Historical Fiction: Unpacked

There’s been so much buzz about Gabrielle Meyer’s new Timeless Series that I jumped at the chance to have her on the show! We had a great conversation about the first two installments of this series, When the Day Comes and In This Moment . We talked about God’s sovereignty over our place in history, the fulfillment of Gabrielle’s dream of writing for Bethany House, how she...

Today’s episode features Canadian author and historian Andrew Varga. His time hopping series is off to a smashing start with the first two installments, The Last Saxon King and The Celtic Deception . We talked about the importance of historical accuracy in books for young people and how pivotal the year 1066 (the setting for The Last Saxon King ) was in English and world history. Andrew also...

I’m back at long last with Season Six! Valerie Fraser Luesse joins me on the show today as we talk about her latest novel, Letters from My Sister . Here’s the description from the publisher: Sisters Emmy and Callie Bullock are living a privileged life. As the only daughters of a wealthy Alabama cotton farmer, they are surrounded by a close-knit family and share a fierce bond with two B...

After much anticipation, we are finally releasing our episode with Tosca Lee and Marcus Brotherton! I talked to Tosca and Marcus about their latest book, The Long March Home , which features three friends from Alabama fighting in the Philippines during World War II. This conversation makes a spectacular finale to season five. Here’s a description of the novel from Revell: Born and raised in...

Today I’m sharing one of my most popular episodes of all time! This one released last summer. Often called the “Queen of Historical Fiction,” Tracie Peterson is an ECPA, CBA and USA Today bestselling author of more than 100 books, most of them historical. In this episode, we talk about her series, Love on the Santa Fe, and specifically the second installment, Beyond the Desert Sands , which...

Today, Crystal Caudill joins me on the show for the second time! We discuss the third and final novel in her Hidden Hearts of the Gilded Age series. It’s entitled Counterfeit Faith , deals with the Secret Service, and is set in Philadelphia. Crystal and I discuss this newest book (which releases on Tuesday, May 16), the theme of faith and doubt that plays a role in the novel, the 19th centur...

In the midst of technological difficulties and scheduling snafus, I bring you a solo episode a mere 32 hours late. This is something I would only notice in a podcast I listen to daily, so if any of you missed me, I am beyond flattered and grateful. I’m also grateful for the latest review, which I forgot to mention two weeks in a row! What do I actually talk about in this episode? I share som...

Laura Frantz came back on the show to talk about her latest novel, The Rose and the Thistle . Inspired by her own family history, Laura wrote this story set in the Scottish Lowlands during the Jacobite uprising of 1715. Laura is a Christy Award winner and the ECPA bestselling author of more than a dozen novels. More importantly, she’s a kind soul, and always a delight to have on the podcast!...

Kim Vogel Sawyer is known for writing “gentle stories of hope.” Her latest novel, The Tapestry of Grace , is a perfect example of that legacy. On this episode, we discuss this novel and Kim’s use of her own Mennonite background in her characters, why she was compelled to include orphaned children in her story, and the historical details she incorporated (including how her charact...

Karen Heenan’s novel Coming Apart released in October, but the sequel, Coming Closer , is out next week! These books, set during the Great Depression, portray family relationships with such beautiful, raw honesty. They’re also set in my home state of Pennsylvania, which adds to the appeal for me. However, any reader of historical fiction will find them fascinating. Listen to my convers...

Jaime Jo Wright is the queen of all things macabre in the Christian Historical Fiction world. Her latest book, The Vanishing at Castle Moreau , is no exception. It’s set at a mysterious castle–which takes on a life of its own—in the midwestern United States. In this episode, Jaime and I discuss why she writes dark stories and how she brings redemption into them. Here’s a description of...

Brian C. Johnson honors the struggles and accomplishments of the ordinary citizens who launched the Civil Rights Movement by committing himself to the advancement of multicultural and inclusive education. On the show today, he shares his foray into writing historical fiction in his slave narrative Send Judah First , which was inspired when he took his students on an educational trip to Belle Grove...

