More Shiloh Research

I drove around Shiloh National Military Park yesterday to take more pictures and research troop movements. I love being able to walk around and take in the history. I can't wait to bring Phillip and Rachel's story to life.

Sneak Peek at my new book!

Prologue

 

April 1862

Shiloh, TN

Struggling to stand, Colton glanced around the open field. Smoke filled his vision and hid the fight going on around him. Musket fire mixed with cannon fire to deafen him. Coughing, he fell to his knees and thought about his wife.

She was only a few miles away in Savannah. He knew she could hear the cannon fire from her home. In fact, she was probably on the porch looking this way. He could feel her praying for his safety. This time her prayers wouldn’t work.

He could feel the blood seeping out the bullet hole. He was also cold and his vision blurred. This was not how he was supposed to die. This was not how the war was supposed to go. They should have licked the Yankees in a month. The war should be over and two nations on American soil. What had gone wrong?

He should be at home with his wife and their family. He should be enjoying the joys of fatherhood; instead, he would leave her a young widow.

Rachel, his childhood sweetheart and now his wife, was only sixteen, but wise beyond her years. She would struggle with his death, but he prayed she would find someone else.

His body grew weaker as he hit the ground. Rolling to his back, he looked up at the sky. The picture of Rachel as she whispered her vows appeared. She was beautiful, but it was her heart that he loved most.

“I love you, Rachel,” he whispered as death claimed him.

s

 

September 1862

Sharpsburg, MD

Phillip knew they were losing ground to the Yankees. The creek provided no shelter, but it didn’t matter. The firefight was in their favor since they had the higher ground, but it made no difference. They couldn’t hold their ground.

Slipping down the ridge, he stepped into the cold waters of Antietam Creek. The bridge was down stream, well within eyesight. The Yankees were taking to the creek banks to gain more ground.

He was tired from matching up from Harper’s Ferry. An urgent message from Lee had them rushing to get to Sharpsburg to help defend the right flank from Major General Burnside’s attack. They didn’t arrive until early afternoon after thousands of men had already died.

They had driven Burnside’s men back to the bridge out of the town. The Yankees were currently defending the bridge they had taken a couple of hours before. He was ordered to scout the area to find a weak link. Dipping low, he slipped into the water as a bullet caught him in the shoulder. He tumbled face first into the cold water.

He struggled to stand. Moments later, he hit the bank. Realizing the battle was almost over; he eased up the bank before rolling to his back. His clothes were soaked, but there was nothing he could do. His shoulder was on fire and now caked with mud.

Smoke filled the air as he looked up. Water lapped around him as he struggled to breath. The sound of cannon fire deafened the cries and screams of dead men that surrounded him. The smell of blood choked him as death circled him. He tried once again to stand but couldn’t.

The bank was slippery due to many soldiers coming out of the water and onto the bank. The mud did nothing, but keep him right where he lay.

Closing his eyes, he prayed for a quick death. He didn’t want to stay on this bank for days as those around him died slowly. There was another reason, he prayed for death. He would finally be reunited with his fiancée, Sarah. Her death was the reason he joined the war. He was tired out running away from her ghost. It was time for them to be together again.

Quick Facts

Since Lily has been for a few weeks, here are some quick facts.

*It is my second longest book (Cursed Soldier is my longest)
*It is the 2nd book in the Sorority Sisters Duet
*Lily has been my hardest character to write. She was uptight in the beginning. I loved exploring her character. ...
*Eric was fun to write. He wanted to tell his story.
*The cover was taken by my cousin. She is also the one to create the amazing cover as well as my other book covers.
*Lily was my 2nd book published in 2015.
*I loved writing Bea and Mutt (Lily and Eric's dogs).
*Drake, Langston, and Anisley are one of my sorority sister's children's names. She let me use them for my story.
*Lilies are my favorite flower expecially Tiger Lilies (Lily's favorite)
*This was the book I started writing after Cursed Soldier. I set it to the side for The Woman Behind the Letters. Of course then I set it aside for Courtney.
*I am working on my 5th book. It still doesn't have a title.
*I also have an idea for a 6th book which will revisit characters from Courtney and Lily. I'm keeping it underwraps at the moment. It will involve secondary characters from the books.

Don't forget to pick up your copy of Lily. Courtney is still on sale in case you need to get it before you read Lily. Don't forget to leave a review after you finish reading it.

Female Lead

Since Phillip is a conflicted male lead, he needs a brave young woman. Rachel is that woman. She lives in a small town called Savannah. It is a river town and close to the historic Battle of Shiloh. The same battle where she lost her husband. She became a widow at the tender age of 16 but it won't stop her. She defies convention by small measures like refusing to wear black and giant measures by finding jobs for the men returning from war.

At the age of 22, she will meet a war-torn Phillip. He will recognize what she has been hiding from everyone, the fact that she is still mad at her husband for leaving her to join the war.

Two broken souls meeting in the dusty streets of Savannah.

Male Lead

So my new lead guy is Phillip Anderson. He fought for the Confederacy in A.P. Hill's famous Light Division. He was captured at the Battle of Antietam (Sharpsburg) and shipped to Camp Douglas.

While researching the Light Division and different prisons, all that is running through my mind is The Charge of the Light Brigade.

Forward, the Light Brigade!...
Was there a man dismay'd?
Not tho' the soldier knew
Someone had blunder'd:
Theirs not to make reply,
Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs but to do and die:
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred

Now back to Lee's surrender at Appomattox.

Book 5

Drove through Shiloh National Military Park yesterday to check out the new waysides. They are pretty awesome. The Battle of Shiloh will also be featured in my next book as well as the Battle of Antietam. I can't wait to share this journey with everyone. #writing #book5 #shilohbattlefield

5th Book

I am starting my 5th book. It will be set post-Civil War in Savannah, TN. The lead characters are Rachel and Phillip. No publishing date, yet but I'm aiming for the later part of the year.

Paperback

I got my proof copy in of Lily. I made some slight changes so now I'm waiting for those to be approved. As soon as they are, Lily will be made available for order. Don't forget to leave a review once you read Lily. Also if you haven't read Courtney, it is still available for the sale price. Download it today to read Courtney and Jacob's story before diving into Lily and Eric's story.