A “spotlight” is defined as “intense scrutiny or public attention.” “A lamp projecting a narrow, intense beam of light directly onto a place or person.” Or in my case, possibly a great author. Come back regularly to check out my latest Spotlight!
The Silver Shadow Epic Book Launch
About the Book
Book: The Silver Shadow
Author: Liz Tolsma
Genre: Christian Historical/Suspense
Release date: May 2021
A Shadowy Figure Is Intent on Harming Denver’s Women
Book 11 in the True Colors series—Fiction Based on Strange-But True History
Denver of 1900 is still a dangerous place to be following the silver crash of 1893. And of out of the dark comes a shadow intent on harming women. Ambitious young Denver newspaper reporter Polly Blythe is searching for the big story that’s going to launch her career. On Friday evening, August 24, 1900, she gets her break when two women are cracked over the head within a two-minute walk of each other. But policeman Edwin Timmer thwarts Polly’s ideas of a serial criminal. . .until the shadowy figure strikes again. Will the reporter and the policeman team up to find the culprit before he strikes too close for comfort?
BOOK EXCERPT
One Friday, August 24, 1900
What is this?” Balding Joe Ward, his light-colored hair curling over his ears, smacked his copy of the Denver Post against his desk. A whiff of newsprint filled the city editor’s office.
A headache started at the base of Polly Blythe’s neck and stretched up and over until her temples throbbed. The click-clack of typewriters behind her as her fellow reporters wrote their newspaperstories didn’t help at all. “My article?”
“Yes, your article.” The middle-aged Mr. Ward came to his feet and stared down at Polly.
She hunched over. “Is there something wrong?”“
Wrong? You’re asking what’s wrong? Everything.” He drew out the last word.
“What do you mean by everything?”
“It’s facts. Nothing but the facts.”
“Well, I mean, Mrs. Pettigrew sent me the information about her daughter, so I wrote my articleabout her engagement from that.”
Mr. Ward slapped his wide forehead. “Mrs. Pettigrew is as dull as they come. Your article matches the woman well. But there are rumors about the haste of the wedding. You should have included that. We want sensational. Attention-grabbing. Articles that will leave the entire city buzzing.” He gestured wide, almost knocking over his coffee cup. “We want people to have to buy the Post to find out all there is to find out. Mr. Tammen and Mr. Bonfils would not be pleased with this. Not at all.
”Under the weight of Mr. Ward’s glare, Polly sagged. “Did you want me to lie about Miss Pettigrew?”
“There’s a difference between lying and embellishing. Learning to walk that line is what makes or breaks a reporter. That’s why I don’t hire anyone who hasn’t completed school or who hasn’t worked for a publication before.”
(More to come soon!)
Purchase here
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Liz Tolsma is the author of several WWII novels, romantic suspense novels, prairie romance novellas, and an Amish romance. She is a popular speaker and an editor and resides next to a Wisconsin farm field with her husband and their youngest daughter. Her son is a US Marine, and her oldest daughter is a college student. Liz enjoys reading, walking, working in her large perennial garden, kayaking, and camping. Please visit her website at http://www.liztolsma.com and follow her on Facebook, Twitter (@LizTolsma), Instagram, YouTube, and Pinterest. She is also the host of the Christian Historical Fiction Talk podcast.
Meet Pepper!
I have come to love Pepper and her books and I hope you will too!
Pepper Basham is an award-winning author who writes romance “peppered” with grace and humor. Writing both historical and contemporary novels, she loves to incorporate her native Appalachian culture and/or her unabashed adoration of the UK into her stories. She currently resides in the lovely mountains of Asheville, NC where she is the wife of a fantastic pastor, mom of five great kids, a speech-language pathologist, and a lover of chocolate, jazz, hats, and Jesus. You can learn more about Pepper and her books on her website at www.pepperdbasham.com
Author Links:
FB – https://www.facebook.com/pepperdbasham/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/pepperbasham/
Twitter – https://twitter.com/pepperbasham
Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.com/pepperbasham/
Hope Between the Pages
Uncover the Story Behind a One-Hundred-Year-Old Love Letter
Walk through Doors to the Past via a new series of historical stories of romance and adventure.
