Eleanor “Ellie” Gustafson is our guest today.

She wrote a book called An Unpresentable Glory. She’s here to share the story behind her story.

“I trusted you, and some day, you may know just how much you hold in your hands.”

Linda Jensen leads a relatively quiet life in Westchester County, New York, as the owner of a highly-acclaimed garden. Inherited from her parents, the garden is her pride and joy. What is not so joyful is finding a strange man sprawled near her delphiniums! The mysterious man is sick, unable to do anything more than drink water—and beg for secrecy. Ignoring all alarm bells, Linda sees to his needs, but her caring act takes on unexpected significance, an unpresentable glory.

Seeds of trust, and perhaps love, are planted in Linda’s garden haven. But as secrets are revealed and scandal hits the headlines, the act of caring for this man threatens to tarnish both of their reputations. Like weeds in Linda’s garden, circumstances threaten to choke out their fledgling relationship, and small moments prove to be the biggest influencers—on a national scale.

Learn more and purchase a copy.

What inspired you to write this book?

The night before my father-in-law died, I volunteered to do the unpresentable thing, as in the first chapter of An Unpresentable Glory. On top of his cancer, Walter had a urinary infection that urged him out of bed every five minutes. I sat beside him all night with a container in hand. As it turned out, no liquid ever came through, but I was ready and did manage to keep him in bed—sensing that I was not alone in the room.

In the story, Linda finds a stranger collapsed in her magnificent garden. With difficulty, she gets him into the house and cares for him, deciding on water as the best treatment.

Water in, however, must come out, and he’s impossibly weak. What to do? She finds a container and services him—sensing that the room is full of angels.

The morning after my father-in-law’s long night, I left his care in other hands and went outdoors to reflect on my night watch.

At that moment, An Unpresentable Glory was conceived.

I reflected on two poems that had been intentionally conjoined—one by my friend Debby, the other by T.H. White.

Prelude: Night Song (Debby Rice)

The harsh moon shines

On the iron river.

I shall not go down to the bank tonight,

For all the dark shapes

And terrible phantoms

Cluster with a vengeance

Outside the door.

Oh, it is long and long

I have guarded the treasure

Across my knees the hard sword drawn.

* * *

And on what beautiful morning

With the sun shining and the sea calling

Shall I awake

Shall I give up my unsubstantial sword

And go down to the water

With all the trumpets sounding

And with tears and laughter

Take the white hand of my Lord?

Oh, on what beautiful morning

Shall I awake

And bathing in the blue river

Forget the very dark night

This night forever?

On what beautiful morning?

—T.H. White

Walter Gustafson awoke that beautiful morning and grasped the glorious hand of his Lord.

And I helped.

What a special story. Thanks for sharing your inspiration!

Ellie grew up in Branchville NJ, in a county with more cows than people.

She attended Wheaton College in Illinois as a music major, then married a pastor/college professor/tree farmer/organist and writer. Together, they have three children and eight grandchildren.

Ellie’s early writing attempts saw friends—and even her mother—advising her to stick to music as a career.

She pushed manfully along, though, and An Unpresentable Glory is her sixth novel.

Follow Ellie on social media:

Website: www.eleanorgustafson.com/

Blog: www.eleanorgustafson.com/

Amazon Author Page: www.amazon.com/author/eleanorgustafson

Twitter: https://twitter.com/egusellie/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/elliekgustafson/

Ellie is giving away a copy of An Unpresentable Glory. Follow the directions below to enter.

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