Linda Shenton Matchett's Blog, page 45

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Back Jodie Wolfe!

 Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Back, Jodie Wolfe!

Linda: Congratulations on your upcoming release (tomorrow!) Protecting Annie. What was your inspiration for this story? Did you set out to create a series or did it just happen? 
Jodie: Thank you. It's exciting. I appreciate you having me on today. In regards to the inspiration, I thought it would be fun to create a character (Annie McPherson) who has a lot of head knowledge but when it comes to common sense, not so much. She's a total opposite from my heroine in my first book in the series, Taming Julia. I figured Annie would be fun to interact with Jules' brother, Josh who is pure cowboy through and through. As I was writing Taming Julia, I knew I wanted to have a book about Jules' brother which is how Protecting Annie came about. 
LM: I love that your female protagonist wears glasses and is pictured as such on the cover. How did you decide to create her? 
Jodie: You don't often see protagonists with glasses do you? It made sense to create a character like this since I've worn glasses since I was in second grade. Annie, like me, is blind without her spectacles which make for some fun scenes. 
LM: Research is an important aspect of writing, especially historical fiction, and all of your books are always accurate. What sort of things did you do to research Protecting Annie? 
Jodie: One of the biggest things I researched was Wanted posters from the time period. I don't want to go into too much detail, but it plays an important part in this story. 
LM: You write historical fiction set in various times during the 1800s. How do you select which time period makes sense for your story? Do you come up with the plot first or the era, or something else? Do you have a favorite time period? 
Jodie: For this story, I wanted it to be just shortly after Taming Julia took place which is how I came up with 1876. I typically come up with a story idea first knowing that most times it will be set in anywhere from 1870s-1890s, although I am starting work on a book that takes place in the 1860s which I haven't done before. As for a favorite time period, somewhere in the 1870s. 
LM: How do you juggle your writing career with other responsibilities? 
Jodie: Sometimes I do great with this, other times not so much. Recently our son has been going through a difficult situation and it's been hard balancing being there for him while also trying to keep up with my writing responsibilities. I'm blessed to have a publisher who is very understanding. 
LM: How did the pandemic impact your writing? 
Jodie: It impacted me a lot. My husband worked from home for over a year and I found myself too distracted to write while he was here. 
LM: What is one piece of advice you have for fledgling writers? 
Jodie: Trust God and His timing. He knows what's best. Keep pressing into Him. 
LM: What is your next project? 
Jodie: I'm actually tentatively working on two ideas. One is the next book in this series (Burrton Springs Brides) with a working title of either Wooing Gertrude or Courting Gertrude. She's the seamstress and friend in Protecting Annie. The other project is a new series set in a town in PA. The first story will be in the 1860s which will require some extra research. 
LM: Where can folks find you on the web? 
Jodie:  Website:  https://www.jodiewolfe.com Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jodie-wolfe Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jodie-Wolfe-553400191384913 Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/JodieAWolfe Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15220520.Jodie_Wolfe Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Jodie-Wolfe/e/B01EAWOHXOMeWe: https://mewe.com/i/jodiewolfe
ABOUT Protecting Annie: 
After twenty years of living along the trail as a deputy U.S. Marshal, Joshua Walker takes a job as sheriff in Burrton Springs, Kansas so he can be closer to his sister. The only problem: she no longer requires his protection so he's unsure of his next step. Annie McPherson needs a change after the death of her father. She accepts a position as a schoolmarm, hoping her past won't catch up with her. Life is good, except for the pesky sheriff who continues to question her ability to adjust to life in the west and creates confrontations at every turn. When the irritating schoolteacher's past and present collide, dragging him into the turmoil, Josh has to decide who he's willing to defend.


Purchase Link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B097F5GZ47

Traveling Tuesday: Nome, Alaska

Traveling Tuesday: Nome, Alaska 

Fifty years after the California gold rush, prospectors flocked to Nome, Alaska for one of the biggest rushes in the far north of North America. The Klondike or Yukon is also often referred to as an Alaskan rush, but in reality, that rush occurred in Canada. 
Nome is located on the southern Seward Peninsula coast on the Norton Sound of the Bering Sea. The city has a subarctic climate, experiencing long, very cold winters, and short, cool summers. Because of its location on the coast, the seasons are somewhat moderated and less severe than in the interior. The coldest month is January, averaging five degrees Fahrenheit. Average high temperatures remain under freezing from late October until late April. July is the warmest month with average temperatures in the low fifties Fahrenheit and rarely reaching eighty degrees. 
Home to the Inupiat natives for several millennia, the area was quickly overrun by thousands of gold seekers from all over the United States. The rush is said to have started as a result of the discovery made by “Three Lucky Swedes” in Anvil Creek in September 1898. (Technically, one of the “Swedes” was Norwegian, but with the amount of money he was making, he didn’t refute the nickname.)  By the following summer, gold was found in the beach sands for dozens of miles along the Nome coast bringing even more prospectors. Gold seekers only needed a shovel and a sluice box to mine the copious nuggets from the gritty shoreline. Reports about the ease of extracting gold attracted women and the less hearty to the Alaskan goldfields. The spring of 1900 saw even more people pour into the area aboard steamships from Seattle and San Francisco. Word reached as far as Australia, and it wasn’t long before a schooner set sail from the continent. Additional mining was done in the creeks, however, the process was slow and cold. A layer of permafrost lies just below the surface, requiring equipment to thaw the ground and suck up the gravel.  With the amount of wealth coming from the area, it’s not surprising that corruption reared its head. In 1900, North Dakota politician Alexander McKenzie managed to secure appointments for his hand-picked candidates for a federal judge, federal district attorney, and other positions. He then traveled to Nome where crooked Judge Arthur Noyes took mines and claims from their rightful owners and appointed McKenzie as the receiver to operate the mines. The closed court of appeals was in San Francisco, a two- to three-week voyage by boat, but the owners made the trek.   After several months, the appeals court reversed Noyes’s decisions and ordered McKenzie to return the gold he’d received. However, the politician refused and continued removing gold from the mines. The claim-jumping scheme was finally stopped when the court had him arrested, them found him guilty of contempt of court. He was sentenced to one year in jail, of which he served three months. President William McKinley pardoned him in May, 1901.  Most of the gold had played out by the end of summer 1909, and the prospectors trickled away. The 1910 census reported only 2,600 residents, down from the 20,000 that had called the area home for the prior decade. Fire and storms over the subsequent years destroyed most of the rush-era buildings. Intrigued? Immerse yourself in the Gold Rush Bride series, a multi-author collection of stories about the U.S. and Canadian gold rushes in the 19th and early 20th centuries. 

