Movie Monday: Christmas in Connecticut

Movie Monday: Christmas in Connecticut

In late 1944 and into the early months of 1945 as it became apparent to Hollywood that World War II would soon be over, writers began to plot stories that featured returning servicemen. Some of the films were dramas, others such as Christmas in Connecticut, comedies. In fact, some critics have called the movie a “screwball comedy.”

Despite being a holiday film, producers released the movie in August 1945, benefitting from the “post-war euphoria that gripped America,” (IMDB), and it grossed between three and four million dollars on a budget of $864,000. Starring Barbara Stanwyck, Dennis Morgan, and Sidney Greenstreet, the movie is the brainchild of Aileen Hamilton, a jack-of-all-trades who was a screenwriter, dancer, singer, actress, and costume designer. Bette Davis was originally cast as the female lead, and Reginald Gardiner as the male lead. Gardiner was eventually given the role of the owner of the farm and the lead given to Morgan.

The plotline described by Rotten Tomatoes:

“While recovering in a hospital, war hero Jefferson Jones grows familiar with the Diary of a Housewife

column written by Elizabeth Lane. Jeff’s nurse arranges with Elizabeth’s publisher for Jeff to spend the holiday at Elizabeth’s bucolic Connecticut farm with her husband and child. But the column is a shame, so the publisher hastens to arrange a publicity ploy by setting up single, non-domestic Elizabeth on a country farm.”

Foibles, misunderstandings, and confusion combine to create a rom-com worthy of Nora Ephron or Garry Marshall. Stanwyck and Morgan have great on-screen chemistry and by the time they filmed Christmas in Connecticut had dozens of movie roles under their belts. As a contract player Morgan was cast in both supporting and headliner roles. Stanwyck who would eventually appear in nearly one hundred movies, got her start in entertainment early in life when she became a chorus girl in speakeasies as a teenager. She eventually became a Ziegfield girl and was given her first stage role by Willard Mack, and at some point, moved to Hollywood where she picked up bit parts. Being cast as the lead in Frank Capra’s Ladies of Leisure was her breakout role. In the 1950s she added television roles to her busy film career.

Have you seen this feel-good holiday movie?

___________________________

A Lesson in Love (The Strength of His Heart Limited Edition Anthology)

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

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

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

Purchase link: https://amzn.to/4f9iLKO

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Back, Donna Schlachter

Almost Snowed Under

By Donna Schlachter

A Sleigh Ride for Ruby is part of a multi-author project, with books releasing several times a month. Each book is historical romance, and is set in different towns and cities in our nation. The only rules are that the story must include a sleigh ride, and that it ends with a Happily Ever After. Each story is a standalone story, and I’ve enjoyed writing my submission. I named my heroine after my sister’s friend and the hero after the real-life Ruby’s husband.

Let’s take a look at my story and the cultural context of the dilemma Ruby faces:

What happens when a young woman inherits a business typically run by men? Well, in 1882, she faces with discrimination and recriminations. To the point where somebody sets out to ruin her by tampering with the equipment, her horses, and then endangering her life—and the lives of her customers.

We can scarcely believe it nowadays, where men and women have infiltrated pretty much every career choice that was previously held by the opposite sex. In Ruby’s world, there were few women doctors or lawyers. And no male nurses. Teachers were most often single young women, except at the university level, where men held that bastion. Bankers, sheriffs, and mayors were almost always men, while milliners, hatmakers, and nannies was considered a woman’s job.

So why would Ruby choose to run a sleigh business in Snowflake, Colorado, high in the mountains where winter comes early and stays late?

Because she inherited it from her father. She’d helped him since she was little, and with few other prospects in town that didn’t include cleaning and serving food, she stepped out in faith and a little trepidation.

And what of our hero? For certainly there must be one.

Clarke Everly is a Pinkerton agent, in town on a case. He spots the brave woman and admires her spunk. Being in their thirties, both considered past their prime, gives them something in common. But apart from that, Clarke knows there isn’t a common bone in Ruby’s body.

