Linda Shenton Matchett's Blog
October 15, 2025
Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Back, Laura DeNooyer
Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Back, Laura DeNooyer!
I'm pleased to welcome Laura DeNooyer back to my blog. Her latest release sounds so intriguing, and I can't wait to read it. Grab a "cuppa" and read one to learn more about Laura and A Hundred Magical Reasons (even the title is intriguing!)
#1) What was your inspiration for the story?
My dad shared a family story about his father and uncle who were in business together with a younger brother who struggled quite a bit. The two older brothers did everything in their power to help him succeed in his own businesses and later let him work at theirs. I loved the way they cared for him despite all the difficulties they encountered.
This was the spark of the 1950s timeline in my novel. However, it’s just the spark. It’s not a story about my family, and the characters took on lives of their own.
In the 2015 timeline inspiration, I needed two people at cross purposes with each other—both seeking the same information for different reasons.
#2) How do you develop your characters? (e.g. decide on their vocation, names, etc.)?
Characters are often the starting point for planning a story, but I needed my characters to function in a certain capacity from the get-go. So Greg (in the 2015 timeline) had no choice but to be an English professor who was writing a biography about a literary icon.
I knew Leslie’s family tree, but had to figure out her backstory and how her life would overlap Greg’s at the university. So I gave her an education background (previously a high school teacher), but I made her a grants officer at the college so she would have to work directly with Greg from time to time.
In the 1950s timeline, I settled on a grocery store for the family business because it fit the characters and what I needed to happen in the story.
#3) How are your characters like you? Different?
My 2015 protagonist Leslie was the easiest because she and I have both been teachers, love literature,
and have wrestled with depression. Even so, she’s very different than I am, but we had enough in common that I could relate to her.
Both Fritz and Eddie Buckwalter were a challenge for me. In the 1950s timeline, I wrote in Fritz’s larger-than-life personality and voice. Other than our common interest in storytelling through writing novels, we are nothing alike. He’s a businessman, for one thing, and an extrovert who loves being the center of attention.
#4)What sort of research did you do for your story, and was there an exceptionally interesting tidbit you knew you had to include?
Two things I had to research were mental illness treatments in the 1950s and the current small campus university setting. Several women in my neighborhood book club are college professors so I enjoyed tapping into their knowledge and experience regarding college protocols, grant proposals, and faculty/staff dynamics.
I enjoyed learning more about 1950s grocery store trends, including common food brands back then. During that time, Swift & Company packaged peanut butter in reusable glass tumblers that featured The Wizard of Oz characters. Nowadays they are still collectors’ items. Being an avid Wizard of Oz fan, I had to include these glass peanut butter jars at the Buckwalter Brothers Grocery.
#5) What questions do you ask yourself when preparing to write a new book?
1) Do I have a passion for telling this story? This is the crucial question, because it must sustain my interest for the long haul—through all the ups and downs of feedback and revision.
2) Why does this story matter to me and why should it matter to potential readers? What unique slant or perspective can I offer?
#6) What draws you to the time period about which you write?
I have a lot of nostalgia about the 1950s—maybe because my parents were in their 20s then and I was born at the tail end of that decade, in 1958. I love the old Danny Thomas TV reruns (originally called Make Room for Daddy) that ran from 1953-1964. Other favorites are I Love Lucy, Leave It To Beaver, and The Red Skelton Show.
I grew up watching The Andy Griffith Show (it started in 1960). I think that’s where my love of small towns comes from. Everything I wrote is set in a small town.
#7) Why do you write in your particular genre?
I don’t necessarily choose the genre; I feel like it chooses me. I just write the story I feel led to share. So far, I’ve published three historical fiction novels—depending on how you categorize dual timeline stories that have both contemporary and historical threads. But other stories in the works include contemporary as well as Biblical fiction.
#8) What is your advice to fledgling writers?
If you have a passion for writing stories, then stick to it, no matter what! You need your passion to overcome the obstacles, criticism, rejection, and fears. Surround yourself with knowledgeable people on the same road. Join a quality writers group that will give you honest feedback with tact. You need to be challenged and pushed, but always with encouragement and kindness.
************
Connect with Laura:
My website & book page: https://lauradenooyer-author.com/the-broken-weathervane/
My newsletter—Sign up for monthly updates and receive 7 free recipes: a-taste-of-oz-cookbook-sampler.com
Book Trailer: https://video214.com/play/pR4occLhUBoqtt4REgsf0g/s/dark
Purchase the book here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FHDTSPH6
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/238864888-the-broken-weathervane
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-broken-weathervane-by-laura-denooyer
***************
About Laura:
Laura DeNooyer thrives on creativity and encouraging it in others. A Calvin College graduate, she is a teacher, wife, parent of four adult children, and an award-winning author of heart-warming historical and contemporary fiction. Her novels are perfect for fans of Patti Callahan Henry, Erin Bartels, or Amanda Cox. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her reading, walking, drinking tea with friends, or taking a road trip.
About The Broken Weathervane
Two co-workers seek the same information. One wants to publish it; the other has good reasons to keep it hidden.
As Leslie Wickersham, Raymond University grants officer, seeks information to unravel a family mystery, English professor Gregory Stafford seeks an elusive interview with one more Buckwalter relative for his upcoming author biography. While Greg and Leslie guard coveted details from each other, her goals are further complicated by letters of blackmail threatening to reveal all she has worked hard to hide.
In this dual timeline novel alternating between 2015 and the 1950s, loyalty is tested and secrets abound when family honor collides with truth. Leslie grapples with the trade-off: How far will a person go to help a loved one thrive?
Genre: Women’s Fiction, Book Club Fiction, Dual Timeline Fiction, Historical Fiction
.jpg)
I'm pleased to welcome Laura DeNooyer back to my blog. Her latest release sounds so intriguing, and I can't wait to read it. Grab a "cuppa" and read one to learn more about Laura and A Hundred Magical Reasons (even the title is intriguing!)#1) What was your inspiration for the story?
My dad shared a family story about his father and uncle who were in business together with a younger brother who struggled quite a bit. The two older brothers did everything in their power to help him succeed in his own businesses and later let him work at theirs. I loved the way they cared for him despite all the difficulties they encountered.
This was the spark of the 1950s timeline in my novel. However, it’s just the spark. It’s not a story about my family, and the characters took on lives of their own.
In the 2015 timeline inspiration, I needed two people at cross purposes with each other—both seeking the same information for different reasons.
#2) How do you develop your characters? (e.g. decide on their vocation, names, etc.)?
Characters are often the starting point for planning a story, but I needed my characters to function in a certain capacity from the get-go. So Greg (in the 2015 timeline) had no choice but to be an English professor who was writing a biography about a literary icon.
I knew Leslie’s family tree, but had to figure out her backstory and how her life would overlap Greg’s at the university. So I gave her an education background (previously a high school teacher), but I made her a grants officer at the college so she would have to work directly with Greg from time to time.
In the 1950s timeline, I settled on a grocery store for the family business because it fit the characters and what I needed to happen in the story.
#3) How are your characters like you? Different?
My 2015 protagonist Leslie was the easiest because she and I have both been teachers, love literature,
and have wrestled with depression. Even so, she’s very different than I am, but we had enough in common that I could relate to her. Both Fritz and Eddie Buckwalter were a challenge for me. In the 1950s timeline, I wrote in Fritz’s larger-than-life personality and voice. Other than our common interest in storytelling through writing novels, we are nothing alike. He’s a businessman, for one thing, and an extrovert who loves being the center of attention.
#4)What sort of research did you do for your story, and was there an exceptionally interesting tidbit you knew you had to include?
Two things I had to research were mental illness treatments in the 1950s and the current small campus university setting. Several women in my neighborhood book club are college professors so I enjoyed tapping into their knowledge and experience regarding college protocols, grant proposals, and faculty/staff dynamics.
I enjoyed learning more about 1950s grocery store trends, including common food brands back then. During that time, Swift & Company packaged peanut butter in reusable glass tumblers that featured The Wizard of Oz characters. Nowadays they are still collectors’ items. Being an avid Wizard of Oz fan, I had to include these glass peanut butter jars at the Buckwalter Brothers Grocery.
#5) What questions do you ask yourself when preparing to write a new book?
1) Do I have a passion for telling this story? This is the crucial question, because it must sustain my interest for the long haul—through all the ups and downs of feedback and revision.
2) Why does this story matter to me and why should it matter to potential readers? What unique slant or perspective can I offer?
#6) What draws you to the time period about which you write?
I have a lot of nostalgia about the 1950s—maybe because my parents were in their 20s then and I was born at the tail end of that decade, in 1958. I love the old Danny Thomas TV reruns (originally called Make Room for Daddy) that ran from 1953-1964. Other favorites are I Love Lucy, Leave It To Beaver, and The Red Skelton Show. I grew up watching The Andy Griffith Show (it started in 1960). I think that’s where my love of small towns comes from. Everything I wrote is set in a small town.
#7) Why do you write in your particular genre?
I don’t necessarily choose the genre; I feel like it chooses me. I just write the story I feel led to share. So far, I’ve published three historical fiction novels—depending on how you categorize dual timeline stories that have both contemporary and historical threads. But other stories in the works include contemporary as well as Biblical fiction.
#8) What is your advice to fledgling writers?
If you have a passion for writing stories, then stick to it, no matter what! You need your passion to overcome the obstacles, criticism, rejection, and fears. Surround yourself with knowledgeable people on the same road. Join a quality writers group that will give you honest feedback with tact. You need to be challenged and pushed, but always with encouragement and kindness.