About Gold Rush Bride Hannah, Book 1:  A brand-new widow, she doesn’t need another man in her life. He’s not looking for a wife. But when danger thrusts them together, will they change their minds...and hearts?  Hannah Lauman’s husband has been murdered, but rather than grief, she feels...relief. She decides to remain in Georgia to work their gold claim, but a series of incidents makes it clear someone wants her gone...dead or alive. Is a chance at being a woman of means and independence worth risking her life? Jess Vogel never breaks a promise, so when he receives a letter from a former platoon mate about being in danger, he drops everything to help his old friend. Unfortunately, he arrives just in time for the funeral. Can he convince the man’s widow he’s there for her protection not for her money?
Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3H1YVBn

Fiction Friday: New Releases for November

 

November 2021 New Releases
More in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website
Contemporary Romance:

[image error] A Small Town Christmas Challenge by Susanne Dietze -- Will reviving an old tradition be the start of something new? When she inherits a beautiful historic house, nurse Leah Dean knows selling it could solve all her problems. But there’s just one catch—she and co-owner Pastor Benton Hunt must cohost the Gingerbread Gala in the home first. As Christmas approaches, Leah and Benton grow closer, and parting with the house—and each other—is not as easy as they thought… (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired)

Never Too Late by Susan L. Tuttle -- Widowed homemaker Rachael Stark isn’t quite sure what comes after her only child leaves for college. To fill her suddenly quiet hours and scrawny bank account, she needs a job. But painful memories prevent her from resurrecting her former art career, and motherhood isn't much of a résumé. When her best friend needs help recovering from a gunshot wound that occurred in the line of duty, she is there. Finally, someone to take care of. Evan Wayne won't let his injury keep him from being a police officer. His dedication to protect the innocent stems from the guilt he carries over having failed his childhood friend. What he needs now is to recover and get back on the streets. Instead, he's handed a myriad of light-duty tasks by his captain―one of which involves heading up the department's entry into the town's annual mural contest. He's not an artist, but he definitely knows one. And he'll take any excuse to spend more time with her. (Contemporary Romance from Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas)

You and Me by Becky Wade -- Easy-going, artistic Connor Bryant fell hard for his friend Shay Seaver when they were both in the seventh grade. Sixteen years later, he’s returned to Misty River. She’s finally between boyfriends. And his crush on her hasn’t wavered. Now’s his chance. He tells Shay that he’s found someone he wants to date and is in need of a makeover when it comes to his appearance and dating strategies. He asks if she’ll serve as his consultant — in hopes that he’ll learn how he can become her ideal man. What he doesn’t tell her? That she’s the one he wants to date. Sporty stationery shop owner Shay immediately agrees to Connor’s request because he’s one of the best guys she knows. However, she quickly realizes she’s in over her head. She’s pledged to help him win the affection of another woman — even though she dearly wants to claim his heart. (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)
HIstorical:

[image error] Magi Journey: Assyria by Terry Phillip Garner -- The first in a three-book series that follows a Family of Chaldean Magi from the court of Tiglath—Pileser III, King of Assyria in 734 BC, to Bethlehem in -0- BC. Through the eyes of the Magi, we see the history of prophecy, judgment, and redemption unfold. In book one, the Magi recount: meeting Isaiah, King Ahaz, and King Hezekiah of Judah; campaigning with King Tiglath-Pileser III and King Sennacherib as they subdue the Levantine States and deport the people of Israel to Assyria, and creating the Magi school that will survive the Assyrian, Babylonian, and Persian Empires and serve as the foundation of the Magi Family of faith. (Historical from Bookbaby)

The Last Piece by Terrie Todd -- When his father dies during the Great Depression, Ray Matthews is forced to drop out of art school to support his mother and sister as a jigsaw puzzle artist. Ray has only one painting he vows never to sell: the portrait of his beloved sweetheart. When pressured to break his oath, Ray sends the painting off with a promise and a prophecy. Through eight decades, the puzzle of the beautiful girl at the wishing well passes through four households, deeply affecting each without ever being fully completed. When Leesha Pennington’s weekly treasure hunt at her local thrift shop produces an old jigsaw puzzle that might be worth something, she adds it to her shopping cart despite the old man’s mysterious warning: “Be careful with that one. Some puzzles don’t like to be solved.” Her decision sets in motion a chain of events that causes all five stories to converge. (Historical, Independently Published)

Historical Romance:

Honor in the Mountain Refuge by Misty M. Beller -- This epic journey is his last chance to start a new life. After being cast out of his Blackfoot village for his kindness to the Nez Perce captives, Chogan travels west in search of meaning for his life. Meaning that doesn’t require killing or torturing innocent people. Though the lovely face of Telípe, a Nez Perce woman, is imprinted on his heart, he avoids her village. She deserves a happy life with her husband and coming child. With her husband dead and the birth of her babe imminent, Telípe’s reality looks nothing like she planned. She’s been forced to return to the village where she grew up and the chaos of her family’s lodge—with all her boisterous younger brothers. She desperately desires to start a new life for herself and the babe growing within her, but she can’t seem to climb above the mire of her past. When she stumbles into the brave who’d shown her kindness during her captivity, something ignites within her—a new hope. (Historical Romance, Independently Published)

Protecting Annie by Jodie Wolfe -- After twenty years living along the trail as a deputy U.S. Marshal, Joshua Walker takes a job as sheriff in Burrton Springs, Kansas so he can be closer to his sister. Only problem is, she no longer requires his protecting. After the death of her father, Annie McPherson needs a change. She accepts a position as schoolmarm hoping her past won't catch up with her. Life is good, except for the pesky lawman who creates confrontations at every turn and continually questions her ability to adjust to life in the west. When the irritating schoolteacher's past and present collide, dragging Josh into the turmoil, he has to decide who he's willing to defend. (Historical Romance from White Rose Publishing)

Mystery:

Circumvent by SK Derban -- French-born, Nikki Sabine Moueix travels to Hawaii for a special work assignment, but the job of writing an article about a famous Swiss pastry chef generates more than a magazine piece. They fall in love, get married, and Nikki Moueix becomes Mrs. Ruggiero Delémont. When another assignment calls for Nikki to spend three weeks in France, Ruggiero’s schedule prevents him from joining her. She travels alone, advancing straight into danger. After a threatening confrontation, Nikki wakes up in a French hospital with no knowledge of her past. After she fails to check in, Ruggiero panics and pushes for an immediate investigation. But as he closes in, Nikki’s new found friend moves her to another city. It becomes a game of hide and seek with Nikki as the prize. (Mystery from TouchPoint Press)

Speculative Fiction:

All That’s Fair by Amanda G. Stevens -- Unable for the last century to grow old or succumb to injury, Cady Schuster has lost a lot of people, some more recently than others. She's trying to find new belonging in Harbor Vale, Michigan, among a welcoming little group of fellow ageless folk. Then she meets Paige, a mortal woman who needs a friend-and might need help. Paige's husband rules their church with an authority unquestioned by his congregation. When Paige suddenly severs all communication, Cady determines to find her. Churchgoers warn her off, and the behavior of Paige's husband proves a still bigger warning. Is this friend lost too, or can Cady help her? And how far should an ageless woman involve herself in the conflicts of mortals? (Speculative Fiction, Independently Published)

Thriller/Suspense/Romance:

