Historical Fiction: Unpacked

Award-winning author Jody Hedlund has enticed readers with her intriguing and historically accurate novels. From the bride ships of Victorian England to the heart of the Wild West to the shores of Lake Michigan and beyond, Hedlund’s gift of storytelling has brought many time periods back to life. Now Hedlund takes readers on a journey through time to fourteenth-century Canterbury in Come Back to M...

Today’s episode is an interview with Rachel Fordham. We talk about her newest book, A Lady in Attendance , which releases June 1. This novel is about a young woman employed as a dental assistant, but the secrets in this character’s past make this story all about redemption, forgiveness, and love. Rachel and I talked about these aspects of the story, Rachel’s writing career, and t...

Rebecca D’Harlingue has studied Spanish literature, worked as a hospital administrator, and taught English as a Second Language to adults from all over the world. She shares her love of story both with preschoolers at a Head Start program and with the members of the book club she has belonged to for decades. She lives in Oakland, California with her husband, Arthur, where they are fortunate to fre...

  Today I’m sharing an interview with historical mystery author Lisa Karon Richardson. We talk about the Nosy Parker Mystery Series, inspired by Nancy Drew, as well as other books Lisa has written, her work as a missionary, and what it’s like to write collaboratively with another author. As a special treat, Lisa is giving away a paperback copy of the first installment of the Nosy Parke...

Mark Sullivan is the #1 bestselling author of eighteen novels, including Beneath a Scarlet Sky , which has been published in 37 languages and is being developed as a seven-part limited series. His newest book, The Last Green Valley , is releasing May 4. Pictured behind Mark in the photo is the green valley from his novel. On the podcast today, Mark and I discuss his latest book, his changing caree...

Janalyn Voigt fell in love with literature at an early age when her father read chapters from classics as bedtime stories. When Janalyn grew older, she put herself to sleep with tales “written” in her head. Today Janalyn is a storyteller who writes in several genres. Her Montana Gold historical romance series is based on actual historical events. Montana Gold explores faith, love, and...

Today I’m sharing my conversation with Steve Goble, author of The Spider John Series. In these historical mysteries, Steve combines his love of swords, pirates, and murder to follow a pirate detective on water and land. The latest installment in the series, Pieces of Eight , released March 16. Steve and I talk about pirates, the writing process, the search for an agent, and supportive spouse...

In honor of Holocaust Remembrance Day , I’m sharing a conversation with Melissa W. Hunter today. Melissa’s debut novel, What She Lost , tells the story of her grandmother, a holocaust survivor. Melissa is a writer and blogger from Cincinnati, Ohio. Her articles have been published on Kveller.com, LiteraryMama.com, Booksbywomen.org, and her short stories have appeared in the Jewish Lite...

Lisa E. Betz worked as an engineer, substitute teacher, and play director before becoming an award-winning mystery writer. She brings her analytical mind, quirky humor, and positive outlook to all she writes. She draws inspiration from thirty-five years of leading Bible studies to create entertaining mysteries set in the world of the early church, and then she fills that world with eccentric chara...

In honor of Passover, I’m highlighting a piece of Jewish American history today by sharing my conversation with bestselling author and screenplay writer Leslie K. Barry. Leslie’s novel, Newark Minutemen , released last fall. It’s set in 1938. Here’s the description: Millions are out of work and robbed of dignity. A shadow Hitler-Nazi party called the German-American Bund th...

Today I’m sharing my interview with Michelle Ule. Michelle is the bestselling author of multiple novellas and the biographer of Mrs. Oswald (Biddy) Chambers. On the show today, we discuss her recent WWI coming-of-age novel, A Poppy in Remembrance.  Purchase A Poppy in Remembrance on Bookshop (affiliate). Purchase A Poppy in Remembrance on Amazon (affiliate). Also mentioned: “In Flander...

It’s just Alison this week! I wanted to share a solo episode discussing more of my own writing journey and how I landed the contract for my first book, One Traveler . I also answer the famous question I ask every guest: How do you think learning about history through story helps us approach life in the present? Purchase One Traveler from Amazon  (affiliate). Purchase One Traveler from Booksh...

