Becky Wade's Blog, page 13
April 15, 2025
Meet Megan Soja (and enter a GIVEAWAY)
While teaching at a women’s weekend retreat two weeks ago, I had the total pleasure of meeting Megan Soja, a writing friend whose first novel—Spark of the Revolution (Harbor of Spies, book 1)—just released with Wild Heart Books in March!
With Megan the first night of the weekend retreatTo celebrate being with us today, Megan is giving away a signed copy of Spark of the Revolution to one lucky IBL&F reader! Simply leave a comment TODAY by 8:30pm Central welcoming Megan to our community and sharing whether you’re a history lover at heart.
[image error]About the book:
A spark ignites a flame that could burn down everything they hold dear.
Contrary to her name, Patience Abbott has long felt unsettled and anxious to leave behind her painful memories in England for a fresh start in America. But her new life isn’t quite what she expected, and as tension grows in her new home of Boston, so does the distance between Patience and her estranged father. So when Josiah Wagner walks into her life, it finally feels like she’s not alone. If only his patriotic leanings didn’t put him at odds with her father’s loyalties.
Josiah Wagner has spent his life yearning for a true home and family, something he works toward each day, forging tools as a blacksmith, and each night, forging plans with the Sons of Liberty. But when the destruction of tea in Boston Harbor lights the spark of the Revolution, Josiah finds himself drawn into its tumultuous wake, pulling the woman he loves along with him.
As tensions mount, will their search for belonging lead to each other, or will the obstacles between them be too great to overcome? In a land on the brink of war, can they find the home they seek in the One who calls them His own?
I asked Megan to share a bit about her novel and her writing journey…
What inspired you to write your story?
I’ve loved the American Revolutionary era since I was a little girl with a Felicity American Girl doll. I knew I wanted to write a historical novel in that time period, but wasn’t sure what to focus on. My younger daughter has a complex congenital heart defect, and we traveled frequently to Boston for several years so that she could receive specialized surgeries at the children’s hospital there.
On one such trip we had the opportunity to do a bit of sightseeing, and I realized what a wealth of history was right there in front of me—in a city that had become so special to our family. I actually began researching and brainstorming this story from her bedside in the ICU.
Thankfully, her surgeries were a success and she is now thriving, and this book holds an extra special place in my heart because of where and how it began.
Who is your main character, and how did you choose the name?
My heroine’s name is Patience. I didn’t so much choose her name as her name chose me. It just showed up in the opening line that came to mind as I was thinking about this story, and I knew it was who she had to be. Hopefully, if you read the book, you’ll see why. And my hero’s name is Josiah, which is one of my favorite names for a boy, but would have been a mouthful with my last name. Plus, we didn’t have any boys!
What’s one thing your readers might find interesting about your background?
While writing fiction has been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember, I actually studied biology in college. I worked in research and development for a time, then went on to get my teaching degree and taught both special education and biology at the high school level. I loved my experiences in science and teaching, but it is such a joy to see my dream of publishing become a reality.
Was there anything surprising in your historical research for this novel?
Spark of the Revolution takes place against the backdrop of the Boston Tea Party, and as I began my research I realized that the impression I had of that event was not as accurate as I thought. I had imagined the Tea Party as a loud, chaotic, mob-like protest, but in truth it was carefully organized and carried out in an orderly manner. The men even swept the decks of the ships clean after they finished dumping the tea, and ensured no other property was damaged. There was a padlock on one of the ships that was broken, and they replaced it the next day.
I also loved learning about the ordinary people who took part in the Boston Tea Party. Name’s we wouldn’t recognize, but who still had an impact. It was so interesting to delve into some of their stories and learn about their lives. One of them, Nathaniel Willis, especially grabbed my attention, so much so that I wrote a side character in his honor. Nathaniel Willis was only eighteen when he participated in the Tea Party and was a publisher for the Boston Independent Chronicle. After the Revolutionary War, he moved westward, starting a newspaper in each city he settled in. He was also the grandfather of N.P. Willis, an American author, poet, and editor who worked with authors like Edgar Allen Poe and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
Lastly, what’s the hardest part about being an author for you?
