Cathy Gohlke's Blog

Autumn Leaves, Poetry Teas & Plum Turnovers – Let’s Welcome Fall Together!

 

 

Let’s welcome Autumn together! This is my favorite season. I love the cooler temperatures morning and evening, the changing leaves, the arrival of pumpkins, Fall T-Ball, and the first aromas of wood smoke from campfires.

I love that the days are still warm enough to hold our twice monthly poetry teas outdoors, recently replete with September’s Fresh Purple Plum Turnovers, fruit dipped in chocolate, and steaming apple spice tea.

Out and About:

September began with Lovettsville, Virginia’s Second Annual Love Books Festival. It was a pleasure to meet new and longtime readers and to spend time with authors, including Historical Romance authors, Kelly Goshorn and Susan Mathis, Contemporary Romance author Toni Shiloh, 2025 ACFW Genesis Award-winning Author in the Historical Category, Hannah Benson, as well as a number of authors new to me.

I was especially pleased with the lovely event poster Stephanie Abrassart, Marketing Manager of Tyndale House Publishers designed for my recent book, This Promised Land.

Writing News:

I’ve just turned in the final round of edits for my new book, due to release September 2026. What a pleasure to work with my editors, Stephanie Broene and Sarah Rische, on a story I love so much! The manuscript is off to copyediting now, one step closer to publication. I can’t wait to share this story from my heart to yours!

More Writing News:

A new storyline is brewing. As I continue my research I’m praying for the Lord’s direction, eager to learn everything He shows me and leads me to for the writing. Please join me in this prayer.

What I’m Reading:

A Love Restored, by Kelly Goshorn

I loved the heart of this book. This is Ruth Ann’s story, a strong and caring young woman society deemed less than perfect, both for her unpopular determination to teach in a Freedman’s School and for her generous figure. It’s also the story of Benjamin, the man who loves her, but eager to rise in the eyes of society, must come to terms with the state of his own heart and what others say about the woman he loves. Told with tender vulnerability and great love, A Love Restored is a beautifully written historical romance novel women everywhere will relate to.

To Outwit Them All, by Peggy Wirgau

The most intriguing, edge-of-your-seat historical fiction I’ve read in a long while. Wirgau’s authentic for the period writing, impeccable research, and great attention to historical detail brought daily life during the Revolutionary War and the Culper Spy Ring vividly to life. Through To Outwit Them All I walked the British occupied streets of New York City through a Patriot spy’s eyes, ever aware that one wrong move could be her last. Once begun, I could not put this book down. Brilliant. I read an early copy of this book for endorsement. It will release October 14, 2025.

Recipe for Fresh Purple Plum Turnovers:

Pastry:

½ cup butter

1 cup flour

½ cup small curd cottage cheese

Filling:

2 cups chopped prune plums

¾ cup sugar

1 teaspoon grated lemon peel

½ teaspoon mace

2 Tablespoons Tapioca

Combine pastry ingredients. Chill pastry in refrigerator.

Line cookie sheet with parchment paper.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Combine ingredients for filling and let stand at least 15 minutes while rolling pastry very thin on a well-floured board (or wax paper). Keep pastry cold. Cut pastry into 4” or 5” squares. Spoon plum filling on half of each square and fold to create a triangle. Seal edges with a fork. Sprinkle with sugar.

Bake turnovers on parchment papered cookie sheets for 15-20 minutes.

Makes 8-10 turnovers, depending on how thinly you roll the dough

**The turnovers in the photo above were made with gluten-free flour, but any flour will work.

**I usually double the pastry recipe and find that the plum filling makes enough for two batches of pastry dough. These turnovers freeze well and are wonderful if heated or reheated a few seconds in the microwave.

                                                             ***

I hope as you welcome autumn you’ll find special moments to rejoice, to celebrate the season—things you especially love to share with others and things you especially enjoy in the pleasure of your own company. It’s a time of beauty, of bounty, and a welling of gratitude to our Lord and Creator.

Until next time, God’s rich blessings for you,

Cathy

The post Autumn Leaves, Poetry Teas & Plum Turnovers – Let’s Welcome Fall Together! first appeared on authorcathygohlke.com.

Joyful Moments, Powerful Stories & Book Club Connections

Dear Friend,

Welcome August! I hope your summer has been this joyful. Here in Virginia, we’ve fluctuated between intense heat and an abundance of rain—so except for gardening and outings for summer play and ice cream it’s been the perfect time to stay indoors to read and write.

Just as the school year ended, I met via Zoom with Mrs. Ashley Skinner’s 8th grade classes of Grandview Christian School in Des Moines, Iowa. They’d just finished reading William Henry is a Fine Name, a book Mrs. Skinner uses every year in her curriculum. What an engaging and enthusiastic group of readers! I look forward to meeting with her class each school year.

It is 1859, and thirteen-year-old Robert is torn between loyalty to his abolitionist father and his mother’s slave-holding family.

