Daughter of a bordello madame and an Italian captain of the seas, Angelina Mercy longs for a new life, free from the condemnation associated with her mother’s home in Boston. A former navy man, Jonathan Thomson has accepted God’s call and become a minister of a small congregation. Adrift from his Yankee heritage in the Missouri plains, Jonathan longs for a family of his own. Pursuing Alice, the daughter of the town's wealthy patron, Jonathan believes he can tame her wild ways and accomplish more as a preacher once so established. When Angelina's guardian and Jonathan's seminary professor learns of Jonathan's misguided intentions, he seeks out a solution to aid both individuals, providing a new home for Angelina in St. Joseph, and Angelina and Jonathan are brought together with a strong initial attraction. Can Jonathan ignore Angelina's Gold Earrings, a constant reminder of the implications of her less than pristine parentage? And will Alice succeed in keeping Jonathan from Angelina? This is a brief glimpse into Diane Tatum's new book "Gold Earrings". This touching novel is set in the rural heartland and has all the charm of a quaint small town. The resilient heroine - Angelina - will inspire you in this touching tale of love against all the odds.
Here's a Brief Interview with Diane:
Tell us a little about your background.
I grew up in a Christian home in north St. Louis County. I hold two degrees, BS-Business Administration and a Masters of Teaching-Language Arts. I taught Middle School language arts for 11 years in Tullahoma City Schools. I have two sons and two daughters-in-law. My husband Ken is an aerospace engineer at Arnold Engineering Development Center.
What inspired you to write your book?
One rainy day on the school bus to high school, the germ of Gold Earrings came to me. I wrote the short story that week. I’ve worked on the novel ever since, off and on. I finally finished it prior to returning to school for my master’s and teaching certificate.
What kinds of reactions has the book generated thus far?
One kind reviewer suggested that it should be a Hallmark movie! Everyone seems to love it, says it’s a fast read, and that they cannot put it down until they get to the end.
What's the main message that you'd like readers to take away from it?
No one should judge others by their appearance or their family background.
What’s next for you?
I’ve almost finished a 2nd Christian historical novel that occurs during the Civil War. It’s called A Time to Choose.
Any final thoughts you'd like to share?
I am so excited to see Gold Earrings finally in print! I’m also so excited to be working with the John 3:16 Marketing Network to spread the word about Christian books!!
How can our readers learn more about you and contact you directly?
Email: tatumlight@gmail.com
Website: http://dianeetatumwriter.weebly.com
Author Bio
Diane E. Tatum began writing in grade school with short mystery stories, a play performed by her sixth grade class, and a dictionary of supernatural beings. High school found her writing serial fiction with her friends, including developing characters and plot lines through hand-written notes. Gold Earrings is an outgrowth of a short story written in a high school creative writing class, More historical Christian novels are in the works; most are part of an historical series.
Diane has written many assigned pieces for Lifeway, including curriculum, devotions, and assigned articles for leadership magazines. She has also branched out into freelance publication including poetry, leadership articles, a story for teens, and helps for parents. In addition to her writing career, Diane taught middle school language arts for 11 years. She has worked as a church youth group leader and worker since 1981. Her recent “retirement” from teaching allows her to focus on her own writing. She is loved and supported by her husband, Ken, and their 2 sons and daughters-in-law.
Deborah is the author of a Christian non-fiction book titled “Mission Possible”. It is written for women who love the Lord Jesus, but their spouse doesn’t share their passion. It will encourage and challenge the reader to embrace God’s promises for their spouse and future together.
This looks so interesting! Thank you for hosting her here today, Deborah! Off to tweet about it... :)
ReplyDeleteI greatly enjoyed the interview. Thanks for hosting Diane and her latest book Gold Earrings.
ReplyDeleteMr. Lonely - thanks so much for stopping by! Be blessed...
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