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​1. What inspired the idea for Jayne's Endeavour?
It was after watching Little Women, that I came up with the first spark of an idea! I can clearly remember flopping down on my bed with a notebook, all inspired! I still have that notebook, and the idea really wasn’t much to go on—but from little things, big things grow! :) I wanted to capture the close family relationships (and of course I loved the historical feel!), but without some of the other things that I didn’t like as much in the movie. I also knew that there was a lack of Australian, faith-based fiction. And so the idea was born!
 
2. What did you as an author take away from writing Jayne's Endeavour?
Well, the project as a whole has taught me a lot of perseverance! It’s also so amazing seeing how God cares for us on a daily basis—providing a scene, the right sentence, or the next plot point! From the story itself, I guess I learnt and explored the themes right along with Jayne! Really trying to think of God as my Father. And coming to an understanding that true joy isn’t based on what’s going on around us, but that we can have true joy when our delight is in God—no matter what!
 
3. Who is your favorite character in this story and why?
Oh! This is kind of hard . . . I really enjoyed so many of the characters in Jayne’s Endeavour. Each was fun to write in their own way!! Of course Jayne is the character I spent the most time exploring! So she is a definite favourite. But apart from her, I liked Jed (some of his speech I patterned off my grandfather, who passed away a few years ago, so when I read back over those parts, it has sweet memories). And then there’s Mrs Arthur, a more minor character—all of her funny sayings and well-intentioned ways make me smile. Ok! I should stop there before I list everyone!
 
4. When you are not writing, what other activities do you enjoy?  Do you have a day job?
I don’t have an official fulltime job, but I find plenty of ways to keep busy alongside the rest of my family! God sends along so many opportunities! :D I love playing the harp, teaching my piano students, pottering around in my new herb garden, hosting Israeli travellers, crocheting, and playing music with my sisters at nursing homes or wherever else the opportunity arises. :D
 
5. Who are some of your favorite authors?
Hmm . . . It’s too hard to pick a favourite author! :D So rather than do that, I’ll go ahead and list a few books I really enjoy! Alone Yet Not Alone by Tracy Leininger Craven, Til We Meet Again by Ray and Betty Whipps (this one is in my favourite genre—narrative non-fiction!), and Within These Walls by Robyn Bavati (a fellow Australian author). Oh! And one other book I read and really enjoyed lately was Through All Things by Malachi Cyr.
 
6. As a debut author, what do you wish you would have known about writing prior to writing this story?
:D Don’t edit your first drafts excessively!! It wastes time and keeps you bogged down rather than moving forward to explore more of the story! There’s plenty of time for polishing later, when things are more final! 

Stories where every underdog has his day
Kathleen L. Maher’s first crush was Peter Rabbit, and she’s loved conflicted heroes ever since. She has two novellas in BARBOUR BOOKS' collections: Victorian Christmas Brides and Lessons on Love. Winner 2012 ACFW Genesis Award. Author of Sons of the Shenandoah Series: The Abolitionist's Daughter and The Chaplain's Daughter. 
Kathleen and her husband live in an old farmhouse in upstate NY with their children and a small menagerie.

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Thank you so much for having me here today. *Waving at your readers*
​
My Irish eyes are smiling, because I have a special book release for St. Patrick’s Day, which has a hint of my Irish family history in it. 

1. What inspired the idea for this story?
Funny you should ask. My mother loved telling the old tales of relatives who lived long before me, and there was one in particular that sparked my imagination. Apparently, my great, great grandmother was quite a character. Katherine Meeghan lived in New York City, a first-generation Irish immigrant. Her courtship was quite colorful.  She had two suitors interested in her, a doctor and a violin instructor, and she couldn’t decide which she liked better, so she made them run a foot race to determine which one she would allow to court her.
Though the inspiration for my fictional heroine was only a child during the Civil War, she did witness some of the aftermath of what was an infamous and tragic event known as the Irish draft riots. In my story, I have juxtaposed my heroine Rose Meehan’s courtship within the timeframe of this little-known slice of New York City Civil War history.
 
2. What did you as an author take away from writing this story?
My takeaway from researching my story’s historical backdrop is that we can become so entrenched in our own ways of life, our traditions, our values and deeply held beliefs, that our near-sightedness can lead to us making wrong assumptions about others if we don’t purposefully see others through the lens of Jesus’s love.
 
