Kelsey Bryant on The Road to Bremen

Kelsey, welcome back to Homeschooled Authors! Tell us what you have been up to lately.

Thank you for having me again! Lately I’ve been doing a lot of editing, which is my primary job. Earning income from my love of reading and writing is a real blessing and a dream come true. Unfortunately, it does slice away at the time I have to create my own works, but between editing projects I was able to write, revise, and, in February 2019, publish The Road to Bremen.

Tell us a little bit about the original story The Road to Bremen is based on.

“The Bremen Town Musicians” is a fairy tale in the Grimm brothers’ collection. Four German farm animals—a donkey, dog, cat, and rooster—outlive their usefulness to their respective owners, so rather than be killed, they escape their farms and head to the city of Bremen to seek their fortune as musicians.

What made you want to retell this story?

This has always been one of my favorite fairy tales, ever since I was little. I’d never seen it expanded into anything longer than a picture book. Wanting to try a fairy-tale retelling, I decided to pick this one since it’s fairly well known yet not overdone. I have a soft spot for animals and animal stories, and this tale tugged at my heart because the animal characters are old and considered useless by their owners. I wanted to show them thriving and succeeding despite the odds. Like the original fairy tale, I wanted to demonstrate that creatures (human or animal) we think are weak or useless are, instead, worthy of our care and consideration and also can be heroes themselves.

What did you enjoy most about this story?

The animals and their personalities! I had so much fun getting to know them: Etzel, the friendly donkey who learns leadership; Jäger, the timid dog who learns courage; Katarina, the feisty cat who learns teamwork; and Rüdiger, the intelligent rooster who learns humility. Writing their interactions and watching their friendship develop was definitely my favorite part of the process.

The illustrations are so amazing! Tell us about the process of getting this story illustrated.

Thank you! I’m thrilled with them, too. E. Kaiser Writes is a gifted illustrator, especially of animals. When I set out to write this novella, I had her in mind to illustrate it, and I’m grateful she agreed. First, I decided on the number of illustrations: one per chapter, plus the full-color cover. I chose the scenes to depict, trying for a variety of important characters, settings, and details from the story. E. Kaiser and I both researched reference photos to get the necessary German look and shared a Pinterest board. Then E. Kaiser did even more research, drew those amazing illustrations, and sent them to me as she finished each one. Let me tell you, I was practically jumping up and down as they came in. I plugged them into the formatted book (which actually wasn’t as easy for me as it sounds) and voila! My longtime desire for an illustrated children’s book was a reality.

Where can people buy the book?

The paperback and eBook can be purchased from Amazon HERE.

What’s up for you next as a writer?

I’m exploring ideas for a couple different stories, but I’m not sure which one will win out and be published next: a novel set in Victorian England or another fairy-tale retelling.

Any final thoughts?

Although I directed The Road to Bremen toward younger audiences, many of my readers have been adults who told me how much they enjoyed it. That really warms my heart. I want to encourage all you authors out there who have gotten burned out and aren’t producing books as regularly as you desire—if you write when you can toward a goal and just keep going, you will get there. The results may be even better than you expected. Our time is in God’s hands, and He is an ever-present help when we are overwhelmed!

Their lives are saved by a dream. But only friendship can make that dream a reality.

Once upon a time...

Etzel the donkey is getting old, but he works hard on his farm—until the day Herr Hoffman decides he is no longer worth keeping. With no choice but to escape, Etzel sets off on the road to Bremen to seek his fortune as a musician. On the way, he rescues three other animals—a dog, a cat, and a rooster—who are also old and destined for death.

Will these four new friends find their success and worth as musicians in Bremen? Or does the road hold something better?

Kelsey is giving away a paperback of The Road to Bremen

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Interview with Kelsey on Suit and Suitability

Kelsey, welcome to Homeschooled Authors once again. What have you been up to since last time you were here?
Thank you for having me! The last time I was here was over two years ago, after I had published England Adventure (Six Cousins Book 2). Almost that entire time, I was working on Suit and Suitability. I’ve traveled to some interesting places (England and Prince Edward Island, for two), gotten into freelance copyediting, and been enjoying a new member of the family (a nephew).

How did you become involved with the Vintage Jane Austen Project?
One day, Hannah Scheele (the series’ cover designer) and Sarah Holman (the author of Emmeline) were talking and somehow formed the scheme for the Vintage Jane Austen Project. Knowing me well as a Janeite, they asked if I wanted to write one of the books. I have hardly ever felt more excited to say yes!

