~ FRIDAY FICTION FEATURE ONCE UPON AN IRISH SUMMER ~

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~ FRIDAY FICTION FEATURE ~

--  'ONCE UPON AN IRISH SUMMER'  --

AUTHOR WENDY WILSON SPOONER

~Post Includes:  Book Spotlight, Excerpt,

Author Bio, Unique Author Guest

Post & Giveaway~

  

 

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour & Giveaway for Once Upon an Irish Summer by Wendy Wilson Spooner, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

 

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Once Upon an Irish Summer
Author: Wendy Wilson Spooner
Publisher: Ambassador International
Release Date: April 3, 2020
Genre: Young Adult Historical Romance

Two teenagers, two centuries, one city.

1817 Ireland - Allen Hamilton crosses the Atlantic alone to find a way to save his family from imminent financial and social ruin before it's too late. Instead he is met with prejudice, sickness, and starvation.

2018 Fort Wayne, Indiana - A gifted young artist struggles with debilitating grief after a sudden death in her family. When she unearths Allen Hamilton's noble rise from rags to riches in Antebellum America, their shared connection inspires her own healing and renewed inspiration.

Based on a 200-year-old letter collection, Once Upon an Irish Summer brings to life and weaves together this true story of romance, mystery, and hope. 

EXCERPT:
Mom came over and put her arm around my shoulder. “Beth, we think it’ll be good for you to go back to Fort Wayne and to spend time with Mimi. Think about it. You love her. And maybe you’ll find inspiration to paint something new.”

Furiously swiping at my cheeks, I shrugged her off. “I don’t want to go back there! Don’t do this to me!” To my mind came hazy memories of my grandfather. No, please. Not now!

Instantly, I snapped. “I’m not going to Fort Wayne for the whole summer! I was supposed to visit Mimi for only a couple of days, then come straight back here to paint!”

Dad didn’t flinch. “You can paint in Fort Wayne, and you are going.”

Waterworks launched down my cheeks. I headed for the door.

“Dad’s going to open up our old house,” Mom called after me. “But—I have to stay here because I already committed to the summer school counseling job, and we need the money.”

I turned back. “What? You’re not going?”

No one said anything.

Spinning on my heel, and making as much noise as possible, I stomped upstairs to my art studio and slammed the door.

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Christianbook

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Wendy Wilson Spooner became a novelist after writing academically and for family history clients. Her love of history compels her to write the true stories she unearths during research, and she's found that truth is indeed much more exciting and inspiring than fiction! She writes about family, faith, grief, art, and overcoming obstacles in life by coming to know who we truly are—children of God, and the descendants of remarkable people who paved the way for us—even if they really struggled. Wendy believes in learning from our ancestors, honoring them, and standing on their shoulders to become someone even better. When not writing, Wendy currently serves as Vice-Chair for Daughters of the American Revolution over the American Heritage Contest in Art and Sculpture. She also loves to hike, paint, travel and spend time with her favorite people—her family.

Please discuss the research you conducted while writing this book:

Wendy:  The research for Once Upon an Irish Summer started in Ireland. The Hamilton family I wrote about in the historical chapters were from three main counties. Two in Northern Ireland and one in the republic. In all three of these gloriously green, rolling-hill areas, with my husband and parents, we combed through archives in Town Hall Records, churches, tromped through ancient cemeteries, spent hours in libraries, climbed walls to get to family historic sites, and searched for hours through microfilms at PRONI in Belfast, the main archive repository for Northern Ireland. I could feel and sense my family roots everywhere. Ireland became part of my soul and I can’t wait to go back.

Equally exciting, was researching the Hamilton family after they came to America. They were the kind of people who inspire you to become a better person. They were highly educated, abolitionists long before the Civil War, highly religious, and advocates for all who needed their assistance whether it was educationally, financially, politically, or through the arts.

I also had a great time researching and creating the present-day world for the main characters in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. That city has a rich heritage as the cross-roads to the west in the 1800s, and for today’s teens, it’s full of fantastic parks, educational opportunities such as Purdue University, several renowned art schools, wonderfully diverse high schools, and so much more.

CONNECT WITH WENDY: Website | Facebook | Instagram  

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a signed copy of Once Upon an Irish Summer with a gorgeous Irish bookmark!!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule shown below. Giveaway will begin at midnight April 28, 2020 and last through 11:59 PM EST on May 5, 2020. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US mailing addresses only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

 

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

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