While teaching at a women’s weekend retreat two weeks ago, I had the total pleasure of meeting Megan Soja, a writing friend whose first novel—Spark of the Revolution (Harbor of Spies, book 1)—just released with Wild Heart Books in March!
To celebrate being with us today, Megan is giving away a signed copy of Spark of the Revolution to one lucky IBL&F reader! Simply leave a comment TODAY by 8:30pm Central welcoming Megan to our community and sharing whether you’re a history lover at heart.
About the book:
A spark ignites a flame that could burn down everything they hold dear.
Contrary to her name, Patience Abbott has long felt unsettled and anxious to leave behind her painful memories in England for a fresh start in America. But her new life isn’t quite what she expected, and as tension grows in her new home of Boston, so does the distance between Patience and her estranged father. So when Josiah Wagner walks into her life, it finally feels like she’s not alone. If only his patriotic leanings didn’t put him at odds with her father’s loyalties.
Josiah Wagner has spent his life yearning for a true home and family, something he works toward each day, forging tools as a blacksmith, and each night, forging plans with the Sons of Liberty. But when the destruction of tea in Boston Harbor lights the spark of the Revolution, Josiah finds himself drawn into its tumultuous wake, pulling the woman he loves along with him.
As tensions mount, will their search for belonging lead to each other, or will the obstacles between them be too great to overcome? In a land on the brink of war, can they find the home they seek in the One who calls them His own?
I asked Megan to share a bit about her novel and her writing journey…
What inspired you to write your story?
I’ve loved the American Revolutionary era since I was a little girl with a Felicity American Girl doll. I knew I wanted to write a historical novel in that time period, but wasn’t sure what to focus on. My younger daughter has a complex congenital heart defect, and we traveled frequently to Boston for several years so that she could receive specialized surgeries at the children’s hospital there.
On one such trip we had the opportunity to do a bit of sightseeing, and I realized what a wealth of history was right there in front of me—in a city that had become so special to our family. I actually began researching and brainstorming this story from her bedside in the ICU.
Thankfully, her surgeries were a success and she is now thriving, and this book holds an extra special place in my heart because of where and how it began.
Who is your main character, and how did you choose the name?
My heroine’s name is Patience. I didn’t so much choose her name as her name chose me. It just showed up in the opening line that came to mind as I was thinking about this story, and I knew it was who she had to be. Hopefully, if you read the book, you’ll see why. And my hero’s name is Josiah, which is one of my favorite names for a boy, but would have been a mouthful with my last name. Plus, we didn’t have any boys!
What’s one thing your readers might find interesting about your background?
While writing fiction has been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember, I actually studied biology in college. I worked in research and development for a time, then went on to get my teaching degree and taught both special education and biology at the high school level. I loved my experiences in science and teaching, but it is such a joy to see my dream of publishing become a reality.
Was there anything surprising in your historical research for this novel?
Spark of the Revolution takes place against the backdrop of the Boston Tea Party, and as I began my research I realized that the impression I had of that event was not as accurate as I thought. I had imagined the Tea Party as a loud, chaotic, mob-like protest, but in truth it was carefully organized and carried out in an orderly manner. The men even swept the decks of the ships clean after they finished dumping the tea, and ensured no other property was damaged. There was a padlock on one of the ships that was broken, and they replaced it the next day.
I also loved learning about the ordinary people who took part in the Boston Tea Party. Name’s we wouldn’t recognize, but who still had an impact. It was so interesting to delve into some of their stories and learn about their lives. One of them, Nathaniel Willis, especially grabbed my attention, so much so that I wrote a side character in his honor. Nathaniel Willis was only eighteen when he participated in the Tea Party and was a publisher for the Boston Independent Chronicle. After the Revolutionary War, he moved westward, starting a newspaper in each city he settled in. He was also the grandfather of N.P. Willis, an American author, poet, and editor who worked with authors like Edgar Allen Poe and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
Lastly, what’s the hardest part about being an author for you?
One of the hardest parts as an author of historical fiction is making sure my research is thorough, and then taking all that information and weaving it into the story in a way that feels natural and realistic. I love to bring the time period to life, and always strive to make things as authentic as possible.
Thanks, Megan, for sharing with our community today. And remember, friends…
Megan will personally sign the winner’s book and get it in the mail!
So tell me… Are you a historical novel lover? Do you share Megan’s (and my) love of historical events and real people?
Blessings from Nashville—and Happy Easter, friends. He is risen! He is risen, indeed!
Tammy
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNER!
CONGRATS, CAROLINE! So happy for you, friend. I’ll email you and Megan, and get you connected!
Thank you to everyone who commented and entered to win. We have the best community!
Megan’s second book releases in June.
Gorgeous cover, don’t you think?
Connect with Megan on:
Tamera Alexander
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I love historical novels. Welcome to this group.
Colonial history is my favorite part of history! Look forward to reading Megan’s books 📚
Tammy~ Mark & I would love to see you & Joe when you’re in Colorado!! Also have to tell you…. Jonas & Emily had a baby boy! You’re right- being a grandma is the sweetest!!
Yay! I’m so glad to hear it, Wendy. Colonial history has always been my favorite too
Thanks so much Lorraine! It was a pleasure to have the opportunity to share here!
