WHAT'S IT GOING TO BE?

What book should you read next? What words should you write next? Whether you're a reader, a writer, or both, you need look no further for ideas and pointers to help you make up your mind. You might even get your next book for free!

Sometimes I even give away my own novels. My Inspirational romances and devotionals are pictured below and are detailed on my Books page. You can always count on a trace of humor in my novels and nonfiction. Whether you're a teen or a woman mature in years, I think these stories will ring true.

Read on, and discover some of today's most appealing Inspirational novelists, their latest books, and their words of wisdom and imagination. Enjoy!

Monday, July 20, 2020

Robin Lee Hatcher and Free Books!

He's lost his brother and she's lost her dream, but together they might find what they’re really looking for.

Before we meet today's author, I want to announce that the winner of the free copy of Pamela Meyers' historical romance, Tranquility Point, is:

friedmanc44@...

Congratulations! We'll get your book right out to you. I encourage readers to keep commenting and/or subscribe at right (above my list of books) in order to learn about new releases! U.S. subscribers are entered in the drawings a second time when they comment.

And now let's visit with novelist Robin Lee Hatcher, author of the split-time Christian novel, How Sweet It Is (Thomas Nelson, July 2020).

Robin Lee Hatcher is the author of over 80 novels and novellas with over five million copies of her books in print. She's known for her heartwarming and emotionally charged stories of faith, courage, and love.

Her numerous awards include the RITA® Award, the Carol Award, the Christy Award, the HOLT Medallion, the National Reader’s Choice Award, and the Faith, Hope & Love Reader’s Choice Award. Robin is also the recipient of prestigious Lifetime Achievement Awards from both American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America®.

When not writing, Robin enjoys being with her family, spending time in the beautiful Idaho outdoors, Bible art journaling, reading books that make her cry, watching romantic movies, and decorative planning. Robin makes her home on the outskirts of Boise, sharing it with a demanding Papillon dog and a persnickety tuxedo cat.

Please tell us one random thing we might not know about you.

My great-great-grandfather, Gideon M. Ashmore, was an antislavery innkeeper in Illinois. In the summer of 1845, he hid Anthony and Jane Bryant and their children, escaped slaves who had been brought up from Kentucky to work a farm owned by Robert Matson. They were kept in Illinois longer than the law allowed and ran away.

My great-great-grandfather went to an attorney by the name of Abraham Lincoln, but Lincoln had already been consulted by Matson so couldn’t represent the Bryants. Fortunately, Lincoln did not win this particular case, and the Bryants gained their freedom. It’s said that Matson returned to Kentucky without paying Lincoln his fee.

And that’s my distant connection to my favorite President of the United States.

Okay, Robin. You win the prize for the most fascinating "random thing." I would love to have something like that in my family history! 

Please tell us a bit more about the plot of How Sweet It Is.

Holly Stanford is doing the best she can with the restaurant she inherited from her late uncle. But after her fiancé abandons her and the business, Holly regrets having given up her dream of becoming a pastry chef. Now a few bad financial decisions might cost her everything, including her hope for the future.

Jed Henning has done well with his new company despite his prodigal brother’s behavior. When Jed‘s father , the controlling member of the board of directors, temporarily suspends operations until his sons work out their differences, Jed resentfully chases his brother, Chris, to Boise. There Jed rents a basement apartment from Holly and hopes to convince Chris to get his act together before their company collapses.

Unaware that Holly is the one person who can help him get through to Chris, Jed starts the tough work of reconciliation armed with little more than a few family photographs, a stack of old letters, and a Bible that belonged to his great-grandfather, Andrew Henning. And as romance blossoms between Holly and Jed, the story of Jed’s great-grandfather highlights the power of God across the generations and the legacy of a family’s courageous faith.

What is it about Andrew that will make your readers care about him?