An interesting piece of research I discovered during the writing of this book is about Thanksgiving Day in the US. While the holiday was held for many years on various dates, President Lincoln proclaimed it a national observance in 1863, to be held on the last Thursday of November. It wasn’t until 1941 that President Roosevelt set the date as the fourth Thursday of November. Hence, in my story, it’s held on November 30th, the last day and the last Thursday in November 1882.

A Sleigh Ride for Ruby is available at: https://www.amazon.com/Sleigh-Ride-Ruby-ebook/dp/B0D2LVRSPZ

About A Sleigh Ride for Ruby:

After Ruby Wakefield inherits her father's conveyance business, she discovers an old sleigh in a barn. Thinking she can build her business by offering rides during the long winter season, she spruces up the sleigh. However, somebody in town is unhappy, and Ruby's business falls prey to mishaps such as broken traces, ill horses, and avalanches. Clarke Everly, a Pinkerton operative, falls into Ruby's life when he hires her sleigh to take his fiancée for a ride in the winter wonderland of Snowflake, Colorado. But when Ruby won't convey them across a frozen lake, his fiancée kicks up a fuss and leaves him cold.

Check out the book: https://www.amazon.com/Sleigh-Ride-Ruby-ebook/dp/B0D2LVRSPZ

About Donna:
A hybrid author, Donna writes squeaky clean historical and contemporary suspense. She has been published more than 60 times in books; is a member of several writers groups; facilitates a critique group; teaches writing classes; and judges in writing contests. She loves history and research, traveling extensively for both, and is an avid oil painter. She is taking all the information she’s learned along the way about the writing and publishing process, and is coaching committed writers. Learn more at https://www.thepurposefullwriter.com Check out her coaching group on FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/604220861766651

Connecting Online:
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Photo credit Mountains: Pixabay/Abhay Baradwaj

Wartime Wednesday: British Schools During WWII

Wartime Wednesday: 

British Schools During WWII

British children were impacted by World War II in significant ways, one of which was their schooling. Both urban and rural areas were affected, but in different ways.

On the same day that Germany invaded Poland, authorities began Operation Pied Piper, a program that evacuated children, pregnant women, and mothers with infants. As the possibility of war loomed in the late 1930, the Anderson Committee (formed in 1924 and led by Sir John Anderson who would later invent a style of air raid shelter), published a report outlining evacuation of urban areas including London, Manchester, Birmingham, and Glasgow. Eventually, 1.5 million people, of which 800,000 were children, would move from cities to outlying areas.

England was divided into three zones: evacuation (areas expected to be heavily bombed), neutral (areas that would not send or receive evacuees), and reception (rural areas where evacuees would be sent. Rather than building camps, the plan called for housing evacuees in private homes. Individuals deemed suitable hosts faced fines if they refused to take in an evacuee.

As a result of the evacuations thousands of schools were closed in urban areas. According to one

source, approximately one in five was damaged by bombing or requisitioned by the government. Another site commented that around two-thirds were handed over the Civil Defence Services. Teachers were expected to evacuate as well, and a large percentage of male teachers were drafted.

Unfortunately, statistics indicate that only about fifty percent of the children in urban areas evacuated, which translates into about one million students without schools. This created several issues in addition the forfeiture of education:

• “Hooliganism” (as one source put it)
• Poor families lost their free milk and school dinners
• Medical inspections that took place in school ceased

In rural areas, schools remained open but were soon overrun with evacuees. Classroom size burgeoned with fewer teachers available. Some schools created a building-share, with classes held for locals during one half of the day, and classes held for evacuees during the other half of the day. Some areas used churches, village halls, or warehouses for schools. Shortages of books, paper, and equipment made teaching and learning a challenge.

Tragically, all this translated into the fact that a “significant number of children failed to reach the required levels of literacy and numeracy after the war.”

______________________

A Lesson in Love (The Strength of His Heart Limited Edition Anthology)

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

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

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

Purchase link: https://amzn.to/4f9iLKO

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Laura DeNooyer

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Laura DeNooyer

I'm thrilled to welcome Laura DeNooyer to my blog. Listen in as we chat about her writing journey and her latest release, A Hundred Magical Reasons.

