Journal

What's a Writers Retreat?

Last week I went to my first ever writers retreat! If you’re not familiar with this type of event, stick around, and I’ll tell you all about it. This particular retreat was hosted by author Gabrielle Meyer in a historic mansion in her hometown of Little Falls, Minnesota. But before we reached Little Falls, the Bethany House authors stopped in Minneapolis to visit the Bethany House Publishers office. We spent a good chunk of a day there, dividing our time between meetings with our editors, the marketing and publicity team, and of course shared breakfast and lunch. My editor, Jessica Sharpe, and me, and all the pretty books! Photobombing Jaime Jo Wright and Kimberley Woodhouse! Clockwise from top left: Amy Lynn Green, Gabrielle Meyer, Jaime Jo Wright, Julie Klassen, Lauraine Snelling, Kimberley Woodhouse, Regina Jennings, Jocelyn Green, and Karen Witemeyer. Once our time at the BHP office concluded, most of us headed north to check in for the writers retreat! A writers retreat can serve different purposes for different writers, but the general idea is that it’s time away from our routine responsibilities to focus on writing. Or brainstorming with other authors. And also just visiting to various degrees, because writing is such a solitary job that even the introverts among us love connecting with our fellow writers. The mansion we stayed in is called Linden Hill, and it sleeps 26 individuals. This was the room I stayed in. Isn’t it so cute? Photo courtesy of Amy Lynn Green Most rooms sleep two, but I was doubly blessed to have not one but two amazing roommates! Fellow authors Amy Lynn Green (also the senior fiction publicist for Bethany House) and Karen Witemeyer! Amy Lynn Green, Jocelyn Green (are we related? I wish!), and Karen Witemeyer All the meals were provided on site where about twenty of us gathered around two large tables in adjoining dining rooms. It’s amazing how much more time there is in the day when I don’t have to cook or clean up after meals. (Can I get an amen?) Plus there were snacks, and a never ending supply of tea and coffee. Bliss! One of the dining rooms. Photo courtesy Gabrielle Meyer Between meals, we had a choice whether to brainstorm in a group, chat, find a corner to work in, or work downstairs in the conference room. This is the window seat Amy Lynn Green found to hide away in with her laptop. So charming! Photo courtesy Amy Lynn Green In the morning, I joined the brainstorm group with Lorna Seilstad, Julie Fisk, Lauraine Snelling, Kimberley Woodhouse, and Gabrielle Meyer. We each had a turn posing a specific question or plot point we wanted feedback for. It was a fruitful time, and great fun to throw out ideas for other people’s stories. Brainstorming! Photo courtesy Gabrielle Meyer Jenny Snow also came to do a few interviews for her YouTube channel, The Book Club Life. Here she is with the brilliant Michelle Griep. I encourage you to check out Jenny's YouTube channel, it's packed with author interviews and reviews! Find her first interview with me here, and her review of Veiled in Smoke here. Jenny Snow and Michelle Griep. Photo courtesy of Jenny Snow After lunch, I headed down to the conference room to write. That's me in the foreground on the right, looking very thoughtful, and surrounded by greatness. I spy Julie Klassen and Lindsay Harrel in the photo. I was a little distracted, wondering what stories they were penning in my very presence. Want to know what I was working on? An email. The conference room. Photo courtesy Gabrielle Meyer That’s right, I went to a writers retreat and wrote an email. Ha! But I wanted to share with my editors some ideas that had come from the morning brainstorming session. So I consider the day a win, because coming up with ideas takes me longer than you’d think. (I usually have to slog through a number of bad ideas before coming up with something that actually works.) The evening offered group discussion and games that people could opt in or out of. So ended the writers retreat, because the next day was spent at the Mississippi River Readers Retreat—so named because Little Falls is right at the headwaters of the river. What’s a readers retreat, you ask? Hop on over to the next blog post and I’ll tell you. But before you go—If you're writer, have you been to a writers retreat before? What was the experience like for you? If you're a reader, tell me in which setting you'd love to curl up and read a book if you had to choose from the photos in this post: the window seat pictured by Amy Lynn Green, the music room where we had our brainstorming session, the cozy bedroom, or the gazebo outside? *Note: Comments require moderation, so when yours doesn't appear right away, never fear, it's just waiting for me to approve it.

