I know .. it’s been a while since I’ve announced one of these but, finally, here it is … my new book!

I’ve been writing this story on and off since 2019, first in my head and then very slowly with words.

Set in 1918, the premise of this story – a family who deals with loss during the Spanish flu pandemic – is strangely coincidental with what the world endured with Covid19 starting in early 2020. In researching how people dealt with that pandemic a century ago including confusion, medical uncertainty and panic, I found many parallels to our recent reactions.

But, also through doing this research, I found hope. I found resilience and a strength of character that was deeply inspirational.

My Shadows Have Names is set in 1918 and tells the story of a family that suffers unimaginable loss. Writing about something so traumatic struck me as deeply personal and was at times overwhelming. I thought about the people I know who have lost loved ones, and I contemplated the suffering of the people that inspired this story, my great grandparents.

Over the years, my mother shared many things about her grandparents and their story. Each time she shared another anecdote, I would be left wondering how could they do it, how could they survive such a thing, how could they continue?

But, because I knew the end of their story, I knew that they had indeed survived and not only that, they grew in their faith. They left a legacy – and a family that thrives today. What could be a better testament to their strength than that?

But, I want to clarify, this book is not a biography. The people who inspired it are long gone and the memories that were shared with me were one person’s recollections, and they may be colored a bit by time. The names and specifics have been changed, but I want you to know that some of the life events that happen to these characters are based on actual events.

If asked, my great grandparents would probably say that their lives were nothing special, they were just doing the best they could to raise a family under difficult circumstances. But, I found something different.

I found a treasure.

My Shadows Have Names

Available now in paperback and ebook on Amazon.com

https://www.amazon.com/author/j.marie

Paperbacks are also available at Marc’s on Main, Dawson MN and The Gift, Canby MN