Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Back, Thomas Goodman

 

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome back, Thomas Goodman!

I’m excited to welcome Thomas Goodman back to my blog. His second historical novel comes out TODAY(!), October 1. Set amid the sawmills, logging camps, saloons, churches, and pine forests of turn-of-the-century East Texas, Through Many Dangers combines historical crime and suspense with questions of courage, faith, marriage, and the limits of lawful resistance. You can find out more about his book and where to buy it at www.ThomasGoodmanWrites.com. In this interview, we’ll learn a bit about the book and the author behind it.

What was your inspiration for the story? I was astonished no one had turned the true story into a novel before. The story is based on a real-life Methodist minister who moves his young family to the timber boomtown of Groveton in East Texas in the opening years of the 1900s. He expects to lead a church, not a war, but he finds a town where bootleggers operate with impunity and powerful men have little interest in enforcing the law. A corrupt sheriff, an indebted lumber baron, and a cold-blooded enforcer help keep the criminal operation intact. As threats turn to violence, the preacher begins carrying a Colt revolver and eventually places the loaded pistol on his pulpit each Sunday. He must decide how far a man of faith can go when the law refuses to act and the people he loves are in danger.

What sort of research did you do for your story, and was there an exceptionally interesting tidbit

you knew you had to include? There is little remaining history about this minister. Aside from a few passing references to his name in turn-of-the-century newspapers and Methodist church reports, we have two reliable records of his life: Flora Bowles’ 1966 history of Trinity County and Patricia Hensley’s 1995 application to the Texas Historical Commission for a historical marker in front of the Groveton Methodist Church. The pastor's remarkable story appears in only a few paragraphs of each account. But I was able to do extensive research on early twentieth-century law enforcement and attitudes toward saloons and early prohibitionists, and that helped me build a three-dimensional world in which to tell his story.

Tell us about your road to publication. When I was unable to find an agent for my debut novel, I researched all I could about independent publishing. The book won a 2024 Spur Award from the Western Writers of America as well as a 2024 Will Rogers Medallion, and it is selling well. With that reception, I decided to stay on the indie route for the second novel.

This is the second book in a series. Did you set out to write a series? Why did you decide to write a series? While researching independent publishing, over and over I ran across advice to write in series. Since my first book was based on a true crime, there was no way to turn it into the kind of series where a protagonist or an ensemble of characters returns in later books. But I decided that turn-of-the-century Texas had enough material to create a series of standalone novels based on true stories. So, the series I’m developing is called “Texas Tales.”

If you were to write a spin-off book about one of your secondary characters, which one would you choose and why? I had a fictional character in the closing chapters of my first novel I enjoyed creating. Vivy is a widowed boarding house operator in her 70s who shows tremendous grace to the main character. After the book was published, I got curious about what her young adult life would have been like in the late 1870s, early 1880s. I actually wrote a few chapters of a novel entirely about her and her tragic life, but I decided to file it away and work on this other story that became Through Many Dangers.

Why do you write in your particular genre? When I spoke to a Rotary Club about the true crime my first novel was based on, a man was just incredulous as to why a pastor would have any interest in writing about true crime. I said, “Well, our faith is based upon a true crime, isn’t it? Christianity is based upon the greatest injustice in human history, so why wouldn’t a pastor be attracted to true crime stories?” He seemed to appreciate that answer. It’s true that crime fiction portrays some bad people, but it’s against that dark backdrop that good qualities like heroism and repentance and grace shine even brighter.

What is your process for writing? I’m a pastor with a full week of responsibilities, so I write early in the morning before the church office opens. It’s hard to figure out what a pastor’s “own time” is, but our church’s leadership agreed with me that writing novels the 90-120 minutes before the church office opened counted as my “own time” for trying my hand at being a novelist.

How does/did your job prepare you for being a novelist? A big part of being a lead pastor, of course, involves writing—especially sermon preparation. Of course, there’s a huge difference between a sermon and novel, but through 40 years of sermon prep, I have honed the ability to stick to the keyboard and write on a deadline.

What is your advice to fledgling writers? It’s vital to learn all you can not only about the craft of writing but the business of writing. The more you learn about how to publish and market your books, the more confident you’ll feel that all your hard work of producing the book has an actual outlet at the end. And, though I highly recommend that new authors in the 2020s seriously consider the independent route as I have, you need to know as much as you can about the business of writing even if you’re hoping an agent and publisher will pick you. The hard truth is, most publishers will not provide the marketing your book deserves—and publishers are even cutting back on the editing services they once promised authors. More and more of the success of your book falls on you, so you had better learn some strategies for success.

What is your next project? The third novel in my “Texas Tales” series is also based on a true story.

This one, however, is not inspired by a true crime: not a single pistol shows up on a page! It’s about a Baptist pastor in northeast Texas who, two years before the Wright Brothers flew, became convinced that the opening vision from the book of Ezekiel would be his guide for creating a flying machine. He was a tinkerer with a few patents to his name, and he called his new invention the Ezekiel Airship, and he planned to fly it at the St. Louis World’s Fair in 1903. Did he beat the Wright Brothers into the air? You’ll have to wait for the new book to find out!

_________________________

About Thomas: Tom Goodman was born in 1961, and has lived in Alabama, the Philippines, Virginia, Maine, Louisiana, the Cayman Islands, and Texas. He is a graduate of Baylor University in Waco, Texas (BA ‘82), Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas (MDiv ‘86), and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in New Orleans, Louisiana (DMin ‘92). He has been the lead pastor of Baptist churches in Louisiana, the Cayman Islands, and Texas, for over forty years. He currently serves as the pastor of Hillcrest Church in Austin, Texas, where he has served since 2003 (https://hillcrest.church/). Tom is the author of Broadman & Holman nonfiction books and he is the contributor to a Broadman & Holman Study Bible. He has written hundreds of articles for Lifeway publications, and he is the author of several independently-published nonfiction books. Lately, he has begun to write a series of novels called “Texas Tales,” all based on true stories from turn-of-the-century Texas. Tom has been married to Diane, his high school sweetheart, since 1980. They have two adult sons. Tom enjoys fly fishing, scuba diving, and puttering around his woodworking shop.

 
Social Media Links:

Website: www.ThomasGoodmanWrites.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThomasGoodmanWrites/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/42243353.Thomas_Goodman
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0CC6YF6V9

Photo Credits:

Author Image and book cover: Courtesy Thomas Goodman

Keyboard: Pixabay/Simon

BiPlane: Pixabay/ArtsyBee

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Back Laura DeNooyer

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Back, Laura DeNooyer

I'm a big fan of Laura's work, so I'm thrilled to have her visit today. Her books are fabulous. Read on to learn more about her and her stories. 

