Stepping Back in Time with Colleen Hall

 Welcome back to the Diamond Mine, friends and merry Christmas! This week, historical romance author Colleen Hall is stopping by for a visit.

About the Author

Colleen Hall wrote her first story in third grade and wrote as a hobby all during her growing-up years. She was born in New England but moved South to attend college. She married a Southerner and has lived half of her life in the South. This helped her to see both sides of the issues of the Civil War. In Her Traitor's Heart, she was able to combine her love of writing with her love of history. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband, horseback riding, reading, and browsing antique stores. She lives in South Carolina with her husband and family, three horses, and two spoiled cats.

Connect with Colleen: Website | Instagram

Suzie: Welcome to the Diamond Mine, Colleen. We are delighted to have you with us this week. I always like to start with a couple book- and writer-themed would you rather questions.

Would you rather write in a rooftop garden surrounded by city noises — or in a quiet studio with cows as your neighbors? 

Colleen: I would definitely prefer to write in a quiet studio with cows as my neighbors.

Suzie: A good place to write, for sure! Would you rather read a book with no page numbers or no chapter numbers? 

Colleen: Hmm. . . I think I’d rather read a book with no page numbers. I’d need chapter numbers to let me know where I am in the plot.

Suzie: Alright, that’s enough of those. Tell us a little about you—family, hobbies, day job, or whatever you’d like to share that’s not in your bio.

Colleen: Some things about me that’s not in my bio: I love chocolate; I’m a night owl; except for one cousin, I’m the shortest person on both sides of the family; I’m the oldest of three children; and yes, what people say about redheads is true—just ask me.

Suzie: What are three books on your current tbr?

Colleen: Three books on my TBR list are: Understanding Show, Don’t Tell—And Really Getting It by Janice Hardy, The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhor, and Sudden Sea, The Great Hurricane of 1938 by R. A. Scotti.

Suzie: All of those look fantastic. I am adding to my tbr now, too :)

What does your writing space look like? 

Colleen: My writing space is a nook at the back of the house in the master suite. When I first set it up—complete with a “new to me” antique writing desk. After all, if I’m writing historicals, then I need an antique writing desk that will help set the mood. 

Suzie: Yes, an antique writing desk is a must! Would you share with us a little about your road to publication? 

Colleen: I’ve been writing almost as long as I can remember. My mother told me I wrote my first story in third grade. All through junior high and high school, I wrote as a hobby. I had to take a break from writing when I went to college. After I graduated from college and married, I picked up my hobby again. I wrote when the children went down for their naps and whenever I could find time. As the kids grew older and family life became more complicated, I had to once again put my writing away. Years later I had surgery and was out of work for several weeks. While I was at home recuperating, I pulled out a manuscript I’d written when the children were young. I reworked it, googled “Christian publishers that take new writers,” and Anaiah Press came up. I submitted to Anaiah, and as the saying goes, “the rest is history.”

Suzie: I love that God kept that writing dream alive despite the stops and starts. 

What are some of your favorite things about writing historical stories? 

Colleen: I love history, so writing historical novels seemed a natural thing for me to do. I love putting my characters in some of my favorite by-gone eras and creating worlds and challenges within those time periods. I even enjoy doing the necessary research.

Suzie: Tell us more about your newest release. 

Colleen: Wild Heart is the fourth book in my Frontier Hearts Saga series and takes the Slash L Ranch family to the next generation. The Wild Wind brothers—they’re featured in books 4 and 5—leave the ranch to pursue their own destinies in uranium mining during the early 1900s.

Suzie: What are you currently working on? 

Colleen: I’m currently working on a new Civil War series called Confederate Brides. I’ve just completed the first novel, Beloved Enemy.

Suzie: Oo, that title is intriguing.

Before we go, tell us how we can pray for you. 

Colleen: Thank you. I’d appreciate prayers that I’d continue to get fresh ideas for stories, that I’d stay focused on the task the Lord has given me, and that I wouldn’t be discouraged.

Thank you for taking some time out during the busy holiday season to chat with us, Colleen. I've enjoyed getting to know you a little more.

Readers, let us know in the comments what you enjoy most about reading historical fiction.

About Wild Heart

What should a New York heiress do when her domineering father arranges a marriage for her with his banker business partner? In 1911, the heyday of the Robber Barons, women have little power over their destinies, but feisty Garnet Morrison is determined to chart her own course. In Cole Wild Wind, a uranium mine owner in Colorado who seeks to make her father an investor in his mine, Garnet sees freedom from the future her father plans for her.