What was your inspiration for the story?

Two things inspired this story: 1) reading a biography about L. Frank Baum, author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900), and 2) learning that he and his family summered at the same lake where our family vacations yearly. Though we were at opposite ends of Lake Macatawa—and opposite ends of the century—I felt a connection. Macatawa Resort used to be on Lake Michigan, near Holland. Baum was such an innovative, larger-than-life personality—which is no surprise, given that he created the Land of Oz.

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 a ton of books and articles, but Michael Patrick Hearn, the renowned Oz/Baum scholar, helped me sort out fact from fiction. My priority is to convey Baum accurately—his character, family, career, and timeline of events—but also to make readers feel as if they are sitting on the Baums’ Macatawa porch with him. Ah, there are so many fun tidbits! For one thing, most people don’t know that Baum should be credited with the earliest documented original film score back in 1908-1914. Before Hollywood became what it is today, Baum dabbled in film and even created the very first scene of Dorothy stepping from black and white into color—thirty years before the MGM Wizard of Oz movie brought us technicolor. Additionally, since Baum was a family man with a great sense of humor, there were plenty of whimsical interactions with his wife and sons that I wanted to include.

How do you come up with story lines?

Sometimes just being in a particular spot or hearing an anecdote or seeing a poignant photograph

sparks a story. Then I start asking, “What if . . .?” But I also brainstorm, considering which juxtapositions of characters and situations would cause the most tension.

For example, in A Hundred Magical Reasons, I had to consider what could make a good contrast or foil for Baum. Enter eight-year-old Janie whose rigid parents have no use for fiction, fantasy, or fairy tales. But the inimitable L. Frank Baum knows how to draw out her imagination. This is a major tension throughout the story.

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

I’d always wanted to write a turn-of-the-century novel, mainly because that era is full of innovations and inventions that changed our way of life. Consider the life of Laura Ingalls Wilder, from 1867 to 1957. We’re all familiar with her prairie and rustic cabin days, but by the time she died, families had access to light bulbs, electricity, telephones, phonographs, television, movie theaters, automobiles, and airplanes!

My interest in L. Frank Baum’s life dovetailed into the early 1900s when Baum spent summers at Michigan’s Macatawa Resort (1898-1910). In 1900, Baum turned 44 and published The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Decades later, Janie is all grown up as Mrs. Gordon in 1980, sharing her memoirs with twenty-two-year-old Carrie who has problems of her own.

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

When I was describing one of my story plots to my cousin, she listened intently, then said, “Writing stories must be a form of journaling.” She knows me well, and she could see the connections of my characters’ plights to me.

Like other fiction writers, I bring my own experiences and emotional challenges into my stories. But my cousin’s insightful comment made me realize how the writing is more than just telling a tale. It’s a baring of the soul, it’s working through tough issues, it’s pulling me through the gamut of emotions, it’s stretching my limits, my faith. Much like journal writing does.

What is your favorite thing about being a writer?

First of all, everything can be fodder for a story. No experience or pain is wasted.

Also, as stated earlier, writing is a way to wrestle with my own emotions through each scenario and character. Doing so brings new perspectives, fresh insights, and empathy for others. Furthermore, story is one of the best ways to touch others in deep places. People might not listen to a sermon, advice, opposing view, or constructive criticism, but they will listen to stories. Besides impacting others, story writing is a wonderful creative outlet. We’re made in the Creator’s image, so we create—each of us in different ways. It’s a blessing in itself.

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

In 2nd grade, my teacher challenged us to write and illustrate our own books. I had no clue what to write about so I rewrote “The Gingerbread Man.” Instead of chastising me for my lack of originality, Mrs. Haan challenged me to write my own ending to the story. I accepted the challenge. By the time I was done, I decided that writing my own stories was the way to go. I was unstoppable after that.

What writers or books have influenced you?

To Kill A Mockingbird is my all-time favorite book. It embodies complex characters and relationships, challenging themes, a historical setting, and a plot that builds to a dramatic and rewarding finish. Plus, it offers food for thought. This is what I aim for as a fiction writer.

***********

About A Hundred Magical Reasons, split-time historical fiction, biographical literary fiction

Most fairy tales have happy endings, but is it too late for this one? After all, Mrs. Charlotte Rose Gordon is eighty-eight.

This disgruntled town recluse has grown weary of fighting the dragons of her past—including the desire to clear her husband’s name of a 1918 crime.

Dragons of a different kind pursue Carrie Kruisselbrink.

In 1980, during the summer of her private rebellion, Carrie defies parental expectations and pursues her café dream. While waiting for funding, she takes a job with Mrs. Gordon.

As Mrs. Gordon unfolds the story of her oppressive childhood and delightful friendship with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz author, L. Frank Baum, Carrie never expects to encounter her own fears and soul-searching.

In this modern-day fairy tale that weaves between 1980 and the early 1900s, Mr. Baum’s influence impacts each woman’s personal quests on a hero’s journey neither anticipates. Can Carrie and Mrs. Gordon find common ground in battling their respective dragons?

***********************

Laura DeNooyer thrives on creativity and encouraging it in others. A Calvin College graduate, she is a teacher, wife, parent of four adult children, and an award-winning author of heart-warming historical and contemporary fiction. Her novels are perfect for fans of Patti Callahan Henry, Erin Bartels, or Heidi Chiavaroli. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her reading, walking, drinking tea with friends, or taking a road trip.

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LINKS

Monthly Newsletter—sign up for 7 free recipes: A-Taste-Of-Oz-Cookbook-Sampler.com

Website & Book Trailer: https://lauradenooyer-author.com/a-hundred-magical-reasons/

Purchase link for Amazon: https://scrivenings.link/ahundredmagicalreasons

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/laura-denooyer-moore

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5859120.Laura_DeNooyer_Moore

Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/LauraDeNooyerAuthor/

Traveling Tuesday: Finland During WWII

Traveling Tuesday: Finland During WWII

Courtesy Britannica

Many fiction WWII books are set in Western Europe, and after learning about The Shetland Bus, a group of men who operated a shipping link between the Scottish island of Shetland and German-occupied Norway, delivering goods and Resistance agents and helping refugees escape, I decided that a series about resistance in the Scandinavian countries would be fun. Research commenced which unearthed lots of surprising information.

The first thing I learned was that Scandinavia is comprised of Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. In my ignorance, I assumed that Finland was also part of this region, and apparently lots of people make that mistake. We think that all “Nordic” countries are Scandinavian. Not the case.

Further research indicated that Finland declared itself neutral during WWII but then became aligned

with Germany, so there was no need for resistance. Despite not signing the Axis agreement, Finland allowed Germany to station troops in the northern part of the country.

I also didn’t realize that Finland shares a border with Russia and had once been part of Soviet Union as an autonomous grand duchy after being conquered by Alexander I in 1809. In December 1917, Finland declared its independence during the Russian Civil War. However, tensions between the two countries continued, and in October 1939, the Russo-Finnish War (aka The Winter War) commenced when a “faked border incident” gave the Soviet Union an excuse to invade. Better prepared for the conditions, Finnish troops were able to hold off the Red Army for more than three months but was eventually overtaken after the Soviet Union reorganized the command structure, brought in modern equipment, and changed their tactic.

Pixabay/Reijo Telaranta

On March 12, 1940, Finland signed the Treaty of Moscow which gave the Soviet Union eleven percent of its territory including half of Finnish Karelia, the Finnish part of the Rybachi Peninsula, part of the Salla area, and several islands in the Gulf of Finland.

The Soviet Union continued to launch air raids against Finland, after which Finland declared war – known as the Continuation War – which did not end until September 1944. The final peace treaty was signed in Paris in 1947.

