Conversations with Kav – Missing! Authors I have loved and lost? + Giveaway

So excited to get back to chatting with you today! And about a subject that’s been on my mind for quite awhile now. Mostly because I’ve been in a never-ending shelf organizing state of bookish distress as I try to make just one more book fit. 🙂

Of course, that means I have to pull everything off the shelves for a ‘quick’ dusting which leads me to nostalgically reacquainting myself with old friends. Which in turn has me pondering what happened to these authors. Did they actually stop writing or am I missing a decade’s worth of wonderful novels? That thought is as anxiety inducing as finally finishing a 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle only to find one key piece missing.

So, I thought I’d share some of these much loved authors and see if you might have more information or new leads for me to check out. And, in turn, feel free to share the name of one or two or however many authors you’ve lost tract of and maybe we can collectively offer hope and direction. Because, surely not all of these authors have stopped writing!

Participate n the conversation in the comments to be entered in a giveaway for a $10 Baker Book House gift card. More details about that at the end of the post.

Rosslyn Elliott

Exquisite prose. Stories with depth as characters struggle with moral dilemmas. Intriguing historical settings. And, oh my, the incredible cover artwork! I can still feel the bookish euphoria I felt reading Rosslyn Elliot’s books!

Dawn Crandall

Toe-curling redemptive stories full of drama and so much heart! The Everstone Chronicles is an amazing series exploring the struggles and triumphs of four siblings. Heart-in-throat at times and there’s some shredding of sensitive reader’s heart tissue but there’s always a hard won happily ever after to rejoice in by the end.

Christine Lynxwiler

Contemporary perfection. The kind of stories you feel your way through. Emotional sucker punches with a side of cowboy — can it get any better than that?

Siri Mitchell

I adore all the historical fiction I’ve read by Siri Mitchell but, if I had to pick a favourite it might be Like a Flower in Bloom. Hilariously funny in places, the dynamics between the hero and heroine are priceless. But I also loved the author’s contemporary romance, The Cubicle Next Door. Again, comedic brilliance with a touch of poignancy. I need to read both of these novels again….soon!

Jillian Kent

Brilliant Regency with Gothic tendencies and strong faith elements. The Ravensmoore Chronicles books are amazing…and yet they seem to be the only books Jillian Kent has written!

Pam Hillman

The Natchez Trace series — mercy! -a reader’s heart can only take so many O’Shea brothers before self-combustion becomes a real threat. Swoonworthy Irish heroes making their way in a new world. And Stealing Jake is divine too. Different time, different setting but pure romance along with some intriguing suspense. I need to reread these books too!

Kristen Heitzmann

Suspense with a hint of magical realism…or maybe subtle supernatural elements? Riveting and unexpected. Sometimes I’d be like — ‘Wait…what is happening here?” — but I was always transfixed.

Lisa Novato

Vivid descriptions. Larger than life ex-privateer hero. Baking-diva heroine with a backbone of steel. Their worlds collide and fictional perfection is made!

Becky Melby

Richly layered storytelling, Melby has mastered the art of the slow reveal. Deep characterization and faith threads. This series was my introduction to Christian Fiction dual timeline – way before it became so popular.

So, how about you? Have you read any of these authors? Do you have your own ‘Missing’ list? Mention some names and maybe we’ll have some insights to share.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

Contribute to the conversation in the comments and you’ll be entered in a draw for a $10 Baker Book House gift card.

Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday May 3 2025

50 thoughts on “Conversations with Kav – Missing! Authors I have loved and lost? + Giveaway”

  1. Yet another intriguing food-for-thought post! The only author I’ve read is Heitzman, and only one of hers.
    I’m going to cheat with authors I have googled, but really want to see more from! 1. Terri Blackstock: I started reading/listening to her books right around the time I started reviewing. I hoped to keep up on her new releases but it’s been several years! 2. Frank Peretti. I think his most recent title was in the Harbingers series? I listened to everything the library offered on audiobook (which was not the whole series), but his role in the series had already ended. 3. Ted Dekker (kind of). I haven’t kept up with all of his new kids books but I do tend to prefer his adult books. I didn’t read his most recent adult title, but it’s also more of a horror one, which does factor into my decision

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    1. I’ve enjoyed so many of Terri Blackstock’s books but I don’t think I’ve even made a dent in them. She has published so many! I’ve only read one Frank Peretti novella and just a few Ted Dekker — they are both a bit out of my comfort zone but I enjoyed the books I did read so…Good luck, Stephanie!