How many books have you written, and which is your favorite? I have four published books. House of Wind, my fourth, just released on September 8. Additionally, I have 10+ Unpublished novel manuscripts in different stages of revision! Keep in mind that I’ve been writing since 2nd grade. 😀

It’s tough to pick a favorite because I’m emotionally invested in each one and love them all for different reasons. Many authors say their favorite is the one they’re working on, and I could probably say that too. But maybe that’s a copout.

If I have to choose, I’ll pick A Hundred Magical Reasons because learning about The Wizard of Oz author, L. Frank Baum, was fascinating and I would love to have met him and spent time with him on his Lake Michigan porch in the early 1900s. I get to do that vicariously through my character Charlotte.

That book is a dual timeline story, rather epic in proportion, and most definitely literary with a lot of Americana and my own family history woven in.

What was your inspiration for the story? The inspiration for my newest release, House of Wind, came from walking alongside my friend as she was unraveling from a destructive marriage. She went through a horrific seventeen years of emotional abuse from her narcissist husband.

After she sought help and healing, she started sharing her story with others. Women started coming out of the woodwork with their own horrific tales. Sadly, some of these situations took place in Christian families with “Christian” husbands who were active in church ministry. Some women were hearing about emotional abuse for the first time—even though they’d been victims of it for years.

I wanted to write a story that would reflect this phenomenon and show readers what emotional abuse looks like and how to break free. It’s a tough book, but it’s also hopeful and encouraging.

How do you develop your characters? (e.g. decide on their vocation, names, etc.)? My characters need to suit my purposes, but they also take on minds of their own—which can prove both exasperating and fun.

In House of Wind, I shaped Wendi according to her various roles as wife, mother, and pastor’s wife, but I also had to consider how the emotional abuse would have impacted her over the years. I knew I wanted to show her emotional roadblocks as well as her growth, so I started with that framework, then fleshed out the story events to accommodate that.

What sort of research did you do for your story, and was there an exceptionally interesting tidbit

you knew you had to include? After learning a lot from my friend’s and other women’s experiences, I read more about narcissism and emotional abuse. Though no one woman’s experience is exactly the same, I was amazed to discover all the similarities. Saddened by so much darkness, I was also encouraged to find great resources for women who face these situations. There is help! No woman needs to walk this road alone.

I list resources in the back of the book, but I’ll mention two here: Lysa TerKeurst’s podcast Therapy and Theology, and Leslie Vernick’s podcast Relationship Truth: Unfiltered. Their scripture-based ministries seek to bolster women through relationship trauma and destructive marriages in order to heal spiritually and emotionally.

How are your characters like you? Different? Wendi, the protagonist in House of Wind, was trained as a teacher, but was denied the opportunity to teach elementary school as she so wanted. I was a teacher who taught for decades.

Wendi’s a natural as a pastor’s wife in regard to hospitality and cooking for guests. Though I enjoy having people over, that is definitely not my gift!

I’ve also never had to go through what she went through in this story. I really put her through the wringer.

How has your book changed since your first draft? After several revisions, I gave the manuscript to some beta readers, some who had gone through similar experiences to Wendi’s as victims of emotional abuse. My tale is fiction, but I needed to know if the story rang true. The readers were able to identify what worked and what needed to change. I was very grateful, and revised accordingly.

What was the best money you spent as a writer? In my younger years, I spent a lot of money on books—learning the craft of novel writing. I studied them, taking profuse notes. They definitely helped me improve my craft. But another great investment was writers’ conferences for in-person training and networking with other authors.

How does/did your job prepare you for being a novelist? My occupation as a teacher was vital in becoming a novelist. Since I (mostly) taught high school art and creative writing, I loved inspiring students’ creativity and stretching them to improve their problem-solving skills as they developed their stories, poems, drawings, and paintings.

One thing I emphasized was that the creative process is more important than the product. It’s more about what we learn along the way. The first solution to a problem isn’t always the best one, so learning to brainstorm and follow the necessary steps as part of the process was vital—no shortcuts allowed.

That’s a lesson I’ve taken to heart many times as I compose my own stories. In fact, numerous times I promised myself I was done, done, done with a particular manuscript. No matter what, I wasn’t going to change anything more. Nada. Never. Not one more word. I’d done everything I could.

And then … I’d get feedback that actually made good sense. After some metaphorical screaming and hair pulling, I’d jump back in for another rewrite. And voila! I had a better, stronger story. So I learned to never say never … and to embrace the journey!

What is your next project? My next novel is Rain in the Wilderness, due to launch on January 26, 2027 by Scrivenings Press. This one is Biblical fiction set in the time of Christ.

I’ve never been good about staying in my literary lane! I’ve published Southern historical fiction, dual timeline fiction (2x), and contemporary women’s fiction. Why not throw Biblical fiction in the mix?

I write the story of my heart. I starting writing Rain in the Wilderness almost thirty years ago. It was inspired by the tragic tale of the Bethlehem massacre in Matthew 2. After becoming a mother, I viewed that catastrophe in a new light. I got to thinking . . . what if a mother who lost her baby that night later found out that the event was connected to Jesus of Nazareth—the one baby who got away? That got the ball rolling . . .

Blurb for House of Wind:

Wendi Burkham lives in an emotional prison she unwittingly walked into. Nobody understands, and her captor holds the keys.

Married to a respected pastor, Wendi lives a life others admire—with two children and a home that reflects faith, stability, and love. But behind closed doors, Wendi is trapped in a cycle of control, manipulation, and emotional abuse no one else can see—and no one would believe. How do you escape when no one thinks you need to?

For sixteen years, she has stayed silent. Stayed faithful. Stayed afraid. Until one night forces her to choose between the life she has built … and the truth she can no longer ignore. Her husband's warning echoes: "Planting wind only reaps a harvest of tornadoes.” But what if the storm is the only way out?

This powerful novel exposes the reality of emotional abuse—and the courage it takes to break free. Readers who enjoy thoughtful fiction with emotional depth will appreciate this novel in the vein of Amanda Cox, Katie Powner, Susie Finkbeiner, and Erin Bartels.

