Do You Know the Story of the Acadians?

Sabrina writes:

I just read that you wrote The Meeting Place, a book I proofread years ago for Bethany House.

I am very fond of Nova Scotia and I remember being able to picture some of the places in your book. I also remember wondering why more people don't know the story of the Acadians.

For me, Nova Scotia, especially Cape Breton, is one of the most beautiful places I have ever spent time. I wonder if when I first get to Scotland, it will feel like Nova Scotia to me!

My ancestry is English and Irish but I often feel there must be Scottish too because of how drawn I am to Scotland. But about The Meeting Place, you and Janette Oke crafted a wonderful book. Exciting that it is being re-released!

Dear Sabrina:

Janette and I had actually arranged to meet in Calgary, where she lived at the time, in order to begin work on the sequel to Another Homecoming.

The week before I arrived, however, we received a letter from a fan whose forebears had actually been victims of the Acadian expulsion and the resettling process in LA. It was such a compelling story, we both had chills.

The day before I arrived, Janette came up with the idea of switching babies. The concept of finishing a story with such an upheaval was daunting. How could we do this and still wind up with what felt like a positive and hope-filled climax?

But it fit the story so incredibly well, because the expulsion did create such a cataclysm for so many families. To my mind, this idea is typical of Janette's power as a story-teller. When she told me what she'd come up with, I was in awe.

Warmest and best,

Davis