Where Treetops Glisten Book Review

Review Written by Madilyn

Book Title: Where Treetops Glisten

Author(s): Tricia Goyer, Cara Putman & Sarah Sundin

Source/Sponsor: Litfuse Publicity Group

Genre: Christmas Fiction

Number of Pages: 356

Publisher: WaterBrook

Year of Publication: 2014

Rating for "White Christmas": Three out of Five Stars

Rating for "I'll Be Home for Christmas": Five out of Five Stars

Rating for "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas": Two  out of Five Stars

 

Book Description:

Three siblings forging new paths and finding love in three stories, filled with the wonder of Christmas

Turn back the clock to a different time, listen to Bing Crosby sing of sleigh bells in the snow, as the realities of America’s involvement in the Second World War change the lives of the Turner family in Lafayette, Indiana.

In White Christmas by Cara Putman, Abigail Turner is holding down the Home Front as a college student and a part-time employee at a one-of-a-kind candy shop. Loss of a beau to the war has Abigail skittish about romantic entanglements—until a hard-working young man with a serious problem needs her help.

Abigail’s brother Pete is a fighter pilot hero returned from the European Theatre in Sarah Sundin’s I’ll Be Home for Christmas, trying to recapture the hope and peace his time at war has eroded. But when he encounters a precocious little girl in need of Pete’s friendship, can he convince her widowed mother that he’s no longer the bully she once knew?

In Tricia Goyer’s Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Meredith Turner, “Merry” to those who know her best, is using her skills as a combat nurse on the frontline in the Netherlands. Halfway around the world from home, Merry never expects to face her deepest betrayal head on, but that’s precisely what God has in mind to redeem her broken heart.

The Turner family believes in God’s providence during such a tumultuous time. Can they absorb the miracle of Christ’s birth and God’s plan for a future?

 

 

Book Review

 Hello, My name is Madilyn, and I have OCD.

Obsessive

Christmas

Disorder.

I LOVE Christmas. I'm the type of person that will watch a hallmark Christmas movie marathon in the middle of July. I'm the type of person that goes around the house singing Christmas carols no matter the season. Whenever the opportunity to read a Christmas book presents itself, I jump on it. When I ordered Where Treetops Glisten, I was pretty excited because all three novellas in the collection are by authors that I had previously read. My favorite out of the three stories was definitely I'll Be Home For Christmas by Sarah Sundin. It was such a sweet story and the characters were just precious. The other two novellas included (White Christmas and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas) however I was not so impressed with. I have read another Christmas novella by Tricia Goyer before, and I really liked it, but this one just wasn't as good as I was expecting it to be. And Cara Putman's just seemed thrown together. I really liked how Sarah Sundin took a short story and made it feel like you got all the facts in that you need to complete the story within a small amount of pages. It seems like a full length book because it was well written and thought out even though it was in reality very short. In general I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a cute little weekend holiday read.

 

Blessings,

Madilyn

 

 

 D I S C L A I M E R: I was provided a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion by the Litfuse Publicity group, and that is exactly what I have given. I was not further compensated to review this product, and all thoughts/sentiments expressed above are completely my own and unbiased.

 

 



Interview, Review & Giveaway // God's Daughter by Heather Day Gilbert

Hello! Today we have a very special guest here on The Literary Maidens; Heather Day Gilbert author of God's Daughter! She is going to be answering some interview questions, and I'll be sharing with you my thoughts on her novel; as well as giving you the opportunity to enter a giveaway to win an e-copy of your own! We have a lot to cover, so let's get started!

// Author Interview With Heather Day Gilbert //

Could you introduce yourself, sharing a bit about yourself, your family and interests? 

Sure! I'm a homeschooling mama who lives in West Virginia, where I grew up. My husband and I met in college and married when he was in law school. We have three kiddos who are close in age (grades 9, 8, and 7!). I love reading the classics—one of my fave books ever is Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy.

When did you first start writing, and what inspired you to do so?

I've loved writing and reading since I was a child. I wrote poetry through college and tried to start a book or two, but never finished them. When I got married and had children, I shelved that book-writing dream a while. But in 2009, a friend challenged me to NaNoWriMo (write a novel in a month), and I was amazed when I did actually complete my paranormal novel in a month. I got the novel writing "bug" and haven't stopped since!

Could you tell us about your novel, God's Daughter?

God's Daughter is the second novel I wrote. I figured historical would be an easy sell in Christian book circles. Turns out, it really wasn't a time period that was deemed "marketable." After over a year out on submission and numerous attempts to get it in the door, I decided to self-publish it. I knew Vikings were getting increasingly popular and I knew Gudrid (my main character) had a story that needed to be shared.

Why did you decide on the time period of the Vikings for your novel? Have you always had an interest in Vikings?

Yes, my Grandma always reminded us that we were related to Eirik the Red, so I bought a copy of The Icelandic Sagas and read up on Eirik's family. Gudrid Thorbjarnardottir, Eirik's daughter-in-law, really jumped out at me, because she was a beautiful, brave woman who sailed with three husbands across oceans. Also, she was a Christian Viking, which helped me relate to her more.

How did you prepare/research for writing this novel?

I definitely used The Icelandic Sagas as my guidebook for events that would occur, but I did lots of book and online research to get the food/clothing details right. I also researched Old Norse words and tried to base the majority of my word choices on that, while still keeping the conversations clear for modern readers. It got a bit daunting at times, and took a lot of time to decide which words didn't throw the reader out of the era. I did wind up using some words that weren't recorded in Old Norse, just to keep the story flowing.

Was there a particular scene in God's Daughter that you enjoyed writing most, or that set itself apart from the other scenes for you?

I had some scenes that made me tear up each time I edited them. And I really had fun with scenes that involved Gudrid's wild sister-in-law, Freydis. Freydis will be the main character in the second book in this series. The two women couldn't be more different.

What is your hope for this novel, and desire for how it will impact readers?

I hope it brings a relatively obscure, yet important time period to life for readers. I hope it illuminates the fact that Vikings had dreams and hopes like we do, and that there were indeed Christian Vikings. I also hoped to reach married readers with some of the things they may face and can overcome.

What is next for you as an author? Are you currently working on any other writing projects?

I'm working on editing my contemporary Appalachian mystery, Miranda Warning, and will probably self-publish that next. My second Viking novel, Forest Child, is simmering in my brain for now. I will throw myself into that full-force once the mystery is released, probably in late spring.

What is one random thing most people don't know about you?

It's hard to come up with something new, because I'm a very transparent author and my followers know me pretty well. I will share that I'm kind of obsessed with tulips, I have the best in-laws ever, and I bought myself the video game Tomb Raider: Anniversary for Christmas.

Is there anything you'd like to share in closing?

I'm just so thankful God led me into indie publishing, so I was able to finally get my books out to readers that honestly bless me every day. I love having control over my cover art, my marketing, my formatting—everything. I'm also thrilled to share that the audio version of God's Daughter will release later this year! I hope you can follow my Facebook Author page—it's where I do all my bookish updates. Thanks so much!
 

// About Heather Day Gilbert //

Heather Day Gilbert enjoys writing stories about authentic, believable marriages. Sixteen years of marriage to her sweet Yankee husband have given her some perspective, as well as ten years spent homeschooling her three children. Heather regularly posts on Novel Rocket about self-publishing.

You can find Heather at her website, Heather Day Gilbert--Author, and at her Facebook Author Page, as well as Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, and Goodreads. Her Viking novel, God's Daughter, is an Amazon bestseller. You can find it on Amazon and Smashwords.

 

// About God's Daughter // 

One Viking woman. One God. One legendary journey to North America.

In the tenth century, when pagan holy women rule the Viking lands, Gudrid turns her back on her training as a seeress to embrace Christianity. Clinging to her faith, she joins her husband, Finn, on a voyage to North America.

But even as Gudrid faces down murderous crewmen, raging sickness, and hostile natives, she realizes her greatest enemy is herself—and the secrets she hides might just tear her marriage apart.

Almost five centuries before Columbus, Viking women sailed to North America with their husbands. God’s Daughter, Book One in the Vikings of the New World Saga, offers an expansive yet intimate look into the world of Gudrid Thorbjarnardottir—daughter-in-law of Eirik the Red, and the first documented European woman to have a child in North America.

