Greetings friends! Today we’re talking with the one and only, brilliant, talented, and delightful, Erica Vetsch. So, grab a chair and join us as we talk about writing, research, and regency romance.
Erica’s sharing information about her brand-new release, The Lost Lieutenant, Book One in the Serendipity and Secrets series.
SHAREE: When you’re researching a new book, are there tried and true methods you use?
ERICA: I am a big believer in researching using BOOKS. I like to own the books I use for research, too. I start with broad subjects. Example, for my new Regency novels, I acquired some history books about the entire era. Then, I got more specific, buying books about carriages, architecture, clothing, etc.
SHAREE: I’m a firm believer, one can never have too many books. What’s the most interesting research you’ve encountered (regardless if it ended up in a book).
ERICA: There’s just so much I had to learn, that it was all interesting. I loved finding the motive for my fictional crime through reading about the Stock Exchange Hoax of 1814. The cool thing was, I wrote the crime before I knew the motive behind it, so finding an actual historical event to attribute it to was a great day for me!
SHAREE: I love starting with the crime! What enticed you to write a regency series?
ERICA: Mostly because I was bored and without a contract at the time. I had written about 35 stories, mostly set in the American West/Pioneer era, and I wanted a new challenge. I had been reading some Regency stories (thanks to Mary Connealy!) and thought I might give it a try.
SHAREE: 35 stories is an amazing feat! I must agree, if Mary Connealy recommends it, it’s good. Is there a character in your new release who stole your heart, or is there one you love to hate? Please tell us why.
ERICA: Definitely Evan Eldridge. He’s so wounded and afraid, but keeping it all bottled up. He’s thrown into several situations for which he feels himself unsuited, and yet, he doesn’t quit.
SHAREE: Now I’m even more intrigued to read The Lost Lieutenant. Would you share a little about your writing journey and if possible, some of your most memorable mountaintop or valley experiences?
ERICA: I think I was always a writer, creating worlds and characters and imaginings in my head long before I ever put anything on paper. In high school, I wrote my first novel (and I still have it, in case Random House comes calling!) But then life intervened, college, marriage, kids. In 2006 maybe? I quit my job as a history teacher and brought my kids home to home-school. And I started writing again, just for my own pleasure. It was as if a part of my brain that had been sleeping woke up. The world was sharper, shinier, and way more interesting when I was writing! I acquired an agent in 2006, a contract in 2008, and in January of 2021, my 40th Valleys have come along. Not finaling in a contest, finaling but not winning. Waiting, waiting, waiting to hear back from editors. Rejections. A two-year drought in contracts that had me wondering if I would ever be published again. But the mountaintop experiences far outweigh those things. The euphoria of getting an agent. Receiving my first contract during a general session of the ACFW Conference in front of 500 writers and industry professionals. A starred review in Publisher’s Weekly, hitting the New York Times Best-seller list. Winning a Genesis Contest Award. Winning a Carol Award. But mostly, the best things about being an author are all the great people you meet as a result. Writers and readers. Being able to help aspiring writers, because you’ve been there and done that. Meeting people who love your books. Making lifelong friendships with fellow authors who understand the kaleidoscope of story worlds in your head.
SHAREE: Wow!! You have definitely journeyed this writing road. What advice would you give to fellow authors?
ERICA: Two things. A) You only fail if you quit. Disappointments, delays, and detours are a part of the writing life. Do the work, keep doing the work, and don’t quit. B) Don’t stop learning. Never assume you’ve arrived and that you don’t need to learn to perfect your craft. There is always something new to try, and you always have a weakness in your writing that you can shore up. Take classes, read great books, talk to other writers.
SHAREE: Great advice! When you’re struggling for inspiration/motivation, what’s your go to?
ERICA: Reading. Reading history books set in the era I’m trying to portray. Reading novels that I love. Deadlines motivate me, too! There’s nothing like a ticking clock to get the fingers on the old keyboard.
SHAREE: Yes to both! What’s your biggest challenge as an author?
ERICA: Staying off the internet during my writing time?
SHAREE: Ugh. I hear that. Who is your favorite character (television, movie, book) and why?
