Author Spotlight - Excerpt from: Guilia Goes to War

Thanks so much for supporting Joan during her week in the spotlight. Enjoy this excerpt from Guilia Goes to War.

Moderator Steph

*****

Anna Maria DeBartolo shook her graying head as she marched up and down in the small space in front of the kitchen sink. "I am a loyal American. We have a Victory Garden. I send my cans to the surplus drive." With the wooden spoon she held in her hand, she gestured toward the front of the house and the dining room window facing Main Street and continued, "I have two blue stars in the window -- both of your brothers are serving or did you forget, Giulia? We are with the war effort so you working here, in your Papa's store, is helping the war effort."

With each word, Mama's voice got louder and louder, almost drowning out the music
signaling the ending moments of the Stella Dallas radio program.

Giulia, her daughter, ran a hand over her own dark hair. She hoped no one was walking
past the house. Whenever Mama shouted, Giulia worried the neighbors would hear her through the open windows. A light breeze ruffled the kitchen curtains, but did nothing to cool down her mother. Giulia tried to keep her own voice calm, even, and respectful as she answered. She wanted to be rational and build a good case for leaving Avocatown to work for the war effort in Pittsburgh or Washington, DC.

"Mama, I don't do anything that really matters at the store. Nothing I do is anything you and Papa couldn't do without me. They need people in the offices and factories in Pittsburgh and Washington, DC. Most of my high school friends, almost the entire class of 1942 left right after graduation and I could live with some of them in either city."

"No! E una disgrazia!"

As soon as her mother switched completely to Italian, Giulia knew that her logical
argument had not worked. When Mama got really upset, her voice became more and more heavily accented, as well as louder. At the peak of stubborn insistence, Mama switched entirely from English to her native Italian. Papa was the same way, although his fuse was shorter, so his timeline from hot and heavily accented English to full Italian was much quicker.

"Mama, it is not a disgrace to live with other girls in Washington or Pittsburgh if I am living there to help the war effort. Besides, I would only live with girls whose parents you know."


So, the story starts out with Giulia and her mother clashing over the modern world that Giulia wants to be a part of and the old world that is all her mother knows. The mother-daughter battle is a "war" most of us understand and many of us have experienced! The spies and boys come later!

*********
JOAN'S GIVEAWAY:

You can win a free copy of the book, Giulia Goes to War, by signing up to follow my blog and leaving your email in the comment section. You can find my blog at www.joanleotta.wordpress.com. I look forward to hearing from you and hope you win!

Author Spotlight - An interview with "Gina" from Guilia Goes to War

Question: Gina, you are the youngest of four children. Do you find that gives you a special place in the family?

Yes, of course. Italian families of that era, in general, gave boys more freedom than girls. My two older brothers, not seen much in the book, have a lot of freedoms that Giulia and I do not experience. As the oldest daughter, Giulia bears the brunt of all of the old world protective ideas our parents want to use in rearing us. Of course I support her efforts at independence--it makes it easier for me.

Question: You have red hair and so does your cousin Carmie. DO many Italian Americans have red hair?

Well, in the writer's family there are redheads--a long line of them descending from the grandfather on one side--and they are from the Naples area. Many Italian red-heads hail from Venice, but there is a large pocket near the Naples -Salerno area too. The author's mother was a green-eyed red head and all Italian.

Question: Does it bother you that Giulia seems to confide mostly in cousin Carmie instead of you?

She addresses that in the book--after all, Carmie is her exact age and I love her too. But as I get older, both Carmie and Giulia become closer to me. In fact, in Letters From Korea, I go and live with Carmie in Pittsburgh. Don’t forget, she is another red-head!


Question: A bit about the author and her writing habits

As a spoken word artist, story performer, I am on stage with original retellings of folk and fairy tales and one-woman shows that illustrate the lives of famous and regular people from various eras in American history.

Over the years, my writing has concentrated primarily in non-fiction to supplement our family income and fill my need, yes, need, to write. I write to explore ideas and learn about things that interest me and I write to entertain and edify.

I want people to laugh and learn when they see me onstage or when they read something I write. My "motto" is "Encouraging words through pen and performance."

With the series, Legacy of Honor, " I hope to illustrate the lives of ordinary people on the home front during various periods of American History--World War Two (Giulia Goes to War), Letters from Korea (The Korean War), and the last two (as yet untitled) will deal with Vietnam and Desert Storm. In each I hope to tell a love story between a man and young woman and show the young woman's road to independence and self discovery in a period of change in our history. For example, Giulia is one of the many young women who left home and went to work in a man's domain. She faced opposition from family not only in her relationship with someone from outside of her own ethnic group, but also as a girl who was in the workforce and living away from home.

