fiction – Sherida Stewart

NOVEMBER NEWSLETTER-I’m thankful for so much…our Lord, family, friends, authors, and desert trails.

To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.

~~Psalm 30:12 (KJV)

The month of November provides a time to focus on gratefulness. I’m thankful for so many blessings in my life. As the weather cools here in the Southwest, we enter perfect desert hiking conditions…cooler temperatures, colorful wildflowers, and beautiful vistas. We are fortunate to enjoy great trails during this time of year.

Though it has been rainy, we were still surprised to discover water in a usually dry canyon on a favorite trail.

Hiking a river preserve trail, we’re treated to shaded walkways and colorful wildflowers.

We are thankful for the trails where we can hike and enjoy God’s amazing creation.

TWO BOOK REVIEWS

Heidi Ennis is a new-to-me author. Her historical romance book, A Father’s Dream, takes the reader on a journey to the Pacific Northwest of the late 19th century and blends Native American and Scandinavian culture in an exciting adventure. And what an evocative cover!

MY REVIEW of A Father’s Dream

An exciting love story of courage and fortitude in the rugged Pacific Northwest! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A Father’s Dream takes the reader on an unforgettable journey during the 1880’s from Europe to New York City, then to the Pacific coast on a hopeful quest to fulfill the dream of owning a Washington Territory homestead.

The characters are wonderfully complex. I admired the courage and fortitude of Swedish immigrant Johanna Oman as she faced tragic situations to claim the land her father hoped would provide a new beginning for his family. Even with doubts along the way, her faith sustains her. Native American Mahkah “John” Haylaku, a member of a Columbia River tribe, is a worthy hero, handsome and strong, who overcame childhood abuse to become a compassionate protector.

Their relationship begins when he reluctantly agrees to be Johanna’s guide to locate her property. Their travel through the rugged wilderness is fascinating…immersed in the vivid landscape, dealing with the treacherous trail conditions, and facing the dangers of criminal elements. As they encounter many heart-stopping challenges, their commitment and love for each other grows.

I enjoyed the cultural details of the native customs of John’s people and the Swedish heritage of Johanna’s world. The ending is absolutely amazing….leaving me with tears and smiles…the best kind of romance! If you enjoy epic historical tales, I highly recommend this faith-filled story!

Favorite quote: “The strength of women. We are strong when we are connected. We give all to those we love, but we do it with the strength of those who have gone before us, those who have loved us and sacrificed for us.”

Click to purchase from Amazon: https://www.Amazon.com/dp/B0CQ15XMJF

For more information and to learn about the next book in the series, releasing in December, check out the author’s website: https://atthefootofmountains.com

MY REVIEW of A Christmas Inheritance

A perfect set of faith-filled Christmas novellas with the connected themes of inherited treasures and second chances. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

His Christmas Refuge by Tanya Stowe

Kurt Worley receives an unexpected inheritance from his uncle…a trailer park located back in his Arizona hometown…a place he left behind because of his dysfunctional childhood. He expected the property to be given to his high school girlfriend, Trish, who spent many years helping his Uncle Chris run and update the trailer park into a fun resort community, while raising her two children after her husband passed away. In this story, I enjoyed the characters, the revelations of secrets, and the themes of forgiveness and doing the right thing. What a fun group of individuals at the RV community….creating a “found family”…. taking care of each other…in the spirit of Christmas!

A Montana Christmas Promise by Myra Johnson

Since he’d worked for many years managing his benefactors’ apple orchard, Andrew Norwood had expected to inherit the farm after the widow died. However, it was surprisingly passed on to city girl Eleanor McKnight. She reluctantly arrives in the small rural community after the aunt she’d never met bequeathed the property to her. The untangling of emotions between the couple provide an interesting road to romance. I loved the details of the Christmas festival preparations, including all the delicious apple treats, and the lovely Rose of Sharon ring mentioned in the story. The warm ending fills the heart with the holiday spirit of the season.

