Showing posts with label Author Q and A. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Author Q and A. Show all posts

10.31.2023

Author Interview with Gillian Bronte Adams

 Today I have the pleasure of sharing an interview I recently did with Gillian Bronte Adams. She is currently in the midst of releasing her newest series The Fireborn Epic. And if you haven't yet picked up the first book Of Fire and Ash, you have a treat in store. And if you hate waiting for the next book Of Sea and Smoke releases next month!

Thank you, Gillian, for taking time from your busy schedule to answer some questions.  If they are like me, I'm sure my followers will enjoy getting to know you and your writing better.

 1) How long have you been working on this series? I don't   just mean the actual writing, but how long has it been a   part of you, growing in your mind?

  Over ten years now, which feels completely wild to me.        This story came together in two distinct pieces, which is      unusual for me. Back then, I started exploring the idea of    writing the story of an aspiring warrior queen, a female      character who desired to follow in her father’s footsteps      and one day lead her people, when her nation is            suddenly plunged into war, her father is killed in    battle, and she now has to step up and do just   that.

  I was interested in her story, but all of my attempts to          build the world fell flat. There was nothing unique or          fascinating about it, and eventually, I set her story aside      until I could dream up something better. Later that        summer, I was serving as the Head Wrangler at a youth camp, which meant that I was spending every day either in the saddle or running alongside kids as they learned to ride. One evening, I pulled out a notebook and started sketching out ideas for horses with magical abilities—horses who could breathe fire, ride the stormwinds, vanish into shadow, etc. I originally envisioned a western story set in that world, which sounded fun to me, but then I started fiddling with the idea of medieval-era warriors riding those horses, which sounded even better.

But the more I built out the world, the more frustrated I became, because I couldn’t settle on a story that would be epic enough to do it justice. So here I was with a story without a world and a world without a story, and it was still months before it occurred to me to try combining the two just to see what would happen, and years before I felt ready to tackle telling such an epic tale.


2) If you had to pick another format for your books to be shared, what would it be -musical, movie, public readings, serial release(a chapter at a time), or graphic novel?

I would have to say movie, hands down. I think there’s a part of every author who imagines seeing their story on the big screen since that’s how it often exists in our heads, even though the track records of so many book-to-movie adaptations make the idea slightly terrifying. But I think

the scope of The Fireborn Epic, along with the visuals of the different settings and the various magical warhorses, not to mention the intensity of the action sequences, would translate well to the big screen and make for a truly epic movie.


If done by the right director, I agree The Fireborn Epic would make a fantastic movie, on par with LOTR. I personally would love to see all the Solborn in action.

   

3) What one author, past or present, would you like to mentor you? 

Oh, this is a tough question. I can honestly think of so many authors from whom I would love to glean bits of insight on specific elements of storytelling. But if I narrow it down to just one, I think I would have to say J.R.R. Tolkien because he did something so powerful with The Lord of the Rings that has impacted generations of fantasy writers and readers alike. He managed to create a world that you want to live in, which is something that I think we see less of in fantasy today, as stories lean more gritty or dark and worlds become more oppressive. I don’t dislike gritty or dark stories. But even though there is great evil and darkness in Tolkien’s world, his heroes are not just fighting against something; they are fighting for something, for a vision of beauty and of goodness that they have tasted and long to see survive. And it’s something tangible, both for the characters and for us as readers—it’s the Shire, it’s Rivendell, it’s a glimpse of a star high above a smog-choked place—which makes it especially powerful. I would love to have had the chance to talk to Tolkien about that.

I agree that finding hope, even a glimmer of it just beyond the present is what made Toliken's work so powerful. Those pockets of light made the fight worth it.


4) How do develop your setting (a photo, a trip, a random comment)? 

If it’s set in an environment that I have never visited or experienced, I will spend a lot of time searching Google images and videos until I can visualize it in my mind. I’m always looking to pinpoint the specific details that will help ground it in a reader’s senses. The specific sounds associated with a place. The sensations. The scents. The flavor.

At the end of the day, I’m not trying to create something that each reader will be able to visualize with 100% accuracy. I kind of think of it as the difference between realism and abstract art. I’m trying to give splashes of color and flavor and choice details to convey a certain atmosphere and vibe that allows readers to fill in the rest in their minds.


5) If you could share a cup of tea (or coffee) with anyone, who would it be? 

