Episode 266: A Chat with Elizabeth Goddard about Shadows at Dusk

Marie Sontag writes youth fiction blending fictional characters with historical people to create a great story. From ancient times to westward expansion to WWII Poland, her books make history come alive. Listen in to what you'll find in her latest series!

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In Difficult Times, People of All Ages Discover Their True Characters

The first time I chatted with Marie Sontag (listen HERE), I learned about her Ancient Elements series and her Whitcomb Discoveries series, but in this episode, we heard all about the exciting WWII series (and a companion graphic novel) she has featuring Polish Boy Scouts.  How cool is that?

Oh, and we learned about what she's doing with the Cold War, too. EEEP!

Underground Scouts by Marie Sontag

Warsaw, Poland

September 8, 1939

Their scoutmaster's chair squeaked as he shifted his weight. "What I am about to ask from all of you is a personal sacrifice on behalf of Poland. Your final decision is, of course, up to you. You must each make your own decision."

A hush filled the room. The Scouts' pale faces betrayed the struggle that plagued them all.

Tadzio broke the spell. "I mean no disrespect, Professor. I don't know why my father had to leave, but since he's gone, my family is my priority."

Squaring her shoulders, Magdalena inched forward on her chair. "And earlier this week my father's brother and his wife were killed when a bomb hit their apartment building in Warsaw." Her voice quivered. "Now, we're also caring for our orphaned 11-year-old cousin, Józefina."

Tadzio nodded. "Since I am the eldest son, my first responsibility is to my family."

"Well spoken, son." Professor Handelsman studied Tadzio over the top of his glasses. "What about the rest of you?"

Tadzio's patrol leader, Andrzej, spoke first. "This is what we've prepared for all summer. The Scout training we received in the Kampinos Forest these past few months-first aid, food storage, water purification, map reading skills, Morse Code, riflery-it all prepared us for this moment. I will give my all for Poland."

Lech smoothed back his thick, black hair. "Andrzej's right. It's time to take a stand."

First Lech, then Andrzej, and finally Lech's younger brother, Stefan, rose to their feet with raised chins, they punched their fists into the air and shouted in unison. "Czuwaj!

Be vigilant! Stay awake! Be prepared!"

Tadzio and Magdalena weren't prepared for their Polish Scoutmaster's challenge. Not until their parents disappeared. A Young Adult historical novel, Underground Scouts brings to light the brave efforts of Polish Boy Scouts and Girl Guides who fought alongside the Polish Underground during World War II.

Learn more about Marie on her WEBSITE (and learn about her group of Christian youth authors) and follow her on GoodReads and BookBub.

My apologies to Marie for the lateness of her episode. It was supposed to release about the time of my husband's accident, and I just realized it never did!  AAAK!

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While not technically a debut author, Laura Conaway is, however, a debut Love Inspired Suspense author!  Her book, Silencing the Witness just came out in January. Listen in to see why I am extra excited about this one!

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What Is It about Photo Recognition Suspense Novels, Anyway?

Look, I don't know about you, but ever since I read Dee Henderson's Danger in the Shadows, I've loved a story where someone just happens to snap just the right photo at just the right time and it's seen by just the wrong person. Laura Conaway has a new book out where that very thing happens in a totally different way, and I'm down for it.  Like, where's my book???

(spoiler: on my shelf!)

We chatted about how Laura got the idea for Silencing the Witness, about the faith in the book and...

About what's coming.  And guys... buy some earplugs, because I owe her a rendition of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas."  That's all I'm sayin'!

Well, that and don't miss the "attempted murder" on the cover of this book!

Silencing the Witness by Laura Conaway.

A protected witness is exposed… the race is on to keep her alive.

When her photo is leaked in the local paper, Avery Sanford’s identity in witness protection is compromised. She's the key witness to a murder, and a ruthless drug ring will stop at nothing to silence her. With attackers on her tail, Avery has no choice but to accept the help of former army commander Seth Brown. But keeping Avery alive long enough to testify could be the end for them both… 

From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.