************
Connect with Laura:
My website & book page: https://lauradenooyer-author.com/the-broken-weathervane/
My newsletter—Sign up for monthly updates and receive 7 free recipes: a-taste-of-oz-cookbook-sampler.com
Book Trailer: https://video214.com/play/pR4occLhUBoqtt4REgsf0g/s/dark
Purchase the book here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FHDTSPH6
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/238864888-the-broken-weathervane
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-broken-weathervane-by-laura-denooyer
***************
About Laura:
Laura DeNooyer thrives on creativity and encouraging it in others. A Calvin College graduate, she is a teacher, wife, parent of four adult children, and an award-winning author of heart-warming historical and contemporary fiction. Her novels are perfect for fans of Patti Callahan Henry, Erin Bartels, or Amanda Cox. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her reading, walking, drinking tea with friends, or taking a road trip.
About The Broken Weathervane
Two co-workers seek the same information. One wants to publish it; the other has good reasons to keep it hidden. As Leslie Wickersham, Raymond University grants officer, seeks information to unravel a family mystery, English professor Gregory Stafford seeks an elusive interview with one more Buckwalter relative for his upcoming author biography. While Greg and Leslie guard coveted details from each other, her goals are further complicated by letters of blackmail threatening to reveal all she has worked hard to hide.
In this dual timeline novel alternating between 2015 and the 1950s, loyalty is tested and secrets abound when family honor collides with truth. Leslie grapples with the trade-off: How far will a person go to help a loved one thrive?
Genre: Women’s Fiction, Book Club Fiction, Dual Timeline Fiction, Historical Fiction
October 12, 2025
Movie Monday: Love Letters
Movie Monday: Love Letters
Released on October 26, 1945, Love Letters, is based on Christopher Massie’s novel, Pity My Simplicity. Ayn Rand wrote the screenplay, and the film was directed by William Dieterle, a German-born actor and director who fled to the U.S. in 1930. The movie is the second of four that featured Jennifer Jones and Joseph Cotten in the lead roles.
Jennifer Jones had a career that spanned nearly fifty years and included five Academy Award nominations, including Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama, for Love Letters. Joseph Cotten was a radio, stage, film, and television actor, doing exceptionally well on Broadway. He became one of Hollywood’s leading actors during the 1940s. According to Wikipedia, “film critics and media outlets have cited him as one of the best actors never to have received an Academy Award nomination.
In the film, Cotten plays Alan Quinton, a soldier stationed in Italy during WWII, who writes letters on
behalf of his friend Roger Morland. As times passes, he realizes Roger’s girlfriend, Victoria, has fallen in love with the letters and informs Roger who subsequently goes to training then to see Victoria while on leave. They marry, but shortly thereafter, Alan is injured, and Roger is killed. Alan is discharged but struggles to settle back to civilian life and his fiancée. He gets drunk at a party and shares the story of his letter writing, only to discover that Roger had been murdered and Victoria (in attendance at the party and who now has amnesia and a new last name of Singleton) was tried for the murder.
In a flashback, the incident is shown in which Roger and Victoria argue about the letters which Roger has forgotten were written on his behalf. He becomes violent and strikes Victoria. Beatrice, Victoria’s adoptive mother, grabs and knife and stabs Roger while Victor tries to save the letters he threw into the fireplace. Alan and Victoria continue to see each other and eventually fall in love. At the last minute, she recalls her true identity and realizes Alan is the one who wrote the letters.
The plot is somewhat convoluted, and as one source put it, “Ayn Rand’s script may stretch credibility,” but Jones and Cotten put on excellent performances. Strong direction and magnificent cinematography add depth. Have you seen this classic?
_____________
The American World War II Home Front in 29 Objects:
Unlike Europe the American mainland escaped physical devastation during World War II as it was not subjected to full-scale invasions. However, that didn’t mean the United States wasn’t impacted by the war. The ramifications of large economic, cultural, and societal changes forced Americans to reconsider entrenched beliefs and traditions.
Artifacts collected from across the nation tell the stories of the American people whose lives were shaped by this second “war to end all wars,” World War II.
Purchase link: https://books2read.com/u/47pLxR
Photo Credits:
Movie Poster: Fair use, Paramount Pictures
Movie Still: Paramount Pictures
Movie Still: Paramount Pictures
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_Letters_(1945_film)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037885/
https://loveletterstooldhollywood.blogspot.com/2018/09/love-letters-1945-turmoil-tragedy-and.html
https://heartofnoir.com/film/love-letters-1945/
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Love-Letters
Released on October 26, 1945, Love Letters, is based on Christopher Massie’s novel, Pity My Simplicity. Ayn Rand wrote the screenplay, and the film was directed by William Dieterle, a German-born actor and director who fled to the U.S. in 1930. The movie is the second of four that featured Jennifer Jones and Joseph Cotten in the lead roles.Jennifer Jones had a career that spanned nearly fifty years and included five Academy Award nominations, including Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama, for Love Letters. Joseph Cotten was a radio, stage, film, and television actor, doing exceptionally well on Broadway. He became one of Hollywood’s leading actors during the 1940s. According to Wikipedia, “film critics and media outlets have cited him as one of the best actors never to have received an Academy Award nomination.
In the film, Cotten plays Alan Quinton, a soldier stationed in Italy during WWII, who writes letters on
behalf of his friend Roger Morland. As times passes, he realizes Roger’s girlfriend, Victoria, has fallen in love with the letters and informs Roger who subsequently goes to training then to see Victoria while on leave. They marry, but shortly thereafter, Alan is injured, and Roger is killed. Alan is discharged but struggles to settle back to civilian life and his fiancée. He gets drunk at a party and shares the story of his letter writing, only to discover that Roger had been murdered and Victoria (in attendance at the party and who now has amnesia and a new last name of Singleton) was tried for the murder. 
In a flashback, the incident is shown in which Roger and Victoria argue about the letters which Roger has forgotten were written on his behalf. He becomes violent and strikes Victoria. Beatrice, Victoria’s adoptive mother, grabs and knife and stabs Roger while Victor tries to save the letters he threw into the fireplace. Alan and Victoria continue to see each other and eventually fall in love. At the last minute, she recalls her true identity and realizes Alan is the one who wrote the letters.The plot is somewhat convoluted, and as one source put it, “Ayn Rand’s script may stretch credibility,” but Jones and Cotten put on excellent performances. Strong direction and magnificent cinematography add depth. Have you seen this classic?
_____________
The American World War II Home Front in 29 Objects:
Unlike Europe the American mainland escaped physical devastation during World War II as it was not subjected to full-scale invasions. However, that didn’t mean the United States wasn’t impacted by the war. The ramifications of large economic, cultural, and societal changes forced Americans to reconsider entrenched beliefs and traditions.Artifacts collected from across the nation tell the stories of the American people whose lives were shaped by this second “war to end all wars,” World War II.
Purchase link: https://books2read.com/u/47pLxR
Photo Credits:
Movie Poster: Fair use, Paramount Pictures
Movie Still: Paramount Pictures
Movie Still: Paramount Pictures
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_Letters_(1945_film)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037885/
https://loveletterstooldhollywood.blogspot.com/2018/09/love-letters-1945-turmoil-tragedy-and.html
https://heartofnoir.com/film/love-letters-1945/
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Love-Letters
October 8, 2025
Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Back, Barbara Britton!
Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Back,Barbara M. Britton!
I'm thrilled to be hosting Barbara Britton again as she is one of my favorite authors. It's hard for me to pick my favorite. Grab a cup of your favorite beverage and get to know this talented author.
What was your inspiration for the story?
I’ve made a career of writing about little-known Bible stories, so when my husband preached on a Philistine friend of King David’s, I should have been all ears. It took me a year to finally write about Ittai the Gittite. Ittai is an exiled Philistine commander with hundreds of men. How they marched across Israel to King David’s palace in Jerusalem without starting a war is a mystery.
Ittai arrives as prince Absalom is plotting his father’s downfall. King David appears weary and weak when the rumors of rebellion reach him. Ittai is the perfect friend to King David and Ittai’s faith in God is surprising and breathtaking. I knew I had to craft a story with this little-known Bible hero.
King David has become popular due to the Amazon Prime series House of David.
I hadn’t seen the series until a friend raved about the episodes. My husband and I watched the first season. Streaming services like drama and tension, and I found a few times where the powers that be took liberties with the Bible. For example, Goliath was a tall man at around nine feet tall, but he was not the size of King Kong. Amazon makes Goliath taller than what we read in the Bible.
The series hasn’t arrived at the end of David’s reign, so I will be curious to see if Ittai the Gittite is in the cast. I have noticed a few Bible studies about David have been updated in 2025.
How does your job prepare you for being a novelist?
Teaching chapel lessons about Bible stories has helped me immensely in finding storylines. I discovered
new-to-me Bible heroes and heroines. I found wonderful young women who asked Moses to inherit their deceased father’s land (The daughters of Zelophehad) and daughters who helped Nehemiah rebuild Jerusalem’s wall (Daughters of Shallum). I don’t teach as often anymore since I am writing, but I find time to return to school and Sunday school to teach children about the Bible. I love when children and adults learn something new about the Bible or Jesus.
What are common traps for aspiring authors?
The traditional publishing business is slow. I received my first contract in 2015, and the novel wasn’t released until the end of 2016. Many people would ask me when my book was coming out because they believed the process took a few months--not years. Make sure to do the proper editing and revising to launch the best book possible.
After a book is released, there are months of promotion. My advice to authors is “It’s not a launch day, but a launch year.” Sometimes authors are tired of their stories after all the editing, reading, promoting, and speaking about the same characters and story. We still must market the book and engage with readers.
Enjoy the journey of launching a new book. Celebrate the success with family and friends because publishing is a stressful business.
Indie-publishing goes much faster than the traditional route because the author is the publisher and they can set timelines and release dates.
Why do you write in your genre of Biblical Fiction?
My love of discovering new Bible stories and learning more about God keeps me writing in Bible Times. You would think that in Christian Fiction that Bible stories would be a huge genre, but that’s not the case. Romance, Romantic Suspense, and Historical Romance rule the day. Fantasy and Science Fiction are on the rise. Biblical Fiction is becoming popular with the release of The Chosen.
Early on in my writing career, selling Bible stories was difficult. I’m thankful that the genre is receiving more love and readership.
What was the best money you spent as a writer?
Becoming a member of professional writing organizations and getting involved in the organizations was crucial to my career. I met fellow writers who became my friends, critique partners, readers, reviewers, and my cheering section. Professional organizations offer opportunities for learning the craft of writing and the business side of publishing.These organizations shine a light on your books and have leadership opportunities to further your knowledge of the industry. Networking is a key benefit of writing groups. Christian groups offer prayer support and encouragement in your faith walk. Christian groups also acknowledge our talent is given by the Creator.
What does your writing space look like?
My computer desk is cluttered with free notepads that come in the mail. I have story ideas and task lists strewn over the top of my desk. My cat sleeps in the corner and she is a cutie. When I feel stressed, I glance at Ginger.
What is your next project?
I am thrilled to be launching a Biblical Fiction Bible Study/Devotional on January 6, 2026. I write about stories from the Gospel of Mark showing how amazing Jesus is. I visited the Sea of Galilee in March of 2023 and was inspired by the ruins and history. Jesus walked and lived where I had the privilege to visit. “Across the Lake: Traveling with Jesus Around the Sea of Galilee” was one of the most rewarding, yet challenging, projects to write.
About Defending David:
When a quiet journey to Jerusalem turns tragic, newly orphaned Rimona must flee a kinsman set on selling her as a slave. Racing into the rocky hills outside of Hebron, Rimona is rescued by a Philistine commander journeying to Jerusalem with six-hundred warriors.
Exiled commander, Ittai the Gittite, is seeking refuge in the City of David. Protecting a frantic Hebrew woman is not in his leadership plan. Although, having a nobleman's niece in his caravan might prove useful for finding shelter in a foreign land.
Rimona and Ittai arrive in Jerusalem on the eve of a rebellion. In the chaos of an heir's betrayal, will they be separated forever, or can they defend King David and help the aging monarch control his rebellious son?
Purchase link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B092DVQ659
About Barbara:
Barbara M. Britton is a multi-published author of Christian Fiction. Her Tribes of Israel series brings little-known Bible characters to light. You can also travel to Whispering Creek, Tennessee with her sweet romance duology. Barbara has a nutrition degree from Baylor University but loves to dip healthy strawberries in chocolate. You can find out more about Barbara and her books on her website: http://www.barbarambritton.com
Follow Barbara on BookBub and be notified of her upcoming release: “Across the Lake: Traveling with Jesus Around the Sea of Galilee.” Arrives on January 6, 2026.
BookBub Link: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/barbara-m-britton
X: https://x.com/BarbaraMBritton
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063699481102
Photo credits:Author Photo and book image: Barbara BrittonBible: Pixabay/Petra RiddellGroup of people: Pixabay/StartUpStockPhotos
.jpg)
I'm thrilled to be hosting Barbara Britton again as she is one of my favorite authors. It's hard for me to pick my favorite. Grab a cup of your favorite beverage and get to know this talented author. What was your inspiration for the story?
I’ve made a career of writing about little-known Bible stories, so when my husband preached on a Philistine friend of King David’s, I should have been all ears. It took me a year to finally write about Ittai the Gittite. Ittai is an exiled Philistine commander with hundreds of men. How they marched across Israel to King David’s palace in Jerusalem without starting a war is a mystery.
Ittai arrives as prince Absalom is plotting his father’s downfall. King David appears weary and weak when the rumors of rebellion reach him. Ittai is the perfect friend to King David and Ittai’s faith in God is surprising and breathtaking. I knew I had to craft a story with this little-known Bible hero.
King David has become popular due to the Amazon Prime series House of David.
I hadn’t seen the series until a friend raved about the episodes. My husband and I watched the first season. Streaming services like drama and tension, and I found a few times where the powers that be took liberties with the Bible. For example, Goliath was a tall man at around nine feet tall, but he was not the size of King Kong. Amazon makes Goliath taller than what we read in the Bible.
The series hasn’t arrived at the end of David’s reign, so I will be curious to see if Ittai the Gittite is in the cast. I have noticed a few Bible studies about David have been updated in 2025.
How does your job prepare you for being a novelist?
Teaching chapel lessons about Bible stories has helped me immensely in finding storylines. I discovered
new-to-me Bible heroes and heroines. I found wonderful young women who asked Moses to inherit their deceased father’s land (The daughters of Zelophehad) and daughters who helped Nehemiah rebuild Jerusalem’s wall (Daughters of Shallum). I don’t teach as often anymore since I am writing, but I find time to return to school and Sunday school to teach children about the Bible. I love when children and adults learn something new about the Bible or Jesus.What are common traps for aspiring authors?
The traditional publishing business is slow. I received my first contract in 2015, and the novel wasn’t released until the end of 2016. Many people would ask me when my book was coming out because they believed the process took a few months--not years. Make sure to do the proper editing and revising to launch the best book possible.
After a book is released, there are months of promotion. My advice to authors is “It’s not a launch day, but a launch year.” Sometimes authors are tired of their stories after all the editing, reading, promoting, and speaking about the same characters and story. We still must market the book and engage with readers.
Enjoy the journey of launching a new book. Celebrate the success with family and friends because publishing is a stressful business.
Indie-publishing goes much faster than the traditional route because the author is the publisher and they can set timelines and release dates.
Why do you write in your genre of Biblical Fiction?
My love of discovering new Bible stories and learning more about God keeps me writing in Bible Times. You would think that in Christian Fiction that Bible stories would be a huge genre, but that’s not the case. Romance, Romantic Suspense, and Historical Romance rule the day. Fantasy and Science Fiction are on the rise. Biblical Fiction is becoming popular with the release of The Chosen.
Early on in my writing career, selling Bible stories was difficult. I’m thankful that the genre is receiving more love and readership.
What was the best money you spent as a writer?
Becoming a member of professional writing organizations and getting involved in the organizations was crucial to my career. I met fellow writers who became my friends, critique partners, readers, reviewers, and my cheering section. Professional organizations offer opportunities for learning the craft of writing and the business side of publishing.These organizations shine a light on your books and have leadership opportunities to further your knowledge of the industry. Networking is a key benefit of writing groups. Christian groups offer prayer support and encouragement in your faith walk. Christian groups also acknowledge our talent is given by the Creator.What does your writing space look like?
My computer desk is cluttered with free notepads that come in the mail. I have story ideas and task lists strewn over the top of my desk. My cat sleeps in the corner and she is a cutie. When I feel stressed, I glance at Ginger.
What is your next project?
I am thrilled to be launching a Biblical Fiction Bible Study/Devotional on January 6, 2026. I write about stories from the Gospel of Mark showing how amazing Jesus is. I visited the Sea of Galilee in March of 2023 and was inspired by the ruins and history. Jesus walked and lived where I had the privilege to visit. “Across the Lake: Traveling with Jesus Around the Sea of Galilee” was one of the most rewarding, yet challenging, projects to write.
About Defending David:
.jpg)
When a quiet journey to Jerusalem turns tragic, newly orphaned Rimona must flee a kinsman set on selling her as a slave. Racing into the rocky hills outside of Hebron, Rimona is rescued by a Philistine commander journeying to Jerusalem with six-hundred warriors.Exiled commander, Ittai the Gittite, is seeking refuge in the City of David. Protecting a frantic Hebrew woman is not in his leadership plan. Although, having a nobleman's niece in his caravan might prove useful for finding shelter in a foreign land.
Rimona and Ittai arrive in Jerusalem on the eve of a rebellion. In the chaos of an heir's betrayal, will they be separated forever, or can they defend King David and help the aging monarch control his rebellious son?
Purchase link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B092DVQ659
About Barbara:
Barbara M. Britton is a multi-published author of Christian Fiction. Her Tribes of Israel series brings little-known Bible characters to light. You can also travel to Whispering Creek, Tennessee with her sweet romance duology. Barbara has a nutrition degree from Baylor University but loves to dip healthy strawberries in chocolate. You can find out more about Barbara and her books on her website: http://www.barbarambritton.com
Follow Barbara on BookBub and be notified of her upcoming release: “Across the Lake: Traveling with Jesus Around the Sea of Galilee.” Arrives on January 6, 2026.
BookBub Link: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/barbara-m-britton
X: https://x.com/BarbaraMBritton
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063699481102
Photo credits:Author Photo and book image: Barbara BrittonBible: Pixabay/Petra RiddellGroup of people: Pixabay/StartUpStockPhotos
October 6, 2025
Traveling Tuesday: The Philippines
Traveling Tuesday: The Philippines
An archipelagic country, the Republic of the Philippines consists of 7,681 islands which are categorized into three geographical divisions from north to south: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Manila is the country’s capital. At 9,692 feet, Mount Apo is the highest mountain, and the Cagayan River, at 320 miles is the longest river. According to Wikipedia, the country is located on the “western fringes” of the Pacific Ring of Fire, a tectonic belt of volcanos and earthquakes, which results in lots of seismic and volcanic activity. One source indicated that approximately five earthquakes are recorded daily, but most are too weak to be felt.
