Kimberley Woodhouse is a devoted wife and mother, and a third-generation Liszt student. She is a best-selling and award-winning author of more than two dozen books, with more on the way. Kimberley has been married to her incredible husband for twenty-nine years and counting and they have two married adult children. See more at http://www.kimberleywoodhouse.com.
Often called the "Queen of Historical Christian fiction", Tracie Peterson is an ECPA, CBA and USA Today best-selling author of over 120 books, most of those historical novels. Her work in historical fiction earned her the Life Time Achievement Award from American Christian Fiction Writers in 2011 and the Career Achievement Award in 2007 from Romantic Times, as well as multiple best book awards. Tracie, a Kansas native, now makes her home in the mountains of Montana with her husband of over 40 years. See more at http://www.traciepeterson.com.
Endless Mercy
Will pursuing their deepest desires blind them to the dangers that surround them? Madysen Powell has always been of a generous and forgiving nature. But when her father, long believed dead, appears in Nome, Alaska, the only feelings she can muster are bitterness and anger. Though her sisters have a similar struggle, Madysen finds herself falling out of rhythm with them in other ways. She is restless and dreams of performing her music around the world. The arrival of a traveling show could prove just the chance she needs, and the manager promises more than she ever imagined. Daniel Beaufort arrives in Nome searching for his own answers after the gold rush leaves him with only empty pockets. Still angry about the death of his loved ones, he longs to start fresh but doesn’t have high hopes until he ends up helping at the Powell dairy making cheese—where he is immediately drawn to the beautiful redhead with big dreams. Caught up in their hopes for the future, the sisters and their farm become vulnerable. Can they face their past hurts and present deceptions in time to save their dreams and mend the fractures in their family?
- ISBN: 0-7642-3250-9
- Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Interview with Kimberley Woodhouse and Tracie Peterson
Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse have proven to be both a powerful writing duo and great friends. As they celebrate the release of their latest book, Endless Mercy, they offer an inside peek behind the scenes.
What message do you hope readers take away from your newest release, and how does this second book in the series continue the story of the first?
Kimberley: Forgiveness is a huge theme throughout this series and I pray that the readers all understand the forgiveness open to them from Almighty God.
Tracie: As the title suggests, this is a story about giving and receiving mercy. We are often too reserved when it comes to giving mercy to someone who has hurt us, yet we are more than willing to take whatever mercy someone is willing to give us. The storyline takes the reader on a journey where our heroine who is generally thought to be the most merciful of her family is up against a difficult situation that makes her reconsider God’s mercy and her own.
What literary pilgrimages (research trips) have you taken? What was your favorite and what did you discover or learn?
Kimberley: Gracious, I do research trips for just about every book that I write. Normally, my favorite is whatever one I just took! Right now, I would have to say going back to the Grand Canyon to do more research for my upcoming series from Bethany House – Secrets of the Canyon – which starts with A Deep Divide (October, 2021).
There are so amazing things I’ve learned about the Grand Canyon, but my favorite from this last trip was a wonderful historian I met who has worked at the El Tovar hotel and Grand Canyon for about fifty years! His insight was amazing and hopefully brings even more authenticity to the book.
Tracie: I always try to go to the places I write about, even though my stories are written in long-ago time periods. There is just something so helpful about actually going to a place, walking the grounds and talking to the people whose families have lived there for generations. For this series, I traveled to Nome, Alaska and met and spoke with people there, as well as studied about Nome via documentaries and books. Research is always a favorite aspect of my storytelling.
Do you try more to be original or do you deliver to readers what they want?
Kimberley: Hmmm. I can’t really say I “try” to do either of those things. But I hope I actually do both.
Tracie: I pray a lot about my writing, and always want to focus on what I believe the Lord is leading me to write. Writing for me has always been a ministry for Him. I want each book to share the Gospel message as well as Bible application in such a way that it just naturally accompanies the story.
Tracie, you have been writing with Kimberley for several years, and you’ve written with several others over the years. What have you learned specifically from writing with Kim as your co-author?
Tracie: That she hates “ly” words. Kim is so much better with the technical aspects of English. I’m a storyteller, not an English major. I hated English and diagraming sentences, but I always imagine Kim anticipating English class with her red pen at the ready and a smile on her face.
Kimberley, you have been writing with Tracie for several years, and you’ve written with your daughter and others over the years. What have you learned specifically from writing with Tracie as your co-author?
Kimberley: Tracie and I have such an incredible bond that writing together is very easy. We love it. She is AMAZING. And I have learned so much writing with her, I’m not sure I could narrow it down to a list with less than fifty items on it! I will say that my top thing—if I had a list—is that she challenges me on a daily basis to learn and grow spiritually. To me, that’s the very best thing.
What was the best money you ever spent as a writer?
Kimberley: Dual-monitors. LOL I’ve been using two for about a decade now and purchased much larger ones a couple years ago. Saves me SO much time.
