I’m sorry. I know you would just as soon never hear the “p” word again. You know which word that is. Right? Okay, I’ll just whisper it: Pandemic.
When I started to work in 2021 on All She Ever Dreamed, Book #2 in the Boulder Creek Romance series, a pandemic was the last thing I wanted to think about. After all, that was our reality. Been there, done that, so over it!
When the novel opens in 1898, we meet Jeremiah. He has wandered around the country for nine years, ever since the death of his wife, Marta, and their newborn son. I didn’t think a whole lot about what caused Marta’s death. After all, for much of the world’s history, 50% of women died in childbirth. Her death could have been for any number of reasons.
Jeremiah left Idaho fourteen years earlier when he and Marta eloped as teenagers. They knew five years of happiness, despite being poor. Still, he blames himself for her death, and he’s been on the run from those feelings ever since. In the book’s opening scene, he realizes it is time to go home to Boulder Creek and the family farm that was left to him by his father.
Of course, there are other complications awaiting him when he arrives, including his unwanted attraction to Sarah, the granddaughter of the sheriff. Creating and writing those complications consumed my thoughts as I wrote the novel. The back story of what specifically killed Marta wasn’t my first priority.
But eventually I had to know more about her death. So I did a bit of research.
And serendipity struck!
In my writing, I had already established that Marta died nine years before the book opens. Meaning in 1889. And guess what happened in 1889. The start of the Russian Influenza pandemic (1889-1890). The outbreak began in May in what is now modern day Uzbekistan. The first pandemic to spread worldwide and not just through a region, the Russian Influenza reached US soil before the end of that year.
By the time it ran its course in 1890, 6.7% of the world population had died from it. Putting that number in perspective, less than 1% of the today’s population of 8 billion have died from COVID (per statistics I found online).
As difficult as the last few years have been, the lockdowns and isolation, the quarantines and fears of today showed me ever more clearly how the pandemic of 1889 would continue to impact Jeremiah nine years later.
Like it or not, authors often write what they know.
WHAT HISTORICAL EVENT(S) HAVE YOU READ ABOUT IN A NOVEL THAT FELT VERY CURRENT TO SOMETHING HAPPENING TODAY?
I’m giving away a Kindle copy of the two books in the Boulder Creek Romance series, Even Forever and All She Ever Dreamed, to one winner.
Robin Lee Hatcher is the author of over 85 novels and novellas with over five million copies of her books
in print. She is known for her heartwarming and emotionally charged stories of faith, courage, and love. Her numerous awards include the RITA® Award, the Carol Award, the Christy Award, the HOLT Medallion, the National Reader’s Choice Award, and the Faith, Hope & Love Reader’s Choice Award. Robin is also the recipient of prestigious Lifetime Achievement Awards from both American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America®. When not writing, she enjoys being with her family, spending time in the beautiful Idaho outdoors, Bible art journaling, reading books that make her cry, watching romantic movies, and decorative planning. Robin makes her home on the outskirts of Boise, sharing it with a demanding Papillon dog and a persnickety tuxedo cat.
It doesn’t have to be in a novel. So many things in history repeat. We have to have faith that the good will overcome, people will heal, and we learn.
Yes, there is nothing new under the sun.
It is true history repeats itself. I love your books, Robin. Thank you for telling about that pandemic. I didn’t know.. They did lose more than we have.
Thanks, Kim. So glad you enjoy them. History does repeat. Our hope is we will learn from it.
Three years later we are still affected. Sad.
There’s a line in the show The Chosen where Jesus tells Simon Peter, “Get used to different.” I’ve said it a lot during the past three years.
Yes history often repeats itself. Sometimes we learn from it and do better and other times we just let it happen again. I love your books.
So glad you love my books, Linda. I appreciate you telling me.
Robin, I have no trouble still talking about the pandemic. I’m just glad it’s O.V.E.R. I think it’s something that will continue to impact us and that we need to constantly review and reassess how we responded. Like VietFreakingNam. I also do historical nonfiction, and I have to say the War in Southeast Asia still has ripples. Ripples are okay if we learn from them.
I’m a World War I nut and have always been fascinated by the influenza epidemic of 1918. I also lived through the polio epidemic in the 1950s. No, I didn’t get it, but it affected our lives.
Love your stuff!
Kathy Bailey
I’ve written several books set in the WWI era. And I too was around for the polio epidemic. I remember going to the school when I was 5 to get the polio vaccine on a sugar cube.
The Spanish flu is what comes to mind immediately after hearing the word “pandemic”. I guess when we’re “in it” we think we’re the only ones but when you know that it’s occurred many times throughout the history of the world it puts everything into perspective. Thank you for the chance to win copies of your books.
Yes, the Spanish Flu of the WWI era is what came to my mind when covid first started. I remember thinking that the Internet made it easier for us to bear because we didn’t have to be 100% isolated.
having history repeat itself is common knowledge, its just the when it happens that only God knows!
Agreed, Teresa!
History does repeats it self. This time however I think is the first time the “pandemic “ will continue as more people will continue to die with the “sudden death” which I believe is related. Looking forward to reading your books.
I am so thankful, in the midst of the pandemic, that I could rest in the Lord and know that whatever happened was in His hands. Thanks for reading. Hope you enjoy my books!
I am so thankful, in the midst of the pandemic, that I could rest in the Lord and know that whatever happened was in His hands. Thanks for reading. Hope you enjoy my books!
