Susan Page Davis and C.J. Chase!

September's Painting: Fisherman's House-Greenwood Lake ~ Jasper Cropsey

Each month, one of the beautiful paintings by an artist of the Hudson River School will be featured on the American Historical Christian Fiction blog.


American Historical Christian Fiction

Have we spent too much time in the reality of the here and now, and forgotten our Ideals, both personal and national? The early artists and writers of this nation once dwelt on forging this country's ideals; so with the help of God, let us do the same. Let us make every attempt to dwell on our ideals.
~Pat Iacuzzi~

Welcome to American Historical Christian Fiction, where the Cross and Quill come together to create a sampler of faith, folklore, and our country's early history. Please be sure to check the links for more information about early American life and colonial history, too.

By Cross and Quill

The Am His blog hi-lights books by Christian authors who are led by the Lord to write about characters and stories set in America's past. They are exciting stories of romance, adventure and suspense, written to inspire and encourage.

If you're looking for a book for yourself, a loved one, or those who may need an uplifting message woven through an entertaining story, please consider new monthly releases in inspirational historical fiction found here--the kind that take you on a journey into our country's past (from early colonial times to WWII) and illuminates the trials, beauty and blessings of our great nation.

This week, it's my pleasure to welcome Susan Page Davis, with her book Christmas at Barncastle Inn-- just released Septmember 1, 2011--for those of you looking forward to Christmas and snow!





Christmas at Barncastle Inn
Publisher: Barbour


Love Comes to the Castle is the first book in a collection of four novellas, Christmas at Barncastle Inn. Jayne Barncastle has big ideas for her family’s bed and breakfast, but is the idea so big it will break them? With the rich Dillard family paying for a deluxe medieval Christmas, Jayne must come through for her folks. But how will the Dillards feel about her attraction to their widowed son-in-law, Luke?

In this series of four stories, the Barncastle family transforms its sprawling Victorian bed and breakfast into a fantasy world. Guests can rent the entire inn at Christmas for a vacation set in whatever historical period they choose. Parents Ted and Diane are skeptical that anyone will pay the exorbitant price their daughter Jayne recommends—but they’re wrong. Plenty of people long for Christmas in another time. They transform the B&B into a castle, a World War II era inn, a pirates’ lair, and ancient Palestine. Each Christmas, love wends its way through time to the Barncastle Inn, while guests discover that forgiveness is timeless.

The other authors in this collection are: Lynette Sowell, Janelle Mowery, and Darlene Franklin.

This week, Susan has graciously offered to sit down and discuss some of her writing journey with us.

~ Are you a Plotter or SOTP writer?-- How does it affect your deadlines?


I started out a “seat of the pantser” but I was converted when I got to the point where editors were buying my books based on the synopsis, not the full manuscript. It became practical to outline the book first, and I found that it also helped me to avoid plot holes and writing myself into a corner. Now I always do the synopsis first.

~ What are some of your favorite books on the writing craft?


Right now I’m reading Make a Scene by Joran Resenfeld. James Scott Bell’s Plot & Structure is another good one.


~ What part of writing is the most difficult for you? Developing the characters? Dialogue? Pacing? (etc.)


Pacing is always a challenge. I never used to think about it, but now I mull it over quite a lot. I also sometimes have trouble grounding a scene in the setting. I’ll dive in with dialogue or action, and then I have to go back and anchor it.


~ When you made out your first proposal, who did you compare your writing style to?


Nobody. I had no idea that it would be helpful to do that. And when other people compare my writing to another author’s, I usually laugh and think, “I wish I wrote like that person.”


~ How long, start to finish, does it take you to write a book?


Depends. I’ve done it in a month, but that was a short book, and I’d thought about it a lot before I sat down to write it. My longer books generally take three to six months.

~ Maybe a quick sentence or two (tag line) about your next book to whet our appetites? :)


The Lady’s Maid features an English earl’s daughter and her maid who join a wagon train to try to find the lady’s uncle in the American West. Elise, the maid, vows to see Lady Anne through the adventure, but the wagon train’s scout may have other plans for her.


Thanks so much for stopping in, Susan! If you'd like to get in touch with Susan, you can find her at: www.susanpagedavis.com






And for September's Book of the Month, Am His presents C.J. Chase and her latest release, Redeeming the Rogue.






Title:Redeeming the Rogue
Author: C.J. Chase
Publisher: Love Inspired Historical




Her Ally…or Her Enemy?

With a chip on her shoulder and a pistol in her pocket, Mattie Fraser comes to London determined to find answers. What fate befell her brother after he was forced to join the British navy? Military official Kit DeChambelle knows something, she's sure. But can she trust him—or anyone— as a conspiracy of silence surrounds her?

Kit knows altogether too much—about the guilt that drives Mattie, and the peril she faces. The battle against Napoleon is over, but for Kit, peace is elusive. In helping this brave, stubborn woman, he may be endangering her further. Especially if she learns about the orders he's received, placing them on opposite sides…







Where you can get in touch with C.J....

http://www.cjchasebooks.com/


If you leave a comment this week to win Susan Page Davis' book Christmas at Barncastle Inn, your name will also be included in a drawing at the end of the month for Redeeming the Rogue by C.J. Chase, plus a chance to win a lovely blue silk fan pictured above. When you leave your comments, make sure you include your e-mail address. Thank you for stopping in, and....

"May the Lord make His face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: may the Lord lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace." Num.6:25-26 (KJV)