* WINNER LISTED BELOW *
Thank you, gals of Inspired by Life and Fiction, for allowing me to guest post about my recent release, The Steeplechase, which is part of Forget Me Not Romances “Love’s Sporting Chance” collection!
Living in a large catchment area referred to as Hampton Roads, Virginia, and sometimes Tidewater Virginia, I’m surrounded by history. In fact Yorktown (where I live), Williamsburg, and Jamestown form the Historic Triangle of Virginia. So much colonial and early American history happened here, that you really can’t escape it – not that I’d want to!
Early in Virginia’s history, the Church of England reigned supreme as place of worship…
Tithes were required to be paid to the church. There were other rules, too, that mandated church attendance (during certain times of our colonial history). The Church of England/Anglican church was the only “recognized” faith. But when German/Palatinate settlers came into the western borders of Virginia, their Lutheran faith was overlooked because the settlers helped form a boundary between the townspeople on the coast and the Native Americans inland at the “western frontier” which then was the western border of the commonwealth of Virginia near the Appalachians.
Grace Episcopal Church
While I was researching a novel set during the War of 1812, I was surprised to learn that many of the now-Episcopalian churches had been shut down after the American Revolution, some not even opened again until near or after the War of 1812. These lovely churches had been Church of England or Anglican and Virginians didn’t trust that association with their former adversaries.
In my new release, The Steeplechase, I have a group of young men gathering to race from the steeple of Williamsburg’s
Bruton Parish church, a tremendously historic and beautiful Episcopal church which edges the corner of modern-day Colonial Williamsburg. Someone has urged the young men to race one another through the countryside and down to Grace Episcopal, another historic church in Yorktown.
Who put the young men up to this? Why?
In the story I answer those questions, as a spy becomes known during the build up to the War of 1812. And my heroine has determined that she will race from steeple to steeple, too!
About Carrie’s new novella, The Steeplechase:
Martha Osborne fears for her six-year-old brother, who was shuffled off to boarding school when his British mother departed to England.
Set in Hampton Roads, Virginia, in the build-up to the War of 1812, expert rider Martha plans to substitute for her older brother in a “race to the steeple” to win the prize—and a bet with Phillip Paulson, equestrian trainer at Yorkview Academy, to help have her little brother returned home. When Phillip stumbles upon the real reasons behind the secret race, he finds he may not be able to keep his end of the bargain. Can he save Martha and her brother? And will his heart be lost in the process?
What historical fiction/romances have you read recently?
What do you enjoy most about the historical genre?
Carrie
Note: Carrie has had a death in their family (of her favorite uncle) so, as it turns out, she and her family are traveling this week. I’m sure Carrie will comment as soon as time allows, so keep those comments coming.
A Giveaway
A paperback or ebook copy (winners choice) of The Steeplechase
Simply leave a comment on this blog post today, March 29, 2016,
and your name will be entered in the drawing!
Winner’s name will be posted on this blog post Wednesday, March 30, 2016
and winner will have 48 hours to respond with contact information.
If no response, a new winner will be drawn. Thanks, all!
And the winner is!
Congrats, Heidi!
Please contact me here (under Send me an email)
with your contact information,
and I’ll connect you with Carrie!
~ Tammy
Learn more about Carrie:
Carrie Fancett Pagels is a multi-published award-winning author of Christian historical romance. Twenty-five years as a psychologist didn’t “cure” her overactive imagination! She resides with her family in the Historic Triangle of Virginia, which is perfect for her love of history. Carrie loves to read, bake, bead, and travel – but not all at the same time!
Carrie Fancett Pagels
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Tamera blogs every first and third Tuesday at Inspired by Life . . . and Fiction, a group blog she shares with a wonderful community of authors. If you'd like to join the conversation on this post, Tamera would love to see you there!