Welcome back to the Extra Edition newsletter! I’m excited to bring you bonus content each month with a special inside look at my novels and the history behind them.
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Mark Twain, Antiques, and Geostorms – My Adventures at Mark Twain Lake
Reviewing Sparks with Author Erin Lewis
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Mark Twain, Antiques, and Geostorms
Last weekend, my husband and I took the kids for our first family camping trip to Mark Twain Lake near Hannibal, Missouri. It was so peaceful being out in the quiet of the woods, away from the hustle of the city. It had been over 15 years since I last went camping, so I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I had a wonderful time and am already looking forward to our next adventure.
One of my favorite parts was when we went down to the lake at night to see the stars. Due to the full moon, there weren’t as many visible as there normally would have been, but also due to the full moon, the lake was super bright. This reminded me of a scene in my upcoming novel, Stars in the Storm, where the characters encounter a geomagnetic storm on September 1, 1859. Known as a Carrington event, it created auroras (Northern Lights) visible across the United States and even as far south as Mexico. The electric fields of the storm were so strong that they disrupted telegraph lines in both North America and Europe. Due to their heightened brightness, many of the northwestern gold miners thought morning had arrived and started getting ready for the day, only to realize they had hours left to sleep. While my family didn’t see any auroras on our camping trip, you can see in the photo below how bright 10 p.m. was.
While there, we also had the opportunity to indulge my historical side by visiting Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain)’s birthplace in Florida, MO and several antique stores in nearby Perry, MO (population 600). If you ever have a chance to visit Lick Creek Antiques, do so.
Reviewing Sparks with Author Erin Lewis
Author Erin Lewis included the quote above from St. Pope John Paul II in her review of Sparks Fly Upward and it perfectly describes the theme of this novel. Keep reading for Erin’s full review. Thank you, Erin!
“Sparks Fly Upward is a gritty historical fiction story that continues the journey of the Lark brothers. Tackling dark subject matter, this is a novel for adults, as it shines a light on the depravity of slavery in many forms. The historical notes at the end of the story show the author’s care and research as she addresses these challenging problems through engaging fiction, and I appreciate an author who dares to do so.
The writing style is tight and engaging, keeping the reader interested in what happens next. Protagonist Garrett Lark has made despicable mistakes, and seeing his transformation over the course of this series reminds us that hope is there and God will always welcome us back if we repent. The idea that sin itself is a form of deep slavery is an underlying theme, and as I finished reading, I found myself contemplating the events of the book in light of the quote from Pope Saint John Paul II: “Freedom consists not in doing what we like, but in having the right to do what we ought.” The reader cannot help but root for hardheaded Garrett as he comes to learn this truth.
The other forms of slavery covered in this book are the slavery present in the American South in the 1850s (the period in which this book is set) and human trafficking. Even amidst some supernatural and unrealistic elements of this fictional tale, the plot drives home the truth that traffickers will prey on the vulnerable and impoverished, especially those with weak or ruptured family ties. The five brothers’ support of each other despite their past conflicts is an antidote to the sorrow of the broken families we see in this book. Lest the reader be dismayed by the raw depravity, it is not portrayed graphically at any point, and most of the well-developed characters come to a happy ending even though many will carry physical and emotional scars. Martha, one of the most compelling characters, shows quiet strength, grace, and reliance on God through all her trials, from her former life as a slave into freedom and back into a new form of slavery. Her past allows her to relate to the members of Sterling’s circus in a unique way.
The story also gives a glimpse into how power and control can corrupt and the level of arrogance one can achieve if relying on that power as his source instead of God. Villain Ashley Sterling is a tragic example of the lengths one will go to in order to retain control and the hopelessness of a soul enslaved by self-inflicted sin. The backdrop of his post-goldrush San Francisco circus with its sinister hidden side is an apt setting.
One of my favorite scenes was of Garrett and his brother Cade late at night in the church in Charleston. Their conversation there and the reconciliation that had been building through the story was beautifully accomplished.
The only thing I really didn’t like was a revelation about the Lark brothers’ mother towards the end and youngest son Cade’s reaction to it, although Josiah’s response shows the reader that this situation is not condoned or glorified. The plot and characters kept me reading—I finished the book in under a week, and the ending leaves readers with a new mystery the family will need to tackle in the next book.”
Erin writes gritty and inspiring Catholic Christian fiction. Her first novel, Firetender, won 2024 CMA book awards for First Time Author of a Novel and Catholic Novel. Make sure to keep up with her on Substack.
Until next month, happy reading!
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam
Kelsey
Purchase signed copies of my books: kelseygietl.com
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