I’m often asked, “Where did you get the idea for this story?” Or, “What inspired you to write this particular novel?” I enjoy answering those questions because it gives me a chance to tell how I often find my inspiration for characters and plots when I’m researching an era, location, or a real person in history.

Early in the research process for A Token of Love, I saw a painting on Pinterest of a distraught woman preparing to hand over her infant. I’m a foster-adoptive mom, so images of women and children in painful situations always touch my heart.

I followed the painting’s link back to the Foundling Museum website and discovered The Foundling Hospital was the first children’s charity home in England, and they took in thousands of children who could no longer be cared for by their mothers.

The Foundling Museum was a great resource with countless stories about mothers and children. One of the most intriguing displays at the museum is a glass case with several unique small objects. These tokens were given by the mothers as identifiers in the hope that if their situation changed, they might be able to return and reclaim their child. Seeing the tokens and knowing that was all the mothers had to leave with their child was very touching. Each one was a symbol of their love and desire to reunited, and I knew I had to develop a story around this idea.

Josephine Butler

In my research I’m always hoping to find people who lived out their faith in practical ways and truly made a difference. When I learned about Josephine Butler, I knew she would be a great inspiration for a heroine. Josephine was a devout Christian, a courageous public speaker, and gifted writer. Her faith and convictions motivated her commitment to social justice and her concern for those who were marginalized and oppressed, especially women and girls. Her speeches, pamphlets, and articles persuaded opinions and forced changes in laws that protected women and girls from abuse and mistreatment. I included excerpts from her speeches in A Token of Love, and she appears as a minor character who helps the historical heroine in her search for her missing niece.

Editor W. T. Stead

Another interesting person I found in my research was W. T. Stead. In the early 1900s, he was the editor of the Pall Mall Gazette, where he introduced investigative journalism techniques, including detailed exposes of social issues. His work included campaigns against child labor and the trafficking of girls, making him an important figure in social justice during his time. He and Josephine Butler teamed up on some of these campaigns. Stead’s career was marked by his dedication to using journalism as a tool to change society. His life ended tragically when he died in the sinking of the Titanic in 1912. W. T. Stead appears in A Token of Love as the historical hero’s mentor and editor.

Pulling all these ideas together to create an entertaining dual-time novel with meaningful issues, spiritual insight, and hope was a challenge and a delight! I hope readers will be intrigued and inspired by A Token of Love!  Here’s more about the story:

This heartfelt dual-time tale weaves together a story of two women whose lives intertwine through their shared pursuit of love, truth, and justice.

In 1885 London, Lillian Freemont embarks on a treacherous journey to reunite with her long-lost niece who was abandoned at the Foundling Hospital eight years ago. Fueled by her sister’s plea and armed with the gold token that identifies her niece, Lillian teams up with investigative reporter Matthew McGivern to expose the grim reality of the shadowed streets of London. As Lillian and Matthew unravel the mystery of Alice’s disappearance, their partnership blossoms into one of shared purpose and undeniable attraction.

In present-day London, Janelle Spencer finds herself unexpectedly running the Foundling Museum. When filmmaker Jonas Conrad arrives to document the museum’s history, their collaboration takes a surprising turn as they uncover articles from the past that shed light on a haunting connection to the present. As Janelle becomes caught between exposing the truth and protecting the museum’s reputation, she must decide if she can risk everything for what she believes.

A Token of Love is available as in eBook, hardback, paperback, large-print, and audio. Dutch and German translations are in the works. You’ll find easy order links on this page.  

Until Next Time ~ Happy Reading,

Carrie