Barbara Townsend's Blog, page 3
August 22, 2013
Released! Blood Atonement; A Pioneer Trail Mystery
Today’s the day Writers AMuse Me Publishing released my debut historical novel! So many thank yous to my publisher, most especially Mary Cote!
You can purchase the book at these places:
Writers AMuse Me Publishing, trade paperback and ebooks including Kindle, Nook, and Kobo
I’m so thrilled. Thank you for your interest!
August 13, 2013
R. Ben Garant’s review of Blood Atonement
I had the pleasure to meet and his bride on their honeymoon. They are such wonderful, thoughtful folks. Ben is known for his screenplays for the Night at the Museum movies and an eye-popping host of other movies and television shows that he wrote, directed, produced, or starred in.
Ben kindly read and reviewed my novel. Here’s his thoughts on Blood Atonement:
I thoroughly enjoyed Blood Atonement, the new historical thriller written by Barbara Townsend.
After reading and loving Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer ten years ago, and seeing a great documentary about Mountain Meadows, I became interested in the darker details of Mormon pioneer history. Barbara Townsend’s book touches on that history — it conveys a real sense of historic detail and accuracy, yet at the same time it manages to be a real page-turner.
This book is a great window into a fascinating chapter in the American Pioneer experience — and is a satisfying crime novel to boot. If you know anything about the Mormon’s migration west — or if you know nothing about it at all, you will enjoy this book.
Robert Ben Garant, Screenwriter
To Ben, thank you. I so appreciate your words and you taking your time and energy for me. I wish you all happiness, and I look forward to seeing your next works!
Review, by R. Ben Garant
I had the pleasure to meet and his bride on their honeymoon. They are such wonderful, thoughtful folks. Ben is known for his screenplays for the Night at the Museum movies and an eye-popping host of other movies and television shows that he wrote, directed, produced, or starred in.
Ben kindly read and reviewed my novel. Here’s his thoughts on Blood Atonement:
I thoroughly enjoyed Blood Atonement, the new historical thriller written by Barbara Townsend.
After reading and loving Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer ten years ago, and seeing a great documentary about Mountain Meadows, I became interested in the darker details of Mormon pioneer history. Barbara Townsend’s book touches on that history — it conveys a real sense of historic detail and accuracy, yet at the same time it manages to be a real page-turner.
This book is a great window into a fascinating chapter in the American Pioneer experience — and is a satisfying crime novel to boot. If you know anything about the Mormon’s migration west — or if you know nothing about it at all, you will enjoy this book.
Robert Ben Garant, Screenwriter
To Ben, thank you. I so appreciate your words and you taking your time and energy for me. I wish you all happiness, and I look forward to seeing your next works!
The coolest title ever!
Mike Shay, published author and Wyoming Arts Council member, blogged about the Atlantic City [Wyoming] Book Fest on August 24, 2013. His title for his blog entry: Atlantic City set to make its debut as the smallest town in the U.S. with its own book festival.
Besides imaginative, it’s right smart of Mike to even discern this fact! My fellow authors who’ll be in on the fest laughed with me.
Several publishers have published Mike’s work. Here’s a few of his publications currently for sale:
- Deep West: A Literary Tour of Wyoming by Pronghorn Press
- The Weight of a Body by Ghost Road Press
As always, great job, Mike. Thank you for your support!
August 7, 2013
Atlantic City [Wyo.] Book Fest!
The press release for the Atlantic City Book Fest is heading out!
I’m so excited for this event. Not only is it my book release celebration, but also a gathering of our tiny town’s authors and their works.
Local legend Betty Carpenter Pfaff will attend! I’m so honored that she’ll be here and with her book Fine Gold. She’s ninety years old and grew up in this ol’ gold mining town.
I look forward to an afternoon of being with other authors and their book readings.
I’m thrilled about the book covers on the flyer. The background holds a special significance. It’s a photograph of the back cover of a book published in 1880 by Fanny Stenhouse, Englishwoman in Utah: the Story of a Life’s Experience in Mormonism. I’ll never forget the first time I read her description of her own polygamous wedding ceremony. I wept for hours. The emotion I felt was key to the emotion and character actions in my novel.
August 1, 2013
Margaret Coel and Pat Frolander’s reviews of Blood Atonement
Three weeks remain before the release of my novel Blood Atonement! Nerves are starting to twinge in anticipation. Self-doubt raises its ugly head. Would readers really appreciate my story?
Advance reviews are rolling in. Two in particular are from notable women writers whose words and character I strongly admire.
Wyoming rancher and recent Wyoming Writers, Inc. president Patricia Frolander held the position of Wyoming’s Poet Laureate until about a month ago. If you’re ever been around Pat, you’d feel as if her kindness, gentle spirit, and captivating sweet nature are the shield protecting you from all the world’s monsters. Through her book and the title poem, She Married Into It, I finally understood the power of poetry.
Of my own story, Pat wrote: Enter a world where women share a husband—only a curtain separates intimate moments as jealously, pain, and despair build each day in their male dominated world. Discover a tenderness between sisters rent apart as evil individuals twist a religious course to fit their malicious intentions. Don’t miss this absorbing mystery of a pioneer journey of Latter day Saints, its blessings and curses in the infancy of its church.
New York Times bestselling author and sought-after writing conference faculty member, Margaret Coel has an enviable writing career. Her Wind River Mystery series center on a nearby locale and is a constant favorite of mine. Her latest novel, Killing Custer, is due for release on September 3rd. I’ve been fortunate to have been in her audience during book signings and in several writing conference seminars. Her insight and intellectual talks make me dream of reaching her stature.
