Pandemics and plagues have been with us for a very long time, as have hard economic times. While movies and television serve as a means of escape for many of us today, nothing beats an engaging novel as a vehicle to transport us to another place and time. If that novel ties in with something to which we can strongly relate, all the better. Award winning author Donna Fletcher Crow's 'Elizabeth, Days of Loss and Hope', a recently released new edition available online, is such a book. Donna recently wrote an article on literary perspectives on pandemics, plagues and hard times:
"Now, thankfully, the pandemic restrictions are easing for many of us," Crow stated. "Good news, yes, but it is forcing us to look at the economic concerns of what it means for millions of people around the world to be out of work, businesses closed, and supply lines interrupted. The possibility of a depression looms.
"For this, I again turn to literature. I recently met with a book club in another state—over Zoom, of course. I asked their members what they were reading and learned many were reading novels set during the Great Depression. 'It is comforting to see how others have handled things,' one lady said. 'Seeing others endure can help us endure,' another said. 'Seeing others make the most of a terrible situation can help us find courage to face our own challenges,' a gentleman offered.
"My mother often quoted the old saying, 'Misery loves company.' I’ve never been very comforted by the idea that others were suffering with me; I’m far more of a Pollyanna who wants everyone to be happy. But the value of the concept of community can’t be over-stated. We can all take great comfort from the fact that we are in this together—and we will come through it together. As we always have.
"Simply typing 'hard times' into an Amazon search will turn up an almost endless list of non-fiction books on that topic, including Studs Terkel’s classic 'Hard Times'. In the fiction department, it would be hard to beat John Steinbeck’s Pulitzer-prize-winning epic 'The Grapes of Wrath'.
"The newly released edition of 'Elizabeth, Days of Loss and Hope', book 2 in my Daughters of Courage family saga, portrays just such situations in farming communities in southwestern Idaho. Based on historic events, many from my own family, we see, time and again, people banding together to help each other through dire circumstances."
Elizabeth has one goal in life—to go to college and become a teacher. But it is 1929 in Kuna, Idaho, and the small family farm doesn’t produce enough to send both Elizabeth and her twin brother to college. Just when it seems Elizabeth’s dreams might come true the stock market crashes and the devastating Great Depression engulfs the nation. Overnight Elizabeth’s anxiety about tuition payments is superseded by fear that her parents will lose the farm. Is this one disaster that even Elizabeth’s faith in hard work and God can’t overcome?
Donna Fletcher Crow is the author of 50 books, mostly novels of British history. She has taken a number of high-level industry awards for her work. 'Glastonbury' is her best-known book, which received the prestigious First Place, Historical Novel, award from the National Federation of Press Women. Readers and reviewers have raved about 'Glastonbury', calling it "The best of its kind," "richly fascinating," "beautifully researched," "gloriously evocative," and "panoramic." One Amazon reader said, "WHAT a work! Every reader can be enveloped in the sheer scope and quality, every historian be constantly nodding at the precise detail and accuracy, and every Christian can rejoice in the fullness of scripture. For me it is simply beyond descriptive praise. I would urge all who value truth to treat themselves to a feast."
The Daughters of Courage, 'Kathryn', 'Elizabeth' and 'Stephanie' is a pioneer family saga based on the stories of Crow's own family and other Idaho pioneers in the Kuna, Nampa and Boise area. A short story on her blog entitled “A Nostalgic Fourth of July” is based on a scene from ‘Kathryn: Days of Loss and Hope'.
The Monastery Murders Series features atmospheric contemporary crimes with their roots buried deep in the middle ages. Books in the series include 'A Very Private Grave', 'A Darkly Hidden Truth', 'An Unholy Communion', 'A Newly Crimsoned Reliquary' and 'An All-Consuming Fire' and the upcoming 'Against All Fierce Hostility.'
The Elizabeth & Richard Mysteries is a literary suspense series using literary figures as background: Rudyard Kipling in 'The Flame Ignites', Dorothy L Sayers in 'The Shadow of Reality', Shakespeare in 'A Midsummer Eve's Nightmare', and Jane Austen in both 'A Jane Austen Encounter' and 'A Most Singular Venture'. Watch for 'A Prodigious Sum of Corpses: Seeking Sanditon at Jane Austen’s Seashore', which will take readers to all of Austen’s favorite seashore resorts. Accounts of Crow’s visits to these sites are available on her blog under the heading “Jane Austen Seashore Tour.”
The Lord Danvers Victorian true-crime series is an Amazon bestseller in the British Detectives category. Books in the series include 'A Lethal Spectre', 'A Most Inconvenient Death', 'Grave Matters', 'To Dust You Shall Return' and 'A Tincture of Murder'. Donna provides a no-charge download of 'A Tincture of Murder' for those who sign up for her newsletter. More information is available at her website.
Donna Fletcher Crow's awards include:
Where Love Begins, Best Historical Romance, Pinnacle Awards 2019
A Lethal Spectre, Best Mystery, Pinnacle Awards, 2019
Glastonbury, First Place, Historical Fiction, National Federation of Press Women Award of Merit
The Banks of the Boyne, Silver Angel; First Place Historical Fiction, National Federation Press Women
The Fields of Bannockburn, First Place Historical Fiction, National Federation Press Women
Professional Achievement Award, Northwest Nazarene College
Juvenile Books Award of Merit, Idaho Press Women
Top Idaho Author
Pacesetter Award, Mt. Hermon Writers Conference
Outstanding Historical Fiction, Idaho Press Women, National Federation of Press Women,
Idaho Writer of the Year
Best Inspirational Novel, Finalist Romance Writers of America
Writer of the Year, Mt. Hermon Writers Conference
Donna is available for media interviews and can be reached by email at donna@donnafletchercrow.com. All of her books are available at online book retailers. More information, including a no-charge download of 'A Tincture of Murder', is available at her website at https://www.donnafletchercrow.com.
About Donna Fletcher Crow:
Donna and her husband live in Boise, Idaho. They have 4 adult children and 15 grandchildren living on 3 continents. Donna is a former English literature teacher and lifelong Anglophile. Idahoans with long memories will remember her as a former Queen of the Snake River Stampede, Miss Rodeo Idaho and runner-up for Miss Rodeo America. She is an enthusiastic gardener.
Contact:
Donna Fletcher Crow
donna@donnafletchercrow.com
https://www.donnafletchercrow.com
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