Yes history repeats it self over and over just like the styles change over the years to be the same from other years. We will get through this just like before.
Yes, I never thought the bell bottoms of my youth would return multiple times during my life. LOL!!
@RLH You really made me laugh about bell bottoms and I particularly remember a pair with navy blue and gold stripes (polyester of course) that I rocked in 8th grade and knew for a fact looked good. 🙂
Such a joy to have you with us at P&P, Robin. 🙂 I so enjoyed reading All She Ever Dreamed. Love the Boulder Creek Romance series. Bring on those rugged cowboys! 🙂
Thanks, Karen!
Of course, a virus that makes many die and many more get sick. War is another. I’m sure there is more that I can’t think of at this moment.
A giveaway is a great way to find a new author to add to my go to authors list. I love the opportunity to read one of your books.
Yes, definitely war. Thanks. Hope you’ll enjoy my books.
I read all kinds of Christian genre’s, and if you read historicals, which I do, and if they are based on reality, you’ll deal with race relations back then, and we still deal with that today. Pandemics have been around for as long as people have, so to have that in a book is realistic, too.
Yes, definitely race relations. Thanks for that addition.
Natural disasters, massive flooding, sudden weather events prior to techs ability to predict…1889 blizzard in northern plains (blizzards children)
Excellent additions to the list. Thanks, Kate.
good morning. wow that is a coincidence. this sounds like a very good book. a pandemic of one sort or another have always been around. some of them are still around quilting dash lady at comcast dot net
I hope you’ll enjoy reading the book, Lori.
snow storms
Definitely, and a blizzard plays a part in ALL SHE EVER DREAMED!
Hi Robin, we’re so excited to have you! This is just wonderful. And what an interesting blog. I hadn’t heard of the Russian Flu epidemic. Wow! But I do know about the Spanish flu in 1918 and the 50 million that killed. This Covid we have seems to continue to linger even going on four years. I’m exhausted from trying to cope with everything. And you’re right, the pandemic affected every part of our daily lives. This inflation really drags my spirit down. Congrats on the new book! This looks like a great series. Wishing you much success.
Thanks, Linda. It’s fun to be here.
I read Cradle Of the Reich by Jennifer Coburn last week. It was a WWII novel and there a scene that struck me in there as being so similar to events that have happened in the last few years. There was a riot and a burning of a house of worship. The character was pulled into the fray and was horrified at what was happening but at the same time her friends were cheering the destruction. Her struggle of recognizing that was happening was wrong but yet the people she admired, loved and respected were participating in the destruction. As the saying goes history does tend to repeat itself and we have to really look closely at issues and not necessarily follow the crowd mentality.
Oh, this is so true, Nicole. There have been things on the news in recent years that sent chills through me because of what I’ve read and written about from history.
Unfortunately, history tends to repeat itself in many aspects of life – politics, economics, leadership, security, etc. I see world events today that mimic the past century. My grandmother was the daughter of a small-town doctor, and she told me many sad stories about the Spanish Influenza Epidemic. Thank you for sharing the history regarding the Russian Epidemic, as I was not familiar with it.
Nothing new under the sun. All too true, Catherine.
Yes, history does repeat itself over and over again and I believe it will continue to happen that way.. Things come and go all the time or should I say things come and go , come and go and they will continue. Have a great weekend. I enjoyed reading this blog. Your books sound like great reads and I love your book covers.
So glad you like the covers of the books in this series. I’m very happy with them.
The line between and A single light both by Tosca Lee. Somewhat similar to the Covid pandemic we still are going through.
Interesting. I’ll have to check out those books. I’ve read others by Tosca but not those.
I think the political division in our country right now echos back to how things were in the era just before and during the Civil War. In novels set during that time I’ve seen reference to how it was and it reminds me of how divided we are today.
Rachel, in historical accounts through several decades since the Civil War, I have read quotes that say, “Our country has never been this divided.” It has caused me to realize that many people have felt as we feel for more than 150 years.
I do not recall any particular event in a book, but I have finally noticed how this world is returning to the bigoted, racial façade which was many fought to rid us of and now it is returning to us all with rapid force. We almost have the Ku Klux Clan back again with the rioting and killing of a specific race of people as well as Christians. So many people are losing their minds when gunning down children in schools. May GOD guide us with discernment and understanding.
In this world we will have tribulation. Take heart. Jesus has overcome the world. Amen.
Pandemics have made history shift course so often. The Russian Flu, the Spanish Flu, and the most current COVID-19 have all had such an impact.
Very. true.
Welcome, welcome, Robin! We’ve met in the past, but my goodness, it’s been awhile. So great to have you here, sharing your wonderful blog. We’re delighted to help you promote your Boulder Creek series. Come back and see us again!
I would love to come again. Thanks for having me, Pam.
I see a bit of similarity between what is happening in the Eukraine and what led to WWII. The encroachment into another country the aggressor claims should be theirs, using ethnic charges as part of the reason for the attack on a population, and the response of other countries. More have jumped in to help today than prior to WWII, but there are still isolationist voices saying it isn’t our problem. The war crimes being committed by the aggressors are no less heinous today than they were over 70 years ago. It is only one instance of the inhumanity shown when a power hungry person acts to eliminate those who oppose them or are different than them. There have been many instances since WWII , Cambodia for example, and others acting against those in theor own country today. It is difficult to keep fighting these abuses, but not doing so will result in a meaner, less safe world where no one is safe.
I am glad to see the current number of books set in and around WWII coming out and exploring it from so many different angles.