As you may or may not have noticed, we’ve taken a pause on our blog posts here the last couple months. There are several reasons why. As I tried to juggle homeschooling my girls, my website design services, and meet writing deadlines, I realized I didn’t have enough time to do all of that well and also continue doing interviews/reviews as I hoped. After spending months struggling to keep up, I realized there was another way. One that required letting go, but also invited in rest and refreshment from the Lord. This new way to walk in means saying goodbye to the blog for now, so we can pour our hearts and time more into our families, take care of our health, and write more stories.

Starting in 2023, we’ll be taking a break here, in hopes to return with more reviews and interviews in the future. This decision wasn’t easy to make. Heather and I love our authors and readers. It’s been a joy connecting with you all for years and we will miss you greatly.

The Engrafted Word was a gift to me from the beginning. What is even more special is that YOU were kind enough to meet me here and together we grew and discovered wonderful stories. We explored many great books, but it’s the stories of the authors and readers along the way that remain my favorite. Thank you for taking the time to visit and comment with us.

I hope you continue reading and supporting great Christian fiction. My TBR pile continues to grow and I can’t wait to read more great books in the New Year. You might just catch an occasional review from us here when we read something we just have to share with you. We invite you to stay connected with us through our social media too.

To celebrate the New Year and these new beginnings, we wanted to do one final giveaway. Here’s the 2 Ebooks you could win…

A year of gospel-saturated daily devotions from renowned Bible teacher Alistair Begg.

Start with the gospel each and every day with this one-year devotional by renowned Bible teacher Alistair Begg.

We all need to be reminded of the truth that anchors our life and excites and equips us to live for Christ. Reflecting on a short passage each day, Alistair spans the Scriptures to show us the greatness and grace of God, and to thrill our hearts to live as His children. His clear, faithful exposition and thoughtful application mean that this resource will both engage your mind and stir your heart.

Each day includes prompts to apply what you’ve read, a related Bible text to enjoy, and a plan for reading through the whole of the Scriptures in a year.

If there is one thing she has learned in England, it’s that not all Englishmen are created equal. Because this guy was turning out to be a real pill.

Tired of spending the holidays throwing up on cruises with her parents and, you know, being dumped by ex-boyfriends, Claire Frost is determined to change her luck this Christmas. Taking time off from her flower shop, she follows her friend to London, ready to enjoy all-things England. And boy, does she. The frost-covered flowers. The frozen green hills. The bright red telephone boxes. The festive Christmas markets.

Also the men. Definitely the men.

Except, of course, her friend’s cousin. Liam Everhart is super attractive, super swoony, and super English. Too bad he’s also a super jerk. A super jerk whom she now has to spend every minute with. What a blessed, blessed relief that his Darcy/Poldark looks are overshadowed by his Darth Vader/Malfoy personality. She had enough Christmas baggage to deal with, so why would she ever add a swoony Englishman to the mix?

This is a clean, sweet, wholesome romance set in present-day London, England that features the enemies-to-lovers and forced proximity tropes, with a guaranteed happily-ever-after.

ENTER HERE:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks for entering! Giveaway ends January 8, 2023 . The winner will be notified by email. Happy Reading, everybody!

A note from Heather…

The past couple of months have been rough for me as I have been fighting the flu. So I am even more grateful to be well enough to celebrate this wonderful time of the year. As many of you know, the best part of the season is remembering what Christ did for us when He was born in a manger so long ago. His grace, love, and promises still hold true to this day.

Love and kindness are definitely two words that are close to my heart, and are actions I strive to live by, but of course, I’m not perfect. With being sick, I was reminded once again of God’s perfect love and goodness. He knows our hurts and frustrations, and He is right there beside us guiding us through the perils of life. His incredible grace is just that–incredible. This new year, try to remember a time when Jesus rescued you, and then reflect on just how amazing that is while also realizing His great love for you. That’s right–Jesus loves you!

I have so loved writing for The Engrafted Word. Working with Savanna has been a delight, and her friendship has been a gift from the Lord. Literary friends are the best! While Savanna and I have decided to take a break from this blog for a bit, don’t worry,we’ll still be around for the occasional post. Thank you for all your support, encouragement, and readership these past three years. I wish all of you a Happy New Year and the happiest of holidays! As always, happy reading friends!

Welcome to the blog, Lynne. I’m so excited to have you here today. Congratulations on your upcoming release, A Fallen Sparrow.

Without giving too much away, can you tell us about one of your favorite scenes in the book?

Wow, that’s hard. There are so many. I did enjoy writing about the Continental Army crossing the Delaware before the Battle of Trenton. I have a new collection of used books on the Revolution, and one thick volume is about this single battle. It helped me to reconstruct the situation, view the experience through the eyes of my character. Meanwhile, his love interest is worried. Is Jonathan frozen in a ditch somewhere?

What drew you to set your stories in this time period?

