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 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!