It’s been fun posting romantic scenes from some of my already published books. So, I hope you’ll bear with me for one more scene that doesn’t have any romance at all, but does introduce you to some of my characters in my upcoming May release, In the Shadow of the River.
The story starts when Jacci is five years old in 1881 and then jumps ahead fifteen years. This is the first scene for 20 year old Jacci Reed. She loves being part of a showboat family and riding the rivers to stop at landings each day to put on a show for the local people. I enjoyed researching those showboat families and reading about the showboats as I brainstormed for my story. In the next couple of months before In the Shadow of the River is available for readers in May, I’ll share some of that research in hopes that will make you more than ready to climb up the stage plank and see the show my characters put on for you.
So here goes.
Fifteen Years Later – June 15, 1896
Jacci Reed loved the feel of the wind off the river as she stood at the bow on the middle deck of the new Kingston Floating Palace. Captain Dan had commissioned the building of this new showboat last year to be ready for their run down the rivers as soon as the danger of ice was past. The auditorium had twice the seating capacity of the old showboat, with room for up to seven hundred people. The walls were a marvel of ornate mirrors and crimson wall coverings, and the padded seats were a vast improvement over the hard wooden chairs and benches on that first Floating Palace what seemed so many years ago.
This showboat was the third for the Kingston family. Her family, whether her name was Kingston or not.
Of course, Duke was truly family. Grampus Duke. Her little-girl name for him popped into her mind and brought a smile. When she was thirteen, she had dropped the Grampus and simply called him Duke the same as everybody else on the showboat. Over the years, they had perfected a vignette act to perform after the featured play. He acted as her dancing instructor while chasing away her romantic suitors. They sang a duet, with her pining for love while he was determined to see her married to a wealthy man who could give her everything. Everything but love. The scene ended with Duke defeated and her dancing away with the man she loved. It was billed on their show card as “The Duke and the Princess.”
Much of it wasn’t pretend. He had been her instructor and protector, frowning away any romantic advances from cast members or young men in the audience.
Just last week, Gabe had teased her. “You’re going to be the prettiest girl to ever end up an old maid.”
“You’re one to talk.” She had laughed. “You’re what now? Twenty-nine. I think that’s well along the way to being a confirmed bachelor.”
“No, no. I’m only twenty-eight. In the prime of life, but alas, the girls do seem to run the other way when I come around.” He sighed. “It’s this red hair of mine. Scares them away.”
“Come, come. I’ve seen the way girls line up to have you be the one to escort them off the boat. I’ll wager you’ve kissed a girl at every stop along the river.”
“That’s the trouble. The captain never stops the showboat long enough for the second kiss.”
She smiled now, remembering how he had pulled a long face. Gabe had always been able to make her laugh from the time she came on the showboat at five when he was thirteen. He became her big brother, although he reminded her time after time that she wasn’t really his sister.
I hope this scene makes you want to get to know Jacci, Duke, and Gabe better. I have never been a singer or a dancer or an actress, but I had fun being all of those through my character, Jacci. That’s the magic of books, both when you’re writing them and reading them. Stories let you experience places and things you might never experience any other way. If you think you might like to read In the Shadow of the River, a great place to get it with a 40% off pre-release deal along with free shipping is Baker Book House. It’s available for pre-sale at most other internet sites as well.
And the winner of Love Comes Home
Oh, and there’s one more thing before I go. First, I have to apologize for forgetting it was Wednesday night yesterday and that meant I was supposed to post something here on One Writer’s Journal along with the winner of my book giveaway. But there was this University of Kentucky basketball game and being a super fan, I watched and in the excitement of the win I forgot about posting. Is that a sign I’m not as young as I used to be? But then, who is?
And the winner is Becky Lewis.
I did appreciate all of you who left comments and helped me think about those romantic scenes. If you would still like to read Love Comes Home, the book is available online at Amazon and other sites. Also, I do have some extra copies of that book that I will be happy to sell to you at a reduced price plus postage. Just let me know and I can email you with details.
What have you enjoyed while reading that you might never have experienced any other way? And are you ready for some showboat adventures?
Comments 14
I’m looking forward to read In the Shadow of the River as I have all of your books, Ann. I live in a river city where the original burst of growth came from river boats where merchandise was delivered to and from. No showboats but plenty of steam boats are in our town’s history in this beautiful town with beautiful mountains and a majestic waterfall where five generations of our family have called home
Author
That’s fun, Fran, and sounds like a beautiful place to live. It was interesting reading about the steamboats while I was researching the showboats. They went along together in many ways. I’ve forgotten what beautiful area you live in, but I’m doing some great imagining of the beauty there. Mountains and a waterfall sound about perfect. Your roots go deep there.
