Linda Shenton Matchett's Blog, page 9
March 19, 2025
Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Back Donna Schlachter!
The Story Behind the Story . . . New Hope Train By Donna Schlachter
The idea for this story came from a love of a movie and a friend with a great story to share.
The movie was “The Fugitive”, both the original series pilot and the more recent remake. I loved the idea of a train ride leading to a second chance.
My friend had taken a train ride from Denver to San Francisco, and she shared several delightful stories. I wondered if a train ride might be like a cruise in that it would provide an insulated environment where the travelers might do something they’d never done before. If so, this was perfect fodder for a romance, much like the old TV show, “The Love Boat”.
And then I saw “Murder on the Orient Express”, and as a lover of anything Agatha Christie, decided to incorporate a few of the details in my story.
The result? A chance meeting, two characters with integrity, and a way for God to reach both of them.
This is an example of how a couple of ideas gelled into a book. It seems like my mind is always racing, looking at the people and places around me, even snippets of conversation in a coffee shop or a couple kissing at the airport.
I have a friend who is a photographer, and everywhere he goes, he has a camera hanging around his
neck. I watched him at a party one night, studying the people around us. I tried to follow his eye to see what caught his eye, and even though he didn’t always have the camera up to take a shot, I soon realized he was taking pictures in his mind, imagining what the image would look like. Occasionally he actually clicked off a few. A teen girl sitting shyly on the sofa, her legs pulled up, her chin on her knees, picking at her fingernail polish. An older man dozing in a corner, his triple chins resting on his chest. The hostess—but not her really—the tray of appetizers she was carrying.
Where he looks around for film pictures, I look for word pictures. Where he looks for a way to tweak a focus, a focal point, a shadow, the hues, I look for a way to rearrange the events so they make more sense—or less. Perhaps today I’m studying people to combine several to make an interesting character. Tomorrow, maybe I’ll take a mountain from Arizona and set it in southern New Mexico in a fictitious town based loosely on a village I visited in Utah last summer.
And as for story ideas, well, those come from everywhere. Newspapers, magazines, diaries, letters, family stories handed down through the generations—a little here, a little there, and a lot of imagination. I tend to not use specific facts but rather I employ artistic license—because really, some of the things that really happen would be overboard for a book. Readers would protest: “that wouldn’t happen like that!”
1895, Train to California
John Stewart needs a wife. Mary Johannson needs a home. On her way west, Mary falls in love with another. Now both must choose between commitment and true love.
October 1895
Mary Johannson has scars on her body that can’t compare with the scars on her heart. She is alone in the world, with no family, no prospects, and no home.
John Stewart is at his wit’s end. His wife of three years died in childbirth, leaving him with a toddler and an infant, both girls. Theirs was the love of fairy tales, and while he has no illusions about finding another like her, his children need a mother.
Though separated by thousands of miles, they commit to a mail-order marriage. But on their journey to New Hope, they meet another and realize the life they’d planned would be a lie. Can they find their way back from the precipice and into the love of God and each other, or are they destined to keep their word and deny their heart?
Buy link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09BBQTD7M
Series: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09BBVKY9W
About Donna:
A hybrid author, Donna writes squeaky clean historical and contemporary suspense. She has been published more than 60 times in books; is a member of several writers' groups; facilitates a critique group; teaches writing classes; and judges in writing contests. She loves history and research, traveling extensively for both, and is an avid oil painter. She is taking all the information she’s learned along the way about the writing and publishing process, and is coaching committed writers
www.DonnaSchlachter.com Stay connected so you learn about new releases, preorders, and presales, as well as check out featured authors, book reviews, and a little corner of peace. Plus: Receive 2 free ebooks simply for signing up for our free newsletter!
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/DonnaschlachterAuthor
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Donna-Schlachter/author/B01180A2EE
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/donna-schlachter
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/search?q=donna+schlachter
The Purpose-Full Writer: https://www.facebook.com/groups/604220861766651
Photo Credits:Author Photo/Book Image: Donna SchlachterMan with Camera: Pixabay/No_Name_13Diary: Pixabay/Dim Hou
The idea for this story came from a love of a movie and a friend with a great story to share.The movie was “The Fugitive”, both the original series pilot and the more recent remake. I loved the idea of a train ride leading to a second chance.
My friend had taken a train ride from Denver to San Francisco, and she shared several delightful stories. I wondered if a train ride might be like a cruise in that it would provide an insulated environment where the travelers might do something they’d never done before. If so, this was perfect fodder for a romance, much like the old TV show, “The Love Boat”.
And then I saw “Murder on the Orient Express”, and as a lover of anything Agatha Christie, decided to incorporate a few of the details in my story.
The result? A chance meeting, two characters with integrity, and a way for God to reach both of them.
This is an example of how a couple of ideas gelled into a book. It seems like my mind is always racing, looking at the people and places around me, even snippets of conversation in a coffee shop or a couple kissing at the airport.
I have a friend who is a photographer, and everywhere he goes, he has a camera hanging around his
neck. I watched him at a party one night, studying the people around us. I tried to follow his eye to see what caught his eye, and even though he didn’t always have the camera up to take a shot, I soon realized he was taking pictures in his mind, imagining what the image would look like. Occasionally he actually clicked off a few. A teen girl sitting shyly on the sofa, her legs pulled up, her chin on her knees, picking at her fingernail polish. An older man dozing in a corner, his triple chins resting on his chest. The hostess—but not her really—the tray of appetizers she was carrying.Where he looks around for film pictures, I look for word pictures. Where he looks for a way to tweak a focus, a focal point, a shadow, the hues, I look for a way to rearrange the events so they make more sense—or less. Perhaps today I’m studying people to combine several to make an interesting character. Tomorrow, maybe I’ll take a mountain from Arizona and set it in southern New Mexico in a fictitious town based loosely on a village I visited in Utah last summer.
And as for story ideas, well, those come from everywhere. Newspapers, magazines, diaries, letters, family stories handed down through the generations—a little here, a little there, and a lot of imagination. I tend to not use specific facts but rather I employ artistic license—because really, some of the things that really happen would be overboard for a book. Readers would protest: “that wouldn’t happen like that!”1895, Train to California
John Stewart needs a wife. Mary Johannson needs a home. On her way west, Mary falls in love with another. Now both must choose between commitment and true love.October 1895
Mary Johannson has scars on her body that can’t compare with the scars on her heart. She is alone in the world, with no family, no prospects, and no home.
John Stewart is at his wit’s end. His wife of three years died in childbirth, leaving him with a toddler and an infant, both girls. Theirs was the love of fairy tales, and while he has no illusions about finding another like her, his children need a mother.
Though separated by thousands of miles, they commit to a mail-order marriage. But on their journey to New Hope, they meet another and realize the life they’d planned would be a lie. Can they find their way back from the precipice and into the love of God and each other, or are they destined to keep their word and deny their heart?
Buy link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09BBQTD7M
Series: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09BBVKY9W
About Donna:
A hybrid author, Donna writes squeaky clean historical and contemporary suspense. She has been published more than 60 times in books; is a member of several writers' groups; facilitates a critique group; teaches writing classes; and judges in writing contests. She loves history and research, traveling extensively for both, and is an avid oil painter. She is taking all the information she’s learned along the way about the writing and publishing process, and is coaching committed writers
www.DonnaSchlachter.com Stay connected so you learn about new releases, preorders, and presales, as well as check out featured authors, book reviews, and a little corner of peace. Plus: Receive 2 free ebooks simply for signing up for our free newsletter!
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/DonnaschlachterAuthor
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Donna-Schlachter/author/B01180A2EE
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/donna-schlachter
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/search?q=donna+schlachter
The Purpose-Full Writer: https://www.facebook.com/groups/604220861766651
Photo Credits:Author Photo/Book Image: Donna SchlachterMan with Camera: Pixabay/No_Name_13Diary: Pixabay/Dim Hou
March 17, 2025
Traveling Tuesday: The History of Train Travel
Traveling Tuesday: The History of Train Travel
I love trains! While growing up I visited the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore on countless occasions with my paternal grandfather, and he was a wealth of knowledge. Over the years, I’ve taken numerous trips on scenic railroads with varying levels of luxury – from hard wooden seats and tiny windows to padded reclining seats with glass, domed roofs. I never tire of the clickety-clack as we zoom along the tracks.
Did you know that railways go back as early as the mid-1500s? I was stunned by that fact. Known as wagonways or tramway, they featured wooden rails and were horse-drawn. Steam engines were introduced in England during the mid-1750s and a few years later, plates of cast iron were affixed to the top of the wooden rails. Cast iron is brittle, so it was replaced by wrought iron, then steel. By the nineteen century further improvements were made to the steel and became the standard. (According to author/historian Murat Ozyuksel, the expansion of the railroad industry is one of the main reasons for the success of the steel industry.)
Railroads came to the US in the 1820s and played a large role in the Industrial Revolution. Wealthy
men such as Cornelius Vanderbilt, James J. Hill, Jay Gould, Edward Harriman, and Leland Stanford were among the first to see the possibilities and invest in this new mode of transportation making them even wealthier.
Unfortunately, the American Civil War halted progression of the transcontinental railway, and it would not be completed until 1869. The Panic of 1873 and the subsequent depression stalled growth for several years, but the industry rebounded, and tracks soon crisscrossed the nation carrying goods, immigrants, and travels by the hundreds of thousands.
Initially, there were three classes of travel:
First class offered upholstered seats, carpet, and curtains, with lots of space between seats. The décor used velvet, brass, and glass to convey luxury. Further luxury was available by purchasing seating in a Pullman sleeper or palace car. Some of the exceptionally rich, purchased a Pullman car and had it attached to the back of whatever train on which they were traveling.Second class also had upholstered seats, but they were not as nice, and the cars held more passengers.Third class, also known as emigrant class, had wooden benches and passengers were expected to bring their own food.
World War II saw a boom in railroad traffic with troop and hospital transports as well as good and war matériel. Afterwards many railroads were driven out of business with the advent of airlines, the increase in cars, and interstate highways. A rise in the trucking industry also impacted the railroads. Nowadays, passengers may choose first class or economy. According to Wikipedia, the US has approximately 160,000 miles of track and has the largest rail transport network in the world.
Have you ridden on a train?
___________________
The American WWII Home Front in 29 Objects
Unlike Europe the American mainland escaped physical devastation during World War II as it was not subjected to full-scale invasions. However, that didn’t mean the United States wasn’t impacted by the war. The ramifications of large economic, cultural, and societal changes forced Americans to reconsider entrenched beliefs and traditions.
Artifacts collected from across the nation tell the stories of the American people whose lives were shaped by this second “war to end all wars,” World War II.
Pre-launch page (Be sure to click notify me on launch): https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/lindashentonmatchett/the-world-war-ii-home-front-in-29-objects-illustrated-book
Photo Credits:Locomotive on Bridge: PixabayCornelius Vanderbilt: Courtesy Vanderbilt UniversityHospital Car: Courtesy Gold Coast Railroad Museum
I love trains! While growing up I visited the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore on countless occasions with my paternal grandfather, and he was a wealth of knowledge. Over the years, I’ve taken numerous trips on scenic railroads with varying levels of luxury – from hard wooden seats and tiny windows to padded reclining seats with glass, domed roofs. I never tire of the clickety-clack as we zoom along the tracks.Did you know that railways go back as early as the mid-1500s? I was stunned by that fact. Known as wagonways or tramway, they featured wooden rails and were horse-drawn. Steam engines were introduced in England during the mid-1750s and a few years later, plates of cast iron were affixed to the top of the wooden rails. Cast iron is brittle, so it was replaced by wrought iron, then steel. By the nineteen century further improvements were made to the steel and became the standard. (According to author/historian Murat Ozyuksel, the expansion of the railroad industry is one of the main reasons for the success of the steel industry.)
Railroads came to the US in the 1820s and played a large role in the Industrial Revolution. Wealthy
men such as Cornelius Vanderbilt, James J. Hill, Jay Gould, Edward Harriman, and Leland Stanford were among the first to see the possibilities and invest in this new mode of transportation making them even wealthier.Unfortunately, the American Civil War halted progression of the transcontinental railway, and it would not be completed until 1869. The Panic of 1873 and the subsequent depression stalled growth for several years, but the industry rebounded, and tracks soon crisscrossed the nation carrying goods, immigrants, and travels by the hundreds of thousands.
Initially, there were three classes of travel:
First class offered upholstered seats, carpet, and curtains, with lots of space between seats. The décor used velvet, brass, and glass to convey luxury. Further luxury was available by purchasing seating in a Pullman sleeper or palace car. Some of the exceptionally rich, purchased a Pullman car and had it attached to the back of whatever train on which they were traveling.Second class also had upholstered seats, but they were not as nice, and the cars held more passengers.Third class, also known as emigrant class, had wooden benches and passengers were expected to bring their own food.
World War II saw a boom in railroad traffic with troop and hospital transports as well as good and war matériel. Afterwards many railroads were driven out of business with the advent of airlines, the increase in cars, and interstate highways. A rise in the trucking industry also impacted the railroads. Nowadays, passengers may choose first class or economy. According to Wikipedia, the US has approximately 160,000 miles of track and has the largest rail transport network in the world.Have you ridden on a train?
___________________
The American WWII Home Front in 29 Objects
Unlike Europe the American mainland escaped physical devastation during World War II as it was not subjected to full-scale invasions. However, that didn’t mean the United States wasn’t impacted by the war. The ramifications of large economic, cultural, and societal changes forced Americans to reconsider entrenched beliefs and traditions.Artifacts collected from across the nation tell the stories of the American people whose lives were shaped by this second “war to end all wars,” World War II.