After his best friend, William Henry, is trapped in a deadly scheme to protect secrets of the Underground Railroad, Robert vows never to get involved again. But when he discovers his grandfather’s plan to sell his own son, born of a slave woman, Robert must decide whether to stand idly by or risk everything to help him escape.

William Henry is a Fine Name is a coming-of-age story, a tale of friends—and a nation—caught in the chaos of slavery, forced to take a stand.

William Henry is a Fine Name is available once again—with a new but familiar cover—and can be purchased through Amazon, ordered through any bookstore, or from Ingram Spark. This Underground Railroad story set just before the American Civil War, was my first book, my first Christy Award winner, and has been used in 7th, 8th, and 11thgrade school curriculums—Public Schools, Private Schools, and Home Schools. It will make a great addition to your school’s curriculum or your home library.

In July, I met in person with Author Kelly Goshorn and her Book Club in Purcellville, VA. They’d just finished reading This Promised Land, my latest book, the setting inspired by a local Christmas Tree Farm. What a pleasure to meet with these lovely ladies and to share perspectives and insights into this story.

Set against the beautiful and rugged landscape of the Blue Ridge Mountains, This Promised Land is the story of a daughter’s longing to make sense of the past and of the unbreakable bonds that bring prodigals home.

A modern take on the prodigal son storyContains discussion questions ideal for book clubs

I love meeting with book clubs and reading groups. If your reading group would enjoy a virtual author visit after reading any of my books, please contact me through the CONNECT page on my website to schedule a date and time. There’s a great Book Club Kit for This Promised Land available HERE

You can find Recipes from books, Discussion Questions, and Pinterest Boards for each of my books on my website at www.authorcathygohlke.com

Writing News:

August and September will be months of working with my editors on my new manuscript, due to release Autumn 2026. I’m looking forward to diving back into this book, brainstorming a final title, and beginning collaboration on the cover design. I can’t wait to share more about this very dear to my heart story.

More Writing News:

I’ve just turned in a proposal for a new book—one I’m very excited about and one that is different from anything I’ve written. Be assured, it holds a strong theme and faith journey. I look forward to hearing what my editors think of the idea and look forward even more to moving forward with this story.

What I’m Reading:

The Collector of Burned Books, by Roseanna White

Courage, honor, and sacrifice born of great love overflow the pages of The Collector of Burned Books. Rarely have I read a book with such perfect tension. Meticulously researched, intellectually and spiritually stimulating, compelling and beautifully written, Roseanna White has written a book I could not put down, one I will not forget.

The All American, by Susie Finkbeiner

Told through the voices of two sisters whose family life is turned upside down when their father, a famous author, is accused of connections with the Communist Party during the 1950s Red Scare. A brilliant story filled with all-American humor, humanity and heartbreak. Baseball, music, and literary devotion drives winsome, wonderful coming-of-age characters. The Audible narrators are fantastic. I didn’t want the story to end.

I hope you’re making pleasant memories this summer, whether home or away, whether with family, friends, or enjoying the warm pleasure of your own company. Take time to relax, unwind, let the sun soak into your bones and when you’re ready, pick up a good book.

Until next time, God’s rich blessings for you,

Cathy

The post Joyful Moments, Powerful Stories & Book Club Connections first appeared on authorcathygohlke.com.

Summer Begins! Plus “This Promised Land” Bestseller News & Garden Delights

Dear Friend,

Welcome to June— the month to celebrate the ending of another great school year, Flag Day, Father’s Day, Juneteenth, and the official beginning of summer!

A very special THANK YOU to all who purchased and reviewed This Promised Land. Much to my joy and surprise This Promised Land made the May 2025 ECPA (Evangelical Christian Publishers Association) Bestseller list!

I love meeting virtually and locally with book clubs and reading groups. If your reading group would enjoy a virtual author visit after reading any of my books, please contact me through the CONNECT page on my website to schedule a date and time. There’s a great Book Club Kit for This Promised Land available HERE. 

Writing News:

I’ve turned my new novel manuscript over to my editors. They’re reading it now while I eagerly await their thoughts and look forward to the editing process. This new book will release in the fall of 2026, so there’s lots of time to contemplate cover design, gather recipes for my website, develop a Pinterest board, and all pertinent exciting things.

More Writing News:

In the meantime, I’m exploring/researching a new story—set in a time, a place, and amid a situation and group of people I never imagined myself writing about—one that I guarantee will surprise you. It’s a new adventure and perfect for the beginning of summer. Please pray that I’ll discern clearly the message our Lord means for me to convey through this story. I’m very excited about the research.

Gardening News:

Iris have never bloomed so beautifully in my garden as they have this spring, though lately they’ve taken a beating from fierce spring storms. Peonies burst into color by turn—Coral Charm, Coral Sunset, Buckeye Belle’s wine red with yellow stamen, Chippewa’s deep red layer upon layer of petals, Blush Queen, Alertie’ fair pink, a bright pink, and finally pure lily white buds are opening. Fragrance is everywhere. Salvia’s blue and purple spikes and long stems of spearmint set off every bouquet.

