Meet author Beth Vogt
Beth K. Vogt believes God’s best often waits behind the doors marked “Never.” Both a Christy Award and an ACFW Carol Award winner, Beth is the author of ten contemporary romance novels and novellas. Her first women’s fiction novel, Things I Never Told You, releases May 8, 2018 from Tyndale House Publishers.
Tell us about your newest book.
Things I Never Told You asks the question: Is family always worth fighting for? It’s been ten years since Payton Thatcher’s twin sister died in an accident, leaving the entire family to cope in whatever ways they could. No longer half of a pair, Payton reinvents herself as a partner in a successful party-planning business and is doing just fine – as long as she manages to hold her memories and her family at arm’s length.
What genre do you focus on and why?
This is book one in the Thatcher Sisters Series and marks my debut in women’s fiction. Before this, I wrote contemporary romance. Two years ago, as I was writing the final novel in my destination wedding series, I prayed about my direction as a novelist. I determined that I wanted to transition to women’s fiction. I also switched publishers, and am now with Tyndale House Publishers.
Why do you write? What drives you?
One of the reasons I love writing women’s fiction is because it delves into the relationships between women: sisters, mothers and daughters, best friends. I believe life is complicated – that relationships are complicated – and that God steps into our lives with the truth and says, “I have more for you than this.” Writing is also one of my opportunities to reflect God to the world.
Who is your main character, and how did you choose that name?
Payton Thatcher became a “twinless twin” when her identical twin sister, Pepper, died ten years ago. I named her after Peyton Manning, one of my favorite football players, but with an “a” instead of an “e”.
What does a day in your writing world look like?
Interrupted. My writing day looks interrupted. Sometimes I get up early, say at 4 a.m., and I write for a couple of hours before my husband and youngest daughter get up. Sometimes I stay up late and write until midnight. And I write throughout the day – in between doing errands, or letting the dog out, or maybe catching lunch with a friend. Sometimes my grandgirls visit, and they do a “couch” picnic, where I give them snacks on a little tray, and they watch a movie and I write.
What is the hardest part of being an author? Why?
For me, the hardest part is balancing my real life and my writing life. Of course, I always want to be a good writer – a getting-better-at-my-craft writer. But, I’m a relationship-oriented person and I like to be available to my family and friends. I also work on deadline and I’m usually writing one book and getting ready to market another. So balancing all of those competing demands is challenging.
What’s the best part of your author’s life? Why?
I love connecting with other writers and encouraging or mentoring them, as well as celebrating their successes. I also love connecting with readers and talking story with them finding out what’s going on in their lives.
What is the craziest thing you’ve experienced as an author?
Okay … the first thing that came to mind was when I was writing nonfiction. At the time, I was an editor and I was also writing magazine articles. I was attending a conference and someone asked me what I wrote. I told him and when he found out I didn’t write books, he said, “Well, you’re not a real author then.”
STUNNED SILENCE.
It never, ever occurred to me that someone would think that.
What are you most proud of?
As an author? I used to think winning awards would be significant – and that has happened, and yes, it means a lot. But when I hear from a reader that one of my books has touched their heart or changed them in some way … it’s not that I’m proud of that … but that’s why I write … because I hope God can use my writing in a way the encourages or helps someone.
What is your favorite pastime?
I love grabbing two cameras – one for me, one for my husband – and going for a long walk or hike and taking photos. I also am the (un)official photographer for my daughter’s high school and club volleyball teams. That’s a lot of fun too.
Do you have other books? We’d love to know.
Things I Never Told Youis my 12th book, including novels and novellas, and one nonfiction book, and my first women’s fiction. There will be two other books in this series.
What are you working on now?
I’m writing the second book in the Thatcher Sister Series. Each of the Thatcher Sisters – Johanna, Jillian, and Payton – is the main character of a book.
Website: http://bethvogt.com/
Link to book: http://bethvogt.com/beths-books/
Social media links:
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorBethKVogt/
https://www.pinterest.com/beth_vogt/
https://www.instagram.com/bethkvogt/
Meet Larry W. Timm
Larry W. Timm is a husband, father, and preaching minister. He loves creating stories with heart, soul, and high doses of adrenaline.
Tell us about your newest book.
