Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Back, Steven Rogers!

There is No Such Thing as Ordinary

Back in the 1990’s, my children were young, my mortgage long, and my business career developing. My faith journey was a fledgling eagle, still confined to the nest. It’s safe to describe my mental condition as “perpetually stressed, with short periods of serenity.” One morning, I was waiting in front of a hotel when a cab driver asked if I needed a ride. When I explained that the valet was delivering my car from the parking lot, she flashed a wide smile and said, “Have a blessed day.” Sitting here today, I still remember how my body relaxed with her words.

Now, incredibly, we’re in the year 2025. My business career is over, and I’m a Christian novelist. Like most writers, I dream about creating bestselling books and changing the lives of thousands of people around the world. I invest my time and resources trying to break out beyond my immediate circle of readers. Until recently, I frequently felt frustrated and disappointed about not being a “bigger name” in the Christian book market.

However, earlier this year my perspective changed. Shortly after the release of my second novel, A Year

in the Room, one reader sent me a message saying, “I think I’m a better man because I read this book.” A few months later, another reader told me “This story is my life. Thank you for writing it.” As positive as those comments were, I immediately experienced shame—because of my ambition, I was downplaying the existing opportunities God was providing to reach people. I thought back to that cab driver and her four simple words. She provided two seconds of ministry that has endured for close to thirty years.

Because I’m a writer, my brain started working overtime and I launched a period of self-evaluation and introspection. While the details are complicated, when my reading, journaling, and discussions with others ended, I had a new guiding principle for my ministry—there is no such thing as ordinary. While I should have learned this earlier in life, I now know that every breath, every action, and every thought belong to God. Every interaction is an opportunity to testify on His behalf.

What does this mean to me? Well, it means I stop worrying about selling a million books and creating an international mission field. Instead, I accept the opportunities in front of me and trust God’s leadership. This is true not only with my writing, but also in my day-to-day interactions with others. I can always offer a kind word, helping hand, or listening ear.

Would I welcome the opportunity to reach a larger audience? Sure. Would I love someday to have a charitable foundation promoting worldwide literacy? Yes. In the meantime, I’ll strive to remain unceasingly in God’s presence and satisfy His will for my life. Like the cab driver all those years ago, I will remember that everything I do, all day, every day, is ministry.

About A Year in the Room

Reluctant pilgrim Ben Cahill steps off a flight from Israel facing an unrelenting list of challenges—a fractured family, no job, no place to live, and a dubious grip on his newly-found sobriety. He has no plans for the next steps in his life. Ben starts over, settling into a small, rented room and working three part-time jobs. As his first year of recovery unfolds, Ben fights an unrelenting spiritual war against his personal demons and the consequences of his past actions.

Can a chain-smoking, no-nonsense grandmother, a retired navy cook, a crusty old Scotsman, and an unexpected pilgrimage to the legendary Scottish Island of Iona, clear away the wreckage of Ben’s life and lead him to hope? Join Ben on his journey in this sequel to the award-winning novel Into the Room.

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

About Steven Rogers:

Steven Rogers is an award-winning Christian author of the “Reluctant Pilgrim” series. His award-winning second novel, A Year in the Room was published in November 2024. The book is sequel to his award-winning debut novel, Into the Room. He lives in Richmond, Virginia with his wife of thirty-nine years, Kathy.

Social Media Links:
Website: http://www.steven-rogers.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StevenRogersWriter/
Instagram: @stevenrogerswriter

Today in History

Today in History

Today is my birthday. Those who know me well, know that I commandeer the whole month and sprinkle celebrations throughout. This year, I decided to gift myself with a vacation, so I’ve taken the whole week off, and we’re in Vermont, in one of our favorite small towns nestled in the White Mountains.

I was born the night Alan Shepard went into space. My big moment was actually five hours before his. I arrived at 2:32 AM, and he didn’t make it to space until 7:30 AM.

May 5th is also Cinco de Mayo, and we typically go to the local Mexican restaurant for my birthday and pretend the festivities are for me. In reality, the celebration is a commemoration of Mexico’s victory over the French in the Battle of Puebla in 1862. Here in the US, it has become a day to celebration Mexican culture and heritage. In Mexico, the holiday is primarily celebrated in the state of Puebla.

On May 5, 1973, Secretariat won the Kentucky Derby on his way to grabbing the Triple Crown (which

includes the Belmont Stakes and the Preakness). I recently found out that every horse in this year’s Derby is descended from Secretariat. Quite an accomplishment!

Perhaps less exciting for some of us, on this date in 1904, baseball player Cy Young registered the first perfect game (which means no one made it to first base). He played for the Boston Americans (later renamed the Red Sox).

In women’s history, Mary Kries was awarded a patent on May 5, 1809 for a new technique in weaving straw with silk and thread to make hats. The patent was signed by President James Madison. She is the third woman in history to receive a patent.

