Model Behavior is the perfect title for this non-fiction book. Young people just beginning to choose a college or career and even those retired souls bravely wishing to follow the dream hidden within their hearts, will appreciate Amy’s appealing observations and encouragement.

Amy’s sincere and delightful telling of her own experiences—which seem almost conjured up in Hollywood—have inspired others to follow their hearts desires. My firm belief is that we all have purpose and significance and books like “Model Behavior” detailing real challenges and opportunities strengthen those who read them. Each chapter was fun for me to discover Amy’s fears well-met or opportunities that showed a divine fingerprint. I must ask you, the reader of this book review, “Have you met your tiger yet?” If you desire to discover just what I mean then I invite you to pick up Amy Robnik Joob’s book, “Model Behavior” and read that very inspiring chapter! Well done, Amy. Thank you for sharing your heart on each page, for many who take note of your courage and inspiration will benefit far more than you can imagine!

This ‘calling and vocation’ topic is versatile, useful, and inspiring. I shudder to think of all those who have gone before this book was in print and have not known how to allow themselves to strike out on the journey that would bring them happiness and fulfillment and also allow them to be an inspiration as well.

QUESTIONS FOR AMY:

1. Would you want to turn back time and make other choices about modeling?              I don’t have regrets with my modeling career or choices. I think I stuck to my standards overall and at times when I started to veer away from my convictions, God helped me get back on track. I am thankful He was there to guide and keep me!
2. Why do you cling to God in those times when all seems to be rolling along well?       I think that it’s important to stay close to God whether things are difficult or going well. Due to living a crazy lifestyle before I became a Christian and knowing the fruits of that, my desire has been to remain close to Him. I want to do things His way because I know it will lead to the best life for me and my family.
3. You are an experienced public speaker, so what topics are your favorite to share with teens or young adults? I really enjoy speaking to young people. I want to encourage people to know and understand God’s love & to know that He has a unique, fulfilling purpose for their lives. I also want to help those that have struggled with difficult family issues, anxiety, depression, insecurity and addiction because I have been through those things too. I want to share my story and the hope and victory God has brought in my life.
4. What are you most grateful for right now…this minute? 😊   Right this minute, I am grateful to be sitting outside, enjoying the yard and watching my son Ashton play basketball because he has had to overcome a lot of health issues. I am grateful our daughter Arianna is going into high school and running for clean water through Team World Vision with her best friend. I am also beyond thankful Model Behavior was published this year and my husband Eric has successfully launched his business.
5. Is there another book on the horizon for you to write?  Yes, I am currently working on a devotional for special needs families and I want to write my son’s story about his journey with Noonan Syndrome. Hopefully Ashton’s Journey will be out soon!
6. How do you want your readers to find you?                                                       
   
7. Readers can find me on my website: www.amyjoob.com, at https://m.facebook.com/amyjoob1, at https://www.instagram.com/amyjoob1 or at https://www.twitter.com/@joobamy

 

​This bestselling author created a fascinating post-Civil War story laced with historic accuracy and weighted by concerns relevant during 1871 as well as now. The main character, Alexandra Jamison, makes decisions that upend her world and the comfort and expectations of those around her. Doors of opportunity open for her, which lead readers into an interesting and heartfelt journey. I'm personally glad that I didn’t miss this eloquently told tale of self-discovery and courage to take the right path though consequences are stiff and exacting. I believe you will be thrilled to discover. Sylas Rutledge, the hero, is a northeast Line Railroad owner and very interesting fellow. Sy's character and motivation adds to the thrum of excitement that turns the pages of this novel well into the night. If you enjoy stories embodied by honor, courage, tragedy, and memory of loved ones--then you will love this tale of woe and discovery. These two very different people have an upward battle to fight and the challenges will test the fiber of their very beings. I fell in love with the other characters and the pacing of this story is very satisfying!  
 
