Love Inspired Historicals discussion

Hi ladies, No other LIH author has come forward to join me for this month's Q & A so you got me! (And Dorothy will be dropping in too.) I am going to not only disucss my latest and last LIH but also my whole 5 book Wilderness Brides series set in Pepin, WI. To kick off the discussion, who was born in Pepin, WI that most of us have heard of? '-)
PS- I will be giving away 2 print copies of my book (US only--sorry Jenny)

Yes, Laura Ingalls! I live near Mansfield, Missouri! My grandkids are taking a field trip to see her house there somtime thins spring.

Paula wrote: "Yes, Laura Ingalls! I live near Mansfield, Missouri! My grandkids are taking a field trip to see her house there somtime thins spring."

You're the first! I'm sorry that the Wilder family (I'm thinking of the mother and all the getting settled over and over) had to move around so much but it does give us a lot of places to visit. I remember visiting Walnut Grove, IA when we lived in that state and of course, I visited Pepin--a lovely river town.

I noticed from one of your bios that you lived in Illinois, too. I grew up in Elgin and lived there off and on. We also lived in St. Louis for twenty years and then moved down the interstate three years ago. Several bad pile ups yeaterday on I -44.

Paula wrote: "I noticed from one of your bios that you lived in Illinois, too. I grew up in Elgin and lived there off and on. We also lived in St. Louis for twenty years and then moved down the interstate three ..."

Sounds like we're good Americans- We move around! I grew up in Waukegan along Lake Michigan. I've been to Elgin many times.

Lyn wrote: "Hi ladies, No other LIH author has come forward to join me for this month's Q & A so you got me! (And Dorothy will be dropping in too.) I am going to not only disucss my latest and last LIH [bookco..."

I just came looking to see if there were any posts this morning, and it looks like Paula beat me to it. I would love to visit the Laura Ingalls Wilder museum there!

I enjoyed reading Laura Ingalls Wilder's books as well as the The Little House TV series. I reread those books every couple of years.

Lyn , how did you choose Pepin for the setting of the Wilderness Brides series?

Good morning, Lyn. Your newest...and *sniff*last LIH book sounds intriguing. I love secrets and mail order bride stories. I’d love to visit the Laura Ingalls Wilder places!

Becky wrote: "Lyn wrote: "Hi ladies, No other LIH author has come forward to join me for this month's Q & A so you got me! (And Dorothy will be dropping in too.) I am going to not only disucss my latest and last..."

Wouldn't we all??

Melinda wrote: "I enjoyed reading Laura Ingalls Wilder's books as well as the The Little House TV series. I reread those books every couple of years.

Lyn , how did you choose Pepin for the setting of the Wilderne..."
Good ?--I wanted to write a prairie novel without soddies. UGH--don't want to live in one--anyway I recalled that Laura I W had been born in WI and went back and re-read LITTLE HOUSE IN THE BIG WOODS.
Also I discovered she had been born there in 1869 which fit the character who would be the heroine--she had been a minor character in HER HEALING WAYS.
So that's how Wilderness Brides began!

Sherida wrote: "Good morning, Lyn. Your newest...and *sniff*last LIH book sounds intriguing. I love secrets and mail order bride stories. I’d love to visit the Laura Ingalls Wilder places!"

Early in my career I did a study of different romance "tropes" such as Mail Order Bride--And arranged marriage (MOB) and Marriages of Convenience were the most popular. I think it's because women until recent history often had no say in whom they married. So women are still fascinated by putting two people together and making it work. What do you think?

Your series sounds like fun, Lyn!

I love the way LIH stories take me somewhere that I've always wanted to visit :)

Lyn wrote: "Paula wrote: "I noticed from one of your bios that you lived in Illinois, too. I grew up in Elgin and lived there off and on. We also lived in St. Louis for twenty years and then moved down the int..."

Small world. I bought my car from Elgin Toyota! We've lived in the area for almost 29 years. Before here we lived in St. Charles, Missouri. I loved St. Louis! We spent our first married year in Colorado. But I was born and raised in southern Indiana.
Lots of moving around!

Lyn wrote: "Hi ladies, No other LIH author has come forward to join me for this month's Q & A so you got me! (And Dorothy will be dropping in too.) I am going to not only disucss my latest and last LIH [bookco..."

In your 5 book series, will any of the characters be in other books? Or is it a new character each time?

Lyn, I love the "blurb" for your new book. I need to find out if Mason had the dark secret before he sent for a Mail Order Bride. If so, why did he send for her? If not, what is the secret?!?

Hi Lyn! Your book sounds interesting. And I love the cover--though it looks like she is proposing to him. Is she proposing to him? That would be a new twist. Maybe I'll keep it in mind for a book. : )

My husband and I have driven through Wisconsin several times. It's beautiful country.

