Libby’s Lighthouse is out now!
Hi dear reader friends! Yesterday, Libby’s Lighthouse, the first in my Love at a Lighthouse three-book series, came out. Here’s a little about it:
When a lighthouse keeper’s daughter finds a mysterious sailor with amnesia, the secrets she uncovers may change her life forever.
Elizabeth Montonna, daughter of the Tibbett’s Point Lighthouse keeper, thought she’d love the lighthouse life forever—until her mother, on her deathbed, reveals a long-buried secret. Now Elizabeth’s world has been turned upside down, making her question if she’ll ever truly belong and be loved. But when a dashing young sailor appears on her shore, wounded and disoriented, she finds purpose in helping him recover. Although the man knows nothing about his past or identity, his kindness and character steal a little more of her heart each day. If only she knew his full name.
When Owen awakes on the shore of Lake Ontario with no knowledge of who he is, or where he was headed when his ship wrecked, he has no choice but to accept the hospitality of the lighthouse keeper and his lovely daughter. But as Owen works to repay their kindness, and his relationship with Libby turns into something more, he knows their budding romance can go no further until he uncovers his past.
With each passing day, Owen inches closer to discovering the secrets of his identity, but will the revelations bring him closer to Libby or tear them apart forever?
I thought you might want to know a little background of why I wrote this story. My grandmother, Libby, inspired this story. When she was a young woman, she and her family lived in Cape Vincent, near Tibbetts Point Lighthouse, whose stories I tell in my first two books, The Fabric of Hope and Christmas Charity. During my childhood, every summer we would visit the lighthouse, and after Grandma died, my mother continued the tradition. I did the same, and I still visit the lighthouse every summer. When I started writing about the Thousand Islands, I knew I had to tell its story. This is my twelfth Thousand Islands Gilded Age story!
Here’s a little about the other two books. I hope you love them all!
Julia’s Joy
Book two coming October 29, 2024
She came to claim her inheritance, but the mysterious lighthouse keeper makes her question all her plans.
When Julia Collins reluctantly sets foot on Sister Island, compelled by her grandmother’s will, she is intent on claiming her inheritance and moving on. But when she experiences the peaceful, faith-filled island life and connects with the handsome lightkeeper, William, Julia finds herself confronting her open wounds from her parents’ deaths.
William Dodge, lightkeeper of Sister Island, harbors a heart hardened by a past betrayal. Between that and his chronic pleurisy, he wants nothing to do with love. But when Julia arrives on the island bursting with vitality and unconventional notions, William’s world is turned upside down. As she chips away at the walls William has built for himself, he finds his reluctance waning.
But just as love begins to blossom between them, Julia is faced with a tempting proposal from a prominent Brockville family. Will she succumb to societal expectations or choose the richness of her island life and the love of the steadfast lightkeeper?
Emma’s Engagement
Book three coming January 21, 2025
Emma Row embarks on a journey that will test her resilience and love. She marries Michael Diepolder, the Rock Island Lightkeeper and widower, a man who seeks a companion for both himself and his eleven-year-old daughter, Ada. But as she steps into the role of lightkeeper’s wife with a heart full of hope, little does she know that the idyllic setting conceals challenges that will shake the foundation of her happiness. Isolation creeps in, compounded by Ada’s determination to keep her father all to herself. As a storm looms, Emma must grapple with the difficulties of being a stepmother and lightkeeper’s wife. Will she find her place, or will the tumultuous waves of doubt and isolation tear them apart?
For Michael, Emma is not just a wife but the hope for his future. But the lighthouse life and being a stepmother proves harder for Emma than he ever imagined, and Ada’s animosity only intensifies it. When the lighthouse inspector questions Emma’s place due to her Canadian heritage and Ada become deathly ill, the very foundation of their family is shaken. Can their family find solace and unity on this tiny island?
Amid the swirling tempest of challenges, Emma, Michael, and Ada must discover the strength within themselves and each other to weather the storm. Emma’s Engagement is a poignant tale of love, resilience, and the enduring bonds that can form in the most unexpected places. This fictional story is based on the actual lives of Michael and Emma Diepolder.
