by Crystal Caudill | Oct 22, 2024 | Author Interviews
Liz Tolsma is one of those amazing women that you don’t realize JUST how amazing she is until you get to know her. It’s been a rough year or two for her, and it’s been an honor to pray for her over that time. Just as is her generous nature, Liz is offering a copy of What I Left for You to one lucky person. You can find out the details on how to enter for your chance to get a copy at the end of this blog post. Now I’m glad to give you the chance to get to know this wonderful author, mother, Christian, and friend.
Liz Tolsma is the author of several WWII novels, prairie romance novellas, a romantic suspense, and an Amish romance. She is the host of the popular podcast Christian Historical Fiction Talk and is also an editor. She resides next to a Wisconsin farm field with her husband and their youngest daughter. Her son, daughter-in-law, and daughter are all U.S. Marines. In her free time, Liz enjoys reading, walking, working in her large perennial garden, kayaking, and camping.
You can connect with her through: Website | Newsletter | X | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | BookBub | Goodreads
Now for the fun stuff! I have to admit I am partial to my Fast Five. 🙂 So settle in as I hit Liz with rapid-fire.
CC: Pineapple pizza or candy corn?
LT: Is neither an option? I really don’t like either one.
CC: Test the waters or dive in the deep end?
LT: Test the waters
CC: Guacamole or salsa?
LT: For this one, I’d like both!
CC: Silly hats or silly socks?
LT: Silly socks. I can be silly, but I do it in private rather than in public, so the socks make sense.
CC: Passwords or secret handshakes?
LT: Hmm. Probably passwords, especially if I can use face recognition because I can’t remember my passwords.
CC: I am so thankful for password apps and face recognition. LOL, so let’s dive in to getting to know you a little better.
What fiction book has most impacted you?
LT: “Love Comes Softly” by Janette Oke. It’s the first Christian novel I read, and it opened my eyes to the genre. After I discovered it, I read all I could find, and one day, decided maybe I could write a book too. It’s the one that got it all started.
CC: Janette Oke has had such an impact on so many. She to had a major impact on my life and my eventual writing journey.
What does your writing process look like from beginning to end?
LT: It depends on the book. Sometimes I have no deadlines or longer ones, so that allows me to do more research and story and character development on the front end. When I have a tight deadline, I have to do all that on the fly and often have more rewrites. Overall, I don’t work off an outline. I love to see what develops much the way a reader would. That’s the most fun part of writing to me.
CC: I admire you for being able to do it that way. I used to be like that, but I feel like I prefer to have an outline more often than not, even if very loose.
What has been your biggest struggle on this writing journey?
LT: The marketing part of the job has been the hardest. I never went to school for it and never took any classes. I’m learning as I go, and I’m still learning, especially with the way marketing and social media are ever-evolving. Sometimes I wish I wrote forty years ago when the publishers did all that for you!
CC: Boy do I feel you on this one. It all feels like so much and so overwhelming. There just aren’t enough hours in the day.
How have you seen God work through your writing journey?
LT: He has always brought the right story and the right publisher to me at the right time, even when I doubted it would ever happen. Throughout, he’s taught me to rely on him more and more and less on myself. It’s a lesson I have to keep learning. Trust isn’t an easy thing, and letting go of the way I have my life laid out so God can work is difficult. But he has proven himself faithful, and that’s what I lean on.
CC: I feel like I must not be learning this lesson very well, because I have to keep learning it over and over and over and over again. LOL but He has and does prove Himself faithful.
Do you have any advice for those who might want to write their own stories?
LT: Write. This is supposed to be a longer answer than that, but that’s the first step. You can’t learn how to be a better writer unless you’ve tried it, just like you can’t learn to be a better skater if you’ve never stepped on the ice. So get out there and write. And work hard to improve. This applies to aspiring authors and those who are already published. Even the world’s best figure skater continues to go to practice and work with a coach. So it is with writers. We can always strive to be better.
CC: I agree! May we always strive to be better and grow as writers.
Before we dive into your inspiration, etc, for What I Left for You, allow me to introduce my readers to the story itself.
What I Left for You by Liz Tolsma
A Family’s Ties Were Broken in Poland of 1939
1939 Helena Kostyszak is an oddity—an educated female ethnic minority lecturing at a university in Krakow at the outbreak of WWII. When the Germans close the university and force Jews into the ghetto, she spirits out a friend’s infant daughter and flees to her small village in the southern hills. Helena does everything in her power to protect her family, but it may not be enough. It will take all of her strength and God’s intervention for both of them to survive the war and the ethnic cleansing to come.
2023 Recently unengaged social worker McKenna Muir is dealt an awful blow when a two-year-old she’s been working with is murdered. It’s all too much to take, so her friend suggests she dive into her family’s past like she’s always wanted. Putting distance between herself and her problems might help her heal, so she and her friend head on Sabbatical to Poland. But what McKenna discovers about her family shocks everyone, including one long-lost family member.
Purchase your copy at Amazon | Baker Book House | Barnes and Noble | Christianbook
CC: Where did you get the idea for this story?
LT: The idea came to me when I was doing research for my family tree. I had discovered that I’m descended from an ethnic minority living in what is today southern Poland, northern Slovakia, and western Ukraine. Originally, it was supposed to be about a Jewish woman who fled Ukraine and found refuge in the area my family is from, but the current state of affairs in Europe prevented me from traveling there for research, so I changed it to focus more on what happened to my people, and I found a treasure trove of little known information there.