I would love to share a cup of coffee with a reader who has connected deeply with my books. Someone who found a home away from home in my stories with characters who made him/her feel seen. So much of writing is done in isolation. For so long, as a writer, it’s just you and the story and the characters. Then gradually, the circle grows, and beta readers and editors come in to join you. Then it heads out into the world, and readers get to experience the story. But so much of that happens at a distance, and often by that time, you’re already deep into working on the next thing, so any opportunity that arises to see how your story has touched someone else is honestly such a gift!


6) What's one book would you recommend that everyone read? It can be one of yours or someone else's book.  

Fictional book? 

Oh, that’s hard to answer, because people are all so unique and so I think the stories that speak deeply to each person are equally unique. I do think that there is just so much goodness and beauty in The Lord of the Rings that I’d recommend reading the series at least once in a lifetime, if not more. The films are beautiful and wonderful adaptations, and I will forever love them, but there’s so much to the books and to the characters that the films simply can’t capture in a limited run time—even one as long as all three extended films put together.

If we’re talking about one of my books, I’d recommend starting with Of Fire and Ash, just because it’s my current favorite series!


7) Who is your favorite character in your book? And where did you get your names (Ceridwen, Rafi, Finnian, Jakim, Mindar, etc.)


I honestly can’t pick a favorite. Each one of them is very near and dear to my heart in different 
ways. I love how Ceridwen makes certain female readers feel seen, including myself. I love Rafi’s sense of humor and the way that he learns to value his own unique strengths. I feel Jakim’s trials and his compassionate heart. Finnian, dear Finnian, don’t we all love him? 

But one of my favorite side characters is Markham. He’s gruff and grumpy and his sarcasm and (sometimes harsh) way of speaking the truth is always a surprising element in scenes. Anytime he joins a conversation, things take an interesting turn. He manages to bring things to light about the other characters that I haven’t anticipated, and he does and says thing that often surprise me as the author, which is just so much fun!

Interestingly enough, all of the main characters originally had different names and were once wildly different people (Ceridwen was Gwen, Rafi was Ronin, etc.) But as I discovered each of them and who they actually needed to be, and the cultures and societies that had shaped them, their true names came along with it.

That is interesting. I have to say the names they now have so suit them. I can't imagine them with another name.  


8) Where did the unique characteristics of the different Solborn come from? Did you take
them from the character traits and personalities of horses you've personally known? I've
known a couple who could almost breathe fire and easily be a Fireborn.

Over the years, I’ve gotten to interact with a wide variety of horses (with a wide variety of
personalities), and for several years, I managed a herd of over twenty horses for a summer camp. So for the different breeds of solborn, I drew characteristics from some of our real-world horse breeds (fireborn share some traits with Arabians, earthhewn share some with Percherons, etc.), and I had lots of fodder from my own personal experience for the individual horses.  

Ceridwen’s fireborn, Mindar, is based on my own horse. He has that fiery personality. He’s quick 
on the turn, a natural sprinter, always prancing and dancing and excited to go. He is a one-person horse who turns into a grumpy old man in the rain, which is honestly just so apropos for a fireborn. Ghost, Rafi’s seablood, is basically the horse version of my dog, Took. So he has my dog’s personality but horse mannerisms. Markham’s shadower, who you’ll get to meet in Of Sea and Smoke, in one of my personal favorite scenes, definitely takes some personality traits from horses I have had the … pleasure … of working with.

I love how wildly unique each horse that I’ve worked with has been, and I think that’s part of why they can bond with specific riders so well!

9) What one question do you wish you would be asked, and how would you answer it?

Sometimes readers ask where is the best place to buy my books to support me as an author, which is just so sweet of them. I’m honestly so happy wherever readers buy my books, whether that’s through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, ordering through their local bookstore, or requesting that their library buy them. (I love my library so much!) But nothing gets me quite so excited as getting to sign and personalize books for readers. In the past, this was generally only possible at events, which tend to be few and far between. But this year, I made the leap and opened up an online shop on my website where I can offer signed books and a variety of merch options (like t-shirts and mugs) to readers all year long! It’s been so fun to see orders coming in and to get to package up books to ship out to readers.

I know I got one of the Solborn mugs (Stormer) earlier this year and I just loved the graphic. I had planned on gifting it but decided I needed it instead. I can always get another one to gift at Christmas.

