Interview with Pat Jeanne Davis and spotlight of When Valleys Bloom Again...

We're happy to have Pat Jeanne Davis with us today discussing her inspirational historical novel When Valleys Bloom Again.

When Valleys Bloom Again

Inspirational Historical Romance

As war approaches in 1939 Abby Stapleton’s safety is under threat. Her father, a British diplomat, insists she go back to America until the danger passes. Abby vows to return to her home in London—but where is home? With her family facing mortal danger so far away and feeling herself isolated, she finds it hard to pray or read the Bible. Did she leave God behind in war-torn London too? Abby becomes friendly with Jim, a gardener on her uncle’s estate.

Jim can’t get Abby out of his mind. Did she have a sweetheart in England? Was it foolish to think she’d consider him? He curses his poverty and the disgrace of his father’s desertion and drunkenness haunts him. Can he learn to believe in love for a lifetime and to hope for a happy marriage?

Abby couldn’t know the war would last a long time, nor that she would fall in love with Jim—soon to be drafted by the U.S. Army—or that she’d have to confront Henri, a rejected suitor, determined by his lies to ruin her reputation and destroy her faith in God’s providence. Will she discover the true meaning of home and find happiness with Jim?

Please give us the first page of the book.

London, August 1939

Abby Stapleton slumped back in her seat, any glimmer of hope she’d harbored would soon be extinguished. A crystal chandelier jingled in the draft of an open window. She loved this room with its embossed wallpaper and rich tapestries, vibrant with memories of family. How could she leave all this?

            Her father folded the newspaper with its glaring headlines, plopped it on the table and parted his lips to speak. Abby forestalled him. “I’m nineteen,” she said, her nerves rubbed raw by the endless squabbles with her parents. Speak low and slow, Abby. “I don’t w-w-want to go.” Her voice, thin and strained, echoed back from the high frescoed ceiling.

“A father can’t ignore his responsibilities,” he said, clasping her hand. “You know Hitler’s taken Austria and Czechoslovakia. Probably he’ll take Poland next.” He furrowed his brow. “And when that happens war with Germany will be unavoidable.” His hand shook, and he sounded as though he’d aged ten years in the space of a few minutes.

Sunlight dispersed through a bay window, washing the brocaded settee on which she and her mother sat with patches of red and gold. Her mother sidled closer and stroked Abby’s arm, her face taut and pale. “Do as your father says, dear. There are sandbags and barrage balloons everywhere, and gas masks are being handed out.”

Still determined to speak her mind before it was too late, Abby shut her eyes in a silent prayer. Lord, help me to keep my temper. She released her hand from her father’s. “I sh-sh-should be able to decide for myself w-w-whether I want to leave.” Now of all times when she needed eloquence, this accursed stammer bound her up tight.

Why did you choose to write this book?

I have family in the US that served in the European Theater during WWII. When war was declared by England in 1939, my father-in-law was conscripted into the British Eight Army and served his country until 1946. I’ve had a keen interest in this period of history and hoped to some day write a faith based novel with an Anglo-American connection set during those dark days of the war.

As the ranks of those who lived through this period get smaller, I desired to highlight their lives in an instructive and entertaining way. When Valleys Bloom Again unfolds through the eyes of Abby Stapleton from an estate on Philadelphia’s Main Line with its landscaped gardens, to the bombed-out inner-city and suburbs of London to the battlefield in North Africa and Normandy. Military and history buffs will appreciate the references to battles and hardships faced by soldiers.

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

That through all of  life’s experiences with faith in God and submission to His will, we can be hopeful and steadfast in purpose, trusting in the promise from Him that all things work together for
good.

BIO:

PAT JEANNE DAVIS lives in Philadelphia, Pa with her British-born husband, John. They have two grown sons. She enjoys flower gardening, genealogy research and traveling with her husband. Pat has published essays, short stories and articles online and in print. She has a keen interest in twentieth-century American and British history, particularly the period of World War II. Pat’s father-in-law served in the British Eighth Army during the war. When Valleys Bloom Again is her debut historical romance set in that era. She is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers and the Historical Novel Society. Pat loves to hear from her readers. Subscribe to her newsletter here www.patjeannedavis.com

Links:

When Valleys Bloom Again can be purchased here:

Amazon:  

https://www.amazon.com/Valleys-Bloom-Again-Jeanne-Davis/dp/1948888920/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=154

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/when-valleys-bloom-again-pat-jeanne-davis/1130351044?ean=9781948888929                                      

Social Media:  

Website:  https://www.patjeannedavis.com

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/pat.j.davis.7

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/patjeannedavis/

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43600391-when-valleys-bloom-again?from_search=true   

Amazon Author Page:  https://amazon.com/author/patjeannedavis 

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/pat-jeanne-davis-34290422/                   

Pinterest:  https://www.pinterest.com/patjeannedavis/   

BookBub:  https://www.bookbub.com/books/when-valleys-bloom-again-by-pat-jeanne-davis

Interview with Lynn Basham Tagawa & spotlight of The Shenandoah Road...

