faith

Interview with Samantha Fury: Multi-Author Romance Project Insights

/ Carol Underhill / Leave a comment

Today on my blog I’m interviewing Samantha Fury and some of her author friends that are working on a great series, Men of the West. We’re going to be talking with Samantha and one of her authors in this series, Ivy Hart. The series as of now has 9 books with more being added throughout the year.

First, we’ll be talking with Samantha Fury.

Samantha, tell us a little bit about yourself:

A big Kentucky howdy to everyone. It’s nice to be here today. My name is Samantha Fury and I wear many hats. I’m an author, designer, wife, fur baby mom, and way too many other things that circle around publishing books for and with other authors. I’ve helped Carol with some of her books, and I have a lot of authors I work with. Right now, I’m working with several great ladies on a Multi-Author Project. It’s a lot of fun. I’ve created all of the covers, and I’ve invited some of the authors to join me here today. Later in the year I hope to have a book out in this series.

I’ve really appreciated the work you’ve done on my book covers and expertise in helping with the publishing.

Samantha, tell me what a Multi-Author Project is.

Sure. It’s a lot of fun working with other authors, and each of them has at least one book in the series and some have two. The books are not connected so you can read them in any order, and they each circle around the idea for the series. The books can cover any state out West where a female character meets with the man with the titles using the man’s occupation. Samples are: The Blacksmith, Liveryman, Shopkeeper, Miner, and many other interesting titles.

In some books, the match may have bumps in the road, or they may hit it off splendidly and falter due to a villain. Every book in this series is different, but the main ingredient is romance that never goes according to plan. So be prepared for several bumps on the road to happiness. Enjoy meeting adventurous ladies and men of every occupation.

That sounds like so much fun. Samantha we’re going to ask Ivy Hart a couple of questions then we’ll come back to you in a minute. Ivy, what is the inspiration behind your story?

Hello Carol. That’s a great question. The inspiration for The Drover came from a single, powerful question: What if a man whose entire identity was built on healing—a doctor—was forced into hiding because he believed his hands only brought death? That idea became the seed for my hero, Griff. He’s a man running from a past tragedy, carrying a secret that isolates him from the world, yet his very nature is to protect and mend.

I wanted to place this broken man in the path of someone with unshakable faith. That’s how Ellie, a young widow struggling to keep her homestead, came to be. Her situation was heavily inspired by the biblical story of the Widow of Zarephath—a woman on the brink of starvation who is asked to give her last bit of food to a stranger, and through that act of faith, is provided for.

The story became about exploring how these two people—one running from God and the other running to Him—could find hope and redemption together in the harsh, unforgiving beauty of the 1870s Kansas frontier. It’s a story about how even in our darkest moments, faith can light a path toward healing.

That answer really pulls us into the story as a reader Can you tell me, were there any surprises that came up as you wrote your story?

The biggest surprise was the depth of Griff’s guilt. I knew he was a doctor on the run, but I didn’t realize how profoundly he saw himself as a failure—as “poison,” to use his own term. In my initial outline, his secret was more of a plot device, a reason for him to be a fugitive. But as I wrote him, his internal struggle became the absolute heart of the story. This wasn’t just about him hiding his past; it was about him fighting a deep-seated belief that he was unworthy of forgiveness, love, or a second chance. It made his journey toward redemption, and his relationship with the ever-faithful Ellie, so much more powerful and emotional than I had originally planned. He really broke my heart before he started to heal, and that was a journey he led me on as much as I led him.

Ivy, are you a plotter or a pantser?

I like to call myself a “plantser”—I’m a plotter with a pantser’s heart! For a story like The Drover, with its historical details and suspenseful elements like the range war, I absolutely need a solid plot. I had the major story beats mapped out: Griff’s arrival, the blizzard that forces them together, the escalating conflict with the cattle baron, and the final confrontation. That structure is my roadmap. However, I always leave room for the characters to breathe and surprise me. As I mentioned, Griff’s internal struggle took the story in a much deeper emotional direction than I’d first plotted. When a character’s motivation feels more real or powerful by deviating from the plan, I follow them. The plot is the skeleton, but the characters are the ones who give the story its heart and soul.

