Today my guest is Author Irene Brand who besides being a dear friend, is also an outstanding person. Oh, and she writes good too! GRIN (Be sure to read about the contest she’s holding.)
Here’s Irene:

“In my novella in ‘An Appalachian Christmas,’ my heroine Julia’s experience compares in several ways to Leah, the first wife of Jacob. Jacob loved Leah’s younger sister who was more beautiful than Leah. Genesis 29:17 records, ‘Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favored.’ Laban, the father of the two girls, tricked Jacob into marrying Leah. A week later, Rachel also became Jacob’s wife. The scripture says, ‘And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.’

When the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. Leah bore Jacob six sons and a daughter. Rachel was barren for several years. Although in those days a wife was valued with the progeny she could produce, Jacob still favored Rachel. As long as her beautiful sister lived, Leah took second place in her husband’s sight. Strife between the sisters seemed to continue as long as Rachel lived.

When Rachel died in childbirth, the Scripture indicates that the relationship between Jacob and Leah improved to the extent that he buried her with his parents and with his famous grandparents, Abraham and Sarah.

In my story, Julia Mayfield had always taken a “back seat” to her sister Margaret. Julia was a year older than Margaret, who had a lot of health problems. Julia didn’t mind that her sister received a larger portion of their love; however, she couldn’t understand why her parents couldn’t love her, too.

Julia’s parents never praised her and asked her not to talk about her athletic achievements in front of her sister. When World War II started, still with an urge to excel, Julia joined the WACS. When her parents weren’t impressed with her achievements and medals, Julia finally conceded that her parents would always love her sister more. She returned from the war intending to make the best of a bad situation and do what she could to establish rapport with her sister.

In my story, Margaret died before Julia returned from Europe, leaving Bobby, a two-year-old boy, the son of a GI who was missing in action. Margaret had also left a note to Julia, asking her to take Bobby to visit his paternal grandparents, who lived in Mistletoe, Kentucky. Julia was annoyed that, even in death, Margaret was ordering her life.

But perhaps God has a hand in Julia’s trip to Mistletoe? What do you think?”–Irene Brand

I think so! Here’s Irene’s website www.irenebrand.com if you’d like to watch her book video for her latest novella in the anthology, Love Finds You Under the Mistletoe”

and she’s holding a contest so drop by a her website. Irene says:

“In September I will give four copies of the new book—one each week. Please join me in welcoming Summerside Press’s first novella collection.”

Thanks, Irene, for being my guest. Your story sounds like a winner! And here’s a peek into Irene’s life. That’s her in the pink hat posing with her church’s winning softball team. They insisted she be in the photo! That’s Irene–always a good sport!