She turned to Andrew, who looked at her with confusion and concern.
Clare laughed and rested her head softly against his tall shoulder.
“There’s nothing wrong,” Clare whispered. “Far from it. It’s just she’s been waiting for this moment all of her life.”
Discussion Questions
1. What did you enjoy most about Flight of the Earls? Which were your favorite characters? Why?
2. Was there a character in particular you most closely identified with throughout the story? How so?
3. What did you see as the central themes in the novel?
4. Describe the relationship you have or had with your father (or father figure in your life). What did you most appreciate? What would you have wished to be different?
5. How has your relationship with your father influenced your life for better or worse? Have you fully expressed your gratitude or, if needed, granted forgiveness?
6. Do you have a relationship with God the Father? How would you describe it?
7. Have there ever been times in your life when you’ve felt as if you’ve been forgotten by God? If so, are you still in that place today? Why?
8. Grandma Ella plays an important role in Flight of the Earls. How would you explain it?
9. Do you have a Grandma Ella in your life? Who is it and how has he or she influenced your spiritual growth? Have you played this role in the lives of others? If so, share some examples.
10. Proverbs 12:20 reads: “Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, but those who plan peace have joy” (NIV). Uncle Tomas certainly had deceit in his heart. How do you deal with the difficult people in your life?
11. Proverbs 16:9 says: “The heart of man plans this way, but the Lord establishes his steps” (NIV). Do you feel as if you’re allowing God to lead the way?
12. When times are tough is your core reaction to blame God or to trust Him? What do you feel makes you react that way?
13. Jeremiah 29:11 states: “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope’” (NIV). Do you believe God has plans for you? If so, what do you believe them to be? What is your life purpose, and do you feel it’s more God’s idea or yours?
14. David offered these words of wisdom in 1 Chronicles 28:9: “And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought” (NIV). Are you serving God the Father with a whole heart and willing mind through all circumstances? What steps could you take to grow closer to Him?
Acknowledgments
One of the most daunting tasks in writing a novel is composing the acknowledgments, because invariably there aren’t enough pages to thank everyone deserving of a proper tip o’ the hat and click o’ the heels.
My deepest gratitude goes to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ from whom I receive every breath and every gift in my life.
What a gift I have in my beloved wife Debbie, who has endured much to allow this author to pursue wild adventure on the sea of writing dreams. If not for her love, prayer, encouragement, patience, and great sacrifice the ship would have undoubtedly ended up timbers against the rocks.
So too with my beautiful daughters Kaleigh, Mackenzie, and Adeline, who were my daily inspiration for this book and who graciously shared their Dad time with writing deadlines. Make no mistake, this novel was a complete family effort.
For Sheila, my mother and critique partner, for instilling in me the love of books and analyzing mine line-by-line. For my two sisters, Cathy and Jacqueline who lovingly abided with growing up with the weird kind of brother who ends up a writer. And for Philip, my father, for forging perseverance into my character and to Larry Smith for his overflowing support.
Gratitude goes out to my spiritual mentors Jim Johnson and Allen Batts who challenged me at every bend and then helped to piece Humpty together when he so often fell off the wall. And for my Friday Morning Men’s Bible Study and Wednesday Evening Couples Group, whose faithful members never stopped praying for me, even when my writing schedule pulled me away from fellowship.
Huge adoration for my agent, Janet Kobobel Grant of Books & Such Literary Agency, whose wisdom, fierce representation and kind heart makes her both a great friend and as good as they get.
For Julie Gwinn, whose vision, creativity, and early belief in this debut novelist made all of this possible. And to the rest of the gifted team at B&H Publishing Group including cover artist extraordinaire Diana Lawrence, Kim Stanford who carefully wove together these pages, and Patrick Bonner who worked tirelessly to connect the novel to its readers.
A deep bow to my award-winning editor, Julee Schwarzburg, who with such a delightful personality infused encouragement, brilliance and artistry into the project.
To my many wordsmith friends such as Karen Barnett, Connie Brzowski, Lauraine Snelling, Kay Strom, Brandilyn Collins, Randy Ingermanson, Tricia Goyer, and Stephanie Grace Whitson who have selflessly put their projects aside to provide feedback on mine. And those of my Author Insider tribe, and friends on Facebook and Twitter who cheered me on and shared the novel around the world.
Thanks as well to my dedicated staff at Global Studio, who put their expertise and affection in the effort to publicize the author and this book. You all are dear to me.
Great appreciation goes out to Rachel Williams and Dave Talbott for putting together such an anointed event as the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference, where I was mentored, educated, and inspired and found both my agent and publisher.
Every author of historical fiction stands on the shoulders of dedicated scholars. There were so many brilliant history books I leaned on for the research of this book, chief among them being: Paddy’s Lament by Thomas Gallagher, Gotham by Edwin G. Burrows & Mike Wallace, The Great Irish Potato Famine by James S. Donnelly Jr., Shamrock and Sword by Robert Ryal Miller, The Story of the Mexican War by Robert Selph Henry, Five Points by Tyler Anbinder and The Gangs of New York by Herbert Asbury.
And finally . . . much love to my readers, who provide purpose and pleasure in every word I write.
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