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Last time I talked to Antony Barone Kolenc, I was enthralled with the idea of his Harwood Mysteries.  Well, all those awards he's won, I think the books live up to the idea, don't you?  Well, with a new one released at the end of last year and another coming this year, plus another book and a new series in the works... well, listen in. We've got a lot to talk about.

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These Are Exactly My Favorite Kinds of Mysteries!

Let's see... an era or situation I'm not familiar with... interesting characters... rich faith woven in naturally... a nun who just looks at a crucifix to answer the question, "Why do I have to suffer like this...?"  Um... YEAH!

Antony Barone Kolenc has really knocked it out of the park with this series. Set in the 12th Century, these young folks deal with a variety of issues, and even have to travel to Portugal in one!  EEEP!

His newest book, Murder at Penwood Manor, we're looking at crusaders and murders, and oh my!  Life-changing stuff going on (and a bit of age-appropriate romance as well!).  

Like a lot of middle-grade fiction, this series grows with the kids reading it, so what was upper middle grade in the beginning becomes lower YA by the end.  I love that he's done this.  Because Kolenc is a conscientious writer, father, and Christian, younger advanced readers binging the series won't be subjected to the garbage often found in YA stuff while the stories will still keep the attention of teens.  A win all around.

Kolenc also talked about another book he released just yesterday, Penny and the Stolen Chalice. This is for younger middle-grade readers and features non-Catholic Penny who is determined to find out who stole the Eucharist chalice during Mass.  Note: Non-Catholic parents should read reviews to be prepared to discuss the theological ideas in the book.

Finally, we got a sneak peek into the next series he's working on. Just the tiniest sneakiest of peeks.  But I'm eager to learn more!

Murder at Penwood Manor by Antony Barone Kolenc

Xan and Christina embark on a journey to Harwood Abbey, where they reunite with their old friends, Lucy and Joshua. When a brutal murder occurs at nearby Penwood Manor, all evidence points to Laurence, a Crusader recently returned from the Holy Land. Unconvinced of the man’s guilt, Xan and his friends must act swiftly to solve the crime.

Who could have committed such a horrible killing, and is anyone safe?
Is Laurence tormented by demons, or is he haunted by some other secret?
And will Xan be forever changed by the choice Lucy and Christina present to him?

Learn more about Antony Barone Kolenc on his WEBSITE and follow him on GoodReads and BookBub.

You can also listen to his first episode HERE.

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What do you get when you mix faith, family, and small towns?  Well with Jessica Kate's latest release, Drive You Crazy, you get a hilarious "loathe to love" romcom in her new Amity Creek series!  Listen in to learn more!

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Jessica Kate, author of A Girl's Guide to the Outback and Love and Other Mistakes, has a fun new small-town romcom series set in Washington State.  I mean, she had me at "romcom" but then when she says it kicks off when a guy our heroine calls Dracula drops a tree on her car, I was 100% all in. Can you blame me?

But while Amity Creek only has one full-length novel (just released), there are a few short novels/stories as well.  

Not only that, but she's just released Three Aussie Kisses and A New Year's Kiss as well!

Drive You Crazy by Jessica Kate

Fans of Emily Henry and Gilmore Girls will adore this swoon-worthy enemies-to-love romance about how faith, family and small towns are never as simple as they seem.

Bubbly newspaper editor Ashley Anderson is ecstatic to finally call this small town in Washington State 'home'—until she accidentally angers her newspaper's biggest advertisers, and they boycott. Her neighbor Justin has the family connections to get the town back on her side—but asking for help from the man she's nicknamed 'Dracula' is a last resort.

Living next door, rebel-with-a-cause teacher Justin Hastings can't escape Amity Creek fast enough. But when a good deed goes awry, it's his fault that Ashley's car is out of action, and they're forced to carpool until he can make things right.

