Talkshow Thursday: Meet Julie McDonald Zander

Julie McDonald Zander: 

A Writing Journey

While volunteering as a docent for school tours of our local museum more than a decade ago, I spotted a placard describing a mother’s journey across the Oregon Trail in 1847 and the tragedy that befell her.

I thought, What would you do, thousands of miles away from family? How would you survive?

I decided to find out.

In between my Chapters of Life projects, helping people capture and preserve their life stories in books, I delved into the woman’s history, scanning diaries and letters at the Washington State Library, perusing newspaper clippings, and pulling together her remarkable story. I had no idea when I started whether Matilda was a Christian, but then I stumbled upon a note in museum’s files stating that her husband ordered a Bible and hymnals shipped around Cape Horn in the early 1850s. Later, newspaper articles reported she kept a Bible beside her and read it regularly, which only made sense when I learned about the overwhelming losses she suffered. How could she possibly survive so much without faith in God?

Then I debated about whether to write the story as nonfiction or fiction. Most history is written about

men, and nobody had ever told the story of this amazing hostess who entertained Washington Territorial Governor Isaac Stevens and his family, future president Ulysses S. Grant, and Generals Phillip Sheridan and George B. McClelland. With decades of experience writing and publishing more than seventy nonfiction books, while just dipping my toes into writing novels, I published the nonfiction Washington Territory’s Grand Lady through Chapters of Life in 2019.

But her story deserved a wider audience, so I shared her story week by week, month by month, with my
two Christian writers’ critique groups. Their generosity and kindness helped so much. Instead of telling me “this stinks,” which I’d heard in a secular group, Melanie Dobson told me, “Julie, we don’t need to know everything they packed into their wagon.” I learned to kick out the reporter and focus on the story.

St. Helens Press, a fiction imprint, published my debut novel, The Reluctant Pioneer, in September 2024. The book won a Will Rogers Medallion and was a finalist for the Western Writers of America Spur Award for Best Historical Novel.

After The Reluctant Pioneer, I wrote a second novel, once again inspired by true events, a day of tragedy and violence that unfolded on the streets of Centralia, Washington, on November 11, 1919, during the first Armistice Day parade celebrating the end of World War I. I toyed with the idea of writing it as a dual timeline novel, but I struggled with the contemporary story, so then I figured I’d write it as historical fiction. After all, I knew the history and how it unfolded, although some of the facts have been debated for a hundred years. But my critique group partners once again encouraged me to write it as a time-slip novel, which I did.

St. Helens Press released Shattered Peace: A Century of Silence in the spring of 2025. It’s been an interesting journey, especially with my third novel, which is based on family lore but entirely fictional. I’ve never been a seat-of-the-pants writer, but this time, I sit down on Monday night before my Tuesday morning critique group and ask myself, “Now what happens?” It’s a challenge but so much fun to make it up.

I’ve enjoyed sharing my books and hearing from readers. At book club meetings, I listen to how the story unfolded in the minds of readers. And I pray that the underlying messages of faith, redemption, and the steadfastness of our Lord and Savior shines through in my writing.

_______________________

Shattered Peace: A Century of Silence 

A forgotten diary. A century-old secret. A town still haunted by its past. 

When former Navy Seabee Colleen Holmes inherits an old house in Centralia, Washington, she sees it as a chance to escape her own ghosts and start anew. But as she peels back layers of history within the home’s walls, she unearths long-buried secrets tied to a dark chapter in the town’s history. 

Hidden behind crumbling plaster, a faded diary and a bundle of love letters unveil the struggles of a soldier trapped in the trenches of France and the heartbreak of those left waiting at home. Yet the diary’s brittle pages hold more than just longing—they bear witness to the explosive events of November 11, 1919, when a parade meant to celebrate peace erupted into violence and bloodshed. 

As Colleen pieces together the tragic choices that shattered lives and fractured a town, she realizes history is never truly buried. The wounds of yesterday still shape today, and the past is not done with her yet. 

Inspired by true events, Shattered Peace is a gripping time-slip novel of love, loss, and the echoes of history that refuse to fade.

