Wartime Wednesday: Stark POW Camp

Wartime Wednesday: New Hampshire’s POW Camp 

 

With a population of less than five hundred people, Stark, New Hampshire is easy to overlook. However, it was one of many American small towns transformed during World War II. Named for Revolutionary War General John Stark whose famous words “live free or die” became the state motto, Stark is located in northern New Hampshire less than fifty miles from the Canadian/US border. 

 

A paper manufacturer, The Brown Company couldn’t meet its quote of pulpwood needed for the war effort. Their number of employees had plummeted because many had enlisted, been drafted, or left the area for more lucrative positions in the defense industry. Enter Sherman Adams, a timberland manager in New Hampshire’s North Country who was about to become a congressman. He worked with U.S. Senator/Former Governor Styles Bridges to get a POW camp in place to provide workers for the paper company. Fortunately, home to a former Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) camp, Stark already had a location that could be used that required little renovation. 

 

About 250 German and Austrian soldiers, most of whom were captured in North Africa made up the

population of the POW camp. Interesting most of the inmates were members of the 999th Division, a collection of dissidents, communists, socialists, and perceived misfits who had once been imprisoned by the Nazis. The division had been created by Hitler to give members a “chance to redeem themselves for Germany.” The men were generally older and better educated than regular German troops. Some spoke multiple languages such as French, English, Dutch, Italian, and Norwegian. They worked in the forest cutting pulpwood. 

 

By all accounts, the camp and town coexisted peacefully. Some of the guards met and married local women, and remained after the war. They were entertained at church suppers and invited into people’s homes for Sunday dinner or holidays. Eventually, the spirit of goodwill extended to the prisoners, and some of the residents brought gifts to the POWs. One of the inmates, Franz Bacher, was an artist, and he sketched pictures of the guards and painted portraits of the townspeople. Some of his artwork still hangs in the homes. 

 

Bacher later escaped from the camp and managed to remain at large for over a month. He left a note: “I am going to escape today. The reason I am doing this is I live for my art. If I continue to cut wood, my hands will become so mutilated that I will be unable to paint. If I can’t paint, I can do nothing.” Unfortunately for Bacher who was living in New York, he ran into Sergeant Ted Tausig, on a three-day leave from the prison camp. Tausig was an Austrian Jew who had escaped to America and joined the U.S. Army. The two had lived near each other in Vienna and became friends at Stark. 

Photo: Salmon Press

Three days later, FBI agents arrested Bacher, and he was sent to Fort Devens, then Fort Eustis. The camp closed in 1946. Very little is left of the camp today, the wooden structures long dismantled, demolished, and decayed. Among the tangled and overgrown meadow can be found the crumbling fireplace-turned-memorial from the recreation hall, and the remains of one of the guard tower foundations. 

Despite being in operation for little more than two years, feelings apparently ran strong for some. In 1986, townspeople and former guards and prisoners held a reunion.

 ______________________ 

A Doctor in the House (A WWII Christmas Romance): 

They’re supposed to be allies, but mutual distrust puts this pair on opposite sides. 

 

Emma O’Sullivan is one of the first female doctors to enlist after President Franklin Roosevelt signs the order allowing women in the Army and Navy medical corps. Within weeks, Emma is assigned to England to set up a convalescent hospital, and she leaves behind everything that is familiar. When the handsome widower of the requisitioned property claims she’s incompetent and tries to get her transferred, she must prove to her superiors she’s more than capable. But she’s soon drawn to the good-looking, grieving owner. Will she have to choose between her job and her heart? 

 

Archibald “Archie” Heron is the last survivor of the Heron dynasty, his two older brothers having been lost at Dunkirk and Trondheim and his parents in the Blitz. After his wife is killed in a bombing raid while visiting Brighton, he begins to feel like a modern-day Job. To add insult to injury, the British government requisitions his country estate, Heron Hall, for the U.S. Army to use as a hospital. The last straw is when the hospital administrator turns out to be a fiery, ginger-haired American woman. She’s got to go. Or does she?

Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3Ju7ZjY

Traveling Tuesday: Sugar Hill, New Hampshire

Traveling Tuesday: Sugar Hill, New Hampshire 

author photo

Sugar Hill, New Hampshire is a tiny town about ninety minutes north of where I live. Nestled in the White Mountains, the town is named for the numerous sugar maples that dot the landscape. In the late 1800s, the area became a fashionable Victorian resort after the wealthy in Boston, Hartford, New York, and Philadelphia saw the paintings by White Mountain artists that were popular at the time. Hotels and hostelries were built, and rail service arrived in 1880. By 1900, the area boasted a 9-hole golf course and clubhouse, now on the National Register of Historic Places. 

 

That same year, Robert P. Peckett, Sr. purchased landed and opened the Peckett’s-on-Sugar-Hill-Inn. Trying to increase his winter traffic, he established the first resort-based ski school in the United States. (At this point, skiing was not a well-known sport in America.) Peckett recruited two German instructors, and the school became wildly successful. He continued to bring in European instructors, including Otto Lang. Some of the more famous students of the school were Nelson Rockefeller, Averell Harriman, and Lowell Thomas. 

 

By 1939, actress Bette Davis was ready for a break from Hollywood, having just completed two films. A

native New Englander from Lowell, Massachusetts, Bette decided a trip to New Hampshire would be a good cure-all. Familiar with NH and an avid skier after many trips to Europe, she made her way to Sugar Hill where she discovered Peckett’s-on-Sugar-Hill-Inn. During her stay, she fell in love with Arthur Farnsworth, the assistant manager, and they married the following year. Tragically, he died only three years later from a fall. 

