Charlotte-Genesee Lighthouse

Charlotte-Genesee Lighthouse
Charlotte-Genesee Lighthouse ~ Photo: Mark Papke

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

This week....Lynn Squire 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.

Now it's my pleasure to welcome a neighbor from the north, Canadian Lynn Squire, with her book Joab's Fire to be released this week....September 15th!





Lynn Squire




What’s Your Perspective?

By Lynn Squire

Our perspective tends to be limited to this present life, but God’s perspective encompasses all of eternity.

Consider the Israelites. God told Abraham that his seed would be “a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;” Genesis 15:13. Abraham’s children would obtain the land God promised him. Abraham wouldn’t live to see it, but he believed God’s word to be true.

We know things happened just as God said.

Yes, the Israelites would suffer at the hands of the Egyptians, but in the end God would be glorified and they would have their promised land. And God was glorified among the nations.

We must not only grasp but embrace that we are here to bring God glory. If it is through affliction, so be it. It isn’t about us. It is about God. And if we think even the very least that it ought to be about us then we’ve got it all wrong.

Does that mean God doesn’t care for us, doesn’t want to bless us?

• Absolutely not. He created us. He loves us enough even to suffer and die for us, but if we think for even one moment that we have a right to the good things of this earth then we have stepped out of line, and we will not react in a manner that is glorifying to God—thereby messing up the very purpose of our lives.

• Of course He wants to bless us. Sometimes the best blessings come after a period of suffering.

How can we prepare ourselves for the trouble that will come our way?

• Have a right relationship with God. Keep Him the center of your life moment by moment. Don’t let one moment pass where you let your affection turn to the things of this world. Are our possessions evil? No. But if we let them get in the way of our relationship with God we need to push them aside so that our line of vision is directly on the Lord.

• Continue in prayer and praise moment by moment. How do you do this when you must work? Consider the yoyo. It goes up and down the string, but as long as its energy is coming from the hand, it returns to the hand. Let your energy, the well-spring of your life, come from God so that while you might be at the end of the string when you’re working, your thoughts immediately spring back to Him when you pause from your work. So, when tragedy strikes, you roll right up the string into the Father’s hand.

When you keep that connection with God, like the string that connects the yoyo to its master’s hand, we can keep that eternal perspective and resist the temptation to let our present situation stop our ‘roll’.


Thanks so much for stopping in Lynn, and for your wonderful devotional. I hope it encourages others to consider their perspectives on their lives in relation to our God and King. If you'd like to get in touch with Lynn, you can find her at: http://www.lynnsquire.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/


New Christian Movie out this week!






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)


Sunday, September 4, 2011

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)


Sunday, August 28, 2011

This week-- C.J. Chase and Julie Lessman!




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.


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/

















....And for this week on Am His Books, it's a delight to hi-light Julie Lessman's latest book A Heart Revealed, from her Winds of Change series.


Julie Lessman





Julie Lessman is an award-winning author whose tagline of “Passion With a Purpose” underscores her intense passion for both God and romance. Winner of the 2009 ACFW Debut Author of the Year and Holt Medallion Awards of Merit for Best First Book and Long Inspirational, Julie is also the recipient of 13 Romance Writers of America awards and was voted by readers as “Borders Best of 2009 So Far: Your Favorite Fiction” at http://www.borders.com/online/store/ListView_best2009favefiction. Chosen as #1 Romance Fiction Author of the Year in the Family Fiction magazine 2011 Readers Choice Awards, Julie was also awarded #1 Series of the Year in that same poll and #3 Author of the Year, #5 Novel of the Year and #4 Historical Fiction Author of the year. She resides in Missouri with her husband, daughter, son and daughter-in-law and is the author of “The Daughters of Boston” series, which includes A Passion Most Pure, A Passion Redeemed, and A Passion Denied. Her “Winds of Change” series has recently released with A Hope Undaunted, which ranked #5 on Booklist’s Top 10 Inspirational Fiction for 2010. You can contact Julie through her website at www.julielessman.com



Title:A Heart Revealed
Author: Julie Lessman
Publisher: Revell




My interview with Julie....



~ When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer? (early or late bloomer)

Ha! I’d say I qualify as both an “early” and a “late” bloomer! My romance-writing career “officially” started after reading Gone With the Wind at the age of 12, which is when I started writing my own novel, an 150-single-spaced manuscript that became the basis for my debut novel A Passion Most Pure some forty years later.

