Episodes

Wendy Voorsanger’s debut novel, Prospects of a Woman, released in October of 2020. On this episode, Wendy and I chat about women’s roles in early California, real women in California history, how Wendy eventually got this novel published, and California culture. Purchase Prospects of a Woman from Amazon (affiliate). Purchase Prospects of a Woman from Bookshop (affiliate). Visit Wendy’s website, Facebook, and Instagram. We also mentioned the following women from California history. Nancy Gooch ...

Henry O. Arnold is an actor and audiobook narrator as well as an author. His Biblical Fiction novel, A Voice Within the Flame, released in December of 2020. It’s the first installment of his series The Song of Prophets and Kings. Purchase A Voice Within the Flame from Amazon (affiliate). Purchase A Voice Within the Flame from Bookshop (affiliate). Visit Henry’s Facebook and his website (sign up for his newsletter while you’re there). My conversation with Roseanna M. White of Whitefire Publis...

Carrie Turansky’s latest book, No Journey Too Far, is the much anticipated sequel to No Ocean Too Wide and concludes her duology featuring the McAlister Family. Carrie is the award-winning author of more than twenty inspirational novels and novellas and a winner of the ACFW Carol Award, the International Digital Award, and the Holt Medallion. She loved traveling to England to research her latest Edwardian novels including. Her novels have received stared reviews from Christianbooks.com and Libra...

Ann H. Gabhart has had a long and successful novel writing career. Her 35th book, Along a Storied Trail, releases June 1. This novel features a packhorse librarian during the Great Depression. The Packhorse Library Program was a program introduced by Eleanor Roosevelt and the Works Progress Administration to provide jobs for women and books for the people of rural Appalachian Kentucky. In this episode of Historical Fiction: Unpacked, Ann and I discussed her new book, the characters she loved wri...

Award-winning author Jody Hedlund has enticed readers with her intriguing and historically accurate novels. From the bride ships of Victorian England to the heart of the Wild West to the shores of Lake Michigan and beyond, Hedlund’s gift of storytelling has brought many time periods back to life. Now Hedlund takes readers on a journey through time to fourteenth-century Canterbury in Come Back to Me, the first installment in the Waters of Time series. Preorder Come Back to Me on Amazon (affiliat...

Today’s episode is an interview with Rachel Fordham. We talk about her newest book, A Lady in Attendance, which releases June 1. This novel is about a young woman employed as a dental assistant, but the secrets in this character’s past make this story all about redemption, forgiveness, and love. Rachel and I talked about these aspects of the story, Rachel’s writing career, and the importance of story in our lives. Here’s more about Rachel from her publisher, Revell: Rachel Fordham is the autho...

Rebecca D’Harlingue has studied Spanish literature, worked as a hospital administrator, and taught English as a Second Language to adults from all over the world. She shares her love of story both with preschoolers at a Head Start program and with the members of the book club she has belonged to for decades. She lives in Oakland, California with her husband, Arthur, where they are fortunate to frequently spend time with their children and grandchildren. The discovery of family papers prompted h...

Today I’m sharing an interview with historical mystery author Lisa Karon Richardson. We talk about the Nosy Parker Mystery Series, inspired by Nancy Drew, as well as other books Lisa has written, her work as a missionary, and what it’s like to write collaboratively with another author. As a special treat, Lisa is giving away a paperback copy of the first installment of the Nosy Parker Mystery Series, The Counterfeit Clue! Enter via the rafflecopter below! Purchase The Vicious Victim on Amazon (...

Mark Sullivan is the #1 bestselling author of eighteen novels, including Beneath a Scarlet Sky, which has been published in 37 languages and is being developed as a seven-part limited series. His newest book, The Last Green Valley, is releasing May 4. Pictured behind Mark in the photo is the green valley from his novel. On the podcast today, Mark and I discuss his latest book, his changing career, the plans to make Beneath a Scarlet Sky into a miniseries, and what he’s working on next. Purchas...

Janalyn Voigt fell in love with literature at an early age when her father read chapters from classics as bedtime stories. When Janalyn grew older, she put herself to sleep with tales “written” in her head. Today Janalyn is a storyteller who writes in several genres. Her Montana Gold historical romance series is based on actual historical events. Montana Gold explores faith, love, and courage in the wild west. Tales of Faeraven, Janalyn’s epic fantasy series, takes readers on adventures in a m...

Today I’m sharing my conversation with Steve Goble, author of The Spider John Series. In these historical mysteries, Steve combines his love of swords, pirates, and murder to follow a pirate detective on water and land. The latest installment in the series, Pieces of Eight, released March 16. Steve and I talk about pirates, the writing process, the search for an agent, and supportive spouses. Purchase Pieces of Eight from Amazon (affiliate). Purchase Pieces of Eight from Bookshop (affiliate). ...

In honor of Holocaust Remembrance Day, I’m sharing a conversation with Melissa W. Hunter today. Melissa’s debut novel, What She Lost, tells the story of her grandmother, a holocaust survivor. Melissa is a writer and blogger from Cincinnati, Ohio. Her articles have been published on Kveller.com, LiteraryMama.com, Booksbywomen.org, and her short stories have appeared in the Jewish Literary Journal. She is a contributing blogger to the Today Show parenting community, and her novella Through a Mirro...

