Dreams Come True -- God's Mercies

Carrie Fancett Pagels on board the Emerald Dawn

Above is a picture of a dream coming true! That's me holding a copy of my novel, Saving the Marquise's Granddaughter (Pelican), which released in 2016.  When I was researching and writing this book, I prayed that I'd someday get to go to Europe and to the Palatinate of Germany and to France, where this story was set. Fast forward in time, and that hadn't happened but my book baby had received a starred Romantic Times Book Reviews review when it released. Then this winter, my in-laws offered to bring my husband and I on their Rhine River Cruise in Europe, which was such an unexpected blessing. And the wonderful cruise director, Michael, on the Emerald Dawn, allowed me to leave a copy of my book for their library in the lounge!

A trip like this was on my bucket list. Don't you love it when God is merciful and gives you these opportunities? We had satan throwing all kinds of obstacles in our way after my in-laws graciously gave us this offer. But the Lord made a path so we could go. Multiple problems were addressed. Then one of my dear friends, Rosemary, came and stayed with our son for the twelve days we were gone. I'd always dreamed of taking a copy of my novel with me when I went to the setting of the story. I'd never been to Europe and almost all of my stories are set in locations that I knew well. I only knew Suzanne and Johan's "world" from doing diligent research. Now I was getting to see it!

One of the places I most wanted to visit was Cologne Cathedral (Koln, if you are in Germany). Here's a picture of me with Joan and Don Pagels in front of this gorgeous building.

Joan, Don, & Carrie Fancett Pagels in front of Cologne Cathedral, Germany, April 2019

When I was going some genealogical research on Johan Adam Rousch, my ancestor, I learned some earlier ancestors studied there. I read about the massive statue figures embedded in the exterior walls of the soaring cathedral. I wondered what they would look like in person. I stood and gaped at them, when we got there. I was dumbstruck by the beauty of them. Check out some distance views and other aerial pictures on Wikipedia (click here.) The cathedral is stunning and I could have spent days here and at the other cathedrals on the trip. Here are a few pictures of the exterior statues of which there are many:

I'd also hoped to make it to Aachen Cathedral, which is included in my story (and is not on the Rhine River). Another dream for another day and more of God's mercies to come!!!

Giveaway: Take your own trip to Europe and the Rhine River by reading my novel Saving the Marquise's Granddaughter! I'm giving away a gently used copy to one of my commenters, USA only. Answer this question: When has God given you an unexpected blessing?

Roseanna M. White -- Traveling Abroad

Author Roseanna M. White

Traveling Abroad -- by Roseanna M. White

In celebration of our 15^th anniversary, my husband and I took a trip to England and France with the kids, fulfilling a lifelong dream.

When we planned the trip, I purposefully chose some things that I knew would be similar to what my characters would experience in England. 

We visited the Cotswolds, which is where almost the entirety of A Lady Unrivaled is set, toured a few manor houses, wandered the woods and gardens on the estates. And I was thrilled to discover that my descriptions of the area, gleaned from watching videos and studying photographs, was spot on. 

As we walked the wooded paths and got turned around and had to choose between directions, I had to look over at my husband and say, “See? This is why Ella got lost so often!”

What I hadn’t realized was that when we went to Paris, we’d also be walking in the fictional footprints of my characters. In A Lady Unrivaled, there are a total of three scenes not in the Cotswolds, and they’re all in Paris. I’d done enough research (much of it via a friend who’d spent a lot of time there) to be able to describe the streets my characters were on. 

But it was unexpectedly great to walk those streets and see what they would have seen. See the signs for the museum I feature. Stroll along the Champs-Elysee as they did.

Traveling to another country is always interesting—and though my French is terrible (though sufficient for ordering in a restaurant, LOL), my characters wouldn’t have had that problem. They would have taken a boat to France where I took a train (then a train into Paris itself), there would have been more horses and fewer automobiles, but the feel of the old city would have been largely as it is today. 

The Eiffel Tower would still have towered. They would still have heard all the French rather than English and had to think about what they were hearing. It would still feel a bit foreign, a bit unreal, and completely lovely.

Though they wouldn’t have had jet lag to contend with once they got home again, I can imagine them all sinking into their own beds with the same contentment after their trip. There’s nothing like seeing someplace new and beautiful. And there’s also nothing like coming home again.

CFP: Welcome back, Ro!!! Congrats on your new release and on your 15 years of marriage! Looking forward to celebrating with you on the Colonial Quills blog new releases tea party this Friday. The Facebook portion of the party is Friday mid-day. (Click here to indicate you want to JOIN the party this Friday!)

GIVEAWAY: We're giving away a copy of Roseanna's new release this week. Leave a comment to enter. We'll also have reviews up of this brand new novel from Bethany House.

Interview with Jill Stengl, by Carrie Fancett Pagels

Author Jill Stengl

Jill Stengl is the author of Until That Distant Day. When I first seriously started writing historical Christian fiction, I read a couple of Jill's books and loved her writing and her author's voice. But she'd stepped back for a while from her writing. Was glad when she started back again. Welcome, Jill!

Jill, welcome to Overcoming With God.  We appreciate your willingness to share your testimony of overcoming with our readers.  

