Blurbs are very much on my mind these days, as my forthcoming book THE ARCTIC FURY is out with a few key authors who are reading way-early advance copies in order to decide if they like it enough to blurb. Fingers crossed, right? I always advise first-time authors who aren’t sure about asking strangers to blurb that there is absolutely no harm in asking. I’ve encountered so many new-to-me authors when they or their publishers asked if I’d consider blurbing their books.

That’s how I first became familiar with the work of today’s guest, Kristy Cambron—reading and loving an early copy of her novel THE ILLUSIONIST’S APPRENTICE. (If you enjoyed my debut, THE MAGICIAN’S LIE, definitely take a look at this one!)

KRISTY CAMBRON is a vintage-inspired storyteller writing both award-winning historical fiction, including her bestselling debut THE BUTTERFLY AND THE VIOLIN, and nonfiction, including the Verse Mapping series of Bibles and Bible studies. Her work has been named to Publishers Weekly Religion & Spirituality TOP 10, Library Journal Reviews' Best Books, RT Reviewers' Choice Awards, received 2015 & 2017 INSPY Award nominations, and has been featured at CBN, Lifeway Women, Jesus Calling, Country Woman Magazine, MICI Magazine, Faithwire, (in)Courage, and Bible Gateway.

Kristy holds a degree in Art History/Research Writing and lives in Indiana with her husband and three sons, where she can probably be bribed with a peppermint mocha latte and a good read.

Kristy’s recommendation for #read99women: “I was invited by a publishing colleague to advance read Patti Callahan's BECOMING MRS. LEWIS, the true-to-life love story of Joy Davidman and C.S. Lewis.

This was as stunning a novel as any I'd ever read. This book became a friend with the turn of each page. Even as I stood in line at the airport for my own season of travels, it gripped me and I couldn't put it down. I later wrote that it was: ‘Intelligent. Witty and charming. BECOMING MRS. LEWIS is a stunning foray into the wilds of faith—from doubt and discovery, to the great adventure of living it out. Patti Callahan’s invitation into Joy and Jack’s love story is as brilliant as the lives they led. I’m left as spellbound as the first time I met Aslan... with these characters now just as dear.’

If I've recommended novels by women, for women, in the last few years, this one has been (and still is) on the top of my list.”