I realized that there were very few books set during the period of the Great Awakening. I decided to write one, then realized I would need to write a trilogy and cover the Revolution as well. The revival of the gospel affected the colonies in such a way as to influence the war. Our protest was for the rule of law, a concept Christians can easily embrace, being people of the Book. On the other hand, the French Revolution embraced retribution.

I love that you focused on this time period. Such a fascinating era!

What will you remember most about writing this series?

The British connection. I hadn’t thought much about the British point of view until reading two interesting books: Redcoat by Bernard Cornwell and The Long Fuse by Don Cook. Redcoat opens with the reader immersed in a British soldier’s POV just before the Paoli Massacre. It’s a gritty tale that impacted me. The second is non-fiction, exploring why the British lost. The POV is again from the other side of the pond. Invaluable. I created my own British POV character, Lt. Robert Shirley, who ends up as a spy—and hates it. He is the (fictional) cousin of a real-life officer, Francis, Lord Rawdon, who is the grandson of the Countess of Huntingdon—the godly woman who supports George Whitefield and manages his orphanage after his death. Her grandson is not godly—I won’t give you any spoilers! But you just can’t make this stuff up!

That’s so interesting! I can just imagine how getting those other perspectives really added a lot to your stories. There are so many layers to history worth exploring!

John Russell is the hero of The Shenandoah Road, the first book in the series, and he’s around in the second and third books as well. By the Revolution he’s started to turn gray. He’s got flaws, but as a Christian he’s managed to (mostly) overcome them, and he serves as a kind of mentor in subsequent books. He’s a man’s man but a warm-hearted husband and father. He’s a Scots-Irish frontiersman, and aye, he’s got a bit of a brogue from the old country. He’s an idealized figure, a classic hero, and his strength affects the whole neighborhood. He was easy to write.

Ohhh, I love him just from your description! 🙂

What was the last book you read and what did you love most about it?

I really enjoyed Shadows of the Mind’s Eye by Janyre Tromp. Not only did the storyline draw me in, but I was struck by her prose. She’s a great writer.

That one is on my TBR list too. 🙂

We’re so glad you could join us today, Lynne. Is there anything else you’d like to add? Any upcoming projects you can share with us?

I’ve got two novellas in different stages of development—both part of the Russells series!

Yay! That’s great, Lynne. Thanks for sharing. Hope you have a great summer.

GIVEAWAY!!

Lynne has graciously offered to give away a signed print copy or ebook of “A Fallen Sparrow”. Enter below and it could be YOU! 😉

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks for entering! US winner will receive a print copy – International winner will receive an ebook copy. Giveaway ends August 2, 2022 . The winner will be notified by email. Happy Reading, everybody!

Welcome to the blog, Mary. I’m so happy to have you here today. Congratulations on your upcoming release, Among the Innocent.

Which character in this story was your favorite to write and why?

I’d say Leah Miller, hands down. Leah is a survivor even though she doesn’t always see it that way. At sixteen, her entire Amish family was murdered in front of her. Leah left the Amish faith because it was too hard to remain there and not remember what happened. She was adopted by the former chief of police and followed in his footsteps by joining the force.

Leah is strong, broken, and caring. Strong because she overcame losing her entire family and yet it didn’t destroy her. Broken, because the past will forever be imprinted on her heart. Even though she is an excellent police officer, Leah still struggles to make personal connections because of her past. She is caring because the love she has for her adopted mother will withstand the secrets Marge is keeping from her.

Sounds like an inspiring heroine. Can’t wait to meet her.

What first inspired you to write Amish Suspense?

I loved the idea of taking the simple Amish ways and throwing danger, suspense, and a really bad guy into the mix. I believe it helps enhance the good versus evil aspect of Christian Suspense even more.

When I wrote my first Amish Suspense, I set it in a remote Amish community in Montana and it just seemed to work. Now, most of my stories feature small Amish communities set in the mountains.

And your latest cover perfectly embodies all of it. Love it!

What is one of your most unforgettable moments from your writing career to date?

It was when I sold my first book to Love Inspired Suspense in 2012. It was an amazing journey. When the call came in, I was nervous and over the moon with happiness. I’d finally accomplished my dream of becoming a published author. Still today, with each new book, I have that feeling.

What was the last book you read and what will you remember most about it?

Lights Out by Natalie Walters. It is the first book in her SNAP Agency Series. I loved the danger and suspense as well as the romance wrapped around the SNAP team’s desperate search to find a man who might be a possible spy working in the US. It’s an amazing book.

What’s something your readers would be surprised to know about you?

I’d have to say if readers could see my workspace, they’d probably be very disappointed. Though I have an office where I can work, I prefer writing from my favorite chair in the living room. I can take breaks and watch the wildlife that occasionally pass through the backyard from my French doors. On pretty days, I take my work outside even though it is easy to get caught up in what’s happening around me and forget about what I’m supposed to be doing on my laptop.