CC: I love (and sometimes hate the personal process of) when God changes our stories so completely from what we thought they should be. He really does some amazing stuff when we give Him that room.
Which readers will be the ones to most love this book?
LT: Anyone who enjoys war or WWII novels will love this, and anyone who enjoys genealogy, because it delves into that. Since it’s dual time, set both during WWII and the present day, readers who like historical novels and those who like contemporary will enjoy it. It would also be great for anyone who loves little known facts because this book is filled with them.
CC: I love how this book appeals to so many people. You just can’t go wrong.
Who was the most challenging character to create? What made them so difficult?
LT: Helena was the hardest character to put together because she is so different than I am. From the time she was little, she wanted a different life than what she had, and she wasn’t afraid to go and get it. She fought for those who were marginalized, even when she was one of those people, as she often was. She was tough. I don’t know if I could survive what I put her through. It would only be by God, that’s for sure.
CC: I know there are people who say the same thing about you when they see and get to know you.
What was some of your favorite research you discovered while preparing for What I Left for You?
LT: My daughter and I were blessed to be able to travel to Poland to research What I Left for You, and it was an amazing experience. We visited the villages where my ancestors were from and saw the church my great-grandmother was baptized in. In the strangest way, I felt so much like I belonged there, that I had come home at last. Having my daughter along made the entire experience that much sweeter. And then we spent time researching in Krakow and eating plenty of really good Polish food! I could go on and on, but you can read more about my trip at the end of the book. If you ever have the chance to go to Poland, jump on it.
CC: I am more than a little jealous tha you got to travel to Poland and do all that amazing research. I look forward to reading more about your trip in the back of the book.
How did this story affect you as you wrote it?
LT: Because I was writing about my people, it definitely affected me. It was so deeply personal, and I cried for all they suffered when they wanted nothing more than to be left in peace to live the lives they had for over six hundred years. God showed me all my ancestors endured, and I’ve come to appreciate all they fought so hard for to give me the life I have. They would stare in amazement to see my “big” house (all that room for five people) when they lived with as many as eleven people in a two-room house. I try not to take my life and my blessings for granted.
CC: It is SO easy to take what we have for granted. I know I do.
What do you hope readers will take away from your story?
LT: I hope that I will learn where “home” is, and that is with the Lord in glory someday. This earth and its charms are fleeting, but that is where our permanent residence will be.
CC: Amen and praise the Lord for that. This poor broken world is not what I want for my home.
I always like to end with a fun question so . . .
You find a genie in a lamp. What three wishes would you make?
LIT: 1. A few million dollars so I could take care of my parents, my kids, me and my husband, and my sisters and their families. 2. A lab puppy. I miss my labs and want another one so much! 3. A private island just for me and my family to vacation on and get together in one place.
CC: I love each one of those! You are definitely very family-oriented.
Readers, I hope you’ll check out What I Left for You and then leave a review on Amazon, Goodreads, and/or BookBub. You wouldn’t believe how important that is to an author.
Reader, do you know any little known historical facts?
Giveaway
Liz Tolsma is generously giving away one copy of What I Left for You to one contiguous U.S. resident, 18 years or older. Just complete the Rafflecopter entries below for your chance. Entries close 11:59 p.m. EST on 10/29/2024.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
by Crystal Caudill | Sep 24, 2024 | Author Interviews
I have had the joy of getting to know Karen online and finally in person when we did a book signing together in Pigeon Forge. Karen is such a fun and interesting person, and I’m so glad to get to introduce you to her today. (And learn a bit more about her myself.) Karen is also graciously giving away a signed copy of Where Trees Touch the Sky to one lucky U.S. Resident. Be sure to check out the details at the end of this post. Now before we jump to the meat of the interview, allow me to formally introduce you.
KAREN BARNETT is the award-winning author of nine novels, including When Stone Wings Fly and The Vintage National Park Novels. Before becoming a novelist, she worked as a ranger naturalist and outdoor educator at Mount Rainier National Park and Oregon’s Silver Falls State Park. When not writing, Karen enjoys photography, hiking, public speaking, and decorating crazy birthday cakes. She lives in Oregon with her family. Learn more at KarenBarnettBooks.com.
You can connect with her through: Website | Newsletter | Facebook | Instagram | Ranger Bear FB | Ranger Bear Instagram | BookBub
Now for the fun stuff! I have to admit I am partial to my Fast Five. 🙂 So settle in as I hit Karen with rapid-fire.
CC: Pineapple pizza or candy corn?
KB: How about just pineapple? I’m on a weird auto-immune diet right now that doesn’t allow either pizza or candy. I’m going a little crazy, but I’m happy it’s working. And once you’ve been off sugar for a while, fresh pineapple is an incredible treat!
CC: Test the waters or dive in the deep end?
KB: Test the waters.
CC: Guacamole or salsa?
KB: Guac. Yum!
CC: Silly hats or silly socks?
KB: Socks. Hats rarely fit on my melon-sized head.
CC: Passwords or secret handshakes?
KB: Secret handshakes sounds like more fun!
Yikes on the diet, but I totally need to get the sugar out of my system. I hope it helps you! Let’s dive into the meat of the interview now.
