Sunday, November 1, 2026

"Embers of Endurance: Rising Above Chronic Pain and Illness" by Carolyn Dale Newell -- Author Interview

About the Book

Book: Embers of Endurance: Rising Above Chronic Pain and Illness

Author: Carolyn Dale Newell

Genre: Christian Devotional

Release Date: February 17, 2026

When chronic pain invaded Carolyn Dale Newell’s life, it didn’t just attack her body—it attacked her faith.

Through crippling sciatica, major spinal fusion surgery, and countless complications that left her in agony, Carolyn found herself in the darkest valley she’d ever known.

But in that darkness, she discovered something powerful: God’s grace truly is sufficient, even when it doesn’t feel like it.

In this raw, honest 30-day devotional, Carolyn walks alongside you through the unique spiritual battle of chronic illness. She shares the biblical truths that sustained her through the fire and will sustain you too.

Like embers rising from ashes, you can find beauty again.

Begin your journey from surviving to thriving in chronic pain now.

Click here to get your copy!

Author Interview

1. Why did you choose to write about this particular topic? I guess the topic of chronic pain chose me. After a long season of severe pain due to scoliosis, God led me to write my story in the form of devotions in order to encourage others going through the same thing.

2. What is your writing area like? I write in several places. My favorite place is out on my patio, so I can be out in nature with all the sounds and smells. I also write at my desk or kicked back in my recliner in the living room.

3. How do you balance writing time with other things? I plan for the week on Sunday and I go over it again each night so I know exactly I am doing the next day. I also guard my writing time because that’s the time the enemy wants to snatch from me.

4. What types of research do you do? My research is usually contained to the Bible. I read the entire context of a passage. I also look at the Greek and Hebrew meanings of the words. I sometimes look at the first place a word is used in the Bible. I use commentaries and study Bibles.

5. Do you think reading helps you with writing? Yes, reading makes me a better writer.

About the Author

Carolyn Dale Newell is a bestselling and award-winning Christian author, certified speaker, andcontributor to iBelieve.com. Despite living with chronic pain, she empowers women to break free from emotional strongholds and embrace lives transformed by faith. She resides in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia with her husband and their two loyal Black Labrador Retrievers.

The Reason I Wrote Embers of Endurance
While discouragement had its tentacles wrapped tightly around me, it seemed easier for doubt to chisel away at my faith. Before I realized it, I was depressed, living without joy and peace. Life seemed hopeless because surgery changed my life forever.
Once God brought me out of the darkness, I began finding Scriptures I’d never given much attention. Job and the psalmist felt like I did. Elijah gave up and couldn’t resist the threat in his life. I was in good company, and so are you, my friend. I realized I walked a horrific journey of pain due to scoliosis to share my experience with you.
These devotions aren’t filled with one victory after another, but rather a slow steady pace to living like the conqueror God has made each of us to be.
I felt like my life was a pile of ashes, but then embers began to rise above that pile. Something new began to spark in my life. God gives us beauty for ashes, and I want to help you find beautiful again.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, October 21
Texas Book-aholic, October 21
Simple Harvest Reads, October 22 (Author Interview)
Artistic Nobody, October 23 (Author Interview)
Guild Master, October 24 (Author Interview)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 25
Fiction Book Lover, October 26 (Author Interview)
The Bookish Ledger, October 27 (Author Interview)
Vicky Sluiter, October 28 (Author Interview)
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 29
Mary Hake, October 29
For the Love of Literature, October 30 (Author Interview)
Tell Tale Book Reviews, October 31 (Author Interview)
Blossoms and Blessings, November 1 (Author Interview)
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 2
Stories By Gina, November 3 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Carolyn is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://gleam.io/srRQl/embers-of-endurance-celebration-tour-giveaway

Sunday, October 25, 2026

"The Ties That Bind" by Jane Bayly Vaughan -- Author Interview

About the Book

Book: The Ties That Bind

Author: Jane Bayly Vaughan

Genre: Historical Fiction

Release Date: April 14, 2026

In 1830s Cornwall, Grace Bayly faces unimaginable events that threaten the survival of her family. Her father and half of her large family are an ocean away and her mother and remaining siblings are poised to follow. As hardships close in, hopes of a new beginning grow distant. She must summon fortitude borne of love and sacrifice to hold her family together. Amid the unyielding grip of loss and grief, Grace steels herself to persist as she faces the ultimate challenge that threatens to break her.

