I am so excited to share with you this interview with Grace Hitchcock. Her book, The White City has become a new favorite of mine. It’s one of those books I’m going to force everyone I know to read books. So I’m going to give away a print copy to one happy commenter below. Be sure to answer the Fun Question with your email written in this format name (at) place (dot) com. 😉 Don’t worry, I’ll remind you at the bottom. Now on to meet this amazing author!!
Grace Hitchcock is the author of The White City andThe Gray Chamber from Barbour Publishing. She has written multiple novellas in The Second Chance Brides, The Southern Belle Brides, and the Thimbles and Threads collections with Barbour Publishing. She holds a Masters in Creative Writing and a Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in History. Grace lives in southern Louisiana with her husband, Dakota, and son. Visit Grace online at GraceHitchcock.com. For author news, sign up for Grace Hitchcock’s newsletter here.
Crystal: I am so excited to have you here, Grace! Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to answer our questions!
Grace:Thank you so much for having me here.
Sweet or Unsweet Tea?
Grace:While I never drink iced tea, I adore hot tea with a ridiculous amount of sugar! One lump or Two? Better make it Three or Four.
Crystal: I’m with you on the iced tea, but no sugar for me. Sometimes honey, but not sugar.
Beach Vacation or Mountain Getaway?
Grace: Beach vacation! Nothing is more relaxing to me than a salty breeze and the sound of the waves.
Crystal: After this winter, I could go for a beach break.
Homebody or Love to Travel?
Grace: Both! I love to get out on little adventures throughout the year, but home is always my favorite.
Crystal: I bet it is hard traveling with a toddler, too. It’s been a while, but I remember it being tiring.
Morning Person or Night Owl?
Grace: Morning person☺ Turns out my little toddler is quite the morning person too.
Crystal: Then it is a good thing you both like mornings!
Bookmark or Dog-ear Pages?
Grace: I winced at the question haha bookmark all the way! I even hesitate to dog-ear printed out articles I’m studying!
Crystal: I definitely cringe asking the question. So you’re in good company.
Writing & Life
What are you reading right now?
Grace:I just finished Unblemished by Sarah Ella! Soooo good and I am dying to read book two now, but have to get it at my library. I pre-ordered Flights of Fancy by Jen Turano and am loving it!
Crystal: I’ll have to check out Unblemished. I’ve never heard of it, but I know Jen’s books are always good for a laugh.
What has been the biggest challenge for you on your writing journey?
Grace: I would say finding balance with motherhood! As my baby grows, my writing habits continually change. When I wrote The White City, my baby gave me three naptimes during which I could write and catch up on household needs…and now, we are down to one precious nap a day. Heaven help me when I lose that one nap haha but for now, I’m holding onto it as long as I can.
Crystal: Oh, if only we could nap that many times in a day and still be productive. LOL
While attending the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893, Winnifred Wylde believes she witnessed a woman being kidnapped. She tries to convince her father, an inspector with the Chicago police, to look into reports of mysterious disappearances around the White City. Inspector Wylde tries to dismiss her claims as an exaggeration of an overactive imagination, but he eventually concedes to letting her go undercover as secretary to the man in question—if she takes her pistol for protection and Jude Thorpe, a policeman, for a bodyguard.
Will she be able to expose H. H. Holmes’s illicit activity, or will Winnifred become his next victim?
Questions about The White City
Which character was the most fun to create? What makes them fun?
Grace: Winnifred Wylde from The White City! With her character, I gave her the love of reading and a romantic, fun spirit. She isn’t afraid to be silly, but can be serious. Also, I gave her my sweet tooth, which gave me the perfect excuse to eat some inspirational chocolate as I wrote.
Crystal: I loved Winnifred, and her name is so uncommon now that I smiled every time I read it.
What was some of your favorite research you discovered while preparing for The White City?
Grace: I loved studying all about the World’s Fair and the exhibits they had! I found an amazing map that showed me the exact layout of the fair. (If anyone wants to see it, I have in on my Pinterest board!) I’d say my favorite part of the fair was researching for the Ferris Wheel scene. I had no idea the wheel could house 50 people per car! Could you imagine being suspended in the air with all those people crowding in about you with no deodorant on a hot summer day?
Crystal: I certainly can’t, but if it is anything compared to being stuck in a car with a teenage boy after a sweaty sport on a day he forgot deodorant, I don’t want to!
Do you have any upcoming projects, releases, or sales?
Grace: I can hardly believe that The White City is out in the wild!! Now, I’m planning for the release of my next novella, “The Bridal Shop” in Thimbles and Threads from Barbour Publishing, in July 2019. This story is about Alice Turner, a young bridal shop owner who snubs marriage…until she meets a handsome groomsman named Giles Clayton who attempts to change her mind.