Meet author Kit Hawthorne
Kit spent years in a Celtic folk band, singing, composing, and playing Irish pennywhistle. She lives on a Texas farm that’s been in her husband’s family for seven generations. She’s an avid reader who enjoys logging her reads (and plotting her life) in her Bullet Journal. She also enjoys drawing, sewing, quilting, knitting, and restoring old furniture to beauty and usefulness. She writes historical romance and contemporary western romance.
Tell us about your newest book.
My latest book is Treason Trail, book 3 in my Cape Fear Legacy series, set in South Carolina during the American Revolutionary War.
What inspired you to write Treason Trail?
I’d already written two books sets in the Carolinas during the Revolution. I loved the setting, the time period, and the characters—especially the Shaw family. Nessa Shaw is the third Shaw sibling. She’s outgoing, nurturing, forthright, and brave, and I wanted her to have her own love story. I was also interested in ways the war could have plausibly been lost at this stage, after the huge Patriot victory at the Battle of Yorktown—and in ways my hero and heroine could prevent that from happening.
How would you describe this book to someone in a 30-second blurb?
In the final days of the American Revolutionary War, Nessa Shaw tends to the sick and wounded at the Continental Army camp in Charlestown, South Carolina. When she stumbles upon a man lying unconscious on a forest trail, she quickly realizes he is unlike any patient she has ever encountered. With no memory of his past, his only clues to his identity are his first name—August—and the certainty that he is a Patriot. Against her better judgment, Nessa grows closer to August, trusting him with secrets that could cost her dearly. But when she discovers a deadly plot that could change the course of the war, Nessa must question everything she thought she knew about August and his true allegiances.
What genre do you focus on?
I’m currently focusing on historical romance. I’m fascinated by the American Founding and by the manners, clothing, furnishings, etc. of that time period. The backdrop of another time period shows not only how different people were in the past, but also how the most important things—like love, loyalty, and courage—have stayed the same.
Why do you write?
I love to read, and I constantly think in terms of stories and “what if” scenarios. I try to write the sort of stories that I would want to read. The world can be a frightening and heartbreaking place. As a Christian, I know that God turns bad things to good for his children, and brings order to all the apparent chaos around us, but we lack the perspective to see or even imagine the scale of the pattern he is making. Stories give us the closure and resolution that we long for, and wait for, in real life. I want my stories to give comfort and hope to my readers.
Who is your main character, and how did you choose that name?
I chose the surname “Shaw” because there were Scottish immigrants of that name who settled in North Carolina in the 18th century and because it’s a good strong name. “Nessa” is also Scottish, and it’s both strong and feminine, like the character.
What is your work schedule like when you’re writing a book?
Up before dawn, feed the dogs, feed the cats, feed the chickens and whatever livestock we’ve currently got on the place. Start the Roombas. Bible reading and Bullet Journal with Darjeeling tea. Then three to four hours of work on the current book, interspersed with breaks for light housework and making more tea. I try to get all my actual writing done as early in the day as possible, leaving afternoons for clerical work and exercise.
What is the hardest part of being an author?
Keeping up with all the administrative stuff. I have spreadsheets, Trello boards, printed calendars, and my Bullet Journal to help me keep track of it all, but it still stresses me out.
What’s the best part of your author’s life?
The fact that I get to work alone, wearing yoga clothes, surrounded by pets and livestock, and can set my own hours to allow time for all the stuff I want to do—gardening, home improvements, or just taking a long lunch while reading a good book. I’m a very regimented person and have always enjoyed setting my own schedule.
What’s one unusual fact about you?
In the late 90s, I used to play and sing in a band. We were a Celtic folk group and performed at coffee shops, festivals, and the occasional bar. We all went to the same church and played together in the church band as well. Once we even went on tour to Muscatine, Iowa!
How have you changed or grown as a writer?
I used to labor over my writing, endlessly polishing or else starting over completely. That all changed with my first traditionally published book. I have learned to set and meet deadlines and to write with specific genre requirements in mind. Perfectionism is often a form of procrastination. Letting go of it has made me a better writer, as well as one who finishes projects and gets paid.
What is your favorite pastime?
I love to ride my horse around the property.
