Blog Tour: Author A.M. Heath’s New Book and The History of the WPA

Hello again, Readers and Writers!

Today, A.M. Heath is visiting to share a bit of history, news on her new Christian historical romance, AND a giveaway! 

First, a bit of history. The WPA (and CCC) began during the Great Depression, extended into WWII, and left legacies that can still be seen today, in construction, monuments, works of art—but I’ll let our visiting expert tell you more about it! 

An Overview of the WPA

The WPA (Works Progress Administration, later renamed the Work Project Administration) was created by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1935 as part of his New Deal. In 1935, the unemployment rate was 20% and the WPA was the President’s way of creating new jobs and putting people back to work.

During its height in 1938, more than 3.3 million Americans worked for the WPA.

Image courtesy of the U.S. National Archives.Original Caption: “Hindman, Knott County, Kentucky. Carriers, mostly women, travel the remote sections of the state by horse and mule. They meet once a week at their library headquarters where saddle-bags are replenished with books for eager mountain folk. These carriers are paid a small salary by the Works Project Administration (WPA) in Kentucky.”

 

Here’s a quick look at some of the work they accomplished during that time:

They built 4,000 schools

130 hospitals

9,000 miles of storm drains and sanitary sewer lines

29,000 bridges

150 airfields

paved or repaired 280,000 miles of road

and planted 24 million trees.

Image courtesy of the U.S. National Archives. Original Caption: “Mill Creek, Knott County, Kentucky. This young mountain wife shortly is to become the mother of his [sic] first child. The Work Projects Administration’s (WPA) Pack Horse Librarian has for months furnished her with literature on hygiene and the care of infants. She will probably go through her confinement without the aid of expert medical attention, but she will receive the attention of the WPA’s housekeeping aid, if she so desires.”

The pack horse librarians were among the many jobs created by the WPA.

With the WWII weapon production on the increase, the program ended in June of 1943 with an unemployment rate of 2%.

Image courtesy of the U.S. National Archives. Original Caption: “Cut Shin, Leslie County, Kentucky. One bright spot on the lives of the illiterate sick and injured is the arrival of the Pack Horse Librarian to read aloud to them. No matter how humble, the Kentucky mountain home is always clean.”

 

I encourage you to research the WPA and CCC to learn more about the various jobs created especially for the hardest years of the Great Depression.

 

Thank you Anita, for a look at this fascinating program! Now, on to the new book! Hearts on Lonely Mountain is part of a multi-author series about the WPA packhorse librarians. Click here for more information on the other books.

 

About Hearts on Lonely Mountain

Can two lonely people find more than a fleeting friendship or will a prejudiced town keep them apart?

When Ivory Bledsoe left the city to minister to the people of the rural mountain town of Willow Hollow, she never expected to be shunned rather than welcomed. Seeing the town as a lost cause, she’s eager to return home, but when the bridge leading out of town is washed away during a flood, she finds herself stranded in the last place she wants to be.

Ben Thrasher was content with his quiet life until he met the new librarian. He can’t help but be drawn to the friendly and lively Ivory Bledsoe, despite her being at the center of the town’s latest superstition. It’s only a matter of time until she captures his heart, turning his world upside down in the process.

Has Ivory gotten God’s plan for her all wrong or is there still a way she can serve these people? And can Ben ask her to stay in a place where so few are willing to embrace her?

Thanks to an advance copy, I’ve already enjoyed visiting Willow Hollow and the 1930s with Hearts on Lonely Mountain. As in all of her books that I’ve read, A.M. Heath’s research shows through in the little details of the era. As a small-town-girl myself, I had to chuckle a little at Ivory’s struggle to fit in with the culture of the small mountain village (while feeling sorry for her! As soon as she went in to hug people she’d just met, I suspected that things were going to be rocky!) Ivory’s struggle with serving in spite of superstition, unfulfilled expectations, and rejection forced her to grow throughout the story, making her a character to root for, and the love story was sweet. If you enjoy Christian romance set in a fascinating period of history, Hearts on Lonely Mountain is a great pick! 

About the Author

Bio: Besides being an Indie Author, I’m a wife, mother of four, Sunday School teacher, sweet tea drinker, history fanatic, romantic, bubbly, lover of broccoli, and a retired cake decorator who has a soft spot for Christmas trees, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, and sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. What I’m not is a laundress (or at least not one who keeps up very well), a duster, tall, or patient in a doctor’s office.

 

 

Blog Tour Information

I have exclusive bonus content for you at each and every stop. Tucked away, inside each post is a key word/phrase. If you complete the phrase,  you’ll earn bonus entries in the giveaway. Have fun!

Secret Code #2 were

Tour Stops:

Aug. 31:
Becky @ Blossoms and Blessings: Review and Ivory’s Romantic Fiction Recommendations
Anne @ The Naptime Author: Review and Overview of the WPA

Sept. 1:
Amanda @ Amanda Tero Blog: Review and Character Interview: Curt Armstrong

Sept 2:
Nyla @ Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess: Review and More Horseback Librarian Reads
Julie @ Bizwings Blog: Review and Historical Note on the Horseback Librarians

Sept 3:
Tarissa @ In the Bookcase: Review and Common Great Depression Sandwiches

Sept 4:
Hannah: Nook of Grace: Review and Hearts on Lonely Mountain Inspiration Picture
Deana: Texas Book-aholic: Review and Ben’s Love Song to Ivory

Sept 5:
Kaitlyn: Maidens for Modesty: Review and My Inspiration for Ivory

Sept 6:
Debbie: Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations: Review and Ivory’s Children’s Book Recommendations

Sept 7:
Tara @ Tower in the Plains: Review and More Great Depression and Appalachian Reads
Jana @ Reviews from the Stacks: Review and Authentic Horseback Librarian Audio Clip

Sept 8:
Vicky @ Vicky Sluiter: Review and Character Interview: Gerrit Callon

Sept 9:
Connie @ Older and Smarter: Review and Interview with a REAL Mobile Librarian from Kentucky
Loretta @ Just Writing: Review and 1930’s Music

Sept 10:
A.M. Heath @ A.M. Heath Blog: 1930’s Slang
Abigail @ Read Review Rejoice: Review and Character Interview: Ivory Bledsoe

Sept 11:
Virginia: Bigreadersite: Review and Character Interview: Ben Thrasher
Karen: Karen Sue Hadley: Review and Common Great Depression Desserts

I’m so excited to offer this tote from ParLaGrace. Be sure to visit her Esty page and enter the giveaway.

 

I have 2 ebook sales for you. Hearts on Lonely Mountain is still .99, but it won’t be for much longer!
My Ancient Words Series is also marked down for a limited time.

To Contact A.M. Heath

I’d love to hear from you. You can visit me online on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Bookbub, Pinterest, and my blog. *Note: I’m most active on Facebook and my blog.

Whether you’re on social media or not, you can ensure that you never miss one of my sales, giveaways, or new releases by signing up for my newsletter. I’ll send you a direct link to your email anytime something big happens. http://eepurl.com/dDbVNz

Website: https://christianauthoramheath.net/

Blog: https://christianauthoramheath.net/blog/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AMHeathfanpage/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8302606.A_M_Heath

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/aheath2257/?eq=a.m.&etslf=5672

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorAMHeath

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/a-m-heath-41b54829-fb8c-469e-a96f-52efe9efacb1