A Birthday Party for Laura Frantz and Courting Morrow Little!! - GIVE AWAY!

Laura Frantz is no stranger to my Window! I first came to know her through her debut novel, The Frontiersman's Daughter and I was absolutely compelled by her storytelling! You can read my interview with her HERE.

Now it is time to celebrate her latest novel, Courting Morrow Little! You will absolutely fall in love with these characters and experience first-hand what life was like on the frontier of Kentucky! Laura is celebrating in a big way today, so please help me welcome her to my Window! And stick around...she is bringing some GREAT gifts!

What kind of research was needed to recreate life on the Kentucky frontier in the late 1700’s?

Good question, Kim! Research is a historical author’s best friend. I was steeped in Kentucky history class beginning in 4^th grade. My teacher wrote and reminded me of this recently after reading my first book, The Frontiersman’s DaughterJ. I’ve always had a love of the 18^th-century and how they did things the old-fashioned way. So research is easy for me and there are so many great books out there to help deepen and enrich your story.

Do you recognize a modern-day equivalent to the prejudice that was once held against the “savages” in your story? Do you think we, as a people, will ever overcome prejudice?

Sadly, prejudice does still exist, even in Christian circles. When I think how open-hearted and loving Jesus was, I am saddened that we can’t seem to move past our barriers. My great-grandfather was Cherokee but my grandmother, his daughter, didn’t acknowledge this until she was in her 90’s. We know very little about him as he was kept a “secret.”

How do you so beautifully describe the scenery on the undeveloped frontier? Where do you gain your inspiration?

I’s so blessed to have a family who came into Kentucky in the very time period I write about – the late 18^th-century. Growing up there, I lived and played on the very land Daniel Boone made home. Knowing this, I always had a rather wild imagination where those first settlers were concerned. I used to imagine that I was Daniel Boone’s daughter (he had several) and that I’d been born two hundred years too late! Now I see that God had a hand in placing me where I was ~ so that I could absorb the sights, sounds, and smells and write the stories of my heart and share them with readers like you.

How on earth do you create such delicious male characters? (I’m sorry, but there is simply no other adjective that fits!)

Oh, delicious is such a wonderful word! And I love that you’d say thatJ. I fall hard for all my heroes. They become so very real to me. If they are heart-stopping, I honestly can’t tell you how that happens! Writing is a gift and anything that works well comes from heaven itself, I think. Romance is so critical to a good book and the hero carries the responsibility for creating a heart-stopping scenario for both the heroine and the reader. It helps if an author builds those things into a hero that makes a heart melt ~ integrity, strength, purpose, passion.

You also build romantic tension to the point of ridiculous, and maddening!! I take it you are an extremely patient person? How do you stand to write it without rushing headlong into the longing the characters feel?

You sound like my editor. She said my characters don’t even have to be touching each other and things just sizzleJ. I’m all for the slow build-up and delayed courtship of yesteryear. When my husband and I were dating we spent a looooonnnnnnggggg time just holding hands (months), savoring only that. Sometimes he’ll say to me now, 26 years later, “Remember how wonderful it was to just hold hands?” Maybe that is reflected in my writing. There’s a lot to be said for restraining your emotions. I like for passion to unfold slowly for my characters (and myself) so maybe that’s the secret to the sizzle!

I love the way you describe things! For instance, “Her new life was like a patchwork quilt, bright and colorful and without pattern or order.” OR “Their shared talk and laughter seemed a living thing – warm and consoling, strengthening and healing.” OR “You’re like molasses to a winter-weary bear.” What is your favorite scene from this novel? What process do you go through to bring such vivid imagery to your stories?

Imagery is a tricky thing. Sometimes I have to think very hard to come up with that type thing. Sometimes I use too much of it and bog the story down. But I love words and the beauty of language. To me, one of the best compliments I ever received is that my writing is like music. Since I can’t take any credit for it, I’m so grateful God gives us the gift of beautifully written books. As for my favorite scene, I love when Red Shirt takes Morrow up into the mountains when her father isn’t lookingJ. A bit risqué back then though his intentions were honorable. He’s trying to see if she’ll go with him, if she’ll trust him. It’s a huge moment for her. There’s very little dialogue in that scene. I just let the beauty of the surrounding frontier take over and tell the story.

What do you hope readers will take away from this story after all that you put your characters through? (For me, this particular message rang clear: “The truth needn’t make you fearful. Just prayerful.”)

So much of life is out of our control, but always within God’s sovereign plan. He will redeem the bad things that happen to us though it may take years, just like Morrow. Her tragedy occurred when she was five years old. It took 15 years for her to recoup some of her losses by finding her brother and marrying a man she thought was the enemy. Every valley we experience is for our good and will result in blessing when God is with us.

Have you ever experienced anything similar to sleeping/living out in a wilderness setting? Camping? Hunting? Can you share that with your readers?

I have done a lot of traveling and camping, hiking and outdoor-type living. When I was a girl I swam in the Kentucky River and climbed the surrounding mountains just like those first settlers on a regular basis. That was wonderful fuel for my imagination! I’ve always wanted to participate in colonial reenactments but haven’t been able to do that yet. But I have some costumes (dresses, petticoats, aprons, bonnets) from my youth, only I don’t fit in them anymore!

What did you learn about yourself through the process of writing Morrow’s story?

Like Morrow, I am a fearful person. “Timorous” is the word I use to describe her. That’s meJ. I don’t like new experiences and prefer to stay safe. However, the publishing world has forced me out of my comfort zone. God has used my writing journey to help me break free of my fears and become the person He created me to be. Though it hasn’t been easy, I see his guiding hand and am so thankful.

What on earth will you write about next!? (are you already working on another project?)

My third book, tentatively titled The Colonel’s Lady, is due this month and will be released next summer. It’s my first story told from both my hero and my heroine’s point of view. This novel is also set in Kentucky in 1779-80 and involves a Revolutionary War hero and a spinster of 28. Hope you like Roxanna’s story just as much as Morrow’s!

Can you share some of the exciting things God is doing in your life right now?

The Christian life is never dull, is itJ!? The Lord is leading me to put my children into public school after homeschooling for years. And I’ve embarked on a musical journey with my 10 year old son, Paul, who seems to have some talent for the fiddle/violin. Mostly, God is teaching me to be content with where I am. Right now I’m living away from my home and family in Kentucky and am in Washington State. It’s very hard for me to be away from the places I write about and love. But God has a plan…

Closing words of encouragement you’d like to share with your readers?

First, I want to thank any who take time to read my stories. That means so much. Readers are really an author’s heartbeat! I learn so much from others – and from you, too, Kim with your wonderful questions! If you want to be published, and it’s the Lord plan for you, delight in Him and trust that He will give you the desires of your heart. It may take 40 years like it did for me, but He will make it happen if it’s His best for you. Keep writing ~ reading ~ and praying!

Laura brings a special Crabtree&Evelyn gift basket to share with readers today! Please, leave a comment on today's post, and you will be entered to win this incredible gift! Laura wants to share her enthusiasm about her latest release with her readers! Enjoy!