Happy Tuesday, readers! Today’s Top Ten topic was a “Freebie/Throwback.” Since the U.S.A. is celebrating Independence Day in just a few days, I thought it would be fitting to share some fiction about the American Revolution.
Perpetual Rainbows by Jessika Caruso
Spark of the Revolution by Megan Soja
The Love Letter by Rachel Hauck
Keturah by Lisa T. Bergren
Ring of Secrets by Roseanna M. White
When the Day Comes by Gabrielle Meyer
Freedom’s Ring by Heidi Chiavaroli
In Pieces by Rhonda Ortiz
Revolutionary War on Wednesday by Mary Pope Osborne
Felicity American Girl series by Valerie Tripp
Have you read any of these? Are there any American Revolution books you would recommend?
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.
On Location
We’ve been talking a lot lately about my next book, so for today, let’s go back to Larksong as we travel the Oregon Trail in For a Noble Purpose.
Created with Google Maps
In 1852, pioneers rarely rode in their wagons as the space was needed for supplies. This meant that they walked between 15-25 miles per day on open prairie, fewer if they were traveling through a town such as between Charleston, South Carolina and St. Louis, Missouri. This 3,110 mile journey took the Larks about a year to travel. While they would have seen many areas throughout their journey, here are the main historical landmarks included in the book:
Starting Point – Larksong Plantation, Charleston, SC
Photo from visit-historic-charleston.com
Larksong Rice Plantation was inspired by many South Carolina plantations, the most notable being McLeod (cotton) and Hampton (rice). Although these plantations farmed different products, their basic layout was similar. The Spanish-moss-draped-live oaks of McLeod’s front drive (above) is the closest to what I pictured for Larksong Plantation.
Stop #1 – Walcott Plantation, Hawthorn Ridge, MO
Photo from theclio.com
If Hawthorn Ridge, Missouri was a real city, it would be located in Little Dixie, an area which encompassed several counties across Mid-Missouri. Walcott Hemp Plantation was inspired by Missouri’s real plantations, all of which were smaller than either McLeod or Hampton plantations, and most of which have been torn down. One exception is Prairie Park, originally known as William B. Sappington Plantation, which is currently a private residence. Prairie Park’s house (above) is similar to what I pictured for the Walcotts, except with a white exterior.
Stop #2 – Oregon Trail Trailhead, Independence, MO
Photo from The Historical Marker Database
In 1852, Independence, Missouri was the jumping off point for three westward trails: the Oregon, the Santa Fe, and the California. The Oregon Trail alone saw one of its busiest summers that year with 70,000 people traveling, sometimes 12 wagons across. As Sarah describes it in For a Noble Purpose, Independence was both a “small town grand in diversity” and also “near pandemonium.”
Stop #3 – Fort Kearney, Nebraska
Photo from The National Park Service
Just one of several forts along the trail, Fort Kearney was established in 1848 to protect travelers, provide a spot for purchasing supplies and posting letters, serve as a station for Pony Express riders and Native American scouts, and act as a post for military troops and railroad crews. It is now maintained as a Nebraska state park.
Stop #4 – Platte River, Nebraska
Photo from shutupandtakemethere.com
The Platte River followed much of the trail in Nebraska with high grass or trees on one side and flowing water on the other, running over 300 miles to Wyoming. It would have been important not to let children or animals wander off into the grass for fear of never finding them again. The river was also a prime location for washing clothes and dumping waste, leading to an increase in cholera cases along its banks.
Stop #5- Fort Laramie, Wyoming
Photo from The National Park Service
Originally established as a fur trading fort in 1830, Fort Laramie was another spot along the trail where travelers could rest and resupply. It was used as a military post until 1890 with a wide variety of buildings, almost like a small town. It welcomed a variety of people including trappers, traders, Native Americans, missionaries, emigrants, soldiers, miners, ranchers and homesteaders. It is now maintained by the National Park Service as a historic site. The photo above shows a reconstruction of the Post Traders Store, originally built in 1849. This is where the Larks would have purchased supplies.