We will see in the second book that her struggles paved the way for her younger sister to move more freely into the workforce. Of course, Gina will face other struggles in the early 1950s.

I like to add real incidents into all of my writing. History is a great interest of mine, and several of my short stories have won awards from the Lower Cape Fear Historical Society. Most of the details about each period are real. If my fiction deviates from reality, I note those deviations in the forward.

So, if you like light and sweet romance possibly with a bit of mystery, set in the latter half of the twentieth century, read Giulia Goes to War and get ready to read the others in the Legacy of Honor series.

Find Joan at:
www.joanleotta.com
Blog: www.joanleotta.wordpress.com
www.joanleotta.blogspot.com

Author Spotlight - Joan Leotta talks about researching "Guilia Goes to War"

Finding out about life during WWII was a labor of love since I love doing historical research.

The work for this novel is a bit different than for others since this one began as a short story. Y friend's actual event that inspired this was in the 50s. I set it during WWII(the short story) to honor the men and women of that era. My own Dad was a WWII veteran. I love the hairstyles, clothes and music of that era. I watched a lot of WWII era movies. To get the flavor of the era, I listened to radio shows at the Library of Congress a few years ago--that research was for another pieces of writing--a performance piece that I have given at several museums and other venues about life on the home front. So, I was ready with a file of information about life on the home front.

The internet was king for additional research since I now live in a rural area but I have made good use of memories of friends and relatives and local newspapers for Wilmington, NC . I also consulted several books on the war and mined the real experiences of people like my 92 year old aunt who told me some stories about sugar. I used the mock apple pie recipe that I found in one of her old books of clippings of recipes from the newspaper in other stories. I found it again on the internet and adapted that newer copy to this book. The recipe will appear in Desert Breeze's cookbook.

The spy story is my imagination inspired by stories of real life sightings of Nazi subs off the coast of NC during the war. Wilmington shipyard scenes were developed from historical research as were the scenes of rooming houses, and Castle Hayne.
The array of family relationships presented in the story may seem confusing at first but they were added into the original story for two reasons--to provide more depth for Giulia and her relationship with John and to introduce us to family members who will have starring roles in the other three novels planned for the series. The second one, already in progress, Letters from Korea "stars" Giulia's sister, Gina.

Find Joan at:
www.joanleotta.com
Blog: www.joanleotta.wordpress.com
www.joanleotta.blogspot.com

Author Spotlight - How Joan Leotta finds inspiration

Writers are often asked--where do you get your ideas. I am always puzzled by that question since ideas come from everywhere. It is simply a matter of looking and listening to the world around us and often , expanding those real observations into a story by asking the question, "What if?"

The initial inspiration for story came from a friend, Julia. She is Italian -American but spells her name the American way. She is younger then my heroine would be today. My friend, Julia was only a child during the war, not a teen.

But my friend did leave home (although later, in the 1950s) to go and work in a larger city where she met and fell in love with a non-Italian. She had to go back to her hometown from the big city where she was working (Washington DC, not Wilmington NC as in the book) and then, after dealing with parental objections, returned to DC to marry John, her sweetheart. The scene that set my imagination working was her description of John meeting her at the train station and sweeping her off the steps of the train onto the platform with a kiss. Yep, the most romantic scene in the book! And it was real! My friends are happily married and gave their permission for me to use their story as part of my book.

For this particular book, the scene in which John twirls Giulia around as she alights from the train was the inspiration for the entire book--and it is a true incident from the life of a friend. Sometimes an article, a photo, an object inspire me. I like to look at something or think about something that was said to me and ask myself "what if????" and that is how I expand the simple thought into a story idea and then an entire story or a novel.

Of course, inspiration is only a small percentage of the process of developing a book. For historical fiction, research is a good fifty-seventy-five percent and the rest is development of the characters and plotting.

Characters play an especially big part in a romance because you want the readers to like the main characters and root for them to get together as they face the various obstacles, I thrown in the path of their love. My daughter is my best sounding board for the plotting. She is an avid reader and loves to help.

Find Joan at:
www.joanleotta.com
Blog: www.joanleotta.wordpress.com
www.joanleotta.blogspot.com

Author Spotlight - Excerpt from "The Seekers"

Thank you so much for supporting Sadie & Sophie Cuffe during their week in the spotlight. Leave a comment today, Saturday, and Sunday along with your email and on Monday I'll pick one lucky poster to win a PDF copy of their novel, The Seekers.

