Author Spotlight - Excerpt from "When Shadows Falls"

Thank you so much for supporting Tina during her spotlight week. Leave a comment on today's post today, Saturday and Sunday along with your email so we can get ahold of you, and we'll pick a winner on Monday to receive a free copy of Tina's novel, "When Shadows Fall." Enjoy the excerpt!
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Moderator Steph

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Matthew drew up his legs, rested his arms on his knees, and tucked his head on his arms. The sapling straightened in relief. The sweat beaded and ran a line down his back; he was too busy visiting with Rebekah to care.

Where was she now? How was she? Nathan promised to keep him informed, but so far, no word had arrived. It worried him. If he had the time -- if he hadn't joined up -- he'd look into things himself, but he wouldn't have leave 'til November. He was beginning to doubt he'd make it till then.

"Mr. Cavanaugh." Hearing his name, Matthew stood up, brushing his backside. "Mr. Cavanaugh." A young private scanned the area, searching for him.

"Here." Matthew waved and headed toward the messenger.

"Mr. Cavanaugh." The private studied Matthew's attire, then saluted and tried to catch his breath. "Captain St. James would like to see you in his quarters, sir."

"Will that be all, Private?" Sweat beaded on the young man's forehead. It dislodged and rolled with his nod. Matthew swiped his own brow. "If you've nothing further to do, maybe you should head down to the stream. I think I see an empty spot."

"Yes, sir." The private started to run then stopped and saluted.

The private headed for the stream and crammed himself in the small space. Matthew went in search of Nathan.

"Nathan." He stopped outside the tent.

"Come in." From behind his desk, over a stack of papers, Nathan looked up at his friend. "Glad you could come by. We don't see enough of each other."

"Probably has something to do with this war," Matthew said lightheartedly.
Nathan's face devoid of emotion, he nodded. "You just get back?"
Matthew nodded and plucked at his shirt. "Haven't cleaned up.
I'm surprised you can get this close without gagging." Matthew smiled... Nathan didn't. Something was wrong. Matthew took a seat on Nathan's cot, and studied his friend.

Nathan looked healthy enough. A little tired. Weren't they all? Nathan's double-breasted coat with blue velvet cuffs and collar, was slightly worn, but he dressed impeccably in spite of it. From his regulation haircut, right down to the shine on his black Wellingtons, he looked like a true career soldier. What was amiss?

"I know you haven't given your report, but I wanted your assessment of the situation." Nathan looked up long enough for Matthew to glimpse the pain in Nathan's brown eyes.

"It doesn't look good. But you know that. We aren't going to hold Harper's Ferry, and Lee knows it. He's determined to make a stand here." Matthew sighed. "It was nothing short of a miracle to find Lee's orders in Frederick and it's to our benefit Lee has his army divided with us sitting right between 'em.
Let's hope, McClellan will use that advantageously. But this won't be a minor skirmish and it can't be stopped. Over a hundred thousand men are in those fields -- itching to fight."

"So, when it does come -- and it will. Soon. -- It will be nothing short of hell on earth. I just pray we hold the line. Pray we hold Maryland." Matthew barely nodded. "That's about all I can say."

The table wobbled as Nathan moved from behind it. His stack of papers shifted as if caught by a breeze -- a ghost breeze the whole camp was looking for. Nodding solemnly, he took a seat on the cot. It creaked and bowed under the weight of both men.

"I wouldn't tell this to another soul, but I'm afraid. I'm afraid I'm not going to make it through this next battle. I feel it, Matt. I can't even tell Sara."

Matthew understood the feeling. It tormented him too, tormented them all. "It's nothing to be ashamed of. Only a fool would say he wasn't afraid. You'll make it home."

Tears formed in Nathan's eyes. "This feeling is awful strong. And how long will home be there?

"Don't talk like that, Nate. We'll hold the line." Matthew fought to hold his tears. "You won't die. You can't." I won't let you.

