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Published by She Writes Press
Distributed by Simon & Schuster
Table of Contents
About The Book
A Kansas Notable Book of the Year, 2018 Andrew Carnegie funded fifty-nine public libraries in Kansas in the early 20th century—but it was frontier women who organized waffle suppers, minstrel shows, and women's baseball games to buy books to fill them. Now, a century later, Angelina returns to her father's hometown of New Hope to complete her dissertation on the Carnegie libraries, just as Traci and Gayle arrive in town—Traci as an artist-in-residence at the renovated Carnegie Arts Center and Gayle as a refugee whose neighboring town, Prairie Hill, has just been destroyed by a tornado. The discovery of an old journal inspires the women to create a library and arts center as the first act of rebuilding Prairie Hill after the tornado. As they work together to raise money for the center, Traci reveals her enormous heart, Angelina discovers that problem-solving is more valuable than her PhD, and Gayle demonstrates that courage is not about waiting out a storm but building a future. Full of Kansas history—from pioneer homesteaders to Carrie Nation to orphan trains—To the Stars through Difficulties is a contemporary story of women changing their world, and finding their own voices, powers, and self-esteem in the process.
Product Details
- Publisher: She Writes Press (April 4, 2017)
- Length: 320 pages
- ISBN13: 9781631522338
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Raves and Reviews
2017 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards: Finalist 2017 IPPY Awards: Contemporary Fiction, Gold Medal Readers' Favorite: Gold Medal Award for Women's Fiction 2017 Foreword Indie Finalist in Adult Fiction—General 2018 Next Generation Indie Book Awards Finalist in General Fiction/Novel (Over 80,000 words) Pulpwood Queen Selection, June 2018
"... this charming debut will appeal to women’s-fiction fans of gentle reads." —Booklist ". . . this warmhearted first novel celebrates the value of community (and libraries!); the inspirational story of women past and present is a must-buy for Kansas libraries and recommended for general adult readers." —Library Review Journal
“I had a lot of love for this book and its multi-layered message about how women have made, can make, and will make history happen even in the most dire of situations. About how the arts are not a lost cause and neither are people. That creativity brings light and hope, no matter where it is found or how little there is to work with. And how you can find yourself by looking at the people around you. Sometimes, they help you see the things you can’t see in yourself.” —Sweatpants & Coffee
"Romalyn Tilghman’s debut novel should come with a warning label for readers: Put on comfy pants, folks; you may be here awhile. It’s easy to start flipping through the first few chapters with no intention of devouring it only to find yourself looking up, disoriented, the sun coming up on a new day . . . . a promising debut . . . . The erstwhile prairie woman proves her mettle weaving together the lives of disparate characters maintaining readers’ attention to the very last page, whether they hail from Kansas or simply wind up wishing they did.” —The KU Alumni Magazine
“Women's fiction at its best, a story that showcases the role that women play in their communities in a brilliant manner. It’s a story about courage, problem-solving skills, generosity, and resilience . . . a clear idea of the role that libraries play in community building. The story is told in the first person narrative and from the perspectives of the three women. The prose is wonderfully crafted, charming, and heartwarming, and the reader is irresistibly pulled in as they follow each character through the engaging story. The setting comes across vividly and it can’t be difficult for the reader to fit themselves into the story. Romalyn Tilghman is a gifted storyteller with an unusual skill for crafting characters that take a prominent place in the hearts of readers.” —Readers’ Favorite
"The characters are very real, and the events and action kept me reading way past my bedtime. Romalyn Tilghman did a superb job telling the Carnegie library story as well as the role and importance of libraries.” —George S. Bobinski, Carnegie Libraries: Their History and Impact on American Public Library Development
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- Book Cover Image (jpg): To The Stars Through Difficulties Trade Paperback 9781631522338
