It’s always a pretty good feeling (#majorunderstatement) when you finally get a book finished, edited, and submitted to your publisher. And when you get the final cover, too!
That’s where we are with my next release, Colors of Truth, the second full-length novel in The Carnton Novels Collection, releasing July 2020.
Based on the real history of Carnton, an antebellum home that served as a Confederate hospital, Colors of Truth follows the journey of an Irish immigrant arriving in a country where her kind isn’t wanted, and of a former Federal soldier returning to the scene of a battle that almost destroyed him.
More about Colors of Truth, Carnton 2
Releasing July 2020
Oy, this newest book took a long time to write, and it incorporates so much of my spiritual and emotional journey last year. Which admittedly, was a tougher one with walking Dad home after years of dementia. But oh what blessings 2019 held, too, on that very same road. I still treasure them, even as I still feel a weariness inside me.
There were moments when I doubted I would ever fully get this story onto the page. But with the help of my wonderful writing critique partner, Deb Raney (love you, friend), and my editors (Jean and Jocelyn), we did. And I’m excited to share Wade & Catriona’s story (and that of fiesty little Nora pictured on the cover!) with you in July. I’ve never written about sisters before, and I loved it! Especially with them hailing from Ireland.
This week I’ll start the third and final story in the Carnton novels series, which was brainstormed last summer during my annual July retreat with the Coeur d’Alene ladies in, you guessed it, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.
I can’t wait to go back and listen to my recorded session again. To drink in all the laughter and ideas flowing around the table. What a gift those ladies have been in my life!
From L to R on back row (in the above pic): Brandilyn Collins, Francine Rivers, Sandy Shephard, Tricia Goyer, Karen Ball, Sunni Jeffers, Janet Ulbright Front cluster of “four”: Robin Lee Hatcher, moi, Sharon Dunn, and Gayle DeSalles in pink
(Robin and I are roomies, so you can imagine how much we talk and laugh into the night.)
I couldn’t write the novels I write without the loving encouragement and support of these women, and I’m grateful for each one.
A bit of novel trivia behind Colors of Truth:
The McGavocks who lived at Carnton in the 19th century hailed from County Antrim, Ireland, as do Catriona and Nora in the book—and as did my family too! When I unearthed that bit of history a few years back, I found it rather ironic that I’m writing the continued history of a family that my ancestors might have once known back in Ireland. And that somehow we’re connected yet again geographically in Franklin, Tennessee. #smallworld #stalkinghistory #stopfollowingme
Do you know your ancestry? Where did your people hail from?
Blessings on your week,
Tammy
In case you haven’t visited Carnton in Franklin, Tennessee, the setting of all the Carnton novels, I’d love to give you a quick tour!
Visit Carnton, Franklin, TN, the setting of all the Carnton novels
Christmas at Carnton, the novella that launched the series
Carol Award Winner
With This Pledge, the first full-length Carnton novel
Christy Award Winner
Tamera Alexander
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Although we can trace my mother’s side pretty far back, my father’s side ends with my grandfather. He immigrated to the United States when he was young and refused to talk about his past. What paper trail we can find differs from what he said plus there are discrepancies between forms. I did learn that where he hailed from ended up behind communist lines. Although he may have been running from a political situation, he took great pride in his sons going into the military. Also to confuse the situation, he changed his name legally in the states. Saying his last name was hard to same or was misunderstood, he took his wife’s mother’s maiden name – which honestly wasn’t much better in my opinion. My Dad went to his aunt in a nursing home after my grandfather’s death asking if she knew anything. She refused to answer an questions and what she knew went with her to her grave just as it did with my grandfather.
LOVE your books and can’t wait for the opportunity to read “Colors of Truth”!
Interesting history, Kay! And, like you, I wish we knew more of your family history. One day… ; ) Thanks for your kind words!
We always knew that my mother’s parents came over from Germany in the early 1900’s and my dad’s father came about that same time from Luxemborg. We never knew much about my paternal grandmother’s ancestry until this last year. Come to find out that ten generations back from me, her ancestors came over on the Mayflower!! It was shocking and SO exciting to learn of this! I always thought I was about 90 % German, but no, now I have English blood in me, too!!
Seriously, Kathy? How cool! Don’t you wish you could sit down with those ancestors and learn about all they went through and endured for their descendants. Namely, you! And then thank them. Thanks for sharing this! And as my husband says whenever we discuss our varied ancestries…we’re all a part of each other.
I’m a big fan of yours, Tamara, and am looking forward to reading this new book in the series. I lived in Tennessee two years for my freshman and sophomore years of college, many decades ago. 😉 Beautiful state! I’ll have to revisit the state and Carnton (sp?). Blessings to you!
Our families are English, Scottish, Irish…. I was born and raised in Brazil (MK), but no blood relatives there. 😊 My mom’s grandma claimed DAR status. I’m just thankful for my family, upbringing, and that I am a Child of God. Hallelujah!
Thank you, Donna, for reading so faithfully. I hope you do get a chance to come back to Nashville and see Carnton. It’s a very moving place to visit. Love that English, Scottish and Irish heritage of yours, and AMEN on sharing the most important heritage of all…our birthright in Christ! I’m a gentile, so am therefore “grafted into” the family of God. And, oh so grateful.
This book sounds exciting to read, with the Irish immigrant story line, and I’m looking forward to it! Historical fiction is definitely my favorite genre, getting to live vicariously in other times and places.
Having taken a DNA test, I knew Irish and Scottish would be the dominant heritages (40%), but I never would have guessed the next two would be Greek and Middle Eastern! My maternal grandmother’s family came from Messina, Sicily and knowing Sicily’s history, it makes sense. I’m also German and Southern Italian.
Doing extensive research on my family tree also was an eye opener: with my mother’s side I made it back to the 1600’s and my father’s side went much further–William the Conqueror is our first cousin 31x removed!
Thanks for the update and early look at the cover art of the novel! 🙂 Looking forward to reading it when it’s available.
I’ve got Lithuanian ancestry. When my great grandparents immigrated to the US, Lithuania was part of the Imperial Russia Empire. The country was on and off the map until 1990. The Soviet Union collapsed that year, and Lithuania regained its independence.
Love the cover!
My ancestors are from Ireland, Scotland, and England. My son traced one of my mother’s ancestors back to a cousin of Mary Queen of Scots. He thinks that he could have gone further back to a connection in France, but he had to stop.
My husband has Irish, Scottish, and German heritage.