More Gardening News:

Seeds or seedlings of snow peas, asparagus, bell and crunch peppers, tomatoes in three varieties, honey nut squash, carrots, lettuce, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, and various herbs are all in the ground, in raised beds, or pots. Red and black raspberries (where never the twain shall meet), strawberries, and blueberries are all flowering or putting out leaves, as are the rhubarb plants and a newly planted fig tree. The apple trees made it through their first winter, the magnolia is struggling, but the cherry tree is showing its first small crop of cherries. I love gardening, the joy of tilling soil and bringing forth fruit from the earth draws my heart deep into the creative heart of God. Time in the garden is a sweet communion with Him.

What I’m Reading:

I hope your launch into summer is joyful and that you’ll find time to rest, relax with family and friends, and enjoy some great books.

Until next time, God’s rich blessings for you,

Cathy

Bestselling four-time Christy, and Carol and INSPY Award-winning author, Cathy Gohlke, writes novels steeped with inspirational lessons from history.  Her stories reveal how people break the chains that bind them and triumph over adversity through faith.  When not traveling to historic sites for research, she and her husband of 42 years, Dan, enjoy their children and grandchildren, dividing their time between Northern Virginia and the Jersey Shore.  Visit her website at www.cathygohlke.com, follow her on Bookbub, Goodreads, and find her on Facebook at CathyGohlkeBooks.  Subscribe to Book Gems with Cathy Gohlke for short video clips of books she loves and loves to share with readers.

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Book Club Love, Garden Joy, & a Powerful Story of the Past

 

 

Welcome to May! Month of Cinco de Mayo, Mother’s Day, Armed Forces Day, Victoria Day, and Memorial Day!

Here in the Virginia mountains, we’re sowing vegetable seeds and tender seedlings in gardens while reveling in the burst of dogwood, iris, and peonies. Colorful new winged tenants take up residence in bird houses, singing their praises.

I love the early morning hours. With cup of coffee and Bible in hand my pup, Maggie, and I enjoy cool, fresh air and birdsong, topping our devotional time with a stroll through the gardens intent on discovering the new day’s blooms. I hope your mornings are just as lovely.

Rereleased at Last! I’m so excited to share that William Henry is a Fine Name, my first novel and the recipient of my first Christy Award is once again available in Kindle, and in paperback on Amazon and through Ingram Spark—which means that any bookstore can order if for you if you don’t find it already on their shelves. William Henry is a Fine Name was the book of my heart for many years, the only book I had imagined I would write. Little did I know that God’s plans were so much bigger than mine.

Here is the write up that appears on Amazon:

THE SHADOW OF A FACE IN THE WINDOW, THE QUILT ON THE LINE. HOWLING DOGS. THREATENING INTRUDERS AND A RAILROAD THAT RUNS UNDERGROUND.

Thirteen-year-old Robert had known little of these things growing up. His southern adolescence consisted of his mother, who viewed slavery as a natural part of life, and his father, whose late-night disappearances were becoming more frequent and disruptive.

Then there is William Henry, Robert’s best friend. They did everything together—until the summer of 1859. That’s when Robert realizes William Henry knows more about these late-night mysteries than he does. It’s also when Robert is told that William Henry is less than human . . . because he is black.

Now Robert must decide for himself where he stands on slavery. With his loved ones pitted against each other, he struggles to understand justice and wonders how high a price he is willing to pay for it.

And then he gets the chance to find out.

William Henry is a Fine Name is read by adults but also makes a great addition to public, private, homeschool curriculums and summer reading programs for teens 12-18 years. It’s been used in schools since its original publication, which was the driving force behind its republication. I’m looking forward to a virtual visit later this month with classes of eighth graders who are reading William Henry is a Fine Name .

When she ran away as a young war bride, she was cut off from her family forever . . . or so she believed. Decades later, maybe the only way to move on is to go home.

Thank you, thank you for your enthusiastic reception of This Promised Land—my newest Tyndale novel! It’s been absolute joy to share this modern-day retelling of Jesus’ parable of The Prodigal Son and Running Father with you. A special thank you to all the book clubs that have embraced this story for upcoming reads. You’ll find a great This Promised Land Book Club Kit here. Know that I’m happy to schedule virtual book club or reading group visits with you for this or any of my books. Reach out to me through the Connect Page on my website (www.authorcathygohlke.com) and we’ll work together to find a date and time that works.

Book News:

I’ve loved meeting with book groups lately, in person and virtually. Here is a snapshot from The Inspired Readers Book Club where we enjoyed a robust and meaningful discussion of their reading of The Medallion.

Writing News:

My next manuscript was due to my Tyndale House editors May 1 and is now in their hands! I’m eager to learn what they think of this new story when they’ve had a chance to read it.

