📖 Book Review Tour: Anna: A Life of Faith and Courage by Travis E. Short
"A life of hardship, a story of resilience.”
👋 Welcome, Friends!
I'm happy to open the special Travis Short virtual book tour from iRead Book Tours with my review of Anna: A Life of Faith and Courage. This inspirational historical fiction novel explores the resilience of faith through hardship, and it’s the first of four books I’ll be featuring on the tour this month.
Anna’s story is one of perseverance, prayer, and courage in the face of adversity — a reminder that hope and faith can carry us through life’s darkest valleys. Keep reading for book details, my thoughts, and of course, information on the multi-book tour giveaway you won’t want to miss!
👇 Keep scrolling for the giveaway.
📝 All About the Book
Anna: A life of Faith and Courage
By Travis Short
Published by Publish Authority on July 2023
Genres: Historical Fiction
Formats: eBook, Hardcover, Paperback
Pages: 237
Source: iRead Book Tours, Kindle UnlimitedANNA is an account of the life of Anna Marie Gamble, blending fact with fiction. The story is based on a frank and revealing memoir written by Anna at age 84 at the request of her children. The author met her when she was 96 years old while visiting his brother's wife at a convalescent facility in Ypsilanti, Michigan. The author assumes the person of his brother in telling the story. It parallels most of the chapters of Anna's memoir.
The author steps out of the story for a brief interlude following Chapter Nine. The cumulative effect of Anna's travails leads him to a moment of contemplation to reflect on the cruelty and enormous problems she overcomes through faith. He is reminded of the story The Song of Bernadette by Franz Werfel and likens Anna to St. Bernadette.
The story takes place in various rural areas of Pennsylvania near Scranton. As told by Anna, her family moved forty times by the time she was fourteen years old. They lived in small clapboard shacks and apartments barely habitable by humans, finally settling into a large, rented farm, where they lived until Anna left home at age 18. Ten children were born into the family, five of them having died before she was six years old.
The book begins with a short preface, in Anna's words, followed by an introduction by the author. In Chapter 1, Honor Thy Father and Thy Mother, Anna recalls a hellish existence at age four, in particular, the dysfunctional relationship between her mother and father. The mother, Della Duvall, was absent from the home for long periods with no knowledge by the family of her whereabouts. The father, Daniel, was an exceptional musician and passed his talents onto his children. He often drank in excess and had an explosive temper. He was cruel to his children at times, especially Anna, who was anemic and suffered from rickets.
The author takes up the story after meeting Anna at age 96. Their daily encounters are described with humor and humility. After Anna is unable to care for herself, the author moves her into the room with his wife where he can assist with her needs and ensure that she is properly cared for in her waning days. She maintains an unrelenting belief in life hereafter to the end.
Anna in an inspiration to all of us.
📚 Where to Find Anna
Available on Amazon
📦 KINDLE | PAPERBACK | HARDCOVER
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Prefer to shop local?
🛍️ You can also purchase Anna from your favorite indie bookstore online.
Bookshop.org is an excellent option that supports indie authors—and book bloggers like me—while avoiding the big-box route.
Also available at:
📘 Barnes & Noble | McNallyRobinson
🌟 My Thoughts on Anna: A Life of Faith and Courage
Anna: A Life of Faith and Courage is a clean, motivational work of historical fiction that left me both moved and inspired. Anna is portrayed as a quiet but remarkably strong woman who lets her faith shine not through lofty words, but through the way she chooses to live her life.
This fictionalized tale grows out of a real memoir written by Anna herself, and that grounding in truth gives the novel an authenticity that resonates deeply. The faith-based perspective isn’t heavy-handed; instead, it flows naturally through Anna’s journey, showing how prayer, perseverance, and trust can shape a life even in the harshest of circumstances.
I especially appreciated the few sections where the author steps out of Anna’s point of view. Those shifts add an extra layer of depth—maybe “resonance” is the better word—that expands the story beyond Anna’s lived experiences and reminds us of its broader impact.
Overall, this is an inspiring, heartfelt story of resilience, courage, and devotion. For readers who enjoy faith-based historical fiction, Anna’s journey is sure to encourage and uplift.
⭐ 5/5 Stars
Anna: A Life of Faith and Courage is a clean, motivational historical fiction novel that seamlessly blends fact and fiction. Anna’s quiet strength and unwavering faith shine through her life story, drawn from a real memoir. The faith-based perspective adds authenticity, and the occasional shifts out of Anna’s POV bring a resonance that deepens the narrative. A truly inspiring read for fans of faith-driven historical fiction.