Uncharted Courage by Keely Brooke Keith -- When Bailey accepts John Colburn’s offer for her to visit Good Springs, she leaves the Inn at Falls Creek expecting to spend the autumn relaxing in her favorite seaside village. Upon her arrival, Connor asks her to cover a shift of guard duty on the equinox, and her quiet vacation takes a shocking turn. Revel Roberts works hard to keep his life commitment-free, making it easy to leave community decisions to men like Connor and John. But when the Land is threatened, Revel sees his chance to prove he is a man worthy of Bailey’s love. Amid the chaos in Good Springs, his unrequited feelings for her preoccupy him. One wrong choice could ruin everything. As Bailey’s new life in the Land unravels and threats from the outside world loom, a yearning she can’t define surges within her. It distracts her from defending the hidden world she loves, and a tragedy reinforces her need for independence. With the survival of the Land at stake and their hearts on the line, Bailey and Revel will need more courage than fighting ever required. They will need to find the courage to love. (Thriller/Suspense/Romance from Edenbrooke Press)

Women’s Fiction:

[image error] Unpacking Christmas by Beth K. Vogt -- As Johanna, Jillian, and Payton look forward to celebrating the Christmas holidays with their families, they’re not prepared for an announcement that changes everything they’ve grown to love and cherish. Their parents are selling their long-time family home. One change seems to lead to another, with Payton and Zach announcing their own decision to move, while Jillian and Geoff tackle the challenge of starting a family. The only ones maintaining the status quo are Johanna and Beckett—but romantic limbo is no place to be. Then their dad’s sudden health crisis spins life further out of control. Instead of putting up holiday lights and decorating the family Christmas tree, the Thatcher sisters are helping pack up their childhood home. Along the way, they share treasured memories, try to hold onto valued traditions, discovering the struggles they’ve endured pale in comparison to the love they share with each other. (Women’s Fiction from Never Door Press)

Where Memories Await by Heidi Chiavaroli -- Can memories of old restore a forgotten love? Camden, Maine ~ Present Day: Spunky octogenarian Priscilla Martin is a woman with many Christmas secrets. When a beloved niece tempts her to bare her wounded soul, Priscilla must decide whether to share the secret of her sister’s demise—and the reason she abandoned the man she loved in favor of a loveless marriage. Camden, Maine ~ December, 1957: The only person Priscilla loves more than Ed Colton is her younger sister, Hazel. But when Ed is drafted and Hazel runs away to New York to be with a man she believes will make her famous, Priscilla’s plans crumble around her. Ed’s silence and Hazel’s tragic return leads Priscilla to make a choice she will forever regret. Can revisiting long-ago memories give Priscilla what she’s longed for all these years? (Women’s Fiction, Independently Published)

Plus check out these recent additions to Fiction Finder published within the past month:
   A Harvest Heart by Denise Weimer, When a harvest romance reignites, Hope searches for the faith to finally live up to her name. (Contemporary Romance)

   A Season of Change by Beth Wiseman, Professional success. Personal failure. (General Contemporary)

   Christmas Tapestry Anthology by Ruth A. Douthitt, et. al., Christian Writers of the West, the southwestern division of American Christian Fiction Writers, presents a collection of Christmas-themed short stories to warm your hearts throughout the season. (General Contemporary)

   Ice Cold Blue by Susan Page Davis, True Blue accepts the case, and the investigators follow a twisting path to the truth. (Thriller/Suspense)

   No Bones About It by Annette O’Hare, how far is her adversary willing to go to make sure she stays quiet? (Middle Grade)

   No Longer a Captive by Carol James, Will God release her from her past, to be free to trust the man she comes to love? (Contemporary Romance)

   Perfectly Arranged by Liana George, The women embark on an adventure of faith and self-discovery as they uncover secrets, truths, and ultimately, God's perfectly arranged plans. (General Contemporary)

   Protecting Her Witness by Sarah Hamaker, As the threats pile up, will Chalissa be able to keep the family she’s grown to love safe? (Thriller/Suspense)

   The Demons Among Us by Jill K. Willis, Are the siblings willing to overcome their inner demons to fight for their friends' souls? (Young Adult)

   The Glass Cottage by Alyssa Schwarz, In this tale of friendship, love lost, and love found, Abigail must decide for herself: Is every story worth saving, and if so, at what cost? (Contemporary Romance)

   The Petticoat Spy by Elva Cobb Martin, As both American and English armies gather near Yorktown, Virginia, for a pivotal battle, can John and Anna's budding love for each other and their faith in God preserve them and help forge a new nation? (Historical Romance)

   Tinsel in a Twist by Laurie Germaine, Now rendered useless against Krampus, and outclassed by Gretel, Tinsel must devise a new plan to save the futures of Christmas, her love life, and her career, before they unravel faster than a trio of ugly sweaters. (Speculative Fiction)

   To Chase a Dream by Chandra Lynn Smith, Will they trust the possibilities of new dreams or allow them to fade with the waning moon? (Thriller/Suspense/Romance)

   Where Love Grows by Heidi Chiavaroli, They have nothing in common except love for music and a donut-shop drive thru. (Contemporary Romance)

   Worth of Redemption by Krystina Renae Rankin, As old hurts turn into friendship, and maybe even love, can Heath prove to them both that he’s a man worthy of redemption? (Contemporary Romance)

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Nancy Naigle!

 Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Nancy Naigle!

