About the Book
Book: Chasing the Blue Boat: A Novel of Longing
Author: Connie Kallback
Genre: Historical Coming of Age
Release Date: November 26, 2024
Nine-year-old Dana Foster will follow her older brother, Luke, wherever he goes. From climbing on ledges, jumping in a fish pond, and causing general mischief, Luke is fearless. But when tragedy strikes the Foster family, everything that Dana has ever known is suddenly turned upside down. When the storms of life come, will the Foster family stand firm in their faith? Or will they shatter under the pressure? Suddenly, a blue boat that Dana and Luke received from their uncle leads Dana on a journey of faith, hope, and love that she will not soon forget.
In this coming-of-age story, discover the truths of God’s grace in suffering, the blessing of forgiveness, and how to hold on to your faith when all hope seems lost.
Click here to get your copy!
About the Author
Connie Kallback grew up on the plains of Cheyenne, Wyoming, attended the University of Wyoming, and graduated from the University of Washington in Seattle. She transitioned from English teacher to publishing in New Jersey with CCMI/McGraw-Hill, Prentice Hall, and CPP, Inc, in positions from writer to acquisitions and managing editor. Her early writing, penned while teaching, appeared in magazines, newspapers and literary journals. No longer wearing the hats of Mary Poppins or Sherlock Holmes, necessities of raising six children in two separate families, she writes in South Carolina where she lives with her husband.
More from Connie
The idea for Chasing the Blue Boat began with the memory of a dangerous escapade from my early childhood years. The thought of it scares me to this day.
I grew up in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and lived one block from the Wyoming State Capitol Building. One day I followed my older brother there, up nearly 20 steps from the ground to the grand side entrance with giant doors flanked by a waist-high wall and soaring support columns. We scaled the wall close to the building and placed our feet on an architectural ledge that circled the entire structure. Hoping to follow it all the way around, we began to sidle sideways, hugging the stone.
I remember being scared, but my unrealistic stage of thinking made me hope the grass would break my fall!
We made it around the first corner – I don’t know how – and continued along the front until a woman in an office inside spotted me. Knowing we shouldn’t be there, we reversed our steps and ran home.
That’s how the fictional coming-of-age story begins. Dana, the young girl, joins her brother in many adventures before a tragedy changes her whole family and sends each of them on separate journeys of suffering, accompanied by hope and forgiveness.
Interview with the Author
- What literary pilgrimages have you gone on?
Years ago, my husband and I abruptly changed our vacation plans because a travel agent suggested we could fly for less to England and back than across the U.S. With little time to plan what to do there, we flew to London.
One day we decided to take the train to Cambridge because I was an English major in college and taught English for a few years while my boys were growing up before I joined the publishing industry. On the train, I thought about all the authors I read who were educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, in another century. I was blessed by a kind woman on the train who loaned me a travel guide that noted the Wren Library was open only two hours a day for viewing. If we had wandered through the first buildings we encountered, the library would have been closed.
We found the library immediately where I viewed original works of Shakespeare, Sir Isaac Newton, Lord Alfred Tennyson, and more stored in glass-topped tables with dark covers to protect them from light. The best part for me? Rolling back a cover to read pages from George Gordon, Lord Byron in his handwriting, including an amazingly literary letter to his mother when he was eight years old! We imagined walking in his footsteps on the campus where he kept a bear to avoid a regulation against keeping a dog.
- What’s your favorite under-appreciated novel.
The Home Team by Dave Pratt introduces readers to Sam Anthem, a Home Team leader for the U.S. Government on worldwide secret missions. Without home or family, he has dedicated his life to service for his country. With his team, he rescues a missionary nurse, Consuelo, who has had to work with South American drug lords to provide medical help to people in need. She subsequently relocates to a community center in the Northwest U.S., but evil forces that find her, and Sam has to step in more than once.
Sam’s internal struggles force him to take a two-month hiatus. A former covert ops soldier, now pastor, befriends him as a much-needed mentor and guide. While Sam strengthens in his faith and ponders leaving the job for the possibility of love and a home, everything turns upside down. An unknown adversary attacks the Home Team, and Sam enters a battle of life or death, wondering if he has a future at all.
The author relies on his military experience, martial arts expertise, and faith to tell the story. It’s immediately obvious he knows his stuff. A definite good read that feels authentic.
- How do you select the names of your characters?
I avoid names of family or friends. No one needs to think I’m writing about them. Then I consider each name for sound and if it seems to fit the character. If there’s symbolism or other meaning regarding the name, as with Seth’s origins in the Bible, it’s all the better.
- Who is the author you most admire in your genre?
Ann Marie Stewart, author of Stars in the Grass (Christian fiction, coming of age), won a Christy Award for this novel in 2017. I was stunned when I read it because the main character is a nine-year-old girl like mine, mourning the death of a young brother and dealing with the reactions of her family in grieving for him. Dana, my main character, suffers from the loss of her only brother, who is older. She had joined him in all kinds of adventures, including some dangerous ones, and longed to be as brave and outspoken. My plot also extends to nearly four years and includes subplots, a touch of mystery, and new characters who are able to help with forgiveness. I had already written mine then but was still editing and hadn’t pursued publishing.
I highly recommend both books!
- If you could invite one person to dinner, who would it be and what would you cook?
Chris Fabry comes to mind. A prolific writer, radio personality, winner of the Carol Award and multiple Christy awards, he has expanded on his role as Christian fiction author by creating novelizations of movies, the reverse of movies that spring from novels. His first was The War Room. My most admired Christian movie, it is completely believable with superlative actors in authentic roles who encounter serious life problems while continuing to work every day like people in the real world. I’d be interested in hearing how his novelization process came about.
About the dinner: I eat to stay alive. That’s my number one reason for cooking. Beef burgundy comes to mind as the only presentable, delicious meal I know how to prepare for someone I want to get to know.
Blog Stops
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 1
Texas Book-aholic, November 2
Simple Harvest Reads, November 3 (Author Interview)
Inspired by Fiction, November 4
lakesidelivingsiste, November 4
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 5
Artistic Nobody, November 6 (Author Interview)
For Him and My Family, November 6
Becca Hope: Book Obsessed, November 7
Devoted To Hope, November 8
Guild Master, November 9 (Author Interview)
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 10
Fiction Book Lover, November 11 (Author Interview)
Blossoms and Blessings, November 12 (Author Interview)
Cover Lover Book Review, November 13
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, November 14 (Author Interview)
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Connie is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card and a copy of the book!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://promosimple.com/ps/3dc6b/chasing-the-blue-boat-a-novel-of-longing-celebration-tour-giveaway