In just a few days, I’ll give birth to my third and final book in my Fabric of Time series, titled Threads of Love. The very next day, my daughter-in-law will give birth to my fifth grandchild – WHOO-HOO! Unless another is chosen at the last minute, her name will either be Ashleigh Faith or Jenna Faith – my vote is for the later, that is if my vote counts.  *smile*

I had the privilege of sitting in on one of my daughter-in-law’s ultrasounds and the baby turned just at the right time and I saw her little face! I told my son, who sat beside me, that she resembles her sister Alyson (who is 2 1/2). What a thrill to get a peek inside the womb at my granddaughter! 

My granddaughter -- coming soon!

Way back in the stone ages (ha, ha…) when I delivered my three sons, ultrasounds weren't common practice unless doctors felt that there was something wrong with the baby. Epidurals weren't given on a regular basis either. Funny, how I recall my mother and mother-in-law peppering me with stories about when they gave birth to their children in hospital maternity wards – forget about that having your own birthing suite business. Back in the 1950s women had roommates! Hospitals had visiting hours. Female nurses wore white dresses and caps.

My, my, but times do change!

My great-grandmother  and her sons
(including my grandfather,
sitting in front of the dog).

In my novel Threads of Love, readers can see how much has changed since 1902, the year in which the story is set. I had so much fun writing this novel because my great-grandparents were married in the year 1900. My grandfather was born in 1906. The early 1900s are years I just can remember – not because I lived them, obviously, but because of the tales I heard from my grandfather and grandmother and others as well as the pictures I still have today.

I believe handing stories down from one generation to the next is biblical. Take a look at Psalm 78:5-7 (ESV):

He established a testimony in Jacob
    and appointed a law in Israel,
which he commanded our fathers    to teach to their children,
 that the next generation might know them,
    the children yet unborn,
and arise and tell them to their children,    so that they should set their hope in God
and not forget the works of God,    but keep his commandments;

While it's fact that not everything I heard from older relatives was godly, all of it worked together for God’s good in bringing me to Him. 

We learn from the past – which is why birthing both a new book and a new baby is so much more pleasant today than a century – or even 50 years ago. Wouldn't you agree?

I’d love to hear from you -- and you can win a FREE, signed (paperback) copy of Threads of Love. Simply leave a comment along with your email address and you’ll be entered into the contest. I’ll select a winner on Thursday -- and I'll tell you all about my brand new granddaughter, so be sure to stop back!!

*Threads of Love will be available after May 8th in traditional print and e-book formats. Ask for it at your favorite bookstore or order it online!

Researching My Own Backyard

By Andrea Boeshaar

My latest novel, Threads of Love, releases May 7th, It's set in Manitowoc, Wisconsin in 1902. 

One of the main characters, Emily Sundberg, is well known in the community as she's a school teacher. Her father (Captain Daniel Sundberg from Book 2) owns a shipping business and, as I researched the city, it was interesting to learn that in the 19th and early 20th centuries Manitowoc was commonly referred to as "Clipper City" because of all the shipbuilding going on -- Manitowoc was known for building those graceful lake clippers. 

I toured the Wisconsin Maritime Museum and got a glimpse of what the city might look like in the time period of my story. It helped the characters to come alive in my mind.

Below is the back cover copy of Threads of Love  --
 





As my character's aunt and mother (Julianna from Book 2 in the series) work in a shop in Manitowoc called Sundberg Creations -- a shop that offers hand-spun items -- I took a knitting class at Cream City Yarn Shop. I felt it was important to get the feel of different fibers and textures. I imagine that the Sundberg ladies' shop would look similar to Cream City Yarn. It's a quaint shop in Brookfield constructed in vintage Cream City Brick. 

Incidentally, I knitted scarves for all the grandkids and my daughter-in-law for Christmas (talk about getting inspired!).

I enjoyed researching the fashion in 1902, but still can't imagine wearing all those under-garments (especially in summertime!). And, as a portion of my story takes place in Fallon, Montana too, I enjoyed researching that area. It'd be fun to ride the train out west.

Threads of Love is book 3 in my Fabric of Time series and all three novels in the series are set in Wisconsin. So fun to research my own backyard!


Stop by on May 7th because I'll be giving away FREE copies of my books in the Fabric of Time series, Threads of Hope, Threads of Faith, and Threads of Love -- to celebrate the release of the third and final story -- Threads of Love.