What an interesting topic! I went all the way back to childhood and thought about my reading habits, and what has changed. Starting with number one, my first favorite book series, I noticed something interesting. Starting with favorite books I read as a kid and working foward, I see a distinct pattern.
Encyclopedia Brown: I loved reading this series about the boy detective when I was a kid. I liked it much better than Nancy Drew.
Johnny Tremain: Fourteen-year-old Johnny Tremain, after an accident, eventually becomes a messenger for The Sons of Liberty and is involved in the events leading up to the American Revolution.
The Chronicles of Narnia: In this series, Lucy Pevensie walks through a magic wardrobe and finds a land of talking animals and a special Lion, Aslan.
Little House on the Prairie: Laura Ingalls recalls what it was like to grow up as a pioneer girl in the 19th Century.
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle: Meg Murray and her brother Charles Wallace search through time for their father, who disappeared while experimenting with time travel.
The Door Into Summer: Dan B. Davis loses everything, but finds a way to get it all back by going to the future.
The Ring by Danielle Steel: Historical romance set mostly during WWII. I loved this book in my twenties, but it is too simplistic for me now.
Harry Potter: I don’t need to describe this one. It’s fantasy at its finest with some of the best world-building I have ever seen.
and 10. The Chronicles of St. Mary’s and The Time Police: About ten years ago, I bought Jodi Taylor’s first book in the Chronicles of St. Mary’s series because it was about time travel and it was 99 cents. She had self-published at the time. Fast forward to the present, and Jodi is now a best-selling author with Headline books and has just published Book 15 of The Chronicles of St. Mary’s. I loved this series from the beginning and now I realize it’s because Taylor took time travel and combined it with historical fiction, both of which have been my favorites for a long time. She provides a history lesson in every book. She also adds a heavy dose of humor. The Time Police is a spinoff of the Chronicles, and Taylor continues her hilarious trips along the timeline.
Looking back, I can see that even from childhood I loved historical fiction and time travel, as well as fantasy, and I have continued that as an adult. I still read mysteries, but mostly historical mysteries. Not much has changed in my reading choices, except for the complexity of the books.
How about you? How have your reading habits changed over time?
It’s March 1941 at the shirt factory in Ridley, Yorkshire. Ness is a typist in the office, and her friend Eileen works as a seamstress on the shop floor. Nobody could have imagined the consequences when as a result of a prank Eileen plays on her friend, Ness’s name and address ends up in the pockets of two shirts destined for Royal Navy personnel on active service. The fallout from Eileen’s action takes Ness on a challenging, life-changing journey where she must develop her talent for dressmaking and acquire the skills needed to run a business. It is not easy during wartime, when money is short, clothes rationing is widespread and negative attitudes prevail. Can she win through? Or will a painful secret she must conceal destroy her chances?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ninette Hartley is a writer, mother, grandmother, wife and teacher. She has followed many paths – from acting and dancing to magazine publishing, and even driving a pony and trap – but she has always come back to storytelling.
Ninette has an MA in creative writing and has been published in three short story collections. Her first memoir Dear Tosh, published in May 2021 was shortlisted in the Selfies Book Awards and long-listed in the Dorchester Literary Festival Writing Prize 2022. From 2008 -2016 she lived in Italy on an olive farm, returning to the UK to live in Dorset for eight years. Never one to stay in one place for long, she has recently moved to France where she plans to continue writing more works of fiction and poetry.
Loose Ends is her debut novel. You can read more about her on her website: www.ninettehartley.com and you can also follow her on social media.
This thought-provoking novel shows how an innocent prank can change lives forever. Ness’s friend Eileen is just trying to introduce some new men into her life, but when Ness’s address is slipped into the shirt pockets of two unknown men who are going off to war, Ness’s life will never be the same. Both of the men have life-changing impact on her, and it is not all positive. This puts Ness in a complicated situation, and her response helps her build a new life. I liked the plot as a whole. My only criticism concerns the villain in this story, who did not quite face the justice they deserved. The characters are well-written, especially Alf, and I liked the multiple points of view. This is contemplative historical fiction that shows how much each person’s every action, innocent or not, can drastically affect the lives of others. Recommend.