Jen Turano has been called one of the funniest voices in the inspirational genre. She’s a USA Today bestselling author of historical romantic comedies, set during the Gilded Age. They usually revolve around the New York Four Hundred. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, listen to the episode! We discuss the Four Hundred, as well as Jen’s latest novel, A Match in the Ma...

Listen to the 100th episode of Historical Fiction: Unpacked! Scroll to the bottom of the show notes to enter a celebratory giveaway! This episode features Jocelyn Green’s twentieth book, The Metropolitan Affair . Jocelyn and I talked about Egyptology, forgery, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the roaring twenties setting of her latest novel. Here’s a description from Bethany House:...

I so enjoyed this conversation with Julie Klassen. She loves all things Jane— Jane Eyre and Jane Austen. Her books have sold over a million copies, and she is a three-time recipient of the Christy Award for Historical Romance. The Secret of Pembrooke Park was honored with the Minnesota Book Award for Genre Fiction. Julie has also won the Midwest Book Award and Christian Retailing’s Best Award and...

We titled this episode “Women’s Suffrage in Wyoming” because that’s what Mary’s latest book, Forged in Love , deals with. But this conversation encapsulates so much more than that! Mary and I discussed marriage roles, memory loss, and other aspects of her new novel. And then we moved on to her career, how she became an author, and what her writing process is like. Spo...

Today’s episode features an interview with Sarah Sundin about her newest book, The Sound of Light . From the publisher (Revell): Sarah Sundin’s name has become synonymous with her captivating and historically accurate World War II novels. In a recent starred review of Until Leaves Fall in Paris (February 2022), Library Journal stated that Sundin is “a master at her craft” and that she “rises...

I got to talk with Amy Lynn Green again today! Her wonderful book, The Blackout Book Club, released in November, and it’s a great read! Amy and I talked about how wonderful book clubs are because of the community aspect, as well as what she learned about the Hooligan Navy and how writing this book taught her to look at historical events from various perspectives. Enjoy this fascinating episo...

Kimberly Duffy joins us again today to talk about her latest release, The Weight of Air . While Kim’s first three books featured the mystical setting of India, a country near and dear to the author’s heart, her fourth novel takes place mostly in her home state of New York. The story centers around a strong woman in the circus and her quest to find the mother she thought had died. Kim a...

Today’s episode features a fantastic conversation that I know you’re all going to love. Kimberley Woodhouse has been writing seriously for more than twenty years. She is a best-selling author of more than two dozen 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. In this conversation, we talk abo...

What a terrific kick-off to season five! This is a wonderful conversation with Mariah Fredericks about her latest novel, The Lindbergh Nanny . Here’s a description from the publisher: When the most famous toddler in America, Charles Lindbergh, Jr., is kidnapped from his family home in New Jersey in 1932, the case makes international headlines. Already celebrated for his flight across the Atl...

We’re bringing you a special Christmas episode today! My daughter Camilla joins me on the show as we talk about the best novels we’ve read this year. Just in time for any last minute Christmas gift purchases you may want to make. Listen to me talk with Kimberly Duffy about her novel  Every Word Unsaid here . Purchase Every Word Unsaid on Amazon (affiliate). Purchase The Thread Collecto...

Today’s episode is a very special one! It’s been two years since I started Historical Fiction: Unpacked. To celebrate this milestone, Michelle Ule is hosting the show! I’m in the hot seat as she interviews me about my life, my writing, my favorites (and least favorites) when it comes to historical fiction, and what gave me the idea of starting a podcast at all! Join us to hear mo...

Today’s conversation is a perfect way to wrap up Season Four. I spoke with Elena Gorokhova about her debut novel, A Train to Moscow , which released in March. Elena’s insight was enriching. We discussed how her own family’s story inspired her novel, what it was like to grow up in Soviet Russia, her immigration story, and her perspective on what’s happening in Russia today....

I’m thrilled to have author and screenwriter Owen Pataki on the show today. Last year, his Historical Fiction adventure novel Searchers in Winter released. It continues the story begun in the novel Where the Light Falls , which Owen wrote with his sister, Allison Pataki. In this conversation, we discuss his latest novel (set during the Napoleonic Wars), his work in the film industry, and wha...