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      1. Terri Blackstock does have a ton! I’ve read two whole series plus several standalones, I think. I recently got another of her books at the library’s used book sales. I think the book works as a standalone (even though it’s is a series) so I’ll probably just jump in and read this single title.

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  2. I’ve actually met Dawn Crandall, and she’s a sweetie. She wrote the Everstone Chronicles, which I loved. About that time she had two children and also had a bout of health problems, which has caused her to take a hiatus from writing. She’s homeschooling her boys and taking time for her family now. I’m hoping she’ll go back to writing books sometime when she feels she can, because she’s a talented author. I’m friends with her on Facebook and was also on her launch team for her books.

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    1. Ohhh — you seem to have met a lot of authors, Winnie! That’s so exciting. Thanks for the inside information about Dawn Crandall. Totally get how different stages of life require a different priorities….even if it means we’re missing out on some amazing storytelling! 🙂 Good luck!

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      1. I just thought of another author who is no longer writing books. Candace Calvert wrote a bunch of medical suspense books that I enjoyed. She quit writing a few years ago. She was a nurse, so her books were realistic and believable.

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  3. Great topic Kav! Some of your authors I’ve never read or heard of, some others I have read one or two.

    Pam Hillman is probably the one I’ve read the most. Back in the day when she was on the Seekerville blog she wrote a lot of novellas for collections. I think I’ve read all of those and her Natchez Trace series is her crowning glory. In fact, I won each book in that series here at Best Reads over a 3 year period. Some of my favorite books I’ve won, and I still love those covers. I think she’s enjoying her role as grandma these days, I saw she had written a book for kids.

    Susan Tuttle is a name that comes to mind. Not that she’s not been writing but I’m just getting reacquainted with her books through The Halstead Manor series. Which made me remember I had some of her older books I had not read waiting for me. I went back and read the 3 I had and wow, so good. She’s on my read to zero list and I only have one left to get there.

    Carla Laureano is another author that has slowed down a bit. I’ve read 12 of her 15 books, the 3 left are all novellas. I’ll be catching up with those soon. I get her newsletter. She’s been traveling some but says she has two new books that are in different genres than she written before that she’s hoping to release later this year. That makes me curious, could it be historical or suspense, can’t wait to find out!

    Thanks for the giveaway Kav! tracey14567 at gmail dot com

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    1. Ah yes, the good old Seekerville days! That’s where I heard about Pam’s books. And how cool that you ended up winning those Natchez Trace books on my blog! Cool beans coincidence! Exciting that she’s written a children’s book. I’ll have to check that out. And good to hear she’s rocking being a grandma.

      Susan Tuttle is on my watchlist now that I’ve read a few of her books. She was a new to me author last year. I still have quite a few Carla Laureano books to get too. She’s an author who went indie and I lost track of her for a time. I’ve just read The Supper Club series and The MacDonald Family series, I think. So I have her earlier series and her recent Haven Ridge series to read. So many books, so little time! Good luck, Tracey!

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  4. Great topic! I have so many beloved authors who seemed to disappear – Dee Henderson, Regina Jennings, and Melissa Jagears to name a few. Lori Wick and Judith Pella are old time favorites that I miss as well.

    I have read Heitzman and Crandall – loved both. If only our favorites could keep writing forever!

    kathrynlvossATgmailDOTcom

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    1. Ooohhh yes, Dee Henderson! the iconic O’Malley series and then there was a lapse of time and then a flurry of books published and then…nothing. I know her later books were different from the O’Malleys but I still really loved them — her stories are character driven, which I love. So emotional and deep and thoughtful. Yes, if only our fave authors could keep writing forever! Good luck, Kathryn!