Thank you to Zooloo’s Book Tours for a free copy of this book. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
It only took a moment for everything to go wrong. A little girl is hurt, but who is to blame?
I’m so happy as I walk to pick up my seven-year-old son from the birthday party. It’s his first since we moved here, and I know he’s found it hard settling in. Just as I’ve found it hard to make friends among the mothers at the school gates. But as I turn the corner, my heart stops when I see an ambulance.
I start to run. My son, is all I can think. I have to find my son.
As I race into the garden, desperately searching for my blue-eyed little boy, a fellow parent turns to me, her finger pointed. The words out of her mouth make my blood run cold.
“Your son did this. This is your fault.”
Surely that can’t be true? My son can be difficult, but I’d know if he was capable of hurting someone… Wouldn’t I?
As a little girl is lifted onto a stretcher, I feel my world come crashing down. My heart cracks in two for this poor child, her devastated family. Because there’s no coming back from this. An innocent girl has been hurt. My son is being blamed. But I’m his mother, and I’ll do whatever it takes to find out what really happened…
A totally gripping and emotional novel about trust, female friendship and betrayal. Perfect for fans of Jodi Picoult, Liane Moriarty and Susan Lewis.
BOOK REVIEW
This is a compelling story that shows the power of words, and how they can hurt. It shows the consequences of making assumptions and excluding people based on what you think you might know. And through almost every single character, it shows how appearances can be deceiving. The characters are well developed and are woven together into a story of an elementary school where status matters and everyone gathers around the “perfect Mom.” And it shows the people left on the edges, those who do not appear to be as unflawed as the clique of Moms that presides over the school.
My only slight criticism is that the story moves a little slowly in the beginning. But the power of spoken words, and how they can cause catastrophe whether they are true or not, is so well laid out here that it makes this book an important read.
my rating is 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5 on sites with no half-star option.
I received a free copy of this book from Bookouture via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kate Hewitt is the author of many romance and women’s fiction novels. A former New Yorker and now an American ex-pat, she lives in a small town on the Welsh border with her husband, five children, and their overly affectionate Golden Retriever. Whatever the genre, she enjoys telling stories that tackle real issues and touch people’s lives.
It was a pretty quiet week, which was nice after the last two months working so hard. Doug is working on projects around the house and I’m finishing up my last month or two of my job.
This weekend, I’m planning to part with more clothes and books. As far as clothes, I plan to get rid of anything I haven’t worn in the last year. I actually have clothes I haven’t worn in years. I also have to part with some t-shirts, even though I love them all.
Books are a bit different. I’m going to get rid of any books I don’t really think I will read again, or any I have doubles of, which is more than one would think, even though I’ve gotten rid of a lot of books already. Downsizing from 2600 to 1000 square feet takes a lot of sacrifice. We have already gotten rid of so much, and there’s more to go.
The weather has been hot, hot, hot with no rain. Praying for rain soon!
BOOK HAUL
I have been getting a lot of widgets lately. Here are three I accepted this week:
I also got approved for Debbie Macomber’s latest Christmas book. I enjoy reading her books, which are light and easy reads.
I reviewed Books 2 and 3 of The Mender Trilogy for the May edition of Historical Novels Review, the magazine of The Historical Novel Society. See my reviews below, as well as a Q&A with the author.
Book 2: The Captive
This is book 2 of The Mender series. Eva is a time traveler, originally sent to this world to “correct its timeline.” In this installment, Eva has abandoned her original mission, set for March 1836, and is living with her new husband, Jim, among the Comanche. But while she tries to adapt to tribal life, she knows her old partner, Tophe, will be coming to complete her original task—kill Francisca Alavez, the “Angel of Goliad,” and change the result of the Texans’ war for Independence from Mexico.