My Summer Reading List

At the beginning of this summer, I made a list of the books I wanted to read, including older titles I've missed as well as newer releases. I may have been a little too ambitious, especially since my reading time will soon be turned into research time for the next novel I need to write. But I've gotten through about half of my hopefuls, and they have all been excellent in different ways! I'll share that list below, along with a few links where you can find these books, too. (This list does not include the books I've read for endorsement, which I'll be happy to gush about closer to their release dates.) 1. Kindred by Octavia E. Butler. General Market Time Travel Fiction "I never realized how easily people could be trained to accept slavery.” ~Kindred. This, I think, is the main theme of this time-traveling book which brings an African-American woman living in 1976 into the lives of her ancestors living in Maryland in the early 1800s. As for genre, the time-travel aspect is fantasy rather than science fiction, because there's no explanation for it, and readers are asked to suspend their disbelief about how such a phenomenon takes place. The point isn't how Dana travels back in time, but what she experiences when she does. It's a powerful story which makes painfully clear how a person would come to accept slavery, whether that person is the enslaved or the master. The immediacy of that history makes for an unsettling read, which I'm sure the author intended. *There is some language in this novel, including repeated use of a racial epithet that was extremely common in the early 1800s. Find it at Goodreads and Amazon. 2. A Rumored Fortune by Joanna Davidson Politano. Christian Historical Romance. A lonely young heiress becomes the poorest wealthy woman in Victorian England when her father dies without telling anyone where he hid his fortune. Can Tressa and the no-nonsense estate manager find the fortune before the greedy relatives get to it first? This book is absolutely beautiful! Every scene carefully woven, every line stitched with care into a seamless tapestry. A Rumored Fortune is full of the most natural and profound metaphors, I was practically cheering as I listened to this on audiobook. Wonderful story, charming characters, an absolute joy to read. Find it at Goodreads, Baker Book House, or Amazon. 3. Lost Roses by Martha Hall Kelly. General Market Historical Fiction. This novel of the Russian Revolution is extremely moving, especially the portrayals of grief and healing from the loss of a spouse. I appreciate that the author gives us perspectives of Russian aristocrats and peasants. The plight of Russian refugees in New York and Paris is fascinating, too. I also loved that the story doesn't end when the war ends. Similar to Lilac Girls, we get to see the aftermath of it. (Speaking of which, Lost Roses has some difficult parts to read, but not nearly so excruciating as what we encounter in Lilac Girls.) Recommended for those who love historical fiction, especially those interested in World War 1 and/or the Russian Revolution. Find it at Goodreads or Amazon. 4. Colors of Truth by Tamera Alexander. Christian Historical Fiction. One year after the end of the Civil War, in Franklin, Tennessee, a town battered and bruised by war, one woman embarks upon an impossible search—and one man must face the past in the very place that almost destroyed him. Tamera Alexander is one of the authors I most admire, and this book is yet another example of why. Her characters are layered and endearing, the plot is full of believable conflict and tension, the pacing is perfect, and the themes are significant and meaningful. There is power in Tamera's writing. Her stories shine light in dark places, offering a beacon of truth and hope. Find it at Goodreads, Baker Book House, or Amazon. 5. John Eyre by Mimi Matthews. General Market Historical Fiction (Classic Retelling). Warning: Once you start this Jane Eyre remix, you won't want to stop. Dripping with moody atmosphere, John Eyre pulls the reader along with just the right amount of tension until the very end. The novel is named for John, but Bertha is the real star of the story, and watching her grow and develop is a fascinating delight. With John Eyre, Mimi Matthews proves she has an impressive range. She delivered a solid gothic retelling just as expertly as she has penned Victorian and Regency romances. Releases July 20. Find it at Goodreads or Amazon. 6. On the Cliffs of Foxglove Manor by Jaime Jo Wright. Christian Time-Slip Fiction. In search of her father's lost goods, Adria encounters an eccentric old woman who has filled Foxglove Manor with dangerous secrets that may cost Adria her life. Centuries later, when the senior residents of Foxglove under her care start sharing chilling stories of the past, Kailey will have to risk it all to banish the past's demons, including her own. Set on the turbulent shores of Lake Superior, this novel has the perfect creepy setting, secrets galore, a Civil War legacy, and enough spookiness to satisfy without being unbelievable. Another masterful tineslip from Jaime Jo Wright. Find it at Goodreads, Baker Book House, or Amazon. 7. The Traitor's Wife by Allison Pataki. General Market Historical Fiction. The fascinating story about the wife of Benedict Arnold. The title's namesake, Peggy Shippen Arnold, seems to have no redeeming qualities whatsoever. I disliked her immensely, but the character of her maid, Clara, helped balance her out in this reading experience. The book offers a better understanding of the man who was ready to betray Washington. In fact, Peggy may not be sympathetic, but the novel helps us at least understand where Benedict was coming from. Find it at Goodreads or Amazon. 8. The Heart's Charge by Karen Witemeyer. Christian Western Historical Romance. On a mission to deliver a baby to a nearby foundling home, Mark Wallace and Jonah Brooks encounter two women who capture their attention. When a handful of urchin children from the area go missing, a pair of Horsemen are exactly what the women need. As they work together to find the children, will these two couples find love as well? This book is so well-written, with a diverse cast of characters who take their faith seriously. A delight to read. Find it at Goodreads, Baker Book House, or Amazon. Remaining Summer Reads The following titles are on my summer wishlist, meaning I hope I get to read or listen to these stories still. I'm linking each title to the Goodreads page so you can look it up if you're intrigued. Sunflower Sisters by Martha Hall Kelly. General Market Historical Fiction. (I'm currently listening to this one.) The Glovemaker by Ann Weisgarber. General Market Western Historical Fiction. (Just started this one.) The Weight of Memory by Shawn Smucker. Christian Contemporary Magical Realism. Just released July 6! And so did The Nature of Small Birds by Susie Finkbeiner (Christian Historical Fiction), by the way, which I read months ago and endorsed! Under the Tulip Tree by Michelle Shocklee. Christian Historical Fiction. A Piece of the Moon by Chris Fabry. Christian Contemporary Fiction. Yours is the Night by Amanda Dykes. Christian Historical Fiction. Releases Aug. 3. Fragments of Light by Michele Phoenix. Christian Time-Slip Fiction. I can think of at least three more summer releases I want to read! But I'll stop here. To keep up with what I'm reading, follow my reviews at Goodreads or follow me on Instagram and/or BookBub. What are you reading this summer?

