Happy Tuesday, readers! Today’s Top Ten topic is “Books Set In Another Time.” Since we’re always talking about books in other times, I decided to take this a step farther and talk about books where characters travel outside of their own time. There seriously isn’t enough good Time Travel Fiction out there, so if you’ve read some, let me know!
Waterfall by Lisa T Bergren
Passenger by Alexandra Bracken
In Another Time by Jillian Cantor
Both Sides of Time by Caroline B. Cooney
All These Threads of Time by Sarah Crowne
A Thousand Pieces of You by Claudia Gray
Braving Strange Waters by Sarah Hanks
When the Day Comes by Gabrielle Meyer
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
The Time Machine by H.G. Wells
Have you read any of these? Which Time Travel novels would you recommend?
Welcome back to the Extra Edition newsletter! I’m excited to bring you bonus content each month with a special inside look at my novels and the history behind them.
Thank you to all who entered Stars in the Storm‘s Release Day Giveaway, and congratulations to our winner, Thea!
On Location with Larksong Legacy
Do you enjoy looking at maps? What about real maps, in all their papery goodness? I’m a sucker for a good historical atlas and seeing how the world in days gone by. The atlas pictured above, Historical Atlas of the United States by Derek Hayes, I purchased specifically for Larksong Legacy, but it has provided hours of enjoyment far past the 1850s westward trail. (I am a nerd and I am not ashamed.)
Throughout the year, I’ll be providing more details into Larksong Legacy’s specific locations including in Washington, California, South Carolina, and Missouri. For today, though, let’s map the characters’ journeys from each book and see how long travel would have taken then and now. (*All maps below are from Google.)
If you haven’t read the books, these maps do give spoilers as to where the characters visit in each book. I won’t tell you who ends up where though. 🙂
Book 1 – For a Noble Purpose – Charleston, South Carolina to Larksong, Washington
In 1852, pioneers rarely rode in their wagons as the space was needed for supplies. This meant that they walked between 15-25 miles per day on open prairie, fewer if they were traveling through a town such as between Charleston, South Carolina and St. Louis, Missouri. This 3,110 mile journey took the Larks about a year to travel. In 2025, a car ride would take 48 hours (between 3-4 days with breaks) or a relatively quick 10-11 hour plane ride (with 1 layover) followed by a 3 hour car ride.
For more information on each stop along the westward trail, check out this Interactive Oregon Trail Map from the Oregon National Park Service.
Book 2 – Dusk Shall Weep – Larksong, Washington (Nearby modern day Raymond) to Astoria, Oregon and Seattle, Washington
While living in Washington, the Larks discover that many of the usual essentials from back in Charleston are not as easy to get to. The nearest church was at Stella Maris Mission in “nearby” McGowan, but nearby meant traveling over 80 miles round trip by foot or wagon. The nearest post office was another three miles past that in Chenookville. “Going to the market” involved a 160-mile round trip journey to Astoria, Oregon (over a week’s travel). This meant that visits were few and far between and most everything they needed must be sourced from the land they lived on. In 2025, due to the existence of the Astoria-Megler Bridge, they would have been able to drive to Astoria in about an hour. Although, in 2025, they would have also had a church, post office, and supermarket located within their own town.
Later in the novel, they also travel to Seattle, Washington, then an extremely small town, a distance of 128 miles and 48 hours one way. Today, this drive could be completed in just over 2 hours.
Book 3 – Sparks Fly Upward – Larksong, Washington (Nearby modern day Raymond) to San Francisco, California
In Sparks Fly Upward, a few of the characters travel to San Francisco, California. Since it would have taken them 280 hours to travel by foot, they choose to go to Astoria and take a ship from there down the coastline, saving weeks of travel. While in San Francisco, they visit several real-life locations including: The no-longer-existent Niantic Hotel on Sansome Street, St. Mary’s Cathedral on California Street, Portsmouth Square Park, and the cliffs where I envisioned Sterling’s Theatrical circus to be located. Note that in the 1850s, The Niantic Hotel was located right on San Francisco Bay, whereas today, an additional mile of land has been built out from the original coastline. In 2025, Google Maps says that it would only take 32 minutes to drive the distance between the hotel and the circus, but I suspect with traffic, that time would be much longer.
