Fairy Gold

The Greatest of These Publishing is happy to announce the release of their newest book, Fairy Gold. The novel was originally published in 1897 by Christian Reid, a pseudonym for Christine Fisher Tierman from Salisbury, North Carolina. Although her writing style resembles many of the 19th-century classical writers, such as Jane Austen, the Bronte sisters, and Grace Livingston Hill, Christian Reid's writing has a special charm all its own.

In order to keep the story flowing smoothly and have a broader appeal, the book has been edited and revised to have more modern punctuation, change confusing phrases, remove some of the redundancy, and be less religiously biased. However, there has been no effort to rewrite the novel or to change the writing style. The language of the 1800s is part of the book's authenticity, and, if needed because of the original sentence structure, some of the punctuation from an earlier style remains. If there wasn't a very good reason to make a change, no change was made.

In the book, Marion and her two friends graduate and get ready to leave their private school to begin new lives. Clara wants to succeed in art, Marion is determined to become wealthy, and Helen just wants to be happy. Clara learns there are more important callings than her art, Helen's fiance betrays her but she learns where real happiness lies, and Marion eventually sees what she had to give up to win her goal. When compared to what's really important, material wealth can end up being just fading "fairy gold." If you like rich characters that learn and change throughout a novel, you'll love Fairy Gold.

All profits from this book go to a scholarship fund for missionary children.


https://www.amazon.com/Fairy-Gold-revised-Christian-Reid-ebook/dp/B083PMQ586

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Winter Spinning and Weaving 

Because early housewives had so many extra chores, such as gardening, gathering, and storing food, to do during the other three seasons, activities like spinning and weaving, were often saved for inclement weather or during the winter months. In more populated areas, wealthier families could hire some of the clothes-making tasks done, but in poorer families, remote locations, and frontier areas, the family members did it all.

The process was lengthy, beginning with the raw material. They grew sheep for wool, flax for linen, or cotton for a serviceable cloth. Some of these could even be combined. The women or children usually prepared the fibers. Wool would need to be cleaned, flax hulled, and cotton deseeded. Then, they all needed carding to straighten the fibers and get them going in the same direction for spinning.

After going through the processes to make them usable, the fibers were spun into thick threads or yarn. There were two types of spinning wheels in America, the high or walking wheel and the smaller one where the spinner sat beside it. Cooler regions tended to use more of the high wheels because it seemed better for wool. Europe used more of the smaller, seated type. Coastal areas and more settled areas used both, although those who lived to the east tended to use the smaller wheel, and those in the west tended to use the high wheel more.

After the spinning, came the dyeing. Some kept records of their dye recipes with natural ingredients and mordants, and others went by memory. The range of colors could be extensive, but true blues and a bright red were harder to achieve. Women usually grew a small patch of indigo for the blue. Burgundy reds could be found in nature, but for a bright red, the main ingredient had to be ordered. The best early ones came from a small insect indigenous to places like parts of Mexico. Needless to say, not many people had a bright red.

To get cloth, the threads must be woven. It took skill and patience to string the loom, but the weaving was more fun, especially when weaving patterns. Women kept and shared patterns. This happened in my second novel in the Appalachian Roots series, Sown in Dark Soil.* Emma, Leah, and Patsy, not only saved the weaving until winter but Emma taught Leah and Patsy some of her patterns. The plaids were Leah's favorite to weave.

*All my profits go to a scholarship fund for missionary children.

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The Key to Peace and Contentment

Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith, to be content (Philippians 4:11).

There is a level of contentment and peace that doesn't depend on the people or circumstances around us. It is the contentment Paul was talking about when he said he could be content in whatever state he found himself. But how can we get to that level and find the joy it brings?

Submit yourselves therefore to God... (James 4:7a).

The answer is really simple. It's the doing it that's so hard. We must surrender all to God. Part of our sinful nature is to want to be in control of as much as we can. However, the truth is we can't control the people or things around us, so we aren't in control of much anyway. Some even have a hard time controlling themselves. Face it. We all need help.

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7).

It only makes sense to turn to God and allow Him to have full control of our lives. He sees all and knows all, including the future. He also wants the best for us, and only He knows what that is. So, why wouldn't we want to surrender our lives to Him? The extra benefits of doing so are freeing and amazing. We can get rid of worry, anxiety, and fretting and welcome lasting peace, contentment, and joy. The degree to which we yield control to God is the degree to which we'll have those added benefits. What an extraordinary way to live if we can only do it!

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Another Past Storms 

Jennifer Groberg has just finished narrating the second book in the In from the Storms series, Past Storms. I love listening to her read, and she's become the producer I go to when I need a female narrator. This is the fifth book she has done for me. (The others are Mountain Mishap, It All Started at the Masquerade, Deceitful Matters, On the Road to Jericho, and now, Past Storms.) She is a good follow-up to Douglas Birk's expressive voice in the first book in the series, Mountain Storms. A male narrator worked better for it, and this one needed a female reader.