7.06.2023

Exclusive Q and A with Rachel Hauck

Today, I'm pleased to share with you my recent interview with author Rachel Hauck.


1)
If you had to pick another format for your books to be shared, what would it be -
musical, movie, public readings, serial release(a chapter at a time like Vella), or
graphic novel? 

RH: So glad you asked! I’ve always thought my Nashville book, “Nashville Dreams,”
should be a Broadway Musical. 

2) Who (or) what is your favorite comfort-read author or genre? 

RH: Believe it or not, I don’t have a fav author or genre. I just love a good, well-
told story. I’ll read romance, chick lit, contemporary, or general fiction, historical,
you name it, well, except fantasy or sci-fi, maybe, but you could convince me, if
the story is appealing.

3) What one author, past or present, would you like to mentor you? 

RH: I’d love to sit at the table with the Inklings, which included C.S. Lewis and Tolkien.
Or perhaps Stratford-on-Odeon which included Hemmingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald. I
think writers mentor writers when they talk the craft and business together. The world of
publishing has changed from the Inklings’ days, but the concept of fellowshipping
together is timeless.

4) How do you develop your setting (a photo, a trip, a random comment)? 

RH: Setting is such a key part of every story that I try to use real-life places to set a
story or to base a fictional town. I usually have an idea in my head of what I want a
fictional town to look like then I google similar towns to make sure I have all I need to
make my town seem real.

5) What one book would you recommend that everyone read? 

RH: Of course, everyone should read The Best Summer of Our Lives, but I’d also
recommend Growing In Prayer by Mike Bickle. Prayer is so important, yet it’s a difficult
discipline despite all good intentions. Growing In Prayer sets vision, and gives reasons and
motivations based on Scripture to help Believers grow in prayer. It’s been a game-changer for me.

6) Do you have a favorite author that you would recommend? 

RH: I don’t have favorite authors so much, but I do love a good story. However,
some talented authors I’d recommend are Susan May Warren, Beth Vogt, Melissa
Tagg, Tari Faris and Lisa Jordan. Courtney Walsh is a talented storyteller as well.

7) If you could share a cup of tea (or coffee) with anyone, who would it be? 

RH: I’d love to have tea with the Queen. I know she’s gone now, but if I could, I’d attend
tea with Queen Elizabeth II. Or Princess Katherine. She seems very real.

8) Who is your favorite character (or two) in The Best Summer of Our Lives? 

RH: Ah, that’s like choosing a favorite kid. Since it’s an ensemble cast – four main
characters—I love all of them, but Summer was a favorite. In the end, I wanted to be
her! I also loved Snow. My publisher created a fun survey for readers to see which
Season they were most like and when I took the test, I was the most like Snow. That
really surprised me. Autumn was the big sister of the crew and I’m the “big sister” in my
family, so I related to her. Spring was the beauty queen from a well-off, well-positioned
southern family. While that was so not me, I understood her moral dilemma. I never
faced what she faced, but I could relate to her turmoil.

9) Do you have a favorite book that you have written? If so, why that book?

RH: They’re all favorites in one manner or another, but I’ve always been partial to Softly
and Tenderly
with Sara Evans. I’m also a fan of The Best Summer of Our Lives!

10) What do you most like about this genre that you are writing in?  

RH: I’ve kind of morphed through genres, starting with chick lit to romance to split time
to contemporary. I sometimes wish we didn’t have genres but just “good stories.”
(Smile.) I love writing about complex characters who go on a life-changing adventure.
 
11) What one question do you wish you would be asked and how would you answer
it?

RH: When were you born again? I’d answer: November 1967 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. My
father was a youth pastor at a Methodist church and during a Sunday school lesson,
when the teacher told us about Jesus, I knew He was real and true. I don’t remember
her name or face, or what she said that stirred a six-year-old’s conviction, but I went
home and told my mom, “I need Jesus in my heart.” We went to church that night and
when the altar call came – it always did back in those days – I looked up at her like,
“Let’s go.” I knelt at the altar and begged Jesus to forgive me and come into my heart.
And He did! Life changing. I don’t know who, what, or where I’d be today without Him.

5.02.2022

Shadows in the Mind's Eye ~ Review with Author Interview and Giveaway

Shadows in the Mind's Eye
By Janyre Tromp

Charlotte Anne Mattas's husband Sam is back from the war, but his homecoming was less than stellar. Annie now has a deep fear of the man who had rescued her, who had gotten her out of her father's home. But Sam is having trouble of the mind from his time fighting in the war. Battle fatigue - is it something he'll get over, or has it changed him forever?