Thank you so much for your prayers for this endeavor. It’s another book dear to my heart and important in the life of my family. I’ll be eager to share it with you in the fall of 2026!

 

What I’m Reading:

Lucinda Secrest McDowell (1953-2023) was passionate about embracing life—both through deep soul care in Christ and living courageously to touch a needy world. A storyteller who engaged both heart and mind, she was passionate about helping others choose a life of serenity and strength. Lucinda graduated from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and is the award-winning author of 15 books.

Lucinda (Cindy) was also a wonderful mentor and dear friend to me. 52 Prayers of Blessing for Women (available on Amazon HERE ) was her last book. Lucinda’s passing was a great loss for all who knew her, but surely Heaven’s gain. I treasure my copy of this book and know that it will bring a great blessing to readers. It would make the perfect Mother’s Day gift.

I hope your Mother’s Day, your Memorial Day and all your celebrations this month will be joyful and blessed.

Until next time, happy reading, and God’s rich blessings for you,

Cathy

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He Will Run To Us: Easter Hope & 𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙇𝙖𝙣𝙙 Release!

 

Dear Friend,

Photo by Pisit Heng on Unsplash

Welcome to April—the month we remember Palm Sunday, Passion Week, and celebrate Easter, the Day that changed everything, the Day of our Risen Lord!

 

*Library Journal gave this Starred Review:

After the death of her war-wounded husband, recently retired Ginny Boyden is now free to travel the world and realize her dream of planting heritage roses on a grand estate in England. When she receives a surprise inheritance from the family whom she thought disowned her, she travels to Virginia to settle her brother’s papers. Rather than a windfall, she finds the Pickering Christmas tree farm, which is saddled with debt, a grouchy nephew who views her as an interloper living on her “promised land,” and near-starving great-nieces and nephews sleeping in the barn. As Ginny works with handsome estate lawyer Will Skipwith to try and sell the farm, she is confronted with her own life’s choices and regrets. VERDICT Gohlke (Ladies of the Lake) delivers another heart-stopping family drama that reminds readers that everyone is a prodigal searching for the way home. Infused with wry humor and the beautiful language of flowers and plants, many will see themselves in the brokenness of the Pickering-Boyden clan. Read-alikes include The Heirloom Garden by Viola Shipman and Leota’s Garden by Francine Rivers.—Library Journal

*Set against the beautiful and rugged landscape of the Blue Ridge Mountains, This Promised Land is the story of a daughter’s longing to make sense of the past and of the unbreakable bonds that bring prodigals home.

A modern take on the prodigal son story, written by a four-time Christy award–winning authorContains discussion questions ideal for book clubs

See the Free Book Club Kit Here

Email Cathy through the  Connect Page on her website   to schedule a complimentary virtual visit with your book club or reading group after reading  This Promised Land .

Writing News:

Every story, including This Promised Land, begins with an idea—but where do those ideas come from, how do they grow and transform into a story, a book? Join me at Crazy4Fiction for “Birth of a Story.”

More Writing News:

Dear friend and Author Terri Gillespie interviewed me on her Author 2 Author YouTube station—her 51stepisode of interviewing well known authors. Besides allowing me to read from and share the heart of This Promised Land , she asked me what one of the silliest things I’d ever done was . . . . Can you believe barking at a snake—in front of strangers???? Unfortunately, it’s just one more episode in the never-to-be-forgotten-or-lived-down Mom/Grandma stories. You can listen here:

Author to Author  

You can read more in Terri’s newsletter here: https://authorterrigillespie.c…

As Terri wrapped up our discussion of This Promised Land and the Parable of the Prodigal Son and Running Father, she said in her newsletter, “if you are a prodigal who longs to return to our Heavenly Father, know that the moment we walk toward Him, He’ll run to us. Maybe you’ve wandered far–or not so far–it doesn’t matter. His arms are open.”

Did you catch that? “ . . . the moment we walk toward Him, He’ll run to us.” I LOVE that imagery. That eagerness, that grace and mercy and overflowing, exuberant love is so true of our Heavenly Father. Just look what He did for us through Jesus—the very Jesus Whose suffering and death we’re about to remember and Whose miraculous, lifechanging, lifegiving resurrection we’re about to celebrate! Praise God!!

Even More Writing News:

 Robin Lee Hatcher, gifted writer and tech wizard, has been helping me step into the waters of indie publishing to have the book rereleased. I’m excited to share that as of April 22, 2025 William Henry is a Fine Name will once again be available in paperback! You can find it on Amazon, or it can be ordered through Ingram Spark—which means that any bookstore can order it for you. I’m so excited to see this book returning! Next month I’ll share more of the story, but I couldn’t wait to share this good news with you. Some schools and home school programs are still using this book in their curriculum. I hope it will now be available for a long time!

Maggie News:

Maggie is now seven months old and just received her first professional haircut. Isn’t she beautiful? I love those soulful eyes! She’s fully potty trained now and is an absolute joy—except when she decides we need to wake up in the middle of the night for some unknown reason.