Since there are three lead characters in How Sweet It Is, I will select the historical protagonist, Andrew Henning. Andrew’s story is told across all three books in the Legacy of Faith series (each book is a stand-alone novel, not requiring that you read the others). Andrew is a man of strong faith and the wisdom he has gained through that faith and his own life experiences. Like Andrew’s descendants (who are the contemporary heroine and heroes in the books), I believe readers will appreciate what he has to share through the notes written in his Bible.

What story from the last couple of years would make a good basis for a novel?

Oh, my goodness. Difficult question. My stories don’t spring from anything in the news or tabloids. The only book of mine that came close was Ribbon of Years, which was birthed after the Columbine tragedy. That book isn’t about a school shooting, but as I wrote it, I answered the questions in my own heart of what it truly means to walk by faith when terrible things happen in life. That’s the sort of writer I am. While I may not tackle the big news issues of the day, my books explore the human heart and how God uses difficult circumstances in our lives.

I like that you've given an example of how a writer might be inspired by "issues of the day" to address particular feelings and choices, without the motivating event itself factoring into the story. As a writer, I find that idea very helpful.

What is the last novel you read that you would recommend?

Send Down the Rain by Charles Martin. This story absolutely wrecked me—in the best kind of way any novel can do to a reader. I cried for the final half hour of listening to the audiobook. Beautiful. Painful. Raw. Hopeful. Unexpected. Tender. Highly recommended.

Thanks so much for that recommendation, Robin. Nothing like a good cry over a beautiful story. 

What are you working on now?

I’m writing a new split-time novel. The historical setting is the late 1800s, and the contemporary story is present day. There isn’t a whole lot more that I can share about my WIP at this stage.

But I’m very excited to share about the book I finished revising just before the shelter-in-place orders began in March. Rich Beyond Measure: Zlata’s Story (Guidepost Books, July 2020) is my first novel with a biblical setting.

The protagonist is the poor widow who gave the two mites, everything she had (Mark 12:41-44). I was quite nervous going into it, afraid I might misrepresent the Jewish culture. But in the end, it turned out to be a blessed experience. Every day I spent time in the Gospels, reading the words of Christ and studying His ministry in Capernaum and Jerusalem. And through my research I learned things I hadn’t known before (or, if known, hadn’t fully understood) despite 40+ years of Bible study.

I hope that readers will be blessed by the story too.

An exciting new direction for your novels! Where else can readers find you online?

My website: robinleehatcher.com
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Goodreads
BookBub

The book can be purchased online via the following button:



Readers, f you would like to read a sample from the book, you can access it HERE

Finally, Robin, what question would you like to ask my readers?

What is your favorite time setting in fiction? Do you enjoy split-time (dual-time, slip-time) fiction? And if so, who are some of your favorite authors?

Thank you, Robin, for visiting and telling us about yourself and your book. Readers, Robin has offered to give away a free copy of her book. To enter, leave a comment and your email below in answer to her question, above. "Please enter me" won't get you entered. Remember that U.S. subscribers are entered an additional time in each drawing. The drawing is done by email, so leave your email address, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com.

Only United States residents are eligible for the drawing, but anyone can subscribe to the blog posts via the GDPA-compliant Feedblitz box above my list of books, at right.

Also readers, I'd love it if you'd connect with me on Facebook. Just click on my name at the right of today's post title.

Annoying legal disclaimer: as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases; drawings void where prohibited; open only to U.S. residents; the odds of winning depend upon the number of participants. See full disclaimer, GDPA notice, and my Disclosure of Material Connection HERE

15 comments:

Diana Flowers said...

Definitely a fascinating random fact! ��
I love time-slip novels. Jaime Jo Wright has written some great ones, Joanna Davidson Politano (gosh, I know I've read more, but their names elude my memory atm), and of course, I've adored Robin Lee Hatcher's books since forever! Thanks for the giveaway opportunity!

dianalflowers(at)aol(dot)com

Caryl Kane said...

