Interview with Barbara M. Britton and spotlight of Lioness...

We're happy to have Barbara M. Britton with us talking about her book Lioness. To learn more about her and Lioness, please read on...

Back cover blurb

While the Israelites struggle to occupy the Promised Land of God, Mahlah bat Zelophehad is orphaned and left to care for her four sisters. But daughters of the dead are unable to inherit land, and it will take a miracle for Mahlah to obtain the means to care for her sisters and uphold the vow she made to her dying mother.

Mahlah must seek Moses, the leader of her people, and request something extraordinary—the right for a daughter to inherit her deceased father’s land. A right that will upset the ox-cart of male inheritance and cast her in the role of a rebel.

But, God is the protector of the orphan and the widow, and five orphaned daughters need His help. With God, anything is possible. Even changing man’s tradition.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Proverbs 31:30 

      Mahlah arched her back. A sky, blue and crisp like a faceted gem, draped over the camp. No trade winds cooled the warmth of the fresh, new sun. She picked up a basket from outside her family’s ramskin tent and wedged it against her hip. Grasping her woven belt, she shifted the leather, so her knife was but a flinch away. She wouldn’t allow any beast in the wilderness to harm her sisters.

       “Come on, Tirzah. The dew is gone.”

       Tirzah emerged from behind the tent flap. She blinked at the brightness and wrinkled her nose. “Why do I have to gather manna?”

       “Because it is your turn.” Mahlah reached to take the hand of her youngest sister. “Hurry now, before Father stirs.”

       A gurgling noise rumbled from Tirzah’s belly.

       Mahlah stifled a laugh. “We better go before your hunger wakes the neighbors.”

      “It won’t.” Tirzah pressed her lips together. Her stone-collecting satchel hung at her side.

      “If we stay here and let our kin harvest the closest manna, your rumble will turn into a roar.”

Please tell us five random things we might not know about you.

-          I love watching football

-          In High School, I was on a Bible quizzing team

-          I was a Blue Bird in grade school, and I loved selling (and eating) thin mints

-          I’m the only girl in my home

-          I’m a breast cancer survivor

Why did you choose to write this book?

I’ve been a Christian for a long time, but I had never heard the story of the daughters of Zelophehad. These girls aren’t one hit wonders in the Bible either. There is a lot of Scripture about their groundbreaking “ask” of Moses and of God. I wanted to bring their story to light, so others could be inspired by these orphaned sisters.

What one thing about writing do you wish non-writers would understand? 

Publishing can be a slow process. If an author is traditionally published, a book may take 18 months to get to the shelves. Couple that with the time taken to write a book, and an author may be busy, but a reader doesn’t see their efforts. I wish the traditional process was quicker.

What is the toughest test you've faced as a writer?

With the invention of social media platforms, authors can be contacted night and day by readers. While interactions are wonderful, some can be hurtful. Not every book is for every reader. I was contacted by a reader who didn’t like one of my novels and then challenged my faith. I don’t mind a book critique, but no reader should judge my relationship with God.

What do you hope readers take away from your novel?

The theme for “Lioness” is “Go forth with God.” The daughters of Zelophehad trusted God enough to seek an inheritance that had never been given to women. Especially, unwed girls. Their faith in God is an inspiration. They are also bold. The girls seek Joshua many years later and remind him of God’s promise of land.

What accomplishment(s) are you most proud of, writing-related or not?

My children aren’t perfect, but they are walking with the Lord. Their belief brings me joy. I taught elementary chapel for many years and I believe children’s ministry is very important. Teaching isn’t easy, but it is rewarding. After eight years of writing manuscripts, my first book contract was a joy, too.

What do you do for fun when not writing?

I am finding marketing my books to be fun. At first it was overwhelming, but I have found a groove. I also enjoy reading, baking, and walking (which I need to do after eating what I baked). I enjoy dancing, but my husband isn’t too fond of dancing.

What are you working on now? 

I am working on another Biblical story, but before it will hit the shelves, I have a historical novel set during WWI that will release (after the DoZ series). “Until June” is a hope-filled caregiver story based on a true story I heard on a cruise ship excursion.

