Book Review: Lady of a Thousand Treasures by Sandra Byrd

I usually try to only post on Mondays and Thursdays, but felt I had to get this review finally posted! (I had forgotten about it!) If you missed my Monday post, read it HERE!

Purchase HERE

Title: Lady of a Thousand Treasures

Author: Sandra Byrd

Series: The Victorian Ladies #1

Genre: Historical

Audience: Adult

ABOUT THE BOOK

Miss Eleanor Sheffield is a talented evaluator of antiquities, trained to know the difference between a genuine artifact and a fraud. But with her father’s passing and her uncle’s decline into dementia, the family business is at risk. In the Victorian era, unmarried Eleanor cannot run Sheffield Brothers alone.

The death of a longtime client, Baron Lydney, offers an unexpected complication when Eleanor is appointed the temporary trustee of the baron’s legendary collection. She must choose whether to donate the priceless treasures to a museum or allow them to pass to the baron’s only living son, Harry—the man who broke Eleanor’s heart.

Eleanor distrusts the baron’s motives and her own ability to be unbiased regarding Harry’s future. Harry claims to still love her and Eleanor yearns to believe him, but his mysterious comments and actions fuel her doubts. When she learns an Italian beauty accompanied him on his return to England, her lingering hope for a future with Harry dims.

With the threat of debtor’s prison closing in, Eleanor knows that donating the baron’s collection would win her favor among potential clients, saving Sheffield Brothers. But the more time she spends with Harry, the more her faith in him grows. Might Harry be worthy of his inheritance, and her heart, after all? As pressures mount and time runs out, Eleanor must decide whom she can trust—who in her life is false or true, brass or gold—and what is meant to be treasured.

~ MY REVIEW ~

**4 stars**

Lady of a Thousand Treasures by Sandra Byrd is the first book to a new historical series called THE VICTORIAN LADIES. It was quite a lovely read! I enjoyed our main character, Miss Eleanor Sheffield, and her knowledge of treasures. And also, her own journey of trusting God and finding her identity as a treasure herself!

The beginning of this book was perhaps a little slow. But still, there was mystery and intrigue to keep one turning pages. *winks* As the story progressed, it was exciting to see mysteries unfold, and the danger and drama kept me on my toes! There is a dark undertone to this read, but also a good dash of sweetness and a meaningful theme. I loved Eleanor's ministry at the prison, and the different relationships that developed over the course of that.

Overall, it was an enjoyable, endearing, and mysterious read. I look forward to continuing this series!

I received a copy of Lady of a Thousand Treasures from Tyndale Blog Network in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review: A Spy in the House by Y.S. Lee

Purchase HERE

Title: The Agency: A Spy in the House

Author: Y.S. Lee

Series: A Mary Quinn Mystery #1

Genre: Historical/Spy Novel

Audience: Young Adult

ABOUT THE BOOK

Introducing an exciting new series! Steeped in Victorian atmosphere and intrigue, this diverting mystery trails a feisty heroine as she takes on a precarious secret assignment.

Rescued from the gallows in 1850s London, young orphan (and thief) Mary Quinn is surprised to be offered a singular education, instruction in fine manners — and an unusual vocation. Miss Scrimshaw’s Academy for Girls is a cover for an all-female investigative unit called The Agency, and at seventeen, Mary is about to put her training to the test. Assuming the guise of a lady’s companion, she must infiltrate a rich merchant’s home in hopes of tracing his missing cargo ships. But the household is full of dangerous deceptions, and there is no one to trust — or is there? Packed with action and suspense, banter and romance, and evoking the gritty backstreets of Victorian London, this breezy mystery debuts a daring young detective who lives by her wits while uncovering secrets — including those of her own past.

~ MY REVIEW ~

**4 stars**

An interesting mystery story! I enjoy a good mystery in an intriguing historical setting - such as the Victorian era, in this case. *smiles* And though they were rather rude and infuriating at times, I do like both Mary and James and want to see more of them! There was a smidgen of romance, but mostly arguing, between our two main characters.

Some minor language and misuses of God's name. Also, mentions of mistresses and affairs. If I ever collected this series, I'd have to do a bit of whiting-out. Nothing extreme though.

I look forward to reading the next book in THE AGENCY series by Y.S. Lee!

