About the Book
Book: When Heaven Thunders (West Virginia: Born of Rebellion’s Storm #2)
Author: Kendy Pearson
Genre: Christian Historical Fiction
Release date: October 1, 2024
When the devil wears Blue and Gray,
doing the right thing can be a thorny matter.
His family is missing. Bushwhackers are sleeping in his bed. This war just got a heap more personal for Union Sergeant Fin Dabney.
Fighting guerillas in your own neck of the woods comes at a high price. Neighbors, kin, and even Fin’s best friend are on the wrong end of a rifle. But not all battles are fought amid smoke and blood. When Fin faces a murderer from his past, flesh and spirit collide, but only one can prevail.
Melinda Jane has waited a lifetime for Fin to declare his intentions. But now she has moved on to other interests—with disastrous results. Her choices have cost her Fin’s love and possibly her life.
Why was it he could draw down on the enemy and look death in the eye, but he could not bring himself to deal plainly with Melinda Jane?
He never told her how he feels. Now he may never get the chance.
Click here to get your copy!
About the Author
Kendy Pearson is a worship leader, Bluegrass fiddler, and Civil War reenactment enthusiast. As a veteran high school teacher, she loves to discover a pocket of American history missing from the schoolbooks and turn that pocket inside out. Her novels lead fictitious characters through historical events and settings, engaging with period personalities. And she always includes a romantic thread to warm the heart. Every story is a journey through tragedy, secrets, regrets, and God’s undeniable grace.
She has received multiple lit awards and enjoys public speaking and teaching writing workshops. When she’s not clicking away on the computer or scaling mountains of research, she relishes ice cream, snowy days, fireplaces, and maple trees. Kendy is the mother of four grown children and lives with her sweet hubby and two amusing miniature dachshunds.
More from Kendy
Research and writing are so much fun! I always have some kind of theme in mind for every book I write. In keeping with my brand, Heart of History, I am turning two history pockets inside out with this second story of the “West Virginia: Born of Rebellion’s Storm” series. When Heaven Thunders is the eldest Dabney sibling’s story and brings two factors to light that are not commonly known about the Civil War.
First, Fin, the hero, faces various moral dilemmas just trying to carry out orders. He witnesses historically accurate atrocities and unfair tactics perpetrated by both Union and Confederate commanders and soldiers. Fin is in the thick of rooting out bushwhackers and guerillas who bring the battle to not just the soldiers, but to civilian homes and families, including his own.
Fin is a moralist, working desperately to find a way to do the right thing even when all his choices seem so very wrong. Can you imagine meeting your best friend on the battlefield and he’s the enemy? I tried to wrap my mind around the idea of neighbor against neighbor and lawless vigilantes molesting plain folks in the name of a cause. “We are in a war, yes, but it needn’t strip a man of his humanity or God’s favor.” (Col. Joseph Lightburn, Fin’s commander)
Secondly, Melinda Jane, the feisty family friend (who definitely wants to be more than Fin’s friend) represents another little-known pocket from history. I took a bit of my own heritage to heart for her background. For most of my life, I definitely resembled my kin of Irish ancestry. However, like Melinda Jane, I have Native American and African American genes also. We don’t think much about mixed race nowadays—it’s the fabric of our wonderful country! Unfortunately, many folks were not as accepting during the Civil War period. At that time, a variety of ethnicities were actually enslaved, which we seldom see represented in Civil War movies and stories.
My second main character’s “secret” lends to her heart of gold and a compassionate nature that shines through everything she does. “Izzy taught me we’re all born into bondage. It matters not a whit what color a man’s skin is or the color of his horse or house—we’re all in shackles and only Master Jesus holds the key.” (Melinda Jane)
Oh boy, did I enjoy working with Fin and Melinda Jane—and watching sparks fly! I hope they’ll make you smile as well.
Blessings from the Heart of History, my friends!
Kendy
Interview with the Author
1)Which part of the book was the most difficult to write?
While writing When Heaven Thunders, I struggled the most with a scene where the hero comes face to face with his best friend—now the enemy. How do two men who love each other still fight nobly for their cause? I thought back to raising three boys, realizing when they fought, they were more angry than anything. So, I made my hero and his friend blazing mad at each other for ending up in that position, turning the fight into an epic life and death brawl. But no spoilers here!
2)What inspired this book?
My brand is “Heart of History” which leads me to places and times in America that are not general knowledge. I am a former high school history teacher, so, of course, I love history. And I am pretty sure I was born 100 years too late! My favorite Christian Historical novels always seemed to be set during the Civil War. I knew I wanted to write a Civil War story, so months of research took me to the most contested piece of real-estate during that time—western Virginia. Once I found the where, a story line developed from my research. I have always wondered what it would be like to be a normal farm family caught right smack dab in the middle of that conflict. There were many families who experienced just that. The pieces fell quickly into place for the West Virginia: Born of Rebellion’s Storm series because history itself wrote much of the three books in the series. Actual events inspired practically every chapter, and my mind filled in the rest.
No war is strictly outward conflict. I love delving into the myriads of inward conflicts that also present in wartime. When Heaven Thunders is a continuation of this as I read factual accounts and got to know my characters better. My hero develops as a brave member of an elite guerilla fighting force, but a coward in dealing with the woman he loves. My heroine tired of waiting around for him to claim her as his, so she strikes out in life on her own accord, without seeking God’s guidance.
3)What is your favorite Bible verse or life verse?
I have a multitude of favorite verses, but my life verse is the reason I continue to write: You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and I have appointed and placed and purposefully planted you, so that you would go and bear fruit and keep on bearing, and that your fruit will remain and be lasting, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name [as My representative] He may give to you. John 15:16 (Amplified Bible, because I like words!)
4)Describe your view as you’re sitting in your writing chair.
I’m looking between and over my two monitors at an expansive green meadow. A giant oak and a towering fir are but a stone’s throw away, where deer occasionally wait out the warm sun. A birdfeeder hangs on a stand just beyond the window. I take such joy in watching the winged visitors as I gaze outside, deep in thought, drawing words from my mind and stirring up a mess of paragraphs and chapters. I love it dearly.
5)If you could have one book or piece of art or music on a deserted island, what would it be and why?
I don’t mean to be cliché, but I would HAVE to have a Bible. I love the Word of God. It is life and breath to me. I’m particularly found of the Amplified, because, you know, it’s wordy. I’m wordy. And nerdy. . .
Blog Stops
Book Looks by Lisa, May 14
Stories By Gina, May 15 (Author Interview)
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 16
Simple Harvest Reads, May 17 (Author Interview)
Artistic Nobody, May 18 (Author Interview)
Texas Book-aholic, May 18
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, May 19
Devoted Steps, May 20
Guild Master, May 21 (Author Interview)
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 22
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 23
Fiction Book Lover, May 24 (Author Interview)
Inklings and Notions, May 24
For Him and My Family, May 25
Blossoms and Blessings, May 26 (Author Interview)
Holly’s Book Corner, May 27
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Kendy is giving away the grand prize of a $40 Amazon gift card and a paperback copy of the book!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.