Launch Day: The Stolen Marriage!

Wow, it’s been two years since I’ve had a book out and I’m ecstatic! I’m gearing up for a busy book tour and looking forward to meeting some of you. I can’t wait to hear your thoughts about this story. And may I just add that, even if you don’t buy The Stolen Marriage, you must find it in a store and touch the cover. The raindrops are irresistible. Wait until you see them up close! 

When I first moved to North Carolina, I had already written three books set on the coast and knew quite a bit about the coastal history, but absolutely nothing about the “interior”, so I began reading up on various events that had happened in my new home state. One piece of history that always stayed in my mind was the super-rapid building of a polio hospital in Hickory, North Carolina by a community desperate to control an outbreak of the disease. This happened in 1944, and not only did the everyday folks physically build the hospital in a mere 54 hours, they furnished it with beds and mattresses and examining tables and linens and washing machines and kitchen items as well. Housewives cooked meals and sewed hospital gowns, and doctors and nurses came from all over the country to treat the mostly young patients. The event came to be known as The Miracle of Hickory. I was fascinated by the story of this phenomenal community effort and knew I wanted to write about it. But who should tell the tale?

Enter Tess DeMello, a sweet young Italian Catholic woman from Baltimore. Yes, she seems like an unlikely candidate to tell this particular story, but that’s what gets me excited when I write a book: I love putting together people and events that–at first–appear to be a bit of a mismatch. Tess is a nursing student engaged to a doctor, but she makes a huge mistake one night and winds up married to a wealthy Hickory man she barely knows. This man, Henry Kraft, hides money from her, sometimes stays out all night and shows no interest in making love to her. Tess finds herself trapped in a strange and loveless marriage with no way out. Not only that, but everyone in Hickory seems to adore and respect Henry and resent Tess for stealing him away. Tess is miserable and mystified . . . until the town builds the hospital and the pieces of the puzzle begin to fall into place.

I loved writing The Stolen Marriage. I think my favorite review quote is this one from the Library Journal: “Secrets, intrigue, mystery, love, forgiveness, and drama—it’s all here. And it is riveting.” I hope you’ll agree!

You can read the first chapter on my website if you like. And be sure to touch those raindrops!

 

29 Comments

  1. Noreen on October 3, 2017 at 12:36 pm

    I received the ebook edition of your new book yesterday in Canada.
    I will have to feel the rain drops next time I am in Indigo.
    Loved all your books ..thank you.
    Noreen

    • diane on October 3, 2017 at 9:46 pm

      🙂

  2. Brenda on October 4, 2017 at 1:48 pm

    This is amazing! I could not put it down!

    Historical fiction at its best! Did I say fiction? True life and maybe the characters are fiction but Real happenings!
    This may be your OPUS Diane-the best ever! You are so talented and gifted! I can’t wait to read it again but a friend borrowed my copy! I have ordered it for another friend for birthday! This is a perfect book for book clubs to discuss! This is the perfect book for those who need a wake up call! Thank U I can’t say enough good things!!

    • diane on October 4, 2017 at 1:56 pm

      Thank you for sharing that wonderful review, Brenda! I’m so glad you enjoyed it.

  3. Vicky on October 16, 2017 at 10:05 am

    Hi Diane!

    LOVED the book. I always devour your books as soon as they come out, and I really enjoy learning about the new topics or environments you cover so beautifully!

    I was wondering about your thoughts on Ruth Kraft. Certainly she was a very unlikable character but I found myself feeling kind of sad for her toward the end, since she lost both her children and half of the family’s fortune.

    Thank you SO much for your beautiful writing! Escaping into your books is one of the fun parts of life. 🙂

    • Diane Chamberlain on October 16, 2017 at 4:21 pm

      I definitely feel sad for Ruth. She’s lost so much. I take comfort in the fact that she has a lot of friends who will support her emotionally.

  4. Lynne on October 19, 2017 at 10:37 pm

    Diane It was wonderful to meet you in Southern Pines and receive a copy of “The Stolen Marriage” and then discuss your career over dinner. Looking forward to some great reading.

  5. Cindy on October 23, 2017 at 12:00 pm

    Once again one of your books that I could not put down!!! I not only enjoyed the historical part of the polio outbreak but also the interracial marriage aspects of the time. I hope you are busy writing your next book and can not wait to see what part of history I do not remember learning about that will make me not want to put a book down!

    • Diane Chamberlain on October 23, 2017 at 2:13 pm

      Thank you Cindy! I’m so glad you enjoyed it . . . and learned some things!

  6. Diane Wiltjer on December 1, 2017 at 5:02 pm

    Even though I’ve lived in NC since 2003, I had not had the good fortune to “discover” you until The Stolen Marriage was reviewed in The Pilot. I ordered it from Kindle immediately. So far, I’ve also read, The Silent Sister, Keeper of the Light and The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes. (Stayed up ’til 1:15 am last night; had to finish it. Me….who likes to go to bed as soon as it’s dark!) 🙂
    Your writing, plotting, pacing are incredibly effective. And your ability to invoke love, fear, worry for a character and their goals is uncanny. I wish the holidays was not going to interfere with my over-dosing on your wonderfully entertaining stories. On the other hand, I’m having lots of fun anticipating! I’ve now got my daughter and granddaughter hooked too! (On a personal note, I hope your RA isn’t as severe as CeeCee’s/Eve’s was? Take good care of you!)

