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Tessa Afshar joins us on the show this week to talk about her upcoming book, The Queen's Cook. We chat about her research for the novel, her love of cooking and what she's growing in her garden, and many other fun topics. Patrons will hear what her first impressions of America were when she came to the country.

The Queen's Cook by Tessa Afshar

"A tender and touching tale. Tessa Afshar has given us two wonderfully charming heroines."--ANGELA HUNT, New York Times bestselling author of The Emissaries series

In the heart of ancient Persia, the empire's Jewish citizens face an ominous edict that threatens their very existence. Roxannah, the daughter of an impoverished Persian lord, is devastated by the news but feels helpless to come to the aid of her Jewish friends. Desperate to support her family, Roxannah approaches the royal physician, Adin--the man whose kind eyes haunt her--and seeks his help to find employment in Queen Esther's kitchens.

In the opulent palace of Susa, Roxannah tries to survive the spiteful ploys of the other cooks as she ascends through the ranks. Her loyalty earns her the trust and friendship of Queen Esther, who is navigating dangerous politics with wisdom and grace. When Roxannah and Adin uncover a sinister plot against Amestris, the king's most powerful wife and Esther's archenemy, they find themselves tasked with the impossible job of discovering the culprit. As secrets unravel and alliances are tested, the fate of Esther's reign hangs in the balance.

Get your copy of The Queen's Cook by Tessa Afshar.

Tessa Afshar’s historical fiction has been on Publishers Weekly, CBA, and ECPA bestseller lists and has been translated into 12 languages.

Her novel, Pearl in the Sand is the recipient of the ECPA’s Bronze Milestone Sales Award. Tessa’s books have received the Christy, INSPY, and ECPA Christian Book of the Year (Bible Study category) Awards, and are Carol, Christy, and ECPA Christian Book Award finalists.

Tessa was born in the Middle East and lived there for the first fourteen years of her life. She then moved to England, where she survived boarding school for girls and fell in love with Jane Austen and Charlotte Bronte, before moving to the United States permanently.

Her conversion to Christianity in her twenties changed the course of her life forever. Tessa holds a Master of Divinity from Yale, where she was elected as the co-chair of the Evangelical Fellowship at the Divinity School for one year. She served in women and prayer ministries for twenty years before becoming a full-time writer.

Tessa is a devoted wife, a mediocre gardener, and an enthusiastic cook of biblical recipes.

Visit Tessa's website.

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Carrie Turansky is our very special guest this week, here to talk about her book, A Token of Love. We discuss how she crafted this dual time novel, what she loves most about London, and what's her favorite thing to bake. Patrons will hear about whether she likes the East Coast or the West Coast better.

A Token of Love by Carrie Turansky

Separated by centuries, the lives of two women intertwine through their shared pursuit of love, truth, and justice.

In 1885 London, Lillian Freemont embarks on a treacherous journey to reunite with her long-lost niece, Alice, who was abandoned at the Foundling Hospital eight years ago. Fueled by her sister's plea and armed with the gold token that identifies her niece, Lillian teams up with investigative reporter Matthew McGivern to expose the grim reality of the shadowed streets of London. As Lillian and Matthew unravel the mystery of Alice's disappearance, their partnership blossoms into one of shared purpose and undeniable attraction.

In present-day London, Janelle Spencer finds herself unexpectedly running the Foundling Museum. When filmmaker Jonas Conrad arrives to document the museum's history, their collaboration takes a surprising turn as they uncover articles from the past that shed light on a haunting connection to the present. As Janelle becomes caught between exposing the truth and protecting the museum's reputation, she must decide if she can risk everything for what she believes.

Get your copy of A Toke of Love by Carrie Turansky.

Carrie Turansky has loved reading since she first visited the library as a young child and checked out a tall stack of picture books. Her love for writing began when she penned her first novel at age twelve. She is now the award-winning author of more than twenty inspirational novels and novellas. Carrie has won the ACFW Carol Award, the International Digital Award, and the Holt Medallion. She lives in New Jersey with her husband, Scott. They have five grown children and twelve grandchildren. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her walking around the lake near her home, working in her flower gardens, cooking healthy meals for family and friends, or leading women’s ministry at her church. Carrie loves to connect with reading friends on social media and through her website: http://carrieturansky.com

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Donna Mumma, a first-time guest joins us on the show this week to talk about her new book, The Women of Wynton's. She tells us about the four women who are the novel's main characters, about why she set it in the 1950s, and her love for alligators. Oh, my! Patrons get to hear about her dogs and why she thinks each one is special.

