It’s been a few months since I’ve posted a new entry in my Favorite First Lines series but today I am thrilled to share a fantastic first novel by one of my favorite bloggers, Andra Watkins (The Accidental Cootchie Mamma).
March 1st is the official release of To Live Forever: An Afterlife Journey of Meriwether Lewis and the kickoff of a truly unique adventure as Andra joins her characters and begins a 444 mile walk along the Natchez Trace from Natchez, MS to Nashville, TN. Andra will be chronicling her adventures through words, images and video and all the details are posted on her blog at AndraWatkins.com.
The story unfolds through the points of view of three main characters flowing through time from the months before Meriwether’s death in 1809 and into the spring of 1977. The publishers summary below gives you a taste of what’s to come.
Explorer Meriwether Lewis has been stuck in Nowhere since his mysterious death nearly two centuries ago. His last hope for redemption is helping nine-year-old Emmaline Cagney flee her madame mother in New Orleans and find her father in Nashville. To get there, Merry must cross his own grave along the Natchez Trace, where he duels the corrupt Judge, an old foe who has his own despicable plans for Em. To Live Forever: An Afterlife Journey of Meriwether Lewis is a genre-bending novel that usually falls through the cracks as agents and publishers struggle to figure out ‘what shelf does it go on?‘ At Word Hermit Press, our answer is every shelf! A rich palimpsest of history, suspense, paranormal and biography, we think To Live Forever creates its own category, which we call “fantastic fiction.” We believe you will agree.
Introduction
Explorer Meriwether Lewis Dead At 35
The Natchez Trace, south of Nashville, Tennessee.
Meriwether Lewis, renowned co-captain of the Lewis and Clark expedition to the Pacific and territorial governor of Upper Louisiana, died Wednesday, October 11, 1809. He was thirty-five.
Chapter 1
A New Orleans Courtroom
Thursday
March 24, 1977
A drop of sweat hung from the end of my nose. I watched it build, cross-eyed, before I shook my head and made it fall. It left wet circles on the front of my dress.
I’ve had the pleasure of reading To Live Forever before its official release and plan post my full review soon but didn’t want my slow writing to keep me from sharing Andra’s work with you today. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
#toliveforeverbook
Northwest Frame of Mind 
Well, that sounds interesting – must check it out!
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Great – thanks!
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Thanks for posting this. The book is set in our own backyard, sort of, since we live in Knoxville, TN. So, I’m passing it along to my history buff husband. Just may be his next read!
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Wonderful, I hope he enjoys it!
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I started the book Thursday night, while travelling back home, and finished last night. What a wonderful read it was! Can’t wait to share my own review.
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Yay! I’m looking forward to reading your take on it!
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Heading out to Atlanta on biz in a few hours — gone til Thursday — and just 48 hours from when I got back to Toronto…. a longer review may be some time coming. I managed to get a couple of quickies up on Goodreads and Amazon though. Loved the book! The characters just drew me in, and the story kept me hooked the entire way through.
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Wow, a whirlwind few weeks for you! I hope you enjoy your Atlanta trip. 🙂
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a 10,000+ person conference, hosted by my former employer. It will be very strange, I’m sure, to be there and not be working for them, I suspect. Still, it will be great to catch up with old friends. I think. 🙂
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Oh yeah, I can see why that will feel strange but still, a great opportunity to see some old friends. And if it isn’t comfortable with them your new job gives you a great excuse to move on and meet some new ones. 😉
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Plus, there’s always booze to dull the awkwardness.
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:)!
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Thanks so much for sharing the book, Lisa.
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You’re welcome Andra, I’ll post more soon around the web. 🙂
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I will definitely get the book! I like historical fiction that mixes with the present – 1977 is close enough. 🙂 Thanks, Lisa. I am always interested in new books and new authors.
A blogger I follow is having a book published, soon. I won’t be reading it in advance, but I am looking forward to its release.
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Great news about your blogger friend and I’m so happy you will give To Live Forever a try!
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