 
Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/45Zx5nj

Website: http://www.lauradenooyer-author.com
Monthly newsletter signup: https://www.subscribepage.com/standoutstoriesnewslettersignup
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/256325187-house-of-wind

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 a multi-award-winning author of heartwarming historical and contemporary fiction. She’s an active member in her church and American Christian Fiction Writers. When not writing, you’ll find her reading, walking, drinking tea with friends, or taking a road trip.

Photo Credits:

Author photo and book cover: Courtesy Laura DeNooyer

Podcast Logo: Courtesy Therapy and Theology

Classroom: Pixabay/DeltaWorks

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Back, Susan Page Davis

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Back, Susan Page Davis 

I'm a big fan of Susan Page Davis's books, so I'm thrilled to welcome her back to my blog. 

How do you deal with the pressure of deadlines? I’m one of those people who thrives under deadlines. When I have one, I tend to start right away and plan out my work, so much per day or week on the project. If there’s no deadline, there’s no push to start and see progress. I need that push to get me going and keep me on track.

What was your inspiration for the story? I love writing historicals, and I’d read several nonfiction accounts of women on sailing ships. I had the idea of a captain dying in a foreign port and his wife taking over to sail the ship home, but having to raise a crew of women after all the men disappeared. My son Jim, who had spent time in Australia, thought the Australian Gold Rush would be the perfect backdrop for this, as many ships were abandoned in harbors there when it occurred. We decided to write the first book in the series with this premise, and The Seafaring Women of the Vera B was born. We followed it up with The Scottish Lass, and now we’re bringing out the third book, The Seafaring Women of the Faithful. All follow the same main cast of characters. Each book can be read alone, but I know readers will love the series most if they read all three books.

How do you develop your characters? (e.g. decide on their vocation, names, etc.)? In this book, the

vocations were easy. They all ended up as sailors. But their backgrounds were a little harder. We tried to give them some major differences. This included their names, ethnicity, and accents. Sri is one who moves from the Malay culture into the British culture, and we show some of her struggles with language, manners, etc. For Bessie, a former slave, we’ve tried to be sensitive in showing her growth into a free society and being an equal with the other sailors.

What sort of research did you do for your story, and was there an exceptionally interesting tidbit you knew you had to include? We had to do a lot for this book, as with all historicals. We used several resources, both online and off. A history timetable gave us several key events happening that year to fit into the story. It would have been odd if the characters hadn’t commented on events happening back in Australia, for instance. We did a lot of geography research on eastern Britain, southern Scotland, and the North Sea. As always, our study of sailing ships and methods helped us keep it realistic. But there were a lot of minor things too, such as fashions for an Edinburgh wedding “back then,” and divorce laws in England at the time.

If your book is part of a series: Did you set out to write a series? Why did you decide to write a series? I don’t think we did at first, but it soon became obvious that Book 1 could not contain the women’s full story. We took them as far as Batavia (Jakarta) in that one, and in Book 2 sent them on an Indian Ocean adventure. In #3, they are back in the British Isles—or, for some, for the first time.

If you were to write a spin-off book about one of your secondary characters, which one would you choose and why? Maybe Sonja Frantzen, the Norwegian girl who has never been in the northern hemisphere before. She’s traveling to America to find her extended family, and the story could go in any direction.

How do you come up with story lines? Jim and I discuss our ideas extensively before starting to write, and we prepare an outline. That can be amended as we go, but it gives a little structure and helps us to know where we want to end up. Then we go on and plan it more thoroughly.

What is your next project? Susan: I’m polishing up a novel I started and laid aside for a few years. Hope I finally get to write “The End” this time. Jim: I'm working on a young adult modern thriller involving a fictitious island nation. I began the story over 30 years ago and it got lost, so I'm making a much better version of it now.

About Susan:
Susan Page Davis and James S. Davis are a mother-son team. Originally from Maine, they’ve relocated father south. Susan is the author of more than 100 novels and has won the Carol Award, three Will Rogers Medallions, two Faith, Hope, and Love Readers’ Choice Awards, and more. Jim is a fiction writer in multiple genres and has produced novels, short stories, and serial fiction.

Social media links:

Website (Susan): https://susanpagedavis.com
Website (Jim): https://jsdauthor.com/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Susan-Page-Davis/e/B001IR1CGA
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/susan-page-davis
Twitter: @SusanPageDavis
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susanpagedavisauthor
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/255473.Susan_Page_Davis

BOOK BLURB:

Their ship was declared lost. Their courage was not.

Captain Alice Packard and the women of the Vera B have crossed the ocean and reached England, only to discover their ship has been written off and marked for the wreckers’ yard. With no clear path, Alice and her crew face an impossible choice: scatter in search of work and family, or fight for the vessel that has carried them through danger.

When a wedding calls them north to Scotland, hope seems to rise with the tide. But at Dunbar Castle, Sarah Fiske is refused entrance to her husband’s home, two young women vanish, and the crew is drawn into a dangerous scheme of greed, kidnapping, and betrayal.

As secrets surface and danger follows them from castle walls to the open sea, the women must rely on faith, friendship, and hard-won courage.

Then a brutal North Sea storm places beloved friends in the path of disaster.

Read The Seafaring Women of the Faithful and set sail on a historical adventure where found family, fierce loyalty, and faith hold fast through every storm.

Pre-order Link: https://amzn.to/4i9UfP3

Photo Credits:

Author headshots and book image: Courtesy Susan Page Davis

Globe: Pixabay/lrewolede

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome, Lynne Lanning

 Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Lynne Lanning!

I would like to thank Linda for offering me this enlightening opportunity. “Enlightening?” Yes! She posed some intriguing questions that made me do some deep thinking about my “Who, What, Where, When…” and especially the “Why.” I always knew why I wrote my first book. It was to tell a fictionally enhanced story about my maternal grandmother’s life. She was the most wonderful Christian woman, and the most self-sacrificing, humble and loving person I have ever known. Anything good about me, is because of her. She raised me, and if she hadn’t stayed on her knees in prayer for me, I would probably never have trusted the Lord as my Savior and allowed Him to take control of my life.
But her book was supposed to be my ‘One and Done.’ So where is my ‘Why?’

I still attribute it to my grandmother, and in a minute, you will understand… But first a little about me.

I like people, and get along with almost everyone… Okay, I don’t do mornings, so please approach cautiously unless I’ve been awake for at least an hour and had plenty of coffee! LOL! But seriously, I have friends all over the world, thanks to the internet and social media, and plenty of personal face-to-face friends. They are a very diverse group – Black, White, and every other ethnic group; Republicans and Democrats; Confederate and Union enthusiasts; Young and Old; and the list goes on.