LM: Thanks for joining me today. Congratulations on your recent release The Shell Collector. What was your inspiration for this particular story?  Nancy: Thank you so much for having me! I’m so happy to be here. The Shell Collector was inspired by a story my cousin once shared with me about a family friend who found special shells along the beach in Kitty Hawk, NC where she lived. Over a period of about six years, she found four shells with messages in them. The first had scripture written in it, others messages of hope and positive affirmations.  Each of the shells came to her when she needed it most. No one else who lived in the area ever mentioned finding shells like these, which left her wondering how they came to her, and why. She treasured them considering them gifts from her angels by the sea.  I thought of that story often, but never more than in 2014. I lost my husband and my cousin within just weeks of each other early that year. I could have used a boatload of those shells to get through that. Instead, this story of The Shell Collector took hold in my heart, and over the following years, it grew into a story not just about shells, but about surviving grief, the people whose lives a simple message in a shell would touch, and the friendships and love that grew because of them. A story of kindness, friendship, survival, and hope. 
LM: After writing so many books, how challenging is it to come up with plot lines and characters for new books? 
Nancy: I find that as long as I give myself enough balance and down-time life tosses new stories right into my lap. Lol. Just look left, then right and this crazy world we live in is bound to conjure up something book-worthy.  LM: You had a career in finance. What made you decide to try your hand at fiction writing all those years ago? 
Nancy: Some might call it a happy accident, but I believe it was a nudge from God that put me on this path. I didn’t grow up with the desire to become a writer. I’d always known I’d work in corporate America. I was a Senior Vice President with Bank of America, and I loved my career. I worked incredibly long hours, and the stress was high, but I thrived in that environment.  But the year I turned forty my job responsibilities included offshoring technical positions. That was really hard for me on a personal level even though I knew it was the right business decision at the time.  After some soul-searching, I came to the conclusion that if I could just write one book, to help one busy gal, through one bad day…that would be a positive way to give back. It was a lot harder than it sounded lol. It took a long time to get that first book written and all-in-all it was a 9-year journey to publication. I learned a lot about myself through the process too. It wasn’t until I lost my husband in 2014 that I took an early retirement and made a commitment to spend my time weaving stories of hope, happiness, and healing. I love knowing that I might touch a heart, improve someone’s outlook, or lift them while in despair with words of hope.  My writing journey started nineteen years ago. I’ve now been published for eleven years, and have over 30 books and four novel adaptations with Hallmark/Crown Media. I don’t really think of this as a job, but rather how I live my life to share the gifts He has given me.  LM: What is your favorite aspect of writing? 
Nancy: Editing! I’d much rather edit than write that first draft.  LM: What did you do to prepare for this project? What sort of research, if any, was necessary? 
Nancy: This was the book of my heart. Coming from my personal journey through grief following the loss of my husband, it was more about being at a place that I could write the story that had been living in my heart and mind for several years. When the timing was right, I couldn’t wait to get started!  LM: You’ve accomplished quite a lot. What is one thing you wish you could do? 
Nancy: Thank you. Yes, I’ve surely been blessed with wonderful opportunities, and I don’t mind working hard to fulfill them. I still have several Writer Girl things on my bucket list. I’d love to see The Shell Collector come to life on the screen, and I’ve also been working on a couple of screenplays between deadlines that I hope to sell one day.  LM: What is your next project?  Nancy: I’m working on two projects that will release in 2022. What Remains True coming May 3, 2022 (WaterBrook Press) is about a woman on sabbatical after her divorce who stops in a small mountain town and learns that the first step in starting over is not overthinking it. The Wedding Ranch coming Fall 2022 (St. Martin’s Press) is about a small-town wedding venue, the events that take place there, and the lives that change in and around them.  LM: What is one piece of advice you’d like to offer to fledgling writers? 
Nancy: Be true to yourself. Your voice—the way you tell your story—is the only unique thing you bring to the table. Listen to advice, but filter it all through your personal moral compass and file the rest away. Trust that the story only you can tell will find its readers. 
LM: Where can folks find you on the web? 
Nancy: http://www.nancynaigle.com has all of my book links, blog, event calendar, and newsletter sign-up. You’ll get all the latest news there first. Of course, I can also be found on these social media outlets: 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NancyNaigleAuthor/  Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/nancynaigle/_saved/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nancynaigle/Twitter: https://twitter.com/nancynaigle 
About The Shell Collector: 
Two years after her husband’s death, Amanda Whittier has two children to raise alone, an abandoned dream of starting a business, and a fixer-upper cottage by the sea. She has no room in her life for anything else and little interest in moving on after losing the man she loved. 
Paul Grant is a relative newcomer to the area, and his work with former military dogs needing rehabilitation has been good for the town. Though he loved once before, he’s convinced he’s not suited for romance and is determined to find meaning—alone—through his work and role in the community. 
Widowed Maeve Lindsay was born and raised on Whelk’s Island. Spirited, kind, and a little mischievous, she pour her life into the town. But she carries a secret that shapes her every move.
Together, these three souls find encouragement in the most mysterious places and discover a love that’s bigger than their pain, healing their wounded hearts in ways none of them could have hoped for or expected.
Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/u/b6v7pJ

Release Day: A Family for Hazel

 Release Day: A Family for Hazel

I'm thrilled to announce the release of A Family for Hazel, Book 18 in the "Brides of Pelican Rapids" series. We're back in Green Bay, Wisconsin where you met Miles Andersen and Vanessa Randolph from Vanessa's Replacement Valentine. As usual, I had a great time doing the research for the story and delved deeper into the Norwegian roots of the area with Olav Kristensen and his daughter.  You'll see some well-known characters and meet some new ones.

The book is available at the special launch price of $0.99 but only for a limited time, so grab your copy today!

Here's a bit about A Family for Hazel:

Can a widowed preacher who must marry to keep his job and an alleged thief find true love? 

After the Civil War takes Hazel Markham’s father, and her mother dies of a broken heart, a friend of her parents hires Hazel as a companion. All is well until the woman’s lecherous son takes an interest in his mother’s assistant. When Hazel spurns his advances one too many times, the man frames her for theft, and she is fired. As a last resort she applies to be a mail-order bride, and to her dismay, her groom-to-be is a preacher. Will he believe her claims of innocence or reject her as unacceptable? 

Olav Kristensen has no plans to remarry after being widowed five years ago, but when the church elders give him an ultimatum to find a wife or lose his job, he advertises for a mail-order bride. The woman who arrives attests she was unjustly accused of robbery at her last job, but when his daughter’s heirloom locket goes missing, he is hesitant to believe his bride-to-be. Will he lose his church and a second chance at love?