I’m currently working on my next True Colors book for Barbour called The Gray Chamber, a tale of an eccentric heiress wrongfully committed to the notorious Women’s Lunatic Asylum on Blackwell’s Island. Coming January 2020
Crystal: Oh, yay!!! I am so excited about The Gray Chamber! And I had no idea about the next novella. Now my TBR pile has gotten a bit taller.
Fun, Zaney Question of the Day
As a writer, what would you choose as your mascot? Why?
Grace: A Holland Lop Bunny! Bunnies have always been my favorite pets with their sweet personalities. I’ve had four in the past and hope to have a few more in future years!
Crystal: Oh fun! I’ve only seen bunnies out in the wild and at one friend’s house. They look so soft. Thank you so much for sharing so much for talking books with us! I truly appreciate it.
Readers, enter to win your own copy of The White City by commenting your answer below. Be sure to leave me your email address in this format: name (at) place (dot) com.
This contest will end on March 12th, 2019. The winner will be announced on this page and then contacted via the email address provided. (Restricted to U.S. Residents, 18 and older, only.) The winner will be picked through a random name picker. Best of luck! You’re going to LOVE this book.
Hello, friends! I’ve got another debut author to introduce. Meet Kaitlin Covel who reached out to me via my contact form. I had the privilege of reading her novel Atoning for Ashes a few weeks ago and that review will go live next Tuesday. For now, I’d love for you to get to know the woman behind the words.
Kaitlin Covel has a thirst for adventure much like the heroines of her stories. She is an old-fashioned romantic, and if she could time travel to any historical period, it would be the Regency Era. Here in the 21st century, she is a certified Nutritional Therapy Technician, but writing is her passion, whether it’s fiction or non-fiction. Her debut novel, Atoning for Ashes, releases on February 14th, 2019 from Deep River Books. She has honed her craft since childhood, benefiting from the insights of other writers through professional writing associations such as the Jerry Jenkins Writer’s Guild and Hope*writers. She lives with her family in Maine, where she enjoys teaching the teen Sunday school class at her church. Her favorite things are family, books, history, chocolate, music, the ocean, and strong cups of tea. Visit her at www.kaitlincovel.com.
Sweet or Unsweet Tea?
Kaitlin:I know sweet tea is a big deal to everyone down south, but I prefer mine unsweetened!
Beach Vacation or Mountain Getaway?
Kaitlin: Definitely a beach vacation for me! Perhaps on Prince Edward Island!
Homebody or Love to Travel?
Kaitlin: I really love to travel. If I ever inherited a fortune like the heroines of novels, I would spend the first cent on a plane ticket to the first place on my bucket list: Paris, France!
Morning Person or Night Owl?
Kaitlin: I’m a night owl for sure!
Bookmark or Dog-ear Pages?
Kaitlin: I love bookmarks!
Writing, Life, and God
As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?
Kaitlin: My dream job as a child was to be a published author and see my books on a library shelf. I thank God for making my dream come true!
Crystal: I love when God makes the desires of our heart a reality.
What is your favorite Bible verse? Why?
Kaitlin: Proverbs 3:5-6: Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, for he shall direct thy path.
I love this verse because it is a daily reminder to trust the Lord and rely upon Him in all circumstances. Life is complicated, but I know the Lord will direct my path if I acknowledge him in all my ways.
Crystal: That is a great one. Although, I confess every time I read that one, I do the little song with it that I used to teach it to my Sunday School kiddos.
What was the best advice someone ever gave you about writing, life, or anything that strikes your fancy?
Kaitlin: One of the greatest pieces of writing advice I ever received was to write until I was confident enough of my writing skills to share them with the world. I wrote short stories and several novels to practice my skills. I engaged in writing memberships and contests to polish my craft until I knew I was ready to attempt publication. This journey has taken me almost ten years, but I have loved every moment of it. I look forward to the next chapter of my publishing journey and all the new experiences that await me. I know I am doing what I was born to do!
Crystal: Very sound advice and we are excited to see where this journey brings you.
Josie Chadwick dreams of marrying for love in Cornwall, England, but with her father’s debt threatening to destroy all she holds dear, her romantic options are dwindling. When her elder sister Delia is disowned, Josie finds herself heiress of Chadwick Park, torn between dreams and duty. After sacrificing her heart to atone for Delia’s sin, Josie clings to the hope she will learn to love a distant husband, whom she fears is incapable of requiting her affection.
Atoning for Ashes
How did this story affect you as you wrote it? Did God teach you anything through the writing?
Kaitlin: God taught me so much through writing this story that I don’t even know where to begin… I think the biggest lesson God taught me in writing Atoning for Ashes was the unconditional nature of His love. I’d never really meditated on this aspect of our God, but because several main characters in my book struggle with a crisis of identity, I reflected on the unconditional nature of my God’s love and grace more than I ever had before.
Crystal: That unconditional nature is just so mindboggling to our human minds.
How do you come up with the names of your characters?
