KEES AND COLLIERS SERIES by KELLYN ROTH | AUTHOR INTERVIEW

I’m late with this post. And I’m sorry for that.

(Look, Kell! ^ just for you)

HOWEVER, since I missed the first week of July, I thought, why not go a bit dramatic with the post? So, you will get an epic AUTHOR INTERVIEW with Kelly and… a walk down memory lane. Because the Kees and Colliers are fabulous. We’ll do the interview first so I don’t bore y’all straight off. 😉

KEES AND COLLIERS

The Lady of the Vineyard

Is it too late for Adele to return to her daughter’s life?

When her ex-husband reappears in her life determined to spend more time with their child, Adele Collier allows him to take Judy to France for the summer. As the summer goes by, an internal battle rages in Adele’s heart. Can she give up her glamorous lifestyle to win her daughter’s heart?

Six-year-old Judy is more than happy to trade Adele’s neglect for her father’s adoring care. She loves his vineyard and wishes she could stay there forever, but someday she must return to England. Can Judy trust her mother again?

“A great story about love, emotional turmoil, and the desire to set things right.” ~Long and Short Reviews

“A whimsically beautiful and heartwarming story.” ~Faith L. Potts, author of Dandelion Dust

Flowers in Her Heart

Can Adele change her entire lifestyle to be a mother to her babies?

When her husband goes off to war, Adele feels lost and confused. In a new, less-than-ideal place in a frightening, less-than-ideal time, she flees to the garden with her daughters, determined to make their new house a home, even if it is from the outside in.

Battered by her own inner turmoil and scoffed at by those close to her, Adele seeks to make something beautiful amidst chaos. But can even the most beautiful flowers cover the years of scars?

“So sweet, so true, and so downright good.” ~Angela R. Watts, author of Seek

“A fantastic story about family, faith, and a search for beauty and truth.” ~Goodreads Reviewer

From Now ‘Til Forever

The war is over, but it’s not as easy coming home as he anticipated.

Troy Kee doesn’t know how he’ll settle back into life with his family after WWII, but he’s determined to do so. He feels that if he can just get his family back to their vineyard in France, everything will be all right. But his wife has other plans.

This charming novelette finale to the Kees & Colliers series highlights the difficulties of returning home after a war.

Souls Astray

Adele has been lost for a long time now …

Adele Collier has sought a carefree lifestyle ever since her tragic childhood. Determined to never allow anyone or anything to control her life or emotions again, she consistently seeks distraction in gaiety. But shaking her ghosts isn’t as easy as she’d like.

Troy Kee has been alone in the world since the Great War took his parents and left him in care of his younger sister. When she marries, he’s left to seek after his goal of a healthy, complete family. But how can he focus on his dream when trouble plagues his family vineyard?

When Adele and Troy meet, a whirlwind romance begins—but can two lost souls have a healthy relationship?

“A tragic, well-crafted story of romance, family dynamics, and pain in the years between WW1 and WW2.” ~Jana Tenbrook

“Souls Astray is a heartrending novel, full of poignant themes and topics that are important even today. It is a captivating read and will leave you wanting more.” ~Michaela Bush

 

FIND ALL OF THE BOOKS ON AMAZON OR KELLYN’S WEBSITE!

 

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

KELLYN ROTH

What inspires you to write historical fiction?

 

I’ve always loved historical eras – there’s just such coolness to it! I really don’t know why I do it – I suppose ’cause all my ideas are historical?

 

What kind of romance do you enjoy writing most?

 

Hmm, I think romance where they get to slowly be friends and have to conquer things together even while denying that they’re going to get married? Stupid trope, really, as who is that unaware of their feelings/the opposite matchyness? But I enjoy it.

What character do you relate to the most in the Kees and Colliers series?

 

Probably Harrington. Leave me alone with my books, for crying out loud. 😛

 

I also like Troy a lot, though he’s a lot better than I am. He’s a good guy.

What was your biggest internal struggle while writing this series?

 

I think the biggest problem was Adele. I had to make her likable, yet I didn’t like her, and then I did like her slightly (or at least understood what was going on with her), but she was still unlikable to most people …

There were times when I wanted to just kill her off and have done with it. But I didn’t, and even though she’s never going to be perfect, at least she’s semi-bearable.

What do you pray readers walk away with after reading these books?

I hope they’ll realize that new beginnings are a thing, taking responsibility for your actions is important, and no one’s perfect but that doesn’t give you an excuse for being a brat.

I also love the themes of fatherhood and motherhood I got to weave in. Too many people nowadays undervalue children.

Thanks for interviewing me!

