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  • Episode 557: A Chat with Laura DeNooyer
    2026/07/04
    I've had so much fun chatting with Laura DeNooyer about her books, and The Broken Weathervane sounds amazing. Listen in as we talk about family secrets and see them across dual timelines. note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you. I love split-time novels, and I can't wait to read this one. We also chatted about being eclectic writers--people unable to stick to just one genre when stories demand different ones. The Broken Weathervane by Laura DeNooyer Two coworkers want the same truth. Only one of them can afford to reveal it. Leslie Wickersham has spent years hiding her connection to the legendary Buckwalter family—a secret her grandmother made her swear to protect. Now, thriving in her new role at Raymond University, she's tasked with helping brassy English professor Dr. Gregory Scott Stafford achieve full professor status. But there's a problem: Greg is racing to complete a biography of celebrated author Linus Fritz Buckwalter, and one final interview stands between him and publication. Leslie knows exactly who that interview subject is—her grandmother, Klara—and why speaking up could expose secrets her family has protected for decades. When Klara finally entrusts Leslie with her 1950s diary, the pages reveal why Fritz's brother, Edmund, quietly disappeared—and the devastating truth that fractured the family forever. As deadlines close in, Leslie finds herself caught between professional obligation and personal loyalty. The closer Greg comes to the truth, the more fragile Leslie's carefully guarded silence becomes—and the higher the risk of whatever choice she makes. Unfolding across dual timelines, The Broken Weathervane explores family loyalty, the stigma of mental illness, and the cost of telling the truth. Readers who enjoy thoughtful, book-centered fiction with layered timelines and emotional depth will appreciate this novel in the vein of Rachel Hauck, Susie Finkbeiner, Erin Bartels, Amanda Wen, and Katherine Reay. Discover The Broken Weathervane today and step into a story where the past refuses to stay quiet. Don't miss the Celebrate Lit Tour HERE. Learn more on Laura's WEBSITE and follow on GoodReads and BookBub. Like to listen on the go? You can find Because Fiction Podcast at: Apple Castbox Google Play Libsyn RSS Spotify Amazon YouTube and more!
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    30 分
  • Episode 559: A Chat with Lisa Phillips
    2026/07/11

    One of my favorite series is Lisa Phillips' Brand of Justice. Listen in as we talk about the final book (Psst... it can be read as a stand alone) in this sixteen-book series!

    note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you.

    I've been holding out on finishing the series since I finished book three. IT's time. So once we got done talking, I loaded up the next book on my phone and wheeeeeee! here we go!

    Now Until Forever by Lisa Phillips

    **The Epic Stand-alone Finale**

    Born into a legacy, Eliana must find her own brand of justice.

    After moving to Chicago to work at the mysterious Shrine museum, Eliana is determined to uncover the family secrets she's never been told. When she stumbles upon her first ever dead body, everyone around her believes she should try and solve the murder. But taking cases isn't what she came here for. Despite her plans, things are about to turn far more sinister, and the path she's on seems determined to drag her back into a nightmare.

    Chicago PD Officer Carlos Ryson was born into a legacy of his own. He's here to look for his missing sister, Luci, and wants to enlist Eliana's help. This is a family problem, and only family working together can solve it. But Eliana has never forgotten the way Carlos shredded her heart. If he wants them to team up, he'll have to confront the damage he did and find a way to repair it.

    While the city around them descends into a chaos that resembles the end times, someone has seized the opportunity to get what they want from the Shrine. Only Eliana stands in their way, but if she's going to figure this out she'll need to trust that the people around her have her back.

    Before it's too late.

    Now Until Forever is the stand-alone finale to the Brand of Justice series, and is set in the near-future. It features a happily ever after romance mixed with high-stakes suspense in this gripping crime fiction story.

    Don't miss The Lazerus Protocol preorder, too1

    Learn more on Lisa's WEBSITE and follow on GoodReads and BookBub.

    Like to listen on the go? You can find Because Fiction Podcast at:

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    31 分
  • Episode 558: A Chat with Felicia Hurd
    2026/07/06

    Because Fiction is a celebration of fiction, but when I had the chance to chat with Felicia Hurd, I couldn't resist. Listen in and see why Count It All Joy is the first (and possibly only) nonfiction book we'll feature here.

    note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you.

    People often ask why we go through hard things, but hearing others' stories often helps us learn and grow.

    Count It All Joy by Felicia Hurd

    Count it all joy! Have you heard these words before? Is that even possible? How can you count it all joy when life's challenges are coming at you, often one right after another, before you have time to recover from the challenge before? You may have heard the saying, "count it all joy," in church for many years. While the phrase can be difficult to grasp the concept, it is possible in God's timing and strength.