One of the hardest parts as an author of historical fiction is making sure my research is thorough, and then taking all that information and weaving it into the story in a way that feels natural and realistic. I love to bring the time period to life, and always strive to make things as authentic as possible.
Thanks, Megan, for sharing with our community today. And remember, friends…
Megan will personally sign the winner’s book and get it in the mail!
So tell me… Are you a historical novel lover? Do you share Megan’s (and my) love of historical events and real people?
Blessings from Nashville—and Happy Easter, friends. He is risen! He is risen, indeed!
Tammy
Megan’s second book releases in June.
Gorgeous cover, don’t you think?
Connect with Megan on:
April 14, 2025
Naming Favorites
Most novelists will tell you that it’s difficult for them to name a favorite among the books they’ve written. I used to say that question was like asking me if I had a favorite child! But after writing more than forty books over the past thirty-plus years, one series of mine has risen to the top as a favorite. Interestingly enough, I wrote the first two novels in the Camfield Legacy series more than twenty years ago! But after continually getting requests for a third book in the series, I revisited my characters and setting and wrote Breath of Heaven almost three years ago to complete the series.
Quite honestly, it’s my readers and reviewers who have made the series my favorite. Not only does the Camfield Legacy series include my bestselling books and have more reviews than my other books, but the series has collectively won more awards than any of my other series or novels.
[image error][image error]The original covers from WaterBrook (with an added “swoosh” after winning the RITA Award).
A new cover for a reissue of Beneath a Southern Sky for a WaterBrook budget line.
The first two books were also translated to Dutch. Thesewere some of my favorite covers at the time!
As I do with most of my books, I have collected inspiration photos for the series on my Pinterest boards. If you’d like to see how I pictured my characters and setting, click HERE or on the image at left
[image error]The books are available as audiobooks from Silverton Audio and with Audible.[image error]And the reason I’m telling you all about this series? Because starting tomorrow, April 15 (technically, midnight tonight!) the collection of all three Camfield Legacy novels in e-book format will be on sale for only $1.99! That’s less than 70 cents each! If you haven’t read this series yet, I hope you’ll take this chance to grab this deal!
And if you are one of my lovely readers who has kindly bought these books, reviewed them, judged them in contests, or shared with your friends and family, THANK YOU! I don’t think readers understand how very much we authors appreciate all you do to make our books successful (so we can keep writing!)
April 13, 2025
D’Ann’s Favorites
We hope you are enjoying these weekly feature posts from the authors of Inspired by Life…and Fiction. We’re sharing some of our favorite things to help you get to know us a little better—and we’d love to hear your answers to these “favorites” questions in the comments below.
Favorite Beverage (whether hot or cold): Coffee! But I’m a bit of a coffee snob. I prefer a premium coffee and, if it’s not a latte, an americano. I can drink it almost any way—hot, cold, latte, black (but not cheap coffee!), and or with just milk or cream. To that end, my husband gave me this amazing automatic espresso machine a couple of years ago, and I love it so much!
[image error]
Favorite Color (and why): Blue. Any shade. I’ve always loved it. I’m not sure why. Although I do think blue is calming for me. But in my early years of marriage, blue wasn’t “in” as a decor color. But twenty years ago we purchased a house with beautiful blue and white floral wallpaper in the kitchen and breakfast nook. Ever since then, I’ve chosen blue when decorating. My current house has a lot of blue accents, and they make me happy.
Favorite Thing You Collect: I try not to collect much of anything these days, but that doesn’t apply to books! And yes, I “collect” them. I love owning books, especially ones that have meant something to me or my husband. I especially love finding copies of books printed in the 19th and early 20th centuries or first additions of special books to add to my collection.
[image error]April 11, 2025
Photo Highlights From Our Texas Book Tour!
I returned on Wednesday from the “Books & Boots Tour” of Texas that Dani Pettrey and I organized. Our road trip spanned more than 8 days and more than 1,000 miles. Texas is a huge state but, as you can see from the below route, we traveled a sizeable swath of it!
