The synopsis beckoned with the wheedling crook of one practiced in the art of reeling others in. California? 19th century? It wasn’t like I had a whole series planned about that era—even one in print already. So, of course, I had to read it.
Right?
But I couldn’t find it. See, I was researching for a blog post when I ran across the website, and there wasn’t a “buy” button. I didn’t see it on Amazon. But hey, titles change sometimes, so I wondered if maybe she just hadn’t updated or something. I recall creating several desperate explanations for just why I couldn’t find the book. The one I refused to consider, of course, was the one that fit.
Kathleen Denly told me it hadn’t been published yet. *insert sadness, pouting, and a little internal wailing and gnashing of teeth*
Often when I run across a book I want to read but isn’t available yet… I forget about it. No really, I do. This wasn’t one of those times. Every now and then I’d go look on the site, on social media, or something, trying to find that 19th century California book.
Then an email came.
Inside was a lovely note from Kathleen Denly saying, “It’s been a long time coming, but I can finally say that my debut novel, Waltz in the Wilderness, releases on February 4th.” I believe I hit a pretty high C note of joy. Fortunately, no one but me was around, so I only annoyed myself with the racket.
The joy remained. Especially when I saw the preorder price is just 99 cents! AAAK. SOLD!
Check this book out. Doesn’t it sound awesome?
Title: Waltz in the Wilderness
Series: Chaparral Hearts
Author: Kathleen Denly
Genre: Historical Christian Romance
Length: 328 pages
Publisher: Wild Heart Books
Release Date: Feb. 4, 2020
Synopsis: She’s desperate to find her missing father. His conscience demands he risk all to help.
Eliza Brooks is haunted by her role in her mother’s death, so she’ll do anything to find her missing pa—even if it means sneaking aboard a southbound ship. When those meant to protect her abandon and betray her instead, a family friend’s unexpected assistance is a blessing she can’t refuse.
Daniel Clarke came to California to make his fortune, and a stable job as a San Francisco carpenter has earned him more than most have scraped from the local goldfields. But it’s been four years since he left Massachusetts and his fiancé is impatient for his return. Bound for home at last, Daniel Clarke finds his heart and plans challenged by a tenacious young woman with haunted eyes. Though every word he utters seems to offend her, he is determined to see her safely returned to her father. Even if that means risking his fragile engagement.
When disaster befalls them in the remote wilderness of the Southern California mountains, true feelings are revealed, and both must face heart-rending decisions. But how to decide when every choice before them leads to someone getting hurt?
About the Author:
Kathleen Denly writes stories to entertain, encourage, and inspire readers toward a better understanding of our amazing God and how He sees us. She enjoys finding the lesser-known pockets of history and bringing them to life through the joys and struggles of her characters.
Sunny southern California, a favorite setting in her stories, is also her home. She lives there with her loving husband, four young children, and two cats. As a member of the adoption and foster community, children in need are a cause dear to her heart and she finds they make frequent appearances in her stories.
When she isn’t writing, researching, or caring for children, she spends her time reading, visiting historical sites, hiking, and crafting.
Kathleen is also a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and the San Diego Christian Writers’ Guild.
Always happy to hear from her readers, you can email Kathleen Denly and follow her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.
Note: links are likely affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you. Additionally, I have not yet read this book, but my review is coming during launch week for it!
When You Dance, Who Is Leading, Anyway?
Despite thinking I’d sent interview questions so you could all suffer with me during the wait until February 4th and not actually having done it, Kathleen Denly graciously allowed me to try again. This is one gracious lady, folks. So, while we endure the long, tedious, arduous, miserable wait for another fabulous book… (can you tell I’m excited? No? Well, I tried)
Here’s an email convo with Kathleen about her debut novel! EEEP!
Chautona: I love the title of your series, “Chaparral Hearts.”
