Saturday Spotlight: Paula Mowery & Brave New Century

Good Morning and welcome to the first Saturday Spotlight of 2014!

Today's guest, Paula Mowery is a pastor's wife and former home school mom. She is a Christian writer whose articles have appeared in Woman's World and her ongoing column on The Christian Online Magazine. Paula also debuted into Christian fiction with her novella, The Blessing Seer, and it's sequel, Be the Blessing, both through Pelican Book Group.   Today, we are spotlighting her story, Forgiven, in the anthology Brave New Century.

BRAVE NEW CENTURY

Four young women each brave challenges at the dawn of the 20th century. Will they overcome their hardships and find love? Three Rings for Alice Love and respect in 1899 Milwaukee is as close as a phone call. Forgiven When Henry and Jessie meet, it seems to be love at first sight until a shocking revelation tears them apart. The Pocket Watch Looking for the past, an orphan and a young doctor find love and hope for the future. Flames of Hope Love ignites in the midst of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.

Excerpt for Forgiven:
Father’s brow wrinkled in apparent confusion. “Whatever is the trouble, Jarnigan?” His father joined the man near the saloon entrance, gesturing to his three sons to stay put. Words were exchanged, but Henry couldn’t understand any until Jarnigan’s voice raised. He swore. “… liar and a rascal.” He shook a pointed finger in Father’s face.

John Smith would never stand for a person questioning his honesty. Father reared his fist back and punched Jarnigan square in the nose. Jarnigan stumbled backwards but quickly righted himself. He rubbed his nose and then studied it. Henry supposed he was checking for blood. In a flash he pulled a Derringer pistol and shot. Henry had no chance to warn his father in time. Father winced and grabbed his shoulder. Jarnigan spun around and ran toward the hotel.

Father sprinted to the car, threw open the driver-side door, and ducked out of sight for a split second. He reappeared handing a gun to Taylor and one to Jake. He waved for them to follow with his own weapon. The foursome jogged toward hotel, Father leading and Henry bringing up the rear.

Henry’s heart pounded not from their sprint but from fear of how this would play out. Before he could raise his voice in protest; His father, Jake, and Taylor had disappeared through the hotel’s entrance.

Henry had barely slid through the entrance behind them when bullets began to fly. He ducked low to the floor and slipped behind a chair. He peeked out in time to see Jarnigan peer over the tall wooden check-in counter across the room. As the man aimed his Derringer toward a set of stairs on the other side of the lobby, Henry spotted Taylor racing his way, gun waving in his hand. Taylor’s eyes were wide, filled with fear, and trained on the hotel doors when Henry stood and caught his brother’s shoulder. “Taylor.” His brother glanced at him for a split second. The weapon trembled in his grasp. Henry snatched the weapon from him. Taylor burst through the front doors and outside.

Henry followed, standing on the sidewalk watching Taylor’s retreating form head toward their motorcar. Out of nowhere, he saw a man wearing a light brown uniform chased after Taylor. The man screamed, but Henry couldn’t make out his words. Taylor continued to run and threw his arms above his head.

A gun fired and Taylor fell face-down to the ground. Henry’s legs wouldn’t budge.

His breath came in gasps. A bystander rushed to his brother’s side and slowly flipped him over. “He’s dead.”

Brave New Century is available now through Amazon in Paperback & on Kindle!

Well friends, hope you enjoyed this spotlight. Stay tuned for more Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlights!