Historical Bookworm KyLee Woodley and Darcy

Grace Hitchcock joins us for a chat about her favorite time periods in history, favorite foods, writing heroes and heroines, and her latest release book. Don’t forget to enter to win a copy of this great book!







About the author















Grace Hitchcock is the author of multiple historical novels and novellas. She holds a Masters in Creative Writing and a Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in History. Grace lives near New Orleans with her husband, Dakota, sons and daughter. Connect with her online at GraceHitchcock.com.







Let’s start with something fun.









What less-than-healthy food from your childhood do you still love to indulge in today?







Your blog makes it no secret you’re a fan of Jane Austen and the Regency era. What ignited your interest in the time period?







As a writer of romances, do you find it easier to write your male leads or your female leads?







Is there anything especially interesting that you haven’t covered in other interviews that you could share with us or perhaps there is something God has laid on your heart that you would like to share with your readers? 









About the book To Catch a Coronet







Sometimes the only way to outsmart a scandal is to find a crown big enough to silence it.















Muriel Beau, country baker turned heiress, can't stop instigating outrage. She discards two arranged engagements, then further antagonizes Kent society by publicly proposing to a baron at a ball. His rejection leaves her with no choice but to flee to the city and to secure a coronet so splendid that her peers will forget her debacles. The glitter of the London courts convinces Muriel that it's possible to find the future she dreams of, until she finds herself entangled in yet another escapade--one that may cost her more than her crumbling reputation.







After years of serving as a privateer under an assumed name, Captain Erik Draycott, heir to Draycott Castle and soon to assume his uncle's title of Earl, returns to his London home to find it in disrepair thanks to his longtime nemesis. A staunch bachelor intent on returning to his ship, the captain is shocked when his mentor encourages him to take a wife. But while his alleged pauper status causes the potential London brides to turn their noses up at him, the ladies of Kent have no such qualms and are eager to fill his coffers with their fathers' wealth.







Caught in a whirlwind of high society and high seas, Muriel and Erik navigate a risky undertaking that threatens their futures and creating stakes that soar above the masts of Erik's ship. Will Muriel's bold charm and Erik's daring bravery be enough to outsmart the scandal and secure a future as glittering as the crown Muriel seeks?







Lead in: This has me picturing a Georgette Hyer-style regency escapade – spunky heroine getting herself in trouble, resistant-to-love hero, societal fumbles, and a splash of adventure. What more could you ask for?









So much of Regency drama revolves around the intricate societal rankings of the day. (Frankly, I’m still lost sometimes, and I consider myself a fan of the time.) Did you run across any surprising societal strictures while researching for this story?







Muriel seems like more than a match for the society snobs in spite of her humble origins, as they might say. Where did she get her determination?







In Jane Austen’s novels, for instance,

Janyre Tromp joins KyLee for a chat about God's faithfulness, snacking and reading, missionaries in WW 2, and her latest release Darkness Calls the Tiger. Don’t forget to enter to win a copy of this great book! 







About the author















Janyre Tromp is a veteran book editor by day and writer of historical novels with a healthy dose of lyrical intrigue at night. She’s the best-selling author of Shadows in the Mind’s Eye and co-author of both O Little Town and It’s a Wonderful Christmas. Her books were named a 2023 Arkansas Gem by the Arkansas State Library and Honorable Mention for Romance by Foreword Indies. And that all happens from her unfinished basement when she’s not hanging out with her family, two troublesome cats, and slightly eccentric Shetland Sheepdog.







We have had the pleasure of chatting on the show before, but also in real life. I tell you this lady has a reputation in the writing community for kindness, hard work and professionalism. I would describe you as quirky, family-oriented, and fun. Yet your books deal with heavy themes, as we see in Shadows in the Mind’s Eye – a suspenseful post-WW2 story about dealing with life after the war–and now Darkness Calls the Tiger, a story about missionaries facing Japanese attacks shortly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.









We’re going to get up close and personal fast, how does a happy-go-lucky mother and writer create such authentic and riveting tales that tackle painful and gritty topics?







Can you share how God has been especially faithful in blessing you?







If you could spend 1 day reading, what location would you choose and what snack?







Is there anything especially interesting that you haven’t covered in other interviews that you could share with us or perhaps there is something God has laid on your heart that you would like to share with your readers? 





















About the book: Darkness Calls the Tiger















After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Imperial Japan devours the southern portion of Burma, intent on taking over mainland Asia. Unaware of the coming darkness, Kailyn Moran drifts in her role as the only daughter of a widowed missionary.







As whispers of war snake through the Kachin mountains, Kai's father is convinced God will protect the mission. He entrusts the village to her and the kind yet inexperienced new missionary, Ryan McDonough, while he makes routine visits to neighboring villages.







