I love finding obscure bits of history that I can build a story around. My soon-to-come novella came about in just that way. As I was looking through some history timelines, I came across a reference to The Toledo War in Ohio. With a little more digging, i discovered that the state of Ohio and the territory of Michigan each did a some grandstanding over the official placement of the line between them. And the new city of Toledo was literally caught in the middle. Thus, Time Will Tell was born.
I’m so excited that this story will wing its way into the world in the next couple of weeks. And very excited about the cover that will accompany it! (If you want to know when the book is ready for purchase, be sure to sign up for my newsletter on the home page of my website: www.annemateer.com
Now enjoy a bit more about the story followed by the cover itself.
Spring 1835
Returning home after two years at the Buffalo Ladies’ Seminary, Annis Jackson believes God has blessed her with the perfect homecoming: a whirlwind romance with a man she’s loved from afar during her time at school. Except the object
of her affections, Hugh Hylton, is related to her father’s most bitter enemy, a man determined to see Toledo firmly in the grip of the state of Ohio and the very one funding Hugh’s newspaper venture.
After several years of newspaper work in Buffalo, New York, Hugh Hylton jumped at his uncle’s offer of financial help to start a newspaper on the opposite shore of Lake Erie. And when he discovers during the steamship voyage to his new home that the woman he’s been dreaming about for the past year, Annis Jackson, loves him back, his future seems secure. He arrives in Port Lawrence, part of the newly named town of Toledo, ready to approach her father and declare his intentions toward her.
But Annis fears Hugh doesn’t understand the depth of the personal conflict over the positioning of Ohio’s state line and persuades him to conceal their relationship until she can prepare her father to accept Hugh in spite of his family connections. Then the Michigan militia arrives in the Toledo Strip, determined to prevent Ohio elections, and the situation gets out of hand, making their secret more difficult to guard. Suddenly the future of the newspaper—and their relationship—is as unstable as the fate of Toledo itself.
Will Hugh and Annis survive their feuding families? Only time will tell.
How much does your connection with a cover influence your decision to purchase or not purchase a book?
Latest posts by D'Ann Mateer (see all)
- The Cheer Squad - May 7, 2025
- Guest Post: Crystal Caudill - April 16, 2025
- D’Ann’s Favorites - April 13, 2025
What a gorgeous cover! I worked in newspaper offices when our kids were young…not quite as long ago as the wooden letterpress type or linotype 😉 but before word-processing as we know it today. So this sounds like a great story!
Thanks, Deb! 🙂
In all honesty? The cover doesn’t play a part at all. Maybe it’s all the years I spent borrowing books from the library, where the books are stored spine out.
I’m attracted to this novella because of its setting and the context. I’d not heard of the Toledo War either, but it sounds a bit like the the Pennamite-Yankee Wars in Pennsylvania during the late 1700s.
I’m familiar with the southeast end of Lake Erie, mainly because I live in western New York, and have visited Erie and Cleveland. We keep saying we should visit the western portion, if only so hubby can return to Cedar Point and I can see Put-in-Bay!
As a reader, the cover might entice me to read the back cover, but it is ultimately the story (or not!) that invites me to open the pages. Glad the “short version” of this story intrigues you! 🙂
I really like your front cover as it is different than the majority of what you see these days (photo of female main character). I love old, antique things, so the typeset and clocks lure me in. The cover can influence my decision to peruse a book from a display, but often I read from familiar authors.
I grew up about 40 minutes from Toledo, so have heard about the Toledo wars from Ohio history. I enjoy history, especially of areas that I am personally connected to, which makes me want to grab your book to read as soon as it come out. 😁
Thanks for sharing your new novella with us!
I’m so glad you like the cover! And how fun that you have some knowledge of the area and the historical background. Of course that also makes me nervous . . . 🙂
Just a little while longer until you can read it!
A great cover always catches my eye when I am book shopping.
And I think that’s why as authors we are always nervous about the cover!
What an interesting tidbit to discover and create a story around, Anne! And I love the antique pocket watch paired with the typeset letters. What a perfect match for your story and your title. I’m guessing by your series title that there will be more stories to come in different places across the country with more fascinating historical tidbits? I hope so. Sounds fun!
Yep. Hoping the move across the country in location while moving forward in historical moments. It’s been fun!
Beautiful covers draw the eye, but I always read the back of the book. You novella sounds wonderful! I love the use of such an unknown part of history. It’s going on my TBR list for sure!
Thank you! Look for it in a couple of weeks! 🙂
Your upcoming novella sounds great!
The cover is more important when the author is unknown.
Good point, Staci! I find that to be true as well. 🙂
I usually notice the cover first but I rely on a favorite author as well.
Which is why we have book covers, right? 🙂
I volunteer in the church library and have for almost 40 years.
They say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but I do. If the cover is changed and I haven’t read the book then I’m in trouble. That is how I know whether we have the book or not is because of the cover.
I have been known to turn the books on display around so that only their backside is showing. You would be surprised how many books get checked out that way.
Interesting! Someone should do a study turning books forward and backwards and see which ones get checked out most! That would be fascinating!
I might have to check this book out just for the fact that it revolves around the Toledo War, which is obscure unless you live in Michigan or Ohio. And as a native Michigander, I can tell you positively that Michigan won that war. (though Ohio might disagree, lol). The rivalry between Michigan and Ohio still semi-continues today, though it is “fought” over football nowadays.
I love that you know about it! And hilarious your take on the outcome! In all my reading no one ever said that! But it’s a valid point. And yes, now it’s football. 🙂