Tyndale Blog Tour: Grace’s Pictures

Author: Cindy Thomson

Genre: Life, family

Series: An Ellis Island Novel

Number in series: 1^st (if it’s a series)

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 8 (high)

Type: Historical fiction

Number of pages: 396

Time period: Early 1900s

Publisher and price: Tyndale House Publishers, $12.99

Passage from book: (see first chapter after my review)

My overall opinion: A good book! I absolutely love the cover (and was delighted to discover another angle of the picture, concentrating on the camera, inside!). And I, being a photographer, loved all the parts inside that involved cameras. I was always able to empathize with all Grace’s feelings and impulses regarding them! Grace herself was sweet, funny, and altogether lovable. I’ve made her sound like a doll…she isn’t, she’s a good strong young woman. Who’s also sweet and funny. :) And then Owen made for an excellent hero to counter her! The scenes were fast-moving, set in interesting places, and felt very historically accurate – always a good thing. Remember though, “historically accurate” and “boring” are not the same thing – quite opposites! Unfortunately, I didn’t love the writing, and the conversations especially bugged me sometimes. However, I would read more by Thomson and I would recommend it for anyone with an interest in cameras, Ellis Island, the early 1900s, New York City, or historical fiction.

**Tyndale sent me a copy of this book for review purposes. I wasn’t required to post positively and wasn’t reimbursed for this review. Many thanks to Tyndale for working with me so nicely!**

Now, a few extras…

Go read the first chapter: http://files.tyndale.com/thpdata/FirstChapters/978-1-4143-6843-6.pdf

A Q&A with the author:

 

1. What was your inspiration for this book, Grace’s Pictures?

When the Brownie Camera was introduced, it changed photography forever. What was before expensive and not very portable, suddenly became available for the average person. I read a contemporary commentary that expressed the concern that with everyone carrying a camera, someone could have his/her photograph taken without permission, and what an invasion of privacy that would be. That got me thinking…what if that happened, and at a time before there were very many mug shots available of criminals.

I love writing about immigrants because their stories are a part of who we are today. If not for their bravery and ingenuity, our lives would be much different today, and probably more difficult. 

2. Tell me about your main character, Grace McCaffery. Was her character based upon anyone in particular?

Grace comes to America wounded by her experiences of having an abusive father, being evicted from her home by the police, and then having to survive in a workhouse. When her mother gets remarried, to a policeman no less, Grace is horrified. In her mind, avoiding the kind of people who hurt you is the only way to stay safe. When she is sent to America to start a new life, she is not certain she wants to go. She wishes for the confidence and joy she sees in others around her, and she tries to capture it in drawings and snapshots so she can better study it. I know a lot of people, me for one, who would rather observe for a while before stepping out and trying something new. But historically, immigrants could not do that. They were thrust into change and had to adapt and endure.

Grace, like most fictional characters, is not based on any particular person. She is a conglomeration of our grandmothers and great-grandmothers who came to this country seeking a better life, but without many options to support themselves. They must have been frightened at first by this vast new country, but somehow they overcame that fear and founded our American families.

3. What lessons or truths will your readers find in the pages of this novel?

A lesson that I hope is learned in this story is that God provides what we need, but many times it requires us to put aside our preconceived ideas. No matter what disadvantages we start with, we can turn things around, with God’s help.  

4. How do you expect Grace’s story to resonate with women?

Grace, a young woman who was not nurtured much as a child, becomes a nurturer. She is a nanny with a role that becomes essential for the children she cares for. I think most women are nurturers. Unfortunately, Grace had a far from ideal childhood. I think many women struggle with not having been nurtured themselves. Grace’s story illustrates the hope that God can turn that around, and even in unexpected ways. Grace meets someone who cares for her, who just happens to work in that dreaded occupation—a policeman. 

5. As a writer, what did you particularly enjoy about crafting this story?

I loved learning about Ellis Island, visiting New York City, and imagining those immigrants of the early 20th century moving along the same paths I was exploring. I loved writing about how the children Grace cared for helped to change her. History is fascinating to me, and it's a privilege to be able to write about it. 

6. What is your hope for this story? How would you like it to impact readers?

I hope readers will be transported to a time in history when everything was changing at a rapid pace and experience a bit of what their ancestors’ lives were like. I would like readers, through Grace’s Pictures, to not only appreciate the sacrifices their ancestors made, but also find the courage to meet their own challenges—everyone has them.  

7. How has this novel helped you to grow as a storyteller?

Grace was at first a difficult character to figure out. I had a loving father who passed away a few months before I started working on this book. Grace, who did not have a loving father, stretched me a bit, but it was good to explore what life was like for her and try to imagine how someone like her could not only survive but thrive.

8. What is it about this time period in history that made you want to write about it?

New inventions were constantly popping up, things that we take for granted today. For instance, telephones were becoming more widely available, but immigrants were not familiar with them. Same with electricity. There was a huge disparity between the rich and the poor, and the middle class was the minority. Monopolies were not yet forbidden. The rich were extremely rich. The poor were extremely poor, and the conditions in the tenements were disgraceful. And yet, this was not overlooked. There were gangs and corrupt police, but also scores of charities working hard to protect, educate, and care for immigrants. And it was also a time period of huge numbers of immigrants coming to the country, most through Ellis Island, so in that way this time period has impacted a great many Americans today.  

9. What lessons can we learn from the pages of historical fiction?

The Bible tells us, “Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls” (Jeremiah 6:16, NLT).  Historical fiction uses the power of story to help us find those old ways. We deceive ourselves if we think no one has experienced the struggles we have. Someone has. Why not learn those stories and be led by them? 

10. What is one of the best pieces of advice or encouragement you have received?

I’m always open to sound advice. Here is one that has encouraged me. It’s from a tea bag quote. 

“A #2 pencil and a dream can take you anywhere.” ~Joyce A. Meyers

 

Want to learn more about Cindy? Read her blog: http://cindythomson.blogspot.com/