 

Bette had so much pull that she told Jack Warner she would not attend the premiere for her movie “The Great Lie” if it was held in Hollywood. Instead, she insisted the event take place in New Hampshire, at The Jax Theater in Littleton. On her 33rd birthday, thousands of locals and Hollywood stars gathered to celebrate. Proceeds from the gala went to Littleton Hospital. (Check out this clip from NH television station WMUR: https://www.wmur.com/article/monday-july-9th-the-new-hampshire-home-built-by-bette-davis/22072670#) 

 

During WWII, Sugar Hill and the surrounding area would be used as training grounds for the 10th Mountain Division, the only one of its type in the military to receive intense specialized training for fighting in mountainous and arctic conditions. Made up of many young men who grew up skiing in the Northeast, the group spent much of their time in Franconia notch covering mountain travel, rock climbing techniques such as rappelling and belaying. Additionally, the hiking trails were the scenes of mock ambushes. Another aspect of their training was learning Norwegian, in the event they would be used to be sent to the fjords of Norway for an invasion. 

 

Although the grand hotels are mostly gone, Sugar Hill remains a popular location to visit year-round, and locals are still proud of their association to Bette as well as the part they played to train soldiers for the war. 

________________ 

A Doctor in the House (A WWII Christmas Romance): 

They’re supposed to be allies, but mutual distrust puts this pair on opposite sides. 

 

Emma O’Sullivan is one of the first female doctors to enlist after President Franklin Roosevelt signs the order allowing women in the Army and Navy medical corps. Within weeks, Emma is assigned to England to set up a convalescent hospital, and she leaves behind everything that is familiar. When the handsome widower of the requisitioned property claims she’s incompetent and tries to get her transferred, she must prove to her superiors she’s more than capable. But she’s soon drawn to the good-looking, grieving owner. Will she have to choose between her job and her heart? 

 

Archibald “Archie” Heron is the last survivor of the Heron dynasty, his two older brothers having been lost at Dunkirk and Trondheim and his parents in the Blitz. After his wife is killed in a bombing raid while visiting Brighton, he begins to feel like a modern-day Job. To add insult to injury, the British government requisitions his country estate, Heron Hall, for the U.S. Army to use as a hospital. The last straw is when the hospital administrator turns out to be a fiery, ginger-haired American woman. She’s got to go. Or does she?

Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3Ju7ZjY

Western Wednesday: Christmas in the Old West

Western Wednesday: Christmas in the Old West 

 

Photo: public domain

Life in the Old West is sometimes romanticized, with images of Ma and Pa rocking on the front porch, kids playing in the yard. Or perhaps seated around the rustic kitchen table partaking of a nice New England pot roast dinner. For some families, that may have been true, but in the early days of settling the West, most folks had a different experience. 

 

Christmas trees were popularized in the mid-1800s when Queen Victoria’s German husband brought the tradition from his homeland. Magazines picked up the story, and soon Americans embraced the practice as well. Living in the prairie where trees were scarce, most homesteaders probably didn’t put up a tree, but stockings and other decorations were popular. For those who did put up a tree, ornaments were bits of ribbon or yarn, berries, popcorn or paper strings, and other homemade decorations. 

 

The holiday meal was a big deal, and women pulled out all the stops to create a feast. Their husbands

Photo: UNM Archives

went hunting for game, while they baked bread and sweets as well as brought out preserved fruits and vegetables. Plum pudding would have been prepared well ahead to allow it time to age before Christmas dinner. 

 

Gifts would have been simple and primarily homemade, either because of the financial situation of the family or the lack of items available. Cornhusk or rag dolls for little girls, carved wooden toys, embroidered hankies, pillows, scarves, hats, mittens, and socks would be worked on during the year. If the family had a successful year, children might also find candy and other store-bought goodies in their stockings. 

 

Photo: WikiImages

Christmas eve traditions differed for each family, but many would gather to sing carols around the fireplace. On Christmas Day, most would head to church for a special service, then return home for the big meal and opening of presents. Afterward, if the weather was fine, they would travel around the community visiting with friends and neighbors. 

 

Wishing you a blessed Christmas and Happy New Year! 

____________________________

 

A Doctor in the House: A Christmas Romance

They’re supposed to be allies, but mutual distrust puts this pair on opposite sides. 

 

Emma O’Sullivan is one of the first female doctors to enlist after President Franklin Roosevelt signs the order allowing women in the Army and Navy medical corps. Within weeks, Emma is assigned to England to set up a convalescent hospital. She leaves behind everything that is familiar and arrives in the unfamiliar country a short time before Christmas. When the handsome widower of the requisitioned property claims she’s incompetent and tries to get her transferred, she must prove to her superiors she’s more than capable. But she’s soon drawn to the good-looking, grieving owner. Will she have to choose between her job and her heart? 

 

Archibald “Archie” Heron is the last survivor of the Heron dynasty, his two older brothers having been lost at Dunkirk and Trondheim and his parents in the Blitz. After his wife is killed in a bombing raid while visiting Brighton, he begins to feel like a modern-day Job. To add insult to injury, the British government requisitions his country estate, Heron Hall, for the U.S. Army to use as a hospital. The last straw is when the hospital administrator turns out to be a fiery, ginger-haired American woman. She’s got to go. Or does she?

Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3E9HVXb

Mystery Monday: Who was Cyril Hare

Mystery Monday: Who was Cyril Hare?

Despite being one of the prolific authors from the Golden Age of Detective Fiction, Cyril Hare has been largely forgotten by the reading public. A combination of Hare Court (where he worked) and Cyril Mansion (where he lived), the name is a pseudonym for Alfred Alexander Gordon Clark, who was born on September 4, 1900. His family was part of the Matthew Clark & Sons drink distribution company founded in 1810. 

 

Clark was educated at St. Aubyn’s, then Oxford where he graduated with a First. He studied law and entered the Bar in 1924. Nine years later he married Mary Barbara Lawrence, daughter of Sir William Lawrence, 3rd Baronet, horticulturalist, hospital administrator, and collector. They had three children, a son and two daughters, all of whom were very successful. 

 

At some point in the 1930s, Clark began penning mystery stories. The first, Tenant for Death, a story he adapted from a stage play he’d written, was published in 1937. That same year he also published a short story titled The Death of Amy Robsart. He published another novel and some short stories, but his breakout success came in 1942 with the publication of Tragedy at Law. 

 

Most scholars feel he based the plotline on his experiences during WWII when he toured as a judge’smarshal. He worked for the Director of Public Prosecution as well as serving with the Ministry of Economic Warfare. His wartime job must have kept him exceptionally busy because Clark wouldn’t publish another novel until 1946: With a Bare Bodkin. 

 

In 1950, he was appointed a county court judge in Surrey but managed to continue writing with regularity, publishing three to five short stories per year, mostly for "The Evening Standard." Tragedy at Law has never been out of print and has been praised by critics and authors as being among the best legal whodunits ever written. All in all, Clark published ten novels, forty short stories, one radio play, and two stage plays. 

 

Because of a bout with tuberculosis during WWII, his health suffered, and he passed away August 25, 1958, ten days before his 58th birthday. 

Have you ever heard of Cyril Hare? 

___________________________

Murder at Madison Square Garden 

The dream of a lifetime becomes a nightmare. 

 

Photojournalist Theodora “Teddy” Schafer’s career has hit the skids thanks to rumors of plagiarism. With any luck, a photo spread with Charles Lindbergh at the America First Rally will salvage her reputation. After an attempted assassination of Lindbergh leaves another man dead, Teddy is left holding the gun. Literally. Can she prove her innocence before the police lock her up for a murder she didn’t commit? 

 

Private Investigator Ric Bogart wants nothing to do with women after his wife cleaned out their bank account and left him for another man, but he can’t ignore the feeling he’s supposed to help the scrappy, female reporter who is arrested for murder at the America First rally. Can he believe her claims of innocence and find the real killer without letting Teddy steal his heart?

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

Fiction Friday: A Blast from the Past

Fiction Friday: A Blast from the Past

Photo: Pixabay/
DariuszSankowski

Part of my research process is to read books from the time period in which my story is set. My next project is a series of books set during the 1880s. Here are just a few of the publications from that decade: 

Ben Hur by Lew Wallace: Published in 1880, the story tells the adventures of Judah Ben-Hur, a Jewish prince who is enslaved by the Romances at the beginning of the first century. A parallel narrative is the story of Jesus, who was from the same region and around the same age. The book became a bestseller and is considered one of the most influential Christian books of the nineteenth century. 

The Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle: Published in 1883, this novel consists of a series of episodes, compiling traditional material into a narrative using invented “Old English” idiom. The book is credited with influencing later authors, artists, and filmmakers. 

A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court by Mark Twain: Published in 1889,

the book is about Yankee engineer Hank Morgan who receives a blow to the head and is somehow transported in time and space to England during the reign of King Arthur. Hank uses his knowledge to make people believe he’s a magician and tries to modernize the past. In the end, he is unable to prevent the death of Arthur. 

 

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson: Published in 1886, the book is about a London legal practitioner who investigates the strange occurrences between his old friend Dr. Henry Jekyll and the evil Edward Hyde. The impact of the novella is such that the phrase Jekyll and Hyde is known to refer to people with an unpredictably dual nature. 

 

The Man Who Would Be King by Rudyard Kipling: Published in 1888, the story is narrated by a British Indian journalist, correspondent of The Northern Star, in nineteenth-century India (Kipling himself in all but name), and tells of the adventures of two British young men who become kings of Kafiristan, a remote part of Afghanistan.  

A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle: Published in 1887, the detective novel marks the first appearance of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. The title comes from a speech given by Holmes during which he says, “There’s a scarlet thread of murder running through the colorless skein of life, and our duty is to unravel it, and isolate it, and expose every inch of it.” The story and its characters attracted little public interest when it first appeared. 

 

Which of these classics have you read? 

___________________

Legacy of Love (On tour and on sale!)

Will their love come at a cost? 

Escaping Boston to avoid a marriage of convenience aimed at garnering society’s respect for her family name in the shadow of her father’s war profiteering, Meg Underwood settles in Spruce Hill, Oregon. Despite leaving behind the comforts of wealth, she’s happy. Then the handsome Pinkerton agent, Reuben Jessop, arrives with news that she’s inherited her aunt’s significant estate, and she must return home to claim the bequest. Meg refuses to make the trip. Unwilling to fail at his mission, Reuben gives her until Christmas to prove why she should remain in Spruce Hill and give up the opportunity to become a woman of means. When he seems to want more than friendship, she wonders if her new-found wealth is the basis of his attraction.