I share my birthday with Afonso III, King of Portugal (1210), Rupert, King of Germany (1352), and Leopold II, Grand Duke of Tuscany in addition to British-American scientist John William Draper, Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard, German philosopher Karl Marx, and American John Stetson, inventor of the favored headgear of cowboys, the Stetson, and the lesser known “Boss of the Plains” hat.

______________________

Spies & Sweethearts – on sale!

She wants to do her part. He’s just trying to stay out of the stockade. Will two agents deep behind enemy lines find capture… or love?

1942. Emily Strealer is tired of being told what she can’t do. Wanting to prove herself to her older sisters and do her part for the war effort, the high school French teacher joins the OSS and trains to become a covert operative. And when she completes her training, she finds herself parachuting into occupied France with her instructor to send radio signals to the Resistance.

Major Gerard Lucas has always been a rogue. Transferring to the so-called “Office of Dirty Tricks” to escape a court-martial, he poses as a husband to one of his trainees on a dangerous secret mission. But when their cover is blown after only three weeks, he has to flee with the young schoolteacher to avoid Nazi arrest.

Running for their lives, Emily clings to her mentor’s military experience during the harrowing three-hundred-mile trek to neutral Switzerland. And while Gerard can’t bear the thought of his partner falling into German hands, their forged papers might not be enough to get them over the border.

Can the fugitive pair receive God’s grace to elude the SS and discover the future He intended?

Purchase Link:https://books2read.com/u/m0Od9l

Photo Credits:

Birthday Cake: Pixabay/Thomas

Horses: Pixabay/Hancock707

John B. Stetson: By Unknown photographer - Twenty-second Annual catalogue of John B. Stetson University. Public Domain

Fiction Friday: New Releases in Christian Fiction

May 2025 New ReleasesMore in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website

Biblical Romance:

Mantle by Dana McNeely -- Faith. Redemption. The cost of leadership. Will the next generation rise to the challenge and uphold the legacy of Elijah, or will they falter under the weight of the mantle? (Biblical Romance from Mountain Brook Ink)

Children’s Middle-grade/Chapter book:

Dixie Randolph and the Mystery of Willow Creek by MaryAnn Diorio -- A twelve-year-old girl learns of a plot to kill her father and risks her life to save his.(Children’s Middle-grade/Chapter book from TopNotch Press)

Contemporary Romance:

Meet Me on Lilac Lane by Andrea Christenson -- He was her late husband's best friend, but for him she'd always been the one. (Contemporary Romance from Sunrise Publishing)

Anxious For Love by Gina Conroy -- She’s anxious about love. He’s built a career on it— what could possibly go wrong? Fans of witty banter, reluctant allies, and slow-burn tension with a splash of reality TV romance will swoon over this feel-good romcom with heart, humor, and a happily ever after. (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)

Mountain Homecoming by Susanne Dietze -- After months away, architect Wyatt Teague returns home only to find himself named a guardian to his late friends’ orphaned twins…alongside his ex-fiancée, Natalie Dalton. But caring for them together proves to be a challenge: Wyatt’s job is in the city, and Natalie can’t leave her family’s apple orchard. As they vow to make this new partnership work, old feelings between them quickly resurface. But when Natalie finds out the true reason behind Wyatt’s abandonment, can she trust him with the babies…and her heart? (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

Hearts Aweigh by Shannon Sue Dunlap -- Cheeky septuagenarian matchmakers, the "Shippers" are on a mission to secure a dreamy Mr. Right for Abby O'Brien, a sunny, optimistic childcare worker for Monarch Cruises. She loves her job looking after the children of vacationing parents, but harbors one unfulfilled desire: to be a wife and a mother. With his shy five-year-old daughter in tow, divorced elitist lawyer Spencer Randolph Masterson has anything but romance in mind. His goal on the MS Buckingham is to persuade his mother, Daisy, to leave her ridiculous cruise ship lifestyle and return to New Orleans. But Daisy isn't interested in life on land. Besides, she and her matchmaking posse have a marriage to arrange. (Contemporary Romance from Kregel Publications)

Sometimes You Stay by Liz Johnson For digital content creator Cretia Martin, home is wherever her carry-on suitcase lands. She’s never been interested in settling in one spot—after all, houses are just places that collect junk and tie you down. But when she literally bumps into local dog breeder Finn Chaffey on Prince Edward Island and all of the tools of her trade end up in the harbor, she can’t exactly leave until she gets things sorted out. Finn is horrified by the part he played in the accident and offers to help, arranging for Cretia to stay with a friend at the beautiful Red Door Inn. The longer Cretia is forced to remain in one place, the more she discovers what she’s been missing with life on the road—and the more she wants to see Finn and his business succeed. But helping him means staying put, the one thing she always swore she wouldn’t do, and risking the only thing she’s never put on the line—her heart. (Contemporary Romance from Revell – a division of Baker Publishing Group)