Nathan met Matthew's eyes directly. "But if I did. I couldn't without you knowing how much you mean to me. You're like a brother. I count it a privilege to call you friend."

"And I you," Matthew choked the words, tried to swallow the pit in the back of his throat. It felt as if his heart lodged there. The two men hugged and cried like mere babes. Somewhere amid the pain, they both found a smile. They pulled apart slapping each other's arms softly.

"About that bath," Nathan teased and covered a snigger with his hand. He dusted Matthew's shirt before he grew serious again. "Matt, I know I've hounded you about the Lord and your eternal soul, but I couldn't bear to have you go into this next battle without telling you again of God's love. I've been praying for you. Praying you'd accept the gift of God's grace. Praying you'll be okay. I want to know if I do die, I'll be able to see you again."

Nathan's sincerity touched Matthew. True, he'd told him all this before, but knowing at this moment in time Nathan prayed for him, humbled him. "I know," Matthew's voice broke. "I know I've always told you, I'll think about. And I do. It's on my mind more than ever. I'm glad you pray for me. Don't stop."

"Ah, Matt. I call you brother now because you're dear to me. One day I hope to call you so 'cause you know the Lord. I won't stop praying." Nathan squeezed Matthew's shoulder.

"I'm glad." Matthew smiled.
"I should let you clean up before you give your report, but I'll see you there."
"Until this afternoon then." Matthew turned to leave and Nathan stopped him.
"Wait, this might interest you." Nathan pulled an envelope from his pocket. He handed it to Matthew with a wink. "It came while you were gone. Don't worry about getting it back to me. You keep it."

Matthew stepped out of the tent and turned the envelope in his hands. After a month, word had finally come from Rebekah. Matthew stuck the letter in his pocket; he'd read it once he'd cleaned.

Changed and shaved, he settled back on his cot half an hour later and opened Rebekah's letter. It didn't matter it wasn't addressed to him, all that mattered was knowing she was okay.

When Shadows Fall http://tinyurl.com/d93p77a
In the Manor of the Ghost http://ning.it/dB0zAj,
Touched By Mercy http://ning.it/9OJZ5r
BLOG http://tinapinson.blogspot.com/
Website http://www.tinapinson.com Twitter @Tina_Pinson
"For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD... " Jer. 29:11

Author Spotlight - Tina Pinson discusses the setting of "When Shadows Fall"

The setting of When Shadows Fall starts in Maryland and the Capital in 1862. During the Civil War.

Maryland was with the Union, but there is fear they could attacked at any time.

Rebekah's family lives out in the country in nice homes and continue on with life pretty much unscathed by the war, while Rebekah's home is in West Virginia where the battles rage.

She lives in a little log cabin with a rustic barn and dilapidated out buildings. The land seems to have taken on the temperament of war itself, battling her as she tries to find food and keep her land.

Then we head to Missouri on a wagon that travels through enemy lines and connects with a train that will hopefully reach its destination without incident.

Independence Missouri is filled with people trying to leave the war, and people with sentiments drawn on both sides. Blacks are traveling on the trail, but they have to be careful.

Once the train finally leaves Independence, there are miles to go along a vast prairie filled with bugs and Indians and buffalo and all kinds of pestilence. They travel in grueling heat, their bodies practically drinking dust.

They pray for cool breezes and shadows. They pray for rain but only the mists, otherwise the rain pushes their wheels into the muck. They stop to bury those who died. Dropping of household goods because the wagon is too heavy and the oxen are tired. And the land is sloping upward. There are long stretches of trash from other trains. And crosses line the way.

Then comes the mountains, which they hope to reach before winter so they get across. They are both a blessing and a curse when one thinks of using pulleys and ropes to pull the wagon over the passes, considering blistered hands and sore backs. But they signify the trail is coming to an end.

Then finally about 6 months later, they pull into Oregon. The land is green and lush. There is no war that they can see or hear. They have found the new Eden and home.