My original title for this early ms. was “When Tomorrow Comes” (now a Janette Oke title, how weird is that?). Back then, the story still entailed the love triangle between Faith and her sister (whose name was “Del,” short for Delatha … yeah, don’t ask me what I was thinking!) and the bad-boy hero, whose name was—I’m even ashamed to admit it—Bart (but I was in love with Bart Maverick from the TV show Maverick back then, so ‘nuff said.)! And just like A Passion Most Pure, the story began in Boston and traveled to Ireland during a war, with ONE major difference, as indicated in the first line of my original ms. penned at the age of twelve: Patrick O’Connor was dead. Obviously Patrick (the father in the story) is very much alive in the updated version, especially when he and his wife clash over Charity’s discipline!

~ How did you prepare? College courses? Workshops? Books on Craft?

Prepare? Uh, not much at the age of twelve, of course, but after the age of 50 when I finished writing A Passion Most Pure—a fair amount. Even though I held a part-time job as a commercial writer, the first thing I did was take a fiction-writing class at a local community college, then a writing seminar. Next, I joined ACFW, FHL and RWA and got into a great critique group. I started entering contests like crazy and never finaled, but the feedback from judges was invaluable. I went to writers’ conferences and invested in paid critiques with published authors I respected. Then I hooked up with several fabulous critique partners, and before I knew it, I started finaling in contests. As far as getting published, I would have to say that the best thing that happened was signing with my agent. Within six months, she not only sold my novel to Revell, but garnered a 3-book deal to boot, despite my personal track record of 45 rejections on my own (agents and publishers). That said, I think an agent is invaluable in the whole publishing process, and I regret wasting time trying to do it on my own.

As far as books on craft, I would strongly recommend Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Browne and Dave King (my Bible in the beginning!), plus any other self-edit books you can pick up. Also, Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook by Donald Maas was invaluable to me in deepening both plot and characters for A Passion Most Pure. Another writing tool that has become my writer’s Bible is The Synonym Finder by J.A. Rodale.

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

Oh, good question, and one I’ve never really been asked before, which is saying something since I have answered over 1,000 questions in over 170 interviews!). I would say research because when a story is inside of me, my fingers almost itch to get it out, and research slows the process. In the beginning, I usually spend several days researching clothing, terminology, technology of the day, era background, whatever to get myself in the mood. But I gotta tell ya—it’s like pulling teeth!

UNLESS … I stumble upon something really cool that fits in with my story, such as finding out that the U.S. officially entered WWI on Good Friday, which tied in nicely with one of my scenes from A Passion Most Pure. Or evangelist Billy Sunday preaching against alcohol in the waning days of Prohibition, which allowed me to include a very realistic tent-revival scene in book 3 of the “Winds of Change” series, A Trust Restored (Steven’s story). And, of course, it was fun finding out that sunglasses were invented by Foster Grant in the late 20s because naturally I included them as a sale item in Dennehy’s Department Store in A Hope Undaunted.
As far as pacing and dialogue and passion?? Literally SO easy for me, I could do it in my sleep …

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

Well, how about I just give you a peek at my original query letter for A Passion Most Pure, which back then was called A Chasing After the Wind? Keep in mind that I reference Francine Rivers NOT because I dare to compare my style of writing to hers, but because of the edgy quality of that incredible book. Here’s the first paragraph of my original query letter:

Dear _________:

Nine out of ten women nationwide (90%) consider themselves to be Christian.* Yet, it is rare to find a novel that merges romantic passion and spirituality with an intensity that will appeal to the ever-broadening ranks of the Christian community. Newsweek magazine stated in its July 16, 2001 cover article that “Christian entertainment has emerged from its sheltered infancy and has begun to straddle two worlds: the religious one that created it and the secular one it was designed to avoid.” There is a vast market of women who believe in God, but possess romantic ideals that are sophisticated and 21st century. This is the market for which A Chasing after the Wind was written, a market similar to that of Francine River’s Redeeming Love.

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

It’s different on every book, but generally about nine months—six to write it and about two to edit/revise. A Passion Redeemed was the only exception, because I literally pounded it out in two months while working part-time, which boils done to one month straight to write an almost 500-page book.

But … I hope my readers will be happy to know that for my new series, “The Cousins McClare,” I have negotiated a release date of every nine months instead of every twelve, which means I plan to not only crank on each of these three books, BUT write an O’Connor prequel for Marcy and Patrick in between as well.