As we established these friendships, we found several things we had in common and built on those things. But more often than not, I was finding that most of these precious friends didn’t attend church…some had never been to church, yet they all claimed to love God and say things like, “Have a blessed day,” which is nice, but not enough.

I am friendly, and I’m chatty, but when I’m in a discussion – especially an important one, sometimes

my mind goes blank or my tongue gets twisted. But God was set on using me in some way to reach these people. That’s why He allowed them in my life in the first place. Suddenly, I realized how big this responsibility was. I needed to reach people who would never think about going to church, and some who thought they were ‘okay’ the way they were. But guess what? Most of these people would read one of my books when I asked them to, even though they refused my invitations to church. Hmm. Now I had to make sure I presented the gospel to them in the midst of an intriguing story that they couldn’t put down.

The results were AMAZING! I even had one reader contact me from Australia through FB messenger, while reading one of my books, asking me to lead her to the Lord online! I called my preacher immediately, and with his help (because I was so nervous about not saying everything just right), she became a Child of God right then and there!

Many readers have approached me saying they got their lives right with God after reading some of my books, and they appreciated the fact they could relate to my characters, and that I didn’t get too ‘preachy.’ One of my long-time friends, whom I love dearly, never would accept my invitations to church, sweetly declining, but was one of the best and funniest friends I ever had. She had nothing but wonderful things to say about my books, and finally…she called out to God and asked Him to forgive her and save her soul! The angels are rejoicing! With a sad heart, I will share that this particular friend is now in Hospice. I will miss her so much, but I rejoice that I WILL see her again in Heaven.

So, that is my ‘Why.’ How does my grandmother fit into all of this? She taught me to pray for others. She loved and cared for everyone she met. In attendance at her funeral, there were wealthy businessmen, leaders of the community, poor people, and even several motorcycle gang members – complete with dew rags on their heads and chains dangling from their leather vests. There are so many people that have absolutely no one praying for them. No one is concerned for their soul. Because she instilled Christian values in me, God has allowed me an outreach beyond my circle of friends, to be able to reach and pray for people I don’t even know. That is a responsibility I take seriously.

Not every book I write has the clear plan of salvation within its pages, but each has a strong thread of prayer, faith, trust in God, and changed lives weaving it together.

I don’t have a particular book I want to promote at this time. If possible, I would like to encourage everyone to follow me on Amazon and Facebook. Let’s stay in touch!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0B6R33BXX/allbooks
Facebook (Personal): https://www.facebook.com/lynne.lanning.2025/
Facebook Groups – Book Talk: https://www.facebook.com/groups/929776898009348
Mountain Men: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1643815660133778

And please sign up for my newsletter: (Prizes every month and loaded with news, info, and fun!)
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More from Lynne

When did you know you wanted to be an author? As far back as I can remember! I was always writing something; poetry ( that my grandmother always displayed proudly on her refrigerator), diaries and journals, essays, and letters (I had pen pals). As a young adult, I wrote a few pieces for the local newspaper, and even sent submissions to several magazines.

Do you hear from your readers? Yes! I have a very active newsletter group and I get some personal, very precious messages from readers I don’t know. It’s such a thrill!

How many books have you written, and which is your favorite? I have just finished #52. Picking a favorite book is like picking a favorite child! But I must say, there are a few that stand above the rest in my heart. A Kindness for Christmas and A Sheriff for Sophie are top runners for me, but my readers have a different opinion! They like Josie (Rescue Me Mail Order Brides) and A Journey for Keelie.

What does your writing space look like? A nice bright area with windows in front and to the left of me. Between clicking away on the keyboard, I look outside at all of God’s beautiful creation, thanking Him for it, and drawing inspiration from it.

Can you share a real life event that inspired your writing? There are so many. I have lived everything from betrayal and great loss, to happiness and being blessed beyond measure. When I write a book, I use my personal experiences at times, remembering the emotions that came with them. Sometimes, I get so deeply caught up in explaining and writing those emotions, I find myself crying and heartbroken all over again. I believe God allowed me to go through some of these times so that I could help someone else through them in the future. Although the readers will never know where fiction ends and reality begins, I truly believe, with God leading me, I wrote those words to help someone.

How are your characters like you? Different? My characters carry my emotions, my hopes, and dreams as well as the disappointments and tragedies I have suffered. They are different in the way they find solutions to problems and making their choices. I think back on situations similar to what my characters are experiencing and write what I wish I had done or said. I’m not near as brave and witty as most of my characters!

How do you come up with story lines? What draws you to the time period about which you write? Life.

Although I write in the 1800’s era, daily life was still carrying the same emotions and had to work toward their goals. It seems families were closer then, and I love to write about that bond. Life was hard back then, everything took so much more energy and time, but they seemed to be more grateful for what they had, and they relied on God more.

What is your process for writing? (Do you outline, have a special place or time of day you write, etc) What is your favorite part of the process? I am a ‘pantser’! That means I fly by the seat of my pants and write as I think. I may know how I want a story to begin and end, but I never know how the characters are going to get there. Sometimes, they take on such a life and personality of their own, I write as they dictate! LOL! I like to write in silence, which means I usually write after my husband goes to bed. It’s a good thing I am naturally a night owl! My favorite part of the process is the research. I LOVE the research into what surrounded the lives of people back then – whether it’s the geography, the morals, the new inventions, the law (or lack of it) – it doesn’t matter. I love it all. I love to learn.

What books are on your nightstand right now? A book about Alaska (because that’s where my present book takes place), another filled with real wanted posters from the 1800’s along with the stories behind the outlaws, and another on the aftermath of the Civil War. I told you – I love research!

What writers or books have influenced you? This used to be much easier to answer…I love Janette Oke and Mary Higgins Clarke. I know, two very different writers and genres. Janette Oke influenced me with the era she wrote and the clean characters, even though troubles still came and God was there for them. Mary Higgins Clarke showed me how to be so descriptive, you could feel a chill as the cold, foggy air settled around you, leaving you feeling a dampness…all while you were sitting in the comfort of your own home! I have a long way to go to be as good as these women, but I keep trying!

Photo Credits:

Author image: Courtesy Lynne Lanning

Women with Coffee Cups: Pixabay/StockSnap  

Praying Hands with Bible: Pixabay/Reena Black

Typewriter: Pixabay/Tama66

Wagon: Pixabay

Alaskan glacier: Pixabay/NWImagesbySabrinaE

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Denise M. Colby

 Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Denise M. Colby

I’m pleased to welcome fellow Heroes, Heroines, & History blogger Denise M. Colby to my blog today. Read on to learn more about Denise and her books.