We're happy to have Lynne Basham Tagawa with us today talking about her book The Shenandoah Road: A Novel of Great Awakening. To learn more about Lynne and this historical fiction novel, read on!

From the back cover:
John Russell's heart aches from the loss of his wife, but the Shenandoah Valley frontiersman needs to marry again for his daughter's sake. At first he believes he has found the right young woman, despite their differences, but his faith falters when time reveals she isn't quite what she seemed. Can he truly love her? 

Unlike her disgraced sister, Abigail Williams obeys the Commandments. At least, she thinks herself a Christian until a buckskin-clad newcomer courts her. He treats her kindly but also introduces her to a sermon by the controversial preacher, George Whitefield. Her self-righteousness is shattered, and she wonders about their relationship. If she confesses her lack of faith, will John continue to love her? 

The first page of the book:

Chapter One

The Lord’s my shepherd, I’ll not want;

He makes me down to lie

In pastures green; He leadeth me

The quiet waters by.

--Psalm 23:1, The Scottish Psalter, 1650

May 1744

John Russell knelt on the grass that grew over the grave. The small hickory cross had survived the winter.  On it was carved a name.

 His wife’s name.

Janet Russell (1719-1742)

He had spent hours over the little cross, finding the best wood, hand carving it,

engraving it, and rubbing linseed oil into it again and again.

Still, it would not endure the elements. Wood never did. But her soul was safe with God, and though he had grieved long and hard, his peace was real, too. The peace that went beyond all understanding.

He stood.

“She was a good wife,” Sarah murmured behind him. “And she willna mind you marrying again.”

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

I’m a science teacher by trade, and I’ve taught a lot of algebra over the years—I’m definitely the nerdy type. I play the flute. I graduated from the University of Hawaii. I married a “local boy” I met in Geology 101.

Why did you choose to write this book?

A lot of things came together. My friend Douglas Bond has written a number of HF books both for adults and young teens, and his writing inspired me. I thought, “It’s possible to write an engaging story without sacrificing spiritual truth.” I also realized that there were few stories written in this time period. One of Douglas Bond’s (for juveniles) and Jack Cavanaugh’s The Colonists come to mind. But nothing exactly like I wanted to write.

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

The huge amount of labor that goes into a book you can read in two days. Especially a genre like historical fiction. Some writers have no problem writing a thousand words a day, every day. But sometimes I spend more time researching that actually writing. Then you come to “The End,” but that’s only the beginning. Next comes the rewrite, the editing, and so forth.

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

My debut novel was hard (A Twisted Strand). I’d already published a nonfiction book (Sam Houston’s Republic) but fiction is different. The rules are different. Sometimes I felt like a grown-up going to first grade, and I like to think of that story as my Creative Writing 101. From conception to publication it took four years.

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

I want readers to get a sense of what it was like to live in that time period, in every regard: daily life, cultural differences, the impact of the Great Awakening, and even things like the flora and fauna of the time period. Did you know that buffalo often wandered into the Shenandoah Valley? But most of all, I’d like the reader to come away with uplifting and challenging scriptural truth. It’s why I added the subtitle. I want readers to know upfront that it’s not a romance per se, it’s something much more, which is why it doesn’t fit into the “romance” genre.

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

Besides my kids and grandkids? LOL Actually, I am happy about “placing” at the Selah Awards—tied for second place in the historical/biblical fiction category. It is gratifying for a relatively untested writer.

What do you do for fun when not writing?

Read!

What are you working on now? 

I’m working on a sequel to The Shenandoah Road. It’s set roughly ten years later, during the time period of the French and Indian War. I won’t give anything away, except this: I decided to create a Shawnee point of view character in addition to the main two. I have really loved that aspect of the story.

Where else can readers find you online?  

I have a Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/lynne.tagawa

I also have a website: https://www.lynnetagawa.com/

Bio

Lynne Tagawa is an author, editor, educator, and best of all, grandma to four. She loves to writes quality fiction with solid gospel content. Her debut novel, A Twisted Strand, is contemporary romantic suspense, but she thinks she’s found a true home in historical fiction. Currently she’s writing the sequel to The Shenandoah Road: A Novel of the Great Awakening.

