This episode with debut author Janelle Leonard is one for the books—literally and figuratively. Janelle shares the heart behind her debut Christian romance novel Northargyle Abbie, a modern retelling of Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey with a royal twist.
We talk about what it’s really like growing up as a pastor’s daughter, navigating identity and self-worth, and how God used her imagination, her librarian gig, and a team of support to guide her to publication. Janelle opens up about writing characters who reflect her heart, building meaningful connections with teens through storytelling, and how even fiction can deliver faith-filled truth. This is a beautiful testimony of purpose, patience, and the power of being authentically you.
Listen to the episode here.
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Meet Janelle Leonard
Janelle Leonard is a Jane Austen fangirl with an overactive imagination who creates web-twisty plotlines from her home in Pennsylvania. When she’s not writing, reading, editing, drinking coffee, or working at an elementary school library, she’s finding creative ways to procrastinate. Janelle and her hubby have successfully raised three boys, losing lots of brain space to turbos and car talk. She is passionate about living authentically while serving and encouraging others to see their worth, using writing as a key to unlock worlds of possibility
Visit Janelle’s website
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Bible Verse for Encouragement
Romans 12:1 (NKJV)
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.”
I will lift up my eyes to the hills—
From whence comes my help?
My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.
Janelle’s New Book: Northargyle Abbie
When Abigail Morgan, a naïve pastor’s daughter with an overactive imagination, inherits a cottage in Australia, she never imagines the story it will unlock. Armed with a museum studies degree and a penchant for daydreams, Abigail heads to Hyacinth Cottage to unravel the truth of her grandmother’s past—an unknown world of adventure, deception, and love.
While sifting through letters, photographs, and hidden relics, Abigail meets Colter Wellesley, a charming local who helps her navigate the labyrinth of clues with a blend of wit and charm she struggles to resist. But Colter comes with secrets of his own. As their investigation and romance deepen, Abigail wonders if Colter is more tangled up in her grandmother’s mystery—and that of the princess who vanished more than sixty years ago—than she ever imagined.
In this modern reimagining of Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey, the line between imagination and reality blurs, and every clue discovered could be the key to unlocking a royal legacy.
Get your copy today on White Crown Publishing or Amazon!
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Kelly’s Personal Update
Thank you so much to everyone who has supported me during the Kickstarter! I’m so grateful for you!
If you missed out on my debut novel Finding Forevermore on Kickstarter, no worries. You’ll have a chance to get the book at a later time once it officially launches across retailers like Amazon.
I’ll share more updates by joining my free email list and you’ll get all kind of goodies! Visit my website here to sign up
Welcome to the Christian Romance Podcast, where we go behind the books with inspiring Christian romance authors, exploring faith, love, and the journey that brings the story to life.
