B. L. Thoma Author

Taking a Look Back

~ Midwest Storyteller ~ Leave a comment

Don’t you love to talk about books? Being an author, I do, of course! Another thing Smuffy and I can’t get enough of is history. I hope those of you who have already read “Hear My Whisper”, Book 1 in my “Morgan’s Landing” series, got a fun and interesting dose of it. There’s more to come in Book 2, “Answer My Call”, which is coming to you soon. While you wait, let’s get together and talk about history!

Book Signing Historical Society https://midweststoryteller.com/

“Morgan’s Landing” is a fictional work, but here at the Midwest Storyteller blog, I’ve shared a lot of non-fiction and I’ve discovered through the years that those true stories are not only captivating, but treasures. They bring the history of our families and the old ways of life to our minds in ways that help us get a true picture of what life was like for those who went before us and preserve it for those who’ll come after us.

The Cooper County Historical Society has invited me to be their guest speaker on June 14th. Details are in the photo above. I’ll be sharing some truly fun and fascinating stories from my local family history to inspire you to dig into your own. I know you have stories that are too precious to be lost. We’ll chat about ways to preserve those.

I’ll also be sharing the story behind the “Morgan’s Landing” novel series and how our local history was woven into the fictional story.

Check out some of my family gems! Gotta love my Aunt Gladys here. Then, there’s my Uncle Spieg here. And, most precious to me – my mom, here.

Bring a friend and join us this Sunday, June 14th at 2:00 p.m.

Leave a comment and give me a brief snippet of a family story that you want to pass down through the years.

Meet Me in Jamestown

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Jamestown, you ask? Yes! Jamestown, Missouri. Why, you ask? Because there’s a great coffee house there, located in the old Jamestown Mercantile building, that offers you an array of tasty delights. You can check out all they have to offer at their Central Merc Facebook page and get all the details on their first Mini-Market this Saturday, June 6th. I’ll be there to meet you, chat about my new historical novel, “Hear My Whisper”, sign your copy and maybe chat about your writing aspirations as well.

What a great day trip! Grab some friends and enjoy. You’ll find info on all the featured vendors on their
Facebook page as well. I’m looking forward to seeing you there.

Central Merc Book Signing https://midweststoryteller.com/

Granted, Jamestown is smaller than Morgan’s Landing, but Chelsea at Central Merc has gone all out to make this a great experience for you.

I’ll have plenty of books with me, of course, but just in case you’re curious about the book – .

Here’s more:

“And you can be certain of one thing, Abigail. I’m no angel.”

Julia Lansing stumbles into an embarrassing scandal when she’s discovered in a compromising position with a U. S. senator!

Though she’s innocent and it was all a misunderstanding, the shame burns. Matters are made worse later at dinner, when she seeks to hold her mother’s hand for moral support and finds herself holding a strange man’s hand by mistake! With mishaps abounding, how on earth is she meant to survive her trip to Savannah? Returning to her predictable life back home would be ideal—if it weren’t for the handsome Adam Cole. What is she meant to do about him?

Meanwhile, Beatrice Lansing, Julia’s mother, is expanding her business ventures in dress-making. With only a short amount of time to stay in Savannah, she’s striving to showcase her designs and build the network of employees and customers she came to create. Can she make her dreams come true, or will she return to Missouri empty-handed? And why is she receiving telegrams from her husband about explosions and replacing curtains?

Set against the backdrop of Savannah, Georgia and the small town of Morgan’s Landing, Missouri in 1904, Hear My Whisper, book one in the Morgan’s Landing series, invites you to follow Julia Lansing as she navigates the mores of a different city, state, social class, and the newfound interests of a young man (or two or three). Can she make the choice that’s best for her own happiness? Can her family succeed in the pursuit of their dreams? Or will it all come crashing down? 

If you are unable to attend and get a signed copy, you can get all the links to the book here.

Planning to come? If you’ve already made your first visit to Morgan’s Landing, get ready to join Julia Lansing and find out what happens in Book 2 of the series, “Answer My Call”. It’s due to be in your hands late summer. Leave a comment and let me know what you’re looking forward to for the residents of Morgan’s Landing.

Methods, Methods & Miracles

~ Midwest Storyteller

“Morgan’s Landing” has had its share of all three! I’ll be sharing about that as a part of the Community Lecture Series at State Fair Community College on April 29th. Please share this post over all your social media and join me there!

Community Lecture Series https://midweststoryteller.com/

Coming up next:

May 2, 2026 – I’ll be at Barnes & Noble at the Columbia Mall in Columbia, Missouri for a book signing and would love to see you there! Get a copy of “Hear My Whisper” that day or bring yours in to be signed from 1:00-3:00 p.m.

June 14, 2026 – Join me at the Rails & Trails Museum in Boonville, Missouri. I’ll be sharing about all the aspects of writing books that accurately depict the historical times in which they are set and how Morgan’s Landing reflects our local area. It’s a true passion of mine!

Leave a comment and let me know how you are enjoying your first visit to Morgan’s Landing via “Hear My Whisper”. I’ve been hard at work getting the next book ready so that you can make the journey again.