Dan Dooley
Author. Novelist: Creator of the 'Legacy of Abigail' series and other novels. Stories about love found after the loss of widowhood. Christian romance fiction with a touch of Steampunk.
Am I a Christian writer? I prefer to label myself simply as a writer who is a Christian.
Rather than my books being catagorized as Romance novels, the are actually simply love stories. I believe that there is a difference.
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"Come take my hand, and walk through this world with me"
Taylor continued. “You know the heart of a man is big enough to hold more than one love. Not at the same time certainly, but one at a time, truly.”
Harris turned his head full on toward Taylor, in wonder over his words.
Taylor explained. “Let me put it this way. When a man loses through death, the woman he has loved for so long, her loss leaves a hole in his heart the size and shape of her. The edges of that hole are raw, bleeding and ragged.
“Over time, the edges heal. Somewhat. But they remain raw and sore. That hole never closes. He never forgets her. If he loved her while she lived, he will love her still after her death. That’s what we know as grief.
“But, here’s the mystery,” he continued. “Here’s the amazing work of God. A man can learn to love a new woman when he is ready. She will fill his heart just the same as the one who is departed did before. “The new love does not encroach on the space of the hole the lost one left. That will always be there. There is no loss of space in his heart for the former love. Nor is there a lack of space in his heart for his new love. She whom he lets into his heart now has his entire heart.”
(from 'A Ship Called Abigail')
These stories are about the struggles of those who experience loneliness. Of being alone for the first time in perhaps many years, even decades. They are about the inner struggles such people face when they question whether it is right for them to seek life and new love. The opposition they will (not may, but will) from others. Especially from those closest to them. The stories are about the joy of finding new love. Love which sometimes is greater - even though different - from that which was lost.
There is hope. Holy Scripture says, "it is not good for a person to be alone." Not all will seek, or even feel the need for love after loss. It is a personal choice. But for those who do seek to live and love again, hope exists. So take heart and find encouragement within the stories..
Look inside 'What's Inside the Books' for excerpts from the books and comments on the stories contained therein.
And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?" Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!"
And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. (Mark 4:37-40)
Harris Wimberly is widowed. It has been three years since the loss of his wife and the loneliness and the grieving remain. To remain solo will not bring his wife back. Nor will picking up his life and trying to move forward into new love. He would love to find love again. But how? It is a different dating world from the time when he dated his late wife.
Anna Forth is raising her thirteen year old son by herself. She is doing her best to balance motherhood and a medical practice. She has no time to find love again. It has been four years since the death of her husband. But that time has not eased the pain of loneliness she feels. Besides, her son needs a father figure in his life.
In another city, a man named Josias has had his life and his dreams destroyed. The woman he loved was taken from him. Together they had built dreams, and he had built a ship. An airship, to be exact. And the reason for building the ship died along with the lady. A lady named Abigail.
Josias Lancaster lives in a world not quite like our own. It is a world with outrageous flying machines, air transportation by Zeppelin dirigibles, steam powered cars, top hats, goggles, and much steam and fog.
But like anyone in our world, he had a dream. A wonderful woman who he loved and who loved him. Together they shared a dream of visiting far away places in the fantastic flying machine he had created.
That dream ended when the woman he loved died suddenly and unexpectedly. Now he has a second chance. New love can be found after loss.
But will the new woman in his life be willing to pick up the old dream with him? Especially, if the flying machine has been named after the lost love.
In this, the first sequel to ‘A Ship Called Abigail,’ the story continues through the new found love of Josias and Ann, and their great adventure which they had not planned for.
Legacy of Abigail series Book one
Legacy of Abigail series Book three
Legacy of Abigail series Book four
Legacy of Abigail series Book two
No man would ever find Hannah beautiful enough to love. After all, her sister who is much prettier than she is was rejected and left at the alter by a man who left for another. Another whom he said was much more beautiful. If that happened to her sister, what hope is there for Hannah?
But, she does not count on the stranger who comes out of the unknown west. A simple cook on a flying ship and who does not look like her people.
She tends to him as his nurse while he is convulsing from an injury. She finds something stirring within her which is new and strange. But surely, he can't love her. She's not pretty enough, she tells herself. He will leave and return to his people and his home.
But he has different thoughts on the matter.
Sarah Vandergriff knows what she desires in the man of her dreams. That is, as much as the imagination of a fourteen year old girl will know about such things.
Now she’s no longer fourteen years old. Now fully grown, her ideals are exactly the same as they were when she was of that earlier age.
Bryan Wimberly has loved her almost as long as he has known her. What began as the liking of a fourteen year old boy, has now grown to real love in the heart of the grown man Bryan now is. But to Sarah, Bryan is simply her best chum. She enjoys his company and his friendship. But Bryan wants much more. He wants her for his wife.
Life suddenly takes a turn for Sarah. After a horrible accident the man of her dreams no longer wants her. Now she is convinced that no man will ever want her for his wife.
But one man does. He has from the beginning, and he still wants her for his wife. If she would only see him for who he really is, she would know that.
The Legacy of Abigail series
Other Books by Dan Dooley
When one is fortunate enough to find a mysterious lamp, rubbing the lamp will free the genie who has been imprisoned within that lamp for a thousand years. Out of gratitude, the genie is empowered to grant you your desires in the form of wishes. Usually three wishes.
But what happen if the genie has a whole different idea about gratitude for his release and your wishes are turned upside down? Instead of good fortune, you receive the opposite. And the genie seems more interested in playing tricks on you than on granting your wishes.
That's what Elijah Weatherspoon found, to his dismay. Seeming all misfortune contrary to the wishes he asks for. He asks for riches. He asked for good health and a long life. He asked for prestige and influence within the circle of important men.
What comes his way seems to be the very opposite. Now his world is turned topsy turvy. And he wishes he had never bought that cursed clock.
Penny was murdered by the man she was about to marry. Just before her wedding day. She never got to wear that wedding dress she so looked forward to wearing
Now the dress remains close by her. Everywhere the dress goes, there she is, lamenting in piteous sorry what will never be.
Now she loves again. Could this time see her in the dress? The problem is, the one she now loves does not want her. After all, he’s among the living. She is not.
Other Books Coming
(Not yet titled) The conclusion of the Airship Abigail story
Expected publication mid 2023
Tales From Somewhere Else
A Book of Short Stories. Expected publication mid 2023