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

Sure … here’s my own personal jacket blurb:

The ring on her hand belongs to one man … but her heart belongs to another.

As a battered woman, Emma Malloy fled Dublin for Boston ten years ago, seeking shelter for a heart badly bruised by both her husband and guilt. But when she falls in love with Sean O’Connor, a man who wrestles with demons of his own, fear and shame almost destroy her … until she is finally set free by a heart revealed.

Thank you, Pat, for allowing me to connect with your readers. I LOVE to hear from reader friends, so they can feel free to contact me through my Web site at www.julielessman.com, either by sending an e-mail via my site or by signing up for my newsletter at http://www.julielessman.com/sign-up-for-newsletter/. My newsletter is chock-full of fun info on my books and there’s always a contest featuring signed book giveaways including one right now to have a character named after you or a loved one in my next book. Also, I have a cool feature on my website called “Journal Jots” (http://www.julielessman.com/journal-jots1/), which is a very laid-back, Friday journal to my reader friends that would give your readers an idea as to my relaxed style of writing. Then finally, I can be found daily at The Seekers blog (http://seekerville.blogspot.com/), a group blog devoted to encouraging and helping aspiring writers on the road to publication.


Thank you, Julie, for this very rich and informative interview! Here are the titles from Julie's first series, Daughters of Boston....



Daughters of Boston Series





If you leave a comment this week to win Julie Lessman's book A Heart Revealed, 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)









Sunday, August 14, 2011



August's Painting: The Indian's Vespers ~ Asher Durand

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 on Am His Books, it's a delight to hi-light Sarah Sundin's Blue Skies Tomorrow, the third and final book in her Wings of Glory Series.




Sarah Sundin




And for a special treat to get you "In the Mood" as you read about Sarah's latest story, let Glenn Miller and his orchestra take you back to a time where you can imagine Ray and Helen dancing to this great American music....







Title: Blue Skies Tomorrow
Author: Sarah Sundin
Publisher: Revell


Lt. Raymond Novak prefers the pulpit to the cockpit, but at least his stateside job training B-17 pilots allows him the luxury of a personal life. As he courts Helen Carlisle, a young war widow and mother who conceals her pain under a frenzy of volunteer work, the sparks of their romance set a fire that flings them both into peril. After Ray leaves to fly a combat mission at the peak of the air war over Europe, Helen takes a job in a dangerous munitions yard and confronts an even graver menace in her own home. Will they find the courage to face their challenges? And can their young love survive until blue skies return?

Blue Skies Tomorrow, the third book in the Wings of Glory series, follows the three Novak brothers, B-17 bomber pilots with the US Eighth Air Force stationed in England during World War II. Each book stands alone.

Booklist: In her third WWII-set Christian romance (after A Distant Melody and A Memory between Us, both 2010), Sundin skillfully addresses several difficult issues and invests her protagonists with the resilience of hope born out of faith.

RT Book Reviews: Four and a Half Stars. With strong historical detail and superb characters, this may be the best yet. A great read for those who love romance, WWII-era settings or just satisfying stories.

If you like great love stories, especially ones set in the 1940's, you won't want to miss this book. Sarah captures the era perfectly. Whether we're talking life on the home front or battles in the skies over Germany, she doesn't miss a thing. –Dan Walsh, author of The Unfinished Gift and The Homecoming.

Blue Skies Tomorrow is a stunning conclusion to Sarah Sundin’s Wings of Glory Series. What I love about Sarah’s books is that her characters are flawed or have great obstacles to overcome, but falling in love doesn’t erase those problems and often highlights them. She brings her characters through the fire of their shortcomings, and as the romance develops, so does trust, accountability, and even being willing to let go of the other person. –Carla Stewart, author of Chasing Lilacs and Broken Wings.





To visit Sarah: http://www.sarahsundin.com









....And once again, our Guest of Honor for August, Am His Books presents Laura Franz and her latest release, The Colonel's Lady.


Laura has graciously answered a few questions about her writing journey that will encourage both readers and writers of Christian historicals.




~ Laura, when did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

This may sound strange but I “knew” since about age 7. My mom came into my dad’s office one day and I had a book on ships open on the desk and told her I was writing a story about the sea. Wish I still had that one! I was always an avid reader and have such wonderful memories of those little historical biographies of famous people like Daniel Boone and Dolly Madison, etc. I still remember where they were on the shelf of that old library which no longer exists except in my imagination.

