Writer’s Desk with Ann H. Gabhart
Writer’s Desk with Ann H. GabhartAnn H. Gabhart is the bestselling author of many novels, including The Song of Sourwood Mountain, In the Shadow of the River, When the Meadow Blooms, Along a Storied Trail, An Appalachian Summer, River to Redemption, These Healing Hills, and Angel Sister. She and her husband live on a farm a mile from where she was born in rural Kentucky. Ann enjoys discovering the everyday wonders of nature while hiking in her farm’s fields and woods with her grandchildren and her dogs, Frankie and Marley.
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More about The Pursuit of Elena BradfordNothing would please her family more than her securing an admirable match, but true love and loyalty are harder to come by than she imagined.
At twenty-two, Elena Bradford has never met a man who made her consider marriage. But when her father dies and leaves the family deeply in debt, Elena becomes their only hope. Her mother uses their last funds to take Elena and her younger sister to Graham Springs, Kentucky, where people find healing by drinking the mineral spring water and healthy recreation through the many daily activities–including dances almost every evening.
As her mother schemes to find Elena a wealthy husband, Elena finds herself drawn to two men her mother would never consider. Charming artist Kirby Frazier spends his days drawing and painting the guests, but his real mission is to find a wealthy bride to finance his dream to go west. Melancholy Andrew Harper has come to Graham Springs in need of healing after a broken heart.
When a beautiful young lady shows up at the Springs with no chaperone and a story that seems suspicious, nearly everyone is charmed and intrigued. But when an unexpected tragedy occurs, Elena, Kirby, and Andrew will all be faced with decisions of life, love, and loyalty.
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Enter to Win One of Two Copies of The Pursuit of Elena BradfordQ&A with Ann H. GabhartARCF: What inspired the central theme of The Pursuit of Elena Bradford ?
AHG: The story centers around family and how a person sometimes must sacrifice her own dreams and expectations for the ones she loves. I like writing about family relationships, especially sisters, perhaps because I have two sisters who are my best friends.
ARCF: How would you describe Elena in one sentence?
AHG: Elena is attractive but has never thought of herself as pretty even though she has striking blue-green eyes that hint at her artistic nature.
ARCF: Is there a particular historical or emotional backdrop that anchors this story?
AHG: The setting, Graham Springs, was an actual resort that was a popular place to go to “take the waters” in the first half of the 19th Century. The history of Graham Springs with its spring water reputed to heal various ailments is threaded throughout the story as Elena and the other characters take advantage of the healing waters, the lawn bowling, battledore (badminton), beautiful gardens of flowers, and the elaborate balls in the evenings. The initial inspiration that took me to Graham Springs was reading about the mysterious woman who showed up at the resort, gave a fake name, charmed the men, and danced the night away until the day came to a tragic end. Her identity is still unknown to this day although various theories have been advanced, and now I’ve added my own story about the dancing lady.
ARCF: What do you hope readers feel or reflect on after finishing the novel?
AHG: I always want readers to be glad they read my book and met my characters. I hope they will think about the importance of family and of trusting the Lord to make a way out of no way.
ARCF: Which secondary character do you secretly (or not so secretly) love the most—and why?
AHG: When I’m writing a story, I often have a surprise character walk into the story that I didn’t expect to become an important character. That happened with General Dawson in this story. At first, I intended him to merely be an older gentleman Elena and her sister dreaded seeing come their way to ask them to dance. He was far from the most accomplished dancer, stepped on their toes, and bent their ears with stories about when he was part of the calvary. But he just wouldn’t move off the dance floor or out of Elena’s story. The General turned out to have the wisdom of many years of experience to share and the kindly manner of a true gentleman. He understood more than most and was always showing up just when needed in a scene. I was very relieved when the spring water helped him become stronger and gave him more energy for those dances.
ARCF: How did you approach the romantic elements in this story? Was it love at first draft?
AHG: Definitely not love at first draft or even first thought. Throughout much of the story I was as unsure as Elena exactly how the romance would work out, but I kept writing until she finally stepped into the arms of the one who was perfect for her.
