This book series has been a long-held labor of love. I originally began writing it in 2009, inspired by the plight of my ancestors and the rugged Smoky Mountains. My desire in writing this story has always been to bring the Appalachian hills of the 1940s to life—an era when so much stood on the cusp of change on the World War II home front.
It follows the journey of Esther, a young woman searching for a life beyond all she has ever known. Her plight is one of resilience, sometimes held together by nothing more than a thin thread and a quiet voice. Not all courage is bold or demanding. Sometimes it begins with only a whisper, asking for more.
From the Back Cover
Trapped in the unforgiving hills of Tennessee in 1941, Esther Primm is chained to a life of hardship and moonshining under her grandmother's cruel watch.
Lurking in the shadows, bootlegging Preacher Clive, obsessed and driven by dark desires, refuses to release his grip on her. Ian Huggler, a German man with his own haunted past, offers Esther a glimmer of hope and ignites a passion in her untamed spirit.
But will Esther be strong enough to break free and fight for something she doesn't believe she deserves?
Hymns of Blue Hollow is a vividly raw and lyrical tale of resilience, survival, and the pursuit of freedom. Fans of Where the Crawdads Sing and The Nightingale will find themselves captivated by this evocative story set against the haunting backdrop of historical Appalachia during WWII.
About the Author
Author of the acclaimed Hymns of Blue Hollow series, an epic 1940s Southern historical romance, Kemma Marshall calls North Carolina home. With family roots in the Appalachian hills, the stories of her ancestors fuel her creative soul. Growing up poor as one of nine children, Kemma writes from an authentic heart, painting with words to bring her characters to life. She knows what it feels like to be a young girl who's unseen. Inspired by the love of a good man and a lasting marriage, and shaped by her years as a mother, she has spent her life as an artist and researcher, with a deep passion for history