What’s For Easter Dinner:

Menu: Leg of Lamb with Mint Sauce, Wild Long Grain Rice, Corn Custard, Asparagus, Bridal Salad, and for dessert, Aunt Bethany’s Pineapple Upside Down Cake—a dessert recipe from This Promised Land.

Pineapple Upside Down Cake was one of my mom’s favorite recipes and now it’s one of mine—a delightful burst of spring and summer sunshine!

You can find this recipe and several more recipes mentioned in This Promised Land on my website in the free This Promised Land Book Club Kit.

Quote from This Promised Land: Bethany hoped her cheerful cake would bring a little sunshine into the lives of the children. They’d certainly brought sunshine into hers!

Aunt Bethany’s Pineapple Upside Down Cake

What I’m Reading:

I pray that you find these days leading to the anniversary of our Lord’s crucifixion, death, and especially His glorious Resurrection meaningful and filled with thanksgiving.

The post He Will Run To Us: Easter Hope & 𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙇𝙖𝙣𝙙 Release! first appeared on authorcathygohlke.com.

From Rescue Dog to Book Review: A March of Blessings!

Happy March to you, month of Spring, St. Patrick’s Day, bright blue skies and very windy days!

This is Bailey, one unlikely hero in my about-to-release (April 8) book, This Promised Land. In real life, Bailey was a rescue dog my son adopted close to Christmas several years ago. Because Christmas was when he entered the family, Daniel named him Bailey—after George Bailey in “It’s a Wonderful Life”—a favorite family movie.

The picture you see above was painted by my neighbor, Artist Leslie Craine. She captured lovable Bailey perfectly! Leslie specializes in the painting of pets from photographs. If you’d like to commission a portrait of your favorite pet, you can contact Leslie here: lesliejcraine@comcast.net

 

Exciting Writing News:

Publishers Weekly gave this excellent review:

A retiree contends with the ghosts of her painful past in this moving tale of second chances from Gohlke (Ladies of the Lake). At 16, Ginny Pickering ran away from her family’s Christmas tree farm to marry farmhand Curtis Boyden. She’s been estranged from her family ever since. Nearly five decades later, she gets word from an attorney that she’s inherited the tree farm following her brother Harold’s death, but upon returning home she learns that his ill-advised business deals have sunk the farm so deeply into debt that few options remain but to sell. Things get more complicated when Harold’s cash-strapped son Mark and his three young children show up. Ginny convinces her grandnephews to help improve the land so she can sell it at a high price. In the process, she becomes increasingly enmeshed in the family’s struggles. She forms an especially close bond with Mark, a Vietnam veteran who suffers from PTSD like Ginny’s late WWII vet husband. Just as Ginny starts to wonder whether God is calling her to fight to save the land, a shocking discovery threatens the future of the farm and the Pickering family itself. Gohlke sensitively highlights the far-reaching effects of PTSD and family trauma, imbuing the plot with emotional resonance while leaving room for the promise of hope and renewal. Readers will find this tough to forget. (Apr.)

More Writing News:

I shared with Author Andrea Cox and her readers the inspiration behind This Promised Land in a blog entitled “A Parable for All Time.” It begins . . . “Every story begins with a seed of inspiration. The seed that inspired This Promised Land was found in . . .”

**To read of the revelation that led me to write This Promised Land go to: https://andreareneecox.com/2025/03/10/be-my-guest-cathy-gohlke/

**To Pre-Order This Promised Land go to: http://authorcathygohlke.com/books/this-promised-land-by-cathy-gohlke/#mbt-book-purchase-anchor

St. Patrick’s Day News:

This is my family’s favorite Irish Soda Bread—the only thing they really care about eating on St. Patrick’s Day!

*This recipe came inscribed in the baking dish you see in the photo. Sometimes I’ve used regular flour and sometimes gluten free flour (same amount). Either way, it comes out delicious—especially if you add a bit of Irish butter to your slice!

Family Fun:

This past weekend our family attended a wonderful performance of C. S. Lewis’s The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, performed by The Logos Theatre at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C. Aslan was brought vividly to life before our eyes! Performances run through April 19, so there’s still time to see it if you can make it to the D.C. area. For details on performances, contact https://www.museumofthebible.org/events/lww

Side Note: We especially liked the balcony seats—great view of the entire stage!

What I’m Reading:

The post From Rescue Dog to Book Review: A March of Blessings! first appeared on authorcathygohlke.com.

Beyond the Chocolate: Celebrating Valentine’s Day with Books & Creativity

Welcome to February, month of hearts and flowers, of chocolate and valentines!

