Whistlestop Book Review: "Elizabeth I" by Margaret George

Be awed by the presence of Elizabeth Tudor, the woman behind the sovereign, as you explore the humanity of the indomitable Virgin Queen of England through the pages of Elizabeth I.  Margaret George’s meticulously researched first person account of the last thirty years of the queen’s life is an enthralling breath of fresh air.

Written with a consistently regal tone, the book gives us a mirror image of Elizabeth, the woman. Glimpses into the brilliance and machinations of Shakespeare, Francis Bacon and Sir Walter Raleigh abound. Skillfully woven into the book are both the human and regal facets of the queen who “ruled as much from the heart as from the head.”

We see Elizabeth’s success and love for her people. Her ability to stand for long periods of time seems a metaphor for her triumph as regent. She manages uprisings in Ireland and continued assaults from Spain. She masterfully chooses advisors for her privy council perfectly suited to their jobs. In a nation beset with famine, the queen imbues calm. In an attempt to keep the plague under control, Elizabeth closes theaters and concerts and sends provisions to survivors. We view her humbly conduct an intimate ceremony of kissing and washing the feet of her subjects on Maundy Thursday (as Jesus did with his disciples) while giving each gifts of food.

No sovereign rules without frustrations. Queen Elizabeth’s include controlling the sulking, deceitful Earl of Essex, stepson of her beloved Leicester. She juggles insufficient resources to provide food for the needy after three years of failed harvests. To provide her kingdom with funds, she must decide which jewels to pawn. She persists in dodging the matter of her successor as she nears the age of seventy, not out of a lack of responsibility but because she wants to settle it in her own way. She watches her most trusted advisors in the Privy Council die off one by one.

The novel brilliantly sheds light on the queen’s humanity without losing any reverence for her scepter. She spends hours in prayer. Called a stingy penny-pincher, Elizabeth I wore elaborate gowns and owned the finest collection of jewels in Europe.  Her brave show encouraged the nation she pulled out of poverty. Particularly touching scenes depict her feeding broth and reading the Bible to beloved advisors Walsingham and Burghley on their deathbeds. She gallops on horseback across the fields to be alone and endures hot flashes. Her favorite pastime—translating philosophy from the Latin.

George, a premier historical novelist, is known for her intense and impeccable research. Most interesting is her humble thanks to the queen in her Acknowledgements. “…the spirit of Elizabeth…hovered over the book as it was taking shape and whispered her guidance.”

Penguin Group provided the advance review copy.

Reviewed by Holly Weiss, author of Crestmont

Whistlestop Book Review: "Finally a Bride" by Vickie McDonough

Noah, the new preacher in Lookout, Texas, hides a secret that draws investigative reporter, Jack (Jacqueline) like a bee to honey. Or does something else attract her to the handsome man? Jack shies away from that question. Even with the influence of a wonderful stepfather, old hurts inflicted by her biological father still wound Jack. How can she trust any man? And yet, Noah seems kind, gentle and trustworthy. What can he possibly be hiding?

Finally a Bride, book three in the Texas Boardinghouse Brides series, is a redemptive love story that entertains and enlightens. With a light touch that makes it seem easy, Vickie McDonough breathes life into believable characters who face realistic difficulties. Lively dialogue, fun scenarios and unexpected action scenes pull the reader along a well-crafted plot. While readers of the previous books in this series will enjoy a look at the continuing lives of characters in the series, Finally a Bride can also stand alone.

I highly recommend Finally a Bride by Vickie McDonough to readers of historical romance. This book is teen approved for its wholesome representation of courtship.

©2011 Janalyn Voigt, author of novel books

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My thanks to the author and publisher for a complimentary copy of this book for purposes of review.

Janalyn Voigt is an Amazon Associate and benefits when products are purchased on Amazon through links from Book Readers Central.

Whistlestop Book Review: "The Dawn of a Dream" by Ann Shorey

After betrayal ruins her reputation, Luellen O'Connell revives a dream she discarded, the opportunity to earn a teacher's certificate. Financial difficulties, family opposition, sickness and even prospects of romance challenge her determination to finish her schooling. As each crisis comes, Luellen draws upon a reserve of strength instilled in her by a wholesome upbringing. 

Can anything make her surrender her dream?