Will Grace find the strength she needs to ensure her family survives?

A poignant tale of loyalty, resilience, and the enduring bonds that shape a woman’s courage when everything she cherishes is at stake.

Inspired by real people and events.

Click here to get your copy!

Author Interview

Do you consider yourself a plotter or a pantser (or a hybrid)?

I consider myself a hybrid writer. My stories are historical fiction based on genealogy research, so I use that as a rough framework. More goes into this including a study of the geographical area and the period in history. Then I breathe life into the facts to develop a plausible story with well-developed characters. I love fitting the pieces together!

What is your favorite part about writing?

My favorite part of writing is thinking about the plot and how the characters drive it. Examining the character’s motives and how they interact with other characters keeps me motivated.

3. Do you have a way to keep track of your story ideas?

I like to use Scrivener as a “vault” for each story idea. I can upload links to research, photos that inspire, or do character sketches, write out the timeline, and so much more. I only have to peruse my family tree for story ideas! At the present time, I am working on a series: A Story of Grace. The Ties That Bind is the first book. I hope to publish the second book in 2027.

4. What is your writing space like?

My writing space is very private and special. God and I are partners. I have a room of my own that looks out on swinging Spanish moss that drapes from a grand oak with a marsh view beyond it. This is where we can create together. I never know what I might see when I look up from my computer.

5. When did you become a writer?

I almost missed being the writer God knew I was. My trouble stemmed from having so many interests; I couldn’t focus on just one. To complicate matters, my interests were mostly creative, so I was discouraged to pursue them as a career. And worse, I used to pray for what I thought I wanted for myself instead of what God wanted for me. I realized I wanted to write seriously in 2024 after a lot of prayer and winning first place for a short story in the first contest I ever entered for writing. Before that I was experimenting and grappling with imposter syndrome even though my peers were very supportive. I published my debut novel in April under my own press and look forward to writing for as long as God will allow.

About the Author

Jane’s love of God and family permeates her life, including her passion to share stories rooted in genealogy and history. She weaves the theme of family into the fabric of her historical fiction and dives deep, by writing about true events and people.

Using her 20+ years of experience in genealogy research as a family historian, Jane has written articles and short stories. She was awarded a travel grant by the Cornish American Heritage Society and visited Cornwall to walk in the footsteps of her ancestors and research her roots.

Jane has won several awards for her writing, and invites readers to experience timeless lessons of faith, resilience, and heritage that echo from the past into our lives today.

She makes her home in the beautiful lowcountry of South Carolina with her husband of 45+ years. They have two grown children, and lots of cats.

To learn more about Jane, visit her at JaneBaylyVaughan.com and sign up for her newsletter to receive an award-winning short story that will introduce you to the series A Story of Grace.

More from Jane

I have been a long-time family historian for over twenty years. When COVID hit, I was at a crossroads and could choose the next grand adventure. As I took stock, I revisited a question that had nagged me on and off for some time: how do I ensure the family history is not forgotten? Around that time, a friend of mine invited me to observe a writer’s group. I accepted her invitation, and after one meeting, I became a member of Word Weavers International. I knew that writing stories about my ancestors would generate interest among my relatives.

I faced a learning curve and dedicated myself to writing brief scenes as submissions each month. At first, I considered this venture as something fun, not to be taken seriously, but after several months, someone I respect encouraged me, and so I applied myself. As my writing improved and my research continued, I thought of my fourth great-grandmother from Cornwall. A story formed, and I wrote all my submissions to the writer’s group about her in a fictional narrative. After a year or two attending the writer’s group, I was suffering from imposter syndrome and needed encouragement from sources who were not familiar with me. I wrote a short story and entered it into a contest as validation to either continue writing or quit altogether.

I attended the Florida Christian Writers Conference in 2024 and sat white-knuckled as they announced the short story winners. They announced third place first, and I didn’t win, so I almost stopped listening because I assumed I hadn’t placed at all. They announced second place, and of course, someone else won. Then the announcer paused and explained that the first-place winning piece was so good they said it was ready for publication. The words, “In first place is ’Becoming Grace’ by Jane Vaughan,” shocked me! That was a God moment, and I realized He was offering me a partnership.