Tamera Alexander is a favorite author of mine. I’ve not posted about her novels on this website until now for no other reason but my own demanding schedule. She is a talented storyteller who plumbs deeply into the history and the emotional experience of the people of the time period. This novel is one of the series called A BELLE MEADE PLANTATION NOVEL. Bell Meade is a real place and on Tamara's website she mentions events held at this historic treasure. Visit Tamera Alexandder at: ​https://tameraalexander.com/

Tamera Alexander was not available for an author interview. Her website states that she is in the midst of a deadline. I strongly suggest that you look over her website. Well done Tamara. Thank you for all the excellent work and talent you share in your novels! Reader, I just want to tell you that Tamara  has a blurb on her website for the novel pictured below, which sounds very entreating! Thank you for stopping by!

“NO MATTER WHERE, GOD IS ALWAYS THERE! What a great theme for a children’s book!  I went to a conference and found this treasure of a story for my granddaughter! Aria is five and was very enthused about this story. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to finish this read for we ran out of time. We will get together soon to do so. I must admit that I couldn’t stay away, and took to the pages after she’d left. I learned about owls as the characters interacted in a very pleasing way.

The illustrations by Sydney Hanson were perfect visuals for the characters and setting. This is the first young children’s storybook that I’ve ever reviewed and the reason that I’d decided to do so was because of the timeless message of His being with us always! Children encounter such fear-filled thoughts and television shows. Ugly, gruesome characters bombard their tender imaginations. I found Christie to be a sensitive and intuitive story teller. This is a story that will soothe an anxious child. I will not tell you how this tale plays out and I hope that you are curious enough to purchase this treasure for the children in your life! This would make a fine gift for Easter or birthday or even a summer visit to the beach. This is highly recommended! Excuse me as I go and experience Quinn’s adventure once more! 

QUESTIONS FOR CHRISTIE:

Christie, how long have you had children’s stories running around your imagination? (I’m so glad you did!)
I used to tell stories all the time as a kid, but didn't write a single story for nearly 20 years as I pursued a science degree, children's ministry, and family. I wanted to write again, but felt stuck, until this little owl character popped into my life.

You and the Sydney have merged your talents together perfectly! How did you find one another? I actually don't know Sydney, the publisher found her! She's so incredible.

Did you ever get lost as a child? (I almost did!)
I do remember getting lost on a bike ride once. I had been pokey and gotten left behind, so I rode around and prayed until I found a street I knew. Afterward I actually found it a very empowering experience, because I realized that I'd always eventually find my way, and that I was never truly alone.

How does story come to you?
Stories come to me slowly. I get the seed of an idea in my head, but I have to sit down and start writing in order to actually figure out where the story goes.

I like the child-scriptures listed in the parents notes! Do you have a website where children and their parents can visit you and keep connected?
My website is christiethomaswriter.com, where I write to encourage and equip parents to nurture the hope of Christ in the home.

What other books do you have available?
I also have a simple (and fun) Bible study book for preschoolers, as well as another Quinn story coming out in August! 7)
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Where can you be found on social media?
I'm christiethomasauthor on Facebook and christie.thomas.writer on Instagram. I should have tried harder to get them the same, haha!

Bath, England—1810

Alethea Sutherton is so very strong and talented, but in a way that is not acceptable for Regency ladies. Violin playing by a woman is forbidden, yet her love and passion for this music as well as the precious gifting of the instrument by a loving friend hold her captive to the strings. Her brother passed away before the beginning of the story and her cousin inherits to become the new Earl of Trittonstone.

Miss Alethea is displaced. No hearth, no home, except for the hospitality of her Aunt Ebena in Bath. Lord Bayard Terralton, the brooding hero, arrives in Bath too. He is also musically inclined and part of a quartet made up of his friends. Terralton is war-wounded and struggling, yet protective and worthy of his place in this story.

This is a novel well-paced and doused in mystery that kept me guessing about who could be making this heroine’s life miserable! There is much to relate to as this tail unfolds: abandonment; divided families; being yourself in the midst of pressure from others; bulling and more. I enjoyed the characters and their personalities. Margaret Garen, Mr. Golding and Miss Clare Tarralton were every bit perfectly placed! Lord Ian Wynnman, Lord Ravenhurst and so many others kept me entertained! This is a highly recommended novel. And I hope that you give this author a try.

