Today we’re participating in a blog tour for a new book by award-winning
novelist Susan Meissner who’s here with us today to talk about her newest
book from Penguin NAL. A Fall of
Marigolds is a part historical novel, part contemporary novel set on Ellis
Island in 1911 and in Manhattan a hundred years later.
Susan is a super writer and a terrific lady! I hope you enjoy meeting her. Make sure you read to
the end of the post so you can find out how to get in on a drawing for a
fabulous gift basket that includes a $100 Visa gift card.
1. Susan,
tell us where the idea for A Fall of Marigolds came from.
I’ve long been a history junkie, especially with regard to historical events
that involve ordinary people facing extraordinary circumstances. A couple years
ago I viewed a documentary by author and filmmaker Lorie Conway called
Forgotten Ellis Island; a hauntingly
poignant exposé on the section of Ellis Island that no one really has heard
much about; its hospital. The two man-made islands that make up the hospital
buildings haven’t been used in decades and are falling into ruins, a sad predicament
the documentary aptly addresses. The images of the rooms where the sick of a
hundred nations waited to be made well stayed with me. I knew there were a
thousand stories pressed into those walls, stories of immigrants who were just
a stone’s throw from a new life. But unless they could be cured of whatever
disease they’d arrived with, they would never set foot on America’s shores.
Ellis Island hospital was the ultimate in-between place – it lay between what
was and what could be. A great place to set a story
2. What
is the story about, in a nutshell?
The book is about two women who never meet as they are separated by a
century. One woman, Taryn, is a 9/11 widow and single mother who is about to
mark the tenth anniversary of her husband’s passing. The other is a nurse,
Clara, who witnessed the death of the man she loved in the Triangle Shirtwaist
Fire in Manhattan in 1911.In her sorrow, Clara imposes on herself an exile of
sorts; she takes a post at the hospital on Ellis Island so that she can hover
in an in-between place while she wrestles with her grief. She meets an
immigrant who wears the scarf of the wife he lost crossing the Atlantic, a
scarf patterned in marigolds. The scarf becomes emblematic of the beauty and
risk inherent in loving people, and it eventually finds it way to Taryn one
hundred years later on the morning a plane crashes into the North Tower of the
World Trade Center. The story is about the resiliency of love, and the notion
that the weight of the world is made more bearable because of it, even though
it exposes us to the risk of loss.
3. Why a scarf of marigolds? What is their significance?
Marigolds aren’t like most other flowers. They aren’t beautiful and fragrant.
You don’t see them in bridal bouquets or prom corsages or funeral sprays. They
don’t come in gentle colors like pink and lavender and baby blue. Marigolds are
hearty, pungent and brassy. They are able to bloom in the autumn months, well past
the point when many other flowers can’t. In that respect, I see marigolds as
being symbolic of the strength of the human spirit to risk loving again after
loss. Because, face it. We live in a messy world. Yet it’s the only one we’ve
got. We either love here or we don’t. The title of the book has a sort of
double-meaning. Both the historical and contemporary story take place primarily
in the autumn. Secondarily, when Clara sees the scarf for the first time,
dangling from an immigrant’s shoulders as he enters the hospital building, she
sees the floral pattern in the threads, notes how similar they are to the
flames she saw in the fire that changed everything for her, and she describes
the cascading blooms woven into the scarf as “a fall of marigolds.”
4. Are
you working on anything new at the moment?
My next book is set entirely in
England, mostly during The London Blitz. My main character starts out as a young,
aspiring bridal gown designer evacuated to the countryside with her
seven-year-old sister in the summer of 1940. Though only fifteen, Emmy is on
the eve of being made an apprentice to a renowned costumer and she resents her
single mother’s decision to send her away. She sneaks back to London – with her
sister in tow – several months later but the two become separated when the
Luftwaffe begins its terrible and deadly attack on the East End on the first
night of the Blitz. War has a way of separating from us what we most value, and
often shows how little we realized that value. I have always found the
evacuation of London’s children to the countryside – some for the entire
duration of the war – utterly compelling. How hard it must have been for those
parents and their children. I went on a research trip to the U.K. in the fall
of 2013 and I spoke with many individuals who were children during the war;
some were separated from their parents, some were bombed out of their homes,
some slept night after night in underground Tube stations, some watched in
fascination as children from the city came to their towns and villages to live
with them. This book explores issues of loss and longing, but also the bonds of
sisters, and always, the power of love.
5.
Where can readers connect with you?
You can find me at
www.susanmeissner.com and on Facebook
at my Author page, Susan .Meissner, and on Twitter at SusanMeissner. I blog at
susanmeissner.com. I also send out a newsletter via email four times a year.
You can sign up for it on my website. I love connecting with readers! You are
the reason I write.
6. This is your first general market
novel after having written more than a dozen books for the inspirational market.
Why the switch?
I got my start in the
inspirational market and am immensely grateful for that experience. Every
published novelist wants to connect with her ideal reader. We don’t all like
the same genres and we don’t all like the same style and voice. I believe a
great many of my ideal readers shop in the general marketplace because that’s
where I shop. My favorite authors — among them Kate Morton, Geraldine Brooks,
Lisa See, Jamie Ford, and Diane Setterfield — are all general marketplace
authors. Add to this that my faith threads are always subtle rather than
obvious, then the move to the general market place seems like a great way for
me to connect with more readers. My approach to faith in my writing is one that
I liken to the subtlety of God’s presence and influence in the Book of Esther
in the Old Testament. The faith thread in the Book of Esther is as subtle as it
can be – God is never even mentioned – and yet the story is powerfully told and
the virtues of loyalty, trust, hope, and courage are obvious. I have never
thought of myself as writer of Christian fiction but rather a Christian who
writes fiction.
Thanks for stopping by, Susan!
As part of the release of A Fall of
Marigolds and this blog tour, Susan is giving to one lucky winner a gift basket
that includes a $100 Visa gift card, a copy of the book, the DVD Forgotten
Ellis Island, and a beautiful re-purposed infinity scarf patterned in marigolds
and made from a vintage Indian sari. To be eligible, just leave a comment here
between today and midnight Eastern on Friday, February 21. If you would like to
see a list of the other participating blogs on this tour, just click here. Feel free to visit those blogs
and increase your chances of winning by posting one comment on those blogs as
well. One comment per blog will be eligible.
Additionally, there will be one
winner of a signed copy of A Fall of Marigolds from among those who comment on
this blog. Just leave a comment by midnight Eastern on Friday, Feb. 28 and
you’re in the running for the grand prize as well as a signed copy of the book.
Good luck!
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Delicious
48 Comments:
I've been looking forward to this release! Can't wait to read the latest Susan Meissner book. :)
This book is really good so far--I'm about a third of the way in as I leave this comment. If I were to win the signed copy, it would be a gift. Thank you to Penguin and to Susan :)
love her books!
Can't wait to read this one!
I love her books and am excited about this one also :)
--Sarah
Would love to read Susan's newest book!
I'm so excited for this book. It sounds wonderful. I visited Ellis Island a couple of years ago and I still see it so clearly.
I have always been fascinated by Ellis Island and the people who journeyed through it. I would love to read this book!
I like history a lot as well. It's like I can't get enough of history and learning about our history good or bad helps us to be better stewards of what we have. I watched a documentary on Ellis Island and it was sad and fascinating at the same time.
jennydtipton at gmail dot com
I have enjoyed all of Susan's books and am looking forward to reading this one! This sounds like such a great story!
martha(at)lclink(dot)com
Sue, Rick and I really enjoyed being with you tonight! It was a treat to get down to Warwick's and spend some time with you talking about your latest book!! I would say that 90% of the people there tonight were from our church!! Yeah God.... You are a truly blessed writer and God has put you right where he wants you! Love you lots, Deborah xxx
thanks for having me as a guest, Denise, and for all the wonderful comments here!
So looking forward to reading A Fall of Marigolds. Great interview Denise and Susan!
What wonderful contest. Thank you for the chance to win.
~Becky
ohiohomeschool at gmail dot com
Would love to read Susan Meissner's new book!
Would love to read,this. Thanks for such a wonderful giveaway!
Sounds like a good book, I look forward to the opportunity to read it!
Susan is one of the authors who will forever stand out for me. She inspires me. My favorite book from Susan is, "The Girl in The Glass". I love what she says, "I have never thought of myself as writer of Christian fiction but rather a Christian who writes fiction." This sounds like another gem and one I would love to read and review.
Blessings to all of you ladies,
Robin Prater
(srprater@gmail.com)
This book looks so interesting! I'd love to win!!
Susan is one of my favorite authors....I have read ALL of her books! Thanks for this giveaway.
I am anxious to read her newest!!
jacsmi75 at gmail dot com
Wonderful post! Marigolds are a flower most people don't think of.
lattebooks at hotmail dot com
Sounds like a great book!
Sound like a great book - thanks for the chance to win it !
littlebird(at)hur(dot)midco(dot) net
This book sounds great. Can't wait to read it.
mauback55 at gmail dot com
This sounds like an incredibly interesting story. 1. Marigolds have always been a favorite of mine, because they survive the hottest draught and even the cooler summers. They add a bright spot to any landscape, while chasing away the mosquitos. 2. Ellis Island has a personal link to so many people, and most are unaware of it. It has limitless stories to be told. 3. I love a good story with historical background. 4. I'm always looking for books by authors I haven't read before.
michj0447@gmail.com
I have never read Susan's books. I would love to change that. Sounds like a fascinating book.
The cover is amazing! Can´t wait to read this one :)
It sounds really interesting, and I would love something new to read. neyabenz(at)gmail(dot)com
Love the premise of the story.
I really enjoy the way Susan combines two time periods! I'm definitely looking forward to reading "A Fall of Marigolds"!
Phenomenal book by an awesome author! And what a wonderful giveaway!
I'm a book blogger also on the Susan Meissner Blog Tour - I don't need to win the package - let it go to a reader. I just wanted to pop in to say hello to Denise at Girls Write Out. From one book blogger to another: Hello! Hope you're having a great day. - Julie
My very absolute favorite is the two-Jane story and Lucy should have a follow-up! She was sturdy-steady and a dear friend in Lady in Waiting. My ancestors came through Ellis Island. I am second-generation American born. I would love to win A Fall of Marigolds and your prize basket gifts! Thank you. Kathleen ~ Lane Hill House lanehillhouse[at]centurylink[dot]net
Ellis Island has always fascinated me. Can't wait to read this.
andrea2russia@hotmail.com
This sounds like a wonderful book. What a great story.
susanmsj at msn dot com
Really can't wait to read this book. If I won the signed copy I would probably give it to my sister.
Thanks for the chance to win!
rdewey17(at)yahoo(dot)com
Would love to win. Thanks.
Would love to win a copy. Thanks!
I can hardly wait to read this book! It's an amazing premise. I'm entranced.
I absolutely love Susan's books and would love to win a copy of A Fall of Marigolds. Thank you for the opportunity.
Smiles & Blessings,
Cindy W.
countrybear52 AT yahoo DOT com
I'm excited to read this book. I haven't read Susan before but love the premise and look forward to reading A Fall Of Marigolds. Thanks for the chance.'
Carol L
Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com
sounds good thanks for the chance
This looks like a very interesting story, thank you for sharing!
Thanks for offering this giveaway! I love Historical Christian fiction and this book sounds very good!
debbie(underscore)griffith(at)hotmail(dot)com
Thanks so much for this opportunity. I love the whole premise of A Fall Of Marigolds. I'm a History lover and I especially enjoy reading about Historicals with a mix of Contemporary.
Carol L
Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com
Thank you so much for this fantastic giveaway opportunity! A Fall of Marigolds sounds like such a wonderful story! I would love to be a winner!
texaggs2000 at gmail dot com
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