Book One
Historical Christian Fiction series set in
Sandy Lake, Pennsylvania
Book One
In 1998, we researched the history of our home in Sandy Lake, Pennsylvania–the “old Morton place.” I became so fascinated by the lives of some of the early residents (late 1800’s and early 1900’s) that I decided to write a historical fiction novel inspired by their lives. I wrote twenty one and a half chapters –then put the manuscript away in a box when my Christian counseling client load became too heavy.
After returning from Japan in 2011 and buying a house in Greenville, Pennsylvania, I published my autobiographical devotional book, Homespun Faith, in 2014. People started asking, “What are you going to write next?” That’s when I remembered the book I’d started. After reading it, I told my husband, “I have to finish writing this book so I can find out what happens!” It’s been a long process, but I’m excited about the message of Sarah’s Legacy. (See below for updates to the present time.)
Book one in the Sarah’s Legacy series is finished, and we should be able to place an order for books on or before January 1, 2018. Anyone ordering from me before that date will receive the sale price of $12 (regular price 14.99) plus shipping if needed. You can contact me by email donaisy@neo.rr.com, Facebook page https://www.facebook/DaisyBeilerTownsend/ or the “Contact Me ” page of this website.
September 20, 2016 – Today I finished going through the critique process on all 48 chapters of Sarah’s Legacy with the
ACFW Scribes’ critique group of which I am a member. (American Christian Fiction Writers) What a great feeling and how thankful I am for the members of Scribes who helped me reach this point. Now to go back through these chapters one more time using what I’ve learned.
November 22, 2016 – DONE with the last time through Sarah’s Legacy. Now to work on the book proposal for one of the agents who is interested in Sarah’s Legacy.
January 23, 2017 – Last week I sent out three book proposals, two went to agents and one to a publishing company. Today I got a response from the publishing company saying they like the concept and the sample I sent (two chapters) and would like to see the whole manuscript. Interesting that this company was started in Ireland, the country where the original owner of our house was born!
April 4, 2017 – So folks have been asking me for an update on Sarah’s Legacy… It’s called the waiting game! Here’s the scoop thus far on the two agents and five publishing companies I’ve contacted with query letters or book proposals depending on their preference. One requested a complete manuscript and wanted to publish my book but I wasn’t comfortable with their conditions. Two weren’t accepting manuscripts. I’m waiting for responses from other publishers and agents, and having fun blogging and writing stories for Chicken Soup for the Soul and other magazines while I wait!
April 27, 2017 – No takers yet. I just had a request from one of the publishing companies I’d contacted previously for a book proposal.
May 25, 2017 – 1) Last week I submitted a back page blurb, credentials, and first three chapters of Sarah’s Legacy to Writer’s Edge, a manuscript-screening service. Sarah’s Legacy “made the cut” to be included in a monthly listing of proposal summaries that is sent to 75 Christian publishers. The editor who reviewed it gave me a positive report. The information is also listed on their website: https://
2) I submitted Sarah’s Legacy to a publisher/editor for a quote on a Reading Assessment/Critique. She bases her quote on the first ten pages. She said I write well and gave me a very reasonable quote because she thinks it will be fairly straight forward. I’m encouraged and looking forward to her assessment.
June 28, 2017 – I received what I can only describe as a glowing, totally positive assessment on Sarah’s Legacy today. The editor/publisher said, “On a professional level this was one of the best reads I have had in a long time, especially in this genre.” Looking for light for the next step.
August 8, 2017 – Tim Beals, the president of Credo Communications, has asked to see my book proposal and completed manuscript for Sarah’s Legacy. A year ago a Credo agent at St. Davids Christian Writers’ Conference had promised to look at Sarah’s Legacy when it was finished, but her role at Credo has since changed. Tim is the only person working with fiction currently and will look at my proposal and manuscript as soon as time allows, probably September. He will consider whether he will represent me to help me find a publisher for my book.
November 28, 2017 – For reasons that none of us understand, Tim Beals never received any of my emails including the ones with my book proposal and manuscript for Sarah’s Legacy. By the time I realized he hadn’t gotten any of my emails, they were short two agents and not taking any new authors until next year. Tim said even if they agreed to represent me and found someone to publish my book early next year, it wouldn’t be published until at least 2019. Ultimately, Donn and I felt that God was leading us to learn the publishing process and publish Sarah’s Legacy ourselves. We are now in the process of doing that–projected finish date is January 1, 2018. This is a sneak peak at the cover!
December 12, 2018 – Ingram Spark has now approved all of our files to publish Sarah’s Legacy as a print book and as an eBook. Our hardcopy is being shipped to us for proofing at our request. When we give our approval, Ingram Spark will make Sarah’s Legacy available to order online and we will be able to order print copies.
January 18, 2018 – Sarah’s Legacy is now available from me, as well as online in paperback and eBook form. Go to Where to buy Homespun Faith and Sarah’s Legacy ( https://www.homespunfaith.com/where-to-buy-homespun-faith-and-sarahs-legacy/ ) for links.
July 11, 2018 – I’m going to be posting some photographs on this page of the people on whom the characters in Sarah’s Legacy (a work of fiction) were based–people who lived in the “old Morton place,” our home from 1988 to 2008, in the late 1800’s/early 1900’s. Enjoy! 
The lady in the white dress (picture on the right) is Polly (Florence) Dye on whom the main character of Sarah’s Legacy is based. With her are her younger brother and sister, George and Blanche Dye. (Blanche’s name was changed to Beth in the book to avoid having two people named Blanche.) 
The pictures of the Dye family were obtained from the Mercer County Historical Society. This picture is not dated but was probably taken some years after 1910-1911, the time period covered in the book.
The woman in the picture on the left is Margaret Dye, on whom the character of the mother in Sarah’s Legacy is based. The little girl is Twila Dye, on whom the character of the youngest child in Sarah’s Legacy is based. This picture was probably taken around 1911.
The man in the picture below is Robert Dye, Sr., on whom the character of the father in Sarah’s Legacy is based. ( This photo is part of a family photo–as is the grouping of Polly, George, and Beth Dye–taken some years after the time when Sarah’s Legacy took place.)The picture on the right of Robert Dye (father) is Twila Dye, the person on whom the youngest child is based in Sarah’s Legacy, also taken some years after 1911. She was born in 1909.
The picture on the far right below is left to right: Ben, Elsie, (1st row), Maggie Dye.
