Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Back Theresa Lynn Hall

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Back Theresa Lynn Hall

Linda:  Welcome back! Thanks for joining me today. Congratulations on your debut Love Inspired Suspense novel Accidental Target. It sounds intriguing. What was your inspiration for the story?

Theresa: Thank you so much for having me, Linda.

I’m a pantser, so when I started the story it began with the idea of what would happen if someone was involved in a car accident and suddenly became the target of a killer. I think I was watching the news when I came up with it. From there, the characters began to take over.  

LM: Getting a book accepted by Love Inspired is a big accomplishment. How did the opportunity come about?

Theresa: I just so happened to be on Facebook and saw a post by Emily Rodmell announcing The Great Love Inspired Author Search. I was working on a suspense and had the first six chapters written, so I decided to enter for feedback. I never dreamed I would end up with a contract! I polished up the first three chapters, wrote a synopsis, and a query letter, then sent it off. In the meantime, I continued writing the book. After I got the request for the full, I started to get really nervous. Emily Rodmell was the editor who received my submission and she gave me edits to do based on those first three chapters. After getting “The Call” I still had more edits to do, but Emily’s ideas really brought the story together. Even if I hadn’t been offered a contract, just getting the chance to work with her and learn from her has made me a better writer.

LM: With your son in law enforcement, you’ve got a ready-made subject matter expert close at hand. What other research did you conduct for your story?

Theresa: I also have a son who is a volunteer firefighter and we have several other police officers in the family, so I’m very fortunate to have plenty of experts I can reach out to for help. Some of my research also came from reading articles online, books about law enforcement, listening to podcasts and watching lots of YouTube videos. I watched a video on how to escape zip-ties to help me with a scene in the book. Great knowledge to have but I hope I never need it in real life!

LM: How do you decide where to set your stories?

Theresa: I’m a native Texan, and Texas is a BIG state. There’s literally every type of landscape you can imagine here. I like setting my books in fictitious Texas towns that resemble real towns.

LM: If money were no object, where would you vacation?

Theresa: Oh, that’s an easy one! I would travel to Scotland and visit a real castle. Many years ago, I researched my dad’s family, and with the help of relatives, traced it back to 16th century Scotland. I’ve wanted to visit there ever since.

LM: Quickies:

Theresa: Favorite Childhood book: The Little House on the Prairie series

Favorite food: Mexican food

Favorite way to spend a day off: Writing (because I’m a full-time teacher.)

 LM: What is your next project?

Theresa: I’ve got a couple of them, but one I’m working on right now is about a serial killer who is tormenting a female police officer. Although, she’s pretty tough and she doesn’t scare easily. It’s fun writing about a female character who can handle herself in just about any situation.  She also has a handsome Texas Ranger helping her hunt down the killer. It will be interesting to see how they pull it off!

LM: Where can folks find you on the web?

Theresa: I have a website at www.theresalynnhall.com and I’m on Facebook at www.facebook.com/theresahallauthor. I also have other social media accounts listed on my website. I also blog to help promote other Christian authors.

_____________________

About Accidental Target:

On an icy road in the dead of night what she sees might get her killed.

Allison Moore can't deny what she sees—a lifeless hand sticking out of a tarp in the back of a crashed pickup truck. Seconds later, she's on the run with a murderer on her heels. Nowhere is safe and no one can be trusted...except police sergeant Jackson Archer. But with someone set on silencing her, can Jackson keep his promise of protection?

Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/32cRVQg

Traveling Tuesday: Missouri

Traveling Tuesday: Missouri

Located in the Midwestern United States, Missouri’s history hearkens back several hundred years with the Osage and Missouria Native American tribes. The state is bordered by eight states: Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska. With the Ozark Mountains, Missouri and Mississippi Rivers, and large forests, the geography is rich in flora and fauna. In 1764, the fur trade was found by Frenchmen Pierre Laclede and his stepson Auguste Chouteau. Three years later the Spanish arrived.