What was your favorite part about moving an old story into a new time period?
I think it was discovering how personalities from Regency England (c. 1811) could be adapted into 1930s versions of themselves. For example, responsible, hardworking, organized Elinor Dashwood (who is Ellen Dashiell in my novel) made a perfect secretary, one of the steadiest jobs available to women during the Great Depression. Romantic, passionate Marianne Dashwood, her sister (aka, Marion Dashiell), would unequivocally be an aspiring actress in the days when girls like her dreamed of becoming Hollywood or Broadway starlets.

What was your favorite part of this project?
Can I pick two? One of them was working as a team to write a series of books we’re all excited about. The other was getting to write a retelling of one of my favorite novels, Sense and Sensibility, by one of my favorite authors, Jane Austen, using one of my favorite fictional characters, Elinor Dashwood!

What was the most challenging part of this project?
Well, besides the normal frustrations of tying up all the threads and actually weaving Suit and Suitability into a cohesive, satisfying novel, I would say Marion’s character was the most challenging. (Which is quite appropriate, as she is the most challenging person that her family knows, too.) I wanted her to be liked by at least some readers, but I also didn’t want to diminish her personality. Writing her was a tricky balancing act. Also, some of her interests, such as the way Broadway worked in the 1930s, were rather difficult to ferret out details for accurate portrayal. But she and I made it through okay, and I love her as much as I love Ellen, even if I still don’t relate to her as well.

What Jane Austen character are you most like?
I’d like to think I’m most like Elinor Dashwood, but maybe that’s because I just want to be! I do share a few traits with her, such as her carefulness and her reserve, but I also see myself in Fanny Price, who is shy and unsure of herself sometimes.

Which one of the characters in Suit and Suitability are you most like?
Since this narrows down the options, I can unhesitatingly say Ellen Dashiell. Even then we aren’t extremely alike; she’s more competent, more organized, and more of a workaholic. But I used large pieces of my personality to inform hers.

Tell us the synopsis for Suit and Suitability.
The mystery surrounding their father’s criminal accusations is almost as hard to solve as the many puzzles springing on their hearts.

Canton, Ohio, 1935. Ellen and Marion Dashiell’s world crumbles when their father is sent to prison. Forced to relocate to a small town, what is left of their family faces a new reality where survival overshadows dreams. Sensible Ellen, struggling to hold the family together, is parted from the man she’s just learning to love, while headstrong Marion fears she will never be the actress she aspires to be. When a dashing hero enters the scene, things only grow more complicated. But could a third man hold the key to the restoration and happiness of the Dashiell family?

Where can people get it?
Suit and Suitability is available from Amazon as a paperback or eBook.

To leave us off, please share a quote from your story.
May I share two quotes? One is a quote (out of Ellen’s thoughts), the other is more of an excerpt (out of Marion’s thoughts).

“Fictional mysteries were well and good, but in one’s own life they were a nuisance.”

“Marion slipped slowly, purposefully, from room to room of the house, her footsteps echoing on the wood floors and every door opening and closing with a heightened click. The emptiness was eerie, like her childhood memories had been burglarized and she was left with only their ghosts. Her room seemed a stranger, all of its furniture gone: her little-girl vanity, her bookshelf, her dresser, her reading chair. It had been a dream house…”

Suit and Suitability

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Description: The mystery surrounding their father’s criminal accusations is almost as hard to solve as the many puzzles springing on their hearts. 
Canton, Ohio, 1935. Ellen and Marion Dashiell’s world crumbles when their father is sent to prison. Forced to relocate to a small town, what is left of their family faces a new reality where survival overshadows dreams. Sensible Ellen, struggling to hold the family together, is parted from the man she’s just learning to love, while headstrong Marion fears she will never be the actress she aspires to be. When a dashing hero enters the scene, things only grow more complicated. But could a third man hold the key to the restoration and happiness of the Dashiell family?

I have a confession to make. I pushed my way through watching two different versions of Sense and Sensibility and did not enjoy either. Marianne drove me crazy with her over-dramatizing of everything and, while I loved Elinor, she couldn’t save the films for me. However, I knew I loved Bryant’s work, and so I wanted to give this book a try. I am so glad I did.

Bryant was able to make me feel as if I had been transported back to Canton in 1935, so vivid were the descriptions. The settings were wonderfully descriptive and captured the places and feelings of the time. I felt as if I was visiting the places as they were in 1935.

