So we've reached the end of another A to Z Challenge! I couldn't find a picture to go along with my Z post so I'm so glad the Challenge blog makes these badges available for us.
It was hard to find anything for Z anyway, so I was thrilled when I discovered that a Civil War statue in the town of Oak Bluffs was made of zinc! I thought, bingo! :D
The statue has an interesting history, as it was commissioned by Charles Strahan, a veteran of the Confederacy who moved to Martha's Vineyard after the Civil War and became the publisher of the Martha's Vineyard Herald. In spite of the fact that he fought for the Confederacy, Strahan erected the statue as a memorial to Union soldiers. Strahan wanted the statue to serve as an icon of healing after the violence of the war.
In 2001 the statue was restored and rededicated, with descendants of Mr. Strahan attending the ceremony.
And that ends my A to Z of Martha's Vineyard! Thanks to everyone who has come by here and made this another fun April. And special thanks to all the co-hosts who do so much work to keep this event running year after year.
Well done, all!
In addition to finishing up the Challenge, I'm also happy to be sharing the cover for Elizabeth's Seckman's novel Bella's Point. Here is the scoop on what is sure to be a great book:
Did you know? Bella has survived the Civil War. Now she must survive the Reconstruction. During that time, white Republicans were called Scalawags in the south.
Isabella Troy Stanley is a divorced, slave freeing pariah surviving in the shattered post Civil War south the only way a fallen debutante knows how.
She heads to a Yankee prison and buys herself a husband.
Jack Byron is the former Troy plantation stable boy and object of young Bella's affection. He rejected her then, and he's still not sold on the idea of marrying her now.
It’s complicated.
Though to Bella, it’s simple: make Jack love her, marry her, and live happily ever after. The plan seems to work...at least until her secret is revealed.
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You can find her here - Blog // Facebook // Twitter
Elizabeth is a wife, a mom, and a writer. She has four wonderful boys, one dusty house, and three published books to her credit. Feel free to check them out and buy them HERE! Erm, the books, not the kids or the house...though all things in life are negotiable ;)
You can find her here - Blog // Facebook // Twitter
My A-Z of Martha's Vineyard theme was inspired by my book, The Ghosts of Aquinnah, which is set on the island. Click here for all the info on the book.
Ooh, that Civil War statue has such a neat history behind it! Love how he wanted it to represent healing...
ReplyDeleteAnd what a lovely cover. It seems to be popping up everywhere lately!
Congratulations, Elizabeth!
ReplyDeleteAnd you did it - made it to the end of the Challenge.
Congrats on finishing the challenge! :)
ReplyDeleteI have got to check out an Elizabeth Seckman book.
ReplyDeleteInteresting that a Confederate soldier dedicated the statue to Union troops, to healing in general.
ReplyDeleteHappy Z Day! :)
Yay! We made it to the end of the challenge!! Congrats to Elizabeth love her cover.
ReplyDeleteHey, nice Civil War tie in w/ the statue and Elizabeth's new book!
ReplyDeleteIt's wonderful that Strahan could look toward a peaceful future rather than staying bitter about the past.
Great choices, Julie. I enjoyed every single one.
ReplyDelete"Zee you later."
Congrats to the A to Z!! Loved all you wrote and this last post was just perfect. I have to check out your book now:)
ReplyDeleteI love the history behind that statue! And go Elizabeth!
ReplyDeleteHappy A to Z!!!
Hi Julie,
ReplyDeleteZinc statue - great idea.
This reminds me to visit Elizabeth - who else would think of buying a man? LOL This has got potential.
We did it, we did it.
Time to celebrate. Thank you for your support throughout my friend :)
Congratulations on completing the Challenge. And what a great finish too. The book sounds interesting. Have added the title to my ever growing to read list. And I am Looking forward to reading more of your posts in a more leisurely fashion.
ReplyDeleteHey, congrats, you made it!! :)
ReplyDeleteGreat theme, by the way, and well done with the Z post...that's a toughie in almost every theme.
Also, congrats to Elizabeth, that cover looks awesome!
The statue sounds fascinating. Thank you for taking us through Martha's Vineyard.
ReplyDeleteHi Julie - congratulations on getting to the finishing line with Zinc - I bet there aren't many statues made of zinc .. especially used as a testimony to the healing between men ..
ReplyDeleteI loved seeing around Martha's Vineyard with you and will need to return to do a resume tour ..