Purchase Link:  https://amzn.to/31KOAdA

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome back, Sami Abrams!

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome back, Sami Abrams

Linda: Welcome back to my blog, and congratulations on your upcoming debut novel, Buried Cold Case Secrets. What was your inspiration for the story? 

Sami: Buried Cold Case Secrets was born during MurderCon. Sounds menacing, doesn’t it? Lol! MurderCon is part of the Writer’s Police Academy, a conference for authors to learn from law enforcement specialists. During this conference, I went to a forensic anthropology workshop and Melanie’s character took shape. 

LM: How did the opportunity to write for Love Inspired come about? Sami: My agent Tamela Hancock Murray encouraged me to submit to Love Inspired Suspense, and I met two different editors at the ACFW conferences that asked for manuscripts. So, I decided to give it a shot and here we are. 😊 

LM: Research is an important part of writing. What sort of research did you do for Buried Cold Case Secrets? Was there any sort of “aha” tidbit you found that you knew needed to be included? 

Sami: I’m always asking my law enforcement consultant if something is plausible. So there’s that. But I

think for this one I go back to the antifreeze poisoning. I had to make sure the symptoms were correct and have a way of counteracting it. I’m not sure it was an “aha” moment, but it was definitely interesting. 

LM: What authors influenced your writing? 

 

ami: Oh my, now that’s a loaded question. Lol! I’d have to say that the two authors that most influence my writing are Virginia Vaughan and Lynette Eason. Which comes in handy since they both mentor me on different projects. Virginia with my Love Inspired Suspense, and Lynette with my Elite Guardians Collection through Sunrise Publishing. 😊 

LM: In addition to writing, you are part of the Suspense Squad, a group of authors who interview other authors and hold topical discussions. How do you juggle your many responsibilities? 

Sami: The Suspense Squad is a great group. We love to have fun and can get quite silly at times. It’s a nice break from work when we are together. As for how do I juggle all my responsibilities…I’m a planner. (You notice I didn’t say plotter. Hehe!) My husband calls my calendar “the decade at a glance.” So, as long as it’s on my calendar and I’m not overbooked, all is good. 

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

Sami: Oh, there are so many things I wish I could do. But, I think my top two (sorry, there’s more than one. 😊)…I wish I knew how to draw. And the other, I wish I knew how to speak different languages. 

LM: What is your next project? 

Sami: I’m currently working on revisions for my Elite Guardians Collection novel with Lynette Eason and Sunrise Publishing which should release in June 2022. In addition, I have another Love Inspired Suspense releasing September 2022. Twin Murder Mix-up, book 2 in the Deputies of Anderson County series, will go on sale August 23, 2022. 

LM: Where can folks find you on the web? 

Sami: People can find me at http://www.samiaabrams.com. I’d love for everyone to sign up for my newsletter so we can stay in touch. 

About Buried Cold Case Secrets: 

Recovering her missing memories could be the key to solving a murder Searching for her best friend’s remains could help forensic anthropologist Melanie Hutton regain her memories of when they were both kidnapped—unless the killer gets to Melanie first. For her safety, Melanie must rely on Detective Jason Cooper, who still blames her for his sister’s death. Can Jason set the past aside to solve the cold-case murder…and shield Melanie from the same fate?

Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3HKRU8A

Traveling Tuesday: U.S. Territories

Traveling Tuesday: U.S. Territories

Photo: Pixabay/CCPapa

How good is your knowledge of U.S. territories? Until recently, mine was scant at best. Most of the continental United States began as various territories that were either purchased or taken in conquest between the late 1700s and late 1800s. But during our nation’s history, the country purchased an island and obtained others as spoils of war. 

 

Currently, the U.S. administers fourteen territories; five of which are permanently inhabited (Guam, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands, and U.S. Virgin Islands). The other nine are not inhabited and include four islands, two atolls, one reef, and one collection of islands. Territories are classified by incorporation and whether they have an “organized” government through an act passed by Congress. Territories are under U.S. sovereignty and may be treated as part of the United States proper in some ways and not in others. The Constitution applies only partially in unincorporated territories. 

 

Territories were generally created to administer newly acquired land, and most

Photo: Pixabay/AndPond

eventually attained statehood, however, others such as the Philippines, Palau, and the Marshall Islands became independent. Residents of territories cannot vote in U.S. Presidential elections, and they have only non-voting representation in Congress. With the exception of Puerto Rico, the territories are administered by the Office of Insular Affairs (part of the U.S. Department of the Interior). 

 

Photo: Pixabay/inactionsolutions

Each territory is self-governing with three branches of government, including a locally elected governor and territorial legislature. Interestingly, people born in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands are U.S. citizens by birth, however, people in American Samoa acquire U.S. nationality but not citizenship by birth if they don’t have a U.S. citizen parent. In order to gain citizenship, Samoans must reside in parts of the U.S. (other than American Samoa) and apply for naturalization. 