Cabin Fever? Travel the World with these Books

So much has changed since my last blog post. But for many of us, even though businesses are beginning to re-open in certain areas of the country, we're still not going very far. If you're itching to travel, check out the books below. Some are old enough that libraries may already have them, and some are new releases. Because I am on a rewriting deadline (Monday!), I'm just going to let you click the links to the books' Goodreads pages to read more about the ones that interest you, OK? I hope you find some great ideas in the list below! Australia. Carry Me Home by Dorothy Adamek. Historical,1875. Belgium. High as the Heavens by Kate Breslin. Historical, World War 2. Canada. Between Two Shores by Jocelyn Green. (Yes, me. Sneaky, right?) Historical, Seven Years War (1759). Jody Hedlund also has a new series called The Bride Ships, set in 1860s Canada. China. All the Tea in China by Jane Orcutt. Historical, 1814. Egypt. Kings Falling by Ronie Kendig. (Read Storm Rising, first.) Speculative. England. Lady of Milkweed Manor by Julie Klassen. Historical, Regency era. Or any other book by Julie Klassen. I already talked about Roseanna M. White's Shadows Over England and The Codebreakers series set in England during World War 1 in my last blog post, but they're worth mentioning again, too! There are so many books set in England to choose from. Check out authors Carolyn Miller, Kristi Ann Hunter, Sandra Byrd, Carrie Turansky, Tamara Leigh (medieval!), to name a few. France. The Seamstress by Allison Pittman. Historical, French Revolution. Germany. My Dearest Dietrich by Amanda Barratt. Historical, World War 2. India. A Mosaic of Wings by Kimberly Duffy. Historical, 1885. Iraq. Lion of Babylon by Davis Bunn. Contemporary, thriller. Ireland. Only the River Runs Free by Brock and Bodie Thoene. Historical, 1830s. Israel. A Light on the Hill by Connilyn Cossette. Biblical fiction. Italy. The Girl in the Glass by Susan Meissner. Split time, Renaissance/contemporary. Scotland. Thorn in My Heart by Liz Curtis Higgs. Historical, 1788. A Bound Heart by Laura Frantz is lovely, too (1752), and set in Scotland for the first part of the book before the story moves to America. West Indies. Keturah by Lisa Tawn Bergren, and the rest of The Sugar Baron's Daughters series. Historical, 1772. What are your favorite novels set outside the U.S.?

