Interview with Andrea Boeshaar

Today I'd like to welcome historical author Andrea Boeshaar to my blog. Andrea is a fellow author in The Convenient Bride Collection and she has a brand new release titled A Thousand Shall Fall. I'm excited to have her stop by and tell us a little more about herself.

Hello, Andrea! I always love to know about an author's journey to publication. How and when did you begin writing?

When my sons were young, I did a lot of reading—mostly secular romances. I had always loved to write and decided to try my hand at writing a romance novel. I got my first rejection letter in 1984. I learned then writing novels is much more difficult than it seems.

Then 7 years later, I came to Christ. It wasn’t long after that when I felt odd about writing secular romances. I wasn’t published yet, but working on a manuscript that did not honor God in any way. After attending one of Dr. Dennis Hensley’s 1-day seminars in Oak Brook, IL, I decided to write fiction and nonfiction that honors the Lord Jesus Christ.

My first book was published in 1994!

I'm thrilled that you write fiction that honors Christ. Can you tell us about your salvation experience?

I was saved by grace in 1991, although I had been searching for quite some time. A coworker, one of those "Jesus freaks" shared the Good News with me and I felt God tugging on my heart. I'm so thankful she obeyed the Lord's prompting to share biblical truth with me. My husband and sons were born again within six months of my salvation.

If you're anything like me, you have more words inside you than you know what to do with! Do you have a speaking ministry? If so, tell us about that.

Yes! I actually teach workshops to writers groups and speak on various topics at women's groups. In addition, I'm a writing coach, although I don't advertise. I mentor writers and help them realize their goals. I have more information about my coaching (and editing) on my website: www.andreaboeshaar.com

 

Speaking of authors, if you were to plan a writing retreat in which you can only have four other authors. Who would they be and why?

Wow, that's a tough choice. I know so many fabulous authors!! But I think I'd make it a Ladies' Night and I'd ask Francine Rivers, Robin Lee Hatcher, Beth Moore and my daughter-in-law. I admire these ladies' service to Christ. Each have touched my life in a significant way and I know I would learn more from them.

I saw that you're a writing coach. People are always telling me that they’d like to write a book someday. I’m sure they do to you, too. What would you tell someone who came up to you and said that?

I tell them, "Go ahead and write it." Then I add, "If you want a coach, look me up."  J

As a writer, I'm sure you share many things from your own life and experiences. Can you reveal one thing about yourself that readers may not know?

I’m a college student. That’s right. I’m in my mid-fifties and I’m earning my bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts from Concordia University-Wisconsin via the school’s Adult Learning program (6 to 8 week courses). I plan to go on for my masters, but first things first: my BA. The class I’m presently enrolled in is Interpersonal Communications.

Congrats on going back to school! I'm sure that took a lot of courage.

Here's a fun question: what is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you and how did you handle it?

Several years ago, I spoke to a group at Country Memories Farm in Manitowoc, WI. I had looked over the schedule online but arrived there with no minutes to spare and didn't realize the schedule changed. I ended up talking into the other speaker's time. When I found out, I was so embarrassed; however, the other speaker was actually relieved. She hates speaking and was dreading it. So God worked it all out the way He always does!

I'm sure she was relieved!

Let's switch gears and have you tell us about A Thousand Shall Fall.

I'm very excited about this novel. I think it's the best historical romance I have ever penned! It's titled, A Thousand Shall Fall and it's about a young woman, Carrie Ann Bell, who goes searching for her runaway sister in the Shenandoah Valley. But instead of finding her, Carrie Ann finds trouble when she ends up in the middle of a skirmish outside of Front Royal, Virginia.

Where can we find your book, and how can we find you online?

The book is the first in my Shenandoah Valley Saga. You can go here to “Look Inside” and read a sample before purchasing the book.

Readers can find me online at the following:

My website at: www.andreaboeshaar.com

On Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/andrea.boeshaar

And Twitter: @AndreaBoeshaar

Also, there is a fabulous Kindle Fire HD 6” Giveaway to celebrate the release of A Thousand Shall Fall. You can find that here.

Thank you for visiting today, Andrea! It was fun to learn more about you.

 

Readers: I'd love to hear your most embarrassing moments!

 

About A Thousand Shall Fall

Nineteen-year-old Carrie Ann Bell is independent and spirited. The only thing she really fears are the Union soldiers fighting against her Confederate friends. When her youngest sister runs away from home, brave Carrie Ann is determined to find her and bring her back. Disguised as a soldier, she sets off--only to find she's fallen into the hands of the enemy.