Unfortunately, I was unable to interview Camille Elliot, who by the way is also know as Camy Tang. She writes other genre besides Regency. If you would like to find her online, I can offer some social media addresses for your convenience:
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https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCamilleElliot/
https://twitter.com/camytang
https://camytang.com/
https://camilleelliot.com/


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London England 1812

Viscount Worthington has newly married and Charlotte Worthington, his sister, feels that the time for her to find usefulness elsewhere has arrived. She can’t abide being a burden in her brother’s household and feels that she has something to offer. Charlotte approaches Miss Thorn and Fortune, the cat, to see what employment can be had. Miss Thorn has just the job. To Charlotte’s surprise and the surprise of Matthew Bateman, a man known as the Beast of Birmingham, Fortune Employment Agency offers the assistance of this lady of quality as an etiquette teacher. The Bateman sisters and Matthew lack polish for they’ve never needed such elegance before. Circumstances involving The Beast’s heroic activity have elevated their status making this education necessary. And Fortune approves.

This is a fun and entertaining read and Regina does a wonderful job of varying personalities that are believable and enjoyable. The sisters’ interactions were wonderful. Petunia or Tuny and Daisy, and Ivy made me feel at home! This story drew me along effortlessly and I wish to ask Regina, does your pen or computer keys have instant pizazz on the ready flow setting as your words touch the page? Cause I felt that pizazz as I enjoyed “Never Kneel to a Knight”! There is humor and intrigue, heroic and wise choices that must be made while the characters navigate through the rules of the ton. I enjoy how the names and nick-names fit the characters and how the situations and tension build to a satisfying ending! Yes, I did receive this novel from Regina for a review and this is a true and accurate accounting of my enjoyment and appreciation at experiencing this read.

Questions for Regina:
 
This story was fresh and sweet. How do you keep your inspiration flowing?
That’s the Lord! Every time a new idea arrives, I just have the thank Him!
 
Do you have the floor plans to the Bateman house? I could picture it as I read!
I do! For most of my stories, I draw floor plans of the houses and sometimes the grounds around them. And when I’m stuck, I turn to my youngest son, who just finished school to become an architect. He points out where I don’t have enough windows or chimneys and where walls should be. 😊
 
Have you ever been to a boxing match? Do you like the sport?
Not boxing. I have watched a little on TV, and I must say I can’t watch for long! I admire the power and athletic prowess of the boxers, but I just can’t enjoy watching people strike each other.
 
What would you like your reader to benefit from because they read “Never Kneel to a Knight”?
I hope they come away with the idea that we can all be our best selves. Where we were born, who raised us, and what we look like isn’t as important as the character we choose to take on. We can all contribute, we can all be a positive force for change.
 
What do you find most admirable about the “ton”?
The fact that it was a small town in the midst of a very large city. The story goes that only about 10,000 people inhabited the “ton” at any point in time. It’s not hard to make yourself known (or infamous!) in that size group.
 
What is the least favorite quality about the “ton”?
The gossip and bullying. There seems to have been a real pecking order, and woe to you if you were at the bottom!
 
Will there be another story in this series and if so, what is it about and when is the publishing date?
There is one more story planned for the Fortune’s Brides series, Never Marry a Marquess, due out the middle of June. The heroine is Ivy Bateman, the sister of Matthew in Never Kneel to Knight. Shy Ivy is happiest caring for her family and baking sweet treats. She never expected the wealthy Marquess of Kendall to propose a marriage of convenience. His baby daughter needs a mother, and Ivy cannot deny the role’s attraction, or the attraction she feels for the handsome marquess. Kendall’s heart went to the grave with his first wife. Now, all he cares about is ensuring his frail daughter survives. Perhaps a grieving lord and a shy lady will discover that love, and a good cinnamon bun, can heal all wounds.
 
Where do you wish for your readers to contact you?
Readers can find out more about my books, and me, at my website at www.reginascott.com and connect with me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/authorreginascott,       
Pinterest (www.pinterest.com/reginascottpins), and my blog (www.nineteenteen.com).

If they sign up for my newsletter, they can be alerted when the next book is out or on sale.

