West of Santillane
Desperate to escape a mundane future as a Virginia planter’s wife, Julia Hancock seizes her chance for adventure when she wins the heart of American hero William Clark.
Though her husband is the famed explorer, Julia embarks on her own thrilling and perilous journey of self-discovery.
With her gaze ever westward, Julia possesses a hunger for knowledge and a passion for helping others. She falls in love with Will’s strength and generous manner, but, like her parents, he is a slave owner, and Julia harbors strong opinions against slavery. Still, her love for Will wins out, though he remains unaware of her beliefs.
Julia finds St. Louis to be a rough town with few of the luxuries to which she is accustomed, harboring scandalous politicians and miscreants of all types. As her husband and his best friend, Meriwether Lewis, work to establish an American government and plan to publish their highly anticipated memoirs, Julia struggles to assume the roles of both wife and mother. She is also drawn into the plight of an Indian family desperate to return to their own lands and becomes an advocate for Will’s enslaved.
When political rivals cause trouble, Julia’s clandestine aid to the Indians and enslaved of St. Louis draws unwanted attention, placing her at odds with her husband. Danger cloaks itself in far too many ways, leading her to embrace the courage to save herself and others through a challenge of forgiveness that will either restore the love she shares with Will or end it forever.
Excerpt from West of Santillane by Brook Allen
Christmas passed with no sign of Will, and for me there was a saturating profusion of whens.
When would he arrive? When would the wedding be? When would we leave for St. Louis?
For nearly all of December, I listened for riders approaching the house. Whenever I heard hoofbeats, I ran to the window. When that happened on a blustery, chilly late afternoon, I set Master Shakespeare aside, scrambling to the window and wiping frost from the pane.
Not him. Not yet.
Instead, it was an armed soldier with a padlocked saddlebag, making me wonder what sort of official business he had at Santillane. By the time I reached the front door, he had dismounted and was busy unlocking the bag, drawing out a small parcel, neatly wrapped.
While I swung open the front door, Mama was calling for Megg to warm some tea on the stove for the traveler.
“Greetings, miss,” the young man said. “I’m looking for Miss Julia Hancock.”
My heart thudded. “I’m Miss Hancock.”
“Miss Hancock, I’ve ridden from Washington City to convey warmest regards from President Jefferson,” he announced, climbing the stairs. “This here is a wedding gift from the president himself.”
He presented the parcel, and I accepted. Utterly astonished, I wandered into the library’s privacy with it.
“Please,” Mama invited, bustling to the entrance toward the soldier. “It’s freezing outside. Do go around the side of the house to the kitchen. We’ve warmed some tea for you, and my woman Megg will see you’re given a hot meal before you continue on.”
“Many thanks, ma’am. That’s greatly appreciated.”
Once she’d shut the door, Mama came up behind me, where I was admiring the packaged gift. “What is it?” she asked, insistently peering over my shoulder.
“I don’t know—”
“Well, open it, child!”
I peeled away the outer layer of wrapping carefully to find a smoothly sanded and polished flat-latched box of walnut with a crisp note of official presidential stationery attached.
“Oh, Julia, he’s written you a private note.”
Blinking at my own disbelief, I lifted the folded stationery, feeling the raised print under my fingertips. It was engraved with the presidential seal and Jefferson’s name. Beneath was his message—the author of our Declaration of Independence had written me in his own bold script:
My dearest Miss Hancock,
I’m sure there are hardly words to express the delight and happiness you must feel as you celebrate the advent of your marriage. If William Clark has chosen you as his bride, then I can only assume what an upright and purposeful woman you must be. Therefore, I beg you to accept this small gift, representing the sentiments I hold, not only of your worthy person, but of Clark’s esteemed service and character—all of which I hold dear. May your days together be many and full of joy.
I am indeed in your service and in the service of our beloved country,
Th. Jefferson, President of the United States
“Oh, Julia—open it!” Mama fussed again.
In disbelief, I set the note aside upon one of our library tables. Using my finger, I slid the box’s delicate brass latch up to the right. The lid released, and I opened it the rest of the way, gasping. Beneath a protective flap of emerald satin was a magnificent brooch of carnelian and gold, and on either side were displayed matching earrings. They were exquisite, and not even my parents had ever gifted me with such extravagance.
I stared at Mama, shaking my head, stunned. “How can I accept this? It’s far too rich for me.”
Ever so gently, she placed her hands upon my face and whispered, “Daughter, you are marrying into greatness, and even our president recognizes that fact. You will accept it with humility, with dignity, and wear these baubles in St. Louis with pride, where people will be amazed that the president sends you such.”
I was humbled.
What an incredible time this was—a year full of newness, a year of firsts.
Like receiving gifts from the president.
Brook’s Journal
Blog
An Early American Love Story: Julia Hancock & William Clark
History is chock full of love stories. There are few things that attract reader interest more than a unique romance. And what often amazes me is that even in “the chase”, truth is often stranger than fiction. Such is the case with my current work: West of Santillane, which launches tomorrow, March 8th.
For those who have read my Antonius Trilogy; a detailed story of Marc Antony from boyhood to his last breaths in Cleopatra’s arms, you’re aware that there was a huge romantic element in the last book in that series—Soldier of Fate. However, by the time it had launched in October of 2020, Covid-19 had hit with a vengeance and suddenly I needed something new to write about, without any hope of visiting libraries, museums, or traveling much at all. Whatever I chose as my project would need to be close to home and accessible.
I happen to live in Blue Ridge, Virginia, among the Blue Ridge Mountains, in a historic county called Botetourt—named after an illustrious British governor who once administered in Williamsburg prior to the American Revolution. However, Botetourt County is nowhere near Williamsburg and its quaint colonial charm. Botetourt County is in southwestern Virginia amid the rolling Blue Ridge range. But way back in 1763, it encompassed a mind-boggling swath of land, stretching just east of the Blue Ridge Mountains, south and west along the Cumberland Gap, clear to the Mississippi River, then northward, clear into what’s now Wisconsin, heading back to the southeast through what is now Indiana, Ohio, and West Virginia.
Just one county covered portions of seven states!
It's here in Botetourt County where West of Santillane begins, during the first quarter of the United States’ short existence, post-Revolution. Centered on a young woman named Julia Hancock, who winds up marrying William Clark, the famed explorer of the Lewis & Clark Expedition—also known as the Corps of Discovery.
Local lore around Fincastle—Botetourt County’s county seat—tells of Julia’s first meeting with William Clark when she was only a child. Julia and her cousin Harriet took off on one of the Hancock’s horses. Apparently, the horse balked at crossing a small stream, and the girls were flummoxed as to what to do next. Along comes a chivalrous, red-haired gentleman—William Clark himself, assisting the young ladies over the stream and on their way.
Read more: https://www.brookallenauthor.com/post/blog-an-american-love-story~julia-hancock-william-clark
WRITING PROMPTS
Write a blurb for a book – a recent read, a favorite, or one you’d like to write.
Fiction:
Protagonist, Desire, Obstacle, Struggle, Stake
Non-Fiction
Opening Grab, Benefits, Author Knowledge, Authentic Voice, Transformative Summary (WIFM)
Write a blog post – a personal insight into your own writing journey. Some ideas may include:
· Inspiration that led you to write
· A writing goal you’ve had all your life
· A song that reminds you of a story
· Something you read or saw that you thought you could do better
· Your favourite spot to write