Lena Nelson Dooley's Blog, page 15
April 17, 2023
WINNERS
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Pearl (NM) is the winner of The Vanishing at Castle Moreau by Jaime Jo Wright.
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April 14, 2023
HER HEART'S DESIRE - Shelley Shepherd Gray - One Free Book
Bio: Shelley ShepherdGray has enchanted readers with her expertly crafted tales about the Amish. Inher heartwarming series starter,
Her Heart’s Desire
, Gray spins atender narrative that explores what happens when we allow our pasts to defineour futures.Shelley ShepardGray is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author ofmore than 100 books. Two-time winner of the HOLT Medallion and a Carol Awardfinalist, Gray lives in Ohio, where she writes full-time, bakes too much, andcan often be found walking her dachshunds on her town’s bike trail.
About the story: Mary MargaretMiller has always felt like a wallflower in her community. For just once in herlife, she would like to leave her home behind for a new adventure and an opportunityto come out of her shell. She boards the bus to Pinecraft, Florida, for a two-weekvacation hoping that this break will offer a much-needed change. When a chancemeeting brings new friends plus a handsome and charming carpenter, Mary beginsto imagine a whole new life in Florida. But will it all disappear once vacationends?
Jayson Raber issmitten with Mary right from the start, but he already has responsibilitiesback home in Kentucky—including a girl he’s supposed to marry. Will Jayson’ssecrets keep them both from their hearts’ true longings?
Her Heart’s Desire, book one in the ASeason in Pinecraft series, is a moving story about friendship, romance, andnew beginnings.
Welcome to myblog, Shelley. Can you please provide a brief summary of your new novel, HerHeart’s Desire? WhenMary Margaret Miller heads south on a Pioneer Trails bus for a two-weeks’ breakin Pinecraft, her only goal is to see the beach, read a few books, and plan herfuture. The last thing she expects to do is find three best friends, fall inlove with a man from Kentucky, or reunite with someone from her past. Along theway, Mary Margaret learns that while the Lord’s plans are greater than she hasever imagined, they also aren’t very easy to accomplish. It takes time,patience, and the realization that even the greatest desires can be obtained,if one believes that it’s possible.
Her Heart’s Desire is the first bookin the A Season in Pinecraft series. How many books will be part of your newseries? There are threebooks in this series. Her Heart’s Desire, Her Only Wish,and Her Secret Hope.
What is theconnecting element for all of the books in this series? There are twoconnecting elements for this series. The first is the most obvious, all threenovels take place during vacations in Pinecraft! The second connection is how Ideveloped the series from the very start—a series about three “wallflowers” whomeet on a bus trip, become fast friends, and learn to love themselves whilethey also fall in love with three special heroes.
What was theinspiration for the A Season in Pinecraft series and what makes this seriesstand out from the other books you’ve written? While I’ve writtenmany Amish series, I feel this series is special because each heroine isn’tjust looking for love and romance, she’s also learning to accept her ownspecial gifts. I love that the heroine of each book doesn’t set out looking fora husband. She’s hoping to do something for herself. I’m extremely fond ofthese three wallflowers.
When readers hearabout the Amish, they often think of the communities based in Pennsylvania orIndiana. Why did you set your new series in Pinecraft, Florida, and when wasthe first community established in this area? Onething I love to do in my novels is show just how varied the Amish communityreally is. There are a great number of Amish in the United States, and severalmore communities in other parts of the world. In addition, there are severaldifferent types of Amish—from the very conservative Swartzentruber Amish to thefar more progressive Beachy Amish. There is even a large Amish group insouthern Kentucky called the Electric Amish. My favorite thing about settingnovels in Pinecraft is that all of these different, varied groups converge inone place. It’s the only place in the world where this happens. As a writer,the possibilities for stories set here are endless. You recentlyvisited Pinecraft, Florida. Did you learn anything new about the area and theAmish community that you included in your new novel? My most recenttrip to Pinecraft was my sixth or seventh time to visit the area. I noticedthat the area has gotten bigger and that more and more people are visiting Pinecraftwith their children or even stopping in Pinecraft before heading on a cruiseship!
Your femaleprotagonist, Mary Margaret Miller, considers herself a wallflower in hercommunity and longs to escape for a change of scene. Can you please tellreaders a little more about Mary and her background? I loosely basedMary Margaret on something one of my daughter’s friends said back when theywere in high school. She said that it was impossible to ever have a freshstart, because many of the kids who graduated high school had first met eachother in kindergarten or first grade.
So, Mary Margarethas an embarrassing moment in her past that seems to follow her around in herhometown. She goes to Pinecraft to escape it. Of course, what Mary Margareteventually learns is that she not only has to accept her past but make peacewith it before she can find happiness.
I love to writenovels featuring characters who just happen to be Amish. I feel Mary Margaret’sinsecurities—and some of the problems she had living in a small town—might besomething readers of any type of background could relate to.
Her Heart’s Desire has an underlyingtheme of not allowing our pasts to define our futures. Can you tell us a littlemore about how this theme comes into play in the lives of your protagonists? All of theprotagonists learn to make peace with themselves and their pasts in order to beable to move on and find love.
Are there anyother lessons you hope readers will gain from reading Her Heart’s Desire?Isimply hope readers will enjoy the novel, root for Mary Margaret and Jayson,and feel a little like they’re on a vacation in Florida themselves.
What do you lovemost about writing Amish fiction? Since I live so close to Holmes County,the largest population of Amish in the world, I love to show my love for theAmish communities in my writing. I also enjoy incorporating the Amish sense ofcommunity and deep faith in my books.
How can readersconnect with you? I’mcurrently active on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. I have a private Facebookgroup (Shelley Shepard Gray’s Buggy Bunch) where I post book information aboutfive days a week. I have a website that gives more information about myself andmy books. I send out an electronic newsletter several times a year. However, myfavorite way to connect with readers is to travel as much as I can and meetthem in person. I love to visit libraries, chat with the patrons, and get toknow readers face to face. You can often find me planning my next library visit.
Thank you,Shelley, for sharing Her Heart’s Desire with us. I love reading yourbooks.
Readers, here’s alink to the book.
Leave a commentfor a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow theseinstructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at leastthe state or territory or country if outside North America. (Commentscontaining links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)
Void whereprohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering thegiveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the entererin accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.
The onlynotification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure tocheck back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 2 weeks fromthe posting of the winners to claim your book.