 

 // God's Daughter Book Review //
// Review by Bethany //

Journey back in time to the tenth century, Greenland. Where pagan culture rules the land, and Christianity is still new; where Vikings thrive off the land and journey the seas in hopes of wealth and new land. Meet Christian Viking Gudrid, who decides to turn from pagan practices, embrace Christianity and live righteously when few else did. Filled with lots of Viking action, adventure, excitement and strong Christian values, this new novel from author Heather Day Gilbert is sure to educate and inspire!

When Heather Day Gilbert recently contacted me with the opportunity to review her new novel, God's Daughter, I eagerly said yes! I love historical fiction set during historic time periods since I love learning about the past. I was especially excited about reading this book set in the 10th century during the time of the Vikings, since novels about Vikings during this time period are often few and far between. I found the prospect of a Viking novel combined with a strong Christian world view to be a book that seemed to have great potential - and it certainly did as it turned out to be a very educating and exciting read that I was glad to not have missed out on!

I was very impressed with this novel. When starting it, I wasn't sure how I'd like it, thought I knew I'd love the historical aspects of learning more about Vikings. After finishing this book I can tell you that I was very impressed and found the book to be filled with historically accurate details that not only helped expand my knowledge of Vikings, but also left me eager for more of this author's novels! Throughout the story it is obvious how important research is to this author. I really admired this aspect of the book since all the details were researched for accuracy, and it really helped me expand my knowledge of Vikings and stirred an interest to continue learning about these self-sufficient people who lived off the land.

One aspect of this book that I also enjoyed was how well the book flowed and how easy it was to continue turning pages! I always enjoy a thrilling read that keeps you reading, and this book was no exception. I never felt like there were any dry spots where things slowed down, and I could tell by the way the story line flowed that it was very well thought out and executed, to give a seamless reading experience. This coupled with all the historical details really made for an enjoyable read!

The characters in God's Daughter were well developed, and I enjoyed getting to know Gudrid and the other Viking wives and mothers. Reading about how different things were for them in their day without electricity or modern conveineces really sparked an admiration and respect for these strong women of our past who played a big part in history. Knowing that these characters were real women who faced these situations helped me connect with the characters, and really opened my eyes to what life was like for these women who were dedicated Vikings. I really admired Gudrid's character and enjoyed seeing her spiritual journey, especially considering how Christianity wasn't the norm for Vikings who were immersed in pagan culture and customs. I loved getting to see the Viking aspect from a Christian perspective, and think this novel is a unique one-of-a-kind!

 

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, or to fans of Lois Walfrid Johnson's Viking Quest Series which is similar to this book in the fact that is about Vikings. While this book is more on the older audience side compared to the young adult Viking Quest Series, I felt like the novel was very clean. The only content I found to be mature were a couple scenes that took place during custom pagan practices. For example the story starts off with a human sacrifice to Thor where a person was hung, and there were one or two scenes where funerals were held, in which the deceased bodies were burned versus buried. There were also two birth scenes, as well as a few scenes where Gudrid battled feeling content with her marriage, and was tempted to feel for other men instead of her husband alone, however she never does give in and is completely pure in her decisions. I can confidently say that all of these scenes were described with caution and discretion, and were not at all gory or overly detailed, which I greatly admired and found to add to the story with the truthful details without going into great detail.

Overall, I really enjoyed this novel! It definitely didn't disappoint me, in fact I was surprised with how much I enjoyed it, and I can't wait to read the next book in the Vikings of the New World series!

 // Giveaway //

 

Heather has been so generous to offer up an e-copy of God's Daughter for a giveaway today! Thank you, Heather! This giveaway is open to both U.S. and international entries, and the winner will receive their e-book copy of God's Daughter through Smashwords. To enter this giveaway, sign into the Raffle Copter giveaway widget through you Facebook account or email, and you can start entering. This giveaway will take entries until January 24th, 2014, and the winner will be drawn at random, and email with details on redeeming their prize. Happy entering!