Book Review: The New Recruit by Jill Williamson

Purchase HERE

Title: The New Recruit

Author: Jill Williamson

Series: The Mission League #1

Genre: Contemporary/Spy Novel/Speculative

Audience: Teen - Young Adult

ABOUT THE BOOK

Forced to choose between military school and a Christian spy organization, skeptic Spencer Garmond signs on with the Bible geeks. But before he even boards the plane for Moscow, Spencer realizes this is no Bible club.

These guys mean business.

Stumbling onto a case involving a gang of homeless boys, a chilling tattoo, and the always beautiful Anya Vseveloda, Spencer struggles to find the faith needed to save the Mission League from enemy infiltration.

~ MY REVIEW ~

**4 stars**

Well, this wasn't bad at all! *grins* The New Recruit by Jill Williamson isn't my first choice of read, but I ended up quite enjoying it. Our main character, Spencer, was hard to like in more than one way; but he had some great character development through the course of the book.

Spies. Secrets. Action. Danger. Growing. An interesting group of teens on a unique adventure. I look forward to seeing what happens next!

Book Review: Once: Six Historically Inspired Fairytales

Purchase HERE

Title: Once: Six Historically Inspired Fairytales

Author: Elisabeth Grace Foley // Rachel Heffington // J. Grace Pennington // Emily Ann Putzke // Suzannah Rowntree // Hayden Wand

Series: Standalone Novellas

Genre: Historical/Fairy Tale Retelling/Dystopian

Audience: Young Adult

ABOUT THE BOOK

Six fairytales you thought you knew, set against a tapestry of historical backgrounds.

A lonely girl plots revenge in the shadow of a mountain. A stolen princess fumbles a century backward. A dwarfish man crafts brilliant automatons. A Polish Jew strikes matches against the Nazis. A dead girl haunts a crystal lake. A terrified princess searches a labyrinth. A rich collection of six historically inspired retellings, Once is a new generation of fairytales for those who thought they'd heard the tales in all their forms.

Featuring the novellas of Elisabeth Grace Foley, Rachel Heffington, J Grace Pennington, Emily Ann Putzke, Suzannah Rowntree, and Hayden Wand.

~ MY REVIEW ~

**4 stars**

Take a look at that gorgeous cover! It’s divine! ^_^ Dive into this new collection of fairy tale retellings to find history, dystopian worlds, time-travel excitement, western danger, suspense, and of course, romance!

***

The Mountain of the Wolf by Elisabeth Grace Foley. A retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, this western historical tale was one I quite enjoyed. It’s non-magical, and set in the mountains were outlaws lurk and herds of wild horses roam free.

The writing style is akin to the style of the ANNE OF GREEN GABLES series; and while whimsical and old-fashioned, it can be slow and isn’t my favorite ever. That being said, The Mountain of the Wolf was still a great story, and I loved that ending—exciting and dangerous, and then utterly sweet. And the one part that really reminded me of the fairy tale it retells was fabulously-done!

A unique and lovely take on the fairy tale of Little Red Riding Hood.

She But Sleepeth by Rachel Heffington. I really like the fairy tale of Sleeping Beauty, but I honestly didn’t care for this retelling of it. Two reasons: it was a tragedy, and the characters were too acquainted with spells for my personal liking. “Sorcery” and “witching” were words I saw too often, and not only when speaking of the evil villain.

It was an interesting retelling, weaving a new Sleeping Beauty tale with bits of real historical figures and accounts, and the intrigue of time-travel. I wasn’t left bored.

But yes, the magic was a bit much for my taste. And the tale had such a heavy air about it—such sorrow and this feeling of being trapped or helpless. I prefer a tale where good triumphs over evil.

Rumpled by J. Grace Pennington. So I really loved this tale! My kind of story—and definitely the best retelling of Rumplestiltskin that I’ve read! This is the first time I’ve read by this author, and I’m glad I did; I will look for more books by her, for sure.

Set in a dystopian, sci-fi world, Rumpled quickly sweeps us into the intrigue of rags to riches, and webs of deception and fear. A young woman is caught up into a crazy scheme, set into motion by her bumbling father. The most unlikely of people comes to the rescue. A love story unfolds.

I quite adored the grace that layered this story. There were times of danger and drama. Breathless, heart-clenching scenes were you wondered how everything could work out right. And the sweetest of moments. The characters were just lovely—I truly liked both Amanda and her man. And the servants. And … yes. Rumpled was perfectly perfect, and I look forward to loosing myself in another story by J. Grace Pennington.

