Step back in time to the rugged beauty of early 1900s West Texas, a place where faith was forged in the crucible of hardship, and courage wasn’t just admired—it was essential. Annie True and Brave is a story that draws us to a powerful historical narrative that includes themes of resilience, community, and unwavering hope,. As author Jody Day will reveal, this isn’t just fiction; it’s a vibrant reimagining of a real-life woman whose tenacity shaped a town and defied the conventions of her era. If you find yourself captivated by the quiet strength of unwavering heroines and you believe in the transformative power of faith amidst life’s storms, then stick around as Jody Day spotlights her reasons for exploring the layers of Annie Riggs’s remarkable journey. Real-life inspirations behind the book, the challenges and triumphs of writing a protagonist who broke societal norms, and just exactly how Jody Day brought Annie’s pioneering spirit and unwavering faith to life on the page…we’ll talk about them all. Get ready to be inspired by a story of grit, grace, and the enduring human heart.

PBG: The novel opens with a harrowing coal-oil confrontation and an overnight flight through the desert. How did you approach shaping Annie’s courage in that scene so readers feel both the danger and her dignity without sensationalizing the violence?

JD: The confrontation is an actual toning down of the reported event that night. Although the situation was written about by family members in the past, other family feel the report is just conjecture. I wrote the confrontation the way I did to respect the family’s feelings. I included the toned down, although frightening, episode because I felt it was the best catalyst to demonstrate Annie’s obstacles. It took courage for her to walk out of the desert that morning, in full view of the entire town, and start a new life for herself and her children. I can see her in my mind’s eye marching toward Matilde’s house, the children at her skirts, with her head high. Yet her inner reflections as she tried to rest that morning were full of heartache. She defied the cultural norms of her time by not staying with an abusive husband.

PBG: Doña Matilde’s “Blessing Box” exercise becomes a gentle turning point early on. What inspired that specific spiritual practice, and how did you decide to place it where you did in Annie’s journey?

JD: I placed Matilde’s Blessing Box near the beginning of the story to highlight the fact that you can either hold on to the bitterness of the past, or thank God for His many blessings. I think Matilde knew that when Annie was up and around trying to go forward that she’d be tempted to wallow in the many hardships she’d experienced, and would likely face in the future. She wanted Annie to pin down a point in her life where she put it all behind her and go forward with a grateful perspective. As far as putting things in a spiritual box, I’m not sure where that came from. It appeared in my imagination I guess. Honestly, I needed that in my own life.

PBG: Food, especially Annie’s biscuits and peach cobbler, becomes almost a character in itself. How did you use cooking and hospitality to reveal Annie’s character and her approach to building community in Fort Stockton?

JD: Annie was a true Texas pioneer, and what could be more Texan than biscuits and peach cobbler?! Women for generations have used food as a way to express love and bring people together. The real Annie was known for her biscuits and peach cobbler. She was known to be generous, and so it follows suit that her specialties would be lavished on people. The Riggs Hotel was not a restaurant, but townspeople did come to her dining room for meals. She had one long dining room table, so it seems plausible that people of all kinds would fellowship around her buffet style meals. She brought the community together that way, and townspeople would have the opportunity to meet hotel guests from other places. I think Annie’s generosity and community spirit have been portrayed because of the way she provided food for the school children, stage passengers, travelers, as well as her family and hotel guests.

PBG: Because this story is based on a real person, it is set this story in early 1900s West Texas, a time and place where violence and faith coexisted in tension. What about this time period and Annie herself drew you to write this story, and how did you balance the harsh realities with Annie’s real-life hope for change?

JD: I had opportunity to work for Historic Fort Stockton for a time and became completely fascinated by the history. Even though the hotel is the Riggs Hotel, it was all Annie. The more I learned about the town’s history, and about Annie herself, the more I realized her story wasn’t being told. Although Barney’s obituary said, “no braver or truer soul ever walked the streets of Fort Stockton,” I felt Annie was the real brave one, the one that was true. True to her faith and herself. The violence that Annie experienced throughout her life is much worse than I’ve portrayed in the book. But her willingness to keep going, to provide for her family, and choose innovations almost as soon as they are introduced into the world show that hope and faith reigned supreme. Here is someone who has lost two husbands, has to work unbelievably hard, sees violence and hardship all around her, but she embraces the idea of advancement. She bought the first electric stove in Pecos County, and when cars became available, she bought one! It is true that her name is the only woman’s name on the list of investors when the railroad finally came through. The newspaper reports her many cattle and property interests. That showed me that she continued to hope for a better future for her family. Her faith in God sustained her and those around her. Fort Stockton is a great town, and I believe Annie has alot to do with that.

PBG: Annie’s relationship with Barney is complex—she loves him deeply yet must protect herself and her children from his destructive behavior. How did you navigate writing a Christian protagonist who chooses divorce, knowing it would challenge some readers’ expectations?

