Fiction Friday: Mystery Releases by The Queens of Crime

Fiction Friday: 

Mystery Releases by The Queens of Crime

In 1941, three of the four “Queens of Crime,” Margery Allingham, Agatha Christie, and Ngaio Marsh. At the time, the fourth “Queen,” Dorothy Sayers was focused on her radio dramatization of the life of Jesus as well as translating Dante’s Divine Comedy into colloquial English. The period during which these women wrote is known as the Golden Age of Detective Fiction, and books published during this era were typically “whodunits” and often feature closed door mysteries (i.e. the killer is not from outside the group of people) and took place in country manors of “landed gentry.” With the exception of Agatha Christie who found success with two sleuths, Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple, the other authors are primarily known for one:

• Allingham: Albert Campion
• Ngaio Marsh: Roderick Alleyn
• Sayers: Lord Peter Wimsey

Let’s take a look at their publications for the year.

Margery Allingham’s Traitor’s Purse takes place in the early days of World War II and intriguingly has

a plot line that mimics a real German operation, Operation Bernhard, that involved pouring counterfeit money into Britain. However, the campaign didn’t become public until after the war, so she wouldn’t have known about it. The main character, Albert Campion first appeared in her 1929 book The Crime at Black Dudley. He would show up in a total of eighteen full-length novels and copious short stories.

He awakens in a hospital with amnesia yet feels compelled he is on an important mission of some sort tied to the number fifteen. He overhears a conversation taking place in the hallway about an unconscious man who has killed a policeman and is to be hanged. Campion assumes they are talking about him and escapes. Stolen cars, secret meetings, and hidden trucks combine with espionage and murder to keep the reader (and Campion following clues) to ascertain the culprit.

Agatha Christie’s Evil Under the Sun doesn’t refer to the war although ostensibly takes place in the present day (1941). Poirot is on vacation at “The Jolly Roger Hotel” in Devon and gets tangled up in the murder of an attractive woman no one seems to like. As is his penchant, the detective observes the other guests and their interactions, drawing conclusions and making associations no one else sees. The plot is somewhat convoluted because nearly every guest has a secret and/or motive to kill the victim. In the end, Poirot brings everyone together and announces that not one, but two people were involved in the murder scheme.

Ngaio Marsh’s Death and the Dancing Footman takes place in 1941, and the war is not mentioned. As was popular the story is set at the large manor of “wealthy dilettante” Jonathan Royal who hosts a party with guests “whose mutual animosity is sure to provide cruelly macabre entertainment.” A snowstorm arrives, and the telephone lines soon go out. Shortly thereafter, the victim is killed with a Maori greenstone mere weapon, a short, broad-bladed weapon in the shape of an enlarged tear drop, from Ms. Marsh’s native Australia. Inspector Roderick Alleyn is called in from a nearby town and stages a re-enactment to determine the villain.

Have you read any of these classics?

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Murder at Madison Square Garden

1941: The dream of a lifetime becomes a nightmare.

Photojournalist Theodora “Teddy” Schafer’s career has hit the skids thanks to rumors of plagiarism. With any luck, a photo spread with Charles Lindbergh at the America First Rally will salvage her reputation. After an attempted assassination of Lindbergh leaves another man dead, Teddy is left holding the gun. Literally. Can she prove her innocence before the police lock her up for a murder she didn’t commit?

Private Investigator Ric Bogart wants nothing to do with women after his wife cleaned out their bank account and left him for another man, but he can’t ignore the feeling he’s supposed to help the scrappy, female reporter who is arrested for murder at the America First rally. Can he believe her claims of innocence and find the real killer without letting Teddy steal his heart?

Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/u/31qK17

Traveling Tuesday: Britain's Regions, Part 2

Traveling Tuesday: Britain’s Regions, Part 2

Last week (http://www.lindashentonmatchett.com/2024/12/traveling-tuesday-britians-regions-part.html) I shared about four of Britain’s nine regions. Today we will visit the remaining five.

Pixabay/Elena Dolcan

West Midlands: Comprised of six counties, this region is home to seven cities including Birmingham, Coventry, and Stoke-on-Kent. The West Midlands is geographically diverse and landlocked, however, the longest river in the United Kingdom crosses the region south-eastwards. The highest point, 2,307 foot Black Mountain is on the border of Wales. Located within the region are five Areas of Outstanding National Beauty (AONB): Malvern Hills, Shropshire Hills, Cannock Chase, Wye Valley, and Cotwold. The area has deep ties to WWII with the unfortunate RAF Fauld explosion (a military accident) considered by most to be the world’s largest non-nuclear explosion. Spitfires were built at Castle Bromwich, Lancasters at Austin’s works in Longbridge, and the Boulton Paul Aircraft company was located in Wolverhampton. RAF Defford saw many important airborne radar developments. Stratford upon Avon, the birthplace of William Shakespeare as well as author George Eliot.

East Midlands: The East Midlands covers three major landscape areas: The relatively flat coastal plain

Pixabay

of Lincolnshire, the river valley of the Trent, the third largest (and longest) river in England, and the southern end of the Pennine range of hills in Derbyshire. The river valley contains Nottingham, Leicester, and Derby all of which are historically centers based around coal mining and heavy industry. This is one of the drier regions of England. Several canals are located in the region, including the Grand Junction and the Trent and Mersey, that were used for commerce primarily from the late 18th to the early 20th century. They are now being revived, mainly for recreational use. According to Wikipedia, the region is home to large quantities of limestone, and Charnwood Forest is noted for its abundant levels of volcanic rock, estimated to be approximately 600 million years old. Potter Josiah Wedgewood, actor John Hurt, and Salvation Army founder William Booth hail from East Midlands.