When did you know you wanted to be an author? I never planned on being an author, but after a school field trip to Sacramento with my oldest son, and visiting the one-room schoolhouse there, an idea for a story took root. It wasn’t until the same trip two years later with my second son did I attempt to actually write something. God put the desire on my heart, but it wasn’t anything I myself had thought of doing.

What is your favorite thing about being a writer? I love different aspects. One of the best things is all the writer friends I’ve made throughout this journey. I also love creating a world my characters live in and writing them in that world. I’m just now writing my next book and there is something about creating the first draft and finding all the ways for the story to evolve and fit together. I have to thank God for that, and it’s so amazing when it all comes together.

How did you learn how to write? Funny you should ask. I took a creative writing class in high school and loved it because the grading was on the story aspect not the grammar (which is where I struggle the most). I earned a degree in Communications, work in marketing and write copy for literature, but that is very different from fiction writing. I didn’t know what I was doing at first, but I read a lot and followed what those writers did to start. Then I attended a local writers group, went to local conferences, and joined online classes. I feel as if I earned another degree with everything I’ve done. Slowly my skills grew and I figured out my own voice. I entered contests and received lots of feedback. When I wanted to quit, God would put what I needed in front of me, whether it was a person or a topic I needed more clarity on.

Do you hear from your readers? What do they say? What I do hear from readers is they love the

faith elements written within the story. I’m so grateful for that, as I love to write from my heart and share God’s truth. But I also whole-heartedly believe that is all from the Lord. I have done as He has asked and He does the rest.

Readers also love Bert, the rooster. Bert sort of stole the show in the first book and I try to include him anytime I can.

How many books have you written, and which is your favorite? I’ve written four books and recently a novelette. I love them all for different reasons. In my mind it’s like a tv show where each book is a new episode and the story continues. The characters are all real to me, and so I root for all of them.

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books? Keeping track of specifics about characters can be challenging. I never realized that I thought of names that started with the same letter, till I had to change some (first and last) so that they didn’t all sound the same. When I picked the five names for the five teachers, same thing. They started with different letters, but they ended the same. When they are all in a scene together it can sound repetitive and I didn’t realize that until after the first book was printed. I had given Olivia the nickname Livvy, but then she’s in scenes with Jenny. But then there’s Lydia in this last book.

Other things too. Such as hair color, eye color, and age. I don’t usually pay attention to my friends eye color. I just know who they are. Sounds funny. I’m laughing right now. But it’s all true.

Who is your favorite author and what is it that strikes you about their work? I read Janette Oke as a girl, and her stories stayed with me. Those along with Little House on the Prairie, influence my writing as I picture my one-room schoolhouse in the same way. My reading time is more limited right now, but some of my favorite authors to read are Karen Witemeyer, Mary Connealy, Lacy Williams, Kimberly Keagan, and Susan May Warren. They all write stories that are filled with encouragement and make you laugh and cry. They are heartfelt and there’s growth in the characters. I feel like I grow right along with them.

Can you share a real life event that inspired your writing? In my first book, When Plans Go Awry, I mention the many-years long project of raising up Sacramento. Old-town Sacramento is a great piece of history showing how they built roads on top of itself and raising many of the buildings to keep the area from flooding. I grew up in the area and always thought this piece of history was fascinating. I wanted to include that in my first book.

If your book is part of a series: Did you set out to write a series? Why did you decide to write a series? I love reading series! So I definitely wanted to write a series. I find every time I introduce a new character, I start finding pieces that connect them to the story world and then want to write their story. Which makes it all so much fun. I have different series ideas that will be a loose tie to the one I’ve currently built. Susan May Warren does this really well.

What draws you to the time period about which you write? Ha! I knew I wanted to be around later 1800s, but I had my characters coming from Cincinnati and didn’t want them coming via wagon train, so I timed it to be after the railroad joined. But since then I’ve written a prequel (where the train didn’t exist). I’m writing right now and 8-chapter free story and it’s set before as well and I had to do research on the travel and locations where it switched from train to stagecoaches.

Why do you write in your particular genre? I love history. And I love reading this genre. I do love regency England, but I was afraid to write that. The details you have to know scared me.

About A Whole New Plan:

Sometimes God’s best plan is the one we never expected.

California, 1870. Pastor William Baker has built his life on faith, routine, and safe choices—until Lydia Spencer walks in and turns everything upside down.

Independent, outspoken, and guarded, Lydia is unlike any woman he’s ever known. She has no interest in church… and no intention of revealing the truth she’s hiding.

Because Lydia isn’t just a schoolteacher. She’s a Pinkerton detective, sent west to track a dangerous crime boss—and she’ll do whatever it takes to protect those she loves, even if it means keeping her distance from the one man who sees straight through her defenses.

But when unexplained thefts shake their quiet small-town rural community, and a desperate boy appears with ties to a deeper mystery, Will and Lydia are forced into an uneasy partnership. As danger closes in, so do their hearts. What begins as a reluctant alliance soon becomes a forced proximity neither of them expected—and neither can ignore. Yet the very things that draw them together may be the ones that tear them apart.

Lydia’s life is built on secrets. Will’s is built on truth. And when her past catches up with her, they’ll have to decide what matters most—holding on to their own plans… or trusting the One who sees the bigger picture.

Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4vOorTP  

About Denise:
Denise M. Colby is passionate about all types of stories—whether they are from songs, theatre, movies, or novels. She loves history and constantly finds herself contemplating how it was to live in the 1800s. An avid journal writer, Denise usually can be found with a pen and notepad whenever she’s reading God’s word. Each year, Denise chooses a word to focus on. She shares her learnings about that word throughout the year on the two blogs she writes for.

A wife for thirty years and mother to three boys and daughter-in-love, Denise loves to read, watch movies with her family, sing 80s and musical songs, dance, and spend date nights with her husband. Writing Historical Christian Romance novels combines her love of learning about history and reading. Visit Denise’s website to sign up for her newsletter or connect with her on her social media.

