Beauty from Ashes in Life and Fiction: Diving Deep with Liz Tolsma

With her passion for life, history, and story, Liz Tolsma is the author of several novels ranging from World War II to Amish fiction. While she thought she’d write one book and be done, her debut novel was a finalist for two awards. Now she’s a full-time author and editor, and she has never looked back. She joins us today to share about topics close to her heart, and to introduce her latest release, When the Sky Burned.

A Word of Inspiration

Liz Tolzma’s writing journey began much like other authors—at a young age with a vivid imagination and an innate knack for storytelling. Dubbed “Sarah Bernhardt” by her parents due to her flair for drama, Liz was encouraged by a supportive fifth-grade teacher who instilled the dream of becoming a published author.

Adoption: A Theme Close to the Heart

A big passion for Liz centers around the theme of international adoption. She and her husband have welcomed three children into their family from different corners of the world, embedding rich experiences and diverse cultures into their lives. Liz speaks passionately about how adoption mirrors God’s unconditional love and adoption of us, reflecting how it has shaped her as both a mother and a writer.

Overlooked History Brought to Life

“When the Sky Burned,” Liz’s latest novel, captures the essence of historical fiction by intertwining real events with an inspiring story. Set against the backdrop of the lesser-known Peshtigo Fire of 1871, Liz carefully balances historical accuracy with the fictional journeys of her characters. Mariah Randolph embodies resilience as she transitions from an artist to a survivor of blindness. Inspired by real stories of blind painters, Liz weaves a narrative that highlights resilience, transformation, and justice.

What’s Next for Liz Tolsma?

Continuing with her theme of stories based on real-life events, Liz is excited to be writing a fictionalized version of a reader’s family history from World War II. Readers can connect with her through her website, newsletter, GoodReads, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, X, and her own podcast.

Enjoy a series of 6 exciting novels featuring historic disasters that transformed landscapes and multiple lives. Whether by nature or by man, these disasters changed history and were a day to be remembered.

Promising painter Mariah Randolph longs to have her canvases displayed in the world’s best museums, and Hollis Stanford, the heir of a railroad tycoon, is her ticket to success. The railroad’s bookkeeper, Jay Franklin, discovers discrepancies and is convinced that Hollis is stealing from the company. But any proof of his dirty dealings go up in smoke when fire utterly destroys the town of Peshtigo, Wisconsin, October 8, 1871.

The fire leaves Mariah blind, but Jay befriends her and even helps her to start painting again. But a trip to Chicago to return Hollis’s daughter to him could put both Mariah and Jay in more danger than even the fire that devastated the town and their lives.

Other Historical Bookworm episodes with Liz Tolsma include a Pinch of the Past and a Bookchat about A Picture of Hope

Bookworm Review

Today’s bookworm review is brought to you by author Angela Bell

Today’s Bookworm Review is bought to you by Angela Bell. “The Bounty Hunter’s Surrender solidifies  KyLee Woodley as a veritable sharpshooter of a storyteller!

In her second Outlaw Hearts novel, Woodley skillfully corrals the tension of a showdown at high noon, complex characters, fastidious historical research, and a mystery with all the twists of a gnarled tumbleweed into a tale sure to whisk readers away on a wild ride into a hope-filled sunset.

If you’re drawn to the rugged romance of the old west, consider The Bounty Hunter’s Surrender your next most wanted read!”

~ Angela Bell, author of A Lady’s Guide to Marvels and Misadventure

Episode 108: Rebuilding after World War II with Australian Author Jennifer Mistmorgan

Selah Award finalist and winner of the 2024 Caleb Award, Jennifer Mistmorgan is a must-read author of WWII historical romance. She writes imperfect characters “who grapple with God’s grace and love in a world at war,” swoony romance, and adventure sure to keep you turning pages and leave you with new friends by the last chapter.

Continue reading “Episode 108: Rebuilding after World War II with Australian Author Jennifer Mistmorgan”

Selah Award finalist and winner of the 2024 Caleb Award, Jennifer Mistmorgan is a must-read author of WWII historical romance. She writes imperfect characters “who grapple with God’s grace and love in a world at war,” swoony romance, and adventure sure to keep you turning pages and leave you with new friends by the last chapter.

Continue reading “Episode 108: Rebuilding after World War II with Australian Author Jennifer Mistmorgan”

Finding True Freedom: World War II Scotland with Sarah Sundin

In our latest chat on the Historical Bookworm Show, bestselling and Christy-award winning author Sarah Sundin returns to share about her newest release, Midnight on the Scottish Shore. Known for her engrossing World War II novels, Sarah delves into not just the historical intricacies woven throughout her story but also the deeply threaded spiritual and personal themes.

Continue reading “Finding True Freedom: World War II Scotland with Sarah Sundin”

Episode 106: Discover the Dangerously Good Stories of Historical Romance Author Crystal Caudill

In today’s exciting spotlight on the Historical Bookworm Show, we welcome back Crystal Caudill, a gifted author known for her signature “Dangerously Good Historical Romance.” With impressive accolades to her name, including her 2023 Carole Award finalist debut novel, “Counterfeit Love,” and her Christie Award-winning novella “Star of Wonder,” Crystal’s works have enchanted readers with their unique blend of history, romance, and suspense.

Continue reading “Episode 106: Discover the Dangerously Good Stories of Historical Romance Author Crystal Caudill”

Exploring History and Faith with Author Traci Peterson

A Constant Love: An Interview with Best-Selling Author Tracie Peterson

In this episode of the Historical Bookworm Show, best-selling author Tracy Peterson discusses her extensive career, including her new book, ‘A Constant Love.’ Tracy shares insights on her favorite historical places, her love for Captain Kangaroo, and the challenging personal experiences that influenced her writing. She also talks about the themes of loss, grief, and faith in her new series set in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and gives a sneak peek into her upcoming series set in Minnesota. The episode covers how the characters in her books navigate their struggles and grow in their relationships with God, providing both historical context and emotional depth.

Continue reading “Exploring History and Faith with Author Traci Peterson”

Meet KyLee Woodley: From Preschool Teacher to Debut Novelist and Co-Host of the Historical Bookworm Show

In this episode of the Historical Bookworm Show, co-host KyLee Woodley is interviewed about her debut novel ‘The Bandit’s Redemption.

The episode provides an in-depth look at KyLee background as a preschool teacher at Baylor University, her experiences growing up in the Pacific Northwest and Texas, and her deep commitment to God, family, and writing. KyLee discusses her journey into teaching and the serendipitous route that led her to Baylor University.

Continue reading “Meet KyLee Woodley: From Preschool Teacher to Debut Novelist and Co-Host of the Historical Bookworm Show”

Whispers of Fortune with Mary Connealy: A Glimpse Behind the Story

Welcome to the Historical Bookworm Show blog post, where we dive into the captivating interview with Mary Connealy, bestselling author known for her romantic comedies set in the wild west. In this post, we explore Mary’s latest release, “Whispers of Fortune,” the first book in her new series, Golden State Treasures. Join us as we unravel Mary’s creative process, inspirations, and what’s next in her literary journey.

Continue reading “Whispers of Fortune with Mary Connealy: A Glimpse Behind the Story”

A Bookchat about Heart of the Glen with Jennifer Deibel

Jennifer Deibel joins us for a chat about living in Europe, her love for The Lord of the Rings, Irish traditions, and her latest release, Heart of the Glen. Don’t forget to enter to win a copy of this great book!

About the author:

Jennifer Deibel  is the bestselling and award-winning author of A Dance in Donegal, The Lady of Galway Manor and The Maid of Ballymacool. Her work has appeared on (in)courage, on The Better Mom, in Missions Mosaic magazine, and others. With firsthand immersive experience abroad, Jennifer writes stories that help redefine home through the lens of culture, history, and family. After nearly a decade of living in Ireland and Austria, she now lives in Arizona with her husband and their three children.

Continue reading “A Bookchat about Heart of the Glen with Jennifer Deibel”

A Bookchat about Cloaked in Beauty with Karen Witemeyer

Karen Witemeyer joins us for a chat about naming horses, writer quirks, fairytales, and her latest release Cloaked in Beauty. Don’t forget to enter to win a copy of this brilliant book! 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

After growing up in California, Karen moved to Texas to attend Abilene Christian University where she earned bachelor and master’s degrees in Psychology. It was also there that she met and married her own Texas hero. He roped her in good, for she has lived in Texas ever since. In fact, she fell so in love with this rugged land of sweeping sunsets and enduring pioneer spirit, that she incorporates it into the pages of her novels, setting her stories in the small towns of a state that burgeoned into greatness in the mid- to late 1800s.