Pixabay/Adam

Yorkshire and the Humber (a large tidal estuary): This region is comprised of an intriguing combination of natural landscapes, well-known cities, and manufacturing plants such as Boeing, Rolls Royce, and many others. Research facilities are located at the University of York, York St. John, and the York Science park, home to 1,000 turbine wind farm. Additionally, Leeds is the main center of trade and commerce and one of the UK's larger financial centers. Museums abound focusing on everything from the railroads to some of England’s most famous citizens such as the Brontë sisters. Scenic coastal towns provide lots of beaches while the Peak District is one of the UK's most visited national parks spanning around 555 square miles. Besides the Bronte family, this region is also the birthplace of actors Dame Judi Dench and Peter Firth, MP and abolitionist William Wilberforce, and member of the failed Gunpowder Plot Guy Fawkes.

Pixabay/Alex Boyd

North West: The third most populated region, North West is home to Manchester and Liverpool. Its eastern boundary is the Pennines Chain (also known as the backbone of England), and on the west by the Irish Sea. The northern border extends to the Scotland and the southwest by North Wales. The beloved Lake District is part of this region as well as the highest peak in England, Scafell Pike, at a height of 3,209 feet. With annual precipitation of 31-55 inches, the area has what is considered quintessentially English weather. A scientific heritage includes Ernest Marsden and Hans Geiger inventing the Geiger counter, and the area can boast several technological advancements such as the first programmable computer built at the University of Manchester in 1948. The suffragette movement got its start in Manchester. Sir Robert Peel, founder of the first modern police force, actor Ian McKellan, and all four Beatles were born in this region.

North East: With Northumberland’s castles, two World Heritage Sites Durham Cathedral and Durham

Pixabay/Pete

Castle, and Hadrian’s Wall is evidence of the region’s far reaching history. Roman archaeology has been found throughout the region on display at more than a few museums. The region also has a strong religious past including the saints Cuthbert, Bede, and Hilda of Whitby, who were all influential in the early church. Many abbeys and monasteries dot the landscape. Hilly and rural to the north and west, the region is more populated in the east and south. Diverse geography includes cliffs, moorlands, salt marshes, heaths, bogs, and upland hay meadows. The one-hundred-mile-long Northumbrian coastline was dubbed an Area of Outstanding National Beauty and includes the River Coquet estuary. The largest man-made forest in Europe, Kielder Forest, is also in Northumberland. Singer Sting, artist Anne Redpath, and actor Rowan Atkinson (Mr. Bean) were born in the North East Region.

________________________

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/4iaKzBc

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Melissa Noblin

Becoming What God Created Me to Be

By Melissa Noblin

I recently attended the Blueridge Mountain Christian Writer’s Conference. While there, my son (a published author) encouraged me to pitch my devotional book, “From Food Stamps to the Banquet Table,” to one of the publishers in attendance. Much to my shock and awe, they loved it and are publishing it in the fall of 2025, if I ever finish it.

Prior to attending the conference, I was writing all the time and was really making incredible progress. But then everything suddenly became real, my book was going to be published.

Somehow, writing and thinking that someday I might get published was like being on an adventure or a treasure hunt. The writing seemed to just flow.

But all of a sudden, reality struck. Every thought that I had was negative, they ran rampant. I had thoughts like, “I’m not ready,” “I should have waited,” and “You are no author…you are a tenth-grade dropout.” I was giving up before I had even begun.

When I spoke with my publisher she said, “Oh, that’s imposter syndrome.” She attempted to help and suggested I join a small coaching group, which made me feel even more out of my league.

I shut down. I stopped checking my email, avoided thinking about my book, and busied myself with other things. And worst of all, I stopped writing altogether. This seemed too big for me, too lofty an idea. I felt like I belonged back in the food stamp line.

But walking away brought me no peace. Because God wasn’t done with me. I realized He was just

Pixabay/Daniel Reche

getting started. He had given me the title of my book almost 25 years ago. It belongs to Him, and He wants to use it to minister to others and glorify Himself. Who was I to walk away from that!?!

As I write this I am weeping, because this blog post is the first thing I have written since then. I had forgotten that I signed up for it and then I received a reminder email from Ms. Matchett. I reviewed the interview questions and thought “Oh, see, even this isn’t for someone like me”. “It’s for published fiction writers.”

I desperately wanted a reason not to write, so I replied, “Thanks for the opportunity, but I am neither a published nor a fiction writer.” I quickly hit send and walked away from the computer. Much to my surprise and almost as quickly, Ms. Matchett responded and said, “You don’t have to be either of those things.” I realized, in that moment, this was God’s way of showing me that He wanted me to start writing again.

This was God’s way of saying, “An imposter is someone who pretends to be something they are not. An imposter is not someone who is becoming what I created them to be.” I was reminded of Ephesians 2:10 - "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."

I am not seasoned enough to know for sure, but from what I understand many authors suffer from imposter syndrome. But, God has shown me that we are not pretending to be something we are not. As followers of Christ, we are each a child of God, who (even at 60 ; ) are becoming what He has created us to be. And, when imposter syndrome, fear, anxiety, etc. affect our writing…the one who called us to write draws us back and will bless our obedience when we submit.

Traveling Tuesday: Britian's Regions, Part 1

Traveling Tuesday: England’s Regions

Before the establishment of districts in the 1890s, the basic unit of local government in England was the parish, overseen by the parish church vestry committee that deal with both parochial and secular governmental matters (Wikipedia). The current system which was created through 1965 and 1972 legislation divides England into nine regions: South West, South East, Greater London, East of England, West Midlands, East Midlands, Yorkshire and the Humber, North West, and North East, and forty-eight ceremonial counties. Please note that unlike US spelling of Southeast, Southwest, etc. Britain separates the two words.

Today we’ll take a brief journey to four of those regions:

Photo: Pixabay/Dr. Horst-Dieter Donat

South West: With a land area of 9,203 square miles, the South West region is the largest of the nine. It also has the longest coastline of any of the regions. It contains two national parks: Dartmoor and Exmoor and four World Heritage Site: Stonehenge (boasting more than 1.3 million annual visitors), the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape, the Jurassic Coast, and the City of Bath. Geographically diverse, the region is home to rocky coastlines, high moorlands, flat clay vales, and chalk and limestone downs (from the Celtic word “dun” meaning fort). Mostly rural and dotted with small villages and towns inhabited by fewer than 10,000 residents, the region boast six universities: University of Bristol, University of The West of England (UWE), University of Exeter, University of Plymouth, Plymouth Marjon University, University of Gloucestershire, and Falmouth University. The largest city is Bristol with an estimated population of 700,000. Actors Cary Grant and Michael Redgrave, writer Agatha Christie, and explorer/privateer Francis Drake are from the South West Region.

South East: With its close proximity to London, South East has the second largest economy (behind

Photo: Pixabay/Ad Vertentie

London), and the largest population with almost 9.4 million people as of 2022. Its coastline along the English Channel provides access to mainland Europe via ferry. There are large swaths of countryside within the region, and it is home to many well-known sites such as Blenheim Palace, Windsor Castle, Leeds Castle, Canterbury Cathedral, and the White Cliffs of Dover. Several universities can be found within the region, the most famous being University of Oxford. The area played important roles during WWII being home to RAF Bomber Command and Bletchley Park. Writer H.G. Wells, actor Laurence Olivier, and ballet dancer Margot Fontaine are from the South East Region.

Photo: Pixabay/Pedro Alvarez

Greater London: Despite its relatively small area compared to the other regions (607 square miles), Greater London has a population of more than 8.8 million residents. The most definitive geographic feature is the River Thames, the second longest river in England at 215 miles. According to one site, London is divided into 74 Parliamentary constituencies, which are all small borough constituencies. They are formed from the combined area of several wards from one or more London Boroughs. Another site indicates that a January 2005 survey of London's ethnic and religious diversity claimed that there were more than 300 languages spoken and more than 50 non-indigenous communities with a population of more than 10,000. University of London, University College London, King’s College London, Imperial College, and Queen Mary University of London are just a few of the higher education institutions in the city. Filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock, actors Michael Caine and Charlie Chaplin, and writer Charles Dickens are from London.

Photo: Pixabay/summer_kwak

East of England: The East of England region consists of the counties to the north and north-east of London. With a population of more than 6.6 million people, the region is home to several large cities such as Norwich, Colchester, and Cambridge. Twenty percent of the region is below sea level and contains extensive glacial deposits. The Fens is a large area of reclaimed marshland. East Anglia is one of the driest parts of the United Kingdom, with average annual rainfall ranging from 18 to 30 inches. Intriguingly, the winters are variable, sometimes cool, and other times quite cold with significant snowfall. The region is home to many historic monuments and sites including Hatfield House, Woburn Abbey, St. Alban’s Cathedral, and the colleges of Cambridge. WWI nurse Edith Cavell, economist John Maynard Keynes, and prime minister Margaret Thatcher are from the East of England region.

I hope you’ve enjoyed your virtual journey. Stop by next Tuesday to visit the remaining districts.

___________________________

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/4iaKzBc

December 2024 New ReleasesMore in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website

Contemporary Romance:

Always In My Heart by Iola Goulton -- When a young Roman and his Greek best friend travel up the Nile in pursuit of their dream career, a Christian Egyptian woman rescues them from certain death, and their time with her opens their eyes to more than they ever imagined. (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)

Nutcracker Cottage by Stephanie Guerrero -- Telling prima ballerina, Cynthia Andrews she could no longer dance haunted Dr. Zachary Newcomb, but when a surprise encounter pulls them together, her can-do attitude, hard work and faith in Christ cause him to lose his footing and his heart. (Contemporary Romance, BubbleBath Fiction)

A Very Chapel Falls Christmas by Amanda Lauer -- An epic breakup finds a world-famous musician back in his hometown at the same time his ex-fiancée comes back home, making for a holiday with its share of surprises, calamity, laughter, and love—if the two of them can learn from the mistakes that drove them apart in the first place. (Contemporary Romance from Feminine Genius)

