I am excited to share an excerpt with you of the book Weeper by Greg Morgan. You get a first glimpse of this novel and you also get the chance to win a copy for yourself too. When I saw this book come to me on my email it caught my eye immediately. Described as a macabre, Civil War family saga, you’ll love this book if you love historical fiction.
An Excerpt from Weeper
He knew her as “The Weeper,” a paid mourner. She was sitting away from the others, her face cloistered under a darkened veil. He couldn’t stop himself from approaching her, until a huge, black man almost three times his height stepped in front of him, blocking his path. The giant of a man moved away, waved off with the slightest, most graceful gesture of her left hand. Standing before her, the only parts of his body that could move were his eyes as they examined the veiled creature intently. Without the fear that would typically overwhelm him, his arms moved up. His small, six-year-old fingers slowly lifted her veil, and his bright eyes peeked under. Puffy eyes. Red nose. Tears streaming down smooth cheeks. He was mesmerized by her slate-gray eyes as they looked tenderly into his own. “Hello, sweet boy,” her lips whispered with slight hoarseness from crying. Her voice was also calm and gentle, like a good storyteller reading a bedtime tale. The corners of her mouth raised to a small smile, a contrast to the tears falling down her cheeks. Her emotions moved him. So beautiful, but so sad. Is the remembrance for somebody she loved?
A tear formed and rolled down his cheek. She wiped it away with her thumb.
“They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.” The small smile rose again, brightening her face. “I remember well the day of your birth, Augustus.”
“You do?” Augustus asked.
It was then that his brother, Jefferson, pulled him away from her, and her veil fell like a curtain. Although Augustus didn’t know it yet, these were the first words he had ever spoken to his birth mother, and he would not uncover this secret for another eighteen years.
About the Book, Weeper
Set in the Appalachian region of southern Pennsylvania during the 19th century, the story begins with Archer True, a middle-aged warner (funeral director) with a penchant for whiskey and women – the latter leads to his demise, for he’s also a married man.
Archer meets weeper Charlotte Fenn, a weeper (paid mourner) and his attraction to her is no match for his wedding vows. Their adulterous affair is not without consequences: Charlotte soon becomes pregnant with Archer child.
Suddenly, Archer is about to become a father twice over, for his wife is also pregnant and she threatens to expose her husband’s misdeeds. The only way out of this scandal, which would have devastating consequences to the Fenns’ livelihoods, is for Charlotte to give up her baby to the Trues.
A deal is struck, and when Charlotte gives birth to Augustus, he is taken to the True residence to be raised as a twin alongside his half-brother, Jefferson.
To learn more about the ways in which this deal changes the lives – and perhaps livelihoods – of every True and Fenn, open up Greg Morgan’s Weeper. The novel is sure to satisfy fans of Michael Shaara, Edward P. Jones, Sebastian Barry, Laird Hunt, William Gear, and Philipp Meyer.
Support bookstores by pre-ordering a copy on BookShop.org, or order on Amazon. Make sure to add it to your reading list.
About the Author
A screenwriter, producer, independent film director, and author, Greg Morgan has over twenty years of experience in the arts and entertainment industry. His first feature film, 17 & Under, won Greg his first awards, garnered successful distribution, and landed him squarely on the filmmaking map. Since then, he has been involved in multiple successful productions, with his latest film The Boatman winning Best Director Idyllwild Film Festival among many other wins and was a Best Director and Best Film nominee of the prestigious 33rd Annual Imagen Awards. With his debut novel Weeper, Greg has turned his expert storytelling skills into long-form narrative fiction that is sure to grip and thrill its readers till the very last page.
Follow him along his website, Facebook, or Instagram.
Now for your chance to win a copy of Weeper. Enter via Rafflecopter below. US only entrants please. Giveaway ends 5/24.
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So sad to have a child taken away, hopefully she will get her baby back, sounds like good book to read.
A good excerpt.
The synopsis is always helpful when I am trying tosee if I want to read a book or not. This one told me Yes, I want to read this book.
I like the idea of two half brothers being raised as twins and wondering how they will be treated by the wife and also fascinated by a professional weeper.
I am interested in the professional weeper. I didn’t know that was a real thing.
The excerpt makes it sound good .
The story sounds great and the writing style.
HE DIDN’T KNOW SHE WAS HIS MOTHER.
Looks super interesting! Would love to read!