So refreshing and inspiring .
Thank you, Jo! 🙂
Welcome to the community, Megan, congratulations on your new novel. History is a part of all of us. It is what shaped our country.
Thank you Carla! I love looking back at the events and people that shaped our country.
Yes! I love historical novels.
love to find new authors.
Thanks Dianna! I hope you’ll enjoy my stories!
Me too! I have loved reading them since I was young, and it’s such a joy to have the opportunity to write them now!
Good morning and welcome!
First I must tell you that I LOVE the cover on SPARK OF THE REVOLUTION! Then I read its description and I immediately put the book on my TBR list. Sounds exactly like a story I would find myself unable to put down once I started reading it.
As a new to me author, I enjoyed learning more about you and your writing process. Isn’t it amazing how life works where we often have to take the long way to getting to where we wish to be. I do love that you research and work towards accuracy in your books. After all, history of all sorts, directly affects us all in some way or other. One can usually tell when that has been done. And believe me, it makes a ton of difference to us readers.
Thank you so much for the amazing chance to win a copy of this amazing book! I would love the opportunity to read and review it.
Thank you so much, Kay! I love how both of my covers turned out – it was so much fun seeing them for the first time! I hope you will enjoy these stories!
Historical fiction is my favorite. I have always loved history. We used to visit historical sites when on vacation to Pennsylvania at my dads home town. My mother would always plan day trips to DC or Williamsburg, Gettysburg or Carter’s Grove etc.
I learn so much from Christian Historical fiction.
I love this! We took a trip to Colonial Williamsburg a couple years ago and it was such a great experience.
I love the book covers! It’s always nice to read a book set in a time period that the author is passionate about. It makes reading the book all the more enjoyable. 🙂
Thank you! I love how the covers turned out and it has been such fun to bring these stories to life!
Very intriguing! Congratulations and welcome!!
Thanks so much!
I so enjoyed the interview! Yes, historical fiction is my favorite genre to read, especially when it surrounds a historical event, I always learn something new. 🙂
I love learning new things about history through fiction too!
The American Revolutionary War is one of the our favorite historical periods around here!Looking forward to reading your novels.
Yay!! I love to hear that!
Megan,
Welcome to our Community! I love History and therefore love Historical Christian Fiction books! Excited to read your series!
Thank you! I hope you enjoy it 😊
Wonderful interview! I devour historical fiction.
Thanks! I always have a long list of historical fiction waiting to read 😉
Hi Megan! Welcome to the community. 🙂
I do love historical novels and particularly ones set in the early days of our country. My imagination is always sparked and I wonder what it would be like to visit that timeframe. If only time-travel was real! Thank you for throwing my name in the hat for the giveaway of your book. It looks amazing!
Wouldn’t it be fun to be able to time travel for a day or so and experience it?!
Congratulations on your book! I love American history, and look forward to reading your books.
Thank you! I hope you enjoy them!
Thanks for joining us on the blog today, Megan! All my very best wishes with your release. [No need to enter me in the giveaway. :)]
Thanks so much Becky! I’m honored to be here!
Thanks for the giveaway opportunity. ☺ I started becoming more interested in history when I learned more abkut my family heritage. We go back to before the American Revolution and had Civil War veterans too. My dad was in the Korean War and my parents were married in the middle if it. Reading Christian historical fiction has helped “put me in their shoes” and be more interested in learning about history. Something that didn’t happen when I was in school.
I love to hear about new authors. Megan, I look forward to reading your stories.
Thank you! I hope you enjoy it!
Oh that’s so cool! I love digging into family history.
I’m much the same. I feel like I learn so much more through historical fiction that makes it come alive!
I think Megan Soja has a fresh look on the happenings of the oft-written events in the Colonial history.
Thank you, Kati! You’ve been such an encouragement to me for this book!
I love history, I majored in American History in college.
Oh so cool!
It says that tis is a duplicate post. It is not.I love history, I majored in American History in college.
What an interesting interview!
I have loved Historical fiction since I was a little girl reading the Little Miss series as a girl in the 1950’s.
This period of history isn’t written about as often any more.
I agree, there isn’t as much written in this time period lately, but I love it so maybe someday it will pick up again!
I didn’t like history much in school. It was hard for me to remember dates. I have grown to love reading Historical fiction. I find I learn so much. I even look up on the internet for more info about the time period.
I was like that too…didn’t love history classes but always loved historical fiction!
Yes I read historical fiction … I read a lot & my favorite in these books is faith based & romantic.
I weave a lot of faith into my stories and always love a romantic happy ending too!
Historical fiction is definitely my favorite genre.
Me too 😉
Welcome to Inspired by Life & Fiction, Megan! As it happens, I do love history and used to live in Massachusetts. When I was in high school, a group of friends and I walked the Freedom Trail in Boston (do they still have the footprints painted on the sidewalks?). Books set during the Revolutionary War always interest me if for no other reason than my own history with that area.
So cool! I’m not sure about the footprints still but I have walked parts of the freedom trail. I also loved the Tea Party Museum (which is probably no surprise 😉)
I love the American Revolution! This book sounds wonderful!
Thanks Joan! I hope you enjoy it!