Do you have other books? We’d love to know.
I have an eight-book series with Harlequin Heartwarming called Truly Texas. They are set in a fictitious rural community in the Texas Hill Country. My Cape Fear Legacy series, set in the Carolinas during the American Revolution, is currently at three volumes—Savanna Storm, Carolina Crossing, and Treason Trail (coming 18 June 2024).
What are you working on now?
I’m in the planning stages of a contemporary novel tentatively titled The Stand-In.
Website: kithawathorne.com
Link to book: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CVNJTN5R
Social media links: https://www.facebook.com/kithawthorneauthor/ https://www.instagram.com/kithawthorne/
Meet author Felicia Ferguson
Felicia achieved master’s degrees in Healthcare Administration and Speech-Language Pathology but has written since childhood. An award-winning fiction and non-fiction freelance writer, she has previously published devotions with Christian Devotions and Inkspirations and women’s fiction with End Game Press. Her radio devotional, Build Faith for the Journey, airs Saturdays on Christian Mix 106. When she’s not glued to her laptop, Felicia enjoys hiking, meandering with her twelve-year-old Frenchie, and looking forward to the next story.
Tell us about your newest book.
This is a cold-case robbery and murder wrapped up in a second chance romance.
What inspired you to write When Secrets Come Calling)?
The idea actually came from a fanfiction piece I wrote for a fandom I follow, inspired by a minor character in the series. But there are no similarities in this book and the show’s actual story canon.
How would you describe this book to someone in a 30-second blurb?
When former University of Alabama and Titans wide receiver Dax Carpenter learns his father is accused of a forty-year-old robbery and murder, he turns to the only person he trusts to discover the truth: his ex-girlfriend, Caitlin Fitzhugh.
Caitlin, a cold-case specialist with the Alabama State Division of Investigations, wants nothing to do with the case or Dax. Not only is the evidence against Dax’s father already condemning, she can’t risk having her heart broken—again.
As the secrets of both their pasts unfold, they discover whether Dax’s father truly robbed and murdered a man forty years ago but also why Caitlin ended their relationship. Secrets that could drive a wedge between them, forever.
What genre do you focus on?
I started out focusing on women’s fiction, but with this book and the two following (stand-alone), I have moved into the romantic suspense genre. When I write, the characters tell me their stories and the genre somehow find them.
Why do you write?
Writing is like breathing to me. It is a part of me and a way to serve on the mission field and help women heal from their tragedies, traumas, and heartbreaks. Through fiction, readers can walk in the characters’ shoes and come away with empathy and understanding for themselves and others.
Who is your main character, and how did you choose that name?
Caitlin Fitzhugh and Maddox “Dax” Carpenter are my main characters. When I start writing, my main characters always name themselves. The minor characters are the ones who require searches of baby name and demographic websites.
What is your work schedule like when you’re writing a book?
I’m a morning writer, so after my morning devotions and tea, I’m at my laptop around 7 am with a protein ball for breakfast. I’ll write until 10 or so and take a break to walk the fur-child, then get back to it until lunch time. When I’m muddling through the middle, I often hit the keyboard after lunch for a few more words.
What is the hardest part of being an author?
Honestly, the marketing. Social media takes up a lot of writing time (both out of procrastination and the need to connect with readers).
What’s the best part of your author’s life?
I get to tell stories that take readers to the deepest parts of my characters’ hearts and hurts and then help them start the healing process.
What’s one thing your readers should know about you?
No matter what genre I write, readers can always count on my books to have a strong female character who works through her baggage and doesn’t just repack it.
How have you changed or grown as a writer?
There are too many ways to mention. I have been tremendously blessed in my mentors, editors, and critiquers. All have helped me to hone my skills.
What is your favorite pastime?
Writing or binge watching one of my favorite TV shows.
Do you have other books? We’d love to know.
My first forays into writing books was The Paths We Walk series. There’s two books now and a third will one day be written to finalize the series. The Choices She Made was my third book and it won several awards last year.
What are you working on now?
My 2025 release will go to my developmental editor in July, and I’m diving into historical Colorado with my current work-in-progress, a prequel to my last finished manuscript which will release in 2026.