Lisa E. Betz worked as an engineer, substitute teacher, and play director before becoming an award-winning mystery writer. She brings her analytical mind, quirky humor, and positive outlook to all she writes. She draws inspiration from thirty-five years of leading Bible studies to create entertaining mysteries set in the world of the early church, and then she fills that world with eccentric characters, independent females, and an occasional sausage-snatching cat. In addition to writing novels, ...

In honor of Passover, I’m highlighting a piece of Jewish American history today by sharing my conversation with bestselling author and screenplay writer Leslie K. Barry. Leslie’s novel, Newark Minutemen, released last fall. It’s set in 1938. Here’s the description: Millions are out of work and robbed of dignity. A shadow Hitler-Nazi party called the German-American Bund that is led by an American Fuhrer threatens to swallow democracy. In this dangerous time of star-spangled fascism, a romance f...

Today I’m sharing my interview with Michelle Ule. Michelle is the bestselling author of multiple novellas and the biographer of Mrs. Oswald (Biddy) Chambers. On the show today, we discuss her recent WWI coming-of-age novel, A Poppy in Remembrance. Purchase A Poppy in Remembrance on Bookshop (affiliate). Purchase A Poppy in Remembrance on Amazon (affiliate). Also mentioned: “In Flanders Field,” the poem by John McCrae. Visit Michelle’s Facebook, Twitter, and website. Join the Historical Fict...

It’s just Alison this week! I wanted to share a solo episode discussing more of my own writing journey and how I landed the contract for my first book, One Traveler. I also answer the famous question I ask every guest: How do you think learning about history through story helps us approach life in the present? Purchase One Traveler from Amazon (affiliate). Purchase One Traveler from Bookshop (affiliate). Join the Historical Fiction: Unpacked Podcast Group on Facebook! Check out The Bible Rec...

Amanda Cabot is a bestselling author of Inspirational Historical Romance. Her latest novel, Dreams Rekindled, released on Tuesday, March 2. It’s the second in her Mesquite Springs series and is set right before the Civil War began. I spoke with Amanda back in December, and today I’m sharing our conversation. We talked about the role that newspapers played at that time–for many they were the only reading material available, aside from the Bible! We also discussed women’s roles, beautiful Texas Hi...

Jill Eileen Smith is a bestselling and award-winning author of biblical fiction. Her research into the lives of biblical women has taken her from the Bible to Israel, and she particularly enjoys learning how women lived in Old Testament times. Jill’s latest book, Miriam’s Song, releases on Tuesday, March 2. In this episode, we talk about her new book and why it was so difficult to write, what Jill learned from Miriam, and how she got into writing biblical fiction. Each author is unique, but eve...

Today I’m sharing my conversation with bestselling, Christy-award winning Kristy Cambron. Kristy is a vintage-inspired storyteller, writing from the space where art, history, and faith intersect. Her eighth novel, The Paris Dressmaker, released this past Tuesday, February 16. We talked about her new novel, the research process, how she marries art with World War II history, and the path her career has taken. We also delved into what it’s like to be an introvert and how she has built her self-co...

Jennifer Deibel is a Middle school teacher, author, and former Expat to Ireland and Austria. Her debut novel, A Dance in Donegal, released last Tuesday, February 2. I talked to Jennifer about her inspiration for this lyrical historical romance novel, the time Jennifer spent living in Ireland, the ten years it took to write the book, as well as how she eventually attracted an agent and landed a book contract. Order A Dance in Donegal from Bookshop.org (affiliate). Order A Dance in Donegal from ...

Sarah Sundin’s latest book, When Twilight Breaks, released this past Tuesday, February 2, 2021. This novel portrays Nazi Germany before WWII, and I absolutely loved it! Sarah Sundin enjoys writing about the adventure and romance of the World War II era. She is the bestselling author of historical novels, including When Twilight Breaks and the Sunrise at Normandy series. Her book The Sky Above Us received the 2020 Carol Award, The Sea Before Us received the 2019 Reader’s Choice Award from Faith,...

I’m back! We’re starting the new season with a wonderful conversation with award-winning, bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher. Her new novel, The Moonlight School releases on Tuesday, February 2. Here’s the book description: In 1911, Cora Wilson Stewart was the first female superintendent of education for an Appalachian county in southeastern Kentucky, a corner of America with a shocking rate of adult illiteracy. Cora devised a plan to open Rowan County’s rural schoolhouses on moonlit night...

This will be the last episode for a while, as I’m taking a five week break! Don’t worry, I’ll be back, and better than ever, on January 28. Today I’m sharing a conversation with Laura Frantz. I’m sure you can tell from my enthusiasm that I was super excited to chat with this wonderful author about her upcoming book, Tidewater Bride, which releases January 5. One of the fringe characters in Tidewater Bride is based on Pocohontas, so we discuss how Laura handled the portrayal of Native Americans...

Starr and I discuss how she got into writing later in life. Her debut novel, For the Love of Emma, released last week, on her 72nd birthday! This time-slip novel was inspired by love letters she found among her mother’s possessions after she passed away. We talk about how to write fiction based on real life as well as the importance of having a writing community. Starr has an entrepreneurial spirit, and her story is inspiring. She says, “We’re never too old to begin something new.” Purchase Fo...