This is a well-researched novel set mostly amid a Comanche tribe in 1835 and 1836. Marchman has done a good job of portraying the way the Comanche lived at that time. The customs, language, and practices of the tribe are very well described. Eva’s struggles include living in a polygamous society, dealing with the fact that women were mainly relegated to taking care of the home, and observing that captives were not always well treated. Her biggest challenge is knowing the possible future and not using her ability to change current events or remove herself from that time altogether. Her romance with Jim, who was raised by the Comanche and sees things very differently than she does, is complex and intriguing. Her ultimate decisions and the plans she makes set the stage for the final book in the trilogy. As always, the author is very honest about the brutality people can inflict on each other and the imperfect nature of every human being. Recommended to fans of time travel fiction, Native American history, and US history. This book is not a standalone, and the series should be read in order.
BOOK 3: The Guardian
This is the third book in the Mender Trilogy. Eva was a Mender, a fixer of time, for the cult Lux Libera, but she is now living in 1836 Texas with her husband Jim, a white man raised by the Comanche, and his tribe. She was originally sent back in time to change the course of history, but for months she has been waiting for her former partner, Tophe, to arrive. She sets out on a journey to intercept Tophe and convince him to abandon his mission. Meanwhile, in the midst of difficult circumstances, Jim finds himself joining the New Orleans Greys and fighting for the independence of Texas from Mexico.
This riveting series continues, as Eva tries to stop Tophe from killing the Angel of Goliad, Francisca Alavez, and changing history. The events leading up to Texas’s Declaration of Independence, in March 1836, are portrayed so vividly that the reader feels as if they are there. Eva’s friend, Pump, is an amazing character, and he continues his important role in this series as he helps her face the truth and expand her time-traveling abilities. The history in this third book is again so well researched, and the time-travel aspect adds many exciting possibilities. The author does an amazing job of combining historical fiction with touches of science fiction in a compelling way. Creative twists, engaging characters, and a fascinating story make this a great end to the trilogy. This book is not a standalone; it is recommended that the reader start with Book 1, The Mender.
Below please see my Q&A with Author Jennifer Marchman
I really enjoyed this series, especially your take on time travel and realistic descriptions of Comanche life. Thinking back on the series, what were your favorite scenes to write?
When Eva Creases the Horses in Book 2 was probably my favorite scene to write. It’s the scene I read aloud for audiences, and action scenes are really thrilling to create. While you’re writing, you’re really there, more so than when you are reading the work of another author. Honestly, I could probably list every action scene, or scene with heightened emotions, as my favorite to write. It’s the visceral experience of it. It’s almost too painful for me to reread my books now that they are published. I feel echoes of what I felt before, and there is a stab in my heart. But I think I most enjoyed writing Jim. I’m in love with him, frankly, and I liked discovering how he ticked; I liked making him laugh.
I knew almost nothing about the Comanche before reading your books, and now I feel I have a better understanding of their way of life in the 1830s and before. Was your goal to teach as well as tell a fascinating story? That’s what I feel you did here.
I wouldn’t say that teaching was my goal. Actually, I’d say that teaching wasn’t a goal at all. I think writing to educate is the quickest way to lose the story and bog the reader in details. But authenticity was a crucial goal for me, and educating the reader becomes a natural byproduct of that. All the details of a historical period need to serve a purpose in order to be included. When Eva creases the horses, it’s a compelling scene, but it’s not there just to include a cool factoid about being able to stun a horse with a precise bullet above the spine. It’s there because Jim is irrationally obsessed with his status among the People, and Eva’s ability to get him a new stallion in such an unusual way may help him regain his place.
My favorite historical fiction books are those rich in detail; I want to feel like I am inhabiting that time and space while I’m reading. And it’s got to be accurate, or you will lose me. That’s the experience I want for my readers. I want them to feel like they are there, that if they google something to see if it is true or visit the Comanche Museum in Lawton, OK, they’ll feel a familiarity. Even though my primary goal isn’t to educate, if I hear from a reader that I sent them off into rabbit holes of research *and* they came back excited to read more of my story, I take that as a huge compliment. I did something righ
Was the main character Eva’s personality based on anyone you know?
Ha! Me. But a better me. I think I grew stronger as a person as I wrote her. She makes the choices I would make, but I remember as I was writing her, I would think, “Man, she’s being such a doormat. What would someone who is not a doormat do?” I learned from her. She exposed me to myself in such a way that I could improve. We don’t get to edit our lives in real-time like we do when we write, but I gained some clarity about myself that, I hope, I have integrated into my current self.
