Welcome to the Blog Tour for Like Honey for the Bones by Brandy Heineman, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
About the Book
Title: Like Honey for the Bones
Author: Brandy Heineman
Publisher: Independently Published
Release Date: July 24, 2023
Genre: Christian Split-time Romantic Mystery
TWO HEARTS BROKEN ALONG THE SAME JAGGED EDGE MAKE A GRISLY DISCOVERY DEEP IN THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY
Present Day. Solveig Borja fled Virginia to escape the guilt of one reckless night, and once she settles the family estate, she’s Norway-bound and never looking back. Meanwhile, Kyle Benton has come seeking asylum from past sins—which Solveig shatters even as their hopeless romance blooms. But when they discover a skeleton at Rice Caverns, its century-old mystery holds startling links to the here-and-now.
1919. The Great War is won. Gussie Rice longs for her beau's return from France, until she learns he’s confined at a stateside hospital and her closest confidant is part of the secret. Her bid for love sparks a confrontation that ricochets through time...
Bad blood and escalating threats swirl around Solveig, and Kyle’s new life proves no haven from the old with his brother's killer trolling the shadows. As the past rears up, the cavern’s hidden places beckon with power to light their hope or to swallow them in utter darkness.
PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookBub
About the Author
Connect with Brandy by visiting brandyheineman.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.
Author Interview
Welcome, Brandy! Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions and giving my readers a chance to get to know you and your new book Like Honey for the Bones.
I like to start these interviews the same way, with something fun to break the ice. Can you share 5 random facts about you that we will not find in your bio?
Fun! Let’s see…
Savory foods usually appeal to me more than sweets. You may just catch me ordering an appetizer for dessert.
I was the yearbook editor in my sophomore year of college.
I live in jeans and a ponytail.
Lavender is one of my favorite scents/flavors.
I love to sing in the car!
When did you first discover you had a passion for writing?
My first “book” was a small construction paper project that’s still stowed in a box of childhood mementos. I was fortunate that my Mom read to me when I was small and that I had a few influential teachers who encouraged me from an early age. For as long as I can remember, reading and writing have been part of who I am.
What drew you to writing dual timeline novels?
I love genealogy and researching my family history. Feelings of nostalgia and the search for clues to the stories of the past turn the key in my imagination. The past shapes our present, and our present viewpoint lets us interpret and understand the past. Two separate stories can influence each other in that way, and the interaction fascinates me.
Can you share a little bit about the inspiration and research that went into writing this story?
A close friend of mine moved to the Shenandoah Valley area of Virginia, and she told me about Grand Caverns in Grottoes, particularly the historical signatures that can be seen on its walls. The idea of a message on a cavern wall waiting years—perhaps a century—for discovery inspired me to think what sort of mystery a cavern might contain.
A research trip was essential, and my friend graciously hosted me. We spent an afternoon at the library so I could look at historical newspapers for the pulse of the area in 1919, and we visited Grand Caverns so I could better imagine my fictional Rice Caverns setting. I also searched for photos of historical settings to layer in authentic details and watched YouTube videos of antique cars to understand what motoring through the countryside a hundred years ago was really like.
If you had to describe your main character(s) in this story in just three words each, what would they be?
Ooh, this is a tough one. I’d say Solveig is sensitive, protective, and pragmatic, while Kyle is charming, candid, and accepting.
Can you tell us a little bit more about Like Honey for the Bones?
Like Honey for the Bones is a story of two outcasts who discover a lost skeleton. In the course of trying to solve its mystery, they must each confront a difficult and dangerous past.
It’s also a story about how words matter. As the verse which inspired the title says,
“Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” -Proverbs 16:24 (NASB)
What was the most challenging part of bringing this story to life? The most rewarding?
One major challenge with this story was creating an authentic viewpoint for Solveig as a Norwegian-speaking bilingual character. I used a language-learning app for an introduction to the basic grammar and spent a lot of time swimming in online English-Norwegian dictionaries and translation apps to develop her speech patterns and phrasing. I also checked in with a friend and native speaker from Norway, who helped with idioms and vetted my Norwegian usage!
One of the great rewards of this book is in seeing how the theme emerged in the telling. All glory to God!
What do you hope readers will take away from the book?
There are a lot of threads throughout this novel—maybe too many, ha! I’m praying that God uses this book as He wills, and I believe different readers will focus on the ideas that interact with their own faith journeys. I do hope, however, that every reader enjoys the fun of trying to guess the story’s mystery: whose bones are they, anyway?!
Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions. Before you go, where can readers follow along to see what’s coming next?
The best way to keep in touch is through my reader newsletter. You can sign up here: http://eepurl.com/dwc68j. I share about my writing, occasional sales and giveaways, and cute kitty updates!
Thank you for having me!
Tour Giveaway
(3) winners will win a signed, print copy of Like Honey for the Bones and $25 VISA gift card!
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight July 24, 2023 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on July 31, 2023. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
Great interview! This looks really good.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great story.
ReplyDeleteThe cover is very beautiful.
ReplyDeleteLove the Q & A. Sounds good.
ReplyDeletegreat interview! thank you for being on the tour :)
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a great book! Deff added to my tbr!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your interview, bio and book details, I have enjoyed reading about you and your work and I am looking forward to reading your story
ReplyDelete