Here’s a photo highlight from each stop along the way…
Author retreat in northeast Texas at Lake O The Pines. L to R: me, Natalie Walters, Dani, Lynne Gentry
Booksigning at Mardel in Longview
Getting caught by a tornado warning on our drive from Longview to Dallas
Books & Brunch event at Park Cities Baptist Church in Dallas
Library Talk at J Ringer Library in College Station
Meet & Greet at B&N in The Woodlands
Booksigning at Mardel in Houston. (This couple were friends of our family when I was 9-13 years old and we were living in Frankfurt, Germany. They surprised me by showing up at the signing!)
Booksigning at Living Room Books in Bastrop
Meet & Greet at B&N in San Antonio
Breakfast at La Panaderia in San Antonio
HOME!!!This road trip included lots of driving, lots of talking, lots of time with friends, and lots of luggage toting. It was tiring. But it was also wonderful. I’m so glad we went because it truly is a joy to meet and speak with readers and booksellers in person. We had many, many opportunities to do just that along the Texas highways.
Heartfelt thanks to everyone who hosted us and came out to see us!April 10, 2025
Exploring Barcelona, Bookish News, and Link to a Giveaway
Last month, my husband and I had the opportunity to take our youngest two kids to Barcelona for their spring break. Because of my schedule at the university, we don’t get to go on spring break or really any other trips during the school year. A couple times we’ve made a Thanksgiving trip to Disney World, but that’s about it, because that’s the time we can all be off. A year ago when we knew I wouldn’t be teaching this semester, I started asking the kids where they wanted to go since this would be the one spring break trip they would get. Our daughter is a junior in high school and our youngest is a freshman, so this really is the one opportunity before they graduate.
I wanted to make the most of the opportunity to do something special and build memories, while also doing something new.
Since they are both studying Spanish in school, and we haven’t traveled to Spain yet, that became the goal. A colleague at the school has an apartment outside Barcelona, so we rented that from her family. Such a great launching pad for a restful week of exploring a new place and not rushing like crazy.
Usually, when I plan a trip, it involves racing around and maximum planning so that we can see and experience everything. This time I intentionally slowed the pace down. We had tickets to two places before we went (a key to most major European cities is the skip-the-line, buy-ahead tickets). Those were for the Sagrada Familia and the Picasso Museum. The Sagrada Familia was stunning. We all felt like we’d stepped into a Star Wars set or Rivendell. It was so different from the other cathedrals we’ve visited in England, Italy, and Germany. (I can’t believe I just typed that sentence!). The Picasso Museum was pretty incredible, too, as it gave us an appreciation for the depth and breadth of his artistic talent.
We did a lot of rambling and shopping on the Ramble. Not going to lie. That was fun. And then we found bookstores and wandered through those. There was a lovely English language bookshop, Backstory, that we enjoyed. It’s always great to see bookstores in other places. I always get so inspired. Speaking of bookstores, a couple nights ago we were at our local Barnes & Noble, and saw that my books have broken into the Mystery and Thriller section. Woot!
The Accused releases next week! I’m so grateful to everyone who’s been an early reader and leaving great reviews as part of the launch team. You can see those reviews on Goodreads.
And have you participated in the Spring Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt, yet? It opens today at noon and runs through Sunday, the 13th. Thirty authors have come together. You can join in at my blog and I have a giveaway for The Accused running there, too.
April 9, 2025
Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt Stop #8
Welcome to the Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt! If you’ve just discovered the hunt, be sure to start at Stop #1, and collect the clues through all the stops, in order, so you can enter to win one of our top 5 grand prizes!
I’m Karen Witemeyer. I write western historical romance with feisty heroines, swoon-worthy Texas heros, lots of adventure, and a healthy dash of humor. I’m delighted to introduce you to my latest western fairy tale retelling – To Love a Beast. Beauty and the Beast is my all-time favorite fairy tale. A bookish heroine. A wounded hero. Courage and kindness bringing an unlikely love to life. It just makes my heart happy.
As I brainstormed this novel, I thought it would be fun to create a heroine who not only loved to read, but one who was also in the book business. That’s when I discovered the Guild of Woman Bookbinders.