Two stories knit this adventure together with the excellence and vigor that Jaime Jo Wright’s debut novel embodied! What can I say about Annalise Forsythe and Libby Sheffield’s struggles, pain, and challenges? Their concerns merged into mine as I turned pages and tried to keep up and solve the long-kept secrets and reasons for dangers in these two main characters’ lives. Jaime Jo kept one or two steps ahead of me throughout both the historical and contemporary time periods. I enjoyed how easily I was drawn into discovering the differing personalities and their reactions to the events that unfolded, while all along the stories complemented one another all the way to the very end. What heroes and what villains! I refuse to say more for I just can't abide spoilers! 

I so very much enjoyed the clever way that the mysteries were hidden and yet when the big reveals commenced, they made perfect sense. This read was an absolute delight for how it kept me on the edge of my seat and my mind spinning to figure out who, what, where, when and why! This author and her novel are definitely highly recommended! I’m grateful for Jaime Jo’s imagination and attention to detail. I applaud her mother for allowing her to read and develop her excellence sense of story when otherwise she’d have been slaving over the drudgery of dishes! Goodness, I even enjoyed her ACKNOWLEDGMENTS at the back of the novel! 

And just think, Jaime Jo has another story out, which is called “The CURSE of MISTY WAYFAIR”. Guess who is going shopping for that novel soon! You may visit Jaime Jo at jaimewrightbooks.com and if you do, I think you’ll be glad that you did!

Questions for Jaime Jo:
What keeps your ideas and twists inspiring the ink on your pages?
A lot of imagination. LOL And I read a lot of books just to keep my imagination sharp and learn from other writers. I love watching crime mysteries or historical documentaries. All of those contribute to plots and ideas.
 
I had to cringe when you mentioned Folgers for that is the coffee I use when I make my sugar and cream drink with a spot of coffee! What is your favorite brand of coffee?
Don’t cringe!! That was Annalise’s snobby opinion. 😊 I actually grew up drinking Folgers with my Gramma and Grampa, so Folgers is a very nostalgic coffee for me. I think it’s a staple for every cupboard. I am a coffee snob, though too. But I’m not particularly loyal to one specific brands. I just tend to like the Fair Trade coffees and locally roasted ones.
Is Gossamer Pond a real place or does it represent a real place?
 
Gossamer Pond is not a real place. It has small components of little towns in my area but for the most part is a figment of my imagination.
Were the Corbin twins’ real people? I loved how they were interwoven into the story!
They are loosely based off of real brothers. For the most part, they’re completely fictional, but there were twin brother evangelists that came to my town at the turn of the century and really raised havoc in the city. Many of the events in the book, such as the riots were based on actual events.
What message do you want your readers to ‘take away’ from this novel?
Grace! Grace, grace, grace. There’s not enough grace to go around these days. While I believe God does have a firm line of right and wrong, He also shows how He tempers that with an opportunity to receive grace.
I just have to know—are you a seat-of-the-pants writer or are you a plotter?
I’m a skeleton. LOL By the I mean, I plot the skeleton of the story, but as write, that’s when I fill in the muscle and ligaments. I know the high points only when I start out. I am seat of the pants as far as the scenes go.
Who was your favorite character to write in “The RECKONING of GOSSAMER POND”?
Favorite character to write was probably Jacobus. He was just so different. Odd. Blunt. Theological.
Where do you want your readers to connect with you?
Definitely facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jaimejowright
Or sign up for my newsletter at http://www.jaimewrightbooks.com

I’d had my eye on this book as soon as it was published in 2018, for it is about a man I’ve admired all my life. A man whose ministry jump started my walk with the Lord. These pages trace the life experiences and quotes by one of America’s most beloved evangelists, Billy Graham. If you want a peak into the life and thoughts of a fully committed and anchored-in-the-Lord man, this is the book for you! I myself have been reading it slowly, savoring the sweetness adorning the pages of IN HIS OWN WORDS.