War descends like a tempest upon the mountain peaks, and an unbreakable bond forms between Kailyn and Ryan as they unite to provide solace to both villagers and the flood of refugees. Despite their tireless efforts, a brutal enemy shatters almost everything they love, pushing Kailyn to embark on a path of unrestrained vengeance.







Afraid he's losing the woman he loves, Ryan fights to protect Kai from the deadly consequences of her choices. But in the face of destruction, can he convince her of the power and freedom of forgiveness?









What legends do you refer to?







How does faith come into play in this story?

Patti Stockdale joins us to chat about co-writing with award-winning author Jody Hedlund, historical settings, writing for the Lord, and her latest release His Treasured Bride. Don’t forget to enter to win a copy of this great book! 







About the author







 Patti Stockdale is a historical romance author and freelance writer who lives in Wisconsin. She creates tangled-up characters full of heart and hope. Patti married her high school sweetheart, and they have two kids and four grandsons. She loves to travel somewhere new, plant flowers, drink tea, read fiction, and dance with her family when she’s not plotting stories. 









Where is your favorite place to read and write?







Why did you start writing?







Tell us about Sunrise Publishing.







Is there anything especially interesting that you haven’t covered in other interviews that you could share with us or perhaps there is something God has laid on your heart that you would like to share with your readers? 









About the book His Treasured Bride.







IN TWENTY-FOUR HOURS, MARRIAGE, MYSTERY, AND MAYEM.







After recently arriving in Vancouver Island on a bride ship, aspiring seamstress Daisy Harper is determined not to rush into a hasty and quarrelsome marriage, a mistake her parents made. To avoid choosing the wrong man, she creates a rigorous list of ten requirements for a potential husband.







Mapmaker Seth Ryann moved to the colony to assist his partially blind brother, a local missionary. They’ll soon return to Ireland, but first, Seth is tasked by a friend to find a treasure of gold hidden in the mountains. Seth has the map to the treasure, but he’s missing the key.







When he discovers Daisy somehow has the key, the two agree to search for the treasure together. They’re left with little choice but to quickly enter a marriage of convenience. As they venture into the wilderness and work together to overcome danger, an undeniable attraction grows. But will they find the treasure only to lose what matters most?







A treasure hunt with a seamstress and map maker in the mountains of British Columbia, plus a marriage of convenience trope. This book sounds like it's going to be fun.









What inspired this story idea?







What kind of research went into preparing to write from a map maker's point of view?







You are a relatively new author, and you've co-written this book with the talented and amazing Jody Hedlund.  What was it like coauthoring?







What’s next for your writing?









Connect with Patti: PattiStockdale.com, email, Newsletter, Amazon, a href="https://www.bookbub.

Joanna Davidson Politano joins us for a chat about her favorite writing stages, being a mom, silent films, and her latest release The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple. Don’t forget to enter to win a copy of this great book! 







About the author















Joanna Davidson Politano is the award-winning author of Lady Jayne Disappears, A Rumored Fortune, Finding Lady Enderly, The Love Note, A Midnight Dance, and The Lost Melody. She loves tales that capture the colorful, exquisite details in ordinary lives and is eager to hear anyone's story. She lives with her husband and their children in a house in the woods near Lake Michigan.







Author questions







Let’s start with something light. We’re recording this when the weather is still cold and gray, but listeners will be joining us in April









What is your favorite thing about spring? (And least favorite if you have something that drives you nuts about the season!) ;)







Your bio mentions how you love to hear anyone’s story. Can you share about a time that someone sharing their story had a strong impact on your life?







After publishing half a dozen novels, what would you say is your favorite part of bringing a story from a tiny idea to an adventure in the readers’ hands? Your least favorite part?







Is there anything especially interesting that you haven’t covered in other interviews that you could share with us or perhaps there is something God has laid on your heart that you would like to share with your readers? 









About the book: The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple















Peter Driscoll, an underground investigator to the wealthy, has never met anyone like Lily Temple. The beautiful silent-film actress spins fairy tales and plays frivolous roles in front of the cine-camera, but beneath the costumes and stage makeup is a woman with a quick wit--and a murky past.







Peter has been tasked with locating the legendary Briarwood Teardrop, an exquisite sapphire, which Lily wears beneath her gown. In order to stay close to her and hopefully unravel the mystery of her story--and the sapphire--Peter employs Lily's help on a case, which leads to a useful partnership. But as they are investigating together, Peter is also investigating Lily. The closer he gets to the truth, the more danger they face. And the closer he gets to Lily, the clearer it is that he needs her even more than she needs him.







Award-winning author Joanna Davidson Politano whisks you away to Edwardian England in 1903 for a whimsical and layered tale that treads the crooked line between real and make-believe.







I love so much about this blurb–a heroine with two very different sides, a turn-of-the-century setting when so much was changing in industrial countries, and perhaps most of all–a hero who doesn’t seem to think the worst of Lily for hiding this highly sought jewel!