Back cover blurb

John Russell’s heart aches from the loss of his wife, but the Shenandoah Valley frontiersman needs to marry again for his daughter’s sake. At first he believes he has found the right young woman, despite their differences in background, but his faith falters when time reveals she isn’t quite what she seemed. Can he truly love her? And what about his own failings?

Unlike her disgraced sister, Abigail Williams obeys the Commandments. At least, she thinks herself a Christian until a buckskin-clad newcomer courts her. He treats her kindly but also introduces her to a sermon by the controversial preacher, George Whitefield. Her self-righteousness is shattered, and she wonders about their relationship. If she confesses her lack of faith, will John continue to love her?

Interview with Jarm Del Boccio & Spotlight of The Heart Changer...

We're happy to have Jarm Del Boccio with us today talking about her book The Heart Changer.  To learn more about Jarm and her book, read on!

Cover blurb

Can an Israelite captive, wrenched from all she loves, serve the very man who destroyed her village?

Miriam is asked to do the impossible: serve the wife of Naaman, commander of the Syrian army. Clinging to treasured memories of home and faith, Miriam faces captivity with worry and bitterness. Little does she know the Heart Changer is wooing and preparing her for a greater mission—far beyond what she could imagine.

This middle-grade historical novel reflects the heartache and angst of a young refugee in a foreign land where all hope seems lost.

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

1. I love to travel, and am passionate about visiting new places. My motto is: never visit the same location twice. Well — I’ve disregarded my own rule a few times, but otherwise, I stick to it as best I can. I’m slowly checking off destinations on my bucket list, and have journeyed to six of seven continents. I’ll let you decide which one I have yet to step foot on . . .

2. I was accidentally hit in the head with a baseball bat and sported black and blue eyes for eight grade graduation. A well-meaning elderly man thought I had applied my makeup incorrectly. The ironic thing is — I am not a sports fan!

3. When I was a junior in high school my first job was — no joke — in a Chinese laundromat.

4. My secret desire? To get caught up in a flash mob singing a tune from a favorite musical.

5. When I was in elementary school, I begged my Mom for a baby alligator from Florida, trying to convince her we could keep it in our bathtub. She gently asked me what I would do once it grew to full-size. I pondered the question for a minute or two, and reluctantly backed down.

Why did you choose to write this book?

I have a soft spot for kids in the Bible who have no name and backstory, but have made a huge impact on the people around them. So, I chose the story of Naaman’s wife’s servant girl from 2 Kings 5. I gave Miriam a name AND a feasible backstory! I try to stay as close to the historical account as possible.

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

Authors are not passionate about writing for financial gain, but because we have a story to tell the world that can’t be squelched. We want to impact lives!

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

Hmmmm. I guess I have to say receiving one manuscript rejection after another. One year, I submitted to agents and editors twice a month. That’s over 24 submissions which ended up as a ‘no’ or ignored, as I watched other kid lit authors sign contracts and find agents after only a few tries. It will happen when the time is right. My career is in God’s hands.

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

There’s always hope when God is allowed to write our story. He has conceived it, so He will bring it to pass in the best way possible.

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

I wouldn’t consider this an accomplishment, per se, but I have the ability to fit into whichever culture or country I am visiting at the time. Often, while traveling, folks can’t tell by my speech that I’m American. They say I have more of a cosmopolitan accent. And I love to eat, speak and live as they do. From ‘85 to ‘87 I taught missionary children in an isolated village of Papua New Guinea. Even there I tried to fit in by carrying a load in a woven bag on my back with most of the weight resting on the strap across my forehead, just like the local women.

Please give us the first page of the book.

C H A P T E R  O N E

“RUN! RUN, MY DAUGHTER! DON’T let them see you!” Miriam’s mother cried in alarm, shielding baby Zacchaeus in her long robes. She watched, helpless, as her precious child ran to escape the oncoming invasion.

      Picking up her skirts, the young girl fled down the center of the Shunem town market, following the frantic path of others, terror- stricken by the billowing clouds of dust gathering in the distance. As the villagers ran for their lives, baskets of fruits and vegetables, nuts and spices were carelessly scattered on the parched ground. Carts of fish and goat’s cheese were upset, the sound of splintering and cracking adding to the mayhem as striped awnings ripped from their door frames. Goats and sheep scattered, and those who could not be freed from their leads bleated in fear. Shouts of the Syrian army, and the sound of clomping horse’s hooves on the stone pavement signaled the enemy’s advance. Cries and screams escaped from the villagers as they dropped a trail of precious belongings in their flight. A keepsake and a fresh loaf of bread meant nothing. Only their lives mattered now.

