Carrie Turansky's Blog, page 2

Historical Christian Fiction Extravaganza

Hello Friends, Fall is great time for reading! I’ve teamed up with several authors who write Historical Christian Fiction to offer you a chance to win some great books!

Come join in the fun as we celebrate our love for fiction and how God uses these stories to move our hearts.  Twelve Christian fiction authors have come together to bless three lucky winners with incredible prizes. 

Prize #1: A paperback copy of all 12 novels

Prize #2: $125 Gift Card to Baker Book House (bookstore)

Prize #3: A Bundle of Fall Goodies chosen by the authors as gift for you!

Follow this link to enter the giveaway! 

*** The Historical Christian Romance Extravaganza runs from Tuesday, 10/15 – Tuesday, 10/22. Random winners will be selected via KingSumo on 10/23 and notified within 48 hours. This Giveaway is not sponsored or endorsed by anyone but the authors of the books pictured above. By entering the Giveaway, you agree to receive emails from the contributing authors as part of their newsletter list, but you may unsubscribe at any time. Contestants must confirm their email after entering the giveaway via KingSumo’s email. We reserve the right to make sure the winner’s email address is valid. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. US Residents only. Must be 21+ years of age to participate. Thank you for entering.

Until Next Time ~ Happy Reading,

Carrie

My Writing Journey & Birthday Giveaway

Hi Friends, I’m celebrating my birthday this week, and I thought I might answer a question I’m often asked, how did you get started on your writing journey, and then share the celebration with you by offering a special giveaway.

I’ve loved reading since I first visited the library as a young child and checked out a tall stack of picture books. I soon graduated to chapter books and spent many happy hours, lying on our porch swing reading. Those lazy days gave my imagination a chance to grow, and they helped me develop a love for well-told stories. My love for writing began when I penned my first novel at age twelve, titled Passport to Paris. I wrote it out by hand, and my mother typed it up for me and helped me with the illustrations. Now that’s love! I continued to be an avid reader through my school years, and though I enjoyed writing, I mainly focused on art, and that became my major at college. I come from a family of artists who valued and encouraged creativity.

My husband and I were blessed with five children, and when our oldest son had some learning challenges, we decided to homeschool. That was a huge investment of time and energy, but it was a wonderful choice for our family. It revived my love for history and exposed me to great children’s literature as I read aloud to our kids each day.

Our family spent time in Kenya as missionaries in 1996-97. After we returned to the US, I missed Africa so much that I decided to write a story set there as a way to relive some of our experiences. I poured out the story without knowing much about the art of writing fiction. I loved it! But when I showed it to an editor at my first writers’ conference, I found out I had a lot to learn about writing novels. I almost gave up writing at that point, but the Lord used a kind neighbor to encourage me with a gift of several writing craft books. I sensed the Lord telling me to press on and learn what I needed to learn to become a better writer.

Soon after that, I read a novella by Beth White. I was so impressed with her story, that I emailed her and asked for her advice about learning how to write fiction. She was very encouraging and directed me to a new group that was forming online called American Christian Romance Writers. I joined ACRW in 2000, which later became American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), and I connected with a wonderful group of published and aspiring authors. There were less than 100 of us that first year. Now there are 3000+ members.

Through ACFW I met Kristy Dykes, who became a dear friend and mentor. Her love for the Lord and encouragement were priceless! She critiqued my work and invited me to be one of four authors who submitted a novella proposal to Barbour. Wedded Bliss was accepted and published in November 2005. I joined a critique group, and those friends helped me polish my writing. A few months after Wedded Bliss was published I received a contract with Love Inspired for my first novel, Along Came Love.

During those early years, before I was published, I wrote five novels and two novellas. I call those my “learning how to write novels.” Since then I’ve had more than twenty novels and novellas published. Winning a Carol Award, The International Digital Award, and the Crystal Globe Award have been great encouragements along the way! But most of all I feel blessed that God has allowed me to share the stories He puts in my heart. My prayer is that readers will be touched with God’s love and truth, and they will be drawn closer to Him as they read my novels.