Stop #6 – Independence Rock, Wyoming
Photo from The National Park Service
Due to its size at 1,900 feet long by 850 feet wide by 136 feet tall, Independence Rock was said to have been the most notable site along the westward trail. Thousands of travelers camped along its base and many of those climbed to its top to appreciate the view and carve their names into The Great Registry of the Desert. As Martha says in For a Noble Purpose, “Nothing in Missouri is like this.” Independence Rock is now maintained by the National Park Service, although visitors can still climb to the top.
Stop #7 – Fort Hall, Idaho
Photo from Wikipedia Commons
Built in 1834 and demolished in 1863, Fort Hall was a trading post along the Snake River, the final fort before reaching Oregon. Since the Larks were continuing on to Washington Territory, they would have had two more opportunities for supplies at Fort Astoria and Fort Vancouver, although neither are visited in the story. A second Fort Hall was constructed after destruction of the first and included within the Shoshone-Bannock Indian Reservation under the treaty of 1867. A replica of the first fort was built in the 1960s and can be visited to this day.
After Fort Hall, the Larks would have continued northwest through Oregon until they reached what is now Washington State. The area that I placed their town in was just north of the Columbia River, overlooking Shoalwater Bay (now Willapa Bay) and near the Chinook Native American tribe. It is still part of The Chinook Indian Nation to this day. Without paved roads or modern buildings, the area was a vast wilderness and an amazing site to behold. The photo above is from a town closer to Seattle, but I think it still shows the beauty of the area. As one of the characters describes it in For a Noble Purpose, “The pioneers continued northward until they arrived at the promised claim, the azure ocean at their faces and evergreen forests at their backs. Breathtaking. There would be much to accomplish in order to make the space habitable, trees to fell and buildings to raise before it could be considered a town. Still, what a vision to surround them while they built their dreams.”
Happy Tuesday, readers! Today’s Top Ten topic is “Summer Freebie” which means that we can choose anything related to summer. While their stories may or may not be set in summer, the covers of these books just say “summer” to me.
Things that to me scream “Summer”:
Fireflies – All in Good Time by Carolyn Astfalk
Honeybees – Meant to Bee by Storm Shultz
Campfires – Dereliction of the Heart by Hannah Hood Lucero
Flowers – Just Let Go by Courtney Walsh
Jean shorts and sunshine – Growing into Greatness by Tanya E. Williams (Note: This is an older version of this book’s cover.)
The Beach, Tropics, Palm Trees – Once Upon a Caribbean Summer by Lisa T. Bergren and Complex by Kortney Keisel
Florida – At Home in Persimmon Hollow by Gerri Bauer
Golf – Summer Ever After by Kortney Keisel
Sailing – If All Else Sails by Emma St. Clair
Have you read any of these? Which books say “summer” to you?
Happy June, readers! I hope you are all having a good start to summer! Or winter for my southern hemisphere readers 🙂 Here in Missouri, my family is finishing out the last few days of school and preparing for summer retreats, vacations, and lots of good craziness with everyone being home again.
What’s in this Edition:
WIP Updates – More details on my Work in Progress
New Audiobooks – Stars in the Storm and Coming Up Next
New Photo Community – My photos on Unsplash.com
Releasing in June – Other authors’ new releases I’m most excited about
This month, I finished the main bulk of research for my next novel and am now diving into drafting. I would much rather edit than write, so please pray for me as I slog through the first draft. Here are a few more details of what I can share so far about the story:
Set in the 1910s, specifically 1913
Set in a fictional town, but one you may be familiar with. If you’ve read For a Noble Purpose, this book is set in the same town of Hawthorn Ridge, Missouri with a new cast of characters.
Much of the book takes place in Hawthorn Asylum. While originally founded by the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, the institution is now overseen by a superintendent and a board of directors. The sisters continue to serve the patients as nurses and spiritual advisors.
Avila Kohlfeld and Matthias Ward are the Female MC and Male MC respectively. Avila’s father leads the asylum as Superintendent and Matthias works in the asylum’s morgue.
The villain is…wait, I’m not going to tell you that.
Unlike Larksong Legacy, this novel doesn’t contain a speculative/ light fantasy element; however, it does include a touch of the religious supernatural. It is inspired by the near-death experiences of St. Christina the Astonishing and St. Teresa of Avila among others.