Clara Blackwell helps her mother manage a struggling one-hundred-year old family bookshop in Asheville, North Carolina, but the discovery of a forgotten letter opens a mystery of a long-lost romance and undiscovered inheritance which could save its future. Forced to step outside of her predictable world, Clara embarks on an adventure with only the name Oliver as a hint of the man’s identity in her great-great-grandmother’s letter. From the nearby grand estate of the Vanderbilts, to a hamlet in Derbyshire, England, Clara seeks to uncover truth about family and love that may lead to her own unexpected romance.
More about Hope Between the Pages
Hope Between the Pages was an adventure and a love letter. What do I mean by that? Well, it was an adventure into writing a new genre. I’d never written a split-time novel before (a novel that takes place in two-or more-different time periods). So the adventure of learning how to write this sort of novel and really try to flesh out two different storylines (as well as two different romantic couples) was a bit of a challenge AND a whole lot of fun. Getting to travel from my Blue Ridge Mountains in Asheville to the Lake District in the UK (through this story) was also a delight!! I’m an unashamed Anglophile and have a lot of family history from England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland.
Now, as to the “love letter” part? Yes, there are love letters in Hope Between the Pages, but even more than that, I wanted this story to show how hope has shone through fiction for centuries. Stories hold power! And hope has been scattered through pages of novels as long as tales have been written. So, I hope readers will discover my love letter to the love of stories in Hope Between the Pages.
More from Pepper!
What started you on your writing journey?
Well, I come from a long line of Appalachian storytellers, so I grew up listening to my Granny give oral history back 5 or 6 generations. I think that was one of my early influences, but I do believe it is a God-given desire. I still have my first ‘long’ story I wrote when I was 10 years old.
And since I’ve kind of lived in a little ‘fairytale’, with a brain-full of stories since then, I finally started writing them down in novel format. It’s been a long journey, but I’ve met some of my favorite people along the way.
I have my first ‘long’ story I wrote (and poorly illustrated) when I was 10 years old, and I have to tell you, I just love writing stories. I love seeing how characters are challenged, how they grow and change, and being a part of that ‘creative’ energy!
When you write, what is your overall intention with your stories? I truly hope my stories help people understand God’s love and truths better. Of course, I hope to write an entertaining and interesting story, but at the heart of why I love story is to give ‘hope’…something we all desire at our cores, you know?
What about writing makes your heart sing?
Two things: The entire creative process of watching a story grow! That is always amazing to me. You know that phrase from Chariots of Fire where Eric Liddel says “When I run, I feel God’s pleasure” – well, that’s how I feel when I’m creating a story. When I write, I feel God’s pleasure
Second thing – I really enjoy watching the characters grow from beginning to end. I’m a happily-ever-after girl for sure, as seeing the struggles overcome, the insecurities calmed, and the fear braved in my characters reminds me of what God is doing in my life from start to finish.
What is a book from your history that brought hope to you? What encouraged you to dream? What story let you know you weren’t alone in the world? That someone else “understood”?
My love affair with England started when I read The Secret Garden and it’s only been growing since.
Of all your characters, which was your favorite and why?
Impossible question to answer. However, ONE of my favorites is Eisley Barrett from my romantic comedy, Just the Way You Are. She’s so genuine and honest…and has SUCH a generous heart, I love her! And oh my, she’s funny without meaning to be.
The tagline on your website reads “Blue Ridge Romance peppered with grace and humor.” What is one of your favorite places in your neck of the woods?
On top of a mountain :)- I specifically love Roan Mountain, TN, but Craggy Gardens off the Blue Ridge Parkway is beautiful too – and so is Mt. Pisgah. OH what views!!!
I LOVE going back home too. Mt. Airy, NC and Hillsville, VA are my old stomping grounds (Andy Griffith country). I have a large, wonderful, loud Appalachian family back home
Can you share with us a piece of writing advice that has made a difference in your career?
How about three? One from my prepubbed days, one from now, and one for both.
Ruth Logan Herne told me to “Write, write, write” – the only way to get closer to getting a book published is actually finishing the book.
Rachel Hauck told me (as I worried about meeting deadlines, keeping the pace, and the dreaded ‘what will people think’): just decide in your heart and mind you’re in this for the long haul and don’t worry about temporary things like awards, reviews and even sales numbers.
Just decide you’re in it one story at a time for the next 20 years.
Last, I think one of the best things we can remember as authors and as people is to “remain teachable”. I don’t know about you, but I don’t have life all figured out, so keeping an attitude of teachability in writing, living, and growing is vital.
I trust you all enjoy getting to know Pepper, and that you will check out her books. You can get her latest, Hope Between the Pages at your favorite book retailer or by clicking here.