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  5. Pam hillman has other books she has written after Stealing Jake. Seems like she’s focused more on family now. Her last book came out in 2022. Lisa Novato wrote a few more books after this. But nothing since 2017. Dawn Crandall has stopped writing she is raising kids and has an autoimmune disease so she is struggling with health too.

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    1. Thanks for those insights, Kim. Can totally see how balancing family life and an autoimmune disease could take up all your energy. I’ll keep Dawn Crandall in my prayers. I’ve just checked and I see some Lisa Novato books that I’ve missed — yay — so I’ll be catching up with those sometime soon. Good luck, Kim!

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  6. I loved Dawn Crandall’s books! I read about her health issues and life demands. I do hope that someday there’ll be more books from her, when the time is right for her.

    I haven’t seen any books from Lori Benton in a long time, but I just looked at her FB page and it looks like she may have a new set of three in the works.

    Jolene – iwant2save34 at gmail dot com

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    2. Dawn will definitely have a ready made fan base if she ever returns to writing! Good point about Lori Benton. She was a regular once a year book release — like Laura Frantz. Good to hear she’s working on a series. Good luck, Jolene!

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  7. Wow! Now you’ve accomplished two things. One I have some amazing sounding books added to my ever growing TBR list. Love exploring some new to me authors and books I’ve missed by some authors. Two, now I have that great urge to clean, reorganize and check out old favorites within my books. That’s ok, it’s not work if you are having fun doing it – right?

    2clowns at arkansas dot net

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    1. Bwahaha! Fair warning — you’ll end up with more of a disorganized upheaval because you’ll stop to rid snippets from each book and then the day will be gone and you’ll be too tired to keep going so you’ll decide to just read a bit more and pretty soon it’s bedtime and you’ll leave chaos in your wake. I’ve started to sort my books on my bed so it forces me to actually organize them or I won’t be able to get any sleep! 🙂 Happy that I could introduce you to some new to you authors. Good luck, Kay!

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  8. Good morning, Kav. Interesting topic! I have read all that you mentioned except Dawn Crandall. There’s a bunch I could mention because I used to be on a Christian fiction blog but here’s some:

    Lori Wick

    Christine Lindsay

    Dorothy Adamek

    Jolina Petersheim (I think she took a hiatus bc she had 4 baby girls but I’m hoping she’ll write again)

    Serena Miller

    Jamie Carie (retired)

    Anita Higman

    Rebecca DeMarino

    Sarah Price (teaches Jr High)

    dianalflowers at aol dot com

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    1. Ohhh, this is a great list. Jamie Carie — The Guardian Duke! I remember that cover! And I was wondering about Dorothy Adamek too. Just two books as far as I know. I’d forgotten bout Rebecca DeMarino and she’s only written that one series it looks like. I do believe that Jolene Petersheim is writing again now, but just at the writing stage, not the publishing stage. I follow her on instagram and she’s signed with a new literary agency so that’s looking hopeful for us! 🙂 Good luck, Diane!

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      1. Cool about Jolina Petersheim! Dorothy Adamek wrote Book 3 in that series & I wasn’t even aware! I just checked on Amazon when you said something & it’s called Carry Me Close. 😮 I don’t see my rating/review on Amazon or GRs so it must’ve gotten past me, but how? Came out Apr 1, 2022. Huh??

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      2. Wow — I had no idea that there were three books in that series. I think it’s hard for authors who aren’t part of the big publishers to get their marketing noticed. Maybe that’s why.

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  10. Cathy Marie Hake is the one that got me into reading historical romance (I was an anti-romance teenager up to that point); I was very disappointed when she disappeared! Serena B Miller mostly wrote Amish, but she did a few non-Amish historicals that I really loved. And now more recently Regina Jennings; I’ve liked each of her series more than the last (also, since she always published in December, I could count on receiving her new book for Christmas), so I’m disappointed there hasn’t been anything by her in the last couple years!

    rdalquist AT gmail DOT com

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    1. Ooooohhhh, yes, I remember Cathy Marie Hake. I loved Forevermore! I’ve read some of Serena Miller’s Amish books – two historical and two Amish – I should check and see what I’m missing. And I didn’t realize that Regina Jennings stopped writing – I’m woefully behind with her books but it looks like her last release was in 2022. Good luck, Rachael!