ERICA: This is going to be so random and obscure, but I love Elspeth Cameron from Essie Summers’ Sweet Are The Ways. She’s big-hearted, funny, generous, accident-prone, loving, and brave. Also, bonus points, because she’s a writer.
SHAREE: I’ve never heard of her so now I’m intrigued to find out more. Is there any place you’d love to go? Why?
ERICA: England. To do research and fill up my history-loving heart. Once I’ve ticked England off my bucket list, I want to go to New Zealand, because it is beautiful, it has the best rugby union in the world, and it’s where my favorite author, Essie Summers, is from.
SHAREE: Erica, thank you so much for being here!
And friends, it gets even better! Erica is offering one copy of The Lost Lieutenant (Print for US / eBook for International). To be entered, answer the following question in the comments below. Be sure to include your email address so that if you’re the winner, we can contact you. Then mark your calendar! The Lost Lieutenant releases 4/21/2020.
Giveaway Question:
What historical era is your favorite to read/learn about?
Best-selling, award-winning author Erica Vetsch loves Jesus, history, romance, and sports. She’s a transplanted Kansan now living in Minnesota, and she married her total opposite and soul mate! When she’s not writing fiction, she’s planning her next trip to a history museum and cheering on her Kansas Jayhawks and New Zealand All Blacks. You can connect with her at her website, www.ericavetsch.com where you can read about her books and sign up for her newsletter, and you can find her online at https://www.facebook.com/EricaVetschAuthor/ where she spends way too much time!
“As a history teacher and museum junkie, I am enthralled by the past, by the customs, bravery, and ingenuity shown by those who came before us. As a born romantic, I fall in love with fictional characters, living their triumphs and tragedies through the wonder of story. I want to be able to share my love of history and romance and hopefully bring some light and life to the world around me.”
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The giveaway fine print. Qualifying giveaway comments will be open until April 21, 2020 at midnight (central time). One winner will be randomly chosen for the prize listed above using a random number generator on April 22, 2020. The giveaway is open to commenters 18 years and older only. One (1) winner will be chosen from the comments posted by April 21, 2020 at midnight (central time). Winners will be notified via email with instructions on how to claim the book. If the winner does not meet the above criteria or does not follow the instructions within 24 hours to claim the prize, a new winner will be selected via random number generator. Void where prohibited by law.
Hi, Erica & Sharee! First, that cover! Gorgeous color contrast! Erica, I am completely intrigued by the 1814 Stock Exchange hoax. How fun to discover the facts that go along with your imagination. My favorite historical periods to read (or watch) are any of the American wars. I taught high school English for 25 years and always planned to teach a war literature unit but it just never happened. Best wishes for your book launch!
Hi Karen! Thanks for dropping in. I totally agree, I can’t wait to read Erica’s book!
Hi, Karen! I would love to take a course on War Literature! I think that would be fascinating. As a history teacher, wars are pretty much the foundation of most of the lessons. 🙂
I love the cover! I really enjoy most historical books but really like Regency England and early America
Sounds neat! Would love to win a copy! My favorite book of Ericas so far is “the Cactus Creek Challenge”.
HI ERICA AND SHAREE!!! Two of my favorite people. Erica I seriously loved The Lost Lieutenant. Just an impossible book to put down and you ended it fully and yet left me HUNGRY for the next in the series.
Love you both!
Mary!!! So excited you’re here too. Now it’s a party! Much love!
Hi Sharee. Great interview. It’s almost like seeing you both.
sniffle
Woohoo! Mary! You realize it’s your fault that I started writing Regency, right? If you hadn’t recommended such good Regency authors, I wouldn’t have fallen in love with them and jumped in! 🙂 Thank you so much!
When I write a book, I usually start with a basic premise, a hero and heroine and a place and time. Then I start researching and usually I find amazing things in that time and place that can weave into my story. I picked Lake Tahoe and the California Trail strictly for the lake and the time because I needed aloneness. The ability to get off the trail and get utterly lost. Then I found the Comstock Lode. Then I found The Donner Party. Then I found…well it just kept coming and all that needed to be worked in which was so fun!!!
Isn’t that the way of it, Mary? And when I start researching, I fall right into the rabbit hole and don’t want to come back! So many amazing things to learn and discover about people and places and events from the past!