I'm with you on the soddies! Ugh. The only way I wold have lived in one is if it was large enough to park my prairie schooner wagon in so I'd have some place I could keep clean!

Andrea wrote: "Lyn wrote: "Paula wrote: "I noticed from one of your bios that you lived in Illinois, too. I grew up in Elgin and lived there off and on. We also lived in St. Louis for twenty years and then moved ..."

We went to Church in Orchard Farm east on 94 out of St Charles! Have many friends in that area as well! Small workd indeed!

Andrea wrote: "Lyn wrote: "Paula wrote: "I noticed from one of your bios that you lived in Illinois, too. I grew up in Elgin and lived there off and on. We also lived in St. Louis for twenty years and then moved ..."

That's what we Americans do!

Andrea wrote: "Lyn, I love the "blurb" for your new book. I need to find out if Mason had the dark secret before he sent for a Mail Order Bride. If so, why did he send for her? If not, what is the secret?!?"

You have to read the book, Andrea. I worked hard to keep that secret-secret. :-)

Dorothy wrote: "Hi Lyn! Your book sounds interesting. And I love the cover--though it looks like she is proposing to him. Is she proposing to him? That would be a new twist. Maybe I'll keep it in mind for a book. ..."

Evelyn wrote: "Your series sounds like fun, Lyn!

I love the way LIH stories take me somewhere that I've always wanted to visit :)"

Hi Evelyn. Glad you dropped in!

Tomorrow I'll be in and out but on Weds I have an out of town eye appt. So I probably won't drop in. Evelyn, can you drop in on Weds and keep the talk going? The ladies here are pretty good about that.

Here's another question-Did any of you read any of my other Pepin WI Wilderness Brides stories? If so, what did almost all the heroes have in common?

Wow! Girls! We lived in Wisconsin for 11 years. 75 miles north of Green Bay! Our two youngest were born in Iron Mt. Michigan.
Best part about this is we are all sisters in Christ! Blessings!

Lyn wrote: "Melinda wrote: "I enjoyed reading Laura Ingalls Wilder's books as well as the The Little House TV series. I reread those books every couple of years.

Lyn , how did you choose Pepin for the setting..."

Thanks for answering Lyn. I always love to hear why authors pick the setting for their story.

I saw your book in the store the other day, Lyn! I've enjoyed this series and I guess this is the last one. I try not to think about the LIH line ending!

Morning. I loved both the tv series and Little House books. I read and re read the Little house books so many times.
I know even the books didn't tell all the hardships and horrors that happened but they did give an idea of the time.

I loved all the Little House books! Those books got me in to reading and I’ve had my nose in a book ever since! I’ve read all your Wilderness Brides books so I’m sad to see this is the last one!

Paula wrote: "Wow! Girls! We lived in Wisconsin for 11 years. 75 miles north of Green Bay! Our two youngest were born in Iron Mt. Michigan.
Best part about this is we are all sisters in Christ! Blessings!"
Wow you were close to me. And yes, sisters in Christ!

Valri wrote: "I saw your book in the store the other day, Lyn! I've enjoyed this series and I guess this is the last one. I try not to think about the LIH line ending!"
I know, Valri. I hated to leave my editor Tina, such a wonderful young woman and so talented. But I will continue to write. I have a new Western coming out on my own in April. Journey to Respect.

Ausjenny wrote: "Morning. I loved both the tv series and Little House books. I read and re read the Little house books so many times.
I know even the books didn't tell all the hardships and horrors that happened b..."
Frankly, Jenny, I think that the Little House books gave the best idea of what day to day life on the frontier was like. History books only hit wars and other crises.

Amanda wrote: "I loved all the Little House books! Those books got me in to reading and I’ve had my nose in a book ever since! I’ve read all your Wilderness Brides books so I’m sad to see this is the last one!"
Me too, Amanda. But I loved writing them!

I'll be in and out today. So if you like something to chat about, which Pepin hero did you like or feel most for? Noah, Kurt, Brennan, Asa or my latest, Mason?

Lyn wrote: "Tomorrow I'll be in and out but on Weds I have an out of town eye appt. So I probably won't drop in. Evelyn, can you drop in on Weds and keep the talk going? The ladies here are pretty good about t..."

Each hero was a past soldier! And yes, I read several of the other books and really enjoyed them. I was attracted by the Quaker heroines.

I like them all because they are friends and trying to forge a live after war. I like Noah best in the fact that he introduces to Pepin and the town and its people. I like that the heroines keep on trying to find a way to survive despite bad things.

I'm sorry to say I haven't read the other books in your series, Lyn. I know other writers manage to read while they are under deadlines, but I can't do it. Between doing all of the extra things (that all have deadlines) for the last book and the research etc. for the book I'm working on, plus just living life as it happens, I could never find the time for pleasure reading. I'm making up for that now. I have hundreds of books waiting to be read. I'm going through one shelf at a time.

