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Featured Author of the Week
Lori Soard
Lori lives in a small town in Southern Indiana, where she crafts Christian romances and cozy mysteries. Kentuckiana Authors Who are you? Who? Who? Who? Who? I’m Lori Soard, a small-town romance author who lives in Henryville, Indiana — where the sweet tea flows, the porches creak just right, and people know more about you than you know about yourself. I’ve worn a lot of hats over the years: author, editor, designer, homeschool mom, and amateur chef. At the heart of everything I do is storytelling — especially tales about faith, second chances, and falling in love in the kind of town where everybody knows your name and has your back. Who are you and where did you come from? I’m a born and bred Hoosier. I’ve always had one foot in the real world and the other in a storybook. Even as a little girl, I’d scribble out stories in my journals, dreaming up characters who lived in quaint towns where matchmakers meet at the diner and miracles sometimes bloom in the garden. I never really left that world. I just put it into words. Obviously, you’re a writer, what is the name of your latest book and the general plot? My latest book is Dandelion Serenade, book #4 in the Dogwood Creek Matchmakers series. It’s a Christian small-town romance set in the Smoky Mountains and full of faith, second chances, and the kind of love that overcomes anything. It follows Lauren Juniper, a florist with a gift for helping people through flowers, and Nathan Brickner, her childhood best friend who returns home to replace the town’s historic bridge. There's tension, history, dandelion wish, and a group of matchmakers who take their job very seriously. Where did you come up with the idea? My dear friend, JoAnn Durgin, and I wanted to do a multiple author series. We met a couple of times and brainstormed, coming up with the town, the matchmakers and the basic premise of the series. Something that I love about this series is that we each came to the table with authors we wanted to invite. We prayed about who to include. You know when God is in something, because it just flows. We asked our top picks and every single one said yes. That’s unheard of with any project. We’ve felt from the start that each author is meant to be in the series and that God has a purpose for every single story. Which of your characters do you like the most and why? That’s like asking which pie is best at the church potluck — they’re all good for different reasons! But if I had to choose, it’d be Lauren. She’s resilient, kind, and she’s perfectly okay on her own. I come from a long line of fierce women. Lauren reminds me of several of them. Love is a bonus but she’s also going to be just fine if it’s only her. Plus, she’s not afraid to stand up for what she thinks is important. Which one do you hate the most and why? Hate is a pretty strong word. I do have a bone to pick with one of the characters from Meringue Melody. She’s inspired by the “sea witch” figure (minus the witch part) in my Little Mermaid–inspired Christian historical romance, and let’s just say she’s the type who’d steal your voice and blame it on your jewelry. You’re stranded on an island, and you are granted three things: An iPod with only three songs loaded — what are they? 1. “Bring on the Rain” by Jo Dee Messina as a nod to the strong women in my life 2. “You Say” by Lauren Daigle to remind me Whose I am 3. “9 to 5” by Dolly Parton because I love her and you need a good, strong beat to dance around to A book with the last chapter missing — what is it and who wrote it? Allegiant by Veronica Roth. Hear me out. LOVED the series. HATED that she killed off Tris. The series is essentially a love story and you just don’t DO that. You don’t kill the hero or heroine. I was so angry that I rewrote the ending anyway. I also swore off ever reading another book of hers, although, I will admit she inspired a whole lot of emotion in me over that. LOL A lunchbox with a sandwich and a full thermos — what are they? Ham and Swiss with a thermos of sweet tea. The lunchbox probably has flowers on it because I like pretty things. What is the biggest mistake you have made in your life? Not writing or publishing mistake – any mistake. Even if it happened in 3rd grade, I wanna know about it. I feel like I didn’t see other people hurting as a teen. In the last decade, I’ve chatted with friends form high school. One I love dearly. We went through school together from elementary to graduation day. I never realized she felt so utterly alone while we were in high school. It was a big school. I just didn’t know because I would have made sure she didn’t feel that way. At the same time, why didn’t I SEE it? I really wish I had. The other girl was in my friend group but told me she HATED high school because people were mean to her. Again, I had no idea. I would have stood up for her. Again, why didn’t I SEE it? I do believe I’ve grown over the years and am much more likely to notice if someone is struggling or feeling sad. No one should ever feel alone. What would you