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April 13, 2023
ALL THE LOST PLACES - Amanda Dykes - One Free Book
Bio: Amanda Dykes’ debutnovel, Whose Waves These Are, is the winner of the prestigious 2020Christy Award Book of the Year, a Booklist 2019 Top Ten Romance debut,and the winner of an INSPY Award. She’s also the author of Yours Is theNight and Set the Stars Alight, a 2021 Christy Awardfinalist.After releasing her stunning debut in 2019 —theChristy Award Book of the Year winner, Whose Waves These Are—AmandaDykes has quickly developed a strong rapport with readers for her transcendentstories filled with subtle yet gripping beauty. Appealing to fans of AnthonyDoerr, Sarah Sundin, and Kate Breslin, Dykes plunges readers into a vividlytold dual-timeline novel with a spectacular Venetian setting in her latestnovel, Allthe Lost Places.
About the story: When a baby is discovered floating in abasket along the canals of 1807 Venice, a guild of artisans takes him in andraises him as a son, skilled in each of their trades.
Although the boy, Sebastien Trovato, haswrestled with questions of his origins, it isn’t until a woman washes ashorehis lagoon island that answers begin to emerge. In hunting down his story,Sebastien must make choices that could alter not just his own future, but thatof the beloved floating city.
Decades later, Daniel Goodman is givena fresh start in life as the century turns. Hoping to redeem a past laden with regrets,he is sent on an assignment from California to Venice to procure and translatea rare book. There, he discovers a mystery wrapped in the pages of thatfiligree-covered volume.
With the help of Vittoria, a bookshop keeper,Daniel finds himself in a web of shadows, secrets, and discoveries carefullykept within the stones and canals of the ancient city . . . and the mystery ofthe man whose story the book does not finish: Sebastien Trovato.
Welcome to my blog, Amanda. Please provide a brief summary of yournew novel All The Lost Places. The story opens with Daniel Goodman, ayoung man who believes he has squandered any hope of living a life that meanssomething. Living in self-exile in “the Great Sand Waste” outside SanFrancisco, he learns of a developer who plans to create a “Venice of America” farthersouth on the coast. As part of this endeavor, Daniel puts everything on theline to obtain a job translating a rare volume located in Venice, in order tosave his mother’s home, which is at risk due to his own past actions.
What he doesn’texpect to find is the tale of a man who lived decades before, born for a fatethat was gone before he ever had a chance to live it. It is the tale ofSebastien Trovato, an orphan discovered floating in a basket on the canals inthe black of night. The account also tells of a woman who washed ashore on hislagoon island in a storm, and soon Sebastien and Mariana’s paths areinextricably intertwined.
As Daniel works totranslate Sebastien’s tale, it becomes deeply personal, as Sebastien’s own huntfor his identity echoes that of Daniel’s.
In the ancientfloating city that crumbles in a living state of decay, it is in the cracks andbroken things that hope begins to shine bright in both timelines. And whenthose timelines inevitably intersect as Daniel discovers what became of Marianaand Sebastien, hope breaks past the shadows entirely, making way for a newlife.
This novel follows two men, both in Venice, but a century apart. Canyou tell us a bit about each of these two characters? I’d love to! SebastienTrovato is the man who, as a baby, was found floating in a canal. Hisupbringing was such a delight to write. Imagine growing up migrating, like abird, from lagoon island to lagoon island, learning the trades of glassblower,gondolier, fisherman, gardener, and more. His childhood was a true joy to getto write. His adulthood was interesting to ponder, too. At one point in thestory, he learns that the future he was born for had vanished before he evertook his first breath. It was interesting to ponder what that would be like forhim to discover and what his newly discovered purpose could be, and whetherthat had been his true purpose all along.
Daniel Goodman isa few generations behind Sebastien, but the more he learns about the man, themore he discovers about his own heart. He is a convicted thief, and one of thethings he’s stolen, without realizing it at the time, was his own future.Remorseful, he now lives to make restitution as best he can for his pastwrongs—but still feels something is missing. Add to that that he was once verytalented as an artist but as a result of an injury sustained during his days ofthievery, he can no longer “imagine” in the traditional sense, he is very muchat odds over whether he has anything to offer to the world. Traveling a worldaway, he begins to learn that the voids and the lost places, when held in redeeminghands, can be a place of life, too, far richer than he ever dared imagine.
What inspired you to write a story set in Venice during these timeperiods? Veniceis such a breathtaking, stranger-than-fiction place. It’s no wonder that thereare many stories set there. Things like Carnivale, masquerades, gondolas, espionage,artisans, and more make it feel like a fairytale set in history. However, afterNapoleon invaded Venice at the end of the 1700s, Venice entered a strange time,where things that felt so classically “Venetian” kept shifting and changing.There was no longer a Doge (the elected ruler). The Council of Ten was gone. Muchof the city’s cherished art had been pillaged and taken away or destroyed. Carnivale was even outlawed for many decades.Though the turn of events was complex—some mourned it, some revolted, somewelcomed it—in many ways, it was a stripping away of tradition and identity.
This was the “floatingcity” that had been born in a swamp in order to give exiles refuge, centuriesbefore, in a setting even their worst enemies would not venture. And now, thecity seemed to be sharing the fate of those wandering exiles: lost, uncertainof home, unsure of its future.
Compared to theeras that marked the peak of Venice’s power and prominence (1300s–1600s), the1800s seem to be a time of relative obscurity in history. But what about thepeople who lived then? Didn’t their lives matter just as much as the Doges andall the Patrician families listed in the Book of Gold from the precedingcenturies (a book that Napoleon subsequently burned)? And the artisans—what didthey make of their craft, their livelihoods, their purpose during this timewhen demand for their services and skill waned greatly?
And most of all, coulda destiny be “missed” by a matter of mere meters? Sebastien believes his basketwas bound for an orphanage, but he was plucked from the canal by a fishermaninstead.
All of thisbeckoned me to spend years researching and writing this story, and I’m sothankful to have had that chance.
What’s the most challenging and rewarding part of writing a dual-timenovel? Interestingly,they go hand-in-hand. To me, the most challenging part is trying to fit twofull stories into the space of one novel.
However, whilethat’s a challenge, it also means threading clues, themes, time lapses,symbolism, and more into the story for the reader to take hold of in order tonavigate the unique terrain of a dual-time novel. And to me, this canpotentially foster a close relationship with the reader. You’re offering whatyou can, leaving purposeful spaces, and asking the reader to step out onto thatdance floor. It’s. . . well, it’s magic! It’s not just a conveying ofinformation. It’s a joining of forces—writer and reader—to traverse the terrainand experience the story deeply. I think that’s the most rewarding part.
