Lit Up host, Angela Breidenbach, visits with authors Cynthia L. Simmons and Rebecca DeMarino about their historical novels and how they used real people, real history, and genealogy to write beautiful historical romance. 

Cynthia L. Simmons shares how she discovered counterfitting in the Confederacy and a little known historical love story featured in her book, Pursuing Gold, set in the Civil War era. An interesting element is the true love story are secondary characters from the real McCallie family. A Chattanooga native, Cynthia L Simmons and her husband have five children and reside in Atlanta. A Bible teacher and former homeschool mother, she writes a column for Leading Hearts Magazine. She conducts writing workshops, served as past president of Christian Authors Guild & directs Atlanta Christian Writing Conference.

Cynthia is fond of history and offers younger ladies the elegance of God's wisdom. She hosts Heart of the Matter Radio and co-founded Homeschool Answers. Her author website is www.clsimmons.com.

About the book we mentioned today: Pursuing Gold by Cynthia L. Simmons - With his father dead and his business partner incapacitated, Peter Chandler inherits the leadership of a bank in economic crisis. With only a newly-minted college degree and little experience, Peter joins his partner's daughter, Mary Beth Roper, in a struggle to keep C&R Bank afloat while the Civil War rages around Chattanooga. Political pressure for unsecured loans of gold to the government stirs up trouble as tempers and prices rise. Their problems multiply when Mary Beth discovers counterfeit money with Peter's forged signature. Can they find the forger before the bank fails? The two friends must pursue gold on behalf of their business, as they learn to pursue their heavenly Father to find hope and peace. Find your copy here Pursuing Gold"It was genealogy that led to our discovery of the lighthouse!" When Rebecca DeMarino journeyed with her mom to Long Island, NY, to see the lighthouse named after her ancestor, she didn't know she would step back in time and pen her first novel.

Our next guest is Rebecca DeMarino, who used her 9th great grandparents' true love story to tell American history in her novel. Be sure to get Rebecca's latest release, To Follow Her Heart (July 2016) book #3 in The Southold Chronicles series from Revell/Baker. The Lighthouse Love Story as told by a descendent, Rebecca DeMarino.

What's the story about? Duty and love ~ only one has the power to make Patience Terry's life complete in a world of high seas, tall ships, daring journeys, and yearning hearts. The series is historical romance based on the real lives of her 9th great-grandparents, Mary and Barnabas Horton. Mary was her inspiration for the first novel, A Place in His Heart, which sold as the 3-book series and debuted in 2014. The second novel is To Capture Her Heart, with the Hortons on Long Island and a Native American woman stars as the heroine.

Follow Rebecca at: www.RebeccaDeMarino.com
Facebook.com/AuthorRebeccaDeMarino
Twitter @RebeccaDeMarino

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