Her childhood friend Confederate Major Joshua Blevins has warned her against these Yankees: they're all devils, ready to inflict evil on unsuspecting young women. When Colonel Peyton Collier arrests her for her impersonation of an officer, it seems to confirm all her fears.
Soon, though, she finds herself drawn to the handsome, gallant colonel. He rescued her, protected her, and has been every inch the gentleman. Carrie Ann discovers that her foe has become her ally--and more than that, someone she could love. But the arrival of Joshua in the Union camp as a spy will test her loyalties. Will she protect someone who has been like family or be loyal to this stranger to whom she wants to offer her heart? When her world is being torn apart around her, whom should she trust?
Set against the backdrop of the American Civil War, A Thousand Shall Fall is framed around compelling characters and a very romantic setting in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley. Andrea Boeshaar’s extensive research guarantees historical accuracy and romance genre enthusiasts and Civil War buffs alike will enjoy the Christian perspectives on actual historical events.

 

About Andrea Boeshaar

Andrea Boeshaar has been married for nearly 40 years. She and her husband have 3 wonderful sons, 1 beautiful daughter-in-law, and 5 precious grandchildren.

Andrea's publishing career began in 1994 when her first novel was released by Heartsong Presents (Barbour Publishing). She went on to write numerous romances for the book club and was voted one of the line's "Favorite Authors" several times over.

Interview with Kathryn Springer and Book Giveaway

Today I'm welcoming a new-to-me author, Kathryn Springer. Kathryn and I are represented by Books & Such Literary Agency. I'm excited to get to know Kathryn better and to share her latest release, Dandelion Field, here on my blog! Please help me welcome Kathryn.

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Welcome to my blog, Kathryn! I’m thrilled you stopped by to visit today and talk about your newest release, The Dandelion Field.

 

Thank you for inviting me, Gabrielle! I’m excited to be here, too!

 

For readers meeting you here for the first time, can you tell us a little about yourself and your publication story?

 

I’m a small town Midwestern girl:) My husband and I are empty-nesters now, but I started writing when our youngest child napped in the afternoon. Short stories fit best in that season of my life (probably because I only had short amounts of time to myself!) and I wrote several dozen stories that were published in BRIO magazine for teen girls. When our son started kindergarten, I half-teasingly said to my husband, “I suppose you want me to get a job now.” I’ll never forget that conversation or his response. He suggested I stay home and write a book because that’s what I’d always wanted to do. His support and blessing gave me the courage to try. HQN Love Inspired (then Steeple Hill) published my debut novel, Tested by Fire, twelve years ago. I’ve written 21 books for LI and recently made the foray into long contemporary romance with The Dandelion Field.

 

I also started writing when my youngest were napping (they are twin boys and were two years old at the time).

Can you give us a brief synopsis of The Dandelion Field and a sneak peek at your next release? 

 

I’d love to! After Raine’s dad walked out, Ginevieve Lightly has never stayed in one place very long. When the car dies in Banister Falls, Wisconsin, Gin promises her daughter, Raine, they can stay there until she finishes her senior year of high school. Gin will do anything to make sure her daughter has a bright future, but that future is compromised when Raine reveals she’s pregnant.

 

Dan Moretti has lived in Banister Falls all his life. After losing his best friend while fighting a fire, Dan has devoted himself to helping guide Cody, Max’s son, through life.

 

When a small town scandal erupts, Dan’s loyalty to Cody and his mom, Evie, is put to the test when he finds himself drawn to Ginevieve Lightly. Dan makes his living coming to the rescue but the independent waitress is used to fighting her own battles. Can Dan convince a woman who doesn’t believe in happy endings to take a chance on a new beginning. . .with him?

 

A sneak peak at my next release. . .I am SO EXCITED to be finishing up The Hearts We Mend! It will be released in March of 2016, so be sure and watch for itJ Readers get to know Evie Bennett in The Dandelion Field but there’s so much more to her than meets the eye. Evie was widowed at the age of twenty-five and she never expected to find love again—but then she never expected a man like Jack Vale to walk into her life.

 

I’ve heard that some authors need a special environment to write (music, comfy chair, coffee shop, quiet room, desk, etc.). Do you have a special place you like to write?

 

I wish I was one of those writers who take their laptops to Starbucks (although the closest one is 45 minutes away!) but I’m at my most creative when I’m sitting at my desk. We live in the country, so it’s very quiet and peaceful and I have a beautiful view out my window. Our black lab, Bailey, and a calico cat named Sophie are my “office mates”. Sometimes I find them waiting for me at the top of the stairs if I’m late getting started in the morning!