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
KB: I’ve always been an avid reader, and I spent as much time in the public library as my parents would allow. I think I was still pretty young when I stopped once to gaze at the long rows of shelves in our library, amazed at the sheer number of books that were available to me. A grand thought crossed my mind–I could add even more stories to these shelves for other people to enjoy. Of course, I had no clue at the time how difficult writing a book would be.
My dream was never about bookstores or best-sellers lists. It’s always been about libraries!
CC: I love that! My public library was how I survived. I will forever be grateful to see any of my books in that wonderful building.
What does your writing process look like from beginning to end?
KB: I like to do a lot of research ahead of time. Since I write stories set in national parks, that means visiting the park to get a sense of what makes that place special. If I get a chance to visit a park archive, I’m like a kid in a candy store. Just call me a history geek!
After that, I typically write a short (and loose) synopsis. Since I tend to write by the seat of my pants, I avoid outlining. For me, that’s too many spoilers. I enjoy discovering plot twists in the same way that readers do, and the story comes to life when the characters do things that surprise me. I’m sure that probably sounds crazy to non-writers because the characters come out of my imagination. But I’ve learned to give my fictional friends freedom to make some of their own choices.
CC: I completely understand this sentiment. LOL And may I say how jealous I am of you getting to travel to the parks for your research? Maybe one day in retirement.
What is your writing Kryptonite?
KB: Fear. Fear and self-doubt lead me to some dark places and convince me that no one will like what I’m currently writing. The internal voices whisper stuff like, “Why did you write it that way? That sounds dumb. This is boring. Who cares?” That can slow my writing process to a crawl. The only thing that brings me out of it is remembering that God is right there with me. Like the story of the loaves and fishes, He can take my meager offering and feed souls with it. It’s not up to me. It’s all Him.
CC: I cannot tell you how much I needed that reminder tonight. May we all offer up our meager offerings for His purpose.
What has been the biggest challenge for you on your writing journey?
KB: My biggest challenge has been procrastination. There a thousand little distractions that seem more fun (or more critical) than sitting down and getting my daily word count done. Because of that, I end up getting increasingly anxious as my deadline approaches. That stress tends to suck the joy out of the creative process.
CC: Ain’t that the truth. Facing my own deadline, I’m feeling that heartily.
Before we dive into the second section of our interview, allow me to share the blurb for Where Trees Touch the Sky.
Some secrets have shadows as long as the redwoods are tall.
In the early 1920s, the accelerating destruction of the California redwoods is more than nature-loving Marion Baker can bear. Throwing herself headlong into the work of the Save the Redwoods League, she is shocked to learn that Frank Duncan, a man she’s grown to love, is the son of one of the area’s worst timber barons. Though devastated by the betrayal, she realizes this could also be an opportunity–if only she can convince him to help preserve her favorite grove from his father’s greedy grasp. Is her love strong enough to persuade him to save these precious trees? Or will Marion choose to sacrifice her beliefs to keep Frank by her side?
Nearly fifty years later, in 1972, polio survivor June Turner is deeply proud of the legacy her great aunt Marion has left as a redwood warrior. And despite her disability, June is determined to prove herself capable as a ranger at the recently established Redwood National Park, even if it means taking to the trails with her crutch in hand. What better way to carry on the family tradition of preserving Gods magnificent creation?
When aspiring film student Adam Garner approaches June to help make a documentary about Marion’s life, she swiftly grabs the opportunity to spread her aunt’s worthy reputation. That is, until they unearth a secret that might shatter the family legacy. In the scramble for answers, June may lose not only her family pride but also her own dreams.
Karen Barnett’s beautifully crafted split-time novel, set against the majestic backdrop of a beloved national park, immerses the reader in history that feels as fresh as if it happened yesterday.
Purchase your copy at Amazon | Baker Book House | Barnes and Noble | Christianbook
CC: Where did you get the idea for the series?
KB: In a way, this story has been percolating ever since I was in elementary school. While cleaning out her classroom, a retiring teacher let us adopt some of her discarded textbooks. I snatched up a couple of children’s literature compilations. Reading late into the night, I fell in love with a Newberry Honor book called Big Tree by authors Mary and Conrad Buff. It told the tale of the redwoods from the point of view of a single tree. I have dreamed about these forests ever since. In Where Trees Touch the Sky, one of my main characters names a specific redwood after a friend of hers, and I included that tree in honor of the children’s book I loved.
CC: That is so sweet. I love how our childhood can really echo forward to influence the stories we write today.
Which readers will most like this book?
KB: Publishers often ask writers to describe our target audience. A couple of years ago, I met a woman who embodied my ideal reader. She loved camping in national parks, but due to her husband’s illness, she was now unable to travel. I felt very honored when she shared that my books filled that need for her, and now I often picture her as I write. My national park novels have been described as “armchair travel.” I love it when people tell me my books inspired them to visit parks, but my heart truly goes out to the readers who can’t.
CC: That is beautiful and perfect. I’m in a position right now where travel, especially to places like national parks are just too physically demanding for my family. It may be quite a while before I can enjoy the actual parks, but I can concur that it is so wonderful to be able to “travel” to them in your books.
What was some of your favorite research while preparing for the Shadow Creek Chronicles?