Your readers havesaid you have a talent for transporting them to a different time and place. Howdo you add such historical depth to your novels? That’s very kindand generous of them! It’s an honor and joy to get to delve into different localesand times in our world’s history, and I think it comes down to one main thing:learning.
I tend to beginresearching a novel location by listening to a broad historical overview on anaudiobook. That gets the ideas stirring as far as what might be possible, andthen I follow different leads from there. Talking to everyone I can who hasbeen there, or lives there, or has a personal connection to the place. Readingletters or journals from people who lived during the time, hopefully in or nearthe setting. Watching documentaries. Reading classic fiction that was writtenduring the time the book will be set.
Sometimes thereare limits. It’s not always possible to visit a location in person. Allthe Lost Places was researched and written while international travelwas largely shut down, even if I had been in a season where I was able totravel far distances (which I wasn’t at the time—I’d just had a baby!).
But the good newsis, life is textured and detailed, no matter where you are. I took frequentwalks in a neighborhood that had Italianate architecture, taking note ofshadows and surfaces, cobwebs, and the feel of it all. The bell that rings froma belltower near one of the cafes I frequented when editing this novel gave mea small feel for the many belltowers in Venice, and what it’s like to hear themin person. Flying into Denver for a weekend trip, my seatmate (who I did notknow) made a casual mention of a hotel with beautiful gardens in the city I wasgoing to visit. On a whim, my daughter and I stopped there to check it out—andfound ourselves surrounded by the magic of the Broadmoor, with its mosaics andwaterfalls and fountains, its painted vaulting ceilings with a chandelier thatappeared to be branches in bloom (right after I’d just written about achandelier that appeared to be branches in bloom earlier that week!). Lightsreflecting upon the lake, just as they might upon Venetian canals . . .
What themes do youexplore through your characters in this book? What becomes ofthe lost places? This is the theme that echoed throughout the whole writing andediting process. In life, there are things that may be lost: dreams, aparticular future as it had been imagined, possessions, relationships. Andsometimes that can rock us into a place of further loss, where we ask thequestion, “Who am I, in light of this loss of something that was so much a partof me?”
My hope is that this book takes these questions, and although answers might notbe readily available in uniform neat and tidy packages, there is a resonatinganswer that can flow into any situation: I am loved. Found by a God who wouldcross any distance, overcome any obstacle, face any danger, just to find me. That’swho I am.
This is evenpresent in Sebastien’s last name, Trovato, which means found. It was asurname often given to foundlings, but his guardians shine new light on it. Heis “found” in the sense of being a great treasure, worthy of searching for andpursuing. This is how God sees us, this is what He does for us, and I hope somuch that this is the anthem that comes through the threads of this story.
What challengesdid you experience while writing this story? See the above answer and envision awriter asking these questions as she struggles with losing the ability to write(while on a book deadline). That was me, during the drafting of this book. Aftera difficult battle with a certain virus we all know, I experienced months andmonths of extreme fatigue, “brain fog,” etc. The irony was almost laughable, howit embodied the themes I’d already settled on forthis story. I was being allowed to live those themes to some extent, and theyshook me so much that I found myself in a place where it was just me and God, thisstory shimmering in pieces around me, and Him shining this steady,always-giving light and saying “It’s you I love. Not what you can or can’t do.Not what you do or don’t have. Not what you’ve lost, or think you’ve failed at.It’s you.”
It was a long journey toward healing, for both me and for the story,but I’m thankful to look back at it all from a place of humility, deepgratitude, and joy.
What lessons doyou hope readers gain from reading Allthe Lost Places? I hope that whatever lost places they’re facing,they’ll be encouraged by this story and offered a place to set the book asideand be held by that same God. Right there in that broken place.
I hope they’lllook at a mosaic and see in its cracks a story of utmost care, artistry,redemption, purpose, and love. The story of an artist, handpicking each piece.Cherishing each piece. Moving it into place in a breathtakingly beautiful workof art. Did you know some mosaic artists call their collected pieces their“harvest”? Harvest is generally a word used to talk about crops—which givelife. Could it be that the pieces of our lives, held in a Master’s hand, mightgive life to someone, too?
I hope they’llthink of a swamp, forsaken by all, undesirable as a place to live because ofinsects and disease. I hope that in the next blink, they’ll see that swamp aswhat it became: a place of refuge. The jewel of the Adriatic. A safe harbor. Amecca of art and beauty, music and bells, and impossible architecture. A placewhere life was built upon wood and preserved against all odds or reason.
I hope that in allof this, they’ll be gripped not by my story, but by a much greater one: that ofthe One who offered life itself upon wood, and redeemed hearts against all oddsor reason.
How can readersconnect with you?
Each month I send out “Three Good Things,” a newsletter containing dinner ideasfrom the kitchens of other authors, monthly giveaways, behind-the-scenes triviaabout books, newsletter exclusives like free Christmas novellas, and more. Youcan sign up at AmandaDykes.com.
I’m also active onInstagram and pop into Facebook from time to time, too.
Thank you, Amanda,for sharing this book with us. It just moved to the top of my to-be-read list.
Readers, here’s alink to the book.
Leave a commentfor a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow theseinstructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at leastthe state or territory or country if outside North America. (Commentscontaining links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)
Void whereprohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering thegiveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the entererin accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.
The onlynotification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure tocheck back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 2 weeks fromthe posting of the winners to claim your book.
If you’re readingthis on Goodreads, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, pleasecome to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in thedrawing. Here’s a link: Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com
April 12, 2023
THE WORDS WE LOST - Nicole Deese - One Free Book
Bio: NicoleDeese's humorous, heartfelt, and hope-filled novels include her award-winningLove in Lenox series and her bestselling standalone novels published by BethanyHouse Publishers. When she's not working on her next contemporary romance, shecan usually be found reading one by a window overlooking the inspiring beautyof the Inland Northwest. She lives in small-town Idaho with herhappily-ever-after hubby, two towering-over-her teen sons, and oneprincess daughter with the heart of a warrior.Theacclaimed author of Before I Called You Mine and the Carol Award-winningAll That Really Matters, Nicole Deese has penned numerous contemporaryromances filled with humor and hope that tug on the heartstrings. Kicking off astring of standalones set in scenic San Francisco with literary themes, Deese deliversa poignant and intriguing contemporary tale of friendship, forgiveness, and alove that goes beyond the page in The Words We Lost.