Moderator Steph
Enjoy this excerpt:

*******
Rachel shrieked as she landed in front of the captain.

Lawrence locked his arms around her in a vise grip, immobilizing her flailing upper body. He kneed the horse forward, past the city lights, and galloped up the road toward Belle Fleur.

She must be out of her mind with fear. He should say something to calm her, but his tongue was three sizes too big for his mouth, and his brain ten sizes too small.
He did the only thing he could think of. He hummed his favorite hymn and urged the horse up the hill like a madman. With each lunge of the hooves, Rachel's body relaxed against him a little more.

Sudden inspiration struck him and with it the ability to speak. "I won't hurt you, Miss Hawksley. I'm merely seeing you home to Belle Fleur." He forced the words to come out slowly and mimicked Emilie's drawl.

Her body tensed again. "How do you know who I am?"

He turned the horse up the drive and prayed no one would be watching when they got to the house. "I know your cousin."

"But how?"

He ran out of inspiration and words just as he ran out of lane. Lawrence pulled the horse to a stop slightly back from the house, slid down using the horse as a shield from prying eyes, and ignored the ripping noise that accompanied the move. He held up his hands and Rachel Hawksley turned and dismounted neatly on the opposite side.

Should I say something?

Before he could decide, she ducked under the horse's head and stood before him.
"I bid you goodnight, Miss Hawksley." He sounded as much a Virginia gentleman as Frederick Davis.

Her palm slapped his cheek with enough sting to make him blink, and then she turned and ran to the house.

He vaulted onto the horse, wheeled, and rode down the lane under the deep shadows of the trees.

Find us:
blog: http://cuffesisters.com/off-the-cuffe/

website: www.cuffesisters.com

facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sadie-and-Sophie-Cuffe/184904781607548

pinterest: http://pinterest.com/cuffesisters/

twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/SadieandSophieC

Purchase links:
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-320/The-Wainright-Trilogy-Book/Detail.bok

http://www.amazon.com/The-Wainright-Trilogy-Book-ebook/dp/B008JMCBDK/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1342067108&sr=8-1-fkmr1&keywords=THE+SEEKERS%2C+Sadie+%26+Sophie+Cuffe

and anywhere fine e-books are sold.

Author Spotlight - Sophie Cuffe talks about finding Inspiration.

While touring The Hermitage (Andrew Jackson's home) in Nashville a few years ago, I inadvertently whacked my head into the Plexiglas room divider. (In my own defense, at the Roosevelt Cottage on Campobello Island, there's no Plexiglas so you can stick your head into the rooms for a better view.) It is, indeed, a mansion, in my humble Yankee rural root opinion.

I'd noticed all these little outbuildings in the fields on the way there, and learned they were slave quarters - totally blew my mind to see the living proof I'd only read about in the classroom. I remember feeling shame that any person could think they had the right to own another human being, yet over 150 slaves worked on the Jackson property alone.

There's a story printed there, and I can't do it justice because I don't remember the specifics that well, about a foreign visitor to the Hermitage questioning Alfred, Andrew Jackson's personal slave. The visitor pointed out how good Alfred had it - a kind master, a roof over his head, food to eat, clothes to wear, etc, so what was all the fuss about slavery anyway. To which Alfred responded, "Would you like to trade places, sir?"

I think that's why I identify with Rachel Hawksley in THE SEEKERS. The concept of slavery is so repulsive to her, she keeps trying to help "the help" and, in doing so, realizes she can cause more harm than good. I like the scene where she asks if she can make some taffy for the children, and the cook says, "You cookin' in this kitchen? No white woman's ever cooked in here, leastways not since I been livin'. Not in my kitchen, no how, and I'm not sure how Missus Dawson would take it."


Find us:
blog: http://cuffesisters.com/off-the-cuffe/

website: www.cuffesisters.com

facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sadie-and-Sophie-Cuffe/184904781607548

pinterest: http://pinterest.com/cuffesisters/

twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/SadieandSophieC

Purchase links:
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-320/The-Wainright-Trilogy-Book/Detail.bok

http://www.amazon.com/The-Wainright-Trilogy-Book-ebook/dp/B008JMCBDK/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1342067108&sr=8-1-fkmr1&keywords=THE+SEEKERS%2C+Sadie+%26+Sophie+Cuffe

and anywhere fine e-books are sold.

Author Spotlight - Character Interview with Rachel Hawksley

S&S: What brings you to Richmond, VA?