LinkTree - https://linktr.ee/denisemcolby
Website - https://denisemcolby.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/denisemcolbywrites
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/denisem.colby/
Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/denisemcolby
GoodReads - https://www.goodreads.com/denisemcolby
BookBub Author Page - https://www.bookbub.com/authors/denise-m-colby

Photo credits:

Author photo and book image: Courtesy Denise M. Colby

Rooster: Pixabay/JHenning

Old-Town Sacremento: Pixabay

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Susan Page Davis

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Susan Page Davis

I'm a big fan of Susan Page Davis's books, so I was thrilled when she signed up to be interviewed for my blog. She has written well over one hundred books on her own, and has now teamed up with her daughter and son. Read on!

How many books have you written, and what is your favorite? I’ve had about 110 books published. It would be impossible to pick a favorite, but my Maine Justice series is close to my heart. I grew up and lived most of my life in Maine, and I’ve written romance, historical novels, and suspense books set there.

How did publishing your first book change your writing? I learned a lot by going through the publishing process that first time. For one thing, I couldn’t write what I wanted and assume the editors would publish it exactly as I’d written it. We had several rounds of revisions to go through.

How do you deal with the pressure of deadlines? I started my professional writing as a correspondent for a daily newspaper. That job taught me in a hurry to respect deadlines! If possible, I start an assignment as soon as I get it, not at the last minute. I pace myself, allowing time for planning, research, writing, revising, and just plain thinking about it.

Did you set out to write a series? Why did you decided to write a series? Yes. At the time we came up with the series idea, the publisher we were targeting wanted three-book series. That particular line was discontinued, and we eventually went with a different publisher, but we had already planned three books.

How has your book changed since your first draft? When I first thought about this idea, I considered

having Cassie find some papers that were of interest to the government. We later decided it would be more believable to have a private group trying to recover the papers. 

If you were to write a spin-off book about one of your secondary characters, which one would you choose and why? Maybe Josh, Adam’s younger brother. He’s adventurous and sometimes a bit foolhardy. But as he matures, I can see him learning how to get himself out of risky situations without having to be rescued.

What is your advice to fledgling writers? Read widely. Try to write something every day.

What is your next project? The Seafaring Women of the Faithful will release Sept. 22. It’s the third book in the Hearts of Oak series, about a sailing ship “manned” by women in the 1850s. It’s co-authored with my son Jim, and we just finished reading through the galley. We’re excited about the launch, and we hope you love it!

Book blurb: Dumpsters and Dragons draws garbage collector Cassie Willis into intrigue and danger. She’s used to hauling away other people’s trash. She’s not used to finding coded documents, being chased by a sinister biker, or getting tangled in a dangerous game with a very real killer. After she brings home a packet of strange papers she found in a dumpster, Cassie hopes someone at a local gamer café might recognize a mysterious symbol. Instead, her search draws the attention of adversaries who are clearly playing for keeps.

Before long, Cassie is working with police to uncover a dangerous scheme hidden behind game challenges. As the assignments escalate and someone close to her and her boyfriend Adam becomes caught up in the investigation, she realizes the case is far more perilous than she expected.

Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4f665I9  

Susan Page Davis and Page M. Davis are a mother-daughter team. Originally from Maine, they’ve

relocated father south. Susan is the author of more than 100 novels and has won the Carol Award, three Will Rogers Medallions, two Faith, Hope, and Love Readers’ Choice Awards, and more. Page is a writer and kennel tech. She has published serial fiction and short stories. This is her second mystery novel.

Social media links:

Website: https://susanpagedavis.com
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Susan-Page-Davis/e/B001IR1CGA
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/susan-page-davis
Twitter: @SusanPageDavis
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susanpagedavisauthor
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/255473.Susan_Page_Davis

Photo credits:

Author photos and book image: courtesy of Susan Page Davis

Dumpster: Pixabay/drewplaysdrums

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome back, Amanda Cabot!

 

Changing Times

by Amanda Cabot

First of all, thanks so much for inviting me to be part of Talkshow Thursday, Linda. I always enjoy my time with you and your followers.

When I first announced that I was writing a book set in the post-WWII era, a number of my readers wondered why I’d made what seemed like such a dramatic change. I suspect that others have the same questions, so I thought I’d conduct a mock interview with myself to answer them.

Most of your books take place in the nineteenth century, so why did you decide to set Beyond the Melody in 1946? As is true for many of my readers, Sweetwater Crossing holds a special place in my heart and I didn’t want to leave it. The problem was, I felt as if I’d exhausted the Vaughn sisters’ stories. At the same time, I kept thinking about them and wondering what their descendants’ lives would be like. I could have done what some authors do and write a story about their children, but that didn’t excite me. Instead, I felt drawn to the twentieth century and specifically to the World War II era.

Books set during that war are very popular now. Why did you choose 1946 rather than one of the war years? The answer to that is two-fold. First of all, I didn’t want to write a war story, because I knew I’d find the research painful. But, more importantly, I knew I couldn’t compete with the many outstanding authors, including Linda, who are writing WWII books.

What fascinated me was the adjustment both the soldiers and their families had to make in the aftermath of the war. It’s been decades since I’ve watched Best Years of Our Lives, and I’ve forgotten much of the plot, but what was indelibly etched on my memory is that both the returning soldiers and their families were faced with huge challenges. That was the kind of story I wanted to write. And when I started my research and learned that a well-respected magazine declared that it should take no more than three weeks for soldiers to put their war experiences behind them, I knew that debunking that ridiculous statement would be part of my story.

You mentioned research. What kinds of research did you do? I’m a huge fan of Time-Life’s This

Fabulous Century series, which has a volume dedicated to each of the first six decades of the twentieth century. The combination of pictures (and, yes, a picture is worth a thousand words) and articles about everything from world events to pastimes puts these books at the top of my research list. I learned so much about life before, during, and after the war from the volume on the forties and had a lot of fun incorporating some of the more interesting details in Melody.

In addition to books, I was fortunate to have had an aunt who, with her husband, had a jukebox route. When my husband and I would visit her, she would regale us with stories of the work they did on those jukeboxes. Those tales were the reason I gave my heroine her own jukebox route.

What were the most interesting aspects of the forties for you? In some respects, that era felt almost modern. Notice that I said “almost.” Families had phones and indoor plumbing. They no longer had to cook over wood-fired stoves. Women no longer wore floor-length dresses unless, of course, they were going out for a special evening. All that felt modern.

On the other hand, there were many aspects of life that made it clear that it was eighty years in the past. No air conditioning, no GPS for easy navigation, no internet for quick research. But, when all is said and done, although the outward trappings of daily life may differ, people are essentially the same. They face the same problems and they long for the same things. It doesn’t matter whether they’re living in the nineteenth century, immediately after the Second World War, or in 2026. Though their external circumstances are different, my characters seek the same things we all do: love, a place to call home, a purpose for our lives.