     Miriam eyed another overturned cart, its sweets scattered in the dust, and swiftly darted behind it to evade the soldiers’ haunting advances. She covered her face with the cloth from her head covering, tucking it in to hide her maturing face. Heart pounding, she took a deep breath, pressing her head against the rugged wood, praying no one had seen her.

 What do you do for fun when not writing?

I love to take tours and visit museums, especially when they relate to history. Travel is my go to inspiration, so I take advantage of it whenever possible. Next on my bucket list is a cruise through Scandinavia or a stay in a Mongolian yurt! And I have to admit, I love to be pampered with a facial or massage, but it’s been a while since I’ve enjoyed one.

What are you working on now? 

I have three other middle-grade novels, set in England, Spain, and the 1893 World Columbian Exposition. The latter novel I’ve been submitting to publishers and agents, so I would be blessed if it was in God’s plan for it to be snatched up in 2019!

Jarm (‘J’ pronounced as a 'Y') Del Boccio finds her inspiration in everyday life, but in particular, when she travels the globe, observing the quirky things that happen along the way. Focusing on lives of characters from the past, Jarm is devoted to breathing new life into the pages of history.

Jarm has a background in elementary and high school education, and served for seven years as a school librarian. Grateful for the opportunity, she taught three missionary kids in an isolated area of Papua New Guinea. She is part of SCBWI and American Christian Fiction Writers, and has published articles in "The Old Schoolhouse" magazine.

“The Heart Changer,” her debut MG historical/biblical fiction, releases with Ambassador International April 26th 2019. Jarm is content with the journey God has placed her on, and lives with her husband, adult daughter and son (when he lands at home) in a tree-lined suburb of Chicago. You can connect on her author’s website/blog at: https://www.jarmdelboccio.com/

"My Passion is to Make Scripture and History Come Alive for my Readers: Illuminating the Past. Making Sense of the Present. Offering Hope for the Future.”

Where else can readers find you online?   

My author’s website/blog: https://www.jarmdelboccio.com/

            Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/JarmDelBoccio/

            Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/jarmdelboccio/

           Twitter: www.twitter.com/JarmVee

            Instagram: @JarmDelBoccio

Interview with Johnnie Alexander & spotlight of Where Treasure Hides!

We're excited to have Johnnie Alexander with us today talking about her WWII novel Where Treasure Hides. I absolutely love the cover. Gorgeous! To learn more about Johnnie and her novel, read on!

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

1.     I have the same Christmas stocking I had when I was a baby. Each year I get fuzzy socks, Twizzlers, and other surprises.

2.     When I was a teen, I raised three puppies who became guide dogs.

3.     I’ve lived in three different states in the past three years.

4.     My favorite soda is Pepsi with lemon and lots of ice.

5.     My Pontiac Vibe, which I bought new ten years ago, has over 180,000 miles on the odometer. I’ve driven it in more than 20 states and in Washington, DC. My grandsons call it the Alpaca Squadmobile. I love that car.

Why did you choose to write this book?

World War II history fascinates me—so many stories, so much tragedy and drama and courage. After watching a DVD about Hitler’s looting of Europe’s treasures and another about the horrific plight of children during the war, I knew I wanted to join these two themes together in one story. Brave people hid art and brave people hid children. The heroine of Where Treasure Hides does both but the art she hides is very personal to her.

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

The non-writing members of my family often comment on how real these people I make up in my head become to me. They find that both fascinating and amusing!

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

On a couple of occasions, I thought my writing career was over. That discouragement is hard to overcome. But new opportunities appeared each time. It’s not an easy journey, and it tests one’s patience and persistence. I’ve learned not to give up and to be open to God’s plan for me.

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

Legacy is so important—what we are given from our parents and grandparents and what we choose to give to our children. But material things aren’t nearly as important as a spiritual heritage. Proverbs 31:25 encourages us to clothe ourselves in strength and dignity and to “smile at the future.” This can be hard when faced with difficulties and heartache. But it’s a promise that our future, our eternal future, is bright and holy and joyous.

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

I’m blessed that my three children are amazing adults who love God. It’s a joy to see them passing along the values that are meaningful to me, such as the importance of creating memories for each other, to their own children.