During the later years of the 19th century, custom bookbinding became popular among the wealthy in Europe and America. The arts and crafts movement flourished during this time in response to growing industrialization and mass-production of products. A demand for skilled aritsans rose, and many women stepped into the gap with their keen eye for design. In fact, by the early 1900’s, women bookbinders outnumbered their male counterparts. The Guild of Woman Bookbinders was established in 1898. Before the guild, women in the industry would work alongside husbands or fathers, but by the late 1800’s they came into their own as independent binders who signed their own work.
Source: University of ChicagoIt was an honor to have Callista Rosenfeld follow in these ladies’ footsteps!
Here’s the Stop #8 Basics:
If you’re interested, you can preorder To Love a Beast on Amazon or Barnes & Noble. It releases on June 10.
Clue to Write Down:
Spring is
Link to Stop #9, the Next Stop on the Loop: Ann H. Gabhart’s site!
Extra Giveaway
In addition to the scavenger hunt prizes, I’m offering a separate giveaway just for readers who visit this page.
In keeping with the Beauty & the Beast theme, you can win an ebook copy of To Love a Beast, a Belle reading sign, and a rose-themed teacup. The winner will be announced in the comments of this post on April 22.
(US addresses only for the plaque and teacup. Any international winner chosen will receive the ebook only.)
Have fun on the rest of the hunt!
April 8, 2025
Five Faith Lessons My Corgi Taught Me
by Kelly Goshorn
by Levi Goshorn
by Kelly & Levi Goshorn
A heartfelt thank you to my friend and mentor, Dani Pettrey, for inviting me back to Inspired by Life and Fiction today. During a previous visit, I shared a few lessons my dog, Levi, taught me about the writing life (find that post here).
Last month, we had to say good-bye to our sweet corgi, and my heart is still a bit tender. So today, in honor of our precious boy, I thought I’d share five faith lessons Levi taught us during the thirteen years we were blessed to have him.
God Welcomes and Rejoices Over Me
Whether we’d been gone for hours or just a quick grocery store run, Levi exploded into frenzied jumping and welcoming tail wagging sessions as soon as soon as he spied us returning home. His greeting provided such pleasure, affirmation, fun, and laughter. And the more we responded, the more exuberance Levi displayed.
Like Levi waiting at the door, our heavenly Father waits with anticipation for us to join Him in quiet meditation, to seek His counsel, and to receive our praise. How He rejoices over us when we set aside time for Him alone, setting aside all of our other responsibilities. Levi’s characteristic reception was a beautiful reminder of God’s steadfast love and boundless joy in our unique relationship.
“The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing” ~ Zephaniah 3:17
Unconditional Love
Levi loved and accepted us just as we were. He didn’t care how intelligent we were, what we wore, or how much money was is in our bank account. He just looked at us adoringly and plopped down contentedly by our side.
Levi was steadfast.
The Word tells us God’s love for us is also steadfast—meaning sure, dependable, reliable, constant, and unwavering. His love is sacrificial and unconditional. It is both overwhelming and welcoming. Because He first loved us, we are free to truly love others unrestricted by our own doubts and agendas, just as He has shown to us.
“For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him.” ~Psalm 103:11
Forgive and Forget
Although we loved Levi with all our hearts, sometimes we let him down. Whether it was being left alone during a thunderstorm and we came home to find him curled up between the toilet and tub, or the time he delightedly discovered a stale pizza crust on the sidewalk and carted it around the neighborhood only to be forbidden from bringing it inside, a few strokes behind the ears usually mended any grievance he had with us.
Levi was quick to forgive us when we disappointed him, and our relationship was easily restored. He bore no grudges. Levi reminded us that forgiveness is a choice we as believers are called to make and that harboring unforgiveness is a bitter root that drives you away from people and ultimately, from God.
“As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” Psalm 103:12
Be Present
If there was one thing Levi loved, it was a good belly rub. He had no shame in rolling onto his back anytime he thought he could persuade you to bend down and scratch the soft white fur lining his undercarriage. However, the older I became, the harder it was for me to bend over for any length of time. That’s when we discovered that the step at the top of the landing was the perfect spot for me to sit and give him belly-lovin’.
