A message of hope
North Carolina native Donna Everhart found inspiration for her latest novel, The Saints of Swallow Hill, when she learned the origin of the nickname “the Tar Heel State.” It comes from an industry that was based on the harvesting of sap from pine forests to produce tar, pitch and turpentine.

“Discovering the history of turpentine camps was one of those lightning strike moments authors sometimes have. I immediately knew I wanted to tell a story that paid tribute to the resilience of the original Tar Heels who lived and toiled in the deep piney woods of the South,” says Everhart. “I also wanted it to convey a message of hope—especially for readers who may fi nd some familiar parallels between the Great Depression and our present-day reality.”

She adds, “Within the turpentine camps, there was disparity among the workers, bosses and owners. The bosses wielded absolute power and kept laborers in line with savage punishments, while the debt [servitude] system meant [workers] were always at a financial disadvantage as owners’ profits continued to grow.

“Extreme hardships and disparities tend to bring out not just the worst, but also the best, in people. I hope the experiences of Rae Lynn, Del and Cornelia illustrate how ... human kindness and generosity are what win in the end.”

The Saints of Swallow Hill (Item 1618630) is available now in most Costco warehouses.

Also at Costco.com
The Fantastically Great Women series, for readers ages 6 to 8, is the perfect introduction to just a few of the brave, bold and ambitious women who have helped shape the world.

Ask questions with the curious physicist Marie Curie, reach for the stars with NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson and lead the way with mountaineer Junko Tabei. Discover their stories—and many more—and use the Big Ideas Notebook to dream up adventures of your own.

The Fantastically Great Women box set (Item 1614219) is available now.—AK