Bonus – There’s a cameo appearance from one of the characters who appears in Over the Atlantic and War Across Waters. Send me your best guess!
New Audiobooks!
Good news, everyone! Stars in the Storm, the final book in the Larksong Legacy series is now available in audiobook, which means you can now listen to the entire series start to finish. More good news, I’ve signed a contract with my narrator, Tawnya Rollingson, to begin production of the War Across Waters duology in August with release scheduled for early 2026.
Check out the trailer below for Stars in the Storm. I love the music Tawnya chose and the rolling background waves.
Ready to listen? You can find links to purchase all four books on Tawnya’s website as well as a select number of free promo codes.
As a cover designer, I love that there are sites where I can source free photos for my clients – and do so legally. (Note: You should never save a photo from a random web search and use it on a book cover. That’s illegal and in bad taste. Always check the licensing agreement and copyright rules before using a photo, even on Canva.)
Unsplash.com is my absolute favorite of these free photo sites. Unsplash provides a place for photographers to gain visibility of their work, get hired for future work, and has a huge database of excellent photography for anyone else to choose from. Meaning I can keep my cover design fees at a manageable cost for the average indie author. The one exception to this is photos of people for commercial projects. These must always be purchased to ensure that each model has given consent related to use of his or her image. (Another note: If you purchase a stock photo, especially for a book cover, I highly recommend buying the Expanded License. It is more expensive, but will cover all your legal bases.)
Between cover designs, newsletters, and marketing projects, I’ve sourced countless photos from Unsplash, and it only seemed right to give back to others. Therefore, you can now find many of my own photos on my Unsplash profile. These are all completely free for use, although a note of credit in your project(s) is greatly appreciated. My thanks in advance!
Need another read? Here are the new releases I’m excited about:
Perpetual Rainbows by Jessika Caruso – A young woman must navigate disease, death, first love, and friendship as she decides how much she is willing to risk for the Continental cause.
A Name to Remember by Hannah Hood Lucero – YA romantic military suspense about a gold star daughter and the misunderstood bad boy in town. He’s hiding from the disgrace of his name. She’s running from the legacy of hers.
Secrets of the Revolution by Megan Soja – A young woman will do whatever it takes to preserve her family’s legacy, including joining a dangerous ring of patriot spies…and falling for a revolutionary printer with a brave heart.
A Class Liberated by Susie Murphy – The seventh book in the Irish historical romance fiction series, A Matter of Class. Please note that this series has more mature content than most of the books I recommend, but is extremely well-written.
Awakened by Roseanna M. White – In a world on the brink of war between the mer and the land-dwellers, friendship, faith, and love demand the ultimate sacrifice as both kingdoms seek to unlock the prophesied magic waiting to spring the magic of wind and sky.
Want to know what I’m currently reading? Follow me on GoodReads.
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Happy Tuesday, readers! Today’s Top Ten topic is “Books that Feature Travel.” Normally, I try to feature other authors’ books on the Top Ten Tuesday, but today’s topic was too perfect for my own that I couldn’t resist giving them some love. All of my novels, except for one, involve extensive travel. In real life, I don’t travel very much, so it’s been fun to visit all sorts of places through the power of words. Below the picture, I’ve listed where each book travels to and the mode of transportation used, so if you don’t want spoilers, make sure not to scroll too far!
Across Oceans – From England to St. Louis, MO, includes steamship, train, and motorcar
Twisted River – From St. Louis to London, England, includes, steamship, train, motorcar, and streetcar/trolley
Unsettled Shores – From New York to London, England then from London to the French Countryside, includes steamship, train, motorcar, and bicycles
For a Noble Purpose – From Charleston, South Carolina to Missouri to Washington Territory, includes covered wagons and lots of walking
Dusk Shall Weep – From southern Washington State to Seattle, Washington, includes canoes and lots of walking
Sparks Fly Upward – From Washington State to San Francisco, California to Georgia to Charleston, South Carolina and back to San Francisco, includes sailing ships, a sailing/steam ship, train, wagons, walking, and even a raft
Stars in the Storm – From southern Washington State to Astoria, Oregon to Deception Pass, Washington, includes sailing ships and lots of walking
Have you read any of these? What is your favorite mode of transportation to read about?
