The Healing Power of Hope by Ann H. Gabhart
Ann H. Gabhart
“The birds of hope are everywhere, listen to them sing.” ~Terri Guillemets
If there is one thing writers know, it is hope. We hope for ideas and then for words to make those ideas into stories. We hope for publishers who will like our stories enough to wrap them in a beautiful cover and send them out to readers. Most of all, we hope for readers, and once we have those readers, that they will care about our story as much as we did when we started down our story road with that full measure of hope.
I want the characters in my books to have hope too. When I’m reading, I hate a story that ends without hope for the people I’ve gotten to know as if they were real. I want to read about and write about characters who hope to overcome whatever challenges are thrown in their fictional paths.
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In my new book, When the Meadow Blooms, my characters have plenty of challenges that throw shadows over their lives. At the beginning of the story, two young sisters, Calla and Sienna, are in an orphanage, while their mother is being treated for tuberculosis at a sanatorium. They been there almost two years after expecting their mother to be well and return for them long ago. Dirk, their uncle whom they’ve never met, has a heart barren of hope and lives a reclusive life on his Kentucky farm, Meadowland.
The youngest sister, Sienna, is nine and feels as if she’s been in the Home for Girls forever. Calla, fourteen, tries to take care of Sienna but they aren’t allowed to be together. They have to stay with their age groups. Sienna was born with a special feeling for all God’s creatures, even those most might shrink away from such as mice and snakes. At the Home for Girls, she is continually in trouble because she is so easily distracted by a birdsong outside the window, a spider weaving a web, or just her imagination. When she forgets to pay attention to the rules, she is in trouble.
Since the book is set in 1925, ideas about childrearing are much different than what is considered good today. Sienna is often punished for her daydreaming. Calla wants to step in and take her punishments, but of course, that isn’t allowed. They both long to have a home together with their mother again.
At the sanatorium, Rose, their mother, desperately wants to be with her daughters again, but even after her health begins to improve, she has no way to pay rent since she doesn’t have the strength to work. She has no family to take them in. Her husband died in the 1918 flu epidemic. But there is her husband’s brother if she dares to approach him for help. She only met him once and that meeting didn’t go so well. Dirk was badly scarred in a fire and thinks everyone is repulsed by his appearance.
At the orphanage, Calla adjusts to the rules, but Sienna does not seem able to do the same. Calla prays for a way to rescue Sienna from her troubles at the Home. She remembers her mother talking about her father’s brother who still lives on the farm where Calla’s father grew up. The idea of a home on a place called Meadowland with fields of hayfield flowers and birds nesting in trees sounds like heaven to Calla and just what Sienna needs.
When she finds a way to contact her uncle, Dirk, he does open his home to them and to their mother, but not his heart. Calla and Sienna have never lived in such a beautiful place and in spite of their uncle’s aloofness, everything seems to be working out. But then new challenges come along to make Calla nearly lose hope again.
Will the girls find a way to awaken new hope in Dirk’s heart?
I hope (again that word writers know) readers will want to find out the answer to that question.
When I have a new book about ready to take wing out into the world of readers, I’m often asked what underlying theme is in the story. I don’t always think about that while I’m writing, but often a faith theme will arise from the story. That happened with When the Meadow Blooms, and I’ve been answering the question of theme by saying my characters all need healing, both physical and emotional. But perhaps what my fictional people need first is hope that healing is possible and even promised if they have faith. While physical healing is not always possible, spiritual wellness is forever in reach. Hope is a gift from the Lord.
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. …Romans 15:13 (NKJ)
I hope readers will enjoy visiting Meadowland to see if my character overcome their challenges and find new hope and healing.
How important is hope in your life?
For a chance to win a free copy of When the Meadow Blooms make a comment below. I’ll announce the winner on the release date, May 3, 2022,
Ann H. Gabhart
About the Author
Ann H. Gabhart caught the writing bug at the age of ten and has been writing ever since. An award winning author, she’s published many books for both adults and young adults. Her books cover several genres from historical to small town family stories to cozy mysteries (mysteries published with author name A.H. Gabhart). Her ideas are sparked by events in Kentucky history and by experiences in her own family. Her first Shaker novel, The Outsider, was a finalist for the ECPA Christian Fiction Book of the Year. Love Comes Home won the Selah Book of the Year award, and These Healing Hills was the Faith, Hope & Love Readers’ Choice Women’s Fiction Book of the Year.