Shadow's in the Minds Eye finds Sam Mattas struggling to adjust to returning home after three years away fighting in the Pacific Theater, but what he saw has left its mark on him - a few visible scars and the memories. But when he starts seeing things in the remote areas around his home, he first questions whether he really saw something on the mountain.

This is an interesting book that tells a story from both Sam and Annie's viewpoints. It is interesting to see how their thought processes and actions progress through the book and how they each respond to the same circumstances. Many returning soldiers suffered similarly from after-war issues (I know that my grandfather did), but it was something that was hushed up and considered a weakness. This is an excellent debut, and I think it would be a suitable book club selection if you are looking for a title that offers depth. This book will keep your attention as you hope for Sam and Annie to get back what was lost.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations, but that I provide my honest opinion - all thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Author:

A person with the hand on the chin

Description automatically generated with medium confidenceJanyre Tromp (pronounced Jan-ear) is a historical suspense novelist who loves spinning tales that, at their core, hunt for beauty, even when it isn’t pretty. She’s the author of Shadows in the Mind’s Eye, and coauthor of It’s a Wonderful Christmas.

A firm believer in the power of an entertaining story, Tromp is also a book editor and published children’s book author. She lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with her husband, two kids, two crazy cats, and a slightly eccentric Shetland Sheepdog. 


Learn more about Janyre Tromp on her website www.JaynreTromp.com.

You can also find her on Facebook (@JanyreTromp), Instagram (@JaynreTromp), and Twitter (@JanyreTromp)


About the Book:


In Shadows in the Mind’s Eye (Kregel Publications), debut novelist Janyre Tromp delivers a deliciously eerie, Hitchcockian story filled with love and suspense as she takes readers back to 1940s Hot Springs, Arkansas.


Charlotte Anne Mattas longs to turn back the clock. Before her husband, Sam, went to serve his country in the war, he was the man everyone could rely on—responsible, intelligent, and loving. But the person who came back to their family farm is very different from the protector Annie remembers. Sam’s experience in the Pacific theater has left him broken in ways no one can understand—but that everyone is learning to fear.


When Sam claims to have seen men on the mountain when no one else has, Annie isn’t the only one questioning his sanity and her safety. If there were criminals haunting the hills, there should be evidence. Is he really seeing what he says, or is his war-tortured mind conjuring ghosts?


Annie desperately wants to believe her husband, but between his irrational choices and his nightmares leaking into the daytime, she’s terrified he’s going mad. Can she trust God to heal Sam’s mental wounds—or will sticking by him mean keeping her marriage at the cost of her own life?


Q: The back of the book describes Shadows in the Mind’s Eye as, “A deliciously eerie, Hitchcockian story filled with love and suspense.” In your own words, introduce us to your debut novel. 


Charlotte Anne Mattas wants to go back to the way things were before her husband, Sam, left their farm for the war in the Pacific. Sam used to be her protector, but when he arrives home in Spring of 1946, his battle fatigue has everyone questioning his sanity and her safety… especially after he nearly kills his brother, then claims to see men on the mountain where no else has seen them. Are there really dangerous men on the mountain or is his twisted mind conjuring things that aren’t there? 


In the tradition of Hitchcock with a hint of psychological thriller, In the Mind’s Eye explores the illness we now call PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) and persistent love in a world determined to destroy it.


Q: Sam and Charlotte Anne both expected life to go back to normal when he returned from the war, but that doesn’t exactly happen. How was life post-war different from what they expected? How does each of them respond to those differences?


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. 


Like my grandfather, Sam glorified the home front, anticipating a glorious homecoming, delicious food, a soft bed, and an easier life. Charlotte Anne expected Sam to quickly become part of the team again as they worked their peach orchard. Instead, Sam has nightmares and reacts to food he used to love (I even gave Sam a reaction to orange marmalade just like my grandfather). Sam tends to jump to conclusions because he doesn’t understand the context, struggles with the physicality of farm work, and is overwhelmed with the amount of work that has to be done since Charlotte Anne wasn’t able to do a lot of the upkeep. 