I received a copy of the book for the tour. This review represents my honest and unbiased opinion.
🖋️ Guest Post from Travis Short
Thank you, Gina, for accepting this guest post and allowing me to tell you about myself and my books.
I am Travis Short. I write in a variety of genres, which you will see in this post. My latest four are included in this iRead Tour.
Anna: A Life of Faith and Courage
Anna: A Life of Faith and Courage is a fictional account of Anna Gamble, drawing on many true events from her life, from her childhood as a sickly, impoverished, and battered child to her growth into a woman of faith, determination, and achievement.
I based the story on a short memoir, which she wrote for her children when she was eighty-six years old. I stayed true to the events in her life, creating a tale of struggle and triumph around them. The story illustrates that one cannot always control their circumstances but can choose how to respond to them.
Like our sixteenth president, Abraham Lincoln, she was born without a chance, but through perseverance and courage, she overcame her circumstances.
The Adventures of Faraday Fox: A Story for Young Readers
The painting of a red fox by artist Shirley Adams inspired this story. When my granddaughter named the painting Faraday, I wrote a tale of how Faraday travelled from Shirley’s home in Dahlonega, Georgia, to my granddaughter’s home in Port Orchard, Washington—arriving there after many interesting adventures and misadventures.
Killers Can’t Hide
The third book is a murder mystery titled Killers Can’t Hide. The locale for the story is the mythical town of Maysville, Mississippi, in Cumbersome County.
A former beauty queen and proprietor of a quarter horse ranch, Carmen Cantrell, is murdered. Her estranged wealthy husband, Delbert, is the primary suspect and is arrested for the crime. He finds himself amid an election in which a corrupt sheriff and his dim-witted deputy oppose each other.
Delbert hires renowned attorney Sydney Saperstein and a Black detective to help him solve the crime and clear his name. The outcome is doubtful.
Corners of My Mind
The fourth book, and a favorite of mine, is titled Corners of My Mind. It contains thirty-one short stories in a wide variety of genres.
My favorite author was and remains O. Henry, the renowned author of such great stories as The Gift of the Magi, The Green Door, The Cop and the Anthem, and many more. I always appreciated the twists he added to his tales.
I try not to wrap my stories with a bow but end them with an interesting twist or surprise outcome, hoping they give the reader something to ponder.
I trust you will want to check out one or more of my books, and I appreciate this opportunity to tell you about them.
✍️ About the Author
Travis Short is the writer and author of several books, including Anna: A Life of Faith and Courage, Killers Can’t Hide, and The Adventures of Faraday Fox. Among other works, he has also published the illustrated epic poem Old White Men, a story of the sacrifices by America’s warriors since 1775. His favorite pastime is writing short stories, many of which are included in his collection Corners of My Mind.
Retired as a Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy, he pursued a career in shipbuilding and manufacturing. He has extensive experience in technical writing and business consulting. A graduate of the U.S. Navy Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, Travis holds a degree in Engineering Sciences.
He is the father of four daughters and three sons, and currently resides in Moss Point, Mississippi, with his constant companion, a Lhasa Apso named Choi.
Connect with the Author:
🌐 Website ~ 📘 Facebook ~ 🔷X ~ 📚 Goodreads ~🅰️Amazon
🎬 Authors on iTours Interview
Coming Soon!
An "Authors on iTours interview" with Travis Short will be posted after the start of the tour. I'll be adding the video here. Please check back soon
🎁 Fantastic Tour Giveaway!
Enter below for your chance to win Author-signed copies of ANNA: A LIFE OF FAITH AND COURAGE and three other Travis Short novels (one winner) (USA only) (ends Oct 6)! Be sure to follow the tour for more chances at every stop.
Please visit more stops on the tour for extra chances to win!
Full Tour Schedule
Enter the Travis Short Multi-Book Tour Giveaway
📌 Quick Book Tour Recap
Book Title: Anna: A Life of Faith and Courage by Travis E. Short
Category: Adult Fiction (18 +), 245 pages
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Publish Authority
Release date: July 2023
Tour dates: Sep 2 to Sep 29, 2025
Content Rating: G. Suitable for all readers; no sexual content, and no vulgar language
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Gina,
Thank you for featuring my book. I hope you enjoyed the book and learning about a brave and devout woman named Anna.
Best Regards,
Travis Short