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Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Martha Rogers and Love Stays True Giveaway

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

MARTHA ROGERS is a free-lance writer and was named Writer of the Year at the Texas Christian Writers Conference in 2009 and writes a weekly devotional for ACFW. Martha and her husband Rex live in Houston where they enjoy spending time with their grandchildren and attending football, baseball, and basketball games when one of the grandchildren is playing or performing. She is a member of several writing groups. A former Home Economics teacher, Martha loves to cook and experimenting with recipes and loves scrapbooking when she has time. She has written two series as well as several other novels and novellas. The first book in her new series, Love Stays True, will release in May, 2013..

LOVE STAYS TRUE (The Homeward Journey
by Martha Rogers
Published by Realms

ABOUT THE BOOK

In April, 1865, the day following the surrender at Appomattox, Manfred McDaniel Whiteman and his brother Edward are released from in an exchange of prisoners. They are given a few provisions before they begin a long journey by foot to their home in Bayou Sara, Louisiana.

At home, Sallie Dyer is waiting word of her beloved Manfred. Though just a young girl when Manfred left, Sallie has grown into a caring you woman who is determined to wait for her love—despite her father’s worries that she is wasting her life on someone who may never come home.

On their journey, Manfred and his brother encounter storms, thieves, and destruction, and are even thrown in jail in one town. Sallie carries a heavy burden of guilt and fears Manfred will reject her when he learns what she has done. Will these two young lovers be able to reunite despite all obstacles?

Readers, buy your copy of Love Stays True (The Homeward Journey) today!

AND NOW A WORD FROM OUR FEATURE AUTHOR

Research Your Family History

Whether you’re a reader or writer of historical fiction, researching family history can be one of the most rewarding aspects of history. Research is fun and leads me into areas where I’ve never been before.

The first novel in my new series, Love Stays True, releases this month, and it has the most extensive research ever in one of my novels. It all began with a few simple letters and some writings in a journal. The letters were to my great-grandmother from her father and from her suitor who later became my great-grandfather.

Those letters led me on a hunt to learn more about my ancestors. What I learned intrigued me to the point that I had to write Sallie and Manfred’s story. So I took what facts I had and wove them with fiction to relate the events leading up to their marriage in 1865.

Writing historical novels makes me what to “get it right.” So many times I’ve picked up a novel set in some past time period and gasp when I come across something that doesn’t sound right for that time, and it jerks me right out of the story. I have to laugh at some of the old westerns my husband loves to watch. Most of them never really give you a time period, but sometimes the fashions and references to events give the viewer an idea. Then things happen that make me wonder who was doing the research when episode was written.

Research will take you on a journey that may or may not snag your interest and lead you on side roads and down rabbit trails simply because you come across something interesting and want to follow up on it.

Whether fiction or non-fiction, research is the part of an author’s life because we have to get it right. If we don’t, be sure some alert reader is sure to spot the error and let us know about it. Those of us who research for information for our historical novels have learned to verify everything. It sure saves a lot of trouble and rewriting in the long run.

Genealogy is fun, but it can become an obsession and very time consuming. One little clue leads to another discovery and then that leads you on another trail. It’s like a treasure hunt and the tidbits found are like diamonds shining in the sun, and that can lead to addiction.

Whether you write or not, your family history is precious and invaluable to those who come after you. If you haven’t done any research yet, maybe it’s time for you to start with your own story and leave a legacy for your grandchildren and children to enjoy in years to come.

Reader Question: What is the most interesting thing you have learned either in your family or history in general?

* * * * *

Thank you, Martha, for sharing with us today.

ENTRY RULES Readers, leave your email address (name [at] domainname [dot] com) along with your answer to the question for your chance to win a free autographed copy of Love Stays True (The Homeward Journey). If you do not answer the question, and your email address isn't provided, you will not be entered.

This week, the drawing is open to US/Canada residents.

7 comments:

Lyndee Henderson said...

My dad volunteered to clean an old iron furnace in PA. When he got to the top, he discovered the initials of his great, great grandfather carved into the top stone! We knew from family history that his great-great grandfather's generation of the family were stone masons by profession and that they traveled across the state working on furnaces, but the chances of my dad locating one of the structures constructed by his relative was an amazing 'small world' event.
Lyndee
spooler (at) comcast (dot) net

windycindy said...

I have learned that my paternal grandmother came over here from Calais, France. Her mother, father and she came over on a cattle ship to Ellis Island. After arriving here, my grandparents had 8 more children! Many thanks, Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

Amy C said...

During WWII, my grandma came here from Ireland. Leaving all family behind. As far as we know, there hasn't been any contact with them for 35 years. 7 years ago I posted on a message board that I was trying to find them. Finally, her niece contacted me last month! Grandma has two siblings still living. So exciting! Now, if I can only make plans for a visit. :)
Campbellamyd at gmail dot com

Martha W. Rogers said...

It's exciting to find clues like you did Lyndee. So many of us have ancestors who came here to this country for a better life.

I hope you get to meet your Irish relatives someday,Amy.

Unknown said...

Fortunately I've been told much of the history of both sides of my family. My great grandfather, his brothers, sisters and parents, along with others in their family came to America from Switzerland and all settled in the same area in Kansas. The family has become so widespread over the years that every time my husband visits in Kansas with me he thinks I'm related to the entire county, and probably the state. The truth is....he could be right. lol.

In Christian Joy,
Barb Shelton
barbjan10@ tx dot rr dot com

Anonymous said...

The house I live in was built by my great uncle. It was built in the 50s and is still as sturdy now as then. When my dad inherited the farm we found black and white pictures of when they were building the house. It was so neat to look through the pictures and see what remained and what has changed. The more we work around the farm the more we learn about my great aunt and uncle. So much history!

Thanks for the giveaway!

Kim LitlePokie(at)aol(dot)com

Martha W. Rogers said...

Every thing we find as we study the past leads us on to another interesting discovery. I really enjoy learning more about the past and how my family lived. Glad you have the pictures, Kim.