_________________

A Lesson in Love (Strength of His Heart Anthology):

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

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

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

Purchase link: https://amzn.to/41ILnYx

Fiction Friday: New Releases for January

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

Children/Middle-grade:

Feather by Susan Page Davis -- Feather is snatched by a fierce tribe and forced to work for them. Her younger brother, Karsh, vows to find her. When Feather learns the arrows she makes will be used against her own people, she and her friend Tag decide to escape and warn the peaceful tribe of the coming attack. (Children/Middle-grade, Tea Tin Press)

Cozy Mystery:

The Edge of Knife by Marissa Shrock -- The summer of ’88 in Wildcat Springs, Indiana, was supposed to be thoroughly boring. But when Bobbi Sue Baxter’s friend enters her into a sweepstakes (without her knowledge) to make a guest appearance on daytime drama, The Cute and the Cunning, and she wins, the season starts to get complicated. Then, her friendship with Hemingway “Hemi” Miller evolves into something more, and things slide toward complex. After filming, when the star of The Cute and the Cunning gets stabbed with a hunting knife? Life gets downright insane. Bobbi Sue tries to stay out of the chaos, but with her well-proven instincts for cracking hard-to-solve crimes, that’s highly unlikely. (Cozy Mystery, Independently Published)

Biblical Historical:

Before the King by Heather Kaufman -- Joanna is a daughter of the Sadducees, born into privilege and taught to maintain her position at all costs—even if it means breaking her own heart. When she encounters Jesus, his message of the Kingdom compels her to embrace a new way of life. Dare Joanna risk everything for the sake of the Christ? (Historical Biblical from Bethany House [Baker Publishing Group])

General Historical:

Finding Juniper by Cindy Thomson -- Leaving his pregnant girlfriend behind, Patrick Doyle sails to America, the land of opportunity. Thirty years later, Patrick has moved on with his life, building a new family. A letter arrives, suggesting the child he’d assumed died may be alive. Juniper endured a childhood in institutions, and when she’s released, she moves on without the parents who left her. Operating an apothecary out of an inherited cottage, Juniper finally finds a home when her grandmother arrives. Just as she feels comfortable and content, her father shows up at her door, bringing shocking news about her mother. (General Historical, Independently Published)

Historical Romance:

Guarding the Mountain Man’s Secret by Misty M Beller -- The Coulter ranch is a place of family, second chances…and a hidden fortune. Miles is the youngest of six brothers, and he’s spent most of his life helping guard the family’s secret: a sapphire mine hidden deep within the Montana mountains. With threats from a past enemy looming, a survey team’s arrival stirs suspicion—until he meets Clara Pendleton, whose presence captivates him. Clara Pendleton joins her uncle on a survey team tasked with mapping the coming railroad's path, only to find herself entangled with the enigmatic Coulter family. When her uncle’s accident leads them to find refuge in the Coulter home, Clara is irresistibly drawn to Miles Coulter and his quiet strength. This feels like the haven she craves…until a series of mysterious attacks endanger everyone on the ranch. (Historical Romance, Independently Published)

Emma’s Engagement by Susan G Mathis -- Emma Row yearns for a fresh start and a chance to build a loving family. But as she steps into her role as the Rock Island Lightkeeper’s wife, she finds herself navigating the treacherous waters of isolation and the bitter rejection of her new stepdaughter, Ada. Michael Diepolder, the widowed lightkeeper, had hoped securing a companion would brighten his life and be a needed mother figure to his eleven-year-old daughter. Yet, as Emma struggles to adapt to the challenges of her new life, Michael realizes that the path to happiness is far more turbulent than he ever anticipated. (Historical Romance from Wild Heart Books)

Amish Romance:

With All Her Heart by Kelly Irvin -- Bonnie is successful in her crafts shop but fears no man will see past her disability to her strong and loving heart. Elijah dreams of leaving the family business to focus on his carvings. Can they find a new path together? (Amish Romance from HarperCollins Christian Publishing)

Romantic Novella:

His to Love by Z Peabody -- Griffin T. Washington is one of only two detectives at the cody Police Department. After years of being retired from active duty, and with a fulfilling job, Griff is still alone. The loss of his wife ten years ago nearly broke Griff. While coming from a call, Griff’s life is turned upside down by a careless driver, and before he can get her insurance information, she speeds off, leaving Griff not just questioning who she is but also when he can see her again. (Romantic Novella from Z Peabody Publishing LLC)