The Prodigal Preacher’s Christmas Homecoming by Delia Latham

When Kale Mitchell returns to Sweetsong, Oregon to the house he inherited from his parents, he is greeted by his childhood friend, Dia Monday. As the prodigal preacher takes his father’s place as pastor, “Diamond” helps him reintegrate into the community he left in disgrace. I enjoyed their discovery of the inherited wooden chest which moves their relationship toward a sweet and satisfying ending.

If you are like me and enjoy reading holiday stories which uplift the heart, I highly recommend this set of Christmas novellas to fill you with the feel-good spirit of the season….plus make you excited to prepare for the special time with delicious treats and festive decorations.

You can purchase from Amazon at: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FLZ56KQ5

TEATIME TREATS

For our treat today, I’m going traditional Thanksgiving with a slice of pumpkin pie and a spiced orange tea I found at a Fred Harvey shop. Enjoy!

I’m thankful for you stopping by my blog during this busy time….for a spot of refreshment. What are you especially thankful for this month? I pray you are blessed with gratitude and contentment as we prepare for the celebration of our Savior’s birth in December.

Blessings and prayers,

Sherida

To purchase Healing Hearts from Amazon: http://www.Amazon.com/dp/B0DHJG6HZC

JULY NEWSLETTER-SCULPTURES, BOOK RECOMMENDATION, & LAVENDER #TEATIME TREATS

An Independence Day display of historic flags of the United States of America.

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

~~Philippians 4:7 (KJV)

With various situations this summer, some time spent in The Word helps to refresh our thoughts and hearts. We start our day with a devotion, read a passage from the Bible, then use our prayer list to cover the many concerns we bring to our Lord. God offers peace to fill our hearts and comfort our minds.

EXPLORING OUTDOOR SCULPTURES

This summer, a morning walk brought the joy of viewing outdoor sculptures. Here are three of our favorites. The first, titled SNAFU, is fittingly nicknamed “The French Fries.” The second one, Whispers and Silence, is carved from glistening marble from the Yule quarry, special to us because we lived a few miles from this historic Colorado quarry. The third, Educator, Teacher, Friend, depicting a teacher telling stories to children, is my favorite because of my background as a kindergarten and preschool teacher.

SUMMER READING SUGGESTION

I’ve just started this new release, If I Fall for You, by Myra Johnson, but already I’m engaged with this second book in the Montana Mercies Romance series.

ABOUT THE BOOK

THE BLURB: He’s barely holding his family together. She’s trying to rebuild hers from the ashes. When heartbreak threatens their tentative romance, will they fall apart—or fall into something more?

Dog trainer Luke Daniels feels he must take responsibility for running his emotionally detached father’s ranch and for the mental health of his sister who is recovering from a tragic accident.

Shannon Halsey is trying to be a responsible mother to her precious son, Tate. Her husband’s death before the child was born has caused her to have episodes of deep depression.

The two meet at an arts and craft fair after Shannon’s old car breaks down. As they find themselves brought together by circumstances, a friendship develops.

From the back cover copy: If I Fall for You is an emotionally rich Christian romance about second chances, hard-won forgiveness, and love that mends the deepest wounds.

click to purchase “if I fall for you”

I’ve enjoyed all the stories I’ve read by author Myra Johnson, so I can definitely recommend her books. To find out more, check her website: www.myrajohnson.com

TEATIME TREAT AT A LAVENDER FESTIVAL

During a summer visit to a lavender farm, we enjoyed refreshing lavender lemonade and delicious lavender brazelies, crisp Swiss cookies. Here is a recipe I found: https://www.marthastewart.com/1151850/bratseli

Thank you for stopping by for my book recommendation and a lavender teatime treat. During busy summer activities, it is a blessing to refresh with a good story and a special treat. I pray you are able to find some peaceful times to enjoy some summer refreshment and to spend some quiet moments with our Lord.