Will there be another post-war book? That depends. When I started writing Melody, I had no plans for a second book, but by the time I finished it, I realized I’d planted the seeds for one—maybe two—others. Whether or not they get written depends on how readers react to Anna and Jim’s story.

Have you abandoned the nineteenth century? Definitely not. I’m currently writing Blossoms at Twilight, the third of the Sisters of the Heart trilogy. And while that was supposed to be the final book in that series, several characters in it are demanding their own stories. I also have an idea for another Christmas story set in nineteenth century Sweetwater Crossing. The challenge now is which book to write first.

Thank you all for listening, or should I say reading? If there are other questions you’d like answered, please add them to the comments. I’ll check in frequently.

Beyond the Melody
Neither one is looking for love, but sometimes all it takes is one dance.

By the spring of 1946, life in Sweetwater Crossing is almost back to normal after the war. Not Anna Finley’s. She lost her chance at happily-ever-after when the man she loved was killed in France. Anna does her best to hide her sorrow—and a secret that haunts her—as she works on the jukeboxes she inherited when her brother died in combat. There’s no point in dreaming about what might have been.

Jim Smythe is also grieving a shattered life. His fiancée broke their engagement, reminding him that a respected magazine said it should take no more than three weeks for a veteran to forget the war. But Jim cannot forget the men in his platoon who didn’t return home, and he’s made it his mission to visit each of the fallen soldiers’ families, hoping to give them some small measure of comfort. Sweetwater Crossing is his final stop. After that, he’ll have to return to Boston and the life that holds no appeal. If only he could find an alternative, one where people saw him for himself, not his family’s name.

He’s given up hope that anyone will understand what his parents and fiancée did not, but everything changes when he enters a small café and sees a woman whose eyes reflect his own pain standing next to a jukebox. Jim knows he’ll never see her again, yet it somehow feels right to extend his hand and say, “May I have this dance?”

It’s a once-in-a-lifetime moment for two wounded people unless they can overcome their fears and find the courage to love again.

Purchase link: https://amzn.to/4o1Y49R

About Amanda
From the age of seven, Amanda Cabot dreamed of becoming a published author, but it was only when she set herself the goal of selling a book by her thirtieth birthday that the dream came true. A former director of Information Technology, Amanda has written everything from technical books and articles for IT professionals to mysteries for teenagers and romances for all ages. She is now the bestselling author of more than forty novels and a variety of novellas. Her books have been honored with starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Library Journal and have been finalists for the ACFW Carol Award, the HOLT Medallion, and the Booksellers’ Best. For her, a day is incomplete unless it includes books and at least one pot of tea.

Photo credits:

Author image, book cover, book page: courtesy Amanda Cabot

Jukebox: Pixabay/schubinger

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Megan Short

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Megan Short

Yes, I’m a writer, but I’m also a voracious reader, and finding new-to-me authors is one of my favorite things. I’m pleased to introduce you to Megan Short author of inspirational romantic suspense. Her latest book just came out two days ago!

What is your favorite thing about being a writer? Working with God to create stories that have a purpose beyond myself. Before I became a Christian, I was writing for myself. While I’ve loved writing since I wrote my first story at age three, it was not the same as writing for God’s glory. Knowing that when I write He is guiding the story is a gift.

How did you learn how to write? My mum taught me how to write my first words—she was a pre-school teacher, and as the firstborn I had her full attention. But I learned my writing craft through practice, self-study, and later at UCLA via their Professional Screenwriting program. I feel like I’m still learning to write every time a start a new book!

How many books have you written, and which is your favorite? I have written more books than I

can remember—my first one when I was a teenager. But if I count published (or soon to be published) that is five. It’s hard to pick a favorite, but my current release Alaskan Abduction Target has a special place in my heart because of the message. It’s based upon the parable of the lost sheep, and I feel this is a message that will resonate with all readers during different seasons of their lives. Hopefully it will encourage anyone who’s feeling like they’ve lost their way to have that reassurance that Jesus is the good shepherd who has already laid down his life for His sheep. He’s always interceding for us, and we can trust in Him to come rescue us.

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books? I learned so much about the US Coast Guards because they’re forever rescuing my characters. Wow. What those brave men and women do on a daily basis is remarkable. I had no idea that they were the ones going out to the remote Aleutian chain to rescue fishermen in all weather.

What sort of research did you do for your story, and was there an exceptionally interesting tidbit you knew you had to include? I rely heavily on research and have to make sure I’m not spending too much time going down rabbit holes! The latest interesting tidbit was about genealogical DNA testing. I ended up tracking down an FBI agent who’s helped me in the past, who put me onto come contacts at the lab the FBI uses. I thought the FBI had their own labs, but they do outsource the specialized testing, which was news to me.

How has your book changed since your first draft? Alaskan Abduction Target is the biggest rewrite I’ve ever done. Out of the 55,000 words, I replaced around 40,000. This was mostly because in the original draft I had written a Christmas story with a pregnant heroine, and my editors wanted to change those elements and add a child in danger. It opened up a lot of other scenes and depth to Jock and Phoebe and helped me to know them really well by the end. Thankfully, it was also obvious to me that God was in charge of this rewrite. Although it was challenging, I could see the message becoming clearer and clearer with every change. I’m very pleased with how it’s turned out and am so thankful to my amazing editor Besarta who always makes my books way better.

If you were to write a spin-off book about one of your secondary characters, which one would you

choose and why? I use my secondary characters to inspire my future books every single time. In fact with my latest book, the coast guard, Cody Hannigan who’d appeared in Alaskan Police Protector made an appearance in Alaskan Abduction Target. He was such a fun character—my editor says he has a golden retriever vibe, haha—that I just had to explore why he was like that. What had made him so ridiculously cheerful. From that I made him the hero of Alaskan Survival Threat.

What is your next project? I’m writing a story that’s been on my mind for a while—a second chance romance with a very reluctant hero. Set on Kodiak Island, in a fictional remote village, it’s a lot of fun. My hero reminds me a little of Judge Dredd, so pairing him with this dramatic free spirited former fiancé who broke his heart creates a lot of drama. I hope that readers will enjoy it!

About Alaskan Abduction Target

A pursuit for the truth turns into a fight for survival.