Purchase Link: Amazon

Traveling Tuesday: Gunnison, Colorado

Traveling Tuesday: Gunnison, Colorado 

I’m working on my next manuscript, Ellie’s Escape, which takes place in Gunnison, Colorado, so I thought I’d take you on a virtual visit.  Located about 175 miles west of Colorado Springs, Gunnison is part of west-central Colorado. Tucked between the San Juan Mountains and the Sawatch Mountain range, the town lies at 7,703 feet along the Gunnison River. Headquarters for the Gunnison National Forest, Gunnison originated as a silver mining camp and is named for Captain John William Gunnison, an Indian fighter and railroad surveyor who explored the area in 1853, who was killed in an ambush a short time later. I was fascinated to discover that Captain Gunnison was born and raised in New Hampshire, attending school about an hour from where I live.  In the early 1800s, Gunnison was mostly filled with fur trappers and mountain men, but the bottom dropped out of the fur industry in the 1840s. A decade later, gold seekers flooded the area bringing conflict between the Ute tribes who had called the area home for centuries. Silver would later also be discovered. By the 1870s, Gunnison saw heavy population growth because of the mining surge that occurred throughout the state. The railroad arrived in 1881, and Gunnison quickly developed into a trade center for mining and farming. Also in the 1880s, the cattle industry was established, the farmers had discovered that with less than a foot of annual rainfall and the short growing season, ranching and breeding were better choices.  Brothers John and William Outcalt from New Jersey are two of Gunnison’s earliest (and most famous) settlers. Their ranch, family-owned for more than one hundred years, is located on the southeast bank of the Gunnison River. John built an irrigation system for the ranch and was able to grow hay and other grains. A savvy businessman, he managed to convince the railroad to build the rail through is property, allowing him to ship over 800 carloads of his hay each year.   In 1911, Western State College was established ensuring continued growth for the area. During the Spanish Flu epidemic in 1918, Gunnison residents isolated themselves from the surrounding area, but the order was lifted in early 1919, resulting in the death of several inhabitants.  Gunnison is located at the bottom of a valley, and because of its location in the Rocky Mountains, cold air settles into the town at night, making it one of the coldest places in winter in the United States. The average low in January is -8 degrees. Early fall and late spring snows are not uncommon, and snow can remain on the ground from as early as November to as late as April. The average annual snowfall is slightly more than four feet in town, but the surrounding area receives as many as 300-400 inches. 
According to one source I found, Tombstone’s famous marshal, Wyatt Earp, spent a “peaceable winter” in Gunnison in 1882-1883, with his buddies Warren Earl, Doc Holliday, Texas George, and Big Tip, so I was tempted to set my story during that period, but ultimately decided I didn’t want these guys to overshadow my characters. Another source indicated that the Vidal Ranch was used as the setting for the 1902 silent film The Girls in the Overalls.  Gunnison is also home to the Gunnision Tunnel, an engineering marvel that was the longest irrigation tunnel in the world when it was dedicated in 1909 by President William Howard Taft while he was on vacation. The 5.8 miles tunnel is cut through the cliffs of Black Canyon, taking water from the Gunnison River and funneling to the Uncompahgre Valley, a semiarid area to the west.   The idea is thought to have come from one-time miner Frank Lauzon, and in 1900 a local rancher, John Pelton, set out with a party of four men to determine whether the tunnel was feasible. Their mission was a failure, resulting in the destruction of one of the boats, but the project continued to generate interest. The following year, a team from the U.S. Geological Survey set out with rubber air mattresses and waterproof bags. Nine days later they emerged from the gorge with photographs and locations of the best areas to dig. In 1901, Colorado appropriated $25,000 to start the tunnel, but only 900 feet were driven before the money ran out. Congress jumped in and passed the Reclamation Act of 1902, with the Federal Government handling construction and an association of landowners obligated to pay back the costs.  Difficult and much larger than anticipated, the project involved seeping water, poisonous gasses, excessive temperatures, and a fractured fault zone that complicated the drilled. A cave-in took six lives, and an explosion twelve more. Fortunately, before the tunnel was completed, technological advances made the work safer and easier. The finished project greatly impacted the area. By 1923, the population had doubled, and by 1933 the number of irrigated acres rose to 64,180 (from 37,000 in 1913). Gunnison Tunnel is a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. __________________ 
About A Family for Hazel: 
Can a widowed preacher who must marry to keep his job and an alleged thief find true love? 
After the Civil War takes Hazel Markham’s father, and her mother dies of a broken heart, a friend of her parents hires Hazel as a companion. All is well until the woman’s lecherous son takes an interest in his mother’s assistant. When Hazel spurns his advances one too many times, the man frames her for theft, and she is fired. As a last resort she applies to be a mail-order bride, and to her dismay, her groom-to-be is a preacher. Will he believe her claims of innocence or reject her as unacceptable?  Olav Kristensen has no plans to remarry after being widowed five years ago, but when the church elders give him an ultimatum to find a wife or lose his job, he advertises for a mail-order bride. The woman who arrives attests she was unjustly accused of robbery at her last job, but when his daughter’s heirloom locket goes missing, he is hesitant to believe his bride-to-be. Will he lose his church and a second chance at love?
Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3ng9GqO

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome back Terri Wangard

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Back Terri Wangard
Linda: Congratulations on your upcoming release A Heart for the Sailor. What was your inspiration for this story? 
Terri: When I wrote Wheresoever They May Be, I learned about Typhoon Cobra. Three destroyers capsized and sank with great loss of life. The destroyer escort Tabberer heroically rescued many of the survivors. It made a great story. 
LM: You amplified a previous short story to create A Heart for the Sailor. What were some of the challenges involved with doing that? 
Terri: Every other chapter is new. Previously, Evelyn’s part came through only in her letters. Now she’s in “live time.” Jerry’s story takes place in December when her letters arrive. Her part is written when she wrote the letters, in late summer, early fall. Seems confusing, right? You read about Evelyn’s life and then jump ahead to see Jerry’s reaction to her news while he’s dealing with the typhoon. 
LM: Research is an important aspect of writing, especially historical fiction, and you obviously take it seriously, having flown in a WWII B-17 Bomber. Tell us about the research required for A Heart for a Sailor, and whether you found some particularly interesting tidbit you had to include. 
Terri: Evelyn is a Winnie the Welder, as opposed to a Rosie the Riveter. I had to learn about the Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company and how submarines are built. A lot of incidents I read about found their way into the novella. 
LM: How do you choose your locations and characters? For example, do you determine the plot or event first, and then decide where to set the story or do you have a location in mind, and then wrap the plot around it? How do you name your characters? 
Terri: Most of my characters are from Wisconsin because I know Wisconsin. One character lived in Ohio because she volunteered at a train canteen, and I don’t think there were any in Wisconsin. In Wheresoever They May Be, the characters live in Southern California (where I lived for nine years) because Lily worked in an aircraft factory. Since my WWII series, Promise For Tomorrow, took place at the Ridgewell Air Base because I found a wealth of information about Ridgewell and it is one word, easy to pronounce. Many characters receive names plucked from my family tree. Others are names I like really like, because I’ll be living with them for a long time. 
LM: You’ve published seven books with more on the way! Who is your favorite character that you’re written thus far? 
Terri: When I edited my WWII books to independently release after getting the rights back, I read through them and thought, “Oh, I like this book.” If I can’t even choose a favorite book, I sure can’t choose a favorite character! 
LM: What is one thing you wish you knew how to do? 
Terri: Play a musical instrument. I did take two years of organ lessons. Now I wish I had persevered. 
LM: How advice do you have for fledgling writers? 
Terri: Lots of patience is required. And don’t expect agents and editors to be waiting with bated breath to represent your project. I started writing my debut novel in 2008. It was published in 2016. Eight years. That’s not unusual. 
LM: What is your next project? 
Terri: I’ve gone back to World War II. I have a series in mind with unexpected settings. 
LM: Where can folks find you on the web? 
Terri: 
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AuthorTerriWangard Newsletter: https://terriwangard.us12.list-manage.com/subscribe/post?u=0be495d35d59f06fddf9a4d31&id=5a59b910b7 Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/terriwangard Instagram: @terriwangard Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/terriwangard/ Website: http://www.terriwangard.com
About A Heart for the Sailor:
Working as a Winnie the Welder during World War II, Evelyn builds submarines. She’s good at her job, but men begrudge women taking jobs in heavy industry. She dreams of the day her sailor comes home and the life they’ll have, but does Jerry dream about her? When a typhoon threatens the US Fleet in the Pacific, Jerry and his shipmates aboard the Tabberer rush to the aid of their fellow sailors. The typhoon prompts a greater awareness of what he wants in life. First, though, they have to survive.

Fiction Friday: New Releases for October!

