate. They are being pushed harder - and earlier - academically and in their extra-curricular pursuits. Their innocence is being stripped away, layer by layer, often by those whose job it is to protect them. And yet they still hunger for what is good. They yearn to make a difference. They crave authenticity.
And they need examples. They need to see that girls can live for Christ in a culture that promotes compromise, that they can maintain their purity and their character, even if everyone around them is forfeiting theirs.
And so the idea for my first book, First Date, was born. I wanted to show young women that the Christian life can be lived with passion and integrity. And fun. Because I believe that there is no greater joy than to know Christ and serve Him.
Esther is one of my favorite books of the bible. Her story exemplifies what God can accomplish through someone who is – even reluctantly – willing to step out and do something great for him. So I began to think of what that story might look like today. What is the 21st century equivalent to a king’s harem? A reality TV dating show, maybe? Hmmm….Teenage girl is a reluctant contestant on a reality TV show where the President’s son is picking his prom date. That could work! She goes, not because she really wants that date, but because it is what she feels like God wants her to do. In being forced out of her comfort zone, she learns to depend on God more and see him work in ways she never would have seen had she stayed at her little Christian school in Tampa.
My prayer for this book – and those that follow – is that girls all over America can have their own “Starbucks’ Fridays” with me, being encouraged in their Christian walks and determined to pursue the joy that is found in a wholehearted commitment to our Savior.
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Krista McGee writes for teens, teaches teens, and, more often than not, acts like a teen. Along with her husband and three kids, Krista has lived and ministered in Texas, Costa Rica, and Spain. First Date released in January 2012. USAToday.com says it’s “a great debut from an author who's sure to make a splash in the inspy YA market… sings with tender teen honesty.” Follow-up Starring Me will release in July.
LifeWay Christian Store’s Semi Annual Sale is now underway. Check out our new catalog for some great deals throughout the store.
We have several novels on sale at $5 through March 10. Hurry in while supplies last! Here are some of the titles… there are more in store!
This Present Darkness by Frank Peretti
The Colonel’s Lady by Laura Frantz
Sweet Baklava by Debby Mayne
To Have and to Hold by Tracie Peterson & Judith Miller
House of Secrets by Tracie Peterson
Lydia’s Charm by Wanda Brunstetter
I’ve had the privilege of meeting several authors over the years. Colleen Coble is one of the nicest and most joyful people you could ever meet. Don’t you love hearing that the authors you enjoy reading the most are also nice people?! Colleen is stopping by today to tell us a bit more about her new book that just released, Blue Moon Promise. Yesterday I posted the first chapter to the book so be sure to check it out if you haven’t already.
Welcome, Colleen!
It’s always exciting when the first book of a new series launches, but I’m especially excited about sharing Blue Moon Promise , the first book in the Under Texas Stars Series, with my readers. There’s quite a lot of me in Lucy. I’m the eldest also, and I share Lucy’s “fix-it” nature because of that. We firstborns are used to helping take care of our younger siblings, and we tend to worry too much about other people. Our bossiness can be downright annoying to other people. J
I ran across an article about proxy marriages. I love marriage of convenience stories in general, and I began to wonder what circumstances might make a woman willing to marry a man she’s never met. The reason would have to be pressing and dire. So I turned to my own personality. I would do almost anything for my loved ones, so I put Lucy in a situation where she’s responsible for her younger siblings. She has just lost her job and they’re about to be evicted from their home. A stalker is following her as well, and she fears her siblings are in danger. While the thought of marrying a stranger is distasteful, she can’t let her brother and sister end up on the street. I think many of us can relate to Lucy’s plight. Sacrificing our own happiness for those we love is something most of us could do it put to the test.
Lucy’s story was special to me in another way. While I was writing it, my husband was diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer. That same week, my dear friend Diann Hunt (Bittersweet Surrender, Hot Flashes and Cold Cream) found out her ovarian cancer was back. I immediately set to work trying to find answers, to “fix” things for them both. Just as Lucy had to learn to let go of her iron control and trust God for her life, I had to learn that lesson as well. Proverbs 16:9 reads, A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps. Lucy and I both had to realize that no matter how much we might think we know the path we should take, only God knows the best journey for us. Sometimes it’s hard to let go and trust him. It’s something I struggle with, and so did Lucy.
