Hi Tanya! Thank you so much for taking the time to allow my audience the chance to get to know you and your newest book The Rescue a little better.
Thank you! I’m excited to be here!
I always like to start with something fun… can you tell us 5 random facts about yourself that we WON’T find in your bio?
Sure! Let’s see…
I am always fascinated with how authors find inspiration for historical fiction. Can you share what attracted you to this genre? Where did you find the inspiration for this story?
Before I was a writer, I enjoyed reading historical romance. It was my go-to genre. The historical aspects within the stories, regardless of the amount of history, took me on a journey to another place and time.
Where did I find the inspiration for this story? My husband and I lived in Texas for several years which inspired my interest in small-town life, ranching, cowboys, and how our great nation expanded west.
What type of research goes into creating a story set in this time period? As you’re writing, do you find it more important to keep the story 100% accurate with the time in which it takes place, or do you allow yourself some creative liberties to best fit the story?
I’m an author who tries to research as much as possible to make sure my stories are accurate. For instance, I researched tuberculosis, matches, trains, dinnerware, music, Boston towns, buildings, cobble streets, churches, banks, people, Texas, and the open range. I took a trip to North Carolina to see the Biltmore to understand the time period. There were many other things I researched, but one especially was horses. I knew little about horses so I contacted a stable and asked if I could visit once a week. The owner agreed and every Friday I would help him feed the horses, muck the stalls, spread out the hay--really whatever he showed me to do, I did it. I’d pelt him with questions about anything and everything that dealt with horses and caring for them. He was the one who suggested I use colic for one of my scenes and then lent me a book on the topic of colic in horses.
I must admit in reading the blurb, I was excited to see a train mentioned. My son and I have taken a few cross country train rides and love it. There’s something quite nostalgic about the experience, imagining when this was THE way to travel! What is your favorite way to travel?
How fun! What wonderful memories! There is indeed something nostalgic about taking a train ride. My favorite way to travel is by car, but I had an opportunity to take a train through the south years back and loved it. It was a trip to remember but it also gave me insight with the train scenes in The Rescue.
Thank you! I’m excited to be here!
I always like to start with something fun… can you tell us 5 random facts about yourself that we WON’T find in your bio?
Sure! Let’s see…
- I received my first Bible when I was sixteen.
- I’d rather drive than fly.
- I enjoy bass fishing with my husband.
- This past spring we took our family vacation to Colorado for our first skiing trip, and became trapped in a blizzard driving to our lodge.
- Growing up, I never thought I’d be a writer or an award-winning author.
I am always fascinated with how authors find inspiration for historical fiction. Can you share what attracted you to this genre? Where did you find the inspiration for this story?
Before I was a writer, I enjoyed reading historical romance. It was my go-to genre. The historical aspects within the stories, regardless of the amount of history, took me on a journey to another place and time.
Where did I find the inspiration for this story? My husband and I lived in Texas for several years which inspired my interest in small-town life, ranching, cowboys, and how our great nation expanded west.
What type of research goes into creating a story set in this time period? As you’re writing, do you find it more important to keep the story 100% accurate with the time in which it takes place, or do you allow yourself some creative liberties to best fit the story?
I’m an author who tries to research as much as possible to make sure my stories are accurate. For instance, I researched tuberculosis, matches, trains, dinnerware, music, Boston towns, buildings, cobble streets, churches, banks, people, Texas, and the open range. I took a trip to North Carolina to see the Biltmore to understand the time period. There were many other things I researched, but one especially was horses. I knew little about horses so I contacted a stable and asked if I could visit once a week. The owner agreed and every Friday I would help him feed the horses, muck the stalls, spread out the hay--really whatever he showed me to do, I did it. I’d pelt him with questions about anything and everything that dealt with horses and caring for them. He was the one who suggested I use colic for one of my scenes and then lent me a book on the topic of colic in horses.
I must admit in reading the blurb, I was excited to see a train mentioned. My son and I have taken a few cross country train rides and love it. There’s something quite nostalgic about the experience, imagining when this was THE way to travel! What is your favorite way to travel?
How fun! What wonderful memories! There is indeed something nostalgic about taking a train ride. My favorite way to travel is by car, but I had an opportunity to take a train through the south years back and loved it. It was a trip to remember but it also gave me insight with the train scenes in The Rescue.
The Rescue is on my To Be Read pile… but I’ve always found that authors are also some of the most avid readers too. If we were to sneak a peek at your TBR pile/list, what would we find there?
How wonderful! I hope you enjoy Rosalind and Trent’s story.
I just finished reading A Bound Heart by Laura Frantz, but the next two on my TBR pile are The Number of Love by Roseanna White and More Than Words Can Say by Karen Witemeyer.
If you had to tell us the top 3 reasons that we should read The Rescue, what would those reasons be? Why will we love it?
I’d have to say the top three reasons to read The Rescue would be a few of the reasons why I wrote Trent and Rosalind’s story. I wanted to share a story that readers could get lost in and take them on an adventure. But another reason is for readers to share in Trent and Rosalind’s spiritual journey. The Rescue is a story about God’s provisions and teaches that our joy doesn’t come from our circumstances, but rather from confident assurance that the Lord is near. He knows what lies ahead and He will never leave us. God is working behind the scenes to give us hope and a future.
Why will readers love it? I hope they will fall in love with Trent and Rosalind and find hope in their own circumstances. 😊
The Rescue is book one in your new All Roads Lead to Texas series. Before we go, can you let us know what we can expect next? Any other projects currently in the works to look out for?
Besides writing historical romance, I also write contemporary romance. I just received my next cover for a story entitled To Gain Forever that’s set to release this spring before Mother’s Day. Early summer you can expect to see the second historical romance book from the All Roads Lead to Texas series entitled The Proposal. And late fall I plan to release another story entitled Love on a Dime. This is a contemporary story, but it will tie into The Rescue and The Proposal. To say next year will be a busy time is an understatement, but what a year it will be!
First seen on Modern Day Fairytale https://www.amoderndayfairytale.net/2019/09/the-rescue-blog-tour-author-interview.html