A Valentine for a Vet by Carolyn Miller Veterinarian Jessie James loves her dog, loves her work, loves her family. She's got a lot on her plate, which means there's no time for a certain dishy teammate of her pro hockey-player brother, despite what others may think. Tom Chavez knows he's in the friend zone, but isn't one to give up too easily, especially when he's concerned that this hardworking vet might be working herself into an early grave. When tragedy strikes the vet practice, he's going to do all he can to show her he's more than just a shoulder to cry on, and that he cares about more than her skills with his dog. (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)

No Place Like Home by Betsy St. Amant -- Magnolia Bay’s development director, Cade Landry, would do anything for his town—and his family. So when the mayor—who also happens to be his father—decides to retire, he talks Cade into running for his seat. But Cade is already up to his dimpled cheeks in the town’s post-hurricane revitalization fundraiser—Magnolia Days, featuring a flashy Cajun Circus. If Cade can’t put the bay back on the map as a tourist town, he’ll let the whole community down…and worse yet, his father. Rosalyn Dupree is a famous aerialist with a secret—actually, quite a few of them. Much to Cade’s relief, she agrees to return to Magnolia Bay for the first time in years as a headliner for the Cajun Circus. But neither her charming former school rival Cade nor her parents know she’s broke, in debt, and nursing a back injury...among other things. Despite her best efforts at resisting, sparks fly between Cade and Rosalyn as they work together on the circus fundraiser. But when everyone’s secrets are revealed and worlds collide, will Rosalyn find forgiveness and restoration in a town being rebuilt? Or will there never be anywhere to truly call home? (Contemporary Romance from Sunrise Publishing)

Recipe for Love by Penny Zeller -- Rumors started flying when all of the businesses on Main Street in Cloverdale Falls sold last month. Bakery owner Maisie Carpenter finds herself appointed to uncover the mysterious new owner’s identity, and in the process hopefully allay some of the residents' fears. What happens when she solves the mystery and discovers the man in charge of purchasing the businesses is the very man she has recently fallen in love with? (Contemporary Romance from Maplebrook Publishing)

Contemporary/Women’s Fiction:

Worthless Treasures by Mary L Hamilton -- Professional organizer Diamond Lange helps clients declutter their homes and let go of what no longer serves them. But when her mother, Eva, suddenly passes away, Diamond is left with a house overflowing with junk and a promise she regrets making. Although Diamond considers everything in her mother's house trash, Eva left behind a very specific list of five seemingly worthless objects. Eva requested these items be passed on to others who will cherish them as much as she did. In fulfilling a promise to her late mother, Diamond learns that worth isn’t always measured in dollars and cents; sometimes it’s measured in the heart. (Contemporary Women’s Fiction, Independently Published)

General Contemporary:

The Way Home by Heidi Chiavaroli -- Two lost souls, one lighthouse journey . . . and an unforgettable search for the way home. The Way Home is the second book in the Lights of Acadia series by two-time Carol award-winning author Heidi Chiavaroli. If you like romantic Women's Fiction, you'll love this thoughtful novel steeped in family secrets, second chances, and boundless compassion. (General Contemporary, Independently Published)

BirdSong: Stories of Promise and Hope by Sara Davison, Deb Elkink, Stacy Monson, Chautona Havig, Cathe Swanson, Milla Holt and Eleanor Bertin-- From unexpected journeys into the future and the past to a life-changing weekend, a spontaneous road trip, family trauma, the birth of a bookstore, and a potentially disastrous wedding, the men and women in these stories must deal with everything life is throwing at them. Which is a lot. The turmoil and craziness challenge each of them to believe the promise of God's timing—that every winter, no matter how dark and cold, will be followed by a season of birdsong. (General Contemporary, Independently Published)

General Contemporary/Split-Time:

Gideon’s Book by Maureen Miller -- This powerful time-split contemporary novel explores race, faith, love, and self-discovery, and touches on themes of adoption and abortion as well as the beauty of marital love. (General Contemporary (split-time) from Redemption Press)

General Historical:

Salome by Jenifer Jennings -- Salome, the youngest of Jesus’siblings, learns to find her voice under Jesus’ guidance, but her bold defiance against the Pharisees leads her into the hands of Roman persecution. Explore the passion, conflict, and sacrifice of the early church in Salome, Book 7 of the Servant Siblings series. (General Historical, Independently Published)

Historical Mystery:

Show Me Skulduggery by Ellen E Withers -- Death comes knocking once again in Show Me Skulduggery, the captivating third book in the award-winning Show Me Mysteries series. These mysteries involve two eras, early 1900s, and contemporary times, featuring a famous Saddlebred horse stable in Mexico, Missouri. Intrigue, deception, underhanded behavior, and murder will keep you turning pages. (Historical Mystery from Scrivenings Press)

Historical Romance:

A Slight Change of Plans by Denise M. Colby -- She believes she doesn’t matter. His scars have made him an unlovable outcast. As Jenny settles into the welcoming, but small, town of Washton, she can’t help but come across Ren, especially since his daily constitutional takes him along the same path. It doesn’t take long for them to form a connection that breaks down the walls erected by years of hurt. But when strange occurrences unsettle the townspeople, it seems their chance at happiness might be at risk. Will Jenny and Ren discover that they’re enough—for God, and each other? (Historical Romance from Scrivenings Press)

Perfect by Kimberly Keagan -- When the perfect life unravels, can love turn the page to a new beginning? In the glittering era of the Gilded Age, the heirs of Philadelphia’s Denwall Department Stores navigate family expectations, relentless ambition, and unexpected love. (Historical Romance, Independently Published)

Sporting For Love by Candice Sue Patterson -- When a Boston socialite on the run gets entangled with a Maine outdoorsman, things get wild. When their weekend outing in the woods with the Appalachian Mountain Club goes terribly wrong, Ford and Juniper must decide if the lives they’ve been seeking are what they truly want or if they’re willing to risk a little adventure. (Historical Romance, Independently Published)

An Unexpected Grace by Kimberley Woodhouse and Tracie Peterson -- After a decade away, Parker Bennett returns home with a traveling troupe to perform a play based on Uncle Tom's Cabin at the Kalispell Opera House. Parker has relished his life on the road, but being home awakens long-buried emotions when he encounters his first love, Johanna St. John. Widowed for three years, Johanna devotes all her time to a demanding toddler, an injured father, and a successful millinery business. After the loss of her husband, she desires to move on, but reconnecting with her past love leaves her unsure of what lies ahead. Both committed to God's distinct calling on their lives, Johanna and Parker struggle to see how their futures can unite, and when strange things start happening around town, their second chance at a life together seems more unlikely than ever. (Historical Romance from Bethany House [Baker] Publishing)

A Troubling Suggestion by Betty Woods -- Clarisse Matthews still grieves the tragic loss of her fiancé and doubts she'll ever love anyone again. Particularly if she has to divulge the secret abolitionist ideas she keeps hidden deep inside that only her beloved knew. After the lady Luke Williams loved spurned him and married another man, he will never risk giving his heart to another woman. But when Luke's cousin is deceived by a rogue, who only Luke and Clarisse know the whole truth about, they form a reluctant alliance to protect his cousin. Their feigned attraction grows into genuine love. But will the differences between them become a wall too tall to climb or can they find a way around? (Historical Romance from Scrivenings Press)

Military Suspense:

No Time to Die by Taylor S Newport -- Australian mercenary Tyler Reid, known as "The Ghost of OZ," has a talent for evading detection, a skill that has caught the eye of multiple government agencies. When a shadowy group targets a CIA asset and her revolutionary drug ND1, the Deputy Director calls in Tyler. Eager for action, Tyler takes the job. For covert foreign operative Alexandra Romanova, freedom is a distant dream. Her deadly skills are at her boss's disposal, but she’ll use them only to escape. Her final chance hinges on retrieving ND1, but the elusive Ghost of Oz complicates things. Tyler Reid isn’t an easy mark, and the better she gets to know him, the more she questions the mission she's tasked with. Soon she faces a dire choice: kill a man she is convinced is good, or pay with her own life. In this high-stakes fight, time is running out, and the margin for error is zero. (Military Suspense from Whitewater River Publishing)

Romantic Suspense:

Rescued Heart: A Last Chance County Novel by Megan Besing -- Actress Bianca “Bia” Pearl has finally landed the headlining role that could help leave her scandalous past behind—a role that may even earn back her parents’ respect. All she has to do is stick to the script, both on and off camera. Bianca is determined to prove to the press that she’s not who they say she is…an overrated gold digger. Firefighter and former foster child Eddie Rice has always drawn the short straw in life. Now, he’s determined to help kids in need have a better future than he did. And when Eddie is selected to represent the fire station at Last Chance County’s masquerade ball, he realizes it’s the perfect opportunity to secure the mayor’s signature on a grant for a much-needed rec center. But when a case of mistaken identity and a bribe lead to Eddie and Bia being trapped together in a fire, the pair must team up to escape—and protect their futures in the process. (Romantic Suspense from Sunrise Publishing)

Midnight Offensive by Elle E Kay -- ER nurse Sadie Kline can’t shake the feeling that something is off about the man who comes into her ER late one night. But she brushes it off—until a blind date with her brother’s best friend, Craig Malone, leads to something far more complicated than old feelings and second chances. Craig, now a Homeland Security agent, is tracking a stolen biological weapon when Sadie’s unsettling experience places her on his radar. She may hold the key to identifying a dangerous suspect, and when her family is targeted, protecting her becomes more than just part of the job. As danger escalates and secrets unravel, Craig and Sadie must work together to stop a biological attack. But in a world of shifting loyalties and silent threats, trusting each other might be the most dangerous move of all. (Romantic Suspense, Independently Published)