do for a Klondike bar? Not much. I don’t particularly like chocolate. Now, give me something sour, like a slice of lemon cake and there is no telling what I might do. You’re still stranded on that island and two people show up, the character you love the most, and the one you hate the most, and they both know what you said about them. What do you do? First, I’d probably be happy to have people to help me build a boat to escape the island, even if one of them is giving me hateful looks and probably plotting a takeover of my coconut stash. I'd call a truce and remind the villain about the redeeming qualities I shared that every character has room for growth—even my villain. But, honestly? I’m keeping Lauren by my side to pick flowers and talk about girl stuff while I send the sea “witch” off to scope out the other side of the island. Flash round favorites: Color: Pink and purple Sound: My grandchildren laughing Season: Summer Animal: Dachshund Smell: Roses Food: Pizza Place to visit: Italy Place to live: Right where I am. Indiana is home. Movie: Beauty and the Beast (books, love, a strong heroine) Alien: Alf Number: 7 Writing spot: My back room with a view of the woods Texture: Soft fuzzy blankets Planet: Earth—I rather like it And last of all, favorite memory: My granddaughter being born on Mother’s Day and again another one born in October a few years later. There is nothing quite as wonderful as being Nana to these two girls. My husband says we should have skipped kids and went right to the grandkids. LOL Anything else you would like to add? If you love small-town stories with heart, humor, and a dusting of grace, I’d love to welcome you to my world. You can find my books on my website (https://lorisoard.com) and follow me on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. And if you ever visit Henryville, wave hello — I’ll be the one sipping sweet tea on the porch, plotting my next story.
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August 2026
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Sara Goodwin
Who are you? Who? Who? Who? Who? Who are you and where did you come from? - Who am I? I’m 2-4-6-0 … oh, wait. No one asked for musical theater kid theatrics. I suppose I should try to be normal. Ok. I’m Sara Goodwin, I’m a writer, and a person writing a dissertation, and a full-time university employee, and a part time rare books library archival researcher, and a part time jewelry maker and faire/convention vendor. … and so Javert, you see it’s true, this man bears no more guilt than youuuu! Who am I? Who am I? I’m Jean ValJean! I lied. No one asks for musical theater kid theatrics. We take what we can get, unsolicited. Obviously, you’re a writer, what is the name of your book and the general plot? Where did you come up with the idea? - I have two books. The first one is called, “Evergreen: A Dryad’s Tale and Other Short Stories.” It’s a book of original fairytales. Four short stories, one for each season, and the title story, Evergreen, is novella length and is about a dryad named Evergreen and the human who plays his guitar under her tree. The fairytales book has been used twice so far in an IU fairytales class. I was on a syllabus! - The second book is my first novel. It is part one of the Raise the Atalanta series, and is called From the Wreckage. The basic description: Steampunk inspired, found family, treasure hunting, good guys against bad guys but things get a little gray, definitely some characters who aren’t exactly straight, airships, legends, airplanes, boats and more! Which of your characters do you like the most and why? - Oh, man. Come on! How is this fair? Okay, my fave is Danae Chevalier and she’s introduced in book one, From the Wreckage. My girl Danae is a conflicted mess and she’s also a total badass. No spoilers. Come love her with me. Which one do you hate the most and why? - I don’t hate any of them. My major villain, and I’m not spoilering this with the name, is a huge jerk and I hate him but I’m also proud that I made him. I’m his mama and he’s my trashcan son. You’re stranded on an island, and you are granted three things; An IPod with only three songs loaded, what is it? - Warrior of the Mind from Epic the Musical. I can’t get enough. I have an actual problem. - Bohemian Rhapsody because yes. - The 1812 Overture because I love me some Tchaikovsky and I never want to forget in all of my time imprisoned on an island like Odysseus in the Odyssey on Calypso’s island (I told you the Epic the Musical brainrot has a hold on me!) that there was no normal percussion badass enough to emulate the cannon effects that were required so they just used actual cannons. A book with the last chapter missing, what is it and who wrote it? - You mean, something I don’t want to know the end of or want to decide that ending didn’t happen and it stops in the happy place? Like how I watch the movie Moulin Rouge and stop before the bad things happened? I don’t know. Pretty much any book that ends rough, I guess. And a lunchbox with a sandwich and a full thermos, yummy, what kind of sandwich and drink would