 

My closest Starbucks is over thirty miles away. :)

What authors and stories have most influenced your writing?

 

I’ve always been a voracious reader (billboards, books, cereal boxes. . .) so it’s difficult to single out specific authors that have influenced my writing. I would have to say that all Christian writers owe a debt of gratitude to Janette Oke, though. Her book, Love Comes Softly, was a groundbreaker in Christian fiction. I was in high school at the time and I read her books as fast as they came out. Another one that immediately comes to mind is Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers.

When I was asked to sum up The Dandelion Field in one sentence (so hard for a writer!) it was, “God can turn the pieces of a broken past into a beautiful new beginning.” The key ingredient in the stories that influence my writing and the ones I love to read is hope.

We do owe a debt of gratitude to Janette Oke, and Francine Rivers. Both women have also influenced my writing.

Thank you for answering my questions, Kathryn! It’s been a pleasure having you visit my blog!

Your Turn Readers: What authors have had the greatest influence in your life?

Kathryn has agreed to give away a signed copy of The Dandelion Field! Please enter the Rafflecopter below for your chance to win.

*The winner of After a Fashion, by Jen Turano from last week's blog post by guest Courtney Phillips Ballinger is: Vicki Geslak! Vicki, I'll be contacting you soon!*

 

About Kathryn:

 

KATHRYN SPRINGER is a full-time writer and the award-winning author ofFront Porch Princess. She won the ACFW 2009 Book of the Year award forFamily Treasures. Her most recent book,The Soldier's Newfound Family, hit the New York Times best-seller list in November 2012.

Kathryn grew up in northern Wisconsin, where her parents published a weekly newspaper. As a child she spent many hours sitting at her mother's typewriter, plunking out stories, and credits her parents for instilling in her a love of books-which eventually turned into a desire to tell stories of her own. Kathryn has written 19 books with close to two million copies sold. She lives with her husband and three children in Marinette, Wisconsin. 

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Interview with Lori Benton and a Book Giveaway

It is with great pleasure that I welcome today's author to my blog. I met Lori Benton for the first time at the Books & Such Retreat in Monterey, California last October. I had not yet read Lori's books, though I had heard a great deal about them. When I had the opportunity to read and review The Wood's Edge, (you can see my review here) I jumped at the chance--and I'm so happy I did. I was instantly (I mean instantly!) captivated by her story. If you read no other book this year, read The Wood's Edge (but please read other books!!). I'm so excited to have Lori here today, and I'm even more excited to offer her book to one lucky reader!! See below for details.

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Welcome to my blog, Lori! I’m thrilled to have you visit for the first time and talk about your newest release, The Wood’s Edge.

Thank you, Gabrielle. I’m so pleased to chat with you.

I can’t wait a moment longer to start discussing The Wood’s Edge! I was given an advanced reader’s copy to review, and I was mesmerized by the story. Truly, it is now in my top five favorite! I couldn’t put the book down and I fell in love with Two-Hawks, Anna, Reginald, Lydia, William, Good Voice, and Stone Thrower.

The story explores the collision of British Colonial and Oneida cultures in the second half of the 18^th century. How did your passion develop for this time period and subject?

I stumbled upon a passion for the 18^th century and the particular types of conflicts it encompasses on something of a whim. After a season away from writing due to illness, I decided to try my hand at historical fiction. This was 2004, and by then I’d seen the movie The Patriot (with Heath Ledger and Mel Gibson), and knew I wanted my male characters clad in knee breeches. A little research told me I’d better choose the 1700s for that. I know, how utterly profound! Little did I know what awaited me in the pages of the now hundreds of research books that fill my bookshelves.

I'm thinking Mel Gibson and Heath Ledger have inspired many a writer. :) Our daughter Maryn is actually named after William Wallace's wife (Murron) from Brave Heart with Mel.

Your writing is beautiful and filled with depth and emotion. Which authors have influenced your writing the most?

There are so many, but at the top of the list are James Alexander Thom, Diana Gabaldon, Susanna Kearsley, and Ellis Peters/Edith Pargeter.

I love discovering new authors, especially ones that inspire other writers. I'll have to look into some of these.

The Wood’s Edge is rich with historical detail and a vibrant setting. How long did it take you to research this story? And what research tools did you use? Did you visit the setting?

