It's time to pack up those books and head to the beach or the mountains or just sitting outside in the back yard under a shade tree with some great reading maaterial. My guest today in My Writing Corner sounds like she has just the book to take with you.
Ellen currently lives in St. Louis. When she is not guiding characters to “happily ever after,”she’s apt to be reading, walking in the neighborhood, or tending her tiny garden. You can find her on the web at www.ellen-parker-writes.com and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ellenparkerwrites. Let's find out more about Ellen's latest book.
What is your book that you will feature today and how did you come up with the idea to write it?
Today’s feature, Stitching a Dream, is a companion book to my previous sweet historical romance, New Dreams.
Polly Black, a minor character in the previous book, is the sort of person who deserves to have some good come into her life. So I thought about the type of man who would move to the fictional town of Elm Ridge, Illinois in the autumn of 1851. Thus, Kurt Tafel, a shoemaker from a Deutsch community in Pennsylvania was created.
I hope the reader will enjoy meeting new characters in this book as well as find a few smiles for familiar faces portraying new roles.
The tagline is: Reputation is a woman’s fragile cloak—she best keep it mended.
Now let's get a blurb:
Prepare for consequences when you love your neighbor.
In 1851, Polly Black arrives in Elm Ridge, Illinois with little more than her sewing skills, her young son, and the persona of a widow. To preserve her reputation, she needs to tread lightly when a recent widower, a powerful man who knows she never married, courts her. A new shop opens across the way, and the owner’s friendly face is a welcome sight for both Polly and her son.
Born and raised in a Pennsylvania Deutsch community, Kurt Tafel moves to Illinois for adventure and an opportunity to run his own cobbler shop. He’s not an immigrant, but is he American enough to act on his feelings for the intelligent and pretty seamstress?
Why have you moved to Illinois and what do you hope to find there?
Perhaps we should begin with a word about my childhood. I was born in Virginia in a tiny hamlet near the Ohio River. Our family, my parents, one older brother, and I, moved frequently —always Westward. I remember homes in Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. My mother died in Vandalia, Illinois the year I was fifteen. Within a week, father packed us up and we all moved to St. Louis. During the next ten years, father died, my brother moved in and out of my life, and three charming Deutsch seamstresses taught me the finer points of their trade.
Until May of this year, 1851, I remained in St. Louis. Throughout the last five years I heard whispers of the location of a man I loved once. This spring I felt I could wait no longer and acted to discover if the rumors were correct. As I soon learned, the information was accurate, but incomplete. Unexpected events soon destroyed any hope of re-forming a relationship with the man.
What attracts you to Kurt?
My very first impression of Kurt Tafel, when he crossed the street on a Sunday morning to greet my son and I, was of a handsome, strong man. I soon discovered that he was intelligent and kind—two values I have always treasured. I enjoyed every one of our early conversations. He knows how to make an ordinary event sound extraordinary. He is proving to be a friend to my young son. Oh, I must admit—his manner of speech. You see, he speaks good English, but with a lovely Deutsch accent.
What frightens you about him?
Kurt’s Deutsch accent and cultural background attracts, cautions, and frightens me all at the same time. With his background, he blurs the line between the immigrant community and the American culture I grew up within. A woman in my position is rather expected to marry—a fact I am willing to accept. However, I promised myself that any man I married needed to accept my son and treat him as his own flesh and blood. This appears to be a difficult goal for most men I have encountered.
What do you want most for your future?
For years, I have longed for a home and family that remained in one place and grew deep roots in a community. I spoke above of the frequent moves during my childhood. Even during my years in St. Louis, first my father and then my brother, as head of the household, moved us from one boardinghouse or rented home to another. In the last several years, I have discovered that working for wages suits me. Whether I marry or not, I intend to remain in Elm Ridge, raise my son, and work in the town’s dress shop.
Want more? Let's get an excerpt:
“Good morning, Herr Tafel.”
Eager to see the man Joseph chattered about during yesterday’s lunch, Polly curved her lips into a small smile before turning. The man crossing the street was large, near to six-feet tall, with wide shoulders. He wore a well-cut, dark suit over a white, linen shirt. His face was round, his cheeks ruddy, and his mouth open as if to speak.
“God has given us a fine, autumn day, has He not?” He doffed a flat, leather cap and exposed abundant, pale hair.
She swallowed sudden moisture gathering in her mouth and forced her gaze to abandon the handsome man. His favored address of Herr implied immigrant. She reminded herself to be both polite and cautious. “Indeed. Good morning—I am Polly Black. I believe you have already met my son.”
“Correct.” He gave a brief nod toward Joseph before he looked directly at her face. “I walk this morning to the German Lutheran Church on Sixth Street. Are you going the same direction? May I escort you?”
She managed to hide her smile at his good English with a definite Deutsch accent. “My son and I attend the American Christian Church on the same street. You are welcome to accompany us. I believe your destination is a few blocks farther.”
“Excellent. Danke.”
You will have to get the book if you want to find out what happens. Here are the buy links along with her social contact information:
Buy Links to Stitching a Dream:
Kindle edition: https://amzn.to/3VwoeFh
Nook edition: https://bit.ly/3Ri8RNX
Goodreads: https://bit.ly/4ec8PRB
Social Contact Info:
Web presence:
Website: www.ellen-parker-writes.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ellen.parker
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eparkerwrites/
Thank you, Ellen, for being my guest today. Any comments or questions for Ellen?
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