Interview with Evan Sinclair from Wages of Empire by Michael J. Cooper

December 2, 2023 ~ Cindy Thomson ~ Leave a comment

Having run away from home in the summer of 1914 to join the Great War for Civilization, 16-year-old Evan Sinclair managed to cross the country by train, the Atlantic by steamer, and having crossed through France into occupied Belgium, he found himself with the Flemish resistance in the dangerous mission of flooding the lowlands—a singular act that stopped the Germans from reaching the northern ports and turned the tide of the war. Having played a key role in that critical mission, Evan was badly wounded and spent some weeks in a field hospital in northern France. Discharged from hospital, he and other recovering wounded soldiers are being sent back to England by hospital ship.

Ten minutes out of Calais and bound for Dover, the HMHS Austrium pitched on the Chanel swells on a cold morning in late November. Sixteen-year-old Evan Sinclair stowed his gear on the upper berth of a cramped cabin, and grasping the worn handrail, headed up the narrow steel stairwell to the ship’s deck. He stepped to the side as a deckhand descended the stairs and asked, “Y’know where I might find Evan Sinclair?”

“Right here. That’s me.”

The man handed him a piece of paper. “This just arrived for you.”

In the half-light he could make out the words.

NOVEL PASTIMES WISHES TO INTERVIEW EVAN SINCLAIR PLEASE RESPOND

Evan frowned and thought, “What the hell does that mean? Then he called out to the deckhand who had begun climbing back up the steps. “Hey! They want me to respond. How am I supposed to do that?”

“At the wireless office. Come with me.”

Evan followed the deck hand up the stairs and soon found himself on the bridge. There the deckhand nodded at a closed door.

Pushing it open, Evan saw a young man reading as he reclined, feet up on a low desk between a typewriter and a burnished brass telegraphy set. Looking up from his copy of Argosy All-Story Magazine, he asked, “Are you Evan Sinclair?”

“Yes.” He held up the paper. “I believe this came from you. What do you make of it?”

The young man shrugged. “They want to interview you.”

“About what?”

“If you’d like, we can find out right now.” The telegraph operator sat forward and readied his hand over the key-type transmitter. “Shall we?”

“Do you have time for that?”

“For now, I do. There’s nothing in the queue, and they’re waiting for your response at the destination station in London—”

“London? Isn’t that too far away?”

“Not at all—we can transmit wireless over twice that distance.”

“How?”

“Morse code by radio waves. Do you want to do this or not?”

“Sure,” he said and watched as the operator began tapping the brass key. Once he stopped, Evan asked, “What did you transmit?”

“I told them that Evan Sinclair is standing by for the interview with Novel PASTimes.” The operator moved his headphones up from his neck to his ears and reached out to bring the typewriter forward. “They’ll get back to us soon enough and I’ll type out the responses for you—”

Before he finished speaking, Evan could hear the shrill staccato of the Morse code from the operator’s earphones. As he began typing, Evan leaned down and read the message.

WELCOME HOME HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE A HERO

A hero? he thought. Are they referring to what I did to help flood the polders? Evan said nothing for a few seconds while the images flashed through his head—the bright moon over the lowlands, the partisans exposed by the sluice gate, the German machinegun from within the protecting nest of sandbags, firing and firing, smoke from the gun rising in the air, desperate and failed attempts by the partisans to silence it, with pistol, with grenade. He remembered crawling over smooth stones in the mud, trying to reach the dark shelter of the poplars, there the foliage blocked out the moonlight and he was able to stand and hurl smooth stones with his sling into the machinegun nest, again and again, drawing their attention away from the partisans at the sluice gate. And, finally, moonlight shining on rising water as the polders flooded—

The telegraph operator cleared his throat. “Do you want to reply?”

Evan nodded. “Tell them – I’m not sure what they mean.”

The operator tapped out the message, and the reply came quickly, and the young man typed it out.

FLOODING POLDERS KEPT GERMANS FROM TAKING NORTHERN PORTS AND WINNING THE WAR NOW THEY WONT NOT NOW NOT EVER

He knew that was true. The key to a quick German victory was to seize the port cities of northern France and Belgium. But slowed and stopped with the flooding of the lowlands, their progress had ground to a halt. And everyone knew that without a quick victory, Germany would have none. And though the subsequent trench warfare was horrific and grinding, it contained Germany and drew out the war, and a longer war would end in Germany’s defeat.

Which is why I left home to join the Great War for Civilization, he thought. To make a difference. And I did.

He spoke a shortened version of those thoughts to the operator who tapped them out into the wireless radio waves bound for London. After a few minutes the next question came.

THERES TALK OF YOU RECEIVING THE VC

The Victoria Cross? Evan shook his head in disbelief. Britain’s most prestigious decoration? They’d give it to me for throwing rocks at Germans? The ones who really deserve a medal are the Flemish partisans who died at the sluice gate, the ones who actually flooded the polders—Emile Peeters and Hendrik Geeraert.

Evan proceeded to dictate these thoughts to the operator who tapped them out. Evan made sure that he got the spelling of their names right.

After a few minutes the next question came, the shrillness of the code less jarring as Evan was getting used to it. He read the typed transcription.

WHAT DO YOU PLAN TO DO ONCE YOU GET BACK TO ENGLAND

Before speaking, Evan considered how to reply. I’m pretty sure my dad left Utah to look for me in England. He’s probably back now—at our old house in Oxford. I definitely want to spend some time with him—to mend fences after the way I ran off. And once I’m fit for service I want to get back to the fight, that is, if the war is still going on. But not on the Western Front—I’ll ask for them to send me to Cairo.

