Some couriers on their way to Wendover perhaps. :Photo Courtesy of Frontier Nursing University Archives.
Tuesday is release day for An Appalachian Summer. Already books have gone out to some reviewers and early readers. But Tuesday, if you did a pre-order, my new mountain story will fly out to you. And I will love hearing what you think about the story.
When I decided to go back to Wendover, Kentucky for a new story, I wanted to give it a little different slant than my earlier book, These Healing Hills, that had Frontier Nursing Service history. I did enjoy featuring a nurse midwife in that story. But I kept thinking there was more history to share about the Frontier Nursing Service. While I was doing research for the story, I was continually impressed by Mary Breckinridge and how she had a vision of helping mothers and children who lacked basic healthcare. But Mary Breckinridge not only had a vision of a way to supply that healthcare, she was such a charismatic person that she drew others into her vision too. She talked midwives from England into coming to the Eastern Kentucky hills to ride horses up into the mountains to care for their patients in their primitive homes that lacked the conveniences that we take so for granted in our time. Heat came from fireplaces and often that was where the cooking was done too. Water was hauled in from wells or springs. The people could barely scrape out a living from the rough terrain. But these midwives came and made a difference.
Mary Breckinridge :Photo Courtesy of Frontier Nursing University Archives.
Then when the English midwives felt the call to go home to England when their country was fighting World War II, Mrs. Breckinridge started her own midwifery school in Hyden, Kentucky. To get the various and sundry chores and more done that would have burdened the nurse midwives, she brought in volunteers she tagged as couriers. These young women, usually from socially prominent families, came to rough it in the mountains and take care of the nurse midwives’ horses, run errands, deliver messages, clean horse stalls, accompany the midwives on calls, and in general, do whatever the nurse midwives needed for them to do.
When I read the first person accounts of some of these volunteer couriers, one thing was clearly evident. They loved their time in the mountains, doing something they thought useful and necessary. Some volunteered more than once. Others left from the mountains and went on to do other adventurous things. As word got around about the couriers, more volunteered than needed. So a waiting list was started. Some of the couriers who went home, married, and had children, signed up their baby daughters as soon as they were born so that they might experience the same wonderful time they had known working with the Frontier nurses.
So after reading about the couriers, Piper came to life in my imagination. Of course she has a whole cast of supporting characters to share her story. I did want to work in more of Mary Breckinridge’s story in this book. I was able to do that through my male main character as I let him interview Mrs. Breckinridge. Sometimes writers have to be sneaky to lace in the historical facts they want to share. I do hope I made that interesting for readers.
Piper was in the mountains earlier than Jeeps that showed up after the war. She rode horses everywhere she went up in the mountains. Mrs. Breckinridge loved riding in the mountains too and she loved the mountains and the mountain people. She had a rule for the nurse midwives and for the couriers. They weren’t to talk about religion, politics, or moonshine. The couriers wore a uniform outfit of riding pants or jeans with a white shirt with a FNS patch on the sleeve. This ensured they wouldn’t have any problems with the mountain people.
Here are a few quotes I pulled out of the story.
1. “We all have some bumps and bruises along the way, but the old world keeps turning. Even in the darkest hour, a smile can bring some light. (Nurse Freeman)
2. Sometimes one should go with the current and try something new. When they were midstream. When they had the means to do so. (Truda)
3. “It’s too late for regrets.”
“So it is. Have you had a good life, Truda?”
“I have.” She smiled as she added, “So far.”
4. “Are you going to be mad at me forever?” Jamie
5. “I think I’m in love.” Truda’s eyes widened in astonishment. “With a man I’ve met twice. Obviously, the mountain air has made me lose my senses.”
6. “My ma always used to say coulda, shoulda, woulda never got you nowheres.” (Kermit)
7. Sometimes a person had to forget the obstacles and jump into the moment. (Jamie)
8. Can’t is not a word Mrs. Breckinridge ever wants to hear from any of her staff or nurses. (Miss Aileen)
9. I went with one of the nurse midwives to deliver a baby. Well, I didn’t deliver the baby, but I watched. Didn’t faint, either. Wow! That’s all I can say. (Letter from Piper)
I just sent out a newsletter with a giveaway chance. If you didn’t get the newsletter, let me know and I’ll send one out to you. Also, I’ll be giving away books here too. For this first chance, let me know which of those quotes catches your interest and make you want to know what happens next. That will get your name in my drawing hat for a copy of your choice of one of my books. Fast giveaway on this one. Deadline to enter is Wednesday, July 1, at noon EST. I’ll announce the winner in Wednesday’s post when I’m pretty sure I will start a new mystery photo contest. Maybe, pretty sure. 🙂 But if not then, very soon. But meanwhile check out my Facebook page for possible links your chance to read more about me and the book, An Appalachian Summer.
So what do you think? Which of those quotes grabs your interest?
Comments 71
#6 Grabbed my attention!
“My ma always used to say coulda, shoulda, woulda never got you nowheres.” (Kermit)
#7 grabbed my attention! This sounds like a wonderful story!
#6 really pique my interest but actually they all did. Would love to read.
Author
Carol, I like the idea behind quote 3. Even when others think maybe life has passed somebody by, it doesn’t mean there aren’t good things waiting in the days ahead for that person.
