Episodes

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...

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...