Linore Rose Burkard

Linore Rose Burkard is the author of Coach and Four: Allisandra’s Tale and of Before the Season Ends,The House in Grosvenor Square, and The Country House Courtship

I met Linore through some online groups, including ACFW and HisWriters, those who have either published or planned works with European characters. Several years ago I met Linore when I attended her workshop at the FaithWriters' conference in Detroit.  We also got to hang out and share some laughs at American Christian Fiction Writers’ Conference in Indianapolis.

Linore, welcome to Overcoming Through Time.  Would you share either the most difficult thing in your life you have had to overcome, with God’s help, or the most tragic situation or circumstance one of your character’s has had to get past?

I have had to overcome my penchant for drama in real life. As a child, I didn’t realize I had a way of magnifying things, or that I was highly sensitive. I always felt “different” from other people, but once I got a hold on the fact that a part of me needed drama, I was able to channel it into my fiction writing. It may not sound like much of a victory, but it made a huge difference in my life. I got free of so much angst, too. 

What is your favorite Bible verse and why?

I have a few, but one of my top verses is Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord; plans for good and not for evil, for welfare and not for calamity; to give you a future and a hope.” There were times in my life when the future looked like a dark black curtain and to say I had little hope would be an understatement. The Lord made me really examine this verse, and I had to decide to believe it, or I’d be calling Him a liar.

Disability friendliness:

Is this latest release available in audio format or do you have any other works available on audio? Do you have any in large print? 

I’m happy to say that all my books are available as ebooks with audio capability.  Also, except for my short story Coach and Four, they are all in large print, too. Amazon usually shows the large print option on the print version pages. (Here’s an example of one. The House in Grosvenor Square (Thorndike Christian Fiction) )

What has been the most important thing you hope your readers will get from your books and why?

One theme I always try to emphasize is that on one level, the gospel message is utterly simple. The Bible invites us to come, to receive the Lord, to repent, and that’s it, that’s all we need do to be saved. In the sense of taking the invitation at face-value, it’s really a simple message. God offers salvation to all who will accept the gift. Theologians can argue about free-will vs. sovereignty (I personally believe in sovereignty) but Jesus doesn’t ask us to figure that out in order to be saved. He says, “Come. Just as you are.” I love to have a character in each book who realizes this and takes God at His Word.

As you researched your books, did you learn anything that particularly touched your heart?

During my research, I did a lot of reading about Jane Austen. It touched me that even though she was a longtime critic of evangelical Christianity, she was honest and open enough to change her thinking before she died, and to share that in one of her letters.

In this latest work, do you have any topics useful for bibliotherapy, or therapeutic influence through reading about a disorder or situation?

No. 

Thank you, Linore, for agreeing to answer these questions.  Have a blessed day and keep on writing!!

Thank you, Carrie, for having me!

GIVEAWAY:  Leave a comment and your email to be entered in this week’s contest.  Drawing will be late Saturday.  Your choice of Linore Rose Burkard’s books, choice of format.