Thanks Ivy, for sharing and for joining us today. The Drover sounds like a great, faith-filled story. We’ll show the cover and a link at the end of the article. For now, let’s change gears and ask you a personal question before we go back to Samantha. Are you a night owl or morning person?

Thanks Carol, it’s been fun joining you today and that’s a fun question. I’m Definitely a night owl! There’s something magical about the quiet of the late hours, when the rest of the world is asleep. It feels like the perfect time for characters to start whispering their secrets, and I find I can focus most deeply on their emotional journeys without any distractions.

Samantha, what about you, night or morning?

I agree with Ivy. I’m a night person, though I do love the mornings and chatting with my family. At night the phone doesn’t ring, the dogs are sleeping, hubby is watching YouTube, so it just gives me more time to think clearly.

That makes sense. You mention your family. What do they think of your writing?

They are very proud of what I’ve accomplished and they are very supportive. My aunt edits, my mom markets like only a mother can. My other aunt and cousins love what I do and are always telling me which cover they like best.

What is your mom’s favorite book and yours?

My mother has two: Sweet Prince and Maid for Martin. Mine, goodness, I love them all. Street Justice book one, Sweet Prince, Rachels Ransom, Aria.

Who was your favorite character to create?

That is easy: Angel Morganson. He was one of my first characters and he’ll always be special to me.

Samantha, thanks for joining us today. A few last questions. First, what’s next for you as an author and Second, where can readers find you online?

I’m working for a lot of authors right now, but I hope to write more. I have so many stories I want to publish. And you can find me at my website. There you can learn more about me and find all of my books. I write under Samantha Lovern, and Samantha Fury. Lovern is clean romance. Fury is more Christian. Thanks for having me!

Links to the Men of the West series

https://www.samanthafury.com/

From Country Roots to New Dreams: A Spiritual Reflection

/ Carol Underhill / Leave a comment

This post was previously published in October 2024 under Sweaters and Knee Socks.

Today I’ve added an update to the original post to share how God has directed my path.

Sweaters and Knee Socks

I grew up in a family that didn’t have much money for extras. We didn’t buy name brand clothes. We shopped at garage sales before it became popular. Mom made sure we had a couple of new outfits for school each fall and new dresses for Christmas and Easter. Sometimes they were homemade.

Fashion was all about Izods and Calvin Kleins when I was in high school. I don’t think not having name brand jeans and shirts really mattered to me. But one trend I wanted to have so badly was a wool skirt with a wool sweater and knee socks. That outfit was really popular and something I yearned for.

My senior year, a cousin bought me a wool sweater for Christmas and my aunt paid me in wool skirts for babysitting her boys. When I went off to college that fall, I was ready to be in style.

Only people in college didn’t dress that way.

I had missed out on wearing the trend. Now my clothes were out of style at the small college I went to.

My country roots were showing.

(Things got better at the end of my freshman year when a settlement from a driver’s ed car accident came through, giving me spending money above what my college costs were. I bought parachute pants. {Cringe} I actually wore them!)

However, the outdated style didn’t stop me from making friends and experiencing some of the fun the conservative college offered.

One experience I remember well early on in my freshman year was a spiritual retreat. I don’t know where the campground was, but the girls’ bathroom were all open-stall toilets. Needless to say, I didn’t feel the urge to go.

There were also really tall, old growth trees. When we all took a walk through the trees, the leader told us to lay down on the ground and look up. I still remember how majestic the treetops looked from that point of view.

Experiences like this spiritual retreat helped cement the faith that I had experienced in high school and made me a stronger Christian. A sophomore year trip to Mexico gave me new confidence.

I began to walk my own path. Things that had mattered before weren’t important anymore. I had new plans, new dreams.

Forty years have gone by since my college days. (Yikes, I’m THAT old!)

I felt recently like I have finally “come into my own.” I had confidence in myself and in my plans.

Then news I hadn’t expected put a roadblock in my path and I’m not sure what the future holds for me.

I love this verse and have had it memorized since I was a teen:

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.”