Pre-launch page (Be sure to click notify me on launch): https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/lindashentonmatchett/the-world-war-ii-home-front-in-29-objects-illustrated-book
Photo Credits:Locomotive on Bridge: PixabayCornelius Vanderbilt: Courtesy Vanderbilt UniversityHospital Car: Courtesy Gold Coast Railroad Museum
March 9, 2025
Movie Monday: Hotel Berlin
Movie Monday: Hotel Berlin
As WWII progressed, Hollywood continued to release a combination of fluffy, “escapism” films and wartime dramas. Hotel Berlin is one of the latter and based upon the 1929 novel Menschen im Hotel (People at a Hotel) written by Austrian author Vicki Baum (no relation to L. Frank Baum of Oz fame) as a WWI story. The novel was published in English as Grand Hotel, then made into a film with the same name three years later starring Lionel Barrymore, Joan Crawford, and Wallace Beery.
Born January 24, 1888, Ms. Baum had a difficult childhood with a mother who suffered from mental illness and a father, who according to Wikipedia was a “tyrannical, hypochondriac” man. She played harp and played in the Vienna Concert Society where she met and married Max Prels, a journalist. In addition to her music, she enjoyed writing and published her first short story under her married name. She continued to write and found a job as a journalist with the magazine Berliner Illustrirte Zeitung. The marriage didn’t last, and the couple divorced four years later, but she continued with her writing career, and married her second husband, conductor Richard Lert in 1916.
According to the Shalvi/Hyman Encyclopedia of Jewish Women, Ms. Baum sold her harp after the
birth of first son in 1917 to concentrate on her writing career. She published her first novel in 1920 and subsequently published a book a year. Eight years later her book Stud. chem. Helene Willfüer, a story about “the New Woman,” did quite well and sold more than one hundred thousand copies in three years. Then came Menschen im Hotel, which brought her international success.
She traveled to the US in 1931 and remained for seven months. Upon her return to Germany, she realized what was happening, and after the 1932 elections for chancellor, she packed up her family and emigrated to America where they settled in Los Angeles. She found a job as a scriptwriter, and Richard was appointed conductor of the Pasadena Symphony Orchestra. Many of her novels written after this time involve the situation National-Socialist Germany.
Hotel Berlin was filmed between November 15, 1944 and January 15, 1945, then rushed into final production so it could be released on March 2, 1945 to coincide with the Russian and Allied drives in Berlin. The plot summarization from IMDb says it best, “in 1945, a strange mix of Germans, military personnel and civilians, pro-Nazi and anti-Nazi, celebrities and escaped prisoners, converges as a lavish hotel in heavily bombed Berlin.”
The movie features Faye Emerson, an actress who did well during the 1940s then transition to television in the 1950s; Helmut Dantine, an Austrian who spent three months in a concentration camp before being released and emigrating to the US; Raymond Massey, a Canadian actor who served in both WWI and WWII in the Canadian forces; and Peter Lorre, a Hungarian-Jew who left Germany after Hitler came to power and became a mainstay in mystery and crime films.
Earning nearly three million dollars on a $940,000 budget, Hotel Berlin received mixed reviews. A fun fact: Elliott Roosevelt (son of President Franklin Roosevelt) married Faye Emerson during the filming which supposedly led to a change giving her top billing. It’s all in who you know!
___________________
The American WWII Home Front in 29 Objects
Unlike Europe the American mainland escaped physical devastation during World War II as it was not subjected to full-scale invasions. However, that didn’t mean the United States wasn’t impacted by the war. The ramifications of large economic, cultural, and societal changes forced Americans to reconsider entrenched beliefs and traditions.
Artifacts collected from across the nation tell the stories of the American people whose lives were shaped by this second “war to end all wars,” World War II.
Project Link (Be sure to click "Notify me on launch": https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/lindashentonmatchett/the-world-war-ii-home-front-in-29-objects-illustrated-book
Photo Credits:Vicki Baum: By Max Fenichel - Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien, Bilddatenbank., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index... Movie Poster: Public DomainMovie Scene: Courtesy IMDb/Warner Bros.
As WWII progressed, Hollywood continued to release a combination of fluffy, “escapism” films and wartime dramas. Hotel Berlin is one of the latter and based upon the 1929 novel Menschen im Hotel (People at a Hotel) written by Austrian author Vicki Baum (no relation to L. Frank Baum of Oz fame) as a WWI story. The novel was published in English as Grand Hotel, then made into a film with the same name three years later starring Lionel Barrymore, Joan Crawford, and Wallace Beery. Born January 24, 1888, Ms. Baum had a difficult childhood with a mother who suffered from mental illness and a father, who according to Wikipedia was a “tyrannical, hypochondriac” man. She played harp and played in the Vienna Concert Society where she met and married Max Prels, a journalist. In addition to her music, she enjoyed writing and published her first short story under her married name. She continued to write and found a job as a journalist with the magazine Berliner Illustrirte Zeitung. The marriage didn’t last, and the couple divorced four years later, but she continued with her writing career, and married her second husband, conductor Richard Lert in 1916.
According to the Shalvi/Hyman Encyclopedia of Jewish Women, Ms. Baum sold her harp after the
birth of first son in 1917 to concentrate on her writing career. She published her first novel in 1920 and subsequently published a book a year. Eight years later her book Stud. chem. Helene Willfüer, a story about “the New Woman,” did quite well and sold more than one hundred thousand copies in three years. Then came Menschen im Hotel, which brought her international success.She traveled to the US in 1931 and remained for seven months. Upon her return to Germany, she realized what was happening, and after the 1932 elections for chancellor, she packed up her family and emigrated to America where they settled in Los Angeles. She found a job as a scriptwriter, and Richard was appointed conductor of the Pasadena Symphony Orchestra. Many of her novels written after this time involve the situation National-Socialist Germany.
Hotel Berlin was filmed between November 15, 1944 and January 15, 1945, then rushed into final production so it could be released on March 2, 1945 to coincide with the Russian and Allied drives in Berlin. The plot summarization from IMDb says it best, “in 1945, a strange mix of Germans, military personnel and civilians, pro-Nazi and anti-Nazi, celebrities and escaped prisoners, converges as a lavish hotel in heavily bombed Berlin.”
The movie features Faye Emerson, an actress who did well during the 1940s then transition to television in the 1950s; Helmut Dantine, an Austrian who spent three months in a concentration camp before being released and emigrating to the US; Raymond Massey, a Canadian actor who served in both WWI and WWII in the Canadian forces; and Peter Lorre, a Hungarian-Jew who left Germany after Hitler came to power and became a mainstay in mystery and crime films.Earning nearly three million dollars on a $940,000 budget, Hotel Berlin received mixed reviews. A fun fact: Elliott Roosevelt (son of President Franklin Roosevelt) married Faye Emerson during the filming which supposedly led to a change giving her top billing. It’s all in who you know!
___________________
The American WWII Home Front in 29 Objects
Unlike Europe the American mainland escaped physical devastation during World War II as it was not subjected to full-scale invasions. However, that didn’t mean the United States wasn’t impacted by the war. The ramifications of large economic, cultural, and societal changes forced Americans to reconsider entrenched beliefs and traditions.Artifacts collected from across the nation tell the stories of the American people whose lives were shaped by this second “war to end all wars,” World War II.
Project Link (Be sure to click "Notify me on launch": https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/lindashentonmatchett/the-world-war-ii-home-front-in-29-objects-illustrated-book
Photo Credits:Vicki Baum: By Max Fenichel - Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien, Bilddatenbank., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index... Movie Poster: Public DomainMovie Scene: Courtesy IMDb/Warner Bros.
March 6, 2025
Fiction Friday: New Releases for March 2025
March 2025 New ReleasesMore in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website
Biblical:
The Daughter of Rome by Angela Hunt -- In Nero's Rome, Calandra helps her father, a renowned sculptor, complete the most significant commission of his illustrious career. But then a catastrophic fire nearly destroys the imperial city, leaving Calandra reliant on a group of Christians--unusual individuals unlike any she has encountered before. Intrigued by their worship of the Son of an invisible God, Calandra grapples with her mistrust, only to find herself indebted to these believers as they help her rebuild her shattered world. When Emperor Nero begins constructing his opulent Golden House, the people of Rome grow resentful, suspecting him of starting the fire in order to clear the land for his immense palace. Needing a scapegoat, Nero points at those who follow the Jewish Messiah, forcing Calandra to make an impossible choice between right and wrong, friends and family, love and death. (Biblical from Bethany House [Baker Publishing Group])
Amish Romance:
Green Pastures by Patricia Johns -- When Tabitha Schrock returns to her Amish faith after a painful divorce, she and her sisters must decide how much they are willing to sacrifice to stay true to their own personal dreams and their Amish faith. (Amish Romance from Bethany House Publishers)
Contemporary Romance:
A Hero’s Nature by Sandra Ardoin -- Veterinarian Trey Abbott can’t measure up to his vet tech’s late fiancé, a military hero, so he’s settled for being Reagan's boss and friend. He’s watched as she’s dated and dumped a long line of guys. After nearly losing her in an accident, though, Trey realizes it’s time to man up and take a chance on love before time runs out. She ends her relationships before emotions become involved and lives ruined. Reagan Hartwell’s friends wrongly believe she spends each anniversary of her fiancé’s death mourning him. This year, sick of her pity parties, she chooses to honor his memory and, maybe, ease some of her guilt. But Trey stands in the way of both her goal and her determination to avoid another love that could end in disaster. As they help a grieving show dog breeder, their good, yet conflicting, intentions for his rundown kennel pit them against one another. But will secrets they each hold tear them apart? Get to know the couples who navigate the joys and pitfalls of life and love in their quaint and tight-knit southern hometown of Hidden Veil, North Carolina. (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)
Tears of a Cowboy by Elsie Davis -- Cowboys who deserve a second chance at love and happiness and the women strong enough to show them the way...Texas style! (Contemporary Romance from Sweet Romance Publishing)
The Farmer’s Marriage Bargain by Heidi Main -- They agreed to a practical marriage. But love never goes as planned…Raising three children alone was never part of the plan, but after losing her husband, Emma Bailey is doing the best she can. Until she discovers that she can’t afford the medication her youngest child needs. Suddenly, her late husband’s best friend comes to the rescue. Carter McCaw promised he’d always watch over the family and the farm. But when he proposes a marriage of convenience, Emma’s not so sure. It seems like the perfect solution…until loves blooms between them and complicates everything. (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])
An Unexpected Companion by Mindy Obenhaus -- With his dog by his side… Is a second chance within reach? After losing his family and his leg in a car crash, widower Dirk Matthews dedicates his solitary life to woodworking and his mobility service dog, Molly. That is, until a troubled kid steals from his truck. Desperate to reach her grieving oldest son, widow Tessa Wagner agrees to have the boy help Dirk work on her family’s ranch. Only she doesn’t expect her own connection with the carpenter. Soon they’re feeling more than the shared loss of loved ones. But will past heartbreak stand in the way of their future? (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])
General Contemporary:
The Novel Adventures of Natalie Daughtry by Susan L Tuttle With her twenty-plus-year marriage on the brink of collapse, bookish Natalie Daughtry immerses herself in her new bookstore job. When the mysterious Caspar gathers Natalie and her friends Everleigh and Brooke for the second time, she's ready for an adventure to disperse the turmoil clouding her marriage. Caspar enlists their help in searching for a rumored copy of Lewis Carroll's handwritten and illustrated manuscript of Alice's Adventures Under Ground. Natalie is immediately enticed--this is the perfect distraction. But then Mason joins the team, and suddenly Natalie and her husband are side-by-side on the search for this elusive treasure. Being forced to work together has them tumbling deep into their past, seeking answers to old misunderstandings. When they emerge from the rabbit hole, things aren't the same. Will they rediscover the love that once held the pages of their life together (General Contemporary from Kregel Publications)
Historical Romance:
The Carpenter’s Schoolmarm by Kimberly Burkhardt -- She’s running from her future. He’s hiding from his past. Forced into an arranged marriage by her father, Samantha Baxter flees from the clutches of her fiancé and finds sanctuary in the small town of Cooperton, Kansas, as the new schoolmarm. Although she attracts the attention of some of the single men in town, Samantha remains cautious, knowing any romantic relationship could put that man in danger of her fiancé and his fury if he ever tracks her down. Michael Brooks finally has enough money to purchase the land where he will build his future home. He can put his criminal past behind him and find peace in the solitary life of crafting furniture for the people of Cooperton. That is, until he meets the new schoolmarm. She stirs a dream inside him he didn’t know he wanted. A wife and family to call his own. Despite her efforts, Samantha finds herself drawn to Michael, unable to deny her growing love for the handsome carpenter. But when his past and her future collide, will the two be able to trust in each other and in God’s plan? Or will their secrets keep them apart? (Historical Romance, Independently Published)
Echoes of Sunrise by Amanda Cabot -- Sophia Carr knows her recurring dreams of an identical twin sister are just that - dreams. She also knows that eventually she will inherit the hotel her grandfather built. When a fire at the hotel kills her mother, Sophia returns to Carr Valley to rebuild and ensure that a planned railroad line chooses a route that will keep the town alive. But her grandfather’s will states that she must be married to inherit, and the only man she can imagine marrying seems to have forgotten her. Up-and-coming architect Gideon Spencer couldn’t say no when his dying friend begged him to marry his widow and raise their baby as his own rather than let a cruel grandfather gain custody. But when the young mother dies, leaving Gideon a single parent, the grandfather poses a new threat unless Gideon manages to marry again. Sadly, the only woman he’s interested in is the one he’s ignored for six months: Sophia.Knowing he needs to protect the baby, Gideon heads to Carr Valley. When he discovers that Sophia needs a husband as much as he needs a wife, he proposes a six-month marriage of convenience. Sophia agrees but adds a stipulation of her own, one that will test his resolve, even as their wedding day reveals that Sophia’s dreams of a twin sister might be more than dreams. (Historical Romance from ByDand Publishing)