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  11. Two authors I have missed are Beth White : Daugtry House and Gulf Coast Chronicles series and Tim Downs : The Bug Man Series.
    oh and Jessica Dotta only wrote three books but I absolutely loved them: The Price of Privilege series.
    I know there are more. I will think on it.
    paulamarys49ATgmailDOTcom

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    1. Yes, I remember that series by Jessica Dotta! I don’t think I’ve read anything by Beth White but those covers have me intrigued. Totally looks like my kind of book. Good luck, Paula!

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  12. Beth Webb Hart is an author whose books I picked up here and there, probably a used book store. But it seems she has quit writing.

    As a transplanted Northern girl living in the South, I enjoyed her southern settings.

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  13. Inquiring minds and some good authors! I am unfamiliar with some you mentioned but have read/found Dawn Crandall at my library. Own a Pam Hillman. Regarding comments I believe I remember quite some time back Melissa Jagears mentioning teaching in the school system but wasn’t sure if was to be long term.

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    1. Melissa Jagears is an author I’ve loved in the past. I think I’ve read all of her books to date. Sigh, I guess we have to let our favourite authors do other things besides write for our entertainment. lol Good luck, CC!

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    2. Melissa Jagears has the book site: Inspirational Historical Fiction Index. New releases and they go back many years. You can search multiple ways. By year portrayed, event, state, era etc. and you can leave reviews in the comments of each book entry.

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  14. Dawn Crandall quit writing to raise her boys and health issues but hopefully writes again. I miss Lori Benton and Regina Jennings. I’ve enjoyed several of the authors you mentioned.

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  15. I see she’s already been mentioned, but Lori Benton is the one I’ve been missing. I know she wrote a couple of children’s books a couple of years ago but am glad to hear she may have some adult books in the works now. Definitely miss her historical fiction and will be watching for a new one! 🙂

    ckbarker at gmail dot com

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    1. I didn’t know about the children’s books. They look so cute! I’ve gotta see if I can find them here. And yes, good to know there might be more ‘grown up’ books in the mix. Good luck, Cheryl!

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  16. Pam Hillman has definitely still been writing stories. Her most recent ones I’ve seen being release are her Calico Trails series (the latest one having just come out last year, I believe.)😉

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    1. I didn’t know that. The Calico Trails series looks to be novellas so maybe they are re-releases of the stories she published in Barbour novella collections? And I see that she’s another author who has published a children’s book! Good luck, Elly!

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  17. I’ve been missing several of these authors, though to be honest, there are so many other books to read that I sometimes don’t realize it’s been awhile since I read something by an old favorite until I read a post like this. I wonder if for some of the authors it may just be harder to get a publishing contract now. They may not have stopped writing, just can’t get them published. Not every author wants to go the self publishing route.

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    1. I know, lucky for us there’s lots of other books to distract us from our pining! 🙂 And I wondered that about publishing contracts as well. There seem to be fewer of them and I think going indie would be quite daunting. Good luck, Pam!

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  18. The only author from your list that I’m familiar with is Siri Mitchell, but oddly enough I didn’t realize that she hasn’t released a new book in several years! Wow! I’m certainly behind the times! 🙂 One author that came to my mind is Sara Mills who wrote the Allie Fortune Mystery books Miss Fortune and Miss Match. They were some of the first Christian fiction books I ever read and I remember really liking them at the time. Both of the books ended in cliffhangers and, unfortunately, the third book was never released. If I were to reread them, I’m not sure that I would still love the books as much as I did, but I’ll always have a fondness for them since they were part of my introduction into the Christian fiction genre.

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    1. oooohhhh, I haven’t heard of the Allie Fortune mystery series! Just looked it up and it looks like a perfect book match for me — WWII female PI in New York City. Must see if I can find a copy, though cliffhanger endings are no fun. Good luck, Bridget!

