For those who pay lots of attention, you know that Shadowed in Silk is the next title due out from our publishing company, WhiteFire Publishing. I’ve probably even shared a bit about it. But now that we’re about five or six weeks away from digital release and have the full cover in our possession, I’m thrilled to get to talk about it in more depth.
She was invisible to those who should have loved her.
After the Great War, Abby Fraser returns to India with her small son, where her husband is stationed with the British army. She has longed to go home to the land of glittering palaces and veiled women . . . but Nick has become a cruel stranger. It will take more than her American pluck to survive.
Major Geoff Richards, broken over the loss of so many of his men in the trenches of France, returns to his cavalry post in Amritsar. But his faith does little to help him understand the ruthlessness of his British peers toward the Indian people he loves. Nor does it explain how he is to protect Abby Fraser and her child from the husband who mistreats them.
Amid political unrest, inhospitable deserts, and Russian spies, tensions rise in India as the people cry for the freedom espoused by Gandhi. Caught between their own ideals and duty, Geoff and Abby stumble into sinister secrets . . . secrets that will thrust them out of the shadows and straight into the fire of revolution.
~*~
Usually I share my own summary of the story rather than back cover copy, but given that Christine and I wrote the back cover copy . . . =)
This isn’t going to be a typical review, but I’m going to share with y’all what caught our attention about this book, and why I’m loving it more, the more times I read it.
First and foremost, Christine researched the Indian culture for years, and that comes through brilliantly. Within the first few pages, the reader is plunged directly into the India of the British Raj. She describes in amazing (but never overwhelming) detail the sights, the smells, the feel of this land that she and her characters adore. You can feel the pain of the Indian people, the disdain of the British memsahibs, the hope and dread of the officer and American/British heroine who only want fairness for the people of their hearts. You can smell the bazaar, feel the brassy sun upon your head, and taste the fear when your realize there’s a Russian spy underfoot.
It’s brilliant.
I’m nearly done edits on it, and many of my last few comments have been “This scene is amazing.” “Another perfect scene.” “My favorite line in the whole book.”
And how did she achieve it? By being passionate about her subject. I know Christine through a historical list, and I know that she has a special place in her heart for India, where her own British forefathers served in the cavalry. This story is, in its abstract anyway, her family’s story. And that connection comes through and excites the reader. As does Christine’s love for the Christian ministry trying to win over the souls of the great sub-continent.
Plenty of experts have written about how setting can be a character–that’s definitely the case in Shadowed in Silk, and through this book I have fallen in love with India as surely I have with plucky Abby and honorable Geoff. I am so, so thrilled to get to help bring this amazing book to life and get it into the hands of readers, and so, so thrilled to be a fellow-author with Christine on WhiteFire’s list.
The digital version of Shadowed in Silk will be out May 1, and the print September 1. Rest assured I’ll remind everyone when it’s available! =)
Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award winning author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary.
Whoops, I meant to visit on Tuesday and completely forgot. So happy to hear about Christine's writing journey coming full circle. As I don't have an ebook reader, I'm wondering how I will ever wait until September to get my hands on a copy. It sounds like a GREAT story.
Sometimes I get a little miffed when publishers shoot a book down based on setting. As if the story isn't at all significant. I'm thrilled WhiteFire is publishing it.
I was there last year, Stephani, and it was like nowhere I'd ever been. I think it's the women's dress, saris and such. So many women and men still dress in their traditional costume. Naturally in the cities, you see more western dress, but still the sari is mostly what you see on the women. So beautiful and distinctive.
Looks amazing. I've never read a book set in India, and I'm excited to learn more about the country!
You are so right Debra, God is Good. And His timing IS perfect. Thanks for being such a friend. It's nice to share the happy times with like-minded people as well as the struggles.
I'm a little teary eyed too, Christine. I can't wait for this book and the bottom line is– God is Good. His timing is perfect. I believe every word of Roseanna and Dina's compliments about your story and they make me more anxious than ever to start Shadowed in Silk!
My eyes are blurring with tears as I read this. Thank you so much, dear friends, for your kind and encouraging comments, and your support along the way. Writing is not as solitary as people imagine it to be. We need each other. And I have to agree with Roseanna, we have to write about what we're passionate about. Long before I knew that we should also research what the market wants, I had committed to this particular story. It's my prayer that readers will like the story well enough to care about this wonderful land of India—a place and peole that tug at the heart of God.
This looks awesome!!! I can't wait!!!
Wow. Thank you for sharing, Roseanna. I'm looking forward to holding Christine's book in my hand! Congratulations, Christine. You're such a talented author, I'm really not surprised this is a wonderful story. 🙂 Looking forward to it!!!
I too am so thrilled this book has finally found a publishing home. After years of Christine agonizing over it and everyone turning it down, I'm nearly as giddy and excited as she is!
I read this book a year ago (downloaded Christine's word document to my kindle) and loved it as much as Roseanna did. That's a big part of why I'm so excited about WhiteFire. I'm honored to be ranked among two of my own favorite authors.
Also, Christine knows this, my brother in laws parents are from India and are now back there running an orphanage and Bible school. So I really enjoyed discovering this country through Christine's eyes.