Thrust into one another's daily lives, Ashley and Justin learn that little is black-and-white—not small-town life, not family, and not each other. But there's a fork in the road, and it seems God has these two destined for separate paths. Can the road less traveled ever lead them back to love?

Don't miss the chance to immerse yourself in this must-read inspirational romance about the complexities—and the beauty—of true love in all its forms.

Learn more about Jessica Kate on her WEBSITE. Also, follow her on GoodReads and BookBub.

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Anyone who knows Nancy C. Williams knows that she can tell a great story.  I've sat around tables listening to her tales for years and never get tired of it.  Listen in to the stories she tells about Siberia, Seabees, wasps (not capitalized), and FedEx.  

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What Do Houses with Chicken Legs Have to Do with Russian MIGs?

Nancy C. Williams has been writing advertising copy and other professional works for over thirty years, but now that she's dipped her toes into fiction, she's got the bug, and she's here to tell us about it.

Her novel, To Love a Falcon, is the latest in the Ever After Mystery Series (the 1940s line) and features the Russian fairy tale "Finist the Falcon."  While you don't need to read the fairy tale to enjoy the novel, it's short and you will get little nuggets out of Nancy's story that you might have missed otherwise.

Nancy drew on her experience going to Siberia for her son's adoption, a story her father-in-law told about WWII, and even her time with FedEx riding in the jump seat (think Tom Hanks and Castaway. Nancy didn't crash, thank goodness!)

Add to that Providential provision in her writing center of a whole display of Russian toys and fairy tales and well... she just had to write this book.  I do not confess to begging her to do it. Nope. No confession here.  *whistles.

To Love a Falcon by Nancy C. Williams

When life already seems bleak, the Russians send her deeper into Siberia.

Aircraft mechanic Katya Morozov longs for her beloved Mikhail, a Russian naval officer, to return from war. But when an unwanted work assignment takes her far from her home into remote Siberia, Katya faces threats—perhaps because she and her father were engaged in covert protection for persecuted Christians.

A chance encounter with charming test pilot, Yuri Sokolov, turns into more than a passing acquaintance...igniting the flames of a conflict between Katya’s faithfulness to Mikhail and her growing attraction to the enigmatic pilot. Will messages from a mysterious woman in the woods give her the wisdom and strength she needs?

Yuri, who has hidden battles of his own, must likewise make a decision—does he follow his dreams or pursue the lovely mechanic who has captured his heart?

To Love a Falcon, a retelling of the Russian fairy tale “Finist the Falcon,” takes readers into the intrigues of Russian operatives, the stark landscape of Siberian winters, and the courage of those who risk death for faith and love.

To learn more about Nancy C. Williams, visit her WEBSITE and follow her on GoodReads and BookBub.

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The "world" of Deep Haven has a new spin-off--"The Fox Family" and Rachel D. Russell's book, It's Your Love, is second in the line-up. Listen in to learn about this series and about Rachel's book in it!

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Despite All Appearances, This Author Wasn't "Horsing Around."

Sorry. Couldn't resist.  What could be better than a horse camp and two messed up people who need each other to make their dreams (more than they think?) come true? 

Rachel and I have chatted a couple of times, and I always enjoy a good conversation with her. She's passionate about writing, about the Sunrise Publishing model, about her characters, and of course, about the Lord. What's not to love? 

I don't know about you, but I love the depth of story she put into this book--characters with deep troubles that only the Lord can heal. EEEP!

You can listen to her previous interview HERE.

It's Your Love by Rachel D. Russell

When Grayson Fox is asked to return home to Deep Haven and run the wrangler activities for the local camp, the last thing he expects is to run into the one woman he never wanted to see again. Worse…she’s his boss. But Grayson has big hopes for a life back in Oregon, and he must keep the promise to the camp in order to keep his dreams alive.

Just because Beth Strauss has stuck around Deep Haven doesn’t mean she doesn’t want a bigger life. And becoming the camp assistant director is the first step to that bigger life. Of course, standing in her way happens to be the one man who has always managed to derail her dreams, way too arrogant Grayson Fox.

