Avrie Swan is a reader and writer of historical fiction. She is a member of ACFW and enjoys writing clean, heartwarming stories that focus on themes of faith and growth.
When Avrie is not writing, she is watching old movies, collecting antique books, and hunting for agates. A native Wisconsinite, she enjoys spending the cold winters indoors with her cat on her lap and a good book in her hand.
Visit Avrie Swan online
Blaze of Courage
A mysterious locket brings a fire survivor and a wounded veteran together, but their growing feelings might be more dangerous than the men pursuing them. Charlotte Clarke survived the flames that destroyed her town and took her family, but at what cost? Left injured and alone, she seizes the chance for a fresh start when a dying friend asks her to take a locket to a relative in Kentucky. But she has no means to reach her destination until she meets a handsome horse trainer headed south and convinces him to let her travel with him. Haunted by his years in the cavalry and desperate to save his family’s failing stables, Stefan Roberts is focused on transporting his father's racehorses to Kentucky for the spring races. He isn’t looking for complications—especially not in the form of a determined young woman with secrets of her own. Yet as they travel together, Charlotte’s courage and determination begin to crack the walls he's built around his heart. When a shadowy pursuer closes in, Stefan and Charlotte must face the pasts they’ve been running from, and the faith they thought they’d left behind, before their fragile hopes for the future go up in smoke.
- ISBN: B0FH5KJJFZ
- Publisher: Wild Heart Books
Interview with Avrie Swan 2026
When did you feel called to become an author?
I’ve always loved writing and often wrote stories for my family to read when I was young. However, I didn’t consider becoming an author until I was about fourteen. That’s when I first attempted to write a full-length novel. Although it didn’t pan out then, it gave me the confidence to try again a couple of years later, at sixteen. That’s when I wrote the draft of my first novel, Embers of Truth! I wrote it to create more clean, Christian fiction for teens and adults to enjoy, and that’s still my motivation today!
What is the toughest part of writing in your genre?
I’ve always said I prefer writing historical fiction over fantasy because I’m not very good at creating believable worlds. However, writing in a world that actually exists means following the language, clothing, and customs accurately for that setting and time period. This is definitely the trickiest part of writing historical fiction for me, but I love learning new things, so it works out well!
If someone were to look at your Google search history (all for research of course!), what types of things would we find?
I almost always end up with ten or more search tabs by the time I’m finished writing for the day, and they can vary widely in content. There are usually a few from me trying to find a word I can’t quite remember but know would fit well in the scene. I also like to pull up references for the setting I’m writing in so I can visualize the scenery. When it comes to towns and cities, I like to bring up Sanborn maps from the Library of Congress, which often give me a more detailed view of what different areas, such as Peshtigo and Marinette, looked like during the 1870s and 1880s. The rest of the searches are me checking whether something is accurate for the time period!
If you could have coffee with an author, dead or alive, whose work you admire, who would that be? What would you ask him or her?
I would love to sit down and chat with L.M. Montgomery, as Anne of Green Gables is one of my favorite books. I would have many questions for her, but if I had to pick the most important one, I would ask about her character development process. Anne and the other characters Montgomery created feel so real, and it would be amazing to know how she brought them to life. Learning about the time period she grew up in would be fascinating, too!
What’s your go-to drink/snack while writing?
Coffee is my favorite drink when I’m writing. It always helps when I’m too tired or uninspired to write, and it keeps me warm during the winter months! I have a hard time snacking while writing (sticky fingers don’t mix well with keyboards), but if I’m hungry, I usually gravitate toward apple slices. I also have a hard time resisting chocolate wafers—especially the kind you can dip in your coffee! I almost always keep a tin of them near my writing station.
If you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?
There are a lot of things I wish I could tell myself, but the biggest is that you need to trust God’s plan. I struggled (and still do) with confidence, especially when it came to writing. I wasn’t sure my stories were worth telling, so when my family suggested I look into publishing, I initially balked. However, when I started reaching out to other authors, I found an amazing community full of incredible opportunities. That’s why it's so important to trust God’s plan—He’s a lot bigger than any anxiety you might have, and His plan is a whole lot better, too!
Which side character/scene is your favorite?
The twins in Blaze of Courage are, without a doubt, my favorite side characters. Tom’s rambunctious energy and Sebastian’s more cautious approach create some entertaining scenes, and I had a blast writing their interactions with Charlotte and Stefan. I also love their sibling dynamic, which reminds me a lot of my relationship with my younger sister, Evellyn. I hope you enjoy reading about them as much as I enjoyed writing them!
Did any of your characters surprise you or try to take over?
None of the characters in Blaze of Courage tried to take over more than I had anticipated. However, I was surprised at times by Stefan. I had a rough plan for him, but he grew into a strong character as the story went on, and his arc took turns I hadn’t expected. It was so nice to see him grow and change alongside Charlotte.
What books are on your TBR pile right now?
I always have way too many books I want to read, especially since I’m a librarian! That said, right now I plan to delve into some of the classics I haven’t read in a long time, such as A Tale of Two Cities and Jane Eyre. The Fingerprints in Frost anthology and Midnight on the Scottish Shore by Sarah Sundin are also on my list. There are so many amazing historical fiction books out there to read!
What can we look forward to next?
Following Blaze of Courage, the third book in the Peshtigo Fire Chronicles series is planned for release in September 2026. This will round out the series and hopefully answer any lingering questions readers might have! Once that is finished, I have plans for several other books. Readers should keep an eye on my website and social media accounts for more information about future projects
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Rebecca Reed writes romantic tales filled with journeys of discovery, hope, and horses, fulfilling a lifelong calling as a storyteller. A lover of Jesus, animals, music, and nature, she might be found listening to audiobooks on her rural Indiana farm. As a wife, mother, and grandmother, she's learned to embrace joy where she can find it––in life’s unexpected moments and inside a good story.
Connect with Rebecca on her website RebeccaReedWrites.com and become a Newsletter Insider with first-to-know access to all things writing-related.
I’ve always loved writing and often wrote stories for my family to read when I was young. However, I didn’t consider becoming an author until I was about fourteen. That’s when I first attempted to write a full-length novel. Although it didn’t pan out then, it gave me the confidence to try again a couple of years later, at sixteen. That’s when I wrote the draft of my first novel, Embers of Truth! I wrote it to create more clean, Christian fiction for teens and adults to enjoy, and that’s still my motivation today!
What is the toughest part of writing in your genre?
I’ve always said I prefer writing historical fiction over fantasy because I’m not very good at creating believable worlds. However, writing in a world that actually exists means following the language, clothing, and customs accurately for that setting and time period. This is definitely the trickiest part of writing historical fiction for me, but I love learning new things, so it works out well!
If someone were to look at your Google search history (all for research of course!), what types of things would we find?
I almost always end up with ten or more search tabs by the time I’m finished writing for the day, and they can vary widely in content. There are usually a few from me trying to find a word I can’t quite remember but know would fit well in the scene. I also like to pull up references for the setting I’m writing in so I can visualize the scenery. When it comes to towns and cities, I like to bring up Sanborn maps from the Library of Congress, which often give me a more detailed view of what different areas, such as Peshtigo and Marinette, looked like during the 1870s and 1880s. The rest of the searches are me checking whether something is accurate for the time period!
If you could have coffee with an author, dead or alive, whose work you admire, who would that be? What would you ask him or her?
I would love to sit down and chat with L.M. Montgomery, as Anne of Green Gables is one of my favorite books. I would have many questions for her, but if I had to pick the most important one, I would ask about her character development process. Anne and the other characters Montgomery created feel so real, and it would be amazing to know how she brought them to life. Learning about the time period she grew up in would be fascinating, too!
What’s your go-to drink/snack while writing?
Coffee is my favorite drink when I’m writing. It always helps when I’m too tired or uninspired to write, and it keeps me warm during the winter months! I have a hard time snacking while writing (sticky fingers don’t mix well with keyboards), but if I’m hungry, I usually gravitate toward apple slices. I also have a hard time resisting chocolate wafers—especially the kind you can dip in your coffee! I almost always keep a tin of them near my writing station.
If you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?
There are a lot of things I wish I could tell myself, but the biggest is that you need to trust God’s plan. I struggled (and still do) with confidence, especially when it came to writing. I wasn’t sure my stories were worth telling, so when my family suggested I look into publishing, I initially balked. However, when I started reaching out to other authors, I found an amazing community full of incredible opportunities. That’s why it's so important to trust God’s plan—He’s a lot bigger than any anxiety you might have, and His plan is a whole lot better, too!
Which side character/scene is your favorite?
The twins in Blaze of Courage are, without a doubt, my favorite side characters. Tom’s rambunctious energy and Sebastian’s more cautious approach create some entertaining scenes, and I had a blast writing their interactions with Charlotte and Stefan. I also love their sibling dynamic, which reminds me a lot of my relationship with my younger sister, Evellyn. I hope you enjoy reading about them as much as I enjoyed writing them!
Did any of your characters surprise you or try to take over?
None of the characters in Blaze of Courage tried to take over more than I had anticipated. However, I was surprised at times by Stefan. I had a rough plan for him, but he grew into a strong character as the story went on, and his arc took turns I hadn’t expected. It was so nice to see him grow and change alongside Charlotte.
What books are on your TBR pile right now?
I always have way too many books I want to read, especially since I’m a librarian! That said, right now I plan to delve into some of the classics I haven’t read in a long time, such as A Tale of Two Cities and Jane Eyre. The Fingerprints in Frost anthology and Midnight on the Scottish Shore by Sarah Sundin are also on my list. There are so many amazing historical fiction books out there to read!
What can we look forward to next?
Following Blaze of Courage, the third book in the Peshtigo Fire Chronicles series is planned for release in September 2026. This will round out the series and hopefully answer any lingering questions readers might have! Once that is finished, I have plans for several other books. Readers should keep an eye on my website and social media accounts for more information about future projects
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Rebecca Reed writes romantic tales filled with journeys of discovery, hope, and horses, fulfilling a lifelong calling as a storyteller. A lover of Jesus, animals, music, and nature, she might be found listening to audiobooks on her rural Indiana farm. As a wife, mother, and grandmother, she's learned to embrace joy where she can find it––in life’s unexpected moments and inside a good story.
Connect with Rebecca on her website RebeccaReedWrites.com and become a Newsletter Insider with first-to-know access to all things writing-related.
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