    • Diane Chamberlain on December 1, 2017 at 5:17 pm

      Hi Diane! It’s so nice of you to let me know you’re enjoying my books. I’m so glad. And thanks for hooking your daughter and granddaughter! I based CeeCee’s RA on my own, but I’m doing fine now, thanks. Better living through chemistry!

      Hope you continue to enjoy my stories!

      Diane

  7. Catherine Reiter on December 4, 2017 at 2:22 pm

    Hi Diane- I want to thank you for writing such wonderful novels. I’ve never been a good reader. For the first time in my life I have read every one of your books in 3 months time. Just finished Escape Artist and had tears at the end. Please keep writing. I’ve never known a writer with books that I could not put down. I loved every one! The Outer Banks North Carolina is now on my bucket list to visit.

    • Diane Chamberlain on December 4, 2017 at 3:52 pm

      This is my favorite kind of message! I’m so happy I could get you hooked on reading. Thank you for letting me know!

  8. Nancy Isenhour on December 5, 2017 at 10:17 am

    Diane, I absolutely loved this book, and it is much more meaningful to me because I was born and have lived in Hickory, NC all my life. Thank you for telling the story of “The Miracle of Hickory” in this wonderful book! This was my first novel of yours to read, but I will surely be reading many more!

    • Diane Chamberlain on December 5, 2017 at 11:55 am

      Thanks, Nancy. I so enjoyed getting to speak to a bunch of Hickory folks at the library during my tour. Such a great town!

  9. Sherrie on January 26, 2018 at 11:33 am

    I am hooked on your books! Have read them all! When can we expect another one?

    • Diane Chamberlain on January 26, 2018 at 2:35 pm

      I’m so glad you’re hooked! Watch for The Dream Daughter in October.

  10. Jo Ann Logan on February 14, 2018 at 3:04 pm

    Diane,

    So enjoyed your visit to Goldsboro, NC last fall for our Reading between the Wines. Our
    book club is reading your book for March. Any chance of your coming to speak?? I had to ask. Would love any material that would aid me in discussing your book. We are excited about reading THE STOLEN MARRIAGE.

    • Diane Chamberlain on February 14, 2018 at 4:07 pm

      Jo Ann, I’ll email you!

  11. Helen Johnstone on March 13, 2018 at 11:05 am

    I am desperate for a new Diane Chamberlain novel, having read EVERY word she’s ever written!
    Please can you tell me if one is imminent?
    Thank you
    Helen Johnstone

    • Diane Chamberlain on March 13, 2018 at 11:35 am

      Helen, The Dream Daughter will be out in October in the US (A bit later in the UK/AU). Make sure you’ve signed up for my newsletter to keep up with new releases! Happy reading.

  12. Di on September 12, 2018 at 5:04 pm

    On a whim, I picked up a copy of your book “The Stolen Marriage” and I’m so glad I did! I had been pretty disheartened lately that if I wanted a good book to read , it would most likely be filled with so much profanity it ruined the story…What a talented writer you are to be able to not only combine a great & interesting story with such personable characters but to keep it clean as well! I look forward to reading your many other books.

  13. Diane Chamberlain on September 12, 2018 at 5:16 pm

    Hi Di,
    I’m so glad you enjoyed The Stolen Marriage. Sometimes my characters do cuss, but only when necessary! Happy reading.

  14. Janice on December 23, 2018 at 4:40 pm

    Hi Diane

    I just finished reading Stolen Marriage! I couldn’t put it down. I love historical fiction! It was so interesting to learn about the outbreak of polio in 1944 in North Carolina. We are in Canada and the first outbreak of Polio happened in 1950.

    Are any of your other books historical fiction?

    I really enjoy the way you weave a story together!

    Janice

    • Diane Chamberlain on December 23, 2018 at 5:21 pm

      Thank you, Janice. So glad you enjoyed it. You might also like Necessary Lies and Breaking the Silence. They both have an historical element. Happy reading!

  15. Linell Schroeder on May 1, 2019 at 6:56 pm

    Hi Diane,
    I’m reading this book right now and it’s hard to put down, just like the other two I’ve read.
    You’re a wonderful author. So glad to have found your collection of books. I planning to
    read them them all. I really loved The Dream Daughter!

    Sincerely,
    Linell

  16. Prisci!!a on June 18, 2019 at 10:30 pm

    Hi
    I just got done reading this book, which I loved. Quick question what was the significance of when the Reverend mentioned Walter? Not sure if I missed something.

    • Diane Chamberlain on June 19, 2019 at 8:18 am

      Spoiler alert: Walter was Butchie’s real name. You must have missed that. Glad you enjoyed the book, though!

      • Michelle on May 17, 2022 at 3:03 pm

        Thanks for answering this, I must have missed it also and was curious after finishing!

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