Welcome to the “SMOKE ROSE TO HEAVEN” Blog Tour! @SarahAngleton #RRBC #RRBC_Community @4WillsPub

“SMOKE ROSE TO HEAVEN”

Smoke Rose to Heaven by Sarah Angleton

Blurb:

New York, 1872, Diviner Ada Moses is a finder of hidden things and a keeper of secrets. In her possession is a lost manuscript with the power to destroy the faith of tens of thousands of believers. When a man seeking the truth knocks at her door with a conspiracy theory on his lips and assassins on his heels, she must make a choice.

Spurred by news of a ritualistic murder and the arrival of a package containing the victim’s bloody shirt, Ada must either attempt to vanish with the truth or return the burden she has long borne to the prophet responsible for one of the most successful deceptions in US history.

Protecting someone else’s secret may save Ada’s life, but is that worth forcing her own demons into the light?

The Joy of Receiving Fan Mail

Writing can sometimes be a lonely pursuit. I’ve been fortunate to have lived in several places with strong writing communities and have connected online with writers from all over the world through blogging and social media. That is wonderful, because other writers understand the frustrations and triumphs, the obsession and rejection, and all the rest that comes with being a part of this crazy industry. I’ve found the writing community is generally a friendly and supportive bunch.

Writers also understand that when we turn off Facebook and Twitter and climb into whatever little writing nook we’ve carved out for ourselves, each of us is alone, facing down an unrealized dream in the form of a blinking cursor.

In those moments a writer’s only company becomes the imaginary people in her head. Sometimes they are chatty and cooperative; other times they are not. Writing can be a lonely pursuit.

But once in a while, someone from the world, the real world, where no one is discussing Amazon rankings or cover design woes, reaches out to make the whole process feel especially worthwhile.

I’m talking, of course, about readers.

The first time I ever received a note from a reader, it came through my mother. I’d published my first book, which unlike the historical novels that would follow, was a collection of humor and history titled Launching Sheep & Other Stories from the Intersection of History and Nonsense.

The book had achieved only very modest success, but I was quite pleased with myself for getting it out there and when my mom handed me a note from one of her friends I did not know, specifically about my book, I was pretty flattered.

I wore what I’m sure was a comically wide grin as I flipped open the card and began to read. The first thing I noticed was that my biggest fan hadn’t spelled my last name correctly. A lot of people get that mixed up, so I wasn’t especially bothered.

She went on to explain that she had recently purchased Throwing Sheep at her local bookstore with a coupon that made it very cheap. Hm. I, too, am a thrifty person. And titles aren’t really that important, right?

The woman ended her message with an explanation that she probably wouldn’t read the book, but that she sure was excited to pass it on to a friend who might like it.

I’ve now published three books. The most recent called Smoke Rose to Heaven is very different than my first step into the world of publishing. This book is a historical thriller. It’s the coming of age story of a woman who has come into possession of a lost manuscript that supports a historical conspiracy theory which questions the origin story of the Book of Mormon.

My reader audience is still relatively small but vocal and expanding. I’m delighted that in the last few years many more readers have graciously reached out and let me know they’ve enjoyed my books. Most have been a little more flattering than the first.

MEET THE AUTHOR, SARAH ANGLETON!

Sarah Angleton

SARAH ANGLETON is the author of the historical novels Gentleman of Misfortune and Smoke Rose to Heaven as well as the humor collection Launching Sheep & Other Stories from the Intersection of History and Nonsense. She lives with her husband, two sons, and one loyal dog near St. Louis, where she loves rooting for the Cardinals but doesn’t care for the pizza.

Connect with Sarah via…

Twitter

Facebook

Website

GIVEAWAY:  Leave a comment below or along any other stop of the tour and you could win one of five e-book copies of  SMOKE ROSE TO HEAVEN!

Follow along with the rest of Sarah’s amazing tour by clicking HERE!

Thanks for dropping in, friends!

