Ellen E. Withers – Falling in Love with Characters – Part 1 of 1

 Shannon here: Ellen E. Withers shares insight into how she creates characters, plus a chance to win a copy of A Gift for all Time, a 3 novella collection including Ellen’s Carving Out Love. Comment or answer the question in this post to enter the drawing. Deadline: Dec 16th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Ellen:

As a writer, I do my best to create unique characters I love. Once I’ve accomplished that, then I hope readers fall in love with them, too. With this novella collection, I was blessed to collaborate with two excellent authors. Our novellas make up a Christmas themed collection, A Gift for all Time.

Each story features a romance that emphasizes God’s gift of Jesus through the meandering journey made by a historical nativity scene. My story is the middle novella, titled Carving Out Love, set in my hometown of Mexico, Missouri. I’ve incorporated some history related to the town being occupied by the Union Army from 1861 to the end of the conflict. Missouri was a border state during the Civil War, so there were powerful feelings between Southern sympathizers and Union loyalists. In addition, I added a historically accurate sheriff who was a fair man to all, even though he was a Southern sympathizer.

The nativity scene is now in Mexico, Missouri in 1861, a little worse for wear. My story begins as a brave young man named George falls for a young woman named Alice while both find their way through a world at war.

My affection for George started with his name. George was my father’s first name, and they named him after my grandfather’s favorite brother. How could I go wrong with two special relatives representing that name?

George was wounded in one of the first battles of the Civil War. Due to the severity of his injuries, the army put him and his litter (stretcher) on a train, with his discharge papers stuck into his pocket. They didn’t believe he would live long enough to get home. He survived, but has a severe limp. Some characters might pity themselves because of that limp, but George feels blessed to have lived.

To deserve the affections of George, the character of Alice had to be a kind, Christian person. I also felt George deserved a spunky, smart woman. In their first meeting, Alice impresses George through her personality and kindness. While others might ask him about his limp or pity him because of it, Alice ignores it. To show his affection for Alice, George takes on the project of refreshing and restoring a family nativity set as a gift to his lady love.

George hopes his talent for whittling beautiful things out of wood will impress Alice. Whittling became an art form during the Civil War because of the extra time soldiers had between battles. History reports whittlers from both sides would meet in peace and share tools and techniques related to their art.

I have a soft spot for characters with heroic qualities. Therefore, George had to be brave. Again. He’s already been wounded fighting for his country and now his life is once again placed in danger. They ask George to accept a dangerous mission, delivering supplies to the Union Army. He accepts the mission to keep the peace in town. His actions will draw readers to his selflessness. Readers will also discover those warnings of danger given to George come to fruition.

Discover whether George’s love and upstanding character convince his sweetheart to love him in return. Carving Out Love is a sweet love story between two young people caught in a war. George is thoughtful of others, brave, and a caring man. He has a soft side that is shown through his artistic wooden carvings.

I encourage readers to take a trip through three different sets of characters, in three locations, and in three eras with A Gift for all Time. The authors designed our novellas to incorporate romance, adventure, and the love of Christ into this Christmas collection. All the stories share an uplifting romance and a message that God’s love never fails.

If you fall in love with George, then read more about him in Show Me Deceit, published May 2024. Because I adored George and his personality, I’ve made him a minor character in my next mystery novel.

My mystery series, called Show Me Mysteries, will include George in book two of the series, titled Show Me Deceit. These mysteries include a contemporary storyline and a historic storyline that encompasses the history of my hometown of Mexico, Missouri. I set the historical storyline in Show Me Deceit during the Civil War.

Question for Readers: What characteristics do you admire in the male lead of a romantic story or novel?

About Ellen: Ellen Withers is an award-winning fiction writer, freelance writer, and retired insurance fraud investigator. Her mystery dual-time series, Show Me Mysteries, set in her picturesque hometown of Mexico, Missouri, is published by Scrivenings Press. Show Me Betrayal, was published May 2023 and Show Me Deceit, will publish May 2024.

Scrivenings Press will publish Ellen’s nonfiction book to help writers win writing contests March 2024 titled, Magic Words: Enchant Judges & Conjure Contest Wins for Novels, Short Fiction, and Nonfiction.

More information about Ellen, her books, writing tips, and highlights of guest authors is on her website. Learn more & connect: 

Ellen’s Website            Ellen’s Facebook            Ellen’s Amazon Profile

Ellen’s Instagram             Ellen’s Goodreads           Ellen’s Bookbub

About the novella collection –  A Gift for all Time:                                                                                    

A beautiful hand-carved nativity set travels from its original home in Germany to a riverboat in Van Buren, Arkansas, in the mid-1840s,  then to Mexico, Missouri, at the beginning of the American Civil War. More than a century later, it resurfaces in a tiny town in the Arkansas River Valley.

Three stories tell of the impact this treasure has on the families who own it. God’s love survives tragedy, turmoil, and even abandonment. His love is the gift for all, for all time.

Can’t wait for the drawing? Worried you won’t win? 

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Get your copy/copies now!   

A Gift for all Time               Ellen’s Books

Come back Dec 12th for Tara Johnson!