Eight Year Blog Anniversary!

Message from Administrator Carrie Fancett Pagels: Eight years and so many posts later (OVER one million three hundred page views!!!), we're still sharing our love of colonial America with our readers! Welcome to our celebration! With wonderful new contributors and ongoing fantastic colonial-era authors we are really blessed. Come sit down and enjoy a lovely high tea with us! Leave us a comment and you may find one of our many contributors pouring you a cup of tea or offering you a lovely tray of fine sandwiches, savories, and sweets . . . or one of our author giveaways!

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J.M. Hochstetler

Hello, everyone! It’s hard to believe that Colonial Quills is eight years old already. And what a wonderful journey it’s been, full of friends and fellowship and learning new things about the colonial period! It’s a real privilege to be a part of this fun and congenial group, and I’m so grateful for our talented leader, Carrie Fancett Pagels, who started this crazy ball rolling, to all the members who contribute to the blog, and to all our faithful readers!  May there be many more years ahead of us.

For the party I’m giving away a copy of my upcoming June release, Refiner’s Fire, Book 6 of my American Patriot Series—or any of the previous books in the series, if preferred.

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ROSEANNA WHITE

What a joy it's been to be part of the Colonial Quills blog! I've been working primarily in the Edwardian and WWI eras for the last few years so haven't been popping up on here much, but I still consider CQ one of my blog homes. =)

For the party, I'd be happy to offer a reader a signed copy of my June 4 release, The Number of Love.

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SHANNON MCNEAR

Welcome, gentle readers! What a huge blessing Colonial Quills has been to me for the past six years. From my first novella, Defending Truth in A Pioneer Christmas Collection, which had the amazing honor to final for a RITA® award, to The Highwayman (originally The Most Eligible Bachelor Collection and now re-released both as a single title and in a smaller collection, To Catch A Bachelor) and The Counterfeit Tory in Backcountry Brides, I've had the joy of writing colonial fiction. My first full-length in print, The Cumberland Bride, #5 of Daughters of the Mayflower, is set in 1794 Tennessee and Kentucky, technically the early Federal Era but a natural extension of my colonial research as it traces some of the early beginnings of Westward Expansion. My next release, The Rebel Bride, is a Civil War story (coming December 2019, #10 of the Daughters of the Mayflower series) but the release after that will be a return to early Federal Tennessee and Kentucky (The Blue Cloak, #5 of the True Colors series). I'm currently hard at work on The Blue Cloak, with an August 1 deadline, but in appreciation to our CQ following, I'm offering one reader's choice of my stories in print! 

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JANET GRUNST

Janet Grunst

Thanks for joining us, Colonial Quill Readers, for our eight-year anniversary. I was honored in the fall of 2011 when Carrie asked me to join this group of fellow Colonial era writers. I’ve learned so much from the other contributor’s blog posts and been touched by the encouragement and contribution of our faithful readers.

A Heart Set Free is set prior to the Revolutionary War and A Heart For Freedom picks up the characters in the early years of the Revolution. I’m hoping the final part of the series will be available before too long. This fall, I’m privileged to be a part of a Highlander collection of novellas releasing. Fellow Quiller, Naomi Much will also have a story in it.

For our Colonial Quills celebration, I will be giving away a signed copy of A Heart Set Free to one USA commenting on the blog. Enjoy the party, everyone.

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Pegg Thomas 

Hi Everyone! I'm excited to be part of this blog and this anniversary party. I don't have any new Colonial stories out - yet - but I have some exciting news! My novella In Sheep's Clothing, part of A Bouquet of Brides, is a finalist in the Romance Writers of America's Faith, Hope, & Love Awards. And it's set in Colonial Connecticut. I'm so exciterated!!! I'm giving away a paperback copy for the party. 

Comment HERE on the BLOG to be entered. But visit the Facebook page too, because there will be other fun things going on there. 

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DEBRA E. MARVIN

Debra E. Marvin

Hello Friends!

Here we are again, thrilled to celebrate with you all. So many stories and wonderful tales of history have passed across this blog's page and we believe there's a lot to come. On the blog, I'll be giving away a book cozy (book sleeve) I made, so please comment if you'd like to be entered in the random drawing. Don't you love this tall ships fabric I found?

2019 will see at least three new stories from me, and I have one with a Colonial setting waiting for a contract! Your friendship and support have been a priceless gift through this writing journey!  Thank you again Carrie and all the CQ authors and friends!

