Big Day in May

By Andrea Boeshaar

www.andreaboeshaar.com

Follow me on Twitter: @AndreaBoeshaar

& on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/Andrea.Boeshaar

Next week, (May 7), I’ll give birth to my third and final book in my Fabric of Time series, titled Threads of Love. The very next day, my daughter-in-law will give birth to my fifth grandchild – WHOO-HOO! Unless another is chosen at the last minute, her name will either be Ashleigh Faith or Jenna Faith – my vote is for the later, that is if my vote counts.  *smile*

I had the privilege of sitting in on one of my daughter-in-law’s ultrasounds and the baby turned just at the right time and I saw her little face! I told my son, who sat beside me, that she resembles her sister Alyson (who is 2 1/2). What a thrill to get a peek inside the womb at my granddaughter! 

My granddaughter -- coming soon!

Way back in the stone ages (ha, ha…) when I delivered my three sons, ultrasounds weren't common practice unless doctors felt that there was something wrong with the baby. Epidurals weren't given on a regular basis either. Funny, how I recall my mother and mother-in-law peppering me with stories about when they gave birth to their children in hospital maternity wards – forget about that having your own birthing suite business. Back in the 1950s women had roommates! Hospitals had visiting hours. Female nurses wore white dresses and caps.

My, my, but times do change!

My great-grandmother  and her sons
(including my grandfather,
sitting in front of the dog).

In my novel Threads of Love, readers can see how much has changed since 1902, the year in which the story is set. I had so much fun writing this novel because my great-grandparents were married in the year 1900. My grandfather was born in 1906. The early 1900s are years I just can remember – not because I lived them, obviously, but because of the tales I heard from my grandfather and grandmother and others as well as the pictures I still have today.

I believe handing stories down from one generation to the next is biblical. Take a look at Psalm 78:5-7.

He established a testimony in Jacob
    and appointed a law in Israel,
which he commanded our fathers
    to teach to their children,
 that the next generation might know them,
    the children yet unborn,
and arise and tell them to their children,
    so that they should set their hope in God
and not forget the works of God,
    but keep his commandments;

While it's fact that not everything I heard from older relatives was godly, all of it worked together for God’s good in bringing me to Him. 

We learn from the past – which is why birthing both a new book and a new baby is so much more pleasant today than a century – or even 50 years ago. Wouldn't you agree?

I’d love to hear from you -- and you can win a FREE, signed copy of Threads of Love. Simply leave a comment along with your email address and you’ll be entered into the contest. I’ll select a winner on Sunday afternoon. Happy reading!

*Threads of Love will be available after May 8th in traditional print and e-book formats. Ask for it at your favorite bookstore or order it online!

What's Happening in 2013?

By Andrea Boeshaar

 All politics and apocalyptic theories aside, what’s happening in 2013 is the release of the last book in my Fabric of Time series. Each novel in the series moves up a generation, beginning in 1848 and ending in 1902.

The idea for this series came when I coordinated our Eikaas-Fluge family reunion in the late 1990s – that’s right. Almost 20 years ago! When the team at Charisma House and its fiction division, Realms, was interested in my idea, I rejoiced!!! Family is so important to me – dysfunction, quirks, and all. So I began to research and write. The novels in my series are brand new stories, published by Charisma Media within the last year.

My great-grandparents were married in 1900. Both had emigrated from Norway with hopes of living a better life. Sounds relevant for even today, doesn’t it?

We all have a history. However, I understand why some people choose to abandon their pasts because of things that have happened – bad things, embarrassing things, difficult things. But I also believe that if we ask God to heal our wounds and help us forgive and forget the ugly, we can accept and embrace our histories – even write about them. After all, God uses everything in our lives to mold and shape us into the people that He wants us to be.

And we know that for those who love God 

all things work together for good, 

for those who are called according to his purpose. 

                                             (Romans 8:29 ESV)

Threads of Hope (January 2012)

The year is 1848, and Kristin Eikaas has traveled from Norway to Wisconsin with dreams of a new life. But when she arrives, she finds one disappointment after another. Worse, her superstitious uncle now believes that his neighbor’s Oneida Indian wife has put a curse on Kristin. Everyone knows the Sundbergs put spells on people…

Everyone except Kristin. Her run-ins with Sam Sundberg only prove that he is a good man from a Christian family. But when her uncle discovers she’s been associating with Sam, his temper flares. To escape his wrath, Kristin gratefully accepts a job as the Sundbergs’ house girl, finding solace at the family’s spinning wheel.

In the time Sam and Kristin spend together, their friendship develops into much more, and Sam prays about a match between them. But opposition threatens to derail their newfound love. Will they have the courage to stand up for what is right—even against their own families? 

