Deborah Heal's Blog

Now’s your chance to get the first book of the Love Blooms at Bethel series for cheap. Get it here on Free-Discounted Kindle Books (and check out their other free and bargain books for Friday too). Holding On (book 1) … Continue reading →

Love Blooms at Bethel (the conclusion)—a sweet romance about truth, faith, and spiritual freedom.   All is well at Bethel Church and Pastor Garrett Stone continues leading his congregation toward a fuller understanding of God’s grace and love. But then … Continue reading →

The Every Hill and Mountain Quiz Can you distinguish the facts from the fiction? Take the Every Hill and Mountain Quiz–AFTER you finish the book–to find out how good you are at unraveling the threads. Which of the following are true, … Continue reading →

The Great Salt Springs Illinois’ Great Salt Springs are along the south bank of the Saline River, less than a mile west of Route 1 on Salt Well Road. Nearby at Half Moon Lick, John Crenshaw’s saltworks (It wasn’t technically … Continue reading →

In a previous post I explained how and why I came up with the horrible, wife-beating character Bertram White. Even though completely imaginary, he totally creeped me out. The “Old Dears” were much more fun to imagine into existence. My … Continue reading →

I had gathered quite a lot of historical information for Unclaimed Legacy. But even so, I could not begin to write until I solved three perplexing problems. Problem #1: My main historical character for Unclaimed Legacy needed to be one … Continue reading →

Captain Meriwether Lewis The five and half months Lewis and Clark spent in Illinois Country were essential. While they waited for the treaty with France to be settled, Captain Lewis collected as much intelligence as he could from Nicholas Jarrot  … Continue reading →

The Underground Railroad runs through the trilogy, beginning with the slaves hiding in Charlotte Miles’ attic in Time and Again, and ending with Ned’s ordeal in the attic of Crenshaw’s mansion in Every Hill and Mountain. I was inspired by … Continue reading →

Woodburn, where I grew up, was so tiny it had only one store. Fortunately, all the staples of life could be found at Hopper’s—everything from Wonder Bread and bologna for making sandwiches to pack into brown lunch bags (and even … Continue reading →

Jonathan Miles The author of the Macoupin County history book describes Jonathan Miles as “brave, honest, patriotic, broad minded, God fearing, zealous” and “one of the most prominent citizens in the county, his active part in the upbuilding and development … Continue reading →