Book 4 – Stars in the Storm – Larksong, Washington to ???
Sorry, readers, but with Stars in the Storm having been released only a week ago, I’m not going to share the final location just yet. It’s where they learn the source of their Gift, after all. Here’s a teaser: rainforests, lava tubes, ice caverns, waterfalls, and islands.
Happy Release Day to Stars in the Storm (and happy World Marriage Sunday)! This is the final book in the Larksong Legacy series which makes it a bittersweet ending. I’ve enjoyed traveling with these characters from Charleston, South Carolina to Hawthorn Ridge, Missouri, across the westward trail to Washington State, down to San Francisco, California, and back to Washington again. It’s been a wild ride and a rewarding one. I want to thank you for traveling it alongside me.
Read on for a release day giveaway, launch team graphics, and details on how to purchase.
What’s it all about?
Married Romance * Second Chance * Redemption Story * Incredible Journey
Some stars guide us. Others blind us.
Alice Ann Lark remembers everything, most especially the husband and daughter she abandoned for a life on the sea. Almost four years later, having failed to achieve her adventurous dreams, she would never ask for a forgive-and-forget return to Larksong, nor deserve it. Tormented by vivid flashbacks that become more frequent every day, she sequesters herself in the Ghost Forest, a wasteland of barren trees surrounded by Washington’s mountainous beauty—the perfect metaphor for her now empty life.
Following a year of agonizing adversity, Cade Lark has one final mission to complete before he can find peace with his daughter—to locate the origin of the Larks’ mysterious Gifts. His only clue, however, is a compass his mother died to protect and is now in his estranged wife’s possession. Determined to either restore the past or lay it to rest, he asks Alice Ann to join him on the adventure, exactly as she always wanted him to. If he can’t win her back by the time they find the origin, she’s free to leave. No strings attached, nor questions asked.
Surrounded by a hurricane of unresolved questions, Cade and Alice Ann set off to discover the truth behind Larksong’s legacy. Unbeknownst, a worse storm is lurking beyond the horizon, and when the clouds finally clear, there may not be anything left to save.
Now available in eBook and paperback. Audio coming soon.
Did you know reviews help both readers and authors? Even one sentence is enough, and every word greatly appreciated. Consider leaving a rating on Amazon, Goodreads, BookBub, and/or your favorite retailer! Thank you in advance!
Giveaway Time!
Because you can never have too many good books, here’s your chance to win another! I have been blessed to have five amazing published authors as beta readers. These ladies have been with me through most, if not all, of my publishing journey, and I am so thankful for their advice, constructive criticism, and most of all, their friendship. Therefore, this release’s giveaway is one winner’s choice of one book written by one of my beta readers in either paperback (U.S. & Canada residents only) or eBook:
Sarah Everest – Fantasy & Contemporary
Jennifer Q. Hunt – Historical Fiction (1910s-1950s)
Susan Laspe – Historical Fantasy (1300s)
Rhonda Ortiz – Historical Fiction (Late 1700s)
Tanya E. Williams – Historical Fiction (1920s-1960s & Dual Timeline)
Giveaway runs through 11:59 p.m. CT on February 14, 2024. Open to ages 18+. Winner will be contacted directly. Not affiliated with any other company or organization or promoted by the authors listed above.Only one entry per person.
Until next time, happy reading!
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam
Kelsey
Want to know what I’m currently reading? Follow me on GoodReads.
Happy February, readers! It’s cold and icy in Missouri, so I’m bundled up in fleece and sipping tea while working on edits. How’s the weather where you are?
What’s in this Edition:
In the News – St. Louis Review feature with fellow Catholic authors
6 Days to Publication – Stars in the Storm and National Marriage Week
Releasing in February – Other authors’ new releases I’m most excited about.
