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AI and fiction. What do they have to do with each other? Maybe more than you think. In this week's episode, I discuss how I, as an author and editor, use AI, what are some benefits and drawbacks of it for authors, and how readers may use it and what they should be aware of. AI is here to stay, whether we like it or not, and it's wise to be knowledgeable about it and to know what to look for and what to avoid. AI and fiction can and will co-exist.

These are the two articles I reference in the episode. They are well worth a read.

She Reads: https://shereads.com/how-will-ai-impact-reading/

Writer's Digest: https://www.writersdigest.com/be-inspired/think-ai-is-bad-for-authors-the-worst-is-yet-to-come

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Heather Kaufman joins us on the podcast this week to talk about her newest release, Before the King. We chat about what got her interested in writing novels instead of nonfiction, how she manages to write fiction in which Jesus makes an appearance, and what is the best part of living in St. Louis. Patrons will hear what she would love to do if she wasn't writing - and if she had the talent for it!

Before the King by Heather Kaufman

"Heather Kaufman is a truly fresh voice in biblical fiction."--TESSA AFSHAR, bestselling author

"A beautifully told and imagined story of secrets, faith, love, and devotion. With a compelling plot and cast of characters, Before the King is a tale not to be missed."--TOSCA LEE, New York Times bestselling author

Joanna's wealthy family aspires to Herod's inner circle, but when her father's esteemed position in the Sepphoris Sanhedrin is threatened, her family harbors a dark secret. Entangled in the complexities of aristocratic life and an impending arranged marriage, Joanna is caught between her own desires and maintaining appearances. When tragedy strikes, Joanna grapples with a new future that challenges her sense of duty and hope for love.

Years later, Joanna is forever changed when a rabbi comes preaching a new kingdom and healing the sick. As she contributes to his ministry, Joanna treads a perilous path between a court that mocks Jesus of Nazareth, disciples who view her with suspicion, and a husband who guards his own secrets. With pressure increasing on all sides, Joanna must decide where her allegiances lie and protect her relationship to the Christ, whose message is as compelling as it is dangerous.

Get your copy of Before the King by Heather Kaufman.

Heather Kaufman is the author of Up from Dust: Martha’s Story and Before the King: Joanna’s Story, the first two books in her Women of the Way series with Bethany House Publishers. A former editor turned writer, Heather worked eight years in the publishing industry while earning her master’s degree and spinning tales late into the night. When she fell in love with studying the Bible through a cultural lens, the words of Scripture came springing to life, and Jesus became even more astoundingly beautiful. Now she crafts stories that imaginatively enter the lives of biblical characters and compel readers deeper into the Bible. When not reading, writing, or accumulating mounds of books, Heather can be found exploring new parks with her husband and three children near their home in St. Louis, Missouri.

Visit Heather's website.

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Laura DeNooyer is our guest on the show this week, her first time with us. We discuss her new book, A Hundred Magical Reasons, including why she has long been fascinated with L. Frank Baum, what her research was like for the book, and the importance of teachers in encouraging their students' dreams. Related to that, patrons will hear a little more about her teaching career.

A Hundred Magical Reasons by Laura DeNooyer

Most fairy tales have happy endings, but is it too late for this one? After all, Mrs. Charlotte Rose Gordon, the disgruntled town recluse, is eighty-eight and has grown weary of fighting the dragons of her past—including the desire to clear her husband’s name of a 1918 crime.

Dragons of a different kind pursue Carrie Kruisselbrink.

During 1980, the summer of her private rebellion, Carrie defies parental expectations and pursues her café dream. While waiting for funding, she takes a job with Mrs. Gordon.

As Mrs. Gordon unfolds the story of her oppressive childhood and delightful friendship with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz author, L. Frank Baum, Carrie never expects to encounter her own fears and soul-searching.

In this modern-day fairy tale that weaves between 1980 and the early 1900s, Mr. Baum’s influence impacts each woman’s personal quests on a hero’s journey neither anticipates. Can Carrie and Mrs. Gordon find common ground in battling their respective dragons?

Get your copy of A Hundred Magical Reasons by Laura DeNooyer.