About the story: Asa senior acquisitions editor for Fog Harbor Books in San Francisco, IngridErikson has rejected many a manuscript for lack of defined conflict anddramatic irony—two elements her current life possesses in spades.
Inthe months following the death of her childhood best friend and internationalbestselling author Cece Campbell, Ingrid has not only lost her ability toescape into fiction due to a rare trauma response, but she’s also desperate tofind the closure she is convinced will come withCece’s missing final manuscript.
Afteran editorial meeting jeopardizes Ingrid’s career, she fears her future willremain irrevocably broken. But when Joel Campbell—who shattered her belief inhappily-ever-afters—offers her a sealed envelope from Cece, his late cousin,asking them to put their differences aside and retrieve a package in theircoastal Washington hometown, Ingrid must confront a past riddled with secretsbefore she can discover the true healing she’s been searching for.
Welcometo my blog, Nicole. Can you please tell us a little bit about your new novel, TheWords We Lost?
Atits core, The Words We Lost is an intimate journey which followsthe special bond of three
bestfriends and the significant impact their memories play even after their trio isbroken by a
tragicloss. Through a unique narrative which features a literature-lovingprotagonist, the
firstbornheir to a family legacy, and the surfacing of a mysterious manuscript, the twofriends
whoremain must push past their own raw history in order to honor the last wish ofa friend who
lovedthe written word almost as much as she loved them.
TheWords We Lost is the first novel in a collection of stories which features the publishing
industryas a connecting series theme. Will you share a bit more about how that themeties
theseries together?
Eachbook in the Fog Harbor Romance series will features a fictional publishinghouse based
outof San Francisco, California called Fog Harbor Books. Each standalone romancewill
highlighteither an editor, author, or audiobook narrator from Fog Harbor Books andreference
pastcharacters who will be reoccurring throughout the series.
Yourprotagonist, Ingrid Erikson, has a unique occupation as a senior acquisitionseditor
atFog Harbor Books. What inspired you to choose this particular job for her?
Evenbefore I plotted the details of The Words We Lost, I knew Ingridwould need a career that
wouldplace her in close proximity to books. As a child who grew up in hardship,books were a
welcomeescape to Ingrid, and as she aged, books became the bond she shared with hertwo
dearestfriends. It made sense that she would stick close to what she knew and lovedmost, and
ultimately,her career path helped launch her best-friend-turned-famous author, Cecelia
Campbell.
TheWords We Lost
centers on themes such as friendship and forgiveness, but also deals withthe impact grief can have on relationships. Can you tell us a bit more abouthow thoseideas are portrayed in this novel and what led you to choose those topics?Whenthe premise for this book first came to me, I loved the idea of writing aboutsuch close-knitfriends, but I also knew the plot would require me to tap into my own personalexperience withgrief in a raw and honest way. After losing my youngest sister in a caraccident when she wasonly twenty-six, I’ve felt the impact grief can have on a family and closerelationships.
Thoughchallenging to write at times, my own journey and reflections about loss andhope playeda huge role in the drafting phase of this novel. My goal was to offer anempathetic perspectiveinto the wants, needs, and overall responses of each individual character asthey traveledtheir own road to healing.
Whatdo your readers have to look forward to in this collection of novels?
Inaddition to the behind-the-scenes peek into the publishing industry, I thinkreaders will be
pleasedwith the predominant, page-turning romances inside each story world. There’s a
second-chanceromance with high angst, drama, and chemistry, a forced-proximity romance
withflirtatious banter and plenty of heart-melting confessions, and a slow-burn,friends-to-
loversromance filled with toe-curling delight and loyal devotion.
Wasthere anything that you found particularly interesting about the publishingindustry
inyour research or in your own experience as a published author that you includedin the
book?
Ihad a lot of fun inside this story world and made sure to pack CeceliaCampbell’s narrative full
ofauthor-y statements and thinking. I chuckled to myself more than once at her dramaticantics
andthe lengths she’d go for her fictional works. As for Ingrid, there’s a scenetoward the end of
thebook where she’s reflecting on the different aspects of her job and notingwhich editorial
tasksbring her the most joy. I interviewed a handful of editors and was able towrite this scene
withthem in mind. I hope it’s as meaningful to my readers as it was to me—I’m soincredibly
gratefulfor my editors!
Whatdo you hope readers will take way from this story?
Ultimately,I hope my readers close this book feeling like no matter how lost, broken,hurt,
rejected,or estranged they might feel in their own story, there’s always a next step ifthey’re
willingto take it.
Canyou share what you’re working on next?
I’mcurrently working on the second book in the Fog Harbor Romance series andenjoying the
refreshing,humorous personalities of my two main characters immensely!
Howcan readers connect with you?
I’mmost active on my Instagram: @nicoledeeseauthor. I’d also encourage my readersto sign-
upfor my occasional newsletter at nicoledeese.com.
Thankyou for sharing this book with us. I love novels about authors.
Readers, here’s alink to the book.
Leave a commentfor a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow theseinstructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at leastthe state or territory or country if outside North America. (Commentscontaining links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)
Void whereprohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering thegiveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the entererin accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.
The onlynotification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure tocheck back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 2 weeks fromthe posting of the winners to claim your book.
Ifyou’re reading this on Goodreads, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, orAmazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to beincluded in the drawing. Here’s a link: Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com
April 10, 2023
WINNERS
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Susan (NC) is the winner of A Brighter Dawn by Leslie Gould.
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April 6, 2023
DAUGHTER OF EDEN - Jill Eileen Smith - One Free Book
Bio:JillEileen Smith is the bestselling and award-winning author of the biblicalfiction series The Wives of King David, Wives of the Patriarchs, and Daughtersof the Promised Land, as well as The Heart of a King, Star of Persia:Esther’s Story, Miriam’s Song, and The Prince and the Prodigal.She is also the author of the nonfiction books When Life Doesn’t Match YourDreams and She Walked Before Us. Jill lives with her family insoutheast Michigan. Welcome to my blog. Please provide abrief summary of your new book, Daughter of Eden. The first time hereyes open, Eve gazes on one whose beauty nearly blinds her, the one who hasgiven her breath in her lungs. The Creator takes her hand and gives her to onewho is like her and yet very different. A burst of joy fills her entire being.The man’s fingers intertwine with hers, and together they run and laugh,celebrate creation, and explore Eden. But her favorite moments are when theCreator comes to walk with them in the cool of the day. Day after day for aslong as she can remember, all is perfect . . . until everythingchanges when she disobeys Him.