As I have done for most of my life, in these moments I put my faith in the Maker of Heaven and Earth, the Father who created me and loves me. He will direct my paths. The NIV says, “He will make your paths straight.” I like that translation also.

I am praying and waiting to see what He will do, even as I take each step that I know is right for that moment. No, I can’t see ahead, but that’s okay. He will make my way straight and clear.

Now thinking back to that long-ago retreat, I realize I am not the same person. I have a deeper, abiding faith and more life experiences to know that God will, indeed, fulfill the promise in Proverbs 3:5-6. As I trust in Him, He shall direct my path.

And I realize that if I were to lie on the ground and look up at the treetops, I wouldn’t be able to get back up! (Not gracefully, anyway).

Update: February 9, 2026

More than a year has passed. I wasn’t shown a direct path after I posted the original. I tried a couple of things that didn’t work out to my benefit. One endeavor was partially responsible for a mental health crisis mid-summer. It took 3-4 months for my mental health to stabilize. I didn’t work on anything during that time.

In December, I set up a booth at a local event in the school I used to attend. From the sales that day and contacts made that month, I sold 32 books. The most I’ve ever sold in one month.

The New Year didn’t start on a very positive note, but my mental health had improved. I spent two lovely days with my sisters. Then I started to feel the depression and the wait of some of my grief coming back. I made an appointment with my counselor. However, a few days before I saw her, inspiration came to me for my writing projects.

It feels good to be inspired and even better, to see some of my dreams for my writing come to fruition.

I will publish 4-5 new books in 2026. Maybe more as God directs and finances come through.

My faith in God is stronger than ever. I feel very blessed.

Balancing Writing and Life: Tips from Allison Pearl

/ Carol Underhill / Leave a comment

Good morning, today I’m interviewing author Allison Pearl.

Allison, thank you for being a guest on my blog.

Let’s start with you telling us a little bit about yourself.

Hi! I’m Allison Pearl, a Romantic Suspense and Cozy Mystery writer. I love writing about close-knit worlds in both small towns and big cities inspired by the many different locations in which I’ve lived. When not plotting fictional crimes, I run an online book club (https://allison-pearl.com/allisons-book-club/) and regularly release a newsletter (https://allison-pearl.com/home/newsletter-signup/) with bookish blog posts, giveaways, and reading updates.

What is your book about?

Battered & Torn centers on Nora, a woman hiding from a murderous family while working at a billionaire’s estate, and Archie, the guarded heir who can’t ignore his growing attraction or the secrets surrounding her. As their connection deepens and danger closes in, trusting each other could lead them to the truth or cost them everything, including their lives.

Do you have a day job? If so, how do you find time in your day to write?

During my non-fiction writing hours, I write executive resumes and social media content for professionals looking to transition to a new role. Finding time to write fiction is not easy, and based on my progress balancing both, I only have bad advice 😉 I’ve tried better scheduling, getting up earlier, and more, with unpredictable success. What works today often doesn’t work tomorrow. At the end of the day, I just try to write when I can.

Are you a night owl or morning person?

Definitely not a morning person, but not the most successful night owl either given how much I love an early bedtime. I have some concentration and attention issues that make consistency a challenge which means everyday seems like a new game plan. The older I get, the more I realize that the harder I try to put myself in a box or rigid schedule, the quicker I fail. Ultimately, I’ve learned to give myself permission to adapt day by day.

That’s great advice for all of us.

Are you a plotter or a panster?

Definitely a pantser. I have so much respect for writers who plan and wish I could be them when I grow up, but I just end up turning story plotting into procrastination and avoidance. The only reason my books get finished is because I sit down, start writing, and see what happens. Honestly, my plot twists shock me as much as they shock my readers.

Do you experience writer’s block? What do you do to get through it?

All the time. How I get through it changes case by case, but one strategy I always try when I’m really stuck is good old pen and paper. I close my laptop, sit down with a notebook, and just start writing something. I don’t know why it works for me, but something about writing that way always helps me find my way out of whatever maze I’ve trapped myself in.

Another great tip!

Do you reward yourself when a book is finished? If so, what is your favorite treat?