To enter, link to the blog below (containing the rafflecopter form) and complete the entry form, giving your email address. By entering you are giving your permission to join all six authors’ newsletter lists. We hope you’ll enjoy them, but you may opt out at any time. The Be Our Valentine promotion is open February 1 – 15, 2025. One winner will be chosen and notified by email after the promotion closes. The winner will receive paperback copies of these books: A Token of Love, Cloaked in Beauty, This Promised Land, As Sure As the Sea, The Indigo Heiress, and Midnight on the Scottish Shore. Some are upcoming releases and will be mailed as soon as they are available. This promotion is open to readers with US mailing addresses only.

https://carrieturansky.com/be-our-valentine-2025/

Writing News:

In Honor of Valentine’s Day, This Promised Land  is now available for Pre-Order.

I’ve long loved the language and meanings of flowers. Writing This Promised Land (available now for pre-order) provided the perfect opportunity to share my love, just as in the story, young Arlo shares with her fourth-grade class when asked to give a presentation on what she did during summer vacation. Here’s an excerpt from This Promised Land :

“I didn’t really go anywhere, not anywhere away. My family came from out west in the spring, and we stayed here on the mountain. I live with my pa and my sister and brother and Aunt Ginny Dee and Aunt Bethany and Uncle Luke at Wetherill Pickering’s Christmas Tree Farm, and I love it. There’s no other place like it.”

“That old Christmas tree farm? Just a bunch of fields of ­ cut- down trees,” Jake Stillcoat, a good-looking boy half a head taller than Arlo, snickered. Half of the class, especially the girls, followed suit.

“Jake, that’s enough.” Miss Norris spoke firmly but hardly any-body paid her any mind.“It’s more than that. I don’t mean the Christmas trees. Until I moved here, I never saw the sun rise over the mountain in so many colors or set in a flame of fire before dusk. I never saw trees stand dark against a sky studded with stars— so many you’d think they were fireflies alive in the heavens.”

The room went quiet. Miss Norris looked up, tilted her head. “Go on, Arlo.”

“Before I moved here, I never knew the names of flowers, or what they mean— that there even was a language of flowers. Aunt Ginny Dee taught me that every flower has a name— a botanical name and a common name, and every flower, every plant has a meaning. You can send a whole message to another person in a bouquet of flowers and it’s secret unless the person you’re sending them to can understand that language too.”

You could hear a pin drop.

Arlo pulled the frame from her backpack and held it close to her stomach. “My brother and sister and I collect flowers and leaves. Sometimes we find them in Aunt Ginny Dee’s gardens, or we go hunting wild ones together. Sometimes I trek the mountain alone, searching out new and higher places. I find new haunts all the time and new flowers and leaves— some I know the names of and more I don’t— and bring them back home where Aunt Ginny Dee helps me press them. We have to change the papers every couple of days to get the moisture out, so they don’t mold or go brown, so they keep their color. But once they’re dried, we use a special glue, Aunt Bethany does the lettering because her printing’s the best, and we make pictures out 

Arlo turned her picture around and held it up. She dared to look at the class, surprised she held their attention, especially the girls. But the boy who’d made fun of her crossed his arms over his chest and glared.

“That’s beautiful!” Emily, Mrs. Shellhorn’s granddaughter, gasped. “You made that yourself?”

Arlo nodded. “It’s not hard once you know how. Just takes patience, and you have to be careful not to tear the flowers. We make all sorts of pictures and sell them.”

“You said all the flowers mean something. What do those mean?” Ann Prescott asked.

Arlo warmed. “That’s a really fun part, learning the meanings. The dark green laurel leaves symbolize growth, good health, and renewal. That fits, because I think that’s what moving to New Scrivelsby and the mountain has done for me and my family. Some folks say laurel leaves mean fame— like the laurel wreaths Roman and Greek emperors used to wear— but I like renewal. That’s a good word. “Sweet peas mean thank you— gratitude and friendship— and that’s fitting, too, because friendship’s what my family found here, and we’re grateful. Dark pink roses can mean gratitude, too, but also love and joy. All of these together say what I feel about the farm, about staying here. I just hope we can— stay, I mean.” 

Arlo sat down,shoved her picture back into her book bag, and kept her eyes on her desk. Heat traveled up her neck. She’d never talked so much to strangers in her life.

***

Pressed flowers, like those Arlo shared, can be used to create lovely and thoughtful gifts for Valentine’s Day or any Just-Because-Day.

A friend, Sara Edi Boyd, introduced my brother, Dan, and me to the fascinating process of pressing and preserving flowers and leaves to create beautiful works of art. I saw this as a project I’d love to do with my grandchildren.

Last spring I planted flowers, roses, and other botanicals in my home garden that I hope will produce hours of creative fun with my grands.

Our first project was to create treasure boxes using our pressed flowers. I bought wooden boxes from Hobby Lobby. The children painted them, decoupaged the pressed flowers to their tops, and finished with more layers of decoupage.

My granddaughters use their creations as jewelry boxes. My grandson hides his favorite toy car in his. The possibilities are endless!

