In this heartfelt episode of the Christian Romance Podcast, Kelly sits down with author Tasha Hackett for a soul-stirring conversation about faith, family, and the power of storytelling. Tasha opens up about her journey as a Christian romance author, the impact of her ADHD diagnosis, and how her own life experiences shape her beautifully flawed and resilient characters. Together, we explore the joys and exhaustion of parenthood, the empowerment of women in her historical narratives, and the healing power of writing through grief and self-acceptance. Tasha also shares the vital role of friendship in her writing process and how reader feedback continues to inspire her creative journey. If you’re a fan of authentic storytelling, historical romance, and heartfelt conversations, this episode is for you!
Tasha Hackett is a Christian romance author who writes with hope and humor to encourage and entertain. She holds a B.A. in English and English Education with a minor in theatre from York University, where she also married her husband, who was also her best friend. Her debut novel, Bluebird on the Prairie, is a historical romance exploring themes of hope, grief, and finding love again. She is also the author of Wildflower on the Prairie, the second novel in the Hearts of the Midwest series, and Waiting for Gilbert, a small-town holiday romance inspired by Anne of Green Gables.
In addition to her writing, Tasha is a dedicated homemaker and mother of four. Balancing her creative endeavors with family life, Tasha continues to craft stories that resonate with readers seeking uplifting and heartfelt romance.
1 Peter 2:9, NKJVBut you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
Tasha’s New Book: Waiting for Gilbert
“I’m just a girl, standing in front of a phone, asking her landlord to come to dinner.”
Cute and fun Cordelia is history. From now on, I’m serious and focused CJ Thompson. No more snappy one-liners. No more dance-parties-for-one in restaurant booths. Anne-girl is out. Marilla Cuthbert is in. It’s time to grow up! If only it were that easy. With less than two weeks until a massive work deadline, I signed a 12-month lease on a cottage sight-unseen because I couldn’t bear to stay in the city another day after my broken engagement. It’s all well and good until my landlord knocks on my door at two in the morning.
Who knew living next to a house-flipping, cello-playing, swooney-smiling, flesh-and-blood man named Gilbert would be so distracting?
To Do… 17. Finish unpacking 18. Drink coffee 19. Ask Gilbert to marry me
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In this episode of the Christian Romance Podcast, bestselling author Tessa Afshar shares her incredible journey from growing up in a nominally Muslim family in the Middle East to becoming a beloved Christian author. Tessa opens up about overcoming rejection and self-doubt, leaning on God-confidence rather than self-confidence. She reflects on how her personal scars inspire her storytelling and the healing power of writing.
We also dive into the fascinating research process behind her novels, including her latest release, The Queen’s Cook. Tessa explores themes of love, purpose, and the struggles of being unequally yoked in relationships, weaving in connections to the biblical story of Esther. This conversation is filled with wisdom on faith, trusting God’s timing, and finding anchor points in life. Don’t miss this inspiring episode!
Tessa Afshar’s biblical fiction has been on Publishers Weekly, CBA, and ECPA bestseller lists and has been translated into twelve languages. Tessa’s books have received the Christy, INSPY, and ECPA Christian Book Awards, and are Carol, Christy, and ECPA Christian Book Award finalists. Born in the Middle East, Tessa spent her teen years in England and later moved to the United States. Her conversion to Christianity in her twenties changed the course of her life. Tessa is a devoted wife, a mediocre gardener, and an enthusiastic cook of biblical recipes.
Esther 4:14, NKJV: For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?
New Book: The Queen’s Cook
In ancient Persia, the empire’s Jewish citizens face an edict that threatens their very existence. Roxannah, the daughter of a disgraced Persian lord, is devastated by the news. Her father sees this edict as a stroke of good fortune, an opportunity to settle his mounting debts by killing the Jewish physician, Adin, and seizing his belongings.
Instead, he meets his own untimely end, leaving Roxannah destitute and adrift. Desperate and determined to support her mother, Roxannah approaches Adin—the man whose kind eyes still haunt her—to help her find employment in Queen Esther’s kitchens.
In the opulent palace of Susa, Roxannah tries to survive the spiteful ploys of the other cooks as she ascends through the ranks. Her culinary talent earns her the trust and mentorship of Queen Esther, who is herself navigating treacherous palace politics as whispers denounce her inability to produce an heir.
When Roxannah and Adin uncover a sinister plot against Amestris, the king’s most powerful wife and Esther’s archenemy, they find themselves tasked with the impossible job of discovering the culprit. As secrets unravel and alliances are tested, the fate of Esther’s reign hangs in the balance.
In this episode of The Christian Romance Podcast, host Kelly dives into a heartfelt conversation with author Michelle Griep. From her inspiring writing journey to the challenges of transitioning to historical fiction, Michelle shares how faith, travel, and deep research fuel her creative process. Discover how personal experiences and classic authors like Dickens shape her relatable characters and emotionally resonant stories. Michelle also opens up about her latest book, Of Gold and Shadows, and her innovative Etsy shop, where readers can receive love letters straight from her characters’ hearts. If you’re a fan of stories that intertwine faith, romance, and unforgettable moments, this episode is a must-listen!
Michelle Griep has been writing since she first discovered blank wall space and Crayolas. She is a Christy Award winning author of historical romances that both intrigue and evoke a smile. She’s an Anglophile at heart, and you’ll most often find her partaking of a proper cream tea while scheming up her next novel . . . but it’s probably easier to find her at MichelleGriep.com
Nahum 1:7, NKJV: The Lord is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble; And He knows those who trust in Him.
New Book: Of Gold and Shadows
In 1888 Victorian England, Ami Dalton navigates a clandestine dual life. By day, she strives to establish herself as a respected Egyptologist, overcoming the gender biases that permeate academia. But with a heart for saving black-market artifacts from falling into the wrong hands, she is most often disguised as her alter ego, the Shadow Broker.
After eight years in India, Oxford’s most eligible bachelor, Edmund Price, has come out of the shadows to run for Parliament and is in search of an Egyptologist to value a newly acquired collection. Expecting a renowned Oxford professor, Edmund instead finds himself entangled with Ami, the professor’s determined daughter.
As they delve into the treasures, their connection deepens, but trouble emerges when a golden griffin–rumored to bear the curse of Amentuk–surfaces, and they’re left to wonder if the curse really is at play, or if something more nefarious is hiding among the shadows. . . .
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