My favorite historical era is the Victorian era, and I enjoy stories set both in England and North America, including the frontier and prairies as well as more developed/populated areas. Since I was interested in the 19th century, I eventually developed a fondness for Regency novels as well.
I became an Erica Vetsch fan when she was writing for Barbour Publishing’s Heartsong Presents line. I would get excited when I found one of her books in my monthly shipment because I was going to be enjoying my reading time a lot that month. Congratulations on the release of “ The Lost Lieutenant.”
Roxanne! Heartsong Presents is going back a fair bit! Those were my first published stories, and they have a dear place in my heart!
I hope you get a chance to read The Lost Lieutenant. 🙂
Favorite era…1850 to 1900. I love the cover of your book, Erica,….and a wounded hero?!?! What does that say about me if that’s my favorite type of hero? Ha! Thanks for the encouragement to keep working toward the dream! What an amazing…and successful…journey you have had!
Hi, Sherida! There’s something about a wounded hero, isn’t there? I love them, too!
God has been very good to me! I never even dreamed I would be where I am today!
Hello Sharee and Erica! I enjoy many historical eras. Two of my favorites are Regency and Medieval.
Erica, I’m so excited to read The Lost Lieutenant! The cover is stunning!
Hi Caryl! I have been noodling the idea of a medieval Scotland series. 🙂 I think it would be fun to write!
And I’m so pleased with the cover for The Lost Lieutenant. It was hard not to share it before it was finalized!
I have always liked historical fiction, no matter the era. I especially like stories about early Biblical figures – Adam and Eve, Noah, those people! But recently, Regency and Edwardian England has drawn me in. Perhaps because I am a Downton fan? Thanks to Erica and other authors for bringing this period to life!
Hi, Wanda, Downton certainly brought historical fiction a lot of new fans! Poldark has done the same! 🙂
Historical Romance writers are grateful! 🙂
I would like to read more about Regency or Medieval. those seem to be my favorites at the moment!
Congrats on the book!
Thank you, Diane! I am a fan of medieval, too! Hopefully someday I’ll get to write a medieval Scotland book! I’ve got one in mind!
I love anything set in the 1800s probably the best. If I can learn something new, be entertained and read a good story I’m happy. There’s a lot of variety in the 1800s it seems. I think we think of that time as simpler times too. And we kind of long for the less stressed.
Nancy, you and I think alike about reading historicals! I love to learn while I read! I love the vocabulary, the jargon, and the social mores of earlier times!
Hi ladies, I’m so excited to read this book. It is so intriguing and I will say the Regency era is my all time favorite to read about. I will read an occasional Western or Contemporary book, but the Regency ones have my attention like no others.
Hi, Rebekah! I love that Regency readers are so loyal. When I spoke with Julie Klassen about it, before I wrote The Lost Lieutenant, she said Regency readers were extremely knowledgeable and very loyal to the genre!
She is totally right!
I love reading historical fiction, especially anything from the Regency or Victorian periods in England, or in early American history. I think The Lost Lieutenant looks fantastic and can’t wait to read it!
Marilee, historical fiction is a favorite of mine to read as well. Especially if it can be combined with a little mystery! I’m currently reading a Victorian mystery series by Will Thomas. The first book is Some Danger Involved, and I highly recommend it!
I enjoy reading novels that take place during the Holocaust and World War 2 so I guess the era would be that 30s to 40s. But in all actually I enjoy all historical fiction.
Courtney, I admire writers like Sarah Sundin who write such fabulous WW2 stories. There’s so very much research involved! And her stories are rich with historical facts!
Hi Ladies!! Love this cover! And it sounds wonderful! I love stories with an arranged marriage/marriage of convenience. My favorite era would be a tie between Regency and American West. I love the fashion and the etiquette of Regency stories. But I also love the adventure of CF Western novels. I think it’s both sides of me. lol
Holly! Isn’t it great that there is such variety in Christian Fiction these days? Something for everyone! 🙂
I enjoy reading books set in Regency, Victorian and Western eras.
Aimee, those are some of my faves, too!
Regency era is my favorite era to read about. I also love to watch movies in that time period because the costuming is always so exquisite.