When Phoebe Tait suspects her husband’s death was no accident, she heads to Alaska searching for answers—only for her young son to narrowly escape a kidnapping. Officer Jock O’Halloran intervenes just in time, but it soon becomes clear that Phoebe’s investigation has made them a target. Now, with danger closing in, Jock must protect Phoebe and her son while they race to uncover a deadly truth. But can he keep them safe from a threat that will stop at nothing to bury the past—no matter the cost?

From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.

Links
Website: https://www.meganshort.net
Newsletter signup: https://meganshortau.kit.com/3679e8e43f
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/meganshortau
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/1491386579
X: https://x.com/MeganShortAU
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/MeganShortAU
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0DSW6JM1D

Photo credits:

Author photo and book image: Courtesy Megan Short

Sheep: Pixabay/Manfred Richter

Coast Guard Helicopter: Pixabay/Mattia Verga

Talkshow Thursday: A Guest Post by Ruth Wong

 God’s Son—One Claim, Two Cultures 

By Ruth Wong

Every one of my books touches upon the Christian faith. That thread continues in my latest book, Fire Between Two Skies (special $2.99 promo at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G2YZZ8LG; watch the teaser video at https://youtu.be/UE9egV5VlUs). Set against the fiery upheaval of the Taiping movement, the story explores a question that has long gripped me: how can the same claim—“I am the Son of God”—ignite such different responses in different cultures?

In first-century Judea, monotheism was the heartbeat of Jewish identity. For a Jew to claim to be the Son of God was to tread on sacred ground with fire. Such a claim was against the social order and also against God Himself. The consequence was predictable: rejection, and ultimately, death. Now set that alongside nineteenth-century China. Traditional Chinese society, with its richly layered spiritual landscape, offered a different frame. When Hong Xiuquan announced he was God’s son and Jesus’ brother, his message found ready ears. The result was not isolation but the mobilization of multitudes to follow his vision.

That divergence fascinates me. Culture shapes plausibility. What sounds impossible in one context can appear inevitable in another. Yet even acknowledging that, I can’t stop thinking about Jesus’ claim and authority.

When I first read the Bible, I was stunned by how unapologetically Jesus spoke. As a Jew, He knew His

words that identified Himself with the very name of God would collide head-on with the traditions of His people. Was He crazy? Only someone unhinged would insist on such things—unless, of course, His claim was true.

I’m a PhD scientist and always keep an open mind. If someone can point me to ancient texts that foretold his coming, and if that person fulfilled those prophecies—particularly through a death in accordance with those texts—then I have to take the claim seriously.

This is where the Dead Sea Scrolls, one of archaeology’s greatest finds, enter my vision. Among the original seven scrolls discovered at Qumran is the Book of Isaiah, dated to around 125 BCE. Nearly complete, remarkably preserved, and consistent with later manuscripts, it stands as a witness to the integrity of the text across centuries. Within Isaiah are passages about Jesus from birth to death. For me, the existence of the Old Testament, centuries older than Jesus’ earthly life, adds weight to the belief that history is not random, that God speaks and then brings His word to fruition.

Fire Between Two Skies is not a theological treatise, but a story that stares at the juncture between faith and culture. Jesus’ claim was not aimed at regime change but at heart change. He refused the sword, embraced the cross, and fulfilled words spoken long before He walked the Galilean hills.

As a writer, I’m drawn to the tension between earth and heaven. As a scientist, I’m compelled by evidence that endures scrutiny. As a believer, I surrender to a story that is bigger than me, yet personal enough to answer my search.

If those themes resonate with you, I invite you to explore them with me in Fire Between Two Skies. And whether you come to the book as a skeptic, a seeker, or a fellow traveler in faith, I pray you’ll find, between the two skies of culture and conviction, a fire that illuminates more than it consumes.

About Ruth
Dr. Ruth Wuwong (PhD in biochemistry, MBA in finance) has published 120+ scientific books and papers (under her legal name) and a few Christian fiction books under R. F. Whong. She lives in the Midwest with her husband, a retired pastor. They served together at three churches from 1987 to 2020. Her grown son works in a nearby city.

She currently runs a small biotech company (www.vidasym.com) and has raised more than twenty million US dollars during the past few years for Vidasym.

In addition to her weekly newsletter and the platform (www.ruthforchrist.com), she’s active in several writers’ groups, including ACFW, Word Weavers, Facebook, and Goodreads. Through these connections, she plans newsletter/promotion swaps with others and has writers endorse her books, write forewords, and host her on guest blogs.

Ruth was chosen as a featured author by the Minnesota Anoka County Library in 2025 and by the Suffolk Virginia Authors Festival in 2026.

Her book, Echoes over Stormy Sea, has won a few awards, including being chosen by readers as a winner in the HOLT Medallion Contest.

Fire Between Two Skies

Two eras. One relentless quest for truth amid desires and temptation. Across the centuries, two men are bound by parallel destinies that echo through time. Book 3 of this dual-time odyssey delves deep into the passions and struggles that connect their worlds.

In 2022 Hong Kong, Jason Guan, after losing his job as an assistant supervisor for wetland conservation, joins his uncle’s real-estate business. A chance meeting with his high school classmate, Vivian Jiang, draws him into a web of secrecy, seduction, and moral compromise. Amid the chaos, he and his wife, Debra, read an unpublished manuscript by her father, a celebrated writer, about the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom (1851–1864) and a man’s futile pursuit of justice and peace on earth.

In nineteenth-century China, Zhang Xin, an orphan saved from the streets by Missionary Issachar Jacox Roberts, is swept into the fiery rebellion of the Taiping movement. Torn between the dream of a just kingdom, his forbidden love for Miao Lan, and his loyalty to his ruthless brother, Xin reckons with doubt, conscience, and the cost of faith.

When greed and exploitation eclipse justice, both men must navigate their respective perils. Will they prevail or be consumed?

Action/Adventure; Dual-time Odyssey Book 3): new release in January 2026; special $2.99 promo at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G2YZZ8LG. Series Page: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F4LKXS2W By R. F. Whong, named a 2025 Featured Author by the Minnesota Anoka County Library. 

Social Media Links:
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/ruth.wuwong
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RWuwong
Website: www.ruthforchrist.com
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ruth-wu-wong
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ruthwuwong/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/love.respect.grace
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/42632055.R_F_Whong
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/r-f-whong

Photo Credits:

Author Photo and book image: Courtesy of Ruth Wong

Bible: Pixabay/James Chan

Nebula: Pixabay/Lumina Obscura