 
3. What type of research did you do for this story?
Some of what I learned was not pretty, but it is important history. During the Civil War, the death tolls on both sides were very steep, and the war went on much longer than anyone thought. Two years into the war, with dwindling manpower to win the conflict, President Lincoln signed the Conscription Act, and ordered a draft.

What was a bad situation turned worse, because the wealthy could buy their way out of the draft with a $300 commutation fee, but the poor could not. Furthermore, free black men were exempt from the draft. Though many freedmen dearly wanted to serve, and did, they could not be drafted because they were not yet considered citizens. Many immigrant Irish felt a profound sense of unfairness at this, which was only compounded by the fact that when they were called away to fight, they would lose their jobs to freedmen, their primary competition for the types of unskilled labor many of them worked. As a result, protests broke out in Manhattan, at first aimed at the draft offices, but sadly, turning into violent riots aimed at black neighborhoods and people.

In the midst, there were instances of heroism and noble acts. Not all Irish behaved with such ugly malevolence. Some stood between the rioters and their targets. In my story I show a fictionalized account of one such true event, a redemptive moment in the midst of chaos and tragedy.
 
 
4. Who is your favorite character in the story and why?
I have to go with Rose, my heroine. She’s an amalgam of all the Irish women in my family—funny, spontaneous, and a little hard-headed. She has a learning curve in the story, as she starts out as a bit of a flirt, and also suffers ignorance regarding people of different ethnicities. But with the help of one of her suitors, she matures into a lady of more noble character, while not losing a bit of her fun-loving personality.
 
 
5. When you are not writing, what else do you enjoy doing? 
I love spending time gardening, decorating, and collecting vintage kitchenware. I also paint wildlife and pet portraits. I’m a real animal lover. I’m owned by cats, dogs, and a parakeet. And any time there is a good book or movie, especially if it is historical romance, I love getting lost in another time period. Sadly, I am not the reader I once was. Vision issues and time constraints have cut into my reading affair. Aside from all of that, I LOVE social media, such as Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram.  Have a bit of an addiction, methinks. ;-) 

Also, I am in a huge Rafflecopter giveaway with another Christian historical author. Please take a moment to enter for your chance to win one of these great prizes!

Raffle copter runs from March 9-18th Grand prise is $50 Amazon GC.  Enter the giveaway HERE.

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day. The luck of the Irish be with you!

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​1. What inspired the idea for Desert Willow?
Desert Willow is a love song to the City of El Paso, to family, and to Prince Harry.
 
It started as a NaNoWriMo project in 2015 and has a lot of my grandma’s history in it—life in the German colonies of the south of Brazil, the beginning of the shoe industry there, and the story of the most influential man her town has ever known, my great-grandfather.
 
And what does that have to do with El Paso and Prince Harry?
 
Well, my Prince Harry lookalike, a young Army captain named Andrew Lee James who lives in El Paso, is helping the protagonist deliver her grandmother’s last love letter, a letter she was urged to write all those years ago after what happened in Brazil.
 
2. What did you as an author take away from writing Desert Willow?
I enjoyed writing this romance and writing deep third person POV for the first time, but I discovered that I’m more comfortable writing first person POV women’s fiction, like my debut, A Season to Dance. I also discovered that I prefer taking my time when writing a novel.
 
3. Who was your favorite character to write in this story?
The contemporary story of Clara (protagonist) and Andrew was fun to write because I’ve been around the Army since the nineties. What I enjoyed the most about writing this novel was making all the connections and showing how the actions of a distant past affect and inform the modern story so deeply.
 
4. What type of research did you do for this story?
I asked my mom a lot of questions about the history of Campo Bom.
 
5. What is your favorite season?  Why?
 
Spring! Flowers, baby animals, perfect temperatures…
 
6. What is something about you that might surprise your readers?
I love my day job. I’m an Army Special Operations Forces civilian employee, and there isn’t a thing I would rather do with my life. What a privilege to serve alongside America’s best, helping them in the fight against our Nation’s adversaries.

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Rachelle Rea Cobb has history with words. She penned her first short story in middle school, her first novel right out of high school, and signed a three-book publishing contract right after college. Her Steadfast Love series (from WhiteFire Publishing) and 2020 release, Follow the Dawn (Illuminate Publishing) are set during the Dutch Revolution. She is also the author of Write Well, a short writing guide designed to teach the structure of good writing. Rachelle is a freelance editor, an author of six books, and voracious reader. If you're looking for her, check the bookstore. In 2016, she married a man with the same name as her fictional hero and they live happily ever after in a fixer-upper by the sea. She's a fan of chai and lemonade (though definitely not together)!