A Little Flower Language for Valentine’s Day:

Red roses mean I love you. Red tulips mean believe me in this declaration of love. Green ivy, often entwined in arrangements or bouquets can mean fidelity or friendship or even wedded love. Baby’s Breath, the constant staple in bouquets, means innocence, purity, and new beginnings.

For every flower there is a meaning—or more than one. It’s said that in years gone by bouquets were sent as messages—messages the giver and receiver would clearly understand. Though mostly long forgotten, I’m all for reviving the beautiful language of flowers.

An option to pressing or sending fresh flowers, is this edible bouquet of red strawberry “roses”—so fun to make and to eat!

 

Wherever you are, take care and stay warm during this very cold weather. Treat yourself to a good book, a bouquet of flowers, and a steaming mug of hot chocolate or your favorite tea. I wish you all the love and joy life has to hold this Valentine month!

Until next time, happy reading, and God’s great blessings for you,

Cathy

The post Beyond the Chocolate: Celebrating Valentine’s Day with Books & Creativity first appeared on authorcathygohlke.com.

A Joyful Update from Maggie & Me!

Last month you met Maggie, the newest member of our family. Maggie is growing by leaps and bounds, at least as much as a mini-goldendoodle can. She’s still a tad shy of ten pounds, but all her fluffy hair makes you think she’s growing like nobody’s business. She’s absolute joy and absolute challenge. Perhaps by this time next year she will not be chewing everything in sight. Of course, at the rate we’re going by then there may be nothing in sight!

 

If you haven’t finished your Christmas shopping or if you’d like something just for you, Tyndale House Publishers has created a lovely way to gift a pre-order of my next book, This Promised Land. You can print and provide the graphic above in a package or use it as a gift tag! The QR code on the gift tag will lead you to more information on the book.

As an added bonus, check out the free This Promised Land Book Club Kit on my website. It’s chock full of enticing tidbits, insider information, a favorite quote, and recipes from the book!

Book News: I’m working with the wonderful Fiction Team at Tyndale House Publishers on the April 2025 release of This Promised Land . Already we’re setting up podcasts and interviews for 2025. Nearer the time I’ll share where you can hear and/or read some of those.

Book Clubs:

I’ve enjoyed wonderful visits with a variety of book clubs this fall.

This Southern California Book Club read Ladies of the Lake and served a delightfully proper tea.

The Parke County Library Book Club in Rockville, Indiana read Saving Amelie and served delicious apple strudel during our discussion. Missing that apple strudel was the first time I considered the serious limitations of virtual visits! ; )

Invitation:  Be sure to let me know if your reading group or book club plans to read This Promised Land or any of my books. I’d be happy to schedule a virtual visit. You can reach me through the Connect Page on my website.

More Book News: I’m working with the wonderful Robin Lee Hatcher on republishing my first novel–William Henry is a Fine Name . This was the Underground Railroad story I carried in my heart for years before gaining the courage to put pen to paper. It was also the recipient of my first Christy Award. It should be available for purchase sometime in 2025. I’ll keep you posted!

What I’m Reading:

I love hearing from readers! It has been a great pleasure to connect with you this year. Thank you for your prayers, for your encouragement and support, for reading and reviewing my books, and for sharing your life with me through emails, letters, and social media.

I’m not tech savvy and am sorry to say that I’ve missed some communications this year through various social media platforms. For that I sincerely apologize. The best way to reach me is through the Connect Page on my website, www.authorcathygohlke.com . That sends email directly to me so I can’t miss it.

 

Maggie and I wish you a joyous Christmas Season! I pray the new year dawns peacefully for you, and that the days ahead draw you ever nearer the heart of our Savior. May you daily know the joy of His grace and fellowship.

Until next time—next year, happy reading, and God’s rich blessings for you,

Cathy

The post A Joyful Update from Maggie & Me! first appeared on authorcathygohlke.com.

Puppy Love & Prayers for Recovery: My Fall Update

Happy November!

The harvest is in, days are shorter, nights cooler, and a cozy parlor with a good book in the evening is just the thing. I think of these as “drawing in” days, rich in gratitude and thanksgiving. In memory I hear my mother singing Johnson Oatman Jr.’s words, “Count your many blessings, name them one by one; Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.”

Book Writing News:

Among my many blessings are teams I work with to bring you my stories. Natasha Kern, my longtime friend and literary agent; the team at Tyndale House Publishers—working with me from start to finish on books; Jones House Creative (handling everything for my website); and Janet Murphy, virtual assistant, who handles my newsletters and so much more.

This month, Jones House Creative has been working to update my website in preparation for the launch of my new book, This Promised Land—which is available now for pre-order  Now you can see the cover, the summary, find recipes mentioned in the book, view my Pinterest Album chock full of pictures, and find book discussion questions right on my website.

Janet Murphy, who creates magic with my newsletter and helps me on social media, is creating an accompanying Book Club Kit. It will be the perfect companion as your book club reads This Promised Land.