Also Elizabeth's book looks to have an interesting take on a story line ... cheers to you both - Hilary
@Heather, doesn't it? I've seen the statue hundreds of times but never knew anything about it so this was interesting to me.
ReplyDelete@Alex, thanks and same to you!
@Melissa, thank you!
@Beth, it sounds great, doesn't it?
@Madeline, I know, I thought that was such a great bit of history.
@Cathy, we did it, yay!
@Nicki, oh, I didn't even think of that tie-in but you're so right! How fun.
@Inge, thanks so much.
@Birgit, oh, thank you!
@Tyrean, Happy A to Z as well, a big round of applause for all of us. :)
@Fanny, so glad we both made it through alive. :D Thanks to you as well!
@Ann, thank you, I so appreciate that!
@Mark, congrats to you too, we survived LOL.
@Stephanie, I had such fun with the posts. Thanks!
@Hilary, I was totally lost on Z so I was so thrilled when I discovered this. Thanks so much.
How perfectly appropriate that your Z post - about a statue fro the Civil War - comes on the day you reveal Elizabeth's cover for her book, which is also about the Civil War. It was meant to be :)
ReplyDeleteCONGRATULATIONS! To both you and Elizabeth, of course!
Too bad there's no picture available coz I'd have liked to know what zinc looks like when it's a statue. Congrats to Elizabeth for her cover and to you for finishing the A-Z. I loved your posts, so clever and fascinating. I feel I've actually been to MV! :)
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Julie, and again, congrats to you, Elizabeth. And congrats to all of us for surviving the challenge. What an adventure!
ReplyDeleteDeb@ http://debioneille.blogspot.com
A statue reminds us of our history, so nice to hear it's being taken care of. Healing a division in a country took a long time.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed your series, Julie, as that area you wrote about has always fascinated me. I love the coasts on both sides of the US.
Congrats to Elizabeth and good luck!
@Liz, isn't it a crazy coincidence? And I can't believe I didn't even realize it when I put the post together LOL.
ReplyDelete@Lexa, aww, that's so nice, thanks!!
@debi, thanks so much, congrats to you as well. Yay!
@DG, I totally agree about the coasts. And thank you so much for your kind words.
I was wondering what your Z word would be. Thank heavens for zinc.
ReplyDeleteThis has been great fun, Julie. I now have a list of places to see when I get to Martha's Vineyard. Thanks.
Well done for making it to the end of the challenge! And well done for finding a Z post, the last three letters of the alphabet are tricky ones!
ReplyDeleteWill you do the challenge next year, do you think?
Well done for making it to the end of the challenge! And well done for finding a Z post, the last three letters of the alphabet are tricky ones!
ReplyDeleteWill you do the challenge next year, do you think?
So neat that he put up a statue to promote healing and that you could get a z word out of it! Thanks for the Martha's vineyard tour.
ReplyDeleteHttp://katloveswriting.blogspot.com
The woman on the cover of that book reminds me of Margaery Tyrell in HBO's Game of Thrones.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on making it through the Challenge! It was awesome learning more about Martha's Vineyard. And yay for Elizabeth! Her cover is gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteWell done for reaching the end of the challenge. Thanks for the amazing tour of Martha's Vineyard. Elizabeth's book cover is awesome.
ReplyDeleteA statue made of zinc? That is pretty unique. Congratulations on completing the challenge! I want to go to Martha's Vineyard now to see everything you blogged about. :)
ReplyDelete@Lee, thank you! And thanks again for featuring me today.
ReplyDelete@Celine, I'm not sure, I've done it four years now and I don't know if I have it in me again. But maybe when 2015 rolls around I will get the urge again!
@Kat, thank you for coming along on the tour with me. :)
@Michael, oh, she does look like Margaery! I didn't even think of that but you're right. I totally love the Margaery character.
@Christine, thanks!
@Rachna, thank you and well done to you too!
@Chrys, isn't it weird? But I was very grateful for it LOL. Thanks!
Our visits to your Martha's Vineyard, and intro to your book has been delightful. thank you for sharing your perspective and your book.
ReplyDeleteA fitting closure to the Challenge, Julie. A monument to the end of a war and Elizabeth's book fits in nicely.
ReplyDeleteYour A to Z was so great and made want to do two things: Go visit Martha's Vineyard. I'm sorry I missed it when I lived on the East Coast. Since that's not likely, I know I can do number two: Buy The Ghosts of Aquinnah. Congrats on a really great A to Z adventure, Julie.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know they made statues out of Zinc, how lucky for you! Haven't been over yet to your blog but better on the last day than never. I have your novel and will read it soon, I swear! I have "Bella's Point" on my to read list on goodreads as I found it on another blog doing the a to z... So, we made it through. I'm already thinking of what theme I might choose next year...
