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Barbara Tifft Blakey, a first-timer on the show, joins us this week to chat about her new release, The Angel of Second Street. We discuss the interesting story behind how this book came to be published, what Eureka, California, was like in the 1850s and now, and the difference seeing a place makes when writing about it. With the patrons, she shares the fascinating story of how she got into writing.

The Angel of Second Street by Barbara Tifft Blakey

How Can Compassion be Considered Wrong?

When life is weighed down by challenges, pillars of enduring hope and love are always waiting to be discovered.

Ida Dempsey has grown up in a privileged life of luxury thanks to her aunt and uncle. Although Second Street—where women of ill repute ply their wares—is off limits to respectable citizens, her heart of compassion compels her to frequent the area, hoping to make a difference in their lives. Ida has also befriended Qui Shau, a Chinese woman who keeps house for her family, but friendships between the whites and Chinese are taboo in Eureka. Ida tries to keep secret her forbidden compassion, but someone is watching and will use it against her.

When Blaine Prescott meets Ida at a church picnic, his parents warn him away from any relationship with the young lady who has been seen on Second Street in the company of a Chinese woman. But how could such a kindhearted, lovely young woman be anything but good? But when riots break out in Chinatown and Ida disappears, Blaine will do anything to find out where and why she has gone.

Get your copy of The Angel of Second Street.

I live on five wooded acres outside of Olympia, Washington with my husband, Terry. I have four grown children and eight grandchildren, seven of whom live within sixty miles, giving great joy to my grandma heart.

Like many authors, I dreamed of writing stories very young. At eight-years-old, I rewrote Cinderella. In my version, the prince comes down with measles and the ball is postponed.

I didn’t begin seriously writing historical fiction until after the advent of grandchildren as the Lord had other plans for me. During our homeschooling years, I developed Total Language Plus (TLP), an award-winning, literature-inspired language arts program written for homeschoolers and private Christian schools. I am beyond blessed to have thirty years of producing study guides that make a difference in children’s lives. Nothing is more meaningful to me than influencing children with Kingdom principles!

But as we know, God’s timing is always best. I delight in doing the research historical fiction requires and bringing stories of hope and love to my readers. Time ceases to exist as the Creator of the universe and Lover of my soul draws near to me as my fingers fly over the keyboard. When I write I feel His presence in extraordinary, precious ways.

When I’m not writing, reading, or playing with my grandchildren, you can find me volunteering in the kitchen of Pleasant Valley Christian Camp near Mt. Rainier. I’m also an avid soccer fan, especially for the Seattle Sounders. During stormy weather, my husband and I head for the ocean in our RV to take in the power of crashing waves against rocks. Calm weather also beckons us to the beach to dig razor clams and fish for Dungeness crabs.

Visit Barbara Tifft Blakey's website.