Threads of Faith (October 2012)

Julianna Wayland is running for her life! She hides in a crate on London’s dock, only to be loaded onto a ship bound for America. During the voyage, she becomes acquainted with Captain Daniel Sundberg who assuages her fears of sea-faring men. He’s not at all what she expected. By the time they reach New York’s harbor, Julianna’s certain she’s in love with him. The only problem is Daniel has plans for himself – plans that don’t include her.

Daniel Sundberg intends to say a last goodbye to his dying father in Manitowoc, Wisconsin and make sure his mother and sisters are well-taken care of, then get on with his life – a life he’s lived apart from his biological family. 

Threads of Love (Coming in May 2013)

It’s 1902 and Emily Sundberg considers herself a proper school teacher of the Twentieth Century. But a decade ago, she behaved more like a tomboy than a young lady. So when the neighbor’s grandson came to visit one summer, they became fast friends and Emily even got her first kiss. Unfortunately, Jake Edgerton told all the local boys. Rumors circulated, the taunts and teasing began. Emily caved from embarrassment and guilt. She wasn't ever able to confront Jake about the incident either. He’d returned to Fallon, Montana and she never saw or heard from him again. Over the years she’d worked hard to prove to her former classmates and the people of Manitowoc, Wisconsin that, despite past mistakes, she really was a decent, upstanding young woman, one befitting of a school teacher. But even with the passing of time, Emily’s never forgotten Jake and how he nearly ruined her life…

And now he’s a U. S. deputy marshal and he’s back in town!

The Next Big Thing Blog Hop -- Interview with Andrea Boeshaar

Thanks so much to Wisconsin author Lily Silver who tagged me in 

The Next Big Thing Blog Hop. 

I thought this might be fun so I agreed to participate. For this multi-author promotion, I've decided to give readers a sneak peek at my upcoming novel -- as well as my books already on store shelves and available as ebook downloads.

Here's the interview:

 What is the title of your next book?

         Threads of Love, which will be released in May 2013
                  (Isn't this cover GORGEOUS!?)

 Where did the idea come from for the book?

          This series is based on my Norwegian heritage and
          my family history (fictionalized!). Threads of Love
          is book 3 and the last novel in my Fabric of Time series.



       

 Books 1 and 2 are now available in both traditional print AND ebook formats. 

Threads of Hope (book 1) 

Threads of Faith (book 2)

What genre does your book fall under?

          Christian/Inspirational historical romance

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your latest series?

          Follow the journeys of first Kristin in 1848 (Threads of Hope), 

          then Julianna in 1877 (Threads of Faith), and finally Emily in 1902 (Threads of Love) 

          as these women weave a tapestry of love, honor, and family unity into life's Fabric of Time.

          Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency? How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

         It's published by Realms -- a division of Charisma Media and I can usually write a 75.000 
           word novel in 6 to 9 months time. That is, if life doesn't get in the way.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

My last series, Seasons of Redemption, was published by Realms/Charisma Media.

Who or What inspired you to write this book?

For my Fabric of Time series, my Norwegian heritage inspired me. For my Seasons of Redemption series I was inspired to write stories set during and just after America's Civil War. I thank God Almighty for giving me the gift of writing. 

What else about your book might pique the reader interest?

My latest series, Fabric of Time, is primarily set in Wisconsin. My grandmother, an art and reading teacher in Tigerton, Wisconsin, painted a picture of Manitowoc's harbor. Many family members said the scene was "dark," and after my grandfather died, no one wanted it. But secretly I had always coveted the painting. It's no Monet, but my "Nana" painted it. It's hanging on the large wall in my stairwell and I treasure it.

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Now it's time to pass the baton to 2 additional author-friends so they can tell you about their amazing books. Their posts, which will have the same title as this one -- The Next Big Thing Blog Hop -- and will be live on their blogs soon, so please check them out! 

Loree Lough
Liz Tolsma

Also, check out the other authors I blog with on The Barn Door blog. And don't forget to peruse my personal blog on which I interview other authors of Christian and inspirational fiction. Everything Writerly.

Book Give-way Contest!

From now until Sunday I'm running a book give-away contest on my personal blog Everything Writerly. Below are the specifics.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Announcing my first book give-away in conjunction with my brand new historical romance release, Threads of Hope. It's easy to enter, just leave me a comment below, completing the following sentences:

My favorite time of day to read a good book is ______________. The reason is__________________.

Fill in the blanks. You can enter as many times as you want to.

On Sunday afternoon, January 29th, I will randomly select TWO winners from the list of comments below. In addition to receiving a free copy of my book, Threads of Hope, winners will receive a special surprise gift, designed to enhance their reading experience.

So let me know about your reading habits and you could be the winner of a signed copy of Threads of Hope along with a surprise gift.       

Good luck, everyone!

BE SURE TO LEAVE ON COMMENT ON EVERYTHING WRITERLY. Comments left on this blog won't be entered into the drawing.