Return to Shirley Plantation by Carrie Fancett Pagels -- Re-release + 10 Behind the Scenes Facts + Review + Giveaway

About the Book

Abducted against his will, Matthew Scott is conscripted into the Confederate army because of his Copperhead father's political leanings. Injured at Malvern Hill, Matthew is taken by the Union army to Shirley Plantation in Virginia where he is tended by seamstress Angelina Rose, a freed slave. Given an opportunity to leave the South and start a new life for herself, Angelina remained for the sake of her sister's orphaned twins who are still enslaved. Will Matthew's return to Shirley Plantation settle a mystery concerning his father's past? And help Matthew find the family he longs for. 150 years ago the history of America changed forever. Live 1863 through the stories of some of our finest writers - the passion, the romance, the tragedy, and the triumph. Carrie Fancett Pagels. Kathleen Maher. Joy Ross Davis. Sarah Price. Karen Anna Vogel. Patrick E. Craig. Willard Carpenter. Big Daddy Abel. Murray Pura. David Stearman. And many more. The plantations. The Underground Railroad. Chancellorsville. Vicksburg. Gettysburg. Little Round Top. Chickamauga. Chattanooga. Missionary Ridge. The soldiers in the field. The families at home. The nurses in the hospitals. The speeches at Richmond and Washington. The prayers in churches North and South. It's all here in one of the most dramatic series ever produced. A new story by a different author released every two weeks between April and November. Join us for one of the most exciting events in American inspirational publishing - Helping Hands Press presents CRY OF FREEDOM!

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About the Author

Carrie Fancett Pagels, Ph.D.
Carrie Fancett Pagels is a multi-published award-winning author of Christian historical romance.  Twenty-five years as a psychologist didn't "cure" her overactive imagination! She resides with her family in the Historic Triangle of Virginia, which is perfect for her love of history. Carrie loves to read, bake, bead, and travel – but not all at the same time!

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Previous Author Interview with Carrie

10 Behind the Scenes Facts About the Book

1. Angelina’s name is taken from the song Angelina Baker, a funny song from the era. Her “Aunt Wilda” who takes her in is name for my real life aunt, Wilda Roat Fancett! She has gotten a kick out of this!

2. I worked closely with the Shirley Plantation staff to make sure the story was accurate. Part of this involved making a trip up to the third floor of the “Big House” in a knee boot during a time when I could barely walk! The things we authors will do for the love of a story!

3. Part of the inspiration came from a trip up north, through Ohio, and then back through Kentucky.  Somehow (and I’d still swear I was in Ohio, at that Bowling Green) I’d seen signs that talked about young men being forced to serve in the Confederacy. So originally I had the story set in Bowling Green, Ohio, only to find out there were no Confederate troops ever there and that Bowling Green, Kentucky had been under occupation. I’d never heard of Bowling Green, Kentucky! And I am NOT a Civil War history junkie—so I didn’t know that Bowling Green was taken over by the Confederates and became their capital in Kentucky!

4. My critique partner, the wonderful author Kathleen Maher, called me and asked if I’d heard about a Copperhead Ohio senator from near Dayton, which is where my cousins live. So with Dayton being further south in Ohio, I changed up the story and had Matthew conscripted into the Confederate army because of his Copperhead father. The real life senator had all kinds of awful things happen because of his politics. So I inflicted some of those on Matthew!

5. The hero’s name is from Colonel Matt Ruckman, who has toured Shirley Plantation with his wife and me and Matthew Zumbrun, Retired USN. These are two of my close friends’ husbands, both military, and because my bible inspiration verses were from the book of Matthew

6. This novella released three years ago and was my debut Christian fiction publication and stayed on the Amazon bestselling Civil War ebooks for over seven months and on the Top-Rated Civil War ebooks for a year!

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7. The book is re-releasing under a new cover designed by Roseanna M. White. It more reflects the storyline and characters than the original cover.

8. The original cover was REALLY taken at Shirley Plantation and is a shot that photographer Alice Walton took through the keyhole and out the front door of the Great House!

9. Some time near when I wrote the book, there was an exhibition of “White Slaves” and the Abolitionist movement. I was intrigued and although I couldn’t attend, I went through the images online. I tried to imagine what it was like for Northern mothers to see images of by all appearances little white children not only living in slavery but working, too. No wonder the Abolitionists used those cute little blonde-haired kids to stir up Northern sentiments! I decided freedwoman one-eighth African Angelina would have golden hair and light eyes!

10. After I’d written the story, several of my friends shared with me that, like Angelina, they too were descendants of slaves. It was as though the story gave one person, in particular, permission to own that part of her history. This friend indicated that “Granny did seem to have dark skin but nobody really thought much of it” until they looked back a generation or so and discovered that her mother had come out of slavery.  What a blessing we live in a time where people can embrace their background. According to my DNA results I don’t have anything nearly as interesting in mine, although I was surprised to learn I had Greek/Italian and Scandinavian DNA (no known recent ancestors!)—surely there is a story there, too!  

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Review

Carrie Fancett Pagels has written a sweet historical, inspirational, romance short story that readers will thoroughly enjoy.  Filled with charming characters and an intriguing plotline, taking place in the south, this story deals with slavery and eventually freedom.  Readers will be pulled into this adoring story from page one and is a historical fiction lover's delight.  I would recommend this story to readers that enjoy stories taking place during the Civil War.
 
Genre: historical, romance, military, inspirational, Christian
Publisher: Helping Hands Press
Publication date: March 26, 2016
Number of pages: 74
 
Content Rating: G
Book Rating: 5 stars

A review copy of this book was provided by Pagels' Pals.

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