General Contemporary:

Kept for Her by Joy L. Melville -- Two people clinging to secrets and plans, unaware how God will use both to further His plans. (General Contemporary, Independently Published)

General Historical:

River of Life by Carol Ashby -- When a young Roman and his Greek best friend travel up the Nile in pursuit of their dream career, a Christian Egyptian woman rescues them from certain death, and their time with her opens their eyes to more than they ever imagined. (General Historical from Cerrillo Press)

Even If We Cry by Terrie Todd -- Nina’s one task is to keep her family together while a world war threatens to rip them apart. (General Historical from Mountain Brook Ink)

Historical Romance:

Love in Store by Penny Zeller -- In the wild mountains of the Montana Territory, the Coulter ranch is a place of family, second chances…and a hidden fortune. (Historical Romance from Maplebrook Publishing)

Once Upon a Christmas by Penny Zeller -- McKenna Chapman would prefer to be anywhere but the backwards and uncivilized town of Hollow Creek, Montana. Life has not been easy as of late, and this latest turn of events doesn't help matters. She especially could do without the obnoxious, but handsome, Sheriff Beringer. For what type of lawman insists on traipsing into the boutique in search of criminals? Does he not know the first thing about proper etiquette? When Clayton Beringer was elected sheriff of Hollow Creek, he knew he might have to capture dangerous criminals on the lam, but he never figured he would have to contend with an uppity, and unfortunately, beautiful, clerk at the boutique. While unexpected circumstances draw McKenna and Clayton together and force them to realize their growing attraction toward each other, a true crime is being committed in Hollow Creek. Will they come to terms with the fact that they love each other—and catch an outlaw in the process? (Historical Romance from Maplebrook Publishing)

Romantic Suspense:

Tracking the Missing by Sami A. Abrams -- A search for three abducted teens...and a K-9 on the case. (Romantic Suspense from Love Inspired Suspense [Harlequin])

Corralling the Cowboy by Elle E. Kay -- A widow placed into WITSEC gets to know a famous author while he masquerades as a cowboy to research his latest novel, but her past catches up with her endangering her newfound love. (Romantic Suspense from Faith Writes Publishing)

Ambush on the Ranch by Tina Wheeler -- A cowboy deputy sheriff must safeguard an amnesia victim and her twin sister from an art thief who is murdering witnesses. (Romantic Suspense from Love Inspired Suspense [Harlequin])

Young Adult:

The Mysterium by Jerry Schultz -- Arthur Gilchrist travels to a prestigious island school, only to discover that students are being trained to suppress an ancient order whose beliefs and powers he shares. (Young Adult, Independently Published)

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

Lewis: The Beloved by Lauren H. Brandenburg -- Lewisia Anna has returned to the Amharclann with a new chapter in her Story—a chapter she doesn’t want the citizens to hear. As Lewis tries to figure out how to delay the writing of her Story, she realizes a lot happened in the Amharclann while she was in the Mines. (Middle Grade Chapter Book)

A Civil Murder by Joan Hetzler -- Derek and Megan, a married couple with a knack for solving mysteries are on the case again. An elderly law school professor and his wife go missing, unintentionally leaving their little Snickerdoodle dog with Megan and Derek. (Cozy Mystery)

Cornered by Lynn H. Blackburn, Lynette Eason, and Natalie Walters -- Prepare for three times the thrills with these nail-biting page-turners from your favorite romantic suspense authors! (Romantic Suspense)

Line of Fire by Taylor S. Newport -- On the run from a relentless enemy, a mercenary must protect a life-saving narcotic coveted by a spy. (Military Suspense)

Who Touches that Mountains by Deborah Raney -- How can you ever be sure if the one you're falling in love with is the right one—the one God intends for you? (Contemporary Romance)

Powhatan’s Power by Ora Smith -- From a friend helping Pocahontas establish peace to an indentured and orphaned nobody, Thomas Savage yearns to make his own way in the world. (General Historical)

Fragments by J.A. Webb -- A thrilling Christian epic fantasy adventure- "They'd do anything to seek the truth . . . the Order will do anything to stop them." (Speculative Fantasy)

An Amish Thanksgiving by Beth Wiseman -- As two romances blossom, Catherine finds hope in her circumstances, and an opportunity to have the Thanksgiving she's always wanted. (General Contemporary)

The Choice by DL Wood -- When Sadie Miles receives a mysterious letter, she’s drawn into a high-stakes journey aboard a luxury yacht, where fortune and deadly secrets await—and she must survive the treacherous waters and dangerous company to uncover the truth about her past. (Psychological Suspense)

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Donna Wichelman!

Talkshow Thursday: 

Welcome Donna Wichelman!

I'm thrilled to be hosting fellow Heroes, Heroines, and History blogger, Donna Wichelman. Have you read her books? They're fantastic! Draw up a chair and hear about her inspiration and research.

How Staying True to History and Culture Gives Authenticity to Your Novel

My appreciation for history developed in childhood, because my parents traveled across the United States and Canada almost every summer to visit family. Even then, our travels sparked my imagination. As an adult, I’ve continued to find fascination in developing stories from learning about a place’s history and culture. I conceived A Song of Deliverance while standing on a crest overlooking the Atlantic Ocean near Dingle, Ireland and envisioning a poor woman in nineteenth-century Ireland destined to emigrate to America. This inkling of a story birthed a full-length novel that I needed to flesh out when I returned to Colorado, because only through research would history make the story come alive on the page.

Research is the backbone of historical fiction and lends authenticity to the story. An author may have developed a lovely romance between two people or an exceptional plot line during the Victorian era. But the story falls apart if the language doesn’t ring true to the people of that time or if the mining technology, as in A Song of Deliverance, is too sophisticated for the period.

It’s essential to ensure the details of place, setting, people, and culture stay as true to the period as possible. I spend several weeks sifting through source materials and continue researching throughout the writing phase. If a reader looked at my first draft of A Song of Deliverance and compared it to the book as it appears today after its release, she would notice the differences in language, cultural norms, and the historical people who populated the town in 1870s Georgetown, Colorado.

Several years ago, I realized that every story concept I developed had some component of history in it.

Courtesy Colorado Women's Hall of Fame

Even the two romantic suspense novels in my Waldenisian series, indie-published in 2015 and 2018, contain a mega dose of history about the pre-reformation Christian sect. But I didn’t want my stories to be dull and dry textbooks. I wanted them to weave history and faith into stories of intrigue and redemption to give substance to the story. The real-life story of Clara Brown stands out as bringing such a character to life.

As a formerly enslaved woman, Clara Brown’s owner released her at his death before the Civil War. She came to Colorado in 1859, saved the earnings from cooking, laundering, and birthing babies, and invested in local mines. People knew her as “Aunt” Clara for her Christian charity. Clara was inducted into the Colorado Business Hall of Fame on January 27, 2022, for being the first black woman entrepreneur in Colorado. Her character influenced the woman I created in my book, Cecelia Richards, whose wisdom and faith shone a bright light on my protagonist Anna Sullivan’s life.

I set out to make A Song of Deliverance more than a story about one poor Irish woman’s road from rags to riches. Anna’s story is about finding the faith and courage to persevere despite the most tragic circumstances and discovering God has never been farther than a hair’s breadth away. As Anna’s formerly enslaved friend Cecelia says at one point in the book, “I reckon we all got shackles we need to get freed from to get by in this world.” This essence is what author and theologian Jerry Sittser calls the “spirit of the story.”

Pixabay/congerdesign

Recently, I’ve become fascinated by a genre called slip-time, where two timelines with two protagonists weave together through a common thread. Many of the books I’m currently reading are slip-time, because I have a World War Two slip-time project in the development stages.

Books I’m reading include The Legacy of Longdale Manor, a Carol award winner by Carrie Turansky; Catching the Wind, a Christy finalist by Melanie Dobson; and Whispers From Yesterday, winner of the 2000 Christy Award by Robin Lee Hatcher. I’ve also read Book Four in Amanda Cabot’s historical romance Sweetwater Crossing series, One Special Christmas, and Crystal Caudill’s recent Christy award-winning novella, Star of Wonder.

About Donna:

Weaving history and faith into stories of intrigue and redemption grew out of Donna’s love of travel, history, and literature as a young adult while attending the United World College of the Atlantic—an international college in Wales, U.K. She enjoys developing plots that show how God’s love abounds even in the profoundly difficult circumstances of our lives. Her stories reflect the hunger in all of us for love, belonging, and forgiveness in a world that often withholds second chances.

Donna received her master’s degree in mass communications/journalism from San Jose State University and became a communications professional before writing full-time. Her short stories and articles have appeared in inspirational publications. She has two indie-published Christian romantic suspense novels in her Waldensian Series, Light Out of Darkness, Book One, and Undaunted Valor, Book Two. Her Gilded Age historical romance, A Song of Deliverance, just released on December 3, 2024

Donna and her husband of forty years participate in ministry at their local church in Colorado. They love spending time with their grandchildren and bike, kayak and travel whenever possible.

About A Song of Deliverance

Born into the Irish system of land-holding that favors the moneyed class, Anna Sullivan has no dowry and no chance of marrying the man she loves. Poor and heartbroken, she flees Ireland to tend to Uncle Liam’s house in Colorado and take on her deceased aunt’s sewing business.

But when Anna arrives in Georgetown, she discovers a mine disaster at the Singing Silver Mine has killed her uncle. Orphaned and destitute again, she gathers her faith, courage, and ingenuity to establish a life in the community. Only one person stands in her way—the mine’s owner.

A wealthy, grief-stricken widower of European nobility, Stefan Maier threw his energies into making his mark as a silver mining baron in Colorado when his wife and child died at sea, emigrating to America. Now, everyone blames him for the mine disaster that killed nine men. But how does he convince the lovely and opinionated Irish woman of his innocence?

Will Anna’s heart soften towards Stefan? Will Stefan prove himself worthy of Anna’s affections? Each will have to risk everything to attain what they want and need most—love.

 
Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4fKJ2As

Connect with Donna:
• Website: http://www.donnawichelman.com
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DonnaWichelmanAuthor
• Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/donna.wichelman
• X: www.x.com/DonnaWichelman
• Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/donna_wichelman

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Laurie Larsen!

A Holy City Christmas: Charleston Holiday Tales

An Anthology That Helps Others With Every Purchase!