Sometimes, I reward myself for finishing a chapter 😉 Some days the words come easily, while other days you have to fight for every one of them, so rewards feel like a necessity. I’ll usually go grab a treat or a coffee, or sometimes even take a walk around the store.

What does your family think of your writing?

I think their reactions usually fall somewhere between pride and confusion. Let’s just say a snarky, sailor-mouthed woman revealing a career writing faith-based romantic suspense may have seemed a little inexplicable, but despite the confusion, my family has been incredibly supportive and the best marketing team a person could have.

Allison, it was really great chatting with you.

What’s next for you as an author?

Right now, I’m working on the start of a cozy mystery series about a Pittsburgh-based mobile bookstore owner who has a knack for continually finding herself in trouble.

And before we go, where can readers find you online?

Readers can find me online at allison-pearl.com, where I share book updates, blog posts, giveaways, and newsletter sign-ups, as well as on social media under my author name, Allison Pearl.

Finding Hope After Heartbreak

/ Carol Underhill / Leave a comment

A while back, I thought God was doing something new in my life. For months I was excited about the possibilities, until I discovered that what I wanted was not in His plan for me.

Today I cried over the loss of a dream. Then I prayed in earnest to my Heavenly Father, who brought me peace.

After that prayer, I sat down at my computer and opened a file for a story I’d begun last winter. I’d actually started two different versions of it. Today I copied and pasted it into one document. I began line by line edits as I read back through what I’d already written. It isn’t finished yet but I made great progress today.

My heroine struggled with feelings of being unloved and unwanted, and it led her to make poor choices as a teenager. Then she spent the next decade trying to bury her feelings of regret, and continued to make terrible decisions in relationships and life in general.

At the beginning of this story, she is 30 years old and facing the consequences of her actions.

A broken heart, a lost dream, a fall into depression —

While I can relate to this heroine in some ways, God protected me from making the choices this heroine made. Throughout my life, I’ve tried to stay true to my faith. God honored my choices with an amazing husband who was faithful to both myself and to God. Losing him was my life’s worst heartbreak.

But there have been a few times in the past 15 years when my heart has cracked. And each time I feel like I am falling apart, God puts the pieces back together.

I am never quite the same as I was before the heartbreak, but God always does something better when He restores my hope.

In this Season of Hope, I pray that you will find comfort in the Loving God who can fix broken hearts and broken relationships.

Good Monday Evening 9-15-25

/ Carol Underhill / Leave a comment

Autumn is my favorite season. We call it “fall” around here. Living in the rural community in Michigan where we experience four very different seasons, there is a thrill in the air when the temperatures cool at night, the trees begin to show their colors, and pumpkins and squash are at all the roadside stands.

It’s too early to fret about blizzards and icestorms.

If the heat is unbearable during a few hours in the day, we understand that cooler weather is right around the corner.

Gardeners are reaping the last of their harvest and preserving it for the winter.

The season is changing.

This summer I struggled with my mental health. With a medication adjustment, counseling from a Christian therapist, and the support of family and friends, I have come through the hardest season I’ve experienced since my original nervous breakdown and hospitalization in 2003.

The past few days I’ve wrestled with depression. Earlier tonight I cried on the phone with a friend over things that happened 30 years ago. (Thankfully I go to an appointment with my therapist tomorrow.)

Now that evening has settled and the house is quiet, I am remembering and meditating on truths that I learned in the early days of Christian counseling.

One of the first things I learned about in therapy was that Scripture gives us rungs of truth to help us out of the pit of depression and despair.

Some of my truths:

  • God loves me.
  • God accepts me.
  • God forgives me.
  • I am a child of God.
  • He has a plan and a purpose for my life.
  • He has never left me nor forsaken me.
  • He is with me now.

Instead of looking back on the past and remembering failures and disappointments, tonight, I choose to look forward, not backwards. I’m not going that way. I’ve been there, and it’s time to put everything behind me, tie up my shoelaces, and step into the next season in my life.

The photo above was taken by a friend of mine. The Light of God is shining in this fall season, just as it is shining in my life.