October 2021 New Releases More in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website Contemporary Romance:
[image error] Home for Christmas by Cathe Swanson, et. al. -- The 6th annual Christmas Lights Collection features active duty and veteran military members. (Contemporary Romance from Havilah Press)

Riverbend Gap by Denise Hunter -- She came in search of the family she’d always wanted—and found the kind of love she’d never dared to imagine. (Contemporary Romance from HarperCollins Christian Publishing)

Tacos for Two by Bestsy St. Amant -- Rory Perez, a food truck owner who can't cook, is struggling to keep the business she inherited from her aunt out of the red--and an upcoming contest during Modest's annual food truck festival seems the best way to do it. Then maybe Rory will have enough time to meet the man she's been talking to via an anonymous online dating site. Complications arise when Rory's chef gets mono and she realizes she has to cook after all. Then Jude discovers that his stiffest competition is the same woman he's been falling for online the past month. Will these unlikely chefs sacrifice it all for the sake of love? Or will there only ever be tacos for one? (Contemporary Romance from Revell)

The Billionaire’s Secret by Meghann Whistler -- He’s a billionaire hiding a devastating diagnosis. She’ll do whatever it takes to help her sick, matchmaking mom. A freak accident throws them together, but will his big secret tear them apart? Inspired by 2 Corinthians 12:9, The Billionaire’s Secret is a sweet inspirational romance with a swoony hero, LOTS of entertaining banter, and a strong Christian message. (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)

Historical Mystery:

Murder at the Empire by Cathe Swanson -- They call him the Emperor. John Starek fills his theater with fine artwork and treasures. He’s particularly pleased to have one of the country’s first female organists – and he thinks Gayle Wells is the bee’s knees. Despite pressure from her social crusader mother, Gayle isn’t interested in changing the world. She just wants a car of her own – and a career playing the organ at the Empire movie palace would be especially ducky. Then the Empire’s treasures start disappearing and employees start dying. Are a few pieces of art really enough motive for the string of murders? Will Gayle be next? (Historical Mystery from CelebrateLit Publishing)
Historical Romance:

A Deep Divide by Kimberley Woodhouse -- After being kidnapped as a child, heiress Emma Grace McMurray has seen firsthand the devastation that greed causes in the world, and she wants nothing to do with it. When she discovers her father has offered her up as a bargaining chip to expand his empire, she disappears into the night. Determined to stay hidden, even if it means always looking over her shoulder, she finds herself working as a Harvey Girl at the El Tovar Hotel. When the son’s owner, Ray Watkins arrives at the hotel on business, he immediately admires Emma Grace, and though an attraction begins to form, she can't let go of the deep-rooted fear that he's just like every other wealthy man she's known. When suspicious activity follows Emma Grace and Ray to the El Tovar, they are pulled into a mystery that stirs up their worst fears. And as shocking revelations come to light, they are left to question all they thought to be true. (Historical Romance from Bethany House)

A Family for Hazel by Linda Shenton Matchett -- After the Civil War takes Hazel Markham’s father, and her mother dies of a broken heart, a friend of her parents hires Hazel as a companion. All is well until the woman’s lecherous son takes an interest in his mother’s assistant. When Hazel spurns his advances one too many times, the man frames her for theft, and she is fired. As a last resort she applies to be a mail-order bride, and to her dismay, her groom-to-be is a preacher. Will he believe her claims of innocence or reject her as unacceptable? (Historical Romance from Shortwave Press)

[image error] A Heart for the Sailor by Terri Wangard -- Working as a Winnie the Welder during World War II, Evelyn builds submarines. She’s good at her job, but men begrudge women taking jobs in heavy industry. She dreams of the day her sailor comes home and the life they’ll have, but does Jerry dream about her? When a typhoon threatens the US Fleet in the Pacific, Jerry and his shipmates aboard the Tabberer rush to the aid of their fellow sailors. The typhoon prompts a greater awareness of what he wants in life. First, though, they have to survive. (Historical Romance, Independently Published)

Christmas Tree Wars by Delores Topliff -- Kris Lundquist, am ambitious New York City financial planner, comes home to Wisconsin for two weeks to help his Swedish-American Christmas tree grower dad meet a financial crisis. While there, he gets re-acquainted with Marcie Halvorsen, the idealistic forestry-major niece of their cranky Norwegian neighbor who is also home to solve a financial shortfall. Both enter contests to provide national Christmas tree to build their businesses and sales. Despite their relationship seeming as star-crossed as Romeo and Juliet’s, they fall in love and help their families and town rediscover the reason for the season. (Historical Romance from Scrivenings Press)

[image error] In Pieces by Rhonda Ortiz -- Boston, 1793—Beautiful and artistic, the only daughter of a prominent merchant, Molly Chase cannot help but attract the notice of Federalist Boston—especially its men. But she carries a painful secret: her father committed suicide and she found his body. Now nightmares plague her day and night, addling her mind and rendering her senseless. Molly needs a home, a nurse, and time to grieve and to find new purpose in life. But when she moves in with her friends the Robbs, spiteful society gossips assume the worst. And when an imprudent decision leads to public scandal, Molly is tempted to take the easy way out: a marriage of convenience. In the wake of tragedy, these longtime friends discover a new intimacy. But slander, confusion, absence, and a wealthy, conniving bully stand between them. And with French spies on the loose, they not only have to rescue their reputations—they have to protect their lives. (Historical Romance from WhiteFire Publishing)

To Stand in the Breach by Author Name -- 1933, Wisconsin – Large animal veterinarian Katy Wells takes her patients’ welfare personally, so it’s no surprise when she stands up to angry farmers planning a milk strike or takes in an injured draft horse to save its life. But after a visitor from the past discovers her location and reveals a threat, she must choose between her work and her freedom, and whether to trust a man to keep her safe. (Historical Romance, Independently Published)

The Wrangler’s Woman by Davalynn Spencer -- Corra Jameson doesn’t think of herself as a spinster and is content to spend quiet evenings with her books. Paper beaus, her sister calls them, teasing her about the stories Corra reads. But when a rugged widower asks her to come to his ranch for the summer to help him with his tomboy daughter, she sees opportunity to earn a side of beef for her sister’s family. Besides, she has nothing to lose in the arrangement. Except perhaps her heart. Re-released from the 2016 ECPA bestselling Barbour collection, The Cowboy’s Bride. (Historical Romance from Wilson Creek Publishing)

Romantic Suspense:

Deadly Connection by Kathy Harris -- After fending off a would-be abductor, 27-year-old singer-songwriter Hannah Cassidy hides behind a car in the half-empty parking lot behind Pancake Pantry in Nashville. From there, she watches in horror as her attacker grabs another woman and pushes her into a nearby car. Within seconds, the vehicle speeds away. TBI Special Agent Jake Matheson may have planned a quiet day off and a date with Shannon―the only name her online profile revealed―for an introductory lunch, but after pulling into a parking space on 21st Avenue South, he hears a scream. He races to the back of the building and finds a frightened young woman bent forward and gasping for breath. Thrown together by uncanny circumstances and driven by the whys and what-ifs of secrets yet to be revealed, Hannah and Jake set out to find the connection between them before it becomes deadly. (Romantic Suspense/Thriller from Iron Stream Fiction)