Dictating these thoughts to the operator, Evan hoped that his father might hear the news before he arrived at the front door in Oxford. As he waited for the tapping to stop, his thoughts turned to a beautiful young nurse he had met while hospitalized in France. I’d really like to get back there for a quick visit—to see her again—

“Uh-oh!” the operator cut into his thoughts. “I’ve got someone in the queue now. I’ve got to sign out with NOVEL PASTimes, and take this.”

“No problem. I’m glad we’re done,” Evan said as he watched the operator hunch over listening as he typed out the incoming message.

GERMAN U BOATS SIGHTED IN CHANNEL BEGIN EVASIVE MANEUVERS

Evan’s breath caught as the operator grabbed the message and ran out to the bridge, yelling for the captain.

Wireless Telegraphy Communication between ship and shore was by Morse code, as it was for conventional telegraphy. The equipment only transmitted messages for about 300 miles in daylight, although that figure doubled or tripled after dark thanks to the refraction of long-wave radiation in the ionosphere. The wireless operators sending these messages were independent young men of the modern age who had been recruited with the promise of escaping “blind alley careers”. They chatted to wireless operators in other ships in a jaunty, mock public school slang, calling each other “old man”.

Michael J. Cooper emigrated to Israel in 1966 and lived in Jerusalem during the last year the city was divided between Israel and Jordan. He graduated from Tel Aviv University Medical School, and after a 40-year career as a pediatric cardiologist in Northern California, he continues to do volunteer missions serving Palestinian children who lack access to care. His historical fiction novels include “Foxes in the Vineyard,” set in 1948 Jerusalem, which won the 2011 Indie Publishing Contest grand prize, and “The Rabbi’s Knight,” set in the Holy Land in 1290. “Wages of Empire” won the 2022 CIBA Rossetti Award for YA fiction along with first- place honors for the 2022 CIBA Hemingway award for wartime historical fiction. He lives in Northern California with his wife and a spoiled-rotten cat. Three adult children occasionally drop by. Learn more at michaeljcooper.net.

A Conversation with Jenny White from A Courageous Betrothal by Denise Weimer

November 8, 2023September 24, 2023 ~ Kathleen Rouser ~ Leave a comment

Today we’re hosting Jenny White, the heroine of A Courageous Betrothal, for a cup of tea. We catch up with her partway through her story as told in Book Two of the Scouts of the Georgia Frontier, the latest series launched by Denise Weimer and Wild Heart Books. Jenny is such a strong character, inspired by real-life Revolutionary War heroine Nancy Hart, that this short novella is written entirely from her point of view. It was originally released as Across Three Autumns in the Backcountry Brides collection.

Miss White, are you all right? I thought for a moment there you were going to drop your teacup.

Jenny: Sorry about that. We don’t have such fine dishes on the frontier. And my hands are especially rough this time of year after the harvest. My father is with Elijah Clarke’s militia, you know. Even my younger brother ran off to join them. That means most of the work falls to me. Ma’s not been strong since the birth of my youngest sister, Liberty, and my other sister, Hester…well, she’s best suited to needlework and such. I’m used to it. God made me big and strong so I could handle a plow.

I also heard you know how to handle a rifle.

Jenny: Yes, I’m a crack shot.

Does that have something to do with the nickname the Indians gave you? What was it?

Jenny: They call me Wahatchee. That means War Woman, on account of how I stood up to them one day Hester and I were cooling down in the creek. Now I have something of a reputation in the area. Folks come to our place to fort up when they hear the Indians allied to the British are stirred up.

That’s good, but it seems a lot to ask, for one woman to protect them.

Jenny: I’m not always alone. Militia often comes and goes from here and Woburn, Clark’s settlement. We’re determined not to give Middle Georgia to the British, even though the fighting’s so fierce folks are calling these parts “the Hornet’s Nest.” But our Patriot militia will prevail. They fight like the Indians. And a lot of them are Scottish, like my father’s friend, Caylan McIntosh, who I nursed back to health after the Battle of Kettle Creek.

Your father’s friend? Is he a veteran of many fights, then?

Jenny: Oh, he’s much younger than father, but they did fight together in Florida. And he comes from warrior stock the governor brought in to protect Savannah from the Spanish and Indians.

You seem quite impressed with Caylan McIntosh. Maybe he’s also a particular friend of yours?

Jenny: I don’t know what you’re implying. Caylan and I respect each other, is all. I don’t fall for his Scottish charm. My sister is the type of woman men look for…small and delicate and ladylike.

It seems to me that on the frontier, especially in the middle of a war, a man like Caylan would value a strong and skilled woman at his side. And you already saved his life, from the sounds of it.

Jenny: He was grateful for my herb lore. I also have some pretty strong acting skills. Not only did I capture a spying Loyalist once…I outwitted a passel of British soldiers when they were looking for my father and brother and Caylan. They were even going to make me cook them my last turkey! Can you imagine? I played a right smart trick on them, if I do say so myself.

I look forward to reading about that in your memoirs, Miss White. But it seems to me, you evaded the question just now.

Jenny: Well, maybe I did. I guess you’ll just have to read my story to find out if that knavish Scottish scout ever weasels past my defenses. I can tell you this—I’ll not make it easy for him!

