The Spinster, the Rebel & the Governor by Charlene Bell Dietz, a Pre-Colonial Truth-Based Historical Fiction available now from Quill Mark Press
A book blog tour from Goddess Fish Promotions.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and Marianne & Judy at Goddess Fish for providing me with the information for this tour.
Book Details
The Spinster, the Rebel, and the Governor: Margaret Brent Pre-Colonial Maryland 1638-1648 (Inkydance Book Club) by Charlene Bell Dietz Published by Quill Mark Press on September 2, 2022
Genres: Historical Fiction
Format: Audiobook, eBook, Hardcover, Paperback
Pages: 402
Move over Susan B. Anthony. There’s an unsung woman asking for the vote 224 years before you.
In 1638, Lady Margaret Brent, Catholic spinster in Protestant England, headstrong and subversive, teaches Catholic women reading, mathematics, and Latin. An angry husband found dead and a young man’s disappearance causes whispers, connecting Margaret and her treasonous activities to them. If the king’s men uncover her seditious deeds, she’ll face the gallows.
Lured by the promise of landownership and religious freedom, the second Lord Baltimore, Cecil Calvert, the proprietor for the province of Maryland, assists Margaret Brent and her sister along with two brothers in fleeing to the New World. There, Margaret spends many hours fighting injustice by being a voice in court for others.
Since 1991, the American Bar Association each year has honored five deserving women attorneys with their Margaret Brent Award.
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Excerpt from The Spinster, the Rebel & the Governor
The Wells girl covered her eyes with both hands. Margaret, ignoring the buzzing of flies and the damp heat of the morning sun, worked to untangle the girl’s words in her mind.
“If the river doesn’t take me, then I shall have my baby alone and will have to live with Master Cole, and I shall never see my dear Tom again.” With that, she burst into tears.
“You do not look like you are about to have a baby. Why do you say your time is up?”
“Master Cole brought me here four years ago. He said after I had worked for him for four years, I wouldn’t owe him a tad more, and now he says I can’t leave, and so I might as well marry him. Lady Brent. I worked hard from early morning until after dark every day, and my time is up. Even the devil would say this isn’t right.” She sniffed and looked away.
Margaret set her jaw. “Heaven help us if other masters here in Maryland treat their servants in this manner.”
“There’s nothing I can do.” She bit her lip. “I thought maybe the next time you talked with Governor Calvert you might say something on my behalf, and I pray my request is not one of cheekiness.”
“Mary.” Margaret called sharply across to the soap making group. “Would you please come here?”
When Mary finished saying something, she trotted over to the garden. “Hello, Carrie. Are you not feeling well—your face seems flushed?”
“So, you are acquainted with Carrie Wells?” Margaret studied her sister, slipped the basket from Carrie, and moved it into Mary’s hands. “She brought these for us and herbs to scent your soap.”
“Sometimes on Sundays after church Carrie walks with me in the woods and shows me barks, roots, and herbs that heal.” She glanced at the basket. “Why, these are lovely.” She glanced at the young woman, then put her hand on Carrie’s arm. “Are you still having trouble with Jacob Cole?”
“Jacob Cole is about to have troubles with her. Has Giles returned from Kent for Assembly today? Will both our brothers be at the meeting?” Margaret’s frogs roiled inside her.
How dare these men take advantage of their servants?
“I saw him and Fulke along with some other men heading to Lewger’s home earlier.”
“Come, Carrie Wells. We shall also attend Assembly.”
“But—Margaret,” Mary grabbed her arm. “Certainly, women would not be allowed—”
Margaret shrugged Mary away, snatched Carrie Wells by her hand, and stomped off down the path.
“Sister,” Mary called after her, “you must take off that filthy apron. You’re covered in soil.”
Margaret jerked it untied and slung it. “There is a difference between God’s soil and men’s dirt. Carrie Wells and I are about to sort this very thing out with all those fine gentlemen of Assembly.”
Excerpt provided by the author/publisher for use in this post.
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Purchase Links for The Spinster, the Rebel & the Governor
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About Charlene Bell Dietz
Charlene Bell Dietz writes science and historical-suspense, award-winning mystery novels, and short stories. Her award-winning short stories have been published in the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers 2016 Anthology and SouthWest Writers 2019 Anthology. The Flapper, the Scientist, and the Saboteur combines family saga with corporate espionage. The Flapper, the Impostor, and the Stalker propels readers back into 1923 frenetic Chicago during the Roaring Twenties. Both these novels were named to Kirkus Reviews’ Best Books of 2018, and each won the coveted Kirkus Starred Review. Her latest novel, The Scientist, the Psychic, and the Nut, gives readers a frightening Caribbean vacation. Her current work in progress, a biographical historical novel, starts in England in 1638 and ends in precolonial Maryland.
Charlene, a retired educator, traveled the United States as a consultant for Houghton Mifflin Publishers after a career of teaching little ones, older ones, and college graduates. Surrounded by forests and meadows, she currently lives in the foothills of the mountains in central NM, several miles from the small village of Torreon.
Charlene is the current president of Croak & Dagger, New Mexico Chapter of Sisters in Crime. She belongs to Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers, Rocky Mountain Mystery Writers, Mystery Writers of America, and SouthWest Writers.
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Purchase The Spinster, the Rebel & the Governor online from a local bookstore.
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Giveaway!
Charlene Bell Dietz will award a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
Visit more stops on this Goddess Fish tour for extra chances to win!
Official Tour Page for The Spinster, the Rebel & the Governor
Full Tour Schedule:
November 21: Aubrey Wynne: Timeless Love
November 22: Long and Short Reviews
November 23: Rogue’s Angels
November 23: Straight from the Library
November 25: Westveil Publishing
November 25: Sandra’s Book Club
November 28: Fabulous and Brunette
November 29: Literary Gold
November 30: wendi zwaduk – romance to make your heart race
December 1: Momma Says: To Read or Not to Read
December 2: The Avid Reader
December 5: It’s Raining Books
December 6: The Faerie Review
December 7: Novels Alive
December 8: Iron Canuck Reviews & More
December 9: Beyond Romance
December 12: Joanne Guidoccio
December 13: Paws.Read.Repeat
December 14: Independent Authors
December 15: All the Ups and Downs
December 16: Gina Rae Mitchell
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Goddess Fish Virtual Book Tour Host
Thank you and your followers so much for welcoming my book here. Now it’s time for Raffle Copter to pick winners. Best wishes to all of you. I really loved your comments, and hope you’ll take time to either read or listen to “The Spinster, the Rebel, and the Governor.” I think you’ll find it an enchanting read. Stay warm and safe. Charlene Bell Dietz
I like book details.
This sounds like a good book!
The cover is great.
Thanks for hosting!