AUTHOR BIO

Kellyn Roth, Author: insightful fiction, unhesitating truth

Kellyn Roth is a Christian & historical author from North-Eastern Oregon. Kell is a ranch girl, homeschool graduate, proud sister of four, proud auntie of five, and owner of two goofy border collies, two presumptuous cats, and a very active betta fish. Check out her website, kellynrothauthor.com, for more info.

Author Website: http://kellynrothauthor.com/

Blog: http://kellynroth.blog/

Reveries Co: http://reveriescompany.com/

Coach Kell: http://coachkell.com/

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest: @ReveriesofRuby

~~~

It is always a pleasure to interview and review Kelly’s books. She’s a dear friend. A sister in Christ. A pal, if you will. Now, it’s time for memory lane. (You had better have read that in a VeggieTales voice. #sorryKelly #Oldhabitsman)

The Lady of The Vineyard came out years ago (I haven’t finished my coffee so don’t expect me to do math) and I had the honor to read it as a beta. I loved it. Then Kellyn published a compilation of short stories, more recently, containing all the tiny, original stories.

I read Goldfish aloud and my little nieces adored it! So from the start, the series has been utterly adorable. Then I hear Kelly was relaunching and rewriting. So, I’m totally pumped I have the original… And I already enjoy the current new books!

Souls Astray was a great step into the series and I read Flowers In Her Hair and adored it. I can’t wait to buy the whole series.

HUGE congrats to Kelly for this series release. She deserves all the hugs. And coffee. BUT she DOES NOT GET Harrington. ;P So there.

God bless,

Ang

Advertisement

AUTHOR INTERVIEW | BEYOND HER CALLING by KELLYN ROTH

I have a very exciting author interview with Kellyn Roth today, in celebration of her new release, Beyond Her Calling! Let’s jump right in because you’re going to love this!

~~~

BLURB

At twenty, Ivy Knight feels as if she hasn’t accomplished anything of worth. Her life stretches on before her, empty and pointless. Though her faith in God and her mental abilities have been strengthened, she still doubts herself. Does God have a purpose for a socially awkward, often confused and frightened young woman?

Jordy McAllen has just returned to Scotland after his education in London. Though he has accomplished a lot for a farm lad such as himself, he fears that what everyone has always said about him may be true: he won’t really make a good doctor. Determined to prove himself, Jordy snatches up the opportunity to become the doctor in the village of Keefmore near his parents’ farm.

Helping Jordy with his work at Keefmore seems like the perfect opportunity for Ivy. Still, she doubts herself. Is there a purpose to Ivy’s life?

AMAZON | GOODREADS

AUTHOR BIO

Kellyn Roth lives on an Eastern Oregon ranch with her parents, little brothers, border collies, cats, and a few dozen cows and chickens. Always a lover of a good story, and especially of telling one, she’s been writing since she was seven and published her first novel at fourteen. Now a homeschool grad, she divides her time between penning her next Christian historical novel, creating professionally silly articles at kellynroth.blog, and her actual life. Actual life plays second fiddle sometimes, though.

Find out more on her website: https://kellynrothauthor.com/

SCHEDULE

Saturday, October 20th

Intro Post // Kellyn Roth @ Reveries

Author Interview // Molly @ A Sparkle of Light

Review // Lisa @ Inkwell

Review & Character Interview (Jordy) // Amie @ Crazy A

Character Interview (Ivy) // Jo @ The Lens and the Hard Drive

Book Spotlight // Annie @ Letters from Annie Douglass Lima

Sunday, October 21st

Theme Day // Kellyn Roth @ Reveries

Guest Post by Character (Ivy) & Review // Grace M. Morris

Book Spotlight // Erika Messer @ Maiden of the Pages

Author Interview // Angela R. Watts @ The Peculiar Messenger

Monday, October 22nd

Ivy Day // Kellyn Roth @ Reveries

Character Interview (Ivy) // Loretta Marchize @ Just Writing

Review // Andrea Cox @ Writing to Inspire

Character Interview (Jordy) // Liz @ Home with the Hummingbirds

Author & Character Interview (Violet) // Julia @ Julia’s Creative Corner

Review & Character Spotlight (Ivy) // Caroline Kloster @ Inside the Autistic Life

Tuesday, October 23rd

Jordy Day // Kellyn Roth @ Reveries

Author Interview // Faith Blum @ Bookish Orchestrations

Review & Guest Post // Cara @ Jessie Bingham

Guest Post // Lindsi @ One Beginner To Another

Character Spotlight (Ena) // Shannon McDermott @ Shannon’s Blog

Wednesday, October 24th

Violet Day // Kellyn Roth @ Reveries

Guest Post // Germaine Han @ The Writing Mafia

Review // Jana T. @ Reviews from the Stacks

Thursday, October 25th

Real Life Day // Kellyn Roth @ Reveries

Book Spotlight // Gabriellyn Gidman @ PageTurners

Author Interview // Sara Willoughby @ Th!nk Magazine

Review // Michaela Bush @ Tangled Up In Writing

Guest Post by Character (Violet) // Peggy M. McAloon @ Peggy’s Hope 4U

Friday, October 26th

Future Day // Kellyn Roth @ Reveries

Review // Abigail McKenna @ Novels, Dragons, and Wardrobe Doors

Review // Gracelyn Buckner @ Literatura

Review // Katherine Brown Books

Review // Bella Putt

Saturday, October 27th

Wrapup Post // Kellyn Roth @ Reveries

Character Interview & Spotlight (Jordy) // Kaylee @ Kaylee’s Kind of Writes

Book Spotlight // Abigail Harder @ Books, Life, and Christ

GIVEAWAY

Enter the giveaway to win a signed paperback copy of Beyond Her Calling!

ENTER HERE!

INTERVIEW

While writing Beyond Her Calling, which character could you strongly relate to?

Honestly, I didn’t relate greatly to Ivy or Jordy. Both of them were loosely based off two of my friends (in real life), and neither of my friends are very like me – nor are their struggles. Jordy is a bit more like me in thought process, though, hehe.

I probably related most strongly to Ena Owen. Ena and I deal with grief in the same way, for one – we get really upset, then we’re mostly okay with it afterwards. We’re both no-nonsense with children, as well, though not without leaving room for creativity (as long as it’s within reason, haha). And I like to think I’m a wise as she is. *gives the rest of the world a condescending glare*

As an historical fiction author, what kind of research do you do, and how long do you research before writing your story?

At this point, I’m honestly just researching a few specifics related to random things for each story and leaving the rest to chance/my former knowledge of the era. When entering a new era, I’ll read a combination of books (fiction and nonfiction) about it or written during it, do a ton of Google searches, ask a gazillion questions of my history nerd (meant as a compliment) friends, etc. But by now, I really understand the Victorian era fairly well.

 

Also, I don’t do a ton of research prior to writing. I like to begin my research in the 2nd or 3rd draft – especially since most of what I need to research are little details that don’t matter at first. (I suppose when people ask me the plotter vs. pantser question I should say, “Plotter … up to a point.” 😉

 

For Beyond Her Calling, I did some research on medical degrees, bipolar disorder, and regions of Scotland then watched five YouTube videos/read a couple blogs on Scottish accents while writing and called it good until the second draft!

 

What was the most difficult thing about writing Beyond Her Calling?

I’m very tempted to say the Scottish accents. Those were hard to pin down! How much do you write? Is the dialect correct for the region? Will the reader even be able to decipher what they’re saying? It was a delicate balance.

 

But I think it was also very hard to portray a grownup Ivy. At least, it took me a while to pin it down!

Do you write each novel as a standalone, or do you feel the series could be more appreciated as a whole?

My goal with my stories – all of them! – is to write novels that a person could pick off a bookshelf, regardless of what order, and enjoy. I think the books before it and even after it will deepen peoples’ understandings of the characters, but I think the books can be equally enjoyed as standalones as they can as series.

When your readers finish Beyond Her Calling, what’s one thing you pray they take from the story?

A desire to read the next book by me? 😉

 

Seriously, though, I hope they take away that everyone is valuable and beloved by God and everyone can succeed at whatever they put their mind to IF they’re relying on Jesus Christ as their strength. But … our plans may not be His, of course, and we need to accept that (as we found out in At Her Fingertips).

 

In truth, I’ve been enjoying exploring different aspects of God’s plans for us in this series! It’s a heavy theme, but it’s not a particularly dark one, which is a nice as the next two books in The Chronicles of Alice and Ivy will feature some challenging topics, including but not limited to adultery, miscarriage/stillborn children, suicidal thoughts and extreme depression, and the forgiveness and/or healing aftermath. Let’s just say I have my work cut out for me if I’m going to portray these in a Christ-like manner!

~~~

If you’re interested in Beyond Her Calling, I will tell you it is one the sweetest books you’ll read. I definitely enjoyed the characters and setting!

Thanks for stopping by, and be sure to visit the rest of the blog stops!

God bless,

– Ang

HAVE YOU READ BEYOND HER CALLING? DO YOU WANT TO? IT IS ALMOST CHRISTMAS, SO BELIEVE ME, THIS IS THE PERFECT GIFT!