~ How did you prepare? College courses? Workshops? Books on Craft?

It’s been said that in order to master something you need to do that something for 10,000 hours. Since I wasn’t published until my 40’s, I spent countless hours writing since childhood. I read so much of everything I could get my hands on, including encyclopedias, so I like to say books were my teachers. I never had any formal training though I did graduate with a college degree in English. I have a collection of craft books and those by James Scott Bell are my favorites. However, I don’t understand many craft books and don’t remember the rules when I write. I guess I’m more an intuitive writer than an educated one.

~ What prompts you to write stories set in colonial America? Is there a family connection?

My family (mother’s side), came from Virginia to Kentucky in the 18th century and still reside there. They settled an area known as Blanton Flat which is marked with a sign to this day and has a graveyard back in the hills and hollows full of Blanton bones. We don’t know much about them other than their names and occupations and dates of arrival, etc. We do know that these family founders, William and Nancy, came into Kentucky with a few slaves, sadly, and settled far off the beaten path in a very dangerous place. I’d love to know what drove them from Virginia and why they chose that particular area of Kentucky to settle in.

~ Your books appear to be strongly character-driven; do you consider this "Deep POV"?

I do now. Actually, I didn’t know what that meant until a couple of years ago when others started telling me that about my writing. I do try to employ all the senses in a scene and really get into the character’s head and heart. If this is Deep POV then I’m glad to do it.

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

Oh, that’s a trick question! I’d like to say Liz Curtis Higgs as she’s my personal favorite for historical, but at the time I worked on that proposal I think I likened my style to Janice Holt Giles which is even more grandiose. Giles was an amazing Kentucky author who penned realistic, heartbreaking stories about those first settlers with so much skill and grace.

~ How many years/stories did you write before the first one was accepted?

Too many! Hmmm. I wrote several historicals including a Dances With Wolves type sequel, a Gone With the Wind work, a gothic mystery, and even the sequel to The Frontiersman’s Daughter which my publisher didn’t ask to see. Over the years I probably wrote 7 or more actual books and began many stories that I didn’t finish. I was always dabbling, writing, reading.

~ Are you working on your next book? (Maybe a quick sentence or two of what it's about to whet our appetites? :)

Two sisters. One man. When he chooses one, will the other destroy their love?



Book of the Month....The Colonel's Lady

Author: Laura Frantz
Publisher: Revell




Other books by Laura Frantz....







Thank you, Laura! If you'd like follow up on Laura's visit, stop in to say hello at:
www.laurafrantz.net





If you leave a comment this week to win Sarah Sundin's book Blue Skies Tomorrow, your name will also be included in a drawing at the end of the month for The Colonel's Lady by Laura Frantz, plus a chance to win the 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)



























Wednesday, July 6, 2011



"Harriman, New York--Overlooking the Hudson"


American Historical Christian Fiction

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.

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





Since I'm celebrating Independence Day throughout the month of July, I will have as guests two great authors who write about Early America--MaryLu Tyndall and Joan Hochstetler.

For this week only: Christine Lindsay's exotic tale of romance and adventure in India: Shadowed in Silk.

So it's something for everyone, folks!

(Book giveaways are offered for all the weekly authors)and your name will also be included in a drawing for the Independence Day Gift Basket at the end of the month. The basket will include: a book, flags, hand-made doll of the period (colonial or federalist), and a Chinese silk hand fan, comes with MaryLu Tyndall's or Joan Hochstetler's books-- and will be offered to everyone who has left comments during the month--even if you've won a weekly drawing!


You also have an opportunity to download a free copy of MaryLu Tyndall's book, "Surrender the Heart" right here!




....or win a copy of her book in the Gift Basket giveaway,"Surrender the Night". And please don't forget to check her Book Trailer (top right of this blog) for a preview of her latest book to be released in August: "Surrender the Dawn". Both books are published by Barbour.




Surrender the Night
Publisher: Barbour
Author: MaryLu Tyndall


A timid American farm girl at the mercy of the enemy. . .

A wounded British sailor driven into hiding. . .

Both are about to change the course of history forever.


When British soldiers invade Baltimore amid the War of 1812, Rose McGuire, alone on her family farm, is easy prey for a brutal lieutenant. In the midst of the attack, she’s saved by British 2nd Lieutenant Alexander Reed. Will she now have to heal, as well as hide, this enemy soldier?