I’m glad you’re looking forward to reading my showboat story.
I am so excited to read your new book.
It sounds like one I won’t be able to put down!
Author
I hope so, Kathy. Release time can be a little tense since I have to wait and see what readers think about my story.
I’ve enjoyed reading about places in the US and foreign countries that I am not likely to get to visit. Also I like reading historical books that takes me to a different place in time.
I am very much looking forward to the showboat adventures!
Author
It is neat to see other places through a story and to go back in time to get a little taste of life in other eras, Connie.
I’m excited about you reading my book.
Time travel. That’s my favorite thing to experience through books. I love history and traveling back in time through historical novels. I’m really looking foward to Shadow of the River.
Author
Great, Lee. I like the way you put it about historical novels. Time travel. I too like to do that kind of traveling and get to experience things in the past. Sometimes it can make you really appreciate things now. Other times it might make you wish for some of those things back when.
Well lately I have been listening to books I have previously read set in the low country of South Carolina, Low Country Book Club, Low Country Boondoggle, etc. (I go through books like water, both paper and audio.) Listening to them, read in a soft, southern accent I love! The descriptions of fine restaurants, delicious food, gorgeous scenery, beautiful antebellum homes and southern manners are a delight. I have never been to Charleston and most likely never will. Florida is not the South in the true sense of the word. I did live in Raleigh for a few months years ago, but the Research Triangle there employs people from all over the country and the world. I will have to read In the Shadow of the River. It would be fascinating to read about life on a showboat. I saw the 1951 version of Showboat and Frankie and Johnny. I don’t know how realisitic either one was about life on the river.
Author
Sounds as if you are really enjoying those audio books, Marjorie. I’ve listened to a few books that I read years ago and I’ve really enjoyed that. One of them was To Kill a Mockingbird that I read when I was a teen. I loved hearing the audio version although hearing some of the words used in the book was a little jarring. I have done the narration of a few of my books. I may post about my most recent one Sunday and offer some free downloads of the audio version of the book to anyone who might be interested. It wouldn’t be the kind of book you’ve been listening too though since it’s one of my Hidden Springs mysteries.
I do hope you will read In the Shadow of the River. I had a great time researching about live on a showboat. I never saw the movie, Showboat, but I did read the book while I was doing my research. I didn’t know Frankie and Johnny was about a showboat. When I was a kid I remember hearing the song Frankie and Johnny. All I remember about it now was that Frankie and Johnny were lovers. LOL
It seems like this book is taking longer than all of them. I cannot wait because I have always wanted to go down the Mississippi on a riverboat. But there is only one thing wrong. I’m petrified of water. I’m looking forward to this book and what I enjoy most about your books because of the research you put into it, if I’ve learned a lot about different areas, different time periods, and yet they all point one direction and that is upward. I am excited for you and then I can’t wait to hear what your next book’s going to be about. Because I have to tell you I read faster than you write. Isn’t that amazing? Just just smiling to know the book is almost ready. Thank you so much! Ann for your wonderful stories. Have a blessed day
Author
I wish I could write half as fast as you read, Dusti, but that’s not going to happen either. But readers like the two of us are fortunate to have so many good writers sharing fun stories to keep us in reading material.
I hope you will enjoy a trip down river through my words. While my story showboat did go down the Mississippi, the story takes place on the Ohio before they get to the Mississippi. The showboats started in the early spring in West Virginia and ended up in Louisiana in October or November.
I’m glad you’re excited about this story. My character, Jacci, isn’t afraid of the water but loves being on the river.
Thank you for reading my stories and I’m glad you’ve enjoyed the historical backgrounds. The book I’m working on right now is about a preacher in the Appalachian area of Kentucky. So it will have quite a bit of Scripture in it.
I can’t wait for this book, loved the movie Showboat, and assume this book will be as good.I have been on two cruises and enjoyed those shows but yours will be better because of the time period.
Author
I read the book, Showboat, while I was researching for my book. You could tell it had been written years ago. I’ve never seen the movie, Donna.
I’ve been on a couple of cruises and enjoyed the shows they had too, but the river showboats back in the day were quite a bit different. I do hope you will enjoy the story.