Of Blood Atonement, Margaret wrote: A powerful and haunting novel. Barbara Townsend has an uncanny ability to evoke the lives of Mormon women in 1846 shortly after the proclamation of plural marriage. We root for the women as they struggle for their rights in a world turned upside down. Read Blood Atonement for the history, the compassion and the understanding that Townsend brings to her characters, and for the spellbinding story. Just read it!
To Pat and Margaret: Thank you for bestowing upon me the gift of your time, your energy, and your words.
Reviews!
Three weeks remain before the release of my novel Blood Atonement! Nerves are starting to twinge in anticipation. Self-doubt raises its ugly head. Would readers really appreciate my story?
Advance reviews are rolling in. Two in particular are from notable women writers whose words and character I strongly admire.
Wyoming rancher and recent Wyoming Writers, Inc. president Patricia Frolander held the position of Wyoming’s Poet Laureate until about a month ago. If you’re ever been around Pat, you’d feel as if her kindness, gentle spirit, and captivating sweet nature are the shield protecting you from all the world’s monsters. Through her book and the title poem, She Married Into It, I finally understood the power of poetry.
Of my own story, Pat wrote: Enter a world where women share a husband—only a curtain separates intimate moments as jealously, pain, and despair build each day in their male dominated world. Discover a tenderness between sisters rent apart as evil individuals twist a religious course to fit their malicious intentions. Don’t miss this absorbing mystery of a pioneer journey of Latter day Saints, its blessings and curses in the infancy of its church.
New York Times bestselling author and sought-after writing conference faculty member, Margaret Coel has an enviable writing career. Her Wind River Mystery series center on a nearby locale and is a constant favorite of mine. Her latest novel, Killing Custer, is due for release on September 3rd. I’ve been fortunate to have been in her audience during book signings and in several writing conference seminars. Her insight and intellectual talks make me dream of reaching her stature.
Of Blood Atonement, Margaret wrote: A powerful and haunting novel. Barbara Townsend has an uncanny ability to evoke the lives of Mormon women in 1846 shortly after the proclamation of plural marriage. We root for the women as they struggle for their rights in a world turned upside down. Read Blood Atonement for the history, the compassion and the understanding that Townsend brings to her characters, and for the spellbinding story. Just read it!
To Pat and Margaret: Thank you for bestowing upon me the gift of your time, your energy, and your words.
July 2, 2013
Goodreads Giveaway closed
Congratulations to Kelly in Great Britain! Thank you to Kelly and to the other 670 folks who entered the giveaway. I appreciate your interest.
The novel’s release is August 22. Then, you can purchase the book in various formats through Writers AMuse Me Publishing. Formats available through WAMM are paperback ($13.99), and Kindle, digital, e-book ($6.99).
The books will also be available through Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, and Kobobooks.com.
June 9, 2013
Wyoming Writers’ conference
The annual Wyoming Writers, Inc. conference is over for this year. I am so fortunate to live in a state as Wyoming with so many magnificent folks. Our president, Pat Frolander, is Wyoming’s Poet Laureate. (At this moment, she may be the Poet Laureate Emeritus).
Pat’s a rare gem in anyone’s life. She exudes sweetness, kindness, and generosity, and being in her presence is a gift. Her poem “She Married Into It” is a seemingly simple memoir-type poem to that goes as deep as any anthem.
Our group draws faculty who include renowned authors, poets, and literary agents. In one very simple exercise, Margaret Coel (New York Times bestselling author of the Wind River Mysteries) gave me a twist of an idea for Novel Number Three. The other writers I have the privilege to rub elbows with inspire each other, root for each others’ successes, and broaden horizons.
For anyone who’s interested in polishing their writing craft, being in the company of stellar writers, wishing to mentor young folks, feeling inspired, then by all means join a writers group! If your interest is simply belonging to a group of people who are educated, interested and interesting, supportive, join a writers group!
If you want to know more about this spectacular group of folks, see WWI’s website or read our Twitters at @WyoWriters.
I’m inspired and refreshed, as I always am during and after our conference. After the conference, I had dashed off to a local library for a bit of research. It was closed. Since I had been dropped off at the library by a friend, I ended up walking back to the conference center. A few days ago during the Friday night’s portion of Open Mic readings, I had an epiphany for a poem. During the mile-walk back to the hotel, I wrote the poem.
June 3, 2013
Enter to win an advance copy of Blood Atonement!
Enter to win an Advance Review Copy paperback of my debut novel BLOOD ATONEMENT, A PIONEER TRAIL MYSTERY on Goodreads.
The giveaway is open until July 2 for USA, Canada, Great Britain, and Australia.
My novel will be released on August 22, 2013, by Writers AMuse Me Publishing. It’ll be available in epub and digital versions and paperback through WAMM’s site, Barnes & Noble, Kobobook, and Amazon.
BLOOD ATONEMENT’s back cover: Missouri Territory, 1846: Driven by angry mobs, thousands of Latter-day Saints flee their homes in the eastern United States. They gather west of the Missouri River to wait out the winter and hope they survive hunger and disease.
A church leader unveils a shocking, divine revelation to teenage sisters Aveline and Frances Bowmore: they must marry married men. The specter of polygamy promises heaven. Aveline and Frances feel compelled to obey. They become plural wives. The loss of each other’s support while faced with angry sister-wives and husbands they’d just met stretches their willpower to the breaking point.
Aveline’s world shatters when gentle Frances is brutally strangled. Grief-stricken, Aveline trusts the camp police chief to find the pious Mormon’s killer, but the chief stalls his investigation. She presses him and Frances’ husband for answers. Aveline’s husband orders her to cease—how dare she question men?
Time is running out to discover the truth about Frances’ murder. Spring approaches and the Saints prepare for the overland journey west to Zion. Aveline quietly defies her husband. She discovers secrets of powerful men—secrets they don’t want revealed.
Good luck and thank you!
