I can’t tell you how thrilled I am to have Kathleen L. Maher today. Watch for her upcoming release No Man’s Daughter, releasing on Memorial Day. Psst…It’s fantastic!
Enter her giveaway at the end of this post by giving a shoutout in the comments to any veteran in your family or circle of friends.
Welcome, Kathleen!
Thank you so much for having me as a guest on your blog today, Candace. It’s a true honor to get to interact with your readers. Since Memorial Day is right around the corner, I wanted to talk about the history of this patriotic observance.
A little introduction. For those who don’t know me, I am a big Civil War enthusiast. I grew up in a town that has both Revolutionary War and Civil War history, so the love of our great country’s past is definitely part of the fabric here. Sadly, not every facet of my local history is redemptive, but where there is darkness, the light shines even brighter. And so it is with Decoration Day.
When the Civil War ended in 1865, our country was so deeply divided it took months if not years for some states to take an oath of loyalty and rejoin the Union. Complicating matters, Lincoln’s vision of Reconstruction, calling on the “Better angels of our nature,” was shattered by the bullet that killed him in Ford’s Theater. The Reconstruction terms under Andrew Johnson were not as reconciling. In many ways they were harsh and punitive to southerners.
A year after the war had ended, observances both private and public began to take place—mostly in Southern towns, since most of the battles had been fought on southern soil and the dead interred close to battlefields. Towns such as Columbus, Mississippi held gatherings. On April 25, 1866 some local women set out to decorate the resting places of the Confederate fallen with their garden flowers. Upon seeing that the Union graves remained bare, these gracious and compassionate women proceeded to lay flowers and memorials on theirs, too.
Other towns claim they were the first to hold memorial observances of Decoration Day. In Spring of 1866, Macon Georgia, Richmond, Virginia, and even northern towns such as Carbondale Illinois, and Waterloo, NY way up near the Canadian border, all record that they held events.
Arlington National Cemetery, the former estate of Robert E Lee, held Decoration Day on May 1868. Members of the Grand Army of the Republic, a Union veterans group, assisted children from the Soldiers and Sailors Orphanage in laying wreaths and flowers on both Union and Confederate graves.
Circling back to my hometown of Elmira New York, the Woodlawn National Cemetery has an annual tradition of placing small flags on each of the 2000 Civil War soldiers’ graves on Memorial Day. For the Union dead, the Stars and Stripes flutters in the breeze by each white marble headstone. For Confederate dead, the Stars and Bars marks the banner under which each man served and gave his life. The Daughters of the Confederacy have sought to honor the southern prisoners of war who perished at Elmira’s infamous prison camp over 150 years ago.
To commemorate Memorial Day’s honorable founding, I would like to offer an ebook giveaway of my newest novel No Man’s Daughter. The story takes place in spring of 1866 in the Shenandoah Valley. At the conclusion of the story, the community gather in solemn assembly where the womenfolk lay floral arrangements on the fallen from the Valley campaigns. Scripture is read, and community ties are strengthened.
As we approach this May 30th, may we do so in the same spirit of reconciliation and solemn determination to honor those who have served to preserve and defend our great Republic.
To enter the giveaway, please give a shout out to any veterans in your family or circle of friends. I will start by honoring the service of my
great grandfather, John Cronin, who enlisted in the Union army at the age of 15 years and served in NY’s Fighting Irish 69th infantry. Military service threads through my mother’s people, including a great uncle who served in WWI, and my mother’s brother who served in Korea. I also have a nephew who just finished eight years in the Marine Corp. Please leave your email in your comment so that I can contact you if random dot org selects you as the winner for my ebook.
Thank you once again for having me! I look forward to reading all your answers here.
No Man’s Daughter blurb:
A man with something to prove and a lady with something to hide clash over hotly contested property and a marriage proving anything but convenient.