It’s funny, I was listening to the song, “Shifting Whispering Sands,” one day on the way back from the airport and came up with a contemporary story that would take place somewhere around Acton, California. As I drove through that corridor on the 14 between Santa Clarita and Palmdale, I saw the chaparral plants (also known as creosote or greasewood). The combination of the area, the plants, and the song combined into a perfect title for the book— “The Quiet Chaparral” (after a line in that song).
So, I thought it was really cool that you’ve written a historical series with a similar emphasis. What inspired you to use chaparral in your title, and was it influenced by the bush/scrub-like plant or the desert-like ecosystem?
Kathleen: The chaparral biome is the primary biome in the San Diego region and part of what sets Southern California apart from Northern California.
They have some chaparral up north, but it isn’t the same, and there isn’t as much of it.
Merriam-Webster defines chaparral as: “an ecological community composed of shrubby plants adapted to dry summers and moist winters that occurs especially in Southern California.”
I live in the San Diego area and have fallen in love with the beauty of our local chaparral. Throughout all three of the books currently planned for the series, my main characters spend a significant amount of time living within and traveling through this biome. It’s here that their hearts will be healed and where they’ll find true love of both the earthly and heavenly kinds. So, when it came time to pick a series title, combining the idea of hearts with chaparral made sense.
Me: Now this is part of a three-book series, right?
Didn’t you say something about how the characters have cameos in other books? Are all three books from the same period in 19th century California, or does it spread across several years/decades? What part of the 19th century is this first book?
Kathleen: The first chapter of Waltz in the Wilderness is set in 1850, but the rest of the book happens in 1853 and 1854.
Sing in the Sunlight will be the second book and is set in 1857 through 1858. The third book doesn’t have a title yet but will be set in 1865. Each book is connected by the characters. A secondary character from Waltz in the Wilderness is the hero for Sing in the Sunlight, and a secondary character from Sing in the Sunlight is the hero for the third book.
Each book will be fully complete within itself so you could read them out of order, but you’ll miss the little insider winks and nods that readers who’ve read the previous books will pick up on.
Me: Waltz in the Wilderness.
I love that title. It has such vivid imagery. Titles are a big part of my writing process. I can have a whole story plotted out in my mind, but if I don’t have a title, I can’t write a word. How did you choose that title, and when did you come up with it?
Kathleen: Actually, up until about a year ago the title was Waltz With Me.
Then a publishing editor I was pitching to pointed out that that title gave the impression the story had a more urban setting and it failed to hint at the grand adventure my characters go on.
So, I began brainstorming new ideas and came up with around 101 floppers before finally settling on Waltz in the Wilderness. The longer I sat with it, the more I fell in love with all the layers the new title contained.
I originally picked the idea of waltzing for a few reasons, but most importantly because of how when a woman is ballroom dancing she needs to let the man lead. As Christians, we need to let God lead us and quit trying to steer Him the way we want to go.
Eliza, my main character has control issues that stem from a trauma she endured as a child. So she needs to learn to let God guide her even in the wilderness—literally and figuratively. There also may or may not be actual waltzing in the story. Maybe. 😉 I actually wrote a whole guest post on this topic for the Seriously Write blog that will go up on February 5th.
Me: Speaking of writing quirks…
Many authors seem to have something they “must” do or “can’t do” before or during writing. Mine, obviously, is having a usable title (even if it doesn’t end up being the final one). Do you have any fun ones?
Kathleen: I absolutely cannot read regency or any romance novels set in England on a day when I plan to work on a rough draft.
English movies are even worse. Actually, I can’t watch or read anything with a strong accent or dialect. I absorb them like a sponge and they come out in my writing. This can be very helpful if I’m trying to write a character from the south. I can just watch a few YouTube videos of people from Louisiana and I’m set. It’ll just flow naturally from there.
However, it can be quite a pain when the character I’m writing is from Ohio and suddenly he sounds like a British aristocrat. LOL
Me: I know your main character’s relationship with her father is a big part of this book.
What do you hope readers will take away from the story?