Missing in Texas by Virginia Vaughan -- The moment FBI agent Christy Williams arrives in Mercy, Texas, determined to solve her friend’s disappearance twelve years ago, she becomes a killer’s number one target. Ignoring the threats on her life, she partners with Deputy Mike Tyner, the cousin of one of the chief suspects…and the last person to see her friend alive. As they work to investigate this cold case together, it becomes clear someone will stop at nothing to keep the past hidden. With time running out, can Mike keep Christy alive long enough to find justice for her friend…before a murderer strikes again? (Romantic Suspense from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

Suspense:

Inheritance by J.A. Webb -- Father Curtis has forsaken his vows. He has left the Order and joined the Seekers, a hidden rebellion dedicated to uncovering the truth long buried by the global church. But walking away from the Order does not mean escaping its reach. When word spreads that a copy of the True Text — the original thirty-nine books of the Creator — has surfaced on the far side of the world, Curtis, Professor Reuel, and Phillip embark on a desperate mission. If they can retrieve the artifact, it could change everything. If they fail, the truth will be lost forever. The war for truth has begun. And the Order will not suffer heretics to live. (Suspense, Independently Published)

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

Just a Piece of Stone by Mary Ann Hake -- A Jewish boy receives a special stone passed on through the generations, clear back to Bible times, and learns its history via family stories. (Children’s Middle-grade/Chapter Books)

Frazzled Moms vs Wild by Stephanie Paige King -- Two moms, one campsite, zero survival skills. Nothing's more frazzling than a family camping trip, except bringing along the neighbors and their trio of toddlers. (General Contemporary)

Forever Changed by Diana Leagh Matthews -- What would you do if you had to raise someone else's family and step into their lives? Can Caleb and Danielle let go of their painful pasts, forgive, and move forward into an uncertain future? (Contemporary/Women’s Fiction)

Mouse in Your Pocket by Janetta Fudge Messmer -- How can Jessica handle inheriting a junkyard, her common sense going out the window, and Jimmy Barnes? She doesn't, without the Lord. (Contemporary Romance)

Frayed Promises by Lynn U. Watson -- If you enjoy stories of faith in the face of society's pressures and trusting God in times of struggle, you'll love this closed-door romance that will keep you guessing until the end. (Historical Romance)

Road Trip Redemption by Becca Wierwille -- Jada talks her two older sisters into a trip to Pennsylvania to reunite Kimmy with her furry friend. But as new questions about their canine companion unravel Jada’s plans, she wonders how she’ll face Kimmy after all these years. The road ahead may be more complicated than Jada imagined. (Children’s Middle-grade/Chapter Books)

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Sherry Shindelar!

Talkshow Thursday: 

Welcome Sherry Shindelar!

I'm pleased to be visiting with Sherry Shindlar today. Learn more about this fascinating author and her books.

When did you know you wanted to be an author?

I have been in love with stories since I was a child. I’d swing for hours on my swing set, pumping my legs back and forth, dreaming up stories in my head. Even then, I had a flair for romance, creating new love interests and episodes for Star Trek’s Captain Kirk.

My favorite possession at age nine was a set of author playing cards (a matching game with photos of famous authors). I wanted to be an author when I grew up and bring stories to life on the written page, stories that would impact my readers.

What does your writing space look like?

During the winter months, I find odd and end places in the house to write. Moving to different spots helps energize my thought processes. But in the late spring through early fall, I love to write outside. My deck and backyard work well, but my favorite spot is in a park by the lake about a five minute drive my house.

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

While researching for Texas Divided, I discovered that the part of Texas where my story is set had a

castle. Robert Robson, a Scot who immigrated to Texas, built a concrete castle in the 1850’s in Colorado County. Robson’s Castle had a moat, a drawbridge, a garden on the roof, and indoor plumbing (pumps drew the water from the nearby river). Guests traveled from faraway communities to enjoy lavish champagne dinners, card parties, and balls. Unfortunately, the foundation was destroyed by a flood in 1869

What sort of research did you do for your story, and was there an exceptionally interesting tidbit you knew you had to include?

I read several books on the Civil War in Texas. Until I started Texas Divided, I didn’t know the Yankees ever invaded Texas. I also did a lot of online research on the cotton industry. One of the best moves I made was to contact the Nesbitt Library in Columbus, TX. The librarian connected me with old newspaper articles, letters, and other materials written in the 19th century about the area. However, my favorite type of research is traveling to historic places. The garden scene in Texas Divided is based upon my visit to Carnton House in Franklin, Tennessee for example. I visited three different early to mid-nineteenth century homes in Tennessee to gain information for LeBeau’s plantation in the book. However, my visit to Oklahoma and Texas was the highlight of my research. A couple of the museums had life size models of Western towns. Several of the buildings found their way into the book. I can’t wait to visit Texas again.

Tell us about your road to publication.

