The Root of the Matter
She’s terrified. Time travel. The North Atlantic in winter. Which is worse? Geneva Fielding is a researcher in the Archives of the Applied History department, prepping time travelers for their destinations. She loves the smell of old paper and chocolate croissants. One day, a Traveler fails an important test and cannot go. Instead of canceling the Trip, the dean appoints Geneva and her friend Peter Donatelli, a physicist, to take his place. They have three days to prepare to Travel to 1630s New England. Geneva’s always wanted to know more about John Winthrop. Maybe she can even get a dissertation topic from the Trip. But the truth is, she’s scared stiff. No one knows her private struggles. And she’s not about to tell. Geneva and Peter are dumped into an early, struggling Massachusetts, the Puritan inhabitants having escaped the persecution of the Crown only to face a howling wilderness. Roger Williams’s arrival sends shockwaves through the frail colony. Can the Bay Colony afford to allow a critic of the king to dwell among them? And what will Geneva do when she discovers Peter’s secret?
- ISBN: B0D5JXN9K8
- Publisher: Blue Rock Press
Interview With Lynne Tagawa
Theological, speculative, dystopian, quirky, and fun! I love the funny/quirky parts. Because honestly, I wouldn’t want to read something too depressing.
The Root of the Matter’s sci-fi component is a bit of a departure from your usual fully historical offerings. What made you want to write a time travel novel?
Excellent question. I have wanted to write about the 17th century Puritans for a while. I was especially interested in John Winthrop, first governor of Massachusetts. But my brain shied away from writing “straight” historical fiction. I needed an easier way to slide myself—and my readers!—into the time period. Suddenly a character sprang ready-formed to mind.
How do you ensure you keep plot points, twists and storylines fresh?
I challenge myself with basic story structure. For example, each scene/chapter must contain a choice the character faces. And occasionally, I have to set it aside and work on it tomorrow.
Which do you prefer: writing or editing?
I see them as part of the whole. A lot of my editing is done as I write, or soon after I have written a chapter. I think of it as the spiral method. By the time I get to the beta read stage, it’s pretty clean.
What was your favorite book as a child?
The Black Stallion, Bambi (the original).
How important is it to you that you weave your faith into your stories?
You know, in a sense, I don’t think about it. It’s impossible not to. It’s who I am and how I think. But I do try to be both accurate and accessible in the theological bits.
How would you say your writing style differs from other Christian historical authors?
For one thing, I always include theology of some sort. In my Revolutionary War novel, my character wrestles over whether it is biblical to rebel against the king. She discovers a real-life book (Lex, Rex). My wrestling is making all this accessible to the reader. I certainly don’t want it to be boring!!!
Are you a plotter or a pantser? What does a typical writing day look like for you?
My story has to have some structure, even if it is only a list of necessary scenes. But my best work emerges from my “pantser” brain.
Tell us a fact that most readers would be surprised to learn about you.
I don’t have a creative bone in my body. No crafts or sewing. But I do play the flute.
What is your biggest challenge in writing fiction? And what is your biggest joy?
The biggest challenge is to sit down every day and get some words on the page. If you don’t open the tap, nothing will come out. My biggest joy is getting that occasional message from a reader that they appreciated my story.
When things get tough, what is it that motivates you to keep going?
Some of it is my innate desire to write, but some of it is also my connection to my readers. They want the next book!
Do you have any advice for up-and-coming Christian authors?
Get connected. I have a lot of books on craft, and they are great, but you need personal feedback, whether through ACFW or some other group. I’ve made some friends!
Tell us what we can look forward to from you next!
American Jezebel: The American Puritans Book Two That is the working title of my story about Anne Hutchinson.
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"Edwina Kiernan is the Christian author of eight novels, four of which are award-winning. She is a committed follower of Jesus (the Living Word), and endeavors to use her pen to point others to Him. All her books feature strong, gospel-centered faith and sweet romance, wrapped up in atmospheric historical settings you won’t want to leave.
When she’s not writing, Edwina loves spending time with her dashing husband and lively little son, reading and studying the Bible, getting lost in a captivating novel and drinking more types of tea than most people realize even exist."
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