St. Louis became the center of a regional fur trade with Native American tribes that extended along the Missouri and Mississippi rivers and dominated the economy for decades. The rivers were used to ship the furs down to New Orleans for export to Europe. The industry and the associated businesses made St. Louis a financial center and saw a large influx of wealth and luxury items. Shipment of agriculture products also created a boom in the economy, and the invention of the steamboat increased river trade even more.

Photo: balancedspirit/
Pixabay

Acquired during the 1803 Louisiana Purchase, Missouri became known as the Gateway to the West because it served as a departure point for many expeditions, including the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The Oregon, Santa Fe, and California trails all began in Missouri, and the Pony Express got its start in Missouri.

After the territory was admitted as a slave state in 1821 (as per the Missouri Compromise), many of the early settlers migrated from the south and brought slaves with them. A decade later, Mormons and Canadians began to arrive, and conflicts were common. The Mormon War erupted in 1838, and the following year an “Extermination Order” was passed, and the Mormons were expelled, and their lands confiscated. Tensions over slavery continued, and the population exploded.

Many of the newcomers were Irish and German immigrants and found themselves on opposing sides of the slavery issue. Missouri voted to remain within the Union, however, a pro-Confederate group of politicians fled to the southern part of the state and voted to secede. However, as they never controlled any part of the state, the act was merely symbolic.  The state was the location of nearly fifty battles during the Civil War.

The expansion of the railroad and the Texas cattle industry after the war, made Kansas a major meatpacking center. By the time World War II arrived, Missouri had transition from a rural economy to that of a mixed agricultural-service-industrial economy. Multiple military bases and Prisoner-of-War camps were constructed around the state, and almost 450,000 Missourians served in the military. Defense industry plants sprang up such as Lake City Army Ammunition Plant, Pratt & Whitney (engines), North American Aviation (bombers), Westinghouse, and Bendix Aviation.

Perhaps most memorable is that the USS Missouri was the last battleship commissioned by the US, and was the site of the surrender of the Empire of Japan which ended WWII. Some well-known Missourians include Chuck Berry, Walt Disney, Edwin Hubble, Harry S. Truman, and Mark Twain.

Have you ever visited the Show Me State?

__________________________

Will she have to run from the past for the rest of her life?

Dinah Simpkins has no chance of making a good marriage. Her outlaw brothers and her father’s gambling addiction have ruined the family’s reputation. Then the Westward Home and Hearts Matrimonial Agency provides an opportunity for a fresh start. After Dinah arrives in Nebraska, she discovers her brothers played a part in the death of her prospective groom’s first wife.

As a former Pinkerton detective Nathan Childs knows when someone is lying. The bride sent by the matrimonial agency may be beautiful, but she’s definitely hiding something, and he has no intention of marrying her until he uncovers the truth. But an easier solution may be to send her packing. Then his young daughter goes missing. He and Dinah must put aside their mutual hurt and mistrust to find her.

An exciting addition to the “Westward Home & Hearts” series, this story is a Christian western romance. Easily read as a stand-alone.

Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3aOFLiS

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Back June Foster

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Back June Foster

Linda:  Welcome back! It’s been a while since your last visit, but you’ve been quite busy. Congratulations on your recent release Ryan’s Father. The story addresses series issues. Where did you get the inspiration for this story?

June: In my novels, I write about Christian characters who encounter the challenges of living in today's world. I've written stories where my heroes deal with obesity, anger, drug use, and much more. The Lord placed on my heart a story about a Christian man who fights against same sex attraction.

Linda: You are a retired school teacher, and the main character is a teacher. Did you draw from your own experiences to write this story?

June: Yes, in some ways. I always taught the lower grades so I'm well acquainted with teaching reading. In the novel, the hero is a first-grade teacher, and I wrote several scenes where Ryan led his youngsters in learning to read.

LM: What do you do you do to prepare yourself for writing? Do you have a set schedule?

June: I generally write earlier in the day when I'm not tired or distracted. When I work on first drafts, I feel like my writing is terrible, but when I go back to edit, it doesn't seem quite as bad. (smile)

LM: How do you deal with writer’s block?

June: For some reason, I'm not bothered by writer's block, but on occasion I don't know what's going to happen to my characters next, so I try a method I picked up in James Scott Bell's class. He suggested getting a thesaurus and open to a random page and point to a word. Then do it again. Allow the words to spark an idea. For example, I glanced at "diamond" then "parade." I would now include those two elements in a scene if I needed an idea.