A visit to a historic home in the Shenandoah Valley, when my husband and I were newly married, spurred my love for history and planted the seed for a story. A few years later, I wrote the novel, then buried it in a box in my closet when it didn’t get published right away. I returned to college to earn a degree in creative writing and eventually a PhD in literature, wondering if I’d ever reconnect with the stories in my head, the ones buried deep in my heart. 

 Then, in the summer of 2019, the Lord opened my heart to fall in love with writing all over again. And it has been my daily passion ever since. I pulled out the box and unburied the past. My new writing life was born. I rewrote my first novel from scratch, then I wrote another novel, Texas Forsaken, as I waited for a YES from an agent or editor/publisher. After no’s from several of the biggest publishers (no’s because it wasn’t the right timing for a Civil War story or an Indian captive story), I felt like I was moving toward my goals at turtle speed. But God had a plan. In His perfect timing, He threw open the doors for me to receive my first book contract in June 2023, four years from the time I fell in love with writing all over again. And when it finally happened, the Lord answered my prayers beyond my expectations!

Why do you write in your particular genre?

I write Christian historical romance because I want to be able to weave my faith into my writing, I am captivated by history, and I love romance.

How do you celebrate when you finish a manuscript?

I go out to eat with my husband in one of my favorite restaurants.

What writers or books have influenced you?

Laura Frantz: Her books inspired me to fall in love with writing again and to start writing Christian historical romance. Lori Benton: Her Mountain Laurel and Shiloh books inspired me to write a story of redemption, second chances, and great love.

What books are on your nightstand right now?

Laura Frantz’s Indigo Heiress, Jamie Ogle’s As Sure as the Sea, and Gabrielle Meyers’s The Fur Trader’s Lady.

What is your next project?

I’m currently working on the third book of my Lone Star Redemption series, Texas Reclaimed. The story takes place on the Texas Frontier in 1866. After the Civil War, Ben McKenzie, a Yankee soldier with soul-deep scars, travels to Texas to make good on a promise he made to his friend who died in Andersonville at his side. After years of war and a father who wasn’t much count, Cora Scott has lost everything, except for her family’s abandoned ranch and her little brother who is half Comanche. She is determined to hold onto her ranch at all costs unless it means falling for the man whose wounds might be deeper than she can heal.

About Texas Divided:

He thought he was rescuing her from the Comanche. Now the Civil War soldier must prove he isn't the villain she thinks he is.

Driven by the looming expectation of becoming a suffocatingly proper lady, Morning Fawn is determined to escape the confines of her uncle’s plantation and return to her adoptive Comanche tribe. But with each failed attempt, her hopes dwindle, and she wonders if she'll ever find her way back home or if that world is forever lost to her.

Devon Reynolds, disillusioned by the price of affluence and the horrors of war, leaves his privileged life to join the Texas Rangers and later the cavalry. In the military service, he finds purpose . . . until he loses his wife during childbirth while he is away. In an attempt to redeem himself, he takes one last fateful mission to rescue Morning Fawn from the Comanche. But the results force him to question the righteousness of his actions and the cause he serves.

When Devon returns to Texas as a Yankee spy, his path crosses with Morning Fawn once more. Determined to save her from the prison of her uncle's house and to recover Texas from the Confederacy, Devon is drawn to her fierce spirit and unwavering resolve. But can two wounded souls, each fighting their own battles, find solace and love amidst the chaos of war?

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Texas-Divided-Sherry-Shindelar/dp/1963212134

B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/texas-divided-sherry-shindelar/1146107552

Instagram: sherryshindelarauthor https://www.instagram.com/sherryshindelarauthor/

FB Author: https://www.facebook.com/historylitgirl/ Sherry Shindelar Author

Goodreads author page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/47340890.Sherry_Shindelar

Bookbub author page: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/sherry-shindelar

Photo credits:

Robson's Castle Marker: Gregory Walker

Wooden Texas Flag: Pixabay/coopmunster

Movie Monday: Brewster's Millions

Movie Monday: Brewsters Millions

Based on the 1902 novel by George Barr McCutcheon (pen name Richard Greaves), and the adapted 1906 stage production, the United Artists film Brewster’s Millions is a lighthearted comedy that released eighty years ago this month. The movie features Dennis O’Keefe, Helen Walker, and June Havoc, three actors you probably never heard of despite their extensive filmography.

Penniless WWII soldier, Montgomery Brewster returns home to discover that he has inherited seven million dollars from his uncle in Bolivia. However, the bequest has a caveat: he must give away one million of it before his 30th birthday which is two months away. Because a wife would be considered an asset, he has to put off his wedding to fiancee, Peggy Gray who struggles to understand the changes in him.

The task of getting rid of the money proves more difficult than anticipated as there are strict conditions about how he can spend it such as demonstrating good business sense by obtaining good value for the money he spends, limiting his donations to charity, losses to gambling, and value of tips (Wikipedia). Because he can’t tell anyone about the will, his friends don’t understand the situation and try to help mitigate his losses even though they are enjoying the fruits of his luxurious lifestyle.