Traces of Virtue by Robin Patchen -- From her deathbed, Carly Garcia's mother asked Carly to look after left her stepfather and her sisters. Carly is doing everything in her power to keep that promise, but now she has a new life to protect, this one innocent and vulnerable. She visits her ex to tell him a truth he doesn't deserve to know... and witnesses his murder. Now, Carly's on the run from killers whose faces she never saw. Braden Reilly is building a career in Coventry, New Hampshire, happy to put the drama of his crime-ridden Boston neighborhood behind him. When a woman he's spent years trying to forget shows up on his doorstep, his first instinct is to turn her away. But the bruises on her arms and the fear in her eyes have him offering her sanctuary. The story she tells him makes his blood curdle. Together, they must discover who's behind a murder nobody believes occurred before the killers catch up to Carly and her unborn child. (Romantic Suspense/Thriller, Independently Published)

Yuletide Cold Case Cover-Up by Jessica R. Patch -- The mystery of her sister's death is about to reveal some deadly answers…When her sister’s remains are found just before Christmas, cold case agent Poppy Holliday is determined to solve the years-old murder—even if it turns the killer’s sights on her. But her investigation with her straitlaced partner, Rhett Wallace, is stirring up the town's old memories—and bitter grudges. And this killer will do anything to keep secrets buried. (Romantic Suspense/Thriller from Love Inspired/Harlequin)

Literary:
A Flicker of Light by Katie Powner -- For generations, the Jensens have raised their families in the small Montana town of Moose Creek, where gossip spreads faster than the wind. Yet some secrets need to be told. When twenty-one-year-old Bea discovers she's pregnant on the heels of her husband losing his job, she's forced to admit she needs help and asks her dad for a place to stay. But past resentments keep her from telling him all that's going on. Grandma June is good at spinning stories, but there's one she's never told. Now that her mind is starting to fade, her time to tell it is running out. But if she reveals the truth before her memories are gone forever, the Jensen family will never be the same. (Literary from Bethany House)

Speculative Fiction:
Book Title by Amanda G. Stevens -- Unable for the last century to grow old or succumb to injury, Cady Schuster has lost a lot of people, some more recently than others. She's trying to find new belonging in Harbor Vale, Michigan, among a welcoming little group of fellow ageless folk. Then she meets Paige, a mortal woman who needs a friend-and might need help.Paige's husband rules their church with an authority unquestioned by his congregation. When Paige suddenly severs all communication, Cady determines to find her. Churchgoers warn her off, and the behavior of Paige's husband proves a still bigger warning. Is this friend lost too, or can Cady help her? And how far should an ageless woman involve herself in the conflicts of mortals? (Speculative Fiction, Independently Published)

Western:
Love on the Range by Mary Connealy -- While his brothers and their new wives search for who shot him, Wyatt Hunt is temporarily bedridden and completely miserable. Somehow Molly Garner's limited skills have made her the most qualified in their circle to care for Wyatt. But by the time he's healed, she's fed up with him and the whole ungrateful family. For even worse than his grumpiness were the few unguarded moments when he pulled at her heartstrings, and she has been long determined to never repeat her mother's mistakes. But when another Pinkerton agent gets shot, they realize Hawkins isn't the only danger. The Hunt brothers will have to band together to face all the troubles of life and love that suddenly surround them. (Western from Bethany House)

Plus check out these recent additions to Fiction Finder published within the past month:    A Midnight Dance by Joanna Davidson Politano, Is she dancing ever closer to the edge of her own tragic end? Or will the secrets that are about to come to light offer release from the past? (Historical Romance)

   Candy Cane Wishes and Saltwater Dreams by Kathy Fulkerson, et. al., A collection of Christmas beach romance novellas by five multi-published authors. (Contemporary Romance)

   Jingle Bell Square by Joi Copeland, He wants healing after losing his father. She wants to find a love that will last. (Contemporary Romance)
   Lucinda’s Defender by Blossom Turner, Life hasn’t turned out at all like Lucinda expected, but neither is the depth of love one man has for her. (Historical Romance)

   Oracroke By Christmas by Cindy M. Amos, The lighthouse shelters a few choice secrets but never falters in shining a light on true love. (Historical Romance)

   Sweet Cranberries by Sherry Kyle, When a handsome electrician and other residents of the island step up to help with the festival, she must discern whether they really have her best interests at heart. (Contemporary Romance)
   The Mistletoe Countess by Pepper Basham, He was never supposed to become an earl. She was never supposed to marry him. (Historical Romance)

   When Love Trusts by Judythe Morgan, A second chance at first love. (Romance)

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Sarah Hanks!

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Sarah Hanks!
Linda: Welcome and thanks for joining me today. Congratulations the recent release of the second book in your Mercy Series, Mercy’s Song. What was the inspiration for the plot for this book, and did you set out to write a series? 
Sarah: The story fell into me when Ferguson erupted in flames. I lived 10 minutes away from the epicenter. What the news didn’t show was that a community of people from various churches gathered in a tent to worship amid the chaos. It was in that tent that I went up for an altar call for artists and creatives. I say the story fell into me because that’s exactly what it felt like. One minute, I had nothing—no story to write. The next, I had this blossoming idea. A big idea, a big story. Too big to fit into one novel. I wrote book one so that I could write book two.  LM: The book is a contemporary/historical novel, commonly referred to as timeslip. Why did you decide to craft the story this way, and did you find it difficult to both combine and separate the stories? 
Sarah: To understand what’s going on present day, we have to look to the past. This generation’s racial tension didn’t happen in a vacuum. I found that I couldn’t give Natassa’s story justice without telling Mercy’s story. It was a challenge to line the two stories up in a way that would make sense to the reader, but the result was satisfying. 
LM: Research is an important part of writing, especially historic fiction. Your website includes an interview you did with Michele Pyatt of Dance Again Ministries regarding prison that plays an integral part of your story. Was there any sort of “aha” tidbit you found that you knew needed to be included? 
Sarah: When I first met with Michele, I knew my character would be going to prison. It had to happen. The story told me so. There was no way around it. But I had in mind that he could go in, get out, and not be affected too much. I nearly cried when Michele shared what she knew about the prison system. 
I loved my character (still do), and putting him through that was almost too much to bear. There was no way he could come out of there unaltered. There was no way the experience wouldn’t profoundly impact him. I started going with Michele into the prison to do ministry, and there I met men who, though behind bars, were my brothers in Christ. The experiences they shared touched me, and at times, shocked me. They helped me write my character’s story, including all the little details. There wasn’t one tidbit, but the summation of the experience.  LM: What is your writing process? (e.g., Do you come up with the plotline first? Characters? Do you outline the entire story before beginning or just sit down and start) 
Sarah: I’ve changed over the years. I used to be a pantser. I sat down and wrote, then moved things around later. Now I fully plot things out. I have most of the story figured out, my characters mapped, and the setting researched before I ever type a paragraph. I work on the plot and characters in tandem and create character and setting posters to hang in my writing area. By the time I start hammering out the story, my fingers are tingling. I want to get it all down and am bursting to start. I rarely suffer from writer’s block this way, but it takes a long time on the front end. 
LM: What one thing do you wish you knew how to do? 
Sarah: Rest! I’m learning and growing in this area, but my natural inclination is to go, go, go. My mind is always churning, and I keep picking up projects. I wish I was better at slowing down, putting the to-do list away, and relaxing. 
LM: What is one thing readers should know about you? 
Sarah: My other passion, besides writing, is equipping parents and teachers to train up children to bepowerful in the Kingdom. I’ve written three children’s books (I Can Color a Prayer, I Can Sing a Prayer, and I Can Dance a Prayer) and occasionally write articles on my other website http://www.equippingthechildren.com. 
LM: What is your next project?  Sarah: Right now, I’m in the process of revamping my novel Drifting In and Out of Sleep for a second edition and writing a short story—part of the Mercy Series—for my website. I’m also planning a new timeslip novel that includes characters I’ve been getting to know for quite a while. I’m excited to explore their stories. And Mercy’s Legacy, book three of the Mercy Series, comes out this Winter. 
LM: Where can folks find you on the web? 
Sarah: My website is http://www.sarah-hanks.com. I’ve got a free eBook there for those who’d like to sample my work. You can also find me on Facebook and Instagram as @authorsarahhanks. 
About Mercy's Song: 
Natassa has settled into a "new normal" three years after the assault that changed her life. Marriage, family, and a new career have brought changes that she never thought were possible, and love like she'd never known before. But any semblance of peace shatters when a new development occurs in her case. Flooded with emotion she thought she'd long put to rest, Natassa must navigate strained relationships. Will she find the truth that can set her free? 
DeAndre returns to Crawford County after dropping out of art school and finds an opportunity for romance. His past continues to haunt him, even as he and his new love seek to piece the broken shards of their lives together. Soon, a shocking discovery sends DeAndre reeling and forces him to choose between the woman he loves and his integrity. Will he end up losing everything or can he cling to hope despite it all?  In the 1840s, Mercy labors next to her mother in the rice fields and discovers a spark of affection growing between herself and Jonah, another slave. But Mama's health begins to fail, and the missus makes an announcement that will alter their lives forever. Will Mercy's plan to save them succeed? Or will they lose everything, including each other?
Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3A1mZzJ