LM: Here are some quickies:

Lake or ocean? I'd rather visit the ocean but only to look at it, not to swim in it.

Walk, drive, or bicycle? I prefer to walk to get much needed exercise.

Cat or dog? I'm completely in love with dogs.

LM: You have visited many areas of the U.S. What is your favorite place and why?

June: We were so blessed to travel all over the US in our RV. However, my most favorite place was Hawaii. The air, the ocean and sand, the flowers, I can't tell you how glorious the islands are.

LM: What is your next project?

June: I'm writing a romantic suspense that will be published in December. In The Inn at Cranberry Cove, a young woman inherits her aunt's B&B in Washington state but encounters frightening midnight visitors. The handsome gardener whom her aunt hired before she died lives with a secret he can't reveal to the heroine.

Linda: Where can folks connect with you?

June: 

Website: http://www.junefoster.com

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/junefoster

Twitter: https://twitter.com/vjifoster

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorjunefoster

About Ryan's Father:

Ryan Reid is a first-grade teacher and a Christian with a heart for neglected kids, but a chance encounter during an earthquake with Sandy Arrington, a beautiful young nurse, rocks Ryan’s carefully guarded world and unearths the secret he has held deep in his heart: he's gay. Though Sandy falls in love with him, Ryan’s forbidden affections lie elsewhere, and he must depend on the Lord to see him through a battle he always hoped he’d never have to face.

Purchase Link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B085S37ZDC

Release Day: Dinah's Dilemma

Release Day: Dinah's Dilemma

I'm excited to announce the release of Dinah's Dilemma. The story was a long time in the making and has taken me back to my original historic roots of the 1800s. Being a native of Baltimore then living in Maryland and Northern Virginia, I was immersed in the colonial and Civil War eras. When I was invited to be part of the Westward Home and Hearts Mail Order Bride series, I jumped at the chance. In addition to giving my female protagonist a Baltimore heritage, I scoured my family's genealogy records to name my characters.

I hope you'll enjoy reading Dinah's Dilemma as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Here's a bit about the story:

Will she have to run from the past for the rest of her life?

Dinah Simpkins has no chance of making a good marriage. Her outlaw brothers and her father’s gambling addiction have ruined the family’s reputation. Then the Westward Home and Hearts Matrimonial Agency provides an opportunity for a fresh start. After Dinah arrives in Nebraska, she discovers her brothers played a part in the death of her prospective groom’s first wife.

As a former Pinkerton detective Nathan Childs knows when someone is lying. The bride sent by the matrimonial agency may be beautiful, but she’s definitely hiding something, and he has no intention of marrying her until he uncovers the truth. But an easier solution may be to send her packing. Then his young daughter goes missing. He and Dinah must put aside their mutual hurt and mistrust to find her.

Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/u/4XnWDv

Talkshow Thursday: Meet Melony Teague

Talkshow Thursday: Meet Melony Teague

Linda:  Welcome and thanks for joining me today. Congratulations on the release of your debut A Promise to Keep. What was your inspiration for the story?

Melony: Thank you Linda, that’s a good question. I asked myself what it would be like to attend a high school reunion with all its mixed emotions. And what if you were reunited with your high school crush? And what would happen if a promise led you to that reunion. What if opposites like a quirky librarian and an adrenaline junkie, technical rescuer spent time together, would sparks fly? How would each of them, in their own way, have to overcome their biggest fears or regrets? And the story evolved from there.

LM: How do you come up with your characters? Are they based on any real people in your life?

Melony: I’m not sure exactly how I come up with my characters, they show up and reveal themselves to me in the first few chapter and then I run with it. All I know is that they make me fall in love with them, even with their flaws and all. And then I feel compelled to tell their story.

LM: Research is an important part of writing. What sort of research did you do for A Promise to Keep?