Ellen and Marion were perfect. They captured not only the original characters but also the spirit of the time. Ellen captured the seriousness of the times and the properness of times past. Marion captured the dreams for a better future and the effects of the 20’s. I loved the plot twist that their father was alive and accused of a crime. It added an interesting dynamic to the story and to the two sisters.

The faith element in this story was wonderful. It wasn’t forced, overdone, or neglected. Each character, like in life, has a different struggle. The story gives a gentle message of faith that is woven almost imperceptibly into the story at times, yet when it comes to an end, you can see how it has been there the whole time.

As with Bryant’s other books, you won’t find any objectionable content in this story. Even the romance is in keeping with Jane Austen’s gentle, non-physical standards. It is rare to find a book that deals with real issues so well yet so clean.

I highly recommend this to those who love historical fiction, Jane Austen, and clean fiction.

Book Review: England Adventure by Kelsey Bryant

Buy it Here

Description: For as long as she can remember, Marielle has dreamed of seeing England in person. When kind grandparents send her and her cousins there to visit old friends, she can hardly wait to see the places she’s known in fiction and film. The Endicotts are perfect hosts—and their worldly American granddaughter Paris, perfectly beautiful.

But it soon turns out that nothing is as it seems. Her cousins Abby and Reanna, once the best of friends, appear deeply at odds, and the picture-perfect Endicott family is hiding secrets of its own. Distanced by an ocean from home and her family’s protection, Marielle finds herself challenged by a troubling new world. She befriends Paris, but Paris seems opposed to what Marielle stands for. Can Marielle be the witness who helps Paris overcome the lifestyle that’s harming her? Or will Marielle and her cousins be overwhelmed by the conflict this supposed dream trip has brought them?

I have been looking forward to this book since I finished Family Reunion. After all, who wouldn’t want to go on a trip to England? Reading this book was like following the cousins to England and therefore, getting a vacation myself.

I really enjoyed watching Marielle mature in a very realistic way as the book went on through the story. As she reaches out to others and does things that are outside her comfort zone, you see the journey of her heart and faith. Her sweet spirit and devotion to God, even though she makes mistakes, is a good example for young girls everywhere.

While at times the story did get bogged down in details and descriptions, at the same time it forced me to slow down. The slower pace of the book has a calming effect which I enjoyed. I am sure some people will not like the slower pace, but I think others will appreciate the old-fashioned storytelling feel that takes its time and immerses you in that world.

The setting was, of course, wonderful. By the end of the book, I felt as if I had been to England. The author obviously did a vast amount of research into the locations and was able to give interesting facts and small details that made the whole book come alive. Not only do I feel as if I had been to England, I feel I have learned a lot.

The main issue that is tackled in this story is eating disorders and unhealthy obsessions with being thin. While I wish that this was a subject for older reads only, young people today suffer from it at an alarming rate. Bryant handled the topic in an honest and godly manner that I think parents will appreciate, and young people desperately need to hear.

I highly recommend this book to those who enjoy slower-paced books, wholesome stories, and endearing characters.

Was this helpful? Please vote it up on Amazon.

I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest review. I was under no obligation to write a positive review. The opinions in this review are entirely my own.

The Impact on us part 1

Our Talents Part 1

Our Favorite Summer Activities Part 1

Ashley Tetzlaff

My favorite SUMMER activity is cultivating my wildflower garden in my "front" yard, and harvesting food from the fruit/veggie garden I share with my mother-in-law in back of our duplex. 

J. Grace Pennington

Kelsey Bryant

Our Summer Reading lists part 2

Katie Daniels

(Caption reads: Sir Kindle destroys the competition.)

It is impossible for me to make a list of books I plan to read this summer, because I would never follow any kind of list. My to-read shelf keeps growing because, instead of reading books off of it, I get distracted by the library, by Kindle Unlimited, by something one of my siblings have. I chase after every shiny cover and title that catches my eye, and abandon any coherent reading plan I might have started with. I flit from book to book like a butterfly, and try not to get lost.

I also read a lot on Kindle, which is difficult to photograph. I'm at least twice as likely to read a book I own as an ecopy than I am one that is in print. This is because my kindle lights up in the dark. My print book does not. I prefer to buy print books, though. They're both cheaper and more...bookish. So which one will ultimately win out?

