Synopsis: Petite Juliana Beauchamps possesses a vivid imagination, which comes in handy as a librarian. When a handsome giant of a lumberjack comes to town and rescues her from possible tragedy, she’s shaken by the event. A dashing beer baron, James Yost, from Milwaukee, also pursues Juliana’s attention. Meanwhile, a library trustee determines push out the female librarians.
Set in 1891, in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Book Three in The Christy Lumber Camp Series focuses on Richard “Moose” Christy, the youngest of the sons, as he prepares to manage his first lumber camp. When Yost hires Juliana to organize his personal library, and her letters from Wisconsin suggest foul play, will Richard need to save her once again? And will his secret need to be revealed to win her heart?
The first two books of the series are:
Guest Post by Carrie Fancett Pagels
Secondary Characters – Amputation
When I recently wrote the third book in The Christy Lumber Camp Series, Lilacs for Juliana, I got to the end and there was a storyline thread that I wanted to wrap up neatly. The trouble was—the ending I imagined took me down a rabbit trail. You see, I wondered if my hero, Richard, might really come across one of Juliana’s deceased brothers—who’d perished in the Civil War. So I did a WHAT IF?
The scenario I had was of Richard finding a homeless man in Milwaukee, who ended up being one of the brothers. I began researching Civil War veterans in the 1890s. Then I went to Pinterest and found all kinds of horrific pictures of these poor men who’d had limbs (in some cases all!) amputated!
I had to go back to the drawing board. In the end, I didn’t see that this ending was realistic nor necessary. Although I’m not positive that all of Juliana’s three brothers killed in the Civil War are indeed dead, for this book it didn’t serve any purpose, other than distracting me, to have Richard discover one of them. So in the end, it served no purpose to have one of the brothers come back as an amputee who’d survived. Now I need to clean up that Pinterest board, because this was not an aspect of the novel!
Question:
The author has to think of the reader when writing. Have you considered that? Have you ever read a book where you thought—why did the author bother including that thread in the book? Why did they add that extraneous stuff at the end?
Giveaway For This Post: A paperback or ebook copy of Lilacs for Juliana, or any one of the other books in The Christy Lumber Camp Series. Comment and leave your email address to win.
Blog Hop Giveaway: To enter for a 6 inch Magenta (Hot Pink) Kindle Fire and a cover case, hoppers need to comment on at least SEVEN of the blogs. Blog Hop Schedule:
September 12th Overcoming with God
September 14th BookBabble
September 16th Cheryl B Book Blog
September 18th D’s Quilts & Books
September 23rd Sunnie Reviews
September 24th Buzzing About Books
September 30th Captive Dreams Windows
October 1st Singing Librarian Books
Carrie Fancett Pagels (www.carriefancettpagels.com) “Hearts Overcoming Through Time” is a Christian historical romance author. "Saving the Marquise's Granddaughter" releases from Pelican Group/White Rose in 2015. "The Lumberjacks' Ball" (2015) is the second book in The Christy Lumber Camp Series. Her historical romance novella, Selah Award finalist, The Fruitcake Challenge (2014) hit the #1 spot bestselling in genre on Amazon and was also finalist for the Family Fiction Book of the Year. In July, 2014, Carrie won in Historical Genre for Family Fiction's The Story 2014 contest, with her short story The Quilting Contest, now available in published anthology from Salem Publishing. Carrie's novella, Return to Shirley Plantation: A Civil War Romance, was an Amazon Civil War best seller and remained on the top-rated list for a year. Her short story "Snowed In" was published in Guidepost Books A Cup of Christmas Cheer. Nonfiction chapter contribution to Selah Finalist God's Provision in Tough Times by Cynthia Howerter and LaTan Murphy (Lighthouse of the Carolinas, 2013).
Represented by Joyce Hart of Hartline Literary Agency. Founder of Colonial American Christian Writers group. Owner/administrator of the group blogs "Colonial Quills" and "Overcoming With God." Member of Romance Writers of America (RWA), American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), and FaithWriters.
