Q&A with May 2013 Authors!

[Laura AKA Loves 2 Read Romance]

I have this book and the first book in the series on my tbr shelf! I always enjoy the continuities the hardest part is waiting till I have all the books so I can read them back to back. I look forward to learning more about the orphan train from this series. So Christine what are you currently working on??

[Christine]

Hi Jan! The LIH books should be coming to Walmart shelves very soon.

It was fun researching a new time and setting. This series takes place fairly soon after the transcontinental railroad was finished. I learned that very few rail bridges over the larger rivers in that area (Nebraska) were completed by that time, so following a railroad route was challenging! The location of a railroad line made a huge difference to little towns, and they would campaign heavily to get the line to run through town. If it did, the town thrived. If the railroad bypassed a town, if often dwindled and died.

[Christine]

Hi Laura L2RR! Now that's a great idea. Save up the books until you can read them all at once. Good thinking!

Right now I'm working on the first book of a new three-book series set back in Pearlman in the Roaring 20s. For those of you who've read my earlier books, the heroines are the three younger sisters of Beatrice Fox, Darcy's friend in Soaring Home. With their father's health failing and the family's dress shop business dwindling, the three sisters promise to help each other find husbands in the hope that one of them will marry into enough wealth to get their father the medical treatment he needs.

[Christine]

Paula-O wrote: "sounds interesting Christine, I am ready to read more about Wyatt , you are right tracker does sound better then bounty hunter..."

I agree, Paula!
Wyatt comes across as a tough guy - the classic Western hero. Like most tough guys, he has a soft spot for kids, and four-year-old Sasha captures his heart from the start.

[Barbara]

Christine, I read, and loved, Family Lessons, so I can't wait to read yours!! What was the most interesting thing you discovered about the orphan trains?

[Christine]

Hi Barbara. I agree. Family Lessons is a fabulous story!

Before researching orphan trains, I had no idea so many children were sent west by train and placed in families. Over the decades, more than 100,000 children were put on trains and placed in what we would now call foster families. When the train arrived in a town, the children were usually paraded in front of potential applicants (families) and often sang or danced to attract attention. Those poor children were desperate to get a real family. Some weren't orphans at all, but had been abandoned. So sad. The trains offered hope of a new and better life. If they weren't chosen at one stop, they'd go back on the train and do it all over again at the next stop. My heart breaks to think of those little ones' disappointment when no one picked them.

[Valri]

It is really sad, no matter what era, to think of children who have no family to love them. I think of that so many time in our own society.

[Laurie]

Christine, LOVE the premise of your book! I have to get that!

[Deborah]

Well, we started our week with a longtime, prolific LIH author and we're wrapping up with one who is making her debut this month! Jan Drexler is the author of The Prodigal Son Returns, an Amish romance with plenty of page-turning twists.

A five-star review on Amazon for The Prodigal Son Returns says: "The struggles of the hero as he travels between both worlds adds to the suspense, making this book a page turner. Insights into the mind-set of the Amish at the time,an engaging heroine, a prodigal hero, and excellent details make for a fresh and engaging story."

Welcome, Jan, and thanks for taking part in our May Q&A! With debut authors I'm always curious about how long you've been writing and the story of your first sale. Can you tell us a little about that? Did you find the Depression era a difficult time period to sell?

[Ausjenny]

I have Jan on my blog today at http://ausjenny.blogspot.com
welcome Jan.

[Laura AKA Loves 2 Read Romance]

I always enjoy reading Amish stories so I will keep my eye out for this book. Jan is this book the start of a series or just a stand alone novel?

[Deborah]

Great timing, Ausjenny! I'll have to pop over and check it out.

Good question, Laura!

[Christine]

Hi Jan! I've been looking forward to your debut. Congratulations!!!

[Lyn]

Linda wrote: "Lyn mentioned how busy I was. Sorry I missed appearing on your blog, Lyn. The reason I've been busy is my household has been crazy (plus I'm trying to get 6 books written). My daughter and her 3 li..."