It’s difficult for me to appreciate how much my sweet pup looked forward to his “Mama-Puppy” time every morning when nothing else distracted me. When those feelings that I should be doing something else and not wasting time were at bay.
In those moments, Levi taught me the value of simply spending time with the people (and animals) that were important in my life—of being present with those God had brought alongside me to shepherd, and the ones that are to shepherd me. He reminded me to never underestimate the value of being fully present with the people we love and to embrace the right time for relationships and activities, ensuring our focus is on the moment.
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” ~Ecc. 3:1
Dependence on God
Levi, like all pets, depended on us for food, exercise, and companionship. Even though he fought it, he relied on us to keep him healthy by bathing him, trimming his nails, and getting vaccinations to prevent disease. He trusted us to keep him safe when thunder rocked the house or fireworks whirred and whistled in the cul-de-sac cattycorner from our house.
Our lives became entwined with his in a way that led to his complete and total dependence on us, yet he trotted around the neighborhood as if he didn’t have a care in the world. His mind and spirit were at rest because he’d only known our faithfulness in taking care of his needs. In return, we became the sole focus of his love, faith, and trust, and his dependence on us was complete.
It’s the type of trust we should have in God, who truly never fails us. Such a beautiful reminder to put our earthly burdens aside and trust in the God of the universe who loves us way more than we are able to love our pets or they can love us in return. He finds joy in our provision. Levi’s example encourages me to release my worries and anxieties into God’s capable hands.
“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” ~Matthew 6:26
God tells us to love one another as He loves us. I think a close second would be to love one another as our dogs love us. And maybe that’s why He has gifted us with dogs, a heavenly memorandum of our Father’s unconditional love and delight in us. And a daily reminder to seek Him whole-heartedly, to forgive others, and to trust Him with reckless abandon.
Kelly Goshorn weaves her affinity for history and her passion for God into inspiring stories of love, faith, and family set in America’s vibrant past. When she is not writing, Kelly enjoys, binge-watching BBC period dramas, exploring historical sights, and board-gaming with her family and friends.
New Books For Your TBR Pile!
I’ve recently had the privilege of reading early copies of a few friend’s Regency, Regency-Inspired, and Victorian era novels, and thought you might want to pre-order some of these for your own reading pleasure!
The Mysteries of Pendowar Hall by Syrie James (Available now)
A Victorian mystery crafted with impressive skill, style, and lovely echoes of Jane Eyre. Conflicting clues, mounting danger, and sweet romantic tension keep the pages turning, all in a wonderfully atmospheric setting—an old house on the coast of Cornwall shrouded in fog and myths. (clean)
A Scheming in Parliament by Erica Vetsch (August 2025)
Isn’t this a great cover?
A journey of dark deeds vs. good deeds, filled with hope and humor. Danger and rescue scenes keep the pages turning, while a slow burn romance promises more to come. Readers will be clamoring for the next book in the series! (clean/inspirational)
“This story brims with intrigue, danger, and memorable characters, and is sure to please any Regency lover.” —Michelle Griep, Christy Award–winning author of Of Gold and Shadows
Sense & Suitability by Pepper Basham (October 2025)
Pepper Basham’s first foray into Regency romance is winner! Well written with poignant moments, humor, and sweet romance between likeable, noble-hearted characters, Sense & Suitability is sure to be a hit with Regency fiction lovers. (clean/inspirational)
The Rules of Falling For You by Mollie Rushmeyer (September 2025)
The perfect match can’t be far–certainly not at a Regency-themed singles retreat!
Still reading, but this contemporary, Regency-infused Rom-Com is very charming so far. (clean/inspirational)
I’ve also read Michelle Griep’s next Regency, The Bird of Bedford Manor, but no cover yet to show you for that one.
All in all, a lot of great reading ahead!
What upcoming novels are you looking forward to?
April 7, 2025
Funerals
Update: I originally wrote this in late February, then realized I’d accidentally scheduled two posts on one day. So I bumped this back to April. I’m writing this update on March 26, just after returning home from an unexpected funeral.
