When Barbour asked me to anchor the Daughters of the Mayflower series and to write several books for the series, I was thrilled. And completely fascinated with the idea of following a family line through US history from the Mayflower all the way through WWII.
What I didn’t realize was what the research would do for me personally. I love history. Love the west. But what a thrill it was to learn so much more depth about our country’s great history.
For instance, in The Mayflower Bride, (1620) I had to use all the historical people who were actually on the ship and only fictionalized my hero, heroine, and her best friend. Research for this book, I must admit, was brutal. But oh, so worth it. One person in particular has caused hundreds of readers to write in: John Howland. His escapade of falling overboard that I used in the book, really did happen. How he managed to grab the topsail halyard is truly a miracle in and of itself. What’s the most interesting tidbit to me about his whole story is that he ended up having ten children, eighty-eight grandchildren and now? There’s almost two million descendants of his in the United States. Out of all the passengers aboard, he has the most descendants. By almost double. Imagine what would have happened if he had been lost to sea that day.
Then there was The Patriot Bride (1774-1776). Researching the American Revolution was extraordinary. But in my research, I became engrossed in biographies of George Washington and Benjamin Franklin. So, of course, I had to use them in the story. You’ll have to read the book to find out about how I incorporated Ben’s quirkiness and use of “air baths” – and let’s not forget his love of swimming.
In The Golden Bride, I learned about all the ships buried beneath San Francisco’s streets, and how they expanded the city’s shoreline by building on the landfill. The gold rush of 1849 was not a time and place I would have enjoyed living in!
Which brings me to The Express Bride, my latest release in the series which takes place in 1860 during the impressive and short era of the Pony Express. For this book, the tagline is: The wilderness is a great place to hide…
And it was. The picture from Karen Rochon is a good idea of what the area looks like today – and back then. Hasn’t changed a whole lot. Except for electricity. ? She posted this picture in an avid readers group when she read my book. Can you imagine being that far from “civilization” back then? But the Pony Express stations had to be every 10-20 miles so that the riders had places to stop and eat/sleep, and so there were fresh horses since they rode at breakneck speeds. It cost a small fortune to send something via the Pony Express (approximately $145 equivalent today – to mail a letter!) and yet it was highly used.
IMG 3346 credit – Karen Rochon (this picture is about 50 miles east of the Carson Sink Station area from The Express Bride and is what the terrain looks like.)
A strong theme of forgiveness is woven through the story with the heroine finding out hidden secrets of her past. And there’s a bit of suspense and espionage too.
Through this series, it’s fun to explore significant events in US history and to find the love of family and friends standing the test of time. Make sure you check out all the other great authors in the series as well. The Express Bride released on July 1, 2019 and it is the 9th in the series.
Thanks for journeying with me today!
God Bless you!
Kimberley
Giveaway: Leave a comment about your favorite event in US history or your favorite historical character and you’ll be entered in the drawing. I’ll be giving away three signed copies of THE EXPRESS BRIDE along with other goodies.
Welcome Kimberley- What a great blog, I loved the history you were able to explore. My favorite event to study or read about in US history is a sad one. Sand Creek Massacre, I’m only about 2 hours from the site and finally was able to visit it in 2017. So heartbreaking but I swear when I was there at the site I could feel a presence. Not a scary one, but a grieving one.
Thanks for visiting the P & P site and sharing the history you’ve researched.
Hi, Kimberley. I love the Daughters of the Mayflower series. Your The Express Bride is next on my list to read. I haven’t read all of the books in the series yet, but I hope to. The ones I have read are just wonderful, especially the swoon-worthy heroes!
Hi Kimberly!!! ?????
I LOVE THIS SERIES!!! ???????? SO grateful you anchored this beautiful, Christian, adventurous, and wholesome series that revolves around Jesus!
I would have to say my favorite historical figure in history is Josephine Baker!! ??????
She was born in America and moved to glittering Paris and was a huge historical influence in the 1920’s Art, music, movies, and so much more! She loved children and adopted them from around the world!
Than you for the opportunity!! God bless you!!
Hi!!! Sorry for the question marks!!!!!!!! Don’t look at the question marks lol mistake! Sorry! Thank you!
This books sound amazing and so varied. I would love the Pony Express one as that has always fascinated me.
I love histiry. I’m putting this series on my TRL. There are so many historical events and characters through time. It’s actually hard. I would have to say all of our veterans through every war would definitely be favorites.
With the kind of research you did, I can imagine your books are really good.
Thank you for a great post! I love to visit historical homes and sites as well as gravesites of historical people.
I’m enjoying reading this series so much! I’ve read Mayflower Bride and Patriot Bride, and learned fascinating details about our country’s history. My favorite period of our history is WWII. My husband (a retired history professor) and I have watched countless WWII movies together, so I’m particularly eager to read the book set during that time.
I love historical fiction! It’s neat to learn something new. I think Jane Addams is really unique. She was the first woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize, and is known for her advocacy of women and children in the Chicago area.