Written in Secret by Crystal Caudill -- In the heart of nineteenth-century Cincinnati one woman holds the power to rewrite history. What happens when fiction becomes reality? In the corruption-infested Queen City, danger lurks in every shadow, but Lydia Pelton refuses to stay silent. She writes under a pseudonym, E. A. Dupin, crafting crime novels to exact justice and right the wrongs she sees in society. When a serial killer decides to be the sword to her pen, Lydia is confronted with the consequences of her words. Four men are dead, and the city blames her. With murders on the rise, Officer Abraham Hall's only lead is Lydia's fiction, and he is thrust into an investigation with the "Killer Queen of Romance." Despite his misgivings about the woman, he realizes that even with his reputation for catching elusive criminals, he needs her help. But his unexpected attraction to Lydia proves as difficult to manage as the woman herself. As the mystery unfolds, Abraham and Lydia race to rewrite the ending, not only for Cincinnati's citizens, but for their own hearts too. (Historical Romance from Kregel Publications)
Uncharted Mercy by Keely Brooke Keith -- Lonely bachelor Noah Vestal longs for a family of his own. His inherited farmhouse feels empty, until he befriends his lovely neighbor, widow Bette Owens. When Bette's in-laws try to separate her from her children, Noah offers to marry her in a quick and convenient arrangement. However, their marriage is soon put to the test when someone contests Noah's inheritance and threatens to tear their newfound family apart. Set in the idyllic village of Good Springs, this heartwarming tale follows Noah and Bette as they navigate the challenges of marriage, parenthood, and standing up to the powerful village council. As Noah’s dreams of family and community slip away, Bette is faced with an unimaginable fight for her family—and for love. (Historical Romance, Independently Published)
Texas Divided by Sherry Shindelar -- Driven by the looming expectation of becoming a suffocatingly proper lady, Morning Fawn is determined to escape the confines of her uncle’s plantation and return to her adoptive Comanche tribe. But with each failed attempt, her hopes dwindle, and she wonders if she'll ever find her way back home or if that world is forever lost to her. Devon Reynolds, disillusioned by the price of affluence and the horrors of war, leaves his privileged life to join the Texas Rangers and later the cavalry. In the military service, he finds purpose . . . until he loses his wife during childbirth while he is away. In an attempt to redeem himself, he takes one last fateful mission to rescue Morning Fawn from the Comanche. But the results force him to question the righteousness of his actions and the cause he serves. When Devon returns to Texas as a Yankee spy, his path crosses with Morning Fawn once more. Determined to save her from the prison of her uncle's house and to recover Texas from the Confederacy, Devon is drawn to her fierce spirit and unwavering resolve. But can two wounded souls, each fighting their own battles, find solace and love amidst the chaos of war? (Historical Romance from Wild Heart Books)
Spark of the Revolution by Megan Soja -- Contrary to her name, Patience Abbott has long felt unsettled and anxious to leave behind her painful memories in England for a fresh start in America. But her new life isn’t quite what she expected, and as tension grows in her new home of Boston, so does the distance between Patience and her estranged father. So when Josiah Wagner walks into her life, it finally feels like she’s not alone. If only his patriotic leanings didn’t put him at odds with her father’s loyalties. Josiah Wagner has spent his life yearning for a true home and family, something he works toward each day, forging tools as a blacksmith, and each night, forging plans with the Sons of Liberty. But when the destruction of tea in Boston Harbor lights the spark of the Revolution, Josiah finds himself drawn into its tumultuous wake, pulling the woman he loves along with him. As tensions mount, will their search for belonging lead to each other, or will the obstacles between them be too great to overcome? In a land on the brink of war, can they find the home they seek in the One who calls them His own? (Historical Romance from Wild Heart Books)
No Leaves in Autumn by Terri Wangard -- Marie Foubert grew up in an orphanage and struggles with feelings of rejection. As a Red Cross recreation worker, she interacts with the American men based in Iceland during World War II. Her growing attraction to seaplane pilot Stefan Dabrowski excites and concerns her. Won’t he disappear from her life like everyone else? Stefan hears his commanding officer describe him as exciting as last night’s bathwater. One of his colleagues constantly berates him because of his Polish heritage and his superior flying skill. Despite being the squadron’s most productive pilot, he is threatened with court martial. A showdown approaches to prove who’s the better pilot and the better man. Marie’s cousin, passing through Iceland, tries to see her after spotting her photo in Life magazine. She declines to meet him, but Stefan encourages her to do so and learn why no one wanted her. She may gain a family after all (Historical Romance from Scrivenings Press)
Heart of Courage by Penny Zeller -- A new life awaits her...if she can find the courage. In the spring of 1885, LilyBeth Engel makes the courageous decision to run from everything she's known. She boards a train and goes as far as her meager funds will take her with her young son in tow. With nothing but the clothes on her back, the baby in her arms, her Bible, and a skill for sewing beautiful dresses, LilyBeth determines to succeed with the Lord's help and dogged determination. Barrett MacCallum owns one of the largest ranches in Hilltop in the Montana Territory. He also owns several of the businesses on the main street. When a woman asks to rent one of his businesses for her new dress shop, he's amenable, even if it means charging the woman less rent because she's obviously destitute. When Barrett begins to fall in love with LilyBeth, will she have the courage to allow herself to love again with so much at stake?(Historical Romance from Maplebrook Publishing)
Cozy Mystery:
Home Baked Bribery by Gina Holder -- The annual Rockport bake sale and competition is underway. The stakes are higher than ever for the coveted Golden Whisk Award when a high-profile celebrity chef is brought in as a surprise guest judge. The competition takes a deadly turn when the celebrity suffers an allergic reaction. When Addie’s nemesis, Kennedy Graves is banned from the competition for using almond extract, Addie volunteers to prove Kennedy innocent. As Addie investigates the death, she learns each of the local bakers had a motive to dislike the celebrity. But did one of them kill him? Meanwhile, hundred-year-old twins, Poppy and Marigold, keep Addie hopping, looking for their missing dogs. Will Addie be able to uncover the truth behind the celebrity judge’s death, or will she become the next victim of the mysterious shenanigans going on in Rockport (Cozy Mystery, Independently Published)
Romantic Suspense:
Waylaid by Jerusha Agen -- Someone wants to kill her. She wants the killer to finish the job. Spring Weston will do anything to rise in the ranks of pro cycling and prove she isn’t the one failure of the five Weston siblings. Anything except cheat. When she learns of doping on her cycling team, she’s determined to uncover the truth. But she can’t if she’s dead. Sergeant Torin Cotter may not be the hero the public thinks he is, but he recognizes fear when he sees it. When he takes over the investigation of the collision that landed Spring in the hospital, he’s compelled to protect her from whatever danger she’s in, even though he knows he might fail. Again. Spring’s faith in God isn’t enough to help her face the living nightmare she awakened to after the accident. But neither she nor the handsome sergeant see the greater threat that’s coming until it’s too late. If they’re going to survive, Spring and Torin will not only have to confront their worst fears—they’ll have to find a reason to live. (Romantic Suspense, Independently Published)
Break My Fall by Lynn H Blackburn -- Dr. Meredith Quinn always planned to return to Gossamer Falls to practice dentistry. Now that she’s back home, she’s made it a point to offer clinics to children and adults in nearby underserved areas. Unfortunately, those same areas are known to harbor drug traffickers, and Police Chief Grayson Ward suspects that local law enforcement is looking the other way. After too many losses, Grayson has closed off his heart. But when Meredith enters his life, his walls crumble, and he’s left exposed and vulnerable. To keep her alive, he must keep her close, but that makes it impossible for him to retreat and rebuild. Will she be the one who finally helps him emerge from isolation? Or will this force of nature leave him shattered? (Romantic Suspense from Revell)
Traitor in the Scottish Isles by Paige Edwards -- To receive her inheritance and escape a scandal not of her making, wealthy socialite Cairstie Henderson moves to a small town in the Scottish Isles, far from the city lights and runways she frequents. There, she encounters the Irish spy responsible for the public breakup that made her the laughingstock of the Scottish Borders. Sheridan, a hardened MI6 agent, is on an undercover assignment to locate missing operatives and the mysterious traitor passing top-secret information to the Chinese. Unfortunately, there’s one Cairstie Henderson knows his true identity—and she detests him. But when Cairstie surprises an intruder, she seeks the one man who can protect her, Sheridan. Over time, these opposites give way to attraction that eventually blossoms into love, but with a dangerous criminal stalking their steps and intrigue around every corner, will Cairstie and Sheridan obtain their happily ever after, or will they end up dead? (Romantic Suspense from Balquhidder Books)
Two Good Deeds by Luana Ehrlich -- Titus accepts an assignment to get intel on an Egyptian terrorist by posing as an antiquities collector from Dubai, but when an old acquaintance turns up in Cairo, he suddenly finds himself in the crosshairs of an assassin, and he must risk everything to stop him. Two Good Deeds is Book 11 in the Titus Ray Thriller Series, and it continues the story of covert operative Titus Ray as he seeks to perform his duties as a CIA officer while figuring out how to live the Christian life in the midst of chaos. (Romantic Suspense, Independently Published)
Justice Denied by Sarah Hamaker -- Jetta Ainsley’s life had been complicated enough as she navigates cleaning out the family home while her mother recovers from a car accident. When her dog is hurt, her next-door neighbor, Seth Whitman, offers his help. Seth would like to do more for Jetta but the walls she’s placed around her heart are unsurmountable. Then she learns her late father had been accused of embezzlement, drawing Jetta into a web of secrets that could prove his innocence—or destroy her. When digging into her father’s past brings danger to their doorstep, Jetta turns to Seth for assistance in uncovering who stole millions before someone gets hurt. Seth tries to protect Jetta and her mother from the increasing danger, while clues lead them ever deeper into a tangled conspiracy. Unraveling the sinister plot will require all their courage, faith, and trust in each other. But will uncovering the truth clear her father’s name—or destroy their growing love for one another? (Romantic Suspense from Seshva Press)
The Mistaken Witness by Rebecca Lake -- When a near-fatal crash forces Harper Ashford and Alek Locke to confront their shared past, their only chance of survival lies in unraveling the deadly web her father wove—that is if they can manage to trust each other before it’s too late. (Romantic Suspense, Independently Published)
Discovering Elena: My Mother’s Secret by J. Carol Nemeth -- A tiny baby’s hat, old faded photos and a half of a metal medallion. What did the clues in the little wooden chest mean, and what will Kate find in Wyoming to shed light on her mother’s past? (Romantic Suspense from Winged Publications)
Young Adult Fiction/Allegory:
Liabetes by Shanna M Heath -- She’s got a dream school, a nightmare budget, and she’s headed for a doozy of a rude awakening...Olivia’s goal is within reach. She’s been accepted to her dream school, Vanderbilt University, alma mater of famed comic illustrator Paige O’Donnell. Despite gaining multiple scholarships and grants, Olivia’s just shy of tuition. Desperate, she applies for a $15,000 scholarship offered by the Wonderbrink Foundation, to be awarded to a high-achieving and athletic senior with diabetes. One little problem… Olivia doesn’t have diabetes. In her quest to pull off a whopper of a lie, Olivia attends a diabetes support group meeting, where she meets and befriends Paul Roberts, a smug yet handsome member of the Sugar Shatterers. Her best friends Xavier and Amber aren’t thrilled about Olivia’s new mysterious, one-sided friendship with superstitious, entitled Paul. Xavier may secretly be a *little* jealous, and the scholarship application deadline rapidly approaches. (Young Adult Fiction, Independently Published)
Between You and Me by Melissa Knight -- Meet Colton, the heartthrob of Rayburn High. With his charming smile and flirtatious nature, the girls are wrapped around his finger. As he spends more time with Mia, however - the friend he used to play with on the swings in second grade - he starts to recognize all the little ways she stands out. That girl can make him laugh! As for Mia, her schedule is jam-packed. Between looking out for her sister with special needs and juggling her interests in music, theater, and art, she barely has time for anything else. And romance? It’s a nice dream that has always seemed just out of reach. When Mia and Colton are thrown together in drama class, their relationship deepens, and sparks start to fly. Both begin to dream about something more than just friendship. But with insecurities and lies threatening to tear them apart, will they have the determination to sort out facts from fiction, and the courage to choose faith over fear? (Young Adult Fiction, Independently Published)
Plus check out these recent additions to Fiction Finder published within the past month:
Bravo by Jessica Ashley -- A pulse-pounding romantic suspense about trust, redemption, and the kind of love that refuses to let go—even when the past threatens to destroy it. Will they survive the firestorm, or will her secrets bring everything crashing down? (Romantic Suspense)
Circumvent (2nd Edition) by SK Derban -- When perfection turns to panic an isolated couple must learn: “For we walk by faith, not by sight…” (Crime Mystery)
To Capture a Mountain Man by Robin Lee Hatcher -- Bound by circumstance and danger, Amanda and Isaiah must navigate the perils of poachers, rustlers, and a growing affection he is not ready to admit. A romance of courage, love, and an unbreakable bond forged in the wild. (Historical Romance)
A Nurse’s Ambush by Rebecca Hemlock -- How could she trust the police to catch someone they claimed didn’t exist? (Romantic Thriller)
Mary the Missionary, A Kenyan Adventure by Yvonne M Morgan -- Mary the Missionary by Yvonne M. Morgan is a heartwarming story that explores themes of compassion, cultural understanding, and faith. (Children’s Early Readers)
But For These Chains by Jenny Powell -- This fictionalized account of Paul’s journey with Christ highlights this important aspect of his ministry, taking us on a tour of the Roman empire in the first century AD, and brings us closer to the source of our joy and hope. (Biblical)