Thank you so much for hosting me! I have often been blessed by the testimonies shared here. The sense of Christian community, of coming alongside to encourage and edify in love is a rare gift.

Would you tell us about one of the most difficult things in your life you have had to overcome, with God’s help? (transparency appreciated!)

Being a military wife for fifteen years was challenging for me in many ways. My husband, Dean, flew thirty-four bombing missions into Iraq and Kuwait during the first Gulf War while I stayed home with our three young children and wondered if he would be able to return to us. He was deployed frequently throughout his years of military service, which forced me to be a single mother much of the time. And after he left the military to become a commercial pilot, he was still away from home more often than not, which put an extra burden of stress on the family during crucial times in our older children’s teen years. And stress tends to bring out the best and the worst in people.

In most respects I was/am a good wife and mother; but all too often I have failed miserably! Being an airheaded, people-pleasing, know-it-all busybody has its hazards, I can tell you that much. *grin* Yet in His gracious kindness, God uses my failures to humble and discipline me. It is definitely an on-going process. I can always find new ways to embarrass myself, which gives God plenty of opportunity to further His work. 

Holding myself up as an example of how not to do it would not be my first choice for ministry—but whatever God can use is good with me! We Christians so often present only our successes to the world and hide our failures, which builds pressure on other hurting people to do the same. Not one of us is righteous; all of us fall short and desperately need God’s grace. And we need to offer love and grace as generously as God has shown it to us. 

Believe me, my dear husband and children have demonstrated abundant mercy and grace to me over the years! 

Until that Distant Day

Disability friendliness: Is this latest release available in audio format or do you have any other works available on audio?  Do your e-books have audio capability? Do you have any in large print?  

Sadly, no! I would love to offer these formats in future, however. 

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

One of the central characters in Until That Distant Day suffers from adult-onset epilepsy. Several of my near relatives and friends are afflicted with this condition, yet few novels seem to feature epileptics as major characters. At the time of the French Revolution, victims of epileptic seizures faced being institutionalized (and quite probably experimented on) if their condition were discovered. 

Interesting fact: Napoleon Bonaparte was epileptic, even suffering grand mal seizures, yet managed to keep his condition secret due to devoted servants and officers who recognized that he was neither insane nor demon-possessed.

Also, my heroine, Colette, is dyslexic, another misunderstood condition at that time.

Thank you, for agreeing to answer these questions!

You are most welcome! Thank you, my Christian sisters, for extending love and friendship to me.

Jill’s links:

Author blog: http://jillstengl.blogspot.com/

Book page: http://untilthatdistantdaynovel.blogspot.com/

Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jill-Stengl/233740900123521

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19002703-until-that-distant-day

                      https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18492012-the-british-brides-collection

Until That Distant Day:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Until-That-Distant-Jill-Stengl-ebook/dp/B00JK5ADSA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1397042379&sr=8-1&keywords=Until+That+Distant+Day 

Barnes & Noble:

British Brides Collection: 

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1628361689?ie

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-british-brides-collection

CBD: http://www.christianbook.com/the-british-brides-collection-volumes-in/pamela-griffin/9781628361681/pd/361681?

Giveaway: I'll be giving away a paperback copy of Jill's British Brides collection, with this interview.  We'll also be giving away a copy of Until that Distant Day, later in the week!

Diana Flowers Reviews Glamorous Illusions by Lisa T. Bergren

Glamorous Illusions 
by Lisa T. Bergren
(David C. Cook, 2011)

5 stars~ *****

Glamorous Indeed!

In Glamorous Illusions, Lisa T. Bergren sweeps the reader away on a journey that begins on a struggling farm, to the copper mines of Montana; to the gorgeous cathedrals, chateaus, and palaces of the very wealthy in England and Paris. Our heroine, Cora Diehl, has come home to her farm in Montana to visit her parents after attending college, only to have her father suffer a stroke and is now unable to work the farm. Then a stranger arrives on her doorstep with a shocking secret and a proposition...one that she realizes she cannot refuse.

Cora finds herself on a fabulous journey of self discovery and adventure with her siblings--siblings she never even knew existed, in a world quite different than her own. With much trepidation and anticipation, Cora joins them on The Grand Tour of Europe led by tour guides, Will McCabe and his uncle. Suddenly thrust into a world of masked balls, gorgeous gowns, art museums, and magnificent palaces, Cora begins to question who she is and where she really belongs. And two very different men are falling for her; one an extremely wealthy, French Prince Charming, and her tour guide, Will. Where does Cora's path to self discovery lead her, and will she ever feel comfortable in this opulent lifestyle, and with her haughty siblings? Is she a Kensington or a Diehl?

Lisa T. Bergren takes us on a wonderful journey to places most of us only dream of visiting! Her use of imagery, and firsthand knowledge of Europe will fascinate and draw the reader in with a novel that is nigh unto impossible to put down. I loved the unpredictability and excitement of this book--one never knows what is going to happen next--not even which honorable character our heroine is going to end up with. With a wonderful cliff-hanger of a conclusion (to be continued in next book of series), and a spiritual thread throughout...this is an absolute must read! Nicely done, Lisa Bergren!


I received a copy of this novel from Net Galley and was not required to write a positive review.