Sorrento Girl Release Day (with bonus gifts)
The story of Sorrento Girl, a historical romance, was inspired by a snippet from an old Seattle College newspaper from 1938 that I ran across. The article mentioned a group of coeds who were organizing a tea. It referred to them as the Sorrento Girls. They were given this name because they lived at the nearby Hotel Sorrento, one of Seattle’s oldest and most beautiful hotels. Seattle College (now called Seattle University) had recently begun admitting women, and they needed a place to house them. Since this was during the Great Depression and hotel bookings were light, it was a win-win situation for both the hotel and the college. I liked thinking about what it must have been like to not only live in this beautiful hotel but also, I enjoyed pondering what it would have been like to be among one of the first trailblazing women who attended Seattle College.
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My only reservation with writing a story set during the Great Depression was that I was concerned it might be, well, depressing. As I started to do my research, my preconceived notions of the time began unraveling. Yes, the 1930s were undoubtedly a difficult time in history, but they were far from joyless. Music, art, and literature were all thriving. Neighbors helped each other out. People showed an amazing amount of courage, resourcefulness, and strength. I wanted to show this in the way I told the story- and I believe I did.
Now, as the world is facing the biggest crisis and level of uncertainty that many of us have ever experienced, my mind often goes back to what I learned when I was researching life during the Great Depression. It reassures me. Yes, we’re heading for some hard days, but they will not be joyless. God was in control, then, and He is now. The theme verse of Sorrento Girl is this:
“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline.” 1 Timothy 1:7 (NIV)
We can all cling to that truth. I hope it encourages you.
To celebrate the release of Sorrento Girl, I want to offer a small bonus. Some of you have already asked me how you can get a signed copy. Postage rates being what they are, along with this whole quarantine thing we have going on in the Seattle area, required some creativity. Here’s what I came up with. When you order a paperback copy of Sorrento Girl, I will send you a signed bookplate. Also, just because I love you, I’ll add an encouraging quote card, a cute Seattle sticker, and a bookmark. This offer is valid for the first 50 people who make a request.
Once you’ve purchased your book, come back and leave your address on THIS form. I’ll mail your bonus gifts out within a couple of days. *U.S. residents only
Sorrento Girl is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and various other retailers.