Was a licensed psychologist for over twenty-five years. Has an adult daughter and a middle school aged son. Married the love of her life, Jeffrey D. Pagels, in 1987.
Carrie is the former ACFW Zone Mid-Atlantic Zone Director and Virginia/West Virginia Area Coordinator and continues to serve as co-hostess of the Tidewater Area Christian Writers group.
40 comments:
CONGRATULATIONS Ms. Carrie on another wonderful story! I am looking forward to reading Lilacs for Juliana.
psalm103and138[at]gmail[dot]com
Sometimes when I read a book where the main character is too flawed, whiny, or dislikable I wonder if the author thought what the reader would think- it's hard to connect with a character that one doesn't enjoy reading about.
Congratulations Carrie on your new book! Thanks for the fun giveaway :)
colorvibrant at gmail dot com
In answer to the question I generally tend to like all the extra information.
marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
Carrie, I don't remember doing that. But knowing you, bet you could written a good story out of it. Loving this Hop. Maxie > mac262(at)me(dot)com <
The not dead brothers is an interesting thought. I have a 3-great grandpa who disappeared after the Civil War. He didn't die and there was talk he had a different family after the war. (His wife had died at the beginning of the war leaving my 2-great grandma with her grandparents as a 2 year old.) I can not find any info on him anywhere after the war.
Looking forward to reading Lilacs for Juliana.
dbdempsey98(at)gmail(dot)com
I loved Lilacs for Juliana, Carrie, and enjoyed hearing about your rabbit trail! Maybe we'll discover one of Juliana's brothers in another story. :)
texaggs2000 at gmail dot com
This sounds like a great story!
I don't like the extra's that go nowhere...
Trisha B
d_stevens310 (AT)live(dot)com
Sounds like a great story. A want to read.
CARYL, Thanks for coming by! Thank you for your kind words! I hope you'll enjoy Moose's story!
HEIDI, I just read one like that and I said to my daughter, "Who would read this?" and it is because of failure to make the heroine likable and relatable. Have a blessed day!
MARY, Sometimes extra information is good as long as it isn't down a rabbit trail. That leaves readers scratching their heads! Blessings!
I have read the first two books in the Christy Lumber Camp series so far and they are so much fun! I very much look forward to reading Lilacs for Juliana.
sydneyjames68[at]gmail[dot]com
BECKY, I have a different story, my Maggie finalist, not-yet-published that has a character like this but he is necessary to the plot. My guess, living down here and having seen so many Civil War sites, is that either he did not survive or he disappeared into the south. Those mountains, fields, rivers, where the battles took place--oh my. And many bodies were never identified. Which is very sad. Thanks for sharing. I'd like to think your GGGPa survived, had another family, and lived out a happy life.
BRITNEY, I have already started brainstorming a story for Juilana's two brothers who WILL be returning!!! All is not as it seems. Apparently Mrs. Beauchamps hasn't shared all of her letters with her daughters. Those brothers are not absent because they don't care for the family--far from it! Thanks for asking!!!
I agree, TRISHA! That drives me crazy!!! Which is why I had to delete all that stuff on the rabbit trail I went down. I've deleted most of the pics of Juliana's not dead but dead brothers as, indeed, those three did NOT survive the Civil War. They did not need to be brought back. i DO have another story where there is a survivor, different book, and it IS necessary to the plot. Blessings!
It's nice to know that authors think of their readers! :) I especially like lose ends to be tied up, questions answered...or at least enough information given for the reader to walk away feeling fulfilled rather than full of questions and ponderings. I am a huge fan of Civil War stories so am excited to have discovered your books! Thanks for the chance!
