You guys know I love any excuse to party! And today I have a great one!!!
The third installment of the Penned in Time series (my very first series EVER published) has a cover! The Thorn Healer!!
And you all know that I’ll wait to the very end of the post to show the cover, right?….(okay, how many of you scanned down there early? Are you the same ones who read the last page of a book first?) 🙂
Anway, The Penned in Time series has such a special place in my heart because of the time period, the depth of story, and the fact that I survived writing two additional books within a year! The Thorn Healer is also close to my heart because, not only does it touch on some deep spiritual truth and take place in the Blue Ridge Mountains, it has a completely adorable hero! ADORABLE!!!
August Reinhold!!! YAY!!!
If you’ve been following along with the series, you’ll recognize three main female characters introduced in the first book, The Thorn Bearer: Ashleigh, Catherine, and Jessica.
Each has her own story – and The Thorn Healer is Jessica’s. Ironic that the one who needs healing the most is also a nurse. We’ve seen Jessica throughout each book until finally we get to read her story…and hopefully, she gets to find her happy ending too.
The novel was the hardest of the three to write. I think it might be because Jessica’s personality was the most different from mine than the other three heroines, but I’m not sure. I might have been from exhaustion too 🙂
Releasing three books in a year and writing another within that same year is an incredibly difficult and daunting experience when you also have a day job, a full family, and other responsiblities. But I’m proud of this story of hope and peace.
The story takes place in the real tow of Hot Springs, NC – a very small place couched by the Blue Ridge Mountains. Unfortunately, the amazing Mountain Park Hotel no longer stands, but remnants of the hotel are still visible on the site – and the hot springs are still in use.
As far as the German internment camp goes, I found most of my information from Jaqueline Painter’s amazing pictorial entitled The German Occupation of Hot Springs. Up until rather recent history no one knew of the camp’s existence because the residents of Hot Springs refused to talk about World War 1 era Germans once World War 2 hit. It became a shameful memory, but Mrs. Painter (a native of Hot Springs) unearthed pictures and stories so that this amazing tale could now come to life in The Thorn Healer.
So…….
Without further ado, here is the most AMAZING cover of the three (in my opinion)
The Thorn Healer, available November 28, 2016
And here it is – The Penned in Time series.
It is beautiful! So happy for you!
Thanks, Carrie!!
Breath taking!!!! I LOVE IT!!!! 🙂
Thanks, Caryl!! I love your excitement about it!!
So excited for you, Pepper! Can’t wait to read the new installment of the series–have enjoyed them so much!
Linda,
I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as the others. It was a tough one to write, but I love the story
I agree. It is the most stunningly beautiful cover of the trilogy. Gorgeous!
Blessings,
Andrea
Writer, Copyeditor
andrearenee2004@yahoo.com
THanks, Andrea!! I was FLOORED when the publisher sent it to me! WOW!
Hooray!!! I am super excited for this book!! 😀 <3 <3 <3
Can’t WAIT to get your thoughts on it, Sydney!!
SO enjoyed reading your post about the history of Hot Springs and can’t wait to read ‘The Thorn Healer’- I love visiting Hot Springs and will have to pay a return visit now that I know more about it’s history!! Thank you, and congrats!!
Shared post!!
This research really opened my eyes to the history of the town. I can’t wait to ride back up there again
<3 it!!
YAY!!! Thanks, Toni!!
YAY!!!! This may be my favorite cover EVER!!!!! CAN’T WAITTTTTTTTT!!!!
I’m totally in love with this cover!!! Plus it’s GREEN! My favorite color!!!
Congrats on your new cover reveal! It is a lovely cover. Can’t wait to read this one.
Thanks, Debbie. SOOOOO excited to share it and can’t wait to see what readers will think of JEssica’s story
I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of seeing that cover! It soothes my spirit and entices me all at the same time! And the story-line! It is so intriguing; as a retired nurse, it grips me from the beginning, along with its content. Can’t wait to get this one and make the world go away for a time!
Oh Pam!!! I totally understand your sentiments for this one. I’m in LOVE with this cover!
Oh that is beautiful! Congrats!
Thanks so much, J’nell!! I’m really ticked with it!!!
Pepper, I definitely agree that this is the best cover out of the three. I love the train on it. It reminds me of favorite historical books that include trains such as Christy by Catherine Marshall, the Anne books by L.M. Montgomery, Agatha Christie mysteries, and Elizabeth Gaskell’s North and South. Trains represent romance, adventure, and even mystery occasionally.
Congratulations on your new book and I’m looking forward to reading it.
Sylvia, you just listed some of my all time favorite books EVER! Christy (for the setting – Appalachia, and the story, of course), Anne for…Anne! 🙂 Elizabeth Gaskell…Oh Mr. Thornton!! and my fam is big Poirot fans! YES! I hope the new story will live up the the beauty of the cover.
I wish there was a LOVE button for this post!!! I adore the cover — green’s my favorite color, too! And I love trains. The cover alone is enough to convince me to read it, but you know I’m so excited for Jessica’s story! (And to “catch up” with Ashleigh and Catherine some, I hope!) I’m so happy for you, Pepper!
YAY!!! Courtney!!! Well, you’ll definitely see David and Catherine back in this book for a little while but not Ashleigh and Sam so much. Catherine HAD to show up. She’s just that way.
I love, love, love this cover! I’m also loving all the little parts I’ve read so far. I can’t wait to read the whole book! I definitely need a print copy of this so I can keep looking at the cover! It looks and sounds so amazing, Pepper, and I can definitely feel your excitement clear from here! 😀
Oh my goodness, Winnie!! I cannot wait to hold this book in my hand and run my fingers over the cover!
I can’t either, Pepper! Book cover love! LOL Of course, I’m sure I’ll love the story, too! Oh, and the author is pretty special, too!
This is a lovely cover and I look forward to reading the story. Thank you and congratulations.
Connie
cps1950(at) gmail(dot)com
Thanks so much, Connie!!!
It’s so pretty, Pepper! I can’t wait to read it!!!
I can’t wait t see what you think, Beth!!!!
Can’t wait to read it!
YAY!!! Thanks, Ruth!
Beautiful! I agree. the best yet!
That means a lot, Susan! Especially coming from you with your amazing covers, Susan!
Susan, your covers are gorgeous, too! And I’ve loved your stories. Your newest one is sitting here tempting me, but I have to finish a couple of others first. Must. Read. Faster!!
Green just happens to be one of my favorite colors. I so love this color. I have never read any of your books, but it inspires me to give them a try.
Aimee,
Green is my favorite color too!!! Oh please let me know what you think if you get a chance to read my books!
Beautiful! Just gorgeous, and it works soooo well with the story too! Love it!
It’s beautiful. I love the green. Reminds me of our beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. I absolutely can’t wait for Jessicas’ story.
Polly,
I hope you will enjoy it!! (and green is my favorite color so this one if my favorite cover of the three!! Love it)