• Puerto Rico: Acquired at the end of the Spanish-American War (1899), and has been a U.S. Commonwealth since 1952. 
• Guam: Acquired at the end of the Spanish-American War (1899). U.S. citizenship was granted in 1950. The island is the home of the Naval Base Guam and Andersen Air Force Base. 
• American Samoa: A territory since 1900 after the end of the Second Samoan Civil War. The islands were divided into two regions, and the U.S took control of the eastern half of the island. 
• U.S. Virgin Islands: Purchased from Denmark in 1917. U.S. citizenship was granted in 1927. The main islands are St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix.
• Northern Mariana Islands: The islands became part of the United Nations Trust Territory of the Pacific islands in 1947, administered by the U.S. as a U.N Trustee. Failed attempts to reunify Guam and the Marianas in the 1950s and 1960s, resulted in a covenant that established the Northern Mariana Islands as a commonwealth that was approved in 1975 and came into force in 1976. In 1986, the Islands formally left U.N. Trusteeship. 

 

Have you visited any of the U.S. territories? 

__________________ 

Legacy of Love (on tour and on sale!)

Will their love come at a cost? 

 

Escaping Boston to avoid a marriage of convenience aimed at garnering society’s respect for her family name in the shadow of her father’s war profiteering, Meg Underwood settles in Spruce Hill, Oregon. Despite leaving behind the comforts of wealth, she’s happy. Then the handsome Pinkerton agent, Reuben Jessop, arrives with news that she’s inherited her aunt’s significant estate, and she must return home to claim the bequest. Meg refuses to make the trip. Unwilling to fail at his mission, Reuben gives her until Christmas to prove why she should remain in Spruce Hill and give up the opportunity to become a woman of means. When he seems to want more than friendship, she wonders if her new-found wealth is the basis of his attraction. 

Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/31KOAdA

Talkshow Thursday: Meet Antony Kolenc

Talkshow Thursday: Meet Antony Kolenc

Linda: Welcome to my blog. It’s a pleasure to have you. Congratulations on your awards for The Harwood Series. What made you decide to try your hand at fiction in general, and YA specifically? 

Antony: Thank you, Linda! I’ve been thrilled and thankful to God that The Harwood Mysteries have already won so many awards, including four gold medals and three bronze medals from various writing competitions. The series—currently there are three novels published and a fourth one due out next summer—tells the ongoing story of a peasant boy (Alexander, or “Xan”) and his friend, Lucy, who live at a Benedictine abbey in twelfth-century England. In the series, the pair of teens go on several adventures: exploring a haunted cathedral, catching a den of thieves, and toppling the plots of bandits, to name a few. 

 

Regarding my decision to write fiction, I’ve been a lawyer since 1999, but I’ve always enjoyed reading, writing, and telling stories. I have reams of unfinished stories I attempted to write throughout my life. As I grew older and realized that my writing could be a ministry, too, it inspired me to write a book series that would be suspenseful and engaging while also dealing with deeper questions, such as, “Who am I? What am I supposed to do with my life? Why do bad things happen to good people?” I wanted this series to address these questions in a context of faith, but also in a way that was also spooky and exciting and relatable to younger readers. 

 

LM: The books are set during the medieval era. What draws you to that time period? 

Antony: The books are set during a fantastic period in English history. The series takes place starting in

Photo Credit: Pixabay/Momentmal

1184 A.D. in the final years of the reign of King Henry II. This is only fifteen years after the murder of St. Thomas Becket, between the Second and Third Crusade, which starts up a few years after Book 1, Shadow in the Dark. This was also a time in the history of Christianity where the Church and State (i.e., King Henry II) were in constant opposition, as the State attempted to control church ministry. This was hundreds of years prior to the Protestant Reformation, of course, so there wasn’t that kind of split in Christianity yet. The time period allows me to explore the system of feudalism, monastic life, church-state conflict, and (in just a few years, the Third Crusade). So there’s a lot going on both educationally and of great interest during this time. 

LM: Research is an important aspect of writing and must have been quite extensive for this series. How did you go about researching The Harwood Series? Was there a particular piece of information you knew you needed to include in one of the books? 

Antony: I had to do a lot of research for these books, with help from others, such as Dr. Jennifer Paxton, who is an expert on medieval monastic life at the Catholic University of America. As you can imagine, there aren’t too many twelfth-century English monasteries that aren’t in ruins at this point. I had to base Harwood Abbey—which is entirely fictional, by the way—on the layout of other abbeys of the time, as well as the entire way of life that Xan and Lucy experience while living there. A few years ago I took two weeks and went to England to traipse about the locations of which I am writing. Of course, we are now over 800 years later and things have changed quite a bit, but it was incredible to walk among the ruins of the abbeys and cathedrals and hike about the countryside. In particular, for Book 2, The Haunted Cathedral, I needed to do research on the history of Lincoln Cathedral, which is fascinating and relayed in that novel. 

LM: In addition to your fiction writing, you work as a law professor, author legal articles, conduct speaking engagements, and host a radio show/podcast. How do you juggle your various responsibilities? 

Antony: You’re right! I write a lot of non-fiction and legal scholarship, and I also write a column in Practical Homeschooling magazine. I’m particularly excited about my new project hosting The Shepherd’s Pie podcast—“a slice of hope to raise faithful kids”—which focuses on issues that impact youth and can be accessed free on my website, www.antonykolenc.com. I do tend to juggle a lot of balls in the air at the same time, but I find that I do my best and most productive work by getting up at 5:00 A.M., when the world is still dark and my family is fast asleep, writing with a hot cup of tea or coffee by my side in the silence of the house. You’d be amazed how much you can get done before the rest of your day begins and the responsibilities of life set in. That has been my practice for many years, which has served me well in all my interests. That is also my best time to start the day right with prayer time! 

