This week, we finally managed to install our new (not new ) item of furniture - a mid-18th Century grandfather clock. It's not bright and shiny like more modern ones, but a dark oak with a warm patina which the beeswax polish is drawing out. In order to set it up, we had to do a certain amount of research - how to hang the pendulum, where the weight went on the endless chain - and it got me thinking... where and when did certain divisions of time come from? The time periods which I have written either had household clocks or didn't, I have not written novels from the time of their invention. Clocks have been around for a long time, and the obsession with measuring time in an ordered fashion dates back to at least the ancient Sumerians. It was they who established a circular reading of time and, I imagine, the sixty seconds/minutes came about as much because it was an easy way to divide a circle as anything else. But it wasn't until much later that the precision of seconds ...
Today it is my absolute pleasure to be hosting Jenny Knipfer and her wonderfully unique book, Under the Weeping Willow, as part of her Coffee Pot Book Club tour.
Let's meet the book...
A HISTORICAL NOVEL ABOUT A MOTHER AND DAUGHTER AND THE SECRET SHAPING THEIR ROCKY RELATIONSHIP
1918:
Just as Robin Holcomb settles into married life with her husband, Willis, on his aunt and uncle’s farm in Wisconsin, WWI calls Willis away. With an unknown future and a child on the way, Robin makes the best of life among people she barely knows.
After the birth of her child, Robin struggles with depression and battles to overcome her inner demons before despair and hopelessness drive her to attempt to take her own life. Will Robin survive her dive into postpartum depression, let alone see Willis again?
1983:
Enid Fenton clears out her Mother’s house and puts the family farm up for sale, trying to not be consumed by guilt for installing her mother into the county nursing home.
Reading through some of her mother’s diary entries, Enid uncovers a secret that helps her make sense of the unnamed point of division that has always soured their relationship.
Can Enid reconcile with her mother before the ravages of Alzheimer’s claim her?
Readers of historical fiction, Christian historical fiction, literary fiction, and women’s fiction will be moved as this novel takes them from the depths of a person’s psyche and grief to the pinnacle of long-hoped-for peace.
Praise for Under the Weeping Willow:
Knipfer has created a story that crosses many genres and will appeal to those who love poignant epics about complex characters, engrossing plots, relatable situations, and a satisfying ending.
~ Tammy Ruggles for Readers’ Favorite, five-star review
A sensitive and well-crafted drama unpacking issues of mental health, layers of grief, societal expectations, and the instability of memory, this novel is touching on the surface, but subtly and profoundly layered with meaning.
~ Self-Publishing Review ★★★★★
A heart-rending, emotionally packed love story between a mother and daughter, Under the Weeping Willow is a journey of loss and brokenness coupled with forgiveness and healing. This time-split novel captured my heart and didn't release it until the final page. Beautiful and haunting, Robin and Enid's story swept me to another era. These characters lived, and I loved watching them find their way to each other. Keep the tissues handy. You don't want to miss this story!
~ Candace West, Selah award finalist and author of the Valley Creek Redemption series
Under the Weeping Willow also has a book trailer, which you can watch here!
You can buy Under the Weeping Willow from Amazon UK - Amazon US - Amazon CA - Amazon AU - Barnes and Noble - Waterstones - Bookshop.org
Here's a little excerpt to whet your appetite:
My daughter has always hated confrontation. I remember the summer when she was five. I went to do the laundry one day and found green peas buried in the patch pockets of her dress with the Hollie Hobby print. Mashed peas were also tucked in the front pockets of her jeans. When I asked her about it, she cried and admitted that she hated peas. She could have told me earlier. I would not have been mad at her, but apparently, she didn’t want to risk that. She avoided the situation by hiding the peas. Thankfully, Enie has grown out of the propensity to hide her preferences, but I believe that she still hides many of her true feelings.
Now, let's meet the author, Jenny Knipfer...
Jenny lives in Wisconsin with her husband, Ken, and their pet Yorkie, Ruby. She is also a mom and loves being a grandma. She enjoys many creative pursuits but finds writing the most fulfilling.
Spending many years as a librarian in a local public library, Jenny recently switched to using her skills as a floral designer in a retail flower shop. She is now retired from work due to disability. Her education background stems from psychology, music, and cultural missions.
All of Jenny’s books have earned five-star reviews from Readers’ Favorite, a book review and award contest company. She holds membership in the: Midwest Independent Booksellers Association, Wisconsin Writers Association, Christian Indie Publishing Association, and Independent Book Publishers Association.
Jenny’s favorite place to relax is by the western shore of Lake Superior, where her novel series, By The Light of the Moon, is set.
She deems a cup of tea and a good book an essential part of every day. When not writing, Jenny can be found reading, tending to her many houseplants, or piecing quilt blocks at her sewing machine.
Her new historical fiction, four-part series entitled, Sheltering Trees, is set in the area Jenny grew up in, where she currently lives, and places along Minnesota’s Northern Shore, where she loves to visit. She is currently writing a four-part novella series entitled: Botanical Seasons.
Keep current with Jenny by visiting her website at https://jennyknipfer.com. Ways to connect with Jenny via social media, newsletter, and various book sites can be found on her website.
You can find Jenny on these social media links: Website - Twitter - Facebook - BookBub - Amazon Author Page - Goodreads - Instagram - Pinterest
Keep up with the rest of Jenny's tour by clicking on the banner below:
Thank you so much for hosting the blog tour for Under the Weeping Willow.
ReplyDeleteAll the best,
Mary Anne
The Coffee Pot Book Club
Thanks so much for hosting a stop on the tour for Under the Weeping Willow!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome! Thank you for sharing your book with our readers, Jenny!
ReplyDelete📚