I recently celebrated the release of my twenty-second, A Token of Love, which is an English dual-time romance set in Victorian London. I’m very grateful for all God has done to open up doors and help me along on my writing journey. If you like novels by Michelle Griep, Julie Klassen, Roseanna White, and shows like Downton Abbey and All Creatures Great and Small, then I think will enjoy my novels.

And now for the birthday giveaway . . . I’d love to hear more about your story. As you look back, what’s one important turning point in your life-journey? Share your answer in a comment below. I’ll choose one winner on October 5th and notify them by email. They can choose to receive a signed copy of A Token of Love or The Legacy of Longdale Manor, which just won the ACFW Carol Award earlier this month. This giveaway is open to US readers only. Thanks for celebrating my birthday with me!

Until Next Time ~ Happy Reading!

Carrie

A Carol Award for The Legacy of Longdale Manor + A Giveaway

Hello friends, This has been a wild and wonderful week! My novel, The Legacy of Longdale Manor, won the Carol Award in the Historical Romance Category last Saturday night! The award gala came at the conclusion of the four-day American Christian Fiction Writers Conference in New Orleans, and is judged by fellow writers. That made it especially meaningful and encouraging to me.

The Legacy of Longdale Manor is my first dual-time novel and my first novel with Bethany House. It’s a story that’s dear to my heart, and I was so surprised when they announced my novel as the winner, I could hardly get my words out to accept the award.

I was cheered on by some very special friends, and I loved celebrating with them!

Reading friends and launch team members: Gretchen and Staci Scott.

Carrie with Donna Yarbrough

Cynthia Ruchti and Carrie

 

The Legacy of Longdale Manor is set in England’s beautiful Lake District and tells the story of two women, a century apart, who are taken on a journey to healing, faith, and forgiveness. A one hundred-year-old journal, a carved shepherd’s staff, and an old photo are the items that tie the two parts of the story together. It’s a heartfelt story with family drama, romance, and inspiration. It released in September 2023.  Have you read The Legacy of Longdale Manor? It’s available as eBook, paperback, large print, and audio! You’ll  find links to order from your favorite store on this page. 

Grace Hitchcock, Carrie, Deb Raney, and Morgan Smith.

I loved spending time with authors who have become dear friends and some readers who were also in town to attend StoryFest that is held in conjunction with the ACFW Conference. Do you recognize these authors?

Dinner with author friends Janyre Tromp, Morgan Smith, Liz Tolsma, Sarah Sundin, Gabrielle Meyer, Carrie, Karen Witemeyer, Misty Beller, Grace Hitchcock, Kelsey Anderson, and podcaster, Jenny Snow.

And when I arrived home . . . I was greeted by this lovely surprise from my husband Scott. It was our anniversary weekend, our twin daughters’ birthday, and our son-in-laws birthday! Oh . . . and I’d just released a new book, A Token of Love, the previous Tuesday! You can see why I said it was a wild week. I’m so grateful for the friendship, support, and encouragement I received this past week!

And now for the giveaway!

I’m giving away a signed copy of The Legacy of Longdale Manor to one person who leaves a comment and tells me one book you’ve enjoyed by one of the authors pictured in this post. Please give the author’s name and title of the book! The giveaway is open until midnight, September 20. I’ll let the winner know by email. Thanks for stopping by and connecting!

Until Next Time ~ Happy Reading!

Carrie

A Token of Love Launch Giveaway

Hi Friends, A Token of Love releases today! And we’re celebrating with a fun book launch giveaway September 3 – 10! I hope you’ll order a copy and enjoy this exciting, heart-tugging, dual-time story set in London, England! Just click on this link for easy order links – paperback, hardback, eBook, audio, or large print!

A Token of Love: Separated by centuries, the lives of two women intertwine through their shared pursuit of love, truth, and justice.