Author Spotlight - Tina Pinson talks about researching "When Shadows Falls"

To research When Shadows Fall, I spent a lot of time at the library going through old books. The old and mustier, the better. Why? Because I find the older the book, the more history.

Then we took a trip to Washington State and stopped at all the Oregon Trail centers along the way. My children were ecstatic. But hubby was a trooper.

We also took a trip to Georgia. And we stopped at the forts and visited different sites along the trail. Also visited Andersonville and an old naval museum in Charleston, SC, but those are for another story.

I also purchased the Oregon Trail Game and played it to see where my characters were going, what they might deal with. I bought my stores, and feed for my oxen and headed out. I think I sank my wagon and lost it all on the first river fording. It's a good thing we don't have to worry about wagons and water. Unless of course we're speaking station wagons and bottled water from a gas station.

It is also amazing to me, how the trip took several months. And today we can cross that distance in a couple of days driving. Now we have restaurants and gas stations and rest areas.

During the time Rebekah is on the trail, she makes mention of the amenities they have in 1863. Which was an eye opener to me. I would find her trip hard. And she was thankful that the trail was easier.

How would I have fared on the Oregon Trail with the bugs and sickness? Would I have gone stark raving mad? I'd like to think I wouldn't… but who knows?



When Shadows Fall http://tinyurl.com/d93p77a
In the Manor of the Ghost http://ning.it/dB0zAj,
Touched By Mercy http://ning.it/9OJZ5r
BLOG http://tinapinson.blogspot.com/
Website http://www.tinapinson.com Twitter @Tina_Pinson
"For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD... " Jer. 29:11

Author Spotlight - Character Interview with Rebekah from When Shadows Fall

Tina-- Rebekah, do you mind if we talk about When Shadows Fall?

Rebekah -- Oh it's you… my creator. Perhaps you should tell the story.

Tina-- It would be better coming from you.

Rebekah -- I'll have to hurry. The steward is taking me to my godfather, President Lincoln.

Tina -- It must be wonderful meeting with him?

Rebekah -- It will be lovely. But… We are in the midst of a Civil War and I've come to ask for his help to get my husband, Robert Montgomery, out of a Yankee Prison.

Tina -- I'm sorry.

Rebekah -- "Why are you sorry? You wrote it that way.

Tina-- Oh yeah.

Rebekah -- It's dreadfully hot in here? And someone dressed me in wool.

Tina-- I'm sorry about that too. But we writers have to give our characters conflict.

Rebekah -- My concern is how much conflict. Will things work out?"

Tina -- I believe so. You're strong and smart.

Rebekah -- Will Abraham help me with Robert?

Tina -- I believe… Hey, I'm the one asking the questions.

Rebekah -- I'm sorry. I just wished I could be on my way. There's a man staring at me.

Tina -- A man is staring at you?

Rebekah -- yes, he acts like he's not but…

Tina --- maybe you should tell the steward.

Rebekah -- (stealing glances) He's looking at me in an odd manner. Almost as if he knows me… Oh my… I… It can't be.

TP-- What?

Rebekah -- (Fighting to get her hat on) Him?

Tina -- Him?

Rebekah -- Oh… I don't know. And the steward has led me into the hall and now I can't see to make sure. It sure looked like him. You know, can't you tell me?

Tina (with a woeful sigh)-- I can't. We writers aren't supposed to inject ourselves into the story with omniscient comments. Who do you think it is?

Rebekah (sighing) Someone I thought I'd never see again. Matthew. My first love.

If you'd like to see my cast… http://tinapinson.blogspot.com?


When Shadows Fall http://tinyurl.com/d93p77a
In the Manor of the Ghost http://ning.it/dB0zAj,
Touched By Mercy http://ning.it/9OJZ5r
BLOG http://tinapinson.blogspot.com/
Website http://www.tinapinson.com Twitter @Tina_Pinson
"For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD... " Jer. 29:11

Author Spotlight - Q&A with Tina Pinson

STEPH: I don't know much about "When Shadows Fall." What's it about?