Sounds equally beneficial and inspiring to me. 🙂

We’re so glad you could join us today, Mary. Is there anything else you’d like to add? Any upcoming projects you can share with us?

I do have the first of four new books through Love Inspired Suspense coming out in March, and I will be sharing more news on that in the future. I’m currently working on another proposal for Revell, (fingers crossed). And I am also part of a couple of book collections with other authors. The first is entitled the Philanthropist series and will feature a new book each week starting in November. Then, in April of 2023, I am working with 9 other authors on a collection of suspense stories that are set in small towns.

That’s awesome! Lots of exciting things on the horizon. Congratulations!

GIVEAWAY!!

Mary has graciously offered to give away a copy of “Among the Innocent”. Enter below and it could be YOU! 😉

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks for entering! US winner will receive a print copy – International winner will receive an ebook copy. Giveaway ends June 30, 2022 . The winner will be notified by email. Happy Reading, everybody!

Welcome to the blog, Janyre. I’m so excited to have you here today. Congratulations on your recent release, Shadows of the Mind’s Eye. Everything about this story draws me in – the title, the cover, the plot. I can’t wait to read it!

Can you tell us what first sparked the idea for this novel?

This story actually began while talking to my grandparents over a glass of lemonade. My U.S. History professor had given us an assignment to talk to family about the Depression and/or World War II. Until that point, I’d had no real concept of what the war was like, either for the soldiers or their families back home. I guess I’d thought that the greatest generation slid back into life and easily became the loving people I knew my grandparents were in their 70s. When I discovered that wasn’t the case, I wondered how they had survived the fear and drastic changes.

Even though the book idea started with wondering how my grandparents’ marriage survived the pressure of war, the book isn’t biographical. So, I needed a setting other than my grandparents’ hometown. For the characters that I was building, I needed a small town. When one of my good friends told me she had an entire book of stories from her family in Arkansas, I jumped at the chance to read first-hand history.

Amongst the Hughes family stories, I acquired the basis for Dovie May and Hot Springs, Arkansas—home to the largest illegal gambling racket in the country.

Well, I don’t have to tell you that mobsters and illegal activity are an excellent backdrop for a story with a bit of suspense. The book The Bookmaker’s Daughter by Shirley Abbott confirmed that Hot Springs mobsters operated with full permission of the authorities. In Shirley’s stories, I also discovered the foundation for Charlotte Anne’s father. All of which gave me a location and a cast of characters that could stoke Sam’s fears and make everyone (including the reader) wonder whether or not he was crazy.

Wow, I love hearing how you connected your story to history. That’s fascinating! And I love picturing you with your grandparents, learning more about their lives over a glass of lemonade. What a special conversation to share.

What will you remember most about the writing process for this book?

The tale of putting this story on paper was not at all what I expected and honestly I’m not sure I would voluntarily go back and do it again.

There have been long stretches of my life where I was all too familiar with debilitating fear. I still have occasional flashes from my childhood, the rush of adrenaline causing my pulse to pound and hands to shake. I was terrified to have kids, to be the one responsible for their physical/mental/emotional wellbeing. The last thing I wanted was for them to have the same problems I had. But, as one of my characters Dovie May says, “The best place for miracles is where we don’t fully believe, where our believing has run out.”

My husband, Chris, and his family, as well as my good friend, Sarah De Mey, and my mom (who worked hard to get help), have been amazing role models for me as I navigate what it looks like to raise emotionally healthy kids. And my family and I were doing quite well.

Until in about eighteen month’s time, I had a major medical issue requiring surgery, my daughter tore her ACL, my son had recurring pneumonia, my husband had spinal surgery, the docs thought I had lupus, and then to cap it off, my daughter became increasingly ill. After months of visiting doctors to find out why my thirteen-year-old daughter was experiencing increasing abdominal pain, she collapsed at school. What followed was a living nightmare. Doctors found her abdominal cavity full of a fungal infection that quickly went septic. That was the first time we almost lost her. She was hospitalized seven times over a few months’ time and the doctors had no idea what caused her illness.

Months later, she’d lost more than forty pounds, and both she and I were wracked with nightmares, an inability to drive anywhere near the hospital, or be in a room with needles. To this day, I can’t smell rubbing alcohol without my body responding with panic.

On paper she should not have survived, and I can’t describe the immense fear that comes from the Pediatric ICU or a parade of doctors. My girl is doing great now, and she is one of the toughest kids I know. But boy does she have a soft heart for other kids who are suffering, and I can fully understand why someone might struggle with faith in a loving, all-powerful God.

I don’t think it’s a coincidence that I was a little more than halfway through finish Shadows in the Mind’s Eye when my girl got sick. I don’t know that I could have done justice to my characters until I’d found the path to hope after my daughter had walked out of the hospital for the last time.

I’m enormously grateful for EMDR, my therapist, and the grace of God that much of my fear is gone.

