There is something about Yosemite that takes my breath away every time I visit. The mountains, tall trees, beautiful meadows, and waterfalls are amazing. No matter how many pictures you see, they just don’t compare to standing there and seeing it for yourself.
When I started writing Anna Yosemite National Park Bride, I knew I wanted Yosemite to be an important part of the story. I wanted my readers to be able to picture the tall pines, hear the birds, and imagine traveling through this beautiful country with Anna.
Anna Larson has known heartache and loss, but she hasn’t given up on her faith or the hope that God still has a plan for her life. Her journey brings her to the area around Yosemite, where she meets Christian Anderson, a hardworking wheelwright who lives in Wawona.
Christian wasn’t expecting Anna to come into his life, and Anna certainly wasn’t expecting him.
As they get to know each other, their lives begin to come together through simple things like church, family meals, wagon rides, and everyday life. Of course, things don’t always go smoothly. There are a few questions to be answered along the way, and Anna has to decide if she is willing to trust her heart again.
One of the places I especially enjoyed including in the story was Wawona.
I love researching historical places for my books, and it is always fun to imagine what they might have looked like so many years ago. What would Anna have seen? What would the roads have been like? How long would it have taken to travel from one place to another? Those are some of the things I think about while I’m writing.
Travel was certainly different in Anna’s time. Horses, wagons, and buggies were a normal part of life, and a broken wagon wheel could become a much bigger problem than it would be today.
That is where a wheelwright came in. A wheelwright was a skilled craftsman who made and repaired wooden wheels for wagons, buggies, and carriages. The work took skill and precision because those wheels had to stand up to rough roads and daily travel.
There is something else that makes Christian special to me. Christian Anderson was a real person who lived during this time and worked as a wheelwright. I enjoy taking bits of real history and weaving them into my stories, and Christian gave me the opportunity to do that.
Of course, the Christian you meet in Anna Yosemite National Park Bride is part of my fictional story, but knowing there really was a wheelwright named Christian Anderson made him especially fun to write.
Faith is also an important part of Anna’s story. She doesn’t always know where God is leading her or what her future will look like. She has to trust Him one step at a time. Christian has a few things to learn about trusting God too.
I hope when you read Anna Yosemite National Park Bride, you will enjoy visiting Yosemite and Wawona with Anna and Christian. Maybe you’ll even feel as though you’ve taken a little trip back in time.
*****Giveaway*****
I would be happy to give away an ebook copy of Grace Crater Lake Bride. To enter, please answer the questions:
Have you ever visited Yosemite National Park? If you have, what was your favorite part? If you haven’t, is it somewhere you would like to visit?
Blessings,
Paulette D. Marshall
I have never been to Yosemite, but it would be a great park to visit.
Good morning. It is beautiful. I’m sure you would enjoy it.
So nice to chat with you.
I have never been to Yosemite National Park maybe someday.
Hi Sharon,
It is always nice to have a wish list.
There are a few parks I have on my wish list too.
Have a wonderful day.
Blessings.
YES – 1969 we spent the night in our Camper along the river in Yosemite – traveled all through it and remember it like it was yesterday – look forward to taking hubs out there hopefully soon after retirement!
Teresa,
That sounds like fun!
I love that. It should be fun.
Have a wonderful day.
Blessing
Teresa,
That sounds like fun!
I love that. It should be fun.
Have a terrific day.
Blessings
Welcome today. Thanks for sharing such a wonderful post. Ohh I have to look into this series. My parents passed on their love of Yosimite Park to us kids. We never went on the water, but we traveled from the desert upon into the mountains. I personally loved the mountain part of it all the best. The trees and animals and looking down. Soooo cool. We took our kiddos to the park also and they were “that’s nice mom and dad”. LOL each to their own I suppose.
Hi Lori
That sound you had a wonderful time.
I never went into the water either, but I hiked a few trails.
Those tall trees are so beautiful and so are the waterfalls.
Have a wonderful day.
Blessings.
I have never visited Yosemite, but we have been to Glacier National Park in Montana. It was breathtaking. Also, we visited Yellowstone, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and the Grand Canyon. I am sure there are more, but I can’t recall at present. It was a privilege to visit these preservations of our country’s glorious sights.
Hi Judy,
I have never been to Glacier National Park. It is one of the parks on my list, along with a few others, like Yellowstone too.
It was lovely chatting with you. I hope you have a wonderful evening.
Blessings.
No l’ve haven’t ever been to Yosemite National Park, but I’ve went to the Smoky Mountains which was gorgeous. I would probably enjoy going to Yosemite national park.
Karijean,
Good morning.
I would love to see the Smoky Mountains. I have heard they are beautiful.
Maybe someday I can visit them.
Have a terrific day.
Blessings.
Your book sounds wonderful. I have never been to Yosemite but would love to go. We have visited Arches, Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, Canyonlands, Glacier, and several other national parks but never made it to Yosemite.
Thanks for the opportunity to win one of your books.
good morning, Sarah
It sounds like you’ve been to some wonderful Nation Parks. I’ve been to a few, although I never made it to Yellowstone, Glacier, nor the Smoky Mountains. Those are on my wish list.
Wonderful to chat with you.
Have a good day.
Blessings
No, unfortunately and now the POTUS is trying to give parts of it away.
Hi Kate,
I hope you get the chance to see at least part of it.
It was nice chatting with you.
Have a good day.
Blessings.
I have visited several national parks, but never Yosemite. It is one I would like to visit.
Elaine,
It always nice to have a wish list.
That is wonderful that you have been to several nation parks.
It was nice talking to you.
Have a lovely day.
Blessings.
I would love to visit Yosemite. Yellowstone is also on my bucket list of parks to visit.
Kim,
Yellowstone is on my list too. It sounds beautiful.
It was nice chatting with you.
Have a wonderful day.
Blessings.
No, I have not.
Good morning, Bridgette,
There are a couple of the National Parks I haven’t been able to visit either. It’s wonderful that they have many books out there with pictures of National Parks.
It was nice chatting with you.
Have a terrific day.
Blessings
I have never been to Yosemite and since I don’t travel anymore I doubt I ever will go.
Quilt Lady,
I’m sorry to hear that.
Sending you a hug and prayers.
I hope you have a wonderful day.
Blessings.
No I haven’t. I’d LOVE to visit ALL the National Parks. I live in Ohio and the only one I’ve been to is The Great Smoky Mountain National Park. So beautiful. If I didn’t need so many medical specialist, I’d love to move somewhere in those mountains.
Carrie,
Good evening.
I’ve heard the Smoky Mountain National Park is beautiful. I haven’t seen it yet. That is on my wish list.
I’m sorry to hear you need medical specialist. I can relate to that.
I’ve enjoyed talking to you.
Have a wonderful evening.
Blessings
Your new book sounds awesome! I have never been to Yosemite National Park, but it is on my bucket list:) I live in Tennessee and have been to the Great Smokey Mountain Park many times. I love the views and wildlife that you encounter and the feeling of God’s greatness when we see all the beauty!!
Good evening, Patti.
The Great Smokey Mountains sounds very lovely. They are on my list to see.
I love watching wildlife from a distance.
Have a great evening.
It was wonderful to chat with you.
Blessings
I have been to Yosemite several times. As a kid I thought Half Dome was “amazing.” I’ve visited many of the National Parks, each holds its own memories. Denali is without a doubt the most breathtaking when out in all its glory. Yellowstone, before bears were kept out of the open garbage areas in the campgrounds, is a definite memory. Amongst my dad’s slide collection is a picture of a bear going through our campsite. I was standing at the back of our trailer as Mr. Bear brushed past me on his way to feast at the open dump.
Carol,
Hi. That is wonderful that you got to visit so many wonderful National Parks.
The bear sounds a little scary. I know several other people who have had an experience with a bear in Yosemite. I had one too, but I slept through mine. He just wanted food.
I bet you have more wonderful stories to tell.
Have a wonderful evening.
Blessings
I have been to Yosemite. Nature is amazing there. I have been to many parks and have many more I want to visit.
Debra,
That is wonderful that you got to visit so many wonderful National Parks. I can understand why you’d want to visit more.
I have several on my wish list, even ones I’ve seen before.
It was wonderful to chat with you. Have a great evening.
Paulette
yes, animals
Hi, bn
Yes, the animals are wonderful to watch from a distance. Sounds like you had a fun time.
I was lovely chatting with you.
Have a good evening.
Blessings.
Hi Paulette, Yes, I have been to Yosemite when I was younger. I love the waterfalls & those high mtns.
In our car we somehow got on a back road in Yosemite that only had one lane & if you got off it, it was straight down into the bottom. Scary!!!! We got back on the main road after about a half hour. Don’t want to experience that again!!! But, it is beautiful, I have lots of pictures.
Sorry, to say that if I win my eyes won’t allow me to read ebooks I have to read print.
Have a blessed Fall!!!!
Hi Lois,
That sounds like a wonderful memory, except for the bit about the back road. That sounded scary, but that would make a great story in a book.
Don’t worry. If you win, I will send you a paperback.
Have a wonderful Day.
Blessings
I visited Yosemite many years ago when my husband was stationed in Sacramento. He spent many days there years earlier before we got married. I liked Wawona and the Crane Flats area. We had little ones with us and not much time, so we didn’t get to explore much more. It is sad the crowds have gotten so bad. It makes it difficult to enjoy the park as it should be appreciated.
Good afternoon, Patricia,
That sounds like a wonderful memory. It is sad that the crowds have gotten so bad.
It was wonderful to talk to you.
Have a nice day.
Blessings
Have never had the privilege of visiting Yosemite and at my age, probably won’t ever have the chance so look forward to Palette’s description of the area.
Ginni,
I am sorry to hear that. I do understand age and times are getting tougher too.
I hope you get a chance to read my book.
There are wonderful books on the National Parks with beautiful pictures now.
It was lovely talking to you. I hope you have a terrific day.
Blessings,
No I’ve never visited but always wanted to.
Linda,
I understand that. I have several places on my wish list.
It was lovely talking to you.
I hope you have a terrific day.
Blessings.