Day 2 with Karen Witemeyer

Welcome back for our second day with CBA bestselling author and two-time RITA® Finalist, Karen Witemeyer. Karen writes historical romance for Bethany House. Her latest novel, Short Straw Bride, will be released in June.

The storyline for Short Straw Bride sounds like a lot of fun, Karen. Do you have anything else in the works that you’d like us to know about?

My editor has always preferred that I write stand alone novels instead of series. However, after falling in love with the Archer brothers, she agreed to let me write a second Archer story. This one follows Crockett to a new setting and a new adventure.

On his way to interview for a preaching position, Crockett Archer is abducted from his train by a retired outlaw and presented to the man's daughter as a birthday gift. Joanna Robbins needs a preacher to fulfill a promise made to her mother, but how will she ever convince Crockett to stay and secretly help her win the soul of the very man who kidnapped him?

The working title is Stealing the Parson. It should release late spring/early summer 2013.

Do you have a favorite historical novel?

I would say Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers, but everyone says that, so instead I'm going to say A Bride in the Bargain by Deeanne Gist. My favorite general market historical is The Secret by Julie Garwood.

Those are some great choices. Is there anything or anyone that inspires your writing?

I get a lot of inspiration from other authors. There are so many times when I'm reading a great book or watching a movie and one little character trait or plot point jumps out at me and sparks an idea that takes me in a whole new direction. It's exciting when that happens.

What do you enjoy most about reading historical fiction?

There is something about an historical setting that enhances the romance for me. Maybe it's the fairy tale effect of visualizing heroines in glorious ball gowns or heroes dressed in dusty cowboy gear that sweeps me away. Whatever it is, I love it! I'm open to all types of historical settings—medieval Scottish warriors, dashing dukes in regency ballrooms, rugged cowboys riding the range—give me a manly, historic hero, and I'm there. Oh . . .umm . . .a feisty heroine is nice, too.

Historical fiction requires a lot of research. What’s the most interesting (or unusal, or funny) thing you’ve done in the name of research for a book?

In my first book, A Tailor-Made Bride, there is a scene where the characters attend a founder's day picnic. I had such a great time researching all the games they would have played, that when it came time to host my launch party, I set up the same types of games for my visitors and their children. We did hoop rolling (with extremely large wooden quilt hoops), three-legged races, and my personal favorite, the game of graces. Graces is played with two people, usually girls. Each girl holds two throwing sticks. (I used dowels.) The first player dangles the ribbon-decorated hoop on the end of one stick then dips the second stick through the circle, making an X with the stick ends. When she pulls the sticks apart, the hoop flies toward her partner. The other player tries to catch the hoop on her sticks. We used this game at my daughter's birthday party one year, too. It was a hit, even with the boys.

I also attended a workshop where all the participants got to wear corsets and learn how to lace themselves up. It was a hoot. And that's probably the best posture I've ever maintained during a 45 min workshop session. Ha!

What would you like readers to gain from reading your books?

 My goal with every book is to draw my readers into a closer relationship with Jesus by entertaining them in a thought-provoking way. My spiritual themes almost always mimic things I struggle with in my own faith walk. In Short-Straw Bride, for example, my hero and his brothers have isolated themselves from the rest of their community. This originated from necessity since they were orphaned as young boys and had to fight to stay together and protect their land. But when the need for isolation passed, their habits had become so ingrained that the Archer brothers failed to reintegrate. Until Meredith Hayes breaches their solitude.

I tend to be introverted and love to hide myself away. However, the Bible calls us to live a life of community, of hospitality, of ministering to our neighbors and carrying each other's burdens. I can't do this if I barricade myself away. By tackling this spiritual theme in my novel, I was forced to face it myself. I tend to step on my own toes quite a bit when I write.

Any final words?

I've had so much fun with you this week. Thanks so much for inviting me to visit. On Saturday, my husband and I are leaving on a mystery trip (well, it's a mystery to me; he knows where we're going) to celebrate our 20^th wedding anniversary. There's nothing more romantic than living out your own happily-ever-after with the man of your dreams!

 

That's so true -- and happy anniversary! We appreciate you taking time to join us before your romantic getaway. 

Visitors, don’t forget that Karen will be giving away a copy of her latest novel, Short Straw Bride, to one of our commenters this week. Answer this question for her in the comments section and be entered for your chance to win (be sure to include your name and your email address with your comment). Here’s your question from Karen:

What is your favorite time period/setting in novels? Why?