In 1885 London, Lillian Freemont embarks on a treacherous journey to reunite with her long-lost niece, Alice, who was abandoned at the Foundling Hospital eight years ago. Fueled by her sister’s plea and armed with the gold token that identifies her niece, Lillian teams up with investigative reporter Matthew McGivern to expose the grim reality of the shadowed streets of London. As Lillian and Matthew unravel the mystery of Alice’s disappearance, their partnership blossoms into one of shared purpose and undeniable attraction.

In present-day London, Janelle Spencer finds herself unexpectedly running the Foundling Museum. When filmmaker Jonas Conrad arrives to document the museum’s history, their collaboration takes a surprising turn as they uncover articles from the past that shed light on a haunting connection to the present. As Janelle becomes caught between exposing the truth and protecting the museum’s reputation, she must decide if she can risk everything for what she believes.

A Token of Love Book Launch Giveaway Details . . .

You could win a signed copy of A Token of Love, A framed Book Lover’s Print, A Tea Gift Collection, and a Bookmark and Magnet from the London Foundling Museum! One winner will be chosen on September 10 and notified by email. If the winner lives in the US they will receive the gifts pictured below. If they are an international winner, they will receive a $75 gift card. Here’s a peek at the gifts included in the Giveaway along with that signed copy!

Framed Book Lover’s Print from artist Brooklyn Swenson

Tea Gift Set includes a 12oz vacuum insulated tumbler, a tea collection sampler of 15 unique flavor blends, 10 pure honey straws, a tea-spoon squeezer, and a cute squirrel tea bag holder.

London Foundling Museum Magnet and Token Bookmark.

Enter the Giveaway below, or look for the pop up box on the right of your screen, not in this column. If you don’t see it, you may leave a comment to enter the giveaway. 

I’d love to share more information about the story and photos of my research trip to London. Visit my photo page to see those and the Token of Love book page for easy order links and additional information.

Until Next Time ~ Happy Reading,

Carrie

The Inspiration For A Token of Love

I’m often asked, “Where did you get the idea for this story?” Or, “What inspired you to write this particular novel?” I enjoy answering those questions because it gives me a chance to tell how I often find my inspiration for characters and plots when I’m researching an era, location, or a real person in history.

Early in the research process for A Token of Love, I saw a painting on Pinterest of a distraught woman preparing to hand over her infant. I’m a foster-adoptive mom, so images of women and children in painful situations always touch my heart.

I followed the painting’s link back to the Foundling Museum website and discovered The Foundling Hospital was the first children’s charity home in England, and they took in thousands of children who could no longer be cared for by their mothers.

The Foundling Museum was a great resource with countless stories about mothers and children. One of the most intriguing displays at the museum is a glass case with several unique small objects. These tokens were given by the mothers as identifiers in the hope that if their situation changed, they might be able to return and reclaim their child. Seeing the tokens and knowing that was all the mothers had to leave with their child was very touching. Each one was a symbol of their love and desire to reunited, and I knew I had to develop a story around this idea.

Josephine Butler

In my research I’m always hoping to find people who lived out their faith in practical ways and truly made a difference. When I learned about Josephine Butler, I knew she would be a great inspiration for a heroine. Josephine was a devout Christian, a courageous public speaker, and gifted writer. Her faith and convictions motivated her commitment to social justice and her concern for those who were marginalized and oppressed, especially women and girls. Her speeches, pamphlets, and articles persuaded opinions and forced changes in laws that protected women and girls from abuse and mistreatment. I included excerpts from her speeches in A Token of Love, and she appears as a minor character who helps the historical heroine in her search for her missing niece.

Editor W. T. Stead

Another interesting person I found in my research was W. T. Stead. In the early 1900s, he was the editor of the Pall Mall Gazette, where he introduced investigative journalism techniques, including detailed exposes of social issues. His work included campaigns against child labor and the trafficking of girls, making him an important figure in social justice during his time. He and Josephine Butler teamed up on some of these campaigns. Stead’s career was marked by his dedication to using journalism as a tool to change society. His life ended tragically when he died in the sinking of the Titanic in 1912. W. T. Stead appears in A Token of Love as the historical hero’s mentor and editor.