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NAOMI MUSCH

Hey there, CQ readers! I'm probably the newbiest member on the CQ team. I've been here about a year, though I've been a follower for quite a long time. I write in a few different time periods, with the colonial period and early 20th century being my two favorite. (Check out my WWI/1920s books if you enjoy that segment of history.) My last release, Mist O'er the Voyageur, is an historical romance set in the Great Lakes wilderness of the voyageurs and fur traders. It was recently a Selah Awards finalist and one of only a handful of books to receive a judge's perfect score! Mist was also nominated for a NE Minnesota Book Award. In November, watch for another American wilderness romance novella called A Tender Siege releasing in a collection called The Highlanders, in which my Scottish hero is caught up in the French and Indian Wars during the time of Pontiac's Conspiracy.

For our CQ party, I'll be giving away TWO ebook copies of Mist O'er the Voyageur. Comment on the blog to be added to the drawing, and don't forget to join us on the Facebook page on the 29th!

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CARRIE FANCETT PAGELS

I'm excited to announce that I have my first colonial release out since our The Backcountry Brides Collection released in 2018, with numerous authors from the Colonial Quills blog! I have a novella, Mercy in a Red Cloak, releasing in early June in e-book form and later in the summer in paperback! Set in the mid-1700's in Pennsylvania and in the Straits of Mackinac, my colonial scout story features Shadrach Clark who also appeared in my novella "Shenandoah Hearts" in the Backcountry Brides Collection! Shad is a sweetie and I pray readers will love reading his story!

One of my giveaways is this copy of Colonial Michilimackinac: Michigan State Parks, by David A. Armour. It's a great book and I've used it as a great research resource over the years. My own copy is well-highlighted!

Colonial Michilimackinac: Michigan State Parks, by David A. Armour

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CARLA GADE

I'm so thrilled about the Colonial Quills blog 8th Anniversary! Every year we have had a wonderful tea party to celebrate and give you updates on our writing journeys. So much has happened for us all and with the support and encouragement of all of our followers and readers. We appreciate you all so very much and offer you a great Huzzah!! 

When we first started, my debut novel, The Shadow Catcher's Daughter had just released. Although that was a 19th century western setting, my heart was really in the Colonies. I soon enjoyed a visit with our fonder, Carrie, to explore Colonial Williamsburg. With that and some additional research, my first Colonial era, Carving a Future in Colonial Courtships, novella was published and hence republished in The American Dream Romance Collection. Since first becoming published I am now the author of 11 books, including another Colonial, Pattern for Romance.

For nostalgia's sake, I'm offering Colonial Courtships to one of our commenters! By the way, my characters from Carving a Future are included in Colonial Quill's original A Forted Frontier Holiday anthology, along with other CQ author's, available for free reading here on the blog!

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Facebook Party tonight, Wednesday May 29th, from 4:30 to 5:30 PM Eastern Time. Another giveaway at our Facebook party is a copy of The Backcountry Brides Collection. This collection includes all colonial-era Christian Fiction novellas from CQ contributors!

All contributors of The Backcountry Brides Collection are
members of Colonial American Christian Writers!

Colonial Quills Blog SEVEN YEAR Anniversary Party!

Welcome to our SEVENTH Blog Anniversary on Colonial Quills! Pull up a chair and we'll pour you some tea!

Welcome from the Ladies of CQ!!!

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Founder of Colonial American Christian Writers and
Administrator for Colonial Quills Blog, Author Carrie Fancett Pagels

Since our last blog anniversary, I've been delighted to release My Heart Belongs on Mackinac Island: Maude's Mooring which received an RT Book Reviews Top Pick. I've also had novellas in several collections from Barbour: Seven Brides for Seven Mail Order Husbands, The Captive Brides Collection, First Love Forever Collection and the latest--with stories from our Colonial Quills members--The Backcountry Brides Collection! I've had two books go into large print hardcover with Thorndike Press! I was blessed to be a finalist in the prestigious Holt Medallion contest for my Early American novella set in Virginia -- The Steeplechase.

Colonial Quills Blog Designer, Author Carla Gade

 I can hardly believe its been SEVEN years that we've been blogging here at Colonial Quills! Since that time we've been bringing our readers gleanings from our historical research from Colonial times. We've covered a lot of miles through the years and a lot of years through the miles!! We hope our passion for Colonial history has shown through. Since we started blogging, the Quillers have penned almost 1,000 articles. We will have a special post coming soon when we hit that milestone! We would be remiss if we did not extend our gratitude to Mistress Carrie, our founder, for bringing us all together! I'm blessed to have been along on this journey for these seven years. Since then I've had ten books published including my two colonials Pattern for Romance and Colonial Courtships (which was repackaged in the American Dream Romance Collection.) I'm currently dreaming up new stories!

Roseanna M. White

What a joy it's been to be a part of this wonderful blog since its inception! Seven years? Wow, the time has flown by!! Seven years ago, I was rejoicing in a contract from Summerside/Guideposts for my first Colonial-era book (and my first book published by anyone but my own company), Love Finds You in Annapolis, Maryland. I've now re-published it as A Heart's Revolution and have a total of 21 books either published or under contract. I've been so blessed to work with my dream publishers--Harvest House, Bethany House, and Guideposts--and to grow the publishing company my husband and I founded as well, WhiteFire Publishing. And all along the way, I've known that Colonial Quills was here to celebrate with me, teach me new things from these other amazing authors, and let me share some of the fun tidbits I'd learned, too!  

GIVEAWAY ~ I'm happy to offer a paperback to a US address or digital to an international reader of one of my early American novels (A Heart's Revolution, Ring of Secrets, or Whispers from the Shadows)

Author Shannon McNear

I joined CQ back in 2013, after receiving my first publishing contract for the novella Defending Truth in A Pioneer Christmas Collection. I've had a lot to celebrate since then! That first novella was nominated for a RITA® award, then two more novella contracts (with a summer in between spent caring for my mother, who passed away that following winter) and after 35 years of writing novel-length fiction, a totally out-of-the-blue opportunity for my first full-length, which releases in October. (The Cumberland Bride, #5 of Daughter of the Mayflower, Barbour) I also have had the honor of signing with two amazing agents, first with Susan Brower and then two years ago with the stellar Tamela Hancock Murray. I'm a blessed woman to be part of this group!



If you're a Patriot, you might wish for us to pour you
 some COFFEE rather than TEA! Simply let us know!

Author J.M. Hochstetler

Joan, AKA J.M. Hochstetler, was one of our original founding members of the Colonial American Christian Writers group and a Colonial Quills contributor and we're glad to have her back contributing.

Author Pegg Thomas

Pegg Thomas is both an author and an editor. This past year has been a busy one with her duties at Lighthouse of the Carolinas as Editor. And she's been busy publishing books, including her contribution to The Backcountry Brides Collection, The Pony Express Romance Collection and A Bouquet of Brides Collection -- all from Barbour Books. She started as a guest post on CQ in 2012 and became a montly contributor in 2015. She's giving one U.S. commenter a paperback copy of A Bouquet of Brides, which includes her story, In Sheep's Clothing.

Author Janet Grunst

Last May, the first story of my Revolutionary War trilogy, A Heart Set Free won the Selah Award for Historical Romance. The sequel, but stand-alone novel, A Heart For Freedom was contracted by Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas and releases October 1, 2018. I'm currently working on the third story as well as a Highland novella. I have learned so much from the other Colonial Quillers and it has been such a delight to be part of the Colonial Quills Team. (CFP: Janet was another original member of Colonial Quills!) GIVEAWAY: One copy of A Heart Set Free by Janet Grunst will go to one commenter. 

 

Author Denise Weimer

Wow! A lot has happened in my writing life since May of 2017. This picture was taken on my daughter's graduation day, when I signed my contract with Barbour Publishing to take part in the Backcountry Brides Collection. Through that venture, I gained an amazing agent, Linda S. Glaz, of Hartline Literary. About the same time, I signed a contract to edit historical manuscripts for Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. I consider these three happenings a trio of blessings God, bestowed through my author friends at Colonial Quills blog.

Author Debra E. Marvin

Hello dear friends! I've been a contributing member of Colonial Quills for well over five years. I'm always impressed with the attention to historic detail our team uses in their blog posts. I so enjoy being part of a group that shares a love of colonial history and Christian fiction. As a special #GIVEAWAY treat for our anniversary, for anyone who is interested, please nominate (in a comment) a friend who has not read the Backcountry Brides collection and I will read through the comments, gather the names of you and your nominee, and randomly choose one winner of a paperback. (Ends June 1, 2018 9pm)  Thank you to all of my fellow contributors and the very supportive and faithful readers here who mean so much to us! Besides my time here, I host book reviewers on my group blog Inkwell Inspirations, and I'm published with WhiteFire Publishing, Forget Me Not Romances, Journey Fiction and of course, Barbour Publishing.

Author Christy Distler

Greetings to all! I've been with Colonial Quills for about three years now. I started doing guest posting while researching for a historical novel, then moved to a more regular posting schedule. I may be the only member who's not yet published as far as historical fiction, although that will be changing soon (more to come about that!). When not writing fiction, I edit for three CBA publishing houses as well as individual authors. Being part of the Colonial Quills family has been wonderful, and I thank all our readers!

Author Angel K. Couch

I've only been along for the ride for the last two years, but what a great blessing Colonial Quills has been to me. Not just the amazing facts posted here every week, but what a great group of women to spend time with! This past year has seen the release of the first half of my Revolutionary War series, including The Scarlet Coat and The Patriot and the Loyalist. Lots of anticipation for this fall when book three, The Tory's Daughter makes it's debut!

Author Susan F. Craft

Susan F. Craft is the author of Women of the American Revolution Trilogy which includes: The Chamomile, Laurel, and Cassia. She also authored a Writer's Guide to Horses which assists authors who want to write about horses in their works. She's been a member of Colonial Quills from the beginning. She'll be back posting again on the blog in the autumn.

Author Elaine Cooper

I  suppose the old adage of time flying when you're having fun is true—especially when you've been a part of such a lovely group of ladies as I've been with here at Colonial Quills! Although I've not been a regular contributor to CQ in the last year or so, I've maintained my connection with this awesome group of writers. I've been so busy, I hardly know where to begin.
My last release was Saratoga Letters, finalist in the Selah Award for historical romance. My first 4 Colonial American Books are Road to Deer Run, Promise of Deer Run, Legacy of Deer Run, and the Selah award winner, Fields of the Fatherless. I am in the middle of writing a 4-book series entitled Dawn of America. This historical romance series is set in Connecticut during the American Revolution. The first two books are complete and going through editing.
I want to thank all these wonderful CQ writers who have enriched my world with friendship and knowledge. I also want to express my gratitude to all the many readers who peruse the pages of our historical novels—and keep requesting more. You readers are a gift to authors! :)

Aren't our bloggers "CHARMING"?
We've got a giveaway of a sterling silver Quill charm for one of our Seven Year Jubilee Anniversary Guests!

Author Vicki McCollum

Author Gabrielle Meyer

Author Tamera Kraft

Colonial Quills Reader/Reviewer Tina St.Clair Rice

Author Cynthia Howerter

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Some of our original members:

Colonial Quills Writing Team meeting at ACFW Conference September, 2011, Janet Grunst, Gina Welborn, Roseanna White, Rachel Wilder, and Laura Frantz

Some of our Colonial Quills contributors have come and gone in the last seven years, but we appreciate what they contributed to the blog!

   

Author MaryLu Tyndall

Author Lisa Norato

Author Rita Gerlach

Author Kelly Long

Author Dina Sleimann

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GIVEAWAYS Be sure to leave a comment on Monday's review post for a chance to win a copy of The Backcountry Brides Collection with stories by eight of our authors! And leave a comment on THIS party post for another chance to win a copy of The Backcountry Brides Collection with autographs by Shannon McNear, Denise Weimer, and Carrie Fancett Pagels.
MORE GIVEAWAYS
Winner's choice of one of these books by Carrie: My Heart Belongs on Mackinac Island: Maude's Mooring, Seven Brides for Seven Mail Order Husbands, or The Captive Brides Collection. 

One copy of A Heart Set Free by Janet Grunst.
Winner's choice of A Heart's Revolution, Ring of Secrets, or Whispers from the Shadows by Roseanna M. White
A Bouquet of Brides Collection by Pegg Thomas, paperback copy to one USA resident winner.

Winter Tea Party

Welcome to the Winter Tea Party!

Thank you for joining us today as we celebrate the winter new releases of the Colonial Quill authors. It's always fun to gather together for a hot cup and a scrumptious bite...but of course, this time of year the travel can be tricky. So stay safely (and warmly) in your own home today, snuggle up with a cozy blanket and a steaming cup of your favorite drink, and don a digital party gown from your favorite era! (Please feel free to share images of your dress of choice on the Facebook Event page!)

First, help yourself to something hot to drink. Tea, or perhaps some mulled wine?

 And of course, a tea party isn't a tea party without some sweet! (Don't worry! Digital calories don't go to your hips.)

All settled? Great! Then allow me introduce our authors who are celebrating new releases in these cold winter months.

In order to be entered for the giveaways, just leave a comment below! (Be sure to include an email address so the authors can contact their winners!)

P E G G   T H O M A S

My story in A Bouquet of Brides is In Sheep's Clothing. This was a fun story for me to write. Yarrow Fenn is a spinner and a weaver in Colonial Connecticut. I'm a spinner, I've done some weaving, and my family has colonial roots in Milford, CT. There is also an orphan lamb in this story, and one of the things we raise here on our farm is sheep. You could say that there's a lot of "me" in this story!