The Dawn of a Dream is a gentle story of courage in a time gone by. With fine historic detail, Ann Shorey weaves a vivid tapestry of mid-19th-Century life in America. This novel is written in an excellent style, well-plotted, and provides intimate glimpses into the lives of its characters. I highly recommend The Dawn of a Dream by Ann Shorey to readers who enjoy historical fiction and historical romance set in America.

  

©2011 Janalyn Voigt, author of novel books

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My thanks to the publisher and author for a complimentary copy of this book, provided for purposes of reveiw.

Janalyn Voigt is an Amazon Associate and benefits when products are purchased on Amazon through links from Book Readers Central.

Meet and Greet: Ann Shorey

Book Giveaway Drawing!
Read the details later in this post.


Ann Shorey has been a story collector for most of her life and a full-time writer for over 20 years. Her writing appeared in Chicken Soup for the Grandma's Soul and the Adams Media Cup of Comfort series. She made her fiction debut the The Edge of Light. Book one in the At Home in Beldon Grove series released in January 2009. The third book in the series, The Dawn of a Dream, will release in April of 2011. 


Ann says she's tempted to thank Peet's coffee and Dove chocolates when she writes the acknowledgements for her books. 


When she's not writing, Ann teaches historical research, story arc, and other fiction fundamentals at regional conferences. Ann lives with her husband in southern Oregon.



Hi! I’m Ann Shorey. It’s a pleasure to visit here on Book Readers Central! Let me have a sip of my coffee, and I’ll tell you about my latest release. 


The Dawn of a Dream is the story of a young woman who battles huge roadblocks to reach a goal that has long been a dream. The tagline on my website is “Yesterday’s women—today’s issues.” My books are historical fiction, but when I plot a story, the issues facing my protagonist have to be situations to which women today can relate.


Luellen McGarvie is the main character in The Dawn of a Dream. I don’t want to spoil the story for you, so I won’t tell you her specific circumstances. Needless to say, they’re daunting. Her goal is to get an education so she can obtain a teaching certificate. 


Sounds basic, but The Dawn of a Dream is set in 1857, when education was considered wasted on women. Married women couldn’t be teachers, and it was assumed that all women would get married, so why waste the schooling?


I chose this plot theme because I see so many young women in my community today who give up too soon when it comes to reaching their goals. Personally, I didn’t attend college immediately after graduating from high school because I was afraid. Plain and simple. I didn’t think I could do it.


At this point in my life it’s easy to look back and condemn my decision, and that’s the point I hope to make in The Dawn of a Dream. Don’t be afraid—reach for your goals, no matter what you see as barriers.


I’ll get off my soapbox and sip some more coffee now—better make it decaf! 


The Dawn of a Dream is a fun read, not a lecture.  I had fun writing about Luellen! Those of you who’ve read The Edge of Light and The Promise of Morning will recognize Luellen McGarvie as Molly McGarvie’s daughter. In this book, she’s all grown up and has become a spunky young woman. And the man she meets . . .


Well, I’ll let you read the book for yourself.

Posted by Janalyn Voigt, author of novel books

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Book Giveaway Drawing: 


Ann Shorey will give away a free copy of The Dawn of a Dream. To enter, leave a comment to this post. If you are a follower of Book Readers Central and tell me so in a separate comment, I'll give you an extra chance to win. 

Please include a valid email address in an anti-spam format (example: youremailhandle[at]gmail[dot]com]) or your entry will become invalid. Entries will be accepted until this coming Sunday at midnight (Pacific Time/US).

I'll announce the winner on Book Readers Central next Monday. The winner must respond within two weeks of notification. Detailed rules of giveaways on Book Reader's Central are located in the footer of this blog.


Note: Janalyn Voigt is an Amazon Associate and benefits when products are purchased on Amazon through links from Book Readers Central.

Whistlestop Book Review: "An Uncommon Crusade" by Caron Guillo

Janalyn Voigt

Simon, who has left his training as a monk, carries stolen parchments containing the Word of God.

Hugo is a cottager eager to escape the bondage of servitude.

Golden and beautiful, Kateline wears rags with the grace of a noblewoman.   

Elizabeth, a victim of rape condemned by her village’s priest, believes she must reach the Holy Land and fight for Christ to exonerate herself. When things start to go wrong, she’s certain it’s a result of her “curse.”

An Uncommon Crusade tells the story of these and ten thousand other children who, in 13^th Century Europe, were coaxed to join a Children’s Crusade by Nicholas of Cologne and, in a simultaneous movement, by Stephan of Cloyes.