 
Purchase link: https://books2read.com/u/4jj7gv

Author Bio:

Julie McDonald Zander, an award-winning journalist, earned a bachelor’s degree in communications and political science from the University of Washington before working two decades as a newspaper reporter and editor. Through her personal history company, Chapters of Life, she has published more than seventy-five individual, family, and community histories. Her debut novel, The Reluctant Pioneer, won a Will Rogers Medallion and was a finalist for the Western Writers of America’s Spur Award for Best Historical Novel. She and her husband live in the Pacific Northwest, where they raised their two children.

Author Links:
Website: https://maczander.com/
Twitter / X: https://x.com/MacZanderAuthor and https://x.com/ChaptersofLife
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61563140294856
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juliemcdonaldzander/?hl=en
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mczander.bsky.social
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1gV_qYTDqMbPVbygc-lOXw
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/maczanderauthor/
Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/julie-mcdonald-zander
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maczanderauthor?lang=en
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B001K8VG86
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5856830.Julie_McDonald_Zander

Traveling Tuesday: Connecticut During WWII

Traveling Tuesday: 

Connecticut During WWII

With a production volume worth over $8 billion, Connecticut manufactured 4.1% of the United States’ military armaments and associated items during World War II, ranking ninth among the forty-eight states. The state also provided more than 300,000 men to the armed forces with 4,500 making the ultimate sacrifice. Another one thousand died from disease or accidents.

From one end of the state to the other factories converted from commercial products to war materiél. Founded in 1925 by Frederick B. Rentschlar, creator of the air-cooled radial engine design, Pratt & Whitney manufactured more than 300,000 engines. Pioneer Parachutes, a division of The Cheney Brothers silk manufacturer, sewed parachutes, and Electric Boat built submarines. Hamilton Propellers made, well, propellers. Waterbury Clock constructed a new plant to manufacture mechanical time fuses and other equipment. E. Ingraham Company also converted from clocks to time fuses as well as anti-aircraft artillery. Producer of hand tools and household goods, New Britain company turned to making uniforms, guns, and equipment. North & Judd manufactured uniform buckles, clasps, and other fasteners. Many of these companies earned the coveted Army-Navy E award for excellence in manufacturing.

In addition to manufacturing, Connecticut had six air bases, the Coast Guard Academy, and several

naval stations, including one submarine base. Bradley Army Air Force Base in Windsor Locks was also home to a POW camp when hundreds of German prisoners arrived in October 1944. According to multiple sources, the prisoners were enlisted men and many “reportedly preferred being anywhere, even snowy Connecticut, to being shot at.” Whether it was because they were well-guarded or well-cared for, none of the prisoners ever attempt an escape.

Connecticuters served in every theater of the war, with approximately 4,500 making the ultimate sacrifice. Everett Rossen of West Hartford found himself in the Philippines during its surrender, being forced into the Bataan Death March. He remained a POW for four years until the end of the war, then remained in the military for another two decades before retiring. Ward Chamberlin was an ambulance driver with the American Field Service and served in North Africa, Italy, and India. Artist Deane Keller was a Monuments Man “rescuing Italian masterworks from the threat of combat and looting,” and was “part of the team that returned the Florentine Museum treasures to the city in 1945.”

Even colleges contributed to the war effort. Assigned to the Manhattan Project, Yale University Physics department, led by physicist Ernest O. Lawrence, worked on the development of the magnetic separation process which “allowed for the extraction and purification of Uranium-235 from natural uranium.” The chemistry department was led by chemical engineer John H. Reilly and “focused on the production of heavy water which was used as a neutron moderator in nuclear reactors.”

Last but certainly not least is Norwich native and attorney, Thomas Joseph Dodd, who served on the US prosecutorial team at the Nuremburg trials during which he was the second-ranking lawyer. In addition to shaping strategies and polices, he prepared indictments, presented evidence, and cross-examined defendants.

_______________________

The American World War II Home Front in 29 Objects:

Unlike Europe the American mainland escaped physical devastation during World War II as it was not subjected to full-scale invasions. However, that didn’t mean the United States wasn’t impacted by the war. The ramifications of large economic, cultural, and societal changes forced Americans to reconsider entrenched beliefs and traditions.

Artifacts collected from across the nation tell the stories of the American people whose lives were shaped by this second “war to end all wars,” World War II.

