What inspired my books? I’m often asked what inspires a book? Where do your ideas come from? The truth is they come from many places. Past experiences, dreams, bible verses, music… life. I think from now on I’ll answer with that one word- Life.
I’ve recently joined with Magnolia Blossom Publishing and my first series, “The Women’s Work Exchange,” is about a group of young women who join together to help middle class women support themselves.
“Saving Taylor,” is about a young singer named, Taylor Allen. Trained as a child to use the gift of her voice for the Lord, she is unprepared for the reality of her father’s gambling debts. Taylor’s voice is a magnet that draws in crowds, but not even her talent can save her when Thomas Whitt calls in her father’s debt.
Thomas realizes what he has when the crowds come to hear her sing and he isn’t about to let her go without a fight. After a brutal attack, Taylor runs for her life.
This prequel shows how the Women’s Work Exchange comes to life when Taylor finds help in an unusual place. She learns that the Lord has guided every step of her life and if she trusts in the power of his perfect Love everything will work together for his good.
The Women’s Work Exchange was inspired by the “New York Exchange for Women’s Works.” In 1878, two women decided to help middle-class war widows support their families. Instead of being forced into workhouses or working as soiled doves, they suggested that women could make items at home, and sell them.
“The Exchange sold handmade luxury goods that women could make at home and gave the women a percentage of every item sold. Thus allowing middle class widows to earn a living while still maintaining their reputations.” https://wams.nyhistory.org/a-nation-divided/reconstruction/ny-exchange-for-womens-work/
I was inspired by these women and thought it would make a great story. My characters aren’t war widows, but they are enterprising women who want to care for themselves in spite of their circumstances. They are single mothers, divorced, widowed, and some, like Taylor, are just in a bad situation. Saving Taylor is the beginning of how the Women’s Work Exchange comes to be and the special women who fight for more, and the men who come to love them.
Giveaway!
I love to discover unique facts about history that I learn through my research. Did you know that a man could divorce his wife simply by having a divorce announcement in the newspaper? It didn’t even have to be printed in the state they lived in! You can bet I used that in an upcoming book. Do you have a unique fact to share? Comment and I’ll send a free e-copy of Saving Taylor to one lucky commenter!
Saving Taylor
Can she convince him to trust her?
She is a woman on the run…
Taylor Allen is an eyewitness to a double murder. Raised in the church, she only sang for the Lord until her father sold her to pay off his gambling debts to the local Opera House. Taylor’s voice is a magnet that draws in crowds but not even her talent can save her from a murderer. After a brutal attack she runs for her life.
He’s taken hostage by a desperate young woman…
John Fielding Jr is on the way home from a business trip. How did a beautiful killer end up in his private sleeping car with a gun pointed at him?
Time is running short as they search the train to New York, seeking the woman that robbed and set fire to a saloon. They say she killed the owner and burned down several buildings in the process. John Fielding Jr. is determined to help prove her innocence and claim her heart in the process.
Lynn Landes
BESTSELLING AUTHOR – Illumination Award Winner
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Cowboys weren’t as illiterate and uneducated as they’re often portrayed. In fact, cowboys often read during down times and in the evenings. Books were prized, sold, and traded. Cowboy poetry grew from this culture.
Thank you for sharing! I can picture that easily in my mind. Huddled close to a fire and reading. Lynn L.
These books sound so interesting!
Thank you, Rhonda!
Welcome today. thanks for sharing this fascinating information. It must have been so fun to research this. This sounds like such an interesting book.
Thanks for the interesting information. I will have to read up on the Exchange.
I was telling my husband about this post. And he reminded me that we have found some really interesting things in our family tree. We have found so much. Like one of my ancestors was a sharpshooter in the civil war. And when he got out he got a land grant signed by the president of the US. Many of my ancestors were in different wars. On man didnt go to the civil war. He had 8 children at home and lived on a farm. He fell in love with his friends wife and the two of them ran away together.They had five children. When her husband came back from the war and found them… well my ancestor went back to his first wife. Oh my goodness. I knew that I was part Cherokee, but we found out how much. So cool
Hey Lori! It was fun. I love history and learning about the Women’s Work Exchange was amazing.
I have been researching my family history and have discovered some surprises. My father’s mother had 11 children and her mother had 8 children and had her 8th child at the age of 47!! Enjoy reading your books!!
Hi Angela, I love learning about my history as well! My grandmother had her seventh child in her late forties as well! Thanks for reading my books! Lynn.
I found out that one of my distant relatives had a son who was raised as her brother. The secret was kept for over fifty years and that decades ago. Both are deceased now.
Maternity package, dish draining closet and texting are Finnish inventions.
Fascinating.
This sounds fascinating. I love history and there so many tidbits in history that make it come alive such as your information. Looking forward to reading about it.
This sounds interesting! Who knew that you could divorce back then by putting it in the paper! Was that just certain states, or all??
Hi Trudy, I was surprised too! It was called “Divorce by publications.” The law is still in effect today but of course, not as simple now. It did vary by State, many states like Nevada and North Dakota had people flocking in to get a “quickie” divorce. They simply had to move to that state for three months or say they had and they could file for divorce.
Your books sounds really good and can’t wait to read it.
Arranged marriages though on the decline, still make up 55% of all marriages in the world. The divorce rates in arranged marriages are just 6%.
Books sound like great reads. Would love to read & review in print format.
I never knew there was such a program, thanks for sharing!
You are welcome. Thought it would be opposite but it wasn’t
I was looking up some odd laws and found this, not sure if it is really true, maybe a New Jersey resident can say for sure.
New Jersey is the only state in the United States where it’s illegal to pump your own gas. According to state regulations, only attendants may dispense fuel into the tank of a motor vehicle or any container. Violators are charged up to $250 for a first offense and up to $500 for each subsequent offense.
Hi Connie, There is definitely a story in that! Too funny. Lynn
It’s true. They have a strong lobbying group in the oil industry. It’s too dangerous to pump your own gas. lol
I think Oregon or Washington State has a similar law.
“Kleenex tissues were originally intended for gas masks”
Hello Lynn, You are a new-to-me author. Thank you for this interesting post.
When I saw the announcement of your upcoming post, The Women’s Exchange interested me. I had never heard of it, and ended up down the research rabbit hole to find out what I could about it. Most interesting, even more so because it is still in existence today. It is a wonderful option for women who need to stay home, but still need to work to support themselves. That is something many people, men and women, had to do these past two years.
Thank you for an interesting post. Best of luck for the success of this series.