Kathleen: I hope they will take away that their identity isn’t in their accomplishments—good or bad.
It’s in who God says they are. I also hope they’ll identify with Eliza’s struggles both to forgive herself and to trust God with those she loves. These are issues I’ve personally struggled with and I have many friends who have as well. I’m hoping God can use this story to remind the readers that they are forgiven and loved and that God loves those they love more than they can ever imagine.
Me: Did any specific scriptures encourage you as you wrote?
Did any songs inspire you or set the tone or mood for you?
Kathleen: Yes! The theme scripture for this novel is Proverbs 3:5-6,
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
As with the title, these words have layered application to the story. Eliza likes to do things her way and charge forward with what she thinks is best not only for herself but, for those she cares about. Although she believes in God, she feels unworthy of His love and struggles to trust His plans, so she doesn’t really look to him to direct her paths.
As for songs, there are many, but I think the most appropriate is Lauren Daigle’s “You Say.” Although she has since become a controversial figure, the truth in these lyrics speak to my heart and address the issues I mentioned a moment ago about where we find our true identity.
Nora Taylor was the little girl who followed Jim Brooks around the fields asking too many questions. So when his brother, Henry, announces Nora’s return from a trip to Boston along with his intention to court and marry her, Jim thinks he’s joking. Until he sees for himself how much Nora’s grown up.
Suddenly staying out of his little brother’s way doesn’t seem so easy.
The man Nora loves thinks she deserves better. Can she change his mind? Or will his brother change hers?
One final note from Kathleen Denly:
It’s been fun chatting with you. I’m so excited to be sharing these stories with the world! I’m looking forward to your review!
I preordered, forwarded the Amazon thing, and signed up for the newsletter. I am looking forward to reading the book and the prequel! I’m sure I’ve read many books set in California, most of them being historical, but the only title I can come up with is Chautona’s Deepest Roots of the Heart. I definitely enjoyed that one and am looking forward to a sequel (someday, right?). When my niece got married at Orcutt Ranch in 2016 (I forget what town it’s in, but it’s an hour, maybe hour-and-a-half from Palmdale — a very long ride when one’s 6yo has a massive nosebleed nearly the whole way there), it (Orcutt Ranch) reminded me of Deepest Roots of the Heart and I took phone pics for Chautona (but I can’t remember if I ever sent them). I never knew that the rural Southern California “look” had a name — chaparral biome.
That does not sound like a fun car ride, but I’m glad you had an opportunity to observe our Southern California chaparral. 🙂 If you want to know more, there’s a great video by Huell Howser on this website: http://www.californiachaparral.com/chaparralfacts/awheresthechaparral.html
Thank you so much for preordering and welcome to the club! 😀
Thank you for the link to the video! I will enjoy watching that. I actually lived in Southern California for five years when I was a child (1982-1987), so the look is not foreign to me, only that it had a name. My brother stayed after college graduation while the rest of us moved back to Mississippi.
I don’t have a favorite California historical fiction. I’m already subscribed to Kathleen’s newsletter.
Kathleen is a new-to-me author. This book sounds like a must read.
Well hello awesome KRC Member! I’m so glad you were able to stop by and enjoy this interview. 😀
I signed up.
I can’t remember the names of California fiction books I’ve read! I know I enjoyed some by Tracie Peterson, and there are prairie stories that ended up in California, but those were before I was on Goodreads!
Hmm. I’ve read several of Tracie’s books and can’t remember any set in California, but maybe I missed them or am forgetting them. I’m definitely going to have to go search through her book list now and see if I can find the ones you mean. She’s a great author.
Welcome to my Readers’ Club!
I could have the author wrong. I probably read them before Goodreads. haha
I read Grapes of Wrath by John Steinback way back when I was in school many years ago. Never realized it was set in California until today.
Did sign up for newsletter.
Hope I win
The Grapes of Wrath is definitely set in a different time period (both from now and from my novels). I actually can’t recall whether I’ve read it or not.