More about A Courageous Betrothal – Book Two of the Scouts of the Georgia Frontier – Novella

1779

Red-haired, freckle-faced, and almost six feet tall, Jenny White has resigned herself to fame over love. Possessing the courage and wits to guard her younger siblings against nature, natives, and loyalists in Georgia’s “Hornet’s Nest” gives life meaning until she meets Caylan McIntosh, scout to Colonel Elijah Clark.

From the time Jenny nurses the young lieutenant back to health after the Battle of Kettle Creek, she can’t deny her attraction to her father’s comrade. It doesn’t help that the vexing Highlander seems determined to dismantle her emotional armor. But when Georgia falls to the British and Caylan returns to guide Jenny’s family on a harrowing exodus into the North Carolina mountains, will his secrets and the ravages of smallpox prove stronger than his devotion? Or will a love as tough as their backwoods home lead them to A Courageous Betrothal?

Author Bio:

Denise Weimer writes historical and contemporary romance from her home in North Georgia and also serves as a freelance editor and the Acquisitions & Editorial Liaison for Wild Heart Books. A wife and mother of two daughters, she always pauses for coffee, chocolate, and old houses.

Connect with Denise here:

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A Conversation with Helena Dabrowska from The Warsaw Sisters by Amanda Barrett

November 7, 2023July 22, 2023 ~ Cindy Thomson ~ Leave a comment

The Warsaw Sisters by Amanda Barratt

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November 7, 2023; ISBN 9780800741716; Ebook ISBN 9781493443420; $17.99; Paper

In WWII Poland, two sisters fight against the darkness engulfing their homeland, one by entering a daring network of women sheltering Jewish children and the other by joining the ranks of Poland’s secret army. As Warsaw buckles under German oppression, they must rely on the courage that calls the ordinary to resist.

Welcome to Novel PASTimes! We are pleased you stopped by today.

Tell us something about where you live.

I live in Warsaw, Poland. When I was growing up, Warsaw was a vibrant city, full of beauty and life and freedom, but the German occupation has stripped so much away. When the first bombs fell in September 1939, it was only the beginning of the destruction that would descend upon our beloved capital. Life under occupation means endless restrictions and decrees. There is a curfew every evening. We can no longer own radios. We exist on a diet of black bread and potatoes, with the occasional bit of odorous meat. Civilians are rounded up in the streets and deported to forced labor in Germany while others are seized as hostages to be executed whenever anything happens that displeases the Germans. First our Jewish neighbors were forced to wear an armband marked with the Star of David, but in the autumn of 1940, all Jews in Warsaw were ordered to move to what the occupation authorities call a “Jewish residential district.” The ghetto is surrounded by a high brick wall crowned with barbed wire, and though I haven’t been inside, I’ve heard rumors about the overcrowding and starvation and disease. Warsaw is still the city of my heart, but she—like all of us—bears the cracks and scars of war.

Do you have an occupation? What do you like or dislike about your work?

I’m a secretary at a German office. I didn’t want to work for the occupiers, but my sister and I must both earn or we will soon starve.

Who are the special people in your life?

My tata and I share a cherished bond. He calls me his kwiatuszek—his little flower. He went off to fight just before the outbreak of war, but he was captured and sent to a prisoner of war camp. When he was with us, I always felt safe and protected, but now my sister and I are alone. Antonina and I used to be close, but she’s been so distant of late and I don’t know why. We used to talk, but we don’t anymore, not about things that truly matter. War leaves everything in shards, even the bonds that should be the most abiding.

What is your heart’s deepest desire?

For the war to end and for Poland to be free. But that’s what every citizen of Warsaw would say. Deep down, I suppose what I really mean is that I want the life we once had. When my tata was home and my sister and I still shared our secrets and hopes. When everything was simple and certain. When we trusted the future instead of feared it. But that’s all gone now. Sometimes I doubt it will ever return.

What are you most afraid of?

I’m afraid of losing the ones I love. I’ve already lost so much. It leaves you feeling small and frightened and powerless. Such pain reaches far deeper than any physical wound. It breaks the heart and a heart doesn’t heal. It grows numb, but not whole. This is what I have learned.

Do you have a cherished possession?

The letters my tata sent from the prisoner of war camp are very precious to me. I no longer need to fix my eyes upon them, for I carry every word in my heart already. But I never tire of reading them, of tracing his script with my fingertip. It’s been so long since we’ve had any word from him, and my heart aches with fear, even as I cling to hope.

What do you expect the future will hold for you?

Life is so uncertain. Fear is a daily reality, one we’ve become so accustomed to it’s as if we’ve forgotten what it is to live beyond its shadow. You asked about the future? I don’t know what it holds, but I wish I could fight back somehow. I’m not certain what resistance really means, but I want to believe I can be more than the frightened girl watching the ones I love dragged into a relentless undertow. I want to believe I can give something that matters. I want to believe there is hope in defiance.

Thanks for allowing us to get know you a little better!

Bio: Amanda Barratt is the bestselling author of numerous historical novels and novellas, including The White Rose Resists (a 2021 Christy Award winner) and Within These Walls of Sorrow. She is passionate about illuminating oft-forgotten facets of history through a fictional narrative. Amanda lives in Michigan. Learn more at AmandaBarratt.net.