Website: feliciafergusonauthor.com
Link to book: feliciafergusonauthor.com
Social media links: www.instagram.com/felicia_writes, www.facebook.com/feliciafergusonauthor
Meet author Kathleen Rouser
Kathleen Rouser is a multi-published, award-winning author of historical and contemporary Christian romance. She is a longtime member of American Christian Fiction Writers and a member of Faith, Hope and Love Christian Writers. She resides in southeast Michigan, a location which she often uses in her novels, with her hero and husband of forty-some years and two sweet cats who found a home in their empty nest.
Tell us about your newest book. He’s a reporter determined to uncover the truth, but the secrets he finds could crush her family—and their second chance at love.
Taken from her family’s farm to be raised by her wealthy aunt and uncle, Nora Armstrong has accepted that not only will she never realize her dream of becoming a teacher, she’d also rather be a spinster than submit to her cruel aunt’s society selection of a suitable husband. The one man who caught her eye betrayed her best friend. And she’s got enough on her hands, hiding her sister’s shameful secret from her aunt.
When the local home for unwed mothers burns down, the arson investigation brings big-city reporter James Cooper back to Stone Creek—and back into Nora’s life. James also has a meddling aunt who raises more questions than she answers about his past. Not to mention, he can’t figure out why Nora constantly rebuffs him. When his reporting casts aspersions on the local church and lays the blame for the fire and a series of robberies at the wrong feet, he risks losing his new position at the paper.
What inspired you to write Scandals and Mercies?
I wanted to write a third Stone Creek book and thought Nora and James’s story would be fun to tell. Even when I got stuck and thought about trying to tell someone else’s story, I was drawn back to Nora, but her story turned out to be more complicated than I thought, and not so happy at the beginning, being under the thumb of her Aunt Gert!
How would you describe this book to someone in a 30-second blurb?
Nora, who wants to be a teacher, is determined to marry for love, rather than money as her guardians desire for her. But the one man she cared about is the last person she wants to see. Enter, James, an ambitious reporter who betrayed her best friend. Both are drawn together as they seek to find their true selves amidst family secrets and tragedy, while Nora’s faith and James’s lack thereof create a difficult chasm to overcome.
What genre do you focus on?
Historical romance with a faith base. I love watching period piece movies and shows. The clothing and manners hark back to what seems a simpler time, though people had to work much harder to put food on the table. Also, the mores make for interesting plots. Heaven forbid a young woman be left alone with a man! Life was just different before the entrance of technology. I also find the research interesting.
And as a romance author my desire is to give my readers the same kind of happily ever after and escape from our weary world that I enjoy reading. It’s even better when I’m able to include uplifting messages based on the truth of God’s word with themes of hope, second chances, or identity in Christ. And isn’t God’s love for us the original love story? He chose us for Himself before the beginning of time and gave His Son for us. What greater love is there than that?
Why do you write?
From the time my mom started reading to me, books became an important part of my life. Even before I learned to read, I wanted to write stories. It’s a passion I believe God put on my heart at an early age. I loved being immersed in the world of imagination and escape. In sixth grade, I wrote a Nancy Drew type mystery titled The Beast with the Glowing Fingers. I was so pleased when my teacher wrote on my little book: “Exciting to the very end!”
Also, because of fear of failure, I put off pursuing writing for a long time. Then one day when I heard a message about the Parable of the Talents, I felt convicted that I wasn’t using my gifts and needed to put them to use. I still need to remind myself of this sometimes.
Who is your main character, and how did you choose that name?
Nora Armstrong is my main character. It’s funny, I don’t remember exactly how I picked the name since I first wrote about her in Rumors and Promises when she was a secondary character. But I often go back to the lists of what names were popular around the time the character was born. So I probably picked it, because Nora seemed like an old-fashioned name. However, it does mean “light” which fits with her wheat-blond hair, pale complexion, and ethereal pale blue eyes. As an aside, Armstrong is Gertrude Wringer’s maiden name. As an antagonist, she is known to strong arm a few people!
What is your work schedule like when you’re writing a book?