Alex hadn’t meant to kill his superior, nor get shot in the process. Now badly wounded, he’s at the mercy of this tomboy who obviously hates him. Can he trust her or will she turn him over to the Americans?

Rose is having trouble keeping Alex hidden from her family, the townspeople, and the man intent on courting her. Will the discovery of Alex’s presence force her to accept an abhorrent proposal?

As their love blooms, trouble looms, for the British are on the move again. This time, their target is Washington DC. Will these young lovers at heart find themselves enemies at war?




This week, it's my very great pleasure to introduce a British author (yes--you read that right!) Christine Lindsay, who has graciously offered an interview and trailer for her new book, Shadowed in Silk by Whitefire Publishing. Her own story is one of inspiration and hope.

Shadowed in Silk
Publisher: Whitefire Publishing






Author: Christine Lindsay






When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

Right after I was reunited with my birth-daughter---the child I had relinquished to adoption when she was 3 days old. Twenty years later we met, and seeing this beautiful grown up girl brought back all the pain of losing her in the first place. The Lord nudged me to write out my pain in fiction so that I could share how He brought emotional healing into my life. So, like a lot of authors, my loss became my muse.

How did you prepare? College courses? Workshops? Books on Craft?

All of the above. I took creative writing courses at university, attended writing conferences with ACFW being the most helpful, and bought a number of books. My short list of recommendations is: James Scott Bell's ''Plot and Structure', Dave King and Renee Brown's 'Self Editing for Fiction Writers', Noah Lukeman's 'First Five Pages.

Why did you enjoy writing this book-- What prompted you to write a story set in India?

I'm British, so I grew up on British stories set in the British Empire back when there was an empire. I devoured MM Kayes blockbuster novels like Far Pavilions and Shadow of the Moon. So I wanted to write a book that I enjoyed reading, but with a Christian viewpoint. To British people, India is like the Wild West to Americans. I hoped to interest American readers in that exotic and flamboyant era. But we all have different tastes, and thank the Lord for that.


Do you have other work besides writing; and if so, how do you manage to balance both?

It's a constant struggle, and one that affects a lot of writers. I pray a lot and ask the Lord to set my agenda for the day. I ask Him to help me know what's important for that day---marketing, editing, working on the current WIP, or going out to the day job.


How many years/stories did you write before the first one was accepted?

I've been seriously pursuing writing and publication for about 8 years now. Shadowed in Silk is my 2nd fully completed manuscript. Only a year ago I thought this novel was dead and buried, but God has an amazing way of bringing things back to life in His timing. If He wants a thing to happen, it will happen. Whatever He wants to do with my writing ministry is entirely up to Him. I can rest in whatever level of success He wants to give me---small or large. After all, it's really His business what He does with my life.

What's your next book/release date we can look forward to? (Maybe a quick sentence or two of what it's about to whet our appetites? :)

The sequel of Shadowed in Silk comes out Autumn 2012, and the title is Captured by Moonlight. This story takes up with Eshana, the young former Hindu widow who is now a follower of Christ, and Laine Harkness, the English nurse. Eshana will be captured and physically imprisoned for not living like a Hindu widow, and Laine will be imprisoned emotionally for losing not one love in her life but 2. Only God can release these 2 women from the imprisonment.

Thank you so much Pat, for having me as a guest on your blog. It's truly an honor.

Here are some comments from other well-known authors about Christine's Shadowed in Silk.

"Shadowed in Silk will keep you up long past your bedtime—each time you want to put it down, you tell yourself, just one more page, just one more page…" Ruth Axtell Morren author of Love Inspired Historicals



"Shadowed in Silk took me away to a time and place I'd never been and immersed me in an intriguing story. Political unrest, suspense, romance, well-developed characters, and a strong spiritual thread. What more could a reader ask for? I highly recommend this book."
--Lena Nelson Dooley, award-winning author

Christine will be offering a giveaway of either an ebook or hard copy of Shadowed in Silk to someone whose name is drawn when they leave a comment this week. Please don't forget to leave your e-mail.

And please check out the beautiful trailer (below)for this inspirational story of India!