Book review: Heart in the Clouds:

November 3, 2023November 1, 2023 ~ lindasmatchett ~ Leave a comment

198 pages

Published September 3, 2023

ISBN: 978-0645856613

Heart in the Clouds is Jennifer Mistmorgan’s debut novel, and at the risk of sounding cliché, she hit it out of the park. Her writing is evocative, and I was immersed in the era from the first sentence. Descriptions were sprinkled, not poured into the story and I was able to hear, see, and smell what it was like to work at an airfield on the ground and in the planes. The author has obviously done her research and is quite knowledgeable of the era and military bases of the time. For example, she’s fully versed in the slang of the pilots, who refer to their planes as kites and the channel as “the drink.”

There were lots of characters, but each one was unique to so there was no confusion about who was who, with secondary and minor characters being fully developed. Internal dialogue got me into the characters’ heads and even though they were dealing with life and death issues, the story didn’t get maudlin. I enjoyed Alec’s journey from a cocky, reckless pilot to a confident integrity-filled man. His journey is littered with fits and starts, but he’s highly intelligent, and he begins to put the pieces together about God, His love, and His sovereignty. I loved his interactions with the vicar, a friend of Maggie’s, and who Alec thinks might be a competitor for her affections.

Maggie is delightful as she matures and comes into her own. As one of two daughters of a vicar, she has been somewhat sheltered her whole life. Then her mother dies, and her father is thrown into despair leaving Maggie to be somewhat in charge. He is angry that she joins the WAAFs, but she feels called to serve somewhere in the war. Having been “dumped” by a pilot, she is wary of all pilots, which is challenging since she’s surrounded by them on the airbase. I loved Jonty, a pilot she’d saved from his burning plane in the past. He helps her see she can’t lump all pilots together as being arrogant and out to get what they can from women.

As an author of WWII fiction, I’ve done my fair share of study and research, yet I did learn several things. As an American, I enjoyed seeing the war from another viewpoint, and it was fun to watch British Maggie interact with Australian Alec.

The only disappointment was the five or so instances of profanity. The words did nothing to further the plot or character development, and I prefer my Christian fiction to be void of such words. Despite this, the book is a worthwhile read.

Book Blurb:

He’s a charismatic Australian bomber pilot used to beating the odds.
She’s the radio operator he speaks to each night before he flies.
He makes a bet that he can steal a kiss….and ends up getting much more than he bargained for.

RAF Bottesford, November 1942:

Maggie Morrison joined the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force for a free ticket into the romance she craved, away from her sleepy life as a vicar’s daughter. But the men of Bomber Command are careless with the hearts of women. She hides the pain of her broken heart and mother’s sudden death behind calm confidence on the airfield radio, as the last voice men hear before they fly into danger.

Australian pilot Alec Thomas is a gambling man on a winning streak. Every night when he flies with RAF Bomber Command, the odds of surviving are fifty-fifty. And every night so far, he’s made it back to English soil. But as the battles over Europe intensify, Alec’s luck feels less certain.

When Alec bets with his crew he can get Maggie to kiss him before the year is out, he has no idea it’s the most important wager he’ll ever make. But pursuing her leads Alec to reexamine everything he believes about his so-called luck, prompting him to question what—or who—is behind it all. Even if Alec can win his bet, can his risk-taking ways win her heart? Or will his luck in the brutal air war over Europe run out before their first kiss?

An Interview with Gertrude Miller from Wooing Gertrude by Jodie Wolfe

October 30, 2023 ~ Kathleen Rouser ~ 2 Comments

Welcome Gertrude Miller. Tell us a little about yourself.

Hello! Thanks for allowing me to stop by today. I can’t stay long before I need to get back to my dress shop. I almost ready to open it, and I’m hoping it will become a vital part of my hometown, Burrton Springs, Kansas. It’s not normal for me to step out on my own, so I’m praying this venture will be successful. The last thing I want to do is move back in with my parents.

What made you decide to open a dress shop?

I’ve had a love of sewing ever since I learned the skill when I was five years old. For a while I made dresses and sold them in the local general store. Those went over well so I decided to go a step further and open my own shop. I also sent off for a mail-order groom. He should be arriving on the stagecoach soon.

Why did you decide to send off for a husband?

There, uh, aren’t many available men in Burrton Springs, and those that are, my mother has scared off by always trying to get anyone under the age of fifty interested in me. She’s been known to chase men down and spout all my worthy traits. It’s downright embarrassing. I thought I’d do better if I tried to find one, instead of having a man thrust on me.

I hope that works out for you. What do you think you’ll learn in the course of your story?

The author said something about finding peace in the middle of storms and how we can trust God to see us through. I hope that doesn’t mean she plans to create a lot of difficulty for me!

Chuckle. I guess people will have to pick up a copy of Wooing Gertrude to find out the rest of your story. Any final things you’d like readers to know about you?

I like to think of myself as a loyal friend. I tried to help Jules in Taming Julia and the heroine in Protecting Annie. Annie and I became very close during her tale. I’m so glad the author finally gave me a story of my own though. I sure hope it has a happy ending! By the way, here’s what the author wrote for the back cover of my story.

Enoch Valentine has given up finding peace for his past mistakes. He throws everything he has into being the new part-time deputy in Burrton Springs, Kansas while maintaining the foreman position at a local horse ranch. But when trouble stirs on the ranch, he questions whether he’s the right man for either job.

Peace has been elusive for most of Gertrude Miller’s life, especially under the oppressiveness of an overbearing mother. She takes matters into her own hands and sends for a potential husband, while also opening her own dress shop. Gertrude hopes to build a future where she’ll find peace and happiness.

