SPOTLIGHT: The Relic Keeper

I have been a really busy author these past months--not only writing but having a great time doing some in-person events. One of them was this week. A shoutout to all of the lovely residents at The Glebe in Botetourt County, Virginia! It was a pleasure sharing about WEST OF SANTILLANE with you on Monday.

One of my favorite stories is Oliver Twist, by Charles Dickens. I also adore the old 1960's muscial that is based upon it--OLIVER! As a young girl, I memorized most of the songs and would play the my old 33rpm, listening to the soundtrack, again and again. Even as a music teacher, there were many years when I showed the DVD to students at my elementary school. It really didn't matter how old the story was or whether the movie was outdated.

Everyone loved it. So I am so happy to have Heidi Eljarbo back on by blog again. She has become somewhat of a "frequent flyer" here, and that makes me smile. Her story has some similarities to Oliver Twist, and that made my smile even bigger. Scroll down below to read her book's blurb and consider giving it a read. And welcome back again, Heidi! I'm always delighted to have you on the Journal.

Read ON, everybody!

ALL ABOUT THE BOOK

Inspired by Gerrit van Honthorst’s masterpiece, The Adoration of the Child, and the novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens.

Italy, 1620

Angelo is an orphan, lonely and forgotten. Having been passed on from one family to the next, he ends up as a common thief, subject to and under the thumb of a ruthless robber called Tozzo.

Angelo knows no other life and has lost hope that any chance of providence will ever replace his lonely, misfortunate existence. When he loses his master, his livelihood is shaken. Tozzo’s plunder is hidden in a safe place, but what will happen if someone comes after Angelo to get their hands on the stolen relics? More than that, he feels threatened by words he’s heard too many times; that he’ll always remain unforgiven and doomed.

One day, a priest invites Angelo to help with chores around the church and rectory and, in exchange, offers him room and board. Padre Benedetto’s kindness and respect are unfamiliar and confusing, but Angelo’s safety is still a grave concern. Two older robbers have heard rumors about the hidden treasures and will stop at nothing to attain them.

With literary depictions and imagery, Angelo’s story is a gripping and emotional journey of faint hope and truth in seventeenth-century Italy—an artistic and audacious tale that crosses paths with art collector Vincenzo Giustiniani and the powerful Medici family.

Using invisible threads, Heidi Eljarbo weaves together her fictional stories with historical figures and real events.

ALL ABOUT HEIDI

HEIDI ELJARBO grew up in a home full of books, artwork, and happy creativity. She is the author of historical novels filled with courage, hope, mystery, adventure, and sweet romance during challenging times. She’s been named a master of dual timelines and often writes about strong-willed women of past centuries.After living in Canada, six US states, Japan, Switzerland, and Austria, Heidi now calls Norway home. She lives with her husband on a charming island and enjoys walking in any kind of weather, hugging her grandchildren, and has a passion for art and history.Her family’s chosen retreat is a mountain cabin, where they hike in the summer and ski the vast white terrain during winter.Heidi’s favorites are her family, God's beautiful nature, and the word whimsical.

CONNECT WITH HEIDI

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BUY THE BOOK!!!

~To purchase, click on the book cover~

*This title is available on KindleUnlimited.