My Scottish Gaelic class is challenging and when I’m not struggling with verbs and learning vocabulary, I am on a third edit of my book.
Here is a picture of the final, wrap-around cover:
And a teaser – an excerpt from a chapter in The Last Pilgrim, when the Plymouth colony is hit by a well-documented and destructive hurricane. I wrote this from personal experience, knowledge, because my family hunkered down in the living room when Hurricane Hazel passed over Plymouth, including – if I remember the event correctly – the eye.
*****
A great storm buffeted Plymouth in late August of that year. It began with a darkening of the sky with huge clouds rolling by at great speed, followed by steadily increasing winds. In anticipation of the storm, we drew buckets of water from the well to drink and brought our goats and the chickens inside along with their feed. We left the pigs and our new cow to fend for themselves. Soon the fierceness of the wind confined us within the house. We gathered by the hearth as the noise of the wind increased to where we couldn’t hear each other speak, and streams of air blew in through cracks and under the door.
How was Thomas? Where was he? I feared for his life with each buffet of wind that shook the house. We heard the ripping of splintering wood as the clapboards of our roof tore off. I wondered if the thatched roofs of some of our neighbors would survive at all.
Joseph cried out with the quakes of the house, and I tried to distract the children with stories from the Bible. We took turns praying for salvation. After some hours of terror, when the winds had calmed a little, Master Bradford ventured out, even as his wife implored him not to. He returned visibly shaken by what he had seen, telling us the water along the ocean shore was many meters higher than normal, and enormous waves pounded the sand. He had had to pick his way there, so many trees had fallen. This exited the boys and they pleaded to see for themselves, but Master Bradford settled them with a thunderous, “No!”
The winds then increased again, and until the storm passed, there was little to do but milk the goats and make sure the chickens were fed. Eventually, after a hasty meal of cornbread and dried meat, the children fell asleep, and eventually the rest of us did as well. During the night, we heard a crash when as part of our chimney fell into the fireplace, wind sweeping from the chimney hole into the house along with some rain. Master Bradford told us there was nothing we could do about it and to go back to sleep. Still, I slept fitfully, waking often with the noise of the wind and the fearful thought that Thomas may not have survived.
When we arose the next morning, we walked out into a new world. Now longer did a palisade surround the farm, and the chicken house and lean-to for the goats, along with most of the fencing, had disappeared. The cow and the pigs were gone. Mistress Bradford’s garden lay flattened, and in the distance we saw the naked roots of many overturned trees. Pine trees had broken off at various heights. The roof had sustained serious damage with the loss of clapboards, and of course most of the chimney was missing. Viewing this destruction made us even more grateful for our survival. Before breaking our fast, we knelt and gave thanks to God for keeping us all safe.
Mistress Bradford expressed some unease about cooking over the hearth with the chimney gone, but her husband reassured her it was possible. After the boys removed what had fallen into the hearth, she lit a fire, but it generated so much smoke in the house that we all fled outside, coughing violently. After that, she had the boys build a fire-bed in the yard. Thomas Constant brought out the iron tripod from which to hang a large kettle, along with the smaller kettle with legs and a flat fry pan to place on the coals. For the next few weeks, rain or shine, this is where Mistress Bradford cooked, until the chimney was rebuilt.
Thomas Cushman arrived right after we ate our first meal cooked outside. He was out of breath and anxious, but broke into a smile when he saw me unhurt. He wrapped me tight in his arms, right in front of Mistress Bradford, telling me, “Thank God. I prayed you were unharmed and came as soon as I could.”
“Tsk,” I head from my mistress. “Did you not pray for us too, Thomas?” She smiled broadly as she said this. “And you should be more reserved in your affections in public.”
“I’m glad to see you all are well,” Thomas quickly replied. “And I will.”
“Have some food. You must have set out early to be here so soon.”
“Thank you, Mistress Bradford. I’ve not eaten since yesterday morning.” Taking me aside, he brought me close to his chest and whispered, “I feared for you, Mary. I didn’t sleep for worrying.”
His words had my emotions soaring. “You was worried for you as well, Thomas. But thanks be to God, we both survived.” I reached up and touched his cheek in affection.
After Thomas had eaten, the governor announced he was going to the Plymouth settlement to see how it had fared. Thomas proposed to go with him and promised they would return before nightfall. The governor had dragged the boat far up the bank when the storm first began, and it and its sail had survived, so we all went to the river bank to watch as Thomas rowed the boat down the swollen river and raised the sail.