Overseas trade and immigration brought a mixture of people groups to the country. Then Ferdinand Magellan arrived beginning Spanish colonization. The country was named las Islas Filipinas in honor of King Philip II by Spanish explorer Ruy López de Villalobos. More Hispanic settlers arrived from Latin America and Iberia.
A fight for independence from Spain, the Philippine Revolution, commenced in 1896, then became part
of the Spanish-American war in 1898. With U.S. victory, the country was ceded to America and became a territory. Still desiring independence, the revolutionaries again rose up starting the Philippine-American war that lasted until 1902. As time passed, various laws were enacted such as the Philippine Organic Act that created the Philippine Assembly, elected by Filipino men (women did not yet have the right to vote.) In 1916, the Philippine Autonomy Act declared U.S. intentions to grant eventual independence.
Then came World War II. Immediately after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Japanese landed on Batan Island (not Bataan Peninsula) located about 120 miles from Luzon. Additional landings occurred over the next few days and included an attack on Mindando. Two weeks later, the main attack began as more than 43,000 men landed along the east cost of Lingayen Gulf. The U.S responded with B17s and submarines but had little effect. According to one source the poorly trained and equipped troops were unable to repel the landings or “pin the enemy on the beaches.”
U.S. troops retreated into Bataan, and the Japanese closed in and surrounded them. Months of brutal fighting occurred resulting in thousands of deaths, and on May 6, Lt. General Jonathan Wainwright asked for terms of surrender. Ten generals were part of the surrender, and five more were captured. It would be nearly three years before the U.S. returned and liberated the country. The Philippines were granted independence in 1946.
______________________
The American World War II Home Front in 29 Objects:
Unlike Europe the American mainland escaped physical devastation during World War II as it was not subjected to full-scale invasions. However, that didn’t mean the United States wasn’t impacted by the war. The ramifications of large economic, cultural, and societal changes forced Americans to reconsider entrenched beliefs and traditions.
Artifacts collected from across the nation tell the stories of the American people whose lives were shaped by this second “war to end all wars,” World War II.
Purchase link: https://books2read.com/u/47pLxR
Photo Credits:Map of Philippines: GooglePhilippine Troops: By Unknown photographer - Duty to Country (Filipino Veterans Recognition and Education Project) - https://exhibition.dutytocountry.org/..., Public Domain.General Douglas MacArthur: By U.S. Army Signal Corps officer Gaetano Faillace. Public Domain.
Sources:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippines
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine%E2American_War
https://www.pacificatrocities.org/book-philippines-resistance-the-last-allied-stronghold-in-the-pacific.html
https://www.britannica.com/topic/history-of-Philippines/World-War-II
https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/liberation-of-philippines-cecilia-gaerlan
An archipelagic country, the Republic of the Philippines consists of 7,681 islands which are categorized into three geographical divisions from north to south: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Manila is the country’s capital. At 9,692 feet, Mount Apo is the highest mountain, and the Cagayan River, at 320 miles is the longest river. According to Wikipedia, the country is located on the “western fringes” of the Pacific Ring of Fire, a tectonic belt of volcanos and earthquakes, which results in lots of seismic and volcanic activity. One source indicated that approximately five earthquakes are recorded daily, but most are too weak to be felt.Overseas trade and immigration brought a mixture of people groups to the country. Then Ferdinand Magellan arrived beginning Spanish colonization. The country was named las Islas Filipinas in honor of King Philip II by Spanish explorer Ruy López de Villalobos. More Hispanic settlers arrived from Latin America and Iberia.
A fight for independence from Spain, the Philippine Revolution, commenced in 1896, then became part
of the Spanish-American war in 1898. With U.S. victory, the country was ceded to America and became a territory. Still desiring independence, the revolutionaries again rose up starting the Philippine-American war that lasted until 1902. As time passed, various laws were enacted such as the Philippine Organic Act that created the Philippine Assembly, elected by Filipino men (women did not yet have the right to vote.) In 1916, the Philippine Autonomy Act declared U.S. intentions to grant eventual independence.Then came World War II. Immediately after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Japanese landed on Batan Island (not Bataan Peninsula) located about 120 miles from Luzon. Additional landings occurred over the next few days and included an attack on Mindando. Two weeks later, the main attack began as more than 43,000 men landed along the east cost of Lingayen Gulf. The U.S responded with B17s and submarines but had little effect. According to one source the poorly trained and equipped troops were unable to repel the landings or “pin the enemy on the beaches.”
U.S. troops retreated into Bataan, and the Japanese closed in and surrounded them. Months of brutal fighting occurred resulting in thousands of deaths, and on May 6, Lt. General Jonathan Wainwright asked for terms of surrender. Ten generals were part of the surrender, and five more were captured. It would be nearly three years before the U.S. returned and liberated the country. The Philippines were granted independence in 1946.______________________
The American World War II Home Front in 29 Objects:
Unlike Europe the American mainland escaped physical devastation during World War II as it was not subjected to full-scale invasions. However, that didn’t mean the United States wasn’t impacted by the war. The ramifications of large economic, cultural, and societal changes forced Americans to reconsider entrenched beliefs and traditions.Artifacts collected from across the nation tell the stories of the American people whose lives were shaped by this second “war to end all wars,” World War II.
Purchase link: https://books2read.com/u/47pLxR
Photo Credits:Map of Philippines: GooglePhilippine Troops: By Unknown photographer - Duty to Country (Filipino Veterans Recognition and Education Project) - https://exhibition.dutytocountry.org/..., Public Domain.General Douglas MacArthur: By U.S. Army Signal Corps officer Gaetano Faillace. Public Domain.
Sources:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippines
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine%E2American_War
https://www.pacificatrocities.org/book-philippines-resistance-the-last-allied-stronghold-in-the-pacific.html
https://www.britannica.com/topic/history-of-Philippines/World-War-II
https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/liberation-of-philippines-cecilia-gaerlan
October 2, 2025
Fiction Friday: New Releases in Christian Fiction
October 2025 New Releases
More in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website:
Biblical:
Rescued Heart: The Story of Sarah by Angela Hunt -- A master of biblical research, Angela Hunt delivers a series starter that transports readers to the Old Testament world of Sarah and Abraham, making this novel a perfect read for those who love Francine Rivers, Mesu Andrews, Connilyn Cossette, and Jill Eileen Smith. (Biblical/Historical from Bethany House)
Leading Philippi by Jenifer Jennings -- In the raging sea of fear, Epaphroditus finds his faith. (Biblical/Historical, Independently Published) Contemporary Romance:
The Second Story Bookshop by Denise Hunter -- She inherits the bookshop of her dreams . . . But she has to run it with the ex she vowed never to speak with again. (Contemporary Romance from HarperCollins Christian Publishing [Thomas Nelson])
Trying to Save Christmas by Dawn Kinzer -- A new teacher trying to save Christmas for a grieving student and his guardian brother risks losing her heart to them both. (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)
A Heart to Protect by Judith McNees -- Can two grieving hearts find healing with each other…and God? (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)
Christmas in Granite Harbor by Candice Sue Patterson -- Small-town traditions, a Maine Coon, and a decades-old mystery knit hearts together this Christmas. (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)
Who Stirs Up the Sea by Deborah Raney -- So many secrets between them. But when the truth comes out, will it drive them apart? (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)
Two Hearts, One Piano by Catherine Richmond -- Ten years ago, rock star Alan Wolfe trashed Maren's life. Now his brother is on her doorstep, asking about the baby. (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)Cozy Mystery:
Troubled Truffles by Leslie Lantrip -- Ruby Starr breathes a sigh of relief that all is well in the whimsical town of Iris Cove, but while making a routine bakery delivery, she's shocked to discover a dead body inside the new bookshop. She assures everyone that she will never again be involved in sleuthing, but with clues all around, will her inquisitive mind be able to comply? (Cozy Mystery from Trilogy Christian Publishing)
The Last Scam by Jean Rezab -- Courtney’s lifelong dream is finally within her grasp, but when a guest turns up dead during the inn’s very first week, her perfect plans turn into chaos. (Cozy Mystery, Independently Published)General Contemporary:
Tangled Roots by Jessica Brodie -- When newspaper editor Tiff Steadman's ex-convict brother returns seeking reconciliation, she must choose between protecting the respectable life she's built and risking everything to embrace the messy grace of family forgiveness. (General Contemporary from Valor Publishing Group)
The Bridge by Shanna Hatfield -- The fate of strangers intertwines when a man contemplating suicide commandeers a bridge on Christmas Eve, forcing everyone into an unexpected detour from their holiday plans. (General Contemporary, Independently Published)
Every Life Treasured by Hannah Hood Lucero, Aubrey Reiss Taylor, and Jennifer Q. Hunt – Three Novellas about the value of life. (General Contemporary, Independently Published)
The Song Awakens by Linda Sammaritan -- One moment of temptation. Years of separation. How much of the truth does she dare to confess? (General Contemporary/Women’s Fiction from Winged Publications)General Historical:
