Episode 25

Below, you'll find the full transcript of today’s episode, in case you prefer to read or want to reference something we talked about.

Port Royal, Florida, Will Never Be the Same After Three Unlikely Women, a Boy, and a Dog Join Forces

The year is 1897, and wealthy widow Lydia Culpepper is evaluating her mundane existence. For sixty-three years, she’s faithfully gone through the motions of fulfilling everyone else’s expectations for her life, but nothing she does is ever enough. She longs for something more. When a young boy comes to her house in search of his missing coon dog, she gets her wish. She meets Emily Reed, a young finishing school instructor, and Opal Jackson, an Irish single mother, and the three women join together on a mission that turns the First Baptist Church on its head. Suddenly, the town is in an uproar as lives are changed. When Yellow Fever hits, it looks like their efforts may have been in vain, but the epidemic isn’t enough to thwart the fruits of the Amazing Crab Alley Revival.

Sharon Wilharm is an author, speaker, Bible teacher, podcaster, radio host, and former filmmaker. The common thread of all her activities is women and storytelling. She loves to tell stories that inspire and encourage women in their walk with the Lord.

Sharon is the author of Women of Prayer, a 10-week Bible study about praying women in the Bible, and The Amazing Crab Alley Revival, a Southern historical retelling of Lydia in the Bible. She’s also the host of All God’s Women podcast and syndicated radio show heard daily on Moody Radio Network and Faith Radio Network.

Sharon Wilharm: I'm so excited to be here.

Danielle Grandinetti: A little background for my readers: Sharon and I are in a mastermind group together, so I'm extra excited to chat with her after watching this book go all the way through the publication process.

To kick things off, Sharon—since our love of story unites us—what are you reading right now?

Sharon Wilharm: I just finished a book, so I'm currently in between reads. I recently finished the most delightful Love Inspired Historical Regency novel by Regina Scott (affiliate). It was so funny! The premise was a marriage contest where three women compete for the attention of an Earl. It wasn't arranged by the Earl himself, but rather by his staff member friend who decided he needed to get married. I laughed so many times reading it.

Danielle Grandinetti: That's awesome. I love Regina Scott's books—she is a favorite historical author of mine.

Sharon Wilharm: This was my first book by her, so I'm definitely going to look for more.

Danielle Grandinetti: Yes, absolutely! She has a wonderful series set in individual National Parks, including Mount Rainier and the Grand Canyon. They are so good.

Turning back to your story—Southern historical fiction as opposed to Regency romance—tell us about the title The Amazing Crab Alley Revival. How did that come about?

Sharon Wilharm: It originally started with the working title Lydia's Legacy, which was dull as dirt. The story was originally set in Tennessee and wasn't really moving anywhere. Then I remembered growing up in Florida, where my parents and grandparents were from along the "Forgotten Coast"—Apalachicola, Port St. Joe, and Mexico Beach. That area has so much Old Florida personality.

I decided to move the setting there. I wanted a cool-sounding coastal location that felt poor rather than like a resort. I thought of crabs along the shore, and "alley" had the right connotation. My son-in-law mentioned that Crab Alley Revival sounded like a Southern gospel group, which made me picture a big tent revival, circus, or fair atmosphere. That's how we arrived at the title!

Danielle Grandinetti: I love that title. What does a day in the life of your main characters look like?

Sharon Wilharm: Lydia is the character most like me. I love writing about spunky, quirky older women who don't feel bound by societal rules. They know proper etiquette, but they ultimately make their own rules and remain their own person. Lydia is just trying to figure out what she's supposed to do today without caring what the rest of the world thinks.

Danielle Grandinetti: She might be my favorite character in the book, though it's hard to choose because the cast is so wonderful. Remind us of the other two heroines in the story.

Sharon Wilharm: There's Opal, who is a single mom, and Emily, a finishing school instructor.

Danielle Grandinetti: I loved watching their stories intertwine and seeing each of them grow. What was your favorite scene to write?

Sharon Wilharm: My favorite scene is when the dogs come to church! I had so much fun picturing two dogs chasing around the sanctuary and causing complete upheaval. I was laughing out loud the entire time I wrote it.

The historical inspiration behind that scene is quite fun. Years ago, we lived in a Victorian house in Florida. The original owner's oldest daughter moved to New York City to design hats for dogs and their owners. I always wanted to incorporate hat-wearing dogs into a story, so this was the perfect opportunity.

Danielle Grandinetti: It fits the tone so well! Along with the dogs, there's also the bazaar and pie-eating contest. What unique research was required for this book?

Sharon Wilharm: When researching church fundraisers in vintage etiquette books, I discovered that church bazaars were standard practice. The guidebooks listed suggested booth ideas, including a live peacock booth! I had no idea how having live peacocks raised money—perhaps people paid to see them—but it was too perfect not to include.

I also spent a lot of time reading through an 1897 Sears Roebuck catalog to look up period-accurate items, pricing, and everyday details for characters of different income levels.

Danielle Grandinetti: Looking at old ads in vintage newspapers and catalogs is so helpful for finding those exact details. What is one piece of research you wish you could have kept in the story?

Sharon Wilharm: The original owners of that Victorian house had a wedding where a red carpet stretched all the way down the sidewalk from the church to their home for the reception. I couldn't fit it into this book, but it's definitely going into a future one!

Danielle Grandinetti: Tell us a bit more about the deeper inspiration behind The Amazing Crab Alley Revival.

Sharon Wilharm: The story evolved significantly from its initial draft. Originally, I just knew I wanted an older church lady befriending two unlikely women on a shared mission. I wanted to explore church dynamics in a lighthearted, historical way that still touches on real human tendencies.

I once served at a church with a bus ministry where some members didn't want the visiting children interacting with their own kids in Sunday school classes. It inspired me to step into children's ministry leadership to make sure everyone was included. This story reflects a lot of those experiences—feeling that something is missing, wanting more from God, and realizing He can use us in unexpected ways.

Danielle Grandinetti: That perspective gives the historical setting so much contemporary resonance. What encouragement do you hope readers take away from the book?

Sharon Wilharm: I want readers of all ages to know that no matter who or where you are, God has a purpose for you. It might not look like what you expected, but He can use you in extraordinary ways if you make yourself available.

Danielle Grandinetti: How did you tie Lydia's narrative back to your work with Women of the Bible?

Sharon Wilharm: Lydia's character in Scripture is so fascinating. She was a wealthy, independent businesswoman in a time when that was uncommon. When there was no local synagogue to worship in, she gathered a group of women together by the river to pray. Her initiative helped spark a revival, showing that her story is just as relevant now as it was in biblical times and in the 1890s.

To make this story accessible to everyone, an AI-assisted transcript is provided above. It has been edited for clarity to ensure it captures the heart of our conversation.

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Until next time, may your reading bring both light and encouragement.

Happy reading!
~ Danielle.