In Past Storms, teenager, Jeannie MacGregor runs away from her brother’s remote mountain cabin in Wyoming and goes back to live with her aunt in Baltimore. She needs some sort of social life to meet her future husband. When the first man she finds interesting rejects her, she turns to the next man who shows her attention. Is Linden Olsen everything he seems to be – suave, gallant, wealthy, and from high society, or will he be the most disappointing of all? Nothing seems to turn out as she expects, and she returns to Wyoming expecting to face rejection and scorn, but she's surprised over and over again.

Dust Storms, the last book in the trilogy, is now in production. But all my books have definite endings, so you don't have to wait to enjoy the first two. If you are going to read or listen to them all, however, it would be best to do them in order, so there won't be spoilers. This is the first western series I've done, set in mainly Wyoming and Texas, but I do have plans for some others. Who doesn't love the Old West?

Check it out at: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07TBGJBG9

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Twelfth Night

Twelfth Night grew out of the church's celebration of Epiphany to celebrate the coming of the wise men after Jesus' birth and John the Baptist later baptizing Him. Twelfth Night came twelve days after Christmas and was celebrated on January sixth. It grew in importance from the seventh century as a bridge between Christmas and Epiphany, which would come on January seventh and was especially observed in the Middle Ages and on. In more modern times, the days were sometimes counted differently, and the date could vary by one day.

Several traditions and superstitions grew up around the time of Twelfth Night. One was that it would be unlucky to leave Christmas decorations up past the day. House blessings were also common. A special cake with a pea baked in it would often be served, and the person who got the piece with pea became royalty for the day and was treated as such. In fact, food and drink became more and more a part of the celebrations. The punch, wassail, and wassailing (caroling) became popular. 

Colonial Americans had their own versions of celebrating Twelfth Night. The Christmas wreath on the front door was taken down at the end of Twelfth Night, along with any other Christmas decorations, and any edible decorations, such a fruit, nuts, or berries were eaten. These were often used as decorations, along with the greenery. Although Twelfth Night has faded away in modern times, some areas still have remnants of the holiday. For example, in New Orleans, people may still gather for king cake parties, a modern version of the old tradition. Even those who don't celebrate may have Christmas traditions that originated with Twelfth Night.

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Herod the Great (or Not So Great)


Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him (Matthew 2:1-2).

Herod I, also called Herod the Great, had his part in what happened after Jesus' birth. He had risen in power to become the Client King of Judea, largely due to his father's good standing with Julius Caesar, his own military feats, and his ruthlessness in politics. He'd been born sometime around 72 BC and reigned from 37 BC - 4 AD, so he was aging at the time Jesus was born. He was not a Jew but an Edomite.

Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coast thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time when he had diligently enquired of the wise men (Matthew 2:16).

He'd told the magi from the East to come back to Jerusalem and bring him word of where they found the baby who was to be King of the Jews, so he could go and worship, too. These Easterners weren't called wise men for nothing, and they heeded the message from God to return to their country another way, knowing that Herod had evil plans. This incensed the king and who was known for his anger.

And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee unto Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him (Matthew 2:13).

Herod had a wide cruel streak. He had three of his own sons killed during his reign, so he would not have hesitated to have the baby boys in Bethlehem killed, and that's exactly what he did. He had every male child under two years of age around Bethlehem killed in order to destroy this threat to his kingship. However, being warned in a dream, Joseph and Mary fled to Egypt, and Jesus escaped the massacre.

And he sent, and beheaded John in prison (Matthew 14:10).

Not only was Herod I selfish, unreasonable, and cruel, but he left a legacy of evil cruelty. His son, Herod Antipas, was the ruler who had John the Baptist beheaded, and his grandson, Herod Agrippa, killed the apostle James and attempted to kill Peter. Christians have always had to face evil intent. We should face it the way Joseph and Mary did -- by relying on God and being obedient to Him.

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Sales for Series 

I've been told over and over by authors and publishers that a series sells much better than a standalone. Supposedly, a series leads to multiple books selling while a standalone is only one. Although this makes sense, I haven't found this necessarily true. 

My two best-selling books on Amazon are standalones -- Mountain Mishap and When Winter Is Past. Mountain Storms, the first book in my recent series, In from the Storms, is beginning to also do well, but it's too early to tell if it will lead to sales of the other two books in the series or not. Most months, Mountain Mishap and When Winter Is Past continue to outsell all the other books combined. They have been phenomenal, and I wish I could figure out their secret. 

I recently did a poll asking if I should introduce a novel in the planning stages as a standalone or part of a series since it could be done either way. Overwhelmingly, three-fourths of the people said a series is best, but my experience makes me question this. I'm wondering if releasing standalones isn't better unless some of the same characters appear in all the books. I also wonder if other well-published authors have had similar experiences with series and standalones.

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