He throws parties, plays roulette, and charters a months-long cruise to Europe and Egypt for his friends

and employees. As a result, he is lambasted as a spendthrift by the press. Throughout the movie, his friends and associates invest the monies, sell stocks and properties for profit, and conduct all kinds of business that increases his earnings. When Peggy breaks the engagement, he nearly folds, but the lawyer talks him into continuing with the project. It comes down to the last seconds, but he finally succeeds and is able to marry Peggy.

The movie met with mixed reviews, with some critics enjoying it’s “unadorned style,” while others found it too farcical. Memphis, Tennessee banned the film because Eddie ‘Rochester’ Anderson’s servant character had “too familiar a way about him,” and the movie depicted “too much social equality and racial mixture.”

In 1937, Jack Benny performed a one-hour version of the play on the Lux Radio Theater, and in the mid-1980s, the animated version of Punky Brewster produced an episode on television. The novel and play have been adapted to film thirteen times, the most recent in 2024 starring China Anne McClain, Romeo Miller, and Rain Pryor.

Have you seen this flick?

___________________

Ivy's Inheritance

Has she fled one untrustworthy man only to be stuck with another?

Ivy Cregg’s father is a gambler, but this time he’s gone too far. He loses his mining fortune and her along with it in a high-stakes poker game. Unwilling to go along with the deal, she hides out with a friend who tells her about Ms. Crenshaw, owner of the Westward Home & Hearts Mail-Order Bride Agency who is in town. The prospective groom is a wealthy man which seems like an answer to prayer until Ivy discovers he made his fortune in mining. Is he as untrustworthy as her father?

After emigrating to America to fight for the Union during their Civil War, Slade Pendleton moved West while working on the railroad, then headed to the plains of Nebraska to seek his fortune. He was one of the lucky ones and now has everything he could ever want. Except a wife. With the few women in the town already married, he sends for a mail-order bride. The woman arrives carrying the telegram that explains her need to flee, but now that she’s safe, she seems to have no interest in going through with the ceremony. Should he send her packing or try to convince her to stay?

https://amzn.to/3Ca3xI6

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Diana Leagh Matthews

Talkshow Thursday: 

Welcome Diana Leagh Matthews

I'm pleased to welcome Diana Leagh Matthews to my blog for the first time. Take a few minutes to get to know this interesting author and her latest release.

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

I divorced at a young age and never remarried. Not having a family has been a huge struggle at times and in many ways writing this book was part of my grief process and working through my unmet desire for a large family of my own.

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

When I begin to write, it often begins with a “what if” question.

For “Forever Changed”, the questions were “What would it be like to have an instant family” and “what if I had to raise someone else’s children.”

What was your inspiration for the story?

Two things inspired this story. The first was my relationship with my siblings and the longing for a closer relationship. I wondered “what if we were closer in age.” (We’re a decade apart.) The second question was a more personal question. “What would it be like to suddenly have a family depend on me.”

If your book is part of a series: Did you set out to write a series? Why did you decide to write a series?

This book was originally written as a stand-alone. However, while working through edits, ideas have

come to follow several of the other characters in the series, as well as to write a prequel about Granny (Danielle’s 100 year old grandmother.)

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

Sally’s story ended with a lot of unanswered questions. I think that I’d explore what happened to her and some of the decisions she makes.

How do you come up with story lines?

Ideas tumble faster than I will ever have time to write them. Sometimes an idea is a fleeting question of “what if.” Maybe I read something or saw or heard something that sparked the question. Then an idea will take hold and grow. Usually the main character(s) will take hold and not let go until I have no choice but to tell the story.

What is your process for writing? (do you outline, have a special place or time of day you write, etc.) What is your favorite part of the process?

I’m a planster. Meaning that I write by the seat of my pants. Usually I begin with a starting point. Sometimes I know how the novel will end and other times, I have no idea. As I’m writing, ideas percolate and I keep note of events and situations that need to happen.

How do you celebrate when you finish a manuscript?

I probably need to find a way to celebrate when a manuscript is finished. However, once a book is published, I go out for a steak dinner to celebrate.

What is your advice to fledgling writers?

Keep persevering. Writing is not an easy career or path. Learn all you can and keep pressing forward. Use set backs to catch a breath and spend time with the Lord, asking Him about the next steps.

What is your next project?

I’m editing a very different novel that incorporates all the holidays into the storyline. I’m also looking forward to writing a prequel to “Forever Changed” about Granny’s life.

 
About Diana Leagh Matthews

Diana Leagh Matthews has a heart for the hurting and shares God’s love through the written word and song. Her debut novel, Carol of the Rooms, was published in 2023 and was a Realm Award finalist and her second novel, Forever Changed, will be published on April 15th. Leagh (pronounced L-e-e), who lives in South Carolina with her spunky Maltese. For more information, visit her at DianaLeaghMatthews.com.