How about you? Did you know the story about the daughters of Zelophehad?

Check out Numbers 26:33, 27:1-11, chapter 36 and Joshua 17:3-6

You can find Barb on:

Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads

Amazon Link for “Lioness.”

Bio

Barbara M. Britton lives in Southeast Wisconsin and loves the snow—when it accumulates under three inches. Barb writes romantic adventures for teens and adults. She is published in Biblical fiction and enjoys bringing little known Bible characters to light in her stories. Barb is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, Romance Writers of America and Wisconsin Romance Writers of America. Barb has a nutrition degree from Baylor University but loves to dip healthy strawberries in chocolate. Find out more about Barb’s books at http://www.barbarambritton.com/books.html

Interview with Jan Cline & spotlight of The Pruning...

We're happy to have Jan Cline with us today talking about her book, The Pruning. To learn more about Jan and her inspirational historical fiction book, read on!

Back cover blurb

Clarissa Wilding can’t run away from her past. Moving from the drought-ridden Kansas plains to the green hills of the Pacific Northwest has only drawn her secrets to the surface, threatening the new life she has built with her husband, Frank, and their boys. When Frank introduces her to his brother, everything changes, and Clarissa must deal with new revelations that test their family bond and may forever alter their happiness.

The first page of the book:

Chapter One

Pasco, Washington, June 1935

After three long days and two nights sitting on a lumpy seat, Clarissa had looked forward to getting off this train, but now all she wanted was to slither into the safety of the grimy locomotive and go back where she’d come from. Despite a promise of a new beginning, her life was about to fall into an abyss deeper than the sand dunes she had just escaped.

Her throat tightened as she tried to pull in some air. Like the dust storms around their homestead on the Kansas plains, the sight of her husband, Frank, hugging his estranged brother, robbed her of breath. If her first impression was correct, another kind of storm brewed before her eyes.

It can’t be him. Her gut told her this wasn’t her imagination, but indeed a cruel twist in her plans for a brighter future for what was left of her family. One more long look at his face, his stature, and any lingering doubt faded.                                  

She turned from the scene and scanned the yard around the clapboard station house. The sheer beauty of the clear skies and rolling hills in the distance should have been her welcome. The sight of blooming flowers and tall leafy trees might have excited her but for the shock of seeing him again.

Please tell us five random things we might not know about you.

1)    I’m a craft-a-holic.

2)    I have been singing since I was 6 years old – sometimes professionally.

3)    I founded and directed a writers conference for 5 years.

4)    In my family I’m known as the cheesecake queen.

5)    I was first published when I was in the 3^rd grade. Been writing ever since.

Why did you choose to write this book?

This book is the 2^nd in a series on a topic I became fascinated with while watching some documentaries. The depression/dust bowl era has so many stories left untold. I believe in keeping history alive, and the characters in my book make that happen for me, and I hope for my readers. Once I developed my make-believe family in book 1, I had to continue their journey through all the tough years Americans endured. 

What one thing about writing do you wish non-writers would understand? 

How much hard work it takes to organize and write a good story. That most talented authors have to study the craft and learn what makes a good read. The majority of authors don’t earn a living just from writing books. I’d like non-writers to know that while it’s great to get a book for free, authors work very hard to get that story to them. Please thank your favorite authors with reviews on Amazon.

What is the toughest test you've faced as a writer?

Writing the next book, and making it better than the last. Book 3 of my series is based on the life of my mother. As I finish the manuscript, I feel pressured to get the characterization right while still telling a great partially true story. This has been a struggle for me – sort of mixed emotions at times. But I know I’m supposed to write this book. I’ve researched it for years and just want to get it right.

What do you hope readers to take away from your novel?

I hope my readers see that even through the most difficult times, determination and faith can move mountains. The women in my books all find that inner strength to endure impossible situations. It’s a lesson in humility for most of us who have never had to suffer through devastating circumstances like those of the dust bowl, the great depression, and WW2.

What accomplishment(s) are you most proud of, writing-related or not?