Murder for Emily’s Sake is a story about how the gift of life is not only God’s most sacred gift, but one of His most fragile as well. The story follows the lives of three women being stalked by a man who blames them for the death of his teenage daughter, Emily. On a moonlit night in Wichita, Kansas, a tormented father stands by the grave of his teenage daughter, Emily, and makes a chilling vow to avenge her death. Once he gets his hands on the three women he holds responsible for his daughter’s death, they will regret the day they met Emily outside the abortion clinic. He will expose a dark secret. He will bury them, as he buried Emily. Bury them alive. And after their caskets are in the ground, they will die…for Emily’s sake.
What genre do you focus on and why?
I write suspense fiction because that is what I like to read. I love the tension, danger, action, and twists and turns of suspense. The old axion is “write what you know.” My wife would probably agree that is why I don’t write romance.
Why do you write? What drives you?
I love the power of story and that love drives me to put my heart and soul into crafting stories that will illustrate truth. Our Lord Jesus used stories—many of them quite gritty and suspenseful—to grab people by both sides of their brains and engage them with truth that called for action and response. I am intrigued by the task of communicating God’s truths, whether it be by preaching, teaching, or writing. Yes, I want to entertain in a way that holds a reader’s attention, but I also want to bring them face-to-face with truth that leaves them thinking.
Who is your main character, and how did you choose that name?
Lindsay Birk is the main character (but there are several other characters who are major characters also). I’ve dedicated this book to my daughter, Jayne. Lindsay is her middle name.
What does a day in your writing world look like?
My responsibilities as a pastor keep me busy, so I carve out time to write wherever I can find it. Those times seem to be on evenings (when I’m home) and on my day off (Friday). But when I do get to write, I just start and “let ‘er rip.” I don’t outline or prepare any plot plan in advance, so I will write for a while, then go back and revise, interspersed with pacing, mumbling, and several unnecessary trips to the fridge. Often, I will stop to think about something that comes up in the process of writing whatever chapter I’m working on, and do some research to make it better.
What is the hardest part of being an author? Why?
I suppose this changes from time to time, but I’d say the hardest part of being an author for me right now is finding ways to market and promote my book. A close second would be finding ways to engage people so they will be as passionate about reading my book as I was about writing it.
What’s the best part of your author’s life? Why?
I love writing and revising. It really gets my juices flowing! Seeing a story idea take shape and get into the hands and hearts of readers is wonderful. I love to process of writing, but I don’t write just to write, I write to be read. So, when someone tells me they’re reading my book, it thrills me.
What are you most proud of?
Being my wife’s husband, my children’s dad, and my Lord’s follower.
What is your favorite pastime?
Spending time with my family and reading are my favorite things. I’m also a fan on the Kansas City Royals and the Minnesota Vikings, though both teams test my emotional stability and mental well-being.
What are you working on now? We’d love to know.
I am in the process of revising my second stand-alone novel and hope to pitch it to a publisher soon. It is about the persecuted church and the cost many pay to follow Jesus.
Website: www.booksbylarrywtimm
Link to book: there are links on my website
Social media links: Twitter: @larrywtimm
Meet author Jayme Mansfield
Jayme H. Mansfield is an author, artist, and educator. Her award-winning novels, Chasing the Butterfly and RUSH, are book club favorites and Amazon bestsellers. Her stories weave artistic, visual imagery with compelling plots and captivating characters. Romance, nuggets from the past, and timeless truths provide the fiber to make her novels rich and memorable.
Jayme lives in Lakewood, Colorado, where she and her husband have survived raising three hungry, hockey-playing sons. Currently, a very needy Golden Retriever runs the roost. When Jayme isn’t writing, she teaches art to children and adults at her long-time art studio, Piggy Toes.
Tell us about your newest book.
I grew up hearing the tales about my great-great grandmother and her participation in the Oklahoma Land Run of 1893. Though deeply rooted in research and family history, RUSH is the fictional account of this determined and faithful woman who played a part in the making of the American frontier. I’m honored that RUSH won the 2017 Illumination Gold Medal Award for Christian Fiction and is currently one of three finalists for the prestigious Colorado Book Award. Here’s the back cover copy for a peek into the story and you can catch the beautiful book trailer at this link, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lbdg6w0c3JA.
Mary Louisa Roberts won the race of a lifetime … or so she thought.
