1--What is the title of your latest release?
THE MASTER CRAFTSMAN
2--What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?
“The Master Craftsman is a fascinating treasure hunt, an atmospheric tale of the Russian Revolution, and a heart-thumping generational story.” Patti Callahan, New York Times bestselling author of Becoming Mrs. Lewis
3--How did you decide where your book was going to take place?
I have long had a passion for the former Soviet Union. After reading a news article about a missing Imperial Easter Egg created by Peter Karl Faberge, I chased down a rabbit trail of research into the world of Faberge. This led me to the opulence of pre-Revolution Russia, and I knew the story needed to find a home there. But to make it a little more interesting, I decided to make it split time so that we could marry modern day Russia with the Russia of Faberge's day.
4--Would you hang out with your heroine in real life?
Absolutely! The modern-day heroine, Ava Laine, is a girl on a mission on a heart-thumping adventure. I like her spunk. The historical heroine, Alma Pihl, was wildly creative, one of only three master craftsmen in The House of Faberge, and designed two of the most revered Imperial Eggs, The Winter Egg and the Mosaic Egg. I would love to watch her in action!
5--What are three words that describe your hero?
Creative, Flawed, Innovative
6--What’s something you learned while writing this book?
That writing the story that scares you and stretches you and feels bigger than you is the best way to grow in your craft.
7--Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?
I try really hard not to edit while I write. Sometimes, it can’t be avoided, but for the most part I work to save editing for the second draft.
8--What’s your favorite foodie indulgence?
I can rarely resist a piece of key lime pie.
9--Describe your writing space/office!
I don’t have one! With five children and a husband who works from home, I have to work wherever I’m able to find space. My books are written at the kitchen table, the couch, my bed, in coffee shops, and in the occasionally hotel room when I sneak away to focus.
10--Who is an author you admire?
Ariel Lawhon. She is so smart and creative in how she organizes her stories, and she’s a fabulous storyteller. Also, Patti Callahan. She doesn’t waste a single word in her stories!
11--Is there a book that changed your life?
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver stuck with me for a very, very long time.
12--Tell us about when you got “the call.” (when you found out your book was going to be published)
Well, it was an email, and I was just so honored that someone wanted to pick up the story and run with it. I will never get over anyone wanting to read words that I’ve written. It’s a thrill every single time.
13--What’s your favorite genre to read?
Historical fiction. I also enjoy dystopian, and I’ll dabble in women’s lit, but only if it keeps me engaged and feels like a relevant topic.
14--What’s your favorite movie?
Barbra Streisand’s Funny Girl!
15--What is your favorite season?
Winter…only because I live in Florida and winter is magical here!
16--How do you like to celebrate your birthday?
With my family. I have a June birthday, which works out well because we are often traveling during my birthday, which makes for some fun memories.
17--What’s a recent tv show/movie/book/podcast you highly recommend?
My friend Jordan Raynor just did a limited series podcast with Mark Batterson called Redeem Your Day, and it was excellent! I also really love Jordan’s podcast, A Call to Mastery.
18--What’s your favorite type of cuisine?
I have recently discovered that I love Thai food!
19--What do you do when you have free time?
What is free time?! Just kidding…in the rare moments I have time to myself, I love writing. It doesn’t feel like work to me. It’s just joyful. I also enjoy curling up with a good book. And traveling. I really love traveling.
20--What can readers expect from you next?
I’m so busy with promotion of my last three books that I haven’t had a ton of time to start new projects. But I’m collaborating with a friend on a screenplay idea right now, so hopefully that will come to fruition!
In 1917, Alma Pihl, a master craftsman in The House of Faberge, was charged to protect one of the greatest secrets in Russian history--an unknown Faberge Egg that Peter Karl Faberge secretly created to honor his divided allegiance to both the people of Russia and the Imperial Czar's family. When Alma and her husband escaped Russia for their native Finland in 1921, she took the secret with her, guarding her past connection to the Romanov family.
Three generations later, world-renowned treasure hunter Nick Laine is sick and fears the secret of the missing egg will die with him. With time running out, he entrusts the mission of retrieving the egg to his estranged daughter, Ava, who has little idea of the dangers she is about to face. As the stakes are raised, Ava is forced to declare her own allegiance--and the consequences are greater than she could have imagined.
This modern-day treasure hunt from award-winning author Kelli Stuart transports you into the opulent and treacherous world of the Russian Revolution to unearth mysteries long buried.
Romance Contemporary [Revell, On Sale: April 5, 2022, Paperback / e-Book, ISBN: 9780800740429 / eISBN: 9781493435715]
Kelli Stuart is a writer and a storyteller at heart. A graduate of Baylor University with a degree in English Professional Writing, and a minor in the Russian language, Kelli has honed her skills in the written word through editing, ghostwriting, blogging, and traveling the world. Kelli lives in Tampa, Florida with her husband and five children.
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