Here are a few books I'm reasonably certain I will get read this summer, however. Here they are.

Discovering the Essential Universe—because I need it for college.

If the Earth Had Two Moons—because it's by the author of the above textbook, and I want the geek cred for having read it.

Shadows—by Robin McKinely—because I bought it so that I could read it and read it now and I just...haven't got to it yet.

The Island of the Mighty—because I'm already halfway through the Song of Rhiannon and I love it and see no reason why I won't finish out the series.

The Runaway King—because it will come from the library and be on a deadline and I loved the False Prince sooooo much.

The Day Before, by Liana Brooks. Most likely. Probably. One of these days. I'm trying, really.

A Supervillain in King Arthur's Court—because I'm currently writing it and really, really, really hope to finish before the summer is over.

All the Hugo nominations I can lay my hands on—because they give them to me for free, and because I vote in them, which kind of means having to read them first.

And that's just a dent in the mountain. I've already read 74 books this year, and the best reading months are still ahead. Yay books!

Kelsey Bryant

Looking at my summer schedule, I'm afraid these books may have been stacked with wishful thinking ... but it's something to shoot for!

1. Least of All Saints - Grace Irwin

2. The Patch of Blue - Grace Livingston Hill

3. Rainbow Cottage - Grace Livingston Hill

4. The Moonstone - Wilkie Collins

5. The Gammage Cup - Carol Kendall

6. BOY: Poems - Sarah Watson

7. Caught Up in a Story - Sarah Clarkson

8. Be Thou My Vision - Faith Blum

9. The Writing Life - various authors

10. The Great Depression: America in the 1930s - T. H. Watkins

11. From the Dark to the Dawn - Alicia A. Willis

12. A Commentary on the Jewish Roots of Romans - Joseph Shulam

Read-to-Win: Who We Are Part 2

Read-to-Win 2015

It is almost here! Here is our Read-To-Win line up!

Kelsey Bryant: Family Reunion 

Julia Erickson: Ashburn

Ashley Elizabeth Blair Tetzlaff: An Easter Carol 

Amber Schamel: The Healer's Touch

Sarah Holman: A Different Kind of Courage

Katie Daniels: Supervillian Series

Kendra E. Ardnek: The Ankulen 

Faith Blum: Amazing Grace

Emily Putzke: It Took a War

J. Grace Pennington: Machiavellian

Jessica Greyson: Captive of Raven Castle 

Morgan Huneke: Creighton Hill

Jason McIntire: The Sparrow Found a House

Please feel free to share this image in any way to tell people about this awesome event.

Book Review: England Adventure

Buy it Here

Age Appropriate For: 12 and up

Best for Ages: 12 - 18

Description: For as long as she can remember, Marielle has dreamed of seeing England in person. When kind grandparents send her and her cousins there to visit old friends, she can hardly wait to see the places she’s known in fiction and film. The Endicotts are perfect hosts—and their worldly American granddaughter Paris, perfectly beautiful.

But it soon turns out that nothing is as it seems. Her cousins Abby and Reanna, once the best of friends, appear deeply at odds, and the picture-perfect Endicott family is hiding secrets of its own. Distanced by an ocean from home and her family’s protection, Marielle finds herself challenged by a troubling new world. She befriends Paris, but Paris seems opposed to what Marielle stands for. Can Marielle be the witness who helps Paris overcome the lifestyle that’s harming her? Or will Marielle and her cousins be overwhelmed by the conflict this supposed dream trip has brought them?

I have been looking forward to this book since I finished Family Reunion. After all, who wouldn’t want to go on a trip to England? Reading this book was like following the cousins to England and therefore, getting a vacation myself.

I really enjoyed watching Marielle mature in a very realistic way as the book went on through the story. As she reaches out to others and does things that are outside her comfort zone, you see the journey of her heart and faith. Her sweet spirit and devotion to God, even though she makes mistakes, is a good example for young girls everywhere.

While at times the story did get bogged down in details and descriptions, at the same time it forced me to slow down. The slower pace of the book has a calming effect which I enjoyed. I am sure some people will not like the slower pace, but I think others will appreciate the old-fashioned storytelling feel that takes its time and immerses you in that world.

The setting was, of course, wonderful. By the end of the book, I felt as if I had been to England. The author obviously did a vast amount of research into the locations and was able to give interesting facts and small details that made the whole book come alive. Not only do I feel as if I had been to England, I feel I have learned a lot.