What does a confirmed bachelor do when he meets the beautiful daughter of an Eastern financier? When Cole was looking for a businessman to invest in his uranium mine, he hadn’t expected to meet Garnet Morrison. Garnet was an Eastern socialite unsuited to life in a Rocky Mountain mining camp, but when her father brings Garnet with him on his business trip, Cole’s vision of his future changes. Forces beyond their control conspire to keep them apart. Can Cole and Garnet overcome the challenges that stand in their way of a life together?

Amazon | Goodreads

Interview with Award-winning Author, Tricia Goyer.

Get ready, Diamond Miners. We've uncovered a true, multi-faceted diamond in our midst. As authors go, she's the equivalent of at least a two-carat gemstone; authentic and brilliant with such an incredible, bright shine. An absolute Rock Star. 

Please welcome my friend, Tricia Goyer. With over 90 books to her credit, she's launched many successful publishing endeavors in multiple genres, from fiction to non-fiction to children's books. By following the persistent leading of her God as well as her heart, she serves her readers with excellence and determination, regardless of which shelf a book may land with her name on the cover.  

I'm always intrigued to spend time with such a brilliant, talented, and experienced author. I secretly hope that whatever you call that trait that makes success look easy will rub off on me, but we all recognize there are no shortcuts.  

Success comes with diligence, perfecting your craft, and the obedience to sit in your chair and write until the job is finished. 

Tricia Goyer is one of the best I've ever seen at this, and her stellar career continues to build accolades as a result. Not only is she a writer, conference speaker, and podcast host, but she's also a health coach, homeschooling mom and mother of ten children. 

This brings up many questions about her astounding time management skills, which is another interview for another day, I hope. 

Frankly, Tricia is the writer we all hope to be. What I admire most is her own hero's journey of coming from humble beginnings with only a year or so of college. She's a former teen mom who invests her time, attention and effort into taking the grace she's been given and looking for ways to pay it forward. 

They say that diamonds reflect light in two ways. Reflection and Refraction. Refraction is described as the way 'light bounces around on the inside to create a sparkle." 

I like that. I think that's exactly what we find in Tricia Goyer. Her light bounces around so much on the inside, it can't help but spill out onto all the pages she can find. 

Thank you, Tricia, for stopping by the Diamond Mine to share some of what you've learned along the way. 

What were your writing and reading habits as a child? 

Tricia: I grew up in a home where no one in my family read. The only thing I saw being read was my grandpa reading his Bible. Then, when I was in about the 5th grade, we moved near a library. I soon spent every summer day there, taking home piles of books. I never thought about becoming a writer, but I did love to read. I also won an essay contest in high school. Still, I didn’t think of becoming a writer. Only years later, as I sat in a church nursery, the idea sparked that maybe I could write novels. When my friend Cindy told me she was working on a novel, as we sat there watching our kids play, I just knew it was something I wanted to do.

Your debut novel was historical fiction - published in 2003. How did this become your debut, and what led you to this genre?

Tricia: My first novel was From Dust and Ashes, which was set in World War Two. I remember vividly when my interest in the liberation of the Mauthausen camp in St. Georgen, Austria, was sparked. An Austrian historian, Marta, invited me and my friends to her home, sharing stories about the Gusen camps and their liberation by American GIs. I was particularly intrigued by a young Nazi wife who was among the first to help the prisoners. This encounter made me wonder about her beliefs and the experiences of those who suffered in the camps.

Later, during a dinner cruise in Prague, sitting next to a young Jewish girl and her brother, I realized the profound impact of WWII's horrors. This moment solidified my determination to write about these events. When my fellow fiction writers traveling with me showed no interest in this topic, I knew I had to tell this story.

I embarked on extensive research, attending the 59th reunion of the 11th Armored Division and returning to Austria for memorial services. Speaking with veterans and locals, including a man who was just a child during the war, deepened my understanding. Personal stories, memoirs, and oral histories were the foundation of my writing. As I wrote, the events of 1945 and the streets of St. Georgen came to life in my mind, driven by a desire to share this story of liberation. This was the first of my novels inspired by actual events and heroes.

What happened next? Did this become a series, or did you go into non-fiction or children's books?

Tricia: Around the same time I got this idea for From Dust and Ashes, I also helped start Hope Pregnancy Center in Kalispell, Montana. I was mentoring young women in the Teen MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) support group, and as I worked with them, I realized there needed to be books written specifically for them. I approached MOPS leadership, and I showed them the need. Since I had been a teen mom, I mentored teen moms and was an author, and they agreed I needed to write that book for them. Amazingly, I went from having no book contracts to having two book contracts, one in fiction and one in nonfiction. This started me down two paths that have continued to this day. I write an equal amount of fiction and nonfiction if you count the numerous magazine articles, blog posts, devotions, and other pieces I write in addition to books. The novels are just much longer! And, yes, From Dust and Ashes was part of a four-book series.

 

What makes you say 'yes' to a project?

