Friday Sisterhood with Barbara Phinney

Family Status: Married

What Is Your Favorite Beverage: grapefruit juice and mineral water

What Is Your Favorite Food: custard pie

What Is Your Favorite Thing to do During Free Time: write!!

Who Has Been the Most Influential Person in Your Life: my mother

First Book You Fell in Love With: Nine Coaches Waiting

A Book You Wish You’d Written: The above book

First Book Published: The Time Star

Most Recent Book: Sheltered by the Warrior

Out Next: Protected by the Warrior

How Many Have You Written: 15

What Do You Know Now That You Wish You’d Known Then: Just about everything!

What is Your Favorite Bible Story: Esther

What is Your Favorite Bible Verse: Phillipian 2:9-11

What is Your Favorite Hymn: I don’t really have one

What is an Ongoing Prayer Request You Have: for wisdom

History comes Alive!

by Barbara Phinney 

I continually get compliments from readers of my historicals on the research and history used. And I have to beam with satisfaction.

You see, I love research. There are some writers who hate it, and that's okay. They write wonderful contemporaries. Their research is in everyday life. 
For my Love Inspired Historicals, I bent to my love of the middle ages. Namely, the Norman period. 

It started in high school, but really took off when I traveled to Colchester, England, to visit my sister. Colchester is a town steeped in history. Rome made it their capital on the island, and William the Conqueror ordered a castle to be built there from the ruins of several previous castles. Queen Boadicea fought the Romans there, Old King Cole was said to have his castle there, and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star was written there. 

History grabbed me and I knew I wanted to write a story set in Colchester. 
It look many years, but Bound to the Warrior and Protected by the Warrior blossomed from my visit. (Sheltered by the Warrior is due out in February. You should see the cover! It's gorgeous!))

Bound to the Warrior

Protected by the Warrior

And when my husband gave me the The Doomsday Book (a reprint, of course!) I was swept even further out on the sea of history. And the other books I have acquired kept me on that sea. (There is one I cannot find anymore. It was entitled The Short History of the English People. All 1100 pages of it!)

My readers say that they've learned so much from my books. One said she learned what peat was used for. Another said she'd learned so much about daily life and midwifery and another said she now loves the Norman period of history because she's read my books. 

I am so grateful to God for this gift. In retrospect, I enjoyed geography more in school, although my history teacher was the kind of man who got fully involved in retelling history for us. He made it come alive. I still remember this little, bespectacled man, arms flying as he described what the Norman soldiers encountered as they tried to fight the Welsh, those tall, white-robbed men coming down the Welsh hills, singing to prepare themselves for battle. The pious, stodgy Normans must have thought they were angels! Now that's a tactic not taught in the army's basic training!

But me, third row back, near the window, hand holding my head up for most of my school day, well, I was captivated.

And I am blessed to be able to captivate readers with snippets of history. Life in a castle is more than a noblewoman strolling the parapet or bathing in rose scented water. It was hard, and the noblewoman's life was dedicated to keeping her castle safe from everything from enemy soldiers to the dreaded fever that could kill everyone. The lady of the keep was known to have ordered extra battlements built, preparing for a siege until her baron husband returned to free them. One Scottish queen took it upon herself to ensure each child in her castle, no matter what position the parents, was fed a decent meal each day. She would feed them herself with her own spoon, if necessary. 

That's the history I want to incorporate into my historicals. 

What is your favourite period of history? Is there any historical story that has caught your interest? Were you even interested in history in school?

Tell us in the comments section. I'd love to read them. 

Barbara Phinney

Protected by the Warrior Interview

 How exciting to have Rowena, heroine from Protected by the Warrior written by  Barbara Phinney an August 2014 release from Love Inspired Historical Romance .

1.  Rowena, tell me the most interesting thing about you.

Well, based on what Lord Stephen says, that my most interesting trait would be my ability to read how people are really feeling. I just somehow know by the way they act, how they really feel about something. Lord Stephen wanted me to help him find those who would make trouble for King William. But I have had my fill of intrigue, thank you very much.

2.  What do you do for fun?

Lord Stephen brought this wonderful troupe of minstrels to the manor house. What fun it was to watch them! Why some can juggle many pieces of fruit, and one man pulled a coin from my ear!

3.  What do you put off doing because you dread it?

Remember I said that Lord Stephen wanted to help me find the troublemakers? Well, I knew in my heart I needed to help him, but to trust that Lord Stephen would protect me? I wasn't so sure about that.

4.  What are you afraid of most in life?

I hate to say this, but to trust. I fear that I cannot freely give it away. And yet, haven't I trusted in the Lord? I don't know Him, but know He wants me to trust in Lord Stephen. 'Tis so hard, though!

5.  What do you want out of life?

I have a beautiful little boy and 'twould please me so much to see him learn to read and know his numbers. I only want the very best for my child.

6.  What is the most important thing to you?

There are many things that are important to me. Some are not things to be proud of, like pride itself. But I would say my son is the most important thing, and his well-being.

7.  If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

My hair. You see, 'tis as pale as snow and as light as duck down. And 'tis so hard to keep braided and tucked away. I would love to have darker, sturdier hair. Oh, do you mean about my personality? I would love to be able to change how hard it is for me trust. 'Tis not an easy thing for me.

8.  Do you have a pet? If so, what is it and why that pet?

Well, I have no pets, but I have the most timid little hen. I can almost think she is listening to me when I talk to her.

9. Can you tell us a little interesting tidbit about the time period you live in?

They are dangerous times here in England. King William is still fighting us Saxons, so he couldn't have troops everywhere. So he put people like Lord Stephen in charge of counties and estates. The Norman French in charge of us! Some of the men are wise but some are just plain evil. I've heard that the king is ordering castles and churches be built all over England. We will never be the same again. Even our language is changing, with new French words coming into it everyday.

FEATURED BOOK:PROTECTED BY THE WARRIOR BY BARBARA PHINNEY

FOR HONOR'S SAKE 

When Clara became a midwife, she vowed to preserve life above all. She'll keep that vow, even if it means defying a Norman baron by hiding a Saxon slave and her child. Yet when the ruthless lord threatens Clara's village—and her life—she's forced to rely on another Norman to keep her safe. 

Kenneth D'Entremont is a soldier, one who takes lives instead of healing them. Clara despairs of finding any common ground with him. But when he begins guarding her, she learns to see him in a new light. His care and compassion make her feel safe…even loved. Can she bring herself to put her secrets, and her heart, under the protection of the warrior?