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1) What inspired the idea for Follow the Dawn?
Anna is actually the sister of a character in the Steadfast Love series. Although that series ended happily, I couldn’t quite place my finger on Anna’s happily ever after, so I decided to start writing and find out! 


2. What did you as an author take away from writing Follow the Dawn?
I never write a book that doesn't change me ... and I think that's the way it should be. If authors leave a little of themselves on the page, the stronger the book will undoubtedly be! Anna taught me about overcoming betrayal and tragedy and reaching out to hold tight-fisted to hope and love and faith!
 

3. Who is your favorite character in the story?
Titus is Tudder's son and we first meet him in the Steadfast Love series. He waltzed onto the scene and stole the show in some ways. I'm delighted he gets even more screen time in this book!
 

4. How did you decide that you wanted to write in this specific time period for this book?
The Elizabethan time period has always been my favorite! I am continually drawn back to the political intrigue, dynastic turnovers, religious upheaval, and cultural changes. The whole century fascinates me. But I'm super glad to live in a time with indoor plumbing and Internet. ;)

5. When you are not writing, what else do you like to do?  What hobbies do you have?  Do you have a day job?
I do have a day job! I serve our church as an Executive Assistant and adore my work there. As for hobbies, I love to read. ;) I also enjoy trying new recipes, visiting thrift and antique stores with my husband, and our first little one is due to join us in April, so I imagine my "free time" will change significantly when we meet her! I am thrilled about our little blessing.

Kathleen Denly lives in sunny Southern California with her loving husband, four young children, and two cats. As a member of the adoption and foster community, children in need are a cause dear to her heart and she finds they make frequent appearances in her stories. When she isn’t writing, researching, or caring for children, Kathleen spends her time reading, visiting historical sites, hiking, and crafting. 
 
Waltz in the Wilderness is Kathleen’s debut novel and the first in a series of three stand-alone historical Christian romance novels connected by secondary characters and their beautiful Southern California setting.
 
Kathleen would love it if you visited her website at KathleenDenly.com. You can also connect with her on social media: ​

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1. What inspired the idea for writing Waltz in the Wilderness?
Waltz in the Wilderness began with research. I knew I wanted to write something set in California around the time of the gold rush, but I didn’t want it to be set in Northern California. Many wonderful books have already been written about that area during that time period and I wanted to feature my hometown, San Diego. Many people don’t realize how slowly San Diego grew, especially compared to San Francisco. In 1854, San Diego was still a relatively small port town with a county-wide population that could be counted in four digits. Also, its proximity to the newly established Mexican border gives this area a uniquely cross-cultural feel during that time period. Then I came across information regarding the mail system of the time and my mind took off with possibilities of how such a system might affect friends and families trying to stay in touch over long distances. Mail was frequently delayed for months or even lost entirely during this time period. I wondered, what would I do if someone I loved suddenly quit writing and no one knew where they were—whether they were safe or healthy?
 
2. What did you as an author take away from writing Waltz in the Wilderness?
The moment I became a mother I learned what it was like to have part of my heart living outside my body. It took a long time before I was comfortable letting my child out of my sight for longer than a church service. (Okay, so I sat in Sunday school with them a couple weekends before finally going in to hear the sermon.) I’ve always known in my head that God is in control and that He loves my kids more than I do—more than I can comprehend. He loves them enough to have sent His own Son to die for them. What more proof do I need? Still, I struggled with fully embracing that truth in my heart. Worry for them became a daily battle. As a foster parent and volunteer within the foster community, I witnessed and learned of many situations where the roles of care are reversed. In too many situations, otherwise loving parents struggle to overcome personal tragedies in order to adequately care for their children. In these cases, typically the child steps into the role of caretaker. The foster system—when doing what it is supposed to—helps these families return to their appointed roles and relieves the child of that burden while restoring the parent’s ability to care for themselves and their child. Writing Waltz in the Wilderness helped me process all of these various aspects of the parent-child relationship and how God is at work in each and every situation.
 
