What is the title of your latest release?
WHERE WE BELONG
What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?
Hester’s fondest dream fulfilled is Callum’s worst nightmare. But God can redeem…if Callum will let Him.
How did you decide where your book was going to take place?
I love setting stories in my home state of Kansas, and Kansas was a regular stop for directors of New York orphanages that sought to place children away from the big city into rural communities. Consequently, I researched small Kansas towns to which children were brought on the orphan trains and chose Marion, which is near where my father grew up.
Would you hang out with your heroine in real life?
I would absolutely hang out with Hester. She is modeled after my dear step-grandmother who had the most unselfish, giving heart. Hester would be an ideal friend.
What are three words that describe your hero?
I would define Callum as hardworking, stubborn, and a “get things done right” man.
What’s something you learned while writing this book?
The orphan train movement was the springboard for the national foster care system. For some reason, I’d never really made that connection and found it interesting.
Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?
I am an edit-as-I-go kind of gal. I’m also a recovering perfectionist, so there’s that. But editing the previous day’s work helps me fully connect with the characters and “hear” where they want to go in the next pages.
What’s your favorite foodie indulgence?
Oh, goodness, I rarely make it to the end of the day without indulging in a square of dark chocolate with almonds. But for a real indulgence, I want a T-bone steak and baked potato.
Describe your writing space/office!
I am blessed to have a dedicated writing space that was lovingly built in our basement by my dad and husband. French doors open into a room with a hardwood floor, walls painted in shades of purple (one paint color is called Poetry in the Park…how perfect is that?), and a large window that allows in lots of light. At one end is my “thinking spot”—two floral chairs flanking an electric fireplace; and the other is my “writing spot”—a comfy purple desk chair and vintage desk, and a HUGE monitor to accommodate my aging eyes (ahem). There are three bookcases laden with research books and some of my favorite classic fiction titles as well as photographs of people dear to me, cherished childhood picture books, and quite a number of stuffed animals (mostly cats). And, importantly, there’s a cat bed on the corner of my desk to accommodate one of my current “mewses.”
Who is an author you admire?
It’s really hard to limit this to one because there are so many writers who inspire me for different reasons, but I’ll go back to the first author that made me want to write stories of faith: Catherine Marshall. When I read Christy for the first time as a freshman in high school, I was completely sucked into her story world. I not only read it, I felt as if I was Christy walking the woods, teaching the children, learning from Miss Alice, and being drawn to the mysterious Dr. McNeill. I wanted to engage readers someday the way Mrs. Marshall engaged me. She gave me a bar for which to reach.
Is there a book that changed your life?
I was raised by parents who taught me in both word and action that all people are made in God’s image and all are precious in His sight. When I read To Kill a Mockingbird at 13, it opened my eyes to an ugly side of man I really hadn’t encountered. In a way, it shattered my innocence. But it also awakened a deeper sense of empathy within me and increased my determination to always treat people with kindness and fairness.
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.
March 15, 2005, I was in the middle of parent-teacher conferences (I taught fifth grade at the time) when an email popped in that my story Dear John had been selected for the Heartsong Presents line of Barbour Publishing. Needless to say, it was pretty hard to concentrate after that.
What’s your favorite genre to read?
I’ve been in love with historical fiction ever since my first-grade teacher gifted me with Little House in the Big Woods for Christmas.
What’s your favorite movie?
I would have to say my favorite movie is Steel Magnolias. Each of the characters are so richly drawn, and the interplay of relationships draws me in and makes me want to be part of their circle.
What is your favorite season?
I love winter. I love watching fluffy snowflakes drift from the gray sky and coat the ground with a blanket of white. I love bundling up in a sweater and fuzzy socks and sitting in front of the fireplace with a cup of cocoa warming my hands. I love catching the flash of a cardinal’s red feathers in the bare branches of bushes or trees. I think my love for snow and winter was birthed the single year I lived in Minnesota. I was seven, and all the snow seemed magical to me.
How do you like to celebrate your birthday?
Just being with family is celebration enough for me.
What’s a recent tv show/movie/book/podcast you highly recommend?
My book club and I recently read How the Light Gets In by Jolina Petersheim. Although it isn’t a recent release (it was published in 2019), it has the most unique ending of any book I’ve ever read. For readers who want an unpredictable read, grab a copy and prepare for surprise.
What’s your favorite type of cuisine?
I am so not a picky eater, but if I had to choose one, I’d go with Italian.
What do you do when you have free time?
When I have a day to spare, I love to explore off-the-highway little towns. Spare hours? I catch time with family or friends, pack Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts, read, sew, paint…or catch a nap on the back porch where my wind chimes serenade me.
What can readers expect from you next?
Because I’m between contracts, I don’t specifically know what I will write next. However, readers can always expect a character-driven story that is safe to share with teenage daughters or your grandmother. Readers can also expect a strong thread of faith pointing to the hope we have in a relationship with God through Jesus.
Narrator: Jennette Selig
An Orphan Train Novel
The life of Hester Haak, a widow with no children of her own, takes an unexpected turn when she opens her Kansas home to children from the bustling streets of New York City. The orphan asylum has entrusted her with two sisters and a young boy, and Hester is determined to provide a safe and loving environment for them. Despite the looming uncertainty of their stay, she rises to the challenge, embracing the opportunity to make a difference in their lives.
Meanwhile, Callum Holbrook is grappling with the loss of his wife and the despair that followed. Unable to provide for his family, he made the heart-wrenching decision to place his daughters in an orphanage, promising it was only temporary. Now, with a stable job and a renewed sense of purpose, Callum is horrified to learn that his daughters have been sent halfway across the country. Fueled by determination and love, he embarks on the difficult journey to bring them back.
Through their struggles and triumphs, Hester and Callum discover that family and love can be found in the most surprising places—and that the journey home is paved with hope.
Christian | Romance Historical [ Independently Published, On Sale: April 21, 2026, Paperback / e-Book / audiobook, ISBN: 9780593600856 / eISBN: 9780593600863 ]
Kim Vogel Sawyer is the author of eleven novels, including several bestsellers. In her spare time, she enjoys drama, quilting, and calligraphy. She and her husband, Don, reside in Hutchinson, Kansas, and have three daughters and four grandchildren.
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