Author Ann H Gabhart & A Worthwhile Ride?

My guest today is Author Ann H. Gabhart, who is offering an autographed copy of her latest book, Words Spoken True, and who often writes stories about Shakers. Today she will speak of love and….

A Worthwhile Ride

We’ve all heard that love makes the world go around. But Franklin P. Jones improved on Charles Dickens’ quote by saying, “Love isn’t what the world go ‘round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile.” Most of us can agree with that. We want to love and be loved. Love makes life better.

Love can make the story better too. We embrace love stories. We sigh with contentment when the characters in the books we read find love. Even if the journey to love is difficult, maybe especially when the path to true love is strewn with obstacles, we want to feel as if love can conquer all. Lao Tzu says it like this. “Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.”

That’s the kind of strength and courage I tried to give Adriane Darcy in Words Spoken True. I like strong female characters whether I’m writing their stories or reading their stories. And what can make a character stronger than fighting for love? Adriane Darcy lives in 1855 Louisville, a time when women didn’t have as many choices as they do in the modern days. Her father wants her to marry Stanley, the only son of a socially prominent man, but Adriane can’t bear the thought of what life will be like after she marries. Stanley will expect her to confine her writing to flowery bits of poetry or letters to friends. No more news stories. No rush to find the stories and get out the news. On top of that, she knows she will never really love Stanley. Not the way she has always hoped for love.

Then she meets Blake Garrett. While the attraction is immediate and mutual, Adriane knows her father will never accept him. Blake is the enemy, the editor of a competing paper that is threatening to woo readers away from her father’s paper and take over the position as top newspaper in Louisville. In one tragic, riot filled night, Adriane’s life is turned upside down, but love gives her the strength and courage to make the decisions she must.

This is the most romantic story I’ve written for a while. While my Shaker books do center around a romantic story, I have to sneak any romantic scenes in through a back door since the Shakers didn’t believe in romance. They thought all should live as brothers and sisters. Individual family love and love between a man and woman were forbidden. My other books are family stories with the love story only part of the whole. In Words Spoken True, the romance takes center stage and it’s my hope the quest for love makes the reading trip worthwhile.

You can keep up with what’s going on in my writing life on my website, www.annhgabhart.com; her blog, One Writer’s Journal, www.annhgabhart.blogspot.com; Facebook author page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ann-H-Gabhart/132862247566, or follow me on Twitter, user name @annhgabhart.”–Ann

Thanks, Ann. This sounds like a wonderful heartfelt romance. Here’s a question for readers to comment on:

Today parents rarely choose someone for us to marry, but did any of you find opposition to the one you chose to marry? How did you handle it? Or did your parents wholeheartedly approve?

Please leave a comment to be entered into the drawing for a copy of Words Spoken True.--Lyn

Comments

Author Ann H Gabhart & A Worthwhile Ride? — 40 Comments

Patsy on February 25, 2012 at 13:28 said:

Both sets of parents approved our plans to get married. Since we were both only 19 yrs old they had to sign for us to get married. I know they thought that was waaaay too young. Now that I look back that is young! But me and hubby are still together 36 years later.

Would love to read Ann’s book.
Chrstina B on February 23, 2012 at 14:20 said:

Oh really? That’s neat! Yay for parents who see the making of a relationship even when their kids don’t. Lol.
Chrstina B on February 23, 2012 at 14:18 said:

Lol, the movie was Finding Neverland-so not the most romantic. But it was moving enough to allow for some casual “arm draping over the back of chair” behavior. 🙂
StrongWomen on February 22, 2012 at 17:19 said:

Margie! Too funny. My mom read teh Enquirer too. And believed every word!
Margie Mijares on February 22, 2012 at 15:00 said:

On a funny note, my Grandmother was a great reader of the infamous Enquirer newspaper. When I was about to marry my husband (who is from Venezuela), she “warned” me that she had read an article in the Enquirer about a woman who had married “one of THOSE people” and woke up dead!!! We still laugh over that one nearly 34 years later:)
Ann H. Gabhart on February 22, 2012 at 04:43 said:

Good luck in the drawing, Angela. Hope you’ll like my book if you get a chance to read it.
Ann H. Gabhart on February 21, 2012 at 21:11 said:

What a great heritage of strong women, Margie.
Ann H. Gabhart on February 21, 2012 at 21:10 said:

