ANNIVERSARIES
by Pat Jeanne Davis (Giveaway offered)
Today marks one year since When Valleys Bloom Again
released. In several ways having my first full length novel published has
changed my life. The work doesn’t stop with finally seeing your book in
print. In order to promote and market my debut novel, I needed to learn how to
be a businesswoman. Also, it has been necessary to become more outgoing and to
step up and engage with readers after speaking at historical societies, book
signing events at churches, fairs and at bookstores, sometimes traveling miles
from my home to the area in which my novel takes place. To my surprise, I’ve
enjoyed being at these events and answering question on the research for my
WWII novel and about family members who served with the military in the war.
I’ve also enjoyed being a guest on many blogs over the months and connecting
with new readers there. During these months my
Heavenly Father has been so gracious supplying all my needs along the way.
In
the excerpt below, Abby Stapleton, the heroine in my novel, also arrives at a
significant one-year anniversary.
August 1940
One year since her
arrival. Though Abby wanted to return to England, she couldn’t exclude the
possibility that Jim might be part of God’s plan for her life. That her aunt
had thrown up a road block only intensified her longing for him. Chafing under
her aunt’s prohibition and hating herself for submitting to it, she took refuge
in the belief that Jim would keep his job.
She’d botched her attempt to explain things to him. “Something’s
come up, and I can’t work with you for a while,” she had told him. What was
that supposed to mean? No wonder he’d looked confused. But Jim had taken it
with good grace, nodding while she fidgeted and groped for a reason.
Abby scheduled tasks in the greenhouse for Sunday afternoons—the
only day Jim was off. Infrequent encounters with him during the summer had been
accidental. She gleaned from a remark Jim made that he attributed these
absences to anxiety over her family. Abby let the impression stand. Soon she’d
be returning to Weston for her junior year and be away most of the day. Still,
she wanted to talk with him as before.
Today, as she went about her work Abby consoled herself with the
realization she moved in the same space Jim had yesterday. She cherished the
written instructions he’d left on the potting table, pinned down with a smooth,
shiny stone from the garden. He asked her to “snip the blooms from the sweet
peas to keep them flowering,” and to “pay special attention to watering the
container plants.” He’d underlined the last task. Abby ticked off each one as
she completed it. Boy, Jim was so clever. Thorough, too. Her uncle made a good
choice with him. As she puttered about, Abby kept up a running dialogue with
Jim in her head.
Abby consulted the final item on his list. “For You,” Jim wrote. At his suggestion, she cut for herself yellow, orange, and salmon gladioli, taking care not to remove all the leaves from remaining stems. Jim had said these leaves feed the bulbs for the following year’s growth. Cradling her bouquet, Abby left the greenhouse, shutting the door behind her. Regardless of what her head told her, her heart pulled irresistibly to him. Oh, yes, and double-yes, she’d fallen in love with Jim. Where would it all lead?
BIO:
PAT JEANNE DAVIS
lives in Philadelphia, Pa with her British-born husband, John. They have two
grown sons. She enjoys flower gardening, genealogy research and traveling with
her husband. Pat has published essays, short stories and articles online and in
print. She has a keen interest in twentieth-century American and British
history, particularly the period of World War II. Pat’s father-in-law served in
the British Eighth Army during the war. When Valleys Bloom Again
is her debut historical inspirational romance set in that era. She is a member
of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW).
Pat loves to hear from her readers. Subscribe to her newsletter here www.patjeannedavis.com
Links:
When Valleys Bloom Again can be
purchased here:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Valleys-Bloom-Again-Jeanne-Davis/dp/1948888920/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=154
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/when-valleys-bloom-again-pat-jeanne-davis/1130351044?ean=9781948888929
Social Media:
Website: https://www.patjeannedavis.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pat.j.davis.7
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patjeannedavis/
Amazon Author Page: https://amazon.com/author/patjeannedavis
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/patjeannedavis/
About the Giveaway: Pat is generously offering to give away one print copy of When Valleys Bloom Again to one of my readers in the US who leave their name and email information in the comments section below. Giveaway ends one week from today on Thursday, January 23 at Midnight, central time.