Written by former world history teacher, Caron Guillo, the story is well-researched. It is also well-plotted and written in exquisite style. An Uncommon Crusade by Caron Guillo will not disappoint.

I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy historical fiction.  

©2011 Janalyn Voigt, author of novel books

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Whistlestop Book Review: "Lady in the Mist" by Laurie Alice Eakes

Janalyn Voigt

Set in Virginia during a time of strained relations between America and Britain, Lady in the Mist tells the story of a midwife caught between a past love and a British bondsman who is not all he seems.

It's a midwife's job to keep secrets, but one in particular puts Tabitha in danger. Raleigh, the fiance who abandoned her, and Dominick, a servant with aristocratic manners, also carry secrets. Do their secrets have something to do with the disappearance of young men from the village? And can Tabitha discover the truth in time to save the two men she loves?

Laurie Alice Eakes shines as a gifted storyteller in Lady in the Mist. It's a must-read for those who enjoy historical romance filled with intrigue. This story is teen approved for its realistic portrayal of the consequences of immorality.

©2011 Janalyn Voigt, author of novel books

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*My thanks to the author and publisher for a complimentary copy of this title for purposes of review.


**Janalyn Voigt is an Amazon Associate and benefits when products are purchased on Amazon through links from Book Readers Central.

Meet and Greet: Lena Nelson Dooley

Lena Nelson Dooley

Award-winning author, Lena Nelson Dooley, has more than 650,000 books in print. She is a member of ACFW and president of the local chapter.

Lena loves James, her children, grandchildren, and great grandson. She loves chocolate, cherries, chocolate-covered cherries, and spending time with friends. Travel is always on her horizon. Cruising, Galveston, the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas, Mexico. One day it will be Hawaii and Australia, but probably not at the same time. Helping other authors become published really floats her boat. And the high point of her day is receiving feedback from her readers, especially her fans. And she loves chocolate, especially dark chocolate.

BRC: Welcome, Lena. I'm with you on the dark chocolate, by the way.

Thank you, Janalyn for inviting me to this wonderful site. I'd love to connect with readers here.

BRC: Great! What type of books do you write?

I have quite a back list consisting of both historical and contemporary stories. Some are novella collections, some are short novels, and one is a long novel. 

BRC: That does sound interesting. Tell me, why do you write?

Actually, God told me to become a professional writer. You can read how that happened by going to this page on my blog: http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com/p/about-me.html

BRC: Interesting! Thanks for that glimpse into your faith. How would you describe your newest release?

Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico, is my Heroine-in-peril, Mail-order-bride gone awry story. It's a story of unmerited forgiveness, and understanding the love God has for us.

BRC: Which is your favorite character from your book?

This book is peopled with interesting characters, but I think my favorite is Jeremiah Denison, the hero, or maybe it's Maddy Mercer, the heroine, or . . .

BRC: I can see how it might be hard to choose. Do you have a funny or touching story that relates to your book?

I'm what's called a seat-of-the-pants writer. And because I am, God often leads my writing in a direction that I hadn't even imagined. That happened with this book, and it became a much stronger story for the changes. 

BRC: Intriguing. Tell us about your writing process.

I let a story percolate or stew in my head for a while before I start putting it down on paper. A lot of the story develops during this time. But then when I start writing, I start at the beginning and write straight to the end.

BRC: What will you write next?

Since this book released, I've signed a three-book contract with another publisher. I have written the first book in the McKenna's Daughters series, and I'm working on the second book right now.

BRC: Which books do you recommend to readers?

This depends entirely on what the person likes to read. Pirate's Prize is good for people who like adventure and pirates. If the reader likes mysteries, I suggest Double Deception or Wild Prairie Roses.  For romantic suspense, Cranberry Hearts. Historical romance, Minnesota Brothers and of course, Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico. 

BRC: Thanks for stopping by for a visit. Say, wWhere can readers find you online?

http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

Facebook - Lenanelsondooley

Twitter - lenandooley

Website - www.lenanelsondooley.com

A regular contributor to: http://www.bustlesandspurs.com/

Shoutlife  - lenanelsondooley

Posted by Janalyn Voigt, author of novel books

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Whistlestop Book Review: "More Than Words" by Judith Miller

Gretchen Kohler likes to write in her journal. She never imagines her words will travel further than her home in the Amana Colonies, at least not until a traveling salesman takes an interest in her writing. With a jealous childhood sweetheart, a wandering grandmother, a younger brother drawn to visiting gypsies, and a father changed for the worse since her mother's death, Gretchen has her hands full. She finds it difficult to bear  the weight of a guilty conscience, too. Should she confess her secrets and risk losing her job, her reputation and the respect of the man she loves?

