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I do not read every book/author I spotlight or book tour I host!
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Saturday, April 10, 2021

#SaturdaySpotlight is on @BarbaraMBritton & Until June

Good Morning!

I'm still in Nacogdoches, TX with my grandson house sitting and taking care of son's dogs and ducks. He's had a wonderful young man come by daily to see about the duck pens and feed those outside, while I've been feeding the babies housed in his garage. Don't worry it's well ventilated. Anyway, two author friends of mine came for a few days (one M-W and the other T-F) and we did some writing. Which I'm happy with and hoping to maintain my momentum after I return home. I know, it's all a matter of prioritizing my writing again and not let any or every little thing get in the way of it.

Anyway, today's guest has visited before so please welcome Barbara Britton back with another peek into her book, Until June. Barbara is giving away a copy so please leave a comment along with your Email address to be included in the drawing.

Take it away, Barb.....

Many years ago, I was working on a Historical novel with a seventeen-year-old protagonist. A publishing insider quizzed me over lunch and said, “Why are you writing that? Historicals with young adults do not sell.” Well, a decade later, the manuscript did sell. The story is “Until June” and Josephine Nimetz and Geoff Chambers shed some light on the challenges veterans face after coming home from war.

The moral of the story is never delete old stories. They may have a life of their own someday.

Thanks for having me back on the blog, Pam.

Book blurb:

When seventeen-year-old seamstress, Josephine Nimetz, agrees to take care of a WWI amputee in a remote Alaskan lodge to escape the influenza of 1918, there’s enough friction to melt the Mendenhall Glacier. Her position is only until June, and it pays well enough to overlook the hardship of managing a rustic home and a shell-shocked veteran, Geoff Chambers.

Geoff makes it clear that he isn’t too fond of the “runt” sent to take care of his needs, nor of her painful mistakes. Dealing with a depressed and addicted amputee, pushes Josephine to the brink of leaving, if not for the money her salary brings.

But Josephine is a perfectionist, determined to get Geoff back on his feet—figuratively. Though, sending a rich, handsome veteran back into society may cost Josephine the man she has grown to love.

Excerpt:

“When’s our story due?” Geoff asked.

“Our? You mean my story.” She gripped the wooden bedpost. “And I didn’t say I was writing one. I’d be more than three weeks behind since Tubby was late with the mail.”

He tapped his fingers on the arm of his wheelchair. “You didn’t answer my question. When’s it due?”

How could she flee from his inquisition with his wheelchair blocking her escape? His chair was like a dislodged boulder on a narrow logging lane.

“The editors have to receive the story by January first. If I did enter, I probably wouldn’t win. I’m not a writer.” She placed the magazine on the nightstand. “Besides, my job is to take care of you.”

He threw his hands in the air. “I’m taken care of, see?” He lowered his hands from his head to where his legs ended. “I’m the picture of health until you get to my stubby legs.”

She held fast to her decision. “I’m not entering.”

“Open that magazine.” He pointed to the Companion. “Show me the illustration of the first story. That bachelor fellow.”

She flipped to the first serial. The black and white picture showed a man and woman standing together in a garden.

“What’s the man wearing?” he asked.

“A suit.”

“Is he taller than the woman?”

“Yes.”

“Handsome?” Geoff’s eyebrows peaked.

She didn’t answer.

Geoff waved his hand. “Flip to the next drawing.”

She fanned the pages to where the next story began.

He strained his neck to get a glimpse of the people. “What’s that man wearing?”

You just saw him. “A tuxedo.”

“Is he taller than the—”

“Yes.” She turned to the next illustration. What was his obsession with magazine models? “Aha! Here’s a man in work pants and a simple cotton shirt, pining next to the bed of a sick woman. We don’t know if he’s tall.” She showed Geoff the picture.

“That man’s legs are huge. Never missed a meal. I’ll bet he’s strong, yet sympathetic.”

“What does this have to do with my story?” She closed the magazine.

“I can’t be those men.”


Barbara M. Britton lives in Southeast Wisconsin and loves the snow—when it accumulates under three inches. She is published in Biblical Fiction and enjoys bringing little-known Bible characters to light in her stories. Barb ventures into Christian Historical Fiction with “Until June.” Barb is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, Romance Writers of America, and Wisconsin Romance Writers of America. Barb has a nutrition degree from Baylor University but loves to dip healthy strawberries in chocolate. Find out more about Barb’s books at http://www.barbarambritton.com/books.html

 

Follow Barb on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads or BookBub

Get your copy of Until June at Amazon

I hope you enjoyed today's post friends and that you'll check back weekly for Wednesday Words with Friends and Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time take care and God Bless.

