On the final episode of Historical Fiction: Unpacked, I talk with Joanna Davidson Politano about her latest novel, The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple . We had a wonderful conversation about the silent film industry, the part gardens play in this story, and Joanna’s research and writing process. Here’s a description of the novel: In her newest narrative, Politano once again whisks readers away to Edwardian England, where an unlikely duo—an underground investigator and a silent-film actress—join for...
Apr 11, 2024•22 min•Season 7Ep. 14
This week’s episode features a fun conversation. Ashlee Cowles and Danielle Stinson make up A.D. Rhine. They met as military “brats” when they were kids and stayed close over the years. They’ve united to write a duology, Horses of Fire and Daughters of Bronze . I sat down with Ashley and Danielle to talk about their friendship, their mutual love of Homer’s Iliad , and what led them to write these novels together. Here’s a description of the duology: A sweeping and epic duology in which Troy’s st...
Apr 04, 2024•38 min•Season 7Ep. 13
Award-winning author Erin Bartels joins me on the show to talk about her latest novel, The Lady with the Dark Hair . We discuss the barriers women historically faced when they wanted to pursue a career as an artist as well as the recent emergence of female artists from history. Here is a description of the novel: A charismatic man with a legacy that long outlives him. A forgotten woman whose fate is forever tied to his. And the family whose history is still being written. Toulouse, France—1879 C...
Mar 28, 2024•33 min•Season 7Ep. 12
New York Times Bestselling author Allison Pataki joins me on the show today to talk about her latest release, Finding Margaret Fuller . We discussed Margaret’s place in history, the many famous transcendentalist writers she was connected to, and her influence on the U.S. feminist movement. We also talked about Allison’s research process, including her visit to Concord and Walden Pond and how real historical figures morph into a characters in her novels. Here’s a description of the novel: Massach...
Mar 21, 2024•28 min•Season 7Ep. 11
I had a wonderful conversation with Jennifer Ryan about her newly released novel, The Underground Library . It’s based on the real Bethnal Green Library, which went underground to service the bomb shelters beneath the streets of London during the Second World War. Jennifer and I chatted about the roles women played during World War II, how research inspires her stories, and what lead her to become an author. Here’s a description of the novel: When new deputy librarian, Juliet Lansdown, finds tha...
Mar 14, 2024•32 min•Season 7Ep. 10
This week’s episode brings you a conversation with Joel H. Morris. His debut novel, All Our Yesterdays , releases next week, and it’s the origin story of the famous lady featured in Shakespeare’s play Macbeth . Joel and I discussed his love of Shakespeare and how he became fascinated with one of the most studied female literary figures. Here’s a description of Joel’s novel: A propulsive and piercing debut, set ten years before the events of Shakespeare’s historic play, about the ambition, power,...
Mar 07, 2024•30 min•Season 7Ep. 9
I spoke with Gail Lehrman about her love for New York City, how she came to become a writer later in life, and what’s so special about her debut novel, Across Seward Park . Here’s a description of the novel: Unions. Strikes. War. Depression… Set in the crowded tenements and teeming streets of New York’s Lower East Side, Across Seward Park follows one family’s journey through the roiling events of the 20th Century. Irving Friedman and his big sister Miriam struggle to survive in the savage sweats...
Feb 29, 2024•33 min•Season 7Ep. 8
Eric Z. Weintraub spoke with me about his newly released novel, South of Sepharad: The 1492 Jewish Expulsion from Spain . Eric and I talked about what we’re writing, the role of Eric’s Jewish heritage in his decision to write about this topic, the research his project required, and how he found a publisher. Here’s a description of South of Sepharad : Fleeing death by the Spanish Inquisition, a Jewish doctor makes an impossible choice between home and faith, then struggles to lead his family on a...
Feb 22, 2024•26 min•Season 7Ep. 7
Amy Lynn Walsh joins me on the show today to talk about her new release, Nellie . It’s part of the Apron Strings Series, a string of heartfelt inspirational stories by various authors featuring different women through the decades. Amy and I talked about the book’s setting of Northeastern Pennsylvania, which is the area where we both live! We also discussed tuberculosis treatment, Amy’s other books, and how she balances her writing life with her teaching career. Here’s a description of Nellie : F...
Feb 15, 2024•31 min•Season 7Ep. 6
Dean Cycon is an author, lawyer, human rights advocate and internationally renowned social entrepreneur. His debut novel, Finding Home , released last June. We talked about this tale of survivors of Auschwitz returning to their former town following World War II, why Jews in Hungary had a slightly different experience from those in other European countries, how Dean incorporated the perspective of the bystander into his story, and the role that music played in this novel. We also discussed how a...