KB: I wouldn’t call this my favorite, but perhaps the most disturbing! As someone who loves trees and parks, I was eager to dig into the history of the Save the Redwoods League as background for Where Trees Touch the Sky. I was disturbed to learn that many of my conservation heroes were also strong proponents of eugenics. Eugenics was a popular movement among intellectuals of the early 20th century that claimed we could “improve” humanity and eliminate both poverty and mental illness by controlling who was allowed to have children. One of the founders of the STR League wrote a book that later inspired Hitler. Have you ever heard the expression, “Don’t meet your heroes?” I was tempted to leave this upsetting fact out of the novel, but I decided it was important to be true to history even when it’s ugly. Maybe especially then!
CC: History, even when ugly, should be shared and not hidden. How else can we learn from it. I’m glad you shared it, but it really is hard to realize our heroes weren’t as perfect as we once thought.
Which character was the most fun to create?
KB: June Turner, the heroine of my 1972 timeline, was both the most challenging character to write, and also the most fun. I struggled to accurately portray her disability and also to be sensitive to how she was described. It was a bit overwhelming to consider what June might have endured as a disabled park ranger–not just physical barriers, but discrimination from people who assumed she wasn’t capable of doing the job. On the other hand, that made her a lot of fun, too. She turned into a real spunky character who was able to speak up for herself. I learned a lot in the process of writing her!
CC: I love that you have shown that aspect of life for people. My MIL is legally blind, but she has always done her best to not allow her limitations to slow her down or keep her from what she wanted. It’s time to wrap this up and I always like to end with a fun question.
You find a genie in a lamp. What are your three wishes?
KB: Hmm. That’s tough. I know one wish would be for the ability to travel in time. There are so many things I’d love to see and experience–the American west before we filled it up with cities and roads, hearing Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount with my own ears, discovering what my parents were like as children, etc. But I’d probably tuck the other two wishes in my pocket for later!
CC: Smart woman!
Readers, I hope you’ll check out Where Trees Touch the Sky and then leave a review on Amazon, Goodreads, and/or BookBub. You wouldn’t believe how important that is to an author.
Giveaway
Karen is graciously providing one U.S. resident, 18 years and older, with a copy of Where Trees Reach the Sky. Use the Rafflecopter below to enter. Entries open until 11:59 p.m. EST on October 1.
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Reader, what national parks have you visited or want to visit?
by Crystal Caudill | Sep 17, 2024 | Author Interviews
It’s always so much fun to hang with characters from books, especially when they are the books of a fellow Kregel author. The Rare Jewel of Everleigh Wheaton has been patiently waiting on my bookshelf for me to sit down and binge-read. Today, FBI agent, Gertrude Levine, had joined us to talk about the story and her role. Before we jump into that, let’s check out the story blurb.
The Rare Jewel of Everleigh Wheaton by Susan L. Tuttle
Everleigh Wheaton knows it only takes a few well-placed lies to ruin a reputation. She’s experienced it time and time again. But there’s a silver lining to repeatedly proving herself: she’s become confident and self-reliant.
When she loses yet another job and an enigmatic stranger offers a solution to her financial troubles, she’s game. After all, she loves a good mystery, and the invitation to visit the legendary Halstead Manor is irresistible. But she’s not about to let her guard down–especially not with the other women who received the same invitation. Life has taught her that trust is dangerous.
A strange voice on the phone explains that he’s gathered the three of them to work together as treasure hunters. Their first assignment requires Everleigh to be a traveling nurse for retired FBI agent Gertrude Levine, who has one cold case she just can’t let go of–the missing Florentine Diamond.
With Everleigh’s keen ability to solve puzzles, Natalie Daughtry’s vast knowledge of history, and Brooke Sumner’s connections to the antiques world, they’re confident they’ll track down the diamond. Except Gertie’s nephew, Niles Butler, doesn’t believe Everleigh is as innocent as she claims–even as he finds himself fascinated by her–and he’s determined to block every move she makes. If Everleigh can’t learn to drop her walls of self-protection, the diamond treasure won’t be the only thing she’ll lose.
Purchase Links: Amazon | Baker Book House
Now for our interview with Gertrude.
CC: I’m so excited to get to introduce you to my readers, Gertrude. Would you mind telling them a little bit about yourself?
GL: This is Gertrude Levine, but you can call me Gertie. I’m a retired FBI agent who loves puns and hates sitting around, so I opened my own PI Firm. I raised my nephew, Niles, after my sister died looking for a gem we once dreamed about finding together. I can’t let that mystery go or the regrets that I have when it comes to my little sister. I’ve been losing my sight to macular degeneration, which has Niles hovering and helping out at the PI firm. The boy seems to think it’s his job to take care of me now. His overprotective streak puts a snafu into this new adventure I plan to go on with a mysterious man named Caspar and three women he’s hired to finally find that gem. Nile has got it in his mind that he needs to watch out for me. All right, then. That means he’ll be tagging along, and I think one of the girls is the perfect match for his surly ways, so I’m all for it. I might find that gem. He might find his woman. Sounds like the makings of a fun time.
CC: Oh that sounds like a lot of fun mischief and some very punny situations. 😉
You talk about hindsight in the story. Drawing from your own, what’s one lesson you wish you could pass on to someone younger?