I usually write in the afternoon, after chores are out of the way, and I’ve had my time with the Lord. There are days that I just shoot for 500 words and that’s all I get done, but I like to work for a couple of hours, several days a week, and hope to get more done than that. Because of a part-time volunteer position and low energy, I struggle to get as much writing in as I would like.
What is the hardest part of being an author?
Being at home where there are plenty of distractions. In fact, I’m at a coffee shop right now to avoid that! Also, I don’t enjoy marketing or promotions. It’s hard to put myself out there, when I’m an introvert and very private person.
Do you have other books? We’d love to know.
The first two books of the Stone Creek Brides series, Rumors and Promises and Secrets and Wishes will give readers a fuller picture of life in Stone Creek and the stories behind some of the other characters mentioned in Scandals and Mercies. I also wrote a contemporary romance with a split-time subplot called When Hearts Take Flight. This also takes place in a fictional Michigan small town and the subplot takes place during WWI. It involves the main character, Talia, finding her great-grandma’s journal and a handsome veteran, Ben, who is determined to restore the family’s long lost hot-air balloon. My first published novella, The Pocket Watch, takes place in Detroit in 1900 and involves an orphaned young woman, a doctor, and the mystery behind a ruby ring.
What are you working on now?
I’m currently near the end of finishing the first draft of a contemporary romance, working title: A Family of Her Own. After that, I’m considering writing about a different period of history, perhaps Regency England.
Website: https://kathleenrouser.com/
Link to book – Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CPZ2YY1Y
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/scandals-and-mercies-kathleen-rouser/1144477420?ean=2940179154525
Social media links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kerouser
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/kathleenerouser
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KathleenRouser
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/kerouser/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rouserkathy/
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathleen-rouser-b4473594/
Amazon book page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B00P3BR662/about
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7427871.Kathleen_Rouser
Meet author Alyssa Schwartz
Alyssa Schwarz is a Colorado native who attended the Colorado School of Mines, got her masters in Geological Engineering, and promptly became a watercolor artist and author (as one does). She loves writing heartfelt romances with happy endings, a bit of mystery, faith, humor, and second chances.
Tell us about your newest book.
A Midsummer Romance is part of a multi-author series set in the fictional town of Wild Rose Ridge, Washington. A series for each season, the summer series has everything from summer camps on Monster Island, to goat yoga, a town play, and a full host of quirky characters and town traditions. My book follows two childhood friends who get thrown together as the lead couple in the town’s production of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, much to the delight of the town’s meddling mothers. No one is safe from their matchmaking attempts, even more so when their communications get crossed and a third party rolls unexpectedly into town. This book has: friends to love, small town charm, matchmaking, theatrics on and off the stage, a cozy bed and breakfast, and even a skunk mishap to keep things interesting!
What inspired you to write A Midsummer Romance?
I was so excited to be invited to this group series! As the other authors had already published both a Spring and Christmas series last year, I first read through the books to familiarize myself with the town and cast of characters. I had so much fun getting to know this quirky world and knew a modern play off of Shakespeare’s comedy A Midsummer Night’s Dream would fit right in.
How would you describe this book to someone in a 30-second blurb?
Two friends. One play. And a town of meddling mothers…
When wedding planner Jess Daniels’s personal and professional life implodes on the shores of Nantucket, Wild Rose Ridge is a perfect escape. But a flood in her aunt and uncle’s basement lands her unexpectedly at the Yellow Rose B&B— a few doors down from her childhood friend’s extremely attractive brother. She’s sworn off love and all entanglements. Her heart just needs to listen. Professor Caleb Weaver thought leaving the big city university for a teaching position in his hometown would be easy. But between helping his parents with the B&B and getting roped into the town’s community play, he has no time to himself. But when Jess is also pulled in, the late nights and weekend rehearsals don’t sound so bad. Real life begins to mirror Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream a little too much when they are strategically cast as the main couple. Worse, when a last-minute actor is invited to the stage. Can Caleb convince Jess to take a chance on him, or will the course of true love end in tragedy? With a touch of summer magic, anything can happen.
What genre do you focus on?
I’ve written mostly contemporary sweet Christian romance set in either Colorado or Washington. I love the lighthearted aspect of contemporary, how it can encourage and make a reader laugh at the same time since it’s so easy to slip right into a setting that’s familiar.