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

Antony: I have always wanted to speak other languages fluently, but have not yet had the chance to learn them well. In particular, I would like to understand my own family heritage of Italian by learning to speak that language one day. 

LM: Now that you have several books published, what advice can you give to fledgling writers? 

Photo credit: Pixabay/
Startup stock photos

Antony: Seek God’s will for your gift of writing, and don’t ever give up. Find a great writing group and encouraging group of Christian authors with whom to share your writing life. Also, don’t be afraid to edit and re-edit and re-re-edit your work. No matter how good you think it is, it needs more work…trust me. 

LM: What is your next project? 

Antony: Now that Book 3, The Fire of Eden, is released and Book 4 (tentatively titled, The Merchant’s Curse) is at Loyola Press for editing, I have begun writing Book 5, which will be a murder mystery. I hope to continue the adventures of Xan, Lucy, and his other friends (including a new female character introduced in Books 2 and 4, Christina) into the years of the Third Crusade. 

LM: Where can folks find you on the web? 

Antony: Check out my series website at https://www.theharwoodmysteries.com/ and my author website for other information and to access my podcast at http://www.antonykolenc.com/. 

________________

About the series: 

Book 1: Shadow in the Dark In twelfth century England, an attack by bandits in the middle of the night leaves a young boy with no memory of who he is or where he is from. Nursed back to health by the devoted monks in a Benedictine abbey, he takes the name Alexander, or Xan for short. Aided by the kindly Brother Andrew, and his best friend, Lucy, Xan commits himself to finding out who he really is. Is his family still alive? Why has God allowed so much suffering into his life? And who—or what—is the shadowy figure creeping around the abbey in the dead of night? 

Book 2: The Haunted Cathedral An ill-fated journey, a long-lost uncle, and a mysterious cathedral mark the next chapter in the life of Xan, an orphan in search of his destiny. For a year, he has lived in the care of Benedictine monks at Harwood Abbey. Now he learns that he has an uncle, said to live in the far-off city of Lincoln. Will Xan survive the trip alongside the prisoner Carlo and his cruel guards? Will he find Uncle William? And why is Xan drawn to the spirit that haunts Lincoln Cathedral—could a ghost reconnect Xan with his dead parents? With Lucy and some new friends at his side, Xan must solve the mystery of The Haunted Cathedral. 

Book 3: The Fire of Eden Xan and John are orphans at Harwood Abbey. They are also enemies, but now John, blinded by an accident, struggles with bitterness. In his latest adventure, Xan of Harwood Abbey joins forces with this most unlikely of allies to uncover the mystery of the loss of the Fire of Eden, a priceless ruby coveted by many . . . Who took the ruby—a dishonest monk, a traitorous member of Her Lady’s guard, or the frightening magician who dwells in the woods? Will Xan and John permanently mend their ways? Or will the quest for the ruby destroy any hopes of lasting friendship?

To find out where this next adventure leads Xan and his friends, you'll have to read The Fire of Eden.

Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/u/3yKZEp

Traveling Tuesday: Hawaii's Home Front after Pearl Harbor

Traveling Tuesday: 

Hawaii’s Home Front After Pearl Harbor 

Pixabay/WikiImages

The December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor forced the United States into war with Japan. The following day, Germany declared war on the U.S., and the country became embroiled in WWII. Within hours of the attack, the Territorial Governor stripped himself of his administrative powers, and Hawaii (still a territory at that time) was put under martial law. 

Under military law, the normal judicial process is suspended, therefore courts, witnesses, and juries are unnecessary. Instead, a military tribunal handles all violations and metes out punishment as it sees fit. With more than a third of the residents being of Japanese descent, the government was in a quandary about what to do with them. Interning the individuals, as was being done on the mainland, was impractical for numerous reasons, therefore it was hoped that martial law would take care of the situation. 

All residents over the age of six were fingerprinted and issued identification papers that were to be

Pixabay/Cytis

carried at all times and produced upon demand. Curfews and blackouts (including electricity shutoff after sundown) were implemented, the media and mail were censored, and food, gasoline, and other items were rationed. Business hours were assigned and alcohol was prohibited. 

Traffic was monitored and special garbage collection was administered. Civilians were banned from photographing coastal locations, but they were also used to dig holes for bomb shelters and place barbed wire around beaches, water pumping stations, electrical installations, and government buildings. Gas masks were issued and regular drills were held to prepare for gas attacks or air raids. 

Pixabay/David Mark

Waikiki’s beachfront hotels were closed to the public and taken over for the exclusive use of the military (whose five branches all had a presence on the islands). Seven POW and internment camps were located on Oahu, the big island, Maui, and Kauai. 

Hawaii was forever changed as a result of WWII, and many scholars feel the statehood that followed fourteen years later had a direct correlation to the war.

 ______________________ 

About Under Cover:

In the year since arriving in London, journalist Ruth Brown has put a face on the war for her readers at home in the U.S. Thus far, juggling her career and her relationship with Detective Inspector Trevor Gelson hasn't proven too challenging. The war gets personal for Ruth when her friend Amelia is murdered, and Trevor is assigned to the case. Life gets even more unsettling when clues indicate her best friend, Varis, is passing secrets to the enemy. Convinced Varis is innocent, Ruth must find the real traitor as the clock ticks down toward Operation Husky-the Allied invasion of Sicily. Circumstantial evidence leads Trevor to suspect her of having a part in Amelia's death, and Ruth must choose between her heart and her duty.

Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3pGWa0P

Fiction Friday: New Releases in Christian and Clean-n-Wholesome Fiction

 

December 2021 New Releases More in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website

Contemporary - General:
Broken Together by Brenda S. Anderson -- Jennifer and Chad Taylor had dreamed of opening a coffee and cocoa shop since before they said, “I do.” When Chad is sent to prison for murder despite claiming innocence, that dream—along with their family—is shattered. After years of fighting for Chad’s release, Jennifer finally breaks free from her shame, anger, and hopelessness, and forges ahead with the dream the two of them once shared. With the help of their college-aged twins, she begins to move forward. Without Chad. When their lawyer arrives with news of evidence that may prove Chad’s innocence, a strange mixture of emotions overtakes her. Does she want Chad to return home? He isn’t the same man he once was, and she certainly isn’t the same woman. She’s worked hard to piece the remnants of their family back together, and his coming home could fracture the family once again. (General Contemporary, Independently Published)

Contemporary Romance:
Healing Skye by Janet W. Ferguson --People can’t be trusted. Animals always made more sense than humans did to marine biologist Skye Youngblood. After her mother’s suicide, she left Alabama and never looked back. These days, she pours her heart into protecting nature’s sea creatures. When she returns to Dauphin Island, Alabama, for a temporary manatee migration study, her dark past is much too close. She can’t let her guard down. But how can she keep her heart hidden when a kind man with a genuine smile makes her want a fresh start? (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)

No Place Like Home by Amy R. Anguish -- Roots are overrated, at least to someone like Adrian Stewart, preacher’s kid, who has never lived anywhere longer than six years. That’s why her job with MidUSLogIn, Inc. is so perfect for her—lots of travel and staying nowhere long enough to have it feel like home. But when work takes her to Memphis, TN, closer to her family for the first time in years, and in the same small office as Grayson Roberts, she starts to question her job, her lack of home, and even her memories of her rocky past with the church. Gray is intrigued by Adrian from the moment he sees her, and he’s determined to get to the bottom of why this girl who loves old movies and hums when she works won’t go to church with him. As they grow closer, he wants more, too, but how can he convince her to stay in Memphis when she doesn’t believe in home—or God? Can he use his own broken past to break through hers? (Contemporary Romance from Scrivenings Press)

Reclaiming Hope by Carolyn Miller -- Callie Steele might be a bit… focused on work, but despite what her employers say, she enjoys her well-ordered, productive life. When she’s sent to meet the owners of an estate requiring post-hurricane landscaping, Callie meets their son, Kai Brody, a super-chilled pro surfer, who is as opposite from her as they come. Though initially smitten, Callie knows a relationship with Kai is a bad idea—a very bad idea. Kai, however, can’t help but be intrigued by someone who challenges him to make something of his life again. He’s determined to pursue her, if she’ll give him half a chance. The more time they spend together, negotiating the challenges of work, illness, and family, the more their opposing outlooks clash and connect. What do these unlikely friends really want from life? Is it best to focus on work or recreation? As Kai and Callie answers from the Lord, they also must consider if such complete opposites have enough in common to make a relationship last. (Contemporary Romance from Celebrate Lit)

The Breakup Project by Carolyn Miller --As the twin sister of hockey’s hottest forward, romance-loving Bree Karlsson is used to being ignored, leading to a New Year’s resolution to not date any athlete in her attempt to find Mr. Right. But what happens when the man who might prove to be her personal Mr. Darcy is her brother’s hockey-playing best friend? Mike Vaughan might be happy playing in Boston, but he’d be even happier if Bree could one day see him as more than a good friend. He agrees to help Bree with a special project in the hope she’ll finally see him as something more. But when a misunderstanding ends in a Valentine’s Day disaster, Bree realizes that her breakup project may have broken her friendship with Mike in two. Can she ever redeem her mistake? (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)

Their Yuletide Healing by Mindy Obenhaus -- Foster mom Rae Girard’s determined to make her children’s first Christmas with her the best they’ve ever had—and she’s shocked when the town scrooge, attorney Cole Heinsohn, offers to pitch in. Rae’s young charges have melted Cole’s heart, and he wants them to experience the special day he never had. But when disaster strikes, an imperfect holiday might bring them something better: a family… (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired/Harlequin)

General Historical:
Elinor by Shannon McNear -- In 1587, Elinor White Dare sailed from England heavy with her first child but full of hopes. Her father, a renowned artist and experienced traveler, has convinced her and her bricklayer husband Ananias to make the journey to the New World. Land, they are promised, more goodly and beautiful than they can ever imagine. But nothing goes as planned from landing at the wrong location, to facing starvation, to the endless wait for help to arrive. And, beyond her comprehension, Elinor finds herself utterly alone. The colony at Roanoke disappeared into the shadows of history. But what if one survived to leave a lasting legacy? (General Historical from Barbour Publishing)

