Story Sparks and Six Authors: Featuring Jodie Wolfe Today!

125^th Anniversary of the Cherokee Strip Land Run of 1893

By Jodie Wolfe

Welcome to the Story Sparks multi-Author Blog Tour. Between May 21-26, 2018, readers get a chance to enter and win ebooks from six different authors. Today, Jodie Wolfe is the featured author. Two lucky winners will be awarded either her To Claim Her Heart or Mrs. Wigglesworth's Essential Guide to Proper Etiquette and Manners of Refined Society. Jodie will be talking about the Cherokee Strip Land Run of 1893. Read on to discover what sparked Jodie's creativity and to enter the Rafflecopter to win her heartwarming book.

September 16^th will mark the 125^th anniversary of the Cherokee Strip Land Run of 1893. It was our Nation’s last great race for land. 115,000 people showed up to race for 42,000 plots. I can clearly picture that day. It was hot and dry. Folks gathered along nine different starting places located along the Kansas border and south of the Cherokee Strip in Oklahoma Territory.

All manner of conveyances could be seen—people on foot, horseback, buggies, wagons, bicycles, trains, etc. I can easily imagine the clamor and chaos as all those assembled awaited the gunshot that would signify the start of the race at noon. People were desperate. The country had undergone an economic catastrophe with the plummet of the New York Stock Exchange due to the overinvesting in the railroads. Many businesses that depended upon the railroad were forced to close their doors. Quite a number of banks either closed or called in their loans. It was a difficult time.

Such is the backdrop for my new novel, To Claim Her Heart. This book is especially significant to me since it was my dear mother-in-law who introduced me to the history of the land run. It mattered to her because she had several relatives who completed in the landrace and found claims. I vividly remember the summer of 1997 when we stopped off in Oklahoma to see one of those original properties. My sons and I tromped over the land and saw the homestead that was built in 1894. The first home had been a soddy that didn’t last longer than a year.

The rock home I saw was partially built into the side of a hill and in a state of disrepair. A stream gurgled nearby and within a couple of miles, the Gloss (Glass) Mountains cropped out of the landscape. It didn’t take much for me to start imagining characters tromping through the area and choosing to settle there.

While Mom never lived to see this book finally published, she knew that I was working on it in her last days. I’m so thankful that she shared her rich family history with me. Quite a few of the family stories she told me were included in my book.

Here’s what the back cover blurb says:

In 1893, on the eve of the great race for land, Benjamin David prays for God to guide him to his 'Promised Land. Finding property and preaching to the lost are his only ways of honoring his deceased fiancée. He hasn't counted on Elmer (Elsie) Smith claiming the same plot and refusing to leave. Not only is she a burr in his side, but she is full of the homesteading know-how he is sadly lacking.

Obtaining a claim in the Cherokee Strip Land Run is Elsie Smith's only hope for survival, and not just any plot, she has a specific one in mind. The land's not only a way to honor her pa and his life, but also to provide a livelihood for herself. She's willing to put in whatever it takes to get that piece of property, and Elsie's determined to keep it.

Her bitterness is what protects her, and she has no intentions of allowing that preacher to lay claim to her land . . . or her heart.

Links:

Purchase Link for To Claim Her Heart: https://www.amazon.com/Claim-Her-Heart-Jodie-Wolfe/dp/1946016470/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1525790723&sr=8-1&keywords=to+claim+her+heart

Website: https://www.jodiewolfe.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jodie-Wolfe-553400191384913

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JodieAWolfe

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/JodieAWolfe

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15220520.Jodie_Wolfe

Purchase Link for Mrs. Wigglesworth's Essential Guide to Proper Etiquette and Manners of Refined Society:https://www.amazon.com/Wigglesworths-Essential-Etiquette-Manners-Refined-ebook/dp/B07CMWB8KB/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1525963859&sr=8-4&keywords=jodie+wolfe

Bio:

Jodie Wolfe creates novels where hope and quirky meet. The power of story to influence lives and change hearts is what motivates her to weave tales that tell of the Savior's faithfulness and forgiveness. She's been a semi-finalist and finalist in various writing contests and is a member of ACFW and RWA. When not writing she enjoys spending time with her husband in Pennsylvania, reading, walking, and being a Grammie. Learn more at www.jodiewolfe.com.