GL: Don’t allow what you don’t have to separate you from those who do have it. God’s got a plan for all of us. Spend your time and energy falling in love with the plan he has for you, even if it doesn’t look like you thought it would. Stop fixing your eyes on those around you, and fix them on Jesus.
CC: So it sounds like you are a woman of God. How would you describe your relationship with Him?
GL: I say God’s love is like a dictionary. It gives meaning to my life 😉 Sorry, I can’t resist a good pun. But truth-be-told, I wish I’d have allowed God fully into my life years ago. I kept certain rooms of my heart off limits to him, and that only caused me pain and regret. I can’t go back and change things, life only moves forward. Now I let him order those steps I take, and it’s made a world of difference in how I see the world–and in how I treat others. I have more patience. More wisdom (and I already thought myself pretty wise). More love. Less bitterness. Less fear. Less regret. I also have less years left, but one’s never too old to make the most of the days in front of them. Jesus helps a person do just that.
CC: I love that . . . especially the pun! Seriously, I’m a pun girl. I can’t get enough of them. So tell us about your nephew, Niles.
GL: He’s a hard worker and a protector. He’s turned that protective streak toward me. Seems he’s forgotten that I raised him and taught him everything he knows, but ever since my eyesight started failing, he’s hovered. He carries too much on his shoulders, and he struggles to trust people. That boy carries hurt from his past that if he could simply let go, he might just find some love in his future. Because I happen to think he likes my new nurse and adventure partner, Everleigh. If he could get out of his own way and let himself get to know her.
CC: Isn’t it just like us to let ourselves get in the way of God’s best plan for us? Since you think Everliegh is such a great match for him, tell us about her.
GL: She’s got grit and she doesn’t have a problem putting Niles in his place. His growl doesn’t scare her. She also has a sense of humor, I see it in the way she teases him and it brings out that lighter side of Niles that he seemed to have buried. But she has her own hurts that cause her to pull back from people. She’s a bit of a loner, yet I think–and she might disagree with me–that a part of her is hungry to be seen. To be known. To have friendships and maybe even fall in love. I happen to think my Niles would be the perfect fit for her. The two of them just need a little help in being pushed together, which is why I’m fine with Niles coming along with us to find the Florentine Diamond. Forced proximity has been known to bring more than one couple together.
CC: LOL Good ol’ forced proximity. So much can happen when you can’t get away from each other. So why are you searching for this gem?
GL: My little sister Amelia and I had a friend when we were children and all three of us loved adventuring together. We’d pretend we were treasure hunters, and one of the treasures we sought was that diamond. For some reason, that mystery stuck with us both even though through the years we drifted apart. That drift had more to do with me than her–one of those regrets I’ve talked about. So now if I can find it, it’ll be like getting a small piece of Amelia back too. Plus, losing my eyesight has taken so much from me. I’m ready to go see the world again–even though I can’t see it. Life isn’t meant to be lived on a couch. As long as I have get-up-and-go in me, I plan on doing just that.
CC: Good for you! But what happens if you don’t find the gem? How would you feel?
GL: Finding that gem would be pretty amazing, I’m not going to lie. But I’ve come to realize in life that sometimes you discover much more important things along the journey, and sometimes the destination God has for you is different than what you first imagined. So, find it or no, I’m going to enjoy the journey. Especially since I get front row seats to Niles and Everleigh falling in love–leastwise I’m hoping for them to. Even better? Seeing Jesus work on their hearts. He’s the most valuable treasure anyone can find.
I love all of this so much, and it just makes me hungry to watch their journey unfold too. Guess this Jewel of a book is going to get knocked to the top of my TBR pile. Thank you so much for talking with us, Gertie. I look forward to your puns and wisdom in the chapters to come.
Readers, be sure to check out The Rare Jewel of Everliegh Wheaton as soon as possible. Who doesn’t enjoy a little romance, adventure, and puns?
About Susan L. Tuttle:
Susan L. Tuttle is a pastor’s wife, mom, and the director of women’s ministry at her church near Grand Rapids, Michigan. Her work includes the Along Came Love and The Treasures of Halstead Manor series, and the Carol Award finalist Love You, Truly. Learn more about Susan at susanltuttle.com.
Connect with Susan: Website | Amazon | Facebook | Instagram | BookBub | GoodReads
by Crystal Caudill | Sep 10, 2024 | Author Interviews
One of the many blessings of the writing community is I get to meet new authors. I’ve yet to meet Heather in person, but it’s a blessing to have her on my blog today. (Also, Heather is generously giving away a print copy of her book, Weaving Roots, to one U.S. Residents. Details at the end.)
Heather Wood grew up in the Chicago suburbs, loving history, classic literature, writing stories, and Civil War reenacting. After obtaining her bachelor’s degree in Bible/Theology from Appalachian Bible College, she settled in Virginia with her husband David. Her early passions fuel her writing today, although she spends most of her days now working to infuse her love for God and good literature into the hearts of her four children.
You can connect with her through: Website | Newsletter | Facebook | Instagram
Now for the fun stuff! I have to admit I am partial to my Fast Five. 🙂 So settle in as I hit Heather with rapid-fire.
CC: Pineapple pizza or candy corn?
HW: Pineapple pizza
CC: Test the waters or dive in the deep end?
HW: Test the waters
CC: Guacamole or salsa?
HW: Guacamole
CC: Silly hats or silly socks?
HW: Silly socks
CC: Passwords or secret handshakes?
