Our Story BEFORE The Story ~ Beth Wilson & Allen Hamilton ~ Once Upon An Irish Summer ~ by ~ Wendy Wilson Spooner

Beth Wilson ~ Present Day Timeline:

Hi, I'm Bethy Wilson, a crazy-cool gifted artist (well, that's what my best guy-friend says) and I'm about to start my junior year of high school—if I survive the most boring summer of my life. Why boring you ask? Ugh. It’s supposed to be fun right? Summer is when you do all the stuff you want to do when school's out, right? Nope. Not happening. I'm on my way to stay with my grandmother for the entire summer, a thousand miles from my friends and my perfect art studio. I'm heading to the last place I want to be. Fort Wayne, Indiana. Where I was born. We moved five years ago when my dad took a job in Utah. I used to love Fort Wayne, but then--that unspeakable thing happened—which I can't think about for one second without freaking out . . . because I blame myself! Okay—I said it! But I haven’t told anyone, and I mean anyone. And because of what happened, my dreams of getting into the University of London’s art school are super at risk. Why? Because . . . I keep painting the same theme over and over. I know. And I haven’t told anyone why. And I can’t stop!

Let's move on. NOW. Before I lose it.

I'm slowing my breathing. Hang on.

I think I'm okay now.

Here's the worst part. I'm working for my grandmother all summer, researching mind-numbing genealogy junk. Yeah, lineage crud. Dead people! No thank you. So why am I doing it?? Because I need the money—my family needs the money, and my private art teacher is ridiculously expensive. And art is my life. It’s the only thing that keeps me sane! I've never had a job and my dad is struggling with his, so yeah. I don’t see any of this going well.

I've always been able to work hard in school and paint in my free time. But not now. How will I cope without a paintbrush in my hand like always? I'm an only child and my parents have supported me in everything! This is the first time I've had to choose to do something I don't want to do.

Allen Hamilton ~ Historical Timeline:

Good day, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Allen Hamilton, eldest son of Andrew and Elizabeth Hamilton, of Irvinestown, Ireland. A slight correction. I am the eldest living son of the Hamilton family. Indeed, times are difficult.

I spent three years gaining the education of a gentleman as my Aunt Mary’s guest at The Hall, her family’s estate in Mount Charles, on the west coast of Ireland. Until my time was cut short because I chose to return to Irvinestown to aid my family. Starvation and disease are imminent across our Island home now, as crops fail, and the English tax Irishmen into the depths of poverty.

It’s 1817, and I’ve been employed at Castle Archdale as a clerk for the past three years, a position Aunt Mary secured for me. My meager income, added to Father’s sparce and sporadic business dealings, only just sustains us.

Until an opportune return visit to The Hall.

There, I met a friend of Aunt Mary’s who had just returned from a journey to America. Upon hearing of my interest in that intriguing land, the man gave me a copy of a book called Notes on the State of Virginia. I quickly thumbed through the volume as a daring plan rose in my heart. If I were to leave our ailing homeland, I could find a way to save my family. In the land of opportunity!

Now I board a ship—alone—leaving my family behind, as I set off to find a new life for my kin.

Yet can I find success across the Atlantic in an unknown land?

Before it’s too late?

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Wendy has kindly offered to gift a single signed copy of her novel and a Celtic Charm from below for next Wednesday evening's drawing, May 2, 2021

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Our Story Title:   Once Upon An Irish Summer

Our Story Genre:  YA Crossover

Our Story Releases:   April 3, 2020 

                                Happy Anniversary!

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The Author of Our Story:    Wendy Wilson Spooner

                                         

 Wendy Wilson Spooner, Lic. G., LCoT, is a professional Genetic Genealogist by day, a writer by night, and an artist in between.

Her love of what we can learn from history compels her to write the true stories she unearths during research, and she’s found truth is indeed, much more exciting and inspiring than fiction. Wendy writes about family, faith, grief, art, and overcoming the obstacles of life by coming to know who we really are—children of God, and, the descendants of remarkable people who paved the way for us—even if they really struggled. She believes in learning from ancestors, honoring them, and then standing on their shoulders to become someone even better.

As an award-winning author of professional articles and poems, Wendy turned to novel writing to share what she knows with a greater audience. Her debut novel, Once Upon an Irish Summer, released April 3, 2020 and has been an Amazon best-seller in the several different genres. She’s looking forward to releasing book two in the series!

When Wendy is not writing or researching, she currently serves as National Vice Chair for Daughters of the American Revolution over Art & Sculpture in the annual American Heritage contest. She also serves as Chairman of the Advisory board for Century Vital Records in Bengaluru, India. As well, Wendy loves to read, hike, paint, travel, binge on Bollywood movies, and spend time with her greatest loves—her family.

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Get Connected:

• Email: author@wendywilsonspooner.com
• Website: https://wendywilsonspooner.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorWendyWilsonSpooner
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Wendy_W_Spooner
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wendyspooner/
• Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B084BPSQH4
• Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/once-upon-an-irish-summer-by-wendy-wilson-spooner

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WHERE can the book be purchased?

• Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Irish-Summer-Wendy-Wilson-Spooner-ebook/dp/B082LWVX3H/ref
• Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/once-upon-an-irish-summer-wendy-wilson-spooner/1136084922?ean=9781620209349
• CBD: https://www.christianbook.com/once-upon-an-irish-summer/wendy-spooner/9781620209349/pd/0209349

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