Tracie: Buying my first computer. I typed my first manuscript on a manual typewriter and the second was typed on an electric typewriter. Computers blew me away with the simplicity of being able to rewrite freely and move scenes around.
What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?
Kimberley: Goodness, I like to do in-person research whenever I can. I also spend a lot of time on the phone with historians, librarians, experts, etc. Then there’s the books. Currently, I have twenty-five books on my desk JUST about the Grand Canyon and various people, etc that I’m using in A Deep Divide. I usually spend about six months doing research. Since I’m always writing one book, editing another, galleys on another, and researching another, I spend a good deal more time researching than anything else.
Tracie: I’m well known for my research and attention to accurate detail. It doesn’t mean I don’t make mistakes, because I do, but I strive for the history to be as correct as possible. This requires a lot of time given to research. Since I’m one of those authors who has my books contracted well in advance and written a year prior to their publication, I have plenty of time for research and often research more than one book at a time. I have always liked it that way because it helps to keep me from growing bored with my work.
I read a lot on any given subject that will be a major part of my story. For instance, right now I’m working on a train series so I’ve been refreshing my mind on trains for my time period, rail lines that were in existence, the type of service offered, etc. But I’m also researching and refreshing my memory on the politics of the day, the etiquette, westward expansion, daily life on the frontier and so forth. I research all the way through writing the book and sometimes even after it’s turned in I’ll run across something that needs to be tweaked.
What did you edit OUT of this book?
Kimberley: There’s a story in chapter ten of Endless Mercy that I don’t want to give away – but let’s just say that some of that I had to edit out. LOL. Just because it might have gotten a bit too “gross.”
Tracie: A lot of “ly” words.
Kimberley, you have over 26 books to your credit and write full-time. If you didn’t write, what would you do for work to replace that?
Hmmm… I’ve taught a lot of music lessons over the years… so possibly that?
Tracie, you have over 100 books to your credit and write full-time. If you didn’t write, what would you do for work to replace that?
Tracie: I’ve been a content editor and facts checker before and loved the job so I’d probably want to shoot for something like that.
If you had to do something differently as a child or teenager to become a better writer as an adult, what would you do?
Kimberley: I have no idea. (Have I mentioned that I’m editing right now and also moving cross-country in less than two weeks, so I’m a bit brain-fried?) I love how God did all this and I don’t think going back and changing what He taught me through those formative years would be beneficial.
Tracie: Listen more to the stories the old people in my life told. I was already someone who loved to hear the old family stories, but I would have been better about writing the stories down and asking more questions about the old days.
Finish this statement: In the future, I will…
Kimberley: Prayerfully – everything I do will be done to the best of my ability to glorify God.
Tracie: Rest. People are always telling me to slow down, take it easier, rest. I assure them I will – in the future.
______________________________
Tiffany Amber Stockton has been crafting and embellishing stories since childhood, when she was accused of having an active imagination and a flair for the dramatic. Today, she has honed those skills to become an award-winning author and speaker who works as a homeschool mom and independent contractor, helping others become their best from the inside out. She lives with her husband and fellow author, Stuart Vaughn Stockton, in Colorado. They have a daughter and son, 2 dogs and 2 cats. She has sold over 25 books so far, three of which have won annual reader's choice awards. She is represented by Tamela Murray of the Steve Laube Agency. (www.tiffanyamberstockton.com)
What message do you hope readers take away from your newest release, and how does this second book in the series continue the story of the first?
Kimberley: Forgiveness is a huge theme throughout this series and I pray that the readers all understand the forgiveness open to them from Almighty God.
Tracie: As the title suggests, this is a story about giving and receiving mercy. We are often too reserved when it comes to giving mercy to someone who has hurt us, yet we are more than willing to take whatever mercy someone is willing to give us. The storyline takes the reader on a journey where our heroine who is generally thought to be the most merciful of her family is up against a difficult situation that makes her reconsider God’s mercy and her own.
What literary pilgrimages (research trips) have you taken? What was your favorite and what did you discover or learn?
Kimberley: Gracious, I do research trips for just about every book that I write. Normally, my favorite is whatever one I just took! Right now, I would have to say going back to the Grand Canyon to do more research for my upcoming series from Bethany House – Secrets of the Canyon – which starts with A Deep Divide (October, 2021).
There are so amazing things I’ve learned about the Grand Canyon, but my favorite from this last trip was a wonderful historian I met who has worked at the El Tovar hotel and Grand Canyon for about fifty years! His insight was amazing and hopefully brings even more authenticity to the book.
Tracie: I always try to go to the places I write about, even though my stories are written in long-ago time periods. There is just something so helpful about actually going to a place, walking the grounds and talking to the people whose families have lived there for generations. For this series, I traveled to Nome, Alaska and met and spoke with people there, as well as studied about Nome via documentaries and books. Research is always a favorite aspect of my storytelling.