Melony: My research included technical rescue research, which I had a local firefighter and technical rescuer to call on for first-hand information and to check my scenarios were plausible and realistic. My fellow author and friend, Tara K Ross helped me with the climbing scenes because of her own experience. The fear of heights was based on my own climbing experience. For the medical research, my friend Dr. Etzkorn was my consultant. In all of these areas, any mistakes are my own fault. They all gave excellent feedback. A large inspiration for the story was watching as many documentaries on the Thai Cave rescue as I could cram in.

LM: You’ve written fiction and nonfiction (as a contributor to As the Ink Flows). How do you approach the two genres differently? The same?

Melony: The common thread between these two genres is the motivation with which I tackle them. My aim is to inspire and bring hope with my words, not matter whether those words are fiction or not. I really believe everyone has a story to tell, and we need stories to bring life, and nourishment to our creative souls. God made us to relate to stories. These stories, both fiction and non-fiction are powerful and an essential part of humanity. 

LM: If money were no object, where is your idea of the ultimate vacation?

Melony: That’s a hard one. Maybe Hawaii or some other tropical island.

LM: Quickies:

Favorite childhood book: I was a fan of Nancy Drew, Famous Five and Secret Seven and the Three Investigators. So basically all the budding sleuth books.

Drink of choice: Coffee, tea, or soft drink?

Coffee in the morning, tea after lunch. I prefer sparking water to soft drinks.

Would you rather walk, bicycle, or drive a car: That depends, if it’s in nature, walk, if it is in the city, then a car.

Melony:

LM: What is your next project?

Melony: I’m working on story and falling in love with these characters. It’s early days so I can’t say too much, but with the arrival of the pandemic the in-person research for the sequel to A Promise to Keep had to be put on hold. So while I wait, I am keeping myself busy with another story.

LM: Where can folks find you on the web?

Melony: My website is http://www.melonyteague.com, and readers can find me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, as well as BookBub and Goodreads. The links are below:

Website:  http://www.melonyteague.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melonyteague/

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/490991801725364/

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/melony-teague

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MelonyTeague

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melonyteague/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14249646.Melony_Teague

Newsletter signup: newsletter

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About A Promise to Keep

Research librarian Savannah Sanderson wants nothing more than to escape into her happily-ever-after novels with their larger-than-life fictional heroes. But a promise to her late husband has her attending her dreaded twenty-year high school reunion, drinking ghastly punch, and taking desperate measures just to keep her vow, even if she has to hide behind the decor to do it. 

Once a reckless troublemaker, Michael McCann fled town after graduation. Now a professional technical rescuer, he's back for the reunion, but on his trip down memory lane, he soon comes face to face with unresolved issues, namely Savannah. Before the night is over, a pact between these two old friends will lead them on an adventure to uncharted emotional territory where Michael must confront his past regrets and find the courage to reveal the truth. But can Savannah fly from her sheltered nest and risk her heart on a real-life hero?

Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3iX8nKh

Traveling Tuesday: Baltimore in the 1800s

Traveling Tuesday: Baltimore in the 1800s

I was born in Baltimore, but my family relocated to New Jersey when I was still a young child. However, my father’s family members are long-time residents, so I continue to have close ties with the city. While brainstorming ideas for my story Dinah’s Dilemma, I was researching U.S. cities that had a gang presence during the mid- to late-1800s. Unfortunately for Baltimore, “Charm City” was near the top of the list. I was unfamiliar with this seamy side of my hometown and began to research with gusto in order to find a group for my protagonist’s brother.

About eighty years before the moniker Charm City surfaced, Baltimore was often referred to as Mobtown, first for the riots that occurred leading up to the War of 1812, then later for the violence that stalked its streets. By 1870, the city was home to more than a quarter million people, falling behind New York, Philadelphia, Brooklyn, St. Louis, and Chicago. An influx of Irish and German immigrants escaping famine and social unrest in Europe flooded the city tipping the percentage of foreign-born residents to nearly twenty-five percent. African-Americans also flocked to Baltimore creating competition for jobs.

With tensions high, it’s unsurprising that gangs began to infiltrate. The Bloody Tubs, Rips Raps, and Plug Uglies all started prior to the Civil War and with the exception of the Plug Uglies, continued their activities into the late 1870s. The Baltimore Crew gang wouldn’t show up until 1900. All three gangs were used by political parties to influence and intimidate voters, wreak havoc on election day, and assassinate opponents and murder law enforcement officers. Arson, knife-fighting, and robbery were also part of the gang’s repertoire.