Feb 08, 2024•49 min•Season 7Ep. 5
Talia Carner’s bio calls her an activist, a feminist, and a humanitarian who gives a voice to those without one. She’s also a bestselling author. Today we talk about her latest novel, The Boy with the Star Tattoo , which released Tuesday. Here’s a description of the novel: 1942: As the Vichy government hunts for Jews across France, Claudette Pelletier, a young and talented seamstress and lover of romance novels, falls in love with a Jewish man who seeks shelter at the château where she works. Th...
Feb 01, 2024•41 min•Season 7Ep. 4
Today’s episode features debut author Jamie Ogle. Her novel, Of Love and Treason , released Tuesday! It’s a compelling novelization of the story of Saint Valentine of Rome. Jamie and I discussed her research process, the years she spent writing this story, and what she learned from learning about the persecution faced by Roman Christians during the third century. Here’s a description of Of Love and Treason : Valentine defies the emperor and becomes a hero . . . and the most wanted man in the emp...
Jan 25, 2024•28 min•Season 7Ep. 3
In today’s episode, I’m talking with Jenni L. Walsh. Her latest novel, Unsinkable , tells the story of Violet Jessop, a stewardess who survived the sinking of the Titanic as well as maritime disasters aboard Titanic’s two sister ships! We talked about Jenni’s desire to tell Violet’s story along with her decision to write a dual timeline novel with a parallel story about another “unsinkable” woman. Jenni’s loves sharing the stories of little-known women who’ve made remarkable contributions to his...
Jan 18, 2024•27 min•Season 7Ep. 2
The first episode of season seven features well-known author Laura Frantz. This is her fourth time on the show! Today she shares about her latest novel, The Seamstress of Acadie , which released Tuesday and is the #1 New Release in Christian Historical Fiction on Amazon! Laura and I talk about everything from Prince Edward Island and Lucy Maud Montgomery to the poem Evangeline by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow which first brought attention to the sad tale of Acadia. Here’s a description of The Seams...
Jan 11, 2024•43 min•Season 7Ep. 1
This last episode of the season features New York Times bestselling author Katherine Howe and her latest release, A True Account: Hannah Masury’s Sojourn Amongst the Pyrates, Written by Herself . Katherine and I talked about the Golden Age of Piracy, how fiction tends to romanticize and sanitize piracy, and how we curate our own image in all kinds of ways. Here’s a description of A True Account : In Boston, as the Golden Age of Piracy comes to a bloody close, Hannah Masury – bound out to service...
Dec 07, 2023•36 min•Season 6Ep. 14
Today’s show features a conversation with international bestselling author Téa Cooper about her latest novel to release in North America, The Butterfly Collector . Téa and I talked about her fascinating life story, how she comes upon her story ideas, as well as the themes and historically accurate events in this novel. These include the sinking of the SS Cawarra , the migration of Monarch butterflies to Australia, and the horrible business of “baby farming.” Here’s a description of The Butterfly...
Nov 30, 2023•34 min•Season 6Ep. 13
Hey friends, I’m coming to you solo this week (and about 12 hours early) because I want to share with you my favorite books of the year! Many of these books released this year, but all of them I read this year. Listen to the episode to hear detailed explanations of why I loved each novel and who they’d make great gifts for! Here are the affiliate links to purchase them on Amazon: 1. The Truth According to Us by Annie Barrows 2. Letters from My Sister by Valerie Fraser Luessej 3. When the Day Com...
Nov 22, 2023•23 min•Season 6Ep. 12
Henry O. Arnold is an actor and audiobook narrator as well as an author. In this delightful episode, we talk about his new book, The Fugitive King . It’s the latest installment in his series “The Song of Prophets and Kings” and focuses on an exciting and trying time in the life of King David. We also discuss some of the other facets of Henry’s career and how he balances it all. Here’s a description of The Fugitive King : One king desperately on the run…One king in vengeful pursuit…One nation in ...
Nov 16, 2023•42 min•Season 6Ep. 11
Today’s episode features my conversation with bestselling, Christy Award winning author Amanda Barratt. Her latest novel, The Warsaw Sisters , released on Tuesday. Along with the new book, Amanda and I discussed the Polish Underground, the Warsaw Uprising, the Wola Massacre, and the network of women that worked together to rescue Jewish children in Warsaw. There is so much to learn through this book and through my conversation with Amanda. Here’s a description of The Warsaw Sisters : On a golden...
Nov 09, 2023•29 min•Season 6Ep. 10
Often called the “Queen of Historical Christian Fiction,” Tracie Peterson is an ECPA, CBA and USA Today best-selling author of more than 110 books, most of those historical. Her work in historical fiction has earned her a myriad of awards. On today’s show, Tracie and I talk about her upcoming novel, Knowing You , which releases next week and is the final installment in her Pictures of the Heart series. We discuss the themes of racism, forgiveness, and finding yourself, as well as her research pr...
