I’d like to take a moment to introduce you to a special friend, co-worker, and fellow author, Rachel Ann Rogish. Reading one of Rachel’s stories is an experience that is a mix of reading a great book and staring at a beautiful, scenic work of art. Rachel has a God-given gift of words that takes the reader beyond the surface and into something deeper. I’ve had the pleasure of reading many of Rachel’s short stories, as she is a fellow author on SchoolhouseTeachers.com. She is one of the authors who creates Everyday Easels, an art appreciation study, and the driving force behind Simply Shakespeare, a fun and engaging way for homeschooling families to bring the plays of Shakespeare to life, even in a single-child home.
Rachel is also the author of a work-in-progress titled Immanuel’s Veins. I encourage you to take a few moments to get to know Rachel and then stop by and like her Facebook page so you can stay up to date with her and her literary journey. I hope one day when you sit down with a copy of one of Rachel’s books in your hands you remember that you met her here first.
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Q: Rachel, will you tell us a little bit about your novel, Immanuel’s Veins?
A: Immanuel’s Veins took its first breath in the fall of 2008 during my freshman year at university. Originally, the story took shape as a Civil War novel, told from the perspective of Northern Irish immigrants; my soul burned with unanswered questions at the time – questions about life and a Christian’s place in history. The question would not be silenced: how could people live out the Gospel even when their culture and other believers were against them? How could someone do the right thing when friends, family, and their countrymen chose either to ignore issues or to rebel?
Suddenly I found myself on a journey to find the truth. I read everything I could on the American and French Revolutions, leaving the 1860s behind and wandering the streets of 18th century Philadelphia instead. Through a variety of circumstances, the Lord led me from university to take up writing and to assist my parents in their ministry in New Jersey. The story of Morgan Rhys, a young man trying to find his place in the world, grew with me as I typed the first chapters.
Morgan’s journey leads him from tranquil Princeton, NJ, to the turbulent streets of London and Paris in 1792. In order to claim his inheritance he must leave the familiar behind. His life entwines with Irish sailors, English aristocrats, French revolutionaries, and others simply trying to survive. Morgan learns the true meaning of liberty, honor, and love in the face of danger, ancient family secrets, and death.
The title was inspired by the first line of the hymn “There is a Fountain,” by William Cowper, and those words will never let me go. As our own world stands at a crossroads, we find that people are the same no matter when they live. Position, status, and education are not the answers to hatred, violence, and loneliness. We need the love, forgiveness, and simplicity found in Immanuel’s veins.
Q: Where do you call home?
A: Settled just off the mainland of South Jersey, Wildwood sparkles in tiny beams of white, aqua, and steel-blue; from the soft sugar sand to the lush, emerald luster of the marshes, this barrier island never fails to soothe or to inspire. I live in what was known as Angelsea, a fishing and boat-building village which shares its name with an island off the northern coast of Wales. The people here share a common link with the sea and a “can-do” attitude. Wildwood is not only a popular tourist destination, but also a community made up of many generations and newcomers from Europe, South America, and Asia. The Wildwoods are also four distinct communities on one island: North Wildwood, Wildwood, Wildwood Crest, and West Wildwood. No matter the time of year, the pounding surf and friendly faces make this island a special place to live.
Q: Will you tell us one more thing you’d like my readers to know?
I have a great affinity for hobby farms, and wish I could own my own private zoo someday! On my writer’s page Rachel Ann, Writer, I often scribble down my thoughts and impressions of nature and the beauty around me. I am blessed to live on an island.
Thank you, Rachel, for taking the time to introduce yourself to my readers today!
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