HW: passwords, the more clever the better
I love clever passwords, but the trick is remembering them. LOL! Let’s dive into the nitty gritty of this interview.
What fiction book has most impacted you?
HW: Safely Home by Randy Alcorn
CC: I’ve heard good things about that one.
What is one book you think everyone should read, aside from the Bible?
HW: God’s Smuggler by Brother Andrew
CC: I’ve not heard of that one. I’ll have to check it out.
When did you first realize that you wanted to be a writer.
HW: After I finished my first book in my thirties.
CC: The thrill of finishing a project is really something, isn’t it?
What has been the biggest challenge for you on your writing journey?
HW: Weaving together the “magic” of my creative side with knowledge of the writing craft.
CC: That is definitely a challenge!
How have you seen God work through your writing journey?
HW: Absolutely! He regularly provides inspiration in my books that I know didn’t come from me.
CC: I love watching him work.
Do you have any advice for those who want to write their own stories?
HW: Read, read, read! By being a voracious reader, you start to see what you like in story, how plots are formed, the amount of details included you like, and so on.
Now I’m excited to talk about Weaving Roots.
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CC: Where did you get the idea for the story?
HW: It started with the little lines I put into my first book about my characters’ parents that I was forced to work with in order to write their story. As I began to develop the parents’ character arcs and journey, it took me back to their childhood. The plot came from the real history of the Oliver Hibernian Free school in Baltimore.
CC: I love the connection to the Oliver Hibernian Free School.
What about this story drew you to it?
HW: How relatable it is. I’m always struck by how our generation’s problems aren’t new and people have feared and struggled with the same things through much of history.
CC: As they say, there is nothing new under the sun.
Which readers will be the ones who most love this book?
HW: Readers of character-driven stories with dynamic characters, strong faith that isn’t preachy, and a side of romance.
CC: All great elements in a book.
What was some of your favorite research you discovered while preparing for this story?
HW: I loved going to Baltimore and seeing the real locations and touching the real documents from the Hibernian Society minutes in the research library there.
CC: Oh, travel research is the best!
How did this story affect you as you wrote it? Did God teach you anything?
HW: I wrestled through the question of what is our responsibility and what is God’s responsibility in raising children. When do we fight for them and when do we let go and leave them with God? Can we do both at the same time? As a mom, it’s an important lesson to learn and I appreciated the scriptures this question took me to.
CC: Those are some tough questions to wrestle through.
What do you hope readers will take away from your story?
HW: That life wasn’t easier in “the good old days” and the same God who was trustworthy and carried his people through difficult circumstances back then is the same God we can turn to today.
CC: Amen.
I always like to end with a fun question so . . .
You find a genie in a lamp. What three wishes would you make?
HW: 1) to see my loved ones follow God, 2) to have a reputation of integrity and truth, and 3) to have a summer camp with my Christian Mommy Writers friends and their families so our kids can play together every year.
CC: Those are wise choices, and that last one is especially fun.
Readers, I hope you’ll check out Weaving Roots and then leave a review on Amazon, Goodreads, and/or BookBub. You wouldn’t believe how important that is to an author.
Giveaway
Heather is giving away a print copy of Weaving Roots to one continental U.S. resident. Contest runs from now until 9/17 at 11:59 pm EST.
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Reader, how has God used fiction to impact YOUR life?
by Crystal Caudill | Aug 24, 2024 | Author Interviews
It has been a blessing to get to know T. Elizabeth Renich over the years, both as fellow historical authors and as avid readers. I’m even more excited that we both Kregel authors now. While her Kregel series won’t begin releasing until 2025, I can tell you that the series goes from after the French & Indian War (1763) through the American Revolution. So if you are a fan of Laura Frantz, you are not going to want to miss T. Elizabeth’s books. I HIGHLY recommend you sign up for her newsletter so you can stay in the know. She is releasing her Shadow Creek Chronicles series (Civil War) one book at a time, and so that is what we’re going to focus on today. Before we do that, let me officially introduce you!
T. Elizabeth Renich has written four Civil War novels, worked for two NFL teams, and visited all fifty United States of America. International travels has taken her to Germany, Japan, Ireland, Israel, Scotland, and England. She hunts historical markers and shares hope as an ovarian cancer survivor. Her love of photography is evident as she documents research trips and life, giving glory to God for the great things He has done.
You can connect with her through: Website | Newsletter | Facebook | Instagram
Now for the fun stuff! I have to admit I am partial to my Fast Five. 🙂 So settle in as I hit T. Elizabeth with rapid-fire.
CC: Pineapple pizza or candy corn?
TER: Pineapple pizza
CC: Test the waters or dive in the deep end?
TER: Test the waters
CC: Guacamole or salsa?
TER: Guacamole
CC: Silly hats or silly socks?
TER: Silly socks
CC: Passwords or secret handshakes?
TER: passwords
I’m such a silly socks person too. In fact, many of our answers would match!
What fiction book has most impacted you?
TER: The one on my mind is my most recent read which was Jamie Ogle’s “Of Love and Treason.” Her story takes place in a time period I have not dabbled in. The way she illustrated the danger and trials of the Christians in Rome was moving. I’m not sure exactly how to describe it, but I felt different after reading it. The emotions caused deeper reflection on the power of God’s amazing love for us and how He is faithful when we cling to Him.