Funnily enough, one of my later beta readers felt that she made “bad” decisions. I wish now that I had asked him which ones! But it was a rare chance to hear someone else’s unvarnished, impersonal opinion about someone (fictional, of course) who was so close to me as to be myself. I said to myself at the time, “Huh, interesting. Good to know. I don’t see her that way. I wonder why?” I didn’t judge her as making good or bad decisions, just natural ones.
My favorite character was Pump. Who is your favorite character in the series?
Oh, that’s a hard question. Which child is my favorite child? Pump is the only character I truly based on someone I know. He doesn’t know that he is Pump, and I will never tell him! I love Pump because he is that wise, compassionate father figure who really, really sees you, that you wish you had in your life — that I wish I had in my life! He’s not always right; he’s fallible in his own ways, but he’s seen a lot, and he can see through Eva, straight to her heart. What a blessing to have someone like that, even if only for a short time.But my favorite… I am very, very fond of Rʉtsima, but he feels like a good friend. As I said, I’m in love with Jim; Eva is close to my heart; Pump’s like my imaginary Dad. I can’t choose between the three; they feel like family.
Do you have any plans to include time travel in future books you are writing?
Yes, definitely. I created a multiverse where I can travel anywhere. Anywhen, anyhow! How could I pass that up? Pump’s origin story is swirling in the back of my mind. I also wonder what happened to Sakura and Enrique.
What is the one thing you would like readers to take away from this series?
That we’re all just human beings. That the Comanches weren’t bad, that the Anglos weren’t bad, that the Mexicans weren’t bad. That notions of good and bad (in such simplistic, black-and-white categorizations) are irrelevant and anti-helpful. They’re just not true. We’ve all been traumatized at some point by someone, but the flip of that coin is that we ourselves, at some point, have traumatized someone else, and often without even realizing it. We’re all walking around a bit blind and deaf, operating from scripts we inherited from our families, seeing the world through only one set of finite eyes.
Real love is unconditional. That’s not to say we stay in terminally unhealthy relationships, or that we have a license to act how we please with no regard for others, or that we don’t have to do our own homework of making amends and healing our own hearts so that we can love the person in front of us better. It means that real love is so much more than the notions of romantic love many people would define it as. I’ve never read a book where the main male protagonist has committed the acts Jim has committed and remains the love interest. I’m sure others must exist, but it’s rare enough to be uncommon. A romantic subplot of that nature is not really done, and though I have content warnings, I have gotten a bad review for it. Those scenes are not gratuitous, and I was open-eyed when I published them. They push the envelope precisely because I wanted to ask: What does real love look like? What does forgiveness look like? What does it mean to be a good person? Those are the themes I want people to ponder. I didn’t realize I was writing about those things until I was in the middle of the project (this trilogy kind of wrote itself), but that is what I want readers to take away from this series.
Thank you, Jennifer, for visiting us today.
Thanks so much, Bonnie! I really enjoyed answering your questions, and I’m so glad you enjoyed my books!
PURCHASE LINK
Click on the image to purchase the whole Mender Trilogy
Thank you to The Book Date for hosting It’s Monday, What Are You Reading?
Hi everyone! I’m sorry I haven’t updated in a couple weeks. I’m in Stuttgart, Germany for work. I haven’t had time to do any sightseeing yet, but I’m going to Munich and Dachau on Saturday. Above is Schlossplatz, or Castle Square, in Stuttgart.
WHAT I’M READING NOW
(From Amazon) Set in Manhattan between 1912 and 1965. When idealistic Young Irving Friedman and his beautiful, hard-nosed sister Miriam are forced to leave their brutal father’s home, they must make their way amid the sprawling tenements of the Lower East Side. Trapped in the garment industry’s backbreaking sweatshops, Irving is swept into the dangerous world of union organizing, while Miriam finds unexpected new love. As the years pass and one generation yields to the next, the siblings’ hard-won success is imperiled when an old family secret is unearthed that puts Irv on a collision course with Miriam’s ambitious daughter Shelly. Will secrets from the past destroy their family’s bond, or will they find a way to forgive?