About Forever Changed:

At the pinnacle of her Broadway career, Danielle Davis is savoring her success. Just as her dreams are now within grasp, tragedy forces her to return home to South Carolina. Following the untimely deaths of her sister and brother-in-law, Danielle discovers she’s now responsible for seven children, two grandmothers, and a farm she knows nothing about. When a young woman from the 1930s begins making mysterious appearances to her, Danielle embraces her as an unexpected confidant and encourager.

Can Danielle find the healing and support she desperately needs in her new roles?

Caleb Donovan put his soaring music career on hold after making a terrible mistake.

Following the loss of his best friends, he now guides Danielle as she learns about running a farm and caring for a family. Can Caleb find his own place amid the chaos? Will Danielle and Caleb be able to discover the career and relational paths meant for them? Can they learn how to let go of their painful pasts, and find it in their hearts to forgive, and move forward into an uncertain future?

Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F2DCBDQY

Social Media Links:
Website: https://dianaleaghmatthews.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Diana-Leagh-Matthews/e/B07C17QJJ
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/DiLeaghMatthews
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/994850748295488
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/dianaleaghmatthews/
X: https://X.com/dileaghmatthews
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/dileaghmatthews/
GoodReads:  https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/9773997-diana-leagh

Photo Credits:

Author Photo/Book cover image: Diana Leagh Matthews

Hands: Pixabay/CongerDesign

Laptop: Pixabay/StartUpStockPhotos

Traveling Tuesday: The Role of the Mt. Washington Hotel During WWII

Traveling Tuesday: 

The Role of the Mt. Washington Hotel During WWII

Last week, I shared about the four grand hotels that are still operating in New Hampshire. One of those, the Mt. Washington played a critical role at the end of World War II. Located deep in the White Mountains above Crawford Notch in Bretton Woods, the hotel was completed in 1902 and offered luxurious accommodations to anyone who could afford to stay. Sadly, the owner, Joseph Stickney, died of a heart attack the following year.

Over the next decade his wife continued to improve the property, but Prohibition, the Great Depression, and the implementation of income tax put a damper on business. Mrs. Stickney’s nephew inherited the hotel in 1936, but six years later, shuttered the doors because of the war. He sold to a Boston syndicate in 1944 for $450,000 (a huge amount of money back then).

On July 1 of that year, the Bretton Woods Conference commenced with 730 delegates from all forty-

four Allied nations. Years of work preceded the conference, with a preliminary conference in Atlantic City, New Jersey held in mid-June 1944. No where in my research could I unearth who decided that a remote, luxury hotel in the mountains of New Hampshire was the perfect location for the conference, and I can’t imagine the logistics of getting everyone to the facility. Located more than 150 miles from the Boston airport, the hotel is accessed by one hilly, winding road (and it’s not an interstate) that passes through Crawford Notch, elevation 1,923 feet. There is nothing for miles around – no restaurants, no other hotels…nothing.

The conference adjourned three weeks after it started with the delegates signing the Final Act of the United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference that established the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD – later part of the World Bank Group) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and implementing the “Bretton Woods system,” a system of economic order and international cooperation that would help countries recover from the war’s devastation and foster long-term global growth.

Some of the features of the system were an “adjustably pegged foreign exchange market tied to gold, that could only be altered to correct a fundamental disequilibrium,” pledges by member countries to make their currency convertible for trade-related and other current account transactions, and a requirement of member countries to subscribe to IMF’s capital.

The system ended in 1971.

__________________

Ivy's Inheritance

Has she fled one untrustworthy man only to be stuck with another?

Ivy Cregg’s father is a gambler, but this time he’s gone too far. He loses his mining fortune and her along with it in a high-stakes poker game. Unwilling to go along with the deal, she hides out with a friend who tells her about Ms. Crenshaw, owner of the Westward Home & Hearts Mail-Order Bride Agency who is in town. The prospective groom is a wealthy man which seems like an answer to prayer until Ivy discovers he made his fortune in mining. Is he as untrustworthy as her father?

After emigrating to America to fight for the Union during their Civil War, Slade Pendleton moved West while working on the railroad, then headed to the plains of Nebraska to seek his fortune. He was one of the lucky ones and now has everything he could ever want. Except a wife. With the few women in the town already married, he sends for a mail-order bride. The woman arrives carrying the telegram that explains her need to flee, but now that she’s safe, she seems to have no interest in going through with the ceremony. Should he send her packing or try to convince her to stay?

Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3Ca3xI6

Photo Credits:

Mt. Washington Hotel: By rickpilot_2000 from Hooksett, USA - Mt. Washington HotelUploaded by jbarta, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=26447136 

Delegation: U.N. Monetary Conference (Photo: Associated Press; Photographer: Abe Fox)

New Zealand Report of the conference: By Archives New Zealand from New Zealand - International Monetary Fund formed 1945, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=51249801