Happy Thursday! As you no doubt already know, through September 19th (culminating with a list of winners), I have the privilege of sharing mini interviews with nearly all of the 2020 ACFW Carol Award Finalists! Today I’m continuing with Kristi Ann Hunter and her Carol Award finalist book A Pursuit of Home! You can check out a list of all the finalists HERE.
FYI – There will be 2-3 posts per day, and a series-long giveaway, so make sure you catch them all!
Kristi Ann Hunter is the author of the Hawthorne House and Haven Manor series and a 2016 RITA Award winner and Christy Award finalist. Kristi graduated from Georgia Tech with a degree in computer science but always knew she wanted to write. She lives with her husband and three children in Georgia. Visit her at www.kristiannhunter.com
A PURSUIT OF HOME
SERIES: Haven Manor #3
GENRE: Inspirational Historical Romance
PUBLISHER: Bethany House
RELEASE DATE: November 5, 2019
PAGES: 380
In early 1800s England, Jess Beauchene has spent most of her life in hiding and always on the move in an effort to leave her past far behind her. But when she learns the family she thought had died just might be alive and in danger, she knows her secrets can only stay buried for so long.
Derek Thornbury loves the past, which has led him to become an expert in history and artifacts. He knows Jess has never liked him, but when she requests his help deciphering the clues laid out in an old family diary, he can’t resist the urge to solve the puzzle.
As Jess and Derek race to find the hidden artifact before her family’s enemies, they learn as much about each other as they do about the past. But can their search to uncover the truth and set history right lead to a future together?
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Hi Kristi! Welcome back to the blog!
Q: How has Christian fiction impacted you personally?
Kristi: When I discovered Christian fiction, I learned how entertainment could also be spiritually enriching. Reading the stories of others’ spiritual growth and struggles showed me areas I could grow or ways I could be more supportive and empathetic of others’ journeys.
Carrie: ‘entertainment could also be spiritually enriching’ – love that!
Q: When you’re not writing your next award-nominated book 😉 who are your fave authors to read & why?
Kristi: I will always pick up a book by Karen Witemeyer, Regina Jennings, or Becky Wade. All three of these ladies bring fun and depth to their stories.
Carrie: they are pretty fabulous, as are you 🙂
Q: Do you have any strange writing habits/quirks?
Kristi: The fact that I write out of order tends to freak out a lot of other writers.
Carrie: i think if i ever wrote a book, i would write out of order too – i would have to write the scenes that come to mind, even if i wasn’t ready for them yet lol
Q: Which of your characters has really stretched you as a writer?
Kristi: Writing Jess in A Pursuit of Home was fun but difficult. I am such an emotionally driven person that writing a logical minded female was challenging. I often had to rewrite scenes because they were out of character.
Carrie: that would be difficult!
Q: What’s the weirdest thing you’ve googled lately while researching a book?
Kristi: Lately? Probably how they scraped sweat off a horse in 1817.
Carrie: hahahahaha! yep that qualifies as weird (and hilarious)
Q: What is something God taught you while you wrote A Pursuit of Home?
Kristi: Writing Jess and Derek’s story renewed my resolve on how important it was to study the Bible even when I wasn’t sure what I needed to know. If you don’t take the time to learn when not under stress, you won’t have the tools you need when the trials come.
Carrie: that’s so true – that foundation on the Word is key to not being swept away by the storms.
Q: What is one of your favorite quotes from A Pursuit of Home & why do you love it?
Kristi: “Somehow, despite her best intentions, she’d managed to fill her life with people she cared about.”
I love this quote because even though people can be so difficult, God has designed us for relationships. Even when we are frustrated and try to distance ourselves, people will worm their way in.
Carrie: we were definitely created for community!
I am offering one reader any TWO books (print copies) that finaled in the 2020 Carol Awards! (open internationally as long as Book Depository ships to your address) This giveaway is subject to Reading Is My SuperPower’s giveaway policies which can be found here. Enter via the Rafflecopter form below.
What about you? What makes you want to read the historical romance Carol Award finalist A Pursuit of Home by Kristi Ann Hunter & what did you enjoy about Kristi’s answers?
I have read and enjoyed one of her novels and was surprised that she writes out of order. That would drive me crazy. It’s also funny that she actually Googled how to scrape sweat off of a horse in 1817. I think that’s hilarious!
isn’t that funny?
I love the idea of a treasure hunt for an artifact in the novel. Kristi Ann Hunter is an amazing writer; I’m excited to read the 3rd book in this series.
she absolutely is amazing!
I never gave any thought to the possibility of an author’s writing out of order, but if inspiration strikes, one must write it down. An element of mystery is a plus for me in historical romance.
me too, Roxanne!
We were created for relationships and community!! Yes, so very true!
You’ve convinced me that I need to read A Pursuit of Home; it sounds intriguing!
yay! my work here is done 😉
I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in the series, but need to get my hands on the last two.
right??
I’ve already read (and loved❤️) A Pursuit of Home, but what made me want to read it (aside from the fact that Kristi is an auto-buy author) was the promise of Jess getting her HEA! By the time I read A Return of Devotion, and met Derek, I absolutely HAD to get my hands on A Pursuit of Home (and not only to ensure that Jess wouldn’t end up killing Derek 😂).
Kristi is so good about making us care SO MUCH about the other characters in a series & their HEAs!!
Love Kristi’s books that I’ve read thus far!
I absolutely adore Kristi and her books! She has such a fun sense of humor!
Thanks for the fun spotlight/interview, Carrie and Kristi! It’s great to see all these amazing books spotlighted!
I also love Kristi’s statement that ‘entertainment could also be spiritually enriching’! Stories are a wonderful way to share spiritual truths as we are shown by Yeshua.
I havent yet read any of Kristi’s books but I hear such good things. Looking forward to trying them.
ack! Megan, you absolutely need to prioritize her books! 🙂
The research sounds hilarious. A great interview.
Kristi has been on my “authors I need to check out” list for a long time! I’m finally reading one – her latest, Vying for the Viscount – and thoroughly enjoying it!
oh good!!
I liked Kristi’s answer to the question of how Christian fiction has impacted her personally. It expressed my feelings. I’ve read A Pursuit of Home and enjoyed all of the series (all of her books, actually).
Another fabulous and award-deserving book and series.
Nice story line. Wonderful cover.
I read A Pursuit of Home last month, and really enjoyed how Jess learned to her astonishment that she needed and wanted these people in her life. 🙂
Have not read any of Kristi’s books yet but looking forward to reading this one! Sounds good!
I would read the book for the mystery of a family that you thought was dead, may not be! And I laughed about googling scraping sweat of a horse in 1817!
haha me too 🙂
I was glad to see Jess finally get her own story. Independent, capable Jess paired with Derek, such opposites! Fun!
Love Kristi’s books!
Sounds like a great book. The cover is lovely.
New author to me but loved learning about the author. Would love to read and review books in print copy.
It’s interesting that you write out of order. I would probably get the story confused.
Beautiful cover. It sounds like a really interesting book. Thank you for sharing.
This book sounds so exciting, I would love to read it.
I love to read books about the 1800’s.
Hi Kristi, I am so excited to learn about you and your books! My son went to GA Tech, it is a great school! You are a new to me author and I can’t wait to read your books!
Again, I just love the quotes! I have not met a Kristi book I haven’t liked!
This books was very enjoyable!
I love the quote! Somehow it seems to fit my life as well. Can’t wait to read this book!