Biblical:
The Daughter of Rome by Angela Hunt -- In Nero's Rome, Calandra helps her father, a renowned sculptor, complete the most significant commission of his illustrious career. But then a catastrophic fire nearly destroys the imperial city, leaving Calandra reliant on a group of Christians--unusual individuals unlike any she has encountered before. Intrigued by their worship of the Son of an invisible God, Calandra grapples with her mistrust, only to find herself indebted to these believers as they help her rebuild her shattered world. When Emperor Nero begins constructing his opulent Golden House, the people of Rome grow resentful, suspecting him of starting the fire in order to clear the land for his immense palace. Needing a scapegoat, Nero points at those who follow the Jewish Messiah, forcing Calandra to make an impossible choice between right and wrong, friends and family, love and death. (Biblical from Bethany House [Baker Publishing Group]) Amish Romance:
Green Pastures by Patricia Johns -- When Tabitha Schrock returns to her Amish faith after a painful divorce, she and her sisters must decide how much they are willing to sacrifice to stay true to their own personal dreams and their Amish faith. (Amish Romance from Bethany House Publishers) Contemporary Romance:
A Hero’s Nature by Sandra Ardoin -- Veterinarian Trey Abbott can’t measure up to his vet tech’s late fiancé, a military hero, so he’s settled for being Reagan's boss and friend. He’s watched as she’s dated and dumped a long line of guys. After nearly losing her in an accident, though, Trey realizes it’s time to man up and take a chance on love before time runs out. She ends her relationships before emotions become involved and lives ruined. Reagan Hartwell’s friends wrongly believe she spends each anniversary of her fiancé’s death mourning him. This year, sick of her pity parties, she chooses to honor his memory and, maybe, ease some of her guilt. But Trey stands in the way of both her goal and her determination to avoid another love that could end in disaster. As they help a grieving show dog breeder, their good, yet conflicting, intentions for his rundown kennel pit them against one another. But will secrets they each hold tear them apart? Get to know the couples who navigate the joys and pitfalls of life and love in their quaint and tight-knit southern hometown of Hidden Veil, North Carolina. (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)
Tears of a Cowboy by Elsie Davis -- Cowboys who deserve a second chance at love and happiness and the women strong enough to show them the way...Texas style! (Contemporary Romance from Sweet Romance Publishing)
The Farmer’s Marriage Bargain by Heidi Main -- They agreed to a practical marriage. But love never goes as planned…Raising three children alone was never part of the plan, but after losing her husband, Emma Bailey is doing the best she can. Until she discovers that she can’t afford the medication her youngest child needs. Suddenly, her late husband’s best friend comes to the rescue. Carter McCaw promised he’d always watch over the family and the farm. But when he proposes a marriage of convenience, Emma’s not so sure. It seems like the perfect solution…until loves blooms between them and complicates everything. (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])
An Unexpected Companion by Mindy Obenhaus -- With his dog by his side… Is a second chance within reach? After losing his family and his leg in a car crash, widower Dirk Matthews dedicates his solitary life to woodworking and his mobility service dog, Molly. That is, until a troubled kid steals from his truck. Desperate to reach her grieving oldest son, widow Tessa Wagner agrees to have the boy help Dirk work on her family’s ranch. Only she doesn’t expect her own connection with the carpenter. Soon they’re feeling more than the shared loss of loved ones. But will past heartbreak stand in the way of their future? (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin]) General Contemporary:
The Novel Adventures of Natalie Daughtry by Susan L Tuttle With her twenty-plus-year marriage on the brink of collapse, bookish Natalie Daughtry immerses herself in her new bookstore job. When the mysterious Caspar gathers Natalie and her friends Everleigh and Brooke for the second time, she's ready for an adventure to disperse the turmoil clouding her marriage. Caspar enlists their help in searching for a rumored copy of Lewis Carroll's handwritten and illustrated manuscript of Alice's Adventures Under Ground. Natalie is immediately enticed--this is the perfect distraction. But then Mason joins the team, and suddenly Natalie and her husband are side-by-side on the search for this elusive treasure. Being forced to work together has them tumbling deep into their past, seeking answers to old misunderstandings. When they emerge from the rabbit hole, things aren't the same. Will they rediscover the love that once held the pages of their life together (General Contemporary from Kregel Publications) Historical Romance:
The Carpenter’s Schoolmarm by Kimberly Burkhardt -- She’s running from her future. He’s hiding from his past. Forced into an arranged marriage by her father, Samantha Baxter flees from the clutches of her fiancé and finds sanctuary in the small town of Cooperton, Kansas, as the new schoolmarm. Although she attracts the attention of some of the single men in town, Samantha remains cautious, knowing any romantic relationship could put that man in danger of her fiancé and his fury if he ever tracks her down. Michael Brooks finally has enough money to purchase the land where he will build his future home. He can put his criminal past behind him and find peace in the solitary life of crafting furniture for the people of Cooperton. That is, until he meets the new schoolmarm. She stirs a dream inside him he didn’t know he wanted. A wife and family to call his own. Despite her efforts, Samantha finds herself drawn to Michael, unable to deny her growing love for the handsome carpenter. But when his past and her future collide, will the two be able to trust in each other and in God’s plan? Or will their secrets keep them apart? (Historical Romance, Independently Published)
Echoes of Sunrise by Amanda Cabot -- Sophia Carr knows her recurring dreams of an identical twin sister are just that - dreams. She also knows that eventually she will inherit the hotel her grandfather built. When a fire at the hotel kills her mother, Sophia returns to Carr Valley to rebuild and ensure that a planned railroad line chooses a route that will keep the town alive. But her grandfather’s will states that she must be married to inherit, and the only man she can imagine marrying seems to have forgotten her. Up-and-coming architect Gideon Spencer couldn’t say no when his dying friend begged him to marry his widow and raise their baby as his own rather than let a cruel grandfather gain custody. But when the young mother dies, leaving Gideon a single parent, the grandfather poses a new threat unless Gideon manages to marry again. Sadly, the only woman he’s interested in is the one he’s ignored for six months: Sophia.Knowing he needs to protect the baby, Gideon heads to Carr Valley. When he discovers that Sophia needs a husband as much as he needs a wife, he proposes a six-month marriage of convenience. Sophia agrees but adds a stipulation of her own, one that will test his resolve, even as their wedding day reveals that Sophia’s dreams of a twin sister might be more than dreams. (Historical Romance from ByDand Publishing)
Written in Secret by Crystal Caudill -- In the heart of nineteenth-century Cincinnati one woman holds the power to rewrite history. What happens when fiction becomes reality? In the corruption-infested Queen City, danger lurks in every shadow, but Lydia Pelton refuses to stay silent. She writes under a pseudonym, E. A. Dupin, crafting crime novels to exact justice and right the wrongs she sees in society. When a serial killer decides to be the sword to her pen, Lydia is confronted with the consequences of her words. Four men are dead, and the city blames her. With murders on the rise, Officer Abraham Hall's only lead is Lydia's fiction, and he is thrust into an investigation with the "Killer Queen of Romance." Despite his misgivings about the woman, he realizes that even with his reputation for catching elusive criminals, he needs her help. But his unexpected attraction to Lydia proves as difficult to manage as the woman herself. As the mystery unfolds, Abraham and Lydia race to rewrite the ending, not only for Cincinnati's citizens, but for their own hearts too. (Historical Romance from Kregel Publications)
Uncharted Mercy by Keely Brooke Keith -- Lonely bachelor Noah Vestal longs for a family of his own. His inherited farmhouse feels empty, until he befriends his lovely neighbor, widow Bette Owens. When Bette's in-laws try to separate her from her children, Noah offers to marry her in a quick and convenient arrangement. However, their marriage is soon put to the test when someone contests Noah's inheritance and threatens to tear their newfound family apart. Set in the idyllic village of Good Springs, this heartwarming tale follows Noah and Bette as they navigate the challenges of marriage, parenthood, and standing up to the powerful village council. As Noah’s dreams of family and community slip away, Bette is faced with an unimaginable fight for her family—and for love. (Historical Romance, Independently Published)
Texas Divided by Sherry Shindelar -- Driven by the looming expectation of becoming a suffocatingly proper lady, Morning Fawn is determined to escape the confines of her uncle’s plantation and return to her adoptive Comanche tribe. But with each failed attempt, her hopes dwindle, and she wonders if she'll ever find her way back home or if that world is forever lost to her. Devon Reynolds, disillusioned by the price of affluence and the horrors of war, leaves his privileged life to join the Texas Rangers and later the cavalry. In the military service, he finds purpose . . . until he loses his wife during childbirth while he is away. In an attempt to redeem himself, he takes one last fateful mission to rescue Morning Fawn from the Comanche. But the results force him to question the righteousness of his actions and the cause he serves. When Devon returns to Texas as a Yankee spy, his path crosses with Morning Fawn once more. Determined to save her from the prison of her uncle's house and to recover Texas from the Confederacy, Devon is drawn to her fierce spirit and unwavering resolve. But can two wounded souls, each fighting their own battles, find solace and love amidst the chaos of war? (Historical Romance from Wild Heart Books)
Spark of the Revolution by Megan Soja -- Contrary to her name, Patience Abbott has long felt unsettled and anxious to leave behind her painful memories in England for a fresh start in America. But her new life isn’t quite what she expected, and as tension grows in her new home of Boston, so does the distance between Patience and her estranged father. So when Josiah Wagner walks into her life, it finally feels like she’s not alone. If only his patriotic leanings didn’t put him at odds with her father’s loyalties. Josiah Wagner has spent his life yearning for a true home and family, something he works toward each day, forging tools as a blacksmith, and each night, forging plans with the Sons of Liberty. But when the destruction of tea in Boston Harbor lights the spark of the Revolution, Josiah finds himself drawn into its tumultuous wake, pulling the woman he loves along with him. As tensions mount, will their search for belonging lead to each other, or will the obstacles between them be too great to overcome? In a land on the brink of war, can they find the home they seek in the One who calls them His own? (Historical Romance from Wild Heart Books)
No Leaves in Autumn by Terri Wangard -- Marie Foubert grew up in an orphanage and struggles with feelings of rejection. As a Red Cross recreation worker, she interacts with the American men based in Iceland during World War II. Her growing attraction to seaplane pilot Stefan Dabrowski excites and concerns her. Won’t he disappear from her life like everyone else? Stefan hears his commanding officer describe him as exciting as last night’s bathwater. One of his colleagues constantly berates him because of his Polish heritage and his superior flying skill. Despite being the squadron’s most productive pilot, he is threatened with court martial. A showdown approaches to prove who’s the better pilot and the better man. Marie’s cousin, passing through Iceland, tries to see her after spotting her photo in Life magazine. She declines to meet him, but Stefan encourages her to do so and learn why no one wanted her. She may gain a family after all (Historical Romance from Scrivenings Press)
Heart of Courage by Penny Zeller -- A new life awaits her...if she can find the courage. In the spring of 1885, LilyBeth Engel makes the courageous decision to run from everything she's known. She boards a train and goes as far as her meager funds will take her with her young son in tow. With nothing but the clothes on her back, the baby in her arms, her Bible, and a skill for sewing beautiful dresses, LilyBeth determines to succeed with the Lord's help and dogged determination. Barrett MacCallum owns one of the largest ranches in Hilltop in the Montana Territory. He also owns several of the businesses on the main street. When a woman asks to rent one of his businesses for her new dress shop, he's amenable, even if it means charging the woman less rent because she's obviously destitute. When Barrett begins to fall in love with LilyBeth, will she have the courage to allow herself to love again with so much at stake?(Historical Romance from Maplebrook Publishing) Cozy Mystery:
Home Baked Bribery by Gina Holder -- The annual Rockport bake sale and competition is underway. The stakes are higher than ever for the coveted Golden Whisk Award when a high-profile celebrity chef is brought in as a surprise guest judge. The competition takes a deadly turn when the celebrity suffers an allergic reaction. When Addie’s nemesis, Kennedy Graves is banned from the competition for using almond extract, Addie volunteers to prove Kennedy innocent. As Addie investigates the death, she learns each of the local bakers had a motive to dislike the celebrity. But did one of them kill him? Meanwhile, hundred-year-old twins, Poppy and Marigold, keep Addie hopping, looking for their missing dogs. Will Addie be able to uncover the truth behind the celebrity judge’s death, or will she become the next victim of the mysterious shenanigans going on in Rockport (Cozy Mystery, Independently Published) Romantic Suspense:
Waylaid by Jerusha Agen -- Someone wants to kill her. She wants the killer to finish the job. Spring Weston will do anything to rise in the ranks of pro cycling and prove she isn’t the one failure of the five Weston siblings. Anything except cheat. When she learns of doping on her cycling team, she’s determined to uncover the truth. But she can’t if she’s dead. Sergeant Torin Cotter may not be the hero the public thinks he is, but he recognizes fear when he sees it. When he takes over the investigation of the collision that landed Spring in the hospital, he’s compelled to protect her from whatever danger she’s in, even though he knows he might fail. Again. Spring’s faith in God isn’t enough to help her face the living nightmare she awakened to after the accident. But neither she nor the handsome sergeant see the greater threat that’s coming until it’s too late. If they’re going to survive, Spring and Torin will not only have to confront their worst fears—they’ll have to find a reason to live. (Romantic Suspense, Independently Published)
