Shannon here: Jody Day shares her inspiration for her Historical Fiction title, Annie True and Brave. Comment or answer the question on any post dated Feb 14th – 28th to enter the drawing for a print copy plus 3 other titles. Deadline: March 7th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Jody:
The real life Annie Riggs, whose life my new release is based on, was famous for her homemade biscuits. Fort Stockton recently celebrated her 167th birthday, and those biscuits are still talked about. Unfortunately, the recipe has long been lost. But I think the ingredient that made those biscuits stand out was Annie’s love. She cared for many children and ministered to her community while suffering great personal hardship. She was abandoned by her first husband with 6 children, and divorced her abusive 2nd husband with whom she had 4 more children. The old West was a challenging place to thrive but Annie more than thrived, and her forward thinking ways helped make the community what it is today. The antagonist in my book grows to love her, but in unexpected ways.
I helped backstage in a community play recently for the first time. I was used to acting on stage but wanted to experience the other side. In some ways it was way more stressful than being onstage. One scene had the actors eating biscuits! So for a month of rehearsal and 6 nights of show, I made biscuits. I guesstimate it was a total of 145! My husband said he didn’t think I’d made that many in 40 years of marriage. I felt that I connected with Annie in that situation. I really wanted those girls onstage to enjoy those biscuits and feel confident it would help the scene and not hurt it. 145 is nothing compared to how many biscuits Annie Riggs poured her love into in the early1900s.
Young romance is a sweet and precious thing. I’m at the mature stage and it is just as romantic but in a different way. Cooking and making something that blesses my husband is a joy. That quiet cup of coffee he makes for me every morning, and our often silent half hour when we sip our coffee together is one of the most romantic things ever. Peace.
By the way. Those 145 biscuits were frozen…from Walmart. Annie would be ashamed of me, lol.
Reader Question: Do you make homemade biscuits or store bought? Why?
February Book Bundle #2
His Liberating Flame by Ashley Thompson, Contemporary Small Town Romance, PDF Download
Zenith of Tea by Ruth Wuwong, Advanced Reader sign up for weekly newsletter and join launch team to download
Annie True and Brave by Jody Day, Historical Fiction, print
Recipes with Love by Erma Ullrey, Contemporary Romance, e-book
About Jody: Jody Day writes inspirational fiction, devotionals, poetry, and Bible studies from her home in West Texas. She is the author of the Washout Express Series, and two Christmas Extravaganza novellas, MIstletoe Mix-up and Mistletoe Misses from the Pelican Book Group. Her newest release is Annie True and Brave, a historical fiction novel based on the life of a real West Texas pioneer. She writes about her author journey, and life in general, on her blog jodysdevotionaljournal.blogspot.com. Her time is filled with the love of sixteen, soon to be 17, grandchildren. She served on the Board and acts with her local community theater. She recently retired from 15 years at Fort Stockton’s public library where she is now a volunteer. Jody teaches piano lessons and a combined homeschool and Christian academy choir under the auspices of the H. Edward Petsch Arts and Music Memory. She and her husband celebrate 40 years of marriage this year. Learn more & connect:
Jody’s Website Jody’s Blog Jody’s Facebook
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About the book – Annie True and Brave:
Annie Riggs buried her outlaw husband, but she won’t bury her dreams. In 1904 Fort Stockton, Texas, she scraped together every penny to buy the local hotel, determined to build a thriving future for her children and a town safe from violence. But between the dust of hard labor and the whispers of judgment, Annie barely notices the danger creeping closer … until it’s too late to ignore.
Frank Jennings rides into Fort Stockton with one goal: vengeance. The Riggs family stole his father’s life, and he’ll see them pay. Then he meets Annie, the widow who defies every expectation. She’s tougher than the West Texas wind, and her quiet faith unsettles him more than any bullet could. But when Frank’s past collides with Annie’s fight for survival, he must choose: Will he destroy the woman who challenges his hatred or let her rewrite his future?
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Annie True and Brave – Amazon Annie True and Brave – BarnesandNoble
Come back Feb 26th for Erma Ullrey!
I do both store bought and homemade. I much prefer homemade! Ever noticed that when you use canned biscuits they get foil specks from the packaging tube? I always trim those off so the store bought biscuits always end up looking less than round.