Nov 02, 2023•35 min•Season 6Ep. 9
Carrie Turansky is the award-winning author of more than twenty inspirational novels and novellas and a winner of the ACFW Carol Award, the International Digital Award, and the Holt Medallion. She loved traveling to England to research her latest Edwardian novels including the one we’re discussing today, The Legacy of Longdale Manor. Here’s a description: In 2012, art historian Gwen Monroe travels to England’s Lake District to appraise the paintings and antiques of an old family friend, hoping t...
Oct 26, 2023•28 min•Season 6Ep. 8
Patricia Raybon was a journalist and journalism educator for most of her adult life. Now she writes historical mysteries! Her novel All That Is Secret won the Christy Award for Best First Novel in 2022. Patricia and I talked about the second in her mystery series, Double the Lies. We also discussed what it was like for her growing up under Jim Crow, the role the Black church played in her life, the prominence of the Ku Klux Klan in Colorado, and her call to write at the intersection of faith and...
Oct 19, 2023•39 min•Season 6Ep. 7
Cindy K. Sproles is an author and speaker, a “mountain gal” who writes about her home country of rural Appalachia. She came on the show to talk about her latest novel, This Is Where It Ends , which was inspired both by her love of the Appalachian Mountains and by her love for the elderly. Here is a description of the novel from Revell: At only fourteen years old, Minerva Jane Jenkins moves to the mountains with her new husband. Among their few possessions is a small box that he claims holds gold...
Oct 12, 2023•30 min•Season 6Ep. 6
Today I’m sharing a conversation I had with bestselling, Christy Award winning author Roseanna M. White. We talked about her latest novel and the first in her Imposters series, A Beautiful Disguise. We also discussed the spy mania that took over England in the early 1900s and the creation of the United Kingdom’s Military Intelligence, Section 5. Roseanna was my very first interview three years ago when I started the show. It was so fun to host her again! Here’s the description of A Beautiful Dis...
Oct 05, 2023•35 min•Season 6Ep. 5
I learned so much from this conversation with New York Times Bestselling Author Alina Adams about her latest novel, My Mother’s Secret . We discussed the Jewish autonomous region of Birobidzhan established by Stalin in 1931 and Alina’s own childhood and immigration story as well as her long and winding road to writing books in her favorite genre. Here’s the description of My Mother’s Secret from Amazon: With his dying breath, Lena’s father asks his family a cryptic question: “You couldn’t tell, ...
Sep 28, 2023•36 min•Season 6Ep. 4
There’s been so much buzz about Gabrielle Meyer’s new Timeless Series that I jumped at the chance to have her on the show! We had a great conversation about the first two installments of this series, When the Day Comes and In This Moment . We talked about God’s sovereignty over our place in history, the fulfillment of Gabrielle’s dream of writing for Bethany House, how she manages to write six books a year, and what’s coming in books three and four—yes, there’s going to be a book four! Here’s th...
Sep 21, 2023•32 min•Season 6Ep. 3
Today’s episode features Canadian author and historian Andrew Varga. His time hopping series is off to a smashing start with the first two installments, The Last Saxon King and The Celtic Deception . We talked about the importance of historical accuracy in books for young people and how pivotal the year 1066 (the setting for The Last Saxon King ) was in English and world history. Andrew also shares some fascinating stories from his life as well as reading to us in Old English! Here’s a descripti...
Sep 14, 2023•32 min•Season 6Ep. 2
I’m back at long last with Season Six! Valerie Fraser Luesse joins me on the show today as we talk about her latest novel, Letters from My Sister . Here’s the description from the publisher: Sisters Emmy and Callie Bullock are living a privileged life. As the only daughters of a wealthy Alabama cotton farmer, they are surrounded by a close-knit family and share a fierce bond with two Black women—Tirzah Randolph, who delivered both of them into the world, and her daughter, Hepsy Jordan, who runs ...
Sep 07, 2023•38 min•Season 6Ep. 1
After much anticipation, we are finally releasing our episode with Tosca Lee and Marcus Brotherton! I talked to Tosca and Marcus about their latest book, The Long March Home , which features three friends from Alabama fighting in the Philippines during World War II. This conversation makes a spectacular finale to season five. Here’s a description of the novel from Revell: Born and raised in Mobile, Alabama, Jimmy “Propper” Propfield is determined to leave his home behind and see the world with h...
May 25, 2023•35 min•Season 5Ep. 18
Today I’m sharing one of my most popular episodes of all time! This one released last summer. Often called the “Queen of Historical Fiction,” Tracie Peterson is an ECPA, CBA and USA Today bestselling author of more than 100 books, most of them historical. In this episode, we talk about her series, Love on the Santa Fe, and specifically the second installment, Beyond the Desert Sands , which released last July. We discuss her love for the railroad, her mission in writing books, and how her books ...
May 18, 2023•22 min•Season 5Ep. 17