I wrote the first draft of The Wood’s Edge in 2012; safe to say I was researching for a few months prior. A lot of the research for this novel happened while I was writing Burning Sky in 2009. Much of what happens in The Wood’s Edge and especially its sequel, A Flight of Arrows (spring 2016), forms the back story of Burning Sky. So it’s accurate to say I began research for The Wood’s Edge as early as 2008, though of course I didn’t know then that’s what I was doing.

I didn’t do any traveling for research this time around, unless you count multiple visits to the Mohawk Valley and points westward via Google Earth and other people’s YouTube videos. Amazing what you can find online these days.

It is amazing what research tools we have at the tips of our fingers!

If one of the characters from The Wood’s Edge could come to life, and you could spend the day with him/her, which one would you choose? And why?

I’m sure I’ve wished to be able to do this at some point with every single character in this book. But now that I have a little distance from it I’d say Two Hawks, because he’s the one most caught between two worlds in this book—a theme that continually draws me to write novels—and even more so in A Flight of Arrows.

I really enjoyed Two Hawk's character. He is caught between two worlds, and as a reader, you feel the pull. I can't wait to see where his story goes in Flight of Arrows.

For readers meeting you here for the first time, could you give us an overview of your writing and publication story?

It was long and winding. I began writing as a child, but didn’t get serious about it until my early 20s. 1991 to be exact. I wrote several novels and submitted them to publishers in the mid to late 1990s, but met with rejection. Then I faced cancer at age 30 (1999), and while I came through the treatment relatively unscathed (and have been in remission since) for the next 4-5 years I suffered a long term side effect called chemo fog. I wasn’t able to write much at all during that time. When my brain began to clear is when I decided to try writing historical fiction. That was 2004. I was very rusty, so it took a while—nearly four more years—to finish another novel and then edit into shape for submission. I was in no hurry however, and still discovering who I was as a writer, and all the changes God had worked in me through that cancer and non-writing experience. Around 2008 I felt I was again ready to submit my work to agents (the publishing scene had changed during my hiatus and a writer now needed an agent). It wasn’t until 2010 that I finally signed with my agent and not until 2012 that I signed a contract with WaterBrook Press for my first novel, Burning Sky. Which of course wasn’t really my first novel. Or second, or sixth. Some of those early attempts will never see the light of day, and rightly so. But maybe some of them will. Guess we’ll have to wait and see.  

I'm so thankful you answered God's call to be a writer, and continued to pursue the call even through the difficult seasons of life. Your writing has a great impact on me, and I'm looking forward to many more of your novels to come. Thank you for visiting my blog, Lori! I’ve had fun interviewing you.

Thank you very much, Gabrielle. My pleasure!

Lori has kindly agreed to give away a copy of The Wood's Edge to a reader. Please see the Rafflecopter below.

YOUR TURN, READER: Have you read any of Lori's books? What authors and/or stories have had the greatest impact on you?

Meet Lori:

Lori Benton’s novels transport readers to the eighteenth century, where she brings to life the Colonial and early Federal periods of American history. When she isn’t writing, reading, or researching, Lori enjoys exploring the Oregon wilderness with her husband. She is the author of Burning Sky, recipient of three Christy Awards, The Pursuit of Tamsen Littlejohn, an ECPA 2015 Christian Book Award finalist, and The Wood’s Edge.

The Wood's Edge:

At the wood’s edge cultures collide. Can two families survive the impact?

The 1757 New York frontier is home to the Oneida tribe and to British colonists, yet their feet rarely walk the same paths.

On the day Fort William Henry falls, Major Reginald Aubrey is beside himself with grief. His son, born that day, has died in the arms of his sleeping wife. When Reginald comes across an Oneida mother with newborn twins, one white, one brown, he makes a choice that will haunt the lives of all involved. He steals the white baby and leaves his own child behind. Reginald’s wife and foundling daughter, Anna, never suspect the truth about the boy they call William, but Reginald is wracked by regret that only intensifies with time, as his secret spreads its devastating ripples.

When the long buried truth comes to light, can an unlikely friendship forged at the wood’s edge provide a way forward? For a father tormented by fear of judgment, another by lust for vengeance. For a mother still grieving her lost child. For a brother who feels his twin’s absence, another unaware of his twin’s existence. And for Anna, who loves them both—Two Hawks, the mysterious Oneida boy she meets in secret, and William, her brother. As paths long divided collide, how will God direct the feet of those who follow Him?