Marianne,thanks for chiming in. Glad things are going better for your brother and his wife now.
Ann H. Gabhart on February 21, 2012 at 21:08 said:

Thanks, Cindy, for reading my books. I so appreciate each and every reader who picks up one of my books.
Ann H. Gabhart on February 21, 2012 at 21:07 said:

When you’re set up by your future mother-in-law, sounds like a good marriage in the making and guaranteed good relations with your mother-in-law too. Thanks for sharing your story. Must have been a romantic movie!!
Ann H. Gabhart on February 21, 2012 at 21:05 said:

Thanks, Beth, to you and your husband for your service to your country. I’d think. I’d say deployment would grow you up in hurry and it’s great to find the right one early in your life. Hope you and your husband have many happy years together.
Ann H. Gabhart on February 21, 2012 at 21:02 said:

So glad things worked out for you and your parents came to love your husband. It would have been bad if my parents had judged my husband by his car when we were dating. The first car I went out with him in had a blue hood and a green door and a gray rest of the car and it bounced back and forth while it was making it’s way down the road. An interesting ride, but fun to remember now.
Ann H. Gabhart on February 21, 2012 at 21:00 said:

Carol, thanks for coming over to read my guest post about Adriane. I appreciate you being one of my reading friends.
StrongWomen on February 21, 2012 at 18:30 said:

Glad to hear that, Marianne. I have a sil from Santa Domingo & we love her!
Margie Mijares on February 21, 2012 at 16:53 said:

Yes, Lyn, my Grandmother was forgiven! I didn’t know my Great-Grandmother but have seen pictures of her. My Grandmother never had a job and never drove a car but she always held her childrens’ hearts. She raised 6 strong sons and 4 strong daughters and they saw to it that she was always taken care of….even though it had to appear to be her idea!!! The last of the boys died shortly before Christmas last year but the girls remain…2 in the nursing home who are 85 and 90….and 2 who faithfully visit them and do their laundry every week…they are 88 and 81. The “baby” girl is my Mother!!! These 5 strong women definitely helped shape me into the strong woman I am today. I am thankful to God to have been so richly blessed.
Marianne Barkman on February 21, 2012 at 15:27 said:

i’ve never married, but know that i would have very strong opposition if i had wanted to marry someone of another culture. My brother faced some opposition from my mother (dad was gone by then) but now things are going much smoother
StrongWomen on February 21, 2012 at 14:04 said:

Christina B, my dh’s best man found his wife the same way! His mom set them up. I have another friend where the two fathers got together and set them up! FUN!
Cindy on February 21, 2012 at 14:03 said:

Sounds like a wonderful read. I enjoy Ann’s work, and look forward to reading this one.

Cindy
cindybazzy@gmail.com
StrongWomen on February 21, 2012 at 14:02 said:

Beth, so glad you had your HEA!
StrongWomen on February 21, 2012 at 14:02 said:

Glad they camea round, Carmee.
StrongWomen on February 21, 2012 at 14:01 said:

Judy! I’m almost 3 years older than my dh too. I’ve had him over 35 years so I guess that’s a good number!
StrongWomen on February 21, 2012 at 14:00 said:

So he takes good care of his car so he’ll take good care of our daughter? Well, that’s the first time I ever heard that one! 🙂
StrongWomen on February 21, 2012 at 13:59 said:

Wow! What a story, Margie! You have to admire her strength. Did her parents ever forgive her?
Christina B on February 21, 2012 at 13:27 said:

Hi Ladies! 🙂

Thanks for having this giveaway. I’ve been reading some great reviews of Words Spoken True and would love to snag a copy of it! Sounds like my kind of story.

As for your question, my husband and I didn’t have any opposition to our marriage-in fact his mom set us up! We worked at a library together and she always talked about her son that I had to meet. (Never mind the fact this son was dating someone at the time, and I wasn’t interested in starting a new relationship.) Eventually she wore him down enough to have him come meet me at work and ask me out to a movie. Well, the movie was a success and we’re still together six years later. 🙂
Beth on February 21, 2012 at 13:27 said:

This book sounds wonderful…in fact I’ve heard nothing but good things about it. History and romance blended together is my favorite.

My parents have never had a problem with my husband. My mom was sad that her only girl and youngest child got married, but that’s how mom’s are supposed to feel she said. I still feel like I married young (I’m only 23), but after going through a deployment together, I just knew he was the one.

Thank you so much for the giveaway!