About the author















ERIN BARTELS writes character-driven fiction for curious people. Her readers know to expect that each of her novels will tell a unique story about fallible characters so tangible that it’s hard to believe they are not real people. Whether urban, rural, or somewhere in between, her settings come alive with carefully crafted details that engage all the senses and transport the reader to a singular time and place. And her themes of reckoning with the past, improving the present, and looking with hope to the future leave her readers with a sense of peace and possibility.







Author questions









After all those years in the big city, what’s your favorite thing about living in a small town, and is there anything you miss?







Other than reading, what are some of your hobbies and favorite ways to relax?







What is the thing you collect, and what’s the story behind it? (Like some people collect teacups, or some people collect anything with a turtle on it, or things like that.)







Is there anything especially interesting that you haven’t covered in other interviews that you could share with us or perhaps there is something God has laid on your heart that you would like to share with your readers? 









About the book The Lady with the Dark Hair.







A charismatic man with a legacy that long outlives him. A forgotten woman whose fate is forever tied to his. And the family whose history is still being written.















Toulouse, France—1879







Catalan orphan-turned-fugitive Viviana Torrens has found sanctuary serving in the home of an aging artist in Southern France. It is in his studio that she meets Francisco Vella, a Gibraltarian merchant who sells artists’ pigments. When her past catches up to her, she is compelled to pose as Vella’s sister and join him on his travels or be deported back to Spain to stand trial. Along the way she will discover that the many parts she has been playing in order to hide her identity have far-reaching implications she never could have foreseen.







East Lansing, Michigan—Present Day







Esther Markstrom and her artist mother have always been proud of their ancestor, painter Francisco Vella. They even run a small museum and gallery dedicated to raising awareness of his scandalously underappreciated work. But when Esther reconnects with her former art history professor, she finds her once-solid family history on shaky ground as questions arise about Vella’s greatest work—a portrait entitled The Lady with the Dark Hair.







This dual-timeline story takes you on a captivating journey across time and continents, where past and present converge in a relentless search for truth, identity, and the freedom to follow one’s dreams.







This time period is interesting–Victorian years, but not set in England–and I love the premise of exploring the world of art in the 1800s. And way to plunge us into some deep themes and dangerous intrigue!









Viviana is the heroine of the historical timeline, but the blurb doesn’t tell us overmuch about who she is. What else can you share about her? (Without giving too much away, of course.)







The cool thing about split-time fiction is how directly it explores the way the past touches us today. Why is reckoning with the past an important theme for you personally to weave into your stories?







Did you learn anything surprising about nineteenth century France or Spain while you were researching for the historical timeline?

Kimberley Woodhouse joins us for a chat about the Bone Wars, crafting, music, and her latest release Set In Stone. Don’t forget to enter to win a copy of this great book! 







About the author















Kimberley Woodhouse is an award-winning, bestselling author of more than forty fiction and nonfiction books. She has won The Carol Award, The Reader’s Choice Award, The Holt Medallion, and has finaled in the Selah Awards and the Spur Awards. She is passionate about Bible study, reading, music, cooking, and pretty-much-all-things-crafty. Kim and her incredible husband of thirty-plus years live in Colorado, where they play golf together, spend time with their kids and grandbaby, and research all the history around them.







Author questions









What crafty project have you been into lately?







Your website mentions that you are a third-generation Liszt student. Obviously, you are a lover of music, so why the composer Franz Liszt in particular?







As a reader, what is one of your favorite tropes? Least favorite?







Is there anything especially interesting that you haven’t covered in other interviews that you could share with us or perhaps there is something God has laid on your heart that you would like to share with your readers? 









About the book















A dangerous scheme could bury their long-held dreams forever. . . .







From the time she was little, Martha Jankowski has been digging in the dirt, much to the dismay of her mother. Now she dreams of being a paleontologist and is determined to make her parents proud by uncovering the next big discovery. When Martha finds what she hopes to be a fully intact dinosaur skeleton--one that could win her an acclaimed exhibit--she learns another team is competing against her and could steal her chance at being recognized for this momentous discovery.







Paleontology student Jacob Duncan has fulfilled his dream of digging for dinosaur bones at last. In a race against time, he and his team are bent on unearthing a complete skeleton to claim a museum exhibit with their names on it. But when Jacob meets their charming competitor Martha and uncovers foul play within his team, love and danger grow hand in hand until a menacing ruse threatens to destroy it all.







Book questions









This is the second book you've written set during the Bone Wars of the late 1800s. Could you tell us a little more about this specific piece of history?







Working in paleontology as a woman is still a challenge, let alone in the 1800’s. Can you tell us more about Martha and what drives her in such a male-dominated field? 







The blurb doesn’t tell us much about Jacob except he’s still a student in his field. Who is he personally?







What’s next for your writing?









Connect with Kimberley Woodhouse at her website, newsletter, YouTube, BookBub, Amazon,