To Outwit Them All by Peggy Wirgau -- Inspired by a true story, "To Outwit Them All" is told from the perspective of the only woman in George Washington's Revolutionary group of citizen spies known as the Culper Ring. (General Historical from Iron Stream Media) Historical Romance:
A Heart To Treasure by Dienece Darling -- The vicar’s son and the draper’s daughter have fought against all odds to be together, but with less than a fortnight to their wedding day, a coming storm will shatter everything. (Historical Romance, Independently Published)
A Very English Christmas by Marguerite Gray, Carole Lehr Johnson, and Carrie Turansky -- Celebrate the Season with three timeless tales inspired by Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, and Beatrix Potter. (Historical Romance, Independently Published)
Love on the Horizon by Penny Zeller -- Return to Horizon, Idaho, for Timothy Shepherdson's story and meet newcomer, Mags, in this tender romance that reminds us that God is the author of new beginnings. (Historical Romance from Maplebrook Publishing) Military Suspense:
Tick, Tick, Tick … Boom by Felicia Ferguson -- With her marriage to clinical psychologist Matt in shambles, Army CID Officer Gabby Carmichael wakes up to a bomb threat. They reluctantly work together to find the bomber, but as pressure mounts, which will explode first? The bomb or their marriage? (Military Suspense from Salt & Light Publishing) Novella (Romance):
Christmas on the Islands by Annette M. Irby -- Washington Island Christmas series novellas all in one place! Visit Puget Sound and the Salish Sea islands in this series of holiday novellas! Enjoy getting to know new characters, with some cameo visits from previous friends. Here you'll find heart-warming scenes, layered family dynamics, romance, and hope in Jesus. (Romance Novella from Prism Effect Publishing)
A Christmas Inheritance by Myra Johnson, Delia Latham, and Tanya Stowe -- Three Christmas stories in one! "His Christmas Refuge:" He came home to leave it all behind. She's convinced he'll run again. "A Montana Christmas Promise:" He gave everything to the land. She came only to let it go. "The Prodigal Preacher's Christmas Homecoming:" A story of redemption, brotherhood, and love reborn under the gentle hand of grace. (Romance Novella, Independently Published) Romantic Suspense:
Mistletoe and Malice by Lori DeJong -- He’s sworn to protect her life … but guarding his heart may be his biggest challenge. (Romantic Suspense from Scrivenings Press)
Fatal Past by Sarah Hamaker -- When a pediatrician foils an attempted child abduction, she’s thrust into a dangerous game in which she must rely on the help of her former boyfriend to stay alive. (Romantic Suspense, Independently Published)
Defending You by Robin Patchen -- She stumbled onto a deadly secret, and the man she once wronged is the only one who can keep her alive. (Romantic Suspense, Independently Published)
Texas Christmas Cover-Up by Terri Reed -- A widowed FBI profiler must turn to her ex, a commanding Police Chief to protect her child and solve a cold case. (Romantic Suspense from Love Inspired [Harlequin])Speculative Fiction/Fantasy:
Dust and Ashes by Demi Griffin -- Even mistakes and failures were folded into the king's plan! (Speculative Fiction/Fantasy, Independently Published)
Plus check out these recent additions to Fiction Finder published within the past month:
Unexpected by Kimberly Keagan -- The heirs of Denwall Department Stores find unexpected love In the glittering era of the Gilded Age. (Historical Romance)
Where Secrets End by Rebecca Lake -- One man’s obsession. One woman’s past. One chance to survive. (Romantic Suspense)
But There Were Signs by Georgia Curtis Ling -- When one of their own is found dead, four pastors’ wives–turned amateur sleuths are playing a deadly game of cat and mouse with a suspected killer in Appalachia. (Contemporary Suspense)
The Dreamer by Jenny Marcelene -- To the Ends is an international adventure series helping children ages 6-10 cultivate a biblical worldview and spark prayer for the nations. (Children’s/Middle Grade Chapter Book)
Escaping the Wilderness by Carrie Stuart Parks -- On the run through the mountains— with only each other to trust. (Romantic Suspense)
The Realm: The Awakening Begins by K Ross -- In a world where dreams are more real than not, and harsh realities collide with visions of eternity, only one god can rule. (Supernatural Suspense)
October 1, 2025
Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Janalyn Voight
When Mail Took Weeks and Coffee Was Gold: Life in the Old WestBy Janalyn Voigt, Guest Author
Ever wish you could time-travel to the Old West? I used to imagine it as a land of wide skies, brave hearts, and the kind of adventure that makes your pulse quicken. But as I dug into the real history while writing the Montana Gold western romance series, I discovered life back then was a mix of grit, gumption, and just enough grace to keep going.
Let’s set the scene.
No Amazon Prime, No Problem?
In the 1880s Montana Territory, a letter could take weeks to arrive—if it made it at all. Roads were dusty (or muddy) tracks. Stagecoaches bounced over ruts, stopping at waystations where you might be greeted with strong coffee and stronger opinions. If you wanted fabric for a new dress or parts for your plow, you sent away to a catalog and waited. Patience wasn't just a virtue—it was survival.
I’ve always admired the kind of woman who could manage a homestead, cook over an open fire, keep
her family clothed and fed, and still have the backbone to fight for what’s right. Women like that inspired characters such as America Reed, the resourceful heroine of Hills of Nevermore (Book 1 in the Montana Gold series). America flees a troubled past and finds herself in a rough gold rush town, facing the wild unknown without the certainty of God’s love. Shane Hayes, a blue-eyed circuit preacher with more gumption than caution, makes it his mission to set her straight.
The Gold Rush That Wasn't Quite
Speaking of gold, Montana's gold rush didn’t exactly play out like a Hollywood western. Sure, there were strikes like the one at Alder Gulch in the 1860s and stampedes of hopeful miners, but few struck it rich. Most ended up laboring to get by—or else moved on to the next big rumor of gold. The sense of transience this brought made the region volatile, but also full of opportunity for those brave (or desperate) enough to grab it.
I used that tension in Cheyenne Sunrise (Book 2), where a widow and a half-Cheyenne trail guide find themselves thrown together on a journey north. The unsettled land mirrors their own emotional landscapes—rugged, unpredictable, but with breathtaking beauty and unexpected grace.
Real Love in a Harsh Land
Romance might not be the first thing you associate with frontier life, but love stories were written every day—in shared hardships, small acts of kindness, and the kind of loyalty born from struggle. I like to think my stories echo those quiet, enduring romances. They remind us that even in hard times—maybe especially in hard times—people hold onto hope.
Take Stagecoach to Liberty (Book 3). Imagine traveling through mountain passes with strangers, only to discover one of them might hold the key to your past—and your future. Talk about a surprise. I wove real details about stagecoach travel into the story, from the grueling pace to the ever-present danger of bandits, breakdowns, and other perils.
Why I Keep Writing About the West
I write western historical romance not just for the swoon-worthy cowboys (though let’s be honest—they
don’t hurt). I write it because there’s something timeless about the resilience, faith, and community of the Wild West.
If that’s the kind of story you like too, I invite you to saddle up and ride into the pages of Montana Gold. Each book blends historical truth with heartfelt romance and just enough danger to keep you turning the pages.
Thanks to Linda Matchett for letting me stop by History, Hope, & Happily Ever After. It’s a joy to connect with readers who love history as much as I do!
Happy trails,
Janalyn Voigt
Let's connect: www.janalynvoigt.comPurchase link: https://janalynvoigt.com/bookstore/
Ever wish you could time-travel to the Old West? I used to imagine it as a land of wide skies, brave hearts, and the kind of adventure that makes your pulse quicken. But as I dug into the real history while writing the Montana Gold western romance series, I discovered life back then was a mix of grit, gumption, and just enough grace to keep going.Let’s set the scene.
No Amazon Prime, No Problem?
In the 1880s Montana Territory, a letter could take weeks to arrive—if it made it at all. Roads were dusty (or muddy) tracks. Stagecoaches bounced over ruts, stopping at waystations where you might be greeted with strong coffee and stronger opinions. If you wanted fabric for a new dress or parts for your plow, you sent away to a catalog and waited. Patience wasn't just a virtue—it was survival.
I’ve always admired the kind of woman who could manage a homestead, cook over an open fire, keep
her family clothed and fed, and still have the backbone to fight for what’s right. Women like that inspired characters such as America Reed, the resourceful heroine of Hills of Nevermore (Book 1 in the Montana Gold series). America flees a troubled past and finds herself in a rough gold rush town, facing the wild unknown without the certainty of God’s love. Shane Hayes, a blue-eyed circuit preacher with more gumption than caution, makes it his mission to set her straight. The Gold Rush That Wasn't Quite
Speaking of gold, Montana's gold rush didn’t exactly play out like a Hollywood western. Sure, there were strikes like the one at Alder Gulch in the 1860s and stampedes of hopeful miners, but few struck it rich. Most ended up laboring to get by—or else moved on to the next big rumor of gold. The sense of transience this brought made the region volatile, but also full of opportunity for those brave (or desperate) enough to grab it.
I used that tension in Cheyenne Sunrise (Book 2), where a widow and a half-Cheyenne trail guide find themselves thrown together on a journey north. The unsettled land mirrors their own emotional landscapes—rugged, unpredictable, but with breathtaking beauty and unexpected grace.Real Love in a Harsh Land
Romance might not be the first thing you associate with frontier life, but love stories were written every day—in shared hardships, small acts of kindness, and the kind of loyalty born from struggle. I like to think my stories echo those quiet, enduring romances. They remind us that even in hard times—maybe especially in hard times—people hold onto hope.
