Love Inspired Historicals discussion

Hi everyone! Just a heads-up that the first Q&A of the New Year will take place this week, January 7th - 10th and we have an awesome line-up!

Tuesday, January 7th: Debbie Kaufman, Journey of Hope

Wednesday, January 8th: Naomi Rawlings, The Wyoming Heir

Thursday, January 9th: Linda Ford, Claiming the Cowboy's Heart

Friday, January 10th: Judy Duarte, Lone Wolf's Lady

I'm really looking forward to hearing more about these great books! I hope you can join us.

Looking forward to it! Thanks for the reminder :-)

I'm looking forward to it, too! Some of my favorite authors!!

Yay! One bright spot to a cold and dreary January! :)

sounds cool.

Good morning, everyone. Welcome to the first Q&A of 2014 and thanks to Debbie Kaufman for getting us started!

Journey of Hope is Debbie's second book for LIH and like her debut book The Doctors Mission is set in the mission fields of Africa. Reading the description of Debbie's book reminded me of one of my favorite films -- The African Queen, only with a more romantic hero and heroine!

Marriage is not Annabelle Baldwin's mission! Escaping a society wedding, Annabelle followed her heart to Liberia to pursue her calling as a missionary. But when an attempted kidnapping lands her under the protection of Stewart Hastings, Anna's journey takes a new turn. The wounded war veteran needs a guide through the jungle. It's a job the underfunded missionary can't refuse, despite the feelings Stewart stirs in her guarded heart.

Stewart knows he won't succeed without Anna's expertise. And when danger puts her life at risk, he realizes he cannot live without Anna by his side. But what will it take for a man who has lost his faith to capture the heart of a woman who lives for hers?

Debbie can you tell us what drew you to writing inspirational historicals set in Africa? Do you have any more in the works?

Morning everyone. Looks like I got here a little early today. Everyone must still be in bed since it's so cold. We are around 20 degrees which probably sounds balmy to a lot of you but since I am in deep SE TX it's pretty cold to us. I have set out some Tea, Coffee and Hot Chocolate to share while we wait.

I love the sound of your book Debbie! What are you currently working on? Besides both being set in Africa do your two books connect?

Good morning, everyone! We had record-breaking cold here in Atlanta also, but then I like cold weather, as long as I can stay inside with a cozy fire in the wood stove.

It's great to have you with us today, Debbie. Like Laura, I wondered if the characters in these two books connect. But I'd also like to know about Liberia, especially during the era in which your stories are set. Have you ever visited or served there?

I'm also interested in stories involving missionaries, as my daughter serves as one in Europe. What inspired you to write with that theme?

Wow, late to the party as usual! To answer Deborah's question first, I never considered Africa, missionaries, etc. when I first started writing. I was firmly in the suspense writing mode and even won awards for my unpublished suspense. Then, my daughter brought me a book called "Before We Kill and Eat You," by H. B. Garlock, who, along with his wife, Ruth, was a pioneering missionary in the early 1900s Liberia. It was a fascinating tale of how God worked, and I recommend it. When I finished reading it, I turned to my husband and said "I wonder if I can set a romance there?" That story, The Doctor's Mission, sold and I have been writing historical ever since (and loving it!).

Laura, hot tea is appreciated. Even here in mid-Georgia, it is a sunny 9 degrees, lol! Journey of Hope picks up in the same area that The Doctor's Mission partially set up. You do get a bit of an appearance of Dr. Mary from book one and my favorites, older missionaries Hannah and Karl! Right now, I am working on book three, which I have a working title of "The Exiled Bride," but have no idea what LIH will call it, lol! That one is also set in Liberia, but in a different area and, besides romance, deals with the issue of forced slavery in the 1920s in Liberia and the "pawning" of women and children to pay a husband's debt.

Carole,
I think that it is so neat that your daughter is a missionary. One of my kids has talked about and investigated Bible translation through Wycliffe. Not sure if he will end up in that direction yet, or not. He's finishing a ministerial degree right now.

As you'll read above, a true missionary story inspired me. Since reading that book, I've read a hundred or more missionary accounts from early 1800s to around the 1930s. So many of those dedicated folks left behind journals, life stories, etc. and I find it fascinating. Although I've not gotten to live a missionary's life, only to do a few shorter mission endeavors, I feel I have a tiny bit of understanding of them as people, and that's what I try to convey when I write. I want my readers to see the person behind the mission and that they struggle with the same hopes and desires that the rest of us do.