A full decade would pass before public outcry against the violence would become loud enough for politicians to disassociate with the gangs and begin to clamp on their crimes. The 1880s saw a growth in manufacturing and new industries sprang up such as men’s clothing, canning, tin and sheet-iron products, tobacco, and foundries. Houses were constructed adding to city’s economy.

Now ninety-two square miles, Baltimore has come a long way since its inception of sixty acres in 1729. Have you visited Charm City?

____________________ 

About Dinah's Dilemma

Will she have to run from the past for the rest of her life?

Dinah Simpkins has no chance of making a good marriage. Her outlaw brothers and her father’s gambling addiction have ruined the family’s reputation. Then the Westward Home and Hearts Matrimonial Agency provides an opportunity for a fresh start. After Dinah arrives in Nebraska, she discovers her brothers played a part in the death of her prospective groom’s first wife.

As a former Pinkerton detective Nathan Childs knows when someone is lying. The bride sent by the matrimonial agency may be beautiful, but she’s definitely hiding something, and he has no intention of marrying her until he uncovers the truth. But an easier solution may be to send her packing. Then his young daughter goes missing. He and Dinah must put aside their mutual hurt and mistrust to find her.

Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3fC9Xys

Fun Friday: August Releases

Fun Friday: August Releases

Be sure to check out these new releases for the month of August:

The Soldier's Lady (08/01/20) Historic novella collection, Suzanne Dietze, Gabrielle Meyer, Lorna Seilstad, Janette Foreman: Adventure and romance await at Frontier Forts http://www.amazon.com/dp/B085LZ4XKD

Accidental Target (08/01/20) Christian Romantic Suspense, Theresa Lynn Hall: She never thought an innocent act of kindness would put a target on her back. http://amazon.com/dp/B083QLPDB2

In High Cotton (08/03/20) Women's Fiction, Ane Mulligan: Can five Southern women band together, using their wiles and wisdom to survive the Great Depression? http://www.amazon.com/dp/B087V636BH











Peace in the Valley (08/04/20) Amish romance, Kelly Irvin: One Amish is shown a different way to practice her faith, but pursuing it could cost her everything she holds dear, including the man she loves. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B081MQ7836

The Plans We Made (08/14/20) Women's Fiction, Kathryn Cushman: When past secrets hold the only key to hope for the future http://amazon.com/dp/B08D6T586Q

Abigail's Secret: (08/15/20) Contemporary, Marilyn Turk: The lighthouse holds secrets that can change their lives. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B08CNMX5HG

Dinah's Dilemma (08/15/20) Historic Romance, Linda Shenton Matchett: Will she have to run from the past for the rest of her life? https://amzn.to/3gr2V0I

The Price of Dreams (08/18/20) Contemporary Romance, Toni Shiloh: If my hopes of returning to ballet are futile, what hope is there in seeking unconditional love? http://www.amazon.com/dp/B088FYXV2D

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Back Mike Brown

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Back Mike Brown

Linda:  Welcome back! Thanks for joining me today. Congratulations on your latest release Purgatory, A Progeny’s Quest (Shiloh Mystery Series, Book 3). What was your inspiration for the plot of this book? Did you already have it in mind at the beginning of the series?

TM: Each of the three stories blossomed independently, although I capitalized on “bread crumbs” within Sanctuary to feed Testament’s story premise, and similarly, Testament to Purgatory. Otherwise, my characters progressed and developed throughout the series as would be expected over a course of three years. Still, I only knew how they would change as I began to write each story.  In fact, I enjoyed looking back at each character from being introduced to the end of Purgatory—many experienced intriguing transformations.

LM: Are any of your characters based on you or people you know? How do you come up with ideas for your characters?