Take Stagecoach to Liberty (Book 3). Imagine traveling through mountain passes with strangers, only to discover one of them might hold the key to your past—and your future. Talk about a surprise. I wove real details about stagecoach travel into the story, from the grueling pace to the ever-present danger of bandits, breakdowns, and other perils.
Why I Keep Writing About the West
I write western historical romance not just for the swoon-worthy cowboys (though let’s be honest—they
don’t hurt). I write it because there’s something timeless about the resilience, faith, and community of the Wild West. If that’s the kind of story you like too, I invite you to saddle up and ride into the pages of Montana Gold. Each book blends historical truth with heartfelt romance and just enough danger to keep you turning the pages.
Thanks to Linda Matchett for letting me stop by History, Hope, & Happily Ever After. It’s a joy to connect with readers who love history as much as I do!
Happy trails,
Janalyn Voigt
Let's connect: www.janalynvoigt.comPurchase link: https://janalynvoigt.com/bookstore/
September 30, 2025
Wartime Wednesday: Filipina Resistance Member Florence Finch
Wartime Wednesday: Florence Finch, Filipina Resistance Member
During World War II, hundreds of thousands of people worked behind the scenes and underground; some while remaining in plain view. Florence Ebersole Smith Finch was one of those people. She was born on October 11, 1915 to an American father and Filipina mother in Santiago. Her childhood was “disruptive,” as one source put it, when her father married her mother, but later made a common-law wife of his stepdaughter. He passed away when Florence was twelve.
As an adult, she obtained a job working as a stenographer at the Intelligence Headquarters in Manila where she met her US Navy husband Charles Smith. They married in 1941, then he was transferred to Correigor where he was killed while manning the deck of a ship. Florence did not receive news of his death until May 1942. By this time the Philippines had fallen to the Japanese.
She managed to convince authorities she was Filipino and went to work at the Japanese-run Philippine
Liquid Fuel Distribution Union. She used her position to transfer ration coupons to resistance workers. This diverted supplies from the Japanese. According to the US Coast Guard website, she also arranged acts of sabotage against the occupying forces. When she found out that her boss, Lt. Col. Englehart had been captured, and he and his fellow prisoners-of-war were being badly treated, she began to smuggle food and medicine to them.
It is unknown how the Japanese discovered her activities, but she was arrested in October 1944. Imprisoned in a tiny cell, only two-by-four foot squared, she was repeatedly tortured. However, this stalwart woman refused to reveal her compatriots. According to the Coast Guard, she was given a “sham trial” and sentenced to three years of hard labor in the Women’s Correctional Institution in Mandaluong outside of Manilla.
The US First Cavalry arrived in Manila on February 3, 1945, and Florence was liberated a week later. After five months of captivity, she was less than eighty pounds. She decided to move to New York to be with her aunt and arrived in May 1945 where she enlisted in the Coast Guard Women’s Reserve because as she said, “to avenge the death of my husband.” She subsequently met and married American army veteran Bob Finch with whom she had two children.
After her Coast Guard superiors found out about her work with the resistance, she was awarded the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Ribbon. In 1947, she received the Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the U.S, from President Truman. She passed away December 8, 2016 at the age of 101.
________________
The American World War II Home Front in 29 Objects:
Unlike Europe the American mainland escaped physical devastation during World War II as it was not subjected to full-scale invasions. However, that didn’t mean the United States wasn’t impacted by the war. The ramifications of large economic, cultural, and societal changes forced Americans to reconsider entrenched beliefs and traditions.
Artifacts collected from across the nation tell the stories of the American people whose lives were shaped by this second “war to end all wars,” World War II.
Purchase link: https://books2read.com/u/47pLxR
Photo Credits:
Florence Finch enlistment photo: By U.S. Coast Guard - The Long Blue Line: SN1 Florence Finch, Public Domain.
Florence Finch, courtesy of US Coast Guard
Map of Philippines: Google
Sources:
https://www.washingtonindependentreviewofbooks.com/bookreview/the-indomitable-florence-finch-the-untold-story-of-a-war-widow-turned-resistance-fighter-and-savior-of-american-pows
https://msmagazine.com/2020/09/02/seven-indomitable-women-of-world-war-ii/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florence_Finch
https://www.history.uscg.mil/Browse-by-Topic/Notable-People/All/Article/1854611/florence-ebersole-smith-finch-uscgr/
During World War II, hundreds of thousands of people worked behind the scenes and underground; some while remaining in plain view. Florence Ebersole Smith Finch was one of those people. She was born on October 11, 1915 to an American father and Filipina mother in Santiago. Her childhood was “disruptive,” as one source put it, when her father married her mother, but later made a common-law wife of his stepdaughter. He passed away when Florence was twelve.As an adult, she obtained a job working as a stenographer at the Intelligence Headquarters in Manila where she met her US Navy husband Charles Smith. They married in 1941, then he was transferred to Correigor where he was killed while manning the deck of a ship. Florence did not receive news of his death until May 1942. By this time the Philippines had fallen to the Japanese.
She managed to convince authorities she was Filipino and went to work at the Japanese-run Philippine
Liquid Fuel Distribution Union. She used her position to transfer ration coupons to resistance workers. This diverted supplies from the Japanese. According to the US Coast Guard website, she also arranged acts of sabotage against the occupying forces. When she found out that her boss, Lt. Col. Englehart had been captured, and he and his fellow prisoners-of-war were being badly treated, she began to smuggle food and medicine to them.It is unknown how the Japanese discovered her activities, but she was arrested in October 1944. Imprisoned in a tiny cell, only two-by-four foot squared, she was repeatedly tortured. However, this stalwart woman refused to reveal her compatriots. According to the Coast Guard, she was given a “sham trial” and sentenced to three years of hard labor in the Women’s Correctional Institution in Mandaluong outside of Manilla.
The US First Cavalry arrived in Manila on February 3, 1945, and Florence was liberated a week later. After five months of captivity, she was less than eighty pounds. She decided to move to New York to be with her aunt and arrived in May 1945 where she enlisted in the Coast Guard Women’s Reserve because as she said, “to avenge the death of my husband.” She subsequently met and married American army veteran Bob Finch with whom she had two children.After her Coast Guard superiors found out about her work with the resistance, she was awarded the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Ribbon. In 1947, she received the Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the U.S, from President Truman. She passed away December 8, 2016 at the age of 101.
________________
The American World War II Home Front in 29 Objects:
Unlike Europe the American mainland escaped physical devastation during World War II as it was not subjected to full-scale invasions. However, that didn’t mean the United States wasn’t impacted by the war. The ramifications of large economic, cultural, and societal changes forced Americans to reconsider entrenched beliefs and traditions.Artifacts collected from across the nation tell the stories of the American people whose lives were shaped by this second “war to end all wars,” World War II.
Purchase link: https://books2read.com/u/47pLxR
Photo Credits:
Florence Finch enlistment photo: By U.S. Coast Guard - The Long Blue Line: SN1 Florence Finch, Public Domain.
Florence Finch, courtesy of US Coast Guard
Map of Philippines: Google
Sources:
https://www.washingtonindependentreviewofbooks.com/bookreview/the-indomitable-florence-finch-the-untold-story-of-a-war-widow-turned-resistance-fighter-and-savior-of-american-pows
https://msmagazine.com/2020/09/02/seven-indomitable-women-of-world-war-ii/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florence_Finch
https://www.history.uscg.mil/Browse-by-Topic/Notable-People/All/Article/1854611/florence-ebersole-smith-finch-uscgr/
September 24, 2025
Talkshow Thursday: Building Hearts with Julie Arduini
Building Hearts & Book Covers by Julie Arduini
Surrendering Hearts is my current small-town romance series, spotlighting the Hart siblings as they navigate identity, faith, and the pursuit of a love as enduring as their parents'. The journey begins with Anchored Hearts, Jordyn’s story, followed by Ryan’s in Repairing Hearts. Now, it’s Evan’s turn to take center stage in Building Hearts.Each installment explores a unique surrender, an emotional or spiritual struggle, ultimately resolved through Christian principles. In Building Hearts, Evan Hart, third of six siblings, has long watched his brothers and sisters shine. Determined to carve out his own success, he pitches a home improvement reality show that finally puts his family in the spotlight—and himself in charge.
But just as things begin to fall into place, the network throws him a curveball: a co-producer named Shea Madden, whose presence challenges Evan in ways he never expected.Building Hearts has been an absolute joy to write. It blends a compelling co-worker romance, a revenge-driven antagonist, and deeply realistic Hart family subplots that tug at the heart.
Evan longs to feel like he belongs, while Shea wrestles with forgiveness and finding her place. If you’ve ever known a middle child, you’ll recognize the quiet ache of wanting to be seen. Evan embodies that struggle in a way that’s both tender and true.
One of my favorite aspects of the Surrendering Hearts series is designing the covers. Each one features
a subtle spotlight effect in the background, symbolizing the Hart siblings’ celebrity status as the first six born full-term without selective reduction.
The character placement is never random. Jordyn, the eldest, commands the cover with a dominant presence. She’s not only the lead of the first book, but the emotional anchor of the entire family.
Evan’s cover tells a different story. As the middle sibling, he often feels overlooked. His image is intentionally cropped and smaller, reflecting his internal narrative of invisibility. It’s a quiet but powerful visual metaphor.
At the bottom of each cover, I include a scene or object that ties directly to the story. For Building Hearts, it’s a pile of rocks set against a woodsy backdrop overlooking a lake, and it’s exactly how I envisioned Ryan’s property. That setting plays a major role in the book, and I’m thrilled with how it came together.
