Passengers
by Elizabeth Collums
Publication Date: December 7, 2018
Amite River Press
eBook; 185 Pages
Genre: Historical Fiction
During the Great Irish Famine, the Ewing family made their way from their rural cottage to the village of Highland Way. Annie, the oldest daughter was left to care for her mother and younger sister after her father left to find work in Dublin.
A mysterious letter arrives from America forcing Annie, Lily, and Katy into a harrowing journey. The hand written note not only will expose deep secrets, it will also challenge the strength and fortitude of the Ewing women, leading each member into their own soul searching voyage.
Follow this extraordinary passage that begins in Ireland and leads each woman to uncover their own courage and truths in this new world.
Ann C. Purvis chose to publish her first novel under her birth name, Elizabeth Collums--this is her true roots and where she has drawn from many of the experiences she wrote about. She lives in Denham Springs, Louisiana and enjoys DIY projects. She has two daughters, a stepdaughter, son-in-law, two amazing granddaughters, and her dog Daisy.
What I
wanted to be when I grew up was never addressed in my house. My Dad was gone a lot as a truck driver
trying to scratch out a living for us so my mom was my only companion. I called
myself an unaccompanied minor long before that phrase was popular. Because, you see, physically she was in the
house, but mentally she was in her own world.
Maybe she still had an emotional hangover from The Great Depression that
she often dwelled on or it could have been the dark cloud of the Vietnam War
that overshadowed any thought of dreams or celebrations in our home. My mom worried for years that my brother
would be drafted and then she stayed in a deep depression when he was and then
she didn’t want to let him go when he came home alive and well. She was so consumed with bitterness of the
past and worry of the future she didn’t make room for living her life much less
mine.
So, I
made every feeble attempt behind my closed bedroom door to reach for my own
stars with my dog, Pete, and every stuffed or plastic creature I owned. Public speaking? No problem. I had spent countless hours practicing my
very own interview with Johnny Carson in front of my dresser mirror. Sewing? No
problem. I taught myself how to sew by making clothes for my dolls. Writing? Again no problem. Whatever the teachers assigned, I did double
what they asked for. My room was my
sanctuary. However, nothing my parents did or didn’t do could keep me from
putting my best foot forward to get out and on my way.
I think
so often how sad for my mom that she spent most of her life looking down and
missed out on the journey. That’s what life is. One event after another. I’ve had more than my share of making stupid
decisions, as well as experiencing personal triumphs. I’ve been married, had children,
grandchildren, widowed and emptied nested.
I’ve worked at jobs ranging from cleaning houses to postal work. And it’s been the most colorful, aggravating,
heartbreaking, joyous, challenging, earth shaking, blessed life I could’ve ever
imagined. And I have never been alone. God always sent the right person at the
right time, as long as I was looking up.
My
bucket list is long. Publish my book, travel to Ireland, United Kingdom, see
penguins and pandas up close and personal, learn how to ride a horse, master a
pottery wheel.....and the list goes on and on.
I don’t ever want to forget to dream, learn, explore and yes, I still
play make believe. Every time I look in
the mirror, I still see that little girl from the reflection of this sixty-one
year old, young woman.
Monday, May 13
Review at
Bookish Sarah
Review at
Comet Readings
Tuesday, May 14
Feature at
What Is That Book About
Review & Interview at
Passages to the Past
Wednesday, May 15
Guest Post at
Myths, Legends, Books & Coffee Pots
Thursday, May 16
Review at
Pursuing Stacie
Feature at
Coffee and Ink
Friday, May 17
Feature at
The Book Junkie Reads
Guest Post at
Encouraging Words from the Tea Queen
During the Blog Tour, we will be giving away two $20 Amazon Gift Cards!
To enter, please use the Gleam form below:
Giveaway Rules
– Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm EST on May 17th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
– Giveaway is open to US only.
– Only one entry per household.
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspicion of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
– The winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.
Passengers