  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

D I S C L A I M E R :: I was contacted by the author with the opportunity to review God's Daughter and publish a blog post promoting the novel. I received a free softcover copy of God's Daughter for the purposes of this review, and was not paid in any way for helping with the publicity for this novel. All thoughts expressed in my review were completely my own, honest and unbiased. 

Author Interview + Review // Grace's Pictures By Cindy Thompson

// G r a c e ' s   P i c t u r e s //

 

A n   E l l i s   I s l a n d   N o v e l

 

B y   C i n d y   T h o m s o n

 

{ R e v i e w   B y   B e t h a n y }

Title: Grace's Picture's
Author: Cindy Thomson
Source: Blog tour review copy from Tyndale
Number Of Pages: 392
ISBN: 1414368437
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishing
Publication Date: June 2013
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

// Author's Blog //

// B o o k   S y n o p s i s //

"Grace McCaffery hopes that the bustling streets of New York hold all the promise that the lush hills of Ireland did not. As her efforts to earn enough money to bring her mother to America fail, she wonders if her new Brownie camera could be the answer. But a casual stroll through a beautiful New York City park turns into a hostile run-in with local gangsters, who are convinced her camera holds the first and only photos of their elusive leader. A policeman with a personal commitment to help those less fortunate finds Grace attractive and longs to help her, but Grace believes such men cannot be trusted. Spread thin between her quest to rescue her mother, do well in a new nanny job, and avoid the gang intent on intimidating her. Grace must put her faith in unlikely sources to learn the true meaning of courage and forgiveness."

 

Read a first chapter excerpt from Grace's Pictures HERE!

 

// A b o u t   T h e   A u t h o r //

Cindy Thomson is a writer and an avid genealogy enthusiast. Her love of history and her Scots-Irish heritage have inspired much of her writing. In addition to books, Cindy has written articles for numerous online and print publications. She is a mentor for the Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild and a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and the Historical Novel Society. Cindy and her husband have three grown sons and live in central Ohio.

 

// A u t h o r    Q    &    A //

1. What was your inspiration for this book, Grace’s Pictures? 

When the Brownie Camera was introduced, it changed photography forever. What was before expensive and not very portable, suddenly became available for the average person. I read a contemporary commentary that expressed the concern that with everyone carrying a camera, someone could have his/her photograph taken without permission, and what an invasion of privacy that would be. That got me thinking…what if that happened, and at a time before there were very many mug shots available of criminals. 

I love writing about immigrants because their stories are a part of who we are today. If not for their bravery and ingenuity, our lives would be much different today, and probably more difficult.

2. Tell me about your main character, Grace McCaffery. Was her character based upon anyone in particular?

Grace comes to America wounded by her experiences of having an abusive father, being evicted from her home by the police, and then having to survive in a workhouse. When her mother gets remarried, to a policeman no less, Grace is horrified. In her mind, avoiding the kind of people who hurt you is the only way to stay safe. When she is sent to America to start a new life, she is not certain she wants to go. She wishes for the confidence and joy she sees in others around her, and she tries to capture it in drawings and snapshots so she can better study it. I know a lot of people, me for one, who would rather observe for a while before stepping out and trying something new. But historically, immigrants could not do that. They were thrust into change and had to adapt and endure.

Grace, like most fictional characters, is not based on any particular person. She is a conglomeration of our grandmothers and great-grandmothers who came to this country seeking a better life, but without many options to support themselves. They must have been frightened at first by this vast new country, but somehow they overcame that fear and founded our American families.

3. What lessons or truths will your readers find in the pages of this novel?

A lesson that I hope is learned in this story is that God provides what we need, but many times it requires us to put aside our preconceived ideas. No matter what disadvantages we start with, we can turn things around, with God’s help.

4. How do you expect Grace’s story to resonate with women?

Grace, a young woman who was not nurtured much as a child, becomes a nurturer. She is a nanny with a role that becomes essential for the children she cares for. I think most women are nurturers. Unfortunately, Grace had a far from ideal childhood. I think many women struggle with not having been nurtured themselves. Grace’s story illustrates the hope that God can turn that around, and even in unexpected ways. Grace meets someone who cares for her, who just happens to work in that dreaded occupation—a policeman.

