About the Book

Book: In Tempest Winds (West Virginia: Born of Rebellion’s Storm #3)

Author: Kendy Pearson

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction

Release date: May 7, 2025

Not all heroes are born of battle.

Some heroes are born of loss.

War has a way of changing a man, taking more than he has to give. When Zander Dabney joins in the fight, army life is not what he expected, and it seems impossible to escape his hero-brother’s shadow. When Zander finally gets the chance to test his mettle, the horrors of battle shatter his faith and leave him questioning everything—even what he thought he knew about his brother.

Lola Wade has her hands full with the mercantile, rising prices, family, and a cunning thief. Despite her chaotic life, Zander has captured her heart. But the war has taken much from him. And he needs more than her love to confront his inner demons and fractured faith.

In a whirlwind of deception, the enemy attacks the town and garrison, leaving death and destruction in its wake. But this was no ordinary attack, and the evidence Zander has just falls on deaf ears.

He is determined to unearth the truth. She has lost everything and must make a heart-wrenching decision.

Betrayal plunges Zander into a nightmare of injustice and a perilous ordeal of sacrifice and endurance few can survive. He needs a miracle. A lot of them.

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I received a complimentary copy of this book, and all opinions given are my own and not an endorsement of all author's opinions.

Author Interview

● How do you weave Biblical truths into your writing?

I always have at least one character who is strong in his/her faith and not afraid to show it. And

that character is influential in the life of my protagonists. The other thing that has come very

naturally (so I know it is God’s doing) is that each of my novels has a biblical theme of some

sort. A reader will quickly discover that In Tempest Winds is about one young man’s crises of

faith. It parallels with the episode of Peter on the water with Jesus. Peter takes his eyes off the

master and begins to sink and panics. That’s Zander, in my book. As one reviewer put it, it is a

story of faith lost and faith found.

● Was your writing process spontaneous as it came to you or very planned and

organized? Why?

I am definitely a plotter, developing a semi-extensive outline—at least so I know what I need

to accomplish in each chapter. I start with a three-act structure and define what needs to

happen in each part. Then I roll up my sleeves, go through all my notes, timelines, and

character profiles to fill out a sentence for each chapter before I dive into that rough draft.

This is a lot of work and doesn’t sound as glamorous as sitting down and pulling a story out

of my head, I know. But I write historical fiction, so it requires a lot of research, and I have to

weave my story through actual events. All the prep makes the writing go super-fast when

finally get to start in on that rough draft, though!

● Do you have a favorite time of day you are most productive in your writing?

You won’t find this girl writing in the early morning. At least not until I’ve had breakfast, my

devotional time, and at least four cups of strong black tea. I accomplish the most between

noon and 6:00 p.m.

● Why did you pick this genre for your book?

My favorite genre to read and write is Christian Historical Fiction. And since I’m a Civil War

reenactment enthusiast, the two go hand-in-hand for me. Also, having raised three boys, I

watched a lot of war movies over the years. When my agent told me to write something

completely different, it was really a challenge to write my fourth novel about something

completely unrelated to war. But I found a chunk of history with just as much conflict and went

with it. Hopefully, that book will be out in 2026.

● What is your next big goal as an author?

I have two goals: First, to publish the series that follows this one since In Tempest Winds is the

last of the West Virginia: Born of Rebellion’s Storm series. Secondly, I’d like to see my picture

books make their way into the world.

About the Author

Kendy Pearson is a worship leader, Bluegrass fiddler, and Civil War reenactment enthusiast. As a veteran high school teacher, she loves to discover a pocket of American history missing from the schoolbooks and turn that pocket inside out. Her novels lead fictitious characters through historical events and settings, engaging with period personalities. And she always includes a romantic thread to warm the heart. Every story is a journey through tragedy, secrets, regrets, and God’s undeniable grace.

She has received multiple lit awards and enjoys public speaking and teaching writing workshops. When she’s not clicking away on the computer or scaling mountains of research, she relishes ice cream, snowy days, fireplaces, and maple trees. Kendy is the mother of four grown children and lives with her sweet hubby and two amusing miniature dachshunds.

More from Kendy

As always, writing from the Heart of History requires I choose little-known events in history and weave a fictionalized story through them. In Tempest Winds is Zander’s story, the middle son of the five Dabney siblings of the “West Virginia: Born of Rebellion’s Storm” series. I promise, you will still laugh, cry, and maybe even swoon—and you will definitely learn a few things you didn’t know before.

I’d like to share a secret with you. When I wrote In Tempest Winds, I was thinking of two of my sons. Only a year and a half apart in age, they both joined the military around the same time. They each served one-year deployments. The first son deployed to Iraq and the second to Afghanistan a year later. They each left an infant child and wife behind. I held my breath for two years (barely hyperbole!).

As I researched the last desperate year of the Civil War, I somehow knew what events Zander must experience in this book. Like my sons, Zander is witty, athletic, handsome, and sensitive. And as a mother of veterans and the daughter of a two-war veteran, I know this to be a truth: “…War has a way of changing a man, taking more than he has to give.”

Zander’s journey in this story is a little like Peter’s experience on the Sea of Galilee. Peter learned a valuable, frightening lesson when he took his eyes off Jesus and started sinking. (But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid… Matt. 14:30). Peter lost his faith for a time, forgetting who made that sea in the first place.

So, you are wondering about the leading lady by now. Lola is adorable, with her fly-away blond hair and spectacles that won’t stay where she puts them. And boy, is she smart, feisty, and falling hard for Zander! When the fireworks spark, she gives our boy much to think about. Lola’s got faith and pluck. She’s determined to trust God, no matter what the tempest threatens to destroy.

If you’ve read the other books in this series, please shoot me an email (kendy@kendypearson.com) and tell me your ideas for a grown-up Will and Bertie! What will they be like? I am excited to write their stories next.

Blessings from the Heart of History, my friends!

Kendy