A CFSH Redux: A Southern Belle

If you participated in the recent online Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt, then you saw my post that was hosted by Ann Gabhart. I think it was a fun one, so for those who missed it, I’ve decided to re-post it here today. Enjoy!

What is my dog, Belle, doing, and why is she dressed like this? Keep reading to find out!

A SOUTHERN BELLE

Just because my latest book is a serious work of fiction doesn’t mean I can’t get a little silly now and then when sharing it with others. “Silly” is definitely the word for this video—though I’m hoping you’ll have as much fun watching it as I did making it!

The Story

A bit of background on the novel first… 

• My Daughter's Legacy, co-written with Leslie Gould, is the third and final book in our Cousins of the Dove series.

• The novel features two heroines living in two different eras—one in the Civil War south of 1864 and one in the modern day—and their stories intertwine in unique and important ways.

• The heroine of the historical portion is Therese Jennings, a brave young woman who takes a stand against slavery despite the cost. When her widowed mother inherits a plantation, Therese flees to Civil War Richmond, where she works as a governess by day and tends to wounded soldiers at night.

• The heroine of the modern day portion is Therese’s great-great-great-granddaughter, Nicole Talbot, who is ready to take a stand of her own. After years of substance abuse, she’s finally gotten her life back on track. But now she needs to share a shocking secret, one that will cast doubt on her family's legacy and jeopardize all that she's gained.

The Movie

• The minute-and-a-half film, below, presents a reenactment of a brief excerpt from the historical portion of the story.

• Like I said, it’s pretty silly—and it doesn’t reflect the tone of the tale, which is far more dignified, I promise—but it is a lot of fun. The star of the movie is my dog, Belle, who plays the roles of both Therese and Mother. 

Therese

Mother

• As you watch, bear in mind that no animals were harmed in the making of this film. If you follow me on Facebook, where Belle is featured every Friday, you’ll know she’s a Therapy Dog and loves any activities—with or without costumes—that put her at the center of attention. (Watching the video, you can actually see how relaxed she is.) My daughter Emily was her “handler” throughout filming, and the only possible negative ramification from that process was that Belle may have earned a few too many dog treats for her good behavior. J 

So, drum roll please, with all of the above in mind, I hope you enjoy Belle’s reenactment of a brief scene from the historical portion of My Daughter's Legacy…

To see more of Belle, follow me on Facebook, where I share a picture or video of her every Friday. Thanks for watching!

Do you have a beloved pet too? Tell us about him or her in the comments below.

Huguenot Quote Quiz

In honor of the Cousins of the Dove series, which follows a family of French Huguenots, I've created a Huguenot Quote Quiz. Give it a shot and see how well you score!




Share your score in the comments below.

The Kneeling Rail That Tells a Story

There’s much to love inside the Manakin Episcopal Church in Powhatan, Virginia, from the stately organ pipes in the back of the sanctuary to the beautiful stained glass window up front. But my favorite feature, by far, is the kneeling rail at the altar. That’s because it’s upholstered with a wonderful tapestry mural that depicts the history of the church.

Though the current building was erected in 1954, the congregation was founded in 1701 by Huguenots who came to America in search of religious freedom. The tapestry that lines the kneeling benches tells their story in pictures.  When Leslie Gould and I were in Virginia researching our Cousins of the Dove series, we happened upon this little gem by accident—and we were both thoroughly enchanted.

In a way, the mural could depict the stories in our own series as well, starting with My Sister's Prayer as Berta and Celeste Talbot sail to the New World…

…and face the challenge of starting over in the Colony of Virginia along the James River.

They and their brother Emmanuel, who later follows, would have worshipped in the octagonal log structure shown in the next panel. It features the Manakintown congregation’s first church, built in 1701.

Though I’m playing with history here, I like to imagine that the following panel brings us to the next book in the series, My Daughter's Legacy. To my mind, it could easily depict the home of Talbot descendants in the Civil War era, working side by side out in the fields themselves because they refused to own slaves.

The final panel, which shows the church as it is today, brings us to the modern part of the story, where four young Talbot descendants work together to solve a mystery that traces back to their childhood.  Every time Maddee and Nicole go to church with their beloved Nana, this is where they’re going. J

See the small structure to the far right? Here's a photo of Leslie and me standing inside that very structure on the grounds of the church:

         

My apologies to the creators of the tapestry, who had no idea that their artwork would end up correlating with a modern-day series of novels. But when reality becomes art becomes fiction, that's when the imagination soars!