Laura DeNooyer thrives on creativity and encouraging it in others. A Calvin College graduate, she is a teacher, wife, parent of four adult children, and an award-winning author of heart-warming historical and contemporary fiction. Her novels are perfect for fans of Patti Callahan Henry, Erin Bartels, or Heidi Chiavaroli. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her reading, walking, drinking tea with friends, or taking a road trip.

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Naomi Stephens is a first-time guest on the podcast, but this isn't her first book. She stops by to chat about her latest release, The Burning of Rosemont Abbey. We talked about why she chose to set it in 1956, what she loves about the fashion of the time, and how she was able to write a mystery that has a lightness to it. Patrons will learn what her favorite place to live has been.

The Burning of Rosemont Abbey by Naomi Stephens

Everyone in Wilbeth Green has something to hide, but she's about to uncover their secrets.

1956: In a quiet English village, the smoldering ruins of Rosemont Abbey have set the residents' tongues wagging, and everyone is quick to accuse troublemaker Paul Everly of the crime of arson. Paul has vanished without a trace, leaving only his plucky twin sister, Louisa, certain of his innocence. Fueling her conviction is an inexplicable connection--she felt her twin's death an hour before the abbey went up in flames.

Armed with nothing but her wit and her keen sense of intuition, Louisa embarks on her own investigation, challenging the dubious townspeople and the disdain of her aunt and uncle. Even Inspector Malcolm Sinclair, once Paul's closest friend, warns Louisa to abandon her pursuit. But Louisa is determined to solve a murder no one else believes was committed, even if it means unraveling secrets that could shake Wilbeth Green to its core.

"A thrilling and beautifully written tale from start to finish, filled with a strong sense of time, deft characterization, and more than enough twists to keep one guessing. Readers will be as hard-pressed as I was to put this one down once they begin."--ANNA LEE HUBER, USA Today bestselling author

"What an absolute delight of a novel! Naomi Stephens has a new fan in me!"--SARAH SUNDIN, Christy Award-winning author

"An English murder mystery set in the 1950s, plus a friends (and sometimes enemies)-to-more romance? Naomi Stephens is an author to watch!"--JULIE KLASSEN, bestselling author

Get a copy of The Burning of Rosemont Abbey by Naomi Stephens.

Naomi Stephens is a bookworm turned teacher turned writer. She received a B.A. in English from Concordia University in Ann Arbor and an M.A. in English from Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne.

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Her first novel, Shadow among Sheaves, was an Inspy Award shortlist contender and winner of the 2020 Carol Award in Debut Fiction. In bookstores, Naomi gravitates towards 19th-century British novels—the broodier the better (i.e., Jane Eyre)—but she can also be found perusing the young adult, mystery, and fantasy sections. Anything that keeps her turning pages past midnight!​

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Though she's called many places home over the years, she currently lives in New York with her husband, her two children, and a rascal of a dog named Sherlock. When not writing or having adventures with her family, she can be found drinking tea, practicing photography, and pining for London.

Visit Naomi's website.

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Liz Tolsma (that's me!) is the guest this week. My niece Becca makes her annual stop on the podcast to interview me about my latest release, What I Left for You. We discuss who the Lemko people in Poland were, why they are important to both of us, and where hope shines through in the dark circumstances of this story. Patrons get to hear about my sweet little dog.

What I Left for You by Liz Tolsma
A Family's Ties Were Broken in Poland of 1939

1939 Helena Kostyszak is an oddity—an educated female ethnic minority lecturing at a university in Krakow at the outbreak of WWII. When the Germans close the university and force Jews into the ghetto, she spirits out a friend's infant daughter and flees to her small village in the southern hills. Helena does everything in her power to protect her family, but it may not be enough. It will take all of her strength and God's intervention for both of them to survive the war and the ethnic cleansing to come.

2023 Recently unengaged social worker McKenna Muir is dealt an awful blow when a two-year-old she's been working with is murdered. It's all too much to take, so her friend suggests she dive into her family's past like she's always wanted. Putting distance between herself and her problems might help her heal, so she and her friend head on Sabbatical to Poland. But what McKenna discovers about her family shocks everyone, including one long-lost family member.

Get your copy of What I Left for You

Passionate might best describe Liz Tolsma. She loves writing and researching historical fiction, and editing for other authors. Her passion shines through in her writing, many of her novels being award finalists or award winners. On any given day, you might find her pulling weeds in her perennial garden, walking her hyperactive dog, or curled up with a good book. Nothing means more to her than her family. She’s married to her high-school sweetheart, and they live in the Wisconsin countryside. They are now blessed with three grown children, including a son, daughter, and daughter-in-law who are all US Marines and a daughter with special needs who brightens their days.

Visit Liz Tolsma's website.

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My favorite 2024 reads.

There were so many wonderful Christian historical novels that released last year, everything from the perennial favorite Regency, Western, and WWII novels to dual time fiction and ground-breaking time crossing fiction. So what were my favorite 2024 reads? Why did I enjoy these books so much? Do you agree with me or not?

Here, in no particular order, are my favorite reads of 2024. You'll have to listen to the episode to find out which one topped the charts for me.

Never Forgotten by Hannah Linder


The British Booksellers by Kristy Cambron


The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple by Joanna Politano


Embers in the London Sky by Sarah Sundin


For a Lifetime by Gabrielle Meyer


The Irish Matchmaker by Jennifer Deibel

Let me know what you think about my favorite 2024 reads!

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The future of WWII fiction? Is it still popular or is it on its way out? This week, I trace the rise of the genre, why it's popular, who is writing it, and what does it look like in the coming years. Join me as I talk about one of my favorite subjects!

Some of the authors we discussed in the episode:
Melanie Dobson
Memories of Glass
The Winter Rose

Cathy Gohkle
The Medallion
Saving Amelie

Lynn Austin
Chasing Shadows
If I Were You
A Woman's Place This is the one I forgot the name of during the show.

Sarah Sundin
The Sound of Light
Embers in the London Sky
Midnight on the Scottish Shore

Kristy Cambron
The Butterfly and the Violin
A Sparrow at Terezin
The British Booksellers
The French Kitchen

Brock and Bodie Thorne
The Zion Covenant
The Zion Chronicles

Johnnie Alexander
When Memory Whispers
The Cryptographers Dilemma
Where Treasure Hides

Amanda Barratt
My Dearest Dietrich
The White Rose Resists
Within These Walls of Sorrow
The Warsaw Sisters

Liz Tolsma
What I Would Tell You
What I Promise You
What I Left for You

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Mesu Andrews returns to the show this week to chat about her new book, Brave. We talk about her amazing story of how she came to know the Lord, why she chose to write about King David's wives, and what it's like to write real biblical characters in her books. Patrons will find out what Happy Thanksmas is.

Brave by Mesu Andrews
"The Old Testament stories of David come to vibrant life in Brave. . . . Wonderful!"--Angela Hunt, Christy Award-winning author of The Emissaries

In the tumultuous world of ancient Israel, Ahinoam--a dagger-wielding Kenite woman--flees her family farm with her unconventional father to join the ragtag band of misfits led by the shepherd-turned-warrior David ben Jesse. As King Saul's treasonous accusations echo through the land, Ahinoam's conviction that David's anointing makes him Yahweh's chosen king propels her on a perilous journey to Moab and back into Judah's unforgiving wilderness, only to encounter more hardship and betrayal.

Amid the challenges, Ahinoam forges an unexpected bond with David's sister and gains respect among David's army through her knowledge of Kenite metalworking. Though some offer friendship, Ahinoam, scarred by past relationships, isolates to avoid more pain and refuses to acknowledge her growing feelings for the renegade king. As Ahinoam's heart grapples for footing, King Saul's army closes in, and Ahinoam must confront the true meaning of love, loyalty, and courage. Is she brave enough to trust new friends and love Israel's next king?

Get your copy of Brave by Mesu Andrews.

MESU ANDREWS is a Christy Award-winning, best-selling author of biblical novels and devotional studies whose deep understanding of and love for God’s Word brings the Bible alive for readers. Her heritage as a “spiritual mutt” has given her a deep yearning to both understand and communicate biblical truths in powerful stories that touch the heart, challenge the mind, and transform lives. Mesu lives in Indiana with her husband Roy, where she stays connected with her readers through newsie emails, blog posts, and the social media we all love to hate. For more information, visit MesuAndrews.com.

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