To round out the month of July, I'm presenting author J.M. Hochstetler Joan's books are not only packed with adventure and romance, but are impeccably researched--she has the unique ability to place you in the thick of battle, and to show the way it truly was during the American Revolution! And in times like these, when few Americans are able to recall the price that was paid--and is still being paid--to safe-guard those valuable historical lessons and freedoms, Joan's books are gems in American story-telling. For further information:

http://www.jmhochstetler.com/
http://theamericanpatriotserie.com/
http://theamericanpatriotseries.blogspot.com/







Daughter of Liberty
Publisher: Zondervan
Author J.M. Hochstetler






Native Son
Publisher: Zondervan
Author: J.M. Hochstetler






Wind of the Spirit
Publisher: Sheaf House
Author: J.M. Hochstetler




Don't forget: leave a comment to win a weekly book--and to be included in the drawing for the Independence Day Gift Basket with MaryLu's Surrender the Night and Joan's Daughter of Liberty or Wind of the Spirit. (Native Son is all sold out, but used copies are freely available on Amazon, and you can also get it on Kindle and Nook).





Blessings on your week, everyone!




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"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)

Friday, June 17, 2011



"Harriman, New York--Overlooking the Hudson"


American Historical Christian Fiction

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.

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

....And please stop in to Colonial Quills for a special Fourth of July Celebration!




Since I'm celebrating Independence Day throughout the month of July, I will have as guests two great authors who write about Early America--MaryLu Tyndall and Joan Hochstetler. And for this week only: Tom Blubaugh with his engaging story of Russian history and adventure for Young Adults, and Marianne Evans introducing her sweet contemporary romance. So it's something for everyone, folks!

(Book giveaways are offered for all these authors).

A special Independence Day Gift Basket which includes a book, flags, hand-made doll of the period (colonial or federalist), and a Chinese silk hand fan, comes with MaryLu Tyndall's and Joan Hochstetler's books.


You will have an opportunity to download a free copy of MaryLu Tyndall's book, "Surrender the Heart"....




....or win a copy of her book,"Surrender the Night". And please don't forget to check her Book Trailer (near the top right of this blog) for a preview of her latest book to be released in August: "Surrender the Dawn". Both books are published by Barbour.




Surrender the Night
Publisher: Barbour
Author: MaryLu Tyndall


A timid American farm girl at the mercy of the enemy. . .

A wounded British sailor driven into hiding. . .

Both are about to change the course of history forever.


When British soldiers invade Baltimore amid the War of 1812, Rose McGuire, alone on her family farm, is easy prey for a brutal lieutenant. In the midst of the attack, she’s saved by British 2nd Lieutenant Alexander Reed. Will she now have to heal, as well as hide, this enemy soldier?

Alex hadn’t meant to kill his superior, nor get shot in the process. Now badly wounded, he’s at the mercy of this tomboy who obviously hates him. Can he trust her or will she turn him over to the Americans?

Rose is having trouble keeping Alex hidden from her family, the townspeople, and the man intent on courting her. Will the discovery of Alex’s presence force her to accept an abhorrent proposal?

As their love blooms, trouble looms, for the British are on the move again. This time, their target is Washington DC. Will these young lovers at heart find themselves enemies at war?






It is my pleasure to present an interview with author J.M. Hochstetler Joan's books are not only packed with adventure and romance, but are impeccably researched--she has the unique ability to place you in the thick of battle, and to show the way it truly was during the American Revolution! And in times like these, when few Americans are able to recall the price that was paid--and is still being paid--to safe-guard those valuable historical lessons and freedoms, Joan's books are gems in American story-telling. For further information:

http://www.jmhochstetler.com/
http://theamericanpatriotserie.com/
http://theamericanpatriotseries.blogspot.com/







Daughter of Liberty
Publisher: Zondervan
Author J.M. Hochstetler




When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

I was a voracious reader from the time I made friends with Dick and Jane, but strangely enough as a young person I never had any ambition whatsoever to be a writer. The only writing I did was a bit of nonfiction and poetry in high school, and then I wrote for the newspaper published at the regional campus of the university I attended until moving to the main campus. I don’t recall writing any fiction at all. I really wanted to be an artist, not a writer. But then I got married and had babies, and I lost the motivation.

Then in 1977 I had this dream. Seriously, I had a dream one night that was so intriguing it kept haunting me. I finally realized that if I was going to make any sense of it, I was going to have to figure out who the characters were and what their story was, and the only logical way to do that was to write it all down. That turned into my medieval epic tragedy, which I swear I will get published someday! Anyway, that was the beginning of my life of adventure, intrigue, war, and romance.

