Dear Sharon, Oh, I’m so delighted by your own rich family history and DAR ties! Such a historic state you’re in, too. And huge, heartfelt thanks for recommending my books in your start-up of a chapter book club. That sounds like a wonderful group to bring to life, full of like-minded history buffs and so much more! Kentucky has a state reading list and I was thrilled to find The Lacemaker on it for 2018. I hope you enjoy A Bound Heart very much. It truly is a work of my heart and heritage. Like you, I am in awe of all that our ancestors/forefathers did in America’s founding and all that they had to lose or lost. That’s one of the reasons I love the DAR so much – keeping that history relevant and alive so we don’t lose sight of why we have so many freedoms today. I could go on and on…

Your sis will sure enjoy the fruits of your labors 🙂 I had hoped to come in via my paternal grandmother but she had been red-lined as they say and so it took about six months for us to find a new line. I had the blessing of a chapter registrar who is an incredible genealogist who worked tirelessly on my application. I could not have done it without Wanda. Eternally grateful!

If you’d like for me to send bookmarks or anything of that nature once your club is up and running, I’d be happy to do that. For now, it means so much that you stopped here. I treasure your comments and am thrilled we’re both DAR members!

Happy 2019 to you and yours!

I am in awe of the fortitude and perseverance it took our ancestors to fight the Revolutionary War, knowing that if they lost, they would be hung for treason and their families would be destitute. We share this heritage of brave patriots who were willing to risk their lives and their fortunes so their descendants would be free.

My Patriot is on my father’s side of the family, a private in the Army from Charlottesville (Albemarle Co) Virginia. I’m so glad my sister just submitted her paperwork and documentation, and she’s waiting to hear from the DAR HQ. It was easy for her — the DAR genies and I did all of the work. lol!

Happy New Year! Looking forward to reading your A Bound Heart.

Thank you, Jocelyn! Worth every minute of the wait :). And they even have a recommended reading list for historical fiction. Smitten!

Love that serendipity, Mary Kay! Truly, that it is! Oddly enough, I have six aunts who didn’t join the DAR and follow in their mother’s, my Mamaw’s, footsteps so it skipped a generation. Happy you think Susanna’s name is lovely, too. I couldn’t have dreamed up a better one for a novel if I’d tried! Now to do her fine name justice 🙂

Love that you saw this and are so gracious about this new chapter of mine in real life! Thanks so much for being here, Mary Jill!

Well said, Jeanne! Such a divinely timed opportunity. Very thankful!

Tammy, I’d so love to have you as a DAR sis! Given I only have a brother, I don’t say that lightly :). It took me about 6 months to reach the point of submitting my application and the DAR detectives as I call them did most of the work as well as the amazingly savvy registrar of our own chapter. Really exciting to walk this new DAR road!