The Lady's Mine - Francine Rivers. Author Q&A

A sweeping, romantic tale of a displaced New England suffragette, a former Union soldier disinherited by his Southern family, and the California frontier town they join forces to save.

Francine Rivers' new novel The Lady’s Mine is set in a California gold rush town.  Kathryn Walsh is a city girl newly arrived from Boston.  Matthias Beck is one of Calvada’s leading citizens. Neither is very impressed with the other. Not at first anyway. But Kathryn’s decision to relaunch her late uncle’s newspaper will have very far reaching consequences.

 

I asked Francine about writing and her new release.

You write fiction and nonfiction but are best known for being a novelist. What is it about storytelling that keeps you coming back to it again and again? 

I love reading good stories. Every writer has a unique voice, life experience, way of looking at characters and the world. Every time I dive into a book, I’m diving into the creative mind of another writer. There are only so many plots and yet there is no limit to the way we tell stories. In my opinion, the best stories teach us lessons, and I’ve tried to do that through my own. Almost every project I’ve tackled has been a personal quest to find answers to faith questions. It’s an exciting process to create characters who come to life and voice different points of view, with one, like me, seeking God’s perspective.

I also love nonfiction and not all from a Christian perspective. It’s important to learn how other people think and process issues we all face. The Bible is nonfiction and I read through it every year. I’m looking for information, inspiration, and transformation. Scripture is God-breathed and alive and provides all three.

 

What character in this The Lady’s Mine did you most enjoy crafting? Why? 

Kathryn Walsh! She has strong faith, seeks the Lord, and does what she believes is right. She isn’t a quiet little lady in the pew. She’s fiery, opinionated, earnest, and determined to make the town she lives in better (whether men agree or not). When she realizes she’s wrong about something, she changes her mind. When she’s right, she ploughs ahead no matter the cost. She looks for ways to help people rise from poverty. Though she has few resources herself, she shares what she does have. She doesn’t judge anyone (except Matthias Beck!), though she is frequently judged by others (Beck being one). And she has a sense of humour. Frankly, I enjoyed getting to know her during the COVID shelter in place orders. And, of course, Matthias Beck also had his fascinating character traits. 

In The Lady's Mine we see two sides of love—that which is possessive and controlling and that which supports, protects, and encourages. Many of your books are love stories, but many have non-standard love stories in them, such as Elvira’s peripheral story in The Lady's Mine. What is it about these folks, whom Jesus spoke to but many 'religious' people through the ages condemn, which makes you want to include them in your books, and do they come into your stories unbidden or do you plan them?

The main characters are always the first to arrive in my head, and they carry on intense conversations. It’s one of the highly entertaining things about writing: the imaginary friends and enemies that inhabit my mind over the course of months and sometimes years. I loved the movie The Man Who Invented Christmas because of the way Dickens’s characters followed him around, talking to and arguing with him. I certainly related to that experience. Many writers I know feel the same way. Peripheral characters, in my case, are seldom planned. They appear and start to tell their story. Sometimes, as in Elvira’s case, her story links to that of another character. That wasn’t planned either, but it worked out well for the overall message.

Every human being, from conception to the last breath, has great value to God. We are all sinners in need of a Savior, and God sent Jesus. He’s done everything and given everything necessary to open the way to a personal relationship with His Father. The world condemns many. The new order of the day seems to be pitting one group against another. But God doesn’t think like mankind. He sees each of us as precious, redeemable, a child to be wooed into a full, loving relationship with Him, a lost lamb that needs a Shepherd (Jesus) to show the way home. I believe and trust in God. And I strive to see people in the same way He does, through eyes of love.

Finally, you mentioned in the author note that this story has been with you for decades, and that the COVID-19 pandemic was the catalyst for writing it. What was the original germ of this idea, and how were things added to it over time?

The starting point of this novel came from one I wrote in the general market years ago. The title told me little, and I glanced through it to jog my memory. What struck me is how many opportunities for character development and coping with real-life issues I had missed. And I thought: Why not rewrite it? Why not show the difference God has made in my life over the past thirty-plus years as a Christian? I’ve also learned more about the craft of writing. With the COVID shutdown and life so heavy and serious, I wanted the story to have humor in it. People need to laugh. I know I do. I hope readers will enjoy The Lady's Mine as much as I enjoyed writing it.

 

ISBN 978-1-4964-4757-9 | Hardcover | £21.99 | February 22, 2022 

 

 

 

 

New York Times bestselling author Francine Rivers has published numerous novels—all bestsellers—and she has continued to win both industry acclaim and reader loyalty around the globe. Her Christian novels have been awarded or nominated for many honours, and in 1997, after winning her third RITA Award for inspirational fiction, Francine was inducted into the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame. In 2015, she received the Lifetime Achievement Award from American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW). Francine’s novels have been translated into over thirty different languages, and she enjoys bestseller status in many countries.

 

Relative Silence - Carrie Stuart Parks

Christy Awards 2021 Winner:

Mystery/Suspense/Thriller

When Piper Boone’s 3-year-old daughter Dove is drowned Piper’s world stops turning.