The main issue that is tackled in this story is eating disorders and unhealthy obsessions with being thin. While I wish that this was a subject for older reads only, young people today suffer from it at an alarming rate. Bryant handled the topic in an honest and godly manner that I think parents will appreciate, and young people desperately need to hear.

I highly recommend this book to those who enjoy slower-paced books, wholesome stories, and endearing characters.

Was this helpful? Please vote it up on Amazon.

I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest review. I was under no obligation to write a positive review. The opinions in this review are entirely my own

Interview with Kelsey Bryant

Kelsey, welcome back to Homeschooled Authors. What have you been up to since the last time you were here?
Well, I’ve been doing lots of fun things in writing and in the other aspects of my life … I’ve met new writing friends, taken a copy editing course and gotten into freelance editing, set up a website, published a short story, and seen new places.

You have just published the second book in your Six Cousins series. What can people expect from this story?
All six cousins return, but the rest of the characters are brand-new, as is the setting. I had a lot of fun really delving into England and its wealth of history and fascinating and beautiful places. The differences run deeper, though: In the first book, Family Reunion, set in Central Texas, I was exploring a limited setting—the kind of environment most young teenagers live in, where they have to learn how to handle family and friend relationships with grace. It’s that environment that really forms character and prepares us for a wider life. In England Adventure, set a few months later, my MC Marielle’s world expands when she and her cousins travel to England and she meets someone whose life and family are really falling apart. She uses the lessons she learned during her family reunion to deal with this situation and the stress of traveling abroad for two weeks. (I’ve traveled like that before, so I know how much it stretches your character!) In general, all six cousins grow to some extent or another, and they also get to tootle around with Mr. and Mrs. Endicott and Paris, an older couple and their granddaughter, all of whom possessed new and really fun personalities to write.

You took your own trip to England. What was your favorite part?
I’d always wanted to go; that desire was where the inspiration for England Adventure came from, and before I published this book, I was blessed to be able to go on a historical costume tour with a dear friend. I got to experience a lot of incredible things, but one of my favorite memories was actually outside the tour ... my friend and I met up with another homeschool author and her mom who live in England and visited Jane Austen’s House Museum in Chawton, about an hour from the borders of London. It was like a scene out of my book; I felt just like Marielle as I walked the wooden floors, admired the curios from my favorite author’s life, and imagined her living there. The entire village of Chawton was beautiful, and we had such a sweet time together as friends. We even had a cream tea at Cassandra’s Cup, the tea room right across the street from the House. The whole afternoon is a memory I’ll savor forever.

What was the biggest lesson you learned in writing this book?
It may be impossible to narrow it down to one lesson, I’m afraid. In the Six Cousins series, I try to write naturally (without “preaching”) about lessons  that I’ve (supposedly) already learned, which is a sure way of cementing them in my own life. One of the most important, then, would be to stay close to God even during stressful, distracting times so that you can always be ready to do His work—whether speaking to someone about Him, reacting rightly to a certain situation, or something else.

What challenge do the cousins face in this story?
Once again, the six cousins have to work together … this time to have a fun, fulfilling, and amiable tour. It isn’t always easy. Paris, the bold, fashionable, yet friendly granddaughter of their guardians, is a challenge for each to determine how she’ll relate to her. Marielle especially is affected when she learns about Paris’s troubles … and she wants to help her. But it will require courage and sensitivity to God’s direction … maybe more than Marielle possesses.

Will we see more of the cousins in the future?
Lord willing, you will! I know I’d like to see more of them. I have plans for two more books that follow Marielle when she’s older, and all the cousins will at least make cameo appearances. Tentative plans include another trip to England, new friends, and the big questions of what Marielle will do after graduating high school and whom she will marry.

Thank you for having me, Sarah!

Where can readers connect with you?

I would love to see and interact with you on any of these sites! 

Website 

Blog 

Facebook 

Google+ 

Goodreads 

Amazon author page 

Pinterest 

Win your choice of a signed copy of Family Reunion or England Adventure! Open to USA residents only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Announcement Saturday

Opportunities

www.lovelyromancepress.com  is looking for authors who would like to get started in the writing field,  or already a writer. They publish E book Novellas between 20 and 30 k words. They are open to anything with clean, clean romance or christian romance.  These can be put into print once they sell over 500 E books. 

They are currently interested in themes such as: Love discovered at the masquerade, Love discovered in the forest,   basically  not the name of towns etc, but places. These can be contemporary or historical, christian or squeaky clean. 