Oh my goodness, I’m so glad to hear your daughter is doing better now! And that God is healing your heart. I’m so sorry for everything your family had to face. You’re right, Dovie May’s quote is so true. I’ve talked to many authors who seem to face very hard challenges while writing a book. I can’t help but think God is drawing them (and us) to lean more on Him. So thankful He carried you through!

Can you tell us about a recent story you read that really inspired you?

I’m currently reading The Lost Book of Eleanor Dare by Kimberly D. Brock. It’s this fabulous book that is the author’s imaginings launched from real historical nuggets about the 1585 lost colony of Roanoke, whose citizens vanished without a trace in the early American settlement. It’s the story of Eleanor’s descendants during the 1940s and is such a gorgeous story about the relationship between mothers and daughters.

I think because my girl is so close to leaving the nest, the themes are really sticking with me and making me more purposeful in my interactions with my kiddos.

That sounds so good! Being a mom myself to two little girls, I especially want to check it out. I don’t even want to think about them leaving the nest just yet  though! 🙂

Which character from any book would you like to be for a day and why?

Is there a book character that can sit and read books all day, have food delivered on request, and have not much happen? I’m only half kidding. I think I would like to be Meg in Patti Callahan’s Once Upon a Wardrobe. Not only does she get to meet and hang out with C. S. Lewis and his brother, she’s smart, kind, and deeply loved.

Haha, that sounds like a perfect day! 🙂

I hadn’t heard of that book, but I just looked it up and it looks amazing! I’m adding it to my TBR pile. 🙂

What is something you’re looking forward to this summer?

I’m looking forward to taking time off work to spend time with my kids. My oldest will be a senior in high school next year so I want to soak up every second I have with her. And my youngest is such a delight to be around. Michigan is one of the best places to be in the summer. We have fantastic beaches and water everywhere. I’m hoping to go up to the Upper Peninsula and kayak around the Painted Rocks National Lakeshore.

That sounds like a lot of fun! I love to go kayaking! 🙂 Hope you enjoy lots of wonderful moments with your family, Janyre.

Thanks so much for joining us today. Is there anything else you’d like to add? Any upcoming projects you can share with us?

I’m in a novella collection along with Deborah Raney and Amanda Wen titled O Little Town. It releases in September.

All three stories are based on a town just a little south of me in West Michigan. I fully admit to strong-arming the other two into the location so I could write about the Japanese bombs that landed all across the western US falling as far east as Michigan. You read that right. WWII Japanese bombs in Michigan. Here’s a quick description of the whole book:

In the sleepy small town of Mapleview, Michigan, Christmas is always something special. In this charming collection of romance novellas, join three generations of Mapleview residents longing for love–and finding it–during the most wonderful season of the year.

Want to pre-order? You can do that over here: https://www.amazon.com/Little-Town-Romance-Christmas-Collection/dp/0825447488/

Wow, I never would have guessed that about the Japanese bombs. I love learning about history through fiction!

And I love that you’re doing a collection with Deborah and Amanda. Can’t wait to read it! Have a great summer!

GIVEAWAY!!

Janyre has graciously offered to give away a copy of “Shadows in the Mind’s Eye”. Enter below and it could be YOU! 😉

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks for entering! Contest is open to US residents only and ends May 31, 2022 . The winner will be notified by email. Happy Reading, everybody!

Welcome to the blog, Grace. I’m so excited to have you here today. Congratulations on your recent release, Her Darling Mr. Day. I can’t wait to read it!

Thank you so much for having me, Savanna!

What do you love most about your hero and heroine in this book?

As you can guess from the title, the heroine absolutely adores Teddy, which made the story quite fun to write, especially when her attempts to woo him lands herself in all sorts of trouble.

It takes Teddy a little time to discover the love of his life, but when he does, his loyalty is unwavering—even if it means surrendering all for her, which leads to quite the dreamy romance!

I love the titles of this series. So fun and memorable! Were these your titles all along or were they called something different as you wrote the stories?

Thank you! My Dear Miss Dupré was my original working title. For book two, I was calling it His Darling Mrs. Day, as it referred to his search for his bride, but I ended up suggesting another title or two and they chose another one of my suggestions, Her Darling Mr. Day. For Book three, I called it Her Dashing Mr. Kit in the early draft before landing on His Delightful Lady Delia and Bethany House chose to keep it!

That’s so fun. I love the connection between them as well – dear, darling, dashing, delightful. 🙂

I loved reading online that you wrote your first novel as a senior in high school. I wrote my first book in high school as well, and like you, I cringe at how much I still had to learn. 😊 Just for fun, can you tell us a little bit about that first story, which sparked your love for writing?

Haha my high schooler self thought the novel was a masterpiece, but there is no reviving it ever. I wrote a Civil War historical romance about a young southern belle with a heart for freedom falling in love with a secret abolitionist. While that book was never read by anyone other than my mom, it did reveal that my passion for writing was indeed backed with enough discipline to write a full-length novel and ultimately, set the course of my next six years when I went to college for an English major and stayed for my masters in Creative Writing.

