The fun began this week. Last Friday I got to leave my lonely office and travel to four different bookstores to meet with some of my readers. I was very excited to present my newest book, “Waves of Mercy” to them. The novel is based on the true story of the Dutch immigrants who left the Netherlands in 1846 to settle the town of Holland in the wilderness of Western Michigan. I even bought a new outfit to wear for the occasion. It’s a typical Dutch costume from the province of Zuid Beveland, and is the type of dress that the characters in my book might have worn. What do you think?
My first stop was the Kregel Parable Christian Store in Grandville, Michigan. Here are some of my new friends.
Next, I traveled southwest to Banner Books – Parable Christian Store in St. Joseph, Michigan. More new friends!
On Saturday morning, I met all of these wonderful people at Light of Grace Book & Gift Store in Nappanee, Indiana.
And finally, I drove to J.Farvers Bookstore on Saturday afternoon in Shipshewana, Indiana. Thanks for a great time!
I met so many wonderful people, and I can’t begin to describe how contagious their enthusiasm is. I came home determined to finish writing my next book because I know that all of these amazing new friends will be waiting to read it. I cautioned them to read s-l-o-w-l-y, though. They can read my book in a matter of days but it takes me a year to write it!
I’m not quite finished launching “Waves of Mercy” yet. On Tuesday, October 4, I’ll be speaking at Baker Book House in Grand Rapids, Michigan at 7:00 PM (2768 E. Paris Ave., SE, Grand Rapids). I’ve put together a power point presentation with some of the pictures that inspired the novel—and I’ll tell a little bit about why I decided to write it. I hope to meet more of you there.
Two days later, on Thursday, October 6, I’ll be giving the same presentation in Holland at 7:00 PM at Christ Memorial Church (595 Graafschap Rd., Holland). Maybe some of you are descendants of those first settlers? I would love to meet you. “Waves of Mercy” will be available for purchase at both of those places.
So, I have to say that while it was awkward at first, I’m growing fond of this Dutch dress. You can’t tell from the picture but there’s a voluminous petticoat underneath the skirt, and a black apron on top of it. Twenty yards of cloth is very effective at hiding any and every flaw in my figure. But don’t try to drive a car in wooden shoes…just saying.
Happy reading!
13 comments
Holland Michigan is my hometown! I about jumped out of my chair when I started reading this post. I am not a descendant of the founder Van Raalte or families that settled Holland but I know the rich history of it. My late husband was Dutch so I picked up many ancestral things from his family. I do hope you availed yourself of the many resources of history in my hometown and if you came to visit ….welkum! I wish I could travel back home to see you at Christ My Memorial Church. I hope you went to see the inside of the church that Van Raalte started! It’s beautiful !
Tip toe thru the tulips with me!
Blessings dear sister in the Lord.
Hi Mary! As of two years ago, Holland is my hometown, too. My husband grew up here and we moved back after he retired from the college where he taught. I love this beautiful little town. It felt like home from the day I unpacked the moving van. Thanks for writing and I hope you get a chance to read the book. Blessings, Lynn
Finished reading Waves of Mercy Monday morning at 1:15. I was so “into” the book, I couldn’t bear to put it down when I was so close to the end; hence, the 1:15 am finish! It was a wonderful book. Having spent my life in the South, I am not very informed about the NorthEastern part of the country. However, I did have a minister whose family migrated from the Netherlands to Canada. I am going to send he and his wife a recommendation about this book. I think they would enjoy it! The characters in the book are so well developed. Thank you for your hard work in creating this story. I have put a recommendation on Facebook and on Pinterest. …. Got to find another one of your books to read!
Just finished Waves of Mercy. It is the third book by you that I have read. Have several others by you lined up and ready to read. It is so hard to say good bye to these people. I hope you are thinking about a sequel please. Will post review and share wherever I can. Will also recommend to others about this fantastic story.
Hopefully there will be a sequel to this amazing story.
Rosa Reslier
November 2,2016 At 8:05 PM
Just finished reading this awesome novel. Thank You so very much Mrs. Austin for how you’ve used your God given gift of writing to produce such beautiful stories.
You’ve been in our home book shelve since our three daughters were able to read and I’m so thankful for getting a copy of your Waves of Mercy.
God bless!
Pretty great post. I just stumbled upon your weblog and wanted to mention that I have truly enjoyed browsing your blog posts. In any case I will be susbircbing on your feed and I’m hoping you write again soon!
Silnonymous,Oh, could you get arrested in the 19th century for not mowing your lawn or smoking pot or doing any number of things? How likely were you to get searched by police?Did you need your passport or other ID with you at all times?
I just finished “Waves of Mercy” and was touched by the book and the characters portrayed. Thanks for another wonderful book. PLEASE, we need a sequel!!
Love to see you in Zeeuws clothes on the photo. I am Dutch and I also have photos from my parents in this Zuid Bevelands clothes 🙂
I just finished Waves of Mercy-it was wonderful! I was in awe at how beautifully you intertwined the characters. I long for a sequal-to know what happens with Anna!! I feel her story is just unfolding!!
Just finished reading Waves of Mercy – what a great read and amazing lessons to be learned and as some of your readers have indicated, I hope too that there will be a sequel to this book. So many loose ends that need to be told. It’s always hard to say good bye to special characters in a book when you are wondering – what happened? I feel the story is not finished.
I agree. It needs a sequel.
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