ARCF: Were there any characters that refused to behave the way you originally planned?
AHG: Characters always have a way of surprising me as the story unfolds. Elena, Kirby, Andrew, and Ivy all grew and changed in ways I didn’t foresee. Perhaps Elena did so most of all as she became less focused on her own hopes and dreams and was willing to do whatever was needed for her family.
ARCF: If Elena could give advice to your readers, what would she say?
AGH: She would say that life can spring surprises on you and that sometimes a person must put their own dreams aside for the good of those she loves. She would then tell them that prayers are answered, sometimes in unexpected ways, but that whether the answer is what you hoped for or not, you can always depend on the Lord’s love and help.
ARCF: What was the most rewarding—and most difficult—part of writing this novel?
AHG: It is always rewarding to walk my characters through a story, have them come to life in my imagination, and then find a satisfying ending for their fictional journeys. The most difficult part of writing this novel was stepping into this background where most of the characters were wealthy and accustomed to the finer things in life. Many of my books are set in rural areas or small towns with characters who have no concerns about social standing but merely get by as best they can. They are more like me, a small town, country girl. But I did enjoy bringing Elena to life and dressing her up in elaborate ballgowns to dance the nights away. Many things–love, loyalty to family, personal faith, and more–hold out the same challenges and joys whatever the financial situation of a character.
ARCF: Did you discover anything new during your research for this book?
AHG: I love researching the historical backgrounds of my novels and discovering things to bring my story to life. That was certainly true with the background of The Pursuit of Elena Bradford. I learned more about the spring waters people hoped would be healing. Best, I liked finding out about the owner of the Springs, Christopher Columbus Graham. He was a soldier, an explorer, a doctor, and an author along with being the best offhand rifle shot in the country. He lived to be 103 which perhaps proved his spring water did have healing properties. I learned about ballroom dancing and what ladies of the day were expected to wear. That made me glad styles have changed!
ARCF: Do you plot everything in advance, or do you let the story unfold as you write?
AHG: I am not a plotter. I come up with my main characters, my setting, my historical elements, and a vague idea of what might happen next and then put my fingers on my keyboard and let the story come to me. Years ago, I took a correspondence writing course where the last assignment was to write a novel outline. I never sent in that assignment since instead of writing the outline, I wrote the novel. I’ve been writing books ever since.
ARCF: What snack or drink got you through late-night writing sessions?
AHG: Black tea, hot and unsweetened.
ARCF: If your book had a scent or candle inspired by it, what would it smell like?
AHG: Roses. Yellow roses, specifically, along with other flowers. That is because the gardens at Graham Springs played such a part in my story. Especially those roses.
ARCF: Can you share one line or moment from the book that makes you especially proud?
AHG: I liked my opening lines. I thought they revealed Elena’s character and her dilemma at the story’s beginning.
Elena Bradford had yet to meet the man to make her consider marriage.
She would, her mother assured her when Elena was younger.
She should, her mother insisted when Elena turned twenty.
She must, her mother demanded when Elena’s father died.
ARCF: If Elena were living in today’s world, what career or path might she pursue?
AHG: She would be an artist since sketching and painting brought her joy. However, since even in today’s world artists can struggle for enough success to support themselves with their art, she might have combined her eye for beauty and her love of flowers to become a florist or a landscape artist.
ARCF: What’s one spoiler-free secret or surprise you can tease to get readers excited?
AHG: A cat shows up out of nowhere to climb into Elena’s lap when she most needs a friend. Pet lovers will enjoy meeting this cat that seems just a little more than the normal stray cat.
ARCF: And finally, can you share what’s coming up next for you?
AHG: I headed back to the Appalachian area in Kentucky for a new story about a young woman, Kallie Mae, who has a hunger to learn to read after missing out on going to school when she was a child due to family sorrows. Being able to attend one of the Moonlight Schools, started by Cora Wilson Stewart in 1911 to teach adults, opens new doors to learning for Kallie and gives her a chance for love.
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