Will either of them ever be able to find peace?

Thanks again for having me today. Sorry I can’t stay any longer. I think I hear the stagecoach.

You’re welcome, Gertrude. Good luck with finding the husband of your choosing! If the mail order husband doesn’t work out I hear the new deputy, Enoch Valentine, is kind of cute.

Can you share some information about the author?

Jodie Wolfe creates novels where hope and quirky meet. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), and Faith, Hope, & Love Christian Writers (FHLCW). She’s been a semi-finalist and finalist in various writing contests. A former columnist for Home School Enrichment magazine, her articles can be found online at: Crosswalk, Christian Devotions, and Heirloom Audio. When not writing she enjoys spending time with her husband in Pennsylvania, reading, walking, and being a Grammie. Learn more at www.jodiewolfe.com.

Where can readers find your story?

On Amazon

Ebook: Pelican Book Group

Print: Pelican Book Group

Meet Bertie Jenkins from Appalachian Song by Michelle Shocklee

October 10, 2023August 25, 2023 ~ Cindy Thomson ~ Leave a comment

Today we’re talking to Alberta “Bertie” Jenkins. Bertie, you’ve lived your entire life in the mountains of Appalachia, is that right?

Yes, my Papa and Mam were born in these parts, as were their folks. The Jenkins roots run deep in these hills.

I’ve only been camping in the mountains, so I’m not sure what it would be like to live there permanently.

It’s wonderful. Every mornin’ you wake up to the sound of birds and breezes and critters rather than noise from the city. All of us who are home gather ’round the big kitchen table and eat a hearty breakfast. Jennie does most of the cookin’, and she’s as fine a cook as Mam. After the meal, we have Bible readin’. When Papa was alive, he chose the Scripture passage for the day, but since he’s gone on to heaven, Jennie reads to us now. Sometimes we’ll discuss the Word, sometimes not. Someone will say a prayer of blessin’ over the day, and then we’ll scatter like ants. Everyone has their own chores to tend and things to get done before the sun disappears behind the mountain. When the boys were home, they’d go off huntin’ or fishin’ after chores were done. Us girls would pick bunches of wildflowers and wade in the creek. We’d have contests to see who could find the prettiest rock or find a robin’s nest or climb the highest tree.

We went to school six months out of the year, mostly durin’ the fall and winter. Papa and some of the neighbors built a schoolhouse ’bout a mile down the mountain from our place. We children walked there or rode a mule, but soon as plantin’ season came, we were needed at home.

What is your favorite season in the mountains?

I’m partial to autumn. God takes his paintbrush and touches nearly every growin’ thing with shades of red, yellow, and orange. Even those plants whose leaves turn brown are pretty in their own way. Springtime, too, is my favorite. Everything is new and fresh and bright. Flowers, baby birds, new fawns. Yes, springtime is mighty fine too. Summertime is full of tendin’ the garden, shearin’ the sheep, plowin’ and growin’ crops and then cannin’ it all so we’ll have plenty of vittles come winter, my least favorite season.

Why is winter your least favorite?

Even though we don’t have the corn and wheat fields and the big garden to tend during the winter, the bitter weather and snow makes life hard here in the mountains. Don’t get me wrong, though. There’s beauty in every season, but winter brings hard work with it. The critters need extra feed since there’s no grass or bugs. Water freezes in buckets and troughs. Toes freeze when you’re outside too long. Firewood must be chopped several times a day. The house never really gets warm, even with Papa’s two fine fireplaces and the cookstove sendin’ out heat. But there are sweet times in the winter that we don’t usually get in the busy warmer months. Lots of sittin’ in the gatherin’ room, tellin’ stories and knittin’ or sewin’. I enjoy readin’ novels, although my elder sister says they’re silly and a waste of time.

Tell us about your family.

Papa and Mam had eleven children. I’m second to the youngest, with my sister Rubie bein’ the baby. Papa always said she was wise beyond her years, and I’d have to agree with him. Papa built our log cabin after he and Mam married. He’d been in the War Between the States—served in the Union Army like most East Tennesseans—and after he came home, they married and started their family.

It must have been fun growing up with so many siblings.

Since I don’t know any other way of growin’ up, I’d say so. There was always chores to be done—gardenin’, cookin’, cleanin’, piles of laundry—but we had good times too. My brothers liked to tease us young’un’s by catchin’ snakes and lizards and bugs, but I wasn’t ever afraid of ’em the way my other sisters were. There were seven of us girls and four boys. After the boys were grown, they bought farms of their own and moved away, but only our sister Catherine married and left home. The rest of us girls live on the family homestead.

That’s fascinating. This might be too personal, but may I ask why you and your other sisters never married?

It ain’t too personal. It’s my story. My elder sister, Jennie, was a young girl when she decided not to marry, but three of my other sisters wanted husbands. Catie found a good man to wed, and the other two girls, Bonnie and Amelie, found fellas soon after. But those boys met with a terrible accident and were killed. My sisters never got over it. I watched each of them and the choices they made and concluded I wasn’t interested in marryin’ a fella and movin’ away. We sisters stayed on the homestead together, helpin’ each other and livin’ a good life.

I’m sorry to hear about the tragedy. I suppose everyone suffers loss at one time or another.

That’s true. Jesus said in this world we’ll have trouble, but he also says he’s overcome any troubles we face, includin’ death. In all my years as a midwife, I saw many miracles, but I also saw sadness.

Tell me how you came to be a midwife.