Creating and directing my conference was a huge thing for me, and I feel good that so many writers were encouraged and even published through those conferences. The other thing is just finishing a novel, then 2, then 3!

 What do you do for fun when not writing?

Crafts, RV camping, golf. We also have a cabin on a small lake that is a good getaway.

What are you working on now? 

Book 3 of this American Dreams series. As I mentioned, it is based on the life of my mother – and her WW2 bomber pilot husband. Then I have another WW2 story up my sleeve for next year.

Where else can readers find you online?  

Jancline.net

Facebook: Jan Cline Author

Twitter: @Jan_Cline

Anyone can join my monthly newsletter and receive a free short story! Jancline.net/subscribe

Bio

Jan has been writing most of her life, but wasn’t published until later in life. After writing non-fiction for several years, fiction became her focus, with emphasis on the stories from America’s history. Her first novel, Emancipated Heart, was published in 2016. Jan enjoys her life in northern Idaho, living with her newly retired husband and very spoiled dog. She has 9 grandchildren to keep her busy. 

Interview with Allen Steadham & spotlight of Mindfire...

We're happy to have Allen Steadham with us today talking about his book Mindfire. To learn more about Allen and his Christian Superhero Thriller, read on!

Back cover blurb

"For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required."

Leia Hamilton can move things and set them on fire with her mind.

Leia's father and step-mother tried to hide their past: a time when they were part of a team of superheroes. But despite being disbanded for over twenty years following a series of tragedies, their problems were passed to their children and Leia finds that her future collides with their past.

In the diverse world of human and superhuman, heroes and villains, friends and enemies, some of Leia's choices have terrible consequences. For Leia, this leads to a personal crossroads and a search for redemption.

Not your normal superhero novel, Mindfire isn't about secret identities, costumes, or evil plots endangering the world. Instead, self-discovery and adaptation is at the forefront as the reader follows the lives of the characters who are unafraid to show love and explore spirituality.

Can redemption and renewed grace weather the flames of absolute power and superhuman strength?

Please give us the first page of the book.

SWEATING FROM HER BRISK WALK across the Digby College campus

in record-breaking near-ninety-degree July heat, Leia Hamilton dragged

herself into an empty seat towards the back of the large Jason V. Frederick

lecture hall, which wasn’t well-lit or properly ventilated. The building itself

must have been at least twenty-five to thirty years old. The acoustics carried

well enough but also made it seem like all sound escaped from a human-sized

tin can. Students were always tempted to sleep but their success often

depended on the teacher.

Professor Angela Merrick, whom Leia had nicknamed “Professor Doom,”

scowled and deliberately made direct eye contact with Leia but said nothing,

continuing her lecture. The professor radiated confidence and something else,

Leia wasn’t sure what. The professor’s long black hair was often worn in a

bun like today but sometimes she wore it down. Leia believed the professor

would be very beautiful if she didn’t always project a certain amount of

tension. It had given her worry lines that made her look a few years older than

she probably was.

Thirty minutes later, Josh Manning saw Leia escaping her first class of the

day. Mentally noting her distressed expression, he whirled her around and

kissed her passionately in front of the other class escapees in the hallway. He

was red-haired, even taller than Leia and lanky. He also had more than a bit of

Southern charm to accompany his slight Alabama drawl. Suddenly, he pulled

back, confused and concerned.

“Your skin is, like, really hot!” Josh put his hand on her forehead. “You

have a fever or something?”

“I’m fine,” Leia pulled back and glared at Josh. “Now what are you doing?

You said you’d keep things mellow on-campus!”

“You looked like you needed cheering up,” Josh said.

Leia facepalmed. And a moment later, she grabbed his arms in a rage.

“What is wrong with you?” Leia screamed. “Save that stuff for when

we’re alone!”

“Oh yeah, that’s subtle,” Josh replied. “Do you think anyone didn’t hear

you just now? All I did was kiss you!”

Please tell us five random things we might not know about you.

1.     I am interracially married (my wife is African-American)

2.     I’ve played electric bass guitar since 1986

3.     I take sky pictures with my iPhone & post them on Instagram and Facebook

4.     My wife and I have the same birthday (5 years apart)

5.     I studied journalism in high school and college

Why did you choose to write this book?