Here’s the first scene:

Chapter One

Competition should be relegated to the male species. Proper young ladies should avoid a situation which permits rivalry, particularly involving the male species. If unavoidable, allow the gentleman to win. Be above reproach in this manner.

Mrs. Wigglesworth’s Essential Guide to Proper Etiquette and Manners of Refined Society

September 15, 1893, Kiowa, Kansas—Border of the Cherokee Strip

“Elmer Smith?”

For once in all of her days, Elsie welcomed the name Pa had insisted on when her life began and Ma’s had ended.

“Is that you, son?”

“Ain’t your son.” Ain’t no one’s son. Elsie shifted her Stetson lower to ward off the man’s scrutiny.

“There’s no need to get your prickles up. Do you testify you’re at least twenty-one years of age and head of your household?”

Elsie nodded and bit back a retort.

“Then sign here.” The man shoved a paper across the makeshift desk. Beads of moisture dotted his upper lip.

She scrawled her name on the line. The page crinkled when she folded and shoved it into her shirt pocket, along with the copy of The Homestead Laws and Pa’s hand-drawn map.

“Get out of the way, kid.” A scraggly looking fellow jabbed into her shoulder.

Elsie stepped out of line, glaring at him. He ignored her and turned his attention to the clerk.

She elbowed through a crowd of men. How had her small town swelled to so many folks? Thankfully there were few she recognized, or, more so, who could recognize her. The less who knew her gender, the better. She certainly didn’t need no man to help her get the land she and Pa had dreamed about.

Elsie scooted her hat up and swiped at the sweat on her forehead before dropping it back into place, scrunching the thick braid she’d pinned up three days prior. Hefting her saddlebags to her opposite shoulder, she hiked the short distance to the livery and retrieved Buster. A short ride would clear her head and prepare her for what lay ahead.

Dust swirled and nearly choked Elsie as she rode in the opposite direction of the throngs, to see the old farm one last time.

Acrid smoke filled her lungs. Nearby fires, to deter Sooners from entering the strip before the race began, burned in the west, but not out of control.

Elsie urged Buster, careful not to tire him. Everything hinged on finding the land tomorrow.

Everything.

At the beginning of each chapter I created advice from a Mrs. Wigglesworth. Of course, most of my characters do the complete opposite. :) Because I’ve had such positive feedback in regard to these sayings, I created an ebook of her quips. I’ll be giving away a copy of it as well as an ecopy of To Claim Her Heart, so be sure to leave a comment.

Question for Readers:

What time period/historical event draws your attention?

ENTER to WIN BOOKS!!

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/831a42731/?

Welcome Historical Writer, Margaret Brownley!

Readers, make sure to leave your comment and email address for a chance to win, "A Suitor for Jenny!"


How long have you known that you were a writer? Did you receive a clear “call?” Or have you just loved writing all your life?


I’ve always wanted to be a writer and wrote my first “novel” in 5th grade. In high school I entered my angst-driven stories in the annual Seventeen Magazine contest, and didn’t even merit an honorary mention. No one thought I should pursue writing, probably because I failed 8th grade English. To this day I still can’t diagram a sentence. When my kids reached junior high I volunteered as the church newsletter editor, and got a bit too creative. After making the church picnic read like a Grisham novel, my then pastor took me aside and suggested that maybe God was calling me to write fiction.

What is the genre you write in? Would you explain what it is?

Currently I’m writing inspirational historical romances for Thomas Nelson. My stories take place in the Old West.

