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Michelle Shocklee

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Michelle Shocklee

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Member Since
August 2013

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Michelle Shocklee is the author of several historical novels, including ALL WE THOUGHT WE KNEW, the 2025 Christy Award Book of the Year; APPALACHIAN SONG, a 2024 Christy Award Finalist; COUNT THE NIGHTS BY STARS, winner of the 2023 Christianity Today Book Award in Fiction; and UNDER THE TULIP TREE, a Christy Award & Selah Award finalist.

As a woman of mixed heritage--her father's family is Hispanic and her mother's roots go back to Germany--she has always celebrated diversity and feels it's important to see the world through the eyes of one another. Learning from the past and changing the future is why she writes historical fiction.

With both her sons grown and happily married, Michelle and her husband make their home in Tennessee.

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Michelle Shocklee I love history! I find great inspiration in reading about the lives of people who have gone before us. I'm especially intrigued by the Civil War and p…moreI love history! I find great inspiration in reading about the lives of people who have gone before us. I'm especially intrigued by the Civil War and pioneer journeys. Old diaries and letters, and even census records are wonderful resources to fuel my imagination!

While researching The Planter's Daughter, I discovered an amazing book with true narratives of former Texas slaves. Many of the scenes, experiences, and even some of the names I use in The Planter's Daughter are based on true stories. (less)
Michelle Shocklee While I was researching slavery in Texas for my plantation novels, I discovered the slave narratives, a body of work compiled in the 1930s. During the…moreWhile I was researching slavery in Texas for my plantation novels, I discovered the slave narratives, a body of work compiled in the 1930s. During the Great Depression, millions of people were out of work, including writers. The government created jobs under the Works Progress Administration, which included the Federal Writers' Project. Under this project, unemployed writers were sent throughout the south to interview people who had been enslaved prior to the Civil War. These former slaves were well into their 80s, 90s, and 100s, and their stories needed to be captured and preserved for future generations before they were lost. Thanks to the FWP, over 2300 narratives, 500 photographs, and several priceless recording are now archived in the Library of Congress. Reading these word-for-word narratives not only changed me, but they inspired my novel UNDER THE TULIP TREE (releasing 9.8.20) which tells the story of a young white woman who takes a job with the FWP and meets a 101-year old black woman who's story is unforgettable. (less)
Average rating: 4.3 · 56,203 ratings · 5,604 reviews · 11 distinct worksSimilar authors
Under the Tulip Tree

4.33 avg rating — 30,495 ratings — published 2020 — 7 editions
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Appalachian Song

4.43 avg rating — 8,336 ratings — published 2023 — 6 editions
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The Women of Oak Ridge

4.05 avg rating — 6,537 ratings5 editions
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All We Thought We Knew

4.24 avg rating — 5,143 ratings — published 2024 — 6 editions
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Count the Nights by Stars

4.27 avg rating — 4,135 ratings — published 2022 — 6 editions
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The Planter's Daughter (The...

4.52 avg rating — 741 ratings4 editions
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The Widow of Rose Hill (The...

4.62 avg rating — 639 ratings4 editions
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Ich gebe dir eine Stimme

4.25 avg rating — 8 ratings3 editions
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Was wir für wahr gehalten h...

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it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 2 ratings
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Jede Nacht hat ihre Sterne

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More books by Michelle Shocklee…

The 2025 Christy Award Book of the Year

 


I'm pretty sure I'm still in shock after participating in 

The Christy Award ceremony webcast last Friday!

Here's my story.


After I finished writing my novel Appalachian Song in 2022, I wanted to set my next book during World War II. My Daddy was a WWII veteran, and I've always wanted to write a novel about that generation. So I set out to discover what was happening in T

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Published on November 09, 2025 11:20
The Planter's Daughter The Widow of Rose Hill
(2 books)
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4.57 avg rating — 1,380 ratings

The Shepherd's Voice
Michelle Shocklee is currently reading
by Robin Lee Hatcher (Goodreads Author)
bookshelves: currently-reading
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Josephine E. Butl...
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Michelle’s Recent Updates

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Tier One by Brian  Andrews
Tier One (Tier One #1)
by Brian Andrews (Goodreads Author)
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Truth Be Told by Patricia Raybon
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From endorsement:

History and mystery come together with heart-gripping perfection in Patricia Raybon's Truth Be Told. Her skillful storytelling reminds us that with faith, truth, and courage, even the darkest shadows can be overcome with Light. — Mic
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Jede Nacht hat ihre Sterne by Michelle Shocklee
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Was wir für wahr gehalten haben by Michelle Shocklee
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Was wir für wahr gehalten haben by Michelle Shocklee
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Come Down Somewhere by Jennifer L. Wright
Come Down Somewhere
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The Fault Between Us by Stephanie Landsem
The Fault Between Us
by Stephanie Landsem (Goodreads Author)
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From endorsement:

The Fault Between Us is a captivating family saga, rich with a cast of characters readers can root for. . . . Historical facts, beautiful descriptions, and genuine sisterly bonds come together under Stephanie Landsem’s masterful pen,
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The Pharisee's Wife by Janette Oke
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"  I'm honored and thrilled to share that my historical WWII - Vietnam War era novel ALL WE THOUGHT WE KNEW is a Finalist in the prestigious Christy Awards!The Christy Award celebrates excellence in Christian fiction, and honors the value and im..." Read more of this blog post »
More of Michelle's books…
Quotes by Michelle Shocklee  (?)
Quotes are added by the Goodreads community and are not verified by Goodreads. (Learn more)

“Count your nights by stars, not shadows; count your life with smiles, not tears.”
Michelle Shocklee, Count the Nights by Stars

“Livin’ life ain’t about seein’ and doin’. It’s about lovin’ and takin’ care of those who’ve been put in your path. God gave us this land to tend, just like he says in the Good Book. I don’t need to travel the world to find satisfaction with the life he’s given me.”
Michelle Shocklee, Appalachian Song

“Maybe confidence in oneself had nothing to do with what other folks thought or did. Maybe it was deep down inside you, just waiting to be let loose like a spring of water gushing to the surface.”
Michelle Shocklee, Under the Tulip Tree

Polls



January 2026 Members Choice poll. Time to vote on our first book for 2026. Thanks to all who nominated and good luck.
Poll stays open until Dec 24th.

 
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