At first, neither Sam nor Annie knows quite what to do with one another, but they’re determined to understand each other. Eventually they each open up to Sam’s mom, Dovie May, and she becomes a healing balm for each of them. If I had to give Dovie a theme, it would be: “You’d think holding joy right up against sadness would shatter a body. But it don’t. Joy, it sneaks in all around, sticks everything together, and finds a way to make you whole. See, light sneaks through the broken places.”


Q: In our current day, we are very aware of what PTSD is, and that it is very prevalent among men and women who have been in the military and seen war. What was known about PTSD back in the 1940s after World War II?


Although the general population didn’t shame WWII soldiers with PTSD symptoms as much as they did their WWI counterparts, WWII era doctors knew little about how to treat trauma of any kind. Battle fatigue, as it was known then, was treated with electroshock therapy (something that was terrifying and had limited success), and many of the men who suffered from it were often divorced, angry, confused, and quietly addicted to drugs and alcohol. Of course, I didn’t want to leave Sam and Annie here, so I dug for treatment options and talked with a few modern therapists.


In my research, those who fared best were often those who lived a little off the grid, in places where they could be physically active, with people who loved them and gave them the space to remove themselves when necessary. Sam also stumbles on a bit of a modern treatment technique by accident. Most folks have heard that going for a walk can help with mental stability. What isn’t as familiar is that the rhythm of walking combined with talking can actually replicate bits and pieces of EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy which is one of the most successful battlefield PTSD treatments. 


Q: What are some struggles Sam deals with upon returning home to Hot Springs? Is he able to hide what is going on from those closest to him or does it become apparent to everyone around him?


Sam’s reactions to “normal” stimulus are off the charts. If he hears a sound or sees a shadow, he immediately jumps into fight/flight/freeze reactions. As is normal for people when they’re first dealing with PTSD, he has no tools to hide his responses and lacks a bit of impulse control. He’s a good, good man with an enormous heart and his reactions cause a horrendous amount of guilt for him. The last thing he wants is to put the people he loves in danger.


As the story progresses and circumstances continue to slide sideways, Sam faces his own mental instability. Imagine watching yourself become more and more unstable and wondering if there’s anything you can do to stop it. 


Q: Sam claims to see and hear things going on around him that no one else does. How does Annie deal with what’s going on with her husband?


At first Annie is supportive of her husband and backs him up. She lists all the reasons she believes him: He’s a man she has always trusted. He’s amazing with his daughter. He’s gentle and kind and strong. Unfortunately, circumstances continue to prove that Sam is unstable, and she’s forced to question his sanity. She is rightfully terrified and confused.


To deal with her husband’s instability, she leans on her family—Sam’s mom and brother. They give Annie perspective and help with both the emotional and physical toll of working through unexpected circumstances. One of the things I’m most proud of in Annie is that she doesn’t allow Sam to abuse her even by accident. She holds the line and doesn’t budge from that. It’s something I hope all people do for themselves. That said, Sam is horrified by the fact that he hurt Annie in his sleep and refuses to put her in any further danger. But he also doesn’t give up.


Q: Hot Springs, Arkansas, is an unusual setting for a book. How did you choose the location and how does it play into the story?


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.


Q: What kind of research did you do on the effects of war during that time period? What sparked the inspiration for that part of the story?


As I mentioned, the initial interest came from my grandparents and their stories. But PTSD is also something I’ve struggled with for years. I had some childhood trauma that I worked through back in college. I started writing this book using the nightmares and struggles I had as a kid. Then my daughter became very, very ill which sparked a new trauma all its own. 


That said, battlefield PTSD has different components than the trauma I suffered. To research that, I had several long conversations with a friend who treats battlefield PTSD. She’s the one who reminded me that EMDR is, in essence, any activity that uses bilateral stimulation to trigger both sides of the brain—thus the positive effects of walking and wide-open spaces. I also read Soldiers from the War Returning by Thomas Childers to get an idea of the authentic story of the men returning from war; The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk, M.D. for how PTSD affects the brain and body; and Wounded Warrior, Wounded Home by Marshele Carter Waddell and Kelly K. Orr, PhD, ABPP to understand the battlefield specific emotional wounds, and how that affects a warrior’s family.


Q: An author often writes part of herself into the story, or at least something she knows about. How have you been affected by PTSD?


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 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.