Fifteen years later Piper is caught up in a shooting tragedy which would’ve cost her life if not for the heroic actions of Tucker Landry.  It soon becomes clear that Piper was the intended target, and when her neighbour also goes missing it’s just the start of the road to find out the truth.  Or truths. What has happened to her neighbour? What really happened to Dove? Is Tucker who he seems? And is one or more of Piper’s narcissistic family really a killer?

 

This is a superb book for anyone who likes a gripping thriller.  The characters are brilliantly written, including the entire cast of Piper’s generally unlikeable family, and the story has plenty of twists and turns.  I guessed a key element very early on – maybe I’ve read too many suspense novels – but it didn’t in any way diminish the story.  This is a book quite light on the faith input, although it’s clearly there. I will definitely be looking out for other books by this author.

FBI-certified forensic artist Carrie Stuart Parks combines her knowledge of art and forensics in this case of family secrets and deception.

                               

9780785226185, HarperCollins UK, out now

Note: for transparency, I was sent an advance copy of this book, but I was not required to write any specific or favourable review. All views herein are my own.

Like Him - Julia Stevens

 

Like Him is full of inspiration, prayers, poems, encouragement and spiritual experiences to help you seek His Kingdom first. This warm and loving book is a devotional of exploration into identity.

'May our Father in heaven give you the Spirit of Wisdom and revelation so that you may know Him better.'
Ephesians 1:17

* * * * * * *

As a young child Julia Stevens saw her severely depressed mother's life transformed by faith.  In time she followed her mum's path and discovered her own faith. A faith which has certainly been transformational in her own life.

Early in the book Julia says 'When you know the Lord, you know more who you are and who the Lord has called you to be'. She has come a very long way from the young girl with anxiety and OCD she used to be. Her immersive faith has given her strength and self-worth and it's very clear that she has a calling and deep commitment to helping others to both understand who Jesus is, and to understand just how important they are to Him.

Although there are many biographical elements, this is primarily a devotional and teaching book, split into twelve chapters, each studying a different theme. 

My own experience of day-to-day faith is very different to Julia's, and yet there is still much with which I connected in this book, in particular in the chapter In the Beginning, You Were Made in His Likeness.  The following phrases are marked in my copy:

'His Kingdom accepts those who are weak because your life is strong when it is dependent on His strength and not your own. He knows that you are on a journey of being transformed into His likeness.'

'You can decide not to be defined by your own feelings or perception about yourself; but be defined instead by what He says about you.'

and:

'Ask God to help you see yourself how He sees you.'

Later sections of the book talk further about the choices we make ourselves, day by day, to be more aware of God - and the importance of doing this as an ongoing part of life, during work, rest, and worship.

Chapter headings are:

Where I've Been

The I AM - I Am Like Him

In the Beginning, You Were Made in His Likeness

When We See Him, We Become Like Him

Ruling and Reigning in His Love

Sanctuary

Menorah

Be Continually Filled 

Adam and Ishah

Sons and Daughters, Kings and Priests

You Are A House of Prayer

Who I am, a Testimony

Each chapter contains something which is likely to resonate with or challenge the reader.  This is a book which is ideal for picking up and reading a chapter at a time, and then giving your mind and spirit time and space to reflect on the elements which have stood out for you.

You will find Julia Stevens up to something creative most days, whether it is making glass mosaics, singing with a harp or writing a line on the blog: treeoflife195@wordpress.com Julia has a degree in creative writing from Chichester University; she and her husband run a small business, have two adult children and are part of their local church family.

There is a place where love does dwell.

There is a name: Immanuel

He dwells inside,

He dwells within,

In unseen realm so real, to true.

The King of all, He dwells in you.

(Song by Julia Stevens)

Available on Kindle: Kindle Edition

In print on Julia's website: Print Edition

Note: for transparency, I was sent an advance copy of this book, but I was not required to write any specific or favourable review. All views herein are my own.

A Portrait of Loyalty - Roseanna M White

Christy Award 2021 Winner:

Historical Romance

The third and final book in The Codebreakers series, this can easily be read as a stand alone novel, but I’ve enjoyed all three in the series.  In this book we meet expert Russian cryptographer Rivon Marin. Forced to flee Russia he’s determined to offer his help to the British in the hope this in turn will help his country. He meets Lily Blackwell who works in British Intelligence as a photographer involved in propaganda and their friendship begins to blossom. But is he as trustworthy as he seems? And what about his Bolshevik brother, also heading for England? 

 

As always with Roseanna White’s books, this is a fast-paced story with an excellent plot and sub-plot, interesting characters, and plenty of tension.  What lets it down a bit for a British reader is the far too casual approach to the secrecy involved in Room 40 and the Intelligence Services in general.  People just would not have spoken about the work they were doing, even within their families.

 

On the upside, Lily’s photography work, especially the re-touching for propaganda purposes is interesting and the way her world is described through her eyes makes it very personal for the reader.  The plot is gripping and makes the reader want to keep turning the pages! 

 

This is another book which doesn’t ignore harsh realities: there is heartbreak in places, but that helps to keep the feel of the book more grounded. The sense of place and time is generally very well written, and this is another story where the faith is woven seamlessly throughout.

You can read an excerpt here.

9780764231834, Bethany House, out now

Note: for transparency, I was sent an advance copy of this book, but I was not required to write any specific or favourable review. All views herein are my own.