But if they want to keep the camp afloat and their dreams alive, these two must learn to work together. But will these enemies become sweethearts, and if they do, will they find something better than the dreams they’re striving for?

The next delightful installment of the Fox Family series!

Fox Family
How Sweet It Is
It’s Your Love
The Way You Love Me

Learn more about Rachel on her WEBSITE.

And follow her on BookBub and GoodReads as well.

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After tons of research with little information to draw on, Jill Eileen Smith has written a "what could have been" novel that releases February 27th (with a big party on Facebook, too!). Listen in to learn more about The Ark and the Dove.

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What Kind of Woman Gets in a Boat to Avoid a Little Rain? 

After her Daughter of Eden and the story of what might have been with Eve in the Garden, its shouldn't surprise us that Jill Eileen Smith has tackled the story of the flood in The Ark and the Dove. 

Jill talked about her research, her visit to The Ark Encounter, and even the names she chose for the missies on that Ark. We covered what life might have been like (the first cabin fever perhaps?  Vitamin D deficits--again, for the first time?) and then went on to get a peek at what is coming next. Eeep!

Jill also told us about a Facebook event on the 27th of February--games, prizes, and Jill will be there as well.  You can RSVP HERE.

The Ark and the Dove by Jill Eileen Smith

Zara and Noah have walked together with the Creator for their entire lives, and they have done their best in an increasingly wicked and defiant world to raise their three sons to follow in their footsteps. It has been a challenge--and it's about to get much, much harder.

When the Creator tells her husband to build an ark to escape the coming wrath against the sins of humankind, Zara steps out with him in faith. But the derision and sabotage directed their way from both friends and extended family are difficult to bear, as is knowing that everyone she interacts with beyond her husband, her sons, and their wives is doomed to destruction. And when the ark is finally finished and the animals have been shut up inside, Zara and her family embark on an adventure that will test their patience and their faith as they await deliverance and dry ground.

Experience the story of Noah and the flood like you never have before. With bestselling and award-winning author Jill Eileen Smith as your guide, you'll never look at a rainbow the same way again.

You can get The Ark and the Dove at 30% off with free shipping (as of today, anyway!) at BakerBookHouse.com.

Learn more about Jill at her WEBSITE.  

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When I heard the name of Lynn H. Blackburn's new series, I was hooked right there.  I mean, come on! Gossamer Falls? EEEP! And the title!  Never Fall Again? How perfect is that?  Listen in as we chat about the new series, its location, and the cool preorder goodies up for grabs!

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They Say Love Is Worth the Risk, but at What Cost?

Lynn H. Blackburn joined me for a lovely chat about her new series and oh, my gravy does it sound amazing.  Look, if you love romance, it sounds like this one is infused with a double dose alongside the suspense, but come on. A single mom starting over? A guy already burned by losing a "ready-made" family? Someone out to get them?  What's not to love?

Book one of this new series, Never Fall Again, releases March 12th, and until then you can get it at 40% off with free shipping (in the US anyway) and while supplies last, you'll also get some cool preorder goodies, including a great sticker that I'm eager to get my paws--I mean, hands on. EEEP!  Just go to BakerBookHouse.com for more info.

Never Fall Again by Lynn H. Blackburn

Landry Hutton has spent three years rebuilding her life behind the secure gates of The Haven, an exclusive resort on the outskirts of Gossamer Falls, North Carolina. As the artist-in-residence, and with her pottery prized by The Haven's guests, Landry is finally ready to settle in permanently. She wants to give her daughter, Eliza, a safe home to grow up in and hires former Marine Callum Shaw to handle the construction.

Cal grew up in Gossamer Falls and always knew he would someday join his family's business. He longs for a family of his own but has almost given up on that ever happening. Landry is funny, gifted, and everything Cal could ever want in a partner, but he vows to keep his distance. Landry has a daughter and a past. Cal has been down that road before and barely survived when the woman he loved left, taking her two sons with her. He can't bear to lose like that again.

