CAROLINA HOMECOMING - Heather Blanton - One Free Book

Welcome, Heather. Why do you write the kind of books you do?

I guess because, in truth, I am Daddy’s little girl. I used to watch Westerns with my daddy before he passed. He taught me to shoot. For fun, he and the deputies in our county used to quick draw on each other using wax bullets. Yeah, he was about the closest person I’ve ever met to the real John Wayne. I guess he’s a little part of everything I write.

Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?

Oh, wow, there have been so many. Besides my boys being born healthy and strong, I’d have to say the vacation in Deadwood with my sister Dawn. It was a girl’s trip, and it was awesome! It was special, specifically, because I went on a trip out West with my sister Suzy years ago, and it was the only one we did together. She got breast cancer shortly after. Dawn was always sad she missed that trip, but at least we finally got to do one together.

How has being published changed your life?

To me the best change caused by my career is I get to work from home. No more commuting, traffic, wasted time in a car. And while I like people, I don’t mind being alone. In fact, I like it. Which is one thing about this quarantine mess I DON’T like. My kids are here. All. The. Time. LOL.

What are you reading right now?

Actually, I am reading one of mine! I am working on the final book in my Defiance series, and I had to read A Destiny in Defiance to check on some ideas, evaluate some possible plot lines, consider some spin-offs, etc.

What is your current work in progress?

As I mentioned, I am working on the final book in the Defiance series. I’m also outlining book 5 for my Brides of Evergreen series, and I’m hammering out the first 10 pages of a script for an idea my agent wants to see.

What would be your dream vacation?

I am blessed to say I’ve had it. One summer my husband and I went camping in Colorado. We drove all over the state exploring ghost towns, horseback riding, and camping in various places. It was spectacular.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

Until I was nine years old, I lived in Florida. Then we moved to the mountains of Western North Carolina, and I thought I’d died and gone to heaven. But there was still this yearning in me to go West. I’ve been blessed enough to explore several states out there (as I still live in NC), and I just love everything west of the Mississippi. So choosing a setting is determined simply by my love of the mountains and the wide-open spaces, or a particular place that I’ve seen and thought to myself, “I need to set a story here!”

If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?

Anybody who spends five minutes with me will learn two things PDQ: I follow Jesus, and I believe I am entitled to my opinion because this is still America. I am unapologetically pro-God, pro-gun, pro-life and pro-Trump. I would love to sit down and talk to the President about everything he’s done, learned, and seen in his time in office.

I’d like to join you. What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

I don’t get to do it as much as I’d like, but I enjoy kayaking and hiking. I am gonna be hiking when I’m 90!

What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?

Organizing my time on social media. I am very interactive with my groups and other authors on Facebook and keeping all that time spent on there to a controllable figure is maddening.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Write the best book you can and surround yourself with honest readers and editors. And decide early on if you’re doing this for the money like a job, or for the passion of it. Waffling on this question will cause you to write things you’ll regret.

Tell us about the featured book.

Carolina Homecoming is a retelling of the Book of Ruth. It is set during the Civil War in one of my favorite places on the planet: the Upstate of South Carolina. I’ve always wanted to delve into the story of the loyalty between Ruth and Naomi, explore Naomi’s bitterness toward God, and find out who this handsome, older gentleman farmer was that won Ruth’s heart. And it turned out, Carolina Homecoming was one of those stories that practically write themselves. The characters leaped off the page at me.

Please give us the first page of the book.
Ruth wondered how she would face another day, strangled as she was by grief and guilt.

The spring breeze through her window chilled the tears in her eyes and she dabbed at them angrily. “This is no time to be a whimpering sot, girl,” she chided, her Irish backbone attempting to buoy her spirits. “Oh, James,” she whispered and sat down again on her bed. “Why did you have to go off and die?”

From the parlor she heard Noemie sniffle, and Ruth winced at the reminder. Her mother-in-law was suffering, too. The war had taken James and left two women struggling with the loss. For Ruth, her husband’s death stung, yes, but it wasn’t debilitating. He had been a good man, a good provider, even a good friend, but not much of a husband. For Noemie, though, he was the son she’d borne from her own womb. Ruth couldn’t imagine the woman’s pain and she ached for her.

