What spurred me to write this novel?

I became interested in this period of American history—the 1870s and beyond—because I think it parallels the present time in many respects. On the one hand, it was an era of rapid change, of sweeping advancements in communication and transportation. Information from many sources was now widely available, spreading knowledge and presenting challenging new ideas to people across the country. On the other hand, many religious institutions fiercely resisted a modern, progressive outlook. I created characters based on my estimation of what people at that time, from different backgrounds and living in various circumstances, would know and believe: about the world, history, science, and religion. The main characters are sympathetic to a growing, sophisticated secular movement, although they are situated within the context of a religious school and community. The actors and events in the story reflect the powerful forces at work reshaping society during this period. I observe the same phenomena occurring in the present day. Scientific discoveries and advances leading to greater knowledge of ourselves and our universe are being marginalized or negated by religious doctrine. The battle between religion and science is just as relevant today as it was in the nineteenth century. Who knows which worldview will prevail?