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Interview with NLB Horton

Today I'm welcoming author Norma Horton to my blog. Norma and I are agent-mates with Books & Such Literary Management. It's my pleasure to have her here today! Please sit back and enjoy this fun interview.

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Welcome to my blog, Norma. Thank you for stopping by to visit and to talk about your newest release, The Brothers’ Keepers.

Gabrielle, it’s so kind of you to invite me! It’s always a joy to share my work with readers, especially when they follow an author represented by my literary agent. We’re a sisterhood!

For readers meeting you here for the first time, can you tell us a little about yourself and your publication story?

Somehow, much to my surprise, I have lived a pretty adventurous life.

I married late, then homeschooled when necessary. (They survived my teaching to become an attorney and engineer.) I retired from twenty-five years of owning a marketing and advertising agency, pursuing a later-in-life master’s degree from Dallas Theological Seminary.

As part of my study, I embarked on archaeological surveys of the Holy Land. These laid the groundwork for the adventures of my protagonist, archaeologist Grace Madison. I also traveled along the journeys of Paul through Greece and Turkey; returned to the Holy Land a year ago; and just returned from the Mediterranean. I write about what I know and places I know well.

I can pinpoint the date of Grace’s birth because I stood on the top of tel Dan in far northern Israel, under artillery fire from Syria and machine gun fire from Lebanon. My then-teenage kids were with me as a camo-painted bomber with an IDF (Israeli Defense Force) tail number dropped through the clouds. Happy birthday, Grace!

She continues her adventures, via my imagination, across the Middle East (When Camels Fly), through Western Europe (The Brothers’ Keepers), and the Near East (book 3, which I’m drafting).

Along the way, I floated the Amazon River with a Robinson’s tarantula on the prow of the skiff. Studied with an Incan shaman. And was nominated to membership in the Explorers Club, whose members have included Teddy Roosevelt and Sir Winston Churchill.

The Brothers’ Keepers is the second book in the Parched series. Can you tell us a little about the series?

Humanity’s role at creation was that of co-stewards of the garden; I am committed to environmental stewardship. Living in the west, I am familiar with drought. My protagonist’s daughter is an international hydrologist, and the importance of water is an undercurrent in the Parched series.

According to Christy Award winner DiAnn Mills, the series is “masterful international suspense driven by contemporary dynamics.” Aside from kidnappings and disappearances, running for their lives and loving each other, Parched touches on the importance of careful and fair management of the most precious natural resource on earth: water.

And as an aside, The Brothers’ Keepers will be featured on BookBub on April 10, kicking off a ten-day, 99-cent sale of the e-book. Although readers prefer to start with book 1, When Camels Fly, everyone likes to save their pennies, right?

I hope everyone will take advantage of the sale--as well as buy the first book!

 

What meaning does the series name hold for you?

I rode out the Hayman Fire summer at our ranch, watching a huge hunk of Colorado burn. We were at the end of a seven-year drought. Although our water table was steady at ten-thousand-plus feet, where the ranch house perched, many down-valley families received air and dust when they turned on their spigots.

As Americans, we think that drought is a problem for Africa or the Middle East. Drought is our problem, and it’s here to stay.

What plans do you have next for your Parched series?

Ah, Grace. She just keeps getting into trouble. And when she’s behaving, her family finds ways to draw her into their misadventures.

Right now, she’s in a war zone. Not willingly, of course. She’s too smart and careful for that. But nonetheless, someone has just been shot (by her) in self-defense. Her family is trying to figure out how to rescue her. Her daughter, Maggie, a hydrologist, is about to have a very personal encounter with the young man she doesn’t know she loves.

Seriously, book 3 should go to the editor next month, with a planned release of January 2016. Two or three are fighting for dominance in my frontal lobes, and I’m trying to keep that rowdy crowd under control.

What do you hope readers walk away with after they’ve finished reading The Brothers’ Keepers?

I hope they’re empowered to find the joy with which Grace lives. I hope that they admire the way she and her family stretch to use their God-given gifts to the utmost to glorify God and share the love of Christ.

We are all created so uniquely. Not everyone wants to ride a camel across the Negev, but there’s a place at God’s table for so many gifts. I hope readers dig deeply into themselves, searching for what makes them special. Then have the courage to share their discoveries with the people in their lives.

Thanks again for having me here, Gabrielle.

Thank you for being my guest, Norma. Your series, and life experiences, sound so fascinating.

YOUR TURN READERS: Do you live in a part of the US under drought conditions? If so, please share your experience. What do you think environmental stewardship means?

