From Deer Isle, Maine to Paris, France New Novel sheds light on Gold Star Mothers [Audio]

A Star for Mrs. Blake, the new novel from April Smith opens in Deer Isle, Maine 1931. This is a fast moving novel with unexpected twists that will keep you reading until the end. 

A Star for Mrs. Blake focuses on the little-known story of the Gold Star Mothers and their pilgrimage to France in the 1930s. There is a real sense of place in the novel.  I could feel & smell the cold and stench of the old sardine factory where Cora Blake works in Deer Isle. While the locations in the novel vary from Maine to New York to France, she doesn't get bogged down in too much detail. There's a wonderful variety of characters that come from many socio-economic backgrounds. At times, the novel is sad.  You'll also find yourself laughing.

April's taken her talent for suspense and pacing and applied it to the retelling of the admiral and heart-wrenching tale of five American women visiting the graves of their deceased sons (the book is fictional, but based on real events).  A large portion of the book takes place in Maine, as the protagonist is based here. April also spent a lot of time here researching for the book. April recently joined me in the 94.9 WHOM sudios.  Here's an excerpt: