photo © 2008 Marion Doss more info (via: Wylio)Happy day after the Fourth of July! I hope everyone had a happy and safe day. It's such a blessing to be able to celebrate the freedom that we as citizens have in this country, but we realize that freedom has come at a great price for many people.
Over the weekend I saw a documentary that told the story of the latest people who had become citizens of the United States. The reporter traveled from state to state as those who had come to our country for the freedom offered here received their certificate of citizenship. I was deeply touched by the stories these people had to tell of why they came to America and what they escaped in the countries they had left. It made me very thankful to have been born in this great country.
It also made me reflect on all this country has gone through since independence was first proclaimed. There have been wars fought here and in foreign lands that have formed us into the people we are today. As a life-long Southerner, I have grown up with the battlegrounds of the Civil War close to where I live. Visits to places like Shiloh continues to fascinate those of us who live in the 21st Century.
Perhaps this fascination with a war that divided a nation was the reason I selected the time period I did for my latest book in the Alabama Brides series. Blues Along the River is set in the Black Belt of Alabama sixteen years after the end of that war. Even though old attitudes and traditions are being replaced by new ones, there are those who find it difficult to give up an old way of life.
When a naive girl arrives in Wilow Bend, Alabama, and meets the handsome owner of Pembrook Plantation, all she sees is the chance to live a privileged life with a man who she thinks will fulfill all her dreams. Unfortunately, she doesn't look below the surface to see what hidden secrets may control her life in the plantation's big house.
Blues Along the River relates the story of a time and a people who struggle to rebuild their lives in the shattered society they had once known. I hope you will enjoy Marcus and Victoria's story.
Question of the Day
What is your favorite historical period?
Hey Sandra,
ReplyDeleteMy favorite historical period is the Colonial/Revolutionary War era. The people of the time fascinate me as they risked so much to have a place to live in freedom. We owe them all so much. Next I like the early frontier era after the Revolution and before the Civil War and I love the Gilded Age, such opulence that could have done so much good.
Hi Sandra! Right now it's more Turn of the Centruy and Gilded Age. If you take Aaron's list and turn it upside down, that would probably be mine. :)
ReplyDeleteBlues along the River sounds like a great book!
Hi Sandra...I am looking forward to reading Blues along the River. Whatever period I am researching tends to become my favorite of the moment - for now it's the years leading up to the Civil War, a time that is often ignored by historians who want to jump directly to the battles. I have found it a tragic but interesting time. In no particular order some of my other favorites are War of 1812, Regency, American Revolution, WWII, Gilded Age, Post Civil War, etc, etc, etc
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