When I was a teenager, after youth group on Sunday nights a bunch of us used to drive to downtown Atlanta and, equipped with flashlights, we’d sneak into an old, abandoned, boarded-up antebellum home. We’d wander around, peering into rooms, creeping up staircases (hoping they held) all while brushing aside cobwebs and breathing in plumes of dust.
It felt like walking through time—and I loved it!
I recall thinking about the people who had lived in that house and wondering what their lives had been like. Experiences like that are where my love of history took deeper root. Yet the seed of that love was first planted a few years earlier when I was 9. On a trip to Germany.
But before you think it was too glamorous a trip . . . there were EIGHT of us crammed into a Volkswagen Bug! My mom, older brother, and grandmother got the backseat. My aunt and uncle sat up front, and their two toddlers were passed from lap to lap (times were different back then). And me? I sat in a cubbyhole in the back, fake-smoking little bubblegum cigarettes as we chugged around Germany, Switzerland, and the Netherlands for a month.
It was when we toured a 12th-century castle on the Rhine River that something happened. Feeling the cold stone wall beneath my hand as we descended into the belly of that castle changed me forever. Yet it wasn’t until nearly 35 years later that God revealed what he would eventually do with the seed he planted that day (inspire a lover of history to write historical fiction).
But no matter how much time passes, his timing is always perfect.
My latest novel A Million Little Choices released just two weeks ago, but I’ve had the idea for this particular story—and even wrote the first few chapters of the novel—over 15 years ago.
The stories that have lived inside me the longest seem to be the most difficult to write (I’m writing another one of those right now, in fact), and A Million Little Choices was certainly that.
Not only because of the subject matter—marriage and infidelity—but also because these characters are so real to me and the settings so tangible that the first words on the page often felt frustratingly inadequate and thin compared to the living, breathing movie inside me.
The story is about two women from different centuries who live in the same house and share strikingly similar journeys. The setting is Atlanta, where I was born and raised. And would you care to guess what house was the inspiration behind the antebellum mansion depicted in this dual-timeline story?
Yep, that 19th century Atlanta antebellum home I used to sneak into following Sunday youth group roughly 48 years ago.
Don’t you love how God weaves the “race” he’s uniquely set before each of us, according to his will, throughout the entire course of our lives? He’s so faithful. So wise and loving. Every twist and turn takes on new meaning with Christ, our eternal champion, charting the course.
I wish you all a happy and wonderful Thanksgiving this week, and pray you’re able to be with people you love and who love you. If there’s an empty chair at your table this year—perhaps someone you love who is now part of that great crowd of witnesses as mentioned in Hebrews above—know you’re not alone in missing those loved ones and in longing for the day you’ll see each other again! I’m right there with you, as are so many others in our community here.
I’m counting you all among my greatest blessings and am grateful for our connection, and for our shared hope in Christ and Christ alone,
Tammy
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Tamera Alexander
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Tamera, I loved hearing “ your background story”. You are such a wonderful writer and I enjoy everything you write. Happy Thanksgiving!
Thanks for those kind words, Terry, about my “backstory,” loved that! And blessings to you and yours this week too. Hugs from Nashville…
I love old buildings–especially homes–too. Have the same thoughts about “if these walls could talk.” I wish I had an old house just so you could visit and we could “interpret” it together. Congratulations on your new release! May it touch a million hearts and lives!
What fun that would be. Let’s pick an old Airbnb and go explore! Mark, get set, GO! ; ) Ditto that wish for your wonderful book, too, Angie. Bless you! Nice to release together!
I remember when you first shared this idea (although quite a bit different too) at our retreat. Getting to see it come to life has been so much fun, and although it wasn’t easy to write, the final story is a true gem.
Thank you again, Robin, for your willingness to read early and be an endorser. And for your kind words! Appreciate you!!
Sounds like so much fun! Thanks for the chance to win a prize.
Thanks for being part of the community here, Vickie!
I’m so excited that A Million Little Choices is out in the wild now. It’s SUCH a good book! (And thank you for doing the giveaway with Raney Day Journals. ♥️)
My pleasure and thank YOU for all you did as my writing critique partner to finally get it done. You know what a journey it was! BIG HUGS!