Kaitlin: I like to look at the census for the year my story is set if it is available. I’m always taking note of unusual period names when I’m watching period dramas or reading classic literature/biographies/memoirs. For surnames, I do a lot of research based on the setting, and I have fun exploring historical documents from the time period. It is a struggle, but I persevere until I’m satisfied with the ring of each characters’ full name!
Crystal: That is very cool. I love period- accurate names and am so glad you take the time to find them.
What was your hardest scene to write?
Kaitlin: Hmmm… I’ll try not to give any spoilers! There were several scenes that were fairly difficult to write, but the hardest scene of all was the scene where Josie and Charles eat dinner in their hotel room in Paris. It is quite an emotionally charged scene, and the climax in the dialogue occurs when Charles confesses a dark secret of his past.
Crystal: I can see where that would be a very difficult scene to write.
Fun, Zaney Question of the Day
What are the top three things on your bucket list?
Kaitlin: A trip to Paris, swimming with dolphins, and I’d love to go on a missions trip sometime!
Crystal: I hope those are things you get to enjoy at some point!
Readers, tell us what your top three things are on your bucket list, and be sure to check out Kaitlin’s debut book, Atoning for Ashes at Amazon or Barnes and Noble!
Howdy ho neighbors!!! 🙂 (Yes, a Home Improvement reference if you didn’t catch it. LOVE Wilson.) Today I am excited to introduce debut author Michelle De Bruin to you. She was one of my very first critique partners and it has been neat to see her novel transform from rough draft to printed book.
Michelle lives in Iowa with her husband and two teenage sons. She is the spiritual services provider for an organization that offers services for people with physical and mental disabilities. In this role, she offers grief care, teaches Bible studies, leads retreats, and writes devotionals. Michelle is also a worship leader on Sunday mornings directing the choir, playing piano, or singing.
A romantic at heart, Michelle is always on the lookout for glimpses of God’s love through the window of a good story.
So let’s get to know this wonderful woman!
Sweet or Unsweet Tea?
Michelle: Unsweet
Beach Vacation or Mountain Getaway?
Michelle: Beach
Homebody or Love to Travel?
Michelle: Travel
Morning Person or Night Owl?
Michelle: Neither one!
Bookmark or Dog-ear Pages?
Michelle: Definitely bookmark
When Logan De Witt learns of his father’s sudden death, he returns home to the family’s dairy farm. During his stay, he discovers his mother’s struggle with finances and his younger sister’s struggle with grief. Concern for his family presses Logan to make the difficult decision to leave his career as a pastor and stay on the farm. As a way to make some extra money, he agrees to board the teacher for their local school.
Karen Millerson arrives from Chicago ready to teach high school but her position is eliminated so she accepts the role of country school teacher. Eager to put her family’s ugly past behind her, Karen begins a new career to replace the trust she lost in her own father who had been in ministry when she was a child.
Logan and Karen both sense a call from the Lord to serve him, but neither of them expected that one day they would do it together.
Can Karen learn to trust again? Will Logan lay aside his grief in exchange for God’s purpose for his life? Life, Writing, and God
Writing, Life, and God
Why do you write historical fiction?
Michelle: The historical fiction genre is a venue where I can share conservative values on issues like morality, family, and Scripture interpretation. It also gives me a reason to go back into my own family heritage and honor the people who have gone before me.
Crystal: Historical fiction is one of my favorites for a lot of those reasons.
What has God taught you along your publication journey?
Michelle: God has taught me that he is bigger than the scope of my dreams, and that He still performs miracles.
Crystal: God really does like to show off and make our dreams bigger than we can imagine.
Does writing energize or exhaust you?
Michelle: Writing energizes me. I have to do it. Writing helps me examine my life and heart, and it helps me apply truth to my ordinary existence.
Crystal: I love how writing is a reflective experience for both the writer and the reader.
Did you ever consider writing under a pseudonym?
Michelle: I didn’t consider a pseudonym, but I did toy with the idea of hyphenating my name when I realized my writing might actually amount to something. My married name, De Bruin, is a Dutch surname comprised of two words. My maiden name, Van Zante, is also Dutch and includes two words. I decided a hyphenation was too confusing and expected too much from my readers when trying to figure out pronunciation or finding me on-line.
Crystal: I can see where that would be difficult. I think you made the right decision.
Which character was the most fun to create? What makes them fun?
Michelle: Reverend Logan De Witt was the most fun to create because of his sense of humor. He also gets nervous around pretty girls. This makes him stutter and get his words all mixed up at times when he needs to communicate important messages, like during his sermons and convincing someone to go out with him.
Crystal: I love the bumbling hero. They are so cute when struggling around the women they like.
Fun, Zaney Question of the Day
If you could be any animal, which would it be?
Michelle: We have a rabbit as a family pet. I would probably be a rabbit. Rabbits like to hide in cozy corners and don’t lose their “cuteness” when they are full grown.
Crystal: That is too true! I’ve never seen an ugly rabbit! And thank you so much, Michelle for doing this interview!
Readers, be sure to check out Michelle’s debut book, Hope for Tomorrow at Amazon or Barnes and Noble! For a chance to win an e-copy from me, just comment below with your answer to the Fun, Zaney Question of the Day!
Hi friends! It’s time for another monthly interview and this time I get to introduce to you, new-to-me author, Gina Holder.
Gina served alongside her parents on the mission field and now lives in Franklin, Kentucky with her husband of 11 years, Daniel.
She is a stay-at-home mother and homeschools their daughter, Lydia. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, watching movies, singing, and playing the piano.
She dreamed of being a writer from her early teen years and graduated from the Long Ridge Writer’s Group “Breaking into Print” program in 2004. She graduated from Faith Bible Institue in 2005.
So let’s jump right in!
Sweet or Unsweet Tea?
Gina: Neither. I don’t like cold tea at all, but I’ll drink hot tea in limited flavors with lots of sugar.
Crystal: That’s a first for the Write Call. 🙂 But sugar makes everything taste better.
Beach Vacation or Mountain Getaway?
Gina:Mountain getaway! While I love the beach, I don’t like the hot sun or the sand that gets into everything.
Crystal: I completely agree!
Homebody or Love to Travel?
Gina: I love to travel. I’ve been to 43 states and 14 countries on four continents.
Crystal: Wow! That is amazing. I’m only 2 states away from all 50.
Morning Person or Night Owl?
Gina: I’m more of a night owl than a morning person, but I do love the early morning hours when the world is still. I don’t take time to enjoy it as much as I’d like, mostly because I stay up too late at night. See, night owl!
Crystal: My problem, too!
Bookmark or Dog-ear Pages?
Gina: I’ll hang my head as I admit that I dog-ear pages of books. I’ve been trying to be better about using bookmarks, since I’ve acquired so many of them.
Crystal: At least you are trying. 🙂 We can call it the Dog-Eared Anonymous Group
The Life of a Published Missionary Kid
You were a missionary kid. Where did you serve and what did you do?
Gina: My family first moved to the Czech Republic in July of 2002, when I was 18 years old. I served there with my parents for 3 and ½ years, before I returned for a term of bible college and then marriage to my (now) husband. I spent my days continuing my education with video and online programs. I babysat a little Czech girl several times a week, and I also helped my mom and dad in whatever they needed done: cooking meals, caring for my brothers, and assisting with ministry-related activities involving Gospel tracts or mailing prayer letters.
Crystal: That sounds like an amazing experience but a difficult one at the same time.
What was the hardest thing about being a missionary kid?
Gina: The hardest thing about being a missionary kid was the feeling of isolation. I missed the spiritual fellowship of other believers and I couldn’t speak the language, so I couldn’t even hold a conversation with anyone around me. It takes years to acclimate yourself into another culture and people don’t realize all that entails unless they’ve spent time with another nationality on foreign turf.
Crystal: That really must be hard. Only considering language, I studied French for 7 years and I am still pretty clueless. I can’t imagine learning a whole culture when you don’t speak the language.
What has God taught you along your publication journey?
That His timing is not my timing and to trust Him. It took 2 ½ years for me to make Whither Shall I Go into the story it was supposed to be.
To keep my eyes on why I write and not focus so much on sales and to remember that if my book touches one heart, then I’ve done what He’s asked of me.
Crystal: Those are fantastic lessons every writer should remember. I know for me it can be overwhelming and sometimes I lose focus. I needed that reminder today.
In 1911, Ellie Williams struggles to see God’s hand in her life when she loses both parents and is sent to live with her wealthy, estranged aunt, who transforms her from awkward country bumpkin to socialite heiress. Six years later, she meets a young preacher and finds hope as they serve the Lord together.
Robert Hampton is deeply devoted to God and desires to take the gospel to the unreached natives of Brazil. He didn’t expect to fall in love. When he is drafted, Robert is torn between his duty as a soldier and his budding affections for Ellie. Will Robert survive the trenches? Will he lose the only woman he’s ever loved?
Ellie’s journey takes her from her home in Cades Cove, Tennessee, to the concrete jungle of New York City, and finally to the harsh unforgiving world of the Amazon River Basin, where she meets Paul, a doctor who’s lost his way, and Jack, a soldier with amnesia. Encountering anacondas, jaguars, and an antagonistic shaman, will Ellie give in to the fears that threaten to overwhelm her?
Or can she depend upon God’s grace to bring about His will for her life?
Behind the Story
Do any of your characters reflect your experiences as a missionary?
Gina: Absolutely. Whither Shall I Go is (in part) a missionary story. Secondary characters, Marcus and Judith Smith are missionaries to the country of Brazil, where the main character, Ellie Williams eventually ends up. No matter what country you visit, you will encounter culture shock, so I was able to transmit those feelings to Ellie as she experiences life in a foreign country.
Crystal: I bet it makes the story really authentic to read.
What was your hardest scene to write?
Gina: I don’t want to give too much away for those who haven’t read Whither Shall I Go, but the hardest scene to write is near the end of the book and leads into the main character’s darkest moment. It involves the death of a child and I did not want to write it. I prayed and prayed, but God kept assuring me it was supposed to be in the story.
Crystal: Those are very rough scenes to write and hard for some to read. I am sure God has someone or many in mind when He had you write that scene.
Do you have any upcoming projects, releases, or sales?
Gina: I’m currently working on a contemporary romance titled, No Greater Love. I’m not sure about a release date, I’m still working on the first draft. I’m excited about this new book. I’m calling it a contemporary romance blended with a family drama and a twist of suspense. My goal is to see it to publication before the end of the year.
Crystal: That sounds wonderful and we will be watching for it.
Fun Question of the Day
If you had to live in any time period except the modern day, which time period would you choose?
Gina: I would choose the American Civil War. I love studying the history of that time. I love the clothes and hairstyles. However, I’m not sure I could handle the blood and gore, so maybe pre-Civil War?
Crystal: I love that era, but the more I research it, the more I am pleased I live today! That is for sure!
Thank you so much for visiting with us, Gina!
All right dear readers. Now it is your turn. Answer the fun question of the day and be sure to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for an e-copy of Whither Shall I Go!
Rafflecopter Giveaway
Just comment below AND use the Rafflecopter link below to enter. Entries are open Tuesday 12 AM (EST) 7/17/2018 and close on Monday, 7/23/2108, at 11:59 PM (EST). Winner will be announced on the Whither Shall I Go Review.
*Legal Jargon: No Purchase is necessary. This contest is open to all readers in the world, 18 years and older who are legally allowed to participate in such a giveaway as allowed by their local laws. The Write Call does not exchange prizes for reviews. Reviews are appreciated, but not required.*
Hello, friends! I am so excited to introduce to you one my dear friends and critique partners, Kelly Goshorn. She is an amazing, generous, loving woman who I am so blessed to know. This month her debut novel, A Love Restored, releases and let me tell you, it is a sweet read… but more on that next week. Allow me to introduce you to Kelly.
Kelly Goshorn weaves her affinity for history and her passion for God into uplifting stories of love, faith, and family set in 19th century America. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America. Kelly has been enjoying her own happily-ever-after with her husband and best friend, Mike, for 28 years. Together they have raised three children, four cats, two dogs, a turtle, a guinea pig, a gecko, and countless hamsters. Thankfully, not all at the same time. When she is not writing, Kelly enjoys spending time with her young adult children, scrapbooking with friends, board gaming with her husband, and spoiling her Welsh corgi, Levi. Her debut novel, A Love Restored, releases June 29th from Pelican Book Group.
Sweet or Unsweet Tea?
Kelly: Unsweet
Crystal: I’m with you there.
Beach Vacation or Mountain Getaway?
Kelly: Definitely mountains
Crystal: And yours are beautiful to drive through in the fall!
Homebody or Love to Travel?
Kelly:Travel
Crystal: Road trips all the way!
Morning Person or Night Owl?
Kelly: Morning person—VERY early morning. Alarm usually goes off around 4:30 or 4:45.
Crystal: Ugh! I admire you, lady.
Bookmark or Dog-ear Pages?
Kelly: Dog Ear. I write in books and highlight lines I love! Is that sacrilege?
Crystal: Yes, it is, but we forgive you. 😉
Kelly Goshhorn – The Person
What do you like to do when you aren’t reading or writing?
Kelly: I enjoy scrapbooking and cardmaking, though I don’t do that as often as I’d like. Hubby and I enjoy watching movies and BBC programs together as well as going to the theater and playing board games. Living in Virginia, I’m blessed to be within a short driving distance to many historical landmarks. I love planning day trips to battlefields, historical sites, museums, etc. I also enjoy walking my dog several times a day and I’m hoping to begin hiking on some of the nearby mountain trails.
Crystal: I knew there was a reason we were friends. 🙂 We must plan a history trip together.
What has God taught you along your publication journey?
Kelly:My writing journey began with a simple prayer for the Lord to give me a passion. I’d grown weary of childcare and knew it was time to step out into something new but really had no direction. I NEVER saw the writing thing coming. I merely began tinkering with a story in my free time, mimicking my son who loved to write and has the goal of being a published author. It was something to fill time while I was waiting on the Lord. Or so I thought. The more I fiddled with the words, the more I enjoyed the process. It didn’t take long for my hidden hobby to become a God-given passion and the answer to our prayers.
But the journey that lay ahead would not only prove to be challenging from a craft point of view, it would require me to face my biggest personal and spiritual obstacle—the fear of failure. In true God fashion, He led me where I needed to be, not necessarily where I wanted to be. Over the next few years, I would be repeatedly plagued with crippling self-doubt and the fear of rejection. What if I mastered the craft, stepped out in faith, and there was no contract? What would that mean for my writing? For my faith?
Conviction set in. I had to pour out my heart and confess to God that I believed He would meet others needs but not necessarily my own. I repented for believing that the finishing work of the cross wasn’t enough. That I didn’t trust He was faithful to do what He said He would do—for me.
The result has been liberating. What I discovered is that God sees not only who we are, but who we can be when we place our trust in Him. He calls us to tackle our biggest obstacles so that we can rest in total dependence on Him.
Crystal: What a beautiful testimony. It truly brings tears to my eyes. God loves us so much.
As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?
Kelly: As long as I can remember I wanted to be a teacher. I remember playing school very intensely with name cards for each of the ten students in my class set out on cardboard boxes in the basement. My friend and I would spend hours planning lessons and making worksheets with carbon paper (man, does that ever date me). We would fill them out, grade them and record the grades in our homemade gradebooks.
Crystal: I love this picture of you! I had no idea. (And carbon paper… sigh, I’m with you there. When did we get so old?)
A Love Restored
You once said this story parallels your own love story. Can you share a little bit about that?
Kelly: You’re right, Crystal. A Love Restored is based on the true-life romance between my husband and myself, with all its ups and downs, including our tumultuous break-up. (no more about that here, you’ll have to read the story if you want to know the details). I set the story in the 1870s because I’m a history geek. Like my fuller-figured heroine, I’ve struggled with weight issues my entire life and that struggle plays an important part in our story. My own journey to self-acceptance and what a loving God will do to grab a stubborn woman’s attention is pivotal to the storyline.
But A Love Restored is not only a story of love, romance, heartache and restoration, but also a story about the power of words over our lives. It is a story about the struggle each of us faces to take our thoughts captive to the truth of Scripture so we may experience the fullness of God’s unequivocal love for us. As my husband and I discovered, it is only then that we are truly able to give and receive love, unconditionally.
Crystal: I love how God uses our stories and struggles to reach out to others with such a powerful message. This will be a powerful story that will touch many lives.
What is your writing Kryptonite?
Kelly:The blank page. I would much rather edit, tweak and polish than fill an empty page. I can usually get the first six or seven chapters out without much trouble but since I’m a panster, sometimes it’s a real slugfest.
Crystal: I getcha! Sometimes I’ll fill a whole page with random letters or cut and paste old work in just so I am not looking at a blank page. (Oops, did I just admit that?)
What did you edit out of this book?
Kelly:My first draft was 116,000 words! Needless to say, A Love Restored was put on a diet and is now a much trimmer 92,000 words. I had several chapters where Ben and Ruth Ann traveled to Pennsylvania to meet his parents. This led to some comical moments because she was raised with household help and Benjamin teaches her how to milk a cow and gather the eggs. I also had a great deal of unnecessary backstory about Benjamin’s life in Texas before he came to Virginia and several flashbacks to his service in the Union Army.
Crystal: An important slimming, but I will miss getting to see some of that information.
And of course, no Write Call Interview is complete without our fun question!
As a writer, what would you choose as your mascot? Why?
Kelly: What a great question! Although many would assume I’d choose a corgi because I’m more than a little obsessed with my dog, I think I’d have to say a turtle. I’m the slowest writer to ever grace the planet earth. But like the turtle, I keep plodding along “slow and steady” until I type “The End.” Team turtle for the win!
Crystal: I LOVE turtles! Especially of the Teenage Mutant Ninja variety. (Tee hee hee. You know I had to sneak that in.)
Thank you so much for sacrificing time from your busy schedule to complete this interview. I am so proud of you and excited for your release.
Friends, keep reading below to find out more about A Love Restored, connect with Kelly, and a chance to enter to win an e-copy of A Love Restored.
She was nothing like the woman he’d envisioned for his bride, but he was everything she’d ever dreamed of—until a promise from his past threatened their future.
Twenty-year old Ruth Ann Sutton doesn’t measure up to society’s vision of a perfect lady. She would rather read Jules Verne or teach Negro children to read and write than join the Women’s Benevolent Aid Society or practice her voice lessons. Her pert opinions and less than perfect figure keep many suitors away. When Ruth Ann accepts a position teaching at the new Freedman’s School, it threatens the only marriage offer she is likely to receive. Should she risk life as a lonely spinster or reinvent herself to accept a proposal from a man she does not love?
Determined to rise above his meager beginnings, Benjamin Coulter’s reputation as a fast learner and hard worker earn him the opportunity to apprentice with a surveyor for the railroad—a position that will garner the respect of other men. All he needs now is a woman to share his promising future. When Benjamin has a chance encounter with Ruth Ann Sutton, he is smitten with her pretty face, quick wit, and feisty personality. When others ridicule his choice, Benjamin must decide whether he will listen to his heart or put ambition first.
Here it is! The time you all have been waiting for. Enter for your chance to win an e-copy of A Love Restored. Just comment below AND use the Rafflecopter link below to enter. Entries are open Tuesday 12 AM (EST) 6/26/2018 and close on Monday, 7/3/2108, at 11:59 PM (EST). Winner will be announced on the A Love Restored Review.
*Legal Jargon: No Purchase is necessary. This contest is open to all readers in the world, 18 years and older who are legally allowed to participate in such a giveaway as allowed by their local laws. The Write Call does not exchange prizes for reviews. Reviews are appreciated, but not required.*
The writing community is a wonderful place where you get the chance to not only interact with other authors you know but also get introduced to amazing authors entering the published world. Tara Johnson is one of those amazing meets for me. She is an amazing, loving woman who faces the challenges set before her with grace, faith, and honesty. It is my privilege to introduce you her today. (And don’t forget to read all the way to the end for a chance to win either an e-copy or a physical copy of her debut novel, Engraved on the Heart.)
Tara Johnson is an author, speaker and singer from Alexander, AR. A passionate lover of stories, she loves to travel to churches, ladies retreats and prisons to share how God led her into freedom after spending years living shackled as a people-pleasing preacher’s kid.
She and her husband Todd have been married for twenty years and the Lord has blessed them with five children: Bethany, Callie, Nate, as well as Taylor Lynn and Morgan Lane who are with Jesus.
Thank you so much, Tara, for joining me on The Write Call. Now it’s time for fun. *Rubs hands excitement.*
Sweet or Unsweet Tea?
Tara: Sweet tea. I’m a Southern girl.
Crystal: And you haven’t had true sweet tea until you’ve had it made from a southerner! 🙂
Beach Vacation or Mountain Getaway?
Tara:Both! I’m originally from Oregon so I was spoiled by having mountains and the ocean next to each other. If I’m at a beach, I want it to be a cold beach next to rocky cliffs. The coastline of northern Oregon or the North Devon coast in Great Britain is my idea of a perfect getaway.
Crystal: That does sound perfect.
Homebody or Love to Travel?
Tara: I love to travel, but my happy place is to be at home surrounded by my family and puttering around in my garden.
Crystal: I have a black thumb, but I certainly love seeing other people’s beautiful gardens.
Morning Person or Night Owl?
Tara: Morning person. By 9:00 pm, my brain is shutting down.
Crystal: Bless the morning people, for I don’t know how you do it!
Bookmark or Dog-ear Pages?
Tara: Dog-ear. I’m always losing bookmarks.
Crystal: It’s okay, we forgive you. 😉
Tara Johnson – the Person
What is your favorite Bible verse? Why?
Tara: I have too many to count. I love how God uses His Word to speak directly to me for whatever season and situation I’m in. I can tell you several I continually return to for comfort and guidance. The entirety of Psalm 139 has a very special place in my heart. God has used it to assure me of His love time and time again. Jeremiah 33:3 is another special verse. “Call to Me and I will answer you, and tell you [and even show you] great and mighty things, [things which have been confined and hidden], which you do not know and understand.”
Crystal: A great verse to be sure! And very comforting.
You have a ministry outside of writing books. Would you tell us a little bit about that ministry and how you are involved?
Tara: I have a speaking ministry that focuses on helping those struggling with people-pleasing, fear and depression. I grew up as a preacher’s kid and became a ranting, raving people pleaser. I fell for the lie that approval equals love. It took me a long time, and a horrible battle with depression, to realize the two aren’t the same at all. Approval and love are actually polar opposites. These days, I travel to ladies’ groups, churches and prisons to share how God led me into freedom from those lies. I love to share through music, comedy and stories.
Crystal: That is definitely a struggle for many, especially myself. Even with the Truth, it is so easy to fall back into those old ways.
What was the best advice someone ever gave you about writing, life, or anything that strikes your fancy?
Tara: Years ago, I heard Tamera Alexander give some wonderful advice in a class at the American Christian Fiction Writers conference. She said, “Your books are not your babies. They are products. They do not define your worth, nor are they crafted in perfection.” That was very wise advice. It takes the sting out of criticism when it’s time to edit and keeps me from holding those stories too close.
“Your books are not your babies. They are products. They do not define your worth, nor are they crafted in perfection.”
The other great piece of writing advice I received was this: the villain is always the hero in his own mind. Every person deals with wounds, fears and hurt. Remembering that helps me craft believable characters. It also gives me greater compassion when I’m dealing with cranky people. Ha!
Crystal: Very wise words from Tamera! And great advice for crafting a villain.
Engraved on the Heart
You once shared you had epilepsy, something your main character has. Do Keziah’s experiences reflect some of your own experiences?
Tara: Yes. It was very easy to put myself in Keziah’s place. I’ll never forget the shame that accompanied those moments in elementary school when I would find two dozen pairs of eyes staring at me in horror because I had a seizure. I remember how frustrating it was to find a chunk of time yawning like a black hole in my memory. And I remember the helplessness of having no control over my own body. Rather than avoid those old memories, I embraced them and placed them right into the story.
Crystal: It is hard when God makes us face those tough memories, but oh so beautiful when he changes them into ways that bless others.
Which character was the most fun to create? What makes them fun?
Tara:Ma Linnie. I based her off a real person, a woman who never had children of her own but embraced my brother and me and let us call her “Aunt Betty”. She was a hoot, with a bigger-than-life personality. Whenever I think of Aunt Betty, I smile.
Crystal: You did a great job with her. I think everyone wants a Ma Linnie in their life.
What was some of your favorite research you discovered while preparing for Engraved on the Heart?
Tara: All of it was intriguing. I love learning about the courageous women of the Civil War who served as spies and conductors. I found a treasure of a book called “Slave Narratives of Georgia”. It’s a documented record of interviews with former slaves at the end of the 19th century. The varying opinions among them about their former masters, their opinions of the war, the Union and Confederacy, as well as the people who helped them is fascinating. I was surprised by the vast difference of opinion among them. The research was fundamental in forming Hiriam’s character and backstory.
And no Write Call interview is complete without a fun question:
If you could travel anywhere without worry about cost, where would you travel?
Tara: I’m dying to visit Colonial Williamsburg, as well as explore Savannah again. I can never get enough of it. If money were no object, I would head to Italy in a heartbeat. I’ve always wanted to visit and absorb as much of the culture as possible.
Thank you so much, again, for giving up some time to visit with us. I am praying for you and this launch.
Friends, keep reading below to find out more about Engraved on the Heart, enter the giveaway, and answer your own travel question!
Reluctant debutante Keziah Montgomery lives beneath the weighty expectations of her staunch Confederate family, forced to keep her epilepsy secret for fear of a scandal. As the tensions of the Civil War arrive on their doorstep in Savannah, Keziah sees little cause for balls and courting. Despite her discomfort, she cannot imagine an escape from her familial confines—until her old schoolmate Micah shows her a life-changing truth that sets her feet on a new path . . . as a conductor in the Underground Railroad.
Dr. Micah Greyson never hesitates to answer the call of duty, no matter how dangerous, until the enchanting Keziah walks back into his life and turns his well-ordered plans upside down. Torn between the life he has always known in Savannah and the fight for abolition, Micah struggles to discern God’s plan amid such turbulent times.
Battling an angry fiancé, a war-tattered brother, bounty hunters, and their own personal demons, Keziah and Micah must decide if true love is worth the price . . . and if they are strong enough to survive the unyielding pain of war.
Alright, beloved readers, it is the time you all have been waiting for! This time I am giving the winner a copy of Engraved on the Heart (e-book or physical – your choice). Just comment below AND use the Rafflecopter link below to enter. Entries are open Tuesday 12 AM (EST) 5/29/2018 and close on Monday, 6/4/2108, at 11:59 PM (EST). Winner will be announced on the Engraved on the Heart Review the next day.
*Legal Jargon: No Purchase is necessary. This contest is open to all readers in the world, 18 years and older who are legally allowed to participate in such a giveaway as allowed by their local laws. The Write Call does not exchange prizes for reviews. Reviews are appreciated, but not required.*
Join the Conversation: Where would you travel if you could travel anywhere?
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Michelle lives in Iowa with her husband and two teenage sons. She is the spiritual services provider for an organization that offers services for people with physical and mental disabilities. In this role, she offers grief care, teaches Bible studies, leads retreats, and writes devotionals. 
When Logan De Witt learns of his father’s sudden death, he returns home to the family’s dairy farm. During his stay, he discovers his mother’s struggle with finances and his younger sister’s struggle with grief. Concern for his family presses Logan to make the difficult decision to leave his career as a pastor and stay on the farm. As a way to make some extra money, he agrees to board the teacher for their local school.
thing coming. I merely began tinkering with a story in my free time, mimicking my son who loved to write and has the goal of being a published author. It was something to fill time while I was waiting on the Lord. Or so I thought. The more I fiddled with the words, the more I enjoyed the process. It didn’t take long for my hidden hobby to become a God-given passion and the answer to our prayers.
Reluctant debutante Keziah Montgomery lives beneath the weighty expectations of her staunch Confederate family, forced to keep her epilepsy secret for fear of a scandal. As the tensions of the Civil War arrive on their doorstep in Savannah, Keziah sees little cause for balls and courting. Despite her discomfort, she cannot imagine an escape from her familial confines—until her old schoolmate Micah shows her a life-changing truth that sets her feet on a new path . . . as a conductor in the Underground Railroad.