The Women of Wynton's by Donna Mumma
Mid-Century Glam Meets Murder Mayhem

Get swept away to the glamor of a 1950’s department store where four women’s loyalties, vanity, friendship, and detective skills are put to the test.

Audrey Penault once led a glamorous life as a model but now works as devoted secretary to Mr. Wynton. To her fellow employees, she is too vain and uppity.

Mary Jo Johnson, a wife and mother, longs to find her worth in the cosmetics department, but it may take a while for the shy housewife to discover her voice.

Vivian Sheffield owns and runs the bridal salon within Wynton’s. She is proud of her accomplishments and won’t let anyone take them away.

Gigi Woodard dislikes her job as waitress in the store’s lunchroom, but she is determined not to let her secret shortcomings cause her to lose the position.

These four women have much to dislike about each other, but they unanimously agree that Mr. Wynton is the best of employers and must be protected at all costs from someone who seems determined to see him gone for good. When other employee deaths occur, can the women band together to solve the murders, or will they discover it is one of their own bent on destroying Wynton’s from within?

Get The Women of Wynton's by Donna Mumma.

Meet Donna Mumma
I am a native Floridian, farm kid and dreamer. I was blessed with two wonderful parents who taught me how stories enable us to learn, escape, connect and be inspired.

My writing inspiration also comes from the folks I knew in my growing up years. I came from a small town in Central Florida filled with some of the greatest storytellers. Tales of hunting trips gone awry, flipped airboats, eccentric relatives and beloved dogs seasoned my childhood.

From the stories of my parents and neighbors, I learned two important lessons. First, life comes with sunshine and hurricanes. Second, with God’s help, we can flourish in both.

My parents had a saying. It’s not important that you get knocked down but that you get back up. I write stories about people who fall, stand and press forward with God’s help.

I invite you to come with me on this writing journey. My hope is somewhere along the way we can discover all the Good Lord intended when He set us on this path.

Visit Donna's website.

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Michelle Griep stops by this week to talk about her new book, Of Gold and Shadows. We discuss how a Christian author deals with supposed curses, her English Garden, and she tells the story of Iron Bridge in England. Patrons hear what makes her a hippie homesteader.

Of Gold and Shadows by Michelle Griep

The shadows hold secrets darker than they ever imagined. . . .

In 1888 Victorian England, Ami Dalton navigates a clandestine dual life. By day, she strives to establish herself as a respected Egyptologist, overcoming the gender biases that permeate academia. But with a heart for saving black-market artifacts from falling into the wrong hands, she is most often disguised as her alter ego, the Shadow Broker.

After eight years in India, Oxford's most eligible bachelor, Edmund Price, has come out of the shadows to run for Parliament and is in search of an Egyptologist to value a newly acquired collection. Expecting a renowned Oxford professor, Edmund instead finds himself entangled with Ami, the professor's determined daughter. As they delve into the treasures, their connection deepens, but trouble emerges when a golden griffin--rumored to bear the curse of Amentuk--surfaces, and they're left to wonder if the curse really is at play, or if something more nefarious is hiding among the shadows. . . .

"Don't miss all the romance, adventure, and danger in [this] new page-turner."--JULIE KLASSEN, bestselling author of Shadows of Swanford Abbey

Get your copy of Of Gold and Shadows by Michelle Griep.

Michelle Griep is an author, blogger, and occasional super-hero when her cape is clean.

Dare I be so bold as to call myself an author? Being that I’m one of those freaks who attended poetry workshops instead of summer camp during my formative years, yes, I will. While other teens busied themselves throwing parties when their parents weren’t home, I was the nerd holed up in my room with pen and paper.

A RELATIVE

I’m a wife of thirty-something years and mother of two sons and two daughters. And yes, it’s true…boys are way easier than girls, unless drama is something you crave. The last of my nestlings has flown the homeschooling nest and I’m now a crazy hippy homesteader.

A PRINCESS

No, I’m not currently on medication for delusions of grandeur. I am a daughter of a King. Seriously. I take the Bible as inspired truth and that’s what it says (Romans 8:16, 17).

AN ANGLOPHILE

What’s the deal with me and Great Britain? Beats me. I’m as passionate about anything English as I am about chocolate and java. Oddly enough, I prefer Bronte over Austen, and if you’d like to debate the qualities of Typhoo versus PG Tips, feel free to e-mail me.