5. As a writer, what did you particularly enjoy about crafting this story?

I loved learning about Ellis Island, visiting New York City, and imagining those immigrants of the early 20th century moving along the same paths I was exploring. I loved writing about how the children Grace cared for helped to change her. History is fascinating to me, and it's a privilege to be able to write about it.

6. What is your hope for this story? How would you like it to impact readers?

I hope readers will be transported to a time in history when everything was changing at a rapid pace and experience a bit of what their ancestors’ lives were like. I would like readers, through Grace’s Pictures, to not only appreciate the sacrifices their ancestors made, but also find the courage to meet their own challenges—everyone has them.

7. How has this novel helped you to grow as a storyteller?

Grace was at first a difficult character to figure out. I had a loving father who passed away a few months before I started working on this book. Grace, who did not have a loving father, stretched me a bit, but it was good to explore what life was like for her and try to imagine how someone like her could not only survive but thrive.

8. What is it about this time period in history that made you want to write about it?

New inventions were constantly popping up, things that we take for granted today. For instance, telephones were becoming more widely available, but immigrants were not familiar with them. Same with electricity. There was a huge disparity between the rich and the poor, and the middle class was the minority. Monopolies were not yet forbidden. The rich were extremely rich. The poor were extremely poor, and the conditions in the tenements were disgraceful. And yet, this was not overlooked. There were gangs and corrupt police, but also scores of charities working hard to protect, educate, and care for immigrants. And it was also a time period of huge numbers of immigrants coming to the country, most through Ellis Island, so in that way this time period has impacted a great many Americans today.

9. What lessons can we learn from the pages of historical fiction?

The Bible tells us, "Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls" (Jeremiah 6:16, NLT). Historical fiction uses the power of story to help us find those old ways. We deceive ourselves if we think no one has experienced the struggles we have. Someone has. Why not learn those stories and be led by them?

10. What is one of the best pieces of advice or encouragement you have received?

I’m always open to sound advice. Here is one that has encouraged me. It’s from a tea bag quote.

"A #2 pencil and a dream can take you anywhere." ~Joyce A. Meyers

 

// Bethany's Book Review //

 

This is the first book I've ever read by Cindy, and while I wasn't sure what to expect from this new author, I was very impressed and loved every page of Grace's Pictures! It didn't take my long to begin to realize just how much I love this story. I loved all the characters as well as the unique story line and found it to be a page-turning read.

 

One of my favorite things about this book is how it was a low-romance. There was just enough at the very end to add a nice touch to the story, but the main premise of the story was about Grace and her nanny job. I really appreciated finding a story that had little-to-no romance, yet at the same time was still interesting and exciting! The low romance aspect of the book helped me focus more on Grace's story without being bogged down by a load of romance and made for a very sweet story on freedom from fear, and fresh starts.

 

I really enjoyed learning about early cameras in the story, mainly the Kodak Brownie camera, and loved the role it played in the story! Prior to reading this book I loved photography, but never really took the time to study early models or learn about them, so after reading Grace's Pictures I was inspired to research about cameras a bit and was able to incorporate it into my homeschool. :)

 

Another thing I loved about this book is the storyline. I enjoyed reading about Grace's first nanny job and felt a special bond between her and the children, and felt like she made a life long impact on not only the children she watched, but the whole family. I loved how Grace grew in the book as well and how she learned to trust God and was able to encourage others along the way. It was such a neat story and had a touch of mystery that, alongside the story, sweet characters and cleanliness of the novel made for a absolutely delightful read that I would totally re-read! I would highly recommend this book  to any historical fiction lover or to girls seeing a low-romance novel that is exciting and inspiring all at once! I was super impressed with this novel and would eagerly read more novels from Cindy!

 

N o t e :: I was provided with a free copy of Grace's Pictures from the publisher to read and review for the blog tour. I was not paid to write this review, and all thoughts expressed are completely my own, honest and unbiased.