In competition with desperate homesteaders, ruthless land seekers, and a sheriff determined to see her fail, Mary rides out on a horse to strike her claim in the Oklahoma Land Rush of 1893. When she finally thrusts her flag into the dirt, 160 acres becomes her own. But with that claim, she risks more than she could ever imagine. A naïve school teacher and young mother abandoned by her hard-drinking, gold-seeking husband—whom she believes to be dead—Mary is faced with letting go of a past riddled with loss, hardship, and reminders that a woman isn’t capable of surviving on her own.
Daniel McKenzie, an illustrative journalist sent on assignment to document the race, has his own past to forget. Bound by a lost love and guilt from a haunting event in the streets of Boston, he wonders whether he will ever know happiness again.
Will Mary’s and Daniel’s stubborn and independent spirits keep them mired in the past? Or will two broken hearts find forgiveness and love in the wild plains of the Midwest?
What genre do you focus on and why?
Historical fiction has a special place in my heart. I believe the past has a magical way of drawing us in—a reminder that we are a part of it. I also love the learning and wisdom that comes from researching for historical fiction. The bunny trails can become a tremendous distraction from meeting my daily word count, but oh, how fun the adventure!
Why do you write? What drives you?
At my core, I am a storyteller and have been since I was a little girl. Once the spark was lit over ten years ago to actually write novels, my passion was solidified. I’m driven by the ever-present seeds of stories flitting around in my mind—characters, plots, settings, themes, and the need to make sense of life through expressing with words.
Who is your main character, and how did you choose that name?
Mary Louisa Johnston Roberts is actually the real name of my great-great grandmother. Often names are changed in fiction, but in this case, it felt right to use her given name and my relatives agreed. I don’t think she would have minded either as I believe the story does her justice.
What does a day in your writing world look like?
My favorite days are when I get up early, head over to my studio office, set the music, and write, write, write—often until the sun sets. On those days, when I have the discipline to ignore the demands of answering emails, posting on social media, and jumping on the plethora of marketing opportunities, I am in my most happy place. Admittedly, I like marketing and promotion and know it’s an essential part of being an author. Ideally, the days that I add quality and substantial content to my work-in-progress, and also tackle a handful of top priority business items, then it’s a day well spent. Striking this balance continually proves to be the most difficult part of being an author … oh, and waiting for responses from publishers and editors.
What’s the best part of your author’s life? Why?
Besides the moments when I am lost in the “writing zone” the friendships I’ve gained on this journey bring tremendous joy. From being the guest author at book clubs and speaking events, attending conferences, participating in writing groups, social media interaction, and simply chatting about writing one-on-on with a fellow book lover at a coffee shop, these relationships bring immense richness and fulfillment to my life.
What is the craziest thing you’ve experienced as an author?
With the release of RUSH last fall, I hosted a western launch party at my art studio. I had no idea so many people would attend! The space was shoulder-to-shoulder with friends, family, and new acquaintances—all to support and celebrate a book—imagine that! I’m blessed to have the encouragement of many people, but to experience that level of support and love bowled me over.
What are you most proud of?
I’m proud that I’ve remained true and steadfast to my passion for writing books. It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but I believe it’s my calling. Often not easy, but balancing being a wife, mother, daughter, friend, and enjoying my other passions in art and education, remind me of my many blessings.
What is your favorite pastime?
Time spent painting in my studio, walking my Golden Retriever, Bella, playing tennis, and reading for pleasure are the icings on the cake. As my three boys (17, 19, and 23) are nearly all out of the house, the shape and form of my days are changing. It’s sad, yet inevitable—perhaps more time for my husband and I to renew hobbies that have been stowed away in the midst of the madness with a houseful of hockey-playing, rowdy boys.
Do you have other books? We’d love to know.
Chasing the Butterfly is an award-winning, lovely story set in Paris and Provence from 1928-1960. It follows the life of an artist as her innocence of childhood slips away and love is lost and found Readers swear they can smell the lavender as pages turn!
Seasoned, a slip-time romance from contemporary back to World War II through the Vietnam War, is complete and waiting patiently on several editor’s desks.
What are you working on now?
My new endeavor is so exciting! I’m collaborating with a good friend who is in the business of art forgery detection and authentication of fine art to research and write a series filled with twists and turns, art history, and a fascinating female protagonist. My learning curve is to the moon while the story development is stretching every writing muscle.