Nathaniel, young William, and Constant and Thomas Southworth then left in search of remains of the palisade, fencing, and chicken shed. When they returned with some of it, they told us the wood had been scattered over a half mile. Nathaniel looked for the cow while the Constants looked for pigs, and after some hours they returned, herding the spooked and dirty animals into the yard. I couldn’t imagine how and where they had survived. Mistress Bradford, Mercy, Elizabeth, and I spent the day cleaning the garden and yard of smaller branches and twigs to the tune of Elizabeth’s fretting over having no place to bake bread. The larger branches we encountered would need the strength of Master Bradford and Thomas to be cleared.
When the men came home that evening, they appeared very shaken. As we ate our evening meal, the governor told us, “The town has suffered terrible damage. A large number of houses have been destroyed and the roofs gone from others. The power of this storm left a long stretch where all the trees are down, like a wide open road.”
We realized again how good God had been to us. We could rebuild, and no lives were lost.
******
Looking to have the book out by March. Preorders will be up on Amazon soon.
Looking forward to this book. Lovely cover – but is the horizon level, or is it the photo that’s wonky?
That’s a real painting taken at an angle. I get to keep it!
A beautiful cover image, and the excerpt was outstanding. You’ve really captured the setting and period well.
Thanks, MC. I’m hoping to capture a lot of interest!
Nice cover!
Thanks, William! And when is your book out?
Early April, I hope.
Almost there, Noelle. I love the cover 🙂
Yup. Pant, pant.
Hello Noelle,
Very happy to see this latest development. The cover looks beautiful.
Best wishes,
Takami😊
Thank you, Takami. If you like it with your artist’s eye, then maybe it is really good!
I am sure that many others feel the same – it is a lovely cover! 😀
Gorgeous cover, Noelle! It captures the essence of the hardships and longings… Looking forward to journeying with “The Last Pilgrim.” 🙂 xo
Thanks, Bette. I had no idea what I wanted for the cover but I purchased a doll with the correct dress and decided to position it against a background – and there was the cover!
High five!
Thanks, Annette!
Nice! It must be nice to be getting close. I am also a fan of the cover.
Thanks Pete. But the editing keeps getting harder and harder….
Love the cover, Noelle, and I understand you falling off the radar. You have plenty to keep you busy! I am thinking about joining an intensive course for a month in a little bit, and although I’m familiar with the subject, I think I won’t have time for anything else. Good luck with the Welsh lessons and with the edits! The novel promises to be engrossing. It’s difficult to imagine how things must have been at the time with no warning systems in place, but the sense of community does come through. Good luck!
Thanks, Olga. Maybe I could send you a copy for review when it comes out? I’d love your feedback, including all my warts!
Pingback: Noelle Granger comes up for a breath and a cover reveal! | Sue Vincent's Daily Echo
It sounds like a fascinating story, Noelle. I’m also learning Gaelic, or trying to. It’s a difficult language to learn isn’t it?
Holy cow! I have my first exam in the course next Monday – doing the homework assignments and taking the tests does force me to learn! All the college students in my class have so much space in their brains to take it all in – I have to throw things out to take it in!
I am sure learning a new language is very challenging. I was never good at languages other than English. A fascinating extract, Noelle. This book is right up my street.
Thanks, Robbie. I am currently trying to get the word count down – I blathered on a bit too much in the book!
I think that is a good problem to have. Easier to take away than to add, I think.
Yup, you’re right. But my editor wants me to add, and the book is already way too long. We’ve been going back and forth about one book vs two – I came down on the one side because I want to get people to read it!
A difficult decision. I think modern people are a bit adverse to long reads. I tend to think twice about books over 300 pages long.
cover looks great Noelle!
Thanks so much! I am delighted my vision for the cover is liked!
My brother studied American history, reading this extract from your new book makes me wish I had too. I hadn’t even realised there was a Plymouth in America.
Love the cover painting and image 👍🏻
And unless we took British history, we wouldn’t know much about your side of the pond! I took world history in college and have read a lot of historical fiction based in England, so I’ve sort of educated myself. Plymouth celebrates the 400th anniversary of the Pilgrim landing this year – with year-long festivities. There are 36 million descendants of the Pilgrims in the US! You’re just going to have to read my book! Glad you liked the cover image!
Looks amazing Noelle and looking forward to showcasing.. hugsx
This is very good news and very good idea to give a private version of stack overflow Q & A. Because there are many numbers of government and private organization who needs stack overflow Q & A. As a company employee I would to use private version. And also, I would recommend Stack overflow to work on Bangladesh. because of two reasons. the first is a large number of population. second is your work is perfect that Bangladesh needs you.