ReplyDeleteSorry, I forgot to tell you which book I have! The Ghosts of Aquinnah...
ReplyDeleteWe did it, we made it to the end!
ReplyDeleteMany congratulations to Elizabeth. That cover is beautiful. It's so elegant.
I'll confess, I saw the name Strahan and got a bit excited - I thought, Michael Strahan of the NY Giants hehehe
@Susan, thank you for visiting and commenting!
ReplyDelete@Joy, I can't believe how well they fit together.
@Inger, oh, thanks! That's music to my ears. :)
@Lisa, thank you so much, I really appreciate that and I hope you enjoy the book!
@Elsie, so you're a Giants fan? I am stuck being a Bengals fan which is a rough road to hoe LOL. Yay for us! :)
LOL! Saved by a zinc statue. Well, it works I suppose. It's been a blast, Julie. I know WAY too much about Martha's Vineyard now, but that's in a good way. *high five*
ReplyDeleteTrue Heroes from A to Z
A statue made of zinc...good word for "Z" and final post. Neat, the words all of us have found. Congrats on finishing, Julie, and your new book!
ReplyDeleteShells–Tales–Sails
Ah, zinc to the rescue!
ReplyDeleteBella's Point has a beautiful cover - soft and almost delicate...
Congratulations on reaching the A to Z finishing line, Julie!
Congrats on reaching the end of the challenge, I've enjoyed your theme :)
ReplyDeleteAh, that was quite the find for Z. Great that the statue obliged you. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat that we completed the challenge, even I thought that I will not be able to complete it, given that I was traveling and then I fell sick, but all in all it was a great experience :)
ReplyDeleteThat is such a gorgeous cover. I think it's the light palette that got to me. So beautiful. Zinc .... now, aren't you just brilliant. That is so clever. Way to go! Thanks for sharing your A to Z Challenge.
ReplyDeleteSheri at Writer's Alley
Home of Rebel Writer CREED 2014
Mighty Minion Bureau Team #atozchallenge
Republicans are called all different sorts of names now. Congrats Liz the cover is amazing and interesting that both the Z topic and the novel involve the Civil War. A Zinc statue eh? Glad it got restored, it is important for history to be protected. Congrats on completing the A-Z Challenge Julie.
ReplyDelete@Crystal, I will always have a soft spot for this statue now LOL. High five back to you!
ReplyDelete@Sharon, thanks!
@Michelle, thank you, congrats to you too!
@Laura, thank you, it's been fun. :)
@Mary, I'm in its debt forever now. :D
@Shine, sorry you got sick but congrats on what you were able to finish!
@SA, I agree, the palette is gorgeous. It definitely catches your attention. :)
@Sheena-kay, thank you!
Woohoo, glad there was a zinc statue. hehe.
ReplyDeleteYour theme was great this year! Definitely made me want to jump on a plane to Martha's Vineyard and stay there a few weeks at least. ;)
I'm loving the sound of Elizabeth's new story. Totally gonna read it. :)
Interesting that it was made of zinc.
ReplyDeleteLove this cover. :-)
Z is a hard letter to find words for, but zinc works well! I loved learning about Martha's Vineyard and your family connections to it.
ReplyDeleteBella's Point sounds like wonderful story, I've seen it around a few places on the blogosphere. Good luck to Elizabeth.
A lovely ending to the challenge, and a fascintating story.
ReplyDeleteWoot! The challenge is complete! It's been really fun learning about the area in your book. Definitely makes it seem like a place I want to someday visit.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for the cover love! And what a coincidence...Bella's Point takes place after the Civil War. As a nation, we were totally ripped apart. Good thing for people like Strahan to pull us back together!
ReplyDeleteLove that little story about the statue :).
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on finishing the AZ!
Hi, julie,
ReplyDeleteSo glad you found your Z and it works so well for final A-Z post!
I thoroughly enjoyed your theme and learned so many fun facts about the Vineyard... You even brought back some wonderful memories from the times I had visited.
Congrats on finishing the challenge! YAY!
Congrats to Elizabeth and her new cover and book.... It's a beauty!
So cool that it was made of Zinc!
ReplyDeleteLove Elizabeth's cover! And now I want to know more about Bella. :)