Pre-order Link: https://books2read.com/u/47pLxR



Sources:
https://www.ctmq.org/pow-camp/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Connecticut
https://connecticuthistory.org/topics-page/world-war-ii/
https://yankeeinstitute.org/2024/05/24/connecticut-and-the-second-world-war/
https://centerprode.com/ojsh/ojsh0602/coas.ojsh.0602.03057m.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connecticut_World_War_II_Army_Airfields
https://www.pbs.org/kenburns/the-war/waterbury

Photo Credits:
Pratt & Whitney R-4360 Wasp Major Engine: Courtesy Air Force Museum
POWs: Courtesy Hartford History Center
Thomas Dodd: By http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=D000390, Public Domain.

Fiction Friday: New Releases in Christian Fiction

August 2025 New Releases
More in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website

Children’s Middle Grade: Jack and the Red Giant by Amanda Cleary Eastep -- Snowball wars are being waged against the Tree Street Kids, and Jack Finch is building his greatest invention yet--the Abominable Snowman-ator. But his biggest battle will be against his distrust of Buzz Rublatz, the neighborhood bully. (Children’s Middle Grade from Moody Publishers) 

  Children’s Picture Book:
Otto and Ollie by Penny Frost McGinnis and Hannah L Wickline -- Otto and Ollie are best buddies. They live next door to each other and spend their days playing and pretending what they’ll be someday. When they have a disagreement, they discover it’s not what they’ll be, but who they’ll be that counts. (Children’s Picture Book from Mt. Zion Ridge Press)

  Contemporary:
What the River Keeps by Cheryl Grey Bostrom -- In the beautiful Pacific Northwest, a young woman’s discovery of her hidden past illuminates her present in this new novel from the award-winning author of Sugar Birds, “an engrossing tale” (Kirkus Reviews), and Leaning on Air, “an exquisitely nuanced love story” (BookTrib). (Contemporary General from Tyndale House)

  Contemporary Romance:
A Montana-Sized Secret by Allie Pleiter -- Returning to High Mountain pregnant is not the fresh start Carly Davis imagined—nor is telling Jack Peters he’s the father. And with Jack in the early stages of addiction recovery, she questions if he can handle being a parent. But Jack is determined to show that he’s changed, and a chance to prove himself arises when they must care for a litter of rescued baby bunnies. Trust slowly builds between them again, but as unexpected news threatens their fragile bond, can they overcome the uncertainties to be the family they both need? (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

Meant For Me by Betsy St Amant -- He was her best friend. Still is. But when her beloved beignet shop burns down, he’ll have to be more if she hopes to start over. But will friendship survive the dangers of a marriage of convenience? (Contemporary Romance from Sunrise Publishing) 

  A Matter of Trust by Rena Bell Yeager -- Rachel Wilson is a divorcee who has devoted her life to her daughter and her career. But when her employer is shut down by the FBI for fraud, she is encouraged by her daughter to take a long-overdue vacation to Texas. Randall Hudson is a widowed resort ranch owner and corporate tycoon, as at home in his blue denim shirts as he is in the boardroom. When he meets Rachel, he is smitten. But when he begins manipulating things in her life to make her want to stay in Texas, her mistrust of men grows. When Rachel's ex shows up demanding money, she has no choice but to turn to Randall for help. But can she trust him? Will they find a way to overcome their obstacles and forge a new path together? (Contemporary Romance from Pixley Knob Press)

  Historical Romance:
A Lady Divided by Sandra Ardoin -- A bitter and unconventional southern widow joins forces with a former enemy to battle accusations of murder . . . twelve years after taking lives in the War Between the States. (Historical Romance, Independently Published)

The Undercover Heiress of Brockton by Kelly J. Goshorn -- Henrietta “Etta” Maxwell, heiress to the Maxwell fortune, is a hard-hitting investigative reporter for The Enterprise Daily. The catch? Etta must pen her columns under the nom de plume, Henry Mason—a fact that routinely puts a knot in her knickerbockers. Leo Eriksson is a second-generation firefighter with a passion for rendering aid to those in need. When Leo discovers that Henry Mason is really Henrietta Maxwell, the fire department’s wealthy benefactress, he agrees to keep her identity secret. After a sudden blast rocks the Grover Shoe Factory, Leo and Etta team up to determine if the explosion is related to a series of suspicious fires in the area. When an unnamed source reveals Etta’s secret identity to a rival reporter, she falsely accuses Leo of being the informant. As the truth comes to light, Etta must persuade Leo to give her a second chance or lose the only man she’s ever loved. (Historical Romance from Barbour Publishing)