Linda, thanks for having me on your blog. Since the Christmas holiday is quickly approaching, I wanted to tell you and your readers about a new anthology -- a collection of stories that are guaranteed to fill your heart with inspiration and warmth and put you in the Christmas spirit.

The anthology is called A Holy City Christmas. Did you know that the historic city of Charleston, South Carolina is known as the Holy City because of the sheer number of churches it contains? The anthology is made up of eight novellas written by authors who belong to the South Carolina Lowcountry Chapter of American Christian Fiction Writers. We’re a small chapter with a little over a dozen members but we are all convinced that we’ve got something really special going on. Once a month we all meet to learn about our craft, listen to knowledgeable speakers, share our own questions, progress and challenges. We support each other, pray for each other, and challenge each other to keep moving forward.

Eighteen months ago, we released our first group anthology, called Charleston Light. That collection contained stories that all featured the famously awkward lighthouse on Sullivans Island. Our first effort won a silver medal in the Golden Scroll contest and by donating all our proceeds earned, we were able to support a special charity, Sanctuary of Unborn Life of Charleston. We had so much fun with our first anthology we decided to do it again! For our next group project, we wanted to incorporate the beauty of Christmas in Charleston. Each story features a Christmas storyline and takes place in a real-life landmark within Charleston. Each author brings a different take, and even within those parameters, each story is completely different! Historical and contemporary, romance and mystery. Each one is a joy to read.

DOCK STREET MIRACLE by Laurie Larsen: Susannah, raised in foster care, now making her timid path into adulthood, receives the chance of a lifetime when exuberant off-Broadway theater veteran Molly arrives to direct the Christmas Nativity play at the historic Dock Street Theater. Working with Molly changes Susannah’s life in many ways. But she could never agree to Molly’s last-minute request to play the important role of Jesus’ mother. Could she?

THE LITTLE THINGS by Robin Stearns Lee: A homeless mother, missing children, and a mystery

disappearance from a Christmas nativity scene -- How will Pastor Ben Owens and his wife Rachel navigate these complications during the busy season of celebrating the birth of Christ?

A SOUTH OF BROAD CHRISTMAS by Christina Sinisi: A member of Charleston’s upper-crust meets a money-grubbing tour guide when he sneaks his tour group into her backyard—without her permission. Then, life keeps throwing them together—at Christmas. It’s almost as if the good Lord knows what he’s doing.

SUNRISE SHELLS AND CHRISTMAS BELLS by Melissa Henderson: Lana Pierce has experienced the loss of her husband due to illness and then, a hurricane that almost destroyed her home. While life continues, Lana becomes involved in a mystery and possibly a new love in her life. “Sunrise Shells and Christmas Bells” brings love, faith in God, and hope for the future.

NINE O’CLOCK, DECEMBER by Jody Stallings: For 31 nights every December, the mysterious stranger appears in her backyard and gazes into the harbor. Who is he? What is he seeking? As Jennie searches for his identity, she realizes she hasn't yet found her own.

IT HAD TO BE YOU by Annette Wiley: Marie’s idyllic world is crumbling bit by bit. Now, the United States is officially at war after the devastating attack on Pearl Harbor. She hasn’t heard a word from her deployed boyfriend James. When her friends drag her to a local USO dance, she’s stunned to feel a magnetic pull to a handsome sailor. Not only is the country's future hanging in the balance, but Marie’s sense of stability and hope is shaken to the core. Would God bring hope for her future through the turmoil?

BEAUTY FOR ASHES by Dianne Miley: High school senior Calli Williams refuses to let a little pink plus sign seal her fate into a life like her mom’s. But her firefighter boyfriend, Ember Alexander is just as determined to marry Calli and raise their child together. While she explores options other than parenting, Ember is called to a fire that threatens to take his life. Only divine intervention can save their love—and their lives.

IT HAPPENED ONE CHRISTMAS by Larry and Margaret McNab Gale: Post World War II Charleston is a city where social standing matters. A chance meeting of two people on the street at Christmas could lead to something more. But can they overcome the differences between their backgrounds and the prejudices of their families? It may all depend on the outcome of a life-threatening medical procedure.

In order to help others through this special book, we chose a charity to which we’ll donate all our proceeds from sales, RISE Men’s Recovery Ministry. Our chapter member, and line editor of this anthology, Laurie Sibley and her family are heavily involved with RISE so it’s a marvelous labor of love. Here’s Laurie S telling us why RISE is such a positive ministry:

“RISE exists so that men of Orangeburg County, South Carolina who are trapped in poverty, homelessness, or addiction are Restored, Ignited, Supported, and Empowered to flourish by the grace of Jesus Christ. RISE is a Christian organization, giving us the opportunity to walk beside men and their families who are stuck in cycles of addiction, which lead to financial crises, homelessness, and jail time. RISE is a voluntary, residential program, a place to come when you’re ready for help breaking the cycle.

The program includes on-campus living, dormitory-style. The residents will attend classes on job readiness, soft skills, financial planning, relationships, and parenting. They’ll work on campus doing laundry, preparing meals, mowing the lawn, and whatever else is needed.

Eventually they’ll obtain an off-campus job, allowing them to begin saving up for an apartment of their own. Meals will still be provided, ensuring a “soft launch” back out to the real world. And of course, the gospel and grace and accountability will be infused over everything. We’re so excited about this ministry!”