Break My Fall by Lynn H Blackburn -- Dr. Meredith Quinn always planned to return to Gossamer Falls to practice dentistry. Now that she’s back home, she’s made it a point to offer clinics to children and adults in nearby underserved areas. Unfortunately, those same areas are known to harbor drug traffickers, and Police Chief Grayson Ward suspects that local law enforcement is looking the other way. After too many losses, Grayson has closed off his heart. But when Meredith enters his life, his walls crumble, and he’s left exposed and vulnerable. To keep her alive, he must keep her close, but that makes it impossible for him to retreat and rebuild. Will she be the one who finally helps him emerge from isolation? Or will this force of nature leave him shattered? (Romantic Suspense from Revell)
Traitor in the Scottish Isles by Paige Edwards -- To receive her inheritance and escape a scandal not of her making, wealthy socialite Cairstie Henderson moves to a small town in the Scottish Isles, far from the city lights and runways she frequents. There, she encounters the Irish spy responsible for the public breakup that made her the laughingstock of the Scottish Borders. Sheridan, a hardened MI6 agent, is on an undercover assignment to locate missing operatives and the mysterious traitor passing top-secret information to the Chinese. Unfortunately, there’s one Cairstie Henderson knows his true identity—and she detests him. But when Cairstie surprises an intruder, she seeks the one man who can protect her, Sheridan. Over time, these opposites give way to attraction that eventually blossoms into love, but with a dangerous criminal stalking their steps and intrigue around every corner, will Cairstie and Sheridan obtain their happily ever after, or will they end up dead? (Romantic Suspense from Balquhidder Books)
Two Good Deeds by Luana Ehrlich -- Titus accepts an assignment to get intel on an Egyptian terrorist by posing as an antiquities collector from Dubai, but when an old acquaintance turns up in Cairo, he suddenly finds himself in the crosshairs of an assassin, and he must risk everything to stop him. Two Good Deeds is Book 11 in the Titus Ray Thriller Series, and it continues the story of covert operative Titus Ray as he seeks to perform his duties as a CIA officer while figuring out how to live the Christian life in the midst of chaos. (Romantic Suspense, Independently Published)
Justice Denied by Sarah Hamaker -- Jetta Ainsley’s life had been complicated enough as she navigates cleaning out the family home while her mother recovers from a car accident. When her dog is hurt, her next-door neighbor, Seth Whitman, offers his help. Seth would like to do more for Jetta but the walls she’s placed around her heart are unsurmountable. Then she learns her late father had been accused of embezzlement, drawing Jetta into a web of secrets that could prove his innocence—or destroy her. When digging into her father’s past brings danger to their doorstep, Jetta turns to Seth for assistance in uncovering who stole millions before someone gets hurt. Seth tries to protect Jetta and her mother from the increasing danger, while clues lead them ever deeper into a tangled conspiracy. Unraveling the sinister plot will require all their courage, faith, and trust in each other. But will uncovering the truth clear her father’s name—or destroy their growing love for one another? (Romantic Suspense from Seshva Press)
The Mistaken Witness by Rebecca Lake -- When a near-fatal crash forces Harper Ashford and Alek Locke to confront their shared past, their only chance of survival lies in unraveling the deadly web her father wove—that is if they can manage to trust each other before it’s too late. (Romantic Suspense, Independently Published)
Discovering Elena: My Mother’s Secret by J. Carol Nemeth -- A tiny baby’s hat, old faded photos and a half of a metal medallion. What did the clues in the little wooden chest mean, and what will Kate find in Wyoming to shed light on her mother’s past? (Romantic Suspense from Winged Publications) Young Adult Fiction/Allegory:
Liabetes by Shanna M Heath -- She’s got a dream school, a nightmare budget, and she’s headed for a doozy of a rude awakening...Olivia’s goal is within reach. She’s been accepted to her dream school, Vanderbilt University, alma mater of famed comic illustrator Paige O’Donnell. Despite gaining multiple scholarships and grants, Olivia’s just shy of tuition. Desperate, she applies for a $15,000 scholarship offered by the Wonderbrink Foundation, to be awarded to a high-achieving and athletic senior with diabetes. One little problem… Olivia doesn’t have diabetes. In her quest to pull off a whopper of a lie, Olivia attends a diabetes support group meeting, where she meets and befriends Paul Roberts, a smug yet handsome member of the Sugar Shatterers. Her best friends Xavier and Amber aren’t thrilled about Olivia’s new mysterious, one-sided friendship with superstitious, entitled Paul. Xavier may secretly be a *little* jealous, and the scholarship application deadline rapidly approaches. (Young Adult Fiction, Independently Published)
Between You and Me by Melissa Knight -- Meet Colton, the heartthrob of Rayburn High. With his charming smile and flirtatious nature, the girls are wrapped around his finger. As he spends more time with Mia, however - the friend he used to play with on the swings in second grade - he starts to recognize all the little ways she stands out. That girl can make him laugh! As for Mia, her schedule is jam-packed. Between looking out for her sister with special needs and juggling her interests in music, theater, and art, she barely has time for anything else. And romance? It’s a nice dream that has always seemed just out of reach. When Mia and Colton are thrown together in drama class, their relationship deepens, and sparks start to fly. Both begin to dream about something more than just friendship. But with insecurities and lies threatening to tear them apart, will they have the determination to sort out facts from fiction, and the courage to choose faith over fear? (Young Adult Fiction, Independently Published) Plus check out these recent additions to Fiction Finder published within the past month:
Bravo by Jessica Ashley -- A pulse-pounding romantic suspense about trust, redemption, and the kind of love that refuses to let go—even when the past threatens to destroy it. Will they survive the firestorm, or will her secrets bring everything crashing down? (Romantic Suspense)
Circumvent (2nd Edition) by SK Derban -- When perfection turns to panic an isolated couple must learn: “For we walk by faith, not by sight…” (Crime Mystery)
To Capture a Mountain Man by Robin Lee Hatcher -- Bound by circumstance and danger, Amanda and Isaiah must navigate the perils of poachers, rustlers, and a growing affection he is not ready to admit. A romance of courage, love, and an unbreakable bond forged in the wild. (Historical Romance)
A Nurse’s Ambush by Rebecca Hemlock -- How could she trust the police to catch someone they claimed didn’t exist? (Romantic Thriller)
Mary the Missionary, A Kenyan Adventure by Yvonne M Morgan -- Mary the Missionary by Yvonne M. Morgan is a heartwarming story that explores themes of compassion, cultural understanding, and faith. (Children’s Early Readers)
But For These Chains by Jenny Powell -- This fictionalized account of Paul’s journey with Christ highlights this important aspect of his ministry, taking us on a tour of the Roman empire in the first century AD, and brings us closer to the source of our joy and hope. (Biblical)
March 5, 2025
Talkshow Thursday: A Guest Post by Ruth Wuwong
Talkshow Thursday: A Guest Post by Ruth Wuwong
Should Authors Create Book Trailer Videos?
In the dynamic world of book marketing, authors often seek creative ways to capture the attention of potential readers. One approach that has gained traction is the book trailer video. Much like a movie trailer, a book trailer is a short video that gives viewers a glimpse into the narrative, themes, and essence of a book. Yet the question lingers: should authors invest their time, energy, and perhaps money into creating book trailer videos?
Book trailers offer an engaging platform that piques interest in a way that blurb on a back cover cannot. In a world driven by visuals—where platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok dominate content consumption—video content is a powerful tool. For authors, developing a book trailer can be an enjoyable endeavor. Platforms like Canva offer user-friendly tools to design engaging and professional-looking trailers without prior training.
From my experience, using Canva to create book trailer videos is a fun process. The ability to customize elements to reflect the book’s tone and style empowers me to own its narrative. Here is an example from my creations for my recently released book, Echoes over Stormy Sea: https://youtu.be/m56iI7QDk4Q.
The obvious next question is: How does it impact sales?
While creating book trailers is entertaining, it’s crucial to address the reality of their impact on sales.
From my experience and observations within the author community, book trailers may not boost sales. The fact remains that the most successful book marketing strategies blend traditional methods with innovative digital tactics. Book trailers can be a component of a broader marketing plan, but relying on them alone to drive sales may lead to disappointment.
It’s vital for authors to weigh the benefits against the costs. Hiring professionals to create book trailers is expensive, and given their minimal impact on sales, it might not be the best financial decision for indie authors. Hence, I advise against spending substantial amounts of money hiring others to create videos.
While book trailer videos are a creative way to market a book, they should be approached with practical expectations. The process of creating a trailer should be embraced as a fun, supplementary marketing tactic rather than a primary sales driver.
About Echoes Over Stormy Sea:
Two eras, one stormy sea. Two women navigate love and heritage across centuries. Book 1 in this dual-time odyssey series braids together a mesmerizing tale about loyalty, redemption, and transformation.Debra Gong, a PhD student in biochemistry, eagerly counts down to her upcoming 2020 wedding in Chicago. The unexpected death of her father, a famous writer, brings her back to Hong Kong. Then the sudden closure of borders because of the pandemic leaves her trapped and separated from her fiancé. Her father’s will requires her to complete his last, unfinished manuscript about a pirate princess to honor his memory.
In 1800, Shih Yi-Lan, a martial arts master and the fierce daughter of a pirate captain, faces the cultural expectations of matrimony. Unwilling to be confined by traditional roles, when her father demands her to cement an alliance through marriage, she devises a test for any would-be suitor: he must beat her in two out of three contests to win her hand. A mysterious contender with a pigtail unlike the other sea marauders rises to the occasion and triumphs.
As both women explore their worlds in flux, the stakes grow higher. Can Debra continue her PhD work, honor her father’s legacy, and find love and commitment? Will Yi-Lan maintain her resilience and passion amid the challenges? Their parallel journeys unfold against the backdrop of tumultuous times, connecting their fates in unexpected ways.
Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4hayWsF
Connect with Ruth:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/love.respect.grace
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/42632055.R_F_Whong
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/r-f-whong
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/RWuwong
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ruthwuwong
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/ruth.wuwong
Website: http://www.ruthforchrist.com
作家應該製作書籍預告片視頻嗎？
在充滿活力的書籍營銷世界中，作家經常尋求創意方法來吸引讀者的注意力。一種受到青睞的方法是書籍預告片視頻。書籍預告片就像電影預告片一樣，借一段短視頻，讓觀眾一瞥書籍的敘事、主題和本質。然而，問題在於：作家應該投入時間、精力，甚至金錢來製作書籍預告片視頻嗎？書籍預告片提供了一個引人入勝的平台，以書籍封面簡短介紹無法達到的方式激發興趣。在這個由視覺主導的世界中——如YouTube、Instagram和TikTok等平台主宰消費導向——視頻可以是強大的工具。對於作家而言，製作書籍預告片可能是一個愉快的過程。像Canva這樣的平台提供了用戶友好的工具，讓人們無需視頻編輯训练，也能設計出具有吸引力和專業外觀的預告片。
根據我的經驗，使用Canva來製作書籍預告片視頻是一個有趣的過程。能夠定制元素來反映書籍的語調和風格，讓我可以掌控我的書所呈現的敘事。這是我為最近發行的書《暴風雨海的回聲》創作的一個視頻示例：https://youtu.be/m56iI7QDk4Q。接下來顯而易見的問題是：視頻如何影響銷售？
儘管製作書籍預告片很有趣，但必須面對銷售影響的現實。根據我的經驗及在作家社群中的觀察，書籍預告片未必能促進銷售。事實是，最成功的書籍營銷得將傳統方法與創新策略結合起來。書籍預告片可以作為更廣泛營銷計劃的一部分，但單靠它們來推動銷售可能會令人失望。作家需要權衡利弊。聘請專業人士製作書籍預告片的費用高昂，而鑒於它們對銷售的影響微乎其微，對獨立作家而言可能不是最好的財務決策。因此，我建議不要花大筆錢聘請他人製作視頻。
雖然書籍預告片視頻是營銷書籍的一種創意方式，但不要有太大的期望。將製作預告片的過程視為一種有趣的輔助營銷策略，而不是主要的銷售驅動力。
Should Authors Create Book Trailer Videos? In the dynamic world of book marketing, authors often seek creative ways to capture the attention of potential readers. One approach that has gained traction is the book trailer video. Much like a movie trailer, a book trailer is a short video that gives viewers a glimpse into the narrative, themes, and essence of a book. Yet the question lingers: should authors invest their time, energy, and perhaps money into creating book trailer videos?
Book trailers offer an engaging platform that piques interest in a way that blurb on a back cover cannot. In a world driven by visuals—where platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok dominate content consumption—video content is a powerful tool. For authors, developing a book trailer can be an enjoyable endeavor. Platforms like Canva offer user-friendly tools to design engaging and professional-looking trailers without prior training.
From my experience, using Canva to create book trailer videos is a fun process. The ability to customize elements to reflect the book’s tone and style empowers me to own its narrative. Here is an example from my creations for my recently released book, Echoes over Stormy Sea: https://youtu.be/m56iI7QDk4Q.
The obvious next question is: How does it impact sales?
While creating book trailers is entertaining, it’s crucial to address the reality of their impact on sales.
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From my experience and observations within the author community, book trailers may not boost sales. The fact remains that the most successful book marketing strategies blend traditional methods with innovative digital tactics. Book trailers can be a component of a broader marketing plan, but relying on them alone to drive sales may lead to disappointment.It’s vital for authors to weigh the benefits against the costs. Hiring professionals to create book trailers is expensive, and given their minimal impact on sales, it might not be the best financial decision for indie authors. Hence, I advise against spending substantial amounts of money hiring others to create videos.
While book trailer videos are a creative way to market a book, they should be approached with practical expectations. The process of creating a trailer should be embraced as a fun, supplementary marketing tactic rather than a primary sales driver.
About Echoes Over Stormy Sea:
Two eras, one stormy sea. Two women navigate love and heritage across centuries. Book 1 in this dual-time odyssey series braids together a mesmerizing tale about loyalty, redemption, and transformation.Debra Gong, a PhD student in biochemistry, eagerly counts down to her upcoming 2020 wedding in Chicago. The unexpected death of her father, a famous writer, brings her back to Hong Kong. Then the sudden closure of borders because of the pandemic leaves her trapped and separated from her fiancé. Her father’s will requires her to complete his last, unfinished manuscript about a pirate princess to honor his memory.In 1800, Shih Yi-Lan, a martial arts master and the fierce daughter of a pirate captain, faces the cultural expectations of matrimony. Unwilling to be confined by traditional roles, when her father demands her to cement an alliance through marriage, she devises a test for any would-be suitor: he must beat her in two out of three contests to win her hand. A mysterious contender with a pigtail unlike the other sea marauders rises to the occasion and triumphs.
As both women explore their worlds in flux, the stakes grow higher. Can Debra continue her PhD work, honor her father’s legacy, and find love and commitment? Will Yi-Lan maintain her resilience and passion amid the challenges? Their parallel journeys unfold against the backdrop of tumultuous times, connecting their fates in unexpected ways.
Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4hayWsF
Connect with Ruth:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/love.respect.grace
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/42632055.R_F_Whong
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/r-f-whong
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/RWuwong
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ruthwuwong
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/ruth.wuwong
Website: http://www.ruthforchrist.com
作家應該製作書籍預告片視頻嗎？
在充滿活力的書籍營銷世界中，作家經常尋求創意方法來吸引讀者的注意力。一種受到青睞的方法是書籍預告片視頻。書籍預告片就像電影預告片一樣，借一段短視頻，讓觀眾一瞥書籍的敘事、主題和本質。然而，問題在於：作家應該投入時間、精力，甚至金錢來製作書籍預告片視頻嗎？書籍預告片提供了一個引人入勝的平台，以書籍封面簡短介紹無法達到的方式激發興趣。在這個由視覺主導的世界中——如YouTube、Instagram和TikTok等平台主宰消費導向——視頻可以是強大的工具。對於作家而言，製作書籍預告片可能是一個愉快的過程。像Canva這樣的平台提供了用戶友好的工具，讓人們無需視頻編輯训练，也能設計出具有吸引力和專業外觀的預告片。
根據我的經驗，使用Canva來製作書籍預告片視頻是一個有趣的過程。能夠定制元素來反映書籍的語調和風格，讓我可以掌控我的書所呈現的敘事。這是我為最近發行的書《暴風雨海的回聲》創作的一個視頻示例：https://youtu.be/m56iI7QDk4Q。接下來顯而易見的問題是：視頻如何影響銷售？
儘管製作書籍預告片很有趣，但必須面對銷售影響的現實。根據我的經驗及在作家社群中的觀察，書籍預告片未必能促進銷售。事實是，最成功的書籍營銷得將傳統方法與創新策略結合起來。書籍預告片可以作為更廣泛營銷計劃的一部分，但單靠它們來推動銷售可能會令人失望。作家需要權衡利弊。聘請專業人士製作書籍預告片的費用高昂，而鑒於它們對銷售的影響微乎其微，對獨立作家而言可能不是最好的財務決策。因此，我建議不要花大筆錢聘請他人製作視頻。
雖然書籍預告片視頻是營銷書籍的一種創意方式，但不要有太大的期望。將製作預告片的過程視為一種有趣的輔助營銷策略，而不是主要的銷售驅動力。
February 26, 2025
Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Megan Miles
Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Megan Miles
I'm pleased to welcome author Megan Miles to my blog for the first time as she discusses here writing journey and the release of her latest book, Snow and the Seven Brothers Circus.
What was your inspiration for the story?
As I was editing my first novella, Before the Ever After, the idea came to me for a Snow White retelling where the dwarves were a circus troupe. As this idea formed, I could see the first chapter in my mind’s eye like a cinematic moment. Even though I was trying to focus on finishing my first novella, I couldn’t resist developing that story and its characters.
How has your book changed since your first draft?
I tend to be a very heavy re-writer. My stories often undergo dramatic changes from the first draft to the final version, and this story is no different. There’s little outside of the barebones of the plot that remains the same. (Even the characters’ names all changed, including my main character! She was Carolyn before she became Catherine.)
The only thing that didn’t change was the first chapter that I already mentioned. Outside of some polishing of the prose, it remains largely the same.
What draws you to the time period about which you write?
The twentieth century has always fascinated me due to the rapid changes, inventions, and events that
brought us to the world as we know it today. The period of 1900-1910 in particular stood out to me when I researched for this series. The turn-of-the-century era seems like the moment the past met modern times. In that moment in history, you see the arrival of cars, widespread electricity, flight, and other modern conveniences, but they’re still mixed with the fashions, traditions, and lifestyles of old. Pictures of city streets contain carriages and cars alike. Some houses were abounding with modern conveniences, and others weren’t. It’s the birthplace of life as we know it today.
Why do you write in your particular genre?
This may be a simple answer, but I write historical fiction because I read historical fiction. One day in my late teens, I lamented to my mom that I was bored and didn’t know what to read next. She put a Christian historical romance book from her shelf in my hands, and I devoured the story. So I read another. And another. It was only a matter of time before I began to test my hand at writing in the genre. The research required to write historical fiction has been a learning curve, but I love gathering interesting historical tidbits to include in my stories.
If you were to write a spin-off book about one of your secondary characters, which one would you choose and why?
I toyed with the idea of writing a spin-off novel containing the origin stories of the seven characters who founded the Seven Brothers’ Circus in my story. I went as far as brainstorming and writing out the details of their histories, even though most of that information didn’t come up in the novella. Leading up to the book release, I shared those histories on my Instagram to introduce my characters, but maybe someday I’ll get around to writing that book.
When did you know you wanted to be an author?
I’ve been a storyteller for as long as I can remember (my Barbies lived very interesting lives), and I wrote my first story about a girl and her horse at nine years old. From that moment on, I never stopped writing. In high school, I took a course that taught me how to properly develop characters, build a plot, and intertwine themes. That’s the moment I realized I wanted to write novels for as long as God allows.
What writers or books have influenced you?
There have been several different authors and books that influenced me throughout my writing journey. When I was a young teenager, the Christy Miller books by Robin Jones Gunn showed me how entertaining books could also contain important Christian themes.
A few years later, I discovered Melanie Dickerson’s medieval fairytale retellings, and I devoured them as fast as she published them. I loved the combination of fairytales, medieval history, and Christian themes.
Currently, Roseanna M. White is one of my favorite authors. I admire the way she writes engaging historical stories, coupled with deep themes and realistic characters.
Each of those series and authors contributed to my growth as a writer, and elements that I learned from each one appear in the stories I’m writing today.
What is your favorite thing about being a writer?
The creativity itself. I derive so much joy from crafting characters, twisting plots, and figuring out how to fix plot holes so that the whole story clicks into place. God wired me with a creative brain, and I thrive when I do what He created me to do. It’s my joy to finally share these stories with others. When readers tell me that something I wrote touched them in a way so many books have touched me throughout my life, I’m humbled and thankful for this opportunity.
BOOK BLURB:
Blinding spotlights.
Roaring cheers from an adoring crowd.
Every fiber of her being gliding on the wings of euphoria.
Upon her twenty-first birthday, Catherine Penner is set to inherit her late parents' vast estate and thriving coal mines, if she can make it to her birthday. An undiagnosed wasting disease threatens to steal her life, leaving her parents' legacy in the hands of her cold guardian.
Fighting to hold onto hope in the face of her own demise, Catherine reflects on the one bright spot in her life. Like another lifetime altogether, Catherine remembers a time when she was known by a different name. A time where she found belonging and purpose at the Seven Brothers' Circus, but even those beautiful memories come with painful reminders of what's been stolen from her.
As Catherine wrestles with the hopeless meaning of her short life and her fragile health, it becomes clear that something sinister is playing with her future. Will she find enough hope to push through to a promising future? Or will her life fade away like her beautiful memories?
Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/u/4Xkkva
SOCIAL LINKS:
Website: http://www.meganmilesauthor.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mmiles.author/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mmiles.writer
Photo credits (Horse and carriage): Pixabay/Eduardo Davad(Tower): Pixabay/llonadenktartig
I'm pleased to welcome author Megan Miles to my blog for the first time as she discusses here writing journey and the release of her latest book, Snow and the Seven Brothers Circus.What was your inspiration for the story?
As I was editing my first novella, Before the Ever After, the idea came to me for a Snow White retelling where the dwarves were a circus troupe. As this idea formed, I could see the first chapter in my mind’s eye like a cinematic moment. Even though I was trying to focus on finishing my first novella, I couldn’t resist developing that story and its characters.
How has your book changed since your first draft?
I tend to be a very heavy re-writer. My stories often undergo dramatic changes from the first draft to the final version, and this story is no different. There’s little outside of the barebones of the plot that remains the same. (Even the characters’ names all changed, including my main character! She was Carolyn before she became Catherine.)
The only thing that didn’t change was the first chapter that I already mentioned. Outside of some polishing of the prose, it remains largely the same.
What draws you to the time period about which you write?
The twentieth century has always fascinated me due to the rapid changes, inventions, and events that
brought us to the world as we know it today. The period of 1900-1910 in particular stood out to me when I researched for this series. The turn-of-the-century era seems like the moment the past met modern times. In that moment in history, you see the arrival of cars, widespread electricity, flight, and other modern conveniences, but they’re still mixed with the fashions, traditions, and lifestyles of old. Pictures of city streets contain carriages and cars alike. Some houses were abounding with modern conveniences, and others weren’t. It’s the birthplace of life as we know it today.Why do you write in your particular genre?
This may be a simple answer, but I write historical fiction because I read historical fiction. One day in my late teens, I lamented to my mom that I was bored and didn’t know what to read next. She put a Christian historical romance book from her shelf in my hands, and I devoured the story. So I read another. And another. It was only a matter of time before I began to test my hand at writing in the genre. The research required to write historical fiction has been a learning curve, but I love gathering interesting historical tidbits to include in my stories.
If you were to write a spin-off book about one of your secondary characters, which one would you choose and why?
I toyed with the idea of writing a spin-off novel containing the origin stories of the seven characters who founded the Seven Brothers’ Circus in my story. I went as far as brainstorming and writing out the details of their histories, even though most of that information didn’t come up in the novella. Leading up to the book release, I shared those histories on my Instagram to introduce my characters, but maybe someday I’ll get around to writing that book.
When did you know you wanted to be an author?
I’ve been a storyteller for as long as I can remember (my Barbies lived very interesting lives), and I wrote my first story about a girl and her horse at nine years old. From that moment on, I never stopped writing. In high school, I took a course that taught me how to properly develop characters, build a plot, and intertwine themes. That’s the moment I realized I wanted to write novels for as long as God allows.
What writers or books have influenced you?
There have been several different authors and books that influenced me throughout my writing journey. When I was a young teenager, the Christy Miller books by Robin Jones Gunn showed me how entertaining books could also contain important Christian themes. A few years later, I discovered Melanie Dickerson’s medieval fairytale retellings, and I devoured them as fast as she published them. I loved the combination of fairytales, medieval history, and Christian themes.
Currently, Roseanna M. White is one of my favorite authors. I admire the way she writes engaging historical stories, coupled with deep themes and realistic characters.
Each of those series and authors contributed to my growth as a writer, and elements that I learned from each one appear in the stories I’m writing today.
What is your favorite thing about being a writer?
The creativity itself. I derive so much joy from crafting characters, twisting plots, and figuring out how to fix plot holes so that the whole story clicks into place. God wired me with a creative brain, and I thrive when I do what He created me to do. It’s my joy to finally share these stories with others. When readers tell me that something I wrote touched them in a way so many books have touched me throughout my life, I’m humbled and thankful for this opportunity.
BOOK BLURB:
Blinding spotlights.Roaring cheers from an adoring crowd.
Every fiber of her being gliding on the wings of euphoria.
Upon her twenty-first birthday, Catherine Penner is set to inherit her late parents' vast estate and thriving coal mines, if she can make it to her birthday. An undiagnosed wasting disease threatens to steal her life, leaving her parents' legacy in the hands of her cold guardian.
Fighting to hold onto hope in the face of her own demise, Catherine reflects on the one bright spot in her life. Like another lifetime altogether, Catherine remembers a time when she was known by a different name. A time where she found belonging and purpose at the Seven Brothers' Circus, but even those beautiful memories come with painful reminders of what's been stolen from her.
As Catherine wrestles with the hopeless meaning of her short life and her fragile health, it becomes clear that something sinister is playing with her future. Will she find enough hope to push through to a promising future? Or will her life fade away like her beautiful memories?
Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/u/4Xkkva
SOCIAL LINKS:
Website: http://www.meganmilesauthor.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mmiles.author/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mmiles.writer
Photo credits (Horse and carriage): Pixabay/Eduardo Davad(Tower): Pixabay/llonadenktartig
February 25, 2025
Wayback Wednesday: Wisconsin and the Progressive Era
Wayback Wednesday: Wisconsin and the Progressive Era
The first couple of decades of the 1900s were an interesting time, and each state was affected differently. By the 1910s, Wisconsin was leading the country in milk and cheese production having doubled the number of cows in the state between 1900 and 1910. The University of Wisconsin appointed Henry A. William its first agricultural professor in 1880. He was appointed dean in 1891 and led the department’s growth, founded the first dairy school, and experimented with new dairy methods.
Meanwhile, Wisconsin governor Robert M. La Follette was leading the charge into the Progressive Era, a time period known for its social and political reform efforts. Ten years before he was elected, the La Follette was an up-and-coming attorney when Republican leader Philetus Sawyer offered him a bribe to fix a court case. Incensed, “For the rest of the decade, La Follette traveled around the state speaking out against crooked politicians, powerful lumber barons, and corrupt railroad interests. Elected governor in 1900, he pledged to institute reforms to protect common people. Those who followed him called themselves "Progressive" Republicans. They believed that the proper business of government was not business, but service to the common people.” (Wisconsin Historical Society)
Laws passed during his tenure (1901-1909) include a civil service act that regulated appointments to
public office within the state, an automobile license law, a statewide primary election system, the implementation of maximum hours of labor for children as well as a list of dangerous occupations prohibited to children under 16, and the nation’s first Workmen’s Compensation Act (now Worker’s Compensation), guaranteeing injury compensation as a legal right.
In 1913, Wisconsin passed the first minimum wage law that specified a “living wage” must be paid to women and minors, as well as the first state income tax. Other laws subjected railroads, mortgages, and inheritances to taxation. Additional laws provided state control over how corporations issued stock and imposed stricter regulations on railroad and insurance companies. Reforms included new sanitation systems, municipally owned water and power systems, the creation of community parks, and improved schools.
Interestingly, an area of reform that Wisconsin didn’t support was women’s suffrage. Referendum after referendum was voted down. With the passage of the nineteenth amendment women had the right to vote in federal elections, however, they would not be allowed to vote in state elections until fourteen years later.
By 1914, the Progressive movement had fractured. La Follette was in the Senate, and Governor Frances McGovern supported Theodore Roosevelt for president which angered many of the leaders in the Republican party, then came World War I, interrupting the era. The state’s large German population opposed entering the war in Europe, earning the Wisconsin the nickname “Traitor State.” Ultimately, more than 118,000 Wisconsinites served in the armed forces, approximately 1,800 who gave their lives.