Sweet Remembrance by Emily Ann Putzke. I remember The Little Match Girl being such a tragic tale, but somehow sweet—bittersweet. That’s how this WWII retelling of the story was. I don’t like tragedies, but if you’re going to write one, write it like Emily Ann Putzke did with Sweet Remembrance.

It was captivating. The history of the Jews being brutally persecuted by Germans is hard—the kind of hard where the enormity of it steals the breath from your lungs for a moment. The lost dreams so bitter. But the remembering of a heartfelt romance so sweet. All in all, it’s a sad tale of a horrific time in history … but it ends with a curious kind of hope. A hope that I want to hold onto.

Very well written. A bittersweet, heart-tugging story of an ordinary girl in a terrible time.

Death Be Not Proud by Suzannah Rowntree. This was sort of a chilling tale. But then, one would expect a retelling of Snow White to be, considering the fairy tale tells of evil and jealousy and would-be-murderers. I really enjoyed that it was set in the Jazz Age, and the mystery/suspense was exciting and all worth it once you got to the end of the story. If you don’t like a story that’s a little bit spooky and has a couple mentions of gruesome speculation, then Death Be Not Proud may not be the best read for you. But I found I liked it. I didn’t find the spooky parts too overdone, and regardless of the doom in the title, it is a good story.

With mystery keeping you on the edge of your seat, Suzannah Rowntree delivers a unique story, about a singer and a man on a mission, that kept me guessing and left me satisfied.

With Blossoms Gold by Hayden Wand. A sweet retelling of Rapunzel, though set amidst the bitterness of war and panic attacks. Though I sometimes got frustrated with Nella, one of the main characters of the story, I appreciated her character development and the authenticity of the tale.

The romance was lovely; and our hero a likable character indeed! Some of his witty remarks had me chuckling to myself.

Overall it was a fine, non-magical fairy tale retelling; set in Italy and examining difficult issues. I quite enjoyed.

***

Well, there you have it, my friends. On a whole, I was quite impressed with Once: Six Historically Inspired Fairytales. The stories were interesting, thoughtful, and different. The writing was very good.

Once isn’t exactly a light tome of fluffy fairy tales, but overall, it is a collection of superbly-written retellings. Check it out!

I received a copy of Once: Six Historically Inspired Fairytales from the authors.

Hidden Gems: Regina Doman

Time for some fairy tales, my friends! Today you're going to discover some amazing, contemporary fairy tale retelling novels by the fabulous author, Regina Doman! ^_^ You don't want to miss out on these!

Enter the giveaway at the end of this post!

Reasons I Think This Author Is One You Need To Discover:

• Books are Fairy Tale Retellings in a Contemporary Setting, making them somehow both Relatable and Magical! ^_^
• Characters are so Awesome and Lovable! They're just Modern-day Knights and Princesses!
• Suspense and Action! (caution: there little bits of violence/gruesomeness)
• Thoughtful Themes and Lessons
• Interesting and Breath-takingly Sweet Romances

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Introducing ... Regina Doman

REGINA DOMAN is a Catholic wife, mother, author and editor. Currently she runs her own company, Chesterton Press, which publishes and distributes quality Catholic fiction. When she worked as the editor of Sophia Institute Press' fiction line, she launched the popular John Paul 2 High series for teens, and Rachel's Contrition became a #1 Best Seller in Amazon's Women's Fiction category, and winner of the 2011 Catholic Arts and Letters Award for best adult fiction. As an author, she has written the Fairy Tale Novels, a series of books for teens and adults that places fairy tales in modern settings with Christian themes interwoven. The fifth book in that series, Alex O'Donnell and the 40 CyberThieves, won the 2011 Catholic Arts and Letters Award for best young adult fiction. In 2013, she published her longest and most challenging fairy tale novel yet, Rapunzel Let Down. Her only picture book Angel in the Waters has sold over 120,000 copies. In 2010 she was presented with the "In Defense of Sanity" award from the American Chesterton Society. Regina and her husband Andrew live in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley on a farmstead with their children. To the question, “How do you manage to get it all done?” Regina responds, “What makes you think I get it all done?”

***

~ A FAIRY TALE RETOLD Series ~

Once upon a time ... 

In New York City, a young, secretive street tough who calls himself, Bear, lands on the doorstep of two teenaged sisters. On the one hand Rose is delighted with his surprising knowledge of literature, poetry, and music; on the other hand Blanche is afraid of his apparent connections to drugs, murder, and a hidden treasure. Even as Blanche learns to trust him, her fears that Bear's friendship threatens their family prove terrifyingly true.