27 Comments

  1. Thanks for sharing highlights from your journey as a writer, Sarah. Yes, I suppose, if we cannot see the humour in a situation, we probably won’t be able to continue doing what we do. I hope you have great success with your 4WillsPubs tour! Thanks for hosting, Nonnie. 🙂

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  2. Shirley Harris-Slaughter

    Sarah thanks for sharing your post with us.

    Nonnie, I’m just loving your website. The colors are so comforting.

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    • Thanks, Shirley! I believe you because you say that every time you drop in! LOL

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      • Shirley Harris-Slaughter

        I can’t help it Nonnie. Its always so relaxing over here. I can’t say it enough.

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  3. I loved this post, Sarah. Thanks for the chuckle. Best wishes to you.

    Thanks for hosting, Nonnie.

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  4. Your post made me laugh, Sarah. It is nice to read about other people’s writing and publishing journals. I recently made the jump from children’s books to a YA book and that was huge and like starting over. I can well understand your comments about your initial book. The growth we experience with each book is an amazing personal experience. Thank you, Nonnie, for hosting Sarah.

    Liked by 1 person

    • It’s been a pleasure hosting Sarah, Robbie! Thank you for dropping in to support her!

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  5. That’s so funny!

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  6. Marie Drake

    I have enjoyed catching up with your tour tonight. Best wishes for the rest of your stops. 😊

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  7. Very well said, Sarah. Writing can definitely be lonely, but it’s wonderful to connect with readers and followers, as well as fellow writers. 🖤

    Liked by 1 person

    • Yes. It’s true that the work is generally best done alone in front of the computer, but it is very difficult to write in a vacuum.

      Liked by 1 person

      • Once again, well said!

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  8. Yvette M. Calleiro

    I remember my very first review. It was from a woman in Bangladesh! That was so fascinating to me – that I reached someone on the total opposite side of the globe with my words. Thinking about it still makes me smile today. I, too, am not physically surrounded by writers, but RRBC allows me to feel a part of the best writing community out there. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    • That is exciting! I recently got a notification that I sold a book in Japan! I’m fortunate that I do have a pretty active writing community around me now because that has not always been the case and it makes a big difference when facing that blinking cursor. And I am so grateful for online writing communities as well that reach around the globe. How cool is that?!

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  9. Sarah, my greatest joy as a writer is discovering #RRBC. Before #RRBC, I was, like you, in a world of my own, alone, and not knowing where to turn. Not anymore! Now my world is surrounded by people of like minds. Thank God, and thank you, Nonnie, for hosting her today.

    Liked by 1 person

    • I learned a long time ago that if I wanted to do this writing thing, I could not do it without a community. I have gained so much from the other writers I’ve known in local guilds, critique groups, and now #RRBC. I’m so excited to have found this supportive, welcoming community!

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  10. Fan mail, especially the first one, is exciting. I think that makes it easy to overlook the less-than-flattering tone. It makes you stop and think about how our own words sound to others. They all aren’t taken in the light of the way we meant them. I appreciate any reader who make the effort.
    Rebecca Carter (writing as Ronesa Aveela)

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    • I completely agree. I think when I started out, my reader was a sort of vague entity. I am more motivated to keep writing when I see evidence that there are real people holding my books in their real hands.

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  11. Did your biggest fan spell your last name Angelton? I hope it was a typo. You have an interesting writing journey, Sarah. Your book sounds very interesting! Thank you, Nonnie.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Yes. And it is a common mistake. Completely forgivable. I was a little more thrown by the incorrect book title, but she tried.

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  12. That first note from a potential reader wasn’t the most inspirational, Sarah. 🙂 Thank you for sharing and I hope you are enjoying your tour. I am!

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    • Thanks! I chose to focus on the fact that she reached out.

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  13. Thank you, Nonnie, for sharing your space with me today!

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  14. At least you found humor in the note, that’s something 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    • It was so funny. I do think she meant to very very complimentary. It was very sweet of her to take the time to write.

      Liked by 2 people

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