Episodes

Today I’m sharing a conversation with debut author Crystal Caudill. Crystal and I met last year when we both decided to join Kimberly Duffy’s Bible Recap group. Crystal’s debut novel, Counterfeit Love, releases next Tuesday, so we talk about where she got the idea for her novel, what kind of research she did, and how she became a writer even though she didn’t really want to. Crystal LOVES to talk about the Secret Service (which features in her novel), and she knows more about this organization t...

Today I share a conversation with historical fiction author Laura Frantz. I also had Laura on the show in late 2020. You can find that episode here. Today we discuss her newest book, A Heart Adrift. We also talk about the history of Acadia and how we can learn from our mistakes throughout history Here’s a description of Laura’s novel from Revell, the publisher: Award-winning author Laura Frantz has a passion for bringing the distant past to life in her enchanting novels. Her signature style sw...

Today’s conversation is a great one. I talked with Sarah Sundin about her latest release, Until Leaves Fall in Paris. The novel tells the story of American expat Lucie Girard during WWII. Lucie stays in Paris during the German occupation to run a bookstore for her Jewish friends who’ve wisely decided to find a safer place to reside. Lucie’s story was inspired by Sylvia Beach of Shakespeare and Company. Until Leaves Fall in Paris was a truly enjoyable read. (To get the lowdown on more of the book...

Today I’m bringing you a conversation with Jill Eileen Smith about her newest book, The Prince and the Prodigal. The novel focuses on Old Testament Joseph and his brother Judah. Jill and I talked about the story of Joseph (the prince) and Judah (the prodigal), why she chose to focus on Judah, her passion for sharing the truth of the Bible and Jesus, and the importance of forgiveness and reconciliation. Here’s a description of The Prince and the Prodigal from the publisher (Revell): In The Prin...

Today I’m sharing a conversation with Jocelyn Green about her newest novel, Drawn by the Current, which is the #1 New Release in Religious Historical Fiction on Amazon. It’s also the final installment of her fantastic Windy City Saga trilogy. Jocelyn Green inspires faith and courage as the award-winning and bestselling author of numerous fiction and nonfiction books, including The Mark of the King, Wedded to War, and The 5 Love Languages Military Edition, which she coauthored with bestselling a...

In a departure from my typical format, I explain why I haven’t released an episode in eight weeks. My sister April suddenly passed away on December 13. If you’d like to know more about the person she was, the miracle that brought her into my family, and the day that she left this earth, listen to this episode. I’ll be back with more guests beginning next week. Thanks for being patient and understanding. Join my community and help support the show on Patreon. Join the Historical Fiction: Unpack...

Elizabeth Camden is a research librarian at a small college in central Florida. Her novels have won the coveted RITA and Christy Awards. She has published several articles for academic publications and is the author of four nonfiction history books. Her ongoing fascination with history and love of literature have led her to write inspirational fiction. Elizabeth lives with her husband near Orlando, Florida. On today’s show, Elizabeth and I talk about several of her recent novels, the food indust...

Candice Sue Patterson studied at the Institute of Children’s Literature and is an active member of American Christian Fiction Writers. She lives in Indiana with her husband and three sons in a restored farmhouse overtaken by books. When she’s not tending to her chickens, watching her kids play sports, or helping children discover a love for reading as an elementary librarian, she’s working on a new story. Candice has written several contemporary romances, but today we discuss her first full-len...

V.E.H. Masters was born and grew up on a farm just outside St. Andrews, Scotland. She’s been fascinated by the 1546 siege of St Andrews Castle, ever since her history teacher took the class on a visit, which included going down the siege tunnel dug out of rock and peering into the bottle dungeon where the infamous Cardinal Beaton’s body is said to have been kept, pickled in salt, for over a year. When she learned that the group who took the castle, and held it for over 14 months, resisting the m...

For those who love to smile as they read, bestselling author Karen Witemeyer offers warmhearted historical romance with a flair for humor, feisty heroines, and swoon-worthy Texas heroes. Voted #1 Readers’ Favorite Christian Romance Author in 2019 by Family Fiction Magazine, Karen is a multiple award-winning author and a firm believer in the power of happy endings. On today’s episode, Karen and I talk about her latest books, as well as writing characters of color, a legendary lost silver mine tha...

In honor of veterans everywhere and specifically in recognition of the 100th anniversary of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, today I’m sharing a conversation with author Amanda Dykes. Her latest novel, Yours is the Night, commemorates soldiers from World War I and the establishment of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the end of this war. Amanda and I had a wonderful discussion about this tomb and how to honor its anniversary. Amanda also shares how she went from years of “wandering” in the wri...

Adrian Goldsworthy is a respected historian of the ancient world. He studied at Oxford, where his doctoral thesis examined the Roman army, and he went on to write acclaimed works of non-fiction, including Ceasar, Hadrian’s Wall, and Philip and Alexander. His fiction includes the authentic and action-packed Vindolanda Triology, set in Roman Britain. Today on the show, we discuss his latest novel, The Fort, which released this past summer. Here’s a description of the novel: AD 105: Dacia The Da...