The series is set in the breathtaking Finger Lakes Region of Upstate New York, with Ryan’s home perched above Seneca Lake. It’s a place of beauty, healing, and transformation, just like the series, including Building Hearts.
About Building Hearts:
Can one reality show rebuild a home and two hearts?
Evan Hart has always felt the odd one out in a family of thriving siblings. When his reality show pitch is greenlit and he's named co-producer, Evan sees a chance to finally belong within his family and the world watching them. Building with the Harts promises new beginnings and second chances until the network adds a wildcard: Shea Madden, a brooding co-producer with secrets of her own.
Shea Madden walked away from reality TV after a contestant's public humiliation led to tragedy, and she took the fall. The Renovation Channel offers her a shot at redemption with a show built on authenticity and hope. Working alongside insecure but earnest Evan Hart begins to heal old wounds until Shea's past resurfaces, threatening her future, the show's success, and the Hart family.
In this clean and wholesome small-town romance, Book 3 of 6 in the Surrendering Hearts series, featuring the Christian surrender issues of belonging, grief, and forgiveness, discover how faith, trust, and unexpected love can rise from the rubble.
Purchase link: https://amzn.to/41KuXhr
About Julie:
Julie Arduini writes small-town romances featuring Christian surrender themes and chocolate mentions. She’s the author of the series SURRENDERING HEARTS (Anchored Hearts, Repairing Hearts, +four more). Her other romance series is SURRENDERING TIME (Entrusted, Entangled, Engaged). She also co-wrote a YA/Women’s Fiction series with her daughter, SURRENDERING STINKIN’ THINKIN’ (You’re Beautiful, You’re Amazing, You’re Brilliant). Her stand-alone romances include MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN and RESTORING CHRISTMAS. In 2025 she joins Leah Atwood, Robin Bayne, JoAnn Durgin, and Dawn Kinzer with the small-town romance series Dogwood Creek Matchmakers. Julie maintains a blog at http://www.juliearduini.com and https://substack.com/@juliearduini1. She resides in Ohio with her husband and daughter. Learn more by visiting her at http://linktr.ee/JulieArduini.
Surrendering Hearts is my current small-town romance series, spotlighting the Hart siblings as they navigate identity, faith, and the pursuit of a love as enduring as their parents'. The journey begins with Anchored Hearts, Jordyn’s story, followed by Ryan’s in Repairing Hearts. Now, it’s Evan’s turn to take center stage in Building Hearts.Each installment explores a unique surrender, an emotional or spiritual struggle, ultimately resolved through Christian principles. In Building Hearts, Evan Hart, third of six siblings, has long watched his brothers and sisters shine. Determined to carve out his own success, he pitches a home improvement reality show that finally puts his family in the spotlight—and himself in charge.But just as things begin to fall into place, the network throws him a curveball: a co-producer named Shea Madden, whose presence challenges Evan in ways he never expected.Building Hearts has been an absolute joy to write. It blends a compelling co-worker romance, a revenge-driven antagonist, and deeply realistic Hart family subplots that tug at the heart.
Evan longs to feel like he belongs, while Shea wrestles with forgiveness and finding her place. If you’ve ever known a middle child, you’ll recognize the quiet ache of wanting to be seen. Evan embodies that struggle in a way that’s both tender and true.
One of my favorite aspects of the Surrendering Hearts series is designing the covers. Each one features
a subtle spotlight effect in the background, symbolizing the Hart siblings’ celebrity status as the first six born full-term without selective reduction. The character placement is never random. Jordyn, the eldest, commands the cover with a dominant presence. She’s not only the lead of the first book, but the emotional anchor of the entire family.
Evan’s cover tells a different story. As the middle sibling, he often feels overlooked. His image is intentionally cropped and smaller, reflecting his internal narrative of invisibility. It’s a quiet but powerful visual metaphor.
At the bottom of each cover, I include a scene or object that ties directly to the story. For Building Hearts, it’s a pile of rocks set against a woodsy backdrop overlooking a lake, and it’s exactly how I envisioned Ryan’s property. That setting plays a major role in the book, and I’m thrilled with how it came together.
The series is set in the breathtaking Finger Lakes Region of Upstate New York, with Ryan’s home perched above Seneca Lake. It’s a place of beauty, healing, and transformation, just like the series, including Building Hearts.
About Building Hearts:
Can one reality show rebuild a home and two hearts?Evan Hart has always felt the odd one out in a family of thriving siblings. When his reality show pitch is greenlit and he's named co-producer, Evan sees a chance to finally belong within his family and the world watching them. Building with the Harts promises new beginnings and second chances until the network adds a wildcard: Shea Madden, a brooding co-producer with secrets of her own.
Shea Madden walked away from reality TV after a contestant's public humiliation led to tragedy, and she took the fall. The Renovation Channel offers her a shot at redemption with a show built on authenticity and hope. Working alongside insecure but earnest Evan Hart begins to heal old wounds until Shea's past resurfaces, threatening her future, the show's success, and the Hart family.
In this clean and wholesome small-town romance, Book 3 of 6 in the Surrendering Hearts series, featuring the Christian surrender issues of belonging, grief, and forgiveness, discover how faith, trust, and unexpected love can rise from the rubble.
Purchase link: https://amzn.to/41KuXhr
About Julie:
Julie Arduini writes small-town romances featuring Christian surrender themes and chocolate mentions. She’s the author of the series SURRENDERING HEARTS (Anchored Hearts, Repairing Hearts, +four more). Her other romance series is SURRENDERING TIME (Entrusted, Entangled, Engaged). She also co-wrote a YA/Women’s Fiction series with her daughter, SURRENDERING STINKIN’ THINKIN’ (You’re Beautiful, You’re Amazing, You’re Brilliant). Her stand-alone romances include MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN and RESTORING CHRISTMAS. In 2025 she joins Leah Atwood, Robin Bayne, JoAnn Durgin, and Dawn Kinzer with the small-town romance series Dogwood Creek Matchmakers. Julie maintains a blog at http://www.juliearduini.com and https://substack.com/@juliearduini1. She resides in Ohio with her husband and daughter. Learn more by visiting her at http://linktr.ee/JulieArduini.
September 23, 2025
Wartime Wednesday: Army Slang
Wartime Wednesday: Army Slang
Every generation has its slang, and World War II was no exception. Soldiers had especially creative terms. Here are just a few:
Food:
Albatross: ChickenArmored Cow: Canned MilkArmy Strawberries: PrunesBattery Acid: CoffeeBlack Strap: CoffeeBoodle: Candy, cake, ice-cream, etc.Duff: Any edible sweetGoldfish: SalmonNorth Dakota Rice: Hot CerealPunk: BreadSalve: ButterSammy: Syrup
Equipment:
Ack-Ack: Machine GunArmy Banjo: ShovelBarker: Heavy Artillery GunBoudier: Squad TentCans: HeadphonesCosmolines: ArtilleryDeadlined: Vehicle laid up for repairEther: Radio TelephoneFlash Gun: Machine Gun used for TrainingFlying Boxcar: A BomberFrog Sticker: Bayonet
People:
Yellow Legs: CavalrymanYard Bird: New RecruitWindjammer: BuglerWeather Krock: MeteorologistThree Striper: SergeantThird Grader: Staff SergeantStatic Bender: Radio OperatorShack Man: Married manRunner: MessengerRed Leg: ArtillerymanPeep Sight: Expert GunnerWhich of these have you heard before?___________________
The American World War II Home Front in 29 Objects
Unlike Europe the American mainland escaped physical devastation during World War II as it was not subjected to full-scale invasions. However, that didn’t mean the United States wasn’t impacted by the war. The ramifications of large economic, cultural, and societal changes forced Americans to reconsider entrenched beliefs and traditions.
Artifacts collected from across the nation tell the stories of the American people whose lives were shaped by this second “war to end all wars,” World War II.
Purchase link: https://books2read.com/u/47pLxR
Photo Credits: Platter of Chicken: Pixabay/Bernard PostJeep: Pixabay/Melk HagelslagRadio: Wright Museum Archives
Every generation has its slang, and World War II was no exception. Soldiers had especially creative terms. Here are just a few:
Food:
Albatross: ChickenArmored Cow: Canned MilkArmy Strawberries: PrunesBattery Acid: CoffeeBlack Strap: CoffeeBoodle: Candy, cake, ice-cream, etc.Duff: Any edible sweetGoldfish: SalmonNorth Dakota Rice: Hot CerealPunk: BreadSalve: ButterSammy: SyrupEquipment:
Ack-Ack: Machine GunArmy Banjo: ShovelBarker: Heavy Artillery GunBoudier: Squad TentCans: HeadphonesCosmolines: ArtilleryDeadlined: Vehicle laid up for repairEther: Radio TelephoneFlash Gun: Machine Gun used for TrainingFlying Boxcar: A BomberFrog Sticker: BayonetPeople:
Yellow Legs: CavalrymanYard Bird: New RecruitWindjammer: BuglerWeather Krock: MeteorologistThree Striper: SergeantThird Grader: Staff SergeantStatic Bender: Radio OperatorShack Man: Married manRunner: MessengerRed Leg: ArtillerymanPeep Sight: Expert GunnerWhich of these have you heard before?___________________The American World War II Home Front in 29 Objects
Unlike Europe the American mainland escaped physical devastation during World War II as it was not subjected to full-scale invasions. However, that didn’t mean the United States wasn’t impacted by the war. The ramifications of large economic, cultural, and societal changes forced Americans to reconsider entrenched beliefs and traditions.Artifacts collected from across the nation tell the stories of the American people whose lives were shaped by this second “war to end all wars,” World War II.
