E-Book Deal on The Refuge – $1.99
I like books about sisters. I like to read them and I like to write about sisters in my books. Maybe that’s because I have two sisters and no brothers. Maybe because my mother had three sisters and no brothers. Maybe because my dad had one sister and no brothers. Maybe just because I think sisters have a special bond.
The Merrit sisters in my Rosey Corner books were inspired by my mother and her sisters. The dynamics of sister relationships were threaded throughout those stories. They were sometimes irritated with one another as all sisters surely are at times. At the same time, they were continually supportive of one another as most sisters are.
But another way I’ve written about sisters is in my Shaker novels. The Shakers lived together in villages they hoped to make into heavens on earth. Since they didn’t believe there would be marriage relationships in heaven, they embraced celibacy and lived as sisters and brothers. When married couples joined with the Shakers, they renounced their marriage vows and lived separately. The Shaker sisters lived on one side of the houses and the brethren on the other side. They had separate doors and separate stairways to avoid incidental touches that might tempt them to forget the Shaker rules and be plummeted into sin, as one Shaker elder explained.
While many, including me, can’t understand or imagine embracing their opposition to individual family units, it is easy to imagine the close ties the women may have forged with one another as they worked and lived together. The same could no doubt be said about the brethren as well, but in my Shaker stories, I dwell more on the relationships between the sisters.
That is especially true in my most recent Shaker novel, The Refuge. Darcie finds herself a new widow with a baby on the way in the midst of the the celibate Shakers. With no family or other resources, Darcie feels she has no other options except to stay in the village. She shares a sleeping room with three other women. Two are women like Darcie who are being trained in the Shaker way and the other is a devout Shaker sister doing her best to guide them on their journey. The four become sisters of the heart and the challenges they face as sisters, who differ in what they want and believe, is an important part of the story.
If you like to read e-books, you can grab a copy of The Refuge for $1.99 or less at most internet book sites. Here’s a link to more information about the book and with some buy links to find the book on sale. Do always check the price before you download to be sure you are getting the price you thought you were getting. These e-book sales come and go quickly, and this one won’t last long. But if you haven’t ever visited my fictional Shaker village of Harmony Hill, this is your chance to get the book at a super low price.
So do you have a sister or sisters? Maybe one of those, like Darcie’s, a sister of the heart? What is the best thing about having a sister?
Comments 8
I do not have blood sisters but 2 great sister in laws and great friends I would consider sisters. My 2 sister in laws have been in our family for so long. They have been with me through good times and the deaths of both my parents. Even though we live miles apart, we can and do talk often and about everything.
Author
I have some wonderful sisters-in-law too, Linda. They are married to my husband’s brothers and then he has one sister too. After his mother died, we could see that it was harder to keep in contact with all our children growing up and having families of their own. So we started taking a sibling trip every year where we spend a few days sharing about our families and catching up on the news. We didn’t get to do that last year because of the pandemic but I hope we can start it up again this fall.
I loved the sister bond in The Refuge. It’s my favorite of the Shaker books.
I grew up with all brothers. But when I was almost 13 I finally got a baby sister. I admit there were times when I regretted ever wanting her! But now that we’re older, the age gap doesn’t make a difference. We’re very close, in spite of me being in Kentucky and she’s in Oklahoma.
I also have a sister of the heart. We met in junior high, about the same time my sister was born. Her family moved a lot, but we’ve remained best friends ever since. We have such a close bond that we frequently feel a heart nudge to call one another.
Life is so much sweeter with sisters!
Author
Life is sweeter with sisters and friends, Lavon. I’m glad you finally got that baby sister you wanted and that now you are the best of friends.
I’m glad you liked the story in The Refuge. I enjoyed writing Darcie first person. From the time I first thought of writing a story about a Shaker widow, I heard the character telling her story in first person.
Happy Resurrection Day Ann. I have two older sisters and I have 3 friends that are sisters of the heart for over 50 years. The Refuge was a great book. Blessings
Author
I have two older sisters too, Lucy. Sounds as if you are blessed with some really good sister friends too. I’m glad you enjoyed reading about Darcie and her sisters of the heart in The Refuge.
I love stories about sisters too. I have two sisters and I think the best thing about having a sister is I know they’ll always be there for me. We might argue and aggravate each other, but when trials come, I know my sister will be there to help pull me through dark days. I grew up near the Shaker village in South Union, Kentucky. I’m sure the women were almost as close as sisters too. I read The Refuge when it was released and highly recommend it.
Author
I feel the same way about my sisters, Shelia. I have two as well. We might have had our fusses when we were kids, but we get along great now and enjoy each other’s company. I do believe the Shakers often developed a loving sister bond or brother one too.
Congratulations on all the good promo you’re getting for your book, A Light in Every Window. Readers, if you like feel good stories of faith and forgiveness, you will probably like Shelia’s novel.