Originally published in hardcover in 1997 as Snow White and Rose Red: A Modern Fairy Tale, Bethlehem Books released The Shadow of the Bear: Snow White and Rose Red Retold in paperback in 2002.

Buy on Amazon

Add to Goodreads

Read My Review

A novel for teens based on the popular fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm

Way after midnight in New York City, a girl runs down the streets, looking for someplace to hide ... is there anywhere she can go to escape? Is there anyone who can help her ... now?

This dark but fulfilling sequel to The Shadow of the Bear is based on a familiar fairy tale "Snow White and the Seven Dwarves" from the Brothers Grimm. Circumstances have placed Blanche Brier entirely on her own this summer in New York City while Bear is wandering through Europe and her family is on vacation. Blanche is fast becoming the focus of a terrifying play of evil forces. Even the refuge she takes among some lively Franciscan friars does not protect her from dangerous attacks. Rather, they continue to escalate as she struggles to persuade a sick and aged man from killing himself. Discovering Blanche's disappearence, Bear and Fish cut short their European vacation and join up with Rose to begin scouring New York City looking for Blanche. But the same malevolence that is lurking over Blanche seems to be hunting them as well and drawing them all togther into a death trap until it seems that all hope is gone. Yet during this time, the desires of Blanche's heart are being clarified - and so are Bear's.

A black night. Tested faith. Honest love.

Buy on Amazon

Add to Goodreads

Read My Review

A novel for teens and adults based on a fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm

"I love him more than poetry ... I love him more than song."

Ever since he rescued her from Certain Death, Rose Brier has had a crush on Ben Denniston, otherwise known as Fish. But Fish, struggling with problems of his own, thinks that Rose should go looking elsewhere for a knight in shining armor. Trying to forget him, Rose goes to college, takes up with a sword-wielding band of brothers, and starts an investigation into her family's past that proves increasingly mysterious. Then a tragic accident occurs, and Fish, assisted by Rose's new friends, finds himself drawn into a search through a tangle of revenge and corruption that might be threatening Rose's very life. The climax is a crucible of fear, fight, and fire that Fish must pass through to reach Rose and conquer his dragons.

Buy on Amazon

Add to Goodreads

Read My Review

Why live in the light, when the night seems so irresistible?

Rachel Durham, 18, is tired of her father and stepmother’s staid morality and pristine prosperity. The summer of her senior year, she’s more than ready for a walk on the wild side, and the door opens - literally - when she and her eleven sisters and stepsisters discover a secret passageway out of their historic home on the Chesapeake Bay. At night, boys in boats and a forbidden island beckon from the shore, and Rachel and her sisters jump aboard. The night becomes Rachel’s true world, and her daytime life becomes a disposable mask. Her puzzled father tries to tow his daughters back into line by enlisting the help of Paul, a med student with a seasonal job juggling at the town festival. But Paul realizes that simply blocking the girls from their midnight parties isn’t going to solve the family’s problems. So he embarks on a risky balancing act to gain the girls’ trust – and to make Rachel see that splitting her life between night and light is a dangerous dance.

Buy on Amazon

Add to Goodreads

Read My Review

When his computer hacker dad discovers a secret website, Alex O'Donnell and his girlfriend Kateri become embroiled in a mystery that leads to sudden wealth and murder. A modern retelling of the classic Arabian Nights tale "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves."

Buy on Amazon

Add to Goodreads

Read My Review

(Caution: This final book is classified as ADULT, as opposed to the YA categorization of the rest of the series. It contains mature themes and elements that aren't appropriate for audiences under 18. 

Due to this, I have not read this book as of now, and thus can't give any recommendations.)

Hermes McCaffrey is sick and tired of sharing his life with his father’s political career and his overbearing older brothers. So during his family’s vacation in New England, when he meets Raphaela, a lovely and brilliant girl dreaming in a hidden tower, is it surprising that he wants her all to himself? But visiting Raphaela is dangerous, and not just because of her mother’s paranoia about strangers or her estate’s sinister caretaker. When Hermes decides to go too far, the results are devastating for Raphaela ... and for Hermes as well.

What happens when falling in love means falling into deep sin? Can sex destroy love? And when you do fall from grace, is there any way back?