Suddenly, theworld is no longer a friendly place of trust. She faces the dark, the unknownfuture, births, deaths, sacrifices, and the loss of so much, including the lossof trust, not only in the Creator but in the man who shares her life—the onlyother human in the world. How will they ever survive out of Eden?
Daughter of Eden is your fifteenthbiblical novel. Why did you decide to write about the life of Eve? Eve has alwaysfascinated me. I’ve pondered why she gave in to temptation when she was createdwithout sin. She had no inner sin nature to wrestle with. So was it outsideinfluence alone (from the serpent) or the knowledge that she and Adam had beengiven a choice that led to her downfall? I wanted to explore Eden, which alsofascinates me, and what life was like after sin entered the world. Most of all,who was Eve? Writing her story allowed me to pursue the answer to thatquestion, at least to my satisfaction.
Breaking God’strust is one of Eve’s biggest regrets. How did this one act of disobedienceforever change the world that she was living in? The obviousanswer, of course, is that Adam and Eve were barred from ever entering theGarden of Eden again. Life outside of the garden held the curse on the earth(thorns and thistles) and the pain Eve (and all women) would suffer inchildbirth. Animals were no longer friendly, and some became dangerouscarnivores when in the past they had all been plant eaters. Adam and Eve nolonger had God’s presence with them on a daily basis and had to figure out howto survive in a world that was no longer friendly. Their one act ofdisobedience changed human nature forever. We are still feeling the effects ofsin today.There are so manyvaluable lessons that we can learn from Eve. Can you please expound upon someof them? I think Eve learned the hard way,as we all do, that disobedience to God has consequences. When God says “Dothis” or “Don’t do that,” He means it. And if He says there will beconsequences for certain choices, we can be certain He means that too and willcarry them out.
If we want to live at peace withGod, we need to bring Him our regrets. We need to be honest with Him about ourstruggles and confess our sins. He is merciful and loves us, but when we hidefrom Him, He can’t help us. He waits for us to seek Him and calls us to do justthat.
We are responsible to God for ourown choices, not the choices of another, even if that person is our son ordaughter. In Eve’s story, she feels guilty over Cain killing his brother Abel.She struggles with guilt, blaming herself when her children sin because she wasthe one who began it all. She had to learn that although her children inheriteda sin nature from their parents, they still grew up to make their own choices.Parents today still struggle with blaming themselves for their children’s poorchoices. But each person answers to God on their own.
You are well knownfor your detailed research. What type of research was required to write Daughterof Eden? Noone knows the location of Eden. There is no historical or archaeologicalevidence left to prove that it existed, but we have Scripture and ancientstories of creation. I studied the scriptural account and the unseen realm andtried to fit together the pieces of when God created the angels, the heavensand the earth, and people, and when the angels rebelled. All of that affectedAdam and Eve, so the story was mostly written based on how I envisionedcreation coming together and what Eden might have looked like. Since I enjoyimagining heaven, it wasn’t hard to imagine Eden.
After the fall washarder. Adam and Eve had nothing and no one to help them, so I had to researchhow people survive with little. For instance, when Adam utilizes every part ofthe lion he is forced to kill, I took that from indigenous people using everypart of a buffalo. People of old wasted nothing—not like we do today—so I usedthat idea. I believe God created intelligent human beings from the start, andsince they lived hundreds of years, they would have become very good atutilizing the earth’s resources. I wrote from that premise.
The setting for Daughterof Eden is the Garden of Eden. Can you provide a contrast between Eden and Eve’slife after the fall? Ifwe can imagine heaven, we can picture Eden. It was a place of perfection, beautiful,without flaw or defect. God walked there with humanity, exactly as He alwaysintended to do. There was nothing separating Adam and Eve from Him. It wasGod’s intention from the beginning to dwell with humanity. All of Scripturereflects this desire. The incarnation of Jesus Christ, his death, and hisresurrection fulfill what was lost in Eden. God could walk with men and womenagain, but this time instead of providing a temporary covering for their sin,Jesus provided a permanent solution.
When Adam and Eve sinned,life became what we know today—a very broken world that grows only moregrievous with time. From the very first act of disobedience against Him, Godpromised Eve that He would send a Redeemer to fix what they had broken. Jesusdid that. By trusting in Him, we can one day walk with Him in paradise as Godalways meant it to be.
How did the fallimpact Eve’s life with her husband, Adam? If we look at relationships betweenhusbands and wives today, we know that there is no perfect marriage, no perfecthuman connection. Sin caused all of us to become deeply self-centered, whetherwe realize it or not. Marriage is self-sacrificing by its very nature, or atleast it should be to succeed. I have no doubt that Adam and Eve struggled andfailed to regain the perfect love they had in Eden. I can’t imagine how hardthat was to accept.
What do you lovemost about writing biblical novels? I love studying the stories in Scriptureand trying to see God’s message to us in the people’s life histories. It takestime to understand what might have been, and some books are more challenging towrite than others depending on how much Scripture tells us. I find that God alwaysteaches me something in the process of recording the stories.
What are youworking on next? I’mcurrently writing the first draft of Noah’s Wife. She is unnamed inScripture, but history gives several possible names for her. I’ve chosen to nameher Emzara from the Book of Jubilees, which is the name given to her at the ArkEncounter in Kentucky.
How can readersconnect with you?
Find me on mywebsite: www.jilleileensmith.com
Sign up for mynewsletter: https://madmimi.com/signups/f28a2c9636d34025a7d95532d4d8f207/join
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jilleileensmith/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/JillEileenSmith/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jilleileensmith?lang=en
Thank you, Jill,for sharing Daughter of Eden with us. When I received the book, I readthe first chapter. The writing is so lyrical. I had to stop reading when myhusband’s kidneys failed. Things are getting better with him, and I’m eager toget back to your book.
Readers, here’s alink to the book.
Leave a commentfor a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow theseinstructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at leastthe state or territory or country if outside North America. (Commentscontaining links may be subject to removal by g owner.)
Void whereprohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering thegiveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the entererin accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.
The onlynotification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure tocheck back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 2 weeks fromthe posting of the winners to claim your book.