TINA: When Shadows Fall is what I call my Oregon With the Wind novel. Because it takes place in 1862, during the Civil War and then on the Oregon trail.

It is the story of Rebekah St. James-Montgomery and her plight to find her husband and keep her sanity through the turmoil and loss of war. When she finds Robert he is barely alive and has lost both his legs. She fights to save him, but loses the battle. And nearly forfeits her sanity in the process. Seeing an old friend, and love, Matthew Cavanaugh, has her dreaming of things she believes could never be hers. When she learns that Robert wanted to go west, Rebekah decides to stop dreaming and wallowing in what might have been. She makes plans to head west to the Oregon, the new Eden, in the hopes of finding life again.

Matthew learns of her plans and her loss and decides he is going to be the one who helps her west, whether she wants him to or not. Because his dream isn't the west, his dream is to have Rebekah for his own.

STEPH: How long did it take you to write?

TINA: It took a year and some 900 pages. I wrote the story twenty years ago and found it was too long and no one wanted it. So I cut it into a serial and sent it to Desert Breeze and Gail took a chance on me.

STEPH: How much research did you have to do?

TINA: I did a lot of research about the trail and some on the Civil War. I really wanted people to get a taste for the lives of those during that time. That was my main reason for story in the first place. I was tired of reading stories where the people went on the Oregon Trail or the Santa Fe Trail and within a chapter had already reached their destination.

STEPH: How does the cover reflect the story within?

TINA: The cover encapsulates a scene in the story where Rebekah stands over two crosses under a weather-bared tree with her son, Andrew. The gray and black signifies her life and the life of the country. The touch of light is a reminder that even in the darkest days there is hope.

STEPH: Rebekah is the heroine. What are her strengths? Weakness?

TINA: Her strength is her ability to fight for those she loves and keep pressing ahead. Her ability to forgive. Her weakness is that it takes so long for her to forgive herself and trust in someone's love when she didn't anything wrong. And maybe her strength is sometimes her weakness, because in some aspects it makes her mule headed to make things right.

STEPH: What does Matthew find appealing about her?

TINA: He's loved her since she was a child. And he loves her strength and her tenderness.

STEPH: What is the theme of the novel?

TINA: I've considered the theme in detail, and I suppose it would be that through the toughest times, through pain and sorrow, through Shadows there is someone to walk with you.

I have a little poem in the beginning of the story that Rebekah wrote and it talks about the Shadows of life. How some are good, like the shadow that cools off the day, or the shadow of man cast across the land. And some are bad, that the shadow of loss or longing, or the shadow that fills your mind and torments you.

That says a lot about the story and why I gave it the name I did.

STEPH: As a writer, where do you draw inspiration from?

TINA: I draw inspiration from the world around me. From things that seem of little consequence. The mundane. I draw inspiration from my life. Rebekah is one character that has been cast after me and how I see myself. I believe God gives me inspiration, and hope that my stories will inspire others.

STEPH: Do you have an ebook reader? If so, which one?

TINA: I have a second edition Kindle. I like it. Although I have tempted to get something newer. Maybe an IPAD. Someday.

STEPH: Fun question: What are your plans for Memorial Day?

TINA: We plan to head to Colorado and clean out our trailer and move some things in our shed. Now, don't everyone get all envious and want to go along. Sounds like we'll have too much fun. Or not much at all. But we will get to see family while were there and I'm looking forward to that.

When Shadows Fall http://tinyurl.com/d93p77a
In the Manor of the Ghost http://ning.it/dB0zAj,
Touched By Mercy http://ning.it/9OJZ5r
BLOG http://tinapinson.blogspot.com/
Website http://www.tinapinson.com Twitter @Tina_Pinson
"For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD... " Jer. 29:11