When the Sharpe’s elderly neighbor passes after the war leaving a vacant farm with no heir, Benjamin Sharpe inquires to purchase the land. What he doesn’t expect to find is a beautiful and stubborn squatter has taken residence. Will her claim on the property prove harder to drive out than her claim on his heart?
Willa looked after Old Mr. Thompson through the war until his death. The late owner promised her a permanent home there, like the daughter he never had, but with some strings attached. When young and ambitious Benjamin Sharpe shows up with intent to evict her, Willa gives him a piece of her mind with a piece of lead aimed at his boots.
The youngest of the Sharpe brothers, Benjamin has been bossed around his entire life by his brothers, and he isn’t about to take it from any girl. All three of his brothers have veterans’ boasting rights in the War, and he must prove his mettle, too. But will his ambitions go so far as to force a waif from her home? As the girl’s resourceful defense of the property frustrates his plans, admiration plucks at his heartstrings. Ben must find a compromise while saving face with his family. But the chit has no intention of playing nice or seeking truce. In Bridgewater, Virginia, the war is still on!
Connect with Kathleen:
“Stories where every underdog has his day.”
Kathleen L. Maher’s first crush was Peter Rabbit, and she’s loved conflicted heroes ever since. She has two novellas in BARBOUR BOOKS’ collections: Victorian Christmas Brides and Lessons on Love. Winner ACFW Genesis Award. Author of Sons of the Shenandoah Series: The Abolitionist’s Daughter, The Chaplain’s Daughter, and No Man’s Daughter.(May 25, 2021). A novella she is currently writing will appear in Scrivenings Press’s collection Cowboy Cousins in the Spring of 2022.
Kathleen and her husband live in an old farmhouse in upstate NY with their children and a small zoo.
Find Kathleen on:
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KLMaherAuthor/
pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/kathleenlmaher/boards/
goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2531698-kathleen-l
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/kathleen-l-maher
Wonderful article Kathleen and Candace. Kathleen is very knowledgeable about history and I learn something new every time I read her books or blog posts. I don’t need to be entered. I already pre-ordered this great book. Readers will love it!
Thank you Leann. We have a mutual admiration society. I love your wonderful YA stories 💕
♥️
I soak up the historical details in Kathleen’s books too. Whenever I read them, I feel like I’m right there in that time and place. I’m glad you came by, Leann!
Her knowledge is incredible. 💕
Hi Candace & Kathleen! This book sounds like a great read. I’ll give a shout out to my Great Uncle Ernie who found in WW II. He was a mechanic and an all-around great guy. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity!
Hi Cynthia, thank you for coming by! God bless your uncles for their service. It truly was the greatest generation. My aunt dated (and married) a SeaBee, the engineering and fighting Corp of the Navy. These men were so brave!
Hi Cynthia! I appreciate your uncle’s service. Her book is wonderful, and I know you would enjoy it! I’m so happy you stopped by. Blessings!
Wonderful interview. I enjoyed the story behind Kathleen’s writing journey. I look forward to reading her books.
Hi Rita! Kathleen is a wonderful author, one of my favorites. I’m so glad you dropped by. Blessings!
Thank you so much for coming by, Rita. Your support is a blessing!
This sounds like a great novel! I honor my paternal grandfather who fought on the Marshall Islands in WWII.
It is a great read! I was fortunate to get an ARC, but I’m also going to get the paperback for my keeper shelf. I appreciate your grandfather’s service. A couple of my grandpa’s brothers served in the Pacific during World War II, and my grandpa was stationed in England with the Eighth Army Air Force. It’s good to see you here, Perrianne!
Hi Perrianne! Wow, a WWII hero. I imagine he had amazing stories to tell. Thank you for sharing
He actually said little about the war, he was in some of the worst fighting. We have VCR copy of him talking about it. I need to find a way to convert that to DVD. I also forgot to drop my e-mail: perrianne (DOT) askew (AT) me (DOT) com
Great article! My Daddy was in WWII, along with 3 of his brothers, and both of my Uncles on my maternal side. I have Uncles that were in the Korean War, and I have cousins who were in Vietnam, cousins who were in service in the 80’s, 90’s, and a few in the 2000’s. TCordle2@cfl.rr.com
I’m happy to see you here, Trudy! I appreciate all of your family members who served. They are truly heroes. Both of my grandpa’s served in World War II. They were a part of an amazing generation! Blessings!