This was my first full-length, completed novel. I chose to undertake it for National Novel Writing Month (Nanowrimo) in November 2013 and completed the first draft in three weeks. I asked the Lord to bless me with inspiration and he did. I took characters and story elements from original superhero comic book I wrote and drew, starting at age ten. I continued that comic into my twenties, finishing it in my thirties. But now, I wanted to only write Christian fiction. And the Lord took my familiarity with these characters and their histories to craft a story in the present day, a story that would point towards Him. A redemption story. So that’s what Mindfire is. It’s all to God’s glory.

What one thing about writing do you wish non-writers would understand? 

It’s a process. No one starts out a great writer. People may have great ideas but it takes time, practice and mistakes to get better. A writer is always learning and growing. A writer should never think they’re “good enough,” they should keep pushing themselves. That’s what makes a person a writer.

What is the toughest test you've faced as a writer?

Depicting salvation. It’s one thing to show a character going through trials or realizing that they need God and His Son, Jesus Christ. But to show that person actually ask for and receive the greatest Gift ever bestowed, it takes me as a writer submitting myself to this Holy God and allowing Him to show me the way to depict it. Salvation is the same but the way people approach, perceive and accept it is different each time. It’s a very personal experience and that has to be respected and shown properly. Otherwise, one runs the risk of making the Divine seem commonplace, which it is not and never can be. It is extraordinary.

What do you hope readers to take away from your novel?

While it is very normal for people to try and solve their own problems, the only lasting solution is Jesus Christ. He is the ultimate superhero who died for our sins to give us eternal life.

What accomplishment(s) are you most proud of, writing-related or not?

I’m proud of completing Mindfire. It is the culmination of a lifetime of character building while also saying goodbye to a part of my past in a satisfying way. It’s knowing that theses characters’ stories may be able to help someone who may not even know they’re seeking the Lord. Or it may bring peace to someone who is struggling in their walk with Christ. I don’t know how the book will be received but I know what the Lord can do. It’s an honor to be used by Him for anything.

What do you do for fun when not writing?

I like to watch Star Trek (all series) and foreign dramas. My oldest son and I go to the movies somewhat frequently. My wife and I love spending time together. I also enjoy doing things with the whole family.

What are you working on now? 

I’m working on the first book in a Christian steampunk trilogy.

Where else can readers find you online?   

Website – https://allensteadham.com

Facebook – https://facebook.com/jaspecfiction

Twitter – https://twitter.com/Mindfirenovel

Instagram – https://instagram.com/allensteadham

Bio

Allen Steadham created comic books and webcomics before he started writing novels. He has been married to his wife, Angel, since 1995 and they have two sons and a daughter. When not writing stories, Allen and his wife are singers, songwriters and musicians. They have been in a Christian band together since 1997. They live in Central Texas.

Spotlight of June Foster’s Dreams Deferred....

We’re happy to have June Foster with us today talking about her novel Dreams Deferred. To learn more about June and her book, read on! 

Frances Matthew Hall is obedient to family tradition: all firstborn sons will serve as a priest. Now Matt officiates at St. Aloysius Catholic Church in San Antonio, Texas. But when on Easter Sunday, he notices a beautiful young woman who takeshis breath away, he must fight against his attraction to her or leave the priesthood and alienate his entire family.

Mary Louise Graham is a middle school teacher and devout catholic. Yet no amount of service to the community can ease the heavy load of guilt she carries. God can never forgive her unspeakable mistake. But when Father Matt tells her about a forgiving God through His son Jesus Christ, she's free. Only thing, the Godly priest now means more to her than he should.

Can two people find their way to each other amidst insurmountable obstacles? Dreams Deferred is inspired by the author's great grandfather and great grandmother's story.

Short blurb:

Father Matt Hall wants to serve the Lord. School teacher Mary Louise Graham needs freedom from her unforgivable past. They never expect to fall in love.

The Story Behind the Story

Dreams Deferred is inspired by the true-to-life story of my great grandfather and great grandmother. I chose to set it in contemporary times, nevertheless, I borrowed many of the story elements from the true story.