How do you spend your writing days? Do you set goals to reach a certain number of words per day? Can you give us a general idea of how long it takes you to write a novel?

An early riser, I’m at my desk practically every day of the week. I take off an hour for lunch and an hour to make nice with the treadmill. I then spend the remainder of the day on left-brained stuff (phone calls, promotion, blogging, answering reader mail and nibbling on chocolate). It generally takes me six months to research and write a historical novel.

Tell us about your new book. What is the spiritual message in it? What can readers expect to get from reading it? How and where can readers buy your book?

A Suitor For Jenny is the 2nd book in my Rocky Creek Romance series.

I got the idea from a meeting notice in an old 1800s newspaper. It was for a group that called themselves “The Society for the Protection and Preservation of Male Independence.” I don’t know what happened to the group or if its members managed to maintain independence, but I knew I had a story.

Of course confirmed bachelors aren’t the only problem that confronts Jenny Higgins when she rolls into Rocky Creek, Texas determined to find suitable husbands for her two younger sisters. The town falls short of her expectations, but she refuses to be discouraged. Once her sisters are safely married, Jenny plans to put the past behind her, move far, far away and start afresh.

Armed with “The Compleat and Authoritative Manual for Attracting and Procuring a Husband,” she follows every rule in the book. Much to her dismay, none of the men meet the stringent requirements, one of which is passing the PHAT (Potential Husband Attitude Test).

Jenny thinks she knows how to pick perfect husbands and it take two rebellious sisters, a handsome marshal, and a whole lot of faith to convince her otherwise.

Do you ever feel like giving up? Most people don’t understand the stress, the work, and the joy of being a writer. How tenuous becoming a writer is. Do you care to share how it feels, what discouraging/encouraging times you’ve gone through?

Writing is hard work, no question, and yes, I’ve wanted to give up. Fortunately for me, the love of writing has always been greater than the disappointments. I had a long dry spell between books following the death of our oldest son. I didn’t think I’d ever write again and when I finally did, the market had changed, so I had to start from scratch—and that was tough.

Who’s inspired you the most?

I love to write about the Old West because I have the utmost admiration for the thousands of pioneer women who left home and family to create a new life in a raw and sometimes hostile land.

Would you explain how you “chose” (or were chosen by) a publisher? Do you just go “inny, minny, miny, moe?”

Finding the right publisher is too important for guesswork. Fortunately, my agent did the hard work of finding the right publisher for me. But even with an agent you have to do your homework and know what publishers are looking for.

Now, that you’re published, can you sit back and relax from the success you’ve experienced?

I don’t think a writer can ever sit back and relax. There’s always the next book to write, the next deadline to meet and another book to promote. I’ve published more than 20 books and I think it gets harder with each book. I’m always trying to dig deeper and write better. You have to keep reading, writing, promoting and feeding the creative muse. This has always been true, of course, but it’s even more important in today’s financial climate. Readers have limited funds to spend and have to choose their books wisely. Writers have an obligation to provide the best entertaining read possible.

Do you mind telling us some of your likes and dislikes? Hobbies, interests? Where would you like to travel if you could?

Between writing and family I don’t have much time for hobbies. Reading is my favorite past time and we like traveling in our RV. The book I’m currently working on is set in Arizona, so that will probably be our next destination.
You recently had a book published. How and where can readers buy your books?

A Suitor for Jenny can be purchased on-line or at your favorite bookstore. And of course A Lady Like Sarah, a Women of Faith selection, 2010 RITA finalist and Heart of Excellence Reader’s Choice winner, is still available.
Would you give us your blog or webpage so everyone can check it out? Anything else you’d like to share? Promotional information?

• Website: http://www.margaretbrownley.com/
• I’m a resident blogger at http://www.petticoatsandpistols.com/
• Stagecoach Etiquette for Readers: Have A Little Faith

Thanks, Margaret, for visiting my blog today!
Blessings, readers!