Romantic Suspense:

Forgotten Identity by Penny Zeller -- Mariah Holzman never imagined a whiteout blizzard would sever all communication from the outside world—communication desperately needed for the injured man Mariah finds near her home. Nor did she imagine helping nurse the man back to health would lead to threats and intimidation. As danger escalates and questions rise, Mariah is left to wonder what kind of person she has allowed into her home. (Romantic Suspense from Maplebrook Publishing)

Young Adult:

Sarah’s Long Ride by Susan Page Davis -- The Bandicoot 100 is coming up, and Sarah Piper and her horse Icicle are registered for the endurance race. But now that her mother has died, Sarah has no riding partner. Adjusting to a new home with Uncle Joe and far from her friends, Sarah realizes that endurance is something she needs not only for the race. (Young Adult from Tea Tin Press)

Speculative Fiction/Allegory:

Last Light of Everlasting by Demi Griffin -- Everlasting is a world of peace and tranquility. At least it was before one of the King's loyal servants rebelled. The ensuing battle between those who were loyal and those who rebelled required a strength even the warriors of the spirit realm did not have. Assistance came through the histories. The Ancients, flesh beings who sacrificed their own existence, became the one weapon that could defeat darkness - a luminaria. Will those who lost access to the perfect world created by the King find their way back out of the darkness? (Speculative Fiction/Allegory, Independently Published)

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

3 X 3 by Patrick E Craig -- One by one, Jenny uncovers secrets hidden for forty years, secrets deeply connected to the Amish community. And as she brings them to light, Jenny finds the past can reveal much about the present—in terrifying ways (Crime Suspense)

Bronze Circle by Becky A. Little -- Jaydon's story is one of hope, acceptance, redemption and forgiveness as he discovers who he is before The Truth Master. (Speculative/Young Adult)

Heart of Faith by Tracey J Lyons -- Two boys are left behind from the Orphan Train. When John Oliver decides to help Amy save two orphan boys from danger, will they become the family she has been praying for in time for Amy to get her Christmas wish? (Historical Romance)

Loving the Rodeo Queen by Rebecca Reed -- Quinn and Tiago have a past, but can they have a future with her secret shadowing their relationship. (Contemporary Romance)

Death Under the Ice by Deborah Jean Sprinkle -- Claire needs their help, but can she put past hurts behind her as she not only tries to find her brother, but stay alive? (Romantic Suspense)

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Back, Matthew Elliott

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Back, Matthew Elliott

I'm thrilled to have Matthew Elliott visiting again. He writes biblical fiction that is sure to touch your heart. Grab a cup of your favorite beverage and get to know him.

When did you know you wanted to be an author?

As a child, I received an ADHD diagnosis, and my mother wanted to provide an outlet for my active imagination. With that in mind, she encouraged me to turn my active energy into stories. I started writing stories about superheroes, which helped calm my energy. Even though I somehow forgot most of my childhood, her inspiration has always been there to guide me along the way.

What is your favorite thing about being a writer?

I may have answered this before, but I love the research part of writing the stories I write today. Since I have ADHD, I get hyper-focused on it and forget any concept of time. I am thankful I have a lovely wife who keeps me on track and three beautiful children who need me to be a good father. Otherwise, I might never stop and smell the rain (or roses). Still, I am fascinated by connecting all the dots in history and scripture so that I can use my imagination to create the narratives I write.

How did you learn how to write?

I am also a dyslexic, which has always been a tremendous struggle for me. I’m reading a book series

with my 12-year-old right now and she is a much faster reader than I am because I have to read each page three times before I can retain the information. With writing a story, I follow that same path; The story gets written three times before I even run it through my editing software. Learning to write as a child was no easy feat. In fact, I remember having to sit with a box around my desk to keep me focused, but I attribute my growth in that manner to well-trained and patient teachers who prayed I would find myself someday.

Do you hear from your readers? What do they say?