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April 5, 2023
HONOR'S MOUNTAIN PROMISE - Misty Beller - One Free Book
Welcome back,Misty. What kind of files takes up the most space on your computer? Audiobook files!I’m such a huge audiobook fan myself, it’s important to me that all my books areavailable. For the books I indie publish, I work directly with my wonderfulnarrator Leonor Woodworth. She sends me the final files, then I upload them tothe retailers. Those audiobook files take up a LOT of file space! But I lovelistening to Leonor bring the characters to life. Are you a stay-at-home kind of person, ordo you like to be on the road a lot? I love to be at home, though I confess Ilove a good road trip too. What I don’t love is running around town for errandsor endless kiddo extracurricular activities. I always feel like I should behome getting things done!
Please share a Bible verse or passage thathas had the most impact on your life. The verse God continues to use tore-center me is Matthew 6:33: But seek first the kingdom of God and Hisrighteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. (NKJV)
Do you have a favorite Bible character?Who is it and why?My favorite character has always been Gideon, mostly because of how God usedsuch a lowly man for such a mighty work. I love Joshua and David too, for thatsame reason. Also because of how devoted they were to following God’sinstructions.
What has been your favorite time in yourlife? And why?That’s a tough question! I can remember wonderful things about everyseason—childhood, my teen years, my twenties, and now in my…um. Anyway.The season I’m in now is very, VERY busy, with 5 kiddos ranging from 1 year oldto 15 years, writing full time, and other writing work. But there are SO manyjoys that come with the business. I know I’m where God has me for now. J
Do you have an ereader? If so, what kinddo you use? Idon’t actually. Most of the books I get to “read” are audiobooks. If I need toread an ebook, I use the Kindle app on my phone.
Do you read mostly print books or ebooks? Like I saidabove, I mostly listen to audiobooks. Sometimes for non-fiction, I also geteither the print or ebook version too, so I can make notes.
Do you like to read books in the genresyou write, or do you read only other genres … and why? Yes! I’mdefinitely a Christian romance reader, both historical and contemporary. I grewup reading historical fiction, so historical romance will always be my firstlove. But sometimes I like to switch to contemporary for a different feel.
Please tell us about the book we’refeaturing today.I’d love to! This is book 4 in the Hearts of Montana series, but definitelyreads well as a standalone. Readers have been asking for Aaron’s story for acouple years now, so I’m excited to finally share it!Finally on the right side of the law,Aaron Long expected his life to take an upward turn. Instead, he ends up with abum leg and driving a freight wagon through the wild Rocky Mountains. At leasthe has the joy of his newfound faith in God. The last thing he expects in themiddle of an urgent delivery to Settler’s Fort is to discover a woman begginghim to take her the opposite direction. She’s heavy with child, so he can’tleave her, but neither can he take her where she wants to go.
Katie Barlowe has never had control of her life. Especially not when herparents married her off to a successful businessman who was determined to starta ranch in the faraway Montana Territory. Now she’s a widow left on her own inthese breathtaking but treacherous mountains. She’s determined to forge abetter future for herself and the new life growing inside her. To do so, sheneeds to get back to civilization before the babe is born. When she finallyfinds a freighter to take her the first leg of the journey east, all seems tobe falling into place. Then the driver is killed and she’s left with a strangerwho’s unwilling to take her farther than a tiny mining town, far from FortBenton and the steamship she’d hoped would carry her home.
When Aaron and Katie set out through the mountain winter, the journey aheadwill change their lives more than they could have known.
Please give us a peek at the first page ofthe book.
OCTOBER, 1869
MONTANA TERRITORY
Aaron Long tightened his hands around themule team’s reins as the dog halted in the trail ahead of them, ears prickedtoward something in the distance. The mangy mutt’s body nearly quivered withtension.
Aaron peered through the scattering ofpines ahead, but no sign of movement flashed through the branches.
A low growl slipped from the dog’s throat,and Aaron lifted the rifle from the seat beside him to firing position. “Who’sthere, Barney?” Of course, the mutt didn’t answer.
Still no motion ahead. No sounds. Infact...nothing. Not the twitter of a bird or even the rustle of wind.
A shiver slid down Aaron’s arms, and heshifted to climb down from his freight wagon’s bench. He kept tight hold of thebar he’d fastened for support until both his legs landed on the ground and hisright leg secured its balance. Then he eased some of his weight onto the gimpy leftlimb, finally releasing the bar once he stood straight.
This leg might be the death of him yet.He’d survived the bullet that ripped away part of his thigh bone, then thesurgery to add a metal plate to replace the missing fragments. Even endured theyear of dark days as he recovered and learned to walk again. With God’s help,he’d mostly come to peace about the accident—he’d been the one in the wrongafter all—but the way this leg slowed him down still pressed on hisfrustrations. Not to mention the constant ache on cold days like today. Withwinter coming on, this pain would be his steady companion for months.
Where can my readers find you on theInternet? Ilove to connect with readers! One of my favorite ways is through my newsletter,and readers can get a free copy of one of my ebooks when you sign up for thenewsletter. Here’s the link for that: https://mistymbeller.com/freebook
I can also be found atthese links:
https://amazon.com/author/mistymbeller
https://www.instagram.com/mistymbeller/
https://www.facebook.com/MistyMBellerAuthor
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/misty-m-beller
https://www.goodreads.com/MistyMBeller
http://www.pinterest.com/MistyMBeller
Thank you, Misty, forsharing Honor’s Mountain Promise with my blog readers and me. You know Ilove all your books.
Readers, here’s alink to the book.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BNW2RVN6?tag=mismbel-20
Leave a commentfor a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow theseinstructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at leastthe state or territory or country if outside North America. (Commentscontaining links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)
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April 4, 2023
THE VANISHING AT CASTLE MOREAU - Jaime Jo Wright - One Free Book
Bio:JaimeJo Wright is the author of seven novels, including Christy Award winner TheHouse on Foster Hill and Carol Award winner The Reckoning at GossamerPond. She’s also the Publishers Weekly and ECPA bestselling authorof two novellas. Jaime lives in Wisconsin with her husband. JaimeJo Wright has captured audiences with her numerous thrilling and mysteriousnovels, including The Premonition at Withers Farm (Oct. 2022), TheSouls of Lost Lake (Apr. 2022), and On the Cliffs of Foxglove Manor(2021). Featuring rich characterization and an intricate plot with just theright amount of spookiness, Wright’s latest stand-alone spotlights the curse ofa dilapidated French castle.
Readerswill cling to every word of this fast-paced mystery as old secrets take on newlife in The Vanishing at Castle Moreau.