Mam was trained as a midwife by her mama. And her mama by her mama. We mountain folk tend not to trust fancy doctors and hospitals. We’d rather have our own people care for us, if possible. I was just a young’un when I first saw a baby bein’ born. Whoo-wee, that was somethin’. I couldn’t imagine how that little fellow got inside his mama’s belly and came out lookin’ so perfect. From then on, I asked Mam to train me in midwifery too.

How many babies have you delivered?

Too many to count.

Do you have a favorite among them?

I sure do. One hot summer day back in 1943, a young gal showed up at our place. She was pregnant and alone, so my sisters and I took her in. When her time came, I tended the birth. I’ll never forget the moment I looked in that child’s eyes. I fell in love.

What happened to the baby?

Well, that’s a story for another day, I think.

Thank you for sharing your mountain life with us, Bertie. It sure makes me want to visit Appalachia soon.

You’re welcome in our beautiful part of the world anytime. There’s always somethin’ to do in the mountains. Hikin’, bikin’, picnickin’, or just sittin’ and enjoin’ God’s handiwork.

It sounds perfect.

It is

Michelle Shocklee is the author of several historical novels, including Count the Nights by Stars, a Christianity Today fiction book award winner, and Under the Tulip Tree, a Christy and Selah Awards finalist. Her work has been featured in numerous Chicken Soup for the Soul books, magazines, and blogs. Married to her college sweetheart and the mother of two grown sons, she makes her home in Tennessee, not far from the historical sites she writes about.

Helpful Links:

Michelle’s Website
Michelle’s Facebook
Michelle’s Twitter
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A Chat with Lena Neubauer from Terri Neunaber Bentley’s For Love of Family

October 6, 2023August 25, 2023 ~ Cindy Thomson ~ 2 Comments

Amazon Affiliate Link used, which benefits the blog.

I’d like you to meet my guest today. Can you introduce yourself, please?

Guten Tag. My name is Lena Neubauer. My Momma named me Magdelena after her mother, but I have always been called Lena.

I grew up as the oldest girl in a house with seven children. My father provided for our happy childhood in the small German town of Frohn.

Have you lived in Germany your entire life?

Well, my adventurous older brother moved to America with his bride but when she died in childbirth, he sent for me to watch over their children there. Watching the younger children has always been a privilege to me. My own siblings were growing up, so I willingly traveled across the ocean to see to my brother’s needs. That is how I ended up here in America.

So, are you a nanny?

I’m not sure I’d call myself a nanny, only a helpful sister and aunt. We were taught always to put family first.

Was it scary to cross the Atlantic alone?

A young woman traveling alone in the mid-1800s was daunting. I knew no one else and tried to stay to myself but was befriended by a young family who took me in as if I were a nanny to their children. Isn’t it wonderful how the Lord provides in our time of need?

Of course, America was nothing like my brother Herman described in his letters. The treatment of the dockworkers in New Orleans alarmed me. I had no experience with slavery except the Bible passages about it. Being face to face with such ill treatment disturbed me.

Did you stay in New Orleans?

Fortunately, my brother lived upriver on the Illinois side of the Mississippi. We spent some time on a paddle-wheeler after only a brief stay in New Orleans. It was a very pleasant adventure.

It looks like there is more to that story. Would you like to elaborate?

Well, I met a young abolitionist Karl who became a sort of tour guide. He helped me understand much of what I was witnessing in this strange land. He was an unexpected Godsend for me.

Did you stay friends after the trip? You seem to be blushing.

I really cannot say. My story is yet unfinished with him, I think. His wild abolitionist ways are a bit frightening, yet intriguing. It is difficult to explain the hold he has on me, but I am in no position to give in to those thoughts.

What do you expect the future to hold for you, Lena?

I pray that the Lord will lead me to always do the right thing. My brother Herman needs me and that is where I will stay until I am not needed there anymore. Whether that leaves me adrift in a strange land, only God knows. However, He has never left me nor forsaken me before and I am sure He will be beside me all the days of my life.

Is there anything else you’d like everyone to know about you?

I am a child of God. He can take ordinary people like me across oceans to brave injustice and love through the most difficult circumstances. Always be open to how God can use you. That’s what He did for me when I trusted Him.

Terri writes in the Idaho mountains where she lives with her husband and two big dogs. After raising three children and retiring as an English teacher, she now is a national speaker and Bible study leader for women’s groups. She is also a successful writer of articles, devotions, retreats, and church programs. When she is not writing or kayaking down the MiddleFork of the Payette River, spending time with her grandchildren fills her heart.

Introducing Louisa Vaugh from Against the Wind by Amanda Cabot

October 3, 2023June 16, 2023 ~ Cindy Thomson ~ Leave a comment

Ready to leave town and start her life as a doctor-in-training, Louisa Vaughn finds herself stuck in Sweetwater Crossing saving a handsome stranger’s life. Little does she know that he’ll bring both love and danger into her life.

book by Amanda Cabot — *Affiliate link used.*

Welcome to Novel PASTimes! We are pleased you stopped by today.

Thanks so much for inviting me. I’m delighted to be chatting with you.

Tell us something about where you live.

You would ask about that, wouldn’t you? Until last year I would have told you that my life in Sweetwater Crossing was just about perfect. Even though Doc Sheridan scoffed at my plans to become a doctor, life in that small Texas Hill Country town was pretty good. But when my parents died and my oldest sister decided to turn our home into a boarding house, I knew it was time to leave.