Thanks for signing up!
You’re welcome. Hope I win
I signed up for Kathleen‘s newsletter. The only historical novel I can think of right now Set close to California is Christy. I love that book!
Your story is fascinating! It reminds me of a book and author I still remember. Alicia Buck wrote Flecks of Gold maybe a dozen years ago. It was very intriguing. I hoped she would write more. After some years I came across her second book, Out of the Ashes, in a bookstore. I nearly passed it by because the cover was so dark. I decided to red. Hough because it was her book. I am glad I did. The cover didn’t reveal anything about the magical Cinderella retelling set in a partially fantasy world. Now I really hope she one ay writes a third book!
Christy? By whom?
By Catherine Marshall ?
Oops, no question about it My ‘?’ was an accident. Christy by Catherine Marshall is an inspiring read. It’s been a while so I need to read it again!
I haven’t read the book, but I did enjoy the Christy series years ago. It’s actually set in the Appalachian mountains which is far closer to the east coast than the west.
I just looked up Flecks of Gold and it appears to be Young Adult Fantasy. I’m super curious what connections you see that made you think of it in relation to my book.
Thank you for signing up! 🙂
The unique story of how Chautona remembered seeing a notice about your book and then contacted you is what reminded me of Alicia Buck’s books. Her book had a similar unusual impact on me. I recall her name easily and check occasionally to see if she has published anything new. Her second book, published years after the first, was even better. I wonder what God has in store with her books. It feel He inspires us to notice and remember things for a certain purpose. Chautona’s interview with you impressed me to purchase your book.
Thank you. I look forward to reading your books in Paperback/Hardback. I get a better perspective with print than digital although will read e-books. I look forward to reading Chauton’s book too. I’m new to her too. Watch your Goodreads, Amazon and Bookbub links? This question is for Kathleen and Chautona.
I like the book Gingham Bride(Steeple Hill Love Inspired Historical:Buttons & Bobbins Book 1) but don’t think it’s set in California not sure though. Read so many books I had to have read one set in California.
Hope I can still enter your contest and hopefully win.
Thanks
https://www.goodreads.com/chautona
Thanks Chautona, followed you
I completely understand that some people find print easier to read. Unfortunately, I’m not able to offer Ribbons and Beaus in print at this time (maybe someday!). Waltz in the Wilderness, however, IS available for preorder in both print and ebook formats. 🙂
Here are my links:
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7737582.Kathleen_Denly
Amazon: http://bit.ly/KDAmazonProfile
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/kathleen-denly
Thanks for asking!
If you signed up to become a KRC member, then you are entered to win!
If I win I win though I’ll take what my prize is. I understand you can’t offer now.
Thanks.
These books sound delightful and I look forward to reading them.
One of my favorite California Historical Fiction books is the Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell. Also, I’m already a newsletter subscriber of Kathleen Denly.
Yay, another awesome KRC Member! I remember enjoying Island of the Blue Dolphins when I was young. It’s actually one of the books I assigned the students in my Hands-on California History class this year. (I’m a homeschooling parent and my family participate in a cooperative class day.)
Thanks for checking out this interview!
I’m signed up. I don’t remember the name but one of my favorite California historical books was about the big earthquake.
Any chance it was written by Karen Barnett? She wrote The Golden Gate Chronicles which involved the big San Francisco earthquake in 1906.
I think, the only California fiction I have read is The California series by Lori Wick which is comprised of four books; Whatever Tomorrow Brings, As Time Goes By, Sean Donovan, and Donovan’s Daugther. Surround around the Donovan family that had recently moved to California from Hawaii. Each book is about one of the Donovan children, expect the second book, which happens in the same town as the first book does. The first two are probably my favorites!
That sounds like an interesting series.
I subscribed. I’ve read thousands of books, and I cannot think of one based in California right now.