Kim
kdanisk@yahoo.com
Oh yes, authors had better think of their readers, Kim! I will admit there are a number of "literary" authors who don't care. But I think many romance writers want a "happy ever after" ending and no loose ends! I have a Civil War book that I am getting the rights back to! Civil War has become a puzzle to me since discovering I had an ancestor serve -- and not on the side I would have thought!!! Blessings!
DEBI, thanks for coming by and I hope you get to read this new book! Will enter you in the drawing! Blessings!
TY SWEET MAXIE!!! I just saw your comment there! Many blessings to you and TY for coming by! Hugs!
Hi KIM, again!!! You are the winner of a paperback on this blog hop! I will send you an email! Congrats and blessings!
Congratulations Kim--enjoy the book!!
I have loved this series so far and am very much looking forward to reading Lilacs for Juliana! A blog hop is such a fun idea. :)
Thanks, Sydney! The readers get to visit all these great blogs! Blessings!
I'm going to have to pick this book up. Sounds great!
Love your books!
I haven't read any of your books but they sound very good, i would love to read them.
lisaboesehaems(at)hotmail(dot)com
Congratulations Carrie. I would say that there are occasions where I wonder what the author is thinking. I read a book recently where the author talked about the character being overweight and kind of moaning over it here and there but still giving in to many goodies. Later the author revealed the character weighed 125lbs (not what I would call heavy in the slightest) and the height was mentioned earlier as well and it was well over 5 feet. It really knocked me right out of the story. I wondered if the author forgot how they introduced the character. It was odd.
KellysShining(at)gmail(dot)com
Yes there are times I ponder on what the author is thinking when writing a character. I can sine times get lost in the book if there are to mint characters. It confuses the storytline.
Deana
Jhdwayne@peoplepc.com
I'd get lost on rabbit trails every time I tried to write. Thank goodness I'm not a writer! I will leave that fun stuff up to you all. ;)
lattebooksAThotmailDOTcom
I am reading a book now (to remain un-named) that I do wonder why the author put two twists in, but I'm sure by the end of it, it will all make sense. At least I should hope so!
Thankfully, I haven't ran into too much of this kind of writing. I think it would distract me to the point of giving up reading the book.
Thank you for the chance to win a copy of "Lilacs for Juliana", would love to add this to the other two in the series :-)
teamob4 (at) gmail (dot) com
VICTORIA, I hope you have been able to pick up the series!!! Blessings!
LISA, thanks for coming by and I pray you'll get to read the entire Christy Lumber Camp Series and love the Christian message in them!
JOY, I could NOT do this without the Holy Spirit's help. So I'm glad you are loving what He is doing through me!
Well honestly, KELLY, since you are a writer, too, you realize that there are a number of authors who are NOT thinking about the reader as they are writing. I agree with you about that height and weight not being something where an average reader would relate to the heroine fretting over her weight. Now if that really was an issue, maybe she could play up in the book WHY the heroine is placing undue concern on a minor matter. But you don't want to leave the reader scratching their head. Blessings!
DEANA, yes and it is usually frowned upon to introduce a new character at the end of a book. Blessings!
SUSAN, I really have to fight to stay off the rabbit trails. I know many Seat of the Pants writers who are okay with doing a lot of that but I find it distracting. Thanks for coming by!
TRIXI, I think usually a critique partner or an editor will catch those lines and urge them to be trimmed. Once in a while they get through. Blessings!
I like the name "Moose"!
Can't wait to read they sound wonderful!!
Carrie- I love the way you write, You are a rock star in my eyes!
Love ya!!
Justina( Tina) Wilson
Fun give away
I love all the extras....but have never thought about the author thinking of what the reader is thinking of while reading.jackie_tessnair@yahoo.com
Oh yes, I am always aware that an author writes in consideration of the reader. Of course, not every reader is the same; some know more than others, some do not. I think it's great of an author to think of the reader and give details when needed. sabs.joy@gmail.com
That thought has never occurred to me. I usually learn something from each book I read and the questions etc at the end just make me think even more. fishingjan[at]aol[dot]com
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