Maybe too many of our thoughts dwell on the belief that the grass is greener—for others. We may think that a man who is so favored in the public eye and with the Lord would not have struggles or challenges. But that isn’t true. Time after time and trial after trial Graham prospered because of his love and obedience that carried him over his challenges. This is a man who became increasingly humble as he grew stronger in his walk and relationship with God.

Jerry B. Jenkins interviews with this evangelist covers Graham’s core message, Christian living, humor, aging and death, heaven and legacy. All of these topics are important to everyone, whether we will admit it or not! As I’ve paged my way through Billy Graham’s years I smile and feel that pull of inspiration to grow deeper and know our Lord better than the day before.

I received this book from Tyndale Momentum and this post is an accurate and honest as well as appreciative review.  I highly recommend this book. I’ve been touch deeply by the wisdom and reality of a man of God who said yes and kept say yes to our divine Creator and Lover of Our Souls! Talk about adventure! Thank your Tyndale Momentum and Jerry B. Jenkins for this amazing gift. 

The first time I checked out this COOKBOOK of nutritious, homemade meals for cats and dogs—I admit it—I was impressed. Not only was I drawn to the various benefits this book offers, but when I tried some of the recipes on the dogs, the joy they shared proved more than I can express! I have to thank my sister Pat for her amazing ability to find such useful and entertaining books such as this one.

This book offers more than recipes. Cathy Alinovi, DVM and Susan Thixton, the PAWsible authors, know that acquiring enough time to cook for ourselves can be challenging. So, they offer advice on mass food production so that you are not always slaving over the hot stove for your pet’s dinners. There is a section about foods that will help your dog or cat with ailments. Each recipe is equipped with serving sizes for let’s say a 10-pound cat or a 30-pound dog. Supplements are addressed and special hints are located at the bottom of each recipe.

Our dog, Cricket, is an amazing addition to our family. Yes, I can even say that after I arrived home today to find my tissue box torn apart all over the living room floor! (I suppose he was bored!) Anyway, Cricket has a sensitive stomach with any changes in kibble. As I eased him into cooked meat and vegetables his movements became normal and problems disappeared. I also have discovered that when I feed him freshly cooked vegies and meat that he does need to be let outside more frequently. The extra moisture in his food has been a challenge on the days that I work full time hours.

With our previous dog, Porschea, I hadn’t tired the real meat diet until her end of life. She loved the chicken and adored me all the more for that change of diet. Also, Porschea had a chronic problem with crystals in her urine. She had been prescribed many different antibiotics to help her with her many bladder infections through the years. Once I started feeding her chicken and lessoned the kibble the crystals disappeared from her urine samples completely! It is my opinion that she would have lived longer and healthier had I fed her fresh meat and vegetables. I know for a fact that she was happier with the real food instead of kibble!

I recently was sick with the flu and I had to resort to can dog food and some kibble with some cooked vegies and noodles or rice for Cricket. But, if I’d followed the recipe book I could have had a stash of casseroles premade for any interruptions and life emergencies. 😊
​
I appreciate the information that holistic veterinarian, Dr. Cathy Alinovi and Susan Thixton, also know as the “Caped Crusader for Safe Pet Food” share in this book. I have an eye for keeping our pets healthier and happier and these two ladies have researched and compiled their wonderful information for such a time like this! This is a highly recommended book in my opinion! Let me know what you think too! 

I never tire of Regina’s historical adventures!  This is book 4 in a wonderful London, England Regency series. Lydia Villers is strong and admirable, but feeling a tad unsettled over this new position with someone who has spurned her previously. I must admit that I didn’t know what to think of Lydia in book 3. I even disliked her at times! In book 4, I found Meredith Thorn and Fortune the cat at their best when introducing Lydia to Frederick, Viscount Worthington. When a lady loves science she will even put up with the discomfort of a past acquaintance who would otherwise have caused her to—run. An imperfect but excellent choice of a hero keeps the tension and questions coming. There is a pleasing thread of mystery throughout this 1812 tale.

Who doesn’t love a mystery? I know that I do!

Regina kept my attention through the entire story and I felt fully entertained and engaged in both the plot and the characters. I love that NEVER VIE FOR A VISCOUNT is set in this wonderful time period. This novel made me smile! Well done, Regina. Also, Regina’s beautiful website http://www.reginascott.com/ includes announcements and her blog page includes interesting tidbits of historical facts.