Pulling all these ideas together to create an entertaining dual-time novel with meaningful issues, spiritual insight, and hope was a challenge and a delight! I hope readers will be intrigued and inspired by A Token of Love!  Here’s more about the story:

This heartfelt dual-time tale weaves together a story of two women whose lives intertwine through their shared pursuit of love, truth, and justice.

In 1885 London, Lillian Freemont embarks on a treacherous journey to reunite with her long-lost niece who was abandoned at the Foundling Hospital eight years ago. Fueled by her sister’s plea and armed with the gold token that identifies her niece, Lillian teams up with investigative reporter Matthew McGivern to expose the grim reality of the shadowed streets of London. As Lillian and Matthew unravel the mystery of Alice’s disappearance, their partnership blossoms into one of shared purpose and undeniable attraction.

In present-day London, Janelle Spencer finds herself unexpectedly running the Foundling Museum. When filmmaker Jonas Conrad arrives to document the museum’s history, their collaboration takes a surprising turn as they uncover articles from the past that shed light on a haunting connection to the present. As Janelle becomes caught between exposing the truth and protecting the museum’s reputation, she must decide if she can risk everything for what she believes.

A Token of Love is available as in eBook, hardback, paperback, large-print, and audio. Dutch and German translations are in the works. You’ll find easy order links on this page.  

Until Next Time ~ Happy Reading,

Carrie

 

 

Creating the Cover for A Token of Love

Hi Friends, Have you seen the final cover of A Token of Love? What do you think? I love the bright colors, the red ribbon, and the gold token. They all capture the feeling of this English dual-time story set in the Victorian era and present day.

I enjoyed working with the team at Bethany House and offering a few ideas for the cover design. I have a fine arts degree, so covers are very important to me. I’m grateful they were open to my feedback and suggestions. A Token of Love is a stand-alone story, but they wanted the cover to connect readers to my previous dual-time novel, The Legacy of Longdale Manor. We hope those who enjoyed that story will want to try this one.

 

We also hoped to capture that same romantic, English historical feeling we had with The Legacy of Londale Manor. Using a partial image of the heroine and dressing her in a Victorian style dress suggests the genre and era.

Here’s the first cover design they sent.

I liked the heroine and the building they chose, but the colors didn’t give that romantic feeling I was looking for. I suggested changing her dress to royal blue, and using a blue background rather than green. I was also curious about the position of the hand. It looked a bit awkward to me. Was she holding the ribbon or . . . ?

The designer took my suggestions and made those changes. She also brightened the colors, giving the design more contrast. Showing a bit more of the blue sky above the building the lower right corner also balanced the colors and pulled the design together. She moved her hand to the right just a bit, and added those twinkly white dots over the upper part of the design. I love the final cover!

Have you preordered your copy of A Token of Love? It releases on September 3, 2024. Baker Book House offers 40% off and free shipping! But you can preorder it wherever you like to buy books. I have easy order links on this page of my website.

I’d love to hear your thoughts about the cover!

Until Next Time ~ Happy Reading,

Carrie

Mother’s Day Giveaway 2024

May is the month to celebrate moms and show our love and appreciation for all they have done for us. Read on for a special Mother’s Day Giveaway!

My mom Dorothy Swain was a wonderful artist, quilter, seamstress, and writer. She enjoyed decorating our home and making it a special place. She loved to collect family stories and illustrate them. From the time I was a young child, she put a paintbrush in my hands and encouraged my creativity.  Mom used to sew most of my clothes. I remember seeing her bending over the sewing machine when I went to bed, and then waking up to find a new dress finished and ready to wear. Mom passed away several years ago, before my books were published, but I know she’d be happy to have another writer in the family. Photos: on the left, My mom and I at my cousin’s wedding. Below, a painting and a quilt made by my mom.