WHAT I AM READING NEXT
(From Amazon) As Paris rediscovers its joie de vivre, Tabitha Knight, recently arrived from Detroit for an extended stay with her French grandfather, is on her own journey of discovery. Paris isn’t just the City of Light; it’s the city of history, romance, stunning architecture . . . and food. Thanks to her neighbor and friend Julia Child, another expat who’s fallen head over heels for Paris, Tabitha is learning how to cook for her Grandpère and her Oncle Rafe.
Between tutoring Americans in French, and sampling the results of Julia’s studies at Le Cordon Bleu cooking school, Tabitha’s sojourn is thoroughly delightful. That is, until the cold December day they return to Julia’s building and learn that a body has been found in the cellar. Tabitha recognizes the victim from a party given by Julia’s sister, Dort, the night before. The murder weapon is recognizable too—a knife from Julia’s kitchen.
Tabitha is eager to help the investigation, but is shocked when Inspector Merveille reveals that a note, in Tabitha’s handwriting, was found in the dead woman’s pocket. Now, from the shadows of the Tour Eiffel, to the Childs’ tiny kitchen, to the grungy streets of Montmartre, Tabitha navigates the city, hoping to find the real killer before she or one of her friends ends up in prison . . . or worse.
WHAT I JUST FINISHED READING
(From Amazon) Licinianus is a reluctant soldier in a very unusual family, one whose ancient gods give special powers to twins. His father, a twin himself, earned the gratitude of an Emperor and gained for Licinianus an honor that he does not want: appointment as a tribune in the army. Against his will, Licianius becomes a Roman officer and watches ineffectually while the army in Britannia, depleted by civil war, collapses before the onslaught of the Northern tribes. Only the arrival of the army of the Emperor Constantius saves the province, as Licinianus, receiving the gift of his family’s gods, becomes an almost legendary fighter.
Meanwhile, a strange new religion, Christianity, is permeating the Romano-British world, plunging Licinianus and his twin sister Severiana into yet more conflict. Christianity denies the very gods that give the family its strength, outraging their beliefs and customs. Nevertheless, it casts its spell on the twins’ brother and Severiana’s husband, threatening to tear the family apart.
I hope everyone is doing well! Now that I’m into my third week in Germany, posting on this blog will commence! I’ve just been so busy. Sunday I’m going to post all the pictures I am sure to take at Dachau and in Munich.
This book is so powerful and so beautifully written that it just took my breath away. There are strong themes of friendship, family, and kindness to others. The question that came into my mind about one of the characters was: Is he evil or just completely damaged beyond repair? The difficult theme of spousal abuse is also prevalent throughout the book. The friendship between Junie and Philomena is one of love, kindness, and sacrifice, and speaks to what true friends will do for one another.
Anyone who wants to read a book featuring strong women in difficult situations, or anyone who enjoys beautiful writing, will enjoy this book.
I received a free copy of this book via Zooloo’s Book Tours. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Fran Clark writes Women’s Fiction, both contemporary and historical. Her first novel was published by Indigo Dreams in 2014. In the same year she achieved a Distinction in her Creative Writing MA from Brunel University. In 2016 she was shortlisted for the SI Leeds Literary Prize. In February 2024, her Island Secrets Book Series will be published, starting with Holding Paradise Book 1.
Originally from London, Fran moved to the English countryside with her musician husband. A musician herself, Fran teaches vocals and leads a local choir. She has two sons.
Fran also writes under the pseudonym, Rosa Temple, writing contemporary fiction and published by HQ Digital and Simon & Schuster UK.
Another week went by when I was so busy I couldn’t post much. I wasn’t able to post the reviews I had planned, so some of them will go up today. I’m preparing for my work trip to Germany, finishing up reviews for The Historical Novel Society, and also doing some editing work for them while one of the editors is taking some time off. It’s been a great experience.
NEXT WEEK: I hope to catch up and provide you a lot of good reviews! These include Charlie Hustle, The Ark and the Dove,The Great Divide, and more.
BOOK HAUL:
This is the third book in a fantastic series about a family of safe-cracking criminals who become government spies during WWII.
The Burning Rooms is the third book in a great series of standalone thrillers from Anni Taylor.