Jaclyn, don’t you just love a good costume drama? I just watched Mansfield Park with Johnny Lee Miller, and it was…WOW!
My favorite historical era would probavly be Regency but I really don’t have a reason for that other than the pretty dresses and carriages. That being said, I have enjoyed some of Erica’s work in novella collections and enjoyed the pioneer era stories. I’m intrigued by the stock market hoax!
Perrianne, the Stock Market Hoax will appear in book two in this series, The Gentleman Spy. 🙂 I was fascinated when I first read about it, and then dancing around happy that it would fit my story so well!
My favorite era is the Civil War. I think it is a really interesting time in America’s history.
Holly, I am intrigued by the Civil War as well. I’ve been blessed to visit more than a dozen battlefields and a couple dozen Civil War museums, and I cannot get enough of learning about that period in our nation’s history!
There’s a party going on here! Such fun! I love to read historical fiction. I write biblical fiction, so that’s, of course, a favorite, but I also love regency, western and pioneer, and both World Wars. I’m intrigued to know why your Lieutenant was lost. 🙂
Hi, Dana! Some of the first Christian fiction I read was Biblical fiction. Two from Galilee, a book on Ruth, one on Esther.
The research must be so daunting!
I like the Victorian and Regency eras. I like the fashions and the way people were different than they are nowadays. The men were gentlemen.
Rita, I love the clothes and language and social expectations of the Regency and Victorian eras. It makes for such a rich backdrop to real human emotions!
I enjoy reading historical fiction and have so many eras I enjoy. I enjoy reading books that take place in England. We have visited England and it’s such a beautiful country. Thanks so much for the chance to win!
Hi, Faith! You are blessed to have been able to travel to England. I was all set to make my first trip there next month, and alas, the pandemic has shut all that down. Now aiming for next spring.
My favorite era is either WWII or Victorian, but Regency is fun, too!
Melissa, I love Victorian fiction. The era spans such a long period, that you can never learn everything there is to know about it. So many great writers are penning Victorian stories! Yay!
My favorites are prairie/western set in the late 1880s or so, although I am beginning to be a fan of Regencies. I love love love several of Erica’s books and look forward to reading this one. Thank you for the chance to win!
Hi, Monica, Thanks for being willing to make the jump with me from cowboys to Regencies! I hope you enjoy the story!
I enjoy most historical romance novels, no matter what era. I guess if I had to narrow it down, it’d be The Gold Rush Era or Civil War Era. Thanks ladies! Stay safe!
Hi, Robin! The Gold Rush and the Civil War are such iconic eras in our history, aren’t they? Brave people, and much hardship and suffering. And yet triumphs and victories and changes for the better.
I’ve been eagerly awaiting your newest series! Looking forward to some reading time soon.
Hi, Melissa! I can hardly believe release day is finally here! I hope you get lots of reading time soon!
A great post thank you.
I enjoy historical fiction of almost any era after 1600. It’s fun to learn new things about the past. I enjoy Erica’s books so thanks for the chance to win The Lost Lieutenant.
Hi Erica. Happy Release day! I love the cover and am looking forward to reading your book. It sounds so good!!
I love both Regency era and WWII fiction the most but gladly read other eras/genres.
Great interview. Regency is by far my favorite historical period. Looking forward to reading this one!
I am so excited to read this book. I love historical fiction and Regency books are so entertaining. I also have England on my bucket list:)
Thank you so much for joining us!!
I love historical fiction, and read many different eras. I like american fiction, sort of civil war and post civil war era. But lately I have been reading a lot of regency fiction. Right now I am reading The Duke’s Refuge by Lorri Dudley.
This is a great interview. Erica already knows I love her and her books. The Lost Lieutenant, however, has risen to the very top of my favorites. Really excellent.
Erica’s advice for writers could also be applied to all of life. So, Erica, I plan to quote you.
I so enjoyed the part about Erica’s research that I looked up the 1814 Stock Exchange Fraud. Now I want to read The Lost Lieutenant again.
I also looked up Essie Summers’ book. Hope to find a copy to read someday. I really like reading recommendations from Erica. Always good.
Thank you for the interview.