3. What was your research process like for writing this book?
I began in one of my favorite places to research—my local archives. Specifically, I began by reading the microfiche copies of the San Diego Herald and the Daily Alta California (a San Francisco newspaper). I came across announcements for the arrival of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company which sparked my curiosity. From there I read books about everything from the Mexican-American war, to collections of first-hand accounts of the California gold rush, to San Francisco’s early days. I studied the oldest photographs, drawings and written descriptions of San Diego and San Francisco. I discovered that although the Alcatraz Lighthouse had been built, it had yet to receive its light at the time my characters were sailing past. I learned that Mission San Diego de Alcala was no longer a mission in 1854 and had been taken over by the United States Calvary who used the bottom floor of the sanctuary as stables and the upper floor as a hospital. And really, I could fill several pages with all the fascinating facts I discovered while writing this book. Actually, I did. At the back of the book, I included a long Author’s section expanding on the parts of history I was able to incorporate into the story.
 
4. How did you decide that you wanted to write in this specific time period for this book?
I’ve grown up in California, so I have a personal connection to the history here. I have also always been fascinated by the nineteenth century in general. (Perhaps sparked by my love of Jane Austen, L.M. Montgomery, and Laura Ingalls Wilder.) So I knew I wanted to feature the American part of California’s nineteenth century, which meant it had to be after the Mexican-American War. So I began my research with reading newspapers from the years immediately following that war. The rest you already know from my previous answer.
 
5. When you are not writing, what else do you like to do? What hobbies do you have?  Do you have a day job?
My day job title is Homeschooling Mama. I have four kids age 14,11,9, and 3 whom I homeschool full-time. The fun part about that is getting to impart my love of history and writing on the next generation, not only to my own kids but also as a teacher for our local Cooperative Class Day. For those unfamiliar, this is a day when members of our local homeschool group meet at a church once a week and have a class day similar to what traditional schools have. In our case, though, all the teachers are parents and all the kids have a parent on campus throughout the entire day. So, teaching takes up most of my non-writing time.
Outside of that, I squish reading into every spare minute I can find, and I LOVE crafting. If I weren’t an author, I’d probably open my own Etsy shop. (In fact, I might still try it once my kiddos all graduate!) I love to sew, knit, papercraft, paint, decorate cakes, build furniture…you name the craft and I’ve probably tried it. After that, my next love is hiking. There’s nothing as peaceful as sitting on a mountaintop with my Bible in my lap. 

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​What inspired the idea for a Promise to Keep? The framework on which I based this story was a high school reunion, second chances and promises. I was inspired by real events in the news, good news stories, and once the characters became fully formed and showed me their story, it was fun to go along and see where their journey would take them. Some characters surprised me, and others weren’t even planned, they just showed up. Like Donovan Radcliffe.
 
What did you as an author take away from writing A Promise to Keep? As an author I think this book really helped me to focus on what really matters in life, and how we choose to live each day.
 
Do you have a favorite character in the story? Who is it and why? As much as swoony Michael is …swoony and wonderful, and kind, Savannah just makes me laugh so much. I think she has to be my favorite for this book.
 
What was your favorite thing about writing A Promise to Keep? As much as I loved getting to know Savannah and Michael and their story, the research was so much fun. I was able to consult with a local firefighter on the viability of the rescue scenes and he got so excited about the project. It was wonderful to hear him give suggestions on what he thought might happen in the story. Then, I dragged my husband to downtown Toronto with me to see the award-winning documentary, Free Solo. Even though I’m scared of heights, I dealt with my own fear for the sake of research.
 
What is your current WIP? What can you tell us about it? Ack! To be honest, since it has only been seven months from contract signing to release date, I haven’t had time to start another WIP. Although, I do have a finished manuscript waiting to be edited. It’s not in the same genre though, so it may have to wait a while. It is slightly more younger-adult focused. It was written for my kids who are both in high school. 

Basham is an award-winning author who writes historical and contemporary romance novels with grace, humor, and culture clashes. She’s a Blue Ridge Mountain native and an anglophile who enjoys combining her two loves to create memorable stories of hope. You can connect with Pepper over at her group blog, ​

1. What inspired the idea for A Match for Emma?
I kind of set Emma up from the very first book to play this role in the series, but I had no idea how deep her character growth would go until I got into writing this story. My goal of this series has been (up to this point) loosely base my novels on classics (VERY loosely in some cases), so it made perfect sense to take my waitress matchmaking Emma and sprinkle her story with Austen-fun.

2. What did you as an author take away from writing A Match for Emma?
Pride blinds and breaks. It's so easy to justify our actions too, especially when pride is the roots behind those actions. But I was also encouraged with the reminder that God is in the heart-changing business and he loves us much more than to leave us in our blindness, but wants to transform us into people who love well.