I did receive this novel for free and I’m thrilled and excited to share this honest and informative review. I love clean, historical fiction with engaging characters who are caught in the whirlwind of difficulties and challenges.
 
Questions for Regina:

How did you come up with the room spaces used for the scientific experiments?
For Lydia to be able to get easily back and forth to her new position, I knew Worth’s laboratory needed to be located near Miss Thorn’s home on Clarendon Square, which is mostly populated by townhouses. Like most condominiums today, they were narrow and had relatively few rooms. So, I had Worth purchase the adjoining townhouse to his as his base of operations. Using an architectural plan of one such house from the Regency period, I mapped out which rooms might serve for what purpose. For example, Worth’s experiments require access to heat and water, so I gave him the kitchen of the second house. One of his colleagues, Miss Pankhurst, needs more space to store and spread out the textiles she is researching, so I allotted her the old dining room with it built-in cabinets. I also had Worth remove most of the things that might burn—like padded furniture, draperies, and doilies—from all his research rooms to prevent a fire should an experiment go awry. 
 
If you were to rewrite a character in this story, who would it be and what would you add or take away?
I might rewrite John Curtis, Worth’s rival natural philosopher, to give him a bit more of a backstory. Or maybe I’ll save that for another book.  
 
What was the most fun historical aspect to study in this novel?
The ballooning! It is always surprising to me to learn what was available during the Regency period, and what wasn’t. Now we take sandbags and pull cords for granted in a hot air balloon, but those were just starting to be tested in Worth and Lydia’s time. They couldn’t isolate oxygen easily, and helium had yet to be discovered as an element, so their choices for lifting gasses were pretty small. The French had experimented with hydrogen, with sometimes disastrous results!
 
What would you like to share about your adventures writing this novel or the history you discovered in your research?
Napoleon wanted to conquer England so badly, but England’s might at sea kept him from crossing the Channel easily. So, he started his own air force—of balloons—and the head of it was a woman! Alas, Madame Sophie Blanchard was killed when her balloon caught fire and crashed, before she could make plans for invading England from the air.
 
What is the take-away that you would love your readers to benefit from reading this story?
Don’t let anyone tell you who you are. God gave you talents, dreams. Embrace them, and benefit the world. That’s what Lydia learns to do.
 
Will there be a book 5?
Yes, there will! Never Kneel to a Knight, featuring Worth’s sister Charlotte, releases in mid-March.  When the thoroughly poised Charlotte Worthington requests that Miss Thorn and her cat Fortune find her a position, she never dreamed the savvy employment agency owner would reunite her with Matthew Bateman, her brother's former bodyguard. Matthew is about to be knighted for an act of valor, and he and his sisters could use some polishing if they're to enter Society after his elevation. Yet how can Charlotte maintain her calm, cool demeanor as their sponsor when she harbors a secret love for him? Matthew Bateman cannot forget the beauty who is miles out of his league. Once a boxer called the Beast of Birmingham, Matthew would like nothing better than to be worthy of Charlotte's hand. As old enemies and new ones attempt to bring him low, can Matthew prove to Charlotte that their love is meant to be?
 
How do you want your readers to contact you?
Readers can reach me via my website at www.reginascott.com, on my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/authorreginascott, on Pinterest at www.pinterest.com/reginascottpins, at the blog I share with young adult author Marissa Doyle at www.nineteenteen.com, or on Goodreads at www.goodreads.com/reginascott. If you want to know when the next book is out or on sale, please sign up for a free e-mail alert at http://eepurl.com/baqwVT 

 

To Laura, who’s masterful pen spins lore and imagination into a mesmerizing tale that follows me throughout my days, until the stories very end. But who am I kidding? A Bound Heart sweetens my musings—well past the reading of the last richly written word—all for envisaging Lark MacDougall, Granny, Larkin, Magnus and Rory, the handsome captain of the Merry Lass. Their struggles are a glimpse into the anguish, which hundreds of immigrants suffered after they were spirited from their homes—willing or not—to arrive in a vastly different land. The cost to these brave souls, whether they welcomed the New World or feared their indenture was inspired by Laura’s own family history. Dedicated to her sixth great-grandfather, I find this story appropriately named.  A Bound Heart has enriched my appreciation for my own ancestors daring and dangerous trip across the Atlantic, which planted them in a young country whose culture proved strange compared to their heartfelt home. This story is filled with dreams, ache for what was and what could be as well as danger met with courage. Laura has put her heart and soul into this novel and I feel this to be true for how her words reached out to me.

