Heroines Behind the Lines

At long last, the Heroines Behind the Lines Civil War series is complete! Sophie Kent, Spy of Richmond, joins her "sisters" Charlotte, Liberty, and Caitlin. Ecclesiastes 7:8 says, "The end of a matter is better than its beginning." As much fun as it is to start writing a new series or new book, I must say I agree with this verse--bringing a project to completion is even better. There were times I thought writing this series would kill me (more on that in a separate blog post), but look, I'm still here! Whew! [[{"type":"media", "view_mode":"media_large", "fid":"1152", "attributes":{"class":"media-image aligncenter wp-image-2802", "typeof":"foaf:Image", "style":"", "width":"400", "height":"800", "alt":"completefeaturingspy"}}]] My prayer for you The theme verse for Spy of Richmond sums up my hope and prayer for each one of you readers: "Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord" (Psalm 31:24). I wrote the Heroines Behind the Lines series because I was so inspired by the faith and courage of real women who lived and made a difference during the Civil War. I pray these stories inspire faith and courage in you as well. The book blurb Compelled to atone for the sins of her slaveholding father, Union loyalist Sophie Kent risks everything to help end the war from within the Confederate capital and abolish slavery forever. But she can’t do it alone. Former slave Bella Jamison sacrifices her freedom to come to Richmond, where her Union soldier husband is imprisoned, and her twin sister still lives in bondage in Sophie’s home. Though it may cost them their lives, they work with Sophie to betray Rebel authorities. Harrison Caldwell, a Northern journalist who escorts Bella to Richmond, infiltrates the War Department as a clerk–but is conscripted to defend the city’s fortifications. As Sophie’s spy network grows, she walks a tightrope of deception, using her father’s position as newspaper editor and a suitor’s position in the ordnance bureau for the advantage of the Union. One misstep could land her in prison, or worse. Suspicion hounds her until she barely even trusts herself. When her espionage endangers the people she loves, she makes a life-and-death gamble. Will she follow her convictions even though it costs her everything–and everyone–she holds dear?       [[{"type":"media", "view_mode":"media_large", "fid":"1153", "attributes":{"class":"media-image alignnone wp-image-2768 size-full", "typeof":"foaf:Image", "style":"", "width":"134", "height":"45", "alt":"add-to-goodreads-button"}}]] Want to help? Several of you have asked what you can do to help launch Spy of Richmond. First of all, thank you so much for asking! Now, to answer your question: buying the book, either through the links above or through your local bookstore, is the most obvious help, and SO appreciated! But I realize not everyone can do that right now. So here are five free ways you can still help generate some buzz. If you're a Goodreads user, simply add Spy of Richmond to your "want to read" list on Goodreads. Use the Goodreads button provided above. Share a graphic on Facebook. I've already created one so all you have to do is go here, and click the "share" button. Here's another option for a graphic to share, which features 4 new Christian historical novels that released this week. Or if you see one floating around FB, just like it and share it. Tweet to your followers about #SpyofRichmond. Here's a couple suggestions you can copy and paste--or make up your own! #AmReading #SpyofRichmond by @JocelynGreen77! http://wp.me/P1bLl3-Jk #civilwar #christianfiction #goodreads NEW in #christianfiction: #SpyofRichmond by @JocelynGreen77! http://wp.me/P1bLl3-Jk #civilwar #HeroinesBehindtheLines Pin something on Pinterest. Pinning the book cover is an obvious choice, but I have lots to choose from on my Spy of Richmond board so hop over and click away! This last one is a huge help but does involve a little more of your time. Here's the deal. If someone who has never read my books sees a share, a tweet, or a pin about Spy of Richmond, if she's smart, she's going to look at the online customer reviews for my previous books to see if it's worth investing her time and money. SO if you haven't already, and feel like you could honestly post a positive review for Wedded to War, Widow of Gettysburg, and/or Yankee in Atlanta, would you consider taking a moment and doing so? More than a million books are published in a year. It's hard to stand out--customer reviews REALLY help! (Amazon, Goodreads, BarnesandNoble, ChristianBook, DeeperShopping...) More new releases this week! Spy of Richmond is not the only new Christian historical novel to hit the bookshelves this week! I'm pleased to celebrate the launches of three other fantastic books. Dauntless and An Uncertain Choice are young adult medieval novels, and The Outlaw Takes a Bride is 19th-century Western. Congratulations to Dina L. Sleiman, Jody Hedlund, and Susan Page Davis! Are your to-read piles growing or what? [[{"type":"media", "view_mode":"media_large", "fid":"1154", "attributes":{"class":"media-image aligncenter wp-image-2806", "typeof":"foaf:Image", "style":"", "width":"600", "height":"226", "alt":"newthisweek"}}]]   Happy reading!

