Welcome to the Blog Tour for What Brings Us Joy by Teresa Wells, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
About the Book
Title: What Brings Us Joy
Series: The Truitts of Texas #1
Author: Teresa Wells
Publisher: Scrivenings Press LLC
Release Date: July 15, 2025
Genre: Christian Historical Romance
1895: After losing their Georgia home, eighteen-year-old Delia Truitt and her family move to Blooming Grove, Texas, to work for a relative on a ramshackle farm. Set on helping her family dig out of their impoverished circumstances, she plans to open a dressmaker’s shop, combining her sewing skills and her keen fashion sense. But owning a business takes money she doesn’t have.
Unless she can finish her quilt in time to enter the county fair. The prize money would be just enough to open her shop. Determined and resourceful, Delia sets her sights on success—until her heart takes an unexpected detour when she meets handsome Clarence Parker.
Bent on respectability, Clarence refuses to let his past get in the way of his future happiness, especially after falling for spirited Delia Truitt. But his hopes shatter when headlines declare members of his former gang have broken out of jail and are heading his way, set on revenge. Though Clarence doesn’t regret testifying against the outlaws, he fears his future with Delia is in jeopardy. Clarence will protect her from the killers, even if it means risking their future together.
Can Clarence keep her safe? And will Delia love him after she finds out about his past?
PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub
Book Excerpt
Now they were getting deep. She wasn’t ready to bare her soul. “Independence appeals to me.” That was true enough. She ruffled the soft grass with the palm of her hand.
Slowly, he sat upright. “Independence is a powerful drug, Delia. It can be life-giving, and it can be lethal.”
“I don’t understand.” If he didn’t look so somber, she would have thought he teased her.
“Someday you will.” Those gray-green eyes reflected an emotion she couldn’t pin down. She had a feeling even if she knew the circumstances behind his wisdom, he would still be a mystery.
He took the lemonade glass and drank until it was empty. When he spoke, his tone was light. “My sister said you are entering the fair this fall.”
“I think it’s a good way for people to see my work. After all, I’ll have to drum up interest before I can start my business.”
“Why not enter a dress you’ve sewn?”
“Most women can make a dress. But crazy quilts? It takes time and skill, and many don’t finish.” She snapped her mouth shut. She’d already told him all this. “I could go on and on when it comes to crazy quilts. Let’s talk about you.”
He shifted, his arms circling a knee. “Don’t believe anything Sallie says.”
About the Author
A former teacher and librarian, Teresa Wells treasures a story threaded with redemption and hope. She loves people, history, and studying the Bible. Teresa is a member of Novel Academy and American Christian Fiction Writers Association, where she volunteers behind the scenes. She lives with her family outside of Dallas, Texas. What Brings Us Joy is her first novel.
Connect with Teresa by visiting teresawells.com to follow her on social media and subscribe to email newsletter updates.
Author Interview
Q: What inspired you to write What Brings Us Joy?
Teresa: A couple things, both revolving around ancestors who lived at the turn of the century. First, years ago, I inherited a small crazy quilt my great-grandmother created, my dad’s grandmother. I’ve always loved the three by three square full of velvets, satins, and silk irregular shapes that were lined by beautiful embroidered stitches. On some of the shapes, she embroidered her children’s names. I felt the love that went into every stitch. What a lovely memento!
The second thing that inspired me was a photograph of a woman from my mom’s side of the family, named Emma Lea Ola Mobley Wells (funny that we both married men by the name of Wells). In this photo from the 1890’s, there are several family members staring solemnly into the camera, as is typical for the times. Except for one young woman, who stares into the camera with a bit of impatience, hand propped on her hip. Typical for 2025, maybe. But the 1890’s? Definitely not. And what a wonderful heroine that plucky young woman would make! That photo became the inspiration for Delia Truitt.
Teresa: Way too long! I began a form of this story back in 2020 as a dual time novel, but lost interest in the modern-day storyline. This novel has gone through quite a few changes until I whittled away the true story I wanted to tell. I’m glad it’s out in the world now!
Teresa: I was shocked at the blatant animosity toward crazy quilters! But I guess it was a sign of the times, back when women were considered silly little things by many men. Women weren’t allowed to vote, and in some cases, couldn’t own businesses or land. Newspapers published stories and jokes that clearly put down women who made crazy quilts.
Teresa: I have several favorites. Here’s one from Clarence: "Independence is a powerful drug, Delia. It can be life-giving, and it can be lethal."
Q: When did you first know you wanted to be an author?
Teresa: When I was about nine. I took pleasure in creating stories for myself, often retreating to my bedroom and writing for hours. I cut out pictures of models from department store catalogs and pasted them into my book so I could better picture what they looked like and chose to wear. My desire to get swept up into a make-believe world never left me! After I retired in 2015 from education, I knew it was time to make my lifelong dream come true. I never imagined how difficult that would be.
Teresa: I’m a really good driver who cannot for the life of her park a car. This truth was sadly illustrated just this afternoon, when I bumped a curb and my youngest daughter snickered. It’s a standing joke in my family! It doesn’t help things that the vehicle I drive is a big SUV.
Teresa: Ladies of the Lake by Cathy Gohlke. I love her books!
Teresa: I love historical romance. I also like contemporary romance and women’s fiction.
Teresa: I love to cross stitch. It calms me.
Teresa: I love summer. I live in Texas, where the heat is no joke and you break a sweat just walking to the mailbox and back. Even though it can be unpleasant, in my mind, summer equals laid-back living and freedom from stress. In my mind... maybe not my reality!
Tour Giveaway
(3) winners will each receive a $25 Amazon gift card, a print copy of What Brings Us Joy, and items related to the book!
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight July 14, 2025 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on July 21, 2025. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
Sounds great
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jep.
DeleteI liked the excerpt.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteThe cover of the book is so inviting. Looks like such a peaceful place.
ReplyDeleteThank you. I'm really pleased with the cover!
DeleteI loved the interview.
ReplyDeleteThanks, it was fun!
DeleteGreat interview. This looks really good.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Michael.
DeleteThe writing style is incredibly engaging and makes the reader want to read more.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
Deletegreat interview, Jolene!
ReplyDeleteJolene, thank you for the great interview!
ReplyDeleteGreat interview!
ReplyDeleteI am so excited to know this will be a book series. The Truitts of Texas has historical and southern connections. Everything I love in a book.
ReplyDeleteThat’s unfortunate that crazy quilts were so mocked.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good read.
ReplyDeleteWow—I cannot understand “the blatant animosity toward crazy quilters” because it takes time, creativity, and skill to create them. This definitely interests me.
ReplyDeleteIm looking forward to checking this book out. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful cover
ReplyDelete