I’m so honored when my work is noted by the Christy Award. So much goes on behind the scenes to make this award special right down to a gala & awards ceremony for books of many genres. This year I happen to be a finalist – rather The Seamstress of Acadie – is one of the chosen books. For those who enjoyed that story, look for the 232 page novella of Bleu Galant coming next July 2025.

My first experience for the Christy Award was as a finalist for Love’s Reckoning in 2013 & then a winner for The Lacemaker in 2018 & The Rose & the Thistle last year. To be a finalist again this year is a dream come true. Heartfelt thanks to my publisher, Revell, for believing in my writing enough to enter me for such an esteemed award, & Christy judges for selecting it. This year I’m sharing the historical romance category with Julie Klassen, a Regency-era author & debut author, Jamie Ogle. I actually endorsed Jamie’s novel set in Rome AD 270!

I’m excited to attend the Christy Award celebration outside of Chicago this fall on Thursday, November 14th, 2024. The Art of Writing Conference beforehand is something I really enjoy & learn from every time I attend. Then, the next day I’ll be joining authors & readers for the JustRead Rendezvous – a sweet time of fellowship & fun to celebrate Christian fiction. So thankful!

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It’s almost time! When hosting our Scotland tour in May 2022, author Pepper Basham & I decided England would be our cup of tea for 2024. Here’s a wee look at the itinerary if you’d like to follow along. I’ll be posting pics on my author Facebook page as well as our private group, Gorgeous Georgians, Instagram, etc. It’s wonderful to be London bound this month!

We’re hoping to host another Scotland tour in 2026. We’d love to have you join us!

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Spring has sprung & Easter is early this year. I’ve just returned from traveling down south, my forever home & happy place. I’m about to become a Gigi x2 any day now. Here’s a recent pic of my lil namesake, Sophie Louise, on the left with her bookish bestie on the right. Never too young to love books – or too old either! After a looonng winter, it’s wonderful to see things blooming. On my recent trip to visit my dear mom, I was blessed to cross middle Tennessee with the redbuds in bloom. A bit too early for dogwood, my personal favorite, but such a joy to see that burst of color. Redbud winter, actually, as the temps were so cold. But it was wonderful to feast at Cracker Barrel again, experience Buc-ee’s for the first time, & a hundred other delightful & challenging things.

Now that I’m home & back to work, I have much happening on the bookish front. My first novella is rolling out this summer. I’ve recently seen the cover & it’s a dream! I’m about to get galleys for my next full-length novel, another Scottish tale. I’ll be sharing the title & cover for both novella & novel in my newsletter soon. I’ve also been pondering my next novella & am at 38k on the Revolutionary War tale releasing in 2026.

For now, wishing you a wonderful start to spring!

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Rarely do I speak but the DAR – Daughters of the American Revolution – is dear to my heart. The ladies of Franklin – and a few gentlemen! – welcomed me warmly in a special meeting for their Old Glory Chapter. I’m blessed several of them have taken time for my books. I gave a brief talk which was followed by questions. Here’s the gist of my remarks…

“I’m a member of the Berea-Laurel Ridges Chapter in Berea, KY. George Hightower is the Patriot who opened the door for me to realize my long held dream of being a DAR member in 2017. As a fairly new member, I’m in awe of you ladies with numerous Patriots and years of membership and service.

My grandmother, Catherine Cleek Feagan, was a founding member of the Boone County chapter in northern KY in the 1950’s. I’ve been in touch with Robin Bennett from there who said, “please tell the ladies from Franklin that the Ky State Registrar who descends from Cyrus Broyles says hello : )

As a writer of historical fiction, I deal with centuries and people of the past on a daily basis, which gives me much to ponder, especially now that I’ve passed the mid-century mark.

 One of our most intriguing founders is Benjamin Franklin. I would be remiss if I failed to mention him given his name was used when Franklin, TN was founded in 1799. I’m actually more a fan of Deborah Franklin than her husband though I do find him fascinating. One of my favorite Franklin quotes says –

“If you would not be forgotten as soon as you are dead, either write something worth reading or do things worth writing.”

I believe DAR does both by promoting patriotism, preserving American history, and securing America’s future through better education for children.

Speaking of Benjamin Franklin, I discovered the obituary he wrote for himself when he was only 22 years of age. It captivates my attention, reading:

The Body of B. Franklin Printer; Like the Cover of an old Book, Its Contents torn out, And stript of its Lettering and Gilding, Lies here, Food for Worms. But the Work shall not be wholly lost: For it will, as he believ’d, appear once more, In a new & more perfect Edition, Corrected and Amended By the Author.

At age 84, Franklin’s actual epitaph at his gravesite simply reads “Benjamin and Deborah Franklin”. That’s a very short summation of his long, colorful, adventurous life.

I’m thrilled that some of you have taken time for my 9th novel, The Lacemaker, published in 2018. This story was inspired by my interest in lacemaking which was a highly valued skill in the 18^th-century. It seems women of every class aspired to own a bit of lace. The book’s cover is an actual photograph of an existing blue and white gown from that time period that’s currently in an Indiana museum collection.

The Lacemaker was also inspired by the patriot I mentioned, George Hightower, a Virginian and my 5^th-great-grandfather. He was born in North Farnham Parish, Richmond Co, VA in 1733.

When the American Revolution began he was 43 years old. His wife, also Virginia-born, was Susanna Thorne Hightower, age 35. They were blessed with 8 children, 4 sons and 4 daughters.

Together they supplied the Continental Army during the American Revolution. George and Susanna are somewhat shadowy figures. What did they supply? We don’t know. Little is recorded about them though they did move to Kentucky after the war ended where most of my family has been ever since.

