You won’t find too many sumptuous meals in Richmond, the capital of the Confederacy in the Civil War. You will find two women gardening to supplement their meager larder in Secrets in a House Divided, the historical  novel I just published with Mercer University Press. The relationship between the women – one enslaved, the other her owner – becomes increasingly complicated as the Union army threatens to engulf the city. Peppermint tea, brewed from fresh leaves, is their go-to beverage. The Book Club Cookbook tells you more about the foods that the characters eat. I’ll be blogging about historic recipes again as soon as I have more time. Stay tuned!