Interview with Sarah Bentley from Jean Hackensmith's A DREAM IN THE WILDERNESS

 

We’re thrilled to be talking to Sarah Bentley from Jean Hackensmith's A DREAM IN THE WILDERNESS.  It is a pleasure to have her with us today at Pimp That Character!

* * *

Thank you for your interview, Sarah.  How old are you and what do you do for a living?  

I am 21 years old and work as a nanny for a family in Wisconsin, which is located in the Michigan Territory.

Can you tell us about one of your most distinguishable features?

I've been told that my amber eyes are quite mesmerizing. Personally, I wish they were just plain old brown.

What would I love the most about you?

I'm kind, caring, and understanding. I'm also a good listener. And I absolutely LOVE children. In fact, I dream of being a teacher one day.

What makes you laugh out loud?

The children. They say some of the darndest things and make me laugh all the time.

What is your most treasured possession?

My books. I brought a whole trunk of them with me to Wisconsin.

Are you a loner or do you prefer to be surrounded by friends?

I am definitely not a loner, though there are times when I do wish to be alone. For the most part, I love being surrounded by friends and family, and the children of course, who I consider my family.

What is in your refrigerator right now? 

What is a refrigerator? I live in the 1830's.

What is your greatest fear? 

Losing someone I love. My employer, Caleb Wachsmann, lost his wife, parents, and youngest child to the cholera epidemic of 1834. I cannot even imagine such a loss.

If you could change one physical thing about yourself, what would that be?

I'm rather short, so I would love to be a little taller. I would also love to be a little less clumsy. I tend to fall down ladders and sprain my ankle.

Who is your best friend? 

Her name is Ruth Henderson. I met her after I moved to Wisconsin. She lives on the neighboring farm with her husband and two children. She is a wonderful woman.

Do you have children? 

No, though I do think of Caleb's children as my own.

What is your favorite weather? 

Certainly not winter! Caleb, the children, the Henderson's and I (and a grumpy man named Lucas who insists on trying to court me) got lost in a blizzard one year while out looking for a CHristmas tree. It was not fun, but luckily Caleb is a very resourceful man.

Do you like to cook?  If so, what is your favorite thing to cook? 

I LOVE to cook--especially cheddar cheese. You'll find out why down the road.

If you knew you were going to die tomorrow, what would you do today?

Marry Caleb. I am hopelessly in love with him, but I fear he will always be devoted to his beloved Annie.

Book Description:

Unable to find a teaching position in the flooded job market that is New York City, twenty-one-year-old Sarah Bentley accepts the position of nanny to Caleb Wachsmann’s three children after the farmer’s wife, parents, and infant son die in the Cholera epidemic of 1834. The twist? The job is in Superior, Wisconsin in the Michigan Territory, an unsettled wilderness located on the northwestern tip of Lake Superior.

Caleb is not looking for love; his heart will always belong to his beloved Annie. What he does need is a woman to watch after the children while he toils in the fields making a living for his family. Sarah turns out to be that woman. She raises his children with a gentle and loving hand and also helps Caleb to overcome an unbearable loss. As Wisconsin vies for statehood, the young couple will face challenge after challenge as they struggle to tame a wilderness that really doesn’t want to be tamed at all.

A Dream in the Wilderness is available at https://www.amazon.com/Dream-Wilderness-Saga-Book-ebook/dp/B0DJS19HMH.

 

About the Author: 

I have been writing since the age of twenty. (That’s 47 years and, yes, I’m disclosing my age.) I am the proud mother of three and grandmother to four wonderful grandchildren. After losing who I thought was the love of my life, my late husband Ron, in November of 2011, I met Rick. So, it is definitely possible to have more than one “love of your life.” Rick and I were married in July of 2018 and are still going strong today. He is my soulmate, my confidant, and my biggest fan. He has read every book I have ever written (even the romances!) 

Next to writing, my second passion is live theater. I founded a local community theater group back in 1992 and directed upwards of 40 shows, including three that I authored. I also appeared on stage a few times, portraying Anna in The King and I and Miss Hannigan in Annie. I am sad to say that the theater group dropped its final curtain in 2008, but those 16 years will always hold some of my fondest memories. 

I moved from Superior 15 years ago, seeking the serenity of country living. I also wanted to get away from the natural air conditioning provided by Lake Superior. We moved only 50 miles south, but the temperature can vary by 20-30 degrees. I guess I’m a country girl at heart. I simply love this area, and am lucky to, once again, have someone to share its beauty. I love the solitude, the picturesque beauty of the sun rising over the water, the strangely calming effect of watching a deer graze outside your kitchen window. Never again, will I live in the city. I am an author, after all, and what better place to be inspired than in God’s own backyard.

Let’s Connect!

X: https://x.com/Author911 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/jean-hackensmith-61554012674412/ 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/32957713?ref=nav_mybooks