Pepper Basham’s Pinned in Time Scavenger Hunt: Character Interview + Giveaway!

Welcome to the Pinned in Time Blog Hop: a twelve day party celebrating Pepper Basham’s Penned in Time series! There is a Pinterest scavenger hunt, exciting giveaway, behind the scenes looks into the worlds of The Thorn Bearer and The Thorn Keeper — as well as a glimpse into the heart of their talented author.

Can I just say how EXCITED I am to be kicking off this blog hop scavenger hunt?!?!?! This series is one of my very faves (just WAIT until you read book 3 due later in 2016 – The Thorn Healer), and Pepper Basham is one of my very favorite friends.

Title:  The Thorn Bearer
Series: Penned in Time, Book 1
Author:  Pepper D. Basham
Publisher:  Vinspire Publishing, LLC
Release Date:  May 7, 2015

When Ashleigh Dougall’s fiancé leaves her eight months before their wedding, the unexpected blow ignites a battalion of insecurities stemming from her father’s intimate betrayal. In an attempt to escape her shame, Ashleigh boards the ill-fated Lusitania to cross the war-torn waters of Europe. Much to her dismay, she isn’t traveling alone.

Sam Miller is always making up for his best friend’s mistakes. Determined to help his childhood friend, Ashleigh, he offers his compassion and companionship as she ventures across a perilous sea. With the faint hope of renewing his lost love for Ashleigh’s sister, Sam never expects to find the woman of his dreams in the love of his childhood friend.

Neither are prepared for the life-altering and heart-breaking journey of their friendship.

Title:  The Thorn Keeper
Series: Penned in Time, Book 2
Author:  Pepper D. Basham
Publisher:  Vinspire Publishing
Release Date:  February 28, 2016

With her past in shambles, how can she fashion a future of hope?

Catherine Dougall’s past of manipulation has left her future in threads. With a new faith, she longs to take the remnants of her life and make something beautiful, but shame, societies’ judgments, and the natural consequences of an unplanned pregnancy test her newfound hope. Dr. David Ross doesn’t help either. His kindness, sacrifice, and tenderness tempt her to impossible dreams. A fallen woman doesn’t merit a fairytale.

David Ross has made every effort to keep his life above reproach. His passion for the sick pumps fresh purpose through his choices, but without financial support to maintain his war hospital, all is lost. When his notorious aunt offers an easy solution, David is tempted to give in to her demands, but his growing affection for the reformed flirt, Catherine Dougall, unwinds the careful wall around his heart and offers an unexpected choice.

When the worst of war tears them apart, can love renew the memory of what was lost or will tragedy steal away their hope forever.

From the beautiful Derbyshire countryside to the trenches of World War One, Catherine and David must learn to trust in a God who designs a masterpiece out of brokenness and fashions hope in the most unlikely places.

Pepper Basham is an award-winning author who writes romance peppered with grace and humor. She currently resides in the lovely mountains of Asheville, NC where she is the mom of 5 great kids, speech-pathologist to about fifty more, lover of chocolate, jazz, and Jesus. Her debut historical novel, The Thorn Bearer, released in May 2015 and has garnered awards such as Reader’s Favorites Award, finalist in the Grace Awards, shortlisted for the Inspy Awards, and most recently a finalist in the ACFW Carol Awards. Her second historical novel, The Thorn Keeper, released in Feb 2016 and her first contemporary romance, A Twist of Faith, released in April 2016 with a 4 star review from Romantic Times.

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Not only am I excited to be kicking off the scavenger hunt, I am equally excited today to have the chance to sit down with David and Catherine from The Thorn Keeper. This was no easy task, I assure you, as David makes me swoon quite easily. But I girded myself against his charms (ok… i totally swooned a couple times) and kept my wits about me (totally swooned) long enough to record this interview here for your reading pleasure.

Hi Catherine and David!! Thank you SO VERY MUCH for chatting with me 🙂 Y’all can both answer each question or take turns – whichever strikes your fancy.

David: It’s a pleasure to visit with you, Mrs. Schmidt. I appreciate your distinct proclivity for reading.

Catherine: I’m still trying to sort out how you manage to read so many books. Unless there’s a great deal of adventure or romance, I can’t seem to maintain my attention. At least my design books have a wealth of pictures. *tips her lips into a humored grin*

Carrie: Well.. most of the books I read DO have a great deal of adventure and romance 😉

Catherine: Apples. Oranges are too much fuss. Besides, every time I eat an apple I feel like I’m bordering on tasting a forbidden fruit or something dangerous like that.

David: Catherine, you’re a far cry from that life now, but I do appreciate your unique brand of adventure, my dear. It should not surprise you, Mrs. Schmidt, that I prefer oranges. I find the effort worth the reward.

Catherine: Oh dear, this is a difficult question. Both seasons offer such wonderful opportunities for fashion in their own ways, however I think I enjoy summer best. Light and airy clothes, magnificent hats, and long strolls down the footpaths with my lovely family.

David: You’re tempting me to change my answer, Kat. I was going to say winter because it is when we married and allows for more indoor activities together. *lips give the tiniest hint of a smile*

Catherine: *taking his hand* Clever man. That is an excellent reason, for the sake of old memories and new ones.

Carrie: *thud*

David and Catherine (at once): Dogs.

David: Not merely because of your excellent Zuzu, Miss Schmidt, but I’ve found them most amiable companions and wonderful with our daughter.

Catherine: Though, I wouldn’t mind a cat as a mouser, I’d prefer not to have any competition for my namesake, you understand.

Carrie: Oh yes. I can’t see you tolerating much competition at all, dear Catherine. And David, Zuzu thanks you for your answer!

David and Catherine: (at once) Tea.

Catherine: Of course.

Carrie: Yes, of course. Silly question.

Around here I like to say that reading is my superpower.  If YOU had a superpower, what would it be?

David: *laughing*: I’ll tell you Catherine’s.

Catherine: Oh really? You know my super power?

David: Without a doubt. It’s your indomitable spirit. I am in awe of it. Designer, mother, nurse…you’re remarkable. And you certainly didn’t allow my wounds to stop you from winning my heart, or helping me heal. *he squeezes her hand*. Remarkable.

Catherine: *smiles with mischief* Well, then, my dear doctor, I shall have to answer for you too, though I doubt I shall succeed in being as eloquent. Carrie-dear, David’s super power would be his faith. He has this incredible ability to believe in people, and from that belief, they begin to see themselves in the same way he sees them. It’s a fascinating thing to behold. *she looks at him* He certainly saw more in me than I could see.

Your creator, Pepper Basham, talks about y’all a lot. It’s clear she loves you both! Tell us about Pepper – who is she as an author?

Catherine: Well, I didn’t like her very much for a while there. She nearly ruined my life!

David: But she does have the best intentions, of course.

Catherine: *hesitant sigh* I suppose you’re right, though a less painful way of getting to the point would have been much more appreciated.

David: And much less poignant.

Catherine: *sending David a mock glare* Why do you have to be so magnanimous? She sent you to war and then allowed you to be… *grimaces* You should be angry with her too.

David: I think both of our wounds have made us and our love stronger, don’t you? And I believe that was her ultimate goal.

Catherine: *long sigh* I’m sure you’re right…as usual. *narrows her eyes* But I do hope she suffered for it a little.

David: *turning to Carrie*: Mrs. Basham is extremely careful in the wounds she inflicts, which shows a great deal of care for her characters. I find it very comforting, much like God’s love, that even in the wounds, we are held.*

Carrie: *fans self wildly* I’m sorry. I know you said something very profound just now, Dr. Ross. But you lost me as soon as you turned toward me.  *swoony sigh*

North Carolina and England are both “home” to you. If you had to pick one to live in for the rest of your life – and could never visit the other – which would you choose and why?

David: I’m afraid I don’t care. They are both equally beautiful. Rolling, green hills, friendly people. To be perfectly honest, my home is wherever my family is, so either place would suit me well as long as they were there.