Buy on Amazon

Add to Goodreads

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Author Interview

What genre(s) do you write?

Regina: Young adult fiction, fairy tale retellings, Catholic fiction, romantic comedy, comic books, audio dramas, screenplays, picture books, adult novels. Currently attempting fantasy.  I have edited in most of these genres as well, including mystery and women's fiction and grade school fiction. Lots of stuff I've done can be found at www.ChestertonPress.com.

What’s one of the best things about being an author?

Regina: Doing what I was made to do. :)

What made you decide to start writing?

Regina: I'm not sure how it started. What makes me continue is the hope to give hope to others, to make sense out of life and pass it on. It's how I live.

Of all your books, do you have a favorite cover?

Regina: I have been fortunate enough to be able to create most of my own covers. Some covers have gone well: others not as well. BLACK AS NIGHT was a hard cover to make, and we did two versions of it. WAKING ROSE needed several photo shoots and I'm still not happy with it. By stark contrast, SHADOW OF THE BEAR was the easiest cover ever. My friend Alex Fedoryka (of Scythian) provided his own photo and I found the perfect picture of a church spire to go with it. The back cover was inspired by a street scene and I took a picture of a forest road in order to match it. All in all, the easiest book cover I ever made. And I love the title font, although it's a bit tough to read: Alleghieri by The Scriptorium.  

Are there any fellow authors who inspire you?

Regina: Another wonderful gift to my life is Ben Hatke and his family who live down the street from us and who are great folks to bounce stuff off of. Then there's Andrew O'Neill and Ryan Corrigan and my brother John Doman who all help write John Paul 2 High. And I enjoy texting with fellow authors Rebecca Bratten Weiss and Michelle Buckman. I could go on and on with the names: I'm grateful to have so many creative people in my life.

What do you do for fun?

Regina: Make toys for my children. Not that I've done all of the things on this Pinterest board but it's an idea of the things l like making. :)

What was your hardest book to write, and why?

Regina: The current one, if I ever finish it, will go down as the hardest one ever to write. When I figure out why it's so hard, I will probably finish writing it. ;)

What writing project are you working on right now?

Regina: A Biblical fantasy trilogy and a projected five-volume follow-up. It'll be awesome, if I ever finish it.

What does your writing process look like?

Regina: Snatched and stolen from moments when I should be doing something else. Particularly sleeping. So it can look very odd, and it changes.

Where do you usually write?

Regina: On a computer. I can't do longhand, except for taking notes.

When do you usually write?

Regina: Currently at 4 AM till 7 AM. But it's summer and I've got a wee bit more time. I resume teaching English in the fall.

Thanks for the opportunity!!

You're welcome, Regina! Thanks so much for being on my blog! I enjoyed getting to know you a bit, and I hope this post will help more readers discover your books! ^_^

Connect Further With Regina Doman:

• Blog ~ The Chesterton Press Blog
• Twitter ~ @reginadoman

Additional Blog Stops:

Thurs. ~ Claire Banschbach @ The Overactive Imagination: Book Review for the first five novels in A FAIRY TALE RETOLD series

Giveaway

Enter to win an e-book copy of one of Regina Doman's books! Reader's choice!

~ I (Regina Doman) will give a free eBook to the person who asks me the most interesting question (in the comments below), particularly one I haven't been asked before. The question needs to be topically-appropriate (ie: not something random like "Have you ever lassoed a walrus?" but something to do with writing and books), in good taste, and not-privacy-invading. ;) ~

Hidden Gems: Julia Erickson

Who likes Christian Contemporary/Suspense novels? Because I have an author to introduce to you today who writes just that! For the fourth Monday of the Hidden Gems blog event, I have Julia Erickson on my blog with an absolutely fabulous interview! Thrilled to show off this sweet lady's super awesome books!

Stay tuned for giveaways! *smiles*

Reasons I Think This Author Is One You Need To Discover

• Books are both Sweet Romance and Suspenseful Action
• Characters are Great - Relatable and Fun, they seem like Real People *grins*
• Christian, Wholesome, and Clean!
• Secret Agents, Action, Wild Adventures, Traveling in Europe ... Non-Stop Epic-ness!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Introducing ... Julia Erickson

JULIA ERICKSON has always adored reading. As a little girl, she even read while rollerblading, floating in the pool, and climbing trees. Her love of words and expressive personality naturally flowed into writing her own stories. Off the pages, Julia is also a budding graphic designer, photographer, and blogger. She loves to sing and dance and has her own handcrafted-jewelry business. Sparkle and style and colors are some of her favorite things. Growing up homeschooled all the way (Thanks, Mom!) allowed her to nurture her many hobbies. She loves her Lord and Savior, and believes the Bible is the best and truest story ever told.

