Living the Dream

As everyone is aware my new book takes place in Savannah, TN in 1866. You may also know how  much I love history especially the American Civil War. Well this summer I get to bask in everything Shiloh National Military Park has to offer as a Park Ranger! I'm getting to live the life of one my characters.

Uh oh!

"So your father is scarier than the Union soldiers running the prison camp," Phillip said.
"He is a little intense," Rachel said. "Wait, when did you meet me father?"

Small Scene

In honor of the 154th anniversary of the Battle of Shiloh, here is a small scene from my new book Savannah.

*Unedited*

January 1866

Savannah, TN
 

Cannon fire echoed in the distance as she made her way across the battlefield. Mist covered the ground and hid the bodies she knew were there. She didn’t know where she was going, but something was calling out to her.

The smell of smoke choked her as she neared what looked like a pond. It wasn’t filled with water though because water wasn’t red in color. She could almost believe it was blood. There were men lying at the edge taking a drink while others were floating in the middle of it. She wanted to ask if they were all right, but something held her back.

Shaking her head, she walked around it to continue through the Peach Orchard. It was still too early for the fruit to bloom, but there was growth on the branches. Some of the trees were missing branches while others were nearly chopped down. She knew cannon and musket balls were responsible for the damage the trees sustained.

The wind whipped around her as she crept through the carnage. The voice calling out to her became more and more familiar with each step she took. The voice also grew louder with each step. The same voice had her crossing the Tennessee River during the battle to find who was calling her.

“Rachel,” the voice cried out.

“Colton?” she questioned as she looked around. She finally recognized the voice. Why had it taken this long?

“Rachel, help me,” Colton cried.

“Colton, where are you?” she asked as the mist started to rise.

“I’m here,” Colton answered.

She finally looked down as the mist cleared to reveal the ground and the prone bodies of soldiers. They were not just Confederates, but Union as well. The grass was stained as the pond was with blood. Glancing around, she finally saw Colton.

He was slightly to her left, lying on his back. She walked over to him and knelt down next to him.

“Colton,” she breathed as she cradled his head in her lap.

“I’m sorry,” he gurgled out. “I’m sorry, for leaving you and for not coming home. I love you, and I wish we could have had more time together. I know you do not understand my reasons for joining, but you will one day,” he promised.

She couldn’t say anything. Tears streamed down her cheeks and she choked back her sobs. Logically, she knew he was dying, but she didn’t want to accept it. She was only sixteen. They hadn’t been married a year. She couldn’t lose him. They’d planned to have a family together. What would she do without him?

“Colton,” she whispered as her tears landed on his cheeks and nose. “I love you. You can’t leave me.”

“I wish I didn’t have to, but you will continue on in your life. I know you will find someone who is broken and together the two of you will heal,” he stated.

“No, I will not find someone. Do you think I will forget you so easily?” she questioned.

“You will never forget me, but you will love again.”

She shook her head before wiping her cheeks. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath. “Don’t leave me,” she pleaded.

The battle raged around them, but she didn’t care. No one seemed to bother them, either.

“Rachel, I love you,” he whispered, as his breathing grew labored.

She ran her fingers through his hair. It was matted with blood, sweat, and mud. She watched as his chest rose and fell, but it didn’t rise again.

“No,” she cried as she tried to shake him awake.

 

Nothing worked to revive him. He was gone.

NPS

The National Park Service turns 100 this year! Since it is offically Spring I urge everyone to get out an visit a local park or battlefield. Of course I love visiting the battlefields. There is nothing else that compares to the peace I feel when I step onto those hallowed grounds. Also on April 12th the 155th anniversaries of the Civil War begin starting at Fort Sumter and will end at Appomattox Court House in 2020 so plenty of time to visit one of the hundreds of battlefields on their anniversaries.

The Blurb and Title

Okay since I can't wait until Monday I'm posting this today. The title for my new book is Savannah. Don't forget to add it to your goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29487725-savannah. Here is the blurb as well.

In the wake of reconstruction, tensions are still high throughout the former Confederate States as they rejoin the Union and heal. Women are in mourning and former soldiers are slowly finding their way home from the battlefields and prisons.

As a former Confederate prisoner of war, Phillip Anderson is on his way out west when he is forced to stop in the sleepy town of Savannah, Tennessee. Longing for a fresh start in St. Louis, he takes a job to make the money he needs to cross the Tennessee River. The town is the same as all the other towns he’s passed through on his journey west. What he doesn’t expect to find is a widow who is secretly still mad at her husband for dying.

Rachel married Colton Williams at the tender age of sixteen. Losing Colton at the Battle of Shiloh less than a year later filled her with anger. As the war comes to its devastating end, she finds the anger is still lodged in her heart. Every displaced soldier journeying through town tugs at her heartstrings as she tries to heal along with the nation. What she didn’t expect was one of those passing soldiers to find out about her anger at her dead husband.

Phillip and Rachel have both experienced extreme loss, but life has a way of healing even the deepest hurt and anger.

Two broken souls meeting in the dusty streets of

Savannah

Exciting Friday Night

Outlining ‪#‎book5‬! It's crazy how I don't do this first thing but I like to get one or two chapters done first then I outline. Normally it will switch and change as I write but this at least gets my thoughts in order. I can't wait to release the title on Monday!

Some updates

Typed the rough draft of the blurb, why does this never get easier? I'm not sure if I love it or hate it. #authorproblems

Side note: I think I have the title. I'm going to think it over and hopefully by Monday I'll let everyone know.

Also my tentative release date is September 17. For those who don't know the Battle of Antietam was fought on September 17 and since Phillip was captured there, I thought it would only be fitting to release it on the anniversary.