I really like the title of the new western you have coming out on your own. That's one good thing about publishing your own books--you get the final say on the title and cover! Best wishes with the book.

Dorothy wrote: "I'm sorry to say I haven't read the other books in your series, Lyn. I know other writers manage to read while they are under deadlines, but I can't do it. Between doing all of the extra things (th..."

I understand, Dorothy.

Crystal wrote: "Lyn wrote: "Tomorrow I'll be in and out but on Weds I have an out of town eye appt. So I probably won't drop in. Evelyn, can you drop in on Weds and keep the talk going? The ladies here are pretty ..."

Yes, only Kurt (the hero in Baby Bequest) wasn;t in the Civil War. I like to write books around historical events that affected many. Each one had some issue to overcome but with God's help they did.

Melinda wrote: "I like them all because they are friends and trying to forge a live after war. I like Noah best in the fact that he introduces to Pepin and the town and its people. I like that the heroines keep on..."
:-)

I haven't read the books yet either.

When I was saying the little house books didn't tell all, I have heard that there were times when Laura was almost attacked by a man and a few other issues like that. I agree they do give a good Idea of what happened back then. I always remember the blizzard when the girls brought wood in while the parents were away and brought the whole wood pile in.

Lyn wrote: "Tomorrow I'll be in and out but on Weds I have an out of town eye appt. So I probably won't drop in. Evelyn, can you drop in on Weds and keep the talk going? The ladies here are pretty good about t..."

I have not yet read any of your Wilderness Brides series, but they sound good! I loved Laura Ingalls Wilder stories.

Becky, the Wilderness Brides series is what introduced me to LIH! I was on amazon looking for an “adult” Laura Ingalls Wilder book when I stumbled upon Their Frontier Family. I’ve been hooked ever since =D

I am so sad the LIH line is closing. I am glad you are still publishing Lyn. I am looking forward to reading it.

I think the LIH line could have grown if Harlequin/Love Inspired had spent time and money advertising it. That's only my opinion, but it's based on the knowledge of all of the loyal readers, such as this group, we had for the LIH line. Harlequin tends to push their contemporary lines.

But we have a few more to be published before they stop. I'll be here to talk about my final Stand-In-Brides book in April.

maybe they will realise in in time that historical is missed and needed. maybe all use loyal reader should write letters saying how disappointed we are the line is ending

Jennifer wrote: "I am so sad the LIH line is closing. I am glad you are still publishing Lyn. I am looking forward to reading it."

:-)

Amanda wrote: "Becky, the Wilderness Brides series is what introduced me to LIH! I was on amazon looking for an “adult” Laura Ingalls Wilder book when I stumbled upon Their Frontier Family. I’ve been hooked ever ..."

Oh, Amanda, that did my heart good! I loved writing Their Frontier Family.

QUESTION FOR TODAY (while I'm away):

Do you have a suggestion of a place or time for a historical novel? Did you visit a historical landmark or museum or place and think--wow, I didn't know that. It would make the start of a great story?

If so, please share. Dorothy and I are interested. I'll be gone till tomorrow. Have fun without me!

I visited the Pestigo. Wisconsin fire museum years ago. The fire was the same day as the Chicago fire but was much worse, more widespread with greater loss of life. Communication was slow at the time so not much was known about it. The story goes that Wisconsin sent help to Chicago before they new about their own fire. It was said that fire balls jumped across the treetops! People tried to escape by submerging in ponds and lakes but that didn’t always work. They buried valuables but when they were dug up they were melted together. We saw some of those items. It was fascinating! It was a pretty small museum, not much bigger than our two car garage!

Wow, Paula, I've never heard of that fire. That's so sad. Isn't it odd how some stories receive so much attention and are told down through the years, while others, just as newsworthy, or even more so, simply fade into the past? If it weren't for that little museum you visited, who would learn about that terrible event?

A lot of the historical centered events, etc. in our area are centered around the very early days of Colonial America. The Seneca Nation reservation is about thirty miles from us. One of the Seneca's main towns was close by on the Allegheny River bank. The chief's name was Cornstalk. I've always wanted to write a story about that era, but I don't know if it would be popular with my readers. I wrote a story, lo these many years ago (in longhand) and I still have the tablets. The story is set in 1763 before the Revolutionary War. It's not a strict romance, though one runs through the story. How can it not? Love is what makes the world go round. Right?

Is anyone here? I know Lyn is gone, but we can still have a good visit. It will give us time to talk about Lyn's writing and her books. : )

My question for you is this...What draws you to Lyn's books? Is it her style of writing? Her settings? Her characters and the way she portrays them? Or is it simply her stories? C'mon fess up! Why do you buy Lyn's books?