Debbie, Your book sounds very interesting, and I love the story about how you got the idea. I hope to read this whole series eventually! Have you, or any of your family members ever been missionaries? I was a missionary with Choctaw Indians for two years in Alabama, but have never been out of the country as a missionary.

Wow, Barbara. Working with the Choctaw sounds fascinating. I bet you have some interesting stories about that. Feel free to share. I find people forget that not all missions have to be in another country!

My older son went with Teen Missions when he was just 12 and worked in Honduras for one summer and later went to Haiti. My older daughter has done short term in Haiti several times and we took all four kids to Haiti one summer to work in the orphanages back in the 90s (pre-earthquake). Hubby dearest, did some work in India for a couple weeks. I guess you can say we all did just enough to get our "feet wet," and appreciate what dedicated missionaries experience.

I did a little relief work in China, as well. I took in supplies for orphanages after founding an adoption program there. But, so far, although I've asked, I haven't had any direction to long-term mission work. I did point out to my husband that as empty-nesters, we could consider that for retirement. And then, a child promptly moved home, LOL!
I can only hope that my books make others more aware. My little contribution to the cause, I guess :)

Stepping out for a few minutes, but I'll be back shortly! Pull up a chair, grab a cup of that hot tea, coffee, or hot chocolate, that Laura provided, and warm up your typing fingers. This cold day is perfect for hanging out in cyberspace. I'll be back shortly!

BTW, if you missed my general Goodreads giveaway, no worries. I plan to give away a copy of Journey of Hope to at least one person who comes to chat today (including up till tomorrow morning for our friends in a different time zone/part of the world)!

Oh, and that giveaway is worldwide, no restrictions!

Glad you found us, Debbie! I love the title Exiled Bride -- I hope LIH doesn't change it.

LOL, Deborah. Just curious, have they ever kept the first title you submitted? I may have to save it for a later suggestion :) I love it, but Love Inspired has a perspective on selling books that I don't, so I'll have to see what they think will work. Honestly, Journey of Hope didn't resemble any title suggestion I gave them, but looking at it now, I see what they saw in the story that I didn't. There's a reason I write the books and don't work on the publishing end :)

I hope they don't change the title Exiled Bride too!

I enjoyed Debbie ~ I really felt I was in Liberia when I read it. I'm pleased that you've set another story there, & that Dr. Mary, Hannah & Karl feature!

Will you write more missionary stories? The Honduras & Haiti sound like they would make for some exotic scenery as well as having a rich tale to tell.

Wendy, book three is set in Liberia, but I'm not finished with it yet. I want to write China missionaries next and am deep in the research. I made four trips to China in the early 90s and want to go back! And yes, for now, missionaries are my sole focus.
Think we can start a new trend? Missionary romance as the new "Amish?"

A wonderful trend to start in my opinion!

LOL, Deborah. Just curious, have they ever kept the first title you submitted?

LIH did keep the title for my first novella with them -- Much Ado About Nuptials. I would have been totally crushed if they hadn't because it was so perfect for the story. But there is less riding on a novella title since it doesn't appear on the cover.

When I wrote for Harlequin Historical, I batted about 50% with my titles. They let me keep three of my favorites: A Gentleman of Substance, Beauty and the Baron and The Last Champion. To complicate things with my Glass Slipper Bride series I was kind of locked into title continuity The Captain's Christmas Family, The Baron's Governess Bride etc. We had a terrible time with my June book because my hero isn't a nobleman. They ended up calling it The Gentleman's Bride Search even though my hero is NOT a gentleman by Regency standards. ;)

Sometimes the reasons they reject a title has nothing to do with our books, but with the line as a whole. Maybe they already have a "Bride" title for the month our book is scheduled etc.

True, we never know what they are already working with when choosing our titles.

Wondering what our readers like or don't like in a title. Opinions, anyone? Does a title influence you?

Debbie wrote: "Think we can start a new trend? Missionary romance as the new "Amish?"..."

LOL I am currently reading an Amish suspense right now by Marta Perry call Search the Dark.