This novel was given to me by Laura, and I’m honored to present a true and accurate review of this more-than-worthy read. If you enjoy adventure, beautifully written depictions of location, eighteenth century time period, and characters that leap off the page with authenticity, then I recommend this novel to you. In fact, I doubly recommend this story to you! I plan to purchase the audio version of A Bound Heart for I have enjoyed every audio rendition from Laura’s collections of novels. Hearing her tales unfold with turns of phrases—uniquely Laura’s—makes the mundane seem so much less common as her lively tales even stir an eagerness for me to put my hands in the suds!

QUESTIONS FOR LAURA:

I’ve loved the photo you shared from Kerrera, Scotland on Facebook! How did you settle on this location?
I’m so thankful I was able to take several trips to Scotland, one with my pastor brother in Spain, and other trips with Liz Curtis Higgs. Scotland is a very compact country so I found, after taking the train and driving all over, that the Hebrides and that stunning coast with all its rich history would be an ideal setting. The castle ruins and vistas provided so much inspiration!

Was Kerrera Castle modeled after your sixth great-grandfather, George Hume’s Wedderburn Castle?  Did you ever see Wedderburn Castle in person or if it is not standing—its ruins?
Yes, to modeling the fictitious Kerrera Castle after the rebuilt Wedderburn which had fallen to ruins but has been restored, thankfully. Though it looks very different now than the original castle where my kin lived, it’s on the same grounds.

Oh, Larkin has stolen my heart! Was the baby photo on your website the beginning of his character’s creation for A Bound Heart? What an excellent addition to your story he is indeed!
So happy Larkin stole your heart, too! I hadn’t thought to include him then found that amazing photo of a red-headed infant on the web. When Lark was boarding the ship for Virginia, I thought her life would be wonderfully complicated by a baby. I love babies so tuck them in books whenever it suits the story 😊

Granny said the most amazing things! Thank you for her and for Lark’s amazing love interests: Lard Magnus MacLeish and Captain Roy MacPherson. Which one of these characters was your favorite to write?
I loved Granny, too. So happy you want to quote her! I enjoyed Magnus very much as a character yet felt the heaviness and responsibility of lairds back then tending their tenants and sheep and heartbreaking things that stretched their lives to the seams.  So here is a fun Granny quote! Thank you Laura!
"His whiskers need trimming," Granny said in the next breath. "He has the look of a pirate, he does."

Elsewhere, you’ve shared about reading diaries from the time period of your story. Where did you find such treasures to glean the authentic thoughts and attitudes of the people in your story?
Much can be found on the web if you take care to check the legitimacy of your sources and through inter-library loan for out of print books, etc. What helped, most of all, was the collection of letters penned by my Scottish ancestors, written back and forth between Virginia and Scotland in the 18th-century. A true treasure trove! Somehow those letters were lost about 1900 by the family but thankfully someone had copied them, so we still have what was said. Also remarkable are the legal documents and business dealings and surveys signed by my George which also include the signature of George Washington as well. Truth really is stranger than fiction!

Will you pen another winsome tale from your beloved Scotland? (I hope so!)
Readers have said they’d love a sequel to A Bound Heart. So happy about that though I’m not sure it will happen as I’m slated for other stories. Something about Jamaica in winter sounds quite nice!

Where do you wish your readers to connect with you?
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http://laurafrantz.net/
https://www.facebook.com/laura.f.frantz
https://www.instagram.com/laurafrantzauthor/
https://www.pinterest.com/laurafrantz/
email: laura@laurafrantz.net