Why do you write?
God has opened so many doors for me to pursue this dream, and every day is a step in faith.
Who is your main character, and how did you choose that name?
My main characters are Caleb Weaver, an astronomy professor on sabbatical, and Jessica Daniels, an East Coast wedding planner. The Weaver family is one of the original families of Wild Rose Ridge, so I wanted to give my hero a name that was equally as timeless and stable. As the two characters are such close friends, and I knew there would be more than a couple awkward incidents in this story, Jess’s name and character were inspired by Jess from the TV show New Girl.
What is your work schedule like when you’re writing a book?
I try to keep to a schedule and separate writing time from other business items, but I often end up bounding between projects on any given day.
What is the hardest part of being an author?
As an indie author, I often feel the struggle of having to wear so many hats: author, marketer, publisher, editor, graphic designer… It can be a lot, but I try and give myself time and space to focus on each one when need be.
What’s the best part of your author’s life?
I love that I get to do something creative. My background is in geological engineering, which oddly enough involves a fair bit of storytelling in itself, but it’s so much more fun getting to dream up stories all day.
What’s one thing your readers should know about you?
I only like stories with happy endings, which means I will always ensure my characters get theirs in the end.
How have you changed or grown as a writer?
I have learned so much about storytelling over the past few years. Even so, I am always learning new things about writing craft, marketing, editing, social media… Writing is a humbling endeavor, one that reminds me every day to lean into God and His strength.
What is your favorite pastime?
This past year, I’ve taken up quilting! I’ve never been much of a sewer, but then I saw some amazing quilt designs on Instagram by a booksta-grammer I follow and jumped right in. I’ve now finished my first quilt top and am currently working on two more.
Do you have other books? We’d love to know.
Yes! Last year, I released the fourth and last book in the Prescott Family Romance series, and in addition to A Midsummer Romance, I have at least two more Wild Rose Ridge books in the works. I’m also working on another series that should hopefully be released next year.
What are you working on now?
I am currently working on the rough draft of my Autumn in Wild Rose Ridge book which should come out this October.
Website: https://www.authoralyssaschwarz.com/
Link to book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CTHSMLWZ
Social media links:
Amazon Author Central: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Alyssa-Schwarz/author/B09HR9RVWV
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alyssaschwarzauthor/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authoralyssaschwarz
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21846420.Alyssa_Schwarz
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/alyssaschwarzauthor/
Grandparenting joys
When I was growing up my grandma lived with us, and she was my best friend. There were no senior citizens or adult communities. There were few nursing homes, but grandparents usually lived with their children and grandchildren. The grandparents gave the children time and wisdom, and the children gave the grandparents a sense of joy and lasting youth.
In my day, older folks sat on front porches and welcomed us kids to stop by and visit. I remember going from house to house, chatting with several retirees. I would visit my neighbors and happily listen to their tales of earlier days. Sometimes they pulled a book off the shelf and read it to me, including an encyclopedia.
Since then, too often the generations have become segregated, and I think that’s been detrimental to our society. The older generation is separated into senior living subdivisions, housing, and senior care homes, far from the joy and exuberance of little ones. Little ones miss out on quality time and wisdom the older generation can offer. And the parents are caught in the middle trying to find babysitters to manage their busy schedules. All generations have lost in such a system.
My four granddaughters were born halfway around the world, in South Africa. Now they worldschool—travel the world and learn—and I travel to wherever they are to experience the world with them. My daughter and I also make a point of FaceTiming on a regular basis, and everyone is blessed! The grandchildren enjoy story time, jokes, games, and conversation filled with love and care. I get my love bucket filled to the brim and overflow with joy, laughter, and happiness. And the parents get a few moments of peace and quiet… sometimes.
I love to bridge the gap, create a lifetime link of love and lasting memories, and have many deep inter-generational relationships. I hope you will too. If you’re a parent, reach out to the older generation and invite them into your a busy family life. If you are a grandparent, reach out to a young family and become a part of their lives. Will be glad you did.
To read my story and a hundred other inspiring stories, get Chicken Soup for the Soul: Grandparents.