Photo Credits:Henry A. William: Public DomainJustice Scales: Pixabay/Sang Hyung ChoWomen: Public Domain/Library of Congress
________________
Love and Chocolate
She just needs a job. He wants a career. Is there room in their hearts for love?
Ilsa Krause and her siblings are stunned to discover their father left massive debt behind upon his death. To help pay off their creditors and save the farm, she takes a job at Beck’s Chocolates, the company her father despised and refused to supply with milk. Then she discovers her boss is Ernst Webber, her high school love who unceremoniously dumped her via letter from college. Could life get any more difficult?
A freshly-minted university diploma in his hand, Ernst Webber lands his dream job at Beck’s Chocolates. His plans to work his way up the ladder don’t include romantic entanglements, then Ilsa Krause walks back into his life resurrecting feelings he thought long dead. However, her animosity makes it clear she has no interest in giving him a second chance. Can he get her to change her mind? Does he want to?
Purchase link: https://books2read.com/u/mdQerZ
The first couple of decades of the 1900s were an interesting time, and each state was affected differently. By the 1910s, Wisconsin was leading the country in milk and cheese production having doubled the number of cows in the state between 1900 and 1910. The University of Wisconsin appointed Henry A. William its first agricultural professor in 1880. He was appointed dean in 1891 and led the department’s growth, founded the first dairy school, and experimented with new dairy methods.Meanwhile, Wisconsin governor Robert M. La Follette was leading the charge into the Progressive Era, a time period known for its social and political reform efforts. Ten years before he was elected, the La Follette was an up-and-coming attorney when Republican leader Philetus Sawyer offered him a bribe to fix a court case. Incensed, “For the rest of the decade, La Follette traveled around the state speaking out against crooked politicians, powerful lumber barons, and corrupt railroad interests. Elected governor in 1900, he pledged to institute reforms to protect common people. Those who followed him called themselves "Progressive" Republicans. They believed that the proper business of government was not business, but service to the common people.” (Wisconsin Historical Society)
Laws passed during his tenure (1901-1909) include a civil service act that regulated appointments to
public office within the state, an automobile license law, a statewide primary election system, the implementation of maximum hours of labor for children as well as a list of dangerous occupations prohibited to children under 16, and the nation’s first Workmen’s Compensation Act (now Worker’s Compensation), guaranteeing injury compensation as a legal right.In 1913, Wisconsin passed the first minimum wage law that specified a “living wage” must be paid to women and minors, as well as the first state income tax. Other laws subjected railroads, mortgages, and inheritances to taxation. Additional laws provided state control over how corporations issued stock and imposed stricter regulations on railroad and insurance companies. Reforms included new sanitation systems, municipally owned water and power systems, the creation of community parks, and improved schools.
Interestingly, an area of reform that Wisconsin didn’t support was women’s suffrage. Referendum after referendum was voted down. With the passage of the nineteenth amendment women had the right to vote in federal elections, however, they would not be allowed to vote in state elections until fourteen years later.By 1914, the Progressive movement had fractured. La Follette was in the Senate, and Governor Frances McGovern supported Theodore Roosevelt for president which angered many of the leaders in the Republican party, then came World War I, interrupting the era. The state’s large German population opposed entering the war in Europe, earning the Wisconsin the nickname “Traitor State.” Ultimately, more than 118,000 Wisconsinites served in the armed forces, approximately 1,800 who gave their lives.
Photo Credits:Henry A. William: Public DomainJustice Scales: Pixabay/Sang Hyung ChoWomen: Public Domain/Library of Congress
________________
Love and Chocolate
.png)
She just needs a job. He wants a career. Is there room in their hearts for love?Ilsa Krause and her siblings are stunned to discover their father left massive debt behind upon his death. To help pay off their creditors and save the farm, she takes a job at Beck’s Chocolates, the company her father despised and refused to supply with milk. Then she discovers her boss is Ernst Webber, her high school love who unceremoniously dumped her via letter from college. Could life get any more difficult?
A freshly-minted university diploma in his hand, Ernst Webber lands his dream job at Beck’s Chocolates. His plans to work his way up the ladder don’t include romantic entanglements, then Ilsa Krause walks back into his life resurrecting feelings he thought long dead. However, her animosity makes it clear she has no interest in giving him a second chance. Can he get her to change her mind? Does he want to?
Purchase link: https://books2read.com/u/mdQerZ
February 19, 2025
Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Back, Barbara Britton
Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Back, Barbara Britton
I discovered Barbara and her books several years ago, and have devoured everything she's written, so I'm thrilled to welcome her back to my blog. Take a few minutes and get to know this talented author.
When did you know you wanted to be an author?
I had no idea that one day I would be an author. I enjoyed writing papers for school, but a career in publishing was never encouraged. I came to writing through teaching children about God. I taught the Bible to elementary students in chapel and had to create my own curriculum. I prayed for creativity, and I guess I wasn’t specific enough because I received ideas for my curriculum, but I also got an idea for a story. I sat down and started writing. I finished three books before I began writing about a Bible story. My fourth book received a contract. I became a published author at the young age of fifty-one.
How did you learn to write?
I could write a novella on everything you need to know to publish a book. I had plenty of time to learn
about the craft side of writing and the business side of publishing. I began my first novel in 2007, finished four novels, but didn’t receive a publishing contract until 2015. The contract was for my fourth book. That seems like a long time, but I had a mountain of information to process and learn.The craft side of writing is all about the story. Craft involves drafting a novel with goals for your characters, believable motivations, conflict to keep readers turning pages, story length, genre considerations, and so much more.
The business side of writing involves deciding what path to take to get your book into readers’ hands. Will you pitch an agent and go with a big publisher? Will you publish with a smaller press and do a lot of marketing on your own? Promotion of books falls mainly on the author these days. Gone are the days when authors just wrote page after page. We speak, teach, show up on social media, and so much more. An author has to be savvy about contracts and book formats, and sellable rights.
My writing journey prepared me to be a published author, but I am still learning new skills and information today.
What was the best money you spent as a writer?
After reading the above paragraph, you are probably wondering how I learned about the publishing business. I joined professional writing organizations and got involved in their local writing groups. I rubbed elbows with authors farther down the writing road and gleaned from their experience. I took writing courses in person and online. I entered writing contests to get feedback on my manuscripts. I attended writing conferences and built a network of friends. All of this is work, fun work, but it is still hard work. With the rise and flourishing of the internet, a lot of information can be found through industry blogs, podcasts, and virtual conferences.
What is your advice to fledgling writers?
If you are writing, you are not fledgling. When my sons complained about writing a paper for school, I would repeat the adage that I had heard in the publishing business, you can’t fix a blank page. I’ll be honest. Sometimes it is difficult to work on a project. I would encourage writers when they get tired of a story to work on something in the writing sphere. Draft your back cover blurb or write a blog post about your story and what you have learned. Writers can use their creativity in many ways and stay fresh in their writing space. Sometimes you need to take a break from a story, walk around the block, and let your imagination fall in love with your story again.
My additional advice to writers is to never give up. Keep writing even when life gets tough. Pray over your writing and ask God to use it to bless others.
What is your next project?
My next project is new to my author life, but it stays true to my decades long ministry of teaching Bible stories. In January of 2026, I will have a Bible Study coming out called “Across the Lake: Traveling with Jesus Around the Sea of Galilee.”
I traveled to Israel in March of 2023 and pondered what to write about next. While sitting on a boat on the Sea of Galilee, I was inspired to write about Jesus and His ministry in the towns I visited. You might notice that the book blurb below is about a contemporary story. Once you learn the basics of writing, you can take that knowledge anywhere and create different stories in different time periods. God has worked in people’s lives throughout history.
Escape to Whispering Creek
Emma Uranova enjoys her office job until her boss disappears with the investors' money. To avoid the media storm and false accusations, Emma flees to Whispering Creek, Tennessee to live on her best friend' s secluded property. When a temporary position opens up in Nashville, Emma leaves small-town anonymity to pad her depleted bank account. With a handsome new boss and a steady income, Emma believes life is looking up... until she discovers she has transported the scandal in her backpack. Where is God when her life is falling apart?
Wade Donoven is recuperating from a crash that sidelined him from the family electrical business. Worse yet, his prodigal younger brother is getting the glory for Wade' s accomplishments. Desperation, and physical setbacks, have him agreeing to let Emma help him manage the business office. But when trouble follows her to his doorstep, Wade must make some difficult choices. Sending Emma back to Whispering Creek may unknowingly place the woman he's come to love in danger.
You can purchase Emma’s story on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or wherever books are sold: https://books2read.com/u/mekqEr
About Barbara:
Barbara M. Britton is a multi-published author of Christian Fiction. Her Tribes of Israel series brings little-known Bible characters to light. You can also travel to Whispering Creek, Tennessee with her sweet romance duology. Barbara has a nutrition degree from Baylor University but loves to dip healthy strawberries in chocolate. You can find out more about Barbara and her books on her website http://barbarambritton.com.
Photo Credits:Author photo/Sea of Galilee: Courtesy of Barbara BrittonWoman Writing: Pixabay/StartUpStockPhotos
I discovered Barbara and her books several years ago, and have devoured everything she's written, so I'm thrilled to welcome her back to my blog. Take a few minutes and get to know this talented author.When did you know you wanted to be an author?
I had no idea that one day I would be an author. I enjoyed writing papers for school, but a career in publishing was never encouraged. I came to writing through teaching children about God. I taught the Bible to elementary students in chapel and had to create my own curriculum. I prayed for creativity, and I guess I wasn’t specific enough because I received ideas for my curriculum, but I also got an idea for a story. I sat down and started writing. I finished three books before I began writing about a Bible story. My fourth book received a contract. I became a published author at the young age of fifty-one.
How did you learn to write?
I could write a novella on everything you need to know to publish a book. I had plenty of time to learn
about the craft side of writing and the business side of publishing. I began my first novel in 2007, finished four novels, but didn’t receive a publishing contract until 2015. The contract was for my fourth book. That seems like a long time, but I had a mountain of information to process and learn.The craft side of writing is all about the story. Craft involves drafting a novel with goals for your characters, believable motivations, conflict to keep readers turning pages, story length, genre considerations, and so much more.The business side of writing involves deciding what path to take to get your book into readers’ hands. Will you pitch an agent and go with a big publisher? Will you publish with a smaller press and do a lot of marketing on your own? Promotion of books falls mainly on the author these days. Gone are the days when authors just wrote page after page. We speak, teach, show up on social media, and so much more. An author has to be savvy about contracts and book formats, and sellable rights.
My writing journey prepared me to be a published author, but I am still learning new skills and information today.
What was the best money you spent as a writer?
After reading the above paragraph, you are probably wondering how I learned about the publishing business. I joined professional writing organizations and got involved in their local writing groups. I rubbed elbows with authors farther down the writing road and gleaned from their experience. I took writing courses in person and online. I entered writing contests to get feedback on my manuscripts. I attended writing conferences and built a network of friends. All of this is work, fun work, but it is still hard work. With the rise and flourishing of the internet, a lot of information can be found through industry blogs, podcasts, and virtual conferences.
What is your advice to fledgling writers?
If you are writing, you are not fledgling. When my sons complained about writing a paper for school, I would repeat the adage that I had heard in the publishing business, you can’t fix a blank page. I’ll be honest. Sometimes it is difficult to work on a project. I would encourage writers when they get tired of a story to work on something in the writing sphere. Draft your back cover blurb or write a blog post about your story and what you have learned. Writers can use their creativity in many ways and stay fresh in their writing space. Sometimes you need to take a break from a story, walk around the block, and let your imagination fall in love with your story again.
My additional advice to writers is to never give up. Keep writing even when life gets tough. Pray over your writing and ask God to use it to bless others.
What is your next project?
My next project is new to my author life, but it stays true to my decades long ministry of teaching Bible stories. In January of 2026, I will have a Bible Study coming out called “Across the Lake: Traveling with Jesus Around the Sea of Galilee.”I traveled to Israel in March of 2023 and pondered what to write about next. While sitting on a boat on the Sea of Galilee, I was inspired to write about Jesus and His ministry in the towns I visited. You might notice that the book blurb below is about a contemporary story. Once you learn the basics of writing, you can take that knowledge anywhere and create different stories in different time periods. God has worked in people’s lives throughout history.
Escape to Whispering Creek
Emma Uranova enjoys her office job until her boss disappears with the investors' money. To avoid the media storm and false accusations, Emma flees to Whispering Creek, Tennessee to live on her best friend' s secluded property. When a temporary position opens up in Nashville, Emma leaves small-town anonymity to pad her depleted bank account. With a handsome new boss and a steady income, Emma believes life is looking up... until she discovers she has transported the scandal in her backpack. Where is God when her life is falling apart?Wade Donoven is recuperating from a crash that sidelined him from the family electrical business. Worse yet, his prodigal younger brother is getting the glory for Wade' s accomplishments. Desperation, and physical setbacks, have him agreeing to let Emma help him manage the business office. But when trouble follows her to his doorstep, Wade must make some difficult choices. Sending Emma back to Whispering Creek may unknowingly place the woman he's come to love in danger.
You can purchase Emma’s story on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or wherever books are sold: https://books2read.com/u/mekqEr
About Barbara:
Barbara M. Britton is a multi-published author of Christian Fiction. Her Tribes of Israel series brings little-known Bible characters to light. You can also travel to Whispering Creek, Tennessee with her sweet romance duology. Barbara has a nutrition degree from Baylor University but loves to dip healthy strawberries in chocolate. You can find out more about Barbara and her books on her website http://barbarambritton.com.
Photo Credits:Author photo/Sea of Galilee: Courtesy of Barbara BrittonWoman Writing: Pixabay/StartUpStockPhotos
February 17, 2025
Traveling Tuesdsay: Wisconsin
Traveling Tuesday: Wisconsin
The 30th state to be admitted to the union, Wisconsin originated a territorial possession of the United States in 1783 after the Revolutionary War. Four years later it became part of the Northwest Territory, then Indiana Territory from 1800 to 1809, followed by Illinois Territory from 1809 to 1818, then Michigan Territory until 1836 when by an act of Congress it became Wisconsin Territory. Interestingly, the territory remained under British control until after the War of 1812.