With blessings, Sherida

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click to purchase my romance, healing hearts

Seven tools to spark ideas for writing historical fiction. #amwriting #historical

Are you writing historical fiction? Do you sometimes need the spark of an idea to move your manuscript forward? I certainly do, so I’m sharing these tips for what works for me.

While writing historical romances, I find inspiration in some fascinating places. Maybe it’s the history buff in me, or maybe my interest in how other people lived years ago, but ideas popped up when I did these things:

My grandmother is second from the right. This is probably around 1910. — My great-grandparents’ family photo. My grandmother, Mabel, is second from the right. This is probably around 1910.

1.LOOK AT OLD PHOTOGRAPHS

Pinterest is a great place to search for the time period and subject you are writing about. Photos from historical societies and history books also provide setting ideas. Family photos are other good places to find gems. I found a picture of a stiff-faced family which sparked the idea for a flashback memory for my heroine. Of course, you need to be sure the scene propels your story forward, but reflecting on a moment which adds important elements to the story can be useful.

St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Silverton, Colorado 1905 — St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Silverton, Colorado **1905**

2. VISIT HISTORIC SITES

A wealth of valuable ideas can be found in old towns and historic districts. I find ideas for the settings of my stories by taking walking tours of places I want to write about. Often, there are guide books available which give intriguing details about the people and their occupations to spark further ideas.

3. EXPERIENCE LIFE IN ANOTHER TIME

This is truly the best way to get the feel of a bygone era. My stories always seem to involve train travel, and since we love tourist railroads, riding an excursion train is always on our agenda. There is no better way to experience the stench of coal smoke, the grit of cinders, the thrill of the whistle, while relaxing as the train rocks down the tracks. I suggest heeding the “All aboard!” call of the conductor whenever possible.

Someday I hope to try a wagon trail camping trip to experience the trials of the Oregon Trail. Read

Staying at a historic hotel also immerses you in the setting so you can imagine life during a different time…but the beds are more comfortable now and private bathrooms are good additions.

Wyman Hotel and Inn, Silverton, Colorado 1902

4. READ MEMOIRS

Recently, I found an obscure book written by a man who had lived in the area I was writing about. The violence during his time period impressed me, and his use of language was helpful. Reading the man’s remembrances of his early life in New Mexico sparked the idea of adding a raspberry picking adventure to my story. This was authentic to the time and something I hadn’t considered. If you can’t find a memoir through your library, this type of book can sometimes be found in local independent bookstores in a location you’re interested in writing about.

5. SCROLL THROUGH OLD WORD DICTIONARIES

Since a historically accurate novel should contain words used during the time, I found the Online Etymology Dictionary helpful to check when a word was first used. Looking through the word lists also gave me ideas for interesting words to add to my story. Tizzy wasn’t in use during my time period, but scatterbrain and hare-brained were used. I find word etymology fascinating…and sometimes skitter off into too much research.

Click here for Online Etymology Dictionary.

6. BROWSE ANTIQUE SHOPS

Looking through antique shops can give you an idea for an item to add to your story which gives your writing an authentic feel. I like old tea-cups, bottles and cans of items available during your time period, and kitchen utensils. Just a mention of an Arbuckles’ coffee crate can put your reader in the Old West setting of your story.

Arbuckles' Coffee Crate — Arbuckles’ Coffee Crate

Also, printed materials from your era give glimpses into everyday lives if you can find a newspaper or magazine from the time period you are interested in.

7. VISIT HISTORIC MUSEUMS

Small towns often have museums which are idea treasure boxes, offering glimpses into the lives of early citizens. Seeing the personal belongings which were important enough to bring to new homes out west reveals the characters of real pioneers. The gift shops often have great books for research.

Thank you so much for stopping by. What tools do you use to spark ideas when you’re stuck during your writing process?

Please share your thoughts and your idea-sparks by commenting on this post. May your day be filled with God’s treasured blessings as you write and/or read a historical novel!

Sherida