What do you do for fun when not writing?

Like most writers, I love to read. I also enjoy traveling with my sister. In the last three years, we’ve traveled to Prince Edward Island, to Europe (where we traveled by train from one major city to another before spending a few days in Lisbon), and most recently on a cruise up the New England coast and into Canada. It’s become an annual tradition I hope we continue.

What are you working on now? 

I’m doing the final edits for a novella called “Match You Like Crazy,” which is the tenth story in the Resort to Romance Series. And I’m just getting started on my fourth novel with Annie’s Fiction which will be part of their new Inn at Magnolia Harbor series.

Where else can readers find you online?   

My monthly newsletter provides fun updates and giveaways. Please sign up at http://johnnie-alexander.com. Connect with me on other social media sites via LinkTree.

Back cover blurb

Artist Alison Schuyler spends her time working in her family’s renowned art gallery, determined to avoid the curse that has followed the Schuyler clan from the Netherlands to America and back again. She’s certain that true love will only lead to tragedy—that is, until a chance meeting at Waterloo station brings Ian Devlin into her life.

Drawn to the bold and compassionate British Army captain, Alison begins to question her fear of love as World War II breaks out, separating the two and drawing each into their own battles. While Ian fights for freedom on the battlefield, Alison works with the Dutch Underground to find a safe haven for Jewish children and priceless pieces of art alike. But safety is a luxury war does not allow.

As time, war, and human will struggle to keep them apart, will Alison and Ian have the faith to fight for their love, or is it their fate to be separated forever?

Please give us the first page of the book.

Where Treasure Hides

Johnnie Alexander

Chapter One

August 1939

The stringed notes of “Rule, Britannia!” grew louder as the crowd quieted, eyes and ears straining in their search for the violin soloist. The patriotic anthem echoed through Waterloo Station’s concourse, and as the second chorus began, sporadic voices sang the lyrics. Travel- weary Brits stood a little straighter, chins lifted, as the violinist completed the impromptu performance, the last note sounding long after the strings were silenced.

Alison Schuyler gripped her leather bag and threaded her way through the crowd toward the source of the music. As the final note faded inside the hushed terminal, she squeezed between a sailor and his girl, murmuring an apology at forc­ing them to part, and stepped onto a bench to see over the crowd. A dark-haired boy, no more than seven or eight, held the violin close to his anemic frame. His jacket, made of a finely woven cloth, hung loosely on his thin shoulders. The matching trousers would have slipped down his hips if not for his hand-tooled leather belt.

Either the boy had lost weight or his parents had purposely provided him clothes to grow into. Alison hoped for the latter, though from the rumors she’d heard, her first assumption was all too likely. She stared at the cardboard square, secured by a thick length of twine, that the boy wore as a cheap necklace. The penciled writing on the square numbered the boy as 127.

Other children crowded near the young musician, each one dressed in their fine traveling clothes, each one labeled with cardboard and twine. Germany’s castaways, transported to England for their own safety while their desperate parents paced the floors at home and vainly wished for an end to these troublesome days.

“Now will you allow him to keep his violin?” A man’s voice, pleasant but firm, broke the spell cast over the station. The children fidgeted and a low murmur rumbled through the crowd. The speaker, dressed in the khaki uniform of a British Army officer, ignored them, his gaze intent on the railroad official overseeing the children.

“He better,” said a woman standing near Alison. “Never heard anything so lovely. And the lad not even one of the king’s subjects. I’d take him home myself—yes, I would—if I’d a bed to spare.”

Alison mentally sketched the tableau before her, pinning the details into her memory. The officer’s hand resting on the boy’s shoulder; the official, a whistle around his neck, restlessly tapping his clipboard with his pencil; the dread and hope in the boy’s eyes as he clutched his prized instrument. The jagged square that tagged his identity.

Bio

Johnnie Alexander creates characters you want to meet and imagines stories you won't forget. Her award-winning debut novel, Where Treasure Hides, is a CBA bestseller. She writes contemporaries, historicals, and cozy mysteries, serves on the executive boards of Serious Writer, Inc. and the Mid-South Christian Writers Conference, co-hosts an online show called Writers Chat, and interviews inspirational authors for Novelists Unwind. She also teaches at writers conferences and for Serious Writer Academy. Johnnie lives in Oklahoma with Griff, her happy-go-lucky collie, and Rugby, her raccoon-treeing papillon. Connect with her at www.johnnie-alexander.com and other social media sites via https://linktr.ee/johnniealexndr.

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