When a dear friend disappears without warning, archaeologist Grace Madison exposes his deadly deception--only to realize that it endangers everything she cherishes.  
While cataloging looted antiquities in Brussels, Grace learns that her son's bride has been attacked in Switzerland. Her day careens from bad to catastrophic when daughter Maggie, a hydrologist, disappears in France.

Coincidence is a luxury that Grace cannot afford. Particularly when near-fatal history--saturated in espionage--is repeating itself.

Family members convene in Paris, where they discover the key to the danger consuming them. Embedded like a taproot in the Ancient Near East, the cuneiform clay tablet is their only lifeline. But before they can save themselves, they must first find and rescue their elderly friend--if he'll let them.

On an epic journey following two brothers, crossing three continents, and spanning four thousand years, the Madison family risks it all to save it all. They rediscover and reinvest in love. Offer and receive redemption. And summon the courage to face truth: about themselves, each other, and the difference in right and wrong.

Because sometimes, doing what's right is all that's left.

(The Brothers' Keepers is book 2 in the Parched series, continuing the misadventures and exploits in When Camels Fly.)

Meet Norma:

After an award-winning detour through journalism and marketing, then a graduate degree from Dallas Theological Seminary, NLBHorton returned to writing fiction. She has surveyed Israeli archaeological digs accompanied by heavy artillery rounds from Syria and machine gun fire from Lebanon (twice!). Explored Machu Picchu after training with an Incan shaman. Cruised the Amazon and its tributaries after tossing a tarantula from her skiff. And consumed afternoon tea across five continents and the North Atlantic.

She writes international suspense driven by contemporary family dynamics.

NLB is a member of the venerable Explorers Club, an international, multidisciplinary society dedicated to the advancement of field research and the ideal that it is vital to preserve the instinct to explore.

A mother of two adult children, she lives atop a Rocky Mountain with her husband of almost thirty years, an ancient tabby cat, and whatever predator wanders through the back meadow. She’s passionate about her faith, archaeology, women’s issues, and the environment. She’s also a world-class angler, a competent wing-shooter, and a dirt-encrusted gardener once the snow melts.

Her first and second novels, When Camels Fly (May 2014) and The Brothers’ Keepers (November 2014), are available on Amazon. She is writing the third now and plans to release it in January 2016.

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We have a winner from last week's drawing for Jill Kemerer's debut story! The winner is: Shelli Littleton!!! Shelli, I'll email you right away!


Interview with Laura Frantz & a Book Giveaway!

I've been looking forward to this day for weeks!! It's the day Laura Frantz visits my blog. :) I met Laura on the pages of her novel, The Colonel's Lady, and became an instant fan. She was one of the first authors I reached out to on my writing journey, and she's become a wonderful friend. Though we've not met in person, she has been a joy and encouragement to me along the way. The best part? Her books are amazing, and they keep getting better!!

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Welcome to my blog, Laura! I’m thrilled, as always, to have you here. Today I’m excited to talk about your latest release, Love’s Fortune, and find out what we can look forward to next.

Gabrielle, I’ve always felt a special connection with you, ever since you found me on Facebook and we discussed our mutual fascination with Charles and Anne Morrow Lindbergh and all that rich history near your home and heart! That was, of course, only the tip of the iceberg! Now here you are, another novelist!

I remember that first conversation! It was the start of a beautiful friendship. You've been so kind to come alongside me and offer your support. 

First, let’s chat a little about, Love’s Fortune, which is the third and final installment of the Ballantyne Legacy Series. I shared my review last September when the book released, and when I looked back at it just now, all the wonderful feelings and emotions from the story returned to me. It’s a lovely tale that still tugs on my heart. How do you feel leaving the Ballantyne family behind to write new stories?

I’m thrilled Wren’s story reached you on an emotional level, always my heart’s desire. Leaving the Ballantynes was bittersweet as I had become quite attached to Eden and Silas and their descendants over the course of 3-4 years researching and writing about them. Ending their story in Scotland, the land of my hero’s birth, brought the series full circle and made it easier to type THE END. Publishing doesn’t give you a lot of time to catch your breath so it’s off to another storyworld…!

Your next novel, The Mistress of Tall Acre, will release in September 2015. The back cover copy sounds so intriguing! 