Author Interview + Review // Waterfall By Lisa T. Bergren

// W a t e r f a l l //

 

R i v e r   o f   T i m e  Series Book # 1

 

B y   L i s a  T .  B e r g r e n

 

{ R e v i e w   B y   B e t h a n y }

 

Title: Waterfall

Author: Lisa T. Bergren

Source: Review book from the author
Number Of Pages: 369

ISBN: 1434764338

Publisher: David C Book Publishers

Publication Date: February 2011

My Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars 

 

// Book Description //

"What do you do when your knight in shining armor lives, literally, in a different world?

Most American teenagers want a vacation in Italy, but the Betarrini sisters have spent every summer of their lives among the romantic hills with their archaeologist parents. Stuck among the rubble of the medieval castles in rural Tuscany, on yet another hot, dusty archaeological site, Gabi and Lia are bored out of their minds...until Gabi places her hand atop a handprint in an ancient tomb and finds herself in fourteenth-century Italy. And worse yet, in the middle of a fierce battle between knights of two opposing forces.

Suddenly Gabi's summer in Italy is much, much more interesting."

 

// Book Trailer //

 

// Bethany's Book Review //

How do I even start to begin to tell you how much I love this book? How late it kept me up at night? How amazing the story is? How the characters so easily become best friends to the reader? How to convince you to read it? I mean, there is no way I think I will do this book justice in this review since I love it that much-but I'll try! :)

 

This is a story that is full of adventure, medieval times as well as history, and some romance, and quite honestly I love it, which is quite an understatement. The story begins as we meet two sisters-Gabi and Lia-who are daughters of archaeologists who work in Italy. Gabi and Lia like what their parents do, but honestly it can get boring at times looking for old stuff, and the summer is already planned to spend in the entirety at a brand new dig in Italy. When Gabi and Lia go looking into one of the digs, and find two hand prints identical to their own hands from an ancient tomb, the summer takes a turn from super boring to super adventurous, and they begin a summer that they will never forget as the go back in time to ancient Italy. As they find themselves in a completely different time period, they learn a lot about family, love and being strong in the face of uncomfortable situations.

 

This book is the first in the River of Time series and this is actually my second time to read it. Let me tell you though, I'm positive it won't be the last as this is the kind of series I'd like to re-read every year. It's just that good. When I first found out about the series from a friend's blog, I found Waterfall at the library and devoured it in 24 hours last year. Then I decided to purchase the rest of the series since I knew it would be a re-read. Ever since then I've considered this series to be very high on my all time favorite book list.

 

One of my most favorite things about this book would be how you get a view of both ancient Italy, seeing the culture, how they did things and how they talked differently, etc, since it is the setting for the book. Then you also get to see a modern girl from the 21st century be put in that time period. It was a nice twist of both ancient writing style and modern, and I found it extremely interesting and even funny at times and loved seeing how Gabi dealt with it. I was absolutely never bored with this book, there was way too much going on and so much adventure happening that I didn't have time to! It was so hard to put down and the very definition of a page-turner that keeps you up way later than you should be at night.

 

Now as with any good book  there were a few things that I was no crazy about in the book, mainly being the more feminist side of Gabi when she would try and fight in the battles with the men, as well as the medium amount of violence during the battle scenes.

 

Overall, I consider this to be one of my favorite books, and would highly recommend it to anyone who loves Italy, historical fiction, sci-fi, and adventure. I'd like to sincerely thank Lisa for sending me a copy of Waterfall to review!!

 

// Author Interview With Lisa T. Bergren //

The Literary Maidens :: Hi Lisa! Welcome to the Literary Maidens blog! Could you tell us a bit about yourself?

Lisa :: I'm the mom of three--two teens and a tween. I'm the wife to Tim, a phenomenal man. I've written over forty books. I like to walk, hike, cook, entertain, play games, go to movies and once in a while, write.

The Literary Maidens :: Could you tell us about your River of Time series?

Lisa :: It's about two girls from modern times who go back in time to medieval Italy and find something key about themselves, love and life. Lots of romance and adventure!

The Literary Maidens :: Where did you get your inspiration for The River of Time series?

Lisa :: I wanted to write a series for my teen girls and their friends, but didn't want to write vampires or werewolves. I loved the fantastic element of time travel, plus I adore Italy, so it was an easy answer for me.