In the News
I’m famous! Well, sort of. Last week, our local Catholic newspaper, The St. Louis Review published a feature article on the Catholic Writers of St. Louis group with special spotlights on myself and fellow author, Susan Laspe. There were also recognitions of some of our other members: Denise Montgomery, Mary Hirt, and Donna Volkenannt. The article turned out wonderfully and brought some much needed recognition to the abundance of well-written Catholic Christian novels that are available in the market. Thank you to Review journalist, Jennifer Brinker, and Review photographer, Jacob Wiegand for shining a light on our work!
After many weeks of review (that’s my proof copy above), edits, more review, and more edits, I’m happy to say that Stars in the Storm is finally ready. There’s less than one week until February 9, the release of Stars in the Storm, the fourth and final book in the Larksong Legacy series. While the publishing industry standard is to release books on Tuesdays, one of the fun aspects of being independently published is that I can choose to release a book on any day of the week.
I chose February 9 for Stars in the Storm because this story is first and foremost about a marriage, and Sunday, February 9 is World Marriage Sunday, part of National Marriage Week (February 7-14). Stars is about two people who are walking on opposite sides of life, longing to find a way across the void, and doubting if it’s even possible. It is a story of loss and hurt but also of faith, redemption, and forgiveness. Marriage can be difficult, but with God’s guidance, it can also be one of the most beautiful paths we can walk in this life. I hope that all married readers can relate to Cade and Alice Ann as they pray for their spouses, and those unmarried can find inspiration as they discern and pray for their vocation.
The theme of this year’s National Marriage Week is “Marriage: Source of Hope, Spring of Renewal. Pursue a Lasting Love!” The Catholic Christian organization, For Your Marriage, has provided many great National Marriage Week resources on their website including an at-home couples retreat, Lectio Divina readings, and marriage enrichment videos. (Graphic below is from their website.)
Pre-orders for Stars in the Storm are now available in eBook at all major retailers and in paperback at my online store. Paperbacks will be available at other retailers on release day.
Need another read? Here are the new releases I’m excited about:
The Dreams We Knew by Rachel Scott McDaniel – In 1920s New York, the daughter of a crime boss and a detective must come together to solve the murder of a rising star.
The Fur Trader’s Lady by Gabrielle Meyer – A romantic and thrilling historical adventure set in the heart of the Canadian wilderness
Incarnate by Antony Barone Kolenc – While dodging ruthless zealots and evading government plots, Joshua must discover if he was truly cloned from the blood of a Eucharistic miracle.
Grandma Ruth Doesn’t Go to Funerals by Sharon J. Mondragón – Southern and sassy Grandma Ruth likes to meddle in everyone’s business more than Gladys Kravitz likes to spy on the neighbors.
An Overdue Match by Michelle Griep – Can a librarian and a tattoo artist find love or will they judge a book by its cover?
Want to know what I’m currently reading? Follow me on GoodReads.
Did you know reviews help both readers and authors? Even one sentence is enough, and every word greatly appreciated. Consider leaving a rating on Amazon, Goodreads, BookBub, and/or your favorite retailer!
Happy Tuesday, readers! Welcome back to Top Ten Tuesday, a weekly blog challenge hosted by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl. Today’s topic is “Authors I Read for the First Time in 2024.” Books below are all highly recommended and authors I would definitely read again.
A Million Little Choices by Tamera Alexander
All in Good Time by Carolyn Astfalk
Death Panels by Michelle Buckman
The Oystercatcher of Southwark by Erica Colahan
All These Threads of Time by Sarah Crowne
The Christmas Foundling by Martha Keyes
Love in the Eternal City by Rebecca W. Martin
The Great Date Experiment by Ashley Mays
When the Day Comes by Gabrielle Meyer
To Crown with Liberty by Karen Ullo
Have you read any of these? Which new-to-you authors would you recommend?
