Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Bette Lee Crosby's Jubilee's Journey -- Guest Post and {Giveaway}


Writing Jubilee’s Journey was somewhat of a trip down memory lane, not because of my own memories, but the memories of my mother, who so generously passed them down to me.

My mom was born in Coal Fork, West Virginia; as was her sister Ruth. They were two in a family of eleven siblings. Times were hard and the family didn’t always have the luxury of living under the same roof. Once the girls were old enough, they were sent to live with relatives who needed house help; the boys went to work in the mines or became farm hands for neighbors.

When my mom was not yet twenty, she married a city boy from Charleston and moved away. Her sister Ruth married one of the men who worked in the mines. The part of Jubilee’s Journey that tells of life in the mining community is based on the truth of how it was.

After Ruth was married, she and her new husband moved into a tiny four room house wedged into the side of the coal-mining mountain. Did they own the house? No. Did they rent the house? No. In the little community of Coal Fork, there was no owning or renting; if a house stood empty and you had need of it…you simply moved in. Of course the house was little more than walls and a floor, there was no plumbing, no electricity, just a cast iron coal stove used for both cooking and heat. But it was a house and it was free. It had a stretch of land suitable for some farming and a well that had a plentiful supply of cold clear water – water far better than anything you’ve ever tasted.

In Jubilee’s Journey, Ruth’s husband is named Bartholomew but in real life his name was Clifford. He was a miner who lived a life very similar to Bartholomew’s. He and Ruth had four children, the eldest of which was my cousin Paul. And the Paul I knew was my model for the one I created. He was wise, strong, loyal beyond belief, and filled with love and Faith.

I spent many summer vacations visiting my cousins and the memories I have are truly treasured ones. Despite the fact that Ruth’s family had very few material possessions, they were wealthy beyond compare. They were rich in the things that no amount of money can buy—love, faith, trust and hope. Like Bartholomew, Clifford hoped his boys would never see the inside of a mine…and they didn’t. All four of my cousins earned scholarships and went on to become professionals in the fields of education and ministry.

I have always been inspired by the goodness in the life they led, and that inspiration is what led me to write Jubilee’s Journey. I hope the book inspires others as the truth behind this story has inspired me.

Bette Lee Crosby


 About Jubilee's Journey

#1 Amazon Hot New Release it’s first week out. Sequel to USA Today Bestseller Spare Change. Jubilee’s Journey is Book Two in the Wyattsville Series.

When tragedy strikes a West Virginia coal mining family, two children start out on a trek that they hope will lead them to a new life. Before a day passes, the children are separated and the boy is caught up in a robbery not of his making. If his sister can find him, she may be able to save him. The problem is she’s only seven years old, and who’s going to believe a kid?

This story of discovering lost family and finding love reconnects readers with Ethan Allen and the other heart-warming characters of the bestselling novel SPARE CHANGE

Visit Bette's website for more information: http://betteleecrosby.com/

Follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter form below to enter for a chance to win 1 print copy (U.S./Canada) and 1 eBook copy (International) of Jubilee's Journey by Bette Lee Crosby!


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10 comments:

Thank you for visiting and taking the time to comment. It means so much.

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  1. The book sounds amazing xxx

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  2. Thanks for this captivating post and wonderful feature. Sounds memorable.

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  3. I grew up in a family that was wealthy in love only. Best childhood ever. I'm looking forward to catching up with this.

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  4. The book sounds amazingggg :-)

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  5. It sounds like a great addition to my bookcase.

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  6. congrats on another #1chart topper!
    and to you for writing the story - a story that inspires and inspirits - look forward to reading it . TY!

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  7. I love inspirational books! This one sounds wonderful - a great read.

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  8. this book sounds like a good read

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  9. This sounds like an amazing read. I am always interested in where people have come from.

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  10. this sounds a fab read id really like this

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