JD: I knew it would be a challenge to portray a woman who chooses divorce. The Christian community has varied and very strong opinions about it. God himself said He hates divorce. But our real Annie was in fact divorced. Her first husband abandoned her with 6 children, and Barney was an alcoholic, who was abusive when drunk. I thought it was important to show that a woman can survive after divorce, because let’s face it, it happens. Our character Annie suffered guilt because of it. But more importantly, I wanted women to know that they don’t have to stay in a place where their life is in danger, or where their children are not safe. There is grace and forgiveness. This whole thing was difficult to write in that there are many Riggs descendants. Yes it was over a hundred years ago, and I tried to portray Barney’s good qualities. He put down the Miller Feud which made the streets of Fort Stockton safe at the time. The Riggs family are great people, kind and accomplished. I did not want the family to feel attacked or embarrassed. I was glad Pelican wanted to put a hotline for abuse in the back of the book. I think that is a good thing.

PBG: The character of Callie Smith, waiting faithfully for Lucius while living with profound grief, adds a poignant layer to the story. What role does Callie’s story play in reflecting the broader themes of loss and perseverance in the novel?

JD: Poor Callie. She is a totally fabricated character, but I wanted to include the Buffalo Soldiers in the story a bit. Who would think to inform a little black woman that her husband fell in battle? Apparently no one did. Annie’s typical motherly love took Callie in. There was loss, separation, racism, and ignorance associated with the time Annie lived. I wanted Callie to reflect that part of the time period, and to show how Annie’s faithfulness to her helped to bring her around. The stories associated with the Fort have been brewing in my mind. Maybe a prequel, Annie and Belle. We’ll see.

PBG: Frank Hankins arrives as a mysterious drifter, and you carefully reveal his inner conflict through small gestures and reactions. How did you decide what to show readers early on versus what to hold back about his true intentions?

JD: We know from the beginning that Frank has come for revenge. But we see that he doesn’t really know what he’s doing. His alliance with Charlie becomes contentious as Frank gets absorbed in the loving care of Annie Riggs. The flashbacks show how he got to the point of bitterness and revenge, but I think Sissy’s influence in his life kept him from becoming pure evil. He watches Annie’s life and at first is bitter because his own mother didn’t have those same benefits. But he also sees that she has had heartache of her own, and has still made a good life for herself. Annie’s influence on him causes more and more confliction in his heart.

PBG: Annie’s dream of transforming Fort Stockton—bringing education, the railroad, and a more peaceful future—threads through the narrative. How did you weave her personal struggles with this larger vision for community transformation?

JD: I think that Annie had in the forefront of her mind the idea that there must be a better way. She did not want her children to solve problems with a gun. In reality, Annie Riggs had seen many senseless deaths, including that of one of her brothers. Our character Annie sought after ways to keep that from happening. She felt that education and faith were the answer to a peaceful, productive life. Annie pursued the coming of the Orient Railroad line with a passion, believing that opening up the town to the world would bring progress, new ideas, and a better way.

PBG: Young Abel Martin pops in with groceries and nerves…and then becomes a small but memorable thread. What role do these younger voices play in modulating tension and revealing Annie’s maternal leadership beyond her own children?

JD: I have six children of my own and we’re working on grandchild number 17. We used to say that the potential is staggering regarding family growth.
Annie had ten children, and raised Barney’s child from his first marriage. The potential for growth just from her family is staggering. Imagine her children and their friends coming around all the time, as well as the other children in the small town. Abel was intended to bring a little everyday occurrence and perhaps levity to Annie’s story. Abel also brought the other kinds of hardships in an old west town. Widowhood, poverty, childbirth and a boy who had to work to provide for his family. Barney Jr.’s friends also bring a little heart to the story. Notice the way Annie is able to order those children around. She cared about all of them. That is a thing of the past. The fact that some Fort Stockton octogenarians remember stories of her generosity is an indication that she mothered everyone.

PBG: The early introduction of a quiet drifter asking for work adds intrigue without announcing a mystery. How did you pace the unfolding of new relationships at the hotel so readers sense both welcome and unease in this community crossroads?

JD: The idea of a stranger could always bring tension in the old west. There was always the question “where did you come from?” and “why are you here?” and “do I need to be afraid?” Annie treated everyone as upright until she had reason to think otherwise. Annie was used to strangers coming through her hotel. True colors were not always revealed at first. I think everyone but Annie could be questioned by the reader at first, and I hoped would enjoy finding out their true motives gradually would be interesting.

Annie True and Brave

A widow' s grit. A town' s redemption. And the faith that binds them together.Annie Riggs buried her outlaw husband, but she won' t bury her dreams. In 1904 Fort Stockton, Texas, she scrapes together every penny to buy the local hotel, determined to build a thriving future for her children and a town safe from violence. But between the dust of hard labor and the whispers of judgment, Annie barely notices the danger creeping closer... until it' s too late to ignore.Frank Jennings rides into Fort Stockton with one goal: vengeance. The Riggs family stole his father' s life, and he' ll see them pay. Then he meets Annie, the widow who defies every expectation. She' s tougher than the West Texas wind, and her quiet faith unsettles him more than any bullet could. But when Frank' s past collides with Annie' s fight for survival, he must choose: Will he destroy the woman who challenges his hatred or let her rewrite his future?This gripping historical Christian romance of forgiveness, second chances, and the courage to rebuild is perfect for fans of Laura Frantz, Tamera Alexander, and stories where faith and grit triumph over the past.

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