My mother-in-law, Shirley, has been a great inspiration and encouragement to me. She is a strong supporter of my writing and shares my books with many of her friends. She goes out of her way to bring the family together and make holidays, birthdays, and vacations very special. She is a wonderful example of a woman who loves God, her family, and her friends. in the photo you’ll see my older daughter Melissa with Shirley and I.

My daughters Melissa and Megan continue passing down the love to their children! They are great moms, and I am so proud of them.

To enter the giveway, share one reason you appreciate your mom in the comments below. It can be a character quality you admire or a happy memory. I’ll choose one person at random to win a paperback copy of one of my novels of the winner choice! The giveaway is open until May 18th at Midnight. I’ll contact the winner by email. Happy Mother’s Day!

Until Next Time ~ Happy Reading!
Carrie

No Journey Too Far on Sale!

Hi Friends,

Just a quick note to let you know No Journey Too Far eBook is on sale for $1.99 in the US! This English and Canadian historical romance highlights the challenges faced by the McAlister siblings when they finished their British Home Children indentured contracts and had to establish themselves as adults. Dramatic, heartwarming, and hope-filled, No Journey Too Far was a finalist in the Readers Choice Award and has more than 350 5-star rating on Amazon. Download and enjoy it today! 

Here’s what Sarah Sundin author of Embers in the London Sky had to say about No Journey Too Far:

“A sweet and gentle tale at heart, No Journey Too Far features endearing characters who live out their faith in difficult circumstances. The story also casts light on the prejudices faced by the British Home Children in Canada, even as they entered adulthood. Carrie Turansky’s writing pulls the heartstrings in all the right ways!”

Blessings and Happy Reading,

Carrie

The Joy of Audiobooks!

Happy New Year, friends! I hope you’ve survived the holidays and the first icy blasts of winter. It may be cold outside, but it’s warm and cozy indoors, and that makes it the perfect time to enjoy a new story!

Are you an audiobook listener? I received a fun email from Audible this week with some statistics from my listening habits in 2023. They reported I turned on audiobooks more than 1000 times and listened 15,582 minutes last year! That’s a lot of listening! I enjoyed 26 books, with Jane Eyre being the longest and Aging Faithfully the shortest. I usually listen while I’m working in my kitchen or driving on a longer trip. When do you like to listen?

The number of people who are discovering the joy of audio books is growing every year. Audible offers a free trial to see if you like listening. Follow this link to learn more. I’ve been blessed to have many of my novels narrated as audiobooks. All my English historical novels can be found on Audible and other audiobook platforms. A few of my novellas are also available. More are in the works . . . so stay tuned!

Here are three audiobooks I’ve listened to recently and enjoyed. I recommend them to you!

This month I’m giving away two audiobook copies of my latest novel, The Legacy of Longdale Manor. This is a dual-time story set in England’s beautiful Lake District, with family drama, romance and inspiration. Themes of forgiveness and recovery of faith after betrayal make the story heartfelt and meaningful. To enter this giveaway, just leave a comment and tell me the title of one of my books that you’ve enjoyed. If you need help remembering them, you can hop over to my book page and scan the list there.

I’m looking forward to revealing the cover of my next novel in February – A Token of Love – so keep your eyes on your inbox for that post!  Thanks for being a faithful reading friend!

Blessings and Happy Reading,

Carrie

 

Virtual Christmas House Tour 2023

Merry Christmas Friends! We love to decorate our house for Christmas, and we enjoy inviting friends and family to come for a visit. It would be great if we could sit down with you and share a cup of tea so we could talk about books, and life, and what we’ve been learning and doing this year.

Since it’s not possible for you all to visit in person, we’d like to welcome you to our home with a brief video visit. Just follow this link and enjoy our 2023 virtual Christmas House Tour.

 

Blessings and Merry Christmas,

Carrie