The Literary Maidens :: Where are you in the process of Deluge, the final book in the River of Time series?

Lisa :: It's still on hold. I need to write the second book in my new Remnants Series before I turn to it. But it's coming soon! Probably out in September or November.

The Literary Maidens :: Out of all the books in the River of Time series, do you have a personal favorite?

Lisa :: CASCADE. I loved the drama of that one...plus the hard decisions Gabi had to make, as well as what she discovers about herself.

The Literary Maidens :: What kind of research/touring did you do in preparation for writing this series?

Lisa :: I'd written another medieval Italy series before, so I was done! For that previous series, I read a ton. Info on medieval times is confusing, though, since historians often disagree.

The Literary Maidens :: What is something the average person doesn't know about you?

Lisa :: I was certified as a scuba diver after I nearly drowned.

The Literary Maidens :: Do you have any writing quirks?

Lisa :: I like to listen to soundtracks as I write.

The Literary Maidens :: Where do you usually write?

Lisa :: At the library. I can't seem to get much done at home besides marketing.

The Literary Maidens :: Is there anything you'd like to share in closing?

Lisa :: As much as I adore the River of Time Series, I'm also really loving Remnants. It's a genre-bending series--paranormal, spiritual, romantic, suspenseful. I think my River Tribe will like it too.

 

The Literary Maidens :: Thanks for allowing us to interview you Lisa! We wish you the best of luck with the books you are currently writing! We can't wait to read them! :)

Author Interview + Giveaway / / The Doctor's Lady By Jody Hedlund

Good Morning Literary Maidens!
Today The Literary Maiden gals are super excited to have author Jody Hedlund stop by our blog for an author interview and special book giveaway! Both of us girls are big fans of Jody's novels, The Preacher's Bride, The Doctor's Lady, Unending Devotion, and A Noble Groom; and are looking forward to her upcoming novel, Rebellious Heart which will release in September. We hope you enjoy this fun interview with Jody, and that you'll enter our giveaway!

~The Literary Maidens {Madi & Bethany}

 

 A u t h o r   I n t e r v i e w 

W i t h    M r s .   J o d y    H e d l u n d

 

The Literary Maidens :: Hi Jody! Welcome to the Literary Maidens blog! Could you tell us a bit about yourself?

 

Jody :: I've been married to my college sweetheart for over twenty years, and we have five children ranging in ages from 15 down to 7. Between homeschooling and running our kids to activities, we're crazily busy! We live in central Michigan and so take our summers very seriously, considering at least 6 months of the year are cold and overcast. 

I've been creating stories for as long as I can remember but began taking my writing seriously after I got married. Once I started having babies, I took a hiatus from writing. The time away from my writing really enriched me. The first book I wrote after my break was The Preacher's Bride.

When I'm not homeschooling or writing, you might find me sneaking in some pleasure reading. And you'd definitely find me eating chocolate and guzzling coffee!

The Literary Maidens :: Could you tell us a little bit about your book "The Doctors Lady"?

Jody ::

Priscilla White bears the painful knowledge that she’ll never be able to be a mother. Having felt God’s call to missionary work, she determines to remain single, put her pain behind her, and answer God’s call.

Dr. Eli Ernest wants to start a medical clinic and mission in unsettled Oregon Country. He’s not interested in taking a wife because of the dangers of life in the west and the fact that no white woman has ever attempted the overland crossing.

But then Priscilla and Eli both receive news from the mission board: No longer will they send unmarried men and women into the field. Left scrambling for options, the two realize the other might be the answer to their needs.

Priscilla and Eli agree to a partnership, a marriage in name only that will allow them to follow God’s leading into the mission field. But as they journey west, this decision will be tested by the hardships of the trip and by the unexpected turnings of their hearts.

The Literary Maidens :: Where did you get your inspiration for this book?

 

Jody :: This book is inspired by the true life story of Narcissa Whitman, the first white woman to brave the dangers of overland trail and travel west. In 1836, she married Dr. Whitman, and then the next day left her childhood home and would never return for the purpose of starting a mission among the Nez Perce natives.

