Today I welcome Texas author Lynne Tagawa! Her most recent book, The Shenandoah Road: A Novel of the Great Awakening, takes place in a fascinating time of American history, and one that I’ve wanted to learn more about. The Great Awakening was a series of revival meetings in the 17th and 18th centuries, and marked a mighty movement of God. I’ll be interested in learning more about it!
Lynne has been gracious to offer EITHER a Kindle or Paperback copy of The Shenandoah Road: A Novel of the Great Awakening, reader’s choice! All you have to do is comment on the post!
Guest Post: Recreating the Past
By Lynne Tagawa
I know writers who will travel to the locations they write about. After all, how can you recreate in prose something you’ve never experienced?
My debut novel was set in modern-day San Antonio for that reason. I live here, and I know when the bluebonnets bloom!
But when I wrote my first historical fiction novel, I faced a conundrum: not only did I live far from the places I was writing about, I was writing far away in time. I began reading excerpts of the writings of men in that time period, and soon discovered something I’d suspected: even the flora and fauna were different.
Much of the story of The Shenandoah Road takes place in the Shenandoah Valley, and I scoured the internet for pictures. I used Google Maps’ special feature to drop down to a road and take a peek. It helped.
But I had to use primary source materials to get the details. The longleaf pines, the buffalo.
Buffalo?
Yep. The Indians would periodically set fires to manage the valley. As a result, grass predominated, a good habitat for buffalo, which wandered in periodically from the west. If you find Staunton, Virginia, on Google maps, just to the west is a dip in the mountains called Buffalo Gap.
Longleaf pines are being rescued from near extinction today in the Commonwealth of Virginia. When the valley was first settled, the wood made uncommonly good building material. The heartwood was good for furniture. It was the prince of pines.
Both of these species find cameos in The Shenandoah Road: A Novel of the Great Awakening:
John crossed to the next tree, a massive pine. The sharp, clean scent caused him to pause, as if inhaling the aroma might somehow cleanse him on the inside.
He felt dirty.
He stretched out his hands to finger the bark, tracing the wide scales with his fingers. Yes, a long-leaf pine—Abigail would want this for her book. Such a strange pattern. All trees had bark that cracked—or even peeled—in ridges or grooves; this one felt more like tiny plates.
And every year the tree would grow, and the bark would break some more, sap rising to heal the wounds. Hence the piney smell—the smell of brokenness. John laid his forehead on the tree, feeling broken himself.
Was this the way of all things under the sun? Grow … and break?
Oh God … out of the depths I cry to Thee …
One thing I didn’t have to recreate—the experience of the need of a man or woman for forgiveness. Some things don’t change.
Blessings, Lynne
Back Cover copy from The Shenandoah Road: A Novel of the Great Awakening
John Russell’s heart aches from the loss of his wife, but the Shenandoah Valley frontiersman needs to marry again for his daughter’s sake. At first he believes he has found the right young woman, despite their differences in background, but his faith falters when time reveals she isn’t quite what she seemed. Can he truly love her? And what about his own failings?
Unlike her disgraced sister, Abigail Williams obeys the Commandments. At least, she thinks herself a Christian until a buckskin-clad newcomer courts her. He treats her kindly but also introduces her to a sermon by the controversial preacher, George Whitefield. Her self-righteousness is shattered, and she wonders about their relationship. If she confesses her lack of faith, will John continue to love her?
What People are Saying
“Lynne Tagawa transports readers into the faith and hope, and sorrows and fears of 18th century colonial America. While other books feature the raw grit of frontier colonial life, this book goes deeper and reveals the heart.” —Douglas Bond, author of numerous books, including War in the Wasteland and Hostage Lands.
“The Shenandoah Road is an authentic and engaging journey back to the challenges of settling in the Shenandoah Valley” —Laura Hilton, author of Firestorm (Whitaker House, 2018)
“Raw, realistic, and historically packed, this story will make you think. If you enjoy stories with deep theological themes, you will enjoy this.” —Amber Schamel, author of Solve by Christmas, winner of the 2018 Christian Indie Award
More About Lynne!
Lynne Tagawa is an author, editor, educator, and best of all, grandma to four. She loves to writes quality fiction with solid gospel content. Her debut novel, A Twisted Strand, is contemporary romantic suspense, but she thinks she’s found a true home in historical fiction. Currently she’s writing the sequel to The Shenandoah Road: A Novel of the Great Awakening. Lynne lives in Texas with her husband.
Purchase Links
To purchase from Amazon, print or kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FK5ZQ5Z
To purchase (print) from Grace & Truth Books: https://graceandtruthbooks.com/product/the-shenandoah-road-lynne-tagawa/
Find Lynne online!
To sign up for her newsletter and keep abreast of special deals, go to her website: https://www.lynnetagawa.com/
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pg/Lynne-Basham-Tagawa-263573557821364/posts/
Lynne, thanks so much for sharing with us today! Historical fiction buffs, be sure to comment for a chance to win a book!
Happy reading, Glorious Easter to you all!
Sounds fascinating. Gorgeous cover.