Going to Cimarron Creek was the best thing I’ve ever done. Not only were there no misguided sisters, but – more importantly – everyone took my dreams seriously. I learned so much from the town’s doctor and midwife, and the residents trusted me with their care. After hearing that, you won’t be surprised when I say that I never planned to return to Sweetwater Crossing, but you know what they say about the best laid plans. Yes, I’m back … for at least six weeks.

Do you have an occupation? What do you like or dislike about your work?

I’d like to say that I’m a doctor, but the truth is, I’m not a doctor … yet. I’m a fully qualified midwife, but I still need more training to be considered a physician. That’s one of the reasons I wish I were still in Cimarron Creek. I was getting the training I needed there. Now that I’m back in Sweetwater Crossing, I’m doing the best I can by reading the books in Doc Sheridan’s office. Oh, why did I call it that? It’s MY office now.

Whether you call me a doctor or not, I LOVE being a healer. There’s such joy in helping women bring new life into this world and in being able to set a man’s badly broken leg.

Who are the special people in your life?

My family, of course. Even though my sisters annoy me at times, they’re still very dear to me. And then there’s the man I found lying on the side of the road, his leg so badly broken that – even though I wouldn’t admit it to him – I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to set it properly. Josh is unlike any man I’ve ever met. He’s urbane and dedicated, but what intrigues me the most is what he doesn’t say. I know there are secrets behind that smile, and I for one want to discover what they are.

What is your heart’s deepest desire?

A month ago, I would have told you that it was for Sweetwater Crossing’s residents to respect me as a healer. That’s still true, but now I have a second wish that’s as strong as the first one. I want Josh to have the future he’s dreamed of. I know winning his grandfather’s challenge is a key to that, but something tells me there’s more. I wish I knew what it was.

What are you most afraid of?

I don’t like snakes. To be perfectly honest, I’m afraid of them, but what terrifies me are bees. My first bee sting was one I’ll never forget, and Doc warned me that another one could kill me. That’s why I avoid getting anywhere near bees. I can’t take chances with my life, not when I’m the only healer Sweetwater Crossing has.

What do you expect the future will hold for you?

Oh, I wish I could predict it, but of course I can’t. What I know is that each day is a gift to treasure and that whatever the future brings, there’ll be something good in every day.

Thanks for allowing us to get know you a little better!

Amanda Cabot is the bestselling author of After the Shadows, as
well as several historical and contemporary romance series,
including Mesquite Springs, Cimarron Creek Trilogy, Texas
Crossroads, Texas Dreams, and Westward Winds. Her books have
been finalists for the ACFW Carol Awards, the HOLT Medallion,
and the Booksellers’ Best. She lives in Wyoming.

MEET CIRCE FROM AN UNEXPECTED ALLY: A GREEK TALE OF LOVE REVENGE AND REDEMPTION by Sophia Kouidou-Giles

October 2, 2023August 21, 2023 ~ Cindy Thomson ~ Leave a comment

In this retelling of ancient Greek myth, Circe seeks a new lover, amphibian Glaucus, after Odysseus’s departure from the island of Aeaea; but in a twist of fortune, mortal Skylla complicates her plans, leading to an adventure threaded with friendship, jealousy, revenge, and redemption . . . and filled with divine interventions, shapeshifting, and magic. Meet Circe, Glaucus and Skylla and prepare for an epic adventure in the Mediterranean Sea.

TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY

I am Circe, the enchantress of Aeaea. My powers are mighty, but I am not an evil witch. I am the daughter of Helios, the sun god, and Perse, his wife. My brother, Aeetes, rules the kingdom of Colchis, and I live on my own island. Though I have not seen my brother in eons, I miss him dearly. Recently Odysseus has been my companion, but he is about to leave me for his wife and his island, Ithaca. My life is filled with complexities, but I am more than the stories told about me. I embrace my true essence as Circe and weaving my own legacy through the ages.

CAN YOU TELL ME WHERE YOU LIVE AND WHAT YOU LIKE TO DO?

Of course! I live on the secluded island of Aeaea, surrounded by the vastness of the sparkling Aegean Sea. My palace is nestled amidst lush greenery, and I am surrounded by servants and my beloved tamed wild beasts.

I am connected to trees, plants and herbs, a testament to my deep connection with nature. Herb medicine is my passion, and I spend a significant portion of my time exploring their secrets, unraveling their healing properties, creating potions and medicinal remedies. Creating beautiful tapestries through weaving and intricate designs gives me solace and reflects my environment. Unlike some gods, I delight in mingling with mortals. Observing their lives and experiences has been a source of inspiration and insight.

My island is a haven where magic and mystery intertwine. I relish exploring its beauty and uncovering its hidden treasures, always seeking to learn and grow as I navigate through this ever-changing world.

WHAT CAUSED YOU TO LEAVE YOUR ISLAND?

I heard from Odysseus’s men about an amphibian creature named Glaucus, who lives near the island of Delos. The crew spoke highly of him, mentioning his helpful guidance and extensive knowledge of herbs. Intrigued by the possibility of meeting a kind and unusual demigod as I was thinking about finding a potential companion, I decided to journey to Delos. The island’s fame, with its many temples and significance as the birthplace of Apollo, added to the allure of my adventure. I couldn’t resist the opportunity to explore Delos, learn more about who Glaucus was and meet Ariston, a fisherman and a local beauty, Skylla, among other locals.

