Coming your way Feb 2021!

A mail-order bride desperate to get out of New York marries a mysterious San Francisco widower whose 5-year-old child does not speak, but her hastily cobbled-together happiness is forever changed by a massive earthquake that shakes up everything…

1905 – Sophie Whalen is a young Irish immigrant so anxious to get out of a Lower Manhattan tenement that she answers a mail-order bride ad and agrees to marry a man she knows nothing about. San Francisco widower Martin Hocking proves to be as aloof as he is mesmerizingly handsome. Sophie quickly develops deep affection for Kat, Martin’s silent five-year-old daughter, but Martin’s odd behavior leaves her with the uneasy feeling that something about her newfound situation isn’t right.

Then one early-spring evening, a stranger at the door sets in motion a transforming chain of events. Sophie discovers hidden ties to two other women. The first, pretty and pregnant, is standing on her doorstep. The second is hundreds of miles away in the American Southwest, grieving the loss of everything she once loved.

The fates of these three women intertwine on the eve of the devastating earthquake, thrusting them onto a perilous journey that will test their resiliency and resolve and, ultimately, their belief that love can overcome fear. Here is a novel about the bonds of friendship and mother love, and the power of female solidarity…

Pre-order at your favorite retailer!

Barnes and Noble, Books-A-Million, Bookshop.org, Hudson Booksellers, IndieBound, Powells, Target, Amazon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My current release…

An American girl’s life is changed forever when her German immigrant parents are sent to a Texas WW2 internment camp…The Last Year of the War tells a little-known story of World War II with great resonance for our own times and challenges the very notion of who we are when who we’ve always been is called into question.

Buy now: Barnes & Noble, BAM, Hudson, Bookshop.org,  IndieBound, Powell’s, Target, Walmart, Amazon

“Meissner has created a quietly devastating story that shows how fear and hatred during World War II changed (and even ended) the lives of many innocent Americans.”—Kirkus Reviews

“A heartbreaking, thought-provoking work of historical women’s fiction.”—Booklist

“Powerful and at times chillingly contemporary, and it reminds us why we read historical fiction in the first place.”—Michelle Gable, New York Times bestselling author of A Paris Apartment.

“A beautifully poignant tale, The Last Year of the War explores the complexities of love, friendship, and the fleeting truths of identity. With vividly drawn characters and ever-elegant prose, Meissner highlights a dark, often-overlooked piece of American history. This timely novel will stay with the reader long after its thoughtful, heartwarming conclusion.”—Kristina McMorris, New York Times bestselling author of Sold on a Monday

“Highlighting a little-known story of World War II with heart-wrenching detail, this beautifully written novel will make you think about what it means to be American, as well as what—and who—determines our identity.”—BookBub

“Vivid historical detail and elegant prose bolster this rewarding story of profound friendship, family, fear, and the pain that arose for American-born children of immigrant parents.”—Publishers Weekly

“There’s no shortage of books about World War II and internment camps coming out right now, given events in the news over the last year. Meissner’s latest novel presents a more interesting, untold account than others.”—Real Simple

Where I’ll be…

The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated the cancellation of the paperback book tour, but it won’t keep us from meeting each other in other ways! Read on to see to how to visit with me virtually this summer!

June 16, Des Moines, IA – I will be at the Clive Public Library via Zoom at 6:30 PM Eastern to talk about the LAST YEAR OF THE WAR, which is partially set in Iowa. Beaverdale Books will be there and will have signed bookplates so you can shop local. Sign up for the Zoom link by emailing Teri at tnelson@cityofclive.com

Other events:

July 23-24, St. Paul, MN – I will be on the faculty of the Northwestern Christian Writers Conference, which will be held online this year. This is a fabulous conference, folks. I’ll be teaching on how to maintain good relationships in your writing career. All the details on how to register for the workshop sessions and panel discussions are right here.

Rescheduled events:

Sept 24 | Seattle, WA area – I will be speaking at Eagle Harbor Books at 7 pm | 157 Winslow Way E, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110. Free event.

Nov 7 | Tucson, AZ  –  I will be at the Mostly Books Bookstore for a presentation, Q and A, and signing from 2 to 3:30 PM | 6208 E Speedway Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85712. Free event.