Sixteen year old Emma Cartwright narrowly survives a horrific beating, once it’s discovered that she was teaching one of the plantation slaves how to read. The slave was not so fortunate. Days later, Emma leaves her family’s plantation and heads to Washington, D.C. Now disguised as a young man, she enlists in the Union Army.Brewing with passion and determination to help end slavery, Emma quickly learns the war is about much more than slavery. Through her missions as a nurse, courier, and spy, Emma realizes the true meaning of sacrifice–and she falls in love for the first time.
Targeted Age Group:: Young Adult and up
What Inspired You to Write Your Book?
I read the memoir of a young woman who disguised herself so she could serve in the Civil War. It struck me that I’d never considered such a notion, but it made perfect sense, since women have proven courageous and quick to self-sacrifice throughout history. I set out to create a story that challenged what we were ‘taught in school’, utilizing that unique point of view of a female soldier.
How Did You Come up With Your Characters?
I knew Emma had to be young, brave and an idealist. From there, it was easy to let her discover weaknesses in herself. She learned many difficult lessons through her journey, and it was bittersweet to make her grow and mature. I also knew Emma needed a complicated home life, and that she would encounter ‘all types’ at the Civil War encampments, so it was easy and fun to craft a cast of diverse characters. James, Emma’s love interest, was one of my favorites. I loved his stubborn streak! The saddest one for me was Knox, Emma’s grandfather, a good man who had too many life-changes forced upon him.
About the Author:
A founding member of Sisters in Crime Columbus, Ohio (affectionately dubbed SiCCO), Mercedes King can be found elbow-deep in research, reading, or enjoying the local bike path. Her love for chocolate chip cookies and cheesecake almost rivals her love for dogs. Almost.
With a degree in Criminology, she enjoys mixing her interests in history, crime, and pop culture. O! JACKIE, her first release, provides a fictional take on Jackie Kennedy and her private life–and how she dealt with JFK’s affairs, including his trysts with Marilyn Monroe. And since she can’t get enough Kennedys, she created a series of short stories that focus on Jack and Jackie before their marriage, and before ‘Camelot’. THE KENNEDY CHRONICLES offer fictional, brief peeks into their lives.
Her newest release, PLANTATION NATION, follows Emma Cartwright, a 16 year old girl who disguises as a young man and joins the Union Army–and falls in love for the first time.
You can find Mercedes King on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
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Link to Plantation Nation on Barnes and Noble
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Book Sample:
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