RH: I’ve come to find my brother, Ben. He’s a captain in the Union forces and he’s been missing since Gettysburg.

S&S: Isn’t it dangerous for a Yankee woman behind enemy lines?

RH: Yes, but when I didn’t find my brother’s name on the injured or death lists, I couldn’t shake the notion he's a prisoner of war. I’ve already lost one brother to this war and I'm not about to sit around doing nothing while my remaining sibling's in jeopardy.

S&S: So you snuck into the Confederate capital?

RH: Actually I rode in bold as brass in a horse-drawn carriage, but only because my southern cousin agreed to take me into her Richmond home. I guess our family ties are stronger than this war.

S&S: What have you found in Richmond?

RH: The grace of God brought me this far, and I pray He’ll lead me to Ben. But I believe God has a deeper purpose. There’s a slow-witted man here named Sawyer, who needs me to stick up for him. And little Letitia and Jedidiah are sweet as can be, but every time I try to befriend them, I end up getting all of us in trouble. I truly don’t understand how a person’s skin color convinces folks to pretend one individual is inferior to another.

S&S: How will you accomplish this deeper purpose?

RH: I haven’t got it completely thought out yet, but I do aim to teach Sawyer his letters and let those two children know Mr. Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation and they are free. It’s not going to be a cake walk, but I’ve got a Colt revolver hidden under my skirts and I’m not afraid to use it.



Find us:
blog: http://cuffesisters.com/off-the-cuffe/

website: www.cuffesisters.com

facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sadie-and-Sophie-Cuffe/184904781607548

pinterest: http://pinterest.com/cuffesisters/

twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/SadieandSophieC

Purchase links:
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-320/The-Wainright-Trilogy-Book/Detail.bok

http://www.amazon.com/The-Wainright-Trilogy-Book-ebook/dp/B008JMCBDK/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1342067108&sr=8-1-fkmr1&keywords=THE+SEEKERS%2C+Sadie+%26+Sophie+Cuffe

and anywhere fine e-books are sold.

Author Spotlight - Sadie Cuffe asks: Is love blind?"

I love this story, and it’s not just because I heart the Civil War era. Ironically, before publication, someone said our heroine was “dumber than Lois Lane” -- UGH! That’s the author equivalent of getting stung by a killer bee and going into anaphylaxis writing shock. While in the ER of my brain, I ran down the vitals of the book and gave myself mental CPR (not easy, but so far I’m still alive).

We take any critique seriously, because it makes us better, so I looked at our heroine through a microscope as I thought about Lois Lane. There’s nothing LL doesn’t dare to do. She’s been around for decades and is still a gutsy heroine who’s an American icon. She thinks for herself, she’s a confident woman who dares to speak up, and she’s always helping people. We’re in good company.

Unfortunately, I know the critic wasn’t talking about Lois’ accomplishments. All of us want Lois to get together with Superman, but do we really want her to know he’s Clark Kent? It’s part of the intrigue of the romance. Her heart constantly nudges her to confront Clark, but maybe LL wants Clark as a friend (as in no Daily Planet workplace romances) and Superman as a boyfriend. Since LL isn’t our character, we can’t know. But whoever coined the phrase “love is blind,” wasn’t far off the mark.
Sophie and I bought a used car once and thought it was immaculate. We loved it at first sight. After we got it home we noticed scratches on the window, little burn marks in the seat – but we still loved it. So if our heroine looks with her heart and not her eyes, we like to think she’s entitled, because, like LL, we’ve all been there and done that.

Find us:
blog: http://cuffesisters.com/off-the-cuffe/

website: www.cuffesisters.com

facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sadie-and-Sophie-Cuffe/184904781607548

pinterest: http://pinterest.com/cuffesisters/

twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/SadieandSophieC

Purchase links:
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-320/The-Wainright-Trilogy-Book/Detail.bok

http://www.amazon.com/The-Wainright-Trilogy-Book-ebook/dp/B008JMCBDK/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1342067108&sr=8-1-fkmr1&keywords=THE+SEEKERS%2C+Sadie+%26+Sophie+Cuffe

and anywhere fine e-books are sold.

Author Spotlight - Q&A with Sophie and Sadie Cuffe

STEPH: I don't know much about "The Seekers." What's it about?