3. How does A Match for Emma tie in with the other stories in the series (A Twist of Faith and Chariming the Troublemaker)?
Well, Emma is the little sister, so you still get a few bits of time with the other characters - especially Rainey and Trigg (and, of course, Mama Mitchell). Emma gives us a look into the heart of a youngest sibling and how the losses of those around her have impacted her choices. 

4. What is your current WIP?  What can you tell us about it?
​I am working on my new Barbour True Crime novel called The Red Ribbon. (I'm also working on a historical romance set in Egypt and a contemporary romance set in a new town). The Red Ribbon looks at the Courthouse Massacre of 1912 that happened in my hometown community of Hillsville, Virginia. It places us in Appalachia with a journalist-wannabe heroine and her friend, the hero, as they get pulled into the political conflict which leads up to the courthouse shootout. Interestingly, it all started with a kiss.

5. What is your favorite thing about fall?
Ah, you probably know this answer! #MYMOUNTAINS. I love these Blue Ridge Mountains all adorned in their autumn colors! And, I'm a big fan of cooler weather...snuggly, book-reading, hot tea drinking weather :-)

Lindsey P. Brackett writes southern fiction and cooks big family meals, but she complains about the dishes. Her debut novel, Still Waters, released in 2017 and was named the 2018 Selah Book of the Year. Her latest novel, The Bridge Between, released in 2019. Someday she hopes to balance motherhood and writing full-time. Until then, she’s just very grateful for her public school system.
​
Connect with Lindsey and get her free novella, Magnolia Mistletoe with newsletter signup at lindseypbrackett.com.

1. What inspired the idea for The Bridge Between?
In some ways, I unconsciously laid the groundwork for this story before I knew I was going to write it, but it actually came about because an early beta reader for Still Waters asked me to please tell Lou and David’s story. 

2. How does The Bridge Between connect to Still Waters?
The Bridge Between is a follow up to my debut, Still Waters. While it can certainly be read as a stand-alone, the story picks up about four months after Still Waters ends, and rather than tell the story of a first love, this book is the story of two people who have fallen in—and out—and maybe back in—love with one another … and those people are Cora Anne’s parents, David and Lou. The story is also told from the POV of Tennessee’s mother, Grace, so you learn about his parents’ beautiful love story as well.  I believe it’s a more mature take on relationships, specifically marriage, but also the relationships women have with one another such as mother/daughter, sister, and friend. 

3. What did you as an author take away from writing The Bridge Between?
The more I worked on this book I realized it was really about unresolved dreams--and the more I realized that the more discovered I have some dreams that have been put on the backburner while I raise my family… but it might be time to explore some of those ideas that have never let go.

4. What is your current WIP?  What can you share with us about it?
I’ve got a dual-timeline southern gothic inspirational ghost story out on submission. I know I need to trim down that description but it makes me laugh. The book is a genre shift in some ways, but I’m really excited about it. The story is the “truth” behind the legendary Green Lady of Berry College (my alma mater of course)! So we’ll see what happens. Readers keep asking for another Edisto book and I’ve got some ideas for that as well.

5. What top 5 books are currently on your TBR pile?
I went to a booksellers tradeshow recently and scored some amazing upcoming releases I can’t wait to read: 

A Long Time Comin’ by Robyn Pearson
Code Name Helene by Ariel Lawhon
Feels Like Falling by Kristy Woodson Harvey
Don’t Overthink It by Anne Bogel
The Dating Charade by Melissa Ferguson

And I just finished my ARC of Sarah Loudin Thomas’s When Silence Sings. So good!

6. What is your favorite fall activity?
Hiking in the woods … unless I get the opportunity to go to the beach, which is happening RIGHT NOW because I’m on book tour! Come see me on Edisto!​

An award winning author, including the GOLD in Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards, Jen Geigle Johnson discovered her passion for England while kayaking on the Thames near London as a young teenager. 

She once greeted an ancient turtle under the water by grabbing her fin. She knows all about the sound a water-ski makes on glassy water and how to fall down steep moguls with grace. During a study break date in college, she sat on top of a jeep's roll bars up in the mountains and fell in love.  

Now, she loves to share bits of history that might otherwise be forgotten. Whether in Regency England, the French Revolution, or Colonial America, her romance novels are much like life is supposed to be: full of adventure. ​

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1. What inspired the idea for The Duke's Second Chance?
There is a duke associated with Arundel castle who had a really really hard time of it. And his story kind of got my mind spinning. This Duke lost his wife, then his second wife was committed to Bedlam but he was married to her.  But then as I started to write a story about a Duke's second chance at happiness, I fell in love with the story. I felt so sad for him that he lost his first wife, and when I realized how much this character loved and missed his wife, I wanted the readers to know that too. So that when he got his chance to love again, we could all appreciate how nice that was for him and his little boy. 

