by Kimberley Woodhouse
A few years ago, I asked my readers on my Facebook page what they’d like to see next from me in my historical-suspense fiction.
I heard so many great ideas, but one stood out. The Bone Wars.
What are they, you ask? Well, for two decades (1870s-1890s), two paleontologists were in a fierce battle and race against time with each other to be “the best.” It’s what made dinosaur fossils famous. It’s also what brought a lot of shame to their field. One of them went completely bankrupt—using his entire fortune—to try and make a name for himself. They did some pretty horrible things to each other and to fossils to keep the other from claiming the fame.
I have always been intrigued by this time period and these events in history. In that moment, I knew that I’d found what I wanted to do next. I called my editor and she was even more excited than me. “Dinosaurs! Who doesn’t love dinosaurs?” was her jubilant reply.
So in addition to the stories I had planned out for my characters, I wanted to portray how the Bible and science go together—not work against each other. And I thought it would be pretty fascinating to write some stories about women in paleontology. One, it was considered “vulgar” back in this time period for women to dig in the dirt. Two, women have been working in this field for a long time with little acclaim given them. And three, well, do I have to say it? They were digging for dinosaurs!
One of the best parts of this story is that I was able to connect with Diane Douglass Iverson, the granddaughter of Earl Douglass. He’s the man responsible for Dinosaur National Monument even being there. He discovered the first bones which would lead to the most incredible find and quarry on display today. Diane gave me permission to use her grandfather’s quotes from his journals and diaries in the books. As I studied this man and his life of digging for bones, I was caught up in his struggle.
It was hard back then, without the knowledge we have now, to see how faith and science could go together. A deep man of faith, Earl’s raw and very real struggle gripped my heart. And I realized I wanted to show that for my readers as well. Not only the real historical time period and event of the Bone Wars (and of course, the really cool part about digging for fossils), but the inner struggle he—and other scientists—had to deal with as they pursued their field of science.
In The Secrets Beneath, some secrets can only stay buried for so long. . . .
Anna Lakeman has spent her life working alongside her paleontologist father, drawing intricate sketches at every dig. When they find dinosaur bones near their home in Wyoming Territory, they’re given the opportunity of a lifetime and are swiftly caught up in the competitive era of the Bone Wars. But after her father becomes sick and Joshua Ziegler, an old beau, returns for the summer, Anna’s world is upended, and the practical, orderly life she has made for herself shatters.
Medical student Joshua Ziegler left his hometown to forget Anna, the one woman he truly loved and deeply hurt. But when he returns, time hasn’t erased the feelings they’ve always had for each other. After Joshua’s nephew goes missing—just like his sister did years ago—and Anna’s job is threatened, tensions mount and dangerous secrets are unearthed.
About the Author
Kimberley Woodhouse is an award-winning and bestselling author. A lover of history and research, she often gets sucked into the past and then her husband has to lure her out with chocolate and the promise of eighteen holes on the golf course. Married to the love of her life for more than three decades, she lives and writes in Colorado where she's traded in her hat of "Craziest Mom" for "Nana the Great." To find out more about Kim's books, follow her on social media, and sign up for her newsletter/blog, go to: kimberleywoodhouse.com
About the Book
Anna Lakeman has spent her life working alongside her paleontologist father, drawing intricate sketches at every dig. When they find dinosaur bones near their home in Wyoming Territory, they are given the opportunity of a lifetime and are swiftly caught up in the competitive era of the Bone Wars. But after her father becomes sick and Joshua Ziegler, an old beau, returns for the summer, Anna's world is upended, and the practical, orderly life she has made for herself shatters.
Did You Know?
Surveys indicate that nearly 90 percent of patients with serious illness will turn to prayer to lessen their disease and suffering. Prayer is vital not only for our spiritual life, but also for our mental, emotional, and physical condition. Here are several benefits of prayer, according to medical research:
Prayer can lower our blood pressure and other health factors, because it brings about a relaxation response that counters stress. It makes sense, then, to incorporate prayer into our daily lives.
Prayer contributes to healing and wellness, because it brings about feelings of gratitude, forgiveness, compassion and hope. When we set our needs prayerfully at the feet of the Problem Solver, we’ve lightened our mind’s worries.
Prayer also can inhibit the release of cortisol and other hormones that can negatively impact our immune system. So, prayer actually promotes healing. It makes sense, then, to have a natural praying lifestyle in place even before we experience physical health symptoms.
There are natural ways to live prayerfully, based on our personalities. Those geared toward problem-solving might walk out their prayers by praying for their communities as they get good exercise. Socially-oriented folks will be inspired to pray naturally with friends and family around them. Detail-oriented people might create organized notebooks or journals to keep track of prayer needs. And introverts who appreciate quiet settings will pause in prayer as God leads them. Each of us can find a natural way to incorporate prayer throughout our days.
-Janet Holm McHenry, Praying Personalities
Why I LOVE My Local Christian Bookstore
“Is there any better place than a bookstore on a lunch break? I go back to work relaxed with my weekend plan tucked under my arm.”
-Angela Breidenbach, Bride of the Rockies