The Sequel
After I got the Seven Sisters to America, I figured I was through writing books—that people would assume that the Sisters made it safe and sound to the Salt Lake Valley. I didn’t need to go any farther, but I kept getting comments from those who had read it.
“You need to write a sequel!”
“I want to know what happened on the way to Utah.”
So I got thinking: Maybe I should write another book and take the Sisters Overland to Florence, Nebraska (the jumping off point of the Mormon pioneers). Then I thought about a writing a third book to follow the Sisters as they trekked all the way to the Salt Lake Valley with oxen-pulled, covered wagons. I got discouraged when I thought about the cost of publishing two more books. Then I got the idea to put both books into one novel! Hence, the idea for Seven Sisters: Overland Trek was born, and after six years of writing, I published it on October 10, 2014.
My first book, Seven Sisters: the Voyage, brings the Mormon Saints on the Amazon immigration ship, from London to New York City in 1863. But they are only one third of the way to their destination of Salt Lake City in the Rocky Mountains.
In my second book, Seven Sisters: Overland Trek, several characters from the first book are now gone, and I have added a few new ones to the sequel. The mode of travel has changed from ocean travel on a sailing ship to steamships on America's Rivers, to trains through Civil War country, and then 1000 miles by covered wagon and on foot across Nebraska and Wyoming territories to the Salt Lake Valley.
The Saints are now off the safety of the Amazon and traveling overland in an unknown country that just happens to be at war with itself. They must try to avoid the Civil War skirmishes in their travels to Florence, in the Nebraska Territory, and don't always manage to miss the troop movement from both the Union and Rebel armies as they move on the rivers and the rails. They also run into persecution from old foes of the Mormon Church--Missouri mobbers. Their traveling conditions are challenging--with the main problem being--obtaining food for 267 travelers each day when they stop in towns and villages along their route.
New characters include: six foot seven inch, 14 year old Otto Adams; a polygamous family named Button; Sir Evelyn Percy Towell III; and four-time married Aurora Abigail Moore Elders Cherry Decker Snyder.
I don't want to give too much away, but as you may know, Alenda May Poulsen is close to delivering her baby, the Watts sisters may or may not be left by a train, Lavinia meets another man that seems interested in her, Caroline starts thinking that men have it a lot easier than women, Eleanor remains the voice of reason for the Seven Sisters, and there is a terrible accident along the way that affects everyone.
I hope you will enjoy the sequel and how the Seven Sisters turn out.
Best Regards,
Carolyn Hart Bennett
After I got the Seven Sisters to America, I figured I was through writing books—that people would assume that the Sisters made it safe and sound to the Salt Lake Valley. I didn’t need to go any farther, but I kept getting comments from those who had read it.
“You need to write a sequel!”
“I want to know what happened on the way to Utah.”
So I got thinking: Maybe I should write another book and take the Sisters Overland to Florence, Nebraska (the jumping off point of the Mormon pioneers). Then I thought about a writing a third book to follow the Sisters as they trekked all the way to the Salt Lake Valley with oxen-pulled, covered wagons. I got discouraged when I thought about the cost of publishing two more books. Then I got the idea to put both books into one novel! Hence, the idea for Seven Sisters: Overland Trek was born, and after six years of writing, I published it on October 10, 2014.
My first book, Seven Sisters: the Voyage, brings the Mormon Saints on the Amazon immigration ship, from London to New York City in 1863. But they are only one third of the way to their destination of Salt Lake City in the Rocky Mountains.
In my second book, Seven Sisters: Overland Trek, several characters from the first book are now gone, and I have added a few new ones to the sequel. The mode of travel has changed from ocean travel on a sailing ship to steamships on America's Rivers, to trains through Civil War country, and then 1000 miles by covered wagon and on foot across Nebraska and Wyoming territories to the Salt Lake Valley.
The Saints are now off the safety of the Amazon and traveling overland in an unknown country that just happens to be at war with itself. They must try to avoid the Civil War skirmishes in their travels to Florence, in the Nebraska Territory, and don't always manage to miss the troop movement from both the Union and Rebel armies as they move on the rivers and the rails. They also run into persecution from old foes of the Mormon Church--Missouri mobbers. Their traveling conditions are challenging--with the main problem being--obtaining food for 267 travelers each day when they stop in towns and villages along their route.
New characters include: six foot seven inch, 14 year old Otto Adams; a polygamous family named Button; Sir Evelyn Percy Towell III; and four-time married Aurora Abigail Moore Elders Cherry Decker Snyder.
I don't want to give too much away, but as you may know, Alenda May Poulsen is close to delivering her baby, the Watts sisters may or may not be left by a train, Lavinia meets another man that seems interested in her, Caroline starts thinking that men have it a lot easier than women, Eleanor remains the voice of reason for the Seven Sisters, and there is a terrible accident along the way that affects everyone.
I hope you will enjoy the sequel and how the Seven Sisters turn out.
Best Regards,
Carolyn Hart Bennett