More Than Words by Judith Miller, book two in the Daughters of Amana series, delivers a sweet and entertaining love story for those who enjoy reading about life in communal colonies.

©2011 Janalyn Voigt, author of novel books

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*My thanks to Bethany House for a complimentary copy of this title, given for purposes of review.


**Janalyn Voigt is an Amazon Associate and benefits when products are purchased on Amazon through links from Book Readers Central.

Whistlestop Book Review: "The Girl in the Gatehouse" by Julie Klassen

September 1813. Take one abandoned gatehouse on an English estate adjacent to the village poorhouse. Insert one banished woman. Season with appealing secondary characters, a shipwreck and a manservant with a hook instead of a hand. Sprinkle in some 18th-century home-produced plays and a strange man with a spyglass walking a rooftop. Sear with the heady longings of the hero and heroine along with an unexpectedly sweet courtship between two mature characters. Add echoes of Jane Austen. Simmer in exhaustive research about a hierarchical culture with liberal spoonfuls of social commentary, intrigue, and unlikely love. Toss in some unpredictable plot twists at the very end. Result? A delicious, noteworthy historical romance novel well worth your time.

Chapter 18 of The Girl in the Gatehouse begins with an Austen quote, “I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of anything else than of a book!”

It is a happy thing to write a book review of a Jane Austen devotee on this, the 235th anniversary of Miss Austen’s birth. Unlike Miss Austen, who received little notoriety or respect for her writing during her lifetime, Julie Klassen is a RITA and Christy Award finalist. Ms. Klassen returns a third time to write expertly about the Regency period in English history. I have great respect for her work. In her author’s note, she states that The Girl in the Gatehouse is peppered with Austen-like characters. Her love of writing and authors pervade The Girl in the Gatehouse. Women who aren’t supposed to write publish anonymously. Journals are kept. Letters are written, read and re-read. Closeted writers abound, male and female alike producing stories, “theatricals” and novels. Ms. Klassen pens an engrossing read.

Well-paced and styled, The Girl in the Gatehouse introduces us to characters we care about even when our everyday tasks force us to lay the book aside for a time. Main character Mariah Aubrey has a safely-guarded secret and a predilection for helping others despite being tossed out on her ear by her father. We read only hints of her indiscretion until she bravely writes her own experience into her third novel. Mariah, however, seems a bit bland and placid through most of the book and then suddenly overwrought at the end. How curious that she waited so long to open her aunt’s chest.

Helpful discussion questions are included in the back of the book. Beautiful motifs embellish new chapter pages as well as quotes from various 18th and 19th century poets and authors, particularly women. Literature is revered in this inspirational historical romance, bookended ironically, with the phrases “the end” and “the beginning.”

Highly recommended to historical fiction and literature lovers or those simply looking for an enticing read.


©2010 Holly Weiss, author of Crestmont

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*Thanks to the author, who provided a complimentary copy of The Girl in the Gatehouse for purposes of review.


**Janalyn Voigt is an Amazon Associate and benefits when products are purchased on Amazon through links from Book Readers Central.

Announcing My New Co-Blogger

I'm pleased to introduce my new co-blogger, Holly Weiss, who will grace us with her book reviews. Holly is a debut novelist in her own right, and her many reviews have earned her expert author status at Ezine Articles. Be sure and stop by Book Readers Central next Wednesday to read her review of Jody Hedlund's The Preacher's Bride. Meanwhile, here's a little more about Holly. Be sure and scroll down to watch her book videos. 


One voice led to another when professional singer Holly Weiss transitioned to writing for health reasons. She is a vocal instructor, a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing and a cutting-edge reviewer of books. She holds a Master of Music degree from Northwestern University and was listed in the 2007 Marquis Who’s Who in America. A polio survivor, she lives in upstate New York with her husband. Holly has recently become an "Eradicate Polio Advocate." Crestmont, her debut novel, was released in May 2010.

 "Crestmont is a fine and riveting read for historical fiction fans, highly recommended."

    —Midwest Book Review of Oregon, WI rated Crestmont 5 stars on Nov. 7, 2010

Visit Holly Weiss Online.