TM: Yes, in some ways, Theo Phillips and his wife Liddy are much like my wife and I, according to many readers who know us. And yes, we have two sons who have given us five beautiful grandchildren who happen to coincide in age and personalities with their counterparts in the stories. Otherwise, my characters were birthed from my fertile imagination. I went through great pains to give them their initial personalities with their flaws and strengths. However, they all went through some methodical changes as the stories came together—some more noticeable than others. All my characters were works in progress, just like we all are in real life.

LM: What is your writing routine? (E.g., do you listen to music, set up in a certain place, etc.)?

TM: My writing is usually accomplished in isolation with barely audible mood music breaking home’s silence. My wife generally fills her day with work or social activities to allow me to work uninterrupted when working on my manuscript. When she is at home, she usually stays busy in her craft room at the other end of the house. After dinner, she lends an ear to listen to me read whatever I wrote during the day—an excellent exercise for writers. However, what I described only occurs when I am actively writing a manuscript. Otherwise, outside of working on a story, my writing routine is rather willy-nilly and catch-as-catch-can.

LM: What is one thing you wish you knew how to do?

TM: Keep up with some of the ever-changing writing and grammar rules. The rules have changed quite a bit since I paid attention in high school six decades ago. Thus, I have relied on a talented and patient writing coach/editor over the past six or so years. Otherwise, Oxford and Chicago are just great places to visit in my mind. 

LM: What was your favorite book when you were growing up?

TM: This covers many years and a host of books I have consumed throughout my life. Since this is about my novel writing, I venture to say, Nordhoff and Hall’s “The Bounty Trilogy” (Mutiny on the Bounty-1933, Men Against the Sea-1933, and Pitcairn’s Island-1934) stands out; a gift from my mother. Though I read it in high school, it remains my number one response whenever anyone asks this question. I have to thank my mother for providing me with the thirst for reading I have enjoyed over my lifetime.

LM: Here are some quickies:

TM: Coffee or Tea? Coffee is the fuel of my inspiration each day. 

Walking, biking, or driving: I prefer driving in the country, but engage in walking once I arrive at my destination. 

Ocean or mountains? Oceanside vacations edge out mountain cabin retreats.

LM: Can you tell us about Hometown Novel Nights and how that came about?

TM: When I first began creative writing from my home in Georgia, I found all the networking with other authors required trips into Greater Atlanta and beyond. Even ACFW’s closest chapter is two hours north of my home. I still find myself venturing up I-85 for many conferences and book events to this day for the lion’s share of my author activities. 

Then I walked into the Lewis Grizzard and Erskine Caldwell Museum in Moreland, Georgia—a short five miles from my home. There I began to learn of so many other talented authors who suffered the journey into Atlanta for attention and activities. A few of us decided to see if we could get a local audience interested in meeting and listening to some local authors I had met. Our first program proved promising for all concerned. A handful of us got together and discovered plenty of nascent and experienced authors of various genres who were interested in signing up for a monthly series of events that featured three-author panels. 

Two years later, sans the recent disruption of public events, The Hometown Novel Nights program has introduced over forty authors to monthly audiences in now four venues covering west-central Georgia below Atlanta. Our most significant and prestigious host site has been the historic Carnegie Library in downtown Newnan, GA. As soon as this COVID crisis subsides again, we are eager to gear right back up.

LM: What’s your next project?

TM: I want to stretch myself with a story I have envisioned writing since studying Church History in seminary years ago. An enigmatic New Testament character is Joseph of Arimathea. He is mentioned in each Gospel but only briefly as he plays a significant role in the burial of Jesus before he suddenly disappears in history, except for legends and lore. He even acquired sainthood in the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Anglican churches, yet the Bible nor history more about him. My story will be a speculative fiction account covering shortly after Calvary until the Siege of Jerusalem—forty-years. It will be a mind-provoking, what-if tale of a man who finds himself sought after by the Jews, Christians, and Romans. He has been linked to the legendary Holy Grail. Yet, was it the chalice Jesus used at the Last Supper, rumored to have held the blood of Christ? I guess you’ll have to wait to find out what my research has stirred up.

LM: Where can folks find you on the web?