What Matters Most by Carol Ashby -- For ten years, the incorruptible Tribune Titianus enforced Rome’s laws. He’s four days from leaving the Urban Cohort to teach at his brother-in-law Kaeso’s school when Emperor Hadrian and the Praetorian Prefect draft him to secretly investigate and thwart an assassination plot…one that might involve his own commander. He can’t refuse, but if Hadrian’s enemies discover his Christian faith, will it mean death for everyone he loves? The new tribune Glabrio wants two things as Titianus trains him: to discover for their commander who Titianus is investigating and to gain the support of Titianus’s powerful relatives. Marrying Sabina would secure the backing of her grandfather, but because of the teacher, she's making choices no noblewoman should. As he gets closer to both his goals, will he realize in time what matters most? (General Historical from Cerrillo Press)
Romance Novella:
A Covert Cowboy Christmas by Carol James -- A December ice storm destroys Rebekah Kingston's Christmas plans. With the power out and the West Texas roads closed indefinitely, she's forced to spend Christmas at her brother Braden's ranch instead of at home with her parents. But Rebekah and Braden are not alone. Also stranded is an annoyingly chatty ranch hand, Dirk Sims. While Rebekah is certain she's met him before, Dirk insists she's mistaken. However, when Rebekah inadvertently eavesdrops on one of Dirk's phone conversations, she discovers his lie. Dirk is not who he seems. This Christmas just got interesting. (Romance Novella from White Rose)
Suspense/Thriller:

Stealth Insurgence by Vikki Kestell -- Nanostealth | Book 5: Jayda and Zander are returning to Albuquerque, satisfied that they have completed the mission for which President Jackson called them to Washington DC. They are filled with hope for the future, bursting with joy for the unborn child Jayda carries, and keen to share the news of their blessing with those they love: Abe, Emilio, Dr. Bickel, Zander’s parents, and his sister, Izzie. They arrive in Albuquerque on a notable date: the one-year anniversary of General Cushing’s attack on Dr. Bickel’s lab hidden within the tunnels of the old Manzano Weapons Storage Facility. It was the same attack that incited the nanomites to take up occupancy in Gemma Keyes—now Jayda Cruz —the extraordinary event that will continue to impact their lives forever. (Thriller/Suspense, Independently Published)


Plus check out these recent additions to Fiction Finder published within the past month:  

Western Wednesday: Zane Grey, America's Storyteller

Western Wednesday: Zane Grey, America's Storyteller 

Part of my research for stories includes reading books from the time period I’m investigating, and I recently came across the works of Zane Grey while preparing for a series I’ll be releasing in 2022. I had heard of him, along with Louis L’Amour, as two of the best authors in classic western literature. The more I dug, the more intrigued I became. 

 

Pearl Zane Gray was born on January 31, 1872 in Zanesville, Ohio, a town founded by his mother’s ancestors. (Spelling of the family name was changed from Gray to Grey sometime in the late 1890s.) As a boy, he would hear stories of his forebear’s adventures as pioneers in America’s “First West,” the Ohio Valley. He would later novelize their stories and those of other homesteaders as well as ranchers, cowhands, buffalo hunters, soldiers, and gamblers as the migration westward continued. 

 

As a young man, Zane was an excellent baseball player whose abilities led to a scholarship to the University of Pennsylvania. He chose dentistry to please his father and graduated in 1896, but chose to play amateur baseball for several seasons, practicing his dentistry intermittently. In addition, he loved the outdoors and found great joy in fishing. He discovered the town of Lackawaxen, Pennsylvania and visited often. 

 

It was during one of his visits to Lackawaxen in 1900 that he met Lina Elise “Dolly” Roth, eleven years

his junior, while canoeing near the Delaware House, a boarding house on the river. By this time, he’d been writing, but had yet to find success. Dolly encouraged him to continue his efforts, and in 1902 his first article was published, “A Day on the Delaware,” in Recreation magazine. The following year he wrote, illustrated, and published his first novel, Betty Zane, with money from his sister-in-law Reba Grey. 

 

Dolly and Zane married in 1905, and he left dentistry to pursue his writing full-time. They settled in Lackawaxen, and the following year visited the Grand Canyon, Zane’s first trip out west. Times were lean as he tried to establish himself as an author. Using the last of Dolly’s inheritance, he went on a hunting expedition with Western conservationist Charles “Buffalo” Jones. He wrote about his experience in The Last of the Plainsmen which was published by Outing Press in 1908 and marked a turning point in his career. 

 

The Heritage of the Desert came out in 1910, and his most famous work, Riders of the Purple Sage was published in 1912. By 1915, Zane had fifteen books in print along with many fishing and outdoor adventure articles and serialized stories. His success allowed him to purchase a home in Altadena, California and a hunting lodge on the Mogollon Rim near Payson, Arizona. Each year, he spent several months gathering experiences, then he would return home and craft his stories into tales for serialization, magazine articles, or a novel. 

 

Being in California allowed Zane to work closely with the motion picture industry which had begun producing films based on his novels. A prolific writer, he wrote ninety books before his death. Another twenty manuscripts were published posthumously. His novels and short stories have been adapted into 112 films, two television episodes, and a television series. 

Have you read any of his books? 

 ___________________ 

 

A brand-new widow, she doesn’t need another man in her life. He’s not looking for a wife. But when danger thrusts them together, will they change their minds...and hearts? 

 

Hannah Lauman’s husband has been murdered, but rather than grief, she feels...relief. She decides to remain in Georgia to work their gold claim, but a series of incidents makes it clear someone wants her gone...dead or alive. Is a chance at being a woman of means and independence worth risking her life? 

Jess Vogel never breaks a promise, so when he receives a letter from a former platoon mate about being in danger, he drops everything to help his old friend. Unfortunately, he arrives just in time for the funeral. Can he convince the man’s widow he’s there for her protection not for her money? 

 

Gold Rush Bride: Hannah is the first book in the exciting series Gold Rush Brides. Steeped in romance, intrigue, and history, the story will keep you turning pages long into the night.

Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3d1iRXq