Continue reading “A Bookchat about Cloaked in Beauty with Karen Witemeyer”

A Bookchat about Of Gold and Shadows with Michelle Greip 

Michelle Greip joins us for a chat about gardening under duress, being present for loved ones while maintaining a career, the history of Egyptology, and her latest release Of Gold and Shadows. Don’t forget to enter to win a copy of this great book! 

About the Author

Michelle Griep has been writing since she first discovered blank wall space and Crayolas. She is a Christy Award-winning author of historical romances that both intrigue and evoke a smile. She’s an Anglophile at heart, and you’ll most often find her partaking of a proper cream tea while scheming up her next novel . . . but it’s probably easier to find her at MichelleGriep.com or on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.

It is so great to have you back on the show. Michelle was our second guest ever, on the show when she came on in 2021 to chat about The Thief of Blackfriars Lane. She returned in 2022 when The Bride of Blackfriar’s Lane was released, and Michelle is one of the few authors to host a Pinch of the Past when she shared 3 Types of Victorian Travel. We also reviewed her novelsThe Thief of Blackfriar’s Lane Bookworm Review and Lost in Darkness Bookworm Review.) 

Last time we spoke, you were settling into the country life of gardening and chicken raising, including protecting them from an offending armadillo. 

  1. Did you ever have any luck with gardening and did the armadillo ever leave?
  2. If you had a garden party full of fictional characters, who would you invite?

You are a busy lady with a professional author career and personal life–including twin grandchildren in memory serves me correctly.

  1. How do you balance writing with being present for your loved ones?
  2. Is there anything especially interesting that you haven’t covered in other interviews that you could share with us or perhaps there is something God has laid on your heart that you would like to share with your readers? 

About the Book Of Gold and Shadows

The shadows hold secrets darker than they ever imagined. . . .

In 1888 Victorian England, Ami Dalton navigates a clandestine dual life. By day, she strives to establish herself as a respected Egyptologist, overcoming the gender biases that permeate academia. But with a heart for saving black-market artifacts from falling into the wrong hands, she is most often disguised as her alter ego, the Shadow Broker.

After eight years in India, Oxford’s most eligible bachelor, Edmund Price, has come out of the shadows to run for Parliament and is in search of an Egyptologist to value a newly acquired collection. Expecting a renowned Oxford professor, Edmund instead finds himself entangled with Ami, the professor’s determined daughter. As they delve into the treasures, their connection deepens, but trouble emerges when a golden griffin–rumored to bear the curse of Amentuk–surfaces, and they’re left to wonder if the curse really is at play, or if something more nefarious is hiding among the shadows. . . .

So we have a heroine in Victorian England with a secret identity who is struggling to establish herself as an Egyptologist by day and preserving black market relics by night. In steps a handsome hero running for Parliament, and together they encounter a cruse, ruffians, and treasures. Sounds like a typical Michelle Griep book. 🙂 

I’m intrigued by this Egyptologist angle. According to Britannica Encyclopedia, Egyptology is “the study of pharaonic Egypt, spanning the period c. 4500 bce to ce 641. Egyptology began … [with the scholars] accompanying Napoleon Bonaparte’s invasion of Egypt (1798–1801.) Fast forward nearly 100 years, and we have Ami and Edmond.

  1. What kinds of things did they encounter in the book that are historically accurate to the time?
  2. How did you balance the idea of a curse with a Biblical worldview?

Curses will be lifted – 

  1. What, of all the romantic couples you’ve written, make Edmund and Ami unique?
  2. What’s next for your writing?

Listeners, Michell is offering a paperback copy of this novel, Of Gold and Shadows. To enter, check out the giveaway page on our website Historical Bookworm dot com. You also find the giveaway link in the show notes for this episode. 

Connect with  Michelle Greip: Newsletter, Amazon, Facebook, Goodreads, and Instagram.