Closing her eyes, she whispered a silent prayer for more understanding and compassion and rose to take on the day. Her swishing, black, hoop skirt announced her entrance as she stepped into the parlor. Noemie didn’t react. She was standing at the window, a handkerchief pressed to her mouth. Her face, still fetching for a woman of fifty, was a mask of pain. Furrowed brow, clenched jaw, and red-rimmed eyes.

Surprisingly, she hadn’t dressed yet. Her hair was not twisted up over her head in the crown of braids she preferred. Instead, thick blonde and gray strands cascaded down her back in an unbrushed torrent. And she was still in her nightgown and robe, not her black dress of mourning with its voluminous hoop, like Ruth’s. She looked older this morning; her years amplified by the soul-tearing grief.

From outside came the well-timed, almost melodic steps of two hundred feet marching down the brick avenue. The sound was somber, like a funeral dirge.

More good boys headed off to this vile war. “Noemie, are you all right?” A foolish question, but it seemed the only one to ask.

The woman blinked, but still took several seconds to answer. “I’ve come to a decision.” She turned faded green eyes to Ruth. “I’m done with Maryland. I’m going home.”

“Home? I don’t understand. I thought Maryland was your home. I mean, I understand you’re not from here, but ye’ve lived here—”

“Ten years. Almost ten years here with Jeremiah. He was my second husband. A good man. I loved him, but Maryland was his home place. I’ve got more years and more roots back in South Carolina.” She paused briefly, as if reliving a flood of memories from those days. “James’ daddy, Luke, and I were both born in Oconee County. We did a lot of living there before he widowed me.” She turned away from the window to face Ruth. “And then Jeremiah went and died on me. I only stayed here after his passing because I hoped you and James might start a family. And then he left you to go fight in this blasted war.” She raised her chin and straightened her shoulders. “I’ve held on to the place in Oconee County. It’s time for me to go home.”

Ruth reeled from the news. She opened her mouth to speak, but only squeaks came out. The babbling seemed to spark more alertness in Noemie. She smiled tenderly at Ruth. “I want you to go on back to Ireland. Go back to your home. Bid this horrible war and its losses good-bye.”

“I don’t want to.” Ruth crossed the room and took the older woman’s hands. “Please, don’t send me away, Noemie. I love ye like me own mother. I’ve no one else left in County Cork that matters to me.”

“And I love you like a daughter, but I want what’s best for you.”

“And that would be staying here.”

Noemie pulled a hand free and motioned to the room. “Then you can stay here in this house, if you’re of a mind to.” She patted her fingers reassuringly. “You’re still young and pretty. I’ll see you’re taken care of till you marry again.”

“No, I want to go with ye. Ye need me.”

Noemie’s brow shot up. “I need you?”

“Aye, to take care of ye.”

“I’m fifty, girl, not eighty, and ‘bout as fit as you are.”

“But I can’t let ye be alone.”

Noemie took a step back, shook her head. “In fifteen months, I’ve lost my husband and my son. I reckon God’s turned His hand against me, Ruth. Best you not be around me.”

“Ye wouldn’t want me to break a promise to your son, would ye?”

Noemie’s emerald eyes widened and glittered with shock. “What promise?”

“I promised him I’d take care of ye. I gave him my word.”

“He had no right to ask you for such a vow.”

“I made it. And I made it gladly. I’ll not leave ye, Noemie. Where ye go, I will go. Your people will be my people…”

“And my God, your God.” Noemie smiled, but there seemed to be little joy behind it. “All right. Then let us put our hand to the plow and not look back.”

So wonderful so far. How can readers find you on the Internet?

I like keeping this simple. You contact me through my website: http://www.authorheatherblanton.com

Thank you for having me visit, Lena!

It’s my great pleasure, Heather. I’m eager to read this book. And I know my blog readers will be, too.

Readers, here are links to the book.

Carolina Homecoming: A Romance Inspired by the Book of Ruth (Thanksgiving Books and Blessings) - Paperback
Carolina Homecoming: A Romance Inspired by the Book of Ruth (Thanksgiving Books and Blessings 1) - Kindle

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