  Crime Suspense:
Martha’s Veil by Urcelia Teixeira -- In the fog-shrouded coastal town of Weyport, head baker Martha Porter lives a life of quiet control—perfect cakes, polite smiles, and a heart safely tucked behind emotional walls. But when a charming man begins messaging her through an online Christian forum, Martha dares to hope again… until she vanishes on the very night she agrees to meet him. The missing-person case falls to Sheriff Angus Reid, whose investigation takes a dark turn when another woman’s body washes ashore—another victim who’d been speaking to a mysterious online suitor. As Angus uncovers a chilling network of digital manipulation, stolen identities, and religious deceit, the race to find Martha becomes more urgent. Can Angus unmask the predator before Martha becomes his next victim? Or will the fog that shrouds Weyport's coast hide another tragedy forever? (Crime Suspense, Independently Published)

  Romantic Suspense:
Gazing into Darkness by Heidi Glick -- Instead of moving closer to his girlfriend, Chance McPherson gets dumped and relocated to Cincinnati—farther from his dreams and closer to his shameful past. Stacey Sanderson is excited to finally secure a role in law enforcement, like the rest of her family, especially as an EPA CID agent, where she can protect God’s creation. On the job, Stacey’s perfectionism and faith rub Chance the wrong way, while his antics and wisecracks irritate Stacey. When federal employees who worked an old case with Stacey start dying, Chance becomes concerned, and not just because Stacey is his partner. Can Chance and Stacey stop the person who is out to kill her before it’s too late? (Romantic Suspense from Scrivenings Press) 

Danger in the Wilderness by Darlene L Turner -- Park warden Dekker Hoyt’s father-son camping trip turns into a nightmare when a serial killer abducts his father. With just seventy-two hours to find him, Dekker turns to criminal investigative analyst Blaire Tremblay to identify the Park Campfire Killer. As they follow his taunting clues and face increasingly violent threats, Dekker and Blaire know that one wrong step could be fatal. With the ruthless criminal following their every move, can they stop a killer in hiding…waiting to complete his deadly plan? (Romantic Suspense from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

Protecting the Texas Witness by Virginia Vaughan -- Deputy Drake Shaw rescues single mom Isabelle Morris from an assailant's attack, only to be mistaken for her late husband. After exposing the corruption at her health-care company, Isabelle fears danger has followed her and her daughter all the way to their remote cabin. Now Drake must keep them safe long enough for Isabelle to testify against her former boss. But when her child is taken, the stakes are raised. Can they survive to unravel the truth about the present…and the past? (Romantic Suspense from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

  Speculative Fiction/Fantasy:
Dawn of the Elding by Demi Griffin -- The new Age unfolds with the sight of crumbling foundations in Everlasting, echoing with the deafening sounds of conflict and upheaval. The air thickens with the smell of tension and fear as history is misunderstood and old grudges resurface, disintegrating the bond holding the Realms together. Only the Realm Keeper possesses the power to unite them once more and bring back harmony to Everlasting. However, he cannot accomplish this task single-handedly. His alliance with the Timebender grants them both access to the only weapon that can combat death. Restoring balance, ending the perpetual chill, and returning the Elding to Everlasting all depend on each fulfilling their destinies. (Speculative Fiction/Fantasy, Independently Published) 

Plus check out these recent additions to Fiction Finder published within the past month: 

Chasing Time by Pamela G Baker -- After embracing life in the 21st century, Lydia is catapulted to the 1870s of her youth to prevent unscrupulous scientists from disrupting the timeline—again. (Speculative Fiction/Time Travel) 

On the Brink by Michael E Cafferky -- A life-threatening illness leads corporate executive Gabriel Oliver to an epiphany about his faith; he adjusts the priorities of his life, but the change he makes increases his vulnerability by endangering his career and upsetting his relationship with his wife Sandra (Contemporary General) 

Morning on the Mesa by Jenny Fulton -- Navajo princess sisters Lillian and Zoe learn about God and Creation while herding sheep on their family's mesa. (Children’s Picture Book) 

Take The Sea by Jenny Powell -- Follow modern-day Hope Gerard & 18th-century Anglican priest John Wesley as they battle their fears through their faith. (Contemporary General) 