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  19. On your list, I’m only familiar with Kristen Heitzman and Pam Hillman.  Now from comments I see Terri Blackstock, and Dee Henderson, Lori Benton, and Lori Wick (one of the first Christian Fiction novels I read…..White Chocolate Moments was my fave).  I definitely miss all of these authors!

    The author I miss the most though is Abigail Wilson.  I haven’t seen anything from her since 2022, I believe for a lack of a book contract.  I think it’s a crying shame, I love her books!

    perrianne (DOT) askew (AT) me (DOT) com

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    1. I don’t think I’ve read anything by Lori Wick…must see if either my church library or my public library have any books by her. Wow, I hadn’t realized that Abigail Wilson hasn’t released anything recently. I’m still playing catch up so I haven’t noticed, I guess. I think traditional publishers are giving out fewer contracts these days which is sad. Maybe why so many authors are switching to indie? Or maybe it’s because so many indie books are being published now. Good luck, Perrianne!

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  20. Pingback: Sunshine Blogger Award (2025) – Books Less Travelled

  21. Ooh, I’ll have to track down ‘Like a Flower in Bloom’ — I have a few Siri Mitchell books but not that one… yet! 😁 

    In addition to a few authors already mentioned, like Regina Jennings and Melissa Jagears, I think of the publisher “Summerside Press”. I know it’s not an author, but I used to really enjoy the ‘Love Finds You’ series, which was written by a variety of different authors. A few years ago I wondered what ever happened to them, only to discover that they had permanently shut down. 😔

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    1. Yessss…such a great novel! Hope you can find it out in the ‘wild’. Oooh, yess, I never thought about it but what did become of Summerside Press. I have a bunch of the Love Finds You novels on my shelves. Good luck, Sabrina!

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  22. Maybe I’ve missed some of these authors, but haven’t seen recent. Ruth Axtell (Moonlight Masquerade), Rita Gerlach (After the Rain), Sarah Loudin Thomas (The Sound of Rain), Cathy Slusser (The Sea Beneath Us), Amy Clipston (The Forgotten Recipe), Nancy Moser (An Unlikely Suitor), Kristi Ann Hunter (An Inconvenient Beauty), Elaine Marie Cooper (Road to Deer Run), Michael R. Phillips (Secrets of the Shetlands series ~ loved, so captivating), Cynthia Hickey (Seven Brides for Seven Mail-Order Husbands ~ and several other Barbour Collection authors), Carrie Fancett Pagels (My Heart Belongs on Mackinac Island: Maude’s Story ~ several Northwoods stories), Sarah E. Ladd (A Stranger at Fellsworth), Maggie Brendan (Trusting Grace), Judith McCoy Miller (The Chapel Car Bride), Susan Anne Mason (Love’s Faithful Promise), Laurie Alice Eakes (The Mountain Midwife), Jan Watson (Still House Pond), Patti Hill (Always Green), Dorothy Love (A Respectable Actress), Lorna Seilstad (As Love Blooms), Cathy Bryant (Crossroads), Christa Parrish (Still Life; Stones for Bread), Cara C. Putman (Shadowed by Grace), Mona Hodgson (Prairie Song). Kathleen ~ Lane Hill House lanehillhouse(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. whoa — that’s quite the list. And yes — I so loved Ruth Axtell’s Regency series!!!!! Another author slipping past my notice. Sarah Loudin Thomas is still releasing books. About one a year I think. She has one coming out this July – ‘These Blue Mountains’ – so that’s one we’ll have to look out for during the next Reader’s Choice week. Amy Clipston switched to writing contemporary romances so that’s likely how you lost track of her but she has also started writing Amish stories for Love Inspired now too. And Kristi Ann Hunter also released a contemporary romance last year, I think it was, but she’s back to writing Historical only indie published which makes it harder to keep track of. Sarah E. Ladd published ‘The Cloverton Charade’ September 2024. I think she publishes one book a year so we’ll have to check for her in the fall. So many other great authors you mentioned — oh, Cara Putman is writing suspense now and her third book in her current legal thriller series just released. So, it looks like we have a mix of officially retired, genre changes, switched from traditional to indie published, and no contracts offered to blame for how difficult it is to keep up with our fave authors! 🙂 Good luck, Kathleen!

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