Posted by Janalyn Voigt, author of novel books
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** Janalyn Voigt is an Amazon affiliate and benefits when books are purchased through links from Book Readers Central.

Whistlestop Book Review: "Head in the Clouds" by Karen Witemeyer

Adelaide Proctor lands herself in a fix when she seeks a proposal from a reluctant beaux. Dislocated and unemployed, she accepts a job as a governess on a sheep ranch in the wilds of Texas. Her young charge, Isabella, soon captures her heart. When Isabella's father, Gideon Westcott, stirs her admiration, Addie reins in her romantic tendencies. She doesn't need another humiliation, and besides, Gideon seems to prefer it that way.

When life-threatening events loom, the two face a choice that will impact many lives.

Head in the Clouds by Karen Witemeyer gives a compassionate analysis of the question: Why does God let bad things happen to good people? I highly recommend it to women who enjoy historical fiction set in the West and especially for those grieving a loss.

©2010 Janalyn Voigt, author of novel books.

Purchase through Bethany House

*Thank you, Bethany House, for providing a complimentary copy of this title for purposes of review.

**Janalyn Voigt is an Amazon affiliate and benefits when books are purchased through links from Book Readers Central. 

Meet and Greet Monday: Amber Stockton

Book Giveaway Drawing!!!

Read the details below.

Dear Readers:

Hello there! My name is Tiffany Amber Stockton, but most everyone calls me Tiff. It’s fun seeing the reactions when folks pick up my books and see Amber Stockton on the cover, inevitably asking if it’s really me, or wondering why I use a pen name. I’ve even been accused of having a split personality, unable to decide who I want to be. *grins* But basically, I liked the flow of the 2-syllable names, and it’s easier to sign than my full name. Still, it makes for entertaining icebreakers or amusing conversations. Comedy isn’t usually an everyday part of my life, but it seeps in here or there. That’s why I try to include in my books too. Just a comedic slice of life mixed in with everything else. So, while you might not be laughing hysterically through the entire read, you’re guaranteed to smile a few times, and you might even chuckle.

For my latest book, Michigan Brides, I took three stories and a slice of life from the Industrial Revolution in Detroit, Michigan. Research for these stories was a lot of fun, and I regret not being able to use all of the unique tidbits I discovered. Some of the details were fascinating, and I did my best to use most of them. History in school as I grew up wasn’t exactly the most entertaining or compelling experience. I always thought it would be much better if it was told through the lives of those who lived it. Those are the types of books I love to read...and that’s what I attempt to do with the books I write. If you learn just one new thing from my books, I’ve accomplished my goal. And if you love one book enough to read more, even better!

Right now, I’m about to embark on a new series where I return to the setting of my first series, set in Colonial Delaware. Only this time, I’m writing 100 years in the future. I will have the opportunity to cover the Gilded Age and turn of the 20th Century as well as share a story of a Titanic survivor, all while using an antique book to tie all three stories together. I’m looking forward to where the characters and the stories will take me. I’d greatly love it if you joined me on the adventure and enjoyed the stories with me.

So, drop on by my web site, find me on Facebook, follow me on Twitter, and keep in touch. I love to hear from my readers, and I’d love to hear from you. All the links you’ll need can be found at www.amberstockton.com. I look forward to connecting with you online, or in letters and card and emails. Thank you so much for your support, and for coming here today to read this interview. Leave a comment for your chance to win a free book...but you have to answer this one question: what types of books do YOU love to read and why?

I’ll be back to read your replies and share some more thoughts of my own. Bye for now!

Tiff

Liberty's Promise; March 2010; Michigan Brides; December 2010

Barbour Publishing
Amber Stockton Books

Amber Stockton, Author: Amber Stockton
Web Design: Eagle Designs

Column: ACFW's AFictionado
Twitter: amberstockton 

Facebook: Tiffany Amber Stockton 

Book Giveaway Drawing: Amber Stockton will give away a free copy of  Michigan Brides to a reader of this blog. To enter, leave a comment to this post. If you are a follower of Book Readers Central and tell me so in your comment, I'll give you an extra chance to win. 

Please include a valid email address in an anti-spam format (example: youremailhandle[at]gmail[dot]com]) or your entry will become invalid. Entries will be accepted until this Thursday at midnight (Pacific Time/US). 

The winner will be announced on Book Readers Central on Friday. The winner must respond within two weeks of notification. Detailed rules of giveaways on Book Reader's Central are located in the footer of this blog.

