Freedom's Song
A Novel
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Paperback
$16.00
Oct 19, 2021 | 352 Pages
ISBN: 9780525653707
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Ebook
$7.99
Oct 19, 2021 | 352 Pages
ISBN: 9780525653714
About Freedom's Song
“[An] enjoyable faith-filled adventure . . . Sawyer’s episodic narrative and rich assortment of characters fighting for freedom provide the story with many twists and unexpected side-plots.”—Publishers Weekly
Indentured servant Fanny Beck has been forced to sing for riverboat passengers since she was a girl. All she wants is to live a quiet, humble life with her family as soon as her seven-year contract is over. So when she discovers that the captain has no intention of releasing her, she seizes a sudden opportunity to escape—an impulse that leads Fanny to a group of enslaved people who are on their own dangerous quest for liberty. . . .
Widower Walter Kuhn is overwhelmed by his responsibilities to his farm and young daughter, and now his mail-order bride hasn’t arrived. Could a beautiful stranger seeking work be the answer to his prayers? . . .
After the star performer of the River Peacock is presumed drowned, Sloan Kirkpatrick, the riverboat’s captain, sets off to find her replacement. However, his journey will bring him face to face with his own past—and a deeper understanding of what it truly means to be free. . . .
Uplifting, inspiring, and grounded in biblical truth, Freedom’s Song is a story for every reader who has longed for physical, emotional, or spiritual delivery.
Praise
Sawyer (Echoes of Mercy) again digs into history in this enjoyable faith-filled adventure about an indentured servant on a popular riverboat. In 1860, Fanny Beck is the star singer aboard the River Peacock steamboat, but also a prisoner between shows, as she’s indentured to Sloan Kirkpatrick for a seven-year contract. Fanny dreams of escape, praying that one day she’ll reunite with her family in New York City. Then Fanny learns that Sloan plans not to honor the end date of the contract, and, when a fire breaks out on the boat, she escapes. Fanny’s long trek to freedom includes traveling witha family of escaped slaves, sleeping aboard train cars, and singing for money—and then Sloan pursues her upon learning she survived the fire. After Fanny arrives in Gideon, Ind., she finds a sobbing child alone in a cabin and meets the girl’s father, Walter Kuhn, who recently injured himself. He works out a deal for Fanny to care for the girl in order to earn train fare until Walter’s mail-order bride arrives. But plans change when a relationship between the two kindles. Sawyer’s episodic narrative and rich assortment of characters fighting for freedom provide the story with many twists and unexpected side-plots. The author’s fans will love this. (Oct.) — Publishers Weekly
“Kim Vogel Sawyer has once again written a delightful, heartwarming tale of romance and adventure. Readers will come to love Fanny and Walter—and perhaps even the “villain,” Sloan—all compelling characters, each of whom journeys to a moment of gripping revelation and change. Don’t miss this engaging story.” — Louise M. Gouge, award-winning author of Winning Amber
“A truly enjoyable and riveting read. Young Fanny’s character captured me right from the start. A beautifully told story of the priceless value of freedom.” — Melody Carlson, author of the Legacy of Sunset Cove series
“Kim Sawyer is known for her long list of uplifting and hope-filled novels, but Freedom’s Song may be her best yet. Deftly weaving the theme of freedom through an unforgettable story of love and escape, Kim delivers a tale that readers will not soon forget. The characters will jump off the page and into your heart, and the message will bring you hope.” — Kathleen Y’Barbo, a Publishers Weekly
bestselling author of The Yes Dare, book 3 of the Pies, Books & Jesus Book Club series
“Kim Vogel Sawyer writes classic Christian fiction at its finest. Freedom’s Song is no exception. I didn’t want it to end, but it ended the way I wanted it to—that is a great book.” — Tracey Bateman, author of The Nanny Proposal
“Freedom’s Song is a heartwarming story of God’s perfect timing and provision. Out of the darkness of indentured servitude emerges a sweet romance and a strong story of hope that will resonate with readers. Fanny, the heroine, is inspiring because she never gives up and she clings to her faith in spite of the difficult things she faces. Another great read from Kim Sawyer.” — Vickie McDonough, bestselling author of more than fifty novels and novellas, including The Anonymous Brid
About Kim Vogel Sawyer