How did you prepare? College courses? Workshops? Books on Craft?

To be honest, the classic stories I’ve read over the years were a better preparation for writing than anything else. As far as formal training is concerned, history has been a major interest of mine since I was in high school, and I minored in history and English in college. When I began to write I read craft and markets books and attended a lot of writers conferences, all of which helped me to develop enough knowledge about the business and the courage—or masochism…hmmm…maybe that should be sado-masochism—to start sending out submissions.

Why do you enjoy writing historicals? (and anything more you want to add to this—anything particularly special about a certain time/setting etc.) Would you consider yourself an expert on the American Revolution?


History has been a major interest of mine since I was in high school. I was raised a Mennonite, and faith, family, church, and community are very important to the Amish and Mennonites. The Hochstetler family has an especially interesting history that’s well known in the community and is regularly recounted. So that had a powerful impact on my life and interests.

Early on I developed a love of research. I love to learn about the lives of people in earlier times, and then bring the past to life for readers, especially for those who think they hate history. One of my greatest rewards is when I hear back from readers who loved my books and mention that they never enjoyed history in school, but that my stories brought the era to life for them. I love that! That’s exactly what I’m trying to do.

Over the years I’ve read, researched, and studied a wide range of resources on the American Revolutionary period, so I guess that qualifies me to be somewhat of an expert. I just wish I had more time to focus on it than I do.


Native Son
Publisher: Zondervan
Author: J.M. Hochstetler




Do you have other work besides writing; and if so, how do you manage to balance both?

I founded my own small press, Sheaf House, in 2006, and in 2008 we released our first 3 titles. That’s something I never anticipated. But the Lord called me to do it, and where I lack ability, God is supplying more than abundantly.

Balancing publishing with writing is daily challenge. Sheaf House business tends to override my writing time, but I’m learning how to protect the time I do have to focus on my own projects. I try to write on weekends, early in the mornings, and later in the evening and focus on Sheaf House during the late morning and in the afternoon. That seems to be working pretty well.

How many years/stories did you write before the first one was accepted?

I began writing in 1977 and got my first publishing contract in November 2002. I wrote 4 books during that time, and my first book was the one that was published first. A lot of life happened in those years!

What’s your next book/release date we can look forward to? (A quick sentence or two of what it’s about to whet our appetites? :)

Currently I’m working on book 4 of my American Patriot Series, Crucible of War, which is set to release in Spring 2012. This volume is going to cover the very end of 1776, and then pretty much all of 1777, from the battles of Trenton and Princeton through the Battle of Saratoga, a crucial period for the Revolution. It’s also going to delve more deeply into the political situation than any of the previous volumes have.

Of course, there will be lots of complications and delicious romantic tension between Elizabeth and Jonathan, not to mention between several of the secondary characters. Pieter Vander Groot’s fortunes will undergo a dramatic change, and there will be a wrenching development in Charles Andrews and Blue Sky’s story. This volume also ends on a cliffhanger that will hopefully keep readers looking forward to the next book in the series. In fact, I plan to include Chapter 1 of Valley of the Shadow at the end so my readers will get an idea of the resolution and won’t kill me!


Wind of the Spirit
Publisher: Sheaf House
Author: J.M. Hochstetler




You can be in the drawing of an Independence Day Gift Basket for MaryLu's Surrender the Night and Joan's Daughter of Liberty or Wind of the Spirit. (Native Son is all sold out, but used copies are freely available on Amazon, and you can also get it on Kindle and Nook). Drawings for the Gift Basket will be held at the end of the month, and anyone who has left a comment, or won any of the weekly books is eligible for the Basket drawing.





Night of the Cossack
Publisher: Bound by Faith
Author: Tom Blubaugh


As an educator, it is now my very great pleasure to present the Young Adult novel "Night of the Cossack" by Tom Blubaugh. Not only is the story exciting, but Tom takes us to a unique time and place in history that should be examined more closely by young readers. Out of his personal history, Tom has given us a story that is not only entertaining to read but tells us more about the Cossacks, and a time in Russia when it was dangerous to be a Jew.

In thinking about whether I would post this book for the celebration of America's Independence Day, I decided what better time than to present a story which contrasts the wonderful and hard-won freedoms we still enjoy in this country today, with those that people are still fighting for all over the world. This story should be in every school library in the nation!