Tricia: I have a lot of ideas, but I work on the ones that stick around like gum on the bottom of my shoe and won't leave me alone. I have novel ideas that have been tucked away in my brain for 20 years that I still want to write, but it's the idea that fills my mind over and over again that makes me sit down and put words to paper.

What makes you say 'no'?

Tricia: Time and family. I need to sleep, and I need to care for the family God’s given me.

Are your characters based on real people?

Tricia: Yes, some are based on real people. My biblical novels of Esther and Miriam are examples. Others are inspired by real people, such as my World War II novels. They are often composite characters from the dozens of veterans I’ve interviewed. My real-life friend, Miss Jan, recently appeared in one of my novels. She was my co-leader in our Teen Mom Support group for over a decade, and I put her in a book!

Tell us about your non-fiction journey. What pulls you in that direction?

Tricia: I also speak at conferences, and I pay attention to the questions I am asked. If multiple people ask me the same question, I know they believe I'm someone they can trust with the answer. Many of my books have come out of the need to answer these questions. If ten people ask the same question, 10,000 probably want to know the answer, too.

What is your preference between the two?

Tricia: I love all types of writing. It all makes me happy! But if I had to choose, it would be a historical fiction novel that I must research. I love going on research binges!

When you're not writing, what do you do for fun?

Tricia: Board games, road trips, and watercolor painting!

Tell us about your agent and how she's directed your journey over the past 20 years.

Tricia: I met my agent, Janet Grant, through my friend Robin Gunn. The funny thing is that she rejected me the first time I submitted anything to Janet. I was working on a teen series that needed a lot of help. Later, when I submitted something else to Janet, she signed it. Janet has been my agent since 1997. She probably knows me better than almost anyone except my family. We have talked through ideas; she has been there for my highest highs and swept with me during my lowest lows. She is my always cheerleader, a trusted advisor, and a dedicated companion to walk this publishing Journey with. I'm so thankful!

What advice would you give beginning authors in today's publishing culture?

Tricia: Oh, so much! Here’s the first tips that come to mind.

- Join Writing Communities: Join groups like the American Christian Fiction Writers or other online groups. These communities offer invaluable support and networking opportunities.

          - Educate Yourself: Reading various books on writing. There are books on everything from plot development to how to market your books. I also sign up for online courses and listen to podcasts. I’m always learning.

          - Find Your Unique Path: My journey involved aligning my writing with what God wanted me to write, including the things that matter most to my heart–in fiction and non-fiction. It's important to find what truly inspires you and follow that path.

           - Embrace New Opportunities: My experience starting a support group for young moms led to my book "Life Interrupted." I am a huge fan of The Voice, which led me to reach out to Todd Tilghman when he won. Be open to writing about topics that resonate with you, especially if they involve helping others.

           - Persistence and Adaptability: I faced challenges getting book proposals accepted early in my career. It's crucial to stay persistent and adapt to the changing publishing landscape. Attend writers' conferences and pay attention to the advice given.

           - Follow God’s Plan: I believe aligning your writing with a higher purpose can lead to greater success and fulfillment. I spiritually nourish myself through reading God’s Word and prayer so I can sense that God is calling me to something.

           Remember, writing is not just about crafting words. It's also about sharing your unique perspective and connecting with others through your stories.

What is the most satisfying part of writing/publishing?

Tricia: Writing The End and realizing that God allowed me to be creative while sharing truth and hope with readers.

 Tell us about your most recent release - Trust the Stars. 

Tricia: Trust the Stars intertwines the lives of two women from different eras. Olivia Garza, living a service-oriented life in Little Rock, becomes an unexpected viral sensation through a documentary series she creates to understand her mother's past decisions. Her journey leads her to Kenya, where she encounters Prince Louis, the heir to a European kingdom, who recognizes her from her series. Despite a connection, their potential romance is hindered by Olivia's aversion to what Louis represents.

Meanwhile, the story also delves into the life of Princess Alessandra Appiani in World War II Rome. Alessandra makes a life-altering decision to risk her safety within the Vatican to save Jewish children, showcasing immense courage and compassion.

Olivia, tasked with creating a documentary about Alessandra's sacrifices, is forced to confront challenging questions about her own path and whether to trust God for a future she never envisioned. This novel explores themes of love, sacrifice, and the power of making difficult choices.​

 What happens next in your career?

Tricia: I had to stop and count, but I currently have about two dozen books in the publishing process. These are either being edited, written, waiting to be edited, or contracted but waiting to be written. Also included are a few proposals I’m preparing before publishing committees. These include everything from children’s books to novels and parenting books. I’m also hosting the Daily Bible Podcast for the second year, and five of my novels are being written into screenplays. There’s never a quiet moment, and I love it!

And that, fellow Diamond Miners, is how you sparkle.