As with many other writers, I would love to hear from my readers and engage with them about my stories more often. There is not much of a place for that in the world because it’s so fast-paced. However, I encourage my readers to reach out to me regarding anything and often leave specific prompts in my emails for my readers that encourage their responses. When they do, I always love getting to know them a little better. I must admit, though, I’m old-fashioned when it comes to connecting with my readers. My emails are always personable and relational.

What does your writing space look like?

My writing space is very much a chaotic mess that only I understand. I use a stand-up desk most of the time and walls filled with posted notes that map out my stories, so I can visually connect with the landscape I am attempting to build. When I’m done with a book, all those posted notes go onto those presentation boards one might use at a school science fair. I also have a research desk with no less than eight different Bibles and three or four resource books. So… If I ever make a million dollars, I probably won’t be giving tours of my workspace. 😉

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

This is actually a very personal question for me because I use real-life examples from my past and present to give me more of a grasp on the emotions I am attempting to convey in my stories. I struggle to speak what’s in my heart. So my experiences, and often a good song, offer me something real and hopefully authentic to bring to life through one of my characters. My whole life, good and bad, inspires what I write and how I live out my faith.

What was your inspiration for the story?

The story I am highlighting in this post is called The Ephesus Pages: A Journey Begins, and it is ‘Part One’ of three that will connect to three other stories. One of which I have already written. One more is in progress, and then I will begin writing the last one later this year. The serial nature of the story—episodes instead of chapters—allows me to break it into seasons. The inspiration for this particular story was really the idea that I wanted to dive into the character of Paul. I wanted to know what happened throughout the three years he spent in Ephesus during the third misery journey, and how Paul may have changed through that experience. So, once I’ve written and released everything, I hope to have realistically captured both.

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

I have written three stories so far in The World of Kedoshim, which you can read more about on my blog, and am pretty close to getting a first draft of my next one, The Hope of Inheritance. There is one character that I did not expect would have such a pivotal role in my stories when I first dreamed this world up, and that is Luke. Honestly, I never really gave him a second thought. Through all that I have done so far, and plan to do, I have developed a deep connection with the character. Luke is someone I would love to write a story specifically about. Who knows, maybe one day I will. 😉

What is your advice to fledgling writers?

I always love answering this question, because, for a time, I gave up on my dream of being a writer. I lost my drive for it and gave in to the pressures that come with being a writer. God had to do real work in my heart to get me back to where I am today. I will never claim that I have all the answers. In truth, my stories are still unfamiliar to the Biblical Fiction World, but I have learned to embrace the noise, so to speak. Regardless of whether I sell two copies of my stories or two hundred, I am doing what I believe I do. Please do not do what I did if you have a dream to write, pursue it, live it, and embrace it. Even if the only people who read your stories are the boss who felt sorry for you or the friend who just could not say no. God has given you something to write, so do it, and reach out if you want a little guidance.

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The World of Kedoshim, The Ephesus Pages: A Journey Begins. ON SALE THROUGH 01/10/25: https://amzn.to/3ZS7s4l


One Man. His Continued Journey. Working to Build the Early Church.

Part I: A Journey Begins

John Mark carries the weight of his past on his shoulders, and there is one person he has never reconciled with. In an epic story surrounding the city of Ephesus, and the ministry of Paul during his three-year ministry there, life as we know it will change. Join John Mark as he embarks on a new journey seeking reconciliation. As he leaves all that he knows behind on the shores of Cyprus, John Mark will begin a new three-part journey that will test his faith, build him up, and reveal much about his past.

Amid his continuing journey, John Mark will encounter many unexpected circumstances. Who will he meet along the way and what lessons will he learn? Will this journey help him find the forgiveness he seeks? What about Paul in Ephesus? Who will he come across in his ministry there and what responsibilities will those serving alongside him have in the constantly changing work? Only time will tell. Are you ready to experience the next story in The World of Kedoshim?

Part II: Mysteries in Ephesus coming Winter 2025

Connect with Matthew:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WritingtheJourney
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Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/mjelliott
Website: https://www.mjelliott-author.com