On Saturday, March 12, Watkinsville author Denise Weimer celebrates the Athens area release of her latest novel, White: The Restoration Trilogy, Book One, by signing books from 2-4 p.m. at Fair Havens Plantation in Arnoldsville.
In the novels, brooding bachelor Michael Johnson inherits a historic doctor’s house, apothecary shop and log cabin with limited knowledge of his own family history. He hires recent historic preservation graduate Jennifer Rushmore to oversee the restoration project. Jennifer is determined to fulfill her first professional position even if her employer lacks a proper appreciation of history. Both guarded and wounded from their own pasts, with the restoration of each building, they uncover three lessons of heart healing from three different centuries (White, 1920; Widow, 1870; and Witch, 1790) that they learn to apply to their own lives and community. Meanwhile, one buried mystery threatens their redemption, as a rash of strange accidents hint that someone doesn’t want them working on the property.
Set among a cast of endearing characters in the fictional Hermon community of real-life Oglethorpe County, Georgia, Weimer says, “The Restoration Trilogy melds humor and heartache to show how only God, The Master Renovator, can heal our most broken places.”
Weimer also authored the four-book Georgia Gold Series (Sautee Shadows, The Gray Divide, The Crimson Bloom, and Bright as Gold), historical romance set in Northeast Georgia and Savannah from the time of the Georgia Gold Rush to The Civil War. Before the release of that series, she penned magazine articles about Georgia and worked in public relations at University of North Georgia, Dahlonega. She holds a journalism degree with a minor in history from Asbury University.
The real-life restoration Weimer’s parents are currently completing of the Dr. Durham house and apothecary in Maxeys, Georgia, inspired The Restoration Trilogy. Upon purchasing the country home, the couple learned the property belonged to a long line of regionally famous doctors tracing back to Revolutionary War days. Along with copious research, Weimer consulted local experts on topics relevant to the story.
The 1812 bed and breakfast and event facility located at 75 Old Edwards Road, Arnoldsville, provides historical ambience reflective of The Restoration Trilogy and a location central to Athens, Watkinsville and Oglethorpe County. The afternoon reception will be held in the downstairs parlors, while guests are invited to tour the inn where an 1825 ball honored Gen. Jean Marquise Lafayette. Light refreshments will be provided by The Maxeys Woman’s Club.
Weimer will donate a dollar per White novel sold the day of the party to Global Samaritans, the charity supported by The Maxeys Woman’s Club. The money will go toward the purchase of a school bus by a group home for orphaned Zambian children. Primarily a children’s home, Global Samaritans, based out of Union Point, provides Christian teaching, educational opportunities, medical care and food to Zambians in need. A representative of The Woman’s Club will be on hand during the signing with further information and opportunity to donate, or you can visit www.globalsamaritans.org.
Weimer says, “With racial unity a major theme of the first novel of my new series, I’m excited about this opportunity to highlight a great local charity.”
Weimer will be available to conduct a reading at 3 p.m., answer questions and sign copies of the novel. A drawing for a free novel will occur at 4 p.m.
and over at the signing will have the opportunity to enter, as will Oglethorpe Library patrons during the month of February through March 11. One entry per person 13 and over, physically present. Anyone purchasing a novel whose name is drawn can receive a refund.
White, Canterbury House Publishing ISBN 978-0-9908416-8-5, will be available locally at Local Color in Lexington and The Country Store in Maxeys, through any bookstore using national distribution channels and online at Amazon and Barnes & Noble Booksellers, retail $14.95. To learn more about the author visit deniseweimerbooks.webs.com.