GLAUCUS, WHAT IS YOUR STORY?

I am a sea creature, a mystical being with unique magical properties. My powers encompass prophecy, the deep knowledge of sea herbs, and a profound understanding of the sea. It has been revealed to me that someday, I will meet Circe.

In my mortal life, I was once a humble fisherman, which granted me an innate connection to the sea and the plight of sailors. I became of demigod when I discovered the magic herb gods call moly, a black root with a milky white flower. When I found and ate it, it became my talisman to immortality. But I also lost my arms and feet, gaining fins and a tail, and turned into an amphibian creature. With my superhuman powers, I offer protection and guidance to those who traverse the treacherous waters, ensuring their safety and well-being. Through my abilities, I weave the threads of destiny and harness the forces of nature to bring aid to those in need. And I am in love!

SCYLLA OF DELOS, WHO ARE YOU AND HOW DO YOU KNOW CIRCE?

I met her on my beach where I swim every day. She was visiting our island, and she talked to me and honored me with her friendship. I am a young woman who lives with my father, Phorkys. My mother passed away when I was three years old, and we still grieve for my brother who was swallowed by the stormy seas. I am my father’s only child and I love him dearly. My uncle is the head priest for the temple of Poseidon and is well respected in Delos.

I am an attractive young woman that has friends in my village, and I am a strong swimmer There are a couple of boys that are pursuing me, but I have not chosen who will be the one.

CIRCE, WHAT DID YOU LEARN THAT BROUGHT YOU TO DELOS A SECOND TIME?

Back on my island of Aeaea and upon consulting my scrying mirror, I learned that there is trouble in Delos that required my immediate action. Something must have happened to Skylla or Glaucus, and although it was not clear, I needed to find out what it is. In the turbulent world of gods mingling with mortals, I shifted shapes, flew to Delos and discovered the trouble. Come along with me for I should be able to reverse the course of evil.

I WILL LOOK FORWARD TO READING MORE ABOUT YOU, CIRCE, AND FOLLOW YOUR ADVENTURES WITH GLAUCUS AND SKYLLA.

Sophia Kouidou-Giles was born in Thessaloniki, Greece, and university educated in the USA. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and masters in social work. In her over-30-year child welfare career, she served as a practitioner, educator, researcher, and administrator and published articles in Greek and English professional journals. In recent years, her focus has shifted to writing nonfiction, fiction, poetry, and translation. She has published in Voices, Persimmon Tree, Assay, The Raven’s Perch, The Time Collection, and The Blue Nib. Her poetry chapbook is Transitions and Passages. Her work has appeared in anthologies, including The Time Collection, Visual Verse, and Art in the Time of Unbearable Crisis.

Her memoir, Επιστροφή Στη Θεσσαλονίκη/Return to Thessaloniki, was published in Greek by Tyfri Press. The book in English: Sophia’s Return: Uncovering My Mother’s Past, was published by She Writes Press. Sophia lives in Seattle, Washington, near her son, her daughter-in-law, and two grandsons. Find out more about her at her website. Perse is a sequel to An Unexpected Ally. Look for it in November 2025.

A Chat with Julian from The Secrets Beneath by Kimberley Woodhouse

September 26, 2023September 26, 2023 ~ Cindy Thomson ~ Leave a comment

^{Amazon Affiliate Link Used which helps support the blog.}

Anna Lakeman has spent her life working alongside her paleontologist father. When they find dinosaur bones, a rich investor tries to take over their dig. As Anna fights for recognition of her work and reconnects with an old beau, tensions mount and secrets are unburied. How can they keep the perils of the past from threatening their renewed affection?

Welcome to Novel PASTimes! We are pleased you stopped by today.

Thank you. But I’m only here for Anna. Will she be here too?

Tell us something about where you live.

My father came here with a wagon train, saw the fertile river area, decided to stay here, and built himself a big ranch. I don’t care much about it. Even though I’ve worked it my whole life and know everything there is to know about ranching. But my mother taught me to garden. That’s what I really love to do. My flower beds are my favorite.

Is there anything special about your name? Why do you think you were given that name?

Julian? I don’t think so… but my mother named me. She was the most wonderful person in the entire world. She loved me. So since she gave it to me, I like it.

Do you have an occupation? What do you like or dislike about your work?

I worked on my father’s ranch growing up. But he’s a horrible man. So I left and worked some others. But now that my father is sick, I’ve come back. Like I said, I don’t really care much about ranching. My father loves having the largest ranch in all of Wyoming territory, but it doesn’t mean anything to me. Taking care of the animals is okay, but my passion is in the ground. I love to grow beautiful things.

Who are the special people in your life?

Mary was the most special person. She always talked to me at school. Made me feel like I mattered. But she’s been gone for a long time now. Anna Lakeman—she was best friends with Mary growing up—came by the other day, and she was really nice to me. I like her a lot.

What is your heart’s deepest desire?

To be loved and accepted. For people to appreciate my gardens and to know that I am not like my father. I hate him. And always will.

What are you most afraid of?

My secrets. But no one will ever find out.

Do you have a cherished possession?

I do. But no one knows what they are. I don’t let people see them.

Thanks for allowing us to get know you a little better!

Thank you. But I’m only here for Anna.

Kimberly Woodhouse is an award-winning, bestselling author of more than 30 fiction and nonfiction books. Kim and her incredible husband of 30-plus years live in the Poconos, where they play golf together, spend time with their kids and grandbaby, and research all the history around them.