Before construction on the house can begin, Landry's pottery is destroyed in a suspicious fire. It soon becomes clear that Landry and Eliza are in grave danger--but because of whom? But, after losing one relationship, he is hesitant to try again.

Learn more about Lynn and her books on her WEBSITE.

Don't forget to follow her on BookBub and GoodReads.

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I never imagined loving stories taking place in Kansas, but in the last few years, many of my favorites have been set there, including Amanda Wen's Segewick Chronicles. She has a new book, The Rhythm of Fractured Grace. Listen in to see why.

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How a Broken Violin Ties Together Two Centuries 

One of the best things about Amanda Wen's books is how she ties together history and the present and while using tidbits of her own family's history.  In The Rhythm of Fractured Grace, the family farmhouse is still included as well as the story of an ancestor who survived a scalping!

You'll find a story steeped in the necessity of forgiveness in life.

The Rhythm of Fractured Grace by Amanda Wen

Is Siobhan too far gone to respond to the song of a God who's calling her back to him?

When a new customer brings a badly damaged violin into Siobhan Walsh's shop, it is exactly the sort of challenge she craves. The man who brought it in is not. He's too close to the painful past that left her heart and her faith in shambles.

Matt Buchanan has had a rough start as the new worship pastor. A car accident on his way into town left him with a nearly totaled truck, and an heirloom violin in pieces. When he takes it to a repair shop, he's fascinated with the restoration process--and with the edgy, closed-off woman doing the work.

As their friendship deepens and turns into more, they both discover secrets that force them to face past wounds. And the history of the violin reveals more about their current problems than they could have ever expected.

On the nineteenth-century frontier, a gruesome tomahawk attack wiped out most of Deborah Caldwell's family. Her greatest solace after the tragedy is the music from her father's prized violin. Given her horrendous scars, she'd resigned herself to a spinster's life. But Levi Martinson's gentle love starts to chip away at her hardened heart, until devastating details about the attack are revealed, putting their love--and Deborah's shaky faith--to the ultimate test.

Full of forgiveness and the message that no one is too damaged for God's healing touch, the final book in the split-time Sedgwick County Chronicles will thrill fans of Rachel Hauck, Lisa Wingate, and Kristy Cambron.

Learn more about Amanda Wen on her WEBSITE.

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Drawing on years of social work, Doralyn Moore tackles difficult topics such as addiction, abortion, and more! Listen in while we navigate stories that point to the victory we have in Jesus.

Her First Two Books Hit Tough Subjects, but Wait'll You Hear about the Next!

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Doralyn Moore spent years as a social worker, and you can tell by the topics of her first two books, Hope Doesn't Disappoint and Abundance of Grace. But when she started describing her next book and all the troubles she's sending her characters through there, I knew I had to check out these books for myself. EEEP!

Abundance of Grace by Doralyn Moore

When Cassie learns her daughter recently had an abortion while at university, old memories surface. At sixteen, she became pregnant and with a great amount of reluctance and soul searching, chose adoption for her baby. There is never a day when she doesn’t think about her daughter and wonder if she is happy and well.

Lise, the baby Cassie placed, was adopted by two loving parents. However, in spite of their love, she has feelings of abandonment and suffers from depression. Starting in her early teens, she turns to alcohol to cope with her negative feelings.

Although reluctant, Cassie senses an urging from her heavenly Father to search for her daughter. However, Lise does not want any contact with Cassie. But when she’s attacked and raped while drunk, things spin out of control and she calls her biological mother to help.

Through a long, slow process, they both come to know that for whatever bad choices they’ve made, God has provided an abundance of grace.

Learn more about Doralyn Moore on her WEBSITE and follow her on BookBub and GoodReads.

Like to listen on the go? You can find Because Fiction Podcast at:

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