Catherine: Honestly, I prefer England. Though those lovely Blue Ridge Mountains will always hold a special place in my heart, I’m not a country girl. Give me the villages and the lively work of the towns and I am much more at home than in the world of Appalachia. Thank heavens, Pepper didn’t place me in a rural farmhouse. *cringes*

David: You’ve seemed content in our little haven without grand halls and lively parties?

Catherine: But there is always the potential for grand halls and lively parties. That is what makes the difference. Potential.

Carrie: The rural farmhouse is more Jessica’s fate in book 3, Catherine. You’re mostly safe 😉

Peppermint. What comes to mind when I say that word?

Catherine: David

David: I’d rather not say in such a public forum.

Carrie: SWOON. Just… SWOON. *reaches for a peppermint candy*

Knowing what I do about the two of you, I can imagine that your conversations are always lively.  What do you enjoy best about talking with each other?

David: She certainly keeps me on my intellectual toes. Conversations with Kat are…quite invigorating. I’m never certain what she’s going to say. To my surprise, I’ve found lively conversation to be a welcome stimulant to my usual routine and quiet world.

Catherine: *to David* Aren’t you a darling man! *to Carrie* David has a delightfully subtle sense of humor that grounds me. In fact, I think his entire personality grounds me. Conversations are just one aspect of our relationship which shows how our extreme differences somehow work to complement one another. He’s like a sweet calm of reason and light in my stormy passions. The fact that he survives conversations with me speak to the strength of his will. The fact that he enjoys them? May cause some, particularly my mother, to question his soundness of mind.

Carrie: *laughing*

I’m sure you know by now that Pepper Basham tells your story in The Thorn Keeper. What do you hope readers learn from you?

Catherine: How long do you want my list to be? I am the proverbial prodigal. There are more lessons to learn from my life than English insults in Madame Rouselle’s mental inventory. I suppose the best lessons to remember would be that God’s love is much greater than our deepest sin, our darkest shame.

David: And that His dreams are much grander by far, than ours could ever be for ourselves. I would never have sought out Catherine of my own accord.

Catherine: Smart man.

David: *obviously ignoring her* But then I would have missed out on such a love. If we believe God loves us without reserve, then we can also believe he dreams without reserve. What a remarkable thought!

Catherine: Second chances, third chances…100^th chances, are His ultimate specialty. I am grateful beyond words, and that is a feat in itself. My heart were hollowed out by the hands of resentment and bitterness, and then darkened by the veil of my own shame. He took my heart and filled it to the brim with love and creativity and…*she looks to David* an amazing husband, and sweet baby. *looks back to Carrie* No, there are not words large enough to grasp my gratitude.

Join the PINNED IN TIME scavenger hunt for your chance to win this awesome Penned in Time-themed prize pack plus a $25 Amazon gift card!

Pinned in Time Scavenger Hunt Rules:

1. Each blog hop stop contains an image clue from either The Thorn Bearer or The Thorn Keeper, with a link to a Pinterest Board filled with pictures related to the Penned in Time series.
2. Using the image clue, find the corresponding answer image.
3. Create a Pinterest board, titled “Penned in Time,” and pin the answer image to your board, and hashtag #pinnedintime.
4. Enter your pinned (answer) image link on the Rafflecopter entry form, corresponding to the stop on the Blog Hop.
5. Check out the other blog hop stops for more entries!

And here’s the Pinned In Time CLUE for my stop!! Click on it to head straight to the Pinterest board to find the answer.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Follow the blog hop each day for more chances to win!

August 1  l Reading is My Superpower

August 2  l Mikal Dawn

August 3  l Just Commonly

August 4  l A Way With Words

August 5  l  A Northern Belle

August 8  l Fiction, Faith, and Fun

August 9  l Stuff and Nonsense

August 10 l Gardens & Books & Good Things to Cook

August 11 l Bookworm Mama

August 12 l Faithfully Bookish