All that peace came crashing down when my daughter became ill. She was hospitalized seven times over a few months’ time and the doctors had no idea what caused her illness. 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. 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, but I don’t think it’s a coincidence that I didn’t finish the book, and hadn’t found the path to hope until 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.


Q: The novel includes a good deal of discussion about the nature of evil and the character of God. The characters acknowledge that God doesn’t stop bad things from happening. How do they reconcile the hurt and pain in their lives with their concept of a loving God?


The problem of pain is one that even the best and brightest theologians and thinkers don’t have a perfect answer for. There are pat answers—God uses hard things to make us better or God walks with us through our pain. But when I was in the hospital, totally overwhelmed and crying in the bathroom so my daughter wouldn’t hear me, the easy answers didn’t help. And so I (and my characters) often sit with C. S. Lewis saying, “I never knew grief felt so much like fear.” Fear is the great consumer. Sam is afraid he’s going crazy and that he can’t protect his family. Annie is afraid she won’t ever be able to cope, and that the Sam she married is lost forever. And when they (or we) focus on fear, there are no solutions, no ways to move forward because they cannot solve fear on their own. We aren’t trustworthy enough or strong enough to fix it. 


And so what do we do?


In the story, Sam says, “If you pop in the middle of the story, you might just mistake the hero for a failure or worse, a monster. But it’s the scrabbling out of trouble and finding the truth deep inside him that transforms that character into a hero of light and goodness.” In essence, “Remember that it ain’t over until it’s over.” I’m a huge proponent of looking for and celebrating the beautiful even when it isn’t pretty. Gratitude isn’t a pretty bandage to slap on a hemorrhaging wound. It is a way to shift your attention while the master healer does his work. 


Annie and Sam find their way to gratitude—for simple joys of a birthday Karo nut pie, collard greens, the sunrise, and mostly the people in their lives. Their determination to be the good in each other’s lives is what slowly, over time, turns their attention away from the shadows and back on the life they have. As Dovie May says, “Sometimes God uses broken things to save us . . . Ain’t no light that can get through something solid. It sneaks through the broken places.” It isn’t immediate. And it isn’t easy. But the sunrise always follows the dark night.


Q: How does the imagery of light and darkness, especially in a spiritual sense, weave throughout the story?


Early in the story, Annie says, “A body can hide where the light was closed out, but the devils can hide there just as easy.” The temptation for both Annie and Sam (and all of us, really) is to either give up (wallow in the darkness) or to run away from it (which only keeps us in the darkness longer). While wallowing or running seem like easier choices, they’re also dangerous and far more painful in the long run. Both Sam and Annie try to fight the darkness alone, each not quite trusting anyone else. 


Throughout the book, they both learn that the dark places are really where strength starts. Since Sam and Annie are farmers, they come to think of it in terms of seeds. “There ain’t no growth without darkness. You know that better’n most. If you throw a seed atop the soil, it’ll get snatched away by the wind or the birds. You gotta bury it in the good, rich soil, and then it’s gotta split open afore it can grow. . .. We were all made to grow and stretch into the sunlight.”


Q: You’ve been on the publisher’s side of things for many years, both in marketing and as an editor working with authors. Have you always wanted to write as well? Has anything surprised you being on the author side?


I didn’t start writing or really even think about being a writer until a few years into my career as the marketing manager for a publisher. I actually started college as a chemistry major and ended up as an English major by default. There’s a whole story in here about me being a sassy know-it-all seventeen-year-old punk, and my mom being right. But suffice it to say, the major change was me heeding my mom’s advice to do what I loved (reading). 


Anyway, I was freelancing for our editorial department, and our managing editor asked me if I would consider writing a book. It sounded interesting. I wrote a short novel for the middle schoolers I mentored at my church, then I did a few picture books for my daughter, and then I took a long break to raise my kids. When I found time to write a book again, it was so life-giving, I don’t even have words to describe it. I was hooked.


But let me tell you that being an author has changed drastically in the last decade. There’s a much heavier load to lift for authors now—both in terms of tracking story trends and marketing. But it’s also easier than ever to be in contact with readers. I absolutely adore the opportunity to chat with folks about their lives on Facebook, see their pictures on Instagram, and just talk books with the world. It’s crazy to me that I can chat with friends in California and Australia and South Africa and Brazil just by typing (or speaking) into a little box on a screen. I will forever love technology for that.