Posted by Janalyn Voigt, author of novel books

**Janalyn Voigt is an Amazon associate and benefits when books are purchased through links from Book Readers Central.

Meet and Greet Monday: Past Authors: Mark Twain

Haley's comet streaked through the sky on the night of November 30th, 1835, as if to mark the birth of Samuel Longhorne Clemens, sixth child of Jane Lampton and John Marshall Clemens, who came into the world in a rented cabin near Florida, Missouri.

Samuel Clemens would later take the pen name of "Mark Twain" and write his way to success as America's most famous literary icon. In his life, he would write 28 books and numerous short stories, letters and sketches.

Four years later, in 1839, the Clemens family moved the short distance east to the town of Hannibal, Missouri, a busy port town serving steam boats that plied the muddy waters of the Mississippi between St. Louis and New Orleans. The two-story house John Marshall Clemens built there in 1844 still stands today.

Samuel suffered ill health and had to remain indoors until his health strengthened when he was nine. He could then join the rest of the town's children playing outside. Many of Samuel's rich childhood experiences provided fodder for his stories. In fact, Hannibal itself inspired the fictional town of St. Petersberg in "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn."


Samuel's father died of pneumonia when he was just 12. After that, Samuel had to leave school due to his family's financial difficulties. He become a journeyman printer, and within just a few years, Samuel became a printer and editorial assistant for his older brother, Orion, at the Hannibal Journal. Sometimes he filled in and ran the newspaper for Orion. Samuel would one day remark upon this time in his life:“So I became a newspaperman. I hated to do it, but I couldn't find honest employment.”


Samuel left Hannibal at the age of 17. He moved St. Louis, where he became a river pilot. Samuel coined his pseudonym, Mark Twain, during his days as a river pilot, taking it from a river term that indicated the water was deep enough to navigate in safety. In 1858, Samuel's brother, Henry, died in an explosion aboard the steamship, Pennsylvania. The Civil War limited river trade, and so Samuel traveled west with his brother, Orion, who had been appointed Secretary of Nevada Territory. His journey by stagecoach is described in his semi-autobiographical book, Roughing It (1872). Samuel attempted silver mining without success. He returned to newspaper work in 1864, reporting for many publications including the Territorial Enterprise, The Alta Californian, San Francisco Morning Call, Sacramento Union and The Galaxy. He traveled extensively in America, Europe, Hawaii and the Holy Land. In New York, he met Frederick Douglass, Harriet Beecher Stowe and Charles Dickens. Samuel's travels served as inspiration for his Innocents Abroad (1869) Short stories written during this time included “Advice For Little Girls” (1867) and “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calavaras County” (1867).

Samuel married Olivia Langdon in 1870, having wooed her with hundreds of love letters. Of their four children, only one, Clara, lived to a ripe old age of 88. Of the other children, Langdon died of diphtheria as a baby, while Suzy and Jean did not live past their twenties. Suzy died of meningitis at the age of 23 and Jean died of a heart attack which may have been caused by her epilepsy.  Clara had one daughter, Nina Clemens Gabrilowitsch, who remained unmarried and childless. When Nina died in1966, Samuel Clemen's line died with her.

Samuel and Olivia built a home in Hartford, Connecticut in 1874, where he collaborated on The Gilded Age (1873) with Charles Dudley Warner and wrote The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876),  A Tramp Abroad (1880), and The Prince and the Pauper (1882), The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1885),  and A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court (1889), as well as many other works.

Samuel Clemens undertook a world lecture tour in 1895, traveling to Australia, Canada, Ceylon, India, New Zealand, and South Africa in an attempt to pay off debts from a series of failed investments. During his tour, upon which he based Following the Equator (1897), he met Mahatma Gandhi, Sigmund Freud, and Booker T. Washington.

When Samuel returned from his lecture tour, he settled with his family in New York. He received an honorary Doctor of Letters degree in 1901 from Yale University and  in 1907 from Oxford University. Samuel Clemens wore his trademark white suit and delivered his famous birthday speech at Delmonico’s restaurant in New York on his 70th birthday in 1905. He visited President Theodore Roosevelt at the White House in 1905 and discussed copyright with the congressional committee.

Olivia Clemens passed away while traveling in Florence, Italy in 1904. Samuel died on April 21, 1910 in Redding, Connecticut. That night, Haley's Comet blazed again in the sky, as if to mark his death.