Sarah Loudin Thomas, award-winning author of These Tangled Threads , read an early copy of This Promised Land and had this to say: “If you’ve ever felt like a prodigal longing to return home, you’re sure to find yourself in Gohlke’s latest. . . . The multilayered beauty of this story will last in your heart and your mind for a long, long time.

**Remember—if your book club or reading group would like to schedule a virtual visit with me I’m very happy to do that. Just reach out through the Connect tab on my website. We can schedule a date and time.

In Other News:

We’ve welcomed our new puppy, Maggie, into our home. She’s keeping us super busy and entertained with her puppy antics and early training. Of course, I’m not sure who’s being trained more—her or the rest of us.

What I’m Reading:

Version 1.0.0

Set in Poland during WWII, The Warsaw Sisters explores what it means to stand for what and whom you love and believe in most, no matter the cost. It is a story of sacrificial love, the complex and extraordinary relationships of family, secrets worth keeping, and what it means to grow beyond yourself in the fight for humanity. A heartbreaking story of war brilliantly told by a brilliant novelist.

Thank you for sharing this portion of your day and your reading life with me. I hope and pray that you and yours enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving. Perhaps you’ll find some quiet time to curl up with a hot cup of tea and a great book over the long weekend.

Until next time, God bless and keep you, and happy reading,

Cathy

The post Puppy Love & Prayers for Recovery: My Fall Update first appeared on authorcathygohlke.com.

Fall Delights: Ladies of the Lake Sale, MyNoWriMo Success, & More!

Welcome to October, month of cool, crisp evenings and frosty morns! I echo the words of Anne from Anne of Green Gables: “I’m so glad we live in a world where there are Octobers!”

Tyndale is offering an E-Book October Special: Ladies of the Lake  is on Sale for $3.99—a great price for the entire month!

ABOUT THE BOOK:

The beloved author of Saving Amelie and Night Bird Calling returns with a transformative new novel about the wonder and complexities of friendship, love, and belonging, perfect for fans of L. M. Montgomery, Louisa May Alcott, and Lauren Willig’s Band of Sisters.

When forced to leave her beloved Prince Edward Island to attend Lakeside Ladies Academy after the death of her parents, the last thing Adelaide Rose MacNeil expects to find is three kindred spirits. The “Ladies of the Lake,” as the four girls call themselves, quickly bond like sisters, vowing that wherever life takes them, they will always be there for each other. But that is before: Before love and jealousy come between Adelaide and Dorothy, the closest of the friends. Before the dawn of World War I upends their world and casts baseless suspicion onto the German American man they both love. Before a terrible explosion in Halifax Harbor rips the sisterhood irrevocably apart.

Seventeen years later, Rosaline Murray receives an unsuspecting telephone call from Dorothy, now headmistress of Lakeside, inviting her to attend the graduation of a new generation of girls, including Rosaline’s beloved daughter. With that call, Rosaline is drawn into a past she’d determined to put behind her. To memories of a man she once loved . . . of a sisterhood she abandoned . . . and of the day she stopped being Adelaide MacNeill.

MORE:

For Recipes, to Read a Sample Chapter, to find Discussion Questions, or to view My Pinterest Album for Ladies of the Lake, Check My Book Page @ http://authorcathygohlke.com/books/ladies-of-the-lake/

Bucket List Fun:

Saturday I checked another item off my Bucket List: I volunteered as a docent for a historic house! The Waterford Fair in the historic village of Waterford, Virginia presented the perfect one-day opportunity. I learned fascinating details about the house, the village, its colonial and Quaker origins, its unique Civil War years as an anti-secessionist village in the south and met many friendly and interesting people. I also learned that docents work very hard and talk a lot!

Book Writing News:

Many, many thanks to all who prayed for my writing throughout the month of September! My goal was MyNoWriMo—My Novel Writing Month—in which I’d hoped to write 50,000 words of my new novel. Thanks to your prayers and the Lord’s amazing grace, that goal has been met! I’m deep into writing my new story and loving it. Thank you!

If you have prayer requests you’d like to share, know that I would be glad and honored to pray for you.

In Other News:

Meet Maggie at 4 weeks!

We’re expecting an addition to our family—the four-legged kind! We’re very excited to welcome Maggie into our home—or will be when she’s eight weeks old. In the meantime, we’re getting ready—doggie bowls and food, collar, leash, harness, chew toys, treats, bed, crate, training manual—the list is endless! It feels a lot like planning for a new baby. One big difference is that we’ll begin with potty training.

What I’m Reading and Who I Interviewed:

If you’d like to see and listen to this interview, you can do so here: https://saveellisisland.org/events/videos.html

Thank you so much for sharing this writing and life journey with me. I very much appreciate you and thank you for your encouragement, interest in, and reading of my books.

Until next time, may God bless you richly, and happy reading!

Cathy

The post Fall Delights: Ladies of the Lake Sale, MyNoWriMo Success, & More! first appeared on authorcathygohlke.com.