Aboutthe Story: In1870, orphaned Daisy François takes a position as housemaid at a MidwesternWisconsin castle and finds that the reclusive and eccentric Gothic authoressinside hides more than the harrowing tales in her novels. With womendisappearing from the area and a legend that seems to parallel these eeriecircumstances, Daisy is thrust into a web that may threaten to steal hersanity, if not her life.
Inthe present day, Cleo Clemmons is hired by the grandson of Americanaristocratic family the Tremblays to help his matriarchal grandmother face herhoarding in the dilapidated Castle Moreau. But when Cleo uncovers more thanjust the woman’s stashes of collectibles, a century-old mystery ofdisappearance, insanity, and the dust of the old castle’s curse threaten torise again, and this time, leave no one alive to tell the sordid tale.
Fan-favoriteJaime Jo Wright draws readers into a seamlessly woven dual-time tale ofsuspense, mystery, romance, and redemption.
Welcometo my blog, Jaime. Can you tell us a little bit about your new novel TheVanishing at Castle Moreau? The story of Castle Moreau spans a centuryand a half, its mystery surrounding the vanishing of many women through thecourse of these years. As the past and present come together to uncover thecastle’s secrets, the remnants of legacy left by the women who have disappearedthere begin to haunt the current day. All of it culminates in a twisting,mind-bending end, and the true nature of Castle Moreau is not at all what itclaims to be.
Oneof the main characters in the story is the castle itself. What gave you theidea to centerthis story on a castle shrouded in mystery? There are stories of Americancastles, built on a smaller scale, that are supposedly haunted. Couple thatresearch with the legendary biography of Elizabeth Bathory, who is known as oneof the world’s earliest female serial killers, and the women who vanishedbehind her castle walls, I was inspired to come up with my own twist for thesake of spooky fiction. And who doesn’t love a haunted castle and the darkshadows that lie within it?
Whatwas your favorite timeline to write, the historical or the contemporary, andwhy? It’salways a toss-up for me. Once I think I’ve discovered I prefer one timeline,then the story evolves and I develop a penchant for the other. Although, inthis novel, there’s a first-person elementset in the early 1800s, and I will admit that I enjoyed writing those scenesthe most.
Whatinspired your love for all things Gothic? Considering I was quite thefraidy-cat as a child, I’m not entirely sure! But I loved the secrets aroundold antiques, abandoned buildings, and forgotten things. I believed they alwayshad a story just aching to be told. After reading classic literature like JaneEyre, it became evident to me that romance and history merging with thebleakness of soul and the hope of faith was going to be my perfect equation forbookish joy.
Howdo you approach crafting a spooky story that captivates readers without overwhelmingthem with fear? Ithink it’s a balancing act. What frightens me may be horrifying for somereaders, and what I don’t find scary at all, some readers have indicated weremy most terrifying moments in the books. So, most of it is learning the limitsof how far I can take it before readers enter the DNF zone. I also want to wrapup my stories with elements of hope and faith rather than leave readers in thedarkness, and I think this helps to offset the fright. That and knowing there’sa Scooby-Doo explanation for everything as well.Whatare some of the themes you hope readers pick up on in this story and why did you choosethese to ground your novel? This book’s theme was overwhelmingly oneof refuge. And without saying too much to give away the secrets too early, Ifound that the women in Castle Moreau were all in need of that sanctuary thatis a harbor for a broken soul. I think as women we can be consumed by brokennessand abuse, and through it we long to catch sight of a refuge—have the hope of arefuge—and eventually find it.
Canyou share what you’re working on next? Absolutely! I am currently working on mynext release for October of 2023 titled The Lost Boys of Barlowe Theater.It’s a story that is based loosely around the Al Ringling Theater in Wisconsin—ofthe renowned Ringling Brothers history—and ghost stories that have circulated therefor years. Of course, I throw my own fictionalized elements and twists into thestory, and Barlowe Theater definitely takes on a life of its own. But it’s beenso fun to write about early Vaudeville and delve into the schisms created bythe economics of our systems, and how the downtrodden and the endowed interactthroughout history.
Howcan readers connect with you? My website is the best place to find me!All my social media links are there! jaimewrightbooks.com. I also host a weeklypodcast, where I chat with other authors about their stories and the deepthemes in their books. You can find all of my MadLit Musings podcast episodeson my website as well.
Thankyou, Jaime, for sharing this book with my blog readers and me. As a teenager, Ideveloped a love of gothic novels, then later I stopped reading them, because Ibecame used to the faith element in the stories I read. I’m eager to read thisone.
Readers, here’s alink to the book.
Leave a commentfor a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow theseinstructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at leastthe state or territory or country if outside North America. (Commentscontaining links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)
Void whereprohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering thegiveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the entererin accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.
The onlynotification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure tocheck back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 2 weeks fromthe posting of the winners to claim your book.
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April 3, 2023
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March 31, 2023
A BRIGHTER DAWN - Leslie Gould - One Free Book
Bio:LeslieGould is a Christy Award–winning and #1 bestselling author of over 40 novels, includingfour Lancaster County Amish series. She holds a bachelor’s in history and anMFA in creative writing and enjoys church history, research trips, and hikingin the Pacific Northwest. She and her husband live in Portland, Oregon, andhave four adult children and one grandchild. BestsellingAmish author Leslie Gould weaves together history, drama, romance, and faith tooffer readers a glimpse into a simpler way of life. Her dual-time Amish romancenovels consistently hit bestseller lists and her newest release, A BrighterDawn, offers readers a fresh take on Amish fiction with a richinternational setting in Frankfurt, Germany, on the eve of World War II. Fromthe talented pen of Leslie Gould, this powerful and evocative story is one fansof Suzanne Woods Fisher and Shelly Shepherd Gray won’t want to miss.
Aboutthe Story: IvyZimmerman is successfully navigating her life as a young Mennonite woman, onegeneration removed from her parents’ Old Order Amish upbringing. But when herparents are killed in a tragic accident, Ivy’s way of life is upended. As shedeals with her grief, her sisters’ needs, and her Dawdi and Mammi’s strictrules, Ivy finds solace in both an upcoming trip to Germany for aninternational Mennonite youth gathering and in her great-aunt’s story aboutClare Simons, another young girl who visited Germany in the late 1930s.
AsIvy grows suspicious that her parents’ deaths weren’t, in fact, an accident,she gains courage from what she learns of Clare’s time in pre-World War IIGermany. With her great-aunt’s encouragement, Ivy seeks justice for herparents, her sisters, and herself.