Send a short outline of your story and the first chapter you can see our submission policy at www.lovelyromancepress.com   They pay 50% of profits 

Would like to meet homeschool graduates that have published books? Would you like to have your books signed? What about you writers? Would you like to sit down and have the first chapter of your book critiqued by a published author? This is the event for you! Homeschool Authors is hosting an event with Sarah Holman and Kelsey Bryant (More authors pending) and Brightside Books in Taylor Texas. Come and join us on March 22, anytime between 10:00AM and 

Authors Added

Rachel Heffington

Mirriam Neal

Books Added

Rise by  Rachel Starr Thomson

Fly Away Home by  Rachel Heffington

(Coming soon) Five Glass Slippers  by  Rachel Heffington
Monster by Mirriam Neal
Ellie's Elephant by Ashley Tetzlaff
Hannah the Hummingbird  by Ashley Tetzlaff
Debra the Dove: Feeds the Hungry by Ashley Tetzlaff
Squeaky by Ashley Tetzlaff
Billy the Bullfrog by Ashley Tetzlaff
Castles In The Sand by Ashley Tetzlaff
Girl and Dude by Ashley Tetzlaff

Book Review: Family Reunion

Buy it Here

Age Appropriate For: All Ages

Best for Ages: 13 and up (reading level)

Description: Welcome to the Austin Family Reunion! 14-year-old Marielle Austin’s parents and grandparents are hosting family for a week in the Texas hill country, and Marielle’s five girl cousins are staying at her house. Emma and Caroline are her best friends – like her, they’re homeschooled and passionate about the Lord, the past, and books. Abby, Kailey, and Reanna are from Wisconsin and just as far away in background and interests – what’s hot in the world now is what matters to them. Grandpa Will Austin has devised a series of projects for the six of them to complete. There’s a shed to fix up, a missionary to interview, and a trail of clues to solve, leading to a treasure. If they finish by the end of the week and work together with love and understanding, they’ll earn a prize beyond anything they could imagine! But difficulties surface right away. Bad attitudes and work ethics seem all Abby, Kailey, and Reanna can offer. Marielle, Emma, and Caroline are at a loss – what can they do to push the projects through? And more importantly, what can they do about their cousins, who won’t welcome their friendship? How can they show love when it’s hard even to feel it? Will the mysterious prize slip away, and with it any chance of relationship?

All homeschoolers know how tough family relations can be at times. Many of us have at least one relative that thinks we are really weird for having been schooled at home. All of us have had to hang out with people who don’t share our values and struggle to think of good topics of conversation. This book is about all of that and so much more.

From the very beginning, I could identify with Marielle and I think most homeschool girls can. She is mature for her fourteen years, but neither does she act too old for her age. She struggles to do what is right, especially concerning her of her three cousins. Sometimes she succeeds, sometimes she fails. She is so relatable and likable you are sure to love her.

I loved the plot of the story. At first, I didn’t think that Kelsey was going to be able to stretch the story of the six cousins working together to complete three task over a week into a book lasted just over three-hundred pages. However, I wasn’t bored. I enjoyed the story and it never felt too long.

I highly recommend Family Reunion to everyone who enjoys story that are true to life, faith-building, and stories about homeschoolers.

Was this helpful? Please vote it up on Amazon.

I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest review. I was under no obligation to write a positive review. The opinions in this review are entirely my own.

Deal!

During this week, while we explore Kelsey Bryant, you can pick up a Kindle copy of her book for only 99 cents!

Interview with Kelsey Bryant

Kelsey, welcome to Homeschool Authors! Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I’m 22-almost-23-years-old, which is rather frightening, and a homeschool graduate who loves the Lord, lives at home, writes, works part-time, teaches martial arts, and is interested in many different kinds of things, like studying the Bible, studying history and classic literature, and playing piano, to name a few. But really, there are so many things to learn and to do, and my experiences are limited yet! I live in Texas but I adore seeing new places. The Lord has given me the opportunity to work with two online youth magazines as well – Imagine Mag and HarvestMag. 

Tell us how you learned about Homeschool Authors.

When I first became interested in self-publishing, my friend Sarah Scheele, who is also a writer and homeschool graduate (she’s even been featured on here), told me that Homeschool Authors might be encouraging and helpful to me.

Everyone’s homeshooling experience is different. What do you think made yours unique?