Beth
bharbin07[at]gmail[dot]com
Ann H. Gabhart on February 21, 2012 at 13:04 said:

Funny, Linda. Makes me think of the ad I’ve seen on t.v. where the young man is picking the girl up for the prom and makes her take her shoes off before she gets in the car. Not sure I’d have gotten in, but it is a cute ad. Sound like things worked out well for you and your parents were impressed with your husband to be.
Ann H. Gabhart on February 21, 2012 at 13:02 said:

Good luck, Wendy. And thanks for dropping by with a comment.
Ann H. Gabhart on February 21, 2012 at 13:02 said:

Thanks so much for sharing your grandmother’s story, Margie. Sounds like a plot starter to a novel to me. She must have ended up with the right man. Twelve children. So good to have a strong woman like her as one of your role models.
Ann H. Gabhart on February 21, 2012 at 13:00 said:

Glad you like the cover, Sharon. It really represents the story and Adriane, my character well. Hope you’ll enjoy the book when you get a chance to read it.
Ann H. Gabhart on February 21, 2012 at 12:59 said:

Thanks for sharing your story, Judy. Glad your mother came around and decided to love your husband without worrying about his age. It’s good to have your mother at your side when you’re going through tough times.

Good luck in the giveaway.
Ann H. Gabhart on February 21, 2012 at 12:55 said:

What a great question to ask your readers, Lyn! I’m going to enjoy reading the answers.
Carmee Ross on February 21, 2012 at 12:55 said:

I would love a copy of Ann’s book, thank you for this giveaway!
We had many difficult years, my parent’s opposed my choice of my husband. It was funny, someone mentioned caring for their car, my husband did not wash his car enough. So that was one of many reasons he was not a good choice. Still married 32 years later, with very little problems other than my parents(in the beginning) Now they seem to like him.
Carol Reed on February 21, 2012 at 12:54 said:

I’m such an Ann Gabhart fan and I would love to have an autographed copy of this great book!
ANGELA CHESNUT on February 21, 2012 at 12:51 said:

I am not married. Sounds like a good book. I would love to win.
Judy K on February 21, 2012 at 12:50 said:

Great photo Ann! Thanks Lyn for hosting this giveaway. I would love to win a copy of “Words Spoken True”. Sounds like a great story line!

My Mom opposed my second marriage. She didn’t like the fact that Bob was younger than me. She was 3 years younger than my step-dad but I guess she didn’t see that as being wrong. My Mom did come around to welcome Bob into the family after a few years of marriage. So in the end it worked out fine. When Bob was dying from a brain tumor my Mom was right there to help me care for him.

Blessings Ann and Lyn!
Judy
judyjohn2004[at]yahoo[dot]com
Linda on February 21, 2012 at 03:47 said:

The way my husband cared for his car and how he drove it made him a good choice and my parents thought he was the best. Funny, but true!
Wendy Newcomb on February 21, 2012 at 03:21 said:

Thank you for hosting this giveaway, I would love to have this book.

wfnren(at)aol(dot)com
wrensthoughts.blogspot.com
Margie Mijares on February 21, 2012 at 03:02 said:

Lyn and Ann…This sounds like a great book and I am very anxious to read it…hope to win a copy:) I have not personally met with any opposition in my choice of a mate but my maternal Grandmother did. She was born May 27, 1893, so not too far removed from Adriane’s world. She was engaged to marry a very rich man in her community who obviously was not her choice. Shortly before they were to be married, she eloped with the man who became my Grandfather…they were married on December 24, 1912 and were married until his death on January 18, 1946. She died July 25, 1979. They had 12 children and 10 of them grew to adulthood. She was an amazingly strong woman and one of my greatest role models. margie at mijares dot net
Kristy L. Cambron on February 21, 2012 at 02:49 said:

This cover is beautiful! And… I was so excited when I read the synopsis because we live and work in Louisville – I cannot wait to read this! It will be like taking a look back in time at the city we love. Thanks for writing a book about the rich culture KY has to offer. – Kristy
Sharon Moore on February 21, 2012 at 02:09 said:

Ann – Great picture! Once again, entering to win a copy of “Words Spoken True”. Looking forward to reading it.

Lyn – thanks for the posting. The cover of the book looks gorgeous!

Sharon
smoore@tcq.net

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Author Ann H Gabhart & A Worthwhile Ride?

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Author Ann H Gabhart & A Worthwhile Ride? — 40 Comments

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