1--What is the title of your latest release?
A TOKEN OF LOVE
2--What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?
A Token of Love is a dual-time novel set in London in 1885 and contemporary time. It’s a family story of heartache and hope—truth and justice as a determined aunt and a dedicated journalist team up to search for her young niece who has been abducted from the Foundling Hospital, London’s oldest children’s charity home.
3--How did you decide where your book was going to take place?
My last nine novels have been set in England in the late Victorian and Edwardian Eras, and my readers have come to expect stories set in those time periods. In my research, I saw a painting of a woman giving her baby into the care of the Foundling Hospital. That image gripped my heart. As I started the research, I learned the mothers sometimes left small items, which they called tokens, as identifiers, in the hope that if their situation changed, they might be able to return and reclaim their child. Victorian London is filled with interesting people, customs, and sites. It’s a great time and place to set a story!
4--Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life?
Since this is a dual-time novel, I have two heroines, and I would definitely be drawn to both of them. I want my readers to like my heroines, identify with them, and feel they can cheer for them as they work through issues and overcome obstacle. So that means I need to like them as well and create a heroine I’d like as a friend.
5--What are three words that describe your protagonist?
Lillian is generous, determined, and loyal. Janell is organized, intelligent, and caring,
6--What’s something you learned while writing this book?
I learned that human trafficking was an issue in Victorian London just as much as it is today in the US and around the world. I also learned there were people of faith who stood up for those who could not speak for themselves. They inspired me and motivated me to look for ways to live out my faith in everyday life and to help those in need, especially women and girls.
7--Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?
I like to start each writing session by looking over what I wrote the last time. I like to revise that section before I move ahead. When I’m finished with the book, I read through it again and do more revisions. After my editors read it, they send suggestions for additional changes. So, it’s revised and polished several times before it goes to the reader.
8--What’s your favorite foodie indulgence?
Dark chocolate. Yum!
9--Describe your writing space/office!
I write in different places around my house. My favorite spot is my recliner in the living room. That’s the most comfortable spot to put my feet up and sink into the story.
10--Who is an author you admire?
So many authors have been kind and helpful to me on my writing journey. It’s hard to choose just one. But I especially appreciate Cathy Gohlke who has become a dear friend and is a constant encourager. Her books are amazing! I love all the stories and characters she creates. But even more, I love her heart for the Lord, for her family, and for her readers.
11--Is there a book that changed your life?
The Bible is at the top of the list for inspiring and encouraging me. As far as fiction goes, Mixed Signals by Liz Curtis Higgs inspired me to write inspirational romance; Promise Me This by Cathy Gohlke and The Lady and the Lion Heart by Joanne Bischof showed me how to weave in faith messages that deepen a story’s impact. And Jan Karon’s Mitford series has shown me how books can comfort your heart.
12--Tell us about when you got “the call.” (when you found out your book was going to be published)/Or, for indie authors, when you decided to self-publish.
I was first published in 2005 in a novella collection titled Wedded Bliss. Kristy Dykes, the author who mentored me and invited me to join her for that project, called to tell me Barbour had accepted our proposal. It was a thrill and a blessing. I’d already written five full length novels and a novella before that one was accepted. I had an agent, but that acceptance was a wonderful step forward.
13--What’s your favorite genre to read?
I love to read inspirational historical romance, but I also enjoy some inspirational contemporary romance and women’s fiction.
14--What’s your favorite movie?
While You Were Sleeping is one of my all-time favorites.
15--What is your favorite season?
I love Spring when all the flowers bloom again and we can spend time outside and enjoy the sunshine.
16--How do you like to celebrate your birthday?
Going out to dinner with my husband and our grown children and grandchildren is a fun way to celebrate my birthday. I might also go for a pedicure, have lunch with a friend, or take a walk around the lake near our house.
17--What’s a recent tv show/movie/book/podcast you highly recommend?
I’ve loved watching The Chosen TV Series. It’s so well done and really brings the events and people of the New Testament to life.
18--What’s your favorite type of cuisine?
I like healthy, fresh, and gluten-free food. My favorite food blogger is Lisa from Downshiftology. She has great videos that show you how to prepare the recipes she shares, and the food is delicious!
19--What do you do when you have free time?
I like to spend time in my flower gardens, enjoy lunch or going to a play or movie with my husband or a friend, bake something tasty, call my kids, grandkid, or my mother-in-law for a chat, check in with friends on Facebook and Instagram, enjoy my grandchildren, help at my church library, or take part in our women’s small group and women’s events at church.
20--What can readers expect from you next?
I’m working on my next English historical series, The Lost Treasures of Yorkshire. Book One, Echoes Across the Moors, tells the story of three sisters who will inherit an old estate in Yorkshire if they can live there for one year. But with all the mysterious incidents that keep happening, the sisters soon realize someone doesn’t want them to stay. It has mystery, romance, inspiration, and family drama and will release Fall 2025.
Separated by centuries, the lives of two women intertwine through their shared pursuit of love, truth, and justice.
In 1885 London, Lillian Freemont embarks on a treacherous journey to reunite with her long-lost niece, Alice, who was abandoned at the Foundling Hospital eight years ago. Fueled by her sister's plea and armed with the gold token that identifies her niece, Lillian teams up with investigative reporter Matthew McGivern to expose the grim reality of the shadowed streets of London. As Lillian and Matthew unravel the mystery of Alice's disappearance, their partnership blossoms into one of shared purpose and undeniable attraction.
In present-day London, Janelle Spencer finds herself unexpectedly running the Foundling Museum. When filmmaker Jonas Conrad arrives to document the museum's history, their collaboration takes a surprising turn as they uncover articles from the past that shed light on a haunting connection to the present. As Janelle becomes caught between exposing the truth and protecting the museum's reputation, she must decide if she can risk everything for what she believes.
Romance | Christian Historical [Bethany House Publishers, On Sale: September 3, 2024, Paperback / e-Book, ISBN: 9780764241062 / eISBN: 9781493448142]
Carrie Turansky is an award-winning author of more than twenty inspirational romance novels set in Edwardian England and the US. She loves weaving heartwarming tales about family, faith, and lasting love. Her novels have been translated into several foreign languages and enjoyed by readers around the world. Carrie enjoys connecting with reading friends on social media and through her website and blog.
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