I think what made it special was that my mom herself loves learning so much that she worked very closely with my brother and me on every subject. We didn’t use many textbooks (mainly just with the more regular subjects, like math and high school science) but instead learned from what she assembled from various sources. We got to make notebooks of history and science, draw pictures, do crafts, read books, write creative essays, and dress up. She had a lot of great ideas; she’s a tutor now, so you can see how much she loves teaching!

How did being homeschooled prepare you to write?

My parents read a lot of books aloud, made sure we were well-stocked with our own reading material, and took us to libraries, bookstores, and special book sales, so I was exposed to a great amount of good literature. They encouraged us to be creative, too, so when I was very little I made my own books and wrote and illustrated them. My favorite assignments were creative writing, including the sentences I got to make up in my grammar books. Blessedly, it all came naturally to me – even grammar and spelling.

What caused you to start writing?

I suppose it was all that exposure to literature, but I don’t remember that first thought of “I’m going to write my own story!” I just always loved the written word. My first pieces didn’t have a plot. But I would act out stories with toys, and so one day the idea of plot must have hit me and I realized I could write down stories similar to what my dolls and animal toys acted – and they could be just as exciting, even if they weren’t physically acted out, because it all happened in the imagination! From then on I would write – or at least attempt – stories every so often until I was a teenager and knew writing fiction was something I wanted to make a lifetime pursuit.

What inspired Family Reunion?

I wanted to write a real story, the kind that I could finish and try to publish. My historical fiction and fantasy stories at the time seemed insurmountable, so I grabbed hold of the advice to “write what you know” and began Family Reunion, which I was calling Six Cousins until I published it. As I wrote, my excitement grew … I could enter fully into this story because I knew or could easily imagine many of Marielle’s (the protagonist) thoughts or experiences. At times it was like journaling, or journaling as my fourteen-year-old self.

My inspiration was multi-layered; I brought together a number of things that had always been in my well of fiction-ideas. I love everyday life – it has a lot of wonder, beauty, and potential if we get to searching – so I didn’t want my story to stray too far from that view of the world. I started this story in spring, and ever since then the homey, brilliantly-colored central Texas spring was in the background, inspiring me. I’ve always been intrigued with treasure hunts, mysteries, and the rich, character-driven atmosphere of family reunions. And then there had to be conflict, so I hiked up the contrasts among the six girl cousins and let them loose into the world I’d created.

I really wanted my main characters to be homeschooled because, having been there myself, I know that homeschoolers’ lives are often a wealth of imagination, literacy, thoughtfulness, and interesting experiences that make them well-suited as fictional characters.

What is it about?

The family of fourteen-year-old Marielle Austin is hosting a week-long reunion at their home. She has five girl cousins – Emma, Caroline, Abby, Kailey, and Reanna – and their grandfather creates three projects for them to accomplish together to win a secret prize: a treasure hunt which has clues all the girls must solve; the cleanup of an old shed; and an inspiring biography of a retired missionary living in town. They must do it with love and understanding, but Abby, Kailey, and Reanna make every task difficult! Marielle and the others have to learn the meaning of friendship and practical love to give the reunion – and their relationship – a happy ending. 

Who will enjoy Family Reunion?

Adult women have said they’ve enjoyed it, even though it’s written for a younger audience, but generally any girl from age 10 or 11 on up would like it. I know of boys out there who have enjoyed it, however, if their sisters were reading it, so I wouldn’t rule them out, either!

Where can people buy it?

Amazon.com and my CreateSpace eStore. It is also available as a Kindle e-book.

Do you plan to write more books? If you are, when can we expect the next one?

Yes! I love writing novels more than any other activity (with the exception of Bible study, however!). Family Reunion has a sequel that I hope to publish this fall.

Do you have any final thoughts?

Well, for one thing, I’m so glad you had me! I’m very grateful. If any of you are interested, I’d love for you to visit me at my blog, Kelsey’s Notebook – we talk about books and writing inspiration, among other things! And I just want to encourage all you writers out there to keep it up! It’s difficult to create a publishable piece but if God has laid it on your heart to do so He will make a way. That’s what I experienced. It can also be discouraging to realize how full the market is with books, and how hard it is to get your voice heard, but we as Christians have a responsibility to write good literature that will impact our readers, and the market can never have too much of that. We each have something unique to say, so let’s do our best for God’s glory!

Kelsey is giving away one copy of Family Reunion!

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