Forged by Fire by Melanie D Snitker -- Firefighter Leslie Granger and Police Officer Clint Baker stumble upon a motive that will test their courage and force them to confront not only the danger, but also the unexpected attraction growing between them (Romantic Suspense) 

BondKeeper by Colleen K Snyder -- Canna and Gentry are running for their lives from dragon hunters, slave traders, renegade dragons, and the Widow Swansworth who wants Gentry as a bride for her son Brody. Can Gentry learn to trust the Master? Or will she go her own way, and lose the best friend she’ll ever have? (Young Adult) 

What Brings Us Joy by Teresa Wells -- Though Clarence Parker doesn’t regret testifying against the outlaws in his former gang, he fears his future with Delia Truitt is in jeopardy. Clarence will protect her from the killers, even if it means risking their future together. Can Clarence keep her safe? And will Delia love him after she finds out about his past? (Historical Romance)

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Jennifer Wright

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Jennifer Wright

I love discovering new-to-me authors, don't you? Jennifer writes wonderful historical fiction. Listen in...

1. When did you know you wanted to become an author?

I’ve always known I wanted to do something involving writing. From a very early age, I was drawn to words and stories, but I actually grew up wanting to become a journalist. I was always a very curious—some might even call it “nosy”—child, and journalism seemed a perfect fit to feed that hunger. I even went as far as to get my master’s degree in journalism before deciding I hated being a reporter and switched to fiction writing instead.

2. What is your favorite thing about being a writer?

It’s hard to narrow it down to just one thing so I’ll have to give you two! Firstly, I love the research that comes along with writing, discovering forgotten tidbits of history and immersing yourself in the past. Secondly, I love engaging with readers who connect to the stories that I write in a deep and meaningful way. Many of these readers have become special, life-long friends.

3. How did you learn to write?

I believe writing is a skill best learned by doing, and that’s what I did. I just started writing. Short stories, long stories, newspaper articles, magazine articles—I just wrote. There’s obviously something to be said about reading as much as you can, seeking out friends/mentors who are also writers, and attending classes or seminars. But I believe there’s no better way to learn good writing than to just write and to write as much as you can.

4. What does your writing space look like?

I struggle with ADHD so I have to make sure my writing space is as free of distractions as it can

possibly be. Just my laptop, a few research books and notebooks, and maybe a cup of coffee. Anything else and my mind will wander…

5. How many books have you written, and which is your favorite?

Last Light Over Galveston is my fourth book, and my favorite always tends to be the one I’ve just finished! But, in reality, all of my books are special in their own unique way, and I consider the main character of each a special friend.

6. What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?

In Last Light Over Galveston, I was surprised to learn just how much the 1900 Galveston hurricane was a human disaster, rather than just a natural one as many assume. Although the storm itself was an act of nature, there were many mistakes made by those in charge—such as ignoring hurricane warnings from Cuba, misunderstanding the science behind such storms, and rejecting calls for a seawall—that made this particular hurricane one of the deadliest.

7. What questions do you ask yourself when preparing to write a new book?

There are two main questions: 1) What is God leading me to write about? That is usually where the spiritual thread of my stories comes in. And 2) what is something I’m interested in enough that I could spend the next year of my life reading and writing about it? Because writing a book takes a LONG time, and you will invariably grow weary of a topic before you’re finished with it if you’re not careful!

8. How did publishing your first book change your writing?

This might sound counter-intuitive, but publishing my first book actually taught me to write for myself rather than an audience. If you’re not careful, you can find yourself trying to write what you believe others want to read, even if it’s not the story God has laid on your heart. Publishing my first book taught me firsthand that I will never make everyone happy; two back-to-back reviews said: “This book is too Christian” and then “This book isn’t Christian enough.” So I learned to let go of that need to appease everyone and just write what I felt led to write, trusting my book will find its way into the hands of those who appreciate it.