I hope you don't think I was scolding you, Linda! Just wanted to let people know that I didn't leave you out on purpose. :-)

I'm so happy your daughter and dh got back together. Whew!

[Paula-O]

Hello Jan, nice to meet ya....I liked your comments to ausjenny about whom you would like to see of 3 people, family and friends ..this tells me lot about you.
Another is this book about the prodigal son, returning to home and love of family. I am sure I will like reading your stories. so much of your story is of family but how do you personally enjoy a day for just you???

[Jan]

Ausjenny wrote: "I have Jan on my blog today at http://ausjenny.blogspot.com
welcome Jan."

Thank you so much for hosting me on your blog, Jenny!

[Jan]

Laura AKA Loves 2 Read Romance wrote: "I always enjoy reading Amish stories so I will keep my eye out for this book. Jan is this book the start of a series or just a stand alone novel?"

So far this is a stand alone book, but I'm open into developing it as a series!

[Jan]

Christine wrote: "Hi Jan! I've been looking forward to your debut. Congratulations!!!"

Thanks, Christine!

[Jan]

Paula-O wrote: "Hello Jan, nice to meet ya....I liked your comments to ausjenny about whom you would like to see of 3 people, family and friends ..this tells me lot about you.
Another is this book about the prodig..."

Oooh, a day just for me?

My favorite way to spend a day is hiking in the Hills. It's hard to describe the beauty of the Black Hills. They're mountains, really, with peaks higher than the Appalachians. We've learned to know some of the trails that are off the beaten track, and there's nothing better than to spend the day with my husband, listening to the wind in the pines and the occasional cry of an eagle.

[Jan]

Deborah wrote: With debut authors I'm always curious about how long you've been writing and the story of your first sale. Can you tell us a little about that? Did you find the Depression era a difficult time period to sell?

Hi Debbie! And thank you for asking me to the Q&A!

Even though I've wanted to be a writer for a long time, and I majored in English in college, being a writer was a secondary career choice for me. More than being a writer, I always wanted to be a wife and mother - so I concentrated on that job for the first 30 years :)

A few years ago I was able to turn my energy to writing, and started to learn to write for publication. "The Prodigal Son Returns" isn't only my debut novel, it's the first novel I ever wrote. It did well in writing contests, and when I submitted it to Love Inspired, they made an offer to publish it. I'm so thankful for the ladies of Seekerville.net for all their advice and encouragement, and to God for providing the time and ability to follow this dream.


The Depression Era seems to appeal to readers. I'm fascinated by the era because my parents and grandparents lived through that time, and I think that's what draws readers in. Almost all of us know people who lived through that era, and reading about it helps us connect to them.

[Paula-O]

fantastic the prodigal son is your one and only, I want to read this one...thanks for being a part of our day.

[Jan]

Paula-O wrote: "fantastic the prodigal son is your one and only, I want to read this one...thanks for being a part of our day."

Thanks, Paula!

[Deborah]

This month's Q&A winners are: Paula-O, Bonnie and Dawn!!
And we might have another one coming.

Congratulations to all the winners and thanks to authors and readers who took part! We hope to see you next month (June 3-7) for our next Q&A. I know for sure we'll have one author taking part, because I have a book out in June! :)

[Paula-O]

Congrats to Bonnie and Dawn, I am excited to be included in the winners and will be able to read this new author, thanks for all the authors and readers comments-always enjoy the chats...

[Valri]

Congrats to the winners!

[Deborah]

Congratulate yourself too, Valri - you are the fourth winner! :)

[Paula-O]

wow glad you won the last one Valri, happy reading my friend...

[Dawn]

I love these author chats.

And congrats to the other winners.

[Laura AKA Loves 2 Read Romance]

These chats are always so fun! Congrats to all the winners!!

[Valri]

Thanks, Deb! And thanks to everyone who participated!

[Bonnie]

Thank you Deb for keeping us all informed on the newest additions to Love Inspired Historical. I can't wait to see what you bring us for next month. Happy reading!