Website: www.jaymehmansfield.com
Link to book: RUSH – https://www.amazon.com/Rush-Jayme-Mansfield/dp/1946016292/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1522088874&sr=8-1&keywords=rush+jayme+h+mansfield
Chasing the Butterfly – https://www.amazon.com/Chasing-Butterfly-Jayme-Mansfield/dp/1941103375/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1522089052&sr=1-1&keywords=chasing+the+butterfly
Social media links:
FB – https://www.facebook.com/JaymeHMansfieldAuthor/
Twitter – @JaymeMansfield
Instagram – JaymeMansfield
Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.com/jaymemansfield/boards/
Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&query=jayme+mansfield
Meet Janet S. Grunst
Janet was raised in a military family. She’s a wife, mother of two sons, and grandmother of eight. Janet has worked in the banking industry, as a freelance writer, and for an international ministry, Community Bible Study, most recently as the EA to the Executive Director. She continues to serve as a leader in her local class. She and her husband live in Williamsburg, Virginia, part of the historic triangle, (Jamestown, Williamsburg, Yorktown).
Tell us about your newest book.
A Heart Set Free is set in 1770, pre-Revolutionary War Virginia and its theme is forgiveness. A Scottish woman indentures herself to leave her troubles behind in Scotland and start a new life in the colonies. A widowed planter needs help raising his two children so purchases her indenture.
What genre do you focus on and why?
Historical Romance. Who doesn’t like romance and I’ve always had a passion for history. Unfortunately the emphasis on teaching world and US history has declined in recent decades. To paraphrase, George Santayana, Those who do not learn from history are prone to repeat it.
Why do you write? What drives you?
My love of writing fiction grew out of a desire to share stories that communicate the truths of the Christian faith, and entertain, as well as bring inspiration, healing, and hope to the reader.
Who is your main character, and how did you choose that name?
Heather Douglas. It’s a Scottish name that reminded me of the lovely flowers that grow abundantly across he Scottish moors.
What does a day in your writing world look like?
It begins with prayer and Bible study. Some time is devoted to marketing and developing my platform.
What is the hardest part of being an author? Why?
The marketing. Finding successful and economical ways to increase a books exposure is very challenging.
What’s the best part of your author’s life? Why?
Writer’s manuscripts are like children. We pour our time, love, faith, insight, imagination, discipline, and hope into them. We want to see them mature into a creation we can be proud of, and that others will benefit from and enjoy.
What is your favorite pastime?
Reading
Do you have other books? We’d love to know.
A Heart For Freedom releases October 1, 2018. It’s a stand-alone story that picks up in 1775 with the characters in A Heart Set Free.
What are you working on now?
The third story in the trilogy, a stand-alone story that begins in 1781.
Website: https://JanetGrunst.com
Link to book:
Social media links:
http://colonialquills.blogspot.com/
Facebook Janet Grunst, Author
https://twitter.com/janetgrunst
The Spirit of America!
I hope your Fourth of July celebration is full of family, friendship, fun, and fantastic fireworks! America truly is a great country, with people who are generous, patriotic, creative, industrious, and more. We are nation of heroes, a country who helps other countries and other people who are need help. We are a country of traditions and a culture that has a Judeo-Christian foundation at its roots. All this makes our country strong.
When I travel to other countries and see what they’re dealing with—the corruption, the excess or the lack of things we take for granted—its typical for me to breathe a sigh of relief when I get home to the United States of America and am again able enjoy all that we have. My husband and I have been to more than 40 countries, and we always return home with a new found appreciation for America.
But the crazy twenty-four-hour news cycle, bias media, and flawed system can cause us to feel cynical, even disillusioned and angry at times. It is then we need to find a little encouragement, a little inspiration that can align our thinking back to center and give us a fresh and positive perspective about our amazing nation once again.
Recently my story about serving as a juror was published in Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Spirit of America. It’s called “Summoned to Court” and is about an experience I had on a jury, a lesson that showed me what an amazing judicial system we really have. The other stories in this book can inspire our patriotism to thrive again and help realign our thinking as well, so I’m proud to be part of it.
If you need a little inspiration about our country or the future as a nation, I encourage you to pick up Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Spirit of America.
What has helped you to keep your perspective on our great nation? I’d like to know!
Meet Donna Gawell
As a retired educator, Donna used the gift of time to reinvent herself as an author and genealogist. She and her husband enjoy making memories with their family in Westerville, Ohio, and exploring the culture and history of foreign countries. She also volunteers with Samaritan’s Purse and is a Church Coordinator for International Friendships, a Christian outreach to international students at OSU.
Tell us about your newest book.
