Annette O’Hare is our guest today.
She wrote a book called Redeeming Light. She’s here to share the story behind her story.
When Sarah McKinney’s father dies tragically, she takes over the cattle ranch on the Texas Gulf Coast. To save the breed stock and make a fresh start, Sarah is forced to lead a harrowing cattle drive to sell off the herd. Amid the turmoil, Sarah finds herself distracted by her uncle’s young law apprentice, Frederick Chessher.
Frederick is drawn to the strong woman who stares adversity in the eye and wins, but if he is to court Sarah, Frederick must end a relationship with a girl from Beaumont, Texas. He sets off.
When a great storm hits from the Gulf of Mexico, Frederick rushes back on an ill-fated train ride.
Will he make it to the Bolivar Point Lighthouse where Sarah has taken refuge, or will he be claimed by the storm like thousands of others?
Learn more and purchase a copy.
What inspired you to write this book?
September 8, 2018, will mark the one hundred eighteenth anniversary of The Great Storm of 1900. This unnamed hurricane hit Galveston Island in South Texas with such force it is estimated that more than six thousand perished. Some say the number reached up to twelve thousand. The storm remains today as the deadliest natural disaster to ever affect the United States.
Raised in Houston, Texas, about an hour away from Galveston, the Great Storm has been a lifetime obsession of mine. Another of my fascinations is the Bolivar Point Lighthouse located on the Bolivar Peninsula, a ferryboat ride away from Galveston Island. Combining the Great Storm and the Bolivar lighthouse is how I came up with the idea for my most recent novel, Redeeming Light.
Redeeming Light is a fictionalized love story based on how over one hundred twenty people survived the deadly hurricane on the conical staircase of the Bolivar Point Lighthouse.
Part of my fascination with the Bolivar Point Lighthouse is because not so distant relatives of mine bought the lighthouse and surrounding property from the U.S. Government at auction in 1947 for the whopping price of $5,500.00! The lighthouse is also featured in the Emmy award-winning, 1970 TV movie, My Sweet Charlie, starring Patty Duke. The Bolivar light went dark in 1933, but the tower’s third-order Fresnel lens is on display at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in Washington D.C. The defunct lighthouse remains standing on the Bolivar Peninsula to this day.
Sounds fascinating! Thanks for sharing the inspiration behind your story.
Annette O’Hare is an award-winning author of inspirational historical romance. Her love for history shines through in her novels.
As a member of the Christian Author Network, American Christian Fiction Writers and ACFW The Woodlands, Annette desires to reveal God’s love to her readers while hopefully giving them a laugh or two.
Annette and husband Dan of thirty-three years live in South Texas and enjoy fishing on the Texas Gulf Coast and spending time with their grown children, and two loveable rescue dogs.
Follow Annette on social media: Website, Facebook, Twitter, Amazon, and sign-up for her newsletter here.
Annette is giving away a copy of Redeeming Light. Follow the directions below to enter.
I would love to win as I enjoy historical romance and this one sounds good! Thanks for the opportunity to win!
Hi Linda,
Thanks for stopping by! I think you would love this book. Good luck in the contest. Annette O’Hare
I am a Native Floridan who has seen my share of Hurricanes and then some.
The technology now can predict the weather but as we all know, the weather
is in the Lord’s Hands. We can trust Him to see us through the storms of life, whether they be Physical or Spiritual.
Hi Janet! I bet you know all about hurricanes living in Florida! You are right, the weatherman can say one thing, but in the end it’s all in the Lord’s hands! The only way to face any storm is with God as our guide. Hope you win a copy of the book!
Annette O’Hare
So interesting. I’m not familiar with the premise of the story at all so it’ll be great to read the book to learn about the actual event as well as enjoy the fictional component of the book.
Hi! If you like history then I think you’ll love Redeeming Light. I write true history into my novels. I think it helps us learn while reading something we like. Hope you win a copy of the book!
Annette O’Hare
I love learning about real places through stories. It’s amazing that the author knows someone who owns a lighthouse — and bought it for the price of a used car!!
Very interesting book that I would like to read.