Happy Monday!
Each Monday I would like to take some time to get to know some of our favorite authors. My hope is that this will help readers connect with the authors.
Today I would like to introduce you to: Rachel Fordham!
The whole time that I have known Rachel, she has been such a sweet person! She has such a huge heart and is an inspiration! I remember the first time that I read one of her books! I was fascinated by the fact that her main character, Em,was so different than any I had read before. She has stuck with me all this time!
Author bio:
Rachel Fordham is the author of The Hope of Azure Springs, Yours Truly, Thomas, and A Life Once Dreamed. Fans expect stories with heart and she delivers, diving deep into the human experience and tugging at reader emotions. She loves connecting with people, traveling to new places, and daydreaming about future projects that will have sigh-worthy endings and memorable characters. She is a busy mom, raising both biological and foster children (a cause she feels passionate about). She lives with her husband and children on an island in the state of Washington.
To help us get to know her, I have given her some questions and here are her responses:
Q: How long have you been writing?
A: A little over six years ago I was in need of a creative outlet. I LOVED my busy household of kiddos but felt restless. I thought of taking a class but the schedule was crazy around our house. When I told my husband my woes, he said, “You read so much why not write a book.”
I had always thought of myself as “too ordinary” to do something like write a novel but since my aim was just to have a hobby, I decided to try. To make a long story short it went better than I thought it would (it still required a lot of study and editing and determination). It was exactly what I needed and my life has been richly blessed by diving in and trying.
Q: What are you currently working on?
A: I am actually ahead on books (which is an awesome place to be) so I am working on what I hope will become my 2023 book. If all goes as planned it will take readers back to Iowa in 1884. It’s standalone but has a few cameos from favorite characters from my other books.
Q: What are some of your writing must haves? (Drink, snack, supplies, etc.)
A: I’ve never had the luxury of working in “ideal circumstances” so I don’t have very many must haves. I’ve learned to work late at night, in between teaching homeschool and while waiting in pick up lines. My dream is to just write uninterrupted for a whole block of time (then again, I don’t want my littles to grow up to fast so I’ll just keep doing what I’m doing for now).
Q: What is your favorite time period to write about? Or read about?
A: I’ve been writing late 1800’s for so long now, I feel very comfortable and home there. I love the simplicity of the era and the pace of life. I suppose I would say that is my favorite! Having said that, I should add, I love so many eras and enjoy visiting them all as I read.
Q: What are some of your favorite books?
A: This is always the toughest questions because there are so many wonderful books out there. Here are a couple that have a special place in my heart-
Where the Red Fern Grows- I am not a dog person but the messages in this book really touch my heart and I have memories of crying/sobbing while reading this.
Jane Eyre- This book has everything. Mystery, romance, suspense and it’s thought provoking.
These is My Words- This one is gritty and not for everyone but I LOVE that this romance goes beyond just falling in love.
Gah! I want to keep going. I have so many favorites!!!
Q: If you could spend a day with one fictional character, who would you pick and what would you do?
A: Hmmmm…this is a tough question. I write character driven stories for a reason. Relationships matter to me more than grand adventures (though, I love those too) so I think I would choose to meet someone with wisdom, who could teach me and become my friend. Depending on where I am in life, I’d pick different characters. Right now I am in the middle of raising a houseful of kids, nervously anticipating the day they fly the nest and trying to balance that with my ambitions. I’d love to spend a day with a character that could help me know how to savor it all.
I have saved my favorite question for last!
Q: What would you like readers to take away from your books?
A: First and foremost, I want them to be entertained. I want them to feel like they spent their time in an enjoyable and productive way when they pick up one of my books.
Beyond that each book seemed to find its own message. The Hope of Azure Springs is for readers who need to be reminded what true beauty is and who need to remember that life, even after hard things, is mean to be lived not just survived. Yours Truly, Thomas is for everyone that needs to be reminded that pain can be an incredible teacher if we let it and that love means more than butterflies. A Life Once Dreamed will remind readers that our worth is not contingent on where we are born.
I hope readers feel the heart of my book and are touched by it.
To connect with Rachel, please click on any of the following links: her Facebook, website, and Instagram.
I’m also featuring her most recent release, A Life Once Dreamed. This book is so good! Her characters draw you in and keep you hooked! Be sure to add this book to your Goodreads shelf!
About the book:
Six years ago, a shocking secret sent Agnes Pratt running in search of a new start. She found it in Penance, a rugged town of miners and lumberjacks in the Dakota Territory, where she became Miss Aggie, respected schoolteacher and confirmed old maid. But the past has a way of catching up with people.
When childhood friend and former sweetheart James Harris accepts a position as the town doctor, Aggie’s pleasantly predictable days suddenly become anything but. James wants to know why Agnes left behind the life they had dreamed of creating for themselves–but he is the one person who can never know.
In the shadows of the Black Hills, can a healing light be shed on the past? Or will the secret Agnes can’t seem to outrun destroy her chance at happiness?
Fan-favorite Rachel Fordham brings to life the dusty streets of an 1880s frontier town in this story that affirms where you come from matters far less than where you’re going.
All The Bookish Adventures 
Thanks for having me!
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