The American Revolution is finally over and Sophie Menzies is starved for good news. When her closest neighbor, General Seamus Ogilvy finally comes home to Tall Acre, she hopes it is a sign of better days to come. But the general is now a widower with a small daughter in desperate need of a mother. Nearly destitute, Sophie agrees to marry Seamus and become the mistress of Tall Acre in what seems a safe and sensible arrangement. But when a woman from the general's past returns without warning, the ties that bind this fledgling family together will be strained to the point of breaking. When all is said and done, who will be the rightful mistress of Tall Acre? 

Oh, my! I can’t wait to read this story! Can you share with us where the story idea came from?

 

I’ve always wanted to write a novel about a hero who’s both a widower and a father. There’s something especially poignant about that to me – far more angst! So Seamus, grieving widower and war hero and single father, was the launching point for this novel. Since I love Virginia history, I set the story there, and modeled Tall Acre after Gunston Hall (George Mason’s estate). But the lovely house you see on the cover is quite different than Mason’s (Revell couldn’t use Gunston Hall due to copyright issues). My heroine is also older this time round as you will also see from the cover. I like that maturity very much and appreciate Revell nailing her look. I was able to choose the gown she’s wearing – the fabric is exquisite though the button are a bit taboo for that time period :), at least for women.

 

 

The cover is gorgeous, and I love the age and wisdom in the heroine's face! Can you share a few images you used for inspiration?

 

I really hoped to have the hero and his little girl on the cover. In fact, a dress was sewn for the child model but the heroine won out. This cover is very different than my others, less portrait-ish and more realistic. When it goes live it will be interesting to hear comments, ayes and nays ;). I really wanted to have the house, Tall Acre, a very fine, old Georgian estate incorporated and that did come to be. Tall Acre is truly the linchpin of the novel, perhaps more than any other aspect except the general’s little daughter, whose name is such a delight to me I wish I had one!

 

I had so much fun naming my own daughters--and it's just as fun naming my book characters! :)

 

I just read on your Author Facebook Page that you’re working on an upcoming novel set on the Isle of Mull in Scotland. There is so much about this bit of information that excites me! Many of your American stories have had a wee bit ‘o Scottish in them, but I know you’ve been longing to set a story in Scotland. It reminds me of Proverbs 13:19 “A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul.” I have a feeling this story has been sweet for your soul. Can you share how this story idea developed, and give us a glimpse of what we can expect?

 

Oh, love that particular Scripture, Gabrielle. Very true of this Scottish story! Since my family lineage is Scottish and they came to the colonies in the early 18^th-century, I’ve always longed to put that on paper. This novel will have quite a bit of suspense within and takes place on two continents. It begins on the Isle of Mull, a place I’ve had the joy of experiencing several times – and very atmospheric, complete with a whisky cave I climbed down a cliff to see at low tide! This is also incorporated into the novel. I just hope to do all that rich history justice!

 

I can't wait to read both of your upcoming novels! Thank you for visiting today, Laura, and thank you for sharing a glimpse into your writing world. Your stories, and your sweet heart, make you one of my all-time favorite authors.

 

Always a joy to spend time with you and reading friends here and share some book buzz, Gabrielle! Thank you!

Dear Readers! Laura has graciously offered to give away a copy of one of her stories! The winner's choice. Please fill out the Rafflecopter below.

YOUR TURN: Have you read one of Laura's stories? If so, which is your favorite? And what do you think of that lovely cover?!?!

Award-winning author Laura Frantz is passionate about all things historical, particularly the 18th-century, and writes her manuscripts in longhand first. Her stories often incorporate Scottish themes that reflect her family heritage. She is a direct descendant of George Hume, Wedderburn Castle, Berwickshire, Scotland, who was exiled to the American colonies for his role in the Jacobite Rebellion of 1715, settled in Virginia, and is credited with teaching George Washington surveying in the years 1748-1750. Her family resides in Kentucky and Virginia.

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We have a winner from last week's visit with Jennifer Major!! The winner is Paula Moldenhauer!! Congratulations. I'll contact you soon.

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Interview with Olivia Newport

Today I'm honored to have Olivia Newport visiting my blog. Olivia is the author of historical, Amish, and contemporary stories. She and I are also agent-mates with Books & Such Literary Management.

 

Welcome to my blog, Olivia! Thank you for stopping by to visit and talk about your newest Amish release, Meek and Mild from Shiloh Run Press.  

 

Thanks! I’m so glad to be here.  

For readers meeting you here for the first time, can you tell us a little about yourself and your publication story?  