2. What did you as an author take away from writing The Duke's Second Chance?
My takeaway from the story is just how much the heart can love. Sometimes we view everything in life as a form of competition. But love just isn't like that. Loving one person doesn't take away love from another. The heart has an infinite capacity to love, and more love just makes it grow. 

3. What is your current WIP?  What can you share with us about it?
I am currently working on book 2 in the Lords for the Sisters of Sussex series. It is Morley's story and I introduce even more the family of sisters we meet for a moment in The Duke's Second Chance. I am also working on a SUPER fun idea for Covenant my publisher. I can't wait for you to see this one. 

4. What top 5 books do you currently have on your TBR pile?
1)My Fair Spinster by Rebecca Connolly
2)Deborah: Prophetess of God by H.B. Moore
3)Discovering Grace by Sally Britton
4)Wyatt by Sysan May Warren
5)Something by Kristi Ann Hunter.

5. What is your favorite part about fall?
My absolute favorite part of fall is the chilly weather that makes me want to curl up with a book. 

Winner of the 2012 RONE Best Inspirational Book of the year (2012) and author of six Historical novels, Stephenia H. McGee has a fascination with hoop skirts and ball gowns, Greek revival homes and horse-drawn carriages, quirky Southern sayings, and home-grown recipes. She currently lives in Mississippi with her husband and two boys, (accompanied by their two spoiled dogs and mischievous cat) where she writes stories of faith, redemption, and stories steeped in the South. 
 
Visit her website at www.StepheniaMcGee.com and be sure to sign up for the newsletter to get sneak peeks, behind the scenes fun, the occasional recipe, and special offers.
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1. What inspired the idea for Missing Mercy?
You’re going to hate this…but I don’t know. I wanted to write a story with Lydia and Ruth’s (the heroines from The Whistle Walk) daughters, but that meant stepping out of the Civil War era into something new. With no war in the backdrop to cause chaos, I had no idea what I wanted to do. This story probably has 35,000 words that ended up on the trash. It took a lot of time before I finally had the story right. But once I did (lots of prayer here!) I loved it. I think this one may be my best work.
 
2. What did you as an author take away from writing Missing Mercy?
God always uses these stories to first teach me something. This story ended up right in the middle of a big change for me. I felt lead to homeschool to help my youngest son through some struggles. I also still felt called to write, but I was having a really hard time balancing the two. I was used to working six hours a day when they were at school, and now that time was gone.

A lot of what you will see my characters struggle through are things I was struggling through. Mercy fights some inner battles with what to do when God’s plans are not what you expected (or maybe not even something you wanted) and dealing with the tension of trying to give your gifts back to Him while at the same time afraid to let them go. I’ll give you the quote from this story that pretty much sums up what I took from this book. “God had His plans. And any journey He invited her to go on would always be an adventure. Perhaps not the one she expected, but always the one that would be the best for her.”

3. What is your current WIP? What can you tell us about it?
I’m finishing up my first Christmas story. This one is a time travel back to Belmont Plantation (from In His Eyes). Time travels are so much fun, and I had a great time this summer writing this little novella. Here’s the blurb for it:
 
On the brink of aging out the foster system, the last thing Isla Laird wants is to spend Christmas in an old-fashioned plantation. What’s the point of bonding with her foster mom when it’s too late to ever be adopted? But when a mysterious painting suddenly thrusts her into the nineteenth century, Isla is forced to face hurts and memories she’s long tried to bury. With time running out and her heart in tatters, can God use an impossible miracle to bring Isla hope for a new future?

4. What top 5 books do you currently have on your TBR pile?
1) My Dearest Dietrich
2) all of Tamera Leigh’s Age of Conquest books (I’ve been waiting to binge read them)
3) Outlander
4) The Reckoning at Gossamer Pond
5) Flights of Fancy

5. What is your favorite fall activity?
We finally get a break from the humidity, so my favorite thing is to sit in the hammock and read. Pumpkin patches are nice, and leaves are pretty, but honestly, my favorite thing about fall is the pretty weather that gives me time to relax outside. In Mississippi, that only lasts about two weeks, so I take advantage of it! 

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