I write novels that illuminate hidden slices of history and the oft-forgotten men and women whose courageous spirits shone against the darkness of the Holocaust, as well as inspirational historical romance novellas. Themes of sacrifice, hope, and living out faith in a broken world infuse my stories. I don’t shy away from dealing with the grittier aspects of history in a sensitive and authentic way, because I believe studying the past, even the darkest parts, has the power to impact how we live today. It’s often when bringing a novel to life feels the most daunting that I discover the stories closest to my heart.

When I discovered the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer through Eric Metaxas’s Seven Men: And the Secret of Their Greatness, I was fascinated by the story of a pastor and theologian who stood boldly against the Nazi regime—a German pastor, no less. A few months later, I came across a quote from Love Letters from Cell 92, the book containing Dietrich’s correspondence with his fiancée, Maria von Wedemeyer. Instantly, a question begged to be answered: What kind of a woman would capture the heart of a man like Dietrich Bonhoeffer?

Though I was in the midst of other writing projects, I couldn’t stop thinking about this remarkable couple, and wondering why their relationship had never been explored in narrative form. The more I delved into research, the more captivated I became by this extraordinary woman whose story has been, for the most part, lost to time. I wanted to bring out Maria’s role in Dietrich’s life and introduce her to readers who may be familiar with Bonhoeffer, but have never met Maria, as well as readers discovering Bonhoeffer for the first time. Maria’s strength and determination in the face of incredible obstacles continues to inspire me. I count it an honor to have, in some small way, paid tribute to her story.

Research is the skeleton on which every book I write is built. I begin the research process well before sitting down to write chapter one and continue researching through the final stages of edits, where I (obsessively) triple-check minor details.

For my novels featuring real men and women from history, research is an immersive, several-year process. I begin by reading dozens of books—biographies, memoirs, and accounts written by historians, researching not only the people I’m writing about, but delving into the world they inhabited. Unpacking who the characters are at their essence and discovering their “voice” is one of the most important pieces of the puzzle, and my favorite way to do this is through reading their letters and diaries, two of the first resources I seek out. I also access recorded interviews with individuals connected with them or their world, watch documentaries, and study materials such as interrogation transcripts and prison records (as I did for The White Rose Resists). I’ve also been privileged to personally interview survivors of World War II Europe—one of the most moving parts of the research journey.

I love searching for the snapshot in the sweeping panorama and delving into the hidden facets of well-known world events as seen by ordinary men and women. Research is, by far, one of my favorite parts of the creative process!

Absolutely! I started writing out of a love for reading, and few things nourish me creatively more than a well-told story. I typically read 50 to 60 books a year in a variety of genres. Bookstores are my happy place, and I’m never without a large (and always growing larger) TBR pile at hand.

Historical fiction is my favorite genre. I love novels that bring to life little-known aspects of history, stories that aren’t afraid to ask hard questions, and ones that stay with me long past the final page. If a book makes me cry, I know it’s usually one for my keeper shelf.

Some of my favorite authors include: Laura Frantz, Susie Finkbeiner, Patti Callahan, Amanda Dykes, Jocelyn Green, Heidi Chiavaroli, Cathy Gohlke, Lisa Wingate, Liz Curtis Higgs, Kate Breslin, Kristin Hannah, Kelli Stuart, Susan May Warren, Rachel McMillan, and Joanne Bischof.

I also love classics like Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë, Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell, and Tess of the d’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy. With each reread, I glean new truths from Night by Elie Wiesel, The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom, and the works of C.S. Lewis.

Not to mention the dozens of books I read for research and to satisfy my nerdy history-loving mind!

Walking past my overflowing bookshelves feels like being greeted by a group of friends, some new, some old, all beloved.

I enjoy spending time with family and friends, baking, sharing meaningful conversations, traveling, sitting in a cozy corner of a unique coffee shop, and spending time in nature. Les Misérables is my favorite musical and my viewing entertainment of choice is usually a historical drama, a British-set miniseries, a vintage film (It Happened One Night and Bringing Up Baby are two of my top picks), or a lighthearted rom-com.

My prayer is that every book I write would bring glory and honor to God. My own life has held seasons of breath-stealing hard and deep brokenness. I write out of those places, from bearing scars and carrying heartache, but knowing the ultimate Healer, Comforter, and Provider walks alongside us on the journey. I never set out to write a book for the purpose of conveying a specific message; rather truths emerge as the story unfolds and as God works in my own soul and life. The power of story is indeed transformational, above all the power of THE STORY of God’s grace, redemption, and sacrifice. My novels always include a dedication, and below that, the words Soli Deo Gloria. That is why I write. For His glory.