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Olivia Rae

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Olivia Rae!
Linda: Thank you so much for being on my blog. Let’s talk about A Life Redeemed. What was your inspiration for writing the story, what draws you to the time period? 
Olivia: A Life Redeemed is a sequel to A Life Renewed, though you don’t have to read the first book to understand the second one. I just felt the sister of our hero in book one needed her own story. In this book, Audrey Hayes, is sent by Queen Elizabeth to Scotland as a spy to find out if Laird Gavin Armstrong is part of a plot of zealots who plan to put Mary of Scots on the English throne. The queen also has a mysterious interest in Gavin’s son, Thomas. The story has many twists and turns, and of course, a romance and a surprise ending. I find the Tudor period in English history fascinating. The first book deals with a secret of Queen Mary Tudor and this book deals with a secret of Queen Elizabeth I. I hope your readers will like traveling to Scotland as that is where the majority of book two takes place. 
LM: Research is important part of writing, especially historic fiction. What sort of research did you do for A Life Redeemed? Was there any sort of “aha” tidbit you found that you knew needed to be included? 
Olivia: Usually research comes before I even start a book. It’s where many of my stories start. However, with A Life Redeemed, I knew I wanted to take my character to Scotland because when Queen Elizabeth came to the throne there was a lot of friction between her right to the English Crown and Mary Queen of Scots. There was also a lot of religious friction between the Catholic Church and the Reformed Church. Since this series deals with spies and secrets, it was the logical direction to go. As far as “Aha” moments, I would have to say, originally, I did not plan to bring John Knox into the story as he is a controversial person in his own right. However, in order to understand the struggle between the two countries and the different faiths, I could not leave him out of the story.  LM: You write contemporary and historical fiction. How do you find preparing and writing the two genres different? The Same? 
Olivia: I believe there is twice as much work in writing a historical as there is in writing a contemporary mostly because of the research, but there is research in contemporary fiction too. The problem with researching historical books is there is so much conflicting information because no one today was alive in the middle ages and Tudor England. You need to dig back to original documents as much as possible and consult experts on the time period and locations. Scottish history isn’t my forte. While I was writing A Life Redeemed, I found an expert in Scottish history that could answer all my questions and who read my manuscript before I even sent it off to my editor. That was a huge help. 
How are both genres the same? I would say every story has to have a conflict. Developing believable characters that have a goal to reach is also necessary. When characters’ goals conflict then you have a great story be it set in the past or present. 
LM: Tell us about your journey to publication? 
Olivia: It’s been a long one. I have been writing for close to thirty years. I didn’t start in Christian fiction. I guess I spent years chasing a dream that was not aligned with God’s will. I can even remember the time when one publisher told me I should be writing Christian fiction instead of straight romance. Of course, I didn’t listen right away. When I got stronger in my faith, I finally said, all right, Lord let's do this your way. So I changed my name, and started walking humbly with my God. My first two Christian romances were published in 2015 and I have never looked back since. 
LM: What is one thing you wish you knew how to do? 
Olivia: Wow, what a loaded question. I’d say a lot of things. I am involved with Lutheran Church Charities Disaster Relief. Often, I help with hurricane clean up. Last year I was asked to operate a mini-CAT. I was terrible at it. I now have a great deal of respect for those who operate heavy machinery. I would love to learn to operate the CAT better and maybe work a bulldozer too.  LM: What is your next project? 
Olivia: I am working on book three of the Secret of the Queens series, A Life Reclaimed. Thomas in A Life Redeemed is all grown up, and boy, he still has a lot to learn. The book should be released by spring of 2022. 
LM: Where can folks find you on the web? 
Olivia: Website: http://www.oliviaraebooks.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oliviaraeauthor Twitter: https://twitter.com/oliviaraebooks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oliviaraebooks/
About A Life Redeemed : 
Upon Queen Elizabeth’s order, Audrey Hayes travels to the borderlands of Scotland to learn where the fierce Laird Armstrong’s loyalties lie. Is he aligned with his mother’s English roots in support of the queen, or does he hold with the beliefs of his father, who wishes to see Mary of Scots on the English throne? The fate of Audrey’s family rests on her success in finding the answer. 
After losing his lands in a wager and being betrayed by his kin, Gavin Armstrong entered a loveless marriage to obtain the funds to buy back his family home, Warring Tower. Now a widower, struggling against countless border wars, he is on the verge of losing his home and lands again. With few resources, he reluctantly makes another risky wager, one he cannot hope to win without trusting the secretive Audrey Hayes, a woman he suspects is an English spy. 
As the two work together to save Warring Tower, their attraction to one another grows. But when Audrey finally gains the information she seeks for Queen Elizabeth, she realizes that the only way she can save her family is to betray the man she loves. 
Purchase Links: Amazon: https://amzn.to/3EloQTw Kobo: https://bit.ly/2XO8iTb Apple: https://apple.co/3A9TBZ8 Barnes & Noble: https://bit.ly/3lb9qYY Target: https://bit.ly/3lgKvU6