7-Year Blogoversary Party - Interview with Lisa T. Bergren + Giveaway!

Week two of the 7-Year Blogoversary Party! I'm so happy to have had the opportunity to interview Lisa T. Bergren (the author of two of my favorite series -- The River of Time & The Grand Tour) and give away a signed copy of her BRAND NEW release, Keturah.

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Welcome to Christian Bookshelf Reviews, Lisa!! Will you tell us a little about yourself? 

Hi! I’m a mom of three big kids, wife to one, and writer of all kinds of books. I love people and my God.

What is your novel, Keturah, about?



It’s set in 1772, after the sugar “boom” is beginning to wane. Keturah’s father has died in the West Indies, and the only way to save their family estate in England—as well as the sugar plantation in the Caribbean—is for them to go. So all three girls pack their trunks and head to the islands… Keturah has been through a very bad marriage and sworn off men. This book is really her healing journey.

What was the most difficult part of writing Keturah?

The slavery aspect. When I first thought about writing a series set there, I was thinking, “Oh, it’s so romantic and beautiful!” But as I dug in, I had a growing sense of dread. It was so awful, how Africans were treated on those plantations. I did my best to be historically accurate but also tried to depict my characters beginning to wrestle with the injustices of the trading in human beings.

How much say did you have in the final book cover for Keturah?

I was able to add nuances—more palms, a volcanic peak, intensifying the colors…but it’s pretty representative of what the designers originally sent me.

What would you say is the theme for Keturah? Is there a message you hope readers take away from reading it?

Ongoing healing is the theme. Sometimes it takes years to work through and heal from abuse—mental, emotional, physical. My hope is that readers will find hope to continue on their path to find love and wholeness again. Keturah is working to do the same as her handsome childhood friend, Gray, waits patiently...

What do you like to do when you're not writing? 

Cook. Paint rooms. Hike. Do Bible studies.

What is your favorite place you've traveled to so far?

Ack! How am I to respond to that? Right now, I’m really missing the West Indies and Italy and would love to go back to both. But with a wedding and building a house this year, I think neither is in our budget. :-(

Are you currently working on any new novels? If so, could you give us a hint? 

VERITY, book 2 in the Sugar Baron’s Daughters trilogy is into my editors. I’m waiting on notes and beginning to think of SELAH, book 3, as well as what I want to write next…

Thank you so much for being here! Is there anything else you’d like to tell readers and where can we find you on the web?

Happy blogoversary! Readers may find me at LisaTBergren.com, @LisaTBergren on Twitter and Instagram, Facebook.com/LisaTawnBergren

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GIVEAWAY!

Enter for a chance to win a signed copy of KETURAH! Giveaway is open to the US and ends February 26th.

How to enter: Sign into the Giveaway Tools form below (it might take a moment to load) and submit each entry you complete. Commenting alone will not get you entered – you must click enter on the form. Happy entering!

Entry-Form

Open only to those who can legally enter. Winning entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by Giveaway Tools and announced here as well as emailed and will have up to one week to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Giveaway Tools or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. I am not responsible for any packages lost or damaged in the mail. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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