About the Book

Book: Seeking Simon

Author: Susan Pope Sloan

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: November 26, 2024

When a mysterious stranger claims to be her fiancé, the fight to save her land turns into a battle for her heart.

Daviana Spalding dreams of leaving Georgia in search of a place where she can prove her worth as more than a claim to land. And when a handsome and kind stranger wanders onto the farm in need of help, she can’t help but see him in those dreams too. Yet those are only daydreams…until the Freedmen’s Bureau shows up threatening to take their land, and her guest steps forward claiming to be her betrothed.

Simon McNeil is a man haunted by his past and his time in a Confederate prison, seeking redemption and a fresh start back in Alabama. But his journey home is delayed when a bout of malaria keeps him bedridden, depending on strangers for help. As Daviana nurses him back to health, Simon is drawn to her strength and beauty, and when her home is threatened, he steps in to help.

When their fake engagement becomes real, Simon and Daviana must confront their feelings for one another as they face escalating threats that could tear them apart. And when a long-lost friend returns, all their plans could come crashing down.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Born into a family of storytellers, Susan Pope Sloan published her first articles in high school and continued writing sporadically for decades. Retirement provided the time to focus on writing and indulge her avid interest in history. Her Civil War series begins (and ultimately ends) in her home state of Georgia with references to lesser-known events of that period. She and husband Ricky live near Columbus where she participates in Word Weavers, ACFW, and Toastmasters.

More from Susan

When I started the series, I thought it would stop with the end of the war, but I became intrigued with the McNeil family who lived near the Alabama-Georgia line. (My family also is scattered on both sides of that state line, but farther south.)

Troy McNeil and his brothers had fought on opposing sides, which could lead to some tense moments. Simon became the prodigal son longing to go home after a long separation. This book delves into the relationships within the McNeil family and also with their former slaves. As a Southerner who grew up in the 1960’s, I’m well aware of the cultural distinctions that existed during that time, but I also know that relationships between individuals can emerge despite those distinctions. I believe the same could have happened in the previous century.

Seeking Simon also let me bring back that rascally Rufus Spalding from Loving Lydia. Rufus was a fun character to write, but I hadn’t paid much attention to his daughter, who was destined to become Simon’s love interest. Dottie/Daviana Spalding represents many women of the Civil War, who struggled within the confines of the old socio-economic system and longed for personal significance, symbolized here by the change in her name.

I pray that reading this book will encourage those who feel insignificant and long to matter in their world and also those who are praying for a prodigal to return. My favorite line from the book is “Every prodigal runs out of road sooner or later.”

Thank you for taking a look at Seeking Simon.

Blog Stops

Locks, Hooks and Books, December 7

Texas Book-aholic, December 8

Connie’s History Classroom, December 9

Stories By Gina, December 10 (Author Interview)

Pause for Tales, December 10

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 11

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 12

Cover Lover Book Review, December 13

Simple Harvest Reads, December 14 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Artistic Nobody, December 15 (Author Interview)

Allyson Jamison, December 15

For Him and My Family, December 16

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, December 17

Paula’s Pad of Inspiration, December 18

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, December 19 (Author Interview)

Holly’s Book Corner, December 20

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Susan is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54112

Interview with Susan

What do you find the hardest part of the writing process?

Plotting is hardest for me. I’m a true pantser and tend to let the characters drive the action. I have a general idea of where the story is going, but getting there is an adventure.

Do you use humor at all in your writing?

Yes, I like to create characters who have a sense of humor and take part in some good-natured teasing. It can lighten the mood and also give depth to the characters.

What is the easiest part of your writing process?

Dialogue! I almost always start with dialogue, then go back and add descriptions, setting, and action beats. This may be easier for me because all my characters are Southern, and I’ve heard Southern dialect all my life.

What do you wish you knew before you started writing?

All the unspoken rules of fiction. With a degree in English and decades of corporate writing under my belt—not to mention being a lifelong reader—I thought I was prepared. It seems with each successive edit, I learn something new.

Is your book part of a series?