Ann lives on a Kentucky farm not far from where she was born. She and her husband have three children and nine grandchildren. Ann enjoys hiking on her farm with her grandkids and her dogs, Frankie and Marley. See more about her books at www.annhgabhart.com or join the conversation on her Facebook page, www.facebook.com/anngabhart.
Hope is such a profound word, I hope I win a copy of the book to life changing hope. Your description of the book has me wanting to read to see what happens next!
Hi Pam,
If you’ve not read Ann’s books, you are in for a treat. Her stories always have a thread of hope no matter what’s going on with her characters.
Good luck in the drawing.
Warm regards,
Shelia
Hi, Pam. Good luck in the drawing. I do like my characters finding hope in their lives or nurturing that hope they already have. I hope you’ll give my story a try.
“Hope is a gift from God.”
How true! For I’ve seen when someone has no hope and the misery is something else never mind feeling it yourself. And if, when hope seems gone, I will be reminded of Ann’s quote above and tell the devil he can’t have God’s gift to me!
Ann’s story sounds amazing! Hope all goes well for launch day! Would love to read it!
And thank you, Sheila, for sharing that hope filled article from Ann.
Hi Elaine,
Thanks for stopping by today. I was thrilled Ann agreed to be my guest. She has such a generous spirit. I agree that her new story sounds amazing. I can’t wait to read it.
Good luck in the drawing.
Warm regards,
Shelia
Hi, Elaine. Thanks for stopping by and reading my post. Shelia has such a great blog. So, it was a pleasure to be her guest. When she reminded me of how her blog deals with hope among other things, I thought that talking about how some of my characters needed hope for healing was the best subject. And yes, never let anyone take God’s gift to us of hope.
Guess what Elaine! You won today’s drawing for Ann’s new book When the Meadow .Blooms. Email your address to (shelia@sheliastovall.com) and I’ll have Amazon ship the book directly to you.
Congratulations! I hope you enjoy the book.
Oh! What a lovely surprise!
Thank you so very much Shelia!
I look forward to receiving and reading Ann’s book.
Love your books. Hoping I win the free copy–looking forward to reading it.
You write such nice books.
Hi Lis,
Thanks for dropping by my blog today. I’m sure Ann will be glad to know your love her books.
Good luck in the drawing.
Warm regards,
Shelia
Wonderful, Lis. I am so happy that you’ve read and enjoyed my stories. I appreciate your kind words and I hope you will like visiting Meadowland when you get the chance to read When the Meadow Blooms.
I love reading Ann’s books!
Hi Elizabeth,
Thanks for stopping by today. I’ve enjoyed reading many of Ann’s books.
Good luck in the drawing.
Warm regards,
Shelia
Hi, Elizabeth. I’m so blessed to have readers like you. Thank you for reading my stories.
Can’t wait to read Ann’s book.
My name is lynne polley. I have needed alot of hope in the last year. I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s last May2021 .I have had to buckle down with all my activities and I feel better than I did a year ago. I credit this to my Lord and Savior. I trust and hope I can keep it up. I live in Dry Ridge KY not far from you .I enjoy your books set in Kentucky. All your books have made me grow in my faith! I can’t wait to read your new book soon!
Hi Lynne,
I’m so sorry to hear you were diagnosed with Parkinson’s. I’ll add you to my prayer list. I’m so thank you know Jesus. He is our true HOPE.
Take care,
Shelia
Hi, Lynne. So sorry to hear about your Parkinson’s diagnosis. My father-in-law had Parkinsons. It’s not something anybody would want to deal with, but they have better treatments now than when he had it. Or at least, I hope they do. I hope your doctors keep helping you feel better. Prayer is sometimes a wonderful addition to whatever medicine we’re given for our illnesses.
I love hearing from Kentucky readers. Thank you for being one of them and I hope you will enjoy reading When the Meadow Blooms when you get a chance to do so.
Hi Janice,
I’m looking forward to reading Ann’s new book too.
Good luck in the drawing.
Warm regards,
Shelia
Hi, Janice. Thanks for coming over to read my post about hope. I appreciate your support.
Love to read it. Enjoy Ann’s books.
Hi Loretta,
I enjoy all Ann’s books too. Good luck in the drawing.