About Last Light Over Galveston

Galveston, Texas. September 1900 

Only months ago, Kathleen McDaniel returned from finishing school in Switzerland to her family home in New York’s Hudson Valley with a future of promise and privilege set before her. But one horrific event shattered her picturesque life. Now she has fled as far as the train line and a pocketful of money would take her, finding refuge at the St. Mary’s Orphan Asylum on Galveston Island, where she helps the nuns care for their young charges and prays her past will not find her. Despite her tenuous standing at the orphanage―and the grief and betrayal that drove her from home―Kathleen slowly begins to make friends. There is Emily, the novice nun she rooms with; Maggie, the tempestuous young girl who only bonds with Kathleen; and Matthew, a kind, handsome man recently employed by Isaac Cline at Galveston’s office of the US Weather Bureau.

Then in one fateful day, Kathleen’s fragile new life begins to crack as it becomes clear that she can’t run far enough to escape the reach of her former life. Meanwhile, as troubling news about a storm crossing the Gulf from Cuba swirls in the Weather Bureau offices, Matthew holds fast to Cline’s belief that no hurricane can touch Galveston. But as darkness falls on the island, Kathleen must gather her courage and reach for a strength beyond her own if she―and those she loves―are to survive."

Social Media Links: 

Website: http://www.jenniferlwright.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JenniferWrightLit

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/jennnwright82

Photo credits:

Author and book cover: Jennifer Wright

Journal: Pixabay

Galveston Memorial: Pixabay/grahics4fun

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Back Jodie Wolfe!

Talkshow Thursday: 

Welcome Back, Jodie Wolfe!

I love Jodie's books and can't wait to read this next one. Get to know this interesting author plus a behind-the-scenes peek!

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

Hannah’s Quest is my 11th published book. I’ve actually written a few others that are in my filing cabinet. 😊 If I had to pick a favorite so far… it probably would be Taming Julia, since the heroine was a lot of fun to write.

I love that story! What does your writing space look like?
 

Check out the photo below! I always have a story board so I can easily see my characters while I write. During the writing process, my desk gets fairly messy. When it’s cleared off, it means I’m getting ready to write a new book. 😊

What questions do you ask yourself when preparing to write a new book?

With my current Time to Come Home Series, I am trying to include old houses from the town I’m

writing about, as well as area churches, stores, etc. So I often have a bit of research to do before I even start writing a novel in this series.

What was your inspiration for the story?

If you asked me a few years ago if I’d ever write a series focused on prodigals, I would have adamantly said no, since I have no experience in that area. However, things have changed in our lives since then, and it currently is the road my husband and I are walking. I use my writing to help work through various trials we are going through or have gone through.

What draws you to the time period about which you write?

Good question. 😊 I think I love historical because in some ways it was a simpler time of life, although the 19th Century required much more physical work.

What is one thing you wish you could do?

I wished I had a maid to take care of cleaning/organizing the house, while also making meals for me/us.

What was your favorite childhood book and why?

Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House on the Prairie series. It helped to develop my love of historical and the desire to write.

What is your next project?

I’m currently working on a historical novella collection called Courting Love that will hopefully be out sometime this fall. Once the final novella is written, I’ll get back to work on my Time to Come Home Series. Book #3 will be Sarah’s Search, due to come out in February 2026.

About Hannah's Quest:

Hannah Moore escapes the overbearing grip of her relatives and forges her own way in Shippensburg, PA, far away from their clutches. Despite Hannah’s sheer determination, she finds life on her own daunting as she loses job after job. Unsure where she fits in, Hannah wonders if she’ll ever be good enough. She feels as if God has forsaken her and questions if she will ever find a place to belong. The last thing she needs is an ignorant shop keeper constantly questioning her abilities and standing in her way. Hannah will take almost any position available so as not to return to the place of her upbringing.

Luke Weiser has one goal in mind—finding a way to save his grandmother and restore her health. Only trouble is, she has other ideas about what is best for her. Gran longs to see Luke’s return to faith in the Lord, but he blames God for his grandmother’s sickness and the tragic events of his childhood. After the death of his mother, followed by his father’s abandonment, Luke refuses to trust his heart to anyone, and certainly not a wife. When Hannah keeps popping up in the hardware shop where he works, Luke is forced to think twice about his convictions.

Can two bruised hearts follow their personal quests and discover healing in the process?

Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/44kXFHx

About Jodie:

JODIE WOLFE loves writing historical fiction after years as a homeschooling mom. She enjoys spending time with her husband in Pennsylvania, reading, knitting, and walking. Jodie creates novels where hope and quirky meet. Visit her at http://www.jodiewolfe.com.

