Welcome

Welcome to my website! I hope you’ll stay awhile and browse the pages, particularly the Newsletter page, which is chockfull of information for readers and writers—a “new” letter four times a year. In addition to the current issue, you’ll find Archives that include all back issues.

My newest novel, Song of the Heart (2008) was originally titled The Locket, but during publication the title was changed. It’s a good change, reflecting two things that deeply affect the plot—music, and the pictures inside the locket. Like the other three novels, it’s a “search” story, this time a search for a lost love. In Vanished, the search is for a young man who disappeared during World War II; in Chain of Deception it is for a missing family; in Discovery In Time, it is for a missing child. In all of my novels I promise an ending that is upbeat and satisfying. There’s a tiny surprise in Song of the Heart, which you will discover near the end of the book, a link to Chain of Deception. I think you’ll find it endearing!

Vanished is finding great success with male readers, probably because of the military theme. Now I’ll tell you something I have not mentioned before: Like Kelly, my heroine, I also found a box of old letters. They were written by my father to my mother during World War II, and they inspired me to choose a military setting for this novel. Kelly’s letters are not my letters, and her story is not my story. That’s part of the fun in writing fiction—inspiration can come from many sources; the story is entirely “made up.” Where do I get my ideas? Everywhere!

The cover of Chain of Deception depicts the typical Irish countryside—very green, absolutely lovely. I’ve made three trips to that beautiful country, and each time it has captured my heart completely. I hope that after reading this book, you, too, will be enchanted and want to visit. Bob Dixon has once again created beautiful illustrations to enhance the story. My personal favorite is his drawing of someone discovered at Reilly Castle … well, I can’t tell you who it is and spoil the story, now can I?

The tree on the cover of Discovery In Time is The Big Oak, a 322-year-old liveoak in downtown Thomasville, Georgia. It is held in such esteem that it has its own doctor; and, there are stiff fines for vehicles that nick its branches. The cover-artist, Bob Dixon, also has drawn five illustrations that appear within the pages of the book. (Look for more about Bob on the Biography Page.)

Am I working on another novel? Oh, yes! Currently titled The Long Road Home (and I hope this title “sticks” because it‘s perfect!), this book takes us back to Ireland, this time during the 1800s and the Great Potato Famine, when so many displaced Irish emigrated to America. However, the story is anchored in the present day, as its heroine, Rachel Wynn, travels back and forth in time. Someone once asked me which of my novels is my favorite. My answer is always the same, “The one I’m working on, of course!”

I do enjoy hearing from my readers. If you’d like to send me a note, the address is: janet@janetlitherland.com.