In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends. – - Martin Luther King, Jr.

ECS

Love the sound of fingertips tapping the keyboard as the sun comes up. Author heaven!!
ECS

I am thrilled that my novel, Shadow of a Quarter Moon, has been selected as an Editors’ Choice by the Historical Novels Review, a publication of the Historical Novel Society!  For an author of historical fiction, this is the pinnacle!!  I am so honored.    ECS

With so many readers asking questions about my new novel, SHADOW OF A QUARTER MOON, I thought you would like to read my latest interview.  Click the link and enjoy!  ECS

http://www.examiner.com/historical-fiction-in-pittsburgh/interview-with-historical-fiction-author-eileen-clymer-schwab

I have been very fortunate in that both of my published novels carry the title that I gave them.  This is not always the case as many exasperated authors have learned in their journey to publication.  It’s like having someone else name your child.  If you had no solid idea and were presented with a great choice, I guess its fine. But if your title was a deeply inspired creation, it can be painful for the author to let go.

Thankfully, I was not put in that position.  As with my previous novel, PROMISE BRIDGE, the title SHADOW OF A QUARTER MOON hints at the very essence of the book, though the reader does not know the extent of its significance until they are immersed in the story.  SHADOW has nothing to do with the moon, just as PB had nothing to do with a traditional bridge.  It’s a kind of intimate secret between me, the author, and those who have finished reading the book.  I LOVE that connection between us!

My hope is that afterward, just hearing the title brings all the emotions rushing back, and that the deeper meaning within the title resonates with readers as much as the story and characters.  As for the question… “What’s in a Title?”  For me, everything!  It’s the heart and soul of the story tucked behind a few painstakingly chosen words.  My wish is that when you read the last page and close the book, you smile and think, This novel couldn’t be called anything else.    -  ECS

As the release date for my next novel, SHADOW OF A QUARTER MOON quickly approaches, I can’t help but reflect on the journey to get here. Let me begin by saying, “Research and inspiration paved the way”.  Research and inspiration came in all shapes and forms, but one place that stands out is the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. 

This amazing museum and educational facilty pays tribute to, and offers remembrance of, Amercia’s Underground Railroad, a secret network that is estimated to have helped more than 100,000 slaves escape to freedom. Though countless names and deeds associated with this hidden network have been lost in obscurity, the Freedom Center preserves and celebrates its legacy.

Each exhibit is unique and moving.  I can still feel my skin prickle in their environmental theater as darkness falls, crickets twitter, and fog rolls in, enveloping visitors in a dangerous scene of escape.  After my first visit to the Freedom Center, I remember sitting on a bench outside the entrance doors overlooking the Ohio River as I scribbled thoughts and ideas that rushed through me and around me.  I think I was first in line the next morning as the center opened its doors!

Capturing inspirational nuggets and weaving them into suspenseful stories, inspiring characters, and engaging “reads” is particularly satisfying for any author.  The remarkable transformation of Jacy Lane in SHADOW OF A QUARTER MOON embodies all that I discovered.  I hope you will share her journey when SHADOW releases on July 5th.  I can’t wait!   -   ECS 

The Inspiration of “Love Can Build A Bridge”

 Those who have read my novel, PROMISE BRIDGE, know that the heart of the story rests the symbolic gesture of the “promise bridge” formed by two seemingly different people who reach out to each other with love and faith in friendship.  With hands turned upright and clasped between them, the “promise bridge” connects them and serves to bridge the gap between black and white at a time when slavery divided our country.

 I am often asked how I came up with the concept of a “promise bridge”, and I must admit that as a writer, it was one of the most moving experiences of my life.  What I love about the creative process is that you never know what will bring inspiration.  Sometimes it comes from a life experience, a pain endured, a kindness witnessed, or an awe-inspiring moment like a sunset.  The song “Love Can Build a Bridge” is all of these things to me.

 Performed by Wynonna and Naomi Judd, “Love Can Build a Bridge” is a hopeful, heartfelt song that reminds us that we all have the power to heal a divide.  Written by John Barlow Jarvis, Naomi Judd, and Paul Overstreet, “Love Can Build a Bridge” is one of those rare transcendent songs that, once you hear it, you will carry it with you forever.  Buy the CD, load it onto your IPod, make it your ringtone!  It’s that kind of song. And Wynonna’s phenomenal vocals make it unforgettable.

 As I wrote my novel, I often had “Love Can Build a Bridge” playing in the background, and with it came the inspiration for the “promise bridge” that so beautifully captured who these two women were and what they meant to each other.  As the song says, “…it all begins with you and me.” In March, I will have the great pleasure to once again see The Judds perform.  I know there will not be a dry eye in the theater when they sing “Love Can Build a Bridge” but no one else will match the gratitude and immense appreciation I have for the spirit and message of this deeply inspiring song. Each of us has a “promise bridge” within us. We need only reach out to complete it.

 When faced with a divide… be a bridge.         ECS

Today marks the beginning of Black History Month; a time when we remember, honor and celebrate the men, women and events that were integral to the journey of African Americans in our country.  It is also our shared history as Americans that over time has shaped and evolved us into a truer vision of the land of the free.

 In the writing of my books, I have had the privilege of researching the period of time preceding the Civil War when so many great Americans of color broke free from the horror of slavery, and through their courage and bold actions, put in motion a wave of consciousness that is still felt today.  Harriet Tubman, John P. Parker, William Still; the list goes on and on.  For every name mentioned in our history books, there are hundreds of nameless, unseen heroes whose lives became binding threads in our overall tapestry. 

 All Americans take pause and give thanks.    ECS

The dedication for my novel, PROMISE BRIDGE reads:

To All Those

known and unknown

who dreamed,

who dared,

who delivered us

to a better place and time. 

Today and everyday, we celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr

Wishing you all a safe and wonderful holiday season! 

             Lots to look forward to in 2011.