25+ Ideas for Stay-at-Home Reading

I hope and pray you are safe and learning how to cope and take care of yourself and your family during this global pandemic. Just as you are creating space around you socially, I hope you're also carving out mental space that can be filled with good things completely unrelated to COVID-19, the news, empty grocery shelves, etc. To that end, I'm recommending books that will whisk you away and inspire you. You'll find 5 nonfiction titles, 10 novels, and 10 series to choose from. Did you know that reading just six minutes a day can lower stress by 68%? (But really, who can stop after just six minutes?) Reading gets one's mind off one's own worries and circumstances, brings fresh insights, and has been proven to build our empathy and compassion muscles. Ready? Here we go. Nonfiction *Note: The Bible is not specified in this list because it should go without saying that God's Word is our most important reading of every day. Keys to Bonhoeffer's Haus: Exploring the World and Wisdom of Dietrich Bonhoeffer by Laura M. Fabrycky. An American guide of the Bonhoeffer-Haus in Berlin, the author takes readers on a tour of Dietrich Bonhoeffer's home, city, and world. She shares the keys she has discovered there that unlock what made Bonhoeffer who he was. Adorning the Dark: Thoughts on Community, Calling, and the Mystery of Making by Andrew Peterson. This is written for writers and songwriters, but may have a broader audience. Gems of wisdom tucked into a conversational style. Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh. This very short book is a classic, full of meditations on youth and age, love and marriage, and basically what it means to be a woman. I quote from this book in Free to Lean: Making Peace with Your Lopsided Life. Surprised by Oxford by Carolyn Weber. One of my favorite memoirs. An academic agnostic finds God during graduate study at Oxford University. Once We Were Strangers: What Friendship with a Syrian Refugee Taught Me about Loving My Neighbor by Shawn Smucker. We may need to keep our social distance right now, but this lovely book keeps us thinking about what it means to be a neighbor. Novels *Note: I'm not listing my own titles in these numbered spots, but I sure wouldn't mind if you checked out my new release, Veiled in Smoke, set during and after the Great Chicago Fire. ALSO for you Kindle readers: The Mark of the King is included in the Kindle Unlimited program, and you can read A Refuge Assured and Between Two Shores for free if you are an Amazon prime member. The House at the End of the Moor by Michelle Griep. This Regency England tale just released, and I had the pleasure of endorsing it! Against the Tide by Elizabeth Camden. I just listened to this story about the opium trade in 1800s America, and it might be my favorite by Camden that I've read. The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery. If you enjoyed the Anne books, don't miss this one! It's a lighthearted classic and made me laugh out loud. The Tea Chest by Heidi Chiavaroli. This could be my favorite split-time story from Heidi. I love how she captures the Revolutionary era. A Note Yet Unsung by Tamera Alexander. This is part of a series, but works as a stand-alone just fine. If you love music, you'll adore this one, set in late 19th-century Nashville. The Printed Letter Bookshop by Katherine Reay. One of my favorite contemporary novels. It revolves around a bookstore, so you can't go wrong there! The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Yes, the children's book. But isn't there something comforting about returning to a beloved story? The Frontiersman’s Daughter by Laura Frantz. This was the first book I read by Laura and it remains one of my favorites. If you like frontier fiction, try this. Burning Sky by Lori Benton. Another must-read in the canon of Christian frontier fiction. The main character is a returned captive of Mohawk Indians. Christy by Catherine Marshall. This timeless classic is long enough to keep you busy for a while. I'm going to start reading this out loud with my family tonight. Ask me next month how it went. haha Bonus: Those of you who actually want to read novels with epidemics in them, try I’ll Watch the Moon by Ann Tatlock (polio, 1950s); As Bright as Heaven by Susan Meissner (general market, Spanish flu, 1918); and if you’re extremely brave, Outbreak by Davis Bunn (virus, contemporary). Binge-worthy Series Shadows Over England by Roseanna M. White. Start with A Name Unknown, which I recently read and ADORE. Sunrise at Normandy series by Sarah Sundin. Start with The Sea Before Us. (I also LOVE her very first series, Wings of Glory!) Exotic Pet-Sitter Mysteries by Heather Day Gilbert. Begin with Belinda Blake and the Snake in the Grass. These clean (general market) contemporary cozy mysteries work as stand-alones, too. Mark of the Lion series by Francine Rivers. Start with A Voice in the Wind. A bit heavier than others on this list, but a gold standard in biblical-era fiction. Totally absorbing and inspiring. The Pearl Spence books by Susie Finkbeiner. Start with A Cup of Dust: A Novel of the Dust Bowl. You'll love the child protagonist, Pearl. Vintage National Parks series by Karen Barnett. Begin with The Road to Paradise. These might scratch your itch to travel! Price of Privilege trilogy by Jessica Dotta. Start with Born of Persuasion. The protagonist, Julia, is basically sheltering in place for a big chunk of time in this Gothic England story, so, you know. We can relate. Parish Orphans of Devon series by Mimi Matthews. Start with The Matrimonial Advertisement. Another series set in England in the 1800s, although the second book takes you on a journey to India. These are clean (general market) Victorian regency romances. Under Northern Skies series by Lauraine Snelling. Start with The Promise of Dawn. Norweigian immigrants make a life for themselves in Minnesota. Sweet and hearty stories. Orphan Train series by Jody Hedlund. Start with With You Always. America's orphan trains have always fascinated me.

