Today I’m thrilled to have Donna Schlachter with us sharing about her new release, Hollow Hearts! Plus, she’s offering a giveaway, so be sure to enter!
Oftentimes we look back on moments in history and think them glamorous. The good old days. Sometimes we even fall into a kind of revisionist thinking that makes us believe those days were better than the ones we’re living in now.
For my book, Hollow Hearts, I’d read an article about women in the 1860s having few options, and widows having fewer still. It’s a well-known fact that unattached women had few options apart from marriage, and there were far more men in the West than women. It wasn’t unusual for a widow to receive one or more offers of marriage on the way from their dead husband’s funeral.
In another piece of research, I learned that right along the Green River in Utah, the ground was soft enough for a cemetery, and that many wagon trains heading west stopped off there and buried their dead. As you can imagine, crossing the prairies and the rugged landscape, often the soil was rocky, or clay, or simply not deep enough.
LIFE WITHOUT A HUSBAND
As a married woman, I sometimes wonder what life would be like without my husband, and let me tell you, I treasure him even more when I look at situations where a widow must now fend for herself.
In Hollow Hearts, my heroine wonders if God listens to her prayers. Certainly the Almighty didn’t when she begged Him to save her husband’s life. And when the men around her fix their eyes on her to get them out of a bad situation, she wonders where God is in all of this.
OUR LOVING CREATOR
The beauty of knowing our loving Creator is that He isn’t angered when we question Him in this way. Instead, He draws us closer into His presence, holding and comforting us. And while we may not have all the answers, at least we don’t feel quite so alone.
God promises never to leave us or forsake us. What a beautiful nugget to grasp onto when it seems the dawn will never come. But even the darkest night cannot hide the truth of His love and compassion for us—no matter where we find ourselves, or in what state we stand.
MEET DONNA
A hybrid author, Donna writes squeaky clean historical and contemporary suspense. She has been published more than 50 times in books; is a member of several writers groups; facilitates a critique group; teaches writing classes; ghostwrites; edits; and judges in writing contests. She loves history and research, traveling extensively for both, and is an avid oil painter.
Connect with Donna: www.DonnaSchlachter.com
www.DonnaSchlachter.com/blog
www.HiStoryThruTheAges.wordpress.com and www.AllBettsAreOff.wordpress.com
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/DonnaschlachterAuthor
Twitter: www.Twitter.com/DonnaSchlachter
Books: Amazon: http://amzn.to/2ci5Xqq
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/donna-schlachter
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&query=donna+schlachter
Etsy online shop of original artwork: https://www.etsy.com/shop/Dare2DreamUS
FAITH-FILLED FICTION
Stories of faith and resilience on the Midwest prairie & the Civil War Era
Inspirational Historical Romance
~Available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble
**Connect with Cynthia Roemer on Facebook, Goodreads Bookbub and Twitter.
GIVEAWAY
Hollow Hearts releases today, and is available here: https://www.amazon.com/Hollow-Hearts-Book-Pony-Express-ebook/dp/B0B5B7H4XG
Leave a comment, and we’ll draw randomly for a print copy (US only) or ebook of Hollow Hearts. Don’t forget to cleverly disguise your email address like this: Donna AT livebytheword DOT com
Question: What is the trait you consider the most important in a spouse? I’ll go first. For me, he had to be a Man of God, active in his church.
I love these books. The cover is so beautiful. Thank you for this opportunity.
You’re right! It’s very pretty. Thanks for stopping by to enter, Barbara!
loyalty
Definitely! Thank you!
Yes, I’m glad I didn’t live prior to the mid 20th century. When I was young, Susan B. Anthony was my hero.
Hi Bonnie! Yep. Those were difficult times. But so interesting to learn about. Thanks for sharing!
Honesty
Thank you for sharing. Blessings
Thanks, Lucy! Blessings to you too!
I wanted a husband that was of the same belief as me too. I’m so thankful for the life we had in church. We were married almost 45 years and he passed away in August of 2021. He had cancer for almost 11 years but did fairly good until the last 4 months of his life. I can tell you widowhood is not great. I have been so lonesome, something I hadn’t ever faced. We got 2 daughters and their husbands and 6 grandchildren. If it wasn’t for that I don’t know how I would do. Our youngest daughter and her family lives right next to me and that’s a blessing. But did you know you can be in a room full of people and still be lonesome? That’s how I have felt this year without my husband. But with the help of God I am going to make it.
Oh, I’m so sorry, Brenda. That is so very hard. My mom is going through that same loneliness after losing my dad. They were married 59 years. He also died of cancer. A terrible disease. And you are right. Sometimes the loneliest places are in a crowd. But you are also right that God is walking with you. And what a blessing to have family so close. Hugs and prayers as you seek the Lord’s strength and peace.
The most important quality in a husband for me is that he be saved, a child of God. After that, his reputation. My husband has both. 🙂
Wonderful qualities to look for in a husband. Mine fits that criteria as well. Thanks, Sharon!
Having a deep rooted faith in the Lord is the most important trait in a spouse to me. I met my husband in church and we are blessed to be married 39 years.
A definite blessing, Maryann. Thanks for sharing and stopping by to enter. May the Lord bless you with many more years together!