PRAISE FOR FASTENED TO THE MARSH:

"In Fastened to the Marsh, Jan Durham's first novel, we are drawn into a lush, poignant world that spans centuries of life on the coast near Savannah, Georgia.  Durham's gift for integrating a rich story from the past with a very modern woman's quest for self-knowledge makes this a novel that will magnetize readers. Indeed, this delicious read will leave Durham's fans waiting impatiently for her next book."      Rosemary Daniel, author of "Secrets of the Zona Rosa, How Writing (and Sisterhood) Can Change Women's Lives" and seven other titles.

"... Savannah native Jan Durham gives us a peek into the intrigue and mystery of the Georgia Low Country at the turn of the century.  This first novel has all the elements of a great motion picture:  interesting characters, early American history, adventure, and romance.  She has delivered a terrific bedtime read guaranteed to improve your dreams, as delicious as a late night coffee and lemon pie (but without the calories)."      Larry Larance, author of "Miss Myrtle’s Boy; We Count Trees; and A Better Looking Corpse"

"..A vivid portrait of Savannah’s past.  Durham takes her reader on a journey back to plantation life where generations of courageous women gathered their strength from the marsh land on as they struggled to retain one family’s roots."      Lisbeth Thom, author of "Row Away From the Rocks"

"I have just finished Fastened to the Marsh, and love it. I'm now awaiting the story of The Marsh Oaks Inn with Liz, Jack, Olivia and Ben... Now, if you had been Eugenia Price, this story would have covered at least 6 novels with suckers (I mean fans) like me running every two years to fork over a small fortune to get the next one. Jan Durham has put together a great story and shared so much of faith through it. The strongest message for me is how wrong we can be about perceptions, and yet, let them affect our living so greatly."   Grady Mills,  United Methodist Minister

"Waiting for guests to board my tour trolley bus I was reading your book. I should have put it down when the first people stepped on but I was in the middle of a dramatic part and continued to read a few more lines. When I finally put the book on the dash board I had to rest my head on the steering wheel. As I stood and turned to face the four couples seated before me tears were streaming down my face. “Ladies and gentlemen I may need a moment to gather myself, I apologize, I didn’t know this book was going to have this much effect over me.” “What are you reading” asked the first lady “who wrote it” asked the second lady. “Can I see the book for a moment” asked a third. The book was passed from lady to lady as they wrote the title and author down and I gave a brief synopsis.

I loved the book. Actually I am surprised that I loved it so much. Honestly I didn’t like Liz in the beginning but as the story continued, even when it wasn’t about her directly, I became more understanding and tolerable of her until eventually I actually liked her.

This should be a movie, but what do I know. I can’t wait for your next book." Margie Standard, author and tour guide in Savannah.

Jan Durham
 

A native of Savannah, Jan Durham spent most of her adult life in Atlanta after earning her B.S. in Secondary Education from Georgia Southern, but she has never lost her love for her roots in the marshes of coastal Georgia.

She attended Candler School of Theology and after ordination as a clergy member of the United Methodist Church focused on issues of aging and congregational care. She has been a volunteer chaplain with hospice and started an adult day center for families coping with Alzheimer’s disease.

She is the author of After the Example of Christ, a model for servant ministry by and for older adults, published through the General Board of Discipleship and used in congregations throughout the United Methodist Church. She also co-authored a manual on congregational respite care with the Georgia Department of Aging and the Georgia Alzheimer’s Association.

Jan now lives on Skidaway Island on the Georgia coast where the 19^th century graves of a woman and her infant son enclosed in a tabby wall inspired her historical novel Fastened to the Marsh. She continues her involvement with the Alzheimer’s Association and hospice.

She is a member of the Landings Writers’ Group. She is currently working on a second novel set on Sapelo Island.