Your series sounds wonderful and I will have to read it. I have always been interested in the Civil War Ara. I think its because I live close to where a lot of it was fault. I love history so I am always interested in reading about different historical events.
I love reading about any event in history.
What a wonderful post. I have been going through my ancestral history and I believe that some of them were on the Mayflower. Right off hand I can not think of the name. But it was a woman who fell off the ship while it was docked and drowned. Can you imagine going all that way only to that faithful end. Thank you for sharing.
When I was a young bride, I actually did my master’s thesis on the movement for organized birth control in the U.S. It was fascinating to realize how much the world had changed for women in just a generation or so. I love learning more about the lives of women who came before us and how they paved the way for the freedoms we enjoy now.
Good Morning and Welcome. I love reading about the Trail Of Tears what our Native Americans went through was horrible.
Historical event would have to be the great depression to see not only this country but other countries going through a very rough 15 years and the programs that the president created to try and help. My favorite program was the Pack horse library project of Kentucky. The book woman of trouble creek is based on the program.
Hi, the books sound amazing I would love to read these books, I will be adding them to my TBR list. Thank you for the chance. I love stories that have to do with the plantations and the time of slaves, I cannot imagine what the poor slaves had to go through. Have a Great week end. God bless .
My favorite event in U.S. history is Wilbur & Orville Wright’s successful flight. Thanks for you fascinating post which interested me greatly.
Your novel sounds captivating and special. History is important and has always been a favorite subject which I enjoy reading about. A historical figure would be Teddy Roosevelt who was extraordinary in many ways.
So many historical events which were profound. One that has reminded me about life, struggles and triumphs is Edison and his inventions which were important and meaningful.
Welcome. Wow how interesting, especially about John Howland. I would love to read this series. It actually is on my list to buy. I love history. Which went down to our son, who lived and breathed history. He got his bachelors and masters in history. For me I think one of the most historical times in history is the Trail of Tears. I have a lot of Cherokee blood and because of this I know a lot of history in our family line about this happening in time. Our family took a vacation following the trail one time. This history is passed down to our children who also embrace it.
I just love all these posts. I always learn something new, And just when I think I have a favorite time or place or character something else catches my attention. Now I need to find out more about ships buried under Dan Francisco’s streets. That’s right in my neck of the woods. Thanks for the giveaway
Love this! Your research has made for some fun reading. One of my favorite times to read about is the Chicago fire. I love stories surrounding that! There were many big fires in Michigan here during that year also because it was so dry.
I have always been fascinated with the Civil War, I think mainly due to reading Gone With the Wind in the 7th grade. I love history and it’s hard to single out a single person but I will say Abraham Lincoln because of his ties to Kentucky.
I would love to be entered into this drawing.
Connie
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com
How fascinating! Those years coincide with my history minor, and I do so love reading about those days of yore.
Hello Kimberly! I’ve been enjoying The Brides of the Mayflower series! The Battle of the Alamo is one of my favorite historical events.
Thank you for this fascinating post!
Kimberly, what an awesome story about your series, and the historical references took my breath away! I’m looking forward to touring Plymouth Rock and Cape Cod this autumn, and I can’t wait. I won’t to look up your stories and read them before I go there!
I adore anything about American History! It’s my passion! We just got back from Washington DC and I loved everything about it! I wish I could have stayed there a month but my small granddaughters were with us and they didn’t have a lot of interest in it! It was a family vacation. I want to go back! Your books look so interesting. Can’t wait to read them!
Y’all are so much fun!!! I’ve loved reading your comments!
My favorite time in US history is the American Revolution. It is very intriguing to me all that happened.
Thanks for the chance to win!
I haven’t read any books in this series and they sound amazing! I think my favorite historical figure in America is Lincoln.
I love historical fiction! But one of my favorite real-life historical figures is Old Hollywood actress Hedy Lamarr, who, during WW2, invented a frequency hopping technology that guided torpedos in a way that made the signal impossible to block by the enemy. This invention ended up being the basis of WiFi and other wireless signals we now use every day. Pretty amazing.
I love learning about the Revolutionary War era. How brave people were then and how much they overcome to survive in this country and win our freedom.
I love historical fiction!! One of my favorite eras was durin the days of President Theodore Roosevelt and reading about his daughter Alice in American Princess. Also, the period during World War II is riveting reading about the bravery of the men and women during the Holocaust.
Edison and his inventions
We have been traveling through Alaska, the western provinces of Canada, and are now in Montana. The distances between towns as well as between neighbors is amazing. Things haven’t changed much over the years for these areas.
Sacajawea is an historical figure I have long admired. She was rather young, but still managed to leave on a difficult journey shortly after having a baby which she was most likely nursing. At such a young age, she was an important, contributing member of an historic expedition and able to keep up with strong and sturdy men who were unencumbered with a baby.
I am interested in the Mayflower and all the history surrounding it. I loved reading the Daughters of the Mayflower book. My couriosity comes from the fact that I have relatives that came to America on the Mayflower. Thankyou for sharing history with us!