I adore time-slip novels. Jaime Jo Wright is the Queen of time-slip!

psalm103and138atmgaildotcom

Diana Flowers said...

Oh, Amanda Dykes, Heidi Chiavaroli, Kristy Cambron, and how could I forget the amazing Rachel Hauck?...have all written dual timeline novels!

Jackie Smith said...

I love Christian fiction and am an avid reader. HAVE Read most all of your Books, Robin, and of course am drooling over this one. Fave authors are you, C. Coble, Irene Hannon, Denise Hunter.
jacsmi75 at gmail dot com

Shonda F said...

I love historical fiction in the 1800s. I love reading Tamera Alexandra. Regina Scott, Traci Peterson. I only read Christian fiction.

Gail H. said...

I really prefer novels set in one time frame although I’ve read several good split time books. I enjoy contemporary novels and ones set in the forty’s or fifties. World War Two also.

O Norman said...

I like split time books if they are well written.
Onorman at wilkes dot net

SARAH TAYLOR said...

I Love reading these kinds of books! SARAHTAYLOR601973(at)YAHOO(dot)COM

Trixi said...

My favorite time period to read is Regency, thanks to Julie Klassen who first introduced me to her books set in this time. There are several authors I've discovered that write these type of books; Rosanna M. White, Sarah Ladd, Kristi Ann Hunter, Sarah M. Eden (clean Regency), Carolyn Miller, Linore Rose Burkard (clean) & a few I can't come up with right now.

I also have read dual-timeline by Jaime Jo Wright, her books were the first I had heard about this genre. I do enjoy her writing & think I would read more of these as long as the writer didn't make it confusing flipping back & forth between timelines. I also read a time-slip book called "Forever, Lately" by Linore Rose Burkard--a Regency time slip book. That was SO fun to read :-)

Thank you for spotlighting Robin's new book, the author interview and giveaway chance to win a copy of . It's been a LONG time since I read a book by Robin, I have enjoyed many of her books in the past. Thank you for the chance to win a copy of "How Sweet It Is"!

I'm also a current newsletter subscriber!
teamob4 (at) gmail (dot) com

Trish Perry said...

I don't think I have a favorite time period for a book's setting, although I suppose I don't read many set in Biblical or ancient times. I love both contemporary and historical settings. I really enjoy time-slip novels as well. I didn't realize until recently how many had factored into my current reading! (I do read both inspirational and secular novels.) I'm currently reading The Beautiful Ruins, which is a secular time-slip, by Jess Walter. Other recent time-slips I've enjoyed were Next Year in Havana, by Chanel Cleeton (a picture of Cuba during its revolution and then during contemporary times), and The Last Painting of Sara de Vos, by Dominic Smith (excellent if you like stories set in the art world). The Alice Network, by Kate Quinn, is a WWII adventure, together with the related story of a contemporary heroine. And The Address, by Fiona Davis, features two intertwining stories centered around The Dakota apartments in New York in 1884 (where John Lennon was killed), when the famous building was newly built, and in modern times. They were all very good reads.

Elizabeth said...

Split-time novels are some of favorites. I love seeing how the past influences the present. Amanda Dykes and Rachel Hauck are two of the best authors for split-time stories!


eclitton at gmail dot com

Joan A said...

Although I've read and enjoyed some dual time novels, they are not my preference. I enjoy books from all eras. jarning67@hotmail(dot)com

Robin Lee Hatcher said...

I'm loving reading all of your comments. I wrote my first dual time book back in the early 1990's, before anybody had a name for it as a genre. Right now I'm reading Lisa Wingate's The Book of Lost Friends (1870's and 1980's). And her book, Before We Were Yours, was an amazing split time novel.

Trish Perry said...

Yes, I can't believe I forgot to mention Lisa's book in my list. Very well done!

lilyk said...

My favorite time setting in fiction is modern times. I'm not familiar with split-time fiction. I subscribed to your blog.
mslilyk[at]yandex[dot]com

 

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