Sounds like God planted the seeds for writing in your heart early on. Such a gift!

Since we’re at the beginning of a new year and always looking for reading recommendations, can you tell us what was one of your most memorable reads from 2021?

Just one? Oh dear. Early 2021, To Write a Wrong by Jen Turano had me laughing and tearing through the pages. Aaaamazing. And for a late 2021 release, because I cannot just pick one, Proposing Mischief by Regina Jennings was such a unique, entertaining read with great lead characters. Both are must-reads for sure!

Ohhhh, I will look those up! Thank you. 🙂

Like you, I’m a huge fan of historical fiction. Growing up, who were a few of your first favorite authors?

Louisa May Alcott, Lucy Maud Montgomery, Grace Livingston Hill, Janette Oke, Lauraine Snelling, and Tracie Peterson to name a few whose titles will forever be on my bookshelves. 🙂

Yes, such great authors!

Thanks so much for joining us today, Grace Is there anything else you’d like to add? Any upcoming projects you can share with us?

Currently, I working on my next proposal to start pitching and it is still in that super secret stage, but it is so much fun to be dreaming up a whole new series with new characters to get to know!

My final book in the American Royalty series, His Delightful Lady Delia, will be releasing in November, which is a sweeping romance that follows a rising opera star and an enigmatic phantom. Next up is a Historical Romance series about the Harvey Girls, The Aprons & Veils series, so be sure to look for The Finding of Miss Fairfield, closely followed by The Pursuit of Miss Parish.

If you’d like to be the first to see the new covers, be sure to sign-up for my newsletter: http://gracehitchcockbooks.com/authornewsletter/

You can also find me on social media:
Newsletter: http://gracehitchcockbooks.com/authornewsletter/
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Sounds great, Grace! I’m excited for your upcoming stories. Have a blessed year!

Thank you so much, Savanna! Happy reading, friends!

GIVEAWAY!!

Grace has graciously offered to give away an autographed copy of “Her Darling Mr. Day”. Enter below and it could be YOU! 😉

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks for entering! Contest is open to US residents only and ends March 31, 2022 . The winner will be notified by email. Happy Reading, everybody!

Welcome to the blog, Kathleen. I’m so excited to have you here today. Congratulations on your recent release, Harmony on the Horizon. I’ve loved seeing the journey of this series unfold and I’m so happy to celebrate this launch with you!

What do you love most about your hero and heroine in this story?

I love that even though their hearts are in the right places, they don’t always make the right choices and have to learn some tough lessons which I can relate to.

Have you visited any of the historical sites from your book? If not, what places are at the top of your list to visit someday?

Yes, I have actually visited all of the real locations which inspired the settings in Harmony on the Horizon. I have especially enjoyed numerous trips to the Old Town San Diego State Historic Park.

That’s so cool! I love visiting real life locations that are mentioned in my favorite stories. 🙂

What will you remember most about writing this book?

How terrified I was that everyone would hate it. LOL That, and the hours upon hours of research and editing I did to make sure Katie’s dialect was just right for her character.

Haha! I wonder if authors ever get over that feeling? I know I’m just as nervous about people reading my work. 🙂

Can you share with us a few upcoming book releases you’re looking forward to reading this year?

You know, I usually have a whole list of anticipated releases, but I’ve been so busy I haven’t added them all to my calendar yet and can’t quite remember all the titles. The ones that come to mind at the moment are Crystal Caudill’s debut novel, Counterfeit Love, Rachel Fordham’s 2022 release, Where the Road Bends, Toni Shiloh’s In Search of a Prince, Francine River’s The Lady’s Mine, and Jen Turano’s To Disguise the Truth.

Ohhh, those are some great ones! 🙂

Since we just rang in a new year, what is something you’re looking forward to in 2022?

I’m very excited to be working on a new novella as well as book four in my Chaparral Hearts series. On a more personal level, my eldest child will be taking his driver’s test this year and I’m anticipating sending him on errands to “practice” driving. 😉

That’s exciting, Kathleen! Both the new stories AND the driving child. 🙂

I’m so glad you could join us today. Is there anything else you’d like to add? Any upcoming projects you can share with us?

I’m planning to have my new Chaparral Hearts novella edited, formatted, and available to readers by the end of 2022. I’ll be offering it for free to my Kathleen’s Readers’ Club Members as I do my Chaparral Hearts prequel novella. The link to sign up can be found on my website: www.KathleenDenly.com.

In celebration of my latest release, Harmony on the Horizon, book 3 in my Chaparral Hearts series, I am offering a giveaway!