Traveling Tuesday: Flushing, New York

Traveling Tuesday: Flushing, NY

Eye of the Beholder, my contribution to the Apron Strings Tea Tales series that will release in July 2026, is set during the 1939 World’s fair which was located in Flushing Meadows, a neighborhood in the north-central section of Queens, one of New York City’s five boroughs (a district that is an administrative unit). With a current population of over 200,000, the neighborhood is larger than the biggest city in New Hampshire where I live!

The idea for the World’s Fair began four years earlier when George McAneny, executive manager at the New York Times and president of the Regional Plan Association, brought a group together to discuss the possibility of an international exposition. With support from Mayor Fiorello La Guardia, the New York World’s Fair Corporation was formed, and McAneny was named president. After much consideration, the Flushing Meadows site was selected because of its size (1,003 acres), central location, and the city already owned 586 acres nearby.

Straddling the Flushing River, Flushing Meadows was mostly wetlands until the 1910s when it was ushed as a dumping ground for coal ashes with the thought to eventually develop the land into a port. With the onset of World War I, plans for the port ceased, however, dumping continued.

As a result, much work needed to be done to prepare the site for the fair including purchasing the

surrounding land and relocating the occupants, then leveling the ash mounds and diverting the river into underground culverts. Beginning in June 1936, four hundred fifty employees worked three eight-hour shifts to rebuild the landscape and excavate to create Meadow and Willow lakes. The lakes were to serve as repositories for excess storm runoff, and the dirt was used as additional topsoil for the park. In 1937, trees were put in to create a natural landscape around the park and along pedestrian walkways.

Using much of the refuse (ash mounds), the road system surrounding and bisecting the park was also improved in preparation of the anticipated thousands of visitors. You may be familiar with some of the streets: Vany Wyck Expressway, Long Island Expressway, and Grand Central Parkway. However, executives must not have given enough thought to the water system because in November 1939, a water main that supplied the area failed. The pipeline had not been built on piling foundations which cause it to sink into the marsh. Oops! Repairs cost more than $50,000. The public transit system was also upgraded and expanded.

Because the organizers knew the fairgrounds would be converted to a park after the event, the landscape architect, Gilmore David Clarke (who designed many of NYC’s parks and public spaces) planned accordingly with 250 acres of lawns, and topiary and deciduous trees. More than one million plants, one million bulbs, 250,000 shrubs, and 10,000 trees were installed. There were also approximately fifty landscaped gardens, as well as fountains and water features.

All in all, about $156 million dollars, a combination of public and private funds, was spent to transform “The Valley of Ashes” into Flushing Meadows-Corona Park.

________________

A Lesson in Love

He thinks he’s too old. She thinks she’s too young. Can these teachers learn that love defies all boundaries?

Born and raised in London, Isobel Turvine knows nothing about farming, but after the students in her school evacuate during Operation Pied Piper, she’s left with little to do. Her friend talks her into joining the Women’s Land Army, and she finds herself working the land at a manor home in Yorkshire that’s been converted to a boys’ school. A teacher at heart, she is drawn to the lads, but the handsome yet stiff-necked headmaster wants her to stick to farming.

Left with an arm that barely works from the last “war to end all wars,” Gavin Emerson agrees to take on the job of headmaster when his school moves from London to Yorkshire, but he’s saddled with the quirky manor owner, bickering among his teachers, and a gaggle of Land Army girls who have turned the grounds into a farm. When the group’s blue-eyed, blonde leader nearly runs him down in a car, he admonishes her to stay in the fields, but they are thrown together at every turn. Can he trust her not to break his heart?

Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3YHgUb0

Photo credits:

World's Fair Promenade: By FOTO:Fortepan — ID 16945:Adományozó/Donor: Public Domain

Valley of Ashes: By New York (N.Y.). Bureau of EngineeringFairchild Aerial Camera Corporation - NYPL Digital Gallery — Catalog ID (B-number): b13985741, Public Domain.

Flushing Globe: Pixabay/nerastudio

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Elle E. Kay!

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Elle E. Kay

I'm pleased to welcome Elle to my blog today. She writes fabulous books! Grab a cup of your favorite beverage and read about her writing journey. She's got a new release too!

Have you ever considered writing under a pseudonym? Why or why not?