Purchase link: https://books2read.com/u/47pLxR
Photo Credits: Platter of Chicken: Pixabay/Bernard PostJeep: Pixabay/Melk HagelslagRadio: Wright Museum Archives
September 17, 2025
Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Back, Aubrey Taylor
Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Back, Aubrey Taylor
The original German versions of our most well-loved fairy tales often end tragically, unlike the retellings we are used to. Happily Ever After isn’t my forte either, and as an author of German-perspective World War II fiction, there is only so much happiness one can scrounge up by the last years of the war, with hunger, devastation, disillusionment, and hundreds of thousands of German men in POW camps.
My novella Schneewittchen combines elements of the German fairy tale we know as Snow White with elements of more modern retellings. Then, it brings the story to Germany in 1944.
Snow White is a story about a girl with a pure heart who has been driven into the forest by terrible circumstances. In my version, Gerda Gatzke is sent from East Prussia, where the war draws ever nearer to her doorstep, to a smallholding in rural Bavaria, far away from the front. Her task? To provide help to six brothers and their ailing mother.
A threat on Gerda’s life soon causes her charges to become her protectors.
As the oldest of seven boys, Thomas Jodl is already away from home, serving his country. He has heard
of Gerda’s sweet spirit through his mother’s letters, and it is no surprise that he has already begun to fall in love with her. She, in turn, has heard about Thomas’s strength and kindness—and secretly adores the ever-present photo of him on the mantle.
One wonders what causes the hero and heroine of a fairy tale to fall in love (and often get married) so quickly. It is understandable, coming from modern readers, but it is also worth noting that quick marriages were not uncommon in wartime. People knew they were not guaranteed tomorrow. Though Thomas was not directly involved in combat, Gerda had every reason to believe that he would be taken as a prisoner of war eventually.
German POWs had different trajectories based on a multitude of factors. Most of the men who were taken into captivity on the Eastern Front (Russia) did not make it home. On the other hand, many who came to America were treated well, and some even moved to America after their release.
The Allies also made efforts to separate regular soldiers from those deemed to be unrepentant “Nazis,” and often, SS men were treated more harshly than members of the German Army, no questions asked.
Though Thomas bore a “blood group” tattoo under his arm indicating that he was a member of the SS, his character was evident, and there was no doubt about his innocence when it came to the atrocities for which the Germans were being accused. As a POW, he spent time in the USA and was then sent to England to help with rebuilding.
When Thomas and Gerda finally get their Happily Ever After, it doesn’t look like the sparkling endings we see in fairy tale movies. Rather, it is true to life. I hope that it reminds readers that finding happiness (or rather, joy, which has far greater value) is a choice, especially when everything around you has fallen apart. Thomas says:
[Gerda] shakes her head. “I’m all right, Thomas. What I went through was difficult, but what others went through was so much worse. If my experience makes me more sensitive to those around me, then it was absolutely worth it.”
Drawing her close with my free arm, I breathe a prayer and thank God for the woman He’s given me. If other people learn to love the way my Gerda does, there will be hope for us all.
__________________
Schneewittchen: A Retelling of the Snow White Story Set in WWII Germany
Gerda Gatzke is unsure whether life on a Bavarian homestead with six boys and an ailing woman is right for her, but she is determined to get away from her stepmother, and from the war that draws ever closer to her doorstep.
With little more than the clothes on her back and a treasured family heirloom, she arrives at the disheveled smallholding only to discover that she is no safer there than she was at home. The boys who were initially her charges soon become her protectors.
With his mother’s illness growing worse and his family in danger, Thomas Jodl determines to return home for the first time in five years. His heart is warmed by the kind-hearted young woman who has come to care for his mother and six brothers.
Thomas does not hesitate to place himself in danger, but when the threat neutralized, a new question arises: what will become of any of them once the war is lost?
Schneewittchen is one of four novellas in A Worthy Love: A Collection of Historical Fairytale Retellings, Part of Fairy Tale Frenzy from Beyond the Bookery. A Worthy Love also includes stories from Aliana Jane, Liz Chapman, and Rebecca Lange.
Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3I9i35T
About Aubrey
Aubrey Reiss Taylor unites a fascination for history with a passion for redemption, creating a unique brand of gritty, honest wartime sagas, written from the German perspective. She is the mother of three, and married to her best friend Brian. When she’s not writing or taking care of home and family, she enjoys making music, dancing, reading, and spending time with friends.
Connect!
Website: www.aubreytaylorbooks.com
Newsletter: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/o3k4f2
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aubreytaylorbooks
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aubreytaylorbooks/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/54029024.Aubrey_Reiss_Taylor
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Aubrey-Taylor/author/B0973KWXV8
Photo credits:Author and book images: Courtesy of Aubrey TaylorSoldiers on Motorcycle: Pixabay/Istvan Karoly BocsPrison Camp: Courtesy Kansas State Historical Society
The original German versions of our most well-loved fairy tales often end tragically, unlike the retellings we are used to. Happily Ever After isn’t my forte either, and as an author of German-perspective World War II fiction, there is only so much happiness one can scrounge up by the last years of the war, with hunger, devastation, disillusionment, and hundreds of thousands of German men in POW camps.My novella Schneewittchen combines elements of the German fairy tale we know as Snow White with elements of more modern retellings. Then, it brings the story to Germany in 1944.
Snow White is a story about a girl with a pure heart who has been driven into the forest by terrible circumstances. In my version, Gerda Gatzke is sent from East Prussia, where the war draws ever nearer to her doorstep, to a smallholding in rural Bavaria, far away from the front. Her task? To provide help to six brothers and their ailing mother.
A threat on Gerda’s life soon causes her charges to become her protectors.
As the oldest of seven boys, Thomas Jodl is already away from home, serving his country. He has heard
of Gerda’s sweet spirit through his mother’s letters, and it is no surprise that he has already begun to fall in love with her. She, in turn, has heard about Thomas’s strength and kindness—and secretly adores the ever-present photo of him on the mantle.One wonders what causes the hero and heroine of a fairy tale to fall in love (and often get married) so quickly. It is understandable, coming from modern readers, but it is also worth noting that quick marriages were not uncommon in wartime. People knew they were not guaranteed tomorrow. Though Thomas was not directly involved in combat, Gerda had every reason to believe that he would be taken as a prisoner of war eventually.
German POWs had different trajectories based on a multitude of factors. Most of the men who were taken into captivity on the Eastern Front (Russia) did not make it home. On the other hand, many who came to America were treated well, and some even moved to America after their release.
The Allies also made efforts to separate regular soldiers from those deemed to be unrepentant “Nazis,” and often, SS men were treated more harshly than members of the German Army, no questions asked.
Though Thomas bore a “blood group” tattoo under his arm indicating that he was a member of the SS, his character was evident, and there was no doubt about his innocence when it came to the atrocities for which the Germans were being accused. As a POW, he spent time in the USA and was then sent to England to help with rebuilding.When Thomas and Gerda finally get their Happily Ever After, it doesn’t look like the sparkling endings we see in fairy tale movies. Rather, it is true to life. I hope that it reminds readers that finding happiness (or rather, joy, which has far greater value) is a choice, especially when everything around you has fallen apart. Thomas says:
[Gerda] shakes her head. “I’m all right, Thomas. What I went through was difficult, but what others went through was so much worse. If my experience makes me more sensitive to those around me, then it was absolutely worth it.”
Drawing her close with my free arm, I breathe a prayer and thank God for the woman He’s given me. If other people learn to love the way my Gerda does, there will be hope for us all.
__________________
Schneewittchen: A Retelling of the Snow White Story Set in WWII Germany
Gerda Gatzke is unsure whether life on a Bavarian homestead with six boys and an ailing woman is right for her, but she is determined to get away from her stepmother, and from the war that draws ever closer to her doorstep.With little more than the clothes on her back and a treasured family heirloom, she arrives at the disheveled smallholding only to discover that she is no safer there than she was at home. The boys who were initially her charges soon become her protectors.
With his mother’s illness growing worse and his family in danger, Thomas Jodl determines to return home for the first time in five years. His heart is warmed by the kind-hearted young woman who has come to care for his mother and six brothers.
Thomas does not hesitate to place himself in danger, but when the threat neutralized, a new question arises: what will become of any of them once the war is lost?
Schneewittchen is one of four novellas in A Worthy Love: A Collection of Historical Fairytale Retellings, Part of Fairy Tale Frenzy from Beyond the Bookery. A Worthy Love also includes stories from Aliana Jane, Liz Chapman, and Rebecca Lange.
Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3I9i35T
About Aubrey
Aubrey Reiss Taylor unites a fascination for history with a passion for redemption, creating a unique brand of gritty, honest wartime sagas, written from the German perspective. She is the mother of three, and married to her best friend Brian. When she’s not writing or taking care of home and family, she enjoys making music, dancing, reading, and spending time with friends.
Connect!
Website: www.aubreytaylorbooks.com
Newsletter: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/o3k4f2
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aubreytaylorbooks
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aubreytaylorbooks/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/54029024.Aubrey_Reiss_Taylor
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Aubrey-Taylor/author/B0973KWXV8
Photo credits:Author and book images: Courtesy of Aubrey TaylorSoldiers on Motorcycle: Pixabay/Istvan Karoly BocsPrison Camp: Courtesy Kansas State Historical Society