It was my hope in this story to bring Narcissa Whitman to life. This heroic woman has often been ignored and at times even disparaged. In reality, she exuded incredible courage to attempt a trip many proclaimed foolishly dangerous. It was called an “unheard-of-journey for females.” Because of her willingness to brave the unknown, she led the way for the many women who would follow in her footsteps in what would later become known as the Oregon Trail.

The Literary Maidens :: Where are you in the process of your upcoming new release "Rebellious Heart"?

 

Jody :: A couple of weeks ago I completed my last set of edits known as the Galleys. I sent that back to my publisher and now they'll be making their last changes to the book as well. And very soon, they'll begin sending the book out to reviewers. My work is done on the book . . . until it releases, and then I'll be busy again doing interviews and helping to promote it.

The Literary Maidens :: Out of all your books, do you have a personal favorite?

 

Jody :: That's a hard one because I fall madly in love with all of my books as I'm writing them! I think they're all SO wonderful–until I beginning editing and then I loathe them. While I can't pick one book, I can say that one of my favorite heroes so far is Carl from A Noble Groom because he's so sweet and caring and funny.

The Literary Maidens :: What is something the average person doesn't know about you?

 

Jody :: I have most of the songs of Sound of Music memorized (due to watching it every year as a child). Now, whenever I watch the movie, I belt out the songs at the top of my lungs, much to the listening pleasure of my children. *Grin*

The Literary Maidens :: Do you have any writing quirks?

 

Jody :: I don't have too many quirks, other than needing a cup of coffee on hand while I'm writing

(especially in the morning!).

One of the things I like to do to help me keep on track with my writing is give myself half hour word count challenges–a specific goal of how many words I can get written in a thirty minute time span. Doing these mini-challenges keeps me from getting too distracted by other things while I'm in a writing mode.

The Literary Maidens :: Where do you usually write?

 

Jody :: Most days I sit in the kitchen or dining room where I’m able to keep my eyes and ears on all that’s going on around me. That way I can see when the dog is about to eat another sock, put a halt to my youngest riding down the steps in laundry baskets, and make sure my children are practicing piano diligently (rather than getting up to get a snack every few minutes). Of course, this is all hypothetical. None of this ever happens. And my writing time is always quiet and peaceful as my children go about their work without needing any of my intervention. *Wink*

I actually do my best writing in my office, which is upstairs away from the noise and chaos. But I don’t get to retreat there very often, just a few times a week for extended writing time.

Most of the time, I plug in headphones, put on Pandora, and write no matter what’s going on around me. I’ve had to learn to just do it and not wait for the perfect moment.

The Literary Maidens :: When did you decide to be an author, and what inspired you to write?

 

Jody :: I’m pretty sure I was born with a pen in one hand and a notebook in the other. Since my earliest days, I loved making up stories and writing them down. The passion followed me into adulthood. And after many twists and turns along the path, I’ve finally been able to channel that passion into a full time writing career.

My mom was the most influential person in my writing career. When I was young, she helped facilitate my love of writing by reading aloud to me, giving me good books to read, and providing the kind of environment that fostered my creativity (in fact we didn’t have a TV for a number of years). She always believed in me, encouraged me to pursue my dreams, and rode alongside me cheering me on.

The Literary Maidens ::  Is there anything that you would like to share in closing?

 

Jody :: I love hearing from readers! Make sure you stop by one of these places and say hello!

I hang out on Facebook here: Author Jody Hedlund

I also love to chat on Twitter: @JodyHedlund

My home base is at my website: jodyhedlund.com

 

   / / T h e    G i v e a w a y / /

Today we are delighted to be partnering with Jody for a giveaway! One blessed winner will receive a copy of The Doctor's Lady by Jody Hedlund. To enter this giveaway, use the RaffleCopter entry form below. Open to the U.S. and entries will be taken until June 24th, 2013. After the giveaway ends we will pick a winner using Random.org provided on RaffleCopter and will notify the winner via email. The winner's name will also be announced on the below giveaway entry form. Before you start entering, we'd like to sincerely thank Jody for letting us interview her as well as for helping make this giveaway happen! Thanks a million, Jody!

 

~ The Literary Maidens

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway