Book Pick Friday: COURTING CATE by Leslie Gould

November 23, 2012By Karen Barnett 1 Comment

Now that Thanksgiving is over and shoppers are trickling back from Black Friday sales, it’s time to kick back and enjoy the weekend. Go grab another slice of pie and crack open a good book. Right? My Friday Book Pick for this week is Leslie Gould‘s newest Amish novel, Courting Cate, the first book in … Read More

Friday Book Pick: BE STILL MY SOUL by Joanne Bischof

August 24, 2012By Karen Barnett 10 Comments

“Night’s chill tickled her skin. Lonnie pressed her hands together and glanced up. He was even more handsome up close. Having grown up the shy, awkward daughter of Joel Sawyer, she’d hardly spoken to any boy, let alone the one who had mothers whispering warnings in their daughter’s ears and fathers loading shotguns.” (Be Still … Read More

Friday Book Pick: Wildflowers from Winter by Katie Ganshert

June 29, 2012By Karen Barnett 5 Comments

I’ve heard people argue that they dislike Christian fiction because it’s just happy people living happy lives. There are some novels out there that meet this description, but the vast majority of the books I’ve read deal with real people struggling to survive the problems that life throws at them. In Wildflowers from Winter, debut-novelist … Read More

Friday Book Pick: The Apothecary’s Daughter by Julie Klassen

January 27, 2012By Karen Barnett 1 Comment

The bulk of Christian historical fiction is set in America, but what do you do if you love Jane Austen, Jane Eyre and everything Regency? Look no further. Julie Klassen is the perfect author for you. I just finished reading The Apothecary’s Daughter and enjoyed following Lilly Haswell as she attempts to navigate the fine line dividing her father’s world … Read More

Friday Book Pick: ALONG WOODED PATHS by Tricia Goyer

November 25, 2011By Karen Barnett No Comments

If you need to get away from the Black Friday Madness, is there a better escape than into the simplicity of Amish fiction? Amish stories are in high demand among readers of Christian fiction and it’s no wonder. Our lives are filled with busyness, struggle, and crisis. Many readers long for the purity and clarity that the Amish … Read More

Friday Book Pick: Love Finds You in Sunset Beach, Hawaii

November 4, 2011By Karen Barnett No Comments

Do you remember that old Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup commercial where a person eating peanut butter collides with someone eating chocolate? You got peanut butter on my chocolate! You got chocolate in my peanut butter! Two great tastes that taste great together. When I first heard about Love Finds You in Sunset Beach, Hawaii by Robin … Read More

Telling the story behind the story

July 7, 2011By Karen Barnett 1 Comment

On Tuesday, I shared with you my first attempt at using video content to improve my blog and to talk about my writing. Today, I’d like to share my second video with you. This one tells the story of why I like to write Christian historical fiction and how I first got the idea for … Read More

Friday Book Review: Hidden Affections by Delia Parr

June 17, 2011By Karen Barnett No Comments

What’s the only thing worse than being a divorced woman in 1831? How about being a twice-divorced woman? Delia Parr explores this intriguing plot line in her newest novel, Hidden Affections. After being scammed and then divorced by one man, Anabelle Tyler seeks a fresh start only to be forced into a marriage with an … Read More

An Update on the Writing Process

June 14, 2011By Karen Barnett 4 Comments

Many friends have asked why I haven’t said much about my books lately. Part of that is intentional–now that I am working with an agent and am negotiating with publishing houses, I know professional eyes are watching. There’s nothing like knowing people are observing you to make you want to be (at least pretend to … Read More