13 Authors Who Nail Voice

One thing that never fails to draw me into a book is an authentic, captivating voice. If you’re not familiar with that term, I’m referring not to a single character in a scene of dialogue, but to the way the author writes the entire book. It’s an author’s style, and the quality that makes the writing unique. So, authors who write in third person can still have a distinctive “voice” about their work. The list I’ve compiled below, however, refers to a second kind of “voice,” and that is the characteristic speech, thought patterns, and unique point of view of the first-person narrator. I always hesitate when putting together lists of authors because there just isn’t enough room to mention them all. So full disclosure, this is not an exhaustive list! But these are the authors who come to mind when I think of those who really nail their first-person voice in their novels. In alphabetical order by last name, they are: 1. Mesu Andrews. Her novel Isaiah’s Daughter won the Christy Award for historical fiction last year, and just by reading the first couple of sentences, you are already convinced the voice is strong and compelling. Of Fire and Lions releases this week, by the way! 2. Jessica Dotta. Her Price of Privilege trilogy is a stunning study in first-person narration. Begin with Born of Persuasion. 3. Chris Fabry. My favorite of his so far is The Promise of Jesse Woods, which is also a Christy Award winner. I listened to the audiobook, which he narrates himself, and that was a fabulous extra layer to the “voice” of the novel. 4. Susie Finkbeiner. When I read her Pearl Spence novels, starting with A Cup of Dust, I immediately thought of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. The voice of Pearl is one you can just settle into and experience as much as read. It’s also consistent throughout the series, which is no small feat, especially when the narrator is a child, growing older in each book. Now get ready, dear readers, for her upcoming release (June 2019) All Manner of Things, set in the 1960s, and also written in first-person. I do believe its her finest work yet, which I do not say lightly! Prepare yourself to fall in love with Annie Jacobson and her family. 5. Heather Day Gilbert. Heather writes both historical and contemporary, and I love her voice in all of them. But the most impressive to me are her Viking Saga books, God’s Daughter and Forest Child, which garnered a starred review from Publisher's Weekly. She really brings us inside the minds of two Viking women with a surprising level of authenticity. If you like historical fiction, don’t miss these. 6. Susan Meissner. My favorite of hers so far is As Bright as Heaven, which covers the tough topic of the Spanish flu epidemic in Philadelphia. Unique voices of a mother and her daughters make a huge story extremely intimate and personal. 7. Michele Phoenix. Michele’s book The Space Between Words is a split-time novel, giving us voices of a young French Huguenot girl and a young woman who was a victim of a terrorism in Paris. Both storylines and voices are captivating. 8. Allison Pittman. Allison is such a versatile author, able to span centuries and genres with her work. Two of my favorites from her are On Shifting Sand, and her latest work, The Seamstress, which actually combines first-person and third-person points of view. 9. Shawn Smucker. Shawn is another genre-crossing author, writing fiction and nonfiction. The Day the Angels Fell showcases the voice of a young boy, and the sequel, The Edge of Over There, gives us a girl’s perspective. I really enjoy Shawn’s YA books, but I cannot wait for his upcoming release (July 2019) for adults: Light from Distant Stars. 10. Ann Tatlock. My favorite by far from Ann is I’ll Watch the Moon, written from a little girl’s perspective during a polio epidemic in the St. Paul, Minnesota, area. Please do yourself a favor, and read this book. It’s one that I read from the library but loved so much I asked for my own copy for Christmas. 11. Lisa Wingate. Her book Before We Were Yours is tough to read in places, but I loved it for the voice of the child narrator, and for the writing itself. This is another book I listened to first, and then bought the ebook for myself so I could savor the writing all over again. 12. Suzanne M. Wolfe. I was blown away by Suzanne’s book The Confessions of X. The book won a national award, but I think it deserves a lot more street buzz. If you’re looking for something different from the typical historical fiction, check this out. 13. Elizabeth Byler Younts. Her book The Solace of Water just slayed me. There were multiple voices and they were all so distinct and compelling! I listened to this on audiobook, too, and the various accents employed infused the story with even more life. What do you think? Have you read any of these novels? What others would you add to the list?

5 Novelists of Frontier Fiction

Of all my novels, Between Two Shores is set most firmly in the wilderness and involves the most interaction and conflict between native peoples (Mohawk and Abenaki) and European colonists in North America, so it is my most frontier book to date. (Set in New Orleans right after it was founded, The Mark of the King does include some native unrest and negotiating as the French vied for alliances, and A Refuge Assured is partially set in the wilderness of northern Pennsylvania, but with a half-Mohawk heroine in Between Two Shores, my latest release is far more entrenched in native-European relationships.) I'm eager to share with you five other novelists who write frontier fiction, but first, let me invite you to my Book Banter Facebook party for Between Two Shores. It's Tuesday, March 5, 7-8pm Central on this Facebook event page. Hope to see you there! Now. If you’re hungry for more fiction set in the frontier, try any of the following authors: Lori Benton I already mentioned her novel Burning Sky in a blog post here, but I recommend all her books, especially Many Sparrows, The Wood's Edge, and A Flight of Arrows. Wait no, especially all of them. You just can't go wrong with Lori Benton for 18th-century fiction. Laura Frantz Laura Frantz is another no-fail author. Any book you choose from her will leave you wanting more. For books set on the frontier, I recommend The Frontiersman’s Daughter, Courting Morrow Little, The Colonel’s Lady, and A Moonbow Night. Michelle Griep Michelle Griep is perhaps most known for her fiction set in her beloved Regency England. But The Captured Bride, part of the Daughters of the Mayflower series, is set in during the French and Indian War in 1760 with a heroine who was raised in New York by Mohawk people, and her novel The Captive Heart is set in 1770 South Carolina. I love Griep's characterizations and attention to historical detail! J.M. Hochsetler J.M. Hochstetler deserves a lot more buzz than I have seen for her phenomenal research and storytelling skills. She wrote The American Patriot series about the American Revolution, but for today's post, let's focus on her Northkill series: Northkill and The Return. Easily two of the most gut-wrenching books I've encountered, and they are based on real people, captured by a party of Delaware and Shawnee Indians in 1757. Naomi Musch I haven't yet had time to read Mist O’er the Voyageur by Naomi Musch, but the premise is so intriguing! The story opens in 1807 in Montreal and follows a Metis woman who disguises herself as a man to become a voyageur and search for her fur-trader father. Which of these have you read and enjoyed? Which are you adding to your "Want to Read" list? P.S. This is slightly off topic, but you should still know that The Mark of the King is only $1.99 or less as an ebook until March 31. Find it at Amazon, ChristianBook, and BarnesandNoble. The story is about a wrongly imprisoned midwife who trades her life sentence in Paris for exile to the floundering French colony of New Orleans.