Amanda Cabot is a bestselling author of Inspirational Historical Romance. Her latest novel, Dreams Rekindled , released on Tuesday, March 2. It’s the second in her Mesquite Springs series and is set right before the Civil War began. I spoke with Amanda back in December, and today I’m sharing our conversation. We talked about the role that newspapers played at that time–for many t...

Jill Eileen Smith is a bestselling and award-winning author of biblical fiction. Her research into the lives of biblical women has taken her from the Bible to Israel, and she particularly enjoys learning how women lived in Old Testament times. Jill’s latest book, Miriam’s Song , releases on Tuesday, March 2.  In this episode, we talk about her new book and why it was so difficult to wr...

Today I’m sharing my conversation with bestselling, Christy-award winning Kristy Cambron. Kristy is a vintage-inspired storyteller, writing from the space where art, history, and faith intersect. Her eighth novel, The Paris Dressmaker , released this past Tuesday, February 16. We talked about her new novel, the research process, how she marries art with World War II history, and the path her...

Jennifer Deibel is a Middle school teacher, author, and former Expat to Ireland and Austria. Her debut novel, A Dance in Donegal , released last Tuesday, February 2. I talked to Jennifer about her inspiration for this lyrical historical romance novel, the time Jennifer spent living in Ireland, the ten years it took to write the book, as well as how she eventually attracted an agent and landed a bo...

Sarah Sundin’s latest book, When Twilight Breaks , released this past Tuesday, February 2, 2021. This novel portrays Nazi Germany before WWII, and I absolutely loved it!  Sarah Sundin enjoys writing about the adventure and romance of the World War II era. She is the bestselling author of historical novels, including When Twilight Breaks and the Sunrise at Normandy series. Her book The Sky Ab...

I’m back! We’re starting the new season with a wonderful conversation with award-winning, bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher. Her new novel, The Moonlight School releases on Tuesday, February 2. Here’s the book description: In 1911, Cora Wilson Stewart was the first female superintendent of education for an Appalachian county in southeastern Kentucky, a corner of America wit...

This will be the last episode for a while, as I’m taking a five week break! Don’t worry, I’ll be back, and better than ever, on January 28. Today I’m sharing a conversation with Laura Frantz. I’m sure you can tell from my enthusiasm that I was super excited to chat with this wonderful author about her upcoming book,  Tidewater Bride , which releases January 5.&#1...

Starr and I discuss how she got into writing later in life. Her debut novel, For the Love of Emma , released last week, on her 72nd birthday! This time-slip novel was inspired by love letters she found among her mother’s possessions after she passed away.  We talk about how to write fiction based on real life as well as the importance of having a writing community. Starr has an entrepreneuri...

Listen to my conversation with Award-winning WWII author Linda Thompson. We discuss Linda’s debut novel, The Plum Blooms in Winter , as well as her upcoming release of The Mulberry Leaf Whispers on December 15! Linda’s novels focus on WWII in the Japanese theater. We talk about the concerning trend of cancel culture and the unfortunate side-effects of canceling history. Our discussion...

Sharing a quick episode with you. It’s just yours truly, sharing my favorite historical fiction books of 2020! Find these books, and others, at my affiliate shop on Bookshop.org. https://bookshop.org/shop/unpacked The deadline for standard shipping in time for Christmas is December 5!!! Be sure to visit Alison’s Instagram , Facebook , and website .   Disclosure: This post contains affiliate...

Listen to Alison’s chat with Kimberly Duffy, author of historical fiction, homeschooling momma of four, lover of travel, history, and food. We talk about Kim’s debut novel, A Mosaic of Wings,  which is set in India, the time Kim spent living and working in India herself, and her special love of this country. We also discuss Kim’s path to publication and what it’s like to la...

Last year, S. Daniel Smith released his sequel to Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol . The title of his novella is Saving Ebenezer: The Continuing Saga of a Man Named Scrooge . Dan talks with Alison about the inspiration for this book, his research process, and the importance of finding hope in Jesus, rather than in our own good works. This week only–the Kindle version of Saving Ebenez...

Award-winning historical fiction novelist Regina Scott took readers on a journey to the Grand Canyon in A Distance Too Grand , the first book in the American Wonders Collection. Now Scott returns with a new expedition to Yellowstone in Nothing Short of Wondrous . Alison and Regina talk about the American Wonders Collections, the history of our nation’s national parks, and Regina’s insp...