My Story BEFORE The Story ~ THE BRIDGE BETWEEN US (The Erie Canal Brides Collection)

My name is Susannah Higley. Today, I am waiting to find out if my wax flowers won a ribbon in the Orleans County Fair. I have been waiting for this day for so long! My mother taught me how to make wax flowers, and she always said I was better at making them than she was. She won several ribbons for her wax flowers and always encouraged me to place my own in contests to see if I could win a ribbon, too. Sadly, Mama passed away and will not be able to see my accomplishments if I win.

Pa is proud of me for my achievements. However, he is not proud of my ambitions of seeing my wax flowers sold in stores in New York City. Pa thinks it is fine to dream so long as those dreams do not take me away from our home in Albion. Pa is not a bad man, just afraid of being alone since Mama has passed.

I had a chance to leave Albion once, but it would have been a mistake. My former beau Richard asked me to run away with him to California to seek gold. I could not bring myself to go with him, could not leave Pa to run the house and lumber yard alone. Richard said we would never marry if I stayed here, and so he left me no choice but to carry on without him. He started over in California, and I remain here wishing adventure would come my way every day.

I do the bookkeeping for Pa's lumber yard, a job Mama always did. It helps Pa and I'm happy to help, but the desire in my heart to see places other than Albion never quiets. The Erie Canal leads all the way from Albany to Buffalo. I would love to take a boat ride all the way up and down the Erie Canal and see all of the different towns. But Pa would never let me do that. Maybe someday.

For now, I wait to see if my wax flowers gain the attention of the judges. If I win the county fair prize, my flowers will go to New York City for the state contest.

Everything bad that happens reminds Pa of a family feud between the Higleys and the Hawkinses. The feud started when Mr. Hawkins cheated Pa out of some lumber, and they dissolved their friendship and declared never to do business with each other again. That ended my childhood friendship with John Hawkins, who I believe I would have married. Pa forbid me to see him again after their business deal soured. Then when John's family was run out of town, there was no hope of us ever seeing each other again.

John lives in New York City, so I hear, and if I am ever able to make it there, I will try to find him.

Most days after I work at the lumber yard, I come home, cook dinner, clean the house and wash clothes. Sometimes I even have to repair a board on the house or clean out the chimney because Pa is too sad to do anything around here. I hope if I win in the county fair and go on to win in the state fair for my wax flowers that the prize money could bring some joy to Pa's life.

Some days it feels like we will never recover from losing Mama and from the feud with our old friends, but I keep the faith because I know God is with us and he's always watching over us. So I will not waste a moment fretting. I will enjoy today!

To start the county fair, George Williams from Brockport will walk across the Erie Canal on a tightrope! His rope is strung from the second floor of the Mansion House across the canal to the second floor of the Pierpont Dyer’s building. I wonder how fast his heart is beating. Is it as fast as mine is beating in anticipation?

I may be adventurous, but I am not that adventurous for I would not want to fall into the waters of the canal. So while I wait for Mr. Walker to do what I could never do, I shall sample some of the apple fritters and popcorn for sale at the merchant carts. Then I will come back and stand on the bridge with everyone else so I can get a better look at Mr. Walker as he performs his daring act. Won’t you join me?
________________________________________________________________________________

My Story Title:  THE BRIDGE BETWEEN US (A novella with The Erie Canal Brides Collection)

My Story Genre:  Historical Romance  

My Story Releases:  March 1, 2019

 ~ ~ ~ ~

The Author of My Story:    Sherri Wilson Johnson 

Sherri Wilson Johnson is a multi-published Inspirational Romance novelist, speaker, and virtual assistant. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and is passionate about writing and publishing. Sherri has been published in The Erie Canal Brides (Barbour Books), 101 Simple Ways to Show Your Husband You Love Him by Kathi Lipp (Harvest House), Powerline 365 by Nicole O'Dell (Choose NOW Ministries), Open Hearts Family: Connecting with One Another by Jane Seymour (Running Press, Hachette Book Group), The Writing Academy’s Daily Devotions for Writers, and several homeschool publications. She is the author of six inspirational romances which she independently published. She lives in Georgia with her husband and her spoiled dog Sawyer. She loves spending time with her adult children and friends or curling up with a good book or her current work-in-progress. Sherri enjoys doing jigsaw puzzles in the winter and counts the days every year until she can take another trip to the beach. You can find Sherri on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest. Find out more about Sherri at her website: www.sherriwilsonjohnson.com

~ ~ ~ ~

  Social Media:

• Website 
• Amazon Author Page 
• Facebook 
• Twitter 
• SIGN UP FOR SHERRI'S MAILING LIST! 
• Pinterest 
• Goodreads 
• BookBub

~ ~ ~ ~

WHERE can the book be purchased?

• Amazon: https://amzn.to/2GkAN12
• Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-erie-canal-brides-collection-johnnie-alexander/1129071609?ean=9781683228677#/
• CBD: https://www.christianbook.com/brides-collection-romances-develop-manmade-waterways/johnnie-alexander/9781683229865/pd/99086EB

~ ~ ~ ~

Sherri will be gifting a winning reader a print copy of her book. 

Be sure to leave a comment with an email address where you can be reached should you win. 

DRAWING TO BE HELD WEDNESDAY EVENING ~ FEB 27th.