* Photo of Samuel Clemens courtesy of Free Stock Photos  http://free-stock-photos.com/

Meet and Greet Monday: Shawna K. Williams

Book Giveaway Drawing! Win a pearl bracelet!

Read the Details Later in this Post.

Thank you for hosting me today Janalyn.

I'd like to tell your followers a little about myself and my new book. My name is Shawna Williams. I'm a Christian, rancher's wife, homeschooling mother of three, and a writer. I currently have two inspirational historical novels published by Desert Breeze Publishing, and a third due to release next month.

My latest release, In All Things, is the sequel to my debut novel, No Other. Both books were originally inspired by a dream I had over eight years ago. Before that dream I had never intended to be a writer. The dream was a story, though, told in bits and pieces, and I obsessed over it for six months as I tried to fill in all the details until I finally had to write it down. At first it was to satisfy my own curiosity, but over the course of years (yes years) as I pulled it out and put it away, I fell so in love with the characters and their journey that I felt I owed it to them to at least try to get their story published. The two books, No Other and In All Things, have gone through multiple critiques and rewrites, and have changed in many ways from the original, but the core story that originated with that dream remains the same.

In All Things picks up ten years after No Other, in the late 1950s. Jakob and Meri have both thrown themselves into achieving success for different reasons, and they've both succeeded. What they've found, though, is that the dreams they once believed would heal old wounds have fallen short. The strain of disillusion sets in, and when they return to their hometown for the holidays they are forced to reface old issues they both had attempted to bury.

My hope is that readers will take away the message of God's sovereignty in our lives, and that we are never beyond His sight or His Grace. I know that in my own life stories of Grace have had a tremendous impact. Francine Rivers is my favorite author for this reason. I had a hard time connecting with a lot of Christian fiction before I encountered her books. There are people, like me, who need to be reminded that God's Grace is for them too. I want my books to do that.

If you enjoy No Other and In All Things, I have a Christmas story coming out on Dec 1^st with the same publisher, Desert Breeze. It's called Orphaned Hearts, and it's inspired by my grandparents. My grandfather was raised in an orphanage, and my grandmother's father ran the orphanage's dairy. This was how my grandparents met. Their own experiences motivated them to become foster parents, and over the course of many years they touched many lives through their love and their faith.

If you'd like to know a little more about me and my books, you can visit my website, http://shawnakwilliams.com/, or my blog, My Father's Oldsmobile, at http://shawnawilliams-oldsmobile.blogspot.com/. You can follow me on twitter, http://twitter.com/shawnakwilliams, or like my fb fanpage, Shawna K. Williams.

I have free sample pdf files of the first three chapters of No Other, my debut novel, and its sequel, In All Things. If you'd like these contact me at shawnawilliams@allegiance.tv.

Here's the blurb to In All Things, and a link to a short excerpt on the publisher's site:

Jakob and Meri's story continues...

Meredith Louis's Hollywood career is at a point of transition. No longer under Majestic Studios' control, Meri is free to broaden her appeal as an actress and finally earn the recognition she desires. 

Meri and Jakob return to their hometown for the holidays where Meri hopes to reconcile with her parents after a decade of silence. But after a disastrous encounter, Meri is plunged into turmoil as old fears resurface in unexpected ways. 

Jakob, already dealing with unresolved family issues of his own, is further burdened by his inability to help his wife. Can he learn to step aside and trust God's plan. Will Meri recognize what she already has? 

In All Things is a story of faith and restoration, cemented in the belief, "...that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Purchase at Desert Breeze Publishing

Also available at the Amazon Kindle Store, B&N Nook, and iPad through iBookstore. Soon to be available at Christianbooks.com.

Book Giveaway Drawing: Shawna K. Williams will give away a free ebook copy of  In All Things to a reader of this blog. To tie into the theme of grace within her book, Shawna will also mail a freshwater pearl bracelet to the winner of the drawing. To enter, leave a comment to this post. Please include a way to reach you or your entry will become invalid. Entries will be accepted until this Wednesday at midnight (Pacific Time/US). The winner will be announced on Book Readers Central on Friday. If a winners fails to respond within a week of notification, the winner will be reassigned. Detailed rules of giveaways on Book Reader's Central on this blog are located in the footer of this blog.


**Janalyn Voigt is an Amazon Associate and benefits when books are purchased through links from Book Readers Central.