you appreciate? - My ideal lunchbox contains a thermos of creamy mac and cheese, peanut butter crackers, sliced kiwi fruit, and a little container of pickles. What is the biggest mistake you have made in your life? Not writing or publishing mistake – any mistake. Even if it happened in 3rd grade, I wanna know about it. - Ok. Wow. Would you like a tale of accidental cannibalism? Yes? So, I was like 22 or so, visiting my great aunt on vacation in California, and she took me to Bodega Bay. Super cool place. Like many old ladies, she got her hair did once a week whether it needed it or not, and she did not want to walk out onto the dock with me in the wind but she was like, “Go on, have fun!” I went on. Tried to have fun. The wind was nuts. A family was out on the dock (this dock is looooong, by the way) and they were feeding something in the water. I’m like, “Oh, yay! Wildlife! Let’s have a look! Am in in for sea lions? Dolphins? Weird fish? I’m so in!” So, I approach. But then, I realize … they are dumping grandma’s ashes and everybody’s having a scoop with their fingers and tossing it in the water. Holy shit. I am intruding on a private moment and I need to GTFO of here, stat! My jaw drops in the realization that these poor people are just trying to release grandma’s earthly form into the ocean, but … wind. The wind blows somebody else’s grandma ash into my open mouth. It’s gritty and awful and I want to join grandma’s grit in the ocean. I look back and my great aunt is waving frantically and calling to me. She had realized what was happening and was trying to call me back, but it was too windy to hear her. She saw what happened. She saw it go in. I scurry back to the car, grossed out and panicking and she’s like, “Get in. We’ve got to get you to Popeye’s for a biscuit and a Coke!” So, the official folk remedy for accidental cannibalism is a biscuit and a Coke from Popeye’s. You’re welcome. Glad to become the face of Popeye’s should they choose to embrace their status as official anti-venin for accidentally consumed somebody else’s grandma ash. What would you do for a Klondike bar? - After the afore mentioned story, I would NOT commit accidental cannibalism. Or purposeful. I’d have given just about anything for a Klondike bar to erase the nasty from my mouth. You’re still stranded on that island and two people show up, the character you love the most, and the one you hate the most, and they both know what you said about them. What do you do? - Oooh, my own fictional characters? I’d tell Danae to get therapy and that killing the transgressors will not fix her brain. I’d tell the other guy to go ahead and light himself on fire because he’s going to get his. Flash round favorites: Color: Green, but also red, really. Sound: Musical theater. Just kidding. Like, a nature sound? I’ll have thunderbolts and lightning, please. Season: I’m a fall person. Rusty colored things and cooler temps make me haaaapppy! Animal: Kitty cats. Come on. Kitty cats. Smell: I used to take walks in a neighborhood with a friend and we’d always catch a whiff of magnolia tree and burning cedar wood. The combination was absolutely heavenly. Food: Garlic. All garlic all the time. Also, pickles and feta cheese. Place to visit: Coolest place I’ve ever been? Italy. I wanna go back. Place to live: I did live in Italy for one study abroad summer, so yes. That. Movie: Lord of the Rings trilogy. I cosplay Galadriel. I’m a super nerd who read and enjoyed the Silmarillion. I want a LOTR tatoo. Alien: Like, and individual? Like Alf or Stitch or something? I’m going to choose the blue alien opera singer from the Fifth Element. Plava Laguna, right? Her. Number: 7. Why not? Writing spot: Home, or some computer lab on campus. Texture: Are we talking mouthfeel (you’re welcome) or fabric feel? Let’s choose fabric because “mouthfeel” is a truly awful word. Velvet and silk. Satin is good too. I wanna slide right off the furniture because I’m slick like a seal. Planet: The only one I’ve been to is Earth, but … of our own solar system, I’d like to learn more about Neptune. Such a weird little loner of a planet. What are you up to, my little fellow? Fictional planets? Not Tattooine. Sand gets everywhere. Hmm, let’s have … Naboo? Pretty up top with a thriving underwater society below? Seems cool. And last of all, favorite memory: Yikes. Not the accidental cannibalism one. That one’s kinda the worst. How about … my memories of the travel I’ve done? I’ve been to Italy, Ireland, England, Northern Ireland, the Dominican Republic, and the Bahamas. My travel memories are a big deal to me. Anything else you would like to add? - Oh, I feel like I’ve covered things probably a bit too thoroughly. I’m good. No, wait. I should add that I love dressing up as characters from things I like. I like to cosplay. And I’m not a full vegetarian, but I prefer meat substitutes to actual meat. I like to sing in the car. Mostly musical theater stuff. My favorite Queen song is actually Don’t Stop Me Now. I play violin but haven’t picked it up much since 2020.
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