Move over Susan B. Anthony. There’s an unsung woman asking for the vote 224 years before you.
Welcome to one of the November 25th stops on the blog tour for The Spinster, the Rebel & the Governor by Charlene Bell Dietz with Goddess Fish Promotions. Be sure to follow the rest of the tour for spotlights, reviews, and a giveaway! More on that at the end of this post.
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About the Book
The Spinster, the Rebel, and the Governor
Margaret Brent Pre-Colonial Maryland 1638-1648
by Charlene Bell Dietz
Published 2 September 2022
Quill Mark Press
Genre: Historical Fiction
Page Count: 402
Add it to your Goodreads TBR!
Move over Susan B. Anthony. There’s an unsung woman asking for the vote 224 years before you. In 1638-1648 Margaret Brent, fighting for justice became a voice in court for others, educated and Indian princess, built a fort and saved pre-colonial Maryland from destruction. The American Bar Association each year honors select women attorneys, such as Ruth Bader Ginsberg and Sandra Day O’Connor with their Margaret Brent Award.
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Excerpt
“Maryland provokes my ill manners.” Fulke paced the kitchen floor as he talked. “We need women who are willing to marry. There are no wives to be had.”
“Take heart, brother,” Giles said, “maybe the next ship will bring some pretty ladies for us.”
Hesitant to speak, but then doing so, Margaret said, “Fulke, if it’s not beneath your standards, Mary and I would release any of our four maids from their servitude, any of which I am certain would agree to marry you.”
Fulke shook his head. “None are well born. These types of marriages only bring strife.”
Mary leaned over to him. “Sweet brother, our city has a couple of widows. Have you thought about courting them?”
“Like the Widow Hawley?” He glowered at her. “I would never choose her to be your sister-in-law—let alone live with that woman.”
His brother laughed and said, “Patience, Fulke. There’s still hope.”
“Giles, didn’t you listen to what our sisters said about the indentures becoming freemen? These young kids of four years ago are about to become freemen of age—looking for wives. They already outnumber their masters, who also want wives. I’m too old for all this waiting around. I need a loving wife who will bear me children.”
“Hold fast.” Giles said, “See what the next ship brings. Imagine some golden-haired beauty with a winsome smile strolling down the gangplank. Think of her pretty little shoes, stepping daintily onto our Maryland’s soil. When she looks around the gathered crowd to find a husband and sees your handsome face, she will swoon into your arms. A ship from England will arrive any day now.”
“Good.” Fulke strode to the door.
Then he swung around and pointed his finger at Margaret.
“Why Father thought I needed protect you, Margaret, I have no idea. It’s not you who need protection. Anyone you judge to be on the wrong side of right—they need protection. I shall leave on the next ship back to England.”
About the Author
Charlene Bell Dietz writes science and historical-suspense, award-winning mystery novels and short stories. Her award-winning short stories have been published in the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers 2016 Anthology and SouthWest Writers 2019 Anthology. The Flapper, the Scientist, and the Saboteur combines family saga with corporate espionage. The Flapper, the Impostor, and the Stalker propels readers back into 1923 frenetic Chicago during the Roaring Twenties. Both these novels were named to Kirkus Reviews’ Best Books of 2018, and each won the coveted Kirkus Starred Review. Her latest novel, The Scientist, the Psychic, and the Nut, gives readers a frightening Caribbean vacation. Her current work in progress, a biographical historical novel, starts in England in 1638 and ends in precolonial Maryland. Charlene, a retired educator, traveled the United States as a consultant for Houghton Mifflin Publishers after a career of teaching little ones, older ones, and college graduates. Surrounded by forests and meadows, she currently lives in the foothills of the mountains in central NM several miles from the small village of Torreon. Charlene is the current president of Croak & Dagger, New Mexico Chapter of Sisters in Crime. She belongs to Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers, Rocky Mountain Mystery Writers, Mystery Writers of America, and SouthWest Writers.
Giveaway Alert!
Charlene Bell Dietz will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B&N gift card to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
a Rafflecopter giveaway| Nov 21 | Aubrey Wynne Timeless Love | Nov 22 | Long and Short Reviews |
| Nov 23 | Rogue’s Angels | Nov 23 | Straight from the Library |
| Nov 25 | Westveil Publishing | Nov 25 | Sandra’s Book Club |
| Nov 28 | Fabulous and Brunette | Nov 29 | Literary Gold |
| Nov 30 | Wendi Zwaduk | Dec 1 | Momma Says To Read or Not to Read |
| Dec 2 | The Avid Reader | Dec 5 | It’s Raining Books |
| Dec 6 | The Faerie Review | Dec 7 | Novels Alive |
| Dec 8 | Iron Canuck Reviews & More | Dec 9 | Beyond Romance |
| Dec 12 | Joanne Guidoccio | Dec 13 | Paws.Read.Repeat |
| Dec 14 | Independent Authors | Dec 15 | All the Ups and Downs |
| Dec 16 | Gina Rae Mitchell |
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Thanks for hosting!
Great excerpt and cover.
Thank you, Rita. I’d love for you to read my book. Good luck on winning the $25.
I loved learning about this amazing woman, so beautifully written, thank you.
Thank you for your sweet words, Marcia. Margaret Brent taught me so much about our early adventures into the New World. A challenging book to write, but so much fun and it’s become my favorite of all my books.
Great cover and the book sounds good.
I’ve been very fortunate with the cover designers of my books. It really tells what’s the story embodies: right all wrongs at all cost.
Thank you for your comments, Sherry. Good luck.
thank you for sharing an excerpt, the book sounds very good
Great excerpt, I am looking forward to reading about Margaret Brent and her role in our history!
Thanks for sharing it with me and have a magical holiday season!
Eva, I would enjoy knowing what you think after reading my story. I learned so much about how our ancestors struggled and then figured out how to structure our society. They made mistakes and did much readjusting, all the while, fearing for their lives from many impending catastrophes.T
Thank you for your praise and comments. Returning the wish to you for a wonderful holiday season.
Charlene