Hello blog friends,
Today I've a special guest, writer Jan Sikes. She has a new release, and she's eager to share a bit about the book with all of us.
Most of you know Jan. She's a prolific and award-winning author. Her books always touch the heart. I'm looking forward to turning the pages of her new book, A Beggar's Bargain, especially after reading her excerpt below.
Since this is the first book of a series, I suspect A Beggar's Bargain will set the stage for those that follow.
Jan, welcome to my humble home away from home!
Today I've a special guest, writer Jan Sikes. She has a new release, and she's eager to share a bit about the book with all of us.
Most of you know Jan. She's a prolific and award-winning author. Her books always touch the heart. I'm looking forward to turning the pages of her new book, A Beggar's Bargain, especially after reading her excerpt below.
Since this is the first book of a series, I suspect A Beggar's Bargain will set the stage for those that follow.
Jan, welcome to my humble home away from home!
I am so thrilled to be a guest on your blog today, Gwen. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for having me here so I can talk about my new book, A Beggar’s Bargain.
As I was writing this story, an unexpected twist and new character came into it that added an additional layer to the story. A young boy named Tab is living in a treehouse in the woods on Layken Martin’s farm. Sara Beth gets glimpses of him and finds food missing from the kitchen, but the day she finds him leaves her heartbroken for the boy. Take a look:
As I was writing this story, an unexpected twist and new character came into it that added an additional layer to the story. A young boy named Tab is living in a treehouse in the woods on Layken Martin’s farm. Sara Beth gets glimpses of him and finds food missing from the kitchen, but the day she finds him leaves her heartbroken for the boy. Take a look:
After a few minutes of traipsing through underbrush, her (Sara Beth’s) nose twitched. Smoke! She scanned the area for the source.
Her heart sped up at the thought of finding their elusive visitor.
A tiny wisp of smoke rose from a stand of trees a hundred feet to her left. She slowed her steps, taking care not to snap a twig or shuffle a leaf.
With the tiny campfire almost in sight, she ducked behind a large oak and peeked around.
Bent over the small fire, a young boy who couldn’t be a day over twelve, of slight build with a mop of unruly black curls, stirred the coals.
She crouched and waited. Surely, the rest of the camping party would show.
A movement in the tree above the boy caught her eye, and she sucked in a surprised gasp. A crudely built treehouse perched among the branches. It would be easy to miss unless one was explicitly looking upward.
What to do?
The last thing she wanted was to frighten the young boy. She couldn’t imagine him living out here all alone.
After watching for a few minutes, she took a deep breath and made her move. Standing slowly, she called out. “Hello.”
The boy jumped to his feet and shimmied up the tree like a monkey.
Her heart sped up at the thought of finding their elusive visitor.
A tiny wisp of smoke rose from a stand of trees a hundred feet to her left. She slowed her steps, taking care not to snap a twig or shuffle a leaf.
With the tiny campfire almost in sight, she ducked behind a large oak and peeked around.
Bent over the small fire, a young boy who couldn’t be a day over twelve, of slight build with a mop of unruly black curls, stirred the coals.
She crouched and waited. Surely, the rest of the camping party would show.
A movement in the tree above the boy caught her eye, and she sucked in a surprised gasp. A crudely built treehouse perched among the branches. It would be easy to miss unless one was explicitly looking upward.
What to do?
The last thing she wanted was to frighten the young boy. She couldn’t imagine him living out here all alone.
After watching for a few minutes, she took a deep breath and made her move. Standing slowly, she called out. “Hello.”
The boy jumped to his feet and shimmied up the tree like a monkey.
To say it took some time for Sara Beth to earn the boy’s trust is putting it mildly. But he became such an integral part of the story.
Can you imagine being on your own at such a young age? And what happened that sent him into hiding? His incentive to build a shelter spoke volumes about the boy’s abilities and determination to survive.
Let’s talk!
Can you imagine being on your own at such a young age? And what happened that sent him into hiding? His incentive to build a shelter spoke volumes about the boy’s abilities and determination to survive.
Let’s talk!
BLURB:
A shocking proposal that changes everything.
Desperate to honor his father’s dying wish, Layken Martin vows to do whatever it takes to save
the family farm.
Once the Army discharges him following World War II, Layken returns to Missouri to find his
legacy in shambles and in jeopardy. A foreclosure notice from the bank doubles the threat. He
appeals to the local banker for more time—a chance to rebuild, plant, and harvest crops and time to heal far away from the noise of bombs and gunfire.
Only the banker firmly denies his request. Now what?
Then, the banker makes an alternative proposition—marry his unwanted daughter, Sara Beth, in
exchange for a two-year extension. Out of options, money, and time, Layken agrees to the
bargain.
Now, he has two years to make a living off the land while he shares his life with a stranger.
If he fails at either, he’ll lose it all.
A shocking proposal that changes everything.
Desperate to honor his father’s dying wish, Layken Martin vows to do whatever it takes to save
the family farm.
Once the Army discharges him following World War II, Layken returns to Missouri to find his
legacy in shambles and in jeopardy. A foreclosure notice from the bank doubles the threat. He
appeals to the local banker for more time—a chance to rebuild, plant, and harvest crops and time to heal far away from the noise of bombs and gunfire.
Only the banker firmly denies his request. Now what?
Then, the banker makes an alternative proposition—marry his unwanted daughter, Sara Beth, in
exchange for a two-year extension. Out of options, money, and time, Layken agrees to the
bargain.
Now, he has two years to make a living off the land while he shares his life with a stranger.
If he fails at either, he’ll lose it all.
BOOK TRAILER:
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