Laura's Shadow

About the Book

Genre: Christian/Historical/Romance

Release date: August 1, 2022

Family Secrets Spill One Conversation at a Time

Visit historic American landmarks through the Doors to the Past series. History and today collide in stories full of mystery, intrigue, faith, and romance.

De Smet, South Dakota—1890

Young women growing up in DeSmet live by two rules: don’t go out in a snowstorm and don’t give your heart to Cap Garland. Young Mariah Patterson only managed to obey one. Orphaned and having devoted her youth to scrapping out a life with her brother Charles, Mariah finds herself with no interesting suitors or means of support. Throwing caution to the wind, she seizes an opportunity to lay her feelings at Cap’s feet, even though she knows Cap sees the world through the torch he carries for Laura Ingalls. Mariah is certain her love for Cap will be strong enough to break both bonds, and she’s willing to risk everything to prove it.

De Smet, South Dakota (winter)

De Smet, South Dakota—1974

Trixie Gowan is the fourth generation of living Gowan women residing in the sprawling farmhouse on the outskirts of De Smet. Well, former resident. She’s recently moved to Minneapolis, where she writes ads for a neighborhood paper edited by Ron Tumble. She might live and work in the city, but her co-workers still call her Prairie Girl. Thus the inspiration for her comic strip—“Lost Laura”—in which a bespectacled girl in a calico dress tries to make her way in the city. The name is a quiet rebellion having grown up in a household where she’d been forbidden to mention the name, Laura Ingalls. But when her great-grandmother Mariah’s declining health brings Trixie home for a visit, two things might just keep her there: the bedside manner of Dr. Campbell Carter and the family secret that seems to be spilling from GG’s lips one conversation at a time.

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About the Author

Allison Pittman is the author of more than a dozen critically acclaimed novels and a four-time Christy finalist—twice for her Sister Wife series, once for All for a Story from her take on the Roaring Twenties and most recently for the critically acclaimed The Seamstress which takes a cameo character from the Dickens’ classic A Tale of Two Cities and flourishes her to life amidst the French Revolution. She lives in San Antonio, Texas, blissfully sharing an empty nest with her husband, Mike. Connect with her on Facebook (Allison Pittman Author), Twitter (@allisonkpittman) or her website, allisonkpittman.com.

More from Allison

I can credit Laura Ingalls Wilder for just about every aspect of my identity. I’m a reader because I read her books over and over and over again, checking them out from my little elementary school library. I can still see them—last bookcase, bottom shelf. During the summer, I checked them out from the Bookmobile, and one magical Christmas, I received my own set. The well-worn, yellow paperbacks have a place of honor in my office: top shelf, center stage. It was amazing to my eight-year-old self that I could pick up Little House in the Big Woods, skip the dull parts, and jump straight to These Happy Golden Years in a single afternoon.

Looking at Laura’s writing now (as I often do), I realize I spent my childhood absorbing the art of telling a story. Her books masterfully string meaningful vignettes within an over-arching conflict. She creates stories-within-a-story-within-a-story whenever Pa launches into a tall tale, and minor characters come to life no matter how brief their appearance. (Aunt Docia, anyone?)

When I first came up with the concept of writing a story set in the world of Laura Ingalls Wilder, I knew I couldn’t bring Laura herself in as a character. There’s a sacredness to her story, and I wouldn’t dream of inserting myself into the cannon of her pages. But—I thought—surely she had peers who grew up alongside her, classmates who also hated Miss Wilder, young men who might have set their own cap for her, townsfolk who remembered the vibrant young woman with the button-brown eyes and dark curls. And then I pondered further: maybe there was another side to Laura—a side that she kept from the romanticized ideal skipping through the pages of her books. My first thought was to create a fictional De Smet town girl, but then…

In researching and reading Pioneer Girl, The Annotated Autobiography of Laura Ingalls Wilder, I came across a bit of information that brought the story to life for me. In These Happy Golden Years, Laura teaches her first class: five students, two families. And while the “Brewster” children are documented in other sources, the Harrison children are not. There are no census records, land deeds, or any official documents to support the identity of Charles and Martha as they are depicted in the novel. And so, it clicked. If Laura could fictionalize these people, well, then, so could I. Thus, Martha Harrison was lifted from those pages, renamed Mariah, and given a new life and a new story in mine.

Writing Laura’s Shadow allowed me to indulge in a few favorite directions. First, I’m fascinated with the idea of extreme longevity (showcased in my novel All for a Song), and creating a character whose lifespan stretches from homesteading to disco was delightful. My Mariah chafes at the romanticized depiction of pioneer life, telling us in her old age that it was really more of a daily struggle for survival. I also enjoyed exploring the family dynamic of four generations of women and how each generation faced the same battles and fought them so, so differently. Finally—and this is what truly speaks to my fourth-grade self…

Oscar "Cap" Garland

You know that Elton John song, “Your Song” with the lyrics, “I hope you don’t mind that I put down in words…” Well, I got to put down in words my lifelong crush on Cap Garland. Sure, Almonzo is great and everything, but I always thought Cap was more exciting. More fun. More…more. Bringing him to life in this book set my old heart racing. My research for this novel took me to De Smet, and to his gravesite, where I spoke this story to his stone. I like to think he’d approve, and I hope all of the Laura fans will join me in this tale and let their imaginations run wild.

Oscar "Cap" Garland

My Thoughts

Laura’s Shadow by Allison Pittman is a dual timeline story. The story moves between 1890 with Mariah and 1974 with Trixie Gowan. Personally, I enjoyed Trixie’s storyline more. She is an artistic woman who used her talent to create a comic strip titled “Lost Laura” for the local newspaper where she works in advertising. Trixie is called home when her great-grandmother, Mariah takes to her bed. GG as Trixie calls Mariah has something she wishes to share with Trixie and not the other members of the family. The pacing is gentle as we follow Trixie and Mariah as they go about their daily tasks. I liked the older Mariah’s spirit. I can see why Trixie was drawn to her. I was surprised by a scene in the 1890s where an unmarried woman had intimate relations with a man. I understand why it was included, but I did not expect it in a Christian novel (it is not a detailed scene). I like the author’s descriptive writing which provides details that help me envision the scenes and characters. It was interesting to see a different take on Laura Ingalls Wilder and Oscar “Cap” Garland. I just love the Little House series (I own the whole set) which was why I wanted to read Laura’s Shadow. I liked Trixie’s family and Ron, her boss. I appreciated the epilogue which wrapped up Laura’s Shadow and the author’s note. Laura's Shadow is the ninth novel in the Doors to the Past series. Each book in the series can be read on its own. Laura’s Shadow is a nostalgic tale with a dependable brother, a petite teacher, joyous sleigh rides, a hopeful heart, an honorable man, a long life, a last longing, and a surprising secret.

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Allison is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon E-gift card and a copy of the book!! Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click here to enter.

Laura's Shadow is available from Amazon*. You can find the other eight Doors to the Past novels here. Allison Pittman's other novels can be found here. Thank you for dropping by today. On Tuesday, I am sharing my thoughts on Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen. Sarah Addison Allen is one of my favorite authors. I could not wait to get my hands on her latest book. It has been some time since she published her last book. I hope that you have a relaxing Labor Day weekend. In central Florida, it is a chance to go to the beach (or lounge by the pool with a good book) and then come home to cook on the grill. Do not forget to enter the giveaway and leave a comment for an extra entry. Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader