In 1788, Aria Stonewood is chased from her home in the New England colonies after being accused
Hiding a secret, Aria travels west deep into the north-woods of the Minnesota territory. She seeks shelter at a French trading post that is run by a former priest and meets Francois Marcks; both of whom distrust her and do not want her staying there. But with the dangers of winter coming they have no choice but to reluctantly let her stay unaware of what the coming winter will bring to their door.
About the Author:
Growing up in Northwestern Minnesota, Emily spent the long winter days dreaming and creating stories. She loves the mild summers and cold, wind swept state so much that she incorporates the landscape and small towns into her stories. A life-long book dragon, Emily is fulfilling her dream by writing novels.
Author Interview (via SLB)
1. Who or what inspired you to become an author?
I was raised with a family of avid readers and storytellers, Momma, Mimmie (Grandma) and Pappaw (Grandpa) always seems to have a book hidden somewhere close by just in case. I followed in their footsteps. Though the person who inspired me the most is Momma. She always encouraged creative thinking and writing. After all she did name me after three of her favorite writer’s: Emily Bronte, Anne Bronte, and Emily Dickerson. Perhaps she knew something even back then.
I was raised with a family of avid readers and storytellers, Momma, Mimmie (Grandma) and Pappaw (Grandpa) always seems to have a book hidden somewhere close by just in case. I followed in their footsteps. Though the person who inspired me the most is Momma. She always encouraged creative thinking and writing. After all she did name me after three of her favorite writer’s: Emily Bronte, Anne Bronte, and Emily Dickerson. Perhaps she knew something even back then.
2. When did you first start writing? When was your first novel published compared to when you first started writing?
According to family member’s I have always been able to create elaborate tales at a moment’s notice. I wrote my first story when I was in second grade in my school notebook instead of doing the assignments. My first book was not published until 2016, A Whippoorwills Song, which is still available. So, I spent quite a few years, practicing my writing with several unfinished or poorly told stories safely hidden away and reading anything I could get my hands on.
According to family member’s I have always been able to create elaborate tales at a moment’s notice. I wrote my first story when I was in second grade in my school notebook instead of doing the assignments. My first book was not published until 2016, A Whippoorwills Song, which is still available. So, I spent quite a few years, practicing my writing with several unfinished or poorly told stories safely hidden away and reading anything I could get my hands on.
3. How do you deal with publisher rejection letters?
As an Indie author this is not something I’ve had to deal with much. I did start out wanting to be traditionally published. Even sent my first novel to several publisher’s and got rejected by all of them. How’s the saying go ‘when one door closes, you open a window. That is what I did, when tradition publishing didn’t work out of me, I turned toward indie-publishing and so far it has worked out fine for me.
As an Indie author this is not something I’ve had to deal with much. I did start out wanting to be traditionally published. Even sent my first novel to several publisher’s and got rejected by all of them. How’s the saying go ‘when one door closes, you open a window. That is what I did, when tradition publishing didn’t work out of me, I turned toward indie-publishing and so far it has worked out fine for me.
4. What authors would you recommend to your fellow readers?
Oh, my giddy aunt. I have SO many favorite’s that I enjoy reading that it would be a very long list. My top 10 that I would recommend in a heartbeat, since I’ve read all or at least most of their books would be (in no particular order): Jody Hedlund, Melanie Dickerson, Mary Lu Tyndall, Cathy Marie Hake, Mary Connealy, Jen Turano, Karen Witemeyer, Regina Jennings, Tracie Peterson, and Tessa Afshar.
Oh, my giddy aunt. I have SO many favorite’s that I enjoy reading that it would be a very long list. My top 10 that I would recommend in a heartbeat, since I’ve read all or at least most of their books would be (in no particular order): Jody Hedlund, Melanie Dickerson, Mary Lu Tyndall, Cathy Marie Hake, Mary Connealy, Jen Turano, Karen Witemeyer, Regina Jennings, Tracie Peterson, and Tessa Afshar.