Frances Mathew Halbedl grew up in the European Austrian Empire and followed tradition in which the oldest son became a priest in his family's Catholic faith. After being ordained in Moravia, he immigrated to the United States in 1866 to serve in a parish in the state of Louisiana.

My aunt and mother always told the story of how one Sunday while saying mass, he spotted a young teen, much younger than my Mary Louise. He waited several years for her to grow up then stepped down from the priesthood to marry her. I wish I knew some of those rich details of their courtship, but since I don't, I fictionalized their romance.

They later moved to San Antonio, Texas, and had five children, three girls and two boys—Ida, Mamie, Alice, Roy, and Clifton, who was my grandfather. Just for fun in one scene, I imagined that Matt had a dream he was riding in a car with Mary Louise and the three youngest kids. In my story, the dream helped him realize how much he loved Mary Louise.

Mathew taught music both in the public school and privately. Later he became the first principal of a high school in San Antonio. In December of 2005, my husband and I visited San Antonio and looked up Matthew and Mary Louise's house. The large, two-story home is still there on Roseborough Drive. We weren't able to go in because it's a private residence. But I had so much fun envisioning Matt and ML's lives as they lived there with their children.

We also visited Clifton Halbedl's home, which I remember from childhood. I also had the address for Mamie's home, and we were able to go inside. A gracious lady who spoke no English invited us in. I have tons of pictures and hope to share them on my blog.

In the story, Matt gets a job at Jefferson High School. This is patterned after Thomas Jefferson High School where my mother went to school. Her name was Mary Louise, as well, named for her grandmother.

If I've learned anything from writing this book, I wish I'd probed for more information when my mother and aunt were still alive, but I'm grateful for what I do know.

About June Foster

June Foster is an award-winning author who began her writing career in an RV roaming around the USA with her husband, Joe. She brags about visiting a location before it becomes the setting in her next contemporary romance or romantic suspense. June's characters find themselves in precarious circumstances where only God can offer redemption and ultimately freedom. To dateJune has seen publication of 19 novels and 1 devotional. Find June at junefoster.com.

Interview with Patrick E. Craig & spotlight of The Mennonite Queen...

We're happy to have Patrick E. Craig with us today talking about his novel The Mennonite Queen. To learn more about Patrick and his book, read on!

Back cover blurb: Isabella, Princess of Poland, is raised to a life of great wealth and leisure in the Polish Royal Court, destined to marry a king. But fate or divine providence intervenes when she meets Johan Hirschberg, a young Anabaptist who works in her father’s stable. This chance meeting leads the young couple into a forbidden love. Together they flee Poland and embark on a dangerous journey that brings them, after great peril, to the small parish of a troubled priest named Menno Simons. Catholic Bishop, Franz von Waldek, paid by King Sigismund, Isabella’s father to find the princess at all costs, pursues them across Europe. Isabella does not know it, but if von Waldek captures her, she will have to make a choice that will change the course of European history forever.

Please give us the first page of the book.

PROLOGUE—1559  Sic Fata Volunt, The Will of Fate

The woman groaned and turned on the couch, awakened by a patter of rain rattling the windows. Outside, dark heralds of the unseasonal storm hid the moon. Distant lightning illuminated the room. An unearthly light touched her face momentarily and then faded as the gray predawn took victory over the indigo night. A long roll of thunder shook the window again, and she pulled her shawl tighter, a frown furrowing her brow.

I must tell him… before I go…

Queen Isabella of Hungary focused her eyes on the candle sputtering in the persistent draft that plagued the building. The flickering light illuminated Filippo Lippi’s painting above the fireplace, Madonna and Child Enthroned. Mary held the Christ-child, the love in her eyes captured perfectly by the artist. Jesus’s tiny hands clutched his mother’s robe, but he was not happy, nor was he comforted. Isabella could imagine his little mouth quivering—as though someone unseen was preparing to tear him from his mother’s arms.

Isabella blinked back tears.

Ah, my Abel, my son... where are you tonight?

Please tell us five random things we might not know about you.

1.     I was a professional Rock & Roll Musician from the sixties to the eighties with albums on Warner Brothers Records.

2.     I quit the music business in 1986 and became a pastor/worship leader.

3.     My favorite sport is fly fishing

4.     I am one of only seven male Amish Authors

5.     I have every one of the Hardy Boy Books on my library shelf

Why did you choose to write this book?

The Mennonite Queen ties up my two Amish series, Apple Creek Dreams and The Paradise Chronicles, all of which are about several generations of a fictional Amish family, the Hershbergers, in Ohio and Pennsylvania. This book tells the slightly fictional story of the matriarch of the Hershberger clan, Isabella, who became the mother of the first Hershberger son in 1534. I say slightly fictional because Isabella Jagiellon was a historical figure I surrounded with fictional characters to create a mythical “missing three years” story to help me establish the roots of the Hershberger family.

What one thing about writing do you wish non-writers would understand?  

The best writers do not write about topics they think will sell, they write stories that are in their hearts.

What is the toughest test you've faced as a writer? 

To be honest, the toughest test has been continuing to write as I waited for that one breakthrough book that captured the imagination of the reading public. So far, The Amish Heiress has come the closest, although I have great hopes for The Mennonite Queen. As a writer, I am determined to continue writing my stories. If I can’t get them published traditionally, I will publish them myself. So far, I’m about half and half.

What do you hope readers to take away from your novel? 

Every story does not end with a “happily ever after.” Life can be hard, it can be painful, and it can especially be unfair. Yet in every story, people can achieve greatness by clinging to that which is great—truth, faith and love.

What accomplishment(s) are you most proud of, writing-related or not? 

I’m proud of the success I had as a young man in the music business, I am proud of my work as a pastor and worship leader in the middle part of my life, and now I am proud to be pursuing the thing I love the most—telling stories that touch people in the deepest part of their lives.

  

What do you do for fun when not writing? 

My wife and I love to pack up our travel trailer and take off for the mountains of Idaho and Oregon. We fish, ride bikes, rest, sit by the campfire and get back in touch with God’s wonderful creation.

What are you working on now?  

I have several projects in process. One is a World War II series I am co-authoring with my friend, Murray Pura, who I consider one of the great writers of this generation. The series title is Islands and the first book is Far On The ringing Plains. I am also working on a book title The Amish Menorah. It’s set in the last Amish community in Europe in 1937 and it is about an Amish man who falls in love with an Amish man who falls in love with and hides a Jewish girl from the Nazis. I also have a medieval series, Amour mi Tien (Love Keep Me), that is set in the heart of the Wars of The Roses. I call the first book in that series The Roses of Agincourt. I also just signed a contract with Elk Lake Publishing to release my YA mystery series, The Adventures of Punkin and Boo. The first book, The Mystery of Ghost Dancer Ranch, will be released in August. 

Bio:  Patrick E. Craig is a traditionally published/independent author. In 2013, Harvest House Publishers published his Apple Creek Dreams series. His current series is The Paradise Chronicles, published by P&J Publishing, and the first book, The Amish Heiress was published in 2015. It remained on the Amazon Top 100 best sellers list for seven months. The Amish Princess was released in 2016 and The Mennonite Queen in April 2019. In 2017 Harlequin purchased the print rights for The Amish Heiress for their Walmart Amish series. That book is now in Walmart stores on across the country. Just recently Patrick signed with Elk Lake Publishers to publish his kids’ mystery series, The Adventures of Punkin and Boo.  Patrick and his wife, Judy, make their home in Idaho. Patrick is represented by the Steve Laube Agency.

Where else can readers find you online?  

 www.patrickecraig.com  Webpage
https://www.facebook.com/PatrickECraig  Facebook

https://twitter.com/PatrickECraig  Twitter

Where can readers find your books?

http://tinyurl.com/n6sfagg Amazon
http://tinyurl.com/yyjfwl6j Barnes & Noble

http://tinyurl.com/y4t4dts6 KOBO

http://tinyurl.com/y4b7pt6v Apple Books