Canyou please tell us a little bit about your new novel, A Brighter Dawn? ABrighter Dawnis a dual-time story, starting with Ivy Zimmerman, a young Mennonite woman fromOregon whose parents are killed in a tragic accident. She and her youngersisters are sent to Lancaster County to stay with their Amish paternalgrandparents, who they hadn’t met until their parents’funeral. Twothings keep Ivy going—an upcoming trip to Germany for a Mennonite youthgathering and herelderly aunt’s story of Clare Simons, another young girl who visited Germany inthe late 1930s.In Germany, the evidence surrounding Ivy’s parents’ accident starts to unravel.Inspired bythe past, Ivy returns to Oregon to seek the truth.
ABrighter Dawnis book one in your new AMISH MEMORIES series. Can you share about yourinspiration for this series and the connecting element that ties each book inthe series together? Twothings inspired me as I began to imagine the AMISH MEMORIES series. The firstwere my father’s scrapbooks from the late 1930s and 1940s, filled with photos,clippings, and other items. I wondered what it would be like for someone whogrew up Anabaptist and never knew her family’s stories to be shown scrapbooksfrom seventy-five years ago. What if those stories—in a non-resistantfamily—included the build-up to World War II, the war, and the aftermath?
Theconnecting thread between each of the three books in the series is memories.What memoriesstay with us? How do we preserve them? What do we do with the memories that bringus shame? Why are collective memories—among families and communities—so important?Many of the memories in the stories start in the scrapbooks that Rosene, anelderly auntin the story, has protected through the years. But ultimately, the sisters inthe stories must decidewhat memories they’ll carry forward, both from their family’s history and theirown personallives.
ABrighter Dawnaddresses themes such as the temptation to compromise principles for political/societalstability. Can you tell us a little more about how this idea comes into play inthe life of your protagonist, Ivy? A large portion of German Mennonites supportedHitler and the Third Reich during the 1930s and into World War II because theyperceived the stability offered by German Nationalism as protection for theirfamilies, their communities, and their faith. Communist Russia collectivized UkrainianMennonite farms and persecuted Mennonites for their faith. Then Stalinpurposefully starved many in the early 1930s as a power grab. All three strikescontributed to the German Mennonites fearing communism and embracing fascisminstead. As Ivy hears Clare’s story, she realizes she’s been making compromisesas far as her own perceived social stability, the truth around her parents’death, and the safety of others in her community, and she vows to seek the truthand live more authentically.
Thisnovel is set during an interesting period of time in world history. Can youtell us a littlebit about the historical events surrounding the novel’s plot? In the historicalthread of the story, Clare Simons travels to Germany in 1937 and ends up caringfor her twin cousins, who both have epilepsy. Their father, a Mennonite manworking with the Nazi party to “protect” other Mennonites, allows the girls tobe part of a study overseen by Nazi doctors. Clare realizes, as she hears ofcamps for the disabled, that the twins are in danger and that she must come upwith a plan to save them.Inthe nearly two-year period of the historical setting, Germany annexed Austria;the Munich Agreementwas signed by Britain, France, Germany, and Italy, forcing Czechoslovakia to surrenderits border region (the Sudeten) to Nazi Germany; and the November 1938 Pogroms, laternamed Kristallnatch (Night of Broken Glass), took place in Germany and Austria.Soon after,Germany and Russia formed an alliance and then Germany invaded Poland inSeptember 1939,which started World War II. So, yes, it was definitely an interesting period oftime with a lotgoing on!
Wasthere anything that you found particularly interesting in your research thatyou includedin your book? Oneof the things I knew, but that impacted me more profoundly now, was how widelyfascism was embraced during the 1930s. The world was still recovering from theGreat War when the Great Depression began, and governments were struggling toprovide for and take care of their people. Many criticized democracies as beingtoo slow and cumbersome to get anything done, and embraced authoritariangovernments, including fascism. Democracies died from South America to Europeto Asia. The United States wasn’t immune from the burgeoning sentiment,although—thankfully!—democracy held. Well-known Americans, including CharlesLindbergh and Henry Ford, spouted anti-Semitic rhetoric and support for Naziideals, which legitimized the ideology to some. In February of 1939, theGerman-American Bund, a US fascist group that embraced the Nazis, held a rallyfor over 22,000 in Madison Square Garden, complete with Nazi imagery. Myresearch reminded me how precarious governments “of the people, by the people,for the people” truly are and how important it is to work together to preservethem.
Itmight surprise some readers, but Amish fiction is a widely popular and enduring categoryin the world of story. What do you think readers find most appealing about storiesfeaturing the Amish and their way of life? I think the simplicity of the Amishway of life appeals to my readers. I know as I read (and write) Amish fictionI’m transported to a much simpler time. I often “find” myself on my aunt anduncle’s farm or my grandparents’ farm or on the farms of friends from mychildhood. Yes, they all had electricity, but so many other things were similarto the Amish today. Lots of hard work. Cows to milk and a big garden to tendto. Field and pasture work. Sewing and canning projects. Devotions afterbreakfast. No technology. Time spent on the porch visiting or reading. Fewtrips to town.
Ithink in our chaotic world, we all crave time away from the busyness and anescape to simpler times.That said, my Amish dual-time stories can get pretty complicated, but morebecause of theplots than the settings!
Whatdo you hope readers take away from this story? I want my readersto value their own memories and the collaborative memories of their families, andto think about how to make memories, preserve them, and then pass them on.Studies have shown that people are happier if they hold a more positive view ofthe past. But I also want readers to think about how to process and pass downsad memories too, knowing they are also important to future generations and canlead to honest conversations, inspire the next generation to do the rightthing, and even become cautionary tales.
Canyou share what you’re working on next? I’m currently working on the second bookin the series, which has the working title The War Comes Home.Brenna, Ivy’s middle sister, is the protagonist of the contemporary story and Martha,Clare’s sister, is the heroine of the historical story. Both deal with thetrauma and fallout of war as they navigate threats to the family businesses,along with caring for those they love.
Howcan readers connect with you? You can find me at lesliegould.com(lesliegould.com/). I love to do giveaways, so make sure and sign-up for mynewsletter! You can also find me on Facebook (facebook.com/lesliegouldauthor)
Thankyou, Leslie, for sharing The War Comes Home with my blog readers and me.
Readers, here’s alink to the book.
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