***

~ I.C.E AGENCY Series ~

Cara Stephenson, a talented graphic designer at Silver Strand Technologies, never thought she'd see her childhood best friend again ... but when he suddenly reenters her life ten years later, he's a completely different man. What is he hiding, and why should she trust him? 

Bryce Reynolds is a man on a mission- a top-secret one at that! He never dreamed the girl down the street would one day become his link to the destruction of Ravenmeister, Inc.- a front for black-market arms and ammunition. Will he crumble underneath the burden of all his secrets? 

When the hunt for a missing technology developer in possession of a priceless prototype drags Cara and Bryce on a high-adrenaline ride through the streets of Paris, Venice, and Munich, they must work together to find what they're looking for ... and survive the trip!

Purchase From Warfare By Duct Tape

Buy on Amazon

Add to Goodreads

Read My Review

Penny’s last love story ended tragically, so she hides among her paints and brushes while keeping a bubbly façade firmly in place. Could a dashing realtor with a sidesplitting sense of humor be the first step of her fresh start?

Blake has always lived in the shadow of his older brother, using jokes to mask his insecurities and uncertainty. Searching for purpose and direction, he runs into a red-headed stop sign, and wonders if she might be the key to open his locked doors.

When calamity hits Cara, Penny’s best friend, and Bryce, Blake’s brother, they’ll have to lean on each other and race to the rescue, and a bitter billionaire planning a major terrorist attack on America might turn out to be the smallest of their problems.

Purchase From Warfare By Duct Tape

Buy on Amazon

Add to Goodreads

Read My Review

~ Standalone Novel ~

What if a young woman who’d never gone anywhere and a young man who was a wandering traveler fell in love?

A story that’s wistful and dreamy. 

A tale of woods and mountains, 

fireflies and campfires, 

streams and cascading waterfalls, 

the wind blowing through the pines and the chestnut trees, 

of love songs and traveling and the open road, 

of family and hearth and home, 

of longing and hopes…

 of friendship and adventure.

Coming Soon ... !

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Author Interview

What genre(s) do you write?

Julia: I write contemporary christian fiction, usually with a hint of romance, but I also have a historical fiction story inspired by the works of Jane Austen that I hope will someday see the light of publishing. :D My first two books (Ashburn and Diamond) fall under the "suspense" category, packed with action and high-stakes adventure, while my next book (Smoky Mountain Serenade) is a cozy outdoorsy romance with a totally different feel. 

Do you have a release date for your next book?

Julia: Smoky Mountain Serenade doesn't have an actual release date per se, but I'm pushing myself to finish writing it over the summer, edit it in September, and hopefully release it near the end of October. (If all goes well) :D 

What impact do you hope your books will have on readers?

Julia: Well, I hope they walk away going "I absolutely LOVED that book!", but I really hope that in some way, my stories draw people a little closer to the love of Christ Jesus. Missing out on a relationship with Him is a devastating thought! I hope readers are inspired by my character's struggles and faith to turn towards the Lord. 

What’s one of the best things about being an author?

Julia: Getting positive reactions from a reader. Hearing how a scene tickled someone's sense of humor, how much someone loved a character, how an action scene made their heart pound, how the love my characters share touched a real-life heart. THAT makes everything worth it. 

What made you decide to start writing?

Julia: I'm not sure if it was a conscious decision. More like - "These stories are bursting out of my mind and I have to write it down because this stuff is good!" ... But my spy novels were partly a frustration that there wasn't enough clean spy fiction out there, so I decided to write some because secret agents are just. so. cool. :) 

Which one of your books would you call the ‘story of your heart’ (or are they all)?

Julia: I am attached big-time to each story that comes out of my head, but I think the true "story of my heart" has yet to be written. Smoky Mountain Serenade comes the closest, and it isn't even out yet! I have other novels brewing as well that really resonate with my soul ... perhaps a little piece of my heart is in every book. :) 

Why do you write?