    In Count It All Joy, you will see how first-time author Felicia A. Hurd reveals her account of trials and challenges that shook and eventually strengthened Felicia's faith. On this faith journey, from not trusting God to trusting God and studying His Word, Felicia has learned to count it all joy, even during trials, while learning to thank God in advance of the outcome, even if Felicia disagree with the outcome. God is a good Father, and Felicia has come to trust and believe that God knows what is needed and when.

    Welcome to the journey of Count It All Joy ~ Including the Broken Pieces

    Learn more on Felicia's WEBSITE and follow on GoodReads.

    Like to listen on the go? You can find Because Fiction Podcast at:

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    38 分
  • Episod 560: A Chat witih Melanie Dobson
    2026/07/13

    No one does split-time like Melanie Dobson, and boy has she got a fabulous one for us now! Listen in to what she shares about her latest, The Lost Story of Via Belle.

    note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you.

    I love hearing about authors' research, but actually getting to see Grace Livingston Hill's WRITING ROOM? WHAT?

    The Lost Story of Via Belle by Melanie Dobson

    Searching for a story to adapt for film, an aspiring screenwriter becomes captivated by a bestselling classic novel and the mysterious disappearance of the woman who wrote it.

    1940. Via Belle's sweet romance novels made readers believe in happily ever after. But Via's reality was much more complicated. While her first husband was alive, her creativity thrived in a beautiful stone estate situated above a pristine lake and moonflower garden. After his tragic death and a whirlwind second marriage shrouded in secrets, Via vanished from public life, leaving behind a shadow of scandal . . . and her final story.

    2006. Screenwriter Harper Rayne is desperate for a breakthrough, if only she can find the right story to tell. But when she digs into the life of her late mother's favorite novelist, she never expects it to become personal. Drawn to the quaint Pennsylvania town where both her mother and Via once lived, Harper discovers more than a mystery to solve—she finds echoes of her own longing for love, healing, and home. As long-buried secrets come to light, Harper must decide if she'll protect the past or rewrite this particular ending.

    Described as a "powerhouse in dual-timeline Christian fiction" (Library Journal), Melanie Dobson delivers another rich, atmospheric novel about the legacy of sacrificial love and the redemptive power of truth.

    • Standalone dual-timeline historical mystery filled with drama, faith, and intrigue
    • Clean, suspenseful historical fiction, perfect for fans of Susan Meissner, Lisa Wingate, or Patti Callahan Henry
    • Includes discussion questions for book groups

    You can learn more about Melanie Dobson on her WEBSITE. Also follow her on GoodReads and BookBub.

    Like to listen on the go? You can find Because Fiction Podcast at:

    • Apple
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    28 分
  • Episode 561: A Chat with Laura Frantz
    2026/07/18

    Chatting with Laura Frantz is always a delight, and considering America's 250th celebration, it's apropos that she has a new release. Listen in as we discuss this latest story!

    note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you.

    Make reading The Belle of Chatham part of your celebration this summer... even if you're not American. We love celebrating with everyone over here. If you're British... um... sorry? (not sorry). But um... maybe you can see it as an escape from those crazy Yanks? ;)

    The Belle of Chatham by Laura Frantz

    A tale of courtship & marriage, duty versus desire, faith & forgiveness.
    *
    In 1777, caught in the crossroads of the American Revolution, sisters Maebel and Coralie Bohannon's quaint New Jersey village becomes a battleground as they house American officers in their home. Rebellion ripples through their family as members take opposing sides--Patriots and Loyalists--causing a deep chasm that fractures their once-unbreakable bond. As Mae's friendship grows with the American general Rhys Harlow, Coralie continues her liaison with her childhood sweetheart, a British officer stationed in New York. Torn between her growing love for the general and suspicion that her sister is a British spy, Mae leaves the only home she's ever known for the New York frontier. When betrayal strikes in the heart of the wilderness, she's forced to take a perilous journey that tests her very survival and those she loves, all in the name of liberty.
    *
    Proclaimed wordsmith extraordinaire by Library Journal, Laura Frantz delivers a stirring tale of divided loyalties, sisterhood, and love.

    Don't miss out on Bakerbookhouse.com 's 30% off with free US shipping. You can find that HERE.

    Learn more about Laura on her WEBSITE and follow her on GoodReads and BookBub.

    Like to listen on the go? You can find Because Fiction Podcast at:

    • Apple
    • Castbox
    • Google Play
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    39 分
  • Episode 562: A Chat with Laura Thomas
    2026/07/20

    Anyone who knows me knows I LOVE Laura Thomas' work, especially her Bite of Betrayal series. Ribbons of Guilt takes the suspense to almost thriller level. Listen in and see why I can't wait to find out what's coming next! (I mean, I've already read this so...

    note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you.

    My review (from my advance reader copy from the publisher).

    With more twists and turns than a pirouette, Laura Thomas sets the stage for a heart racing story that begins in beauty and builds to a crescendo you pray won't come. In her signature style, Laura layers secrets and sinister situations into one impossible-to-put-down novel. Romantic suspense rises to the next level as Leo and Harriet wrestle not only with the strange events taking their lives hostage but also the possible death of a marriage neither is ready to give up on. Or are they? Stock up on snacks and drinks before you sit down to read, because once you pick up this book, you'll be the next hostage--to the next page!

    Ribbons of Guilt by Laura Thomas

    A marriage in crisis. A betrayer in the wings. A life at stake.

    Harriet Duval has it all—a handsome French husband, a delightful young daughter, a successful career as a professional ballerina behind her, and a beautiful future in a charming village in the English countryside. Even her beloved sisters can't see the painful truth she hides beneath her perfect mask…

    Successful businessman Leo Duval is at a breaking point physically, emotionally, and spiritually as he is forced to harbor secrets in Paris while his marriage in England dissolves before his very eyes.

    The magnetic pull of Harriet's old dancing life and the shocking murder of a Swan Lake ballerina causes her to question everything: faith, future, family. When the killer begins targeting the Duval family, Leo and Harriet's vulnerable marriage is tested by an unimaginable traumatic event. Will the guilt they carry divide them when they need each other most?

    Learn more about Laura on her WEBSITE and follow her on GoodReads and BookBub.

    To learn about Captured in Frame, the first book in the series, listen HERE.

    Like to listen on the go? You can find Because Fiction Podcast at:

    • Apple
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    • and more!
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    41 分
  • Bonus Episode: A Chat with Becca Wierwille
    2026/07/21

    I can't be the only person who cut her reading teeth on mysteries, and author Becca Wierwille has a great series for young readers with THREE new books coming out. Listen in and learn all about the new Scout & Barnaby books AND how you can get them early!

    note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you.

    Don't miss Becca's Kickstarter! You only have a couple of days left! Find that HERE!

    Also, don't miss the first interview about this series HERE.

    Scout & Barnaby Series by Becca Wierwille

    The Scout and Barnaby Mysteries are funny, heartwarming Christian chapter books for kids ages 6-10 by award-winning children's author Becca Wierwille. These lightly illustrated mysteries star a girl named Scout and her unusually perceptive dog, Barnaby. They team up to solve mysteries at a Christian wilderness camp using her love of big words and his super sniffer.

    The series begins when Barnaby eats Scout's dictionary—and after that, he can understand words!

    Written as a bridge between chapter books and longer middle grade works, these books combine fun whodunit mystery elements with faith and humor. Books feature a larger font for emerging readers, stay short at approximately 15,000 words, and include illustrations by award-winning illustrator Brad Smith.

    This campaign is not just for one book, but for the next THREE books in the Scout and Barnaby Mysteries (books 4-6)!

    Learn more about Becca on her WEBSITE and follow her on GoodReads and BookBub.

    And listen to her PODCAST HERE.

    Like to listen on the go? You can find Because Fiction Podcast at:

    • Apple
    • Castbox
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    • Libsyn
    • RSS
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    • and more!
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    35 分
  • Episode 566: A Chat with Clint Hall
    2026/08/03

    I blame Clint Hall for me singing Roger Millers "Two Worlds Collide" for the last couple of months. No, his sci-fi Worlds Collide has nothing to do with that song, but... I'm DYING to read it. Listen in and see why.

    note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you.

    Space wars? Prophecy? EEEP!!!

    I found Worlds Collide while writing one of my books and was eager to get a copy of it. Thanks to Clint for the lovely copy sitting on my shelf right next to me. Time to start!

    Worlds Collide by Clint Hall

    Five worlds at war. Only one can survive.

    Ten thousand years ago, five cosmic beings—a dragon, a phoenix, a serpent, a lion, and a wolf—set their worlds on an inevitable collision course. Each civilization was given one command: destroy the rival worlds, or crash into them and die.

    As the planets draw near to each other, the moment of final reckoning is at hand. In a galaxy filled with starfighters and superweapons, magic and manipulation, planet-killing devices and mechanized legions, five heroes must defend their homeworlds against overwhelming odds.

    But when prophecy and destiny collide, a far greater power begins to stir—one that challenges everything they've been told.

    Oaths will be broken. Chains will be shattered. Champions will rise. The fate of the universe hangs in the balance as these heroes discover whether any world deserves to survive.

    The War of the Creators has begun.

    Perfect for fans of Red Rising, The Expanse, and mythic sci-fi epics, Worlds Collide blends high-stakes interplanetary war with a legendary, fate-driven mystery—where the final battle may not be what it seems.

    Learn more on Clint's WEBSITE and follow on GoodReads.

    The Experience podcast starts up in September.

    Like to listen on the go? You can find Because Fiction Podcast at:

    • Apple
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    43 分