As to your question about titles. I can't say I have come across a title that made me not read a book. I end up reading the back of a book to make my decision. I don't think titles have a big influence with me but I always love when I come across the title of the story while reading the story. Now cover images do influence me a little as to if a book catches my eye enough to read the back of it. However I now know that authors don't have a lot of control over the cover either. So I cut them some slack and get mad at the publishers when the characters on the cover don't match the description.

I may be in the minority, but for me, I think it's the cover that captures my interest more than the title. In fact, I can often remember the cover but not recall the title at all.

Which leads me to ask...Do you have an input into the cover art, or is that totally done by the publisher?

I am so "there" if missionary romance becomes a new trend! Now China would be fascinating also, Debbie. China makes me think of the great missionary, Hudson Taylor.

Laura, Oh, I love Marta's Amish suspense! Always recommend her if someone is looking for a LISuspense.
I'm with you on the covers versus the titles. It's always the visuals that grab me.

Thanks for the hot chocolate Laura! I am addicted to the stuff. I but the huge Costco cans and they don't last long. lol

I love a good title, when I am picking books to buy on eharlequin every time I have a good coupon, I go either by an author I already have read and love, or a title or book cover. If the cover is gorgeous I have a tendency to want to read it! Vain I know, but looks hook me ;)
Though I have yet to be disappointed by any LI, whether it be contemporary or historical or suspense, there are just way too many of them for me to buy, so it does often come down to titles and covers...
That said, I have a tendency to buy a book more after the discussion here no matter what the title. :)

Carol, oh yes, Hudson Taylor and his China Inland Mission. That man single-handedly doubled the number of missionaries in China during his stay there. Such fascinating stories and such great tragedy during the Boxer Movement.

As to cover art, we submit pictorial suggestions of scenes and photos of clothing our people might have worn. But, in the end, the art department and our editors select the best look. And, I have to say that our art department really knocks it out of the park with our historicals. The cover on Journey of Hope is actually really close to one idea that I sent them, so I did get to influence it this time. Maybe I'm getting better at my suggestions!

Melody, I think we can all relate. Making a personal connection is always an influence for me, too. I have read other authors based on having chatted or met them. When it comes down to my reading budget, I have to make choices! Love it when books are free!

BTW, speaking of FREE, one of my favorite words, BTW, if any of you have a Kindle or the Kindle app on a smartphone or computer,here are some free books on Amazon from Love Inspired. They are not new release, but if you've never read them, they are new to you!

Renee Ryan's The Lawman Claims His Bride http://www.amazon.com/Lawman-Claims-B...

AND, we were talking about Marta Perry's Amish Suspense, her Hide in Plain Sight is a great introduction to her and also free on Kindle:
http://www.amazon.com/Hide-Plain-Sigh...

Another historical from Jillian Hart, Homespun Bride:
http://www.amazon.com/Homespun-Bride-...

That's all I see in Love Inspired right now.

Im late I turned the computer of early evening as I find I just cant concentrate on it. Dont enter me as I am not reading as much as I would like (make that im hardly reading) its frustrating me but at this stage I am not up to it but after the gall bladder is out and a few other issues iron out I hope to.

Did you find any interesting tibits when you were doing your research

Hey, Ausjenny. I'm sorry that the effect is to mess up your reading! Interesting tidbits. Here's two on Liberia, where my books are set:

Missionaries of the time where often considered good company on board the steamer ships. Some brought "box organs" to make music and sing in the meeting room in the evening as a form of entertainment.

Because the country of Liberia had no natural deep water ports (they were dug out in the mid-1900s) passengers wishing to go ashore rode a "mammy chair," and were hoisted by crane down to a waiting "surf boat," a large canoe powered by rowers and capable of ocean transport. They were then carried to the beach or the "port," depending on where they were in Liberia. Made for a few dunkings in high wind or if a foot slipped moving from the "mammy chair" to the surf boat. Not for the faint of heart, lol!

Free is a good word. :) I have all those on my Kindle! I love my Kindle, but find I spend more buying books there because I think oh this one is only three, this is only five and so on, and it adds up! haha

Me, too, Melody. And they give you that "Buy with one click" option. Easy to spend without doing the addition. I try to set a budget and abide by it. And everyone knows what I love for my birthday and Christmas--book gift cards, lol! I try and think of it as making shopping easy for my family :)

BTW, don't forget that tomorrow Naomi Rawlings is up and chatting about her January release, The Wyoming Heir. She got a great cover too!

