Stories That Cross Borders: From Civil War Refugees to Modern Ones

Back at Thanksgiving, I shared how much our lives have been enriched by families who’ve come from all over the world—enriching us with their brave stories, rich traditions, and a new perspective on our familiar world. Around that same time, I was writing Born of This Fire, my soon-to-be-launched novel featuring three Civil War refugees who land—traumatized and unsure—on Annie Anthony’s doorstep.

The timing of it all? Let’s just say, the synchronicity was hard to miss!

Why We Recognize World Refugee Day

June 20 is World Refugee Day, a time to reflect on the courage and resilience of those who leave their homelands behind. What many people don’t realize is that arriving in a new country is just the beginning. Refugees often carry the emotional weight of trauma, separation, and loss.

Then come the practical hurdles: unfamiliar transportation, strange weather, different clothes, new languages. And let’s not forget—many are expected to find work within just a few months, even if they barely speak English.

Culture Shock: More Common Than You Think

Years ago, I accidentally put my non-English-speaking friend on the wrong bus. That moment of panic stuck with me—and confirmed that I should never be the one giving directions (I often get lost in parking lots and malls. Do you?)

My husband had a similar wake-up call during a work trip to Japan. He and his colleagues confidently set out to explore the city—until they realized they couldn’t read a single street sign. And while they enjoyed trying new foods at first, eventually all they wanted was something familiar. A burger. A steak. Anything they didn’t have to guess at.

Historical Culture Shock: Annie’s Big Move to Kansas

Annie Osborn, the main character in Born of This Fire, went through her own version of culture shock in the 1860s. She grew up in a quiet island town and suddenly found herself living in Leavenworth—then the largest city in Kansas, with a population of 20,000.

Luckily, the city was laid out on a grid, which helped. But everything else? New. Gone were the seafood and ocean breezes. In came pork, beef, prairie winds, and grasshoppers—lots of ‘em.

There were plenty of pluses for her also. She was a bride, finally allowed to sink in to life with the man she loved. She had  the rare opportunity to re-create herself, something that you and I may have also done when we moved. No longer was she someone’s daughter or sister—she was a woman in her own right making her way in a new world.

And she was an Anthony! Married to a colonel—a war hero to some. A man of substance. The brother of the renowned Susan B. Anthony, a woman who would shape Annie’s existence in many ways.

Meeting Refugees in the 1860s: How Fiction Reflects Reality

Just as Annie started settling in, she met three impoverished and traumatized women from Missouri. Their pain forced her to rethink everything—her childhood, her marriage, even her sense of self. It was the kind of shift that can only come from seeing life through someone else’s eyes.

How Travel and Storytelling Help Us Grow

Whether it’s through travel or the pages of a book, stepping out of our comfort zone always changes us. It helps us see what we’ve taken for granted. And it brings new people into our lives—people whose stories reshape our own.

Book Lists Just For You

Celebrating American Historical Fiction

Step into the past! Whether you’re drawn to wartime intrigue, sweeping romance, or unforgettable characters from another era, these stories will transport you.

Download now and discover your next great read free through June 30th!

Included in this offer are two of my books… Songbird in the Marsh and The Urgent Pleas from Susan B. See the books here.