Initially, a leader in fur trading, the area saw a shift to lead mining after it came under American control. The change brought an influx of immigrants from the US and Europe (with a large percentage of “expert miners” from Cornwall, England) in search of wealth. According to several sources, including the Wisconsin Historical Society, Wisconsin became known as the Badger State because many of the miners lived in tunnels they dug into the hillsides, like badger dens.
By 1829, more than 4,000 miners populated the state with fifty-two smelting works. A little more than a
decade later, the state was producing more than half of America’s lead, somewhere in the amount of 15-20 million pounds. Output began to decline around 1847, and news of the 1848 California gold rush sent the miners west.
As the mining industry declined, agriculture saw a surge with wheat being the primary crop. Soil depletion and insects prompted a change to cranberries and tobacco by some farmers, however, a large percentage turned to dairy farming which proved to be an excellent decision. By 1915, Wisconsin was the leading producer of dairy products in the United States. According to Wikipedia, the term “America’s Dairyland” appeared in newspapers as early as 1913.
A close second to Wisconsin’s dairy industry is brewing. The first brewery opened in 1835 by a man name John Philips. Highly successful he opened a second the following year. By 1860, over 200 breweries operated within the state, more than forty of them in Milwaukee. Most scholars feel this is a result of the number of German immigrants who arrived in the 1840s and 1850s and the demise of the Chicago breweries in the “Great Chicago Fire.”
Come back next Tuesday to learn how the Progressive Era impacted the state. Or did the state influence the era?
Photo Credits:Mine: Pixaby/bocuxBarrels: Pixabay/Artur Gorecki
________________
Love and Chocolate
She just needs a job. He wants a career. Is there room in their hearts for love?
Ilsa Krause and her siblings are stunned to discover their father left massive debt behind upon his death. To help pay off their creditors and save the farm, she takes a job at Beck’s Chocolates, the company her father despised and refused to supply with milk. Then she discovers her boss is Ernst Webber, her high school love who unceremoniously dumped her via letter from college. Could life get any more difficult?
A freshly-minted university diploma in his hand, Ernst Webber lands his dream job at Beck’s Chocolates. His plans to work his way up the ladder don’t include romantic entanglements, then Ilsa Krause walks back into his life resurrecting feelings he thought long dead. However, her animosity makes it clear she has no interest in giving him a second chance. Can he get her to change her mind? Does he want to?
Purchase link: https://books2read.com/u/mdQerZ
The 30th state to be admitted to the union, Wisconsin originated a territorial possession of the United States in 1783 after the Revolutionary War. Four years later it became part of the Northwest Territory, then Indiana Territory from 1800 to 1809, followed by Illinois Territory from 1809 to 1818, then Michigan Territory until 1836 when by an act of Congress it became Wisconsin Territory. Interestingly, the territory remained under British control until after the War of 1812.Initially, a leader in fur trading, the area saw a shift to lead mining after it came under American control. The change brought an influx of immigrants from the US and Europe (with a large percentage of “expert miners” from Cornwall, England) in search of wealth. According to several sources, including the Wisconsin Historical Society, Wisconsin became known as the Badger State because many of the miners lived in tunnels they dug into the hillsides, like badger dens.
By 1829, more than 4,000 miners populated the state with fifty-two smelting works. A little more than a
decade later, the state was producing more than half of America’s lead, somewhere in the amount of 15-20 million pounds. Output began to decline around 1847, and news of the 1848 California gold rush sent the miners west.As the mining industry declined, agriculture saw a surge with wheat being the primary crop. Soil depletion and insects prompted a change to cranberries and tobacco by some farmers, however, a large percentage turned to dairy farming which proved to be an excellent decision. By 1915, Wisconsin was the leading producer of dairy products in the United States. According to Wikipedia, the term “America’s Dairyland” appeared in newspapers as early as 1913.
A close second to Wisconsin’s dairy industry is brewing. The first brewery opened in 1835 by a man name John Philips. Highly successful he opened a second the following year. By 1860, over 200 breweries operated within the state, more than forty of them in Milwaukee. Most scholars feel this is a result of the number of German immigrants who arrived in the 1840s and 1850s and the demise of the Chicago breweries in the “Great Chicago Fire.”Come back next Tuesday to learn how the Progressive Era impacted the state. Or did the state influence the era?
Photo Credits:Mine: Pixaby/bocuxBarrels: Pixabay/Artur Gorecki
________________
Love and Chocolate
.png)
She just needs a job. He wants a career. Is there room in their hearts for love?Ilsa Krause and her siblings are stunned to discover their father left massive debt behind upon his death. To help pay off their creditors and save the farm, she takes a job at Beck’s Chocolates, the company her father despised and refused to supply with milk. Then she discovers her boss is Ernst Webber, her high school love who unceremoniously dumped her via letter from college. Could life get any more difficult?
A freshly-minted university diploma in his hand, Ernst Webber lands his dream job at Beck’s Chocolates. His plans to work his way up the ladder don’t include romantic entanglements, then Ilsa Krause walks back into his life resurrecting feelings he thought long dead. However, her animosity makes it clear she has no interest in giving him a second chance. Can he get her to change her mind? Does he want to?
Purchase link: https://books2read.com/u/mdQerZ
February 12, 2025
Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Back Ruth Wuwong
Bound Feet and Cosmetic SurgeryBy Ruth Wuwong
In my newest fiction, Echoes over Stormy Sea (Book 1 in the dual-time odyssey series), I touch on the topic of bound feet in imperial China.
Back then, small, tiny feet were considered a status symbol and a mark of feminine beauty. During my research, I was horrified by the images I discovered online: deformed feet of young Chinese girls, contorted and bound to fit the cultural ideals of the time.
Foot binding was a gruesome practice, mostly among the upper class. The idea was that small feet were a symbol of beauty and status. Folks back then believed bound feet would increase a girl’s marriage prospects, especially among the wealthy. Luckily, the lower class was spared. The poor couldn’t afford to have family members incapacitated by such practices. Consequently, their girls escaped this specific form of torture.A few articles mentioned that about 50% of girls with bound feet suffered severe disabilities, and chronic pain often plagued their lives.
Yet, as I reflect on the cultural and social constructs that perpetuated tiny feet as an unusual beauty standard, I can’t help thinking about cosmetic surgery these days and the lengths to which society pushes its members. People continue to go to extreme lengths for beauty. Movies, books, and social media feeds are filled with influencers and celebrities showcasing their “perfect” bodies, often enhanced through surgical means.
The pressures to conform remain, and it’s not just women anymore. A staggering number of men and
women undergo procedures to alter their appearance. Folks go for extensive surgeries—rhinoplasties, breastwork, liposuction. The list goes on. We’re told we need to resemble those photoshopped images to be considered beautiful or successful.
Similar to foot binding, the procedures nowadays often come with lifelong consequences. Based on my biochemical knowledge, I can say without a doubt that if you go through one of those procedures, you won’t be able to avoid risks of complications, infections, and psychological impact.
Sad but true, we’re trapped in another form of cultural binding, only now it’s global and digital.
As Christians, perhaps we can strive to challenge these societal pressures by valuing inner beauty and kindness over physical appearance. Through fostering communities that embrace diversity and encourage self-acceptance, we can work toward dismantling these modern-day “bindings” that restrict genuine self-expression.
_______________
Dr. Ruth Wuwong (PhD in biochemistry, MBA in finance) has published 120+ scientific books and papers (under her legal name) and a few Christian fiction books (Love at the Garden Tomb, The Way We Forgive, Blazing China, and Detour to Agape, under R. F. Whong). She lives in the Midwest with her husband, a retired pastor. They served together at three churches from 1987 to 2020. Her grown son works in a nearby city.She currently runs a small biotech company (www.vidasym.com)and has raised more than twenty million US dollars during the past few years for Vidasym.
In addition to her weekly newsletter and the platform (www.ruthforchrist.com), she’s active in several writers’ groups, including ACFW, Word Weavers, Facebook, and Goodreads. Through these connections, she plans newsletter/promotion swaps with others and has writers endorse her books, write forewords, and host her on guest blogs.
Echoes over a Stormy Sea
Two eras, one stormy sea. Two women navigate love and heritage across centuries. Book 1 in this dual-time odyssey series braids together a mesmerizing tale about loyalty, redemption, and transformation.Debra Gong, a PhD student in biochemistry, eagerly counts down to her upcoming 2020 wedding in Chicago. The unexpected death of her father, a famous writer, brings her back to Hong Kong. Then the sudden closure of borders because of the pandemic leaves her trapped and separated from her fiancé.
Her father’s will requires her to complete his last, unfinished manuscript about a pirate princess to honor his memory.In 1800, Shih Yi-Lan, a martial arts master and the fierce daughter of a pirate captain, faces the cultural expectations of matrimony. Unwilling to be confined by traditional roles, when her father demands her to cement an alliance through marriage, she devises a test for any would-be suitor: he must beat her in two out of three contests to win her hand. A mysterious contender with a pigtail unlike the other sea marauders rises to the occasion and triumphs.
As both women explore their worlds in flux, the stakes grow higher. Can Debra continue her PhD work, honor her father’s legacy, and find love and commitment? Will Yi-Lan maintain her resilience and passion amid the challenges? Their parallel journeys unfold against the backdrop of tumultuous times, connecting their fates in unexpected ways.
Experience adventure and romance in distant lands, a mesmerizing tale by Whong, named a 2025 Featured Author by the Minnesota Anoka County Library.
Follow me on social media:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/love.respect.grace
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/42632055.R_F_Whong
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/r-f-whong
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/RWuwong
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ruthwuwong
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/ruth.wuwong
To connect with me, please go to http://www.ruthforchrist.com.
In my newest fiction, Echoes over Stormy Sea (Book 1 in the dual-time odyssey series), I touch on the topic of bound feet in imperial China. Back then, small, tiny feet were considered a status symbol and a mark of feminine beauty. During my research, I was horrified by the images I discovered online: deformed feet of young Chinese girls, contorted and bound to fit the cultural ideals of the time.
Foot binding was a gruesome practice, mostly among the upper class. The idea was that small feet were a symbol of beauty and status. Folks back then believed bound feet would increase a girl’s marriage prospects, especially among the wealthy. Luckily, the lower class was spared. The poor couldn’t afford to have family members incapacitated by such practices. Consequently, their girls escaped this specific form of torture.A few articles mentioned that about 50% of girls with bound feet suffered severe disabilities, and chronic pain often plagued their lives.
Yet, as I reflect on the cultural and social constructs that perpetuated tiny feet as an unusual beauty standard, I can’t help thinking about cosmetic surgery these days and the lengths to which society pushes its members. People continue to go to extreme lengths for beauty. Movies, books, and social media feeds are filled with influencers and celebrities showcasing their “perfect” bodies, often enhanced through surgical means.
The pressures to conform remain, and it’s not just women anymore. A staggering number of men and
women undergo procedures to alter their appearance. Folks go for extensive surgeries—rhinoplasties, breastwork, liposuction. The list goes on. We’re told we need to resemble those photoshopped images to be considered beautiful or successful.Similar to foot binding, the procedures nowadays often come with lifelong consequences. Based on my biochemical knowledge, I can say without a doubt that if you go through one of those procedures, you won’t be able to avoid risks of complications, infections, and psychological impact.
Sad but true, we’re trapped in another form of cultural binding, only now it’s global and digital.
As Christians, perhaps we can strive to challenge these societal pressures by valuing inner beauty and kindness over physical appearance. Through fostering communities that embrace diversity and encourage self-acceptance, we can work toward dismantling these modern-day “bindings” that restrict genuine self-expression.
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Dr. Ruth Wuwong (PhD in biochemistry, MBA in finance) has published 120+ scientific books and papers (under her legal name) and a few Christian fiction books (Love at the Garden Tomb, The Way We Forgive, Blazing China, and Detour to Agape, under R. F. Whong). She lives in the Midwest with her husband, a retired pastor. They served together at three churches from 1987 to 2020. Her grown son works in a nearby city.She currently runs a small biotech company (www.vidasym.com)and has raised more than twenty million US dollars during the past few years for Vidasym.
In addition to her weekly newsletter and the platform (www.ruthforchrist.com), she’s active in several writers’ groups, including ACFW, Word Weavers, Facebook, and Goodreads. Through these connections, she plans newsletter/promotion swaps with others and has writers endorse her books, write forewords, and host her on guest blogs.
Echoes over a Stormy Sea
Two eras, one stormy sea. Two women navigate love and heritage across centuries. Book 1 in this dual-time odyssey series braids together a mesmerizing tale about loyalty, redemption, and transformation.Debra Gong, a PhD student in biochemistry, eagerly counts down to her upcoming 2020 wedding in Chicago. The unexpected death of her father, a famous writer, brings her back to Hong Kong. Then the sudden closure of borders because of the pandemic leaves her trapped and separated from her fiancé. Her father’s will requires her to complete his last, unfinished manuscript about a pirate princess to honor his memory.In 1800, Shih Yi-Lan, a martial arts master and the fierce daughter of a pirate captain, faces the cultural expectations of matrimony. Unwilling to be confined by traditional roles, when her father demands her to cement an alliance through marriage, she devises a test for any would-be suitor: he must beat her in two out of three contests to win her hand. A mysterious contender with a pigtail unlike the other sea marauders rises to the occasion and triumphs.
As both women explore their worlds in flux, the stakes grow higher. Can Debra continue her PhD work, honor her father’s legacy, and find love and commitment? Will Yi-Lan maintain her resilience and passion amid the challenges? Their parallel journeys unfold against the backdrop of tumultuous times, connecting their fates in unexpected ways.
Experience adventure and romance in distant lands, a mesmerizing tale by Whong, named a 2025 Featured Author by the Minnesota Anoka County Library.
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