PamT

27 comments:

Barbara Britton said...

Thanks for having me on the blog, Pam. UNTIL JUNE is based on a story I heard on an Alaskan cruise excursion. You never know when creativity is going to strike.

Carol James said...

Barb, you are so right about when story ideas present themselves. I am often surprised by the seemingly unimportant event or idea that can spark a manuscript. I absolutely UNTIL JUNE. Such a beautiful story.

Barbara Britton said...

Thank you, Unknown. UNTIL JUNE was a family favorite. I never gave up on the story and God knew the perfect time for it to see the light of day. Thanks for joining us and reading UNTIL JUNE.

D. V. Stone said...

Thanks for the encouragement, Barbara. I have several older works I won't give up on. Your story sounds great. Best wishes with it and all your writing. D.

kaybee said...

Barbara, you are right, never give up. There's a home for most stories and girls in the early 20th century were more mature than today's teens. They had to be.
I have "older" works on file and some need revamping, while others were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. It all comes around again.
Pam, your writers' "retreat" sounds great. We don't always have to go away.
Please enter me in drawing.
Kathy Bailey

Barbara Britton said...

Thank you, D.V. You never know when a story trope will get hot. I pulled this story out after "Me Before You" hit the theatres. I appreciate your encouragement.

Kara O'Neal said...

I enjoyed this book very much. Very heartfelt story.

Barbara Britton said...

Hi Kathy (kaybee). You are so right about never giving up on a story. I did a lot of revamping of this story over the years. Thanks for joining us today.

Barbara Britton said...

Hi Kara! Thank you for your kind words. I'm so glad you enjoyed "Until June." Thanks for joining Pam and I on the Spotlight.

Audrey W. said...

So glad you saved this story! It published at the right time, so good for you for not giving up on it. Readers benefit! :-)

Jean Maurie said...

I enjoyed your interview Barbara. Until June looks interesting. I have a bunch of old stories laying around including children's stories. It's nice to know that there is always a home for them. Please enter me in the drawing, thank you :)

Gail Pallotta said...

Congratulations to Barbara. It sounds like such a good book and I loved the excerpt.

Karen Malley said...

Pam, glad to hear you're having a good time with the dogs and ducks. Barbara, thanks for sharing your story. I loved Until June, and it's nice to be encouraged not to give up on a story. Now, if only I had a bunch of old stories sitting around!

Barbara Britton said...

Hi Audrey! I'm glad Geoff and Josephine kept talking to me. Thanks for joining us.

Barbara Britton said...

Hi Jean. I dusted "Until June" off after my son texted me that someone had stolen my story. Yikes! He had seen the movie trailer for "Me Before You." Well, that story is a tragedy. I thought if people liked caregiver tropes then my story should sell. And it did! Thanks for joining Pam and I.

Barbara Britton said...

Thank you, Gail. I'm glad you liked the peek into Geoff and Josephine's lodge life. Thanks for commenting.

Barbara Britton said...

Hi Karen! I wish I had more old stories around, too. Life would be easier. I'm glad you joined us.

Naomi Musch said...

This sounds like a terrific story, Barbara. I have a special fondness for WWI and veteran stories. It's definitely going on my TBR list. Blessings!

Barbara Britton said...

Thanks for joining us, Naomi. I have a soft spot for veterans. I'm so glad I could finally get this book out into the world. Blessings to you, too.

Alicia Dean said...

Wow. That's great that you were able to find a home for your book after all that time. I love the premise. Congrats and best wishes!

Barbara Britton said...

Hi Alicia! Thank you. I was delighted this book finally saw the light of day. I learned a lot over the years about writing and applied the knowledge to making the book better--and shorter. Thanks for joining us.

Mary Preston said...

If the story is great I don't mind if the protagonist is younger.

marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

Jacqueline Seewald said...

Hi Barbara,

I too believe that we can improve our original work and save stories and novels which simply need reworking to sell. Congrats on the new novel. I like the originality of it.

Barbara Britton said...

Hi Mary! I agree. I enjoy reading Young Adult novels, especially historicals. Thanks for joining us.

Barbara Britton said...

Hi Jacqueline! I find if I put a novel down for a stretch of time that when I come back to it, I have a fresh set of eyes to fix mistakes. Thanks for your kind comments and stopping by the Spotlight.

Alina K. Field said...

I'm glad you were able to publish this story!

Barbara Britton said...

Thank you, Alina! I feel blessed that I had the opportunity to launch this book. Patience won out. I'm happy you joined us.