LIGHTNING ROUND
In three words, describe the vibe of your book.
Faith, Hope and Love
What’s your ideal writing fuel: coffee, tea, wine, or chaos?
Ice Water
Plotter, pantser, or organized mess?
Detailed Plotter
If your book had a theme song, what would it be?
How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You.
What small habit or ritual makes you feel most “lucky” when you sit down to write?
I pray before I work and that blesses me and sets the day right.
THE DEEP DIVE
Every book has an origin story. What was the “lightning strike” moment that made you say, “I have to write this”?
I saw a picture of the heroine and a story idea just came to mind. Here’s the photo.
Tell me about a scene you rewrote multiple times. What made it so tricky, and how did you finally crack it?
The first time the hero and heroine meet, I wanted it to be a special moment. Not necessarily a love at first sight, but definitely something unforgettable. I had the heroine faint from the heat and the hero, a doctor, catches her.
Your protagonist: Did they arrive fully formed, or did you uncover them layer by layer? What surprised you most as you wrote?
My heroine came pretty quickly to me. She’s compassionate and has a heart for the needy. No matter the problem, she’s a solutions kind of gal. The hero on the other hand had issues that developed as I plotted out the story. His backstory ended up much more complicated than I had originally planned.
Setting can be a character unto itself. How did your location shape the story’s mood, and what personal connection, if any, do you have to that place?
I’ve always wanted to write about Minneapolis. Bethany House Publishers is located there and I’ve been making trips there since 1996. Minneapolis has a history of great charity works and people who were focused on making the world a better place. As I researched, I found all sorts of ideas.
What theme or question stayed with you throughout the writing process? Did you find clarity, or does it still linger?
The story was all about being the hands and heart of Jesus to those in need, even if that person in need was wealthy. The heroine and hero are all about saving the lost both physically and spiritually.
THE PERSONAL TOUCH
I love hearing about authors’ reading lives. What’s currently at the top of your TBR, and what made you add it?
MAIL ORDER DUCHESS by Misty M. Beller. I’ve long been a fan of Misty’s books and this one looks really good. I also have a stack of non-fiction books to read for research.
Share a behind-the-scenes detail readers might never guess. This could be a research rabbit hole, an unexpected inspiration, or a moment pulled from real life.
My heroine is totally focused on charity work and as I researched Minneapolis I found an amazing real-life woman named Charlotte Van Cleve who strongly resembled the type of woman I wanted for my heroine Judith. Mrs. Van Cleve was an army brat who was the first non-indigenous child born in the Wisconsin Territory. She grew up around army posts and soldiers. She married a soldier when she was young and the two of them went on to have twelve children and adopt another ten. She was instrumental in creating and running a home for unwed mothers, first woman elected to the Minneapolis Board of Education, and helped with a variety of charities and women’s suffrage. The more I read about this woman the more I knew I had to have her in the book.
LOOKING AHEAD
Without spoiling anything, can you give readers a small peek at what you’re working on next? Even just the vibe or question you’re exploring.
Books 2 and 3 of this series come out this year. Book 2 - A LIFE SO TRUE comes out in July and Book 3 - DEVOTED TO LOVE comes out in early November. As for what I’m currently working on - I have a three book series coming out in 2027 that will be set in Roslyn, Washington in 1892.
What’s the best way for readers to stay in touch and follow your literary adventures?
Website, social media, newsletter, or carrier pigeon welcome.
The readers can sign up for my newsletter and see what books are coming next at my website.
They can also touch base at my Facebook page.
Minnesota Legacy #1
A Second Chance Christian Historical Romance set in 1800s Minnesota
Brace yourself for a snowbound adventure in this 2-in-1 novella collection from your favorite romantic suspense authors as an avalanche forces two couples to face down their enemies in a ski resort shut off from the outside world.
In "Buried in Shadows" by Dani Pettrey, Cassandra Parker arrives at her best friend's destination wedding, praying her stalker didn't follow her to Colorado. Also part of the wedding party is Sheriff Joel Brunswick, the man Cassandra left at the altar to save his life. When an avalanche traps their skiing party in an abandoned lodge, it soon becomes dangerously clear Cassandra's stalker has followed her . . . and he is willing to kill to make her his.
In "Snowbound Secrets" by Lynette Eason, Dr. Maya Sullivan fully intends to escape her past and finish planning a retreat for military veterans at the ranch she's inherited. Unfortunately, her plans go sideways when an avalanche traps her in a Colorado ski resort. An unexpected reunion with her high school crush forces her to confront past wounds, but she soon realizes someone is targeting her, and their search for a shadowy enemy becomes a matter of life and death.
Romance Historical | Christian Romance [ Bethany House Publishers, On Sale: February 3, 2026, Paperback / e-Book, ISBN: 9781493452576 / eISBN: 9780764244285 ]
Often called the “Queen of Historical Christian Fiction,” Tracie Peterson is an ECPA, CBA and USA Today best-selling author of more than 110 books, most of those historical. Her work in historical fiction earned her the Best Western Romance Author of 2013 award from True West magazine and the USA Best Books 2011 Award for best Religious Fiction for Embers of Love. She was given the Life Time Achievement Award from American Christian Fiction Writers in 2011 and the Career Achievement Award in 2007 from Romantic Times, as well as multiple best book awards.Tracie received her first book contract in November 1992 and saw A Place To Belong published in February 1993 with Barbour Publishing’s Heartsong Presents. She wrote exclusively with Heartsong for the next two years, receiving their readership’s vote for Favorite Author of the Year for three years in a row. Eventually, Tracie also managed Barbour Publishing’s Heartsong Presents book line—overseeing the production of 52 books a year.
In December 1995 she signed a contract with Bethany House Publishers. Tracie now writes exclusively for Bethany House Publishers/Baker Publishing Group. She has co-written with a variety of authors including Judith Pella, Judith Miller, James Scott Bell, Kimberley Woodhouse, and Tracie’s daughter Jennifer.
Tracie, a Kansas native, now makes her home with her husband, Jim, in the mountains of Montana.
Jennifer Vido writes sweet romances set in the Lowcountry, earning acclaim as the award-winning author of the Gull Island series. When not writing fiction, she interviews authors for her weekly Jen’s Jewels column, leads water exercise classes, and directs a legal nonprofit. Currently residing in Maryland, she and her husband are proud parents to two grown sons and a rescue dog named Fripp.
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