I confess that at first I was a bit disappointed that my George wasn’t an actual enlisted soldier. But I’ve since learned how vital a role supplying the Continental army was in those days since General Washington and his troops were plagued by supply problems from start to finish.

I had hoped to join DAR with my grandmother’s Patriot, George Hume, who is said to have served as a Sgt during the Revolution. But there’s a problem with a previously verified paper about him so he’s been red-lined, my registrar said. Documentation today is very different than when my grandmother joined many years ago.

Writing historical fiction is always a challenge because we can only imagine what life would have been like back then for our ancestors. As has been said, “the past is a foreign country, they do things differently there.”

We are here because our founders dared to do things differently. I wish we had time to go round the room and hear stories of your Patriots. Each so unique, each making a lasting contribution and leaving a legacy. It’s truly amazing that we are about to celebrate the 250^th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 2026.

It seems like yesterday that I marched in the bicentennial parade in Lexington, KY in 1776. My grandmother had sewn me a red and white linen costume to wear with a little mobcap. I still have it today.

I’m currently working on a 1776-1777 novel due to release during that historic marker. In the story’s pages, I leave Virginia where so many of my books have been set and make the leap to New Jersey which has been called “the crossroads of the revolution” as so much happened there during war time.

This new novel was inspired by my editor’s ancestry. One of her forefathers – or foremothers in this case – was the equivalent of an 18^th-century celebrity. Jane McRae of New Jersey, was described as a tall, attractive woman, whose long hair touched the ground. Her father was a pastor and she had several brothers who fought for both the Americans and the British. She was being courted by David Jones, an officer in the British army, who sent her a letter saying he hoped they could meet and be married at Fort Edward on the colonial New York frontier.

On July 27, 1777, Jane McCrea started out with a female friend and an Indian escort arranged by her intended to deliver her safely to him. She never arrived. Her escort claimed she had been killed by a stray bullet from a colonial detachment, but it was generally accepted that one of her escort killed her. Her scalp was delivered to her intended, the British officer.

Her death sent a shock of horror through the colonies; it was even felt in England, where in the House of Commons, Edmund Burke denounced the use of Indian allies. In America the deed galvanized patriotic sentiment, swung undecided colonists against the British, and encouraged a tide of enlistments that helped end a major British invasion three months later. We’ll never fully know the extent of the sacrifices made and lives lost during this epic period of history.”

After the DAR event, I was able to drive across Middle Tennessee with the redbuds in bloom to see my mom in Knoxville as well as some family who came down from Kentucky. Now I’m home again and back to work. Much to do, including celebrating Easter. Much to be thankful for, the resurrection of our Savior foremost!

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Time for a writing update! Good news should be shared!

✍️ I signed a new contract yesterday! The plan is to bring you a winter novel & a summer novella in future. Two books a year for several years to come!

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Cover art & titling are underway for this finished January 2025 novel about a 1774 colonial American heiress & a Scots merchant. Can’t wait to share!

🧳 Traveling this week so your prayers are appreciated. One-handed travel is interesting! A few weeks ago our dogs took me on a walk & my wrist broke/emergency surgery. Healing is slower than I like but I’m learning all kinds of spiritual lessons. God is patient w/ this traveler!

📬 I usually save updates for my seasonal newsletter. If you’d like to subscribe, please sign up on my homepage.  Thank you!

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Soon it will be time to fly south for a delightful evening hosted by Jenny Snow! If you live in Texas or thereabouts, I’d love to see you! Grab your book-loving besties & join us for A Christmas in the Books! Seats are limited, so secure your tickets today. To find out more, please visit this link.

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Books, Tea, & England?

Is there a better combination? This journal entry is for those who are interested in traveling on the Tea and Quill Tour with authors Laura Frantz & Pepper Basham. We will be savoring a small slice of England with our tour focusing particularly on literary places while drinking great tea along the way!

If you’d like more information, please befriend me on Facebook at Laura Feagan Frantz  This enables me to send you a private group invitation to our Tea & Quill Facebook page where’ll you see the itinerary & pricing, etc.

Thank you!

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I haven’t been to Chicago in many years so am especially excited to attend Jocelyn Green’s A Novel-Tea at the historic Palmer House. This is an elegant event with reading friends & authors in a beautiful setting. I’ll also be joining Jocelyn & readers for her Chicago tour on Saturday before the event. Jocelyn’s novels are excellent & she’s a two-time Christy Award winner. I highly recommend her historical fiction & she has a new release this fall!

I was aware of Chicago’s deep dish pizza but the Palmer House Brownie is something I hope to try. Here’s the recipe from their site if you’d like to bake this historic treat – RECIPE. 

So, off to Chicago I go!

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Last month I made a whirlwind trip to Minnesota, my first visit to the Land of 10,000 Lakes! I was just one of many authors attending the Mississippi River Readers Retreat hosted by author Gabrielle Meyer who writes wonderful books. She has a dream team of organizers/planners in the Heffron family who also live in the storybook, historic town of Little Falls. Such a beautiful time was had despite the 103 degree temps when I landed. Whew! I never realized MN could get that hot but this southerner got dewey! I even visited the Mall of America & came away without buying anything but lunch. It was a delicious lunch:)

So many lovely touches during that four days including these lovely author corsages. Spending time with reading friends made for a wonderful, memorable time. The next MRRR event will be July 2025. Please attend if you can!

Thank you, Minnesota!

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2023 has been quite a travel year for me & this week I’m packing my bags for beautiful Linden Hill Historic Estate in Minnesota! Here are some photos from their lovely site, the venue for the Mississippi River Readers Retreat. 15 or so authors will be gathering to meet readers for a garden party, retreat day, & even a Barnes & Noble book signing in St. Cloud. I also rendezvous with my publisher at their Minnesota office for a luncheon & meetings. Talk about a whirlwind of a week – fun! Next stop … Chicago!

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