In this episode of The Christian Romance Podcast, Kelly chats with debut author S.R. Crickard to dive into her faith-filled journey to becoming a writer, the creation of her enchanting debut novel Misshelved Magic, and the importance of cultivating virtue through storytelling. S.R. shares how her love of fantasy, her Catholic faith, and her homeschool mom life beautifully weave into her writing, offering readers stories where true heroism comes from everyday courage and God-led virtue. This inspiring conversation is filled with laughter, encouragement, and a beautiful reminder that God is co-creating with us every step of the way!
S. R. Crickard lives in Ohio with a husband, some children, a bunch of dying plants, and a collection of preserved bugs and animal bones. After a career as a caseworker specializing in senior care, she now specializes in collecting homeschool curricula. When she isn’t running, reading, or searching for Lepidoptera in the woods, she is writing down characters who search for the good, true, and beautiful in unexpected places. Her fiction was featured in the 2022 anthology, For the Good of the Realm, and her debut novel, Misshelved Magic, released in November of 2024.
And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.
S.R. Crickard’s New Book: Misshelved Magic
Adelina is content to be a humble librarian with no magic, organizing ordinary books and leaving the magical section of the library to the management of the mysterious creature called a cervara . . . until she finds a misshelved spellbook that refuses to stay in its proper place. Despite warnings from the College of Magic and her superiors, she decides to return the book to the magical section, where she befriends the mysterious creature. Contrary to what she’s been told, the cervara is trying to protect humanity from dangerous magic by hoarding it in the library. But is it also hiding an even greater danger?
Leon is a mage in his final year at the college who needs to write something impressive for his final thesis. But when he meets the charming Adelina, and she confides her discovery to him, Leon’s world turns upside down. He’s forced to try to mediate between the mysterious creature and the power-hungry magi who surround him, all while trying to pursue his favorite librarian.
Can Adelina and Leon protect the cervara from the world—and the world from the dangers of the library? Or will both sides be destroyed by the secrets they hide and the greed that drives them to seek forbidden knowledge?
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
This episode dives deep into the heart behind Hannah Currie’s medieval Christian romance series Crown of Promise. Hannah shares how a life-altering diagnosis rerouted her missionary dreams and unexpectedly opened the door to storytelling that ministers across the globe. From princesses struggling with hidden pain to heroes who would give up kingdoms for love, Hannah reveals how her characters reflect both her personal battles and her unshakable faith. We talk about chronic illness, writing vulnerable characters, and the beauty of romance rooted in God’s love. If you’ve ever felt unseen or wondered how God could use your brokenness, this one’s for you.
Australian author, Hannah Currie, loves God, family, people (in small numbers, let’s not go crazy here!) and writing. A book nerd from birth, she knows firsthand the difference a good book can make in a person’s life. Even, and especially, fiction. Her dream as a writer is to make people laugh, cry and maybe even swoon a little but mostly to remind them that no matter how dark life may get at times, because of God, there is always hope.
She and her husband live with their three adorable kids in sunny Queensland, where it really is beautiful one day and perfect the next. Except, maybe, during heatwaves. They’re not so fun.
Psalm 48:14 (NKJV) “For this is God, Our God forever and ever; He will be our guide Even to death.”
Hannah’s Book: Hold Her Close (Crown of Promise Series)
Firstborn of King Lior and heir to the throne of Raedonleith, Lady Rose has always known what was expected of her—marry a prince, bear a child, continue the royal line. None of that involved confirmation weeks before her wedding that she’s barren. Nor her betrothed deserting her at the news. Through years of pain, bleeding and loss, her faith has kept her strong but this last blow strikes deep into her spirit. Rose knew she was broken. Now the rest of Raedonleith will too.
More comfortable amid books than battles, Prince Nicholas of Belairisia is as surprised as anyone when he claims Lady Rose’s hand for himself upon first meeting. In front of every noble in Raedonleith. But neither does he regret it. Though it’s impulsive and out of character for the studious prince, there’s something in Rose’s fragile beauty that captivates Nicholas. She’s the treasure he’s searched his whole life to find. Armed with patience and hope, Nicholas determines to wait as long as it takes to prove his devotion.
But when an attempt on Rose’s life forces King Lior’s hand, the two are thrust into a marriage neither of them are prepared for, and a journey through enemy territory which may end the relationship before it’s barely begun.
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
In this heart-filled episode, we’re joined by bestselling romantic suspense author Dani Pettrey as she opens up about her powerful writing journey, one that’s been shaped by faith, perseverance, and a life-shaking diagnosis. Dani shares how God met her in the hard moments and lovingly redirected her steps—not just as a writer, but as His daughter walking through uncertainty.
She also gives us a peek into her brand-new release, Two Seconds Too Late—book 2 in her thrilling series. Whether you’re a reader, aspiring author, or someone walking through your own season of waiting, Dani’s story will speak directly to your heart.
Dani Pettrey is the bestselling author of the COASTAL GUARDIANS, CHESAPEAKE VALOR, and ALASKAN COURAGE series. A two-time Christy Award finalist, Dani has won the National Readers’ Choice Award, Daphne du Maurier Award, HOLT Medallion, and Christian Retailing’s Best Award for suspense. She plots murder and mayhem from her home in the Washington, DC, metro area.
Psalm 27:1 (NKJV) The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?
Dani’s New Book: Two Seconds Too Late
A missing woman. Two hit men. When every second counts, who will survive?
In the stark but beautiful wilds of northern New Mexico, a couples’ retreat at a luxury resort turns into a chilling nightmare when a woman vanishes. Skip tracer Riley MacLeod and private investigator Greyson Chadwick pose as a couple to hunt for clues that might reveal the missing woman’s location. Those leads uncover a harrowing truth: They’re not the only ones looking for her. What begins as a normal tracking case turns into a deadly chase when they, too, become the hunted.
As Riley and Greyson work together, their partnership ignites a tumultuous attraction, but Greyson’s secrets prevent him from acting on his feelings for her, and Riley can’t bring herself to fully trust him. Delving deeper into the case, they find themselves fighting not only for justice and the chance at a loving relationship . . . but also for their very survival.
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
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.
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
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.”
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.
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
This episode with Joanna Davidson Politano dives deep into the world of Victorian-era romance with a twist of mystery and a lot of heart. Joanna shares how her background in medical writing surprisingly paved the way for her creative storytelling, and how being a discovery writer means letting God lead each plot twist.
We chat about her latest novel, The Curious Inheritance of Blakely House—a story that’s equal parts adventure, invention, spiritual searching, and unexpected romance. From a quirky, possibly “smart” house to a scientist heroine with questions about faith, this episode is a journey of curiosity, redemption, and divine surprises. If you love stories where God shows up in the most unexpected ways, this one’s for you!
Joanna Davidson Politano is the award-winning author of Lady Jayne Disappears, A Rumored Fortune, Finding Lady Enderly, The Love Note, A Midnight Dance, The Lost Melody, and The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple. She loves tales that capture the colorful, exquisite details in ordinary lives and is eager to hear anyone’s story. She lives with her husband and their children in a house in the woods near Lake Michigan.
“But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, ‘Lord, save me!’ And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt?’” — Matthew 14:30–31 (NKJV)
Joanna’s New Book: The Curious Inheritance of Blakely House
A clever young woman, a contested will, and an estate that does not easily give up its secrets.
It is 1901 when clockmaker and tinker Sydney Forrester receives a most unusual inheritance. Blakely House, the island estate of an estranged uncle she’s never met, seems almost alive, revealing and hiding its secrets at will. It is filled with remarkable inventions, including an intriguing unfinished automaton Sydney is itching to get her skilled hands on.
The estate is also home to a number of peculiar people–including two men intent on removing this interloper from the island. Convinced that Sydney has something to do with their uncle’s death, the late master’s nephews contest the will and work against their cousin at every turn.
Sydney finds a sometimes-ally in the estate’s butler, an ex-adventurer who ran aground on the island years ago. But when a mysterious man washes ashore with a stunning surprise that upsets everything, Sydney must prove she has inherited the late master’s brilliance as well as his property–or someone else will.
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
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