Another exciting feature of this anthology is that Sheila Sledden, one of our Lowcountry chapter members, created exclusive charcoal line drawings of the Charleston landmark featured in each story, and the drawings are included in the anthology pages accompanying each story.

The SC Lowcountry chapter is excited to bring you this special book! Secure your own copy (paperback or ebook) on Amazon. God bless and have a very merry Christmas!

Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4hS6q09

Traveling Tuesday: Britain’s Requisitioned Homes, Part 2

Traveling Tuesday: 

Britain’s Requisitioned Homes, Part 2

A couple of weeks ago, I shared about three of Britain’s country homes that were requisitioned by the government during WWII . Today I’m sharing about three more of these grand properties who as the English liked to say “did their bit for the war effort.”

Rufford Abbey is situated in Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire and was already declining when taken over by the War Office for billeting troops. As its name indicates, the house began as an abbey, specifically a Cistercian abbey (a Catholic order of monks and nuns that branched off from the Benedictines). After Henry VIII’s Dissolution of the Monasteries, the property was purchases by George Talbot, fourth Earl of Shrewsbury. The house was expanded over the years as it passed to one descendant after the other. By the early 1800s there were 111 rooms. The home continued to hold its own until Lord Savile died. His heir was a minor, and apparently the trustees had little interest in dealing with the remaining debts and death duties. They sold off bits of the acreage, then the house was sold to manufacturer Sr Albert Bell who did little to it before selling it to a Frenchman who didn’t bother to live in (or managed) the property. By all reports the soldiers stripped the silk damask from the walls, used paneling as firewood, and ruined the floors with their boots. They also made off with tapestries, plasterwork, and carved chimneypieces. It didn’t help that dry rot had begun long before they arrived. Fortunately, the Nottinghamshire County Council purchased the house and 130 acres to create public gardens in 1952. The grounds were restored and developed into a public park and garden in 1969, and the house was renovated during the 1970s.

Woburn Abbey, also a former Cistercian abbey, receives hundreds of thousands of guests now, but in

1939 was considered one of the most secluded and private of all the “great” houses. According to John Martin Robinson’s book, Requisitioned, the reason was that Herbrand Russell, the eleventh Duke of Bedford and president of the Royal Zoological Society, had turned the property into a reserve for herds of exotic deer, Russian bison, Highland cattle, and other rare animals. He’d lost his wife two years previously in a flying accident. The house had been in the family since the reign of Edward VI (1537-1553) when the buildings were given to the first Earl of Bedford. Over the centuries, reconstruction and renovation occurred adding wings and changing architectural styles. Successive dukes were wealthy from London properties, tin mining, and well-managed agricultural estates, and filled the house with art treasures. The 11th had funded and run a military depot on the estate during WWI, so when the second World War appeared on the horizon, the duke again offered his property for us. The house was so enormous it was considered for use by multiple organizations such as a riding school, stables, and subsidiary housing, but the Propaganda in Enemy Countries department won out.

Bentley Priory originally founded in 1170 for Augustinian canons. This property was also given away after the Dissolution of the Monasteries and eventually ended up in the hands of James Duberley, an army contractor who did well during the Seven Years War. He built a brick home which he sold to John James Hamilton, 9th Earl of Abercorn in 1788 who’d made his money from large estates and coal mines in Scotland. The following year Hamilton was created first Marquess of Abercorn and conducted many renovations to the home over the next decade. At some point, Queen Adelaide, wife of King William IV leased the home and would pass away there in 1849. Fifteen years later, Sir John Kelk purchased the property and proceeded to redo their entire façade in a stucco Italianate style. In 1908 the house was sold to a girls’ school which remained until 1924 at which time the house and 40 acres were purchased by the Air Ministry, so when the second world war, it was a natural progression to use the facility and grounds as the headquarters for RAF Fighter Command. Lord Dowding and his team planned the Battle of Britain, and the Allied Expeditionary Air Force War Room took up residence in the underground bunker. On D-Day, King George VI and Prime Minister Winston Churchill monitored the landings in the bunker.

Photo Credits:

Rufford Abbey: By Tony Hisgett from Birmingham, UK - Rufford Abbey 4Uploaded by oxyman, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15628378

Woburn Abbey: Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=716546

Bentley Priory: By David Marsden, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=13797970

____________________

About A Lesson in Love (Part of The 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/3O3nuCW

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Danielle Grandinetti!

Talkshow Thursday: 

Welcome Danielle Grandinetti!

I'm excited to welcome Danielle to my blog. She writes books set in one of my favorite eras. Listen in!

What was your inspiration for the story?

I call Investigation of a Journalist Buck’s story. Buck is the hero, and I’ve been anticipating telling his story since book one. Who would be his heroine—and other details—I worked out along the way. But at its core, this has been, and always will be, Buck’s story.

How do you develop your characters? (e.g. decide on their vocation, names, etc.)?

Buck is head of the Crow’s Nest Conglomerate, a history that is complicated and explored through the previous books in the series. However, Caroline, the heroine, has a unique job for her gender. She’s an undercover investigative reporter. Since the story is about investigating a journalist in Buck’s town, Caroline’s job was the perfect counterpoint.

