Book Title: Downriver

Series: The Poison River Series (Book 1)

Author: Jennifer M. Lane

Publication Date: May 28, 2024

Publisher: Pen & Key Publishing

Pages: 344

Genre: Historical

Any Triggers: Death, Violence

Twitter Handle: @Jenn_L_Writes @cathiedunn @MaryLSchmidt

Instagram Handle: @jenniferlanewrites @thecoffeepotbookclub

Hashtags: #HistoricalFiction #Revenge #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub

Tour Schedule Page: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2024/07/blog-tour-downriver-by-jennifer-m-lane.html

Book Title and Author Name:

Downriver

by Jennifer M. Lane

Blurb:

A sulfur sky poisoned her family and her heart. Now revenge tastes sweeter than justice.

It’s 1900. In a Pennsylvania coal town tainted by corruption and pollution, Charlotte’s world collapses when her parents meet a tragic end. Sent to a foster family in a Maryland fishing village, she’s fueled by grief and embarks on a relentless quest for justice against the ruthless coal boss, Nels Pritchard.

But Charlotte is no ordinary girl. She shares the fiery spirit of her father, whose powerful speeches inspired worker riots. With a burning desire for vengeance, she sets out to uncover the truth behind Pritchard’s crimes, unearthing a shocking connection between the town’s toxic air and the lifeless fish washing up on the shore of her Chesapeake Bay foster town.

To expose the truth, Charlotte builds a network of unexpected allies. There are gutsy suffragists, a literary society of teenage girls willing to print the truth… and Weylan. The captivating young man lost his own family to Pritchard’s poison. He offers support, but Charlotte questions his true motives when he lures her to break the law. Could she be falling into a dangerous trap, leading her to a fate worse than poison?

With her unwavering spirit and determination, Charlotte must forge alliances and navigate a web of treachery before Pritchard seeks his own ruthless revenge.

When Angels Fly Blog Post:

Writing around The Tiffany Problem in 1900 Settings.

Readers of historical fiction know the Tiffany Problem well, even if they’ve never heard the term for it. One moment, they’re enjoying a Roman-era romance, the next they’re stumbling on a reference to central heating, scowling at the seeming anachronism, preparing their one-star review.

Only a handful of readers may be familiar with hypocaust systems. The rest either pitch the book at the wall or tumble down a rabbit hole, losing weeks of their lives to old archaeological Time Team episodes on YouTube.

Authors of historical fiction must balance these little surprises with Olympic-gymnast levels of grace to avoid pulling readers from the story. No matter how well we know our audience, it’s impossible to predict what might surprise them, so we lean on feedback from beta readers and editors. Then we smooth out little bumps in the road, and we compile the rest in the author’s note.

One of the joys of writing in the year 1900 is the lesser-known time period. Most readers are familiar with Regency and WWII settings, but many might be surprised to learn that a mimeograph machine, canned deviled ham, matchbooks, and high schools were all a part of life in 1900.

While drafting Downriver, I kept a list of things that might surprise readers for that purpose, and I enjoyed discussing them with readers online. Here are a few readers will see in Downriver.

Matchbooks:

The invention of matchbooks is credited to two Pennsylvania men—Joshua Pusey (Delaware County) and Charles Bowman (Lebanon, PA)—who simultaneously but independently developed them.

High Schools:

High schools feel modern, but they were increasingly prevalent by the 1880s. Cecil County, Maryland, where Downriver is set, had high schools in 1898. The school that inspired the one in Downriver opened in 1900.

Spiked Drinks:

The phrase “spiked drink” seems modern, but Etymonline places the earliest mention at 1889. The earliest mention I could find in print was in a November 7, 1900 edition of Northwestern Christian Advocate.

Five and Dime Stores:

The five and dime seems like a 50s-era establishment, full of toys and housewares. The first store was opened in 1878 by Frank Woolworth in Utica, NY. Unfortunately, it didn’t thrive in Utica, but did in its new home in Lancaster, PA – spawning countless 5&10 stores across the country.

Mimeograph Machines:

Based on a design by Thomas Edison, a Chicago businessman made a flatbed duplicator in 1877 that he sold for $12! It copied one page at a time.

Rotary Press:

Could there have been a rotary press in 1900? Sure! The Hoe Rotary Press, also known as a Lightning Press, was first used in 1847 to print the Philadelphia Public Ledger.

Deviled Ham in a Can:

Have you ever eaten Deviled Ham? Kids in 1900 could! The Underwood company started producing it and selling it in distinctive cans in 1868!

The newest book by award-winning author Jennifer M. Lane is perfect for fans of Jeannette Walls’ Hang the Moon and the fiery protagonist in The Hunger Games. Join Charlotte in this small town, coming-of-age dystopian historical saga as she finds resilience, courage, and triumph in her search for identity, independence, and her true home.

Buy Links:

This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.

Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/bWlKk0

Universal Series Link: https://linktr.ee/Poison_River_Series

Author Bio:

A Maryland native and Pennsylvanian at heart, Jennifer M. Lane holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Barton College and a master’s in liberal arts with a focus on museum studies from the University of Delaware, where she wrote her thesis on the material culture of roadside memorials.

Jennifer is a member of the Authors Guild and the Historical Novel Society. Her first book, Of Metal and Earth, won the 2019 Next Generation Indie Book Award for First Novel and was a Finalist in the 2018 IAN Book of the Year Awards in the category of Literary / General Fiction. She is also the author of Stick Figures from Rockport, and the six book series, The Collected Stories of Ramsbolt.

Author Links:

Website: www.jennifermlanewrites.com

Twitter: https://x.com/Jenn_L_Writes

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenniferMLaneAuthor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenniferlanewrites/

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@jenniferlanewrites

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/jennifermlaneauthor/

Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jennifer-m-lane

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jennifer-M-Lane/author/B07FPLSZKG Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18214590.Jennifer_M_Lane