5. What does “a day in the life of Author Emily Yager” look like?
My day starts with a cup of coffee with butter in it, then spend the rest of the morning catching up on everything, phone calls, mail, email, social media, Family, housekeeping (sometimes), and time with my dog. Then after lunch It try and leave most of my afternoons flexible to be able to hang out with family or going places, occasionally writing or research. After supper, is my main writing time. I tend to write late into the night. It’s not uncommon that I am up until one or two (sometimes later or would it be earlier?) in the morning. That’s an overview of a typical day for me.
My day starts with a cup of coffee with butter in it, then spend the rest of the morning catching up on everything, phone calls, mail, email, social media, Family, housekeeping (sometimes), and time with my dog. Then after lunch It try and leave most of my afternoons flexible to be able to hang out with family or going places, occasionally writing or research. After supper, is my main writing time. I tend to write late into the night. It’s not uncommon that I am up until one or two (sometimes later or would it be earlier?) in the morning. That’s an overview of a typical day for me.
6. When you are not writing, what hobbies do you enjoy?
Besides reading, I enjoy cooking and/or baking, arts and crafty things like drawing, crocheting, scrapbooking, cardmaking, sewing and quilting. I love music, whether it be listening to it, singing, playing an instrument (or try to). I play several instruments including piano, banjo, ukulele, penny whistle, and bodhran. Other hobbies I enjoy are gardening, hiking, canoeing, and archery.
Besides reading, I enjoy cooking and/or baking, arts and crafty things like drawing, crocheting, scrapbooking, cardmaking, sewing and quilting. I love music, whether it be listening to it, singing, playing an instrument (or try to). I play several instruments including piano, banjo, ukulele, penny whistle, and bodhran. Other hobbies I enjoy are gardening, hiking, canoeing, and archery.
7. What inspired the idea for Chasing the Hunter?
As a history geek, I love learning about the history of Northern Minnesota (where I grew up and currently live) I saw this exhibit on the French Fur Traders in Minnesota and the thought hit me: I have never seen nor read a book about the fur traders that wasn’t a documentary, essay, or a dry factual history book. I even Googled the topic to prove it. So, I told myself that I would be the one to change that and since I love canoeing and drifting down the river it just made sense.
As a history geek, I love learning about the history of Northern Minnesota (where I grew up and currently live) I saw this exhibit on the French Fur Traders in Minnesota and the thought hit me: I have never seen nor read a book about the fur traders that wasn’t a documentary, essay, or a dry factual history book. I even Googled the topic to prove it. So, I told myself that I would be the one to change that and since I love canoeing and drifting down the river it just made sense.
8. What did you as an author take away from writing Chasing the Hunter?
I think the biggest thing that I learned or at least relearned while writing this book was to be more forgiving and to be willing give people the benefit of doubt when something bad happens or something from their past comes up. Because we don’t always know what happen to a person in the past or what caused them to do what they did. That it is something that, as a Christian especially, we need reminded of from time to time. I know I certainly do.
9. What is your current WIP? What can you tell us about it?I just finished book two in the Pursuing Voyageurs series “Coaxing the Clerk” which will be released in mid- October. And I am about half-way through writing book three in the series “Catching the Nor’wester” They continue to showcase the difficult life that the Fur Traders endured as they lived and working in the Northwoods. Each book is about a different ‘couple’ and their own struggles. Book two feature’s Allis and Stefan’s story, book three is about Calliope and Etienne’s. Beyond that I can’t really say anything else yet.
I think the biggest thing that I learned or at least relearned while writing this book was to be more forgiving and to be willing give people the benefit of doubt when something bad happens or something from their past comes up. Because we don’t always know what happen to a person in the past or what caused them to do what they did. That it is something that, as a Christian especially, we need reminded of from time to time. I know I certainly do.
9. What is your current WIP? What can you tell us about it?I just finished book two in the Pursuing Voyageurs series “Coaxing the Clerk” which will be released in mid- October. And I am about half-way through writing book three in the series “Catching the Nor’wester” They continue to showcase the difficult life that the Fur Traders endured as they lived and working in the Northwoods. Each book is about a different ‘couple’ and their own struggles. Book two feature’s Allis and Stefan’s story, book three is about Calliope and Etienne’s. Beyond that I can’t really say anything else yet.
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