B. L. Thoma Author

Return to Morgan’s Landing!

~ Midwest Storyteller ~ Leave a comment

Book 2 in my “Morgan’s Landing” historical romance series is now available for pre-order!

Return to Morgan’s Landing and reunite with Julia, Beatrice, and Roderick Lansing. Unexpected newcomers bring shocking revelations, success invites complications, and heroes arrive in the unlikeliest of forms.

Available September 15th.

Here is the link to pre-order physical books from my publisher at Ozark Hollow Press. Get 20% off all copies of Answer My Call when you order at this site through through August 23, 2026 when you use the code: AMCALL20:

https://www.ozarkhollowpress.com/product-page/answer-my-call

You can pre-order a Kindle version from Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Answer-Call-Morgans-Landing-Book-ebook/dp/B0H8KTGY4L/ref=sr_1_2?sr=8-2

You can pre-order my books from Barnes & Noble here: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/search?q=b.%20l.%20Thoma

NOTE: B&N’s prices are, for some reason, slightly higher, so be aware of that.

Now, here’s a bit of what you’ll find inside!

“I was hoping you might work your way around to telling me which tree it was and what it did to offend you. If it made you cry like this, I’d be happy to chop it down for you.”

Julia Lansing struggles to build a new normal after the events of Hear My Whisper. The drama that plagued her in Savannah and followed her to Morgan’s Landing has calmed, work at the bakery is good, and her blossoming courtship offers a promising future. She has everything she had hoped for – so why does she feel so unsettled? Amalda Baysinger, Julia’s childhood bully, is concocting new schemes. Rance Morgan, an unwanted admirer, is proving unpleasantly persistent. And now a new neighbor, his wife, and his ailing children are moving into town, bringing with them terrible revelations, questions, and secrets.

Meanwhile, Beatrice and Roderick Lansing must contend with the changes their successes have brought their way. Demands for new and exciting creations and ever multiplying clients and partnerships split their attentions, stretching their time and energies ever thinner. Meanwhile, the summer’s biggest celebration is on the horizon, bringing with it a familiar game they find cruel and distasteful. With the help of the minister, can they finally succeed in bringing an end to this dark practice?

Answer My Call, book two in the Morgan’s Landing series, invites you back to the small town of Morgan’s Landing, Missouri in 1905. Reunite with Julia Lansing as she meets new people and encounters familiar faces in new contexts. Will all of these changes be for the better? Can Julia trust the happiness she has built for herself? Can Morgan’s Landing handle the secrets that, if exposed, threaten the town’s most prominent citizens?

I’m excited! Are you? Leave a comment with your thoughts on “Hear My Whisper” and what you may be anticipating in “Answer My Call”

Book Signing & Mini Market

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Ready for some book talk and a sneak peek at “Answer My Call”, the sequel to “Hear My Whisper”?

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

I’ll be back at Central Merc Coffee House in Jamestown, Missouri this Saturday. Stop by to see me and get your copy of “Hear My Whisper”, Book 1 in my Morgan’s Landing Series.

Already have a copy (and one for a friend)? In that case, let’s chat! I’d love to year your thoughts on the book and what you think might lie ahead for the Lansing family in “Answer My Call”, the sequel which releases September 15th. You’ll get a sneak peek at the cover and a chance to pre-order!

See you Saturday! Grab a friend and make it a fun day. Central Merc will have an indoor Mini Market and you can get a bite to eat and a latte, too.

More on “Answer My Call” tomorrow, so be sure you’re subscribed to Midwest Storyteller.

Summer Sale!

~ Midwest Storyteller

Hello, Readers!

I’m excited to announce that my book, “Hear My Whisper”, will be discounted at Smashwords during their 18th Annual Summer/Winter Sale! The sale, which lasts the entire month of July, is a great time to get my book, along with books from other talented indie authors, at bargain prices.

You will find the sale here starting on July 1, so save the link:

https://www.smashwords.com/sale

Please share this promo with friends and family. You can even forward this post to the avid readers in your life!

Thank you for your help and support!

Happy reading!

The sequel, “Answer My Call” is coming soon, so please be sure you’re subscribed to Midwest Storyteller.

Taking a Look Back

~ Midwest Storyteller

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

~ Midwest Storyteller

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.