Confession: I get more excited about the anniversary of the Gettysburg Address every year than I do for my own birthday. Happy Dedication Day everyone! On this day in 1863, an estimated 15,000 attended the Dedication Ceremony of the National Soldiers Cemetery at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, a little more than four months after the battle of Gettysburg took place. The National Cemetery wasn't quite ready by this date yet, however, so the actual ceremony took place about fifty yards away at Evergreen Cemetery. For more about what this momentous day was like, here's a brief video from historian Tim Smith and Civil War Trust. The keynote speaker for Dedication Day was the politician and orator Edward Everett, who spoke for two hours, while Abraham Lincoln's speech was closer to two minutes. Read the text of Edward Everett's speech here. Read Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg address here. [[{"type":"media", "view_mode":"media_large", "fid":"918", "attributes":{"class":"media-image size-full wp-image-2572", "typeof":"foaf:Image", "style":"", "width":"550", "height":"547", "alt":"Painting: Gettysburg Address by Mort Kunstler"}}]] Painting: Gettysburg Address by Mort Kunstler   A few observations from Gettysburg residents follow. "[The president was] the most peculiar looking figure on horseback I had ever seen. He rode a medium-sized black horse and wore a black high silk hat. It seemed to be that his feet almost touched the ground, but he was perfectly at ease." ~Daniel Skelly   "The chief impression made on me...was the inexpressible sadness on his face, which was in so marked contrast with what was going on...where all was excitement and where everyone was having such a jolly time [referring to a parade before the speeches]." ~Liberty Hollinger [[{"type":"media", "view_mode":"media_large", "fid":"919", "attributes":{"class":"media-image alignleft size-full wp-image-2568", "typeof":"foaf:Image", "style":"", "width":"300", "height":"239", "alt":"lincoln address"}}]]In the text of his address, Lincoln said, "The world will little note nor long remember what we say here," but has been proven wrong for 151 years. After Lincoln's remarks, his Attorney General, Wayne McVeagh, told him, "You have made an immortal address!" Lincoln was quick to respond: "Oh, you must not say that. You must not be extravagant about it." McVeagh, however, had it right. Lincoln's words continue to inspire. Personally, I wish I could have been at Gettysburg last year for the 150th anniversary. (But since I was able to be present for the 150th anniversary of the battle in July 2013, I have no room to complain!) Fortunately for me, and for everyone else who would have liked to have been there for last year's Dedication Day, we can watch the ceremony in its entirety below, thanks to the Gettysburg Foundation. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell and Pulitzer Prize-winning historian James McPherson were the keynote speakers at Soldiers' National Cemetery, Gettysburg National Military Park. The program included a naturalization ceremony for 16 new citizens administered by officials from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services; remarks by Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett; a reading of the Gettysburg Address by Lincoln portrayer James Getty; musical performances by the U.S. Marine Band and others; and a Civil War color guard presented by the 11th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Fife and Drum. Enjoy! The final scene of my novel Widow of Gettysburg takes place at the Dedication Ceremony, Nov. 19, 1863. Can you think of any other movies or books in which the characters are inspired by or quote Lincoln's Gettysburg Address? Why do you suppose this two-minute speech is still so powerful today? Source for quotes in this blog post: Bennett, Gerald R. Days of Uncertainty and Dread: The Ordeal Endured by the Citizens at Gettysburg. Gettysburg, PA: The Gettysburg Foundation, 1994. About Widow of Gettysburg When a horrific battle rips through Gettysburg, the farm of Union widow Liberty Holloway is disfigured into a Confederate field hospital, bringing her face to face with unspeakable suffering--and a Rebel scout who awakens her long dormant heart. While Liberty's future crumbles as her home is destroyed, the past comes rushing back to Bella, a former slave and Liberty's hired help, when she finds herself surrounded by Southern soldiers, one of whom knows the secret that would place Liberty in danger if revealed.In the wake of shattered homes and bodies, Liberty and Bella struggle to pick up the pieces the battle has left behind. Will Liberty be defined by the tragedy in her life, or will she find a way to triumph over it?   Widow of Gettysburg is inspired by first-person accounts from women who lived in Gettysburg during the battle and its aftermath. Read more about the inspiration of the novel here. This is the second novel in Jocelyn Green's Heroines Behind the Lines series. Check out the brief book trailer below: