Civil War – Almost An Author

A Musket in My Hands by Sandra Merville Hart

Releasing November 8^th, A Musket in My Hands is Sandra Merville Hart’s third Civil War romance with Smitten Historical Romance, an imprint of Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. Her fifth historical romance releases in the summer of 2019. Sandra writes for Almost an Author’s column “History in the Making,” listed under the Genre tab. Sandra loves learning about history through researching her stories—and then passing along these gems to her readers. This book releases today, November 8th.

Back Cover Blurb

Can I count on you in times of great need?”

Callie Jennings reels from her pa’s decision that she must marry his friend, a man older than him. Her heart belongs to her soldier hero, Zach Pearson, but Pa won’t change his mind. Callie has no place to hide. Then her sister, Louisa, proposes a shocking alternative.

Zach still hears his pa’s scornful word—quitter. He’s determined to make something of himself as a soldier. He’ll serve the Confederacy until they win the war. If they win the war.

Callie and Louisa disguise themselves as soldiers and muster into the Confederate army in the fall of 1864. Times are tough and getting tougher for their Confederacy. For Callie, shooting anyone, especially former countrymen, is out of the question—until truth and love and honor come together on the battlefield.

Bio

Award-winning and Amazon bestselling author Sandra Merville Hart loves to uncover little-known yet fascinating facts about our American history to include in her stories. Her debut Civil War Romance, A Stranger on My Land, was IRCA Finalist 2015. A Rebel in My House, set during the historic Battle of Gettysburg, won the 2018 Silver Illumination Award and second place in 2018 Faith, Hope and Love Readers’ Choice Award. A Musket in My Hands, where two sisters join the Confederate army with the men they love, released November 8, 2018. Her novella, Surprised by Love in “From the Lake to the River” released in September of 2018. Trail’s End, in “Smitten Novella Collection: The Cowboys” releases in August of 2019.

Find her on her blog, https://sandramervillehart.wordpress.com/.

What Lincoln Teaches Us about Effective Writing in the Gettysburg Address

by Sandra Merville Hart

Gettysburg Address Plaque at Soldiers National Cemetery

With the celebration of Presidents Day this month, Americans may remember the very famous Gettysburg Address written and delivered by President Abraham Lincoln during our nation’s greatest turmoil.

Lincoln had been invited to give a “few appropriate remarks” at the dedication of a new national cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. He pondered the short speech he’d written, rewording phrases until the meaning was clear. Every sentence must count on this significant occasion.

Edward Everett, a well-known orator, spoke for two hours on a pleasant November day in 1863.

Lincoln congratulated Everett. Then the tall president, gaunt with the strain of leading a divided country, stepped in front of the crowd. Perhaps he felt inadequate to address the citizens after listening to such a talented speaker.

Then Lincoln delivered what has become one of the most famous speeches in American History for at least three reasons: an emotional hook; an acknowledgment of the obvious; and the clever use of repetition.

Lincoln hooked his audience with an emotional reminder of their noble roots. “Four score and seven years ago” a nation was born, recent enough that a few listeners might have been living at the time. Eighty-seven years ago our country began with the notion that “all men are created equal.” This reminded soldiers and citizens that the cause of slavery was worth the fight.

Lincoln also acknowledged the obvious. No one could ignore the remnants of a battle that so recently claimed a tragic number of lives. Fresh graves, destroyed fields, and bullet-ridden homes surrounded those in attendance. The dedication of the military cemetery united the mourners.

[bctt tweet=”Lincoln’s clever use of repetition drove home a vital message in the Gettysburg Address. #History #Author”]His clever use of repetition drove home a vital message. “But in a larger sense we can not dedicate — we can not consecrate — we can not hallow this ground.” He arranged meaningful words for maximum impact.

The repetitive phrase so easily recognized by the changing of one word — a preposition — ends the speech with inspirational impact: “that this government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

President Lincoln took two days from a busy schedule to deliver words he feared “the world will little note nor long remember.”

History remembers, President Lincoln. Your immortal words spoken on sacred ground remind us of the Battle of Gettysburg — considered by many experts to be the turning point of the Civil War — and the national cemetery where many of our heroes lay.