You can learn more about the church at their website, which is where I found this lovely quote: 

While only a few of the original families are still represented on the church rolls, the strong sense of a community sharing its faith in God and its love for one another is as much a part of Manakin Church today as it was when it was founded over 300 years ago. A unique blend of past and present, the church looks forward to the future with the same strength and conviction its Huguenot founders displayed.

MINDY’S CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAYS Book Giveaway #3: My Sister’s Prayer

Welcome to the third week of Christmas Giveaways! This week’s prize is My Sister's Prayer (Cousins of the Dove), an epic tale of two women compelled to protect their sisters, confront their fears, and navigate the muddy waters of betrayal to find true love.  Co-written with Leslie Gould, My Sister’s Prayer is book #2 in our Cousins of the Dove series and one we truly enjoyed writing.

Books don’t just make fun contest prizes, they’re also wonderful as gifts. In fact, here’s a list of 5 Reasons Books Make the Best Gifts:

1. Double your money: Give someone a book and you won’t just be giving them an item, you’ll be giving them an experience.

2. Easy breezy: Between internet reviews, searching and sorting capabilities, countless recommendations, and more, books are one of the easiest gifts to buy online.

3. One size doesn’t need to fit all:  When it comes to books, there’s something for everyone!

4. Support the arts: Every book you buy celebrates the craft of writing.

5. No batteries required. (Though if you use an e-reader, you may need to give it a charge!)

To see buying links for all of my books, check out the Book pages of my website. 

As for My Sister’s Prayer, I think you’ll enjoy not just the story but the whole backdrop of Huguenot history. The Huguenots are a fascinating group. They stayed true to their faith despite endless persecution and threats, and their steadfast love for God inspires me to this day. I hope inspires you too!

Here’s all the info you need to enter:

ENTER TO WIN a copy of My Sister’s Prayer by filling out the giveaway entry form.

The winner will be announced on Friday. Be sure to check back that day to see if you won. If you’d like a reminder, just be sure to follow my Mindy Starns Clark Facebookpage!

Sweepstakes runs Dec.21, 2016 - Dec. 22, 2016. Deadline for entry is 11:59 pm ET on Dec. 22, 2016. Drawing will be held and the winner announced December 23, 2016. Open to US residents only.  Winner chosen by a random number generator.  Must be at least 18 to enter. One entry per person.

5 Things You Didn't Know About Huguenots

The Huguenots were French citizens who followed the teachings of John Calvin during the Protestant Reformation. Ultimately, however, they were forced to convert to the state religion or face punishment, imprisonment, or even death. In response, as many as 400,000 Huguenots fled France, never to return. A hardworking and intelligent people, the Huguenots have left a tremendous legacy around the world. Here are five things you may not know about the Huguenots.

1. The word "Huguenot" was originally an insult. French Protestants preferred to call themselves l'église réformée, or the Reformed Church. Though the word "Huguenot" started out as derogatory, it eventually became identified with enduring honor and courage in the face of persecution. Once it lost its stigma, the label was adopted by the Huguenots themselves.

2. The massive exodus of the Huguenots from France caused a serious "brain drain" for the country. A large majority of French Huguenots were entrepreneurs, artisans, officials, teachers, etc., and the loss of so much skill and expertise had a huge, negative impact on the French economy.

3. Perhaps because of their own history of persecution, many French Huguenots helped to hide Jews during World War II. In the plateau region village of Le Chambon Sur Lignon, for example, religious leaders openly preached against Nazism and ethnic discrimination and worked tirelessly behind the scenes to help place Jews—and especially Jewish children—in the homes of local Huguenots. Learn more about this fascinating part of history in the book Village of Secrets: Defying the Nazis in Vichy France (The Resistance Trilogy Book 2).

4. There is an active modern-day Huguenot church in Charleston, SC. The French Huguenot Church of Charleston, SC, even holds a special service in French each spring, to celebrate the Edict of Nantes, and one in the fall, to recognize the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. Services are open to the public.

5. You can experience Huguenot history, frozen in time, in New Paltz, NY. Historic Huguenot Street is a 10-acre National Historic Landmark District that includes a Visitor Center, Seven historic stone houses, a reconstructed 1717 Huguenot church, exhibit and program spaces, archaeological sites, and a burial ground. They also maintain archives and a research library.

Be sure to check out my “Who Are the Huguenots?” Pinterest board for more information on this fascinating people group. And don't miss the Cousins of the Dove trilogy, including:
My Brother's Crown (Cousins of the Dove)
My Sister's Prayer (Cousins of the Dove)
My Daughter's Legacy (Cousins of the Dove) (coming July 2017!)