March 2023 - K.V. Fischer

“Finley House is beautiful, but where in Texas did you find it?”

That was the question a friend who lives in the Lone Star State asked when she saw the cover for After the Shadows. It’s a valid question, because the house on the cover is not one you’d expect to see in the Texas Hill Country. The houses there are beautiful but less elaborate.

The frugal German settlers would have considered Finley House’s dual staircases leading to the front door extravagant and unnecessary. And the columns and elaborate verandahs I describe in the book are definitely not typical of the Hill Country.

So, why did I make a building that’s decidedly out of place a central character in my new trilogy? The answer is simple: I wanted the house to be an anomaly as well as a building with a history of its own. Human characters have a backstory, and so does Finley House.

The Backstory

Determined to fulfill his dream of living in the Texas Hill Country with his sweetheart, Alabama native Clive Finley heads to Sweetwater Crossing in 1859 to build them a house. But it’s not just any house. Since his future father-in-law has decreed that he will not approve their marriage unless Clive can give her a home that equals the mansion where she’s been raised, Clive begins construction on a plantation-style house that’s even more elaborate than his father-in-law’s.

Sadly, Clive leaves Texas in early 1861 to fight in the War of Northern Aggression with his fellow Alabamians and is presumably killed in that horrible war, leaving the house in the care of his closest friend, Pastor Joseph Vaughn.

Joseph’s three daughters, you may have guessed, are the heroines of the three Secrets of Sweetwater Crossing books. As for what happened to Clive, that’s the underlying secret of Sweetwater Crossing and one that’s not resolved until the third book.

The Inspiration for the House

Where did I get the design for the house? I could have invented one, but since I wanted Finley House to resemble a real house, I turned to a sixteen-volume set of books called The Architectural Treasures of Early America, which had been a gift from a friend.

As I leafed through the books, I found a number of houses that were almost right, but Volume XIV had the proverbial eureka moment when I saw the perfect house. It’s known as The Wedge Plantation and is located in South Santee, South Carolina.

Copyright laws won’t let me share the drawing that captivated me, but here’s a link to pictures of the house online. Sadly, when The Wedge was restored, the second story verandah, which was one of the architectural elements I particularly liked, was eliminated. Still, I hope you agree with me that it’s a house worthy of becoming a character in a book … or three.

And the Answer Is

It’s time to answer the underlying question of Karen’s blog: is the house on the cover fact or fiction? Finley House is not a real house, but it was inspired by one. Does that make it a blending of fact and fiction? I think so.

Emily Leland sheds no tears when her abusive husband is killed in a bar fight, but what awaits her back home in Sweetwater Crossing is far from the welcome and comfort she expected. First she discovers her father has died under mysterious circumstances. Then the house where the handsome new schoolteacher, Craig Ferguson, and his son are supposed to board burns, leaving them homeless.

When Emily proposes turning the family home into a boardinghouse, her sister is so incensed that she leaves town.

A brighter future awaits—if she can escape the shadows of the past

Alone and broke, her family name sullied by controversy, Emily is determined to solve the mystery of her father’s death—and to aid Craig, despite her fears of men. The widowed schoolmaster proves to be a devoted father, an innovative teacher, and an unexpected ally. As they work to uncover the truth, they just may find the key to unlock a future neither could have imagined.

Amanda Cabot is the bestselling author of more than forty books and a variety of novellas. Her books have been honored with starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Library Journal and have been finalists for the ACFW Carol Award, the HOLT Medallion, and the Booksellers’ Best.

Social Media Links

Buying Links

Amazon https://www.amazon.com/After-Shadows-Secrets-Sweetwater-Crossing-ebook/dp/B0B6Q2N6WK

Baker Book House https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/465111

Barnes & Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/after-the-shadows-amanda-cabot/1141496562?ean=9780800740641

Christian Book Distributors https://www.christianbook.com/after-the-shadows-1/amanda-cabot/9780800740641/pd/074064

A number of people posed questions regarding Gelden Ranch. Is Search Beyond Lies’ Gelden Ranch fact or fiction? Before I answer this question, a little background is necessary.

Some History

When I finished graduate school, earning a Master of Science Degree in Nutrition, I completed the requirements to become a Registered Dietitian and started my job search. Law school was not foremost in my mind at this time.

I had the most unusual, but incredibly insightful interview with the owner of a renowned women’s magazine. After briefly discussing my background, the owner handed me a quarter and paper cup, then asked me to place the paper cup in the middle of the floor. She wanted me to get the quarter into the cup.

Okay…. I looked at her and asked, “Do you want me to get the quarter in the cup in the manner I would dare, or the way I think you want?”

When she wanted to see what I dared, I moved to the farthest corner of the room and pitched it. This was followed by her question as to what I thought she wanted me to do. I thought she wanted me to make certain it got into the cup by going to the cup and placing it in.

What I dared was what she wanted to see since the magazine business is risky and she needed to make sure I was a risk-taker. I was hired and was the only member of her staff that worked directly with her in her “home” office.

The Magazine’s Owner

The magazine’s headquarters was about 20 minutes from the owner’s “home.” Only the person in charge of the staff at the office ever saw or met with her—I was the only exception. She was a reclusive heiress, and even though she was brilliant, beautiful, and kindhearted, public appearances were very rare.

I was one of her key editors, so galleys had to be run from the “house” to the office. The runners were forbidden to talk to me aside from “hello” or “thank you” type language. I didn’t realize this until a new runner asked how I liked working there and my response was a simple, “I like it.” When this person reached the office, he was fired. There was no one around during our brief meet, but the walls apparently had ears…

The “Home”

The “home” was a mansion built in the early 1900s with more than 25 bedrooms. An entire wing was dedicated to staff who historically lived there. It was on the ocean, surrounded by walls, with a guarded gate, and an occupied gate house.

Gelden Ranch was inspired by this mansion, tweaked to fit a western ranch. Where there were horse stables for the ranch, the mansion had garages that housed very expensive vehicles driven by a chauffeur.

Technically, Gelden Ranch is fictional, but inspired by fact.

suspense thriller, romantic suspense, Colorado, Rocky Mountains, action

Kindle Countdown Deals for Search Beyond Lies — Day 3. At 2 p.m. PDT, the price moves from .99 to $1.99. Find it on Amazon at: https://amzn.to/3ueVmTO

Month: March 2023

Fact or Fiction: The House on the Cover by Amanda Cabot