I’m always thrilled when I discover a great read or one is recommended to me. I have one of each to tell you about today.
The first is 1000 White Women by Jim Fergus
The premise of this story is that the author decided to learn about his grandmother’s past which was always shrouded in secrecy. He discovered some long-hidden journals. At the beginning, he discusses the research he did to make this discovery and then presents the journals of his grandmother, May Dodd. According to the research and the journals, a Cheyenne Chief went to Washington, DC for the purpose of making a lasting peace with the whites. His plan was to ask for 1000 white women as wives for his tribe, thus ensuring his people would survive and the resulting children would be a bridge between the two cultures. May Dodd was among the first group of these ‘wives.’ She kept detailed journals. It is fascinating to see the Cheyenne life from the point of view of a white woman trying to fit in. There are lots of historical facts. This book was well written, poignant and insightful. The author had me truly convinced that all these events took place even though he says the book is fiction. I highly recommend this book and will be looking for others from this author.
The other book was The Hummingbird by Stephen P. Kiernan.
The story is of a woman who does hospice in-home care. She is assigned to care for a cranky professor who is an expert in WW2 events. He has written a book about an event during the war that sounds true but no one has ever heard of this event. The nurse reads this story to him. In the meantime, she is dealing with her ex-soldier husband who has served 3 tours of duty and is suffering PTSD. Basically there are three story lines and although none of them are part of the others, they so closely affect each other that the story becomes one story line. The nurse knows that suffering has a purpose. The historian knows that in order to understand a man you must understand his weapons. The vet knows he is damaged but doesn’t know how to be undamaged. There are so wonderful quotes. ‘The power of a promise is proven in times of difficulty, when keeping the pledge is hard.’ ‘Mortality is life’s way of teaching us how to love.’ ‘Anger is a snake that eats its own tail.’ This book is masterfully crafted and a joy to read. Again, I highly recommend it and will be looking for more books by this author.
I’d love to hear what you’ve read that you can highly recommend. You can tell me by emailing me lindaford@airenet.com or posting on my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/linda.ford.90
Talking about books. I have a new series starting soon.
The series is Dakota Brides. The first one will be out next week.
Watched for announcements.
FEBRUARY IS THE MONTH FOR…
February is the month for LOVE. Which sounds a lot better than the month for snow (we had 12″ this week) or cold (-30C this week)
It’s not that I don’t like snow. It makes for beautiful pictures but it is challenging getting around. People in town are walking through high banks on either side of their sidewalks and driveways. At least in rural areas we can push it back a little. It helps to have a big green tractor.
It’s a good thing that Valentine’s Day pops in half way through the month.
Above is a copy of a valentine sent in the early 1900s. From the correspondence I’ve read in my family’s ‘archives’ I think sending cards as adults, and expressing thoughts of love and fondness were a lot more common than it is now.
Flowers, candy, and cards are all good. Reminders of love and affections are also good. I think love triumphs over evil. I suppose that’s why I write love stories.
Have a sweet and wonderful Valentine’s Day.
ENJOYING A PATTERN
It’s winter. There is a serious lack of color so my eyes seek patterns like those below. Of course it doesn’t hurt that those were taken in Hawaii. Which is where I should be when the deepfreeze hits Alberta. Just saying.
But patterns are important in life, creating rhythm and a silent music of their own. Patterns are also important in writing. Everything from plot to motif requires a structure and creates a pleasing product.
Where do you enjoy patterns?
Winter–What’s Not To Like?
I confess to having a love-hate relationship with winter.
I like walking in the cold. But bitter cold? Not so much. To walk at -40 degrees is just plain silly.
I like walking in falling snow. But wind-driven snow pellets? No thanks.
I like sitting in my warm house, looking out the window at the snowscape. But having to go out and fight my way through snow, ice and cold…well, not fun.
Snow makes fascinating sculptures. But I become color-deprived before the season ends.
Snow and snow storms make wonderful events in a book. For instance, in Inheritance Of Love, a snow storm puts out the power to the heroine and hero’s homes. The hero, however, has a nice big fireplace so they huddle there together with the little girl they are joint guardians of, the hero’s eccentric aunt and her cat. In the time of enforced closeness and the allure of the warm fire, It’ becomes a time of learning to appreciate each other.
I also use winter and snow storms in a soon-to-be-released book, Temporary Bride. The heroine’s house burns down in the dead of winter. The hero offers a solution to her homelessness. The title of the book might tell you what his suggestion is. Or is it her suggestion? Watch for announcements for this book’s release…likely in March.