It was so fun for me to return to a historical setting to explore these themes! I cut my writing teeth on historicals and when I moved on to contemporary romantic mysteries, I found that I missed the richness of a historical novel. With Blue Moon Promise, I get to indulge my love of history with my love of romantic mystery. I think readers will find the same tone and atmosphere in both my historicals and my contemporaries, but I hope they will enjoy learning a little about Texas homesteading as well!
Drop me a note and let me know what you think at colleen@colleencoble.com. I love hearing from my readers!
Colleen Coble is starting a new historical series called Under Texas Stars. The first book is now available at LifeWay Christian Stores. Here’s a glimpse at Blue Moon Promise (by the way, isn't that a beautiful cover?)...
Lucy Marsh’s worldly resources are running out, but she’s fiercely determined to care for her younger brother and sister. When she discovers that their father’s recent death was no accident, Lucy is eager to leave town. She accepts a proxy marriage she believes will provide safe refuge. But trouble follows her to Texas where her new husband is surprised to suddenly have a wife and children to provide for.
Nate Stanton always hoped he’d marry someday, but running the family ranch meant he had no time for romance. When his father deposits Lucy Marsh – a city girl – on his doorstep, with two siblings in the bargain, he expects ranch life will send her running on the first train out of town. But Lucy is made of tougher stuff than Nate imagined. When danger moves in, Nate finds he’d give anything to protect Lucy and the children he’s grown to love. Even if it means giving up his ranch.
Blue Moon Promise is a story of hope, romance, and suspense… immersing the reader in a rich historical tale set under Texas stars.
Colleen will be joining us tomorrow on the blog to share more about her new book. You can read the first chapter to Blue Moon Promises here.
Also, be sure to check out last week’s post that included Colleen and writing buddies Kirstin Billerbeck and Denise Hunter as they chatted about Smitten, a romantic novel set in Vermont that they just wrote together.
… be sure to “Like” some fun pages…
LifeWay Christian Stores – We post coupons, announce sales, and feature all kinds of info on new releases in books, music, DVD, gifts, and Bible studies.
Bethany House Publishers – This is the publishing house for a lot of today’s most popular authors like Tamera Alexander, Kim Vogel Sawyer, Tracie Peterson and more. One of their popular features is their “Book Banter” days where you can interact with an author on Facebook. Tracie Peterson will be on there on February 29 so go out and “Like” Bethany House to have a chance to chat with Tracie.
Thomas Nelson Fiction – As another leading publisher in Christian fiction, they are always hooking you up with author scoop, new novel info, and giveaways. Hurry out there today to check out what book they are giving away today.
Another giveaway has come to an end. Here is the answer to our question:
According to the Greeting Card Association, what percentage of Valentine’s Day cards are purchased by women?
B.) 85%
We have randomly chosen two winners from those who posted the correct answer. Congrats to:
Brittany
David Pulliam
I’ll be contacting you soon to get your info.
It’s Day 2 of our Valentine’s Day Giveaways! Thanks to everyone for stopping by yesterday. Today we have two different sets of goodies to give away.
My Foolish Heart by Susan May Warren
A Wedding Invitation by Alice Wisler
Head in the Clouds by Karen Witemeyer
One Year Love Talk Devotional for Couples by Les & Leslie Parrott
Box of conversations hearts
Book of Days by James Rubart
The Guardian by Robbie Cheuvront & Erik Reed
The Mentor Leader by Tony Dungy
Love Dare Legacy Edition by Alex & Stephen Kendrick
Box of conversation hearts
For your chance to win one of the sets, take a stab at our trivia question:
According to the Greeting Card Association, what percentage of Valentine’s Day cards are purchased by women?
A.) 90%
B.) 85%
C.) 80%
D.) 75%
Leave your answer in the comments section of today’s post no later than 6:00 p.m. central standard time. We’ll randomly choose two winners from the correct answers.
Good luck!
P.S. Don’t forget… LifeWay Christian Stores is a great place to pick up your Valentine’s Day goodies for your significant other, kids, teachers, etc. Check out our catalog for some ideas.