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Elaine Hussey | Journey to The Sweetest Hallelujah
July 31, 2013
It has been an incredible ten-year journey to THE SWEETEST HALLELUJAH.
The story first got into my head and burrowed into my heart after I read a
newspaper article about a bedridden woman in a section of my hometown known
historically as Shakerag. She was a mother looking for someone to take her child
to the mall and the movies, ordinary things she could no longer do with her
daughter. But what if the mother were dying? What if she had no one to turn to
except the woman she had every reason to hate? What if it were 1955 the brutal
summer in Mississippi when lynchings were a dime a dozen and hope was hard to
come by? The story started as they always do for me, with a cast of characters I
instantly wanted to invite onto my front porch for a glass of sweet tea. First
there was Betty Jewel, the fierce mother who would do anything for her child.
Then came Cassie, recent widow of an iconic baseball coach, chafing under the
restraints placed on women in 1955. But the characters who brought the real
magic to the book were 10-year-old Billie and ancient Miss Queen, both so full
of sass and devilment, I found myself smiling every time they came onto the page. And now, here they are, putting their best foot forward thanks to a terrific
team of publishing professionals at MIRA. Oh, I do hope you'll love my
characters as much as I do! I do hope you'll read the book and tell your friends
and post reviews online so others can discover THE SWEETEST HALLELUJAH and
say, as Daily Journal reviewer Leslie Criss said, "The book made me cry, and
laugh, and cry again." For more details, check the author's website at www.elainehussey.com. I
love hearing from you. Thanks for stopping by! About Elaine Hussey
Peggy Webb of Tupelo, Mississippi, writes the hilarious Southern Cousins Mystery
series starring Elvis, the basset hound who thinks he's the King of Rock 'n'
Roll reincarnated. This prolific author pioneered the romantic comedy genre and
is the author of many beloved romances, including the Donovans of the Delta
series. She is bringing her classic romances back as eBooks. Her beloved Touched
by Angels and A Prince for Jenny landed in the top ten ebook bestsellers. Her
Dixie Virgin Chronicles will be available in the fall of 2013. Though Peggy says she was born with a funny bone, she also writes literary
fiction as Elaine Hussey and Anna Michaels. Pat Conroy describes her work as
"astonishing" and Kirkus Review calls it "poetic and beautiful." The Sweetest
Hallelujah, written as Elaine Hussey (MIRA, July 30, 2013) follows the
remarkable journey of two courageous women who dare to cross color lines in 1955
to save a child. Kirkus Review says the book will inevitably be "compared to The
Help."
Comments
26 comments posted.
Re: Elaine Hussey | Journey to The Sweetest Hallelujah
Reading your intro I felt so sorry for the child. I'd recommend they join the Girl Scouts or Boy Scouts.
(Clare O'Beara 9:04am July 31, 2013)
This sounds like the perfect book to wind up the Summer with!! I can picture myself, sitting out on the deck, with a glass of iced tea in one hand, and your book in the other!! After your vivid description of the story, I feel as if I know the characters already, and I'm itching to get my hands on your book!! Congratulations on your latest project!! I'm sure it's going to do well, and will be spreading by word of mouth quickly.
(Peggy Roberson 11:01am July 31, 2013)
Families are always good for laught and tears.
(MaryEllen Hanneman 1:10pm July 31, 2013)
Clare, Peggy and Mary Ellen, thanks for stopping by. I love this book and hope you will, too. And thanks for helping to spread the word! Peggy, you are so right about the value of word of mouth. Also, if you love The Sweetest Hallelujah, please do share your thoughts in online reviews.
Once again, thanks for stopping by. I'll be popping in periodically to answer any questions you have about the story and/or the characters.
(Peggy Webb 1:25pm July 31, 2013)
By now, of course, you are aware that Elaine Hussey and Peggy Webb are one and the same person! This can be confusing when I sign books, but it's fun to eat for two!
(Peggy Webb 1:26pm July 31, 2013)
I look forward to reading and sharing The Sweetest Hallelujah!
