Talk about being ahead of the game--this author sent me the answers for her interview questions back in July! She's another historical fiction writer and addresses a time period
that I know a good deal about--did I tell you that my husband is a Civil War historian? He's
a professor at the Citadel and, in his spare time, gives tours of battlefields. He also is an
expert on WWII and taking cadets over in March for a Battle of the Bulge tour.
I'm actually too soft-hearted to read some books about war because doing so makes me too upset. How about you?
Introduce yourself—name, where you’re from, and something people notice when they meet you.
I’m Susan Pope Sloan, and I’ve lived most of my life in Georgia. My curly hair is probably what most people notice when they meet me—besides my short stature.
Tell us about your book—title and back cover blurb.
Seeking Simon is the fourth book in the Rescued Hearts of the Civil War series.
When a mysterious stranger claims to be her fiancé, the fight to save her land turns into a battle for her heart.
Daviana Spalding dreams of leaving Georgia in search of a place where she can prove her worth as more than a claim to land. And when a handsome and kind stranger wanders onto the farm in need of help, she can’t help but see him in those dreams too. Yet those are only daydreams…until the Freedmen’s Bureau shows up threatening to take their land, and her guest steps forward claiming to be her betrothed.
Simon McNeil is a man haunted by his past and his time in a Confederate prison, seeking redemption and a fresh start back in Alabama. But his journey home is delayed when a bout of malaria keeps him bedridden, depending on strangers for help. As Daviana nurses him back to health, Simon is drawn to her strength and beauty, and when her home is threatened, he steps in to help.
When their fake engagement becomes real, Simon and Daviana must confront their feelings for one another as they face escalating threats that could tear them apart. And when a long-lost friend returns, all their plans could come crashing down.
Share an excerpt?
This is where Daviana asks Simon not to call her “Dottie” as the others do.
“My proper name is Athdara Daviana.” She said it with a touch of reluctance, as if she feared he might laugh or recoil. Her lashes lowered, then lifted as she gauged his reaction. This felt like a test of their fragile relationship.
“Athdara Daviana.” He tasted the name as he would a new flavor.
Ask the blog reader a quirky question or two.?
Daviana’s name is unusual—both taken from her Scottish ancestors. Do you have unusual names in your family? Does you family tend to pass names from one generation to the next or come up with new ones? How might this help or hinder any genealogy research?
When I tried to trace my family line, I found that most of the men on my mother’s side were named James. That would be okay, except that James is a very popular name and her father’s surname (Taylor) is very common. So which James Taylor is the one I should follow?
On the other hand, I found that my daughter’s name—which I thought was very modern—was listed in the 1830 census several times. As Solomon said, I guess there’s “nothing new under the sun.”
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My sister was named after both grandmothers. My mom had my great grandmothers name as her middle name. Oldest son has most of my dads name for his middle name and youngest son has husbands name as his middle name. Our first grandchild is due next month and it will be interesting to see what name they have picked.
My middle name is from my grandmother, Josina. I was blessed to see it in print in the Smithsonian Museum year ago. My grandmother's first name was Blanche. I had an Uncle Lorenzo Eston. My grandfather's name was Dow. It seems that these names will no longer be in the family tree at this time. Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you. Stay safe. Have a wonderful week.
I also had an Aunt Hilda, but her name was short for Hildegard. She was my dad's sister, and she and my dad came from Germany years ago. My dad has a written-up family tree of his family.
I had an Aunt Gertrude, an Aunt Eva, an Aunt Hilda, and a cousin Lorna in my family on my dad's side. All names you heard very much today and some I don't think I've ever heard since. Thank you for sharing about Seeking Simon. It sounds like an intriguing story.
Some names have been passed through the family but the newer generation are not following that trend. The most unusual name in my family, I think would be my paternal grandmother, Vida Gertrude, and my mother, Eunice. I know Eunice is a Biblical name but you don't hear it a whole lot. I don't believe I have ever known another Vida.
Carolyn Frazier
frazierhlhs@yahoo.com