A CHEF

Sorry, I did not graduate from the Cordon Bleu. I didn’t even cough up the cash to attend. I am, however, a veteran of once-a-month cooking, and you can be, too. Also, if you’d like to email me, I’ll send you my favorite brownie recipe. Just go to my contact page and gimme a holler.

Visit Michelle's website.

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Amanda Dykes joins us as a first-time guest on the podcast, talking about her book, Born of Gilded Mountains. We chat about the power of language, how friendships change over time, and why she puts Easter eggs in her books. Patrons hear about what she does to encourage her children to read.

Born of Gilded Mountains by Amanda Dykes

Legends are tucked into every fold of the Colorado mountains surrounding the quaint town of Mercy Peak, where residents are the stuff of tall tales, the peaks are taller still, and a lost treasure has etched mystery into the very terrain.

In 1948, when outsider Mercy Windsor arrives after a scandal shatters her gilded world as Hollywood's beloved leading lady, she is determined to forge a new life in obscurity in this time-forgotten Colorado haven. She purchases Wildwood, an abandoned estate with a haunting history, and begins to restore it to its former glory.

But as she does, her every move tugs at the threads of the mountain's lore, unearthing what became of her long-lost pen pal Rusty Bright, and the whereabouts of the infamous Galloping Goose Railcar No. 8, which vanished years ago--along with the mailbag it carried, whose contents could change the course of countless lives. Not to mention the fabled treasure that--if found--could right so many wrongs.

Among the towering mountains that stand as silent witnesses, the ghosts of the past entangle with the courage of the present to find a place where healing, friendship, and hope can abide amid a world forever changed.

Get your copy of Born of Gilded Mountains by Amanda Dykes.

Amanda Dykes is a drinker of tea, dweller of redemption, and spinner of hope-filled tales who spends most days chasing wonder and words with her family. She's the winner of the 2020 Christy Award Book of the Year, a Booklist 2019 Top Ten title, and the winner of an INSPY award for her debut novel, Whose Waves These Are. She’s also the author of Set the Stars Alight (a Christy Award finalist), Yours is the Night (recipient of the Kipp Award, Christy Award finalist), All the Lost Places (starred reviews from Booklist, Library Journal, and Foreword), and three novellas. Find her online at amandadykes.com.

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Connilyn Cossette and I had a great time catching up and talking about her new book, Shield of the Mighty. She tells us more about the entire series, why story is important, the cultural context of her books, and how she feels about coming to the end of her homeschooling career. Patrons will hear about her favorite writing spot and why she loves it so much.

Shield of the Mighty by Connilyn Cossette

Captured by the Philistines as a young boy, Zevi has grown into a formidable warrior. As a captain in King Saul's army, he is assigned a crucial mission: Recruit soldiers, gather tribute for the royal coffers, and find talented artisans for the king's court. But when he is sent to Maresha, the town he was forced to leave as a child, he faces a startling truth--the elder council rejects King Saul and his campaign against their enemies.

Yochana, a widow and skilled woman of business, is captivated by a stranger who enters her perfume shop. Upon discovering he is not only a soldier but a captain responsible for enlisting young men to die in battle, fury and pain from her past loss resurfaces, threatening to consume her. But when Zevi's actions in Maresha entangle Yochana in his radical scheme, they're forced to confront present dangers and past scars.

Embark on a journey through ancient Israel with bestselling and award-winning author Connilyn Cossette in this exhilarating tale of vengeance, justice, and healing.

Get your copy of Shield of the Mighty.

Get the first book of the series, Voice of the Ancient.

Meet Connilyn:

“She is too fond of books, and it has addled her brain.”
― Louisa May Alcott

I was that girl. The one with her nose in books all the time. The one with a stack of library books up to her chin. The one who got caught reading under her desk in school (usually during math class).

Among all those lovely books that 'addled my brain' as a young girl, the ones that became my best friends were the historical novels—the ones whose rich details and long-ago adventures took me to Regency England, Ancient Israel, the Civil War Era South, hidden rooms in WWII Amsterdam, Colonial America and into the Wild West. It was these stories that brought history to life in a way that schoolbooks never could, and fueled a desire to imagine myself in these times and places that would eventually spill over into my own writing.

Since my first book was published in 2016 my books have appeared on numerous bestseller lists, have won both Christy and Carol Awards and have sold thousands of copies all over the world in several languages.

And none of it would have ever happened without those first knee-shaking steps of faith and a God whose faithfulness and goodness far outweighs my doubts and insecurities.