Yeah the one click is my downfall! I don't see what I am actually spending til the bank statement comes. Good thing I never spend money I don't have for spending. ;)
No one really buys me books much, they think it's boring. To a book lover, it is never a boring gift!

Ladies, it's been fun, and I'll check back in the morning and answer any more questions or comments. But for now, bed is calling my name. It has been a blast and I will choose a book winner in the morning. Thanks for making this so enjoyable for me!

Thanks for being so great Debbie! :)

Thanks to Debbie Kaufman for a lively discussion yesterday and a warm welcome to today's featured author Naomi Rawlings. The Wyoming Heir is Naomi's second book for LIH and she has another one coming in April!

Given a choice, Luke Hayes wouldn't ever leave his Wyoming ranch. Yet when his estranged grandfather dies, leaving him everything, he'll travel to Valley Falls, New York—but only to collect his sister and his inheritance. He won't be roped into saving a floundering girls' school, no matter what mathematics teacher Elizabeth Wells says.

Elizabeth has defied social convention and her own family for the sake of her beloved Hayes Academy. Luke is pure rancher, from the tip of his Stetson to the scuff on his boots, yet he's also becoming her unlikely ally. Only he can help save her job and school…but how much will she lose when the time comes for him to leave?

I LOVE the cover of this book with its soft golden tones and the image of a romantic picnic! Naomi, this story is a very different setting from your debut book Sanctuary For A Lady. How did you get from the French Revolution to 19th century New York?

This book sounds great too! I loved your Sanctuary For A Lady and was wondering if you are working on Michel's brother's story?

Debbie wrote: "Laura, Oh, I love Marta's Amish suspense! Always recommend her if someone is looking for a LISuspense.
I'm with you on the covers versus the titles. It's always the visuals that grab me."

Actually Search the Dark isn't a LIS it's just a Harlequin. However don't let that turn you off. Even though it's not a LIS it really reminds me of a longer LIS. The language is still clean and the characters don't get all hot and heavy.

Melody wrote: "No one really buys me books much, they think it's boring. To a book lover, it is never a boring gift!"

LIKE! ~ I have the comment that buying me books all the time is boring! My reply is that it's not boring to receive them. I think they're catching on...this Christmas I got 9 books & 1 audiobook! I was very happy!

Debbie wrote: "Carol, oh yes, Hudson Taylor and his China Inland Mission. That man single-handedly doubled the number of missionaries in China during his stay there. Such fascinating stories and such great trag..."

Oh Hudson Taylor is VERY well known here in UK ~ he's one of our heroes.

Hi Naomi ~ nice to see you with a new LIH.

I too liked & learned some things about the French Revolution I hadn't realised happened. I am also hoping with Laura there's a book coming on the brother...I really want to see him redeemed. (Will that be the April one?)

This release sounds interesting too. Will it be part of a series or a one-off?

Debbie wrote: "BTW, speaking of FREE, one of my favorite words, BTW, if any of you have a Kindle or the Kindle app on a smartphone or computer,here are some free books on Amazon from Love Inspired. They are not n..."

I love the free Kindle books on Amazon and Smashwords etc. I use a kindle app on my laptop. I never lack for books anymore. I still like holding a book in my hand too.

I wasn't able to join in yesterday and it looks like I missed a really nice conversation :-) But I am glad to be here today and had the same question as Wendy about Naomi's book. Series or stand-alone?

Wendy wrote: "Melody wrote: "No one really buys me books much, they think it's boring. To a book lover, it is never a boring gift!"

LIKE! ~ I have the comment that buying me books all the time is boring! My rep..."

I love getting books. Unfortunately I have so many that most people I know have no idea whether or not I already have it.

Jan wrote: "Wendy wrote: "Melody wrote: "No one really buys me books much, they think it's boring. To a book lover, it is never a boring gift!"

LIKE! ~ I have the comment that buying me books all the time is ..."

I have an Amazon wish list to solve that problem.

I am anxious to find out whether he stays in New York or she goes to Montana. Don't tell me now. I want to enjoy the story. LOL I love how stories like this take me out of myself and I travel to other parts of the country and other time periods.

Looks like a good book, Naomi!