Wow, Trudy. It sounds like your whole family was full of patriotic servicemen. God bless them for their service. Happy memorial day!
I love the Civil War Era. I have 4 uncles that are veterans and 2 are still living, Carlton & Roy Soden. Deceased Uncles are Henry Soden and Grady Foster. I am on Kathleen’s launch team and I already have a copy but just wanted to give a shout out to my uncles.
Hi Brenda! Thank you for sharing about your brave relatives who were servicemen. I hope Carlton and Roy have a wonderful Memorial Day.
Hi Brenda, it’s great to see you here! I appreciate everyone in your family who has served. Both of my grandpas served in World War II and thankfully came home to their families. Thank you for stopping by!
This book sounds so good and I would love to read it. I’ll give a shout-out to my dad who served as a medic during WW2, my brother who served in the Marine Corps, and my husband who served 6 years in the Air Force.
Hi Renee! I read an ARC, and it is excellent. I also highly recommend the first two books, The Abolitionist’s Daughter and The Chaplain’s Daughter–both among my top favorite reads. And I appreciate all of your family members’ service. Thank you for stopping by. Blessings!
Hi Renee, thank you for sharing about your family heroes. God bless them for their service. Good luck in the contest and happy memorial day!
I love historical fiction. Your cover is wonderful. I would definitely enjoy this !
Hi Sonja! Yes, you would enjoy this! I love the cover too. I’m glad you came by!
Hi Sonja. Thank you for coming by. And thank you for your kind words. I love my cover artist, Evelyne Labelle. She’s very talented. Good luck in the drawing and happy memorial day
Katherine is a new author for me and I just love finding new authors.
My father was a veteran of WW2 in the Navy. My brother also joined the Navy at 18. My father-in-law was in the Army, he was a Lt Colonel.
I also had some uncles in the military also.
Thank you for the opportunity to win this book. My email is jeanvolk@comcast.net
Hi Jean! You will love Kathleen’s books! I highly recommend the first two books as well–The Abolitionist’s Daughter and The Chaplain’s Daughter. I appreciate your family members’ service. All of these are truly heroic men. Thank you for sharing. I’m so glad you stopped by!
Hi Jean,
Thank you for coming by. Wow, you have a lot of patriots in your family! God bless them for their service. I bet they had fascinating stories to tell. Good luck in the drawing, and happy memorial day
My Dad was a navigator in WW2 and flew a lot of missions in eastern Europe. he served for 21 years. My husband was stationed in Okinawa during the Korean war. He was in the army.
Wow! What an amazing history! I appreciate both of these men for their service. Both of my grandpas served in WW2–one in the Pacific and one in Europe. I’m glad you shared, Vivian. Blessings!
Wow Vivian, what a remarkable experience your dad must have had. Thank you for sharing about this. And your husband. God bless Their bravery!
Happy memorial day to you and yours
A big thank you Candace for having me this week. I have been so blessed by the wonderful responses. Thank you to each of you ladies for sharing about your servicemen. God bless each of them for their courage and patriotism.
I am pleased to announce that random dot org helped me select a winner… Congratulations to Trudy Cordle. I will be sending your ebook to you on release day, May 25.
All of my books are enrolled in kindle unlimited membership for anyone who didn’t win this time around 🙂
Thanks again for spending time with me and leaving your comments. Blessings!
Kathy
Kathy, it’s always an honor to have you here. I hope you’ll return soon. I’m ordering a paperback of No Man’s Daughter as soon as it’s available. Congratulations on this wonderful series!
Congratulations, Trudy! You will love it!
And thank you to everyone else who commented. Blessings!