I am so blessed to get to introduce you to my dear friend and fellow historical romance author, Kelly J. Goshorn. I’ve known her since almost the beginning of my writing journey, and I am truly blessed by how she has helped me grow as a writer. I’m a fan of her stories, and I think you will be too.

Kelly is generously giving away a print copy of The Undercover Heiress of Brockton. So be sure to drop down, leave a comment, and fill out the form for your chance to win. 

Before we dive into our interview, let me introduce you to today’s author!

Kelly Goshorn weaves her affinity for history and her passion for God into inspiring stories of love, faith, and family set in America’s vibrant past. She is the bestselling author of The Undercover Heiress of Brockton and A Love Restored.

She earned her B.A. in Social Studies Education from Messiah College and her M.Ed. in History from The Pennsylvania State University. Kelly is an active member of ACFW Virginia where she currently serves as the Conference Coordinator for the chapter’s popular virtual Royal Writers Conference.

Kelly has been enjoying her own happily-ever-after with her husband and best friend, Mike, for 35 years. Together they have raised three children, three dogs, four cats, a turtle, a geckco, a guinea pig, and numerous hamsters. Thankfully, not all at the same time. When she is not writing, Kelly enjoys binge-watching BBC period dramas, exploring historical sights, board-gaming with family and friends, and spoiling her Welsh corgi, Biscuit.

Connect with the author:

Website  |  Newsletter  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  Pinterest  |  Amazon  |  BookBub  |  GoodReads

By the way, if you sign up for Kelly’s newsletter, you’ll get a copy of her husband’s DELICIOUS sugar cookies that inspired the baking scene in A Love Restored.

Let’s dive into our Fast Five!

CC: City, suburb, or country?

KELLY: small town in the country

CC: Watching a new movie or rewatching an old favorite?

KELLY: old favorite

CC: Be invisible or read minds?

KELLY: invisible – I don’t think reading minds would be a good idea at all!

CC: Road trip or airplane?

KELLY: Road trip, baby. Even in the UK we rented a car and drove ourselves. We love being on our own schedule and stopping as the mood strikes!

CC: Fancy restaurant or home-cooked meal?

KELLY: Home cooked meal, but someone else prepares it! LOL!

CC: I’m so with you on the road trip for all the same reasons. Now, let’s dive into getting to know just a tiny bit more about you.

How have you seen God work in your writing 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. 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 my 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.

CC: That is so incredibly beautiful, and also convicting to me. It’s a hard wrestle with our crippling self-doubts and to live and believe like the work of the cross was enough. 

So why do you write Christian fiction specifically?

KELLY: Jesus understood that for most people stories, not sermons, speak to the heart and soul of the listener. The power of fiction, especially Christian fiction, lies in its ability to present spiritual truths to readers in very non-threatening ways. Within the pages of a novel, the reader connects with the underlying themes of the story through relatable characters and engaging narratives, hopefully leading them to apply these truths in their own lives.

CC: I agree 100%. Honestly, it was Janette Oke’s When Calls the Heart series that played a significant role in changing the trajectory of my life when I was a new Christian, or not yet one.

Before we talk about your book, allow me to introduce readers to it.

CC: I loved this story, and I was so blessed to get to endorse it. I know what I think fans will love, but

What will fans of The Undercover Heiress of Brockton love about your story and characters?

KELLY: I think the main characters are the stars of the novel. I love to write stories with strong heroines, swoony heroes, and lace it altogether with humor and witty banter. In The Undercover Heiress of Brockton, my heroine, Henrietta “Etta” Maxwell, is an eccentric heiress who masquerades as Henry Mason, a male reporter for the Brockton Enterprise—a fact that routinely puts a knot in Etta’s knickerbockers. My hero, Leo Eriksson, is a second-generation firefighter. His father and brothers are also firemen stationed together at the Campello firehouse, located on the same block as the ill-fated shoe factory. He is clever and authentic, with a strong, protective nature.

CC: I really love your skill with creating characters, and these two were great for each other. But oh did they have some bumps along the way!

Why did you write this story? What drew you toward it?

KELLY: A critical part of the plot for The Undercover Heiress of Brockton surrounds a little-known true event that occurred on March 20, 1905, when the steam boiler in the R.B. Grover Shoe Factory exploded. I saw a side-by-side picture of the building before and after the explosion, and the only thing left standing of the massive four-story building was its smokestack. I immediately thought everyone inside that building perished. But that wasn’t the case. Miraculously, only 58 of the 365 employees inside the factory at the time of the disaster died.

Needless to say, I was intrigued. I started learning about some of those who didn’t survive, like Dora Clark, who was beginning her first day of employment at the shoe factory, or Ray Cole, who happened to be delivering water to the plant when disaster struck. Those tragedies, coupled with the heroism of pinned employees selflessly working to free their colleagues, the fearless firemen of the Campello station who were first on the scene, or the brave priest from St. Margaret’s who raced into the inferno to rescue the injured, captured my imagination, and I knew their stories needed to be told.

CC: I think seeing the community rally around each other during this horrible time was one of my favorite parts of the story.

What do you hope readers will take away from your story?

KELLY: Through Etta’s journey, I hope readers will become more comfortable with the unique person God has created them to be, to celebrate their distinct talents and gifts—quirks and all. I think this message can’t be overstated in a world that focuses too much on our physical appearance rather than our character, where not having the largest bank account or latest gadget can make you feel “less than,” or expressing our individual ideas and opinions can leave you feeling ostracized.

CC: It’s wonderful how God has made each of us unique with a special plan just for us. 

Unfortunately, it’s time to wrap up, so here’s our last question, and it’s always a fun one. You’re in the back of a police car on your way to jail. What did you do? And is anyone with you?

KELLY: This question made me chuckle. I definitely know my cohort in crime would be fellow author and besite, Debb Hackett. I think we’d be busted stalking our favorite CF authors, Karen Witemeyer (me) or Becky Wade (Debb). But make no mistake, it would definitely be Debb’s idea. She’s a horrible influence on me! LOL!

CC: Ha ha! Yes. Debb is a wonderfully bad influence. You two are fantastic for each other!

That’s it for now. Readers, I highly recommend you check out The Undercover Heiress of Brockton by Kelly J. Goshorn the first chance you get.

Where should I start?

Never read anything from Kelly J. Goshorn? I asked her where you should start, and this was the answer (and I 100% agree):

I would encourage them to read A Love Restored first. It’s truly the book of my heart.

(You can read my review of it here.)

My question for YOU:

Did you know about the shoe factory explosion? What other tragedies have you heard of where the heroism displayed would make a great story? 

Giveaway Details

Here’s your chance to win a copy of The Undercover Heiress. Comment on the blog and enter using the Google Form for your chance to win! Entries close at 11:59 p.m. EST on 2/26/2026. Open to legal U.S. residents. See Giveaway Policies for more details.