S&S: "The Seekers" is about romance, deception, and betrayal. It's set during the American Civil War where Union Cavalry Captain Lawrence Wainwright has one goal: to make sure his horse survives the war. The Almighty has another goal for Lawrence, and, in order to accomplish it, God brings him face to face with the commander-in-chief. Lawrence finds he can't say no to the President of the United States, even if it means saying no to his heart. But when he becomes Abraham Lincoln's spy, he assumes the identity of a slow-witted boy/man and suddenly he's undercover protector to an aging slave and his two young grandchildren, as well as Rachel, a stubborn Yankee woman on a mission of her own. As Lawrence and Rachel get entangled in the subterfuge of Confederate secrets and double cross, the safe circle surrounding them shrinks with each passing hour. In a deadly game where no one is who they seem, and even brothers turn against one another, Lawrence chafes at his alter ego. He longs to come out swinging and be himself, but if he gives in to his instincts, he'll jeopardize not only his mission, but those he's sworn to protect. Rachel steals his heart, but if she discovers his true identity it just might get them all killed.

STEPH: How long did it take you to write?

S&S: It took about three months, but the edit was a killer. We had some other projects going off and on during that time, so sometimes "The Seekers" sat on the back burner of our brains for awhile.

STEPH: How much research did you have to do?

S&S: Sadie's always been in love with the Civil War (who knows why) and since she's wanted to write a Civil War novel forever, we already had some facts and figures. But we did a decent amount of research on everything from how long it takes to travel by horse and carriage from Washington, DC, to Richmond, VA; to whether they sold ice cream in 1863, and all that battle and troop movement stuff -- just keepin' it real. We also read authentic letters and diaries from soldiers and families involved in the conflict. It sucks you in, but it also slows down the writing process. Many times, one of us did research while the other one wrote, so we could make the deadline. Compared to "Gone with the Wind," it's not an epic historical novel, but we like to think we slipped in some cool facts with the fiction and created a story that captures the heart of the era and will capture the readers' hearts, too.

STEPH: How does the cover reflect the story within?

S&S: The cover is beautiful but somber. With its contrasting Union and Confederate battle flags arched over a stark stone home with a lone horse, it defines the drama and heartbreak of ordinary lives caught up in a battle for their identity, their family, and their homeland. It aptly reflects the passion, faith, and heart of the hero and heroine in their struggle to hold onto a sense of normalcy and integrity under the demands of loyalty for country. (It also has red and blue, which are our favorite colors).

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

S&S: Rachel has great resiliency and doesn't let fear or inexperience get in the way of attaining her goals and dreams. She also has a sense of humor about herself, and is a woman who isn't afraid to think for herself, even if it means going against the social taboos and prejudices within her family. She's also very trusting, very rural, and likes to believe everyone's as truthful to her as she is to them. These traits make her vulnerable to deception and betrayal, but they also give her the capacity to completely and honestly open her heart.

STEPH: What does the hero find appealing about her?

S&S: Lawrence is attracted to Rachel's compassion for everyone she meets, her ability to meet each new challenge and disaster without completely freaking out, and her intense loyalty for those she loves.

STEPH: What is the theme of the novel?

S&S: Both the hero and heroine are put in circumstances designed to stretch their concepts of trust, honesty, and integrity. Although they take on the role of someone else and wear a false face, they each must decide if that means they'll compromise their integrity and character. In masking their true identities and their feelings, they discover how critical it is to remain true to their faith, their values, and their loves.

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

S&S: It sounds trite, but our inspiration comes from living life -- our day-to-day experiences in rural Maine, snatches of conversation at a church supper, an encounter with a stranger on a hiking trail… and always throwing the question – what if? -- into every situation.

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

S&S: Yes! Sophie recently won a Kindle (yay!) and is just discovering the art of e-reading. Sadie's a bit behind the curve (as usual), but perhaps Sophie will someday let her touch the new Kindle (we can hope).

STEPH: Fun question: What is your favorite football team?

S&S: The Patriots, who else? They have red and blue on their uniforms (our favorite colors), and our 83-year-old mom is a big football fan.

Find us:
blog: http://cuffesisters.com/off-the-cuffe/

website: www.cuffesisters.com

facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sadie-and-Sophie-Cuffe/184904781607548

pinterest: http://pinterest.com/cuffesisters/

twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/SadieandSophieC

Purchase links:
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-320/The-Wainright-Trilogy-Book/Detail.bok

http://www.amazon.com/The-Wainright-Trilogy-Book-ebook/dp/B008JMCBDK/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1342067108&sr=8-1-fkmr1&keywords=THE+SEEKERS%2C+Sadie+%26+Sophie+Cuffe

and anywhere fine e-books are sold.

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!
Smiles
Moderator Steph

***********


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