100 Steps to Freedom ~ Tamara Lynn Kraft

100 Steps to Freedom

by Tamera Lynn Kraft

Before the Civil War, Ohio had the largest Underground Railroad of any state in the Union. It is believed that every county in Ohio had a route. Many slaves would escape over the Ohio River and through Ohio on their way to Canada. This was a dangerous undertaking because, even though Ohio was a free state, the Fugitive Slave Law made it so anyone helping escaped slaves could be fined and jailed.

One small town, Ripley, Ohio, is believed to have helped more slaves escape than any town in Ohio. Ripley is located on the banks of the Ohio River across from Mason County, Kentucky.

Image courtesy Pixabay

One man who helped slaves escape was a freed black man named John Parker. Parker was educated by his master in Virginia and eventually bought his freedom. He traveled to Ohio and opened a foundry on Front Street facing the Ohio River. He was the first black man to earn a patent for one of the inventions he used in his foundry. At night, he would search the Ohio River looking for escaped slaves and helping them find their way to an Underground Railroad Station.

Rev. John Rankin, a Presbyterian minister, owned a house on top of a hill in Ripley. He built one hundred steps to the house that could be seen on the other side of the river. At night, he would light a lantern and hang it from the porch to signal slaves that it was safe to cross. It is estimated that over 2,000 slaves escaped through the Rankin House. None of them were ever recaptured.

Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote her famous novel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, about the escape of the slave, Eliza, after hearing the story from Rev. Rankin. I also added John Rankin's house in my new novel, Red Sky Over America. The story takes place on the Ohio River where all these exciting events happened.

About Tamera's Book:

Red Sky Over America

Ladies of Oberlin Book 1

By Tamera Lynn Kraft

William and America confront evil, but will it cost them everything?

In 1857, America, the daughter of a slave owner, is an abolitionist and a student at Oberlin College, a school known for its radical ideas. America goes home to Kentucky during school break to confront her father about freeing his slaves.

America's classmate, William, goes to Kentucky to preach abolition to churches that condone slavery. America and William find themselves in the center of the approaching storm sweeping the nation and may not make it home to Ohio or live through the struggle.

Red Sky Over America tackles the most turbulent time in history with thorough research and fascinating characters. Tamera Lynn Kraft has woven a tale about the evils of slavery that should never be forgotten. -- Mary Ellis, author of The Quaker and the Rebel, The Lady and the Officer, and The Last Heiress.

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You can purchase Red Sky Over America at these online sites:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2o9EJa2

Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/2C6XIuq

About Tamera:

Tamera Lynn Kraft has always loved adventures. She loves to write historical fiction set in the United States because there are so many stories in American history. There are strong elements of faith, romance, suspense and adventure in her stories. She has received 2^nd place in the NOCW contest, 3^rd place TARA writer’s contest, and is a finalist in the Frasier Writing Contest and has other novels and novellas in print. She’s been married for 39 years to the love of her life, Rick, and has two married adult children and three grandchildren. 

Tamera has been a children’s pastor for over 20 years. She is the leader of a ministry called Revival Fire for Kids where she mentors other children’s leaders, teaches workshops, and is a children’s ministry consultant and children’s evangelist and has written children’s church curriculum. She is a recipient of the 2007 National Children’s Leaders Association Shepherd’s Cup for lifetime achievement in children’s ministry.

You can contact Tamera on her website at http://tameralynnkraft.net.

You can contact Tamera online at these sites.

Website: http://tameralynnkraft.net

Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/cdybpb

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7334438.Tamera_Lynn_Kraft

Word Sharpeners Blog: http://tameralynnkraft.com

Facebook: http://facebook.com/tameralynnkraft

Twitter: http://twitter.com/tamerakraft

Devastation, Tornadoes, and the Hope God Brings ♦ Tamara Lynn Kraft

Please welcome guest blogger Tamara Lynn Kraft, and her 'story behind the story' article, a feature that seems to be a favorite among Whispers in Purple readers, myself included. 

So, sit back and enjoy today's featured author and her story. Thanks, Tamara, for sharing!

Twin tornadoes at night, April 9, 2011, Northwest Iowa, from Google Images

♦ ♦ ♦

 Devastation, Tornadoes, and the Hope God Brings

By Tamera Lynn Kraft @tamerakraft

As I was researching my novella, Resurrection of Hope, I thought it would be interesting to have a tornado in the story. Supercell tornadoes have caused great devastation in Ohio throughout the years, so I thought it might be an interesting event in the story. What I found out, startled me.

Throughout US history, supercell tornado outbreaks have been deadly. Early warning systems and storm shelters have helped greatly, but people are still killed by tornadoes every year, and the property damage is extensive. Since tornadoes have been recorded and measured by the National Weather Service, one weekend has proven more deadly than the rest – Palm Sunday weekend.

On March 28, 1920, Palm Sunday, at least 37 tornadoes hit the Midwest and Deep South. 380 were killed, 1,215 injured including over 200 in Georgia, 56 in Indiana, and 55 in Ohio. When I read that, my story took shape.

When Resurrection of Hope took place, the Great War had just ended, and many men had died in Europe. At the same time, over twenty million people had died from the great influenza pandemic. There were very few families that hadn’t suffered loss from one of these events. Some families were completely wiped out. Another tragedy of the period was the rise of alcoholism and gambling addiction during the early years of the 20th century. Men lost everything and left their families destitute. That was one of the major reasons for prohibition. It was in this time period that the devastation of the Palm Sunday tornadoes struck causing devastation and changing lives forever.

Vivian, the female main character in my story, had suffered great loss. Her fiancé died in the war. Her family was killed by the flu. To make matters worse, her father had gambled away everything leaving her devastated and homeless. Hope came back into her life when Henry came home from the war and offered a marriage of convenience.

Henry, the male main character in the story, had been a dough-boy in World War I. He had just returned from the war with all the baggage that came with fighting warfare in the trenches. Many of the problems he had with Vivian stemmed from his experiences fighting and losing his best friend in the war. The stoic tough guy image most men tried to live up to during that time period made things worse.

Resurrection of Hope is about two broken people who find the hope God gives in unlikely places. That is the story of Easter – the hope that God brings.

You may be wondering at this point where the Palm Sunday tornado comes in. You’ll have to read the book to find out.

Blurb:

Resurrection of Hope

She thought he was her knight in shining armor, but will a marriage of convenience prove her wrong?

After Vivian’s fiancé dies in the Great War, she thinks her life is over. But Henry, her fiancé’s best friend, comes to the rescue offering a marriage of convenience. He claims he promised his friend he would take care of her. She grows to love him, but she knows it will never work because he never shows any love for her.

Henry adores Vivian and has pledged to take care of her, but he won’t risk their friendship by letting her know. She’s still in love with the man who died in the Great War. He won’t risk heartache by revealing his true emotions.

Bio:

Tamera Lynn Kraft has always loved adventures. She loves to write historical fiction set in the United States because there are so many stories in American history. There are strong elements of faith, romance, suspense and adventure in her stories. She has received 2nd place in the NOCW contest, 3rd place TARA writer’s contest, and is a finalist in the Frasier Writing Contest and has other novellas in print. 

Her first full length novel is due to be released in April. She’s been married for 38 years to the love of her life, Rick, and has two married adult children and two grandchildren. You can purchase her latest novella, Resurrection of Hope at most online stores including Desert Breeze. 

Join Tamera on her website at http://tameralynnkraft.net, her blog at http://tameralynnkraft.com, Facebook http://facebook.com/tameralynnkraft or Twitter http://twitter.com/tamerakraft.