And of course, I love the history. It was the Wool Act of 1699 that set up the events that happen in my story. King William III, in an effort to protect the thriving textile industry in England, signed a law that said colonist could not sell wool or cloth between the colonies. All sales must be to England. All sales would be taxed at the colonial port and taxed again at the English port. Then the wool or cloth would be made into garments and resold to the colonies, once again being taxed at both ports. The colonists couldn't afford to clothe their families! That dilemma sets up the conflict for my story.

In Sheep’s Clothing by Pegg Thomas (1702, Connecticut)
Peter Maltby might be all good looks and charm, working in the new mill fulling wool, but Yarrow Fenn fears he is the Crown’s agent in disguise who will destroy the only livelihood she has.

Subscribe to my newsletter for updates on my books, sales, and special giveaways, including a handspun, handknit shawl with every book release! The next shawl drawing will be May 31st for the Northern Lilacs shawl to celebrate the release of The Backcountry Brides collection.

T O D A Y ' S   G I V E A W A Y

Pegg will be giving away one signed copy of A Bouquet of Brides, complete with her story, In Sheep's Clothing to one winner inside the U.S. And the winner is BRENDA!

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R O S E A N N A   M.   W H I T E

I'm so excited to welcoming Willa to the world in A Song Unheard! She was a stubborn character, LOL, but I had so much fun writing her story...and including my love of music into it. Though I play the piano and not the violin, it was a joy to dive into this music prodigy's mind and share one of the truths I've learned over the years: that music can be a way for us to reach out our souls to the Lord. Here's a bit about the story, and there's a giveaway too!

Willa Forsythe is both a violin prodigy and top-notch thief, which makes her the perfect choice for a crucial task at the outset of World War I--to steal a cypher from a famous violinist currently in Wales.

Lukas De Wilde has enjoyed the life of fame he's won--until now, when being recognized nearly gets him killed. Everyone wants the key to his father's work as a cryptologist. And Lukas fears that his mother and sister, who have vanished in the wake of the German invasion of Belgium, will pay the price. The only light he finds is meeting the intriguing Willa Forsythe.

But danger presses in from every side, and Willa knows what Lukas doesn't--that she must betray him and find that cypher, or her own family will pay the price as surely as his has.

Sign up for my newsletter to get sneak peeks and special content! Check out my website at www.RoseannaMWhite.com and buy signed books from me at www.RoseannaMWhite.com/shop.

G I V E A W A Y

Roseanna is giving away a signed print copy of A Song Unheard (or the first book in the series if you don't have it yet) to one winner with a U.S. address.

(This is Pegg nosing in on Roseanna's space to say that I've already read A Song Unheard and it's a MUST READ!)

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T A M E R A   L Y N N   K R A F T

Red Sky Over America
Book 1, Ladies of Oberlin Series

I'm so excited to talk about my new release, Red Sky Over America. Here's a blurb.

William and America confront evil, but will it costs them everything?

In 1857, America, the daughter of a slave owner, is an abolitionist and a student at Oberlin College, a school known for its radical ideas. America goes home to Kentucky during school break to confront her father about freeing his slaves.

America's classmate, William, goes to Kentucky to preach abolition to churches that condone slavery. America and William find themselves in the center of the approaching storm sweeping the nation and may not make it home to Ohio or live through the struggle.

G I V E A W A Y

I'm giving away an Ebook of Red Sky Over America and a Godey's Fashions Coloring Book with wonderful fashions from the 1850s to one lucky winner. The winner is Joy.

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G A B R I E L L E   M E Y E R

I'm thrilled to be here today chatting about Seven Brides for Seven Texas Rangers! If you're familiar with Seven Brides for Seven Texans, than you'll remember the fictional town of Hartville, Texas, which is where this collection is also set. I'm particularly excited about this continuity series, because it's about a company of Texas Rangers who are called into Hartville to take down a gang of outlaws! Each story follows one of the Rangers as they confront the outlaws and get tangled up with a woman who inadvertently foils (or helps!) their cause. The stories follow one another over the course of several months, until all the outlaws are brought to justice. I loved working with the ladies in this collection. So much talent in one book.

Here's a little bit about my story, The Ranger's Reward, which is the first story in the collection.

Texas Ranger Griffin Sommer stops to check on the young widow, Evelyn Prentis minutes before the Markham gang arrives at her farm needing a place to hide. Griff and Evelyn are forced to pretend they’re married to keep Griff’s identity a secret, but will Evelyn’s young son let the truth out before Griff can bring the gang to justice?

To preorder your copy of Seven Brides for Seven Texas Rangers, be sure to go here. Also, sign up for my newsletter to learn more about my upcoming releases and like my author page on Facebook to stay connected! I love hearing from readers.

G I V E A W A Y

Gabrielle will be giving away a signed print copy of Seven Brides for Seven Texans to one lucky winner!