The writing community also took me by surprise. I don’t think I’ve ever been in a varied group as welcoming and helpful as this group. They’ve been a tremendous support as I’ve worked through edits and marketing and all the highs and lows that come with publishing. There’s so much love and joy there. Julie Cantrell, Rachel McDaniel, Janine Rosche, Susie Finkbeiner, J’nell Ciesielski, and so many more have been absolutely amazing.



Book Giveaway:

The prize pack includes:


- A copy of Shadows in the Mind's Eye,

A custom made silver peach tree necklace inspired by the book,

- A "Light speaks through the broken places" t-shirt, also inspired by the book.







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3.30.2022

Counterfeit Love ~ Review with Giveaway and Interview

Counterfeit Love
Hidden Hearts of the Gilded Age #1
By Crystal Caudill

Six years ago Broderick Cosgrove broke Theresa Plane's heart, leaving her with no word of why he was leaving her to her Grandfather's military precision. Theresa's life has changed from one of wealth to one of struggling to stay ahead of her Grandfather's creditors. And his creditors are not going to be put off for much longer and are the kind to get what is owed to them in any way they can.

Broderick's undercover work finds him getting deeper into a counterfeit ring - a ring that if they are allowed to continue could undermine the economy of the United States and push the country into another depression. What Broderick never expected was to find Theresa smack dab in the middle of his case. Is she a part of the ring he has been infiltrating? Or is she just an innocent victim caught up in their web? Broderick is determined to find out and save her if at all possible. but is he willing to risk the case, his career, and his life for the woman he once hoped and planned to marry?

This is the first book in the Hidden Hearts of the Gilded Age series and if what is to come is anything like this first book it will prove to be an excellent series and one not to be missed. This is Historical Romantic Suspense and it will hold and keep your interest. Excellent reading and well-developed characters make for an unputdownable experience that you will want to continue well beyond the last page. Crystal Caudill is soon to become one of your favorite authors with this debut.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion - all thoughts expressed are my own.



About the Book:
Can this undercover agent save the woman he loves
--or 
is her heart as counterfeit as the money he's been sent to track down?

After all that Grandfather has sacrificed to raise her, Theresa Plane owes it to him to save the family name--and that means clearing their debt with creditors before she marries Edward Greystone. But when one of the creditors' threats leads her to stumble across a midnight meeting, she discovers that the money he owes isn't all Grandfather was hiding. And the secrets he kept have now trapped Theresa in a life-threatening fight for her home--and the truth.

After months of undercover work, Secret Service operative Broderick Cosgrove is finally about to uncover the identity of the leader of a notorious counterfeiting ring. That moment of triumph turns to horror, however, when he finds undeniable proof that his former fiance is connected. Can he really believe the woman he loved is a willing participant? Protecting Theresa and proving her innocence may destroy his career--but that's better than failing her twice in one lifetime.

They must form a partnership, tentative though it is. But there's no question they're both still keeping secrets--and that lack of trust, along with the dangerous criminals out for their blood, threatens their hearts, their faith, and their very survival.

To read an excerpt of Counterfeit Love click here.

About the Author:

Crystal Caudill is the author of "dangerously good historical romance," with her work garnering awards from Romance Writers of America and ACFW.

She is a stay-at-home mom and caregiver, and when she isn’t writing, Caudill can be found playing board games with her family, drinking hot tea, or reading other great books at her home outside Cincinnati, Ohio.

Learn more at crystalcaudill.com. You can also find her on Facebook and Instagram.

Author Interview:

Q: What situation does Theresa find herself in, through no fault of her own? Or is she really as innocent in everything going on around her?


A: Various betrayals work against Theresa throughout her history and present, not the least of which is the betrayal from her grandfather. While their debt developed through a combination of poor business choices, her misadventures, and reoccurring illness, it is ultimately his handling of that debt that leaves Theresa fighting for her home and her future. She is innocent of his poor choices, yet she is the one to pay the consequences and have her reputation clouded by a suspicion of criminal acts.


Even though Theresa is innocent of any criminal involvement, she is not innocent in all things. Like everyone else, she is responsible for her reactions and choices. Through her experiences growing up and now reenforced by Grandfathers betrayal, Theresa has learned to be self-reliant and rarely listens to the wise counsel of those around her. Unfortunately, her self-reliant decisions compound her problems, and her situation grows from dangerous to dire. 

Q: We think of the Secret Service today as the men and women in black suits within a certain perimeter protecting the President, but what was the original purpose of the Secret Service? 