Warm regards,
Shelia
I love to read too. Sometimes writing gets in the way of my reading time, but I still love to pick up a book and get lost in somebody else’s story. Such as Shelia’s books. Great stories if you haven’t tried them.
I’m so glad you’ve enjoyed reading my books, Loretta.
I have enjoyed reading all of Ann Gabhart’s
books. This book sounds great, cant’s wait to read it.
Hi Deborah,
I love all Ann’s books. I think my favorite might be “Along a Storied Trail” featuring the packhorse librarians but I also loved reading about the Frontier Nursing Service.
Thanks for stopping by today!
Warm regards,
Shelia
I lost this comment, so I’m hoping it won’t show up in duplicate. But what I was saying was that Along a Storied Trail might be your favorite because of the librarian coming out in you. Or it could be you liked my contrary old mountain woman, Aunt Perdie. I certainly had fun writing from her perspective.
Yes. It’s because of AuntPerdie. She’s my favorite character you created. You are so talented.
Hugs,
Shelia
So fun to read that you’ve enjoyed reading all my books, Deborah. Thank you so much for that. I do sometimes follow different story paths but what I like best when I’m writing is having characters who come alive for me and get past their challenges to that hope for tomorrow. Hope you’ll enjoy When the Meadow Blooms.
I think hope is very important in everyone’s life. Life throws you plenty of curves and leaves a person so many things to hope for in the future. I already have Ann’s new book, but if I would be lucky enough to win another copy, I would love to share it with our local library.
Hi Connie, Lucky you! I agree with you and Ann. Everyone needs hope.
Good luck in the drawing. Thanks for stopping by.
Shelia
Hi, Connie. Life does throw us a few curves now and again and it certainly did for my characters in this book. I hope you’ll like the story when you get the time to read it. Very nice of you to think about your library. I love libraries.
This sounds like and interesting book to read. I love children so this is dear to my heart that they find hope always in life. God Bless you Ann!!
Hi Lana,
Thanks for stopping by. I love children in stories too. Another book of Ann’s that you might like is River to Redemption. It features Adria who was orphaned in the cholera epidemic. Even so, hope shines through in all Ann’s books.
Good luck in the drawing.
Warm regards,
Shelia
Thanks, Lana. I love getting to write from a young person’s perspective or adding a young character to my stories. Calla and Sienna certainly needed hope in When the Meadow Blooms.
I love the theme of hope in your story. I think we could all use a little more hope in our lives, especially right now.
I agree, Megan. We do need hope and patience and understanding with our fellow man or woman when we have disagreeing opinions. A little civility too. The Lord loves us all and might remind us of the Golden Rule.
Hi Megan,
You are so right. Hope keeps us going during when the world seems to be going crazy.
Good luck in the drawing.
Warm regards,
shelia
I think it is wonderful when authors support each other! Thank you for sharing the excitement of a new release!
It was really nice of Shelia to invite me over to talk about my new book, Sandra. Not too long ago Shelia was a guest on my blog and she had so many people dropping by to read her thoughts about her mission trips that were inspiration for scenes in her book, Every Day Filled with Hope. Such a good book.
You have to have hope; otherwise, all the negativity that’s in the news will bring you down. Ive read all or at least most of your Shaker books.
Thank you, Jan, for reading my Shaker books. I hope you’ll give some of my other stories a try too. And yes, hope is necessary for a good life. Or at least, I think so.
I love her books and can’t wait to read this one. Have a blessed day.
Hi, Jan. I so appreciate you reading my stories, and I hope you will like visiting Meadowland for this one.
Hi Jan,
I love Ann’s writing too. I preordered my copy a few weeks ago.
Good luck in the drawing.
Warm regards,
Shelai
This is so wonderful that I have an opportunity to win a copy of Ann’s new book. Thank you. She is a great writer and I just love reading her Sunday Mornings Coming Down. They are such an uplifting read and I would love to read her new book.
Hi Eileen,
I agree that Ann is a great writer, and she is also a very sweet and kind person. Her stories really do lift you up.
Good luck in the drawing.
Warm regards,
Shelia
Thank you, Eileen, and I’m always glad to have you “along” on my Sunday morning walks with the dogs. Sometimes we don’t see much but it’s good to be out in the early morning. At least Frankie always thinks so. 🙂 I do hope you get to read my new book, When the Meadow Blooms, soon.