One winner* will receive:

• 1 ebook copy of either Waltz in the Wilderness or Sing in the Sunlight – winner’s choice
• 1 Pair of Earrings – Purple Glitter Studs
• 1 Faux Leather Bookmark – Purple Rose Clusters – Purple Tassle
• 1 Sing in the Sunlight Bookmark
• 1 Harmony on the Horizon Sticker

To enter, leave a comment on this blog and sign up for Kathleen’s Readers’ Club here: http://bit.ly/KRCMemberSignUp

Deadline to enter is 11:59pm January 31, 2022. Winner will be announced in the comments for this post and contacted via email. *Must have a U.S. Mailing address to win. Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

This looks amazing, Kathleen! Good luck in the giveaway, everyone! Hope you all have a blessed week.

Welcome to the blog, Stephanie. I’m so excited to have you here today and talk about your new release, The Uncertainty of Fire. Everyone, this sweet woman is a local writing pal from the Ozarks with a big heart for Jesus, her family, and books. I’m so thrilled to have her join us today!

Thank you so much for inviting me to the blog, Savanna.

I’m so intrigued by this time period. What first drew you to set your story during the Great Chicago Fire?

When God first put this story on my heart, I knew that my main character would need to face some serious challenges. Since I lived in Chicago when I started this story, the city’s rich history and hands-on research within easy reach, made the Fire the perfect obstacle to put in her path.

What do you love most about your heroine, Whimsy?

I love her desire to help people, even though that sometimes doesn’t turn out as she plans. But she wants to see the best in everyone which often exposes her innocence and naivete. Although that sometimes makes me want to thunk her on the head, it’s not always a bad thing. We all could stand to see the world through innocent eyes for a little longer.

Sounds like someone we could all be a little more like. 🙂

I love that you’re writing clean historical fiction for teens. We need more stories like that! What’s another book you recommend for young adult readers?

I’ll mention a few Christian YA historicals I’ve enjoyed. A Strand of Hope by Amanda Tero, Follow the Dawn by Rachelle Rea Cobb, The Lost Girl of Astor Street and Within These Lines by Stephanie Morrill, and I love the historical aspects of Fawkes by Nadine Brandes, though hers aren’t strictly historical, but a combination of history and fantasy.

What do you enjoy most about offering your book through Kindle Vella? It’s such an exciting new option for readers looking to download individual episodes to read.

I think it hearkens back to the Victorian times when authors like Charles Dickens, Louisa May Alcott, Mark Twain, and others released stories in publications every week. In our busy world (I know for me at least) finding time to read a whole book can feel overwhelming, even when the story is compelling. This makes reading more manageable for busy schedules where readers can just access a story on their smartphones. I also love the opportunity to share in the Author’s Note at the end of every episode. It’s been fun revealing my inspiration for characters or scenes and what historical tidbit I learned while researching. I get to go into more detail than I would be able to include in a book.

I love this so much! I’m excited to try it out myself. 🙂

Who inspired you to start writing books?

I think the first time I ever realized that writing could be more than just a hobby was in my tenth-grade English class. My teacher encouraged us to build a writing portfolio and exposed us to all the different ways we could write for a career. The classroom was arranged to allow us to be creative. Tables along the walls, floor space if that’s where we’d rather write, writing prompts and photo inspiration pinned to the walls and a bookcase filled with great literature so that good writing could influence us. Once a week we’d have a sharing session where each of us could share what we wrote. And he encouraged us to pursue publication, which I did that year with a poem that was published in our school literary journal.

That’s wonderful. What a sweet memory and glimpse into God’s plan for your life. I love hearing about that.

Thank you for sharing with us, Stephanie. Is there anything else you’d like to add? Any upcoming projects you can share with us?

The Uncertainty of Fire is the first in The Uncertain Riches series. I’m working on Book 2 right now which will feature some of the characters from Book 1 (I can’t say who just yet because spoilers). Book 3 will have at least one character from Book 1. And then I’m considering one or two more featuring other side characters from the first three books. After that, I’m very excited about a historical fiction story inspired by (not based on) the life of Joseph but from younger brother Benjamin’s point of view. But the main character will be a teen girl with a slew of older brothers and may possibly be set in the years after the Civil War. I also still want to write a YA historical series set here in our beautiful Ozarks around the time of Harold Bell Wright’s Shepherd of the Hills.

Oh, I’m so intrigued!! I look forward to following your stories from here, my friend. Blessings to you!

GIVEAWAY!!

Stephanie has generously offered to give away one $25 Amazon gift card to one lucky winner. Enter below and it could be YOU! 😉

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Thanks for entering! Contest is open to US readers only and ends December 31, 2021 . The winner will be notified by email. Happy Reading, everybody!

I don’t know about you, but I’m super excited that the holidays are almost here! Heather and I cherish this time of year and we’re thrilled to ring in the season with our annual Thanksgiving Giveaway. Thank YOU for taking the time to swing by our blog throughout the year. We absolutely love chatting with readers and authors about great stories and we hope you’ve enjoyed many amazing books this year yourself.