Julia: Short answer? Because I love it. And I can. Hard work is 55% of it (ok, maybe more) but you have to have at least a glimmer of talent before you even get started. Writing a book isn't for everyone - although at the same time I think everyone has a story of their own to tell. But I write because I find it exhilarating. And there's nothing like holding a copy of your own book in your hands. :D

Of all your books, do you have a favorite cover?

Julia: I'm delighted with how each of my self-done graphic designed covers look, but I don't have a favorite just yet. Ask me when I have ten books published. :D 

Are there any fellow authors who inspire you?

Julia: Indeed! My good friend Rachel Heffington, Jan Karon, Jane Austen, Davis Bunn, Mindy Starns Clark, Dee Henderson, and my as-yet-unpublished (but-soon-to-be-I'm-sure) friend Victoria Grzybowski. :D (And I have to laugh because I think between all of those people I've covered nearly every single genre from romance to murder mysteries to historical fiction to action/suspense ... etc ... I read widely in many different themes!) 

What do you do for fun?

Julia: Well, I have too many hobbies for my own good. While I love devouring a good book or movie, my favorite things to do are spend time with friends, (having a party? I'm there) sing on our church's worship team, crochet afghans, dance ballet, play Ultimate Frisbee or volleyball, and I also love interior design, graphic design, photography, cooking and baking, making handcrafted jewelry, thrift-store shopping, and ... wait for it ... writing novels. :D In short, there aren't enough hours in the day nor days in the week. 

What was your hardest book to write, and why?

Julia: I think I labored most over Ashburn. It was the first book I was sure I wanted to publish and I wanted to get it JUST RIGHT. :D (I did a ton of research on my foreign locations, wanting the reader to feel like they were actually there.) Not sure I completely succeeded ... but there's always next time. :)

What writing project are you working on right now?

Julia: Smoky Mountain Serenade, a wistful romance set in the smokies, starring a girl (Avalon) who has always lived with her father at their creekside campground and never left their small town, and a guy (Eric) who grew up in foster homes and now tours the country in his refurbished van blogging about his travels, having never set down roots anywhere in his life. When their two viewpoints collide, it gets interesting, real fast. :D I love the setting of this book and I can't wait to share it with the wide, wide world. :D 

What are some of your favorite books (not your own)?

Julia: Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen (actually, everything she wrote), The At Home in Mitford series by Jan Karon, The Million-Dollar Mysteries series by Mindy Starns Clark, and ... a multitude of others!

What does your writing process look like?

Julia: - Come up with BRILLIANT idea ;) (haha or at least the beginnings of one)

- Write down bare bones of idea

- OUTLINE like mad and write intricate backstory that never makes it into the final novel

- Start writing the book on a creative high and get three chapters in

- take about a year to get over the midpoint and hope it doesn't sag

- finish the last two-fifths of the book on a crazy madcap downhill rush to the climax and satisfying ending

- Edit the first draft of the story

- Edit again

- Editing 

- Completely rewrite the first chapter

- Make the ending even more glorious

- Find ten mysterious typos that can't possibly have been there the whole time

- Finish formatting and fix issues with the cover and, and,  

- PUBLISH THAT PUPPY

- Sit back and wait for reader's reactions

- Glow :D ..... get another glimmer of an idea ...

- Repeat the entire cycle all over again

Where do you usually write?

Julia: At my large white IKEA desk, on my aqua laptop with white dandelions on it. In my room, which has warm vanilla-y walls, one which I have stenciled with a crisp white moroccan pattern. On one side is a tall bookshelf crammed with books, on the other side a deep closet even more crammed with clothes, organized by color. The books are also organized by color. :D Color is important. 

When do you usually write?

Julia: I either cram it in between everything else in my busy life (writing for an hour at a time) or I spend all day on it and write 5 or 6,000 words, there is no in between. Most of my best writing happens in the evening when the house is quiet and I can concentrate. Once in a while I can make myself get up early and write ... but I'm more of a night owl by nature.

This was tons of fun, thanks for having me!

Thanks for being here, Julia! I loved reading your answers and getting to know you more! ^_^ I hope this helps your amazing books find more readers!

Connect Further With Julia Erickson:

Website: Buy At ~ Warfare By Duct Tape

Blog ~ Jewels By Julia

Facebook ~ Julia Erickson

Additional Blog Stops:

Mon. ~ Deborah O'Carroll @ The Page Dreamer: Book Review of Ashburn

Giveaway

Enter the rafflecopter form below to win an e-book copy of both Ashburn and Diamond! One winner.

a Rafflecopter giveaway