Driven by my love for family history, I found my next grand adventure: partnering with my Creator to create stories that help us remember the resilience and sacrifices of our ancestors and how their lives affect us today. Ultimately, my stories are about how important it is to love each other. The Ties That Bind is the first book in the series A Story of Grace.

Blogs Stops

Books Less Travelled, October 20

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions , October 21

Simple Harvest Reads, October 22 (Guest Review from Marilyn)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 23

Texas Book-aholic, October 24

Blossoms and Blessings, October 25 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, October 25

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 26

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 27

Books You Can Feel Good About, October 28

Stories By Gina, October 29 (Author Interview)

The Bookish Pilgrim, October 29

Avid Reader Nurse, October 30

Cover Lover Book Review, October 31

Holly’s Book Corner, November 1

Pause for Tales, November 2

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Jane is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card and a signed copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/94vrw/the-ties-that-bind-celebration-tour-giveaway

Monday, October 19, 2026

"Belle's Christmas Carol" by Michelle Griep

About the Book

Book: Belle’s Christmas Carol

Author: Michelle Griep

Genre: Inspirational Historical Romance

Release Date: September 1, 2026

While all of London waits for snow, an orphanage in need holds holiday cheer, sparks of love, and secrets waiting to be discovered.

When Ebeneezer Scrooge’s former fiancée, Belle Beaumont, unexpectedly inherits a struggling London orphanage, she dreams of giving the children of Haven House the most splendid Christmas they’ve ever known. But her vision of snowflakes and merriment quickly collides with reality: Fire damage has rendered part of the building unsafe, and the paperwork is years behind.

Barrister Rafe Munro is fighting to clear an innocent man and searching for a child, who may be his relative. His pursuit leads him to Haven House, where Rafe offers to help Belle sort through the chaotic records that might lead to the missing child. Amid the mayhem of running an orphanage full of mischievous children and eccentric staff, will Belle and Rafe find love and the answers they seek this holiday season?

With characters from Dickens’s A Christmas Carol, this festive historical romance Christmas novella of family and second chances from Michelle Griep is set in Victorian England and perfect for fans of Julie Klassen and Mimi Matthews.

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts

I really enjoyed this book. I found it to be well written and easy to read. It made me want to just sit and read until I was finished and ignore everything else. I liked the idea of making a story for Belle, who most people probably don't even know exists in A Christmas Carol. I loved spending time with the characters and seeing them interact. I look forward to reading more books by Michelle Griep.

About the Author

Michelle Griep is an award-winning author known for her captivating historical romances. With a keen eye for detail, she pens tales that transport readers to the past where they’ll experience romance, adventure, and unforgettable characters. When she’s not writing, you can find her in her garden scaring away armadillos.

More from Michelle

Why I Gave Scrooge’s Belle Her Own Christmas Carol

Guest post by Michelle Griep

I’ve always been suspicious of characters who appear just long enough to break your heart and then vanish without so much as a forwarding address. Belle from A Christmas Carol is one of those.

Scrooge, of course, gets the full treatment. Ghosts. Doom. Moral terror. A dramatic overnight transformation. Turkey delivery. The works. And yes, yes, it’s all very moving. But Belle? Come on. All she gets is one aching goodbye and then is shoved neatly into Scrooge’s past. So, excuse me, Mr. Dickens, but I have questions.

What became of the woman who loved Ebenezer before greed got to him? Did she regret walking away? Did Christmas ever sting? Did she build a fine, sensible life or did some little corner of her heart still ache for him or not? That wondering became Belle’s Christmas Carol.

In my story, Belle Beaumont unexpectedly inherits Haven House, a struggling London orphanage with fire damage, muddled ledgers, eccentric staff, and children who are more than rambunctious. Naturally, Belle decides she will set everything to rights and give the children the most splendid Christmas imaginable because—like me—apparently the woman has never heard of pacing herself.

Then along comes Rafe Munro, a handsome barrister searching for a missing child, and Belle’s tidy plans start to change. Oh, did I mention he’s single? That’s because I wanted Belle to be more than Scrooge’s lost love. I wanted her to have grit, flaws, hope, purpose, and a future all her own.

Because sometimes the story doesn’t end with goodbye. Sometimes that’s where the real story begins.

Blog Stops

Where Faith and Books Meet, October 6

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 6

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions , October 7

The Avid Reader, October 7

She Lives To Read, October 7

Texas Book-aholic, October 8

Devoted To Hope, October 8

Betti Mace, October 9

Inkwell Inspirations , October 9

The Lofty Pages, October 9

For Him and My Family, October 10

Romances of the Cross, October 10

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 11

Jeanette’s Thoughts , October 11

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 12

The Vine and The Branch, October 12

Maureen’s Musings, October 13

Fruitfully Planted, October 13

A Good Book and Cup of Tea, October 13

Books You Can Feel Good About, October 14

Mornings at Character Cafe, October 14

Tell Tale Book Reviews, October 15

Simple Harvest Reads, October 15 (Guest Review from Donna)

Cover Lover Book Review, October 16

Mrs. Ryan Moser’s Book and Movie Reviews, October 16

Vicky Sluiter, October 16

Devoted Steps, October 17

Lily’s Corner, October 17

Holly’s Book Corner, October 18

Mary Hake, October 18

Blossoms and Blessings, October 19

Pause for Tales, October 19

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Michelle is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card and a signed copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/KNJXt/belles-christmas-carol-celebration-tour-giveaway

Tour Reminders

I got a free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own and given voluntarily. No compensation was received for my review.

Thursday, October 8, 2026

"Murders in the Marquee" by Dana Mentink

About the Book

Book: Murders in the Marquee

Author: Dana Mentink

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Release Date: September 1, 2026

In this witty historical murder mystery set in a San Francisco hotel, an unlikely trio of amateur sleuths must uncover a killer before another guest checks out for good.

In 1905, the Grand Mallard Marquee is well known for its iconic style, as well as its daily duck parade. For Saul Niffler, a reformed jewel thief, working at the luxurious hotel offers a much-needed second chance. Staying out of trouble and in gainful employment is essential. Which makes seeing a body plummet from a penthouse window extra complicated.

Except…did he see it? There’s no body to be found, and Saul knows he should concentrate on his new duties as “Duck Commandant” rather than meddle. If only Kitty Rossi, a persistent young guest yearning to be a Pinkerton detective, would leave well enough alone. Kitty has already roped in Henry, the elevator man, to investigate suspicious goings-on around the hotel. And against his better judgment, Saul feels compelled to join them.

Between the mystery of Saul’s missing predecessor and a grisly discovery in a drain, all signs point to murder most fowl. And with a cold-blooded killer roaming the Marquee’s lavish corridors, keeping his job may be the least of Saul’s problems…

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts

I really enjoyed reading this book. It had a fun style of writing that kept me entertained and was easy to read. I also wanted to keep reading so I could figure out what was going on. I liked the unlikely trio of amateur sleuths and how they each approached the situation. I look forward to reading more books by Dana Mentink and am happy to see that this is the first book in a new cozy mystery series.

About the Author

Dana Mentink is a New York Times and USA Today bestseller as well as a two-time American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award winner, and the recipient of a Holt Medallion for excellence in mystery/suspense. She was honored to receive the Author of the Year award from West Coast Christian Writers. A California native, she’s written over sixty titles for the general and Christian markets in the suspense, lighthearted romance, and mystery genres. She is pleased to write for Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense and Revell.

More from Dana

Ice cream or pie? Cake or cookies? Beach or mountains? The answer for me is always, “Yes!” I’m a restless soul, I suppose, but I’ve never been able to choose one delight over the other. I’m that way with writing too. I started my career in mystery and sidestepped to suspense. It’d be so much easier to stick with one genre but no. Dana Mentink has to write both, it seems. I attended a Harlequin anniversary celebration in Toronto a couple of years ago and listened to the editors discuss their futures wishes. Tina James mentioned she’d like to see an “Only Murders in the Building” type book or maybe a historical mystery. Whammo! The idea hit me like a train. What about both? An Only Murders in the Building/Downton Abbey type mashup? The series idea was born. Lots of twists and turns? Check. Humor? Check? An unlikely crime solving trio? You bet! I’m truly thrilled to have been allowed to step back into mystery land. I hope you’ll enjoy the results!