 

After growing up in Chicagoland, and living in California, Washington State and back in Illinois, I’ve lived in Colorado for the last 19 years with my husband and now-grown children. I’ve had a string of jobs where my role was wordsmithing in one form or another. In a sense, I cut my teeth on understanding the purpose and audience for a wide variety of organizational pieces and figuring out how to make them communicate for the desired result. But I've always been an avid fiction reader and wanted to write novels. A few years ago I decided to get serious about it. My first novel, The Pursuit of Lucy Banning, released in 2012.   

 

Can you give us a brief synopsis of Meek and Mild?    

 

The books in the Amish Turns of Time series put fictional characters in the middle of true-to-history events that in some way affected the development of the Amish. In Meek and Mild, Clara Kuhn and Andrew Raber find themselves caught in the vortex of events that led to the Beachy Amish separating from the Old Order about a hundred years ago. They both have to decide when is the right time to take a stand that keeps them connected both to their consciences and to each other.  

 

You write both historical romance and Amish fiction. How did your passion develop for these two genres, and do you see yourself writing in other genres in the future? 

 

A few years ago a friend introduced me to the Prairie Avenue Historical District in Chicago, and the result was the Avenue of Dreams series, set in 1890s Chicago. Then I wandered into Amish stories when I discovered a family line that traced to the Amish, and the result was the Valley of Choice series. Now I’m bringing historical and Amish together with the Amish Turns of Time series. But I also had the opportunity last year to write Hidden Falls, a 13-episode serialization available in e-book and audio formats. Hidden Falls has a contemporary small-town setting. I’ve had a blast writing a variety of genres, but when it comes right down to it, they all have a historical element. That seems to be in my writer DNA.  

 

Since you write historical fiction, I’d love to know your favorite historic site you’ve ever visited. 

 

Oh, so many options! I love visiting small local museums, such as the home of a town founder or industry leader. It seems to me that these places always have enthusiastic docents who love to showcase their town’s history. On a larger scale, one museum that stands out in my mind is the Glessner House Museum in Chicago, which was the inspiration for the Avenue of Dreams books. Tours are open to the public, but a friend is a volunteer docent there, and a couple of times he got permission to take me on behind-the-scenes private tours where I got to see parts of the house most people don’t have access to.  

 

I’ve heard that some authors need a special environment to write in (music, comfy chair, coffee shop, quiet room, desk, etc.). Do you have a special place you like to write? 

 

I have a couple of different set-ups in my home that I can turn to depending on mood or ergonomic needs. In the summer, I’ve been known to get comfortable in the hammock on the patio. Sometimes on Saturdays if the house is too noisy I go to a coffee shop in the morning and the library in the afternoon. Now that I think about it, it doesn’t sound like I’m too particular, does it? Wherever I am, classical music is my style of choice. There’s something about the rhythms and pace of Vivaldi and Mozart, for example, that seem to keep my brain clicking along.  

 

Any of those places would do for me, too! I can almost imagine sitting in that hammock... 

 

Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions, Olivia. It's fun to get to know you a bit better and to learn more about your writing.

 

READERS, IT'S YOUR TURN: What is your favorite historic site?

 

Olivia has been kind enough to offer a free copy of her new release to one lucky winner! Please fill out the Rafflecopter below for your chance to win.

 

 

Olivia Newport’s novels twist through time to find where faith and passions meet. She chases joy in Colorado at the foot of the Rockies, where daylilies grow as tall as she is. Meek and Mild is book 2 in the Amish Turns of Time set, which began with Wonderful Lonesome and will conclude with Brightest and Best later this year.  

 

 

 

 

Suddenly shun has become a serious word for Clara Kuhn. As 1917 approaches, her Amish church’s aging bishop is coming down hard on members who dally in untraditional practices—like offering Sunday school for children—and Clara’s gift for telling Bible stories to little ones collides with new mandates. The young Pennsylvania Amish woman had always moved freely over the state line to visit family in the more progressive Maryland district, but now those visits are coming under scrutiny by some members of Clara’s church.  

 

On the verge of accepting Andrew Raber’s marriage proposal, Clara is unsure what to make of his new hobby to rehabilitate an abandoned Model T. Just how ward can they push against the bishop’s wishes? As the chasm widens between Old Order Amish and the Marylanders, and tensions rise between longtime friends and close-knit family, Clara and Andrew must look inward to examine their own hearts and consciences and, above all, seek Gottes wille—God’s will. 

Please visit Olivia:

www.olivianewport.com 

@OliviaNewport 

www.facebook.com/OliviaNewport 

 

 

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