What I Read in 2018

This year, according to Goodreads, I read 80 books, many of which I loved! Rather than list all of them for you in this blog post, I'll just share those that fell into natural categories. (You can view my entire reading list on Goodreads here.) This year I tried to read more nonfiction and memoir than I usually do, and I'm so glad I did, even though historical fiction remains by first love. I also tried to read more books that were not new releases, since I miss so many good books every year. Below you'll find a sampling of my 2018 reading year. (If I wasn't on a book deadline to finish writing the next novel, I would link each of these titles to their Goodreads pages, but alas, my work-in-progress is calling my name. Please do feel free to look up any/all of these titles that interest you on Goodreads, a book retail site or your local library!) New or New-to-me Fiction Authors The Solace of Water by Elizabeth Byler Younts Born of Persuasion by Jessica Dotta Ramble and Roar by Catie Codero On Shifting Sand by Allison Pittman Across the Blue by Carrie Turansky Memoir Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore A Place to Land by Kate Motaung Once We Were Strangers by Shawn Smucker All the Colors We Will See by Patrice Gopo Life is So Good by George Dawson A River in Darkness: One Man's Escape from North Korea by Masaji Ishikawa Backlist Award Winners Gilead by Marilynne Robinson (Pulitzer 2005) A Proper Pursuit by Lynn Austin (Christy Award Winner 2008) The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer, Annie Barrows Indies Choice Book Award for Best Indie Buzz Book (Fiction) (2009) Beneath the Surface: Killer Whales, SeaWorld, and the Truth Beyond Blackfish by John Hargrove (Goodreads Choice Winner 2015) The Sentinels of Andersonville by Tracy Groot (Christy Award 2015) Luther and Katharina by Jody Hedlund (ECPA Christian Book Award for Fiction (2016), Christy Award for Historical Romance (2016)) The Confessions of X by Suzanne M. Wolfe (Christianity Today Book Award for Fiction (2017) Long Way Gone by Charles Martin (Christy Award Book of the Year 2017) A Note Yet Unsung by Tamera Alexander (Christy Award 2017, Carol Award 2018) Portrait of Vengeance by Carrie Stuart Parks (Christy Award 2017, Carol Award 2018) 2018 Award Winners or Finalists The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah (Goodreads Choice Winner, Fiction) The Day the Angels Fell by Shawn Smucker (Christy Finalist, Visionary) The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck by Bethany Turner (Christy Finalist, Contemporary Romance) A Dangerous Legacy by Elizabeth Camden (Christy Finalist, Historical Romance) Guilt by Association by Heather Day Gilbert (Christy Finalist, Short Form) 2019 releases I had the pleasure of reading early copies and endorsing the following 2019 releases. Add them to your Want-to-Read shelf! Listed in order of their release, from January to June. A Bound Heart by Laura Frantz The Curse of Misty Wayfair by Jaime Jo Wright The Seamstress by Allison Pittman Whose Waves These Are by Amanda Dykes All Manner of Things by Susie Finkbeiner What are you looking forward to reading in 2019? (Oh! Did you know there is a list of Most Anticipated Christian Fiction for 2019 on Goodreads? You can see it here, and vote for as many as you want! By the way, the voting button doesn't seem to show up on mobile devices. You would have to be on a laptop/desktop for that, I think.) I would be remiss if I didn't mention that in addition to the 2019 releases listed above, I am looking forward to the launch of my historical novel, Between Two Shores on February 5! It's a story of family and belonging set in Canada during the Seven Years' War, and I hope you love it.