I’m off to make lemon bars and chicken parm! So we’re eating well tonight. How was your week?
Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. There is a different topic every week. This week’s top is Top Ten Covers or Titles That Include Things Found in Nature. See my list below:
This is one of my favorite covers and books from last year, and of course it displays a lovely beach. See my review here.
This is a favorite from 2022 set in the Appalachian Mountains of Kentucky. My review is here.
When Stone Wings Fly is set in Appalachia at the time of the creation of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Land of the Blue Mist by Susan Mallgrave is set in the Blue Ridge Mountains during the time of the Cherokee removal, or Trail of Tears. My review and a Q&A with the author is here.
Louise Bélanger creates beautiful Christian poems accompanied by the most wonderful photographs of flowers. My review is here.
This is the story of the Titanic told through the eyes of Arthur Rostron, the captain of The Carpathia, which responded to the Titanic’s distress call. My review is here.
This is a beautifully written novel of friendship from one of my favorite authors, Amanda Dykes. My review is here.
This is an account of the aftermath of a devastating earthquake in Lisbon on All Saints Day in 1755. My review is here.
This is a fictionalized look at the Bataan Death March in the Philippines. So powerful. One of my favorite books ever. It is devastating and heartbreaking, but important. My review is here.
My favorite book of 2023, and also one of my all-time favorites. It’s about life in a small town, unlikely friendships, and found family. Here’s my review.
How about you? What favorite books come to mind that include nature on the cover or in the title?
Indie Weekend is my effort to help Indie authors with marketing. It’s a daunting task, and if I can help even a little bit, I’m happy to do it. You can help too by sharing this post with all of your social media followers. Below please see a book review, bio, purchase links, AND a Q&A with Author Jennifer Marchman.
BOOK REVIEW
Eva is a Mender, a fixer of time. She travels to “shadow” timelines, bringing them in line with the “one true timeline,” a line where Germany won World War II. Now her mission is in Texas, in March 1836, but something is off, as she’s arrived several months early. When she meets Jim, a white man raised by Comanches, she is alarmed to see how real he is. He is supposed to be just a shadow, not a feeling human being, and he’s making it hard for her to maintain her people’s vows of celibacy. Then Jim’s friend Pump astonishes her even more when he reveals a secret that only she can understand.
This is the first book in The Mender Trilogy. Jennifer Marchman has created an intricately woven story, as complex as the quantum strings Eva pulls to move through time. The method of time travel is fascinating and based on string theory. The history of Texas, or what would eventually be Texas, is well researched. Every author of a time travel novel must set rules of travel, and what the author has done here is layer many rules, with the reader soon realizing that only some of them are true. It is an intriguing development, as we discover the truths and deceptions along with Eva. The research into Jim’s part of the story is well done, with Comanche customs, culture, and language added throughout. The racism and brutality of life at that time and the poor treatment of women are realistic and true to the period. The characters’ honesty about their own flaws is touching and compelling. This is a captivating and bold combination of time travel, Texas history, and romance that will leave the reader wanting more.
I received a free copy of this book via The Historical Novel Society. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jennifer Marchman lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband, three nearly-grown children, and the two best dogs in the world. At different times, she has worn various authorial hats, including ghostwriter-memoirist, editor, curriculum writer, educational blogger, grant writer, and addicted social media over-sharer, but now, after many years, she’s writing for pleasure.
Jennifer is a member of the Writers’ League of Texas, the Historical Novel Society, #TimeTravelAuthors in the Twitterverse, and helps organize Austin Indie Authors.
She enjoys flamenco dancing, is the proud owner of a white belt in jiu-jitsu, and wishes to compete internationally in mounted archery but lacks a ticket to Kazakhstan. She has toyed with the idea of picking up pottery again, but needs more hours in her day and a husband willing to install (for the fourth time) the necessary electrical outlet for a kiln that may likely go unused.
Visit her website to join her mailing list, view Mender Trilogy extras, and for updates! She loves to hear from readers!
Below is my Q&A with Jennifer Marchman, and I loved her answers so much I put a few after-the-fact comments underneath some of the questions.