I write under two pseudonyms. I chose Ellie Mae Kay for my children's fiction because I had already published non-fiction under my real name, and I wanted to create clear separation between genres. I didn't want readers buying Zebras of Hope thinking it was for kids when it's actually about living with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. When I wrote my debut Christian fiction in 2015, I applied similar reasoning and became Elle E. Kay. Interestingly, I'm now called Elle or Ellie more often than Ellen (my given name).

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

I have 26 published books, 23 of those are Christian fiction. My favorite is Bodyguard's Fake Bride. The protective hero is a kilt-wearing Scotsman who brings the heroine to a castle in Scotland for his family reunion. I adore everything about this book! Ironically, it doesn't sell as well as my other titles, possibly because readers assume they need to read all the authors in the multi-author series. But it's actually a standalone, though readers can start with The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride for character backstory.

Why do you write in your particular genre?

I write romantic suspense/thrillers because that’s what I most like to read. I like a gripping story that

makes me flip through the pages to find out how the hero and heroine will find their happily-ever-after.

How are your characters like you? Different?

Stella from my debut is probably the most like me, but even in that one book, I made her mother a children’s book author, so that was me sneaking in there. In the second book in that series, Claudia plays piano and sings similar to me. Each heroine has a little piece of me in them, but they also have something about them that I admire in others. For example, Claudia is a marine reservist. Stella has unshakable faith.

Can you share a real-life event that inspired your writing?

My biological father was a police officer who went to prison. Inspired by the Hero took the pain from that experience and turned it into a book. In that same book, the hero’s sister suffers from Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (which I also have), so I felt I was able to make her situation feel authentic through my own experiences.

How does/did your job prepare you for being a novelist?

I've worked in several fields, primarily legal, where I served as both paralegal and tech support/network supervisor. The legal experience gave me valuable insight into the system. Though, I've mostly avoided legal thrillers because after living it for years, writing it feels too much like work! The tech background, however, has been invaluable for the digital aspects of a writing career: websites, promotion, all the technical elements many authors struggle with.

How has your book changed since your first draft?

I wrote my latest release, Project Sentinel, a couple of years prior to releasing it. It was initially titled Betrayed Trust and it was a shorter novel because it didn’t include the villain scenes. Adding them increased the tension and suspense. I changed the name to reflect the AI overwatch aspect of the book.

What is your next project?

I'm working on the second book in my Toxic Truth series, Midnight Masquerade. It's up for preorder now and scheduled to release in October. The story follows Dante and Lisa, who were introduced in Midnight Offensive, as they face a personal connection to a human trafficking ring alongside someone selling US intelligence. They must stop the threat before it culminates at the masquerade ball charity event.

About Project Sentinel:

Under the all-seeing eye of Project Sentinel, the truth is a memory away—and a love she forgot is their only hope.

Her memory is gone. But Faith Flanagan is about to learn what she believed about her past was a lie, and the truth could kill her. Two years after the accident that shattered her world, Faith is haunted by unsettling dreams and the growing suspicion that she's not who she thinks she is.

When Elijah Knight, a dangerously attractive operative from a life she can't recall, crashes back into her existence, he brings a chilling warning: her husband was murdered. Faith, he claims, holds explosive files Thad entrusted to her—files that could expose a conspiracy wielding Project Sentinel, a terrifyingly advanced AI surveillance system with the power to predict their every move. Now, they're on the run, pursued by relentless enemies who will kill to keep their secrets buried and the files out of Faith's unremembering hands. As fragments of her past resurface, so does an undeniable, complicated passion for the man sworn to protect her. But in a deadly game of cat and mouse, where betrayal lurks around every corner, can Faith unlock the secrets buried in her mind before they become her undoing? And can a love she doesn't remember be the one thing that outsmarts the machine and the rogue officials controlling it?

If you enjoy gripping romantic suspense packed with secrets, high-stakes conspiracies powered by chilling AI, and a love fighting to be remembered against all odds, you won't want to miss Project Sentinel.

Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/46rAwEM

Connect with Elle:
Website/Blog: https://ElleEKay.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ElleEKay7
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/elleekay7/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/ellekay
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/elle-e-kay
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15016833.Elle_E_Kay

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Photo Credits:

Author/Book Image: Elle E. Kay

Pencil and Notepad: Pixabay/congerdesign

Surveillance Cameras: Pixabay/Joseph Mucira