CC: Oh, that one is on my TBR pile. I just might have to move it up.
When did you first realize you want to be a writer?
TER: In twelfth grade, my Senior Composition teacher insisted that I should write stories, she believed in me long before I did. She attended my first book signing saying, “I told you so.”
CC: I love how the encouragement of a teacher can really change the course of someone’s life.
What is your writing Kryptonite?
TER: I go down way too many rabbit holes while researching. When I have 20+ browser tabs open, I know I’m too far from where I started. Reel it back in, and write!
CC: Oh the research. It’s so fun to get lost in, and sometimes it’s a wonderful procrastination tool. LOL
How have you seen God work through your writing journey?
TER: Oh, yes! Without Him I would have no words or stories to share. I stand back and watch in awe to see Him open doors, lead me to contacts I didn’t know I needed, find research tidbits at just the moment they are needed, as if He’s giving me a clue that I’m on the right/write path. He is faithful. I thought I was done writing the Shadowcreek Chronicles. I was wrong, and He’s guiding me through a new plan I didn’t see coming. Stay tuned…
CC: Isn’t it amazing when He takes the plans we thought we knew and turns them on their heads? I definitely encourage my readers to join your newsletter and stay tuned for all the upcoming fun.
Before we dive into learning about book one of the Shadowcreek Chronicles, can you tell us a little bit about this series that you are rereleasing?
TER: This is the series blurb: With distinctive historical accuracy, skilled storyteller T. Elizabeth Renich brings the Civil War to life by blending documented facts and memorable characters in a moving account detailing a Confederate family and their determined struggle for survival amid crucial battles and daring cavalry raids…
CC: It’s not often you get a look at the Confederate side of things. I always like to tell people that war is complicated and it is so much more than the all-too-succinct explanations taught to us in history classes. Fiction is a great way to see the all-too-real side of the War and the cost both sides paid.
Now I’m excited to talk about Word of Honor.
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CC: Where did you get the idea for the series?
TER: I found Civil War history in California, my native state, and wanted to share what I learned.
CC: Oh, now I’m interested to know how this connects to California history. I mean I know technically, California would probably have been part of the Civil War loosely, but I never thought about it actually having ties TO the War.
How is the Civil War connected to California?
TER: My characters are involved with a Western Campaign with plans for a Confederate takeover of California because the gold and silver financing the Union war effort was coming from Western territories. People were held at the fort on Alcatraz Island until after the war was over.
CC: Wow. I had no idea. How cool is that? Now I want to go digging into that bit of previously-unknown-to-me history.
What was some of your favorite research while preparing for the Shadow Creek Chronicles?
TER: Going to the places where my stories are set helps me visualize better what I’m trying to write. Battlefields, historic sites, museums… and so many of the rangers and docents are great about sharing information and finding the little-known details.
CC: I love how their knowledge can really add to a series with their unique detailed knowledge.
What do you hope readers will take away from your story?
TER: History is not dull and boring. I find it amazing what those who came before us accomplished and endured. Progress brings change, but people’s attributes don’t differ much through the years.
CC: I agree. History is so much more than the sentences that are put in history books. There is so much depth and richness there, and sometimes the only way to really experience it is through a well-researched book.
I always like to end with a fun question so . . .
If you were a pirate, what would be your nickname? Why?
TER: Gunpowder Stubbs — because it was on one of those funny quizzes with the pertinent letters and months as the clues. It made me laugh — ha!
CC: That is fantastic and sooo much fun!
Readers, I hope you’ll check out Word of Honor and then leave a review on Amazon, Goodreads, and/or BookBub. You wouldn’t believe how important that is to an author.
Reader, what is your favorite historical period to read?
by Crystal Caudill | Aug 13, 2024 | Author Interviews
Rachel Fordham is a woman with a big heart and love for her foster kids. I love reading her stories, both her fictional ones and the real ones about her life and family. It’s my pleasure to introduce you to her this week, just in time for her newest release, Beyond Ivy Walls. She is graciously providing a giveaway for this interview, so check out the details at the end of the post. But first, let me introduce you to her properly.
Rachel Fordham is the author of The Letter Tree, Where the Road Bends, A Lady in Attendance, A Life Once Dreamed, The Hope of Azure Springs, and Yours Truly, Thomas. Fans expect stories with heart and she delivers, diving deep into the human experience and tugging at reader emotions. She loves connecting with people, traveling to new places, and daydreaming about future projects that will have sigh-worthy endings and memorable characters. She is a busy mom, raising both biological and foster children (a cause she feels passionate about). She lives with her husband and children on an island in the state of Washington.
You can connect with her through: Website | Facebook | Instagram | GoodReads
Now for the fun stuff! I have to admit I am partial to my Fast Five. 🙂 So settle in as I hit Rachel with rapid-fire.
CC: Pineapple pizza or candy corn?
RF: That’s a tough one….Pineapple pizza (but neither is very appealing)
CC: Test the waters or dive in the deep end?
RF: Usually test the waters but with writing I jumped in the deep end!
CC: Guacamole or salsa?
RF: Salsa (the fresher the better)
CC: Silly hats or silly socks?
RF: Socks! No need to be the center of attention if I don’t have to be.
CC: Passwords or secret handshakes?