To celebrate, we’re giving away 10 ebooks to 10 winners. We hope you’ll enter below for your chance to win!

Happy Thanksgiving, friends!

GIVEAWAY INCLUDES:

The Paris Dressmaker by Kristy Cambron

A Wish for Father Christmas by Laura Rollins

The Mistletoe Countess by Pepper Basham

A Sleigh Ride Kiss by Jen Geigle Johnson

The Ice Swan by J’nell Ciesielski

Homespun Christmas by Darlene Panzera

The Lady in Attendance by Rachel Fordham

A Yorkshire Carol by Jennie Goutet

The Journey of Runs-Far by Lori Benton

Glory Falls by Janine Rosche

We will draw 10 winners, each will receive one random e-book from the list above.

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Thanks for entering! Contest is open only in the U.S. Winners will be notified by email on December 6, 2021.

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Welcome to the blog, Kerry. I’m so excited to have you here today and talk about your new release, Snowstorm Sabotage.

Thank you for having me, Savanna! It’s so sweet to see how God has grown us both as writers and how your family has grown since I first met you at ACFW a few years ago.

Yes! I had another baby and you had your first book baby! 🙂 So many blessings! I’m so thankful God crossed our paths at that writers’ conference and today we’re talking about your debut book!

Can you tell us what first sparked the idea for the story?

Sure! My family and I visited a ski resort a couple years ago while on vacation. I remember wondering what it would be like if someone found a body in a cabin or chalet—and my imagination took it from there. At the time, I was between stories and curious to write a romantic suspense (I’d written other genres but not romantic suspense). The first draft took about three months, and there were lots of revisions (over a year’s worth) before it was clean enough to send to the editor at Love Inspired. I tend to have many ideas and not enough time to write them all!

I’m so excited to read it. Writers really do find inspiration for their stories everywhere. 🙂

Did you relate to one character more than the others? If so, can you explain how?

My heroine, Everly, is an independent, strong-willed person. I’m also pretty independent, though I don’t think I’m as strong-willed as she is. I couldn’t run a ski resort like she does. I also related to my hero, Isaac, because he struggles with feelings of not-enough. You know, those thoughts that others are better than you because ___. I hope readers take away the message that no matter your past, God loves you and can redeem beauty from ashes in your life.

Yes! What a beautiful message. It’s His fingerprints over our lives that make all the difference.

What do you love most about writing romantic suspense?

The nonstop action. It took me a few years to realize I just love writing action scenes. I’m a huge Marvel fan, so there you go. Add to that romance, which I also love? Then it’s writing joy for me. So much so, my critique partner commented that I had too much action in my latest romantic suspense wip, LOL. I can go overboard.

Haha! Where would writers be without their critique partners? 🙂 Love it!

Do you enjoy reading different genres?  If so, can you name a book you’ve recently read set within your own genre and another set outside your genre?

Yes, I’ll read any genre except horror or sci-fi. (Also, nothing inappropriate). I just love a good story! I have a soft spot for historical romance especially. It’s like a mental vacation, getting swept into the past. I recently read Husband Auditions by Angela Ruth Strong, a Rom-Com. It’s definitely not my genre of choice, but it was a unique, romantic, hilariously fun story. I laughed and cried. Within my genre, I read Jerusha Agen’s debut with Love Inspired Trade, Rising Danger. It’s romantic suspense and was very good.

Those sound wonderful. They’re definitely going on my list. 🙂

You have finaled and won in several various writing contests. What’s something you’ve learned through those experiences?

Soak in the good, learn from those who take the time to give you critiques, and ignore the bad. And by bad, I mean, the comments and scores that are super low, unkind, or clearly from someone who just did not like your story or writing. It can be brutal, but it made me realize not everyone will like my stories and writing once I’m published. And that’s okay. Also, I’m quite poor at accepting compliments, so I try to keep positive emails and entries so I can reread them when I’m low, because nine times out of ten I remember the negative comments and forget the positive.

I’m guilty of that too at times. What a great idea for holding onto the encouragement!

Is there anything else you’d like to add? Any upcoming projects you can share with us?

I finished my next romantic suspense, which Lord willing will be the first in a series. I’m almost done with another revision then we’ll send it to my editor at Love Inspired. This one is fairly different from Snowstorm Sabotage but also action-packed and romantic. And—look for a feathered character in this one (I have a sun conure, Mango). I can’t wait to share it with readers! 😊

Ahhh, I love it. Thanks for sharing with us today, Kerry! I’m so proud of you and your hard work and can’t wait to read what’s next!

GIVEAWAY!!

Kerry has graciously offered to give away a paperback copy of Snowstorm Sabotage to one lucky winner. Enter below and it could be YOU! 😉

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Thanks for entering! Contest is open to US residents only and ends November 18, 2021 . The winner will be notified by email. Happy Reading, everybody!