Bonnie: Hi Jennifer! Thanks for agreeing to this Q&A!
Jennifer: More than happy to! Thanks for the opportunity!
Bonnie: First, let’s go beyond the bio. Tell us something about yourself that we might not know from reading your bio.
Jennifer: I don’t like sitting still. This is a poor personality trait to have as a writer! But when I write, it is all-consuming. I wrote the entire trilogy from mid-February 2021 to the end of March 2021. Except for inserting what is now chapter 2, my story is the way I wrote it from start to finish. Over the next two and a half years, beta readers helped me add more where things were confusing and needed clarification (and, of course, grammar!), but the order is exactly what I originally wrote. I could have continued polishing indefinitely, but at some point, I needed to let it go.
During that first draft, I was writing 3,000 to 5,000 words a day. I stopped eating and sleeping, and I pretty much abandoned my family. I don’t recommend this! But I feel immensely grateful for the experience, perhaps a once-in-a-lifetime one. I felt tuned into a radio station where I was just listening to what was being said and recording what was happening. Jim, in particular, was irritated that I didn’t give him a voice from the get-go, and believe me, I was just as shocked about the twists as most readers are. I didn’t see them coming either.
I queried my manuscript a little bit, but after 20 queries, I decided I didn’t want an editor changing my story to make it more marketable. As other writers will know, 20 queries are nothing when trying to break into traditional publishing, but even if one had responded, I would have told them I had decided to self-publish. I knew I would have had a hard time preserving my creative integrity in the face of someone who would have felt, to me, like an authority figure (a trad publisher), and it would have caused me enormous stress. My book is as it should be. My audience will find it.
P.S. My husband, in proofreading this for me, said that I didn’t really answer your question. I described my writing process rather than saying anything new about myself.
Hmmm…. I just started volunteering at my local library as an ESL teacher for adults wanting to practice English with a native speaker. I’m learning Spanish myself, so I can sympathize. (This will be the fourth time I’ve tried to learn Spanish, but I’m going to stick with it this time). As I mentioned in my bio, I dance flamenco, and I just started learning castanets (very fun, and a great brain teaser!) And, finally, I am a late adopter of trends. I just started making sourdough, and I’ve made a loaf just about every day for the last month. If we have too much, I give a loaf away.
**Bonnie’s Reaction: I love all the opportunities offered at the local library!
Bonnie:This book is set mostly in Texas during the Texas War of Independence against Mexico. I was surprised to realize that I had learned very little about this in school in Ohio. Your bio says you live in Texas. Did you grow up in Texas, and is this topic something you were already very familiar with?
Jennifer: Yes, I was born in Dallas and raised in my mother’s hometown of Waxahachie from the age of two until I left for college. Waxahachie is (was) a tiny little rural town thirty minutes south of Dallas, in the middle of the Blackland Prairie (so think “flat”). It’s not so little now! But at the time I lived there, it was a typical small Texas town, and we were really, really excited to get a McDonald’s when I was in middle school.
Children are taught Texas history in the fourth grade and seventh grade. Beyond the Alamo, I don’t recall all that much from my own schooling, but since I homeschooled my three children, I had a chance to dive pretty deep with them. We live in Austin, so we began each Texas history block learning about the Comanche and the Tonkawa, two local tribes. When I was putting together a fourth-grade curriculum for other Texas homeschoolers to use, I reached out to the Comanche Museum in Lawton, Oklahoma, for the first time for resources.
During COVID, just as things were opening up and we could visit museums, my youngest was in seventh grade, so we were working through Texas history again. We visited the Presidio in Goliad, and that’s where I first learned about the Angel of Goliad. Initially, I was going to write about her, but I pretty quickly began brainstorming Eva. I heard her voice. I didn’t hear Francisca’s until it was time (Book 3).
**Bonnie’s Reaction: Local museums are a great place to start!
Bonnie: Time travel must have a method and basic rules set by the author. The method you used is so interesting and involves string theory, but is still easy to understand. How did this clever idea come to you?
Jennifer: I have always been fascinated with the mind-bending theoretical bits of physics, such as relativity, quantum mechanics, and string theory. I believe string theory has since fallen out of fashion a bit, but I still find it compelling. It kind of makes the world make sense to me. It seems to me that if time travel were possible, it would require changing the vibration of each energetic string.
