Pamela S. Meyers is our guest today.
She wrote a book called Safe Refuge.
Today, she will share the story behind her story.
In two days, wealthy Chicagoan, Anna Hartwell, will wed a man she loathes. She would refuse this arranged marriage to Lyman Millard, but the Bible clearly says she is to honor her parents, and Anna would do most anything to please her father—even leaving her teaching job at a mission school and marrying a man she doesn’t love.
The Great Chicago Fire erupts, and Anna and her family escape with only the clothes on their backs and the wedding postponed. Father moves the family to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, where Anna reconnects with Rory Quinn, a handsome immigrant who worked at the mission school.
Realizing she is in love with Rory, Anna prepares to break the marriage arrangement with Lyman until she learns a dark family secret that changes her life forever.
Learn more and purchase a copy.
What inspired you to write this book?
The 1871 disastrous Great Chicago Fire and how it affected my home area of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin sparked my interest in writing Safe Refuge. The town of Lake Geneva sits on Geneva Lake, a beautiful spring-fed lake in southeastern Wisconsin. The huge fire completely destroyed blocks of beautiful homes owned by the movers and shakers of Chicago. These wealthy men had already seen the picturesque lake, a short two-hour train ride to the north, and they quickly purchased lakeshore property there and built large mansions for their families. The families were to stay there until the city was rebuilt, but they came to love Geneva Lake and most kept their homes to use during the summer. Soon, other wealthy people heard about this little gem and also bought property and built mansion-like homes.
For many years those homes stood the test of time. But in the past several decades, more have fallen under the wrecking ball as new owners prefer more modern styles. Names like Wrigley and Schwinn had property there, along with other equally wealthy men not so well known. Nowadays, although some homes still stand, the tour boats often have to show a picture on a television monitor of what once sat on a property. I hate that the rich history of the lake which was known by many is not as well known today. It is my desire that through my fictional Hartwell family and their descendants, my stories will make the history of the Lake Geneva area come alive and spark an interest to learn more about it.
I’ve also learned a lot of things I didn’t know before about the town I called home for the first twenty-five years of my life, and I’m so excited to share some new things I’ve learned in the next book in the series.
What an interesting look behind the scenes of your story! Thanks for sharing it.
Pam has written most of her life, beginning with her first diary at age eight.
Most of her novels are set in or near her hometown of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. They include Surprised by Love in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, and her newest release, Safe Refuge, the first of three novels in her Newport of the West series.
Her novel, Second Chance Love, released last year, and her novella, If These Walls Could Talk, was published in the Coming Home collection. Future novels include Whatever is True (March 2019) and Shelter Cove and Tranquility Point, both part of her current series.
Pam resides in northern Illinois with her two rescue cats. She’s an hour or so away from her hometown where she can often be found researching and nosing for new story ideas.
Follow Pam on social media:
Facebook Author page: https://www.facebook.com/PamelaSMeyersAuthor/
Facebook personal page: https://www.facebook.com/pamela.meyers
Twitter: https://twitter.com/pamelameyers
Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/2kqP5CC
Website: www.pammeyerswrites.com
Pam is giving away a copy of Safe Refuge. Follow the directions below to enter.
This book sounds wonderful. I am sure I am not alone in saying I would have loved to have lived ‘back then’. But it is great to travel back in the past through a good book. You are a new author to me. Thank s for the chance to win.
My safe refuge when I was younger and single was my church’s sanctuary. Back then, the church sanctuary was never locked so I could just walk in and spend some good quality quiet time there.
I have read, to a certain extent, about the Chicago fire, but I wasn’t so aware of the relocation of some well to do families to Lake Geneva. My refuge was always my parents’ home in the country, until they passed away. Thanks for the interesting interview.
My safe refuge is my home or visiting my 91 year-old mom. Thanks for the opportunity to win!
For safe refuge, I go to the Lord and Lean upon His Everlasting arms.
My safe refuge is my family. Spending a Saturday with my husband and kids is a breath of fresh air.
My safe refuge would be my home. Or my Church with my friends. Thanks for the interesting post. I grew up in Elgin, Illinois and have visited Lake Geneva.
My safe refuge is the Lord and my family. Being able to run to my Savior is the ultimate refuge, and having the support of my sweet husband and daughters means the world to me.
Safe Refuge sounds like a wonderful story! Thank you, Liz and Pa for the great interview. It’s always interesting to learn the story behind a story 🙂 Thanks for a chance to win a copy of Safe Refuge!!!
My safe refuge is my home. Your book sounds wonderful!
Historical fiction is my favorite genre because I’m always learning as I read. I’ve never read a story centered around the Chicago Fires.
Home is my safe place and when the “storms of life” are tornadic in nature, we retreat into our hidey-hole. However, when they are spiritual in nature, we find our safety and security in the Lord.