Nesting: 5 Ways I Get Ready to Write

Happy fall, friends! September brings many seasonal changes, including, for me, a shift into full-on writing mode for my next novel which is due Feb. 15. In getting ready for this time in my writing cycle, I've been nesting for the last several weeks. It's a way of getting myself mentally and practically prepared for this coming stage of intense work. Here's what I've been up to: 1. Finishing up projects around the home. This summer, that has included repainting my bedroom to match a quilt I made while living in Alaska, donating old toys and clothes the kids have outgrown, and quite a bit of landscaping/yard work. We took out two trees, transplanted a slew of hostas, trimmed, weeded, planted new perennials, and basically went nuts to make up for a few years of being in denial about all the things that needed our attention. There's a lot more to be done, but I have burned out on yard work. 2. Stocking my freezer with meals. I could do more of this, but I have a pretty good start. Meatloaf, chicken enchiladas, a few soups (hallelujah, soup season), Hawaiian chicken, raspberry chicken, ham hashbrown casserole, pork chops.... It's enough for now. I'll probably just double whatever I'm making for dinner several times this month and put one batch in the freezer. When I'm in writing mode, I like to maximize my afternoons and not have to worry about cooking every day. Freezer meals are my saving grace. But I do accept food delivery. From anyone. 3. Lining up fresh teas and Tees. My go-to hot beverage is tea, and my tea drawer has been a bit of a mess. So I've gotten some perfectly-sized tins to help me organize my stash from the Tea Cellar on Main Street in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Pictured below, left to right: Cream Caramel Decaf, Vanilla Bean Flan, Apple Cranberry, and Citrus Sunrise. NOT pictured: Honey Almond, Peaches n'Cream, Cream Earl Grey, Wild Cherry. Yummmm. I've also splurged on a couple of new writing T-shirts, to go with my writing pants (L.L. Bean pajama pants). One of them says "Novel in Progress" and the other says "Read. Write. Repeat." These are not necessary, but I like to think they help get me in the right frame of mind for long writing days. 4. Cleaning my office. By the time I finished writing and editing my last book, Between Two Shores, my office definitely showed signs of a struggle. I need to reset everything to as much of a blank slate as possible before I begin a new story. I need to switch my brainwaves from 1759 Monteal to 1871 Chicago. A clean office gives me space to do that. Across from my L-shaped desk is a little sofa where my kids and cats sometimes come in to hang out. The blank cork boards you see on my desk and leaning against the wall will soon be filled with images related to my next novel-in-progess. 5. Binge-reading. The absolute most fun thing I do while getting ready to write the next book is to read all the books I can without completely neglecting my own family. This includes research books for the next novel, books about the writing craft, and just really good fiction and nonfiction I've been wanting to read for some time. It's impossible to be a great writer without being a great reader. I love this part of my professional development! I read 30+ books this summer, which was a wonderful and necessary replenishing of my creative well. Here is just a sampling of what I've happily devoured: If you're an author, I bet you can relate to this, and I'd love to hear what else you do while nesting for your own book writing period! If you're a reader, tell me how you nest for different seasons!

Author Chat with Laura Frantz!

