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Have you ever participated in a readers' retreat? What's more fun than spending time with other likeminded people? Especially bibliophiles like yourself? Nothing comes to my mind LOL! Imagine getting to talk about books all day to people who love them just as much as you do - and who understand your obsession with them. Then throw in some of your favorite authors as a bonus, and it makes for a great day or even a great weekend.

I recently had the privilege of being one of the featured authors at the Mississippi River Readers' Retreat in Little Falls, Minnesota. In the episode, you'll hear about the wonderful readers I met, some old friends, and some new. And how even I got to fan-girl over some of my favorite authors. Yes, I'm not ashamed to admit that I do that too.

This was my first retreat of its kind, both as a reader and an author. Spoiler: it was a fantastic experience, one I can't wait to have again. Sit back, enjoy the episode, and plan for your own trip to a readers' retreat. The Mississippi River Readers' Retreat won't be back until 2027, but there are plenty around to take advantage of. And honestly, there's no harm in grabbing the nearest book right now, turning off your phone, and enjoying your own mini readers' retreat!

Books by some of the authors at the Mississippi River Readers' Retreat:

Hope Like Wildflowers by Pepper Basham.

A Sea View Christmas by Julie Klassen.

A Token of Love by Carrie Turansky.

Every Hour Until Then by Gabrielle Meyer.

As Sure As the Sea by Jamie Ogle.

Christian Historical Fiction Talk is listener supported. When you buy things through this site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Become a patron and enjoy special perks and bonus content.

Show your appreciation for the show and buy me a coffee. You'll find details by following this link.

Jane Kirkpatrick joins the show this week to chat about her new release, Across the Crying Sands. Oh my, what a wonderful talk we had. You might even get a few tears in your eyes as you listen to her share her personal story and the story of how Across the Crying Sands came to be. Patrons will get to hear all about the painting that's the header on her website.

Across the Crying Sands by Jane Kirkpatrick

A Tale of Uncharted Adventure and Discovery Inspired by a True Story

In 1888 Mary Edwards Gerritse is a witty and confident young woman who spends as much time as possible outdoors on the rugged Oregon coast where she and her husband, John, have settled. The two are a formidable pair who are working hard to prove their homesteading claim and build a family. But as Mary faces struggles of young motherhood and questions about her family of origin, she realizes that life is far from the adventure she imagined it would be.

After losing the baby she's carrying, grief threatens Mary, but she finds an unconventional way to bring joy back into her life--by taking over a treacherous postal route. As Mary becomes the first female mail carrier to traverse the cliff-hugging mountain trails and remote Crying Sands Beach, with its changing tides and sudden squalls, she recaptures the spark she lost and discovers that a life without risk is no life at all.

Get a copy of Across the Crying Sands by Jane Kirkpatrick.

Jane Kirkpatrick is a New York Times best-selling and award-winning author of over 40 books and numerous essays for over 50 publications throughout the United States including The Oregonian and Daily Guideposts.

She received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Romantic Times in 2012, the Caldera Achievement Award from The Nature of Words in 2006, and the Distinguished Northwest Writer award in 2005 from the Willamette Writers Association.

Her works have sold over two million copies, and have won prestigious literary awards such as the Wrangler (National Cowboy Museum), WILLA Literary (Women Writing the West), Will Rogers Medallion (Will Rogers Foundation), and the Carol (American Christian Fiction Writers).

Her many historical novels, most based on the lives of actual people, speak of timeless themes of hardiness, faith, commitment, hope, and love.

Jane speaks internationally on the writing and the power of stories. Her presentations reflect stories of inspiration and courage believing that our lives are the stories other people read first.

She is a Wisconsin native and graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Communications and Public Address and holds a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in Clinical Social Work.

Prior to her writing career, she worked with Native American families on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation in Central Oregon as a mental health and early childhood specialist for seventeen years. She was also the director of the Deschutes County Mental Health Program in Bend, Oregon.

Jane and her husband Jerry now live in Redmond Oregon with their dog Ruppert.

Visit Jane Kirkpatrick's website.

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Become a patron and enjoy special perks and bonus content.

Mary Connealy rejoins us on the podcast this week to talk about her latest release, Legends of Gold. We catch up with what she's been doing since she was last on the show, why she decided to write a story about a treasure map, and what she would do if she wasn't a writer. Patrons hear about how she came to be a writer in the first place.

Legends of Gold by Mary Connealy

On a risky treasure hunt in the rugged wilderness, can love trump all odds?

After years of solitude, Tilda Muirhead's life takes an unexpected twist when she accepts a teaching position at Two Harts Ranch following her cross-country pursuit of two brothers obsessed with a treasure map left by their grandfather. Tilda is now tasked with educating those mischievous MacKenzie boys, who are bent on remaining out west with the rest of their family until they find the hoped-for treasure. Then a man named Ben arrives, claiming to be her own long-lost brother. Raised as an orphan with no memory of her past, Tilda is both fascinated and wary of Ben's sudden interest in finding her.

When Ben's motives grow increasingly suspect, rancher Josh Hart suggests Tilda and the young MacKenzies set off on a quest with him that aims to protect Tilda while unearthing the map's secrets. As they explore the wilderness, Tilda becomes captivated by the history behind the map, though she doubts it leads to anything more than old artifacts. Yet danger looms ever closer, and Tilda and Josh must rely on faith and their blossoming love to navigate the treacherous path ahead.

A clean, witty, action-packed Western romance highlighting the bonds of family and the quest to belong. Fans of cowboy heroes, frontier romances, and hijinks adventure will be captivated.

Get your copy of Legends of Gold by Mary Connealy.

Get a copy of book one, Whispers of Fortune.

Preorder a copy of book three, Riches Beyond Measure.

Mary Connealy writes romantic comedies with cowboys and is celebrated for her fun, zany, action-packed style. She is a two time Carol Award winner, and a Rita, Christy and Inspirational Reader’s Choice finalist.

Mary Connealy writes romantic comedy with cowboys always with a strong suspense thread. She is a two-time Carol Award winner, and a Rita, Christy and Inspirational Reader's Choice finalist. She is the bestselling author of 75 books and novellas. She has over a million and a half books in print.

Mary lives on a ranch in eastern Nebraska with her very own romantic cowboy hero. Visit her website or find her at Petticoats & Pistols!