Kim Vogel Sawyer is a highly acclaimed, bestselling author with more than 1.5 million books in print in seven different languages. Her titles have earned numerous accolades including the ACFW Carol Award, the Inspirational Readers' Choice Award, and the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence. Kim lives in central Kansas with her retired military husband, Don, where she continues to write gentle stories of hope. When she isn’t writing, you’ll find her petting cats, packing Operation Christmas Child boxes, or spending time with her daughters and grandchildren.Product Details
352 pages | Published by WaterBrook
On Sale Date: Oct 19, 2021
Trim Size: 5-1/2 x 8-1/4
Carton Quantity: 24
Sneak Peek
Start reading the first chapter
Her voice made her a riverboat’s darling—and its prisoner. Now she’s singing her way to freedom in this powerful novel from the bestselling author of The Librarian of Boone's Hollow. “[An] enjoyable faith-filled adventure . . . Sawyer’s episodic narrative and rich assortment of characters fighting for freedom provide the story with many twists and unexpected side-plots.”—Publishers Weekly Indentured servant Fanny Beck has been forced to sing for riverboat passengers since she was a girl. All she wants is to live a quiet, humble life with her family as soon as her seven-year contract is over. So when she discovers that the captain has no intention of releasing her, she seizes a sudden opportunity to escape—an impulse that leads Fanny to a group of enslaved people who are on their own dangerous quest for liberty. . . . Widower Walter Kuhn is overwhelmed by his responsibilities to his farm and young daughter, and now his mail-order bride hasn’t arrived. Could a beautiful stranger seeking work be the answer to his prayers? . . . After the star performer of the River Peacock is presumed drowned, Sloan Kirkpatrick, the riverboat’s captain, sets off to find her replacement. However, his journey will bring him face to face with his own past—and a deeper understanding of what it truly means to be free. . . . Uplifting, inspiring, and grounded in biblical truth, Freedom’s Song is a story for every reader who has longed for physical, emotional, or spiritual delivery.Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Leslie Calhoun, Publicity Associate
lcalhoun@penguinrandomhouse.com
Kim Vogel Sawyer, the Bestselling Author of From This Moment and The Librarian of Boone’s Hollow, Pens Sweeping New Historical Romance Set in 1860s America
Sawyer again digs into history in this enjoyable faith-filled adventure about an indentured servant on a popular riverboat…. The author’s fans will love this.” — Publishers Weekly
Following her bestselling contemporary women’s fiction novel From This Moment, award-winning author Kim Vogel Sawyer returns to her beloved historical fiction genre with the new release Freedom’s Song (WaterBrook, 10/19/21), a sweeping romance about a young riverboat singer who, after a harrowing fall into the river, embarks on a journey to claim true freedom. Uplifting, inspiring, and grounded in biblical truth, this newest novel traces a story of hope for every reader who has longed for physical, emotional, or spiritual delivery.
When she was only fourteen years old, Scottish immigrant Fanny Beck was tricked into an interminable indentured contract by a ruthless entertainment entrepreneur. The deal bought passage for her family to travel to America…but simultaneously sealed her imprisonment as a riverboat singer on the illustrious River Peacock.
Seven long years later, the possibility of reuniting with her family in New York City is only a dream until a freak accident during a nighttime storm sweeps Fanny over the boat’s railing and into the Mississippi. By divine providence, she survives and is then rescued by a Black family seeking their own freedom after escaping slavery on a Southern plantation. Together, they help each other on the dangerous trek north, with Fanny using her angelic voice to buy food and other supplies. When they reach Chicago, Enoch’s family continues north to Canada, and Fanny finally sets her eyes on the track to New York. Along the way though, the cries of a helpless child derail her journey in a way she never could have foreseen.
Widower Walter Kuhn is trapped in his own emotional prison as he daily relives the guilt surrounding the tragic incident that stole his wife from him. As he waits for his parents to send him a mail-order bride, he struggles to care for his young daughter while managing the overwhelming responsibilities of his farm alone. When a strange, travel-worn woman with the voice of an angel appears in his house, his desperation pushes him to offer her a temporary position as caretaker for his sweet Annaliese. But the terms of their agreement don’t account for the unexpected longings of the heart.
