Carol Nickles, a newcomer to the world of fiction, has just announced the international release of her debut novel, “Thumb Fire Desire.” The novel is a historical romance set in Parisville, Michigan’s first Polish-American settlement. The narrative kicks off in the spring of 1881 and takes readers on a journey through a scorching, dry summer, culminating with the catastrophic Great Thumb Fire of 1881. Despite being Michigan’s largest natural disaster, the story wraps up on an upbeat note as the year comes to a close.
“Thumb Fire Desire” isn’t your typical historical fiction. It’s a tapestry of factual political, economic, cultural, and agronomic threads woven intricately into the narrative. The story introduces us to Ginny Dahlke, an impoverished seamstress who arrives in Parisville in 1881, only to be berated and belittled by her malicious sister-in-law. Despite her lack of charm, Ginny captures the heart of the coveted widowed farmer, Peter Nickles, who admires her resilience and acceptance of Michigan’s indigenous peoples.
The novel is steeped in Michigan history. It incorporates significant events like the assassination of U.S. President James Garfield and the pivotal role of the American Red Cross in response to the Great Thumb Fire. It also paints a vivid picture of life in 1881, from the local cuisine and farming practices to the catastrophic fire that claimed the lives of 282 people and devastated over two thousand square miles of the Thumb peninsula.
About the author, Carol Nickles, she’s a sixth-generation textile expert from a German family. Her ancestors founded the Yale Woolen Mill in Michigan in 1881, and Carol wrote her Master’s thesis on it. She has taught at both the University of Utah and Michigan State, and she currently resides in West Michigan.
“Thumb Fire Desire” is available for purchase on Amazon, and you can find out more about Carol and her work on her website. She’s also open to speaking engagements and book events.
For more on the Great Thumb Fire of 1881, check out related articles like “1881 Michigan Fire Forever Changed The Thumb,” “The Great Fires Of 1871 – The Burning Great Lakes,” and “12 Sites Make Up This Amazing Time Capsule Of Huron City, Michigan.”
In her debut novel, Carol Nickles weaves a tapestry of love, resilience, and history against the backdrop of Michigan’s most significant natural disaster, the Great Thumb Fire of 1881. Her characters are compelling, and their struggles are deeply human, making “Thumb Fire Desire” a must-read for fans of historical romance. A story of love, hardship, and hope, it’s sure to leave readers eager for more from this promising new author.
#HistoricalRomance #MichiganHistory
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Author: Michael Hardy
Excerpt: Debut novelist Carol Nickles announces Thumb Fire Desire’s international release, a fictional historical romance set in Parisville, the first Polish-American settlement in Michigan. The story begins in the Spring of 1881, and draws the reader through the hot, dry summer, climaxing during the Great Thumb Fire of 1881. The event is the state’s most significant natural disaster but ends with a note of optimism in the final month of the year.
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