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.

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.

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%.

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
Timing is everything! I myself had just completed some preliminary research on the pack horse librarians with the thought of a possible writing project on the topic, but A.M. Heath beat me to it! I wish her well in sharing her account and spreading the word about a relatively little-known but worthy topic.
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Isn’t it funny how that works sometimes- Great minds think alike?! It really is a fascinating piece of history that could inspire many stories! At some point, I’m going to have to check out the other three authors who wrote books for The Librarians of Willow Hollow- that TBR pile just keeps growing…
Thanks for stopping by!
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How cool!! Great minds really do think alike.
Believe it or not, Kim Vogel Sawyer is releasing a horseback librarian novel on the same day I am. Lol What are the odds?
There are only a handful of horseback librarian novels out there, so PLEASE continue working on yours! There is so much more to say about this little known moment in history.
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My grandfather Clabe Wilson worked on WPA jobs during the Great Depression, including remodeling the Dexter library and community hall. The library has the plaque inside these days. This is part of my what I’m working on right now, Leora’s Depression Era stories. There’s a Living New Deal organization. They have an interesting website. A couple of years ago they used my story about the Dexter library.
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Oh, what a neat piece of family history! It’s always interesting to see the different WPA and CCC projects around the country- they accomplished a lot.
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Sounds like my kind of book.
Marion
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I enjoyed it 😊Thanks for stopping by!
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I really loved this book, and I’m so excited to see it launched into the world!
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It’s exciting! Thanks for stopping by, Kim 🙂
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YES! We need more awesome information about the WPA. They did so, so much for our country. Sometimes it feels like we need that kind of organization again, because come on–we NEED more mobile libraries, especially where it’s hard for people to connect to a community in person or online. Thank you, both! xxxxx
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