Unbeknownst to both, Sloan Kirkpatrick, the captain of the River Peacock, is on an insatiable quest to replace his star performer. When his unquenchable greed and wounded pride set him on a dangerous journey, he discovers more than he ever expected.
Tying in the theme of John 8:36 (“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”), Sawyer pens a dramatic story about the beauty and redemptive power of finding true freedom, whether from physical, mental, or emotional bondage. “Much of this story is about finding freedom,” Sawyer writes, “freedom from enslavement, and the freedom found in a relationship with Christ.” Fans of historical romances will be caught up in the world of 1860-era America, a time when riverboats dominated the Mississippi and brave souls forged a path to liberty on the Underground Railroad. Combined with these historical details and the ageless truth that freedom is a right for all, Freedom’s Song is an inspirational novel that is certain to captivate and delight the hearts of its readers.
For more information, visit www.waterbrookmultnomah.com.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: KIM VOGEL SAWYER is an award-winning, bestselling author with more than 1.5 million books in print in seven different languages. Her titles have earned numerous accolades, including the ACFW Carol Award, the Inspirational Readers Choice Award, and the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence. Kim and her retired military husband, Don, live in in central Kansas, where she continues to write gentle stories of hope. When she isn’t writing, Sawyer stays active serving in her church, traveling, and spoiling her grandchildren. For more information, visit www.kimvogelsawyer.com.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/KimVogelSawyer.Author.Speaker/
Twitter: @kimvogelsawyer
Praise for Kim Vogel Sawyer
“Kim Vogel Sawyer has once again written a delightful, heartwarming tale of romance and adventure. Readers will come to love Fanny and Walter—and perhaps even the “villain,” Sloan—all compelling characters, each of whom journeys to a moment of gripping revelation and change. Don’t miss this engaging story.”
—Louise M. Gouge, award-winning author of Winning Amber
“A truly enjoyable and riveting read. Young Fanny’s character captured me right from the start. A beautifully told story of the priceless value of freedom.”
—Melody Carlson, author of the Legacy of Sunset Cove series
“Kim Sawyer is known for her long list of uplifting and hope-filled novels, but Freedom’s Song may be her best yet. Deftly weaving the theme of freedom through an unforgettable story of love and escape, Kim delivers a tale that readers will not soon forget. The characters will jump off the page and into your heart, and the message will bring you hope.”
—Kathleen Y’Barbo, a Publishers Weekly bestselling author of The Yes Dare, book 3 of the Pies, Books & Jesus Book Club series
“Kim Vogel Sawyer writes classic Christian fiction at its finest. Freedom’s Song is no exception. I didn’t want it to end, but it ended the way I wanted it to—that is a great book.”
—Tracey Bateman, author of The Nanny Proposal
“Freedom’s Song is a heartwarming story of God’s perfect timing and provision. Out of the darkness of indentured servitude emerges a sweet romance and a strong story of hope that will resonate with readers. Fanny, the heroine, is inspiring because she never gives up and she clings to her faith in spite of the difficult things she faces. Another great read from Kim Sawyer.”
—Vickie McDonough, bestselling author of more than fifty novels and novellas, including The Anonymous Brid
Suggested Questions
Freedom’s Song
by Kim Vogel Sawyer
1. What was your inspiration for Freedom’s Song?
2. This novel is somewhat divided into two acts, one being centered on the journey Fanny takes with Pazzy and Ransom’s family, and the other being focused on her time at the Kuhn homestead. How does the theme of true freedom unite these two parts of Fanny’s story?
3. What historical details did you research for this book?
4. In addition to the physical slavery touched on in this story, how do you explore the ideas of mental and emotional bondage?
5. Why did you choose to feature Sloan’s perspective alongside Fanny’s and Walter’s?
6. Who was your favorite character to write? Which character did you resonate with the most?
7. How would you encourage someone who feels trapped by something in his or her past?
8. What do you hope readers will take away from this book?