Judi, that quote did tell a little about my character, Jamie. He sometimes had to jump into the moment. Either that or slink away into the background.
Patty, quote #1 has been a popular one. I think it speaks to us in this unusual year with the pandemic. Not something I ever expected our country and the world to suffer through. I thought our medical knowledge had ruled out those kinds of pandemics, but I was wrong. We don’t know as much as we need to know. But no matter what happens at any time, we do ride out some bumpy times in our life. It’s good to be able to find a smile to light up some of the darkness.
Amy, I loved writing about Truda and getting to know her. Lately in my books, I like to have a side story with a little romance for an older character. Truda isn’t old. She’s in her 40’s but at that time, most were ready to call her a spinster. But maybe there’s still some romance in the mountain air for Truda.
Caryl, I’m glad that quote invites you into the story. I think you’ll like Jamie when you get a chance to read the story. Sometimes he didn’t know whether to run after something or run away from something. 🙂
Joan and Pam, I’m glad you thought the quotes were the kind that might invite you into the story. I do hint at some interesting times with a few rocks in the path in that quote 1. I hope you’ll enjoy all the words surrounding those quotes when you get a chance to read my story.
“A smile can bring some light”, love this. I also like the main characters name, because it is my last name.
Author
Good reason to like the name, Terri. 🙂 I remember when I was a kid there was an actress named Piper Laurie, I think. That’s been a long time ago, but even then I thought that was a neat name. So it seemed right for my character/
I’d love to read this! These are my favorite kind of stories
Author
That’s fun to know, Dawnny. I hope you will give this book or one of my other books a try. Thanks for stopping by.
I like the quote “Can’t is not a word”. I got my copy of An Appalachian Summer Friday and couldn’t wait to start reading.
#8 is interesting to me. How many times I have said can’t in my lifetime, I just can’t imagine. I remember my Grandma saying can’t isn’t a word and with that she said, “You will do it just fine.” My Mom was a nurse in the 40’s and told me of the many things she was expected to do as a nurse. There was no can’t there, either. Anxious to read your newest book.
Author
Sounds like you had a wonderful grandma. Always good to have somebody who believes you can. And I’m sure your mother had to do some things she might have liked to have said “can’t” to, but nurses are resourceful. The Frontier Nurse midwives were for sure as they treated their patients in their rustic homes. Some of the stories said they had to shoo the hens away from their instruments. Another nurse midwife who worked in the 60’s said after she helped the mother have her baby, the mother told her daughter to give the midwife a duck to pay her. Turned out the ducks were hanging out under the bed where the baby had just been born. I think for the midwives it was an adventure a day. 🙂
Happy release day, Ann! There are so many quotes to enjoy, but I think my favorites are #1 and #9.
~2 Corinthians 5:17~
Author
Thanks, Emily. Piper had remember to breath at that first birthing. Not liek anything she’d ever experienced for sure. And smiles are always good even in or especially during hard times.
Comment #7 as I tend to overthink things and would love to see what happened around this quote!
Author
I tend to be on the cautious said too, Autumn, and think about all the ramifications and results and possibilities. I guess that’s good when I’m writing, but not always so good other times. I probably would have done more dancing and less watching if I had lived by comment #7.
Quote #5 makes me want to read to see what could cause a person to fall in love with two meetings. I love the cover of your new book and it is on my TBR!!
Author
That’s great, Sheri. I like being in those TBR piles. Thank you for that. I hope when you read the book, you’ll like finding out more about that quote #5.
I’m looking forward to the new book! Quote #3 is the one that jumped out at me.
#7 jumped off the page at me. And, I can hardly wait to read the book!!
Quote #1 is great! Sometimes we forget how something as simple as a smile can brighten someone’s day.
Can’t wait for the new book! I love all of the quotes but #5 is my favorite. Thank you for the contest.
Well, it’s between 5 and 9. They both spoke to me. Truda’s comment spoke to the mountain loving part of me. Piper’s words spoke to the me that worked with new mothers and babies and attended deliveries. Both of the statements are so compelling. But since it is summer and so hot near the eastern NC coast, I am going to chose Truda’s comment on the mountain air. I imagine it being cooler than here and not as humid. Can’t wait to read your book!
Author
I’m glad you liked both the quotes, Karen. It is good to imagine some cooler mountain air, but I’m not sure Truda was thinking about cool. She was thinking she might have lost her mind. It was steamy here today but now and again a little sweet breeze blew and if I used my imagination, I might think that was off a mountain somewhere. A lot of imagination, that is. I’m so glad your are anxious to read my new mountain story.
Number 7 is the one that makes me want to read more.
I like quote # 6 it jumped right out to me but the other quotes are really nice also I am looking forward to reading An Appalachian Summer. I also loved your journal entry and the photos, Ann. Thans for the opportunity to win a copy
Author
I’m glad you enjoyed the post and the pictures, Patti. Was that something your parents said to you? I’m sure I heard it a few times. And sometimes, well, most of the time, they were right. I coulda and I shoulda if only I woulda.
Every one of the quotes are intriguing but #1 makes me want to know more.
I read them all and actually like #1. They are all good in their own way.