In the Shadow of Salem is a historical novel about the life of Mehitabel Braybrooke, born in 1652 in Ipswich, Massachusetts. Life did not start off well for her as the illegitimate child of an indentured servant. Her father was a prosperous but married Puritan who raised her in his home. Her stepmother Joan believed Mehitabel was responsible for her inability to conceive, and their relationship was contentious. At age sixteen, Mehitabel falsely accused her cousin of attempted rape causing her to plummet into the dreadful status of a despised servant at a neighbor’s home. Foolishness and bad judgment caused her life to unravel further when she accidentally burned down her master’s house, a capital crime. After her trial, Mehitabel was “married off,” and her life began to improve until the year 1692, the year of the Salem Witchcraft Trials.
What genre do you focus on and why?
I love historical fiction as I am also a genealogist. Historical fiction allows the writer to bring real characters to life making history appealing. I love how authors can weave details and history in a story.
Why do you write? What drives you?
The stories of my ancestors inspire me to write as their history will be lost if not written down. I find names and dates on family trees interesting, but rather meaningless if nothing is known about them as a person. I consider these stories a gift to my entire family and future generations.
Who is your main character, and how did you choose that name?
Mehitabel Braybrooke is the main character in “In the Shadow of Salem.” She is my ninth great-grandmother. I think her name is very unique!
What does a day in your writing world look like?
I write almost every day and treat it like a full-time job. Since I write historical fiction and history articles, the time spent with research far exceeds my actual writing time. I love the entire process and have to force myself to leave the computer and my books so that I don’t become a “hermit author.”
What is the hardest part of being an author? Why?
As an author, I am challenged with being more of left brain person. Writing historical or travel articles comes easily while fiction is a definite challenge, but I’ve discovered it can be learned to some degree. Writing historical fiction is an excellent way for me to combine both worlds. The thought of writing pure fiction is almost frightening!
What’s the best part of your author’s life? Why?
I love the entire process and the feedback from readers. It is so exciting to hear from people who share my enthusiasm on a topic, especially those who are looking forward to the release of “In the Shadow of Salem.” I also love receiving kind responses from the readers of my website.
What is the craziest thing you’ve experienced as an author?
My daughters’ reaction to the publication of my books has been surprising. Although they had never read my writing, they didn’t seem to be terribly impressed until I received a publishing contract, and then their eyes lit up a bit. My youngest is a language arts teacher and loves sharing my progress with her students. I think sometimes our family takes us for granted.
What are you most proud of?
As an author, I’m most proud of and grateful for the army of helpful friends all over Europe, the United States, Canada, Africa, and Australia. Hundreds of people have helped me in my research. Several noted historians from New England provided me with rare documents about Mehitabel, and my current work, which takes place in Poland during the Holocaust, will have a record-setting acknowledgment chapter. A wonderful priest, who is also Niwiska’s historian, provides me with resources, such as the concentration camp testimonies of the people who are characters in my story.
What is your favorite pastime?
I still love genealogy but find so little time to research. I knew nothing about any ancestor before my grandparents, so genealogy allowed me not only to go back as far as the 1600’s but recently I also found a huge number of cousins from Sweden and Poland. I’ve been to visit all of them in three different villages, and it was the trip of a lifetime.
Do you have other books? We’d love to know.
After reflecting on my success uncovering the genealogy of my immigrant ancestors and then finding relatives in Europe, I decided to write a book, Travel Back to Your Roots to inspire others so that they could have the same experience I did. It teaches basic and European genealogy, how to search records in Europe, how to locate “lost’ relatives, how to contact them, and then how to arrange a family heritage trip to Europe.
I also wrote The ABC’s of Crime and Punishment in Puritan New England. It is a perfect non-fiction companion to “In the Shadow of Salem” and is filled with interesting facts and history.
What are you working on now?
I am close to finishing the first draft of a historical novel about the WWII experiences in Niwiska, a village in Poland. It tells the story of some real villagers who were Christians. Hitler built the largest SS camp outside of Germany in Niwiska and then moved his top-secret research site for the V1 and V2 missiles to the area. The Nazis evacuated the residents, and the majority became forced laborers. Many, at the risk of death, assisted the Jews who were hiding in the forests near their village and also were partisans in the Polish underground army. This story of courage, kindness, and survival has never been told before. Niwiska is my ancestral village, so the story is very dear to me.
Website: www.DonnaGawell.com