Original post: When I wrote the Fairlawn books–which are all set in a funeral home– I wish I’d written from a place of greater experience. At the time I had never lost a parent, a spouse, or a child. My dad died in 2009, and since I’ve now buried a close family member, I know I would have written things that had simply never occurred to me before.
A few of those things.
Funeral negatives:
1. They never come at a convenient time.
2. They are a mixture of the ridiculous and the sublime– you have to worry about the mundane along with matters of eternal significance.
3. They involve tears, so you will need tissues.
4. Emotions are unpredictable and unruly. They crop up when you’d rather they stay hidden, and sometimes they absent themselves when you feel they ought to appear. And people grieve in different ways–some people are loud and dramatic, some keep their grief tucked beneath their skin.
5. Funerals involve loss, even if it is only temporary.
Funeral Positives:
1. Humor is not out of place.
2. Nearly every business and/or school grants time off for funerals.
3. Family gathers together.
4. People bring food you didn’t have to cook.
5. For a Christian, a funeral is more like a graduation from boot camp than a permanent farewell.
6. You hear stories that help you see the departed from other peoples’ perspectives.
7. Not even a high school reunion brings so many people together–people you haven’t seen in years.
8. There’s no dress code.
9. Black, if you choose to wear it, is slimming.
After my father’s funeral, which filled a small chapel, most of us went back to my mom’s house, which had been kindly invaded by members of Mom’s Sunday school class, each of whom brought a dish of something delicious. Those ladies filled the kitchen with fried chicken, potato salad, sweet potato pie, and gallons of sweet tea (yes, we live in the south), and we all trooped through the makeshift buffet line and filled our paper plates until they sagged.
All afternoon I visited with dear aunts, cousins, sisters, and family friends. I heard stories about my quiet dad I’d never heard before. I met cousins I’d never met before. We laughed, we cried, we made promises that we wouldn’t wait so long to get together again. And that night, when most of the folks had gone home, I told my mom that I’d smiled so much that my jaws hurt. 
Tears of sorrow and joy mingle easily when you’re with the people you love and who love you best.
My favorite story from the day: my sister Dana and I were in a back bedroom fiddling with the computer. We were with her daughters, Brooke and Lacey. I was telling Brooke that the room we were in had been Dana’s bedroom, and the one across the hall had been my other sister’s, and the one at the end of the hallway had been mine. “Who had the computer?” Brooke asked. Her eyes got huge when I laughed and said that the computer hadn’t been invented yet.
Update for March 26: My sister Dana died on March 19th after battling an illness, but we did not expect her to leave us so soon. God was merciful–she passed away in her sleep, so her pain ended.
Dana had a circle of friends I’d never met, and they came to her funeral. They were really nice people, but I’m pretty sure some of them were not regular church goers. And when the pastor gave an invitation at the end of his talk, four or five people said they wanted to believe in Jesus. I can’t think of a better home going celebration than that.
~~Angie
April 6, 2025
Julie’s Favorites
We hope you are enjoying these weekly feature posts from the authors of Inspired by Life…and Fiction. We’re sharing some of our favorite things to help you get to know us a little better—and we’d love to hear your answers to these “favorites” questions in the comments below.
French roast in a pretty coffee cup made by my friend Beverly S.Favorite Beverage (whether hot or cold): In the mornings, I enjoy strong French roast coffee with heavy cream. Notice the ray of sunlight shining on this morning’s cup. Ahhhh! (I used to be a coffee snob but now I happily drink French roast from Aldi’s.)
(L) Quick snap from my closet. Perhaps I have a blue problem? (R) Office wall.Favorite Color (and why): I like BLUE: cobalt, aqua, turquoise, teal, you name it. Not sure why, but wearing bright blue (especially when I speak at events) gives me added confidence. Also, my office is painted a robin’s egg blue, and my car is teal.
Favorite Thing You Collect: Dust bunnies? British magazines? 
I don’t actively collect anything (except research books) but I am drawn to items with lily-of-the-valley or hummingbirds on them, so if I were going to collect something, I might choose one of those. In the meantime, I have a growing collection of Jane Austen-inspired items from generous friends.
Just a few of the British magazines hubby and I subscribe to, read, and re-read.
