I couldn’t be more excited to have my writing friend Hannah Linder on my blog today! Hannah is not only an award-winning author of Christian regency romance but also an incredibly talented international cover designer. (Look at my most recent cover, and realize that she created that masterpiece out of nothing more than my vague request of “something autumn with a girl and mountains and a hawk.” That’s talent, folks.)
Today, Hannah and I are chatting all about her latest release, When Tomorrow Came, as well as discussing how faith and writing affect each other, who has inspired her along her writing journey, and how she hopes the themes of her writing will impact readers. It’s a joy to welcome Hannah today!
- Give a little background about yourself, your family, and your writing.
Absolutely! My name is Hannah Linder and I am a Regency romantic suspense author residing in the backwoods of central West Virginia. In my 1800s farmhouse one mile from my family, I spend my days designing book covers, dreaming up new story ideas, and rocking away hazy summer evenings from my front porch.
- I know you developed a love for reading and writing at a young age (just as I did!). Who has inspired you along your path to publication?
Too many to count—but mostly, my mother. She has been my cheerleader through every up and down, and even when I was discouraged, she was full of faith that one day I would sign on with a traditional publisher. Her belief in my stories gave me courage to persevere.
- You’ve focused primarily on historical and Regency fiction. Why did you choose this genre, and what do you love about it?
I’ll admit, when choosing genres, it was a toss-up between Westerns or Regencies. But in the end, the elegance and passion of 1800s England tugged more strongly at my heart chords. - Let’s talk about your most recent book When Tomorrow Came. What do you think readers will most enjoy about this book?
For me, the dearest part of When Tomorrow Came was love. Not only romantic love . . . but fraternal love, fatherly love, broken love, insane love . . . all driving reasons that propelled each character into their roles and the choices they made. That was powerful to explore. My hope is that readers will enjoy the journey as much as I did.
- A lot of the things we experience, places we visit, or people we encounter ultimately find their way into our stories. Are any of the elements of When Tomorrow Came inspired by real life?
I could not agree more! So many our life experiences slip into our stories that when the book is done, it’s hard to even pinpoint what came from where. So even though I can’t tap my finger on anything specific, I know pieces of me are in the story somewhere. Maybe everywhere.
- Who was your favorite character to write in When Tomorrow Came?
Hands down, Gilbert Stanhope.
- Your historical fiction has such a vivid level of detail, with places, foods, distances, and even dialects depicted in authentic color. What does your research process look like when you’re writing historical fiction?
Thank you so much! For anything major that I need to know after the plotting stage but before drafting, I spend time gathering facts and resources and making notes. Once I’ve started writing the book, I mostly research as I go, scene by scene.
- A strong theme that I noticed in When Tomorrow Came is forgiveness. Without giving spoilers, I’ll also add that this book provides a front-row seat of the disastrous consequences of unforgiveness. What led you to explore this theme through the story?
I think forgiveness is powerful and applies to all of us at some point in our lives. Of all the themes in my books, this one seems most reoccurring—perhaps because it is something I have come face to face with in my own life.
- I know that faith is important to your writing, as it is to mine as well. I also think that for Christian writers, faith and art often create a beautiful symbiotic relationship. How does your faith inform your writing, and how does your writing impact or contribute to your faith?
I think that my relationship with God and the solid values of His Word are the foundations to every book I write. His presence in my stories gives my characters hope, just as His presence in my life gives me hope.
- What’s one piece of advice you would give to aspiring writers? Read as much as you can. Write more than that.
- Anything else you’d like readers to know? Next up is my favorite novel to date, Garden of the Midnights, which is another Regency romantic suspense novel releasing with Barbour this October. You can pre-order by clicking here.
Thank you, Hannah, for being here!
If you want to stay updated on Hannah’s upcoming release, be sure to head to her website for more!