A: I find the early days of the Secret Service incredibly fascinating and somewhat shrouded from public view. Most are familiar with their current black-suit role, but the Secret Service didn’t start unofficial part-time protection of the President until 1894, almost thirty years after their creation. While April 14, 1865, is most well-known for Abraham Lincolns assassination, it was also the date Abraham Lincoln authorized Secretary of the Treasury Hugh McCullough to create an organization whose sole purpose was to thwart the counterfeiting of U.S. currency. At that point in history, it is estimated that one-third of all circulating currency was counterfeit, and an unstable currency is a menace to the health and economy of a nation.


On July 5, 1865, William P. Wood was sworn in as the first Chief (now called Director) of the U.S. Secret Service. The organizations first decade was fraught with questionable practices, scandal, and a negative public image. In the mid-1870s, policies and procedures were changed, but they remained an organization with little power on their own. They required the partnership of local police or U.S. Marshalls to make arrests, obtain warrants, and conduct searches. The challenges they faced were incredible and so fascinating. In 1867, their umbrella of investigations expanded beyond counterfeiting to include any frauds against the government. Some examples are investigating the Ku Klux Klan, nonconforming distillers, smugglers, mail robbers, land frauds, and so much more. However, it wasn’t until President McKinleys assassination in 1901 that Congress requested official full-time Secret Service protection of U.S. presidents, and it was 1902 before the Secret Service assumed that duty. I could literally spend hours talking about the history of the Secret Service because I love it so much. In fact, I created a section on my website to share some of the information that wouldn’t fit into my story for those who are interested.



Q: Counterfeit Love is the first in a series. Can you give us a tease of what to expect as the Hidden Hearts of the Gilded Age series continues?


A: In book two, Counterfeit Hope, readers will get a surprising view of Andrew Darlington—an operative who has little tact and tends to see things in black in white. Readers and the heroine will discover that hes not quite the man he appears to be and is worthy of the title hero. However, hes been harboring a secret from his superiors. He spent his childhood as a member of a criminal family before being adopted by his arresting officer. When a case brings him face-to-face with his former family, his character comes into question despite all hes done to earn his sterling reputation. Matters only worsen when the woman who captures his attention—and possibly his affections—is the wrong kind of woman for a Secret Service operative. A pickpocket and former prostitute.


In book three, Counterfeit Faith, Josiah Isaacss charming ways get put to the test when he partners with the matron of Final Chance House of Refuge. Someone is using the institution for children convicted of crimes as a cover for their participation in a green goods game, and theyre willing to silence anyone who poses a threat to their operations, including the matron and children who are forced to participate. 

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After readers finish Counterfeit Love, they can head to www.crystalcaudill.com where they can access bonus features including a virtual tour of 1884 Cincinnati, all the Secret Service research facts that didn’t make the story, and information about Bearing Precious Seeds, a Bible printing ministry where a portion of proceeds from the sales of Counterfeit Love will be donated. Caudill has also created a book club kit that includes discussion questions, behind-the-scenes fun facts, and more.

Advance Praise


“Crystal Caudill has hit a home run with this action-packed historical romance. If you like characters who come alive, a hero to make you swoon, and edge-of-your-seat intrigue, you’ll love this story. A fantastic debut from an author I’m looking forward to reading again!” 

~ Misty M. Beller, USA Today bestselling author of the Brides of Laurent series


“Full of intrigue, Counterfeit Love is sure to delight fans of historical romantic suspense. As Caudill immerses readers in the world of counterfeiting rings and the early days of the Secret Service, she weaves a tale that is simultaneously well-researched and action-packed with delightfully flawed characters who will leave readers rooting for their redemption.” 

~ Amanda Cox, author of The Edge of Belonging and The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery 


“With swoony romance, intriguing history, gripping plot twists, and strong characters, Counterfeit Love is one of the strongest debut novels I’ve ever read! Caudill’s writing voice is pitch-perfect and draws readers immediately into the heart of the story, holding them in thrall until the end. And did I mention the swoony romance? I couldn’t put it down, and I am already eagerly waiting for the next book!” 

~ Carrie Schmidt, blogger at ReadingIsMySuperPower.org


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Enter the Giveaway:
Be sure to enter the tour-wide giveaway for a chance to win a 
copy of the book Counterfeit Love.



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