And enjoy the weather.
Things to Come
There are a number of things to look forward to.
Spring.
Flowers and Gardening
And a Facebook Party on Thurs. Jan 25 that I will be hosting. It will be from 10-12 Mountain Standard Time. There will be discussions, conversation, a chance to win a couple of prizes and hopefully, a good time for all. In order to take part you need to ask to join the group. It might be wise to do it ahead of time so you can jump right in. You can do so here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/LitRingVIP/?ref=bookmarks
I hope to see you there.
You can win. I can win.
Two important events to note this week.
First, you can enter to win an ipad plus download lots of free books. Be sure and select the genre you want to read.
https://www.litring.com/snow-day-giveaway/
Plus, you can vote for my cover for Irene. You can vote more than once so please do.
If you liked the cover of my book, Irene (War Brides Book 3), please vote for it for the Cover of the Month contest on AllAuthor! I am grateful for all your support!
http://https://allauthor.com/cover-of-the-month/1291
Thanks for all the support. I appreciate it.
Married in England as War Brides.
It is the First World War. The war to end all wars everyone thought as the battles dragged on and on. The conditions were horrific. And yet a man saw a pretty young gal–in a hospital, in a green grocers, or on a Sunday afternoon walk. They met and fell in love. Yet their marriages weren’t as real as one would hope as the young groom went off to the battlefield and the young wife struggled to make do under the strict rationing. And then it ended. The wives joined across the ocean to meet their husbands in Canada. What a reunion it was…before reality hit. They barely knew each other. There was family and family circumstances to deal with.
Lizzie––Caleb returned from the Great War a broken man. Can Lizze’s love set him free?
Maryelle–The Great War is over, but life in Canada—with her new husband—is nothing like Maryelle expected…
Irene–Zach wanted a marriage of convenience and a mother for his sons. But Irene is more than he counted on…
Grace–Why would a flying ace—a war hero—love someone as unworthy as Grace?
These are the stories of four brave young women facing challenges that could destroy them. Can their love survive?
Go here to begin reading these stories. http://tinyurl.com/yb8s83uf
COLOR STARVATIOIN
It’s the time of year when I look out the window and see nothing but black and white except for the flare of sunrise.
But that spectacular display is not enough to fill my need for color. I suffer from color starvation. I want to see green–green grass, green leaves–and I want bright flowers. Growing things. Last year I was able to go to Hawaii and feed that hunger. This year, I am not going. But I can enjoy the pictures from last year. I’ll share a few for your enjoyment.
I have a couple other things besides sunrise, sunsets and my picture file that help. Quilt and yarn displays. Yup. I go to the store and drink my fill.
If you’re needing a color fix, how what do you do?
HAPPY NEW YEAR
I wish I had something profound and wise to say to welcome in the New Year but I don’t. I’d like to blame it on the cold I am nursing and cursing (almost) but I plumb ran out of profound and wise some time ago. Okay, honestly? I’ve never ever had either.
Personally, 2017 has been a good year. My daughter dealt with a cancerous tumor behind her eye and the radiation killed it dead. Great news. I enjoyed a holiday in Hawaii with 3 of my daughters then a week at a nearby lake where I rented a cabin and enjoyed the time with 2 daughters, a son-in-law and 5 granddaughters. We had a number of family gatherings here. The year wrapped up with 25 here for Christmas. I put out 12 ebooks, and 4 books with Love Inspired Historicals. It’s been a busy year.
I look forward to 2018–more writing, more books out. A trip to Paris with daughter and granddaughter. Another week at the lake. And everything else that comes my way. Some things are unwelcome but everything is filtered through the loving hands of God and in Him I trust.
Enjoy this little glimpse of the past year. All the best to each of you in 2018.
Grace and Christmas
Grace is a war bride. She fell in love with Billy while he was recovering from a battle wound near her home in England and they married. But she is not prepared for the challenges of wedded life, let alone the challenges of life in Alberta, Canada. Even less, is she prepared for dealing with the risks her adventuresome, fly-boy husband takes.
And yes, there is a Christmas element to the story. Just when Grace thinks she can’t handle anything more, the rug is pulled out from under her right at Christmas. She is faced with having to deal with more pain. Can she do it with God’s help and the loving support of Billy?
I wish for each of you a blessed Christmas season. May you enjoy the reason for the season amidst all the hustle and bustle. To help you enjoy the festivities, I am including these pictures taken a few years ago at a writers’ retreat at a Gaylord hotel in Nashville.
