Maxine writes in many genres and has found a love for the western historical romance. A Wisconsin native, Maxine resides in Chickasha. While Maxine may miss her family and friends in the north, she loves the mild winters Oklahoma has to offer. She has four grown children, two granddaughters, and a German Shorthair Pointer. And many friends she now considers her OK family.
Maxine’s western along the Chisholm Trail, The Marshal’s Bride, was a 2017 International Digital Award Finalist in the Western Historical-Short category.
Maxine is a current member of Romance Writers of America, Wisconsin Romance Writers of America, Oklahoma Writers Federation, Inc. and its affiliate Oklahoma Romance Writers Guild, Inc.
A Message From Maxine
While it is always
a thrill for an author to start a new series, it is with heavy heart that I am
compelled to write this one. I became a widow in April 2018 after a brief battle
with cancer that took my love from me to be with our Lord. During those
agonizing first few months so many questions flitted into my mind, along with
the anger, grief, loneliness, and finally acceptance that my beloved was really
gone from this realm. It was some of these questions that inspired this series.
I hope that it will let other widows, and widowers, know that they are not alone
with the crazy questions that come to mind. That as they wonder what is or isn’t
appropriate, should they remove their rings, should they start dating, are they
still married or now considered single, what is the proper mourning period in
our modern times, when will the anger go away, and the list goes on and on.
While I don’t expect this series to be the answers to the grieving, I do hope
that I have somehow eased that feeling of being alone.
Webster
defines grief as “emotional suffering caused by or as if by bereavement” and a
widow as a “woman who has lost her husband by death and has not married again.”
If these definitions were as simple as they sound.
To
the Widows of Blessings Valley, these two words mean so much more. They mean
living their lives without the one they gave their hearts and souls to. The one
they vowed to love forever. It means crying themselves to sleep at night. It
means trying to go on in a new life without knowing how. It means knowing no
matter how much they try to heal they never really completely do. No matter how
much they think they’ll never love again, they will but
differently.
They
say time heals all things. That may be true or may not. All I know is the scab
on my heart and soul was slowly peeled off and bled again over the months I
wrote this book. But I had to write it regardless of my pain, tears, and
sorrow.
I
cannot promise all the books in the series will be the same emotionally. I'm not
sure I want to feel the heartache all over and over again. Regardless I will
tell their stories...the Widows of Blessings Valley.
About ELIZABETH
A mining accident has killed several miners in Blessings Valley. Some of the widows are struggling through their grief to answer a widow’s question. With Wilhelmina “Willa” Alexander’s guidance, they just might each learn to live again.
Two
people scarred by life. She carries the scars on her heart. He carries the
scars on his body. Can they find peace, healing, and love together?
Excerpt
Elizabeth paused at
the fireplace on her way out of her house and, as she so often did, gazed at
their wedding picture.
“Steven, I’m going to
place the advertisement. It’s the only thing I can do.” Her eyes misted over.
She sucked in a shaky breath. “I will not let them see me cry. I will be strong
for both of us.”
Shawl wrapped snuggly
around her shoulders, Elizabeth began on a journey she thought she’d never have
to take.
“You can do this,
Elizabeth. You have to.” She muttered softly, putting one foot in front of the
other along the path she knew all too well.
“Hi, Elizabeth!”
Looking up,
Elizabeth’s gaze settled on the open church door, and a warm shiver slipped
down her spine. Fannie Rochester, who’d lost her husband the same day Elizabeth
had lost her Steven, stepped out into the morning sun.
“Hello, Fannie,”
Elizabeth called back, biting her tongue when all she wanted to do was lash out
at Fannie. How could she find solace in church when God had taken their
husbands from them?
“Won’t you come in and
sit with me?” Fannie offered, stepping closer.
“Not today, Fannie,
thank you.” Elizabeth waved as she continued on her way. She would never forget
the pain of losing Steven. Not now. Not ever.
“Maybe I should move
into Willa’s boardinghouse, so I don’t have to pass the church ever again,”
Elizabeth mumbled. Feeling her heart race, stealing her breath, she paused for
a moment. “Go ahead, take me to join Steven, and I will go willingly.” She took
deep breaths until her heart returned to its normal cadence then continued on
her way.
Elizabeth rounded the
corner leading into the heart of Blessings Valley. She loved this little mining
community that had become home. The thought of having to leave it broke what
was left of her already shattered heart. If she didn’t find work soon, she’d be
on the first stage at the end of the month.
Purchase ELIZABETH
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Thank you so much for having me here today, Diana.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Maxine
Such a Fantastic book! I highly recommend it!
ReplyDeleteThank you Sandy! I'm so glad you love it!
DeleteI've preordered the book and can hardly wait to read it. What a wonderful idea for a series! Write faster, Maxine, so I won't have to wait too long for the next one.
ReplyDeleteOnce you read Elizabeth, you'll see why it took me over 6 months to write it. My late husband always said he could tell when I wrote a book to fast. I'll do my best to have book 2 ready by Christmas. :)
DeleteThank you for reserving your copy!
DeleteThis sounds wonderful. How brave of you to write through your pain! My sister lost her husband in 2013 so I have a sense of what you must have gone through.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I was a mess off and on throughout the writing. Even though I've got 7 more to write in this series, I'm not sure they will take as much a toll on me as this one did.
DeleteHugs to you. My husband passed in 2009. Almost 10 yrs now! Wow...sometimes still feels like yesterday, others an eternity ago.
ReplyDeleteGood luck and God's blessings with your books
PamT
Thank you. It is the same. My dad has been gone 18 years and my mom still has her moments.
DeleteOh wow, love the excerpt. Sounds like a great read!! Congrats and best wishes!
ReplyDeleteYou are so brave to write this series. I'm not sure I could put all my grief out there for everyone to see. Wishing you much success.
ReplyDeleteThank you. I had written down a number of questions I had over the course of a few months. Then the idea for the series came. I'm sure my late husband put that thought into my head. In some ways this first one helped with some of the grief, but as a widow you never stop grieving the loss of the love of your life. And even if you move on I can't imagine how anyone could come close to that love. It's not the same, just a different kind of love.
DeleteGlad to host you--much success with the series!
ReplyDelete