(Britney Adams 2:43pm July 31, 2013)
I'm delighted, Britney! Right now I'm skimming through the book to select passages I will read at my launch party later this afternoon at Reeds Gumtree, an Indie bookstore in my hometown of Tupelo. I'm serving up sweet tea and barbecue, and we're going to have a blast. This is the first of many places I will be this month. Next week I'm making a swing through Memphis and Nashville in TN, then on to Birmingham and Fairhope in AL. Do check my appearances at www.elainehussey.com. Along the way I'll be doing TV and radio interviews. If I'm heading your way, I hope you'll stop by to say hello. I love chatting with readers. Elaine also known as Peggy Webb
(Peggy Webb 3:38pm July 31, 2013)
YOu have to believe me when I say that Southern fiction is my all time fav and,Shakearag, OMG, count me in!
(Susan Coster 4:47pm July 31, 2013)
Even if I do not win The Sweetest Hallelujah, it is definitely a book that I shall read. What a beautiful story!
(Shirley Younger 5:00pm July 31, 2013)
It looks like an intriguing story.
(Maureen Emmons 5:02pm July 31, 2013)
Sound like a lovely book and just the kind I love to read!!
(Kelli Jo Calvert 5:49pm July 31, 2013)
This sounds like an incredible, beautiful story. I love books that seem so true that it's hard to believe you're reading fiction. I can't wait to read this book!
(Linda Luinstra 6:07pm July 31, 2013)
Wow, Congrats on your new book: THE SWEETEST HALLELUJAH.
This books sounds like a great book to win and read this
summer and so interesting how the different cultures of the
women come together to love and raise the child. I always
love the saying: it takes a village to raise a child right.
Thanks so much. Cecilia CECE
(Cecilia Dunbar Hernandez 6:17pm July 31, 2013)
Congratulations on THE SWEETEST HALLELULAH - sounds like another winner!
Will you be writing more books as Anna Michaels? THE TENDER MERCY OF ROSES is one of my favorites.
(Mary C 7:45pm July 31, 2013)
I have saved two Humming birds from getting killed and both times it was because they flew into buildings.
(Callie Stuck 7:53pm July 31, 2013)
Your book, The Sweetest Hallelujah, sounds like the greatest story that I would so much love to win and read, I pray I do. I'll be looking for it to read soon. Thank you for this chance to win. All The Best To You Always.
(Esther Somorai 8:08pm July 31, 2013)
1955? The very idea would be ground-breaking.
(Karen Blossom 9:37pm July 31, 2013)
Would love to read this sometime! On my summer reading list!
(Lydia Herrin 9:51pm July 31, 2013)
Being raised in Miss. and about the same age as Billie in 1955, your book sound like my kinda read.
(Sheila True 9:52pm July 31, 2013)
Sounds like a great read. I'll add it to my list!
(Laura Gullickson 10:22pm July 31, 2013)
I'm now wondering how the story will end...
(Gloria Shaw 11:08pm July 31, 2013)
The Sweetest Hallelulah sounds memorable and intriguing. Best
wishes and much happiness.
(Sharon Berger 10:40am August 1, 2013)
Any Southern book to read. SWEET. I didn't think I was going to read The Help but I did and I'm glad that I read the book. I expect Sweetest Hallelulah will be as enlightening as The Help.
(Kai Wong 12:53pm August 2, 2013)
I know this book will tear at my heart. A must read for me.
(Mary Preston 10:54pm August 2, 2013)
It sounds good with opposites having to work out their
differences to get along somehow. I'm reading a book,
Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All by Allan Gurganus,
where a woman goes full circle being cared for by her maid
and then setting her free. It's quite a long book filled
with stories "remembered" from Civil War time and shows how
the relationships grew and changed over the years.
(Alyson Widen 2:06pm August 3, 2013)
I usually spend a short time skimming the gist of the book, but I found
myself reading your book description several times, if I don't win (hope I
do.....lol) please email me and remind me of your book again and it really
looks like it could be heart grabber. The storyline sounds great. I love
books, I'm a hoarder.... and I have like over 15,000 books, at the beginning
I thought I was able to give them away so I collected a lot of them but
definitely this is something I'm interested in! Sounds like it could be a good
movie
(Kelly Smith 3:05am October 14, 2013)
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