And thank you, by the way! I’m glad to hear it was easy to understand. It was quite tricky to get my ideas across without bogging down the story, especially since my story isn’t really about time travel. The mechanics of time travel are beside the point in many ways, though fun to imagine, certainly! If I could have any superpower, it would be time travel, but with the caveat that somehow, I came out wearing the right clothes, speaking the right language, and was immune to disease.
**Bonnie’s Reaction: I didn’t realize string theory was out of fashion, so I need to check out new trends.
Bonnie: Jim is a white man who was raised by the Comanche. Through him we learn about Comanche customs and ways. Tell us about your research into this topic.
Jennifer: Captive narratives are thrilling to read. If you drive out to West Texas, there are often self-published copies that are continuing to be reprinted and sold at the gas stations by the descendants. Captives are certainly part of the lore of Central Texas and even where I grew up in North Texas. We just heard stories about them growing up, and except for some of the violence that accompanied each capture, as a kid, I thought it sounded pretty great to be carried off to a life that sounded free, certainly freer than mine or any other modern human’s. Of course, as an adult and from my research, the reality is much more complicated. For my book, I read every narrative I could access, and I corresponded with a professor at Texas State University who specializes in Comanche captivity. I can now point to exact spots in Austin (mostly under parking lots) where captives were first taken. Something like that has a way of forming a connection with you.
As for the Comanche customs, I contacted the Comanche Museum and used the books they recommended. One of the books (Wallace and Hoebel) is considered the gold standard. Additionally, I was able to find the original transcripts from their interviews with informants, and I used those for extensive fact-checking. I also met with the cultural specialist at the museum to ask a whole bunch of questions, more than I’m sure he bargained for when he agreed to meet me!
When my manuscript was complete, I found a sensitivity reader who is an enrolled member of the Comanche Nation. She graciously read my manuscript twice. She was actually my first reader, and then she read it a second time after it had been through most of my 31 total beta readers. She’s pretty much a saint.
Exploring Comanche culture was probably my favorite part of the process.
**Bonnie’s Reaction: A cultural sensitivity reader is such a great idea!
Bonnie: Eva is slowly learning that she’s been deceived by her cult, and you portrayed this perfectly. Did you research other victims of indoctrination in order to do this so well?
Jennifer: I drew from personal experience.
Bonnie: The characters in this novel are so human. Jim and Eva are not perfect and have done things that would horrify others. How important was it for you to convey real flawed characters in this book?
Jennifer: Extremely important. I love humans, but we can also be really shitty to each other. Every single one of us is capable of being a monster, and in fact, at some point, we probably have been to someone somewhere, even if we’re not aware of it. Except for psychopaths, people are usually well-intentioned. At a minimum, people think their actions are justified (even psychopaths). I heard someone once say that most people are sincere, mistaken, or afraid. I try to keep that in mind, and I tried to keep that in mind for my characters. Each of them believes themselves to be a good person.
The interesting question for me as a writer is: Why do they think they are right? But real love is unconditional for this very reason. None of us are perfect. Love doesn’t always mean that we can stay in a relationship with a loved one who is hurting us, but we love them anyway and want what’s best for them, even from afar. Eva and Jim have both done horrible things; they see each other, no masks, but they also see each other’s tender hearts. They both want to be good, to do right, whatever that is. They’re just not sure anymore.
The world is a very gray place for me. I’m finding that I’m increasingly old-fashioned in this regard.
Bonnie: The Mender is Book 1 in a trilogy, and all three books are available on Amazon. Is this series complete, and if so, tell us about your next writing adventure.
Jennifer: The Mender Trilogy is complete, though I created a rich world that is begging for spinoff stories. I’m percolating several ideas at the moment. Perhaps we’ll find out Pump’s origin story… Perhaps we’ll find out what happened to Sakura and Enrique… Perhaps Eva will try to set the multiverse right… I’ll know when they speak to me!
Bonnie: Thanks so much again for answering my questions today! I really enjoyed The Mender.
Jennifer: Thanks! Anytime!
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