'The Winds and the Waves' parallels pioneer, modern challenges

Jeff is a lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and likes to delve into the history and gospel, while Abby is a more recent convert and the only Mormon in her immediate family.

Will initially doesn’t see much point to religion, but his family are members of the United Brethren, as is Elizabeth “Liz” Duncan, whom Will would like to marry but can’t unless his situation improves, and her family. Missionaries, including one Wilford Woodruff, come to visit the congregation. Many are baptized and look to join with the Saints in America, particularly in Nauvoo, which would mean sailing across the Atlantic Ocean.

After Jeff’s company downsizes, he is left without a job and the family moves in with his parents, until they are offered an opportunity to renovate a home in Nauvoo while the owners are serving a mission elsewhere.

Even after answers come at these two crossroads, both find there are still challenges and struggles, along with joy in the successes and friendships they make along the way.

Living in Nauvoo

Because of Hughes’ mission assignment in Nauvoo and the time he and his wife have spent there, “every street means something to me.”

The couple would take visitors across the Mississippi River to a bluff to see the rebuilt Nauvoo Illinois Temple, and the two missionaries experienced the historic town through all the seasons of the year.

As both Dean and Kathleen had ancestors in England who joined the LDS Church and came to Nauvoo, those pioneers were some of the last to receive the endowment in the Nauvoo Temple, during the last 48 hours it was open.

Sister Kathleen Hughes was called to serve in the Relief Society general presidency right before the dedication of the Nauvoo Illinois Temple in June 2002 and the two went to the dedication. And they were able to attend the second session for the newly dedicated temple.

“It was a just a beautiful experience for us,” Hughes said.

With “The Winds and the Waves,” Hughes hopes that he tells a good story that people enjoy and the book will show that in the journey of life, “we all have our own struggles — and we can do it.”

“The Winds and the Waves” is currently in stores, and the second volume in the series is expected to be released in the summer of 2013.

Author Dean Hughes shares about writing

Author Dean Hughes, whose new book "The Winds and the Waves" is his 99th novel, shares about writing.

Email: rappleye@desnews.com