Do you try more to be original or do you deliver to readers what they want?
Kimberley: Hmmm. I can’t really say I “try” to do either of those things. But I hope I actually do both.
Tracie: I pray a lot about my writing, and always want to focus on what I believe the Lord is leading me to write. Writing for me has always been a ministry for Him. I want each book to share the Gospel message as well as Bible application in such a way that it just naturally accompanies the story.
Tracie, you have been writing with Kimberley for several years, and you’ve written with several others over the years. What have you learned specifically from writing with Kim as your co-author?
Tracie: That she hates “ly” words. Kim is so much better with the technical aspects of English. I’m a storyteller, not an English major. I hated English and diagraming sentences, but I always imagine Kim anticipating English class with her red pen at the ready and a smile on her face.
Kimberley, you have been writing with Tracie for several years, and you’ve written with your daughter and others over the years. What have you learned specifically from writing with Tracie as your co-author?
Kimberley: Tracie and I have such an incredible bond that writing together is very easy. We love it. She is AMAZING. And I have learned so much writing with her, I’m not sure I could narrow it down to a list with less than fifty items on it! I will say that my top thing—if I had a list—is that she challenges me on a daily basis to learn and grow spiritually. To me, that’s the very best thing.
What was the best money you ever spent as a writer?
Kimberley: Dual-monitors. LOL I’ve been using two for about a decade now and purchased much larger ones a couple years ago. Saves me SO much time.
Tracie: Buying my first computer. I typed my first manuscript on a manual typewriter and the second was typed on an electric typewriter. Computers blew me away with the simplicity of being able to rewrite freely and move scenes around.
What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?
Kimberley: Goodness, I like to do in-person research whenever I can. I also spend a lot of time on the phone with historians, librarians, experts, etc. Then there’s the books. Currently, I have twenty-five books on my desk JUST about the Grand Canyon and various people, etc that I’m using in A Deep Divide. I usually spend about six months doing research. Since I’m always writing one book, editing another, galleys on another, and researching another, I spend a good deal more time researching than anything else.
Tracie: I’m well known for my research and attention to accurate detail. It doesn’t mean I don’t make mistakes, because I do, but I strive for the history to be as correct as possible. This requires a lot of time given to research. Since I’m one of those authors who has my books contracted well in advance and written a year prior to their publication, I have plenty of time for research and often research more than one book at a time. I have always liked it that way because it helps to keep me from growing bored with my work.
I read a lot on any given subject that will be a major part of my story. For instance, right now I’m working on a train series so I’ve been refreshing my mind on trains for my time period, rail lines that were in existence, the type of service offered, etc. But I’m also researching and refreshing my memory on the politics of the day, the etiquette, westward expansion, daily life on the frontier and so forth. I research all the way through writing the book and sometimes even after it’s turned in I’ll run across something that needs to be tweaked.
What did you edit OUT of this book?
Kimberley: There’s a story in chapter ten of Endless Mercy that I don’t want to give away – but let’s just say that some of that I had to edit out. LOL. Just because it might have gotten a bit too “gross.”
Tracie: A lot of “ly” words.
Kimberley, you have over 26 books to your credit and write full-time. If you didn’t write, what would you do for work to replace that?
Hmmm… I’ve taught a lot of music lessons over the years… so possibly that?
Tracie, you have over 100 books to your credit and write full-time. If you didn’t write, what would you do for work to replace that?
Tracie: I’ve been a content editor and facts checker before and loved the job so I’d probably want to shoot for something like that.
If you had to do something differently as a child or teenager to become a better writer as an adult, what would you do?
Kimberley: I have no idea. (Have I mentioned that I’m editing right now and also moving cross-country in less than two weeks, so I’m a bit brain-fried?) I love how God did all this and I don’t think going back and changing what He taught me through those formative years would be beneficial.
Tracie: Listen more to the stories the old people in my life told. I was already someone who loved to hear the old family stories, but I would have been better about writing the stories down and asking more questions about the old days.
Finish this statement: In the future, I will…
Kimberley: Prayerfully – everything I do will be done to the best of my ability to glorify God.
Tracie: Rest. People are always telling me to slow down, take it easier, rest. I assure them I will – in the future.
______________________________
Tiffany Amber Stockton has been crafting and embellishing stories since childhood, when she was accused of having an active imagination and a flair for the dramatic. Today, she has honed those skills to become an award-winning author and speaker who works as a homeschool mom and independent contractor, helping others become their best from the inside out. She lives with her husband and fellow author, Stuart Vaughn Stockton, in Colorado. They have a daughter and son, 2 dogs and 2 cats. She has sold over 25 books so far, three of which have won annual reader's choice awards. She is represented by Tamela Murray of the Steve Laube Agency. (www.tiffanyamberstockton.com)
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