TM: TMBrownAuthor.com

            Facebook- @T.M.BrownAuthor

            Instagram- @T.M.Brown.Author

            Pinterest- @TMBrownAuthor

            Linked In- @t-m-mike-brown

            YouTube- @T.M. Brown (Shiloh Mystery Series)

About Purgatory

After Theo and Liddy retired to the small Georgia town of Shiloh, they expected a quieter life, but when Theo becomes the investigative reporter for the local Sentinel, he discovers that small towns can be just as dangerous as big cities for people devoted to seeking the truth. Having narrowly escaped a brush with death in Purgatory, Theo tackles what he hopes will be an easier investigation: helping the orphaned Pepper come to grips with her scandalous mother's past. But when an armored limousine purchased by Theo's friend and neighbor Zeb brings another spate of shady characters to Shiloh, Theo finds himself in the middle of unexpected danger, building to an explosive conclusion days before the town's Independence Day celebrations.

Purchase Link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0889P53BY

Traveling Tuesday: Lincoln, Nebraska

Traveling Tuesday: Lincoln, Nebraska

The Homestead Act of 1862 was enacted the year after President Lincoln made as speech in which he said the purpose of America’s government was to “elevate the condition of men, to lift artificial burdens from all shoulders and to give everyone an unfettered start and a fair chance in the race of life.” 

As result of the act, 1.6 million deeds were granted, distributing 270,000,000 acres (420,000 square miles)  in thirty states between 1862 and 1934. Homesteading was discontinued in 1976, except for Alaska, where it was not discontinued until 1986. Montana, North Dakota, Colorado, and Nebraska had the most successful claims.

Nebraska lies in both the Great Plains and the Midwest. Bordered by South Dakota, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, and Wyoming, it is the only triply landlocked U.S. state, meaning one has to travel through three states to reach an ocean, gulf, or bay. Admitted to the union in 1867, the state’s legislature is unicameral, which is unlike any other American legislature.  

Photo: David Mark/Pixabay

The capital of the Nebraska territory had been in Omaha since the creation of the territory in 1854, but most of the population lived south of the Platte River, so the legislature voted to locate the capital city south of the river and as far west as possible. The village of Lancaster was founded in 1856 and became the county seat four years later. Located on the banks of Salt Creek, settlers were attracted to the area due to the abundance of salt. Under consideration as a possible site for the newly moved capital, Omaha senator J.N.H. Patrick had the town renamed after the recently assassinated president in the hopes that the large number of southern-leaning senators wouldn’t vote for the bill. His plan backfired, and Lincoln was chosen in July 1867. Eighteen months later, the capitol building was completed.

Burlington and Missouri River Railroad’s first train arrived on June 26, 1870 and the Midland Pacific and Atchison and Nebraska followed in 1871 and 1872 respectively. During the 1870s and 1880s, thanks to the vast prairie land that was perfect for cattle grazing, and the invention of several farming technologies such as barbed wire, wind mills, and the steel plow, Nebraska’s population exploded. Three more railroads arrived by 1892, and the town became a rail hub.

Photo: enebraskahistory.org

Fifty years later the Lincoln Army Airfield was established, and during WWII would be used to train over 25,000 aviation mechanics and process over 40,000 troops for combat. The base was closed in 1945, but reactivated in 1952 during the Korean War. Closed permanently 1966, the town of Lincoln took over and created the Lincoln Municipal Airport.

Lincoln is the birthplace and residence of many famous people such as Hilary Swank, former Vice President Richard Cheney, Johnny Carson, and Willa Cather.

Have you ever visited Nebraska?

 ______________________

Will she have to run from the past for the rest of her life?

Dinah Simpkins has no chance of making a good marriage. Her outlaw brothers and her father’s gambling addiction have ruined the family’s reputation. Then the Westward Home and Hearts Matrimonial Agency provides an opportunity for a fresh start. After Dinah arrives in Nebraska, she discovers her brothers played a part in the death of her prospective groom’s first wife.

As a former Pinkerton detective Nathan Childs knows when someone is lying. The bride sent by the matrimonial agency may be beautiful, but she’s definitely hiding something, and he has no intention of marrying her until he uncovers the truth. But an easier solution may be to send her packing. Then his young daughter goes missing. He and Dinah must put aside their mutual hurt and mistrust to find her.

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