"In Night of the Cossack, Tom Blubaugh has created an interesting fictional account of a young boy facing a series of tough life-or-death decisions when forced into the life of a Cossack soldier. Readers are sure to be entertained by this tale of Nathan Hertzfield's life, his struggle to maintain the upstanding character and morality set forth by his mother." -Author Michelle Buckman, Christy award finalist.




For more information:
http://www.tomyblu.com/




To draw Independence Day to a close, I'd like to hi-light award-winning, multi-published author, Marianne Evens and her latest book, "A Face in the Clouds" (Sort of saving the frosting on the cake til last! :)


Title (contemporary)A Face in the Clouds
Publisher: White Rose Press
Author: Marianne Evans





AUTHOR BIO:

Marianne Evans is a multi-published author of contemporary romance novels. Her professional career began when Kensington Publishing purchased her book, Friends & Lovers. Her second offering, Right Hand Man, followed shortly thereafter. Her third release from Kensington, Hannah’s Heart, won critical acclaim from reviewers and in the local media.

Her fourth book is her inspirational romance debut at White Rose Publishing – an award-winning novel entitled Hearts Crossing. Hearts Crossing led to the creation of a four-book Christian romance series: The Woodland Series. Book 2, Hearts Surrender, released in late 2010 with Books 3 and 4 – Hearts Communion and Hearts Key, slated for late 2011 and early 2012 release. A Woodland Series Bonus Story, A Face in the Clouds, is an Easter-themed short story, also from White Rose Publishing.

Recent awards include:

Hearts Crossing:
Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence Finalist
CAPA Finalist
5-Star Review, The Romance Studio
5-Star Review, Coffee Time Romance

Hearts Surrender

Christian Small Publishers Association Book of the Year Finalist
4-Star Review, Romantic Times Magazine
5-Star Review & Book of the Week, The Romance Studio
5-Klover Review & Recommended Read, Kwips & Kritiques

A lifelong resident of Michigan, Marianne is an active member of Romance Writers of America and the Greater Detroit RWA where she served the chapter in a number of capacities, but most notably for two terms as Chapter Treasurer and two terms as Chapter President. She also belongs to the Faith Hope and Love chapter of RWA, American Christian Fiction Writers and the Michigan Literary Network.

Marianne loves to connect with readers ~ find her at:
http://www.marianneevans.com/
http://www.marianneevans.blogspot.com/





A FACE IN THE CLOUDS

Reporter Paul Hutchins is all about finding facts and uncovering the truth. Verification, authenticity and quantification are the fuel of his spirit…Until he falls in love with producer Sandy Pierson.

Sandy sees Christ alive in every aspect of her life. No need for quantified facts. Faith is the fuel of her spirit . But her love for Paul puts her at odds with God's call toward faith and all of its mysteries.

Paul considers Christianity to be well-meaning myth—hyperbole. To Sandy, it’s everything—and she can accept nothing less from the man she loves.
Can a miracle happen? Can the touch of God Himself keep their relationship from shattering?

A FACE IN THE CLOUDS (excerpt)

“I know how deeply you feel things, Paul. You have a wonderful heart. That’s part of why I love you so much. I’m torn in two about my feelings for you.” Sandy’s declaration would have filled him were it not chipped and cracked by the impact of her doubts.

“Your reporter’s instinct toward authenticity and revealing the truth is a big part of what I admire about you. There’s nothing wrong with facing the world honestly, but you need to make room for a few other truths.”

“Like God.”

“Yes, and the fact that life holds as much mystery, and as many intangibles, as it does realistic things you can hold tight with both hands.”

She wanted him to change. Right down to the soul. Paul continued to study her. She was hurt enough that she had almost stepped away from attending tonight’s event—out of a frustrated sense of love. Yet here they were—together—out of a frustrated sense of love.

And if he wasn’t mindful of her beliefs, she’d step away from him.

Paul navigated the rapidly-filling parking lot of Woodland Church. Once they stopped, he killed the car engine and used a restraining hand to keep Sandy in place. He closed the space between them and gave her a kiss that lingered and thoroughly tasted. He felt the gesture ease a bit of the tightness in her shoulders and back. “I’ll keep an open mind, OK?”

She touched his face, and there was yearning in her eyes. “Keep an open heart. That’s much more important.”

If you see any books you may be interested in receiving as a giveaway prize, please leave a comment and your e-mail address!



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"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)