What Century Is This? by Shirley Martin (Author blog post)

How would you like to travel back in time, to the year 1762?  This is what happened to Gwen, my heroine of "Dream Weaver."  Gwen has been having strange dreams about an isolated cabin in the wilderness, and a tall, dark stranger who lives here.  On a hunch, she visits a restored village near her home in western Pennsylvania.  There, a freak accident sends her back to colonial times in the eighteenth century.  She arrives at the doorstep of the very same man who has haunted her dreams.

Now imagine what life was like in colonial Pennsylvania in the year 1762.  Unless you belonged to the upper class (highly unlikely), you lived in a log cabin of one or two rooms.  If you were lucky, you had a wooden floor.  Otherwise, an earthen floor would have to do.  Rats and snakes were frequent visitors.  A flea-infested bearskin kept you warm on cold nights.

Life was hard in those days, household chores keeping you busy from before daybreak to sunset.  Just making candles was an arduous chore that occupied the entire day.  But adjusting to life in the colonial Pennsylvania--a life without indoor plumbing or all the conveniences she's used to--is the least of Gwen's worries.

The hero, Christian, doesn't know what to think when this strange lady arrives at his doorstep.  As a doctor, his aim is to inoculate all the settlers against against small pox.  When Gwen tells him she's from the twenty-first century, he suspects she's a spy for the French, concocting a crazy story to avoid suspicion.  Either that, or she's "got maggots in her head."

He lives near the English for, Fort Pitt (present day Pittsburgh) and is a frequent visitor there.  When Gwen overhears Christian talking to a friend and expressing his suspicion that she's a spy for the French, she's scared out of her wits.  If turned over to the English authorities and found guilty of treason, it's bad news for Gwen.  Very bad news.

How can Gwen convince Christian of her innocence and prove that she really is from the twenty-first century?  As a former teacher of American history, she knows that Indian troubles loom in the very near future.  This problem plagues her night and day.  She must convince Christian that danger threatens the settlement.

This excerpt reveals her dilemma:

  Christian gave her a long, thoughtful look.  "I still don't understand you.  Why did you come to this part of the country?  What is your purpose here?"  He shook his head, a hint of a frown on his face.  "You're a puzzlement, to be sure."

  She rolled her eyes.  "Why do you bring this up again, after all this time?  I thought we worked this out before."

  "You thought we'd worked it out, but you've never fully explained your reason for being here."

  One idea after another flitted through her head, each quickly discarded, until she settled on a compromise.

  "I believe everyone has a purpose in life," she said.

  One idea after another flitted through her head, each quickly discarded, until she settled on a compromise.

  I believe everyone has a purpose in life.  She said.

  "What is your purpose then?"

  "Umm."  She thought about all the things she wanted to tell him--the coming Indian attacks, her trip back in time to save his life.  Would he believer her?  Not a chance.  "How much time do you have to listen?"

  He inclined his head.  "As much time as you need."

  She forced herself to speak in an even voice.  "I believe my presence here is closely connected with the Indian rebellion, which I already told you about and which you don't accept."

  "Right on both counts."

  After a pause, she went on.  "I think I may be able to save lives in this struggle with the Indians."

  "Oh, really?"  Christian folded his arms against his chest.  "How will you do that?"

  "By warning people, for one thing, as I've tried to warn you.  I might even talk to Captain Ecuyer at Fort Pitt."

  "You do that.  I'm sure he'll appreciate your advice.  But why stop there?  Why not go all the way to Colonel Bouquet even Sir Jeffrey Amherst?"

  Gwen lifted her chin.  "It's certainly worth a try to talk to Captain Ecuyer.

  (By way of explanation, Captain Ecuyer was Swiss, as was Colonel Bouquet, who was based in Philadelphia.  Both men served England.  Sir Jeffrey Amherst headed to all the English forces in North America)

  Here is the blurb from "Dream Weaver."

  Strange dreams haunt Gwen's sleep of a lonely cabin the woods and a tall, dark stranger she's never,  While visiting a restored village, Gwen is flung back in time and meets the man of her dreams!

  All Christian wants to do is practice medicine in the Pennsylvania wilderness.  He doesn't want to deal with the crazy lady who shows at his doorstep, claiming to be from the future.  And the last things he wants is to fall in love.

But Gwen and Christian can't deny their past or their future.  They must deal with the dangers that threaten them...or die together.

Sent back in time, Gwen must save her lover's life.  She failed them once before.  She can't fail him again.

Gwen has her own video.  Please check it out by clicking here. 

"Dream Weaver" was a nominee for CAPA (Cupid and Psyche Award.)

"Dream Weaver" is available electronically and in print.  You can find it on Amazon by clicking here.

To read it in print, check at your local bookstore.  Here's the ISBN: 978-1-77145-271-7

I'd love for you to look over all of my books with Books We Love LTD.  You can find them by clicking here.

You can also find them at Amazon by clicking here.

You can check out my blog here.

I write historical, paranormal, and fantasy.  You're bound to find a book you'd like.  And thanks for reading about Gwen's travels and travails.