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

Before I knew who Buck’s heroine would be, I had been studying female stunt reporters like Nellie Bly. I knew I wanted to write a book about one, and it fit perfectly with this story. But the exceptionally interesting tidbit I had to include was actually about Halloween. Originally, I planned to end this story at Thanksgiving. It’s a series finale, what better way to end than in thanks? But with Caroline’s undercover job, Halloween became more fitting. Masks and darkness and pranks and creepy decorations.The line between light and dark …it fit. What I learned as I researched is that the 1930s was the “hay day” of Halloween. The tricks were dangerous and disruptive, fed by the desperation of the Great Depression. And the decorations … wow. I included descriptions of actual decorations sold during that time whenever I could.

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

I have because I do! I began my career and my publishing journey before I married, so I decided to keep my pre-married name for work. I especially love that it allows me to show my Italian side.

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

Investigation of a Journalist is part of a series, and yes, I had always planned it that way. As I

Pixabay/Valerio Errani

mentioned earlier, I knew Buck would get his story. But how many books in the series, or how it would all develop, was a book-by-book process. When I told my cover designer about the premise of this book, she ended up using pieces from Book One in the cover of this book, providing a visual bookend effect. I love it! And it’s perfect because Buck’s story brings everything full circle from book one.

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

So I love this question because 1) I already have, and 2) I have more planned!

For Investigation of a Journalist, I included a character found in another of my series, bringing the two series into the same world. It was so much fun! And the more planned … well, this goes back to my research about female stunt reporters. Writing about just one isn’t enough … so readers will have to stay tuned for an exciting announcement coming in 2025!

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

I love writing in the 1930s, and you can expect all of my historical books will be set there (unless they are an origin story). I grew up listening to stories my Italian grandma told of growing up in 1920s-30s Chicago and my fascination of the decade grew from there.

There is so much in the 1930s. From the desperation adding a layer of suspense to my stories to the variety of events that occured. For example, technology and culture not only changed so fast within the decade, they were not unilateral changes. For example, electricity may be in the city, but not in the country. Then there was the world climate and prelude to WWII. The amount of strength it took to survive those years … it’s no wonder they are called the Greatest Generation.

Why do you write in your particular genre?

I love romantic suspense and romantic mystery, so when I decided to put that plot in an historical timeline, I immediately fell in love with the combination. History, romance, intrigue … all my favorite things in one.

What is your next project?

My next release is Heart of Beauty, which is part of the Hearts of the West historical romance series. This Beauty of the Beast retelling is the origin story for the ranch where one of the heroes from Crow’s Nest worked. It releases on Februrary 11.

Let's connect! https://daniellegrandinetti.com/links/

About Investigation of a Journalist

A second chance to set the record straight, and rekindle a lost love.

Wisconsin, 1931—Buck Wilson refuses to accept failure as his reward for all he has sacrificed, but he’s kept secrets for too long to be believed. With his freedom on the line, there’s only one person he trusts to mine for the true story: the woman he left one month before their wedding.

All investigative journalist Caroline Wagoneer wants is to shine a light on the truth wherever darkness threatens to obscure it. Which is the only reason she agrees to help her ex-fiance when he begs for her to go undercover in Crow’s Nest. What she discovers paints Buck in a whole new light.

With lies and rumor hemming them in, Buck and Caroline realize their love may be doomed on the altar of altruism. Unless love can truly conquer all.

Welcome to Crow’s Nest, where danger and romance meet at the water’s edge.

Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/u/3Gq8Vp

Traveling Tuesday: Britain's Country Homes

Traveling Tuesday: 

Britain’s County Homes

Pixabay/Vane Monte

A Lesson in Love, my contribution to “The Strength of His Heart” charity anthology takes place in an English country home. Simply put, a country home is a large house or mansion in the countryside. The reason for the moniker was that many who owned such places also owned a house in town (or the city), referred to as a “town house.” According to Wikipedia, the term also “encompasses houses that were, and often still are, the full-time residence for the “landed gentry.” Depending on which sites you peruse, country homes may also be called manor homes. Other sites, differentiate between the two.

Country homes were generally not fortified. If a structure is fortified, it is called a castle (however there

Pixabay/VariousPhotography

are notable exceptions such as Highclere Castle in Hampshire that is not fortified.) The term “country home” was first used in Felicia Hemans’ 1827 poem “The Home of England.” Noel Coward’s 1938 song “The Stately Homes of England” written for the musical “Operette” uses the term and spoofs ownership as Genius.com puts it “making it clear that owning such a property isn’t nearly as romantic as it seems.”

Country homes have evolved since their inception in the second half of Elizabeth I’s reign as well as her successor’s, James I. Some of the homes were converted into private residences from ecclesiastical properties after Henry VIII’s “Dissolution of the Monasteries.”

Pixabay/Siggy Nowak

Some of the country homes were the creation of one architect or designer built in a short period of time, such as Blenheim Palace, however most country homes involved successive owners over decades, if not centuries, multiple designers who combined a mixture of architectural styles. Depending on the size of the owner’s ego, the designs were a testament to the individual’s power or desire for power.

Today, many of the homes have become hotels, schools, hospitals, and museums, while others have transferred ownership to trusts to avoid taxation. Others are available as venues for parties, weddings, filming locations, or corporate entertainment. Still others are open for public tours.

Have you had a chance to visit one or more of Britain’s country homes?

_____________

About A Lesson in Love (Part of The 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/3O3nuCW