CHARLESTON, S.C., Aug. 3, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- In Paulette M. Withington's new novel, A Jewel for the Keeping (now available through AuthorHouse) a family with strong spiritual values is put to the test by the rigors of a new lifestyle and a mysterious ghost that lingers nearby.
After one dockside farewell too many, Josiah Abbott's need for hearth and home overpowers his love of working on the open ocean. When he is commissioned to be a lighthouse keeper in Brindle Point, Va., he jumps at the chance and hangs up his captain's hat for good. His family is more than happy to relocate to this rugged new environment because it means an end to Josiah's long sea voyages.
In preparing the Abbotts for their new life, the powers that be deliberately withhold the fact that Brindle Point has a reported resident ghost called the Blue Lady. This legend has been around for more than a century, and no one seems to know why she has claimed this area as her favorite haunt.
Life for this lighthouse family poses many challenges, but their faith provides all the courage they need. One day, the family witnesses a tragic event that brings the mystery of the Blue Lady even closer. The crew of a passing ship becomes distracted and runs aground of the shallows below the lighthouse. The Abbotts help the wounded sailors, and Josiah's daughter must hold firm to her religious convictions when one of the men falls in love with her. Later, the weakened crew testifies to their encounters with the Blue Lady. Immersed in the mystery, the Abbotts work together to decipher messages the ghost sends and do their best to get to the bottom of this legend.
Set against an intriguing East Coast seascape, A Jewel for the Keeping is a captivating read that brims with excitement and romance while clinging to positive values and wholesome relationships.
Withington was born in northern Kentucky to a family with strong roots in the Christian faith. She has always loved to write but was unable to pursue this interest until later in life due to her roles as a working mother and active church member. She enrolled at the NRI School of Writing in Washington, D.C. once her children had grown, and she completed a course with the highest honor. After a divorce in 1996, she relocated to South Carolina and eventually met a "remarkable southern gentleman" who she married. With his support, Withington found a solid niche in the world of writing and began contributing to the genre of Christian fiction. Her first book, Transport to Destiny is also available through AuthorHouse.
AuthorHouse is the world leader in publishing and print-on-demand services. Founded in 1997, AuthorHouse has helped more than 20,000 people worldwide become published authors. For more information, visit www.authorhouse.com.