Peggy Savage Baumgardner’s ‘The Secret Sins of Their Preachers’ keeps readers on the edges of their seats with an intricate narrative of interwoven deceit, death and crime – all wrapped up and colliding with the church’s supposed clean image. Aside from stirring up much-needed debate into the real intentions of many ‘people of God’, the book also serves as a heartfelt dedication to a very special friend and mentor in the author’s own life.

Dallas, NC -- (SBWire) -- 09/03/2014 --While thousands of new books hit the shelves every year, some of literature’s greatest stories come from the lives of its authors. A new release from author Peggy Savage Baumgardner lives true to this adage, by transcending the story itself to pay a very bold tribute to each author’s biggest confident and guiding light – their mentor.

‘The Secret Sins of Their Preachers’ is 100% fiction; whisking readers off on a crime-laden adventure where wearing the cloth is no indication of an individual’s true integrity.

Synopsis:

Edward and Donald Briceson are identical twins, but they could not be more different. Edward excelled in school and was very popular. Donald barely passed and had to live in Edward's shadow.

Edward receives a scholarship to the same college that Charles Briceson, his father, also graduated from. He then becomes a very influential minister for one of the largest churches on the east coast. Donald becomes a career criminal, committing his first murder as a teenager.

The twins lived their lives far apart from each other, without as much as a postcard sent between them. A crime committed in Edward's church prompts the police to dig up his past, as well as Donald's.

A web of lies and a string of murders and rapes committed is brought to surface, threatening to destroy Edward Briceson's family and his spotless image, as well as the church he has worked so hard to build.

Will this shadowy past, lead to a dire future for the twins? Is the Reverend Edward Briceson a true man of God as everyone thinks that he is? Did Donald Briceson actually commit all of the crimes, or was Reverend Edward Briceson guilty also?

As the author explains, while of course a compelling story, this book marks something much more serious and emotive.

“I began writing my first book, ‘Andersons Survive the Civil War’ during High School but only published it this year. The entire time I was encouraged by my former English teacher and, upon completing the book, I got in touch to let him know that I was dedicating it to him,” explains Baumgardner. “He was extremely excited, we formed a literary partnership and even the made came to cover our story. I was going to write, he was going to edit and we’d share the success equally.”

Continuing, “We were sat there one night and he told me that I had a true penchant for writing, and that I was to make him a promise never to give up. I of course gave him my word. The next day our books showed up, but my mentor and now best-friend died just hours later.”

While no longer around in person, Baumgardner still channels her teacher with each and every word she writes.

“His name was Mr. Jim Avery and I can feel him cheering me on as I continue to construct the narratives and ideas we discussed so deeply. My entire writing career is dedicated to him, and I think he’d really approve of this controversial and thought-provoking new book. He always advocated narratives that would make people sit up and listen, and I literally wouldn’t be doing this if it wasn’t for him,” she adds.

‘The Secret Sins of Their Preachers’ is available now: http://amzn.to/Y8t5Nt

About Peggy Savage Baumgardner
Peggy Savage Baumgardner is retired from local government with a new found penchant for writing. "Anderson's Survive the Civil War - Then Seal it with a Kiss" was her first book and "The Secret Sins of their Preachers" was her second. She is also in the process of writing a series of children's books and two additional novels, which should be out in 2015.

She is married and has two children and three grandchildren.

Peggy is also an artist and has sold over fifty of her paintings. She is a native North Carolinian but spends her winters in the Florida Sunshine.

On most days you will either find her with her grandchildren, on the golf course, tennis courts,in her home office writing or in her art studio painting.