V. Joy Palmer loves to write romantic and comedic stories that proclaim God’s deep love for us. She’s a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and an avid blogger. In her spare time, Joy loves to sing (especially Disney songs), drink large quantities of coffee, and take flowery photos for Bookstagram. When Joy isn’t fighting with fictional people, she’s hanging out with her husband and their adorable little girl. Connect with Joy via www.vjoypalmer.com!

You can also find Joy on her social media:  Instagram / Twitter / Facebook / Pinterest / Goodreads

Welcome to The Engrafted Word Joy!  After discovering and reading several of your books, I am so excited to talk with you today!  I hope you are doing well, and I know our readers are curious to learn about the wonderful stories you write.

1. When did you first realize you wanted to become a writer? 

I was about seventeen when I realized I wanted to become a writer. I have always had a love of words – books, singing and writing songs, making up stories, etcetera. However, it wasn’t until late in high school when God showed me that part of that gifting and calling was crafting stories with Him for others to read.

2. Who or what would you say is your biggest influence in your writing journey?

Authors like Lori Wick, Robin Jones Gunn, Erynn Mangum, Jenny B. Jones, and Allen Arnold have had a huge influence on me! Their stories have done everything from reigniting my love of storytelling to helping me find my voice and genre to inspiring me to dig deeper with God. Additionally, the American Christian Fiction Writers Conference has continued to help me step out of my comfort zone.

3. Writing can be very fun but also very difficult–what words of encouragement would you give to other authors?  

Rest your soul, my friend! You can’t pour from an empty well. Some seasons are more difficult than others, and it’s okay to pull back during those times. God is and will use that season of crushing to press out an anointed story that you’ve co-labored over with Him.

4. The ability to write definitely comes from the Lord.  Are there any literary paths the Lord led you to that were surprising or changed your life in some way?  

In Marriage, Melodies, and Rewritten Conclusions, God pushed me to write a hero who struggled with the guilt and shame of his past sexual sins. I’ve personally seen how similar sins have affected people I love, and it was downright scary to approach in this story. Not gonna lie, I wrestled with this particular theme a lot, and I softened the approach in the eleventh hour before my deadline…only for my editor to tell me to steer into that theme. I’m so thankful for how God used this story to help heal my heart while also opening doors for life-changing conversations!

5. I always like to ask authors if they have any funny writing stories they would like to share.  Please tell! 

Taylor Swift does this thing where she’ll write people who’ve impacted her life into her songs, and sometimes a similar tendency comes out when I’m writing. An amusing example of this is when my husband and I took our daughter to an amusement park. My daughter and I were waiting in line for a roller coaster. When we got to the line the attendant asked how old. Thinking he was speaking about my daughter, I replied with her age. He then clarified that he meant me, needing to make sure that I was at least sixteen years old and therefore old enough to accompany her on the ride. I was a tad flabbergasted at that… So in my last book, I wrote a similar scene, herby vindicating myself and immortalizing that vindication in print!

6. What current projects are you working on.  Please share if you can!  

All I can say is that while this project is full of wedding fun, it will whisk you to times gone by! 😉

7.Outside of writing, what other hobbies do you enjoy? 

Reading, collecting special editions of books, singing, songwriting, boardgames, and drinking large amounts of coffee. 😉

8. Who are some of your favorite authors and what genres do you enjoy reading the most? 

I have soooooo many favorite authors because I love to read so many different genres! Contemporary, YA, historical, fantasy, science fiction, suspense – basically, if there’s a thread of romance, I’m game!

9. Most stories tend to be inspired from life experiences–what are some of your greatest experiences that helped you to pen your next story?  

Honestly, it’s my own ongoing love stories, the ones between my Creator and I and my husband and I. Without these love stories continually growing me, pushing me, challenging me, crushing me, pressing me, and blessing me, I couldn’t write. I just couldn’t.

10. I love your books!  It always amazes me when an individual writes and publishes a book.  Could you share how thrilling that must be? What is it like to know that your words are coming together for others to read?  

It’s so thrilling that it can be downright nauseating! Haha! It’s a humbling honor that hits me all over again at each stage of the process. Readers are giving me their time, pieces of their life, and I’m thrilled that I get to do the same for them through my stories.

11. And finally, as a writer, what has been your most rewarding and memorable moment?

Whenever a reader takes the time to share how the story has impacted them! I love to write stories that will (hopefully) make readers laugh and swoon, but when they share how the themes I wrestled over while wondering how anyone could possibly be blessed by this…well, those moments are the greatest gifts to me as a writer!

Thanks for joining us, Joy! Wishing you (and all you readers) a blessed day!

Joy has graciously offered to giveaway a copy of her newest book! This will be a US giveaway, and a winner’s choice of a paperback or ebook copy of Marriage, Melodies, and Rewritten Conclusions.

Enter below!

Contest ends November 12, 2021.  The winner will be notified by email.  Thanks for entering and happy reading friends!

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