Happy Release Day to my friend and fellow author, Laura Frantz, for her new novel, The Lacemaker! I'm tickled pink that today of all days, I received my copy of my February release, A Refuge Assured, as well. (Don't they look fantastic side-by-side?) The reason I love seeing them together is that our heroines are related! Laura's story is set in colonial Williamsburg on the eve of the American Revolution. Mine starts in Paris during the French Revolution and quickly moves to Philadelphia in 1794. The connection between the lacemakers was easy to imagine, because lacemaking is typically a tradition passed down from one generation of women to the next. Laura and I had a great time creating a family tree with roots in France, and determining where the branches reached to England before spanning the ocean to America. Our heroines don't interact with each other in either book, but eagle-eyed readers will catch the mention of great-grandmothers they shared in each one. You can read the books in any order--the family connection has no bearing on either plot. It's all just fun for the two of us authors, and hopefully for readers, too. We hope you enjoy reading the tales of both lacemakers! I'm reading and loving The Lacemaker right now. Here's the book blurb: When colonial Williamsburg explodes like a powder keg on the eve of the American Revolution, Lady Elisabeth "Liberty" Lawson is abandoned by her fiance and suspected of being a spy for the hated British. No one comes to her aid save the Patriot Noble Rynallt, a man with formidable enemies of his own. Liberty is left with a terrible choice. Will the Virginia belle turned lacemaker side with the radical revolutionaries, or stay true to her English roots? And at what cost? Historical romance favorite Laura Frantz is back with a suspenseful story of love, betrayal, and new beginnings. With her meticulous eye for detail and her knack for creating living, breathing characters, Frantz continues to enchant historical fiction readers who long to feel they are a part of the story. I'm so happy to have Laura on the blog to chat with us! Here goes: Jocelyn: I love the names of your characters in this book! Liberty and Noble are so full of meaning, and I know you take great care in naming your characters in each novel you write. Can you tell us a little bit about how these two characters fit their names? Laura: Love that these names resonate with you! Noble was simple as it so embodies this hero’s character though it took me quite a while perusing Welsh records for a surname that felt masculine and handsome enough. I’ve always liked the name Libby and felt it might be something her hero calls her outside the drawing room when not using the formal Lady Elisabeth. Naming characters can be tricky so I try to be very careful to the time period while not using the standard Marthas and Janes. Recently, I did a major switch in my heroine’s name for this next frontier novel. I’d begun using Rosemary but found something else far more unique yet historical that fits her far better. So out the window went Rosemary though I still find it lovely! Jocelyn: Ooh! Now I can't wait to find out the name you chose instead of Rosemary. (I do love that name, too.) What surprised you the most as you were doing your research for The Lacemaker? Laura: How far we have come from the handwork of the 18th-century and how different our machine-made lace is today! I’m afraid our 21st-century selves don’t have the patience for true lacemaking. Personally, I don’t have the patience for such detailed work and would probably have to give up everything to devote myself to making it. But it’s truly exquisite and I love the fact that even the humblest women saved for and dreamed about owning even a scrap of lace. Jocelyn: Oh my goodness, I'm no good with needles, even the one in my sewing machine. I can knit a scarf, and that's about it. If you could choose one truth or theme for readers to hang on to after finishing your novel, what would that be? Laura: That no matter how our world is upended through disease, divorce, death, change, etc., God is always working for our ultimate good and that circumstances are temporal but He and heaven are eternal. Romans 8:28 is only one of these promises! Jocelyn: What a timeless and timely reminder. That truth is always in season! Do you have any routines while you write that help get you in the creative mindset? A certain snack or drink, music, a lighted candle or fire in the hearth, time of day, anything like that? Laura: Funny that you ask as I’m writing this by the fireplace with a candle burning! I do reward myself with a 6 oz. Coke Life made with Stevia most afternoons as I’m trying to get away from diet soda. I used to write to music (The Colonel’s Lady was written to the Master and Commander soundtrack) but haven’t done that the past couple of books. Maybe I’ll return to that now that you mention it! Jocelyn: Great soundtrack! I sometimes write to music, too (Braveheart and The Last of the Mohicans among them). What books are on your nightstand right now? Laura: Yours! You’ve always been top of my list and I don’t exaggerate, Jocelyn. I admire your research and the way you layer a novel to lift it above the common historical to name just a couple of things. I also collect Joanne Bischof, Lori Benton, Joan Hochstetler, and too many others to mention here. Plus I’m over the moonbow about Amanda Dykes debut with Bethany House coming up. Anything she touches is magical so I’m thrilled for her and future readers! Heartfelt thanks to you and readers here for your heart for Christian fiction. So blessed by that! Jocelyn: Thank you, Laura!! And I absolutely agree about every other author you mentioned. I collect books by Joanne, Lori, and Joan, and I'm sure I will with Amanda, too! I was fortunate to be able to write a novella in the same collection as Joanne and Amanda last year, along with Heather Day Gilbert and Maureen Lang! Fantastic writers, all. Thank you for being here today, Laura! Get to know Laura Frantz at her Web site here. Find The Lacemaker at Amazon(link is external), Goodreads(link is external), and BarnesandNoble(link is external).

Tags:

Laura Frantz

The Lacemaker

Goodreads Challenge Report for 2017

In January of this year, I set a goal for myself to read 50 books in 2017, which felt daunting since I also needed to write and release books of my own. But reading is really, really important to me, personally and professionally. I can't be a great writer if I'm not also a great reader. According to Goodreads, I've read 60 books, which amazes me! I'm sure my new addiction to Audible greatly helped. I've recommend books throughout the year on my Facebook page, but I thought it would be fun to put a bunch of them all in one place.* I've broken them down into several categories. Which of these books have you also enjoyed? Which of them catch your eye to add your to-read pile? *I have reviewed almost all of these books on Goodreads, so feel free to look up my thoughts there if you'd like. I'm skipping all the linking on this blog post, though, because...it's Christmas time, and I haven't started wrapping gifts. Oh also, I still need to write 1500 more words today in my current work-in-progress. Award Winners Left to right, we have winners of the Carol Award, a Christy Award, and the Goodreads Choice Award. I loved each of these! Contemporary Christian Fiction I lean heavily toward historical fiction, but I'm glad I made time to read these! Time-Slip Fiction This was a fabulous year for timeslip fiction (two stories, one historical, one contemporary, linked in critical and sometimes myserious ways). Historical Christian Fiction Boy did I enjoy my historical fiction this year! Some were newer releases, and some titles had been languishing in my to-read pile for longer than I'd like to tell you. Nonfiction I read LOTS of nonfiction that I didn't track on Goodreads (research for my novels), but here are some highlights I did. Mainstream Fiction My favorite from the mainstream fiction I read this year was The Nightingale and Ordinary Grace, although I will continue to read Geraldine Brooks (my favorite by her is Year of Wonders, but I read that years ago). Classics The first three in this batch were read-alouds to my kids. (It was my second time reading Anne and Laura.) Advance Copies I had the privilege of reading advance copies for several books this year. One was my critique partner's, one was to write the foreword (Chrsitian Publishing 101) and the rest were for endorsement. You're all in for a treat next year! Currently Reading Last but not least, here is what I'm reading now, in addition to the Bible, of course. Yes, it's a lot. This is my m.o., though, nothing to be alarmed about. I am a polygamous reader. What have been some stand-out reads for you in 2017?

Search form

Pages