Thank you for stopping by, I'd love to connect with you on Facebook, Pinterest, or Twitter and you are welcome to drop me an email at connilyn@connilyncossette.com.

Don't forget to sign up for my newsletter that will bring you exciting updates and opportunities for giveaways and sales!

Visit Connilyn's website.

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Leslie Gould joins us on the show this week to talk about her new book, By Evening's Light. We discuss how war affected the Anabaptists, what her inspiration for the book and the series was, and what an urban hike is. Patrons get to find out what she would miss most if she lived as an Amish woman.

By Evening's Light by Leslie Gould
Treva Zimmerman finds herself at a crossroads in life after a heartbreaking failed relationship. Returning to Lancaster County to visit her Amish grandparents and elderly aunt, Treva plans to leave her Plain heritage behind for a fresh start in Alaska. Torn between the expectations of her community and her own desires, she seeks to follow her own path--but all that changes when her aunt Rosene suffers a heart attack.

As her aunt recounts her own past--a poignant journey through Cold War Germany and a fervent desire to escape her Plain life to search for a lost love--Treva is determined to discover the whereabouts of Rosene's former sweetheart. Amid the turmoil, their former farmhand Gabe Johnson returns unexpectedly, throwing Treva's plans into further disarray.

While working hard to save the farm and explore her own destiny, Treva confronts her deep-rooted ties to her heritage and must decide if she will embrace her family's legacy or break free from the pressures of her past to forge a life of her own.

Get your copy of By Evening's Light by Leslie Gould.

Get book one in the series, A Brighter Dawn.

Get book two of the series, This Passing Hour.


More about Leslie:
My strongest memories from childhood include stories of hope and grace—and how those stories connected me to family and friends. I also soaked up stories of redemption in the small-town churches we attended.

Even though I knew I wanted to write fiction by the time I was in the sixth grade, as I grew older I pursued other things, such as majoring in history and communications, working as a museum curator, then as a public relations specialist, and finally as a magazine editor. Once I finally started writing fiction, it was another ten years until I sold my first novel. Soon after, I received a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, which allowed me to teach writing at a local university besides writing novels full-time.

I’ve written a large collection of dual-time, Amish, and contemporary novels, set in a variety of places—from the Pacific Northwest to Amish Country to France to Vietnam.

My husband, Peter, and I have been married forty-one years and have four adult children and two grandchildren. We live in Portland, Oregon and enjoy traveling, urban hikes, and hanging out with family and friends!

Visit Leslie Gould's website.

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Gabrielle Meyer is back on the podcast to talk about her new book, For a Lifetime. We chat about all the twists in the book (without any spoilers), how she has brought time-crossing novels into the mainstream, and a surprise she has for fans of her books. Patrons get to hear about all the wonderful hosting she does at her home.

For a Lifetime by Gabrielle Meyer

Grace and Hope are identical twin sisters born with the ability to time-cross together between 1692 Salem, Massachusetts, and 1912 New York City. As their twenty-fifth birthday approaches, they will have to choose one life to keep and one to leave behind forever--no matter the cost.

In 1692, they live and work in their father's tavern, where they must watch helplessly as the witch trials unfold in their village, threatening everyone. With the help of a handsome childhood friend, they search for the truth behind their mother's mysterious death, risking everything to expose a secret that could save their lives--or be their undoing.

In 1912, Hope dreams of becoming one of the first female pilots in America, and Grace works as an investigative journalist, uncovering corruption and injustice. After their parents' orphanage is threatened by an adversary, they enter a contest to complete a perilous cross-country flight under the guidance of a daring French aviator.

The sisters have already decided which timeline they will choose, but an unthinkable tragedy complicates the future they planned for themselves. As their birthday looms, how will they determine the lives--and loves--that are best for both of them?

Get book one in the series, When The Day Comes.

Get book two in the series, In This Moment.

Preorder book four in the series, Across the Ages.

Meet Gabrielle Meyer:

WIFE, MOM, WRITER, FRIEND...

Gabrielle lives on the banks of the Upper Mississippi River with her husband and four children. As an employee of the Minnesota Historical Society, she fell in love with the rich history of her state and enjoys writing historical and contemporary novels inspired by real people, places, and events. The river is a constant source of inspiration for Gabrielle, and if you look closely, you will find a river in each of her stories.

When Gabrielle is not writing, you might find her homeschooling her children, cheering them on at sporting and theatrical events, or hosting a gathering at her home with family and friends.

Visit Gabrielle Meyer's website.