I had a great time talking with Kimberly Duffy a second time! She writes beautiful historical fiction set mostly in India (so far). She’s my first repeat guest, but that makes sense because we’ve kept in touch and become friends since she was on my show last year. In this episode, we talk about her latest novel, Every Word Unsaid, which releases Tuesday, November 2! This leads to discussions regarding her book’s real life character Pandita Ramabai Sarasvati, the historical mistreatment of widows...

Today’s episode features Biblical fiction author Naomi Craig. Naomi is an avid reader, a pastor’s wife, and a mother. Her debut novel, Rahab’s Courage, released August 17, 2021. Naomi and I talk about the difficult themes in Rahab’s Courage, including prostitution, rape, and post-traumatic stress. We also discuss why she loves writing Biblical fiction, though she isn’t a fan of the name of the genre! Purchase Rahab’s Courage on Amazon (affiliate). Check out Naomi’s website and her Facebook Grou...

Patti Callahan is the New York Times bestselling author of fifteen novels. In 2018, she dazzled readers and critics alike with her first historical novel, Becoming Mrs. Lewis, about the life of Joy Davidman, wife of C.S. Lewis. In today’s episode, we talk about her recent novel Surviving Savannah and her upcoming novel Once Upon a Wardrobe, which will release October 19. Purchase Surviving Savannah on Amazon (affiliate). Purchase Surviving Savannah on Bookshop (affiliate). Purchase Once Upon ...

Bestselling author Liz Tolsma loves writing, research, and editing. Her first novel was a double award finalist. On any given day, you might find her pulling weeds in her perennial garden, walking her hyperactive dog, or curled up with a good book. In this episode, we talked about her passion to share the joy that children with intellectual disabilities can bring to the world. She told about her journey as a mother of a child with microcephaly. She also shared why she keeps writing books about W...

Pepper Basham is a wife, mom, writer, speaker, and speech-language pathologist! She writes historical and contemporary romance with a love for Britain and her native Appalachia. In this episode, Pepper and I talk about how she began writing and eventually got published, where she gets her inspiration, and the role the theme of identity plays in her latest book, The Mistletoe Countess. Here’s a description of The Mistletoe Countess: Mistletoe is beautiful and dangerous, much like the woman from...

Award-winning author and speaker Cam Molineux wants to help Americans understand and fall in love with their history. With genealogical ties to and a shared patriotic spirit with her novel’s protagonist, she is uniquely qualified to tell his story. If not for William Molineux, a man of determined spirit and rowdy imagination, the Boston Tea Party might never have happened. Yet you won’t read about him in most history books—but you will in The Spirit of a Revolution. His fight for freedom is eer...

Kristin Harmel is the New York Times bestselling, USA Today bestselling, and #1 international bestselling author of The Book of Lost Names, The Winemaker’s Wife, The Room on Rue Amelie, The Forest of Vanishing Stars, and more. Her novels that have been translated into 29 languages and are sold all over the world. She’s also the co-founder and co-host of the popular web series Friends & Fiction. In this episode, Kristin and I discuss why she keeps writing about World War II and the Holocaust, ho...

Valerie Fraser Luesse is the bestselling author of Missing Isaac, Almost Home, and The Key to Everything, as well as an award-winning magazine writer best known for her feature stories and essays in Southern Living, where she is currently senior travel editor. Specializing in stories about unique pockets of Southern culture, Luesse received the 2009 Writer of the Year award from the Southeast Tourism Society for her editorial section on Hurricane Katrina recovery in Mississippi and Louisiana. A ...

Tracy Lawson’s passion for storytelling led her first into the field of educational theater and dance, where she has enjoyed a career spanning nearly three decades. In the past ten years she’s turned her hand to writing. In her debut historical novel, Answering Liberty’s Call: Anna Stone’s Daring Ride to Valley Forge, a family legend provides the framework for this look at the American Revolution from a woman’s perspective. The book also digs into a little-known conspiracy against General Washin...

The annual fast day of the Jewish Calendar, Tisha B’Av, occurs this weekend. It’s the saddest day in the Jewish calendar because it marks a number of disasters which occurred on this date. One of those was the destruction of the Second Temple when the Roman Empire destroyed Jerusalem in the year 70 AD. This event is the setting for Lori Banov Kaufmann’s debut novel, Rebel Daughter. The book is based on a true story and inspired by the inscription on a 2,000-year-old gravestone. Lori and I talk a...

Jennifer Anton is an American/Italian dual citizen born in Joliet, Illinois who now lives between London and Lake Como, Italy. A proud advocate for women’s rights and equality, she hopes to rescue women’s stories from history, starting with her Italian family. On the podcast today, we discuss her debut novel, Under the Light of the Italian Moon, which features women in Italy during the rise of fascism and WWII Purchase Under the Light of the Italian Moon on Amazon (affiliate). Purchase Under t...

Today I’m sharing my chat with Susie Finkbeiner. Her latest book, The Nature of Small Birds, releases July 6. This book centers around Operation Babylift, which was the name given to the mass evacuation of children from South Vietnam to the United States and other countries at the end of the United States’ involvement in the Vietnam War. Susie and I talk about the way she structured this unique novel, why she enjoys writing about more recent history, and the theme of hope in her novels. In her w...