RF: Hmmmm….I have no idea…. my daughters made up a pretty cute handshake the other day.
I love how adorable your girls (and all your kids) are. Let’s dive into the meat of this interview.
What book has most impacted you?
RF: This is impossible to answer! But I think being read to as a child changed everything. I remember begging for one more chapter. I remember my mom crying while reading the end of Where the Red Fern Grows. Those early memories led to a love of reading and that led to a love of writing. Thanks Mom!
CC: That is so true, and God bless your Momma for instilling such a love of reading in you.
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
RF: I think I was always a writer…but didn’t know it. I loved reading and picking apart storylines from a very young age. I loved rewriting endings to movies after watching them. And I loved writing assignments when I was in school. But I always thought I was too ordinary to write a novel. I didn’t give it a try until after having my fifth baby. I needed a creative outlet. One day my husband said, “you read so much, why don’t you write a book.” And so, I did! And haven’t stopped since.
CC: I love your husband’s support and launching you into this madness called writing.
How have you seen God work through your writing journey?
RF: Absolutely! Often as I get to know my characters and put myself in their heads, I gain empathy I didn’t have before. Or a theme in a book ends up being for me. Or a reader will message and what they say will touch my life. The little mercies all along the way have been so beautiful. I feel super blessed for the light I’ve found while writing!
CC: God is truly wonderful in His mercies and working in us and through us in our writing journeys.
Now I’m excited to talk about Beyond Ivy Walls.
Reminiscent of Beauty and the Beast, a recluse and a young woman discover that the scars of life are no match against an act of love.
Iowa, 1903. All of Monticello believes Otis Taylor has been away fostering his musical genius. But the truth is that his father exiled him long ago, rejecting Otis’s appearance and the scars that came with it. Now that he is the last living Taylor, Otis has covertly returned to settle his family’s affairs and rid himself of his past for good. However, he soon discovers that he may not have been the only abandoned Taylor and begins a tireless search for his missing toddler niece.
At twenty-three years old, Sadie West left her family farm and found employment at the Hoag feather duster factory. It isn’t a romantic job, but she’s hardly had a glimmer of romance since her beau went off to college, leaving her with no promise of a future together. Desperate to save money and help her family make ends meet, she trespasses and finds shelter in an abandoned building–and is thrown in the path of the town’s mysterious bachelor.
Otis’s wounds are deep, but as Sadie’s friendship with him grows, she begins to fall for the man beneath the mask. Locating his long-lost niece, however, is more difficult than either could have imagined, and Sadie West may be the key to Otis Taylor finally finding his way home.
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CC: Where did you get the idea for Beyond Ivy Walls?
RF: The ideas for this story came from every direction. I read the Monticello, Iowa newspaper from the early 1900’s and discovered miracle cures, the Hoag feather duster factory and the town’s obsession with roller skating. But those things alone were not enough to build a story around. And so, I added a little Beauty and the Beast, a dose of Jane Eyre and some Light Between Oceans. I’m incredibly proud of the way the ingredients came together.
CC: Oh that is a lot of fun! I love finding historical tidbits to build a story around!
Who was the most challenging character to create?
RF: Sadie was a lot harder to write than Otis. She comes from a healthy, functioning family. She doesn’t have as much baggage as Otis. It made showing character growth harder. But hard isn’t bad. I love that Sadie has sisters she loves and parents she is proud of. We need more examples of functioning families in literature.
CC: That is a true statement. It is really hard to write functioning families in fiction, but we do so need them.
Which character was the most fun to create?
RF: I love, love, love writing secondary characters who are more than just accessories. I adored the older couple in this book!
CC: Secondary characters can be so much fun, and they can completely change a story too!
What was some of your favorite research you discovered?
RF: I reached out to the library in Monticello, Iowa and asked some questions about the Hoag Duster factory. They wrote back that they could do better than old articles, they connected me with a descendent of the original owners. Having a personal contact made researching this book extra fun.
CC: There is nothing like trying to contact some historians only to find a more personal connection that you can really work into a story.
What do you hope readers will take away from your story?
RF: I hope they close the book with a happy sigh!! It’s always my hope that readers will feel like the time they spent in one of my books was time well spent. I hope they are entertained, uplifted and that they will think twice before judging others. I hope they leave the book a little better than they went into it.
CC: What a beautiful hope to hold on to. I am sure readers will walk away with just that. Speaking of readers . . .
Which readers will most like your book?
RF: Readers of historical romance who love happy endings, butterflies in their stomachs, and enough depth that it isn’t just fluff.
And one last question before we end our time:
What animal is most like you?
RF: A night owl…or maybe an early bird. I am guilty of staying up way too late and then having to get up early. Someday…I’ll sleep.
CC: Oh do I feel this one. Left to my own devices, I am definitely a night owl! Too bad life demands use to be morning birds.
Readers, I hope you’ll check out Beyond Ivy Walls and then leave a review on Amazon, Goodreads, and/or BookBub. You wouldn’t believe how important that is to an author.
Giveaway Info
Rachel is graciously providing one U.S. resident, 18 years and older, with a signed copy of Yours Truly, Thomas–an earlier book of hers that I really enjoyed. Use the Rafflecopter below to enter. Entries open until 11:59 p.m. EST on August 20.
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Reader, what do you know of the Asian front during WWII? What things interest you about this story?
Baltimore, 1828 