When tragedy suddenly strikes the Summers family, they have no choice but adapt to the situation. They have lost a beloved husband and father. Now Mrs. Summers and her four daughters (Sarah, Emily, Viola, and Georgiana) face the cruel reality of penury. What are five genteel females to do? Help comes in the form of Miss Fran Stirling, a former lady’s maid who once served Mrs. Summers. She suggests that the Summers’s women let out the rooms of Sea View, the great house where they live in Sidmouth. The unwell Mrs. Summers and her daughter Viola initially balk at the idea, finding it to be beneath their dignity.
Hope: A Lenten Meditation
When I attended the Ash Wednesday service yesterday, I was overwhelmed by the beauty of it all. When most people think of Ash Wednesday, they are likely to think of seriousness or formality. It is a day that kicks off an entire season of introspection, sacrifice, and prayer. It is a time where we consider what sins we committed or …
Into the Desert: Ash Wednesday and Lent
This is one of the most important times of the year for Christians. It’s a time where we strip our altars bare of any decoration. Gone are the flowers that festooned the altar just days ago. This is a time of the year where we turn inward. We turn our eyes to the love and wisdom of Jesus. Even though …
Candlemas: Preparing for Lent
Candlemas is one of my favorite times of the year. It takes place on February 2nd and commemorates the presentation of Jesus as a newborn in the temple. It is situated about half way between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. Even though it is still dark and cold outside, it is a time of hope. With each passing …
Quiet Time with the Lord
I am excited to get up early every morning. I see God’s glory reflected in the radiance of the sunrise with its rosy pinks, delicate yellows and golds, and soft blues. Often drinking a hot drink of tea or coffee, I rejoice in the Lord and his goodness. In fact, I am overwhelmed with love and gratitude when I …
Grief and Trust
Are you there, Lord? These are the words I sometimes whisper in moments where it seems like gloominess has choked out all the light. The beginning of this year was a difficult one for my family because my uncle passed away. For years he courageously battled cancer. There is nothing quite as heartbreaking as seeing a strong person decline from …
Alternate Endings: Marie Thérèse Remembers
In this post, we are going to explore the inspiration behind my short story, Marie Thérèse Remembers from the Alternate Endings anthology. This was an anthology that was created by eight authors and is presented by the Historical Writers Forum. This is my first foray into the world of publishing. It has been quite a journey! For the people that know me, …
The Early Days in Five Points: Part 1
Greetings and thank you for visiting my blog. Today I am going to be discussing the Five Points, a poverty-stricken area in New York City of the nineteenth century. My work in progress, Mrs. Foxley’s Secret, opens up in a slum-like setting in 1826. My main character, Helen Barnet is living in poverty with her troubled father who is addicted …
Who Was Marie-Thérèse?
Greetings! In this post we are going to talk about my upcoming short story: “Marie-Thérèse Remembers.” We are also going to explore who Marie-Thérèse of France was. We know so much about her ill-fated parents, King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette. Marie-Thérèse experienced all manner of torments during the Reign of Terror and she was the only member of …
How it All Started
You can say that I live with my one foot in the modern world and my other foot in the past. I still remember that day like it was yesterday. It was 2012 and I was attending a Catholic university. One of the requirements for graduation was to complete some service learning. The point was to dedicate your time and …
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