LOL That’s okay. One of the reasons I wanted to write about my home state is because there aren’t a lot written in that setting, especially during this time period.
of mice and men and Wuthering Heights for sure are my 2 favorites, I also signed up for your newsletter
Yay! Welcome to my readers’ club! Is it terrible that I’ve never read Wuthering Heights? It’s on my bucket list.
Get to reading it !! Its amazing the movie is great too
Okay it’s on my TBR. 🙂
Good to hear 🙂 You wont be disappointed
I don’t have a favorite California historical fiction yet. I’ve read different historical books but not set in California at least not yet and signed up for the newsletter.
I hope I win. Would love to read a historical fiction set in California. I like trying books and there authors at least once. That’s how I find authors I like and my new favorite authors.
Yes! I’m a book blogger as well as an author and I LOVE discovering new authors! You never know when someone new will be that next author whose books you MUST read. Welcome to my readers’ club!
Thank you. I look forward to reading your books in Paperback/Hardback. I get a better perspective with print than digital although will read e-books. I look forward to reading Chauton’s book too. I’m new to her too. Watch your Goodreads, Amazon and Bookbub links? This question is for Kathleen and Chautona.
I like the book Gingham Bride(Steeple Hill Love Inspired Historical:Buttons & Bobbins Book 1) but don’t think it’s set in California not sure though. Read so many books I had to have read one set in California.
Hope I can still enter your contest and hopefully win.
Deepest Roots of the Heart!
I also like the Boston Jane series those don’t happen in California though.
Aw… someone loves my book. WOOT!
Yay for picking one of Chautona ‘s books! I need to read that one.
It is a really good book! You should definitely read it!
I can’t say I’ve read much California historical fiction aside from some Steinbeck titles, and that was quite a long time ago. I’ve pre-ordered Kathleen’s book, and can’t wait to start it!
I’ve signed up for Kathleen’s newsletter, and I look forward to some new reading recommendations!
Yay! I’m so glad to have you in my readers’ club! Thank you for pre-ordering my novel! I hope you enjoy it! 🙂
Grapes of wrath and mice and men are ones that I. An think of that i have read. I did sign up for newsletter.
Welcome to my readers club! Of Mice and Men is a tough read. It’s been so long since I read it, I forgot it was in California.
i signed up for the newsletter and fav california based is East of Eden
by John Steinbeck thanks for the chance to win!
I actually haven’t that one. Welcome to my readers’ club!
This sounds lovely! I haven’t read many books that are set in California except for a couple set around gold rushes and the names escape me. ?
I subscribed to the newsletter.
I’m glad you like the sound of the book! I hope you will give it a try. 🙂
I had so much fun chatting with you, Chautona. Thanks for having me! My favorite California history novel would be pretty difficult to choose. However, I’ve really enjoyed Karen Barnett’s series, The Golden Gate Chronicles.
I’ve just subscribed to her newsletter and blog.
Honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever read a book that is a California historical fiction! Thank you for introducing me to a new author!
Welcome to my readers’ club! I hope you read my book. Then you can claim two firsts: a new author AND a new setting!
I’m looking forward to it!!
Kathleen,I have tried to send to your email but it will not show up in my server. I have just preordered Waltz in the Wilderness and was trying to send you my screenshot of purchase but clicking on email will not show it. I do not use microsoft mail. So disappointed as the book looks great
I’ll email you the address Gwenyth.
I’m so sorry you had trouble with the email! THANK YOU for pre-ordering Waltz in the Wilderness! I see that Chautona is going to email you the address. Thank you, Chautona!
If anyone else has trouble, the address is just the title “ribbonsandbeaus” plus the word “novella” all smashed together with at gmail.com tacked on the end. I wish I could just type the thing normally, but then those pesky bots would invade my inbox.
sorry. I sent her the email you wrote me from instead. *blush
No worries. I got it and forwarded it to the correct email address. Having a separate email just makes it easier for me to make sure no one’s preorder confirmation email gets lost.