April Kidwell crafts small-town romances rich in history and faith to strengthen the heart and reassure women of God’s enduring love.
Formally a teacher and youth minister, she retired from mainstream work to write full-time. When not writing, she’s on the lookout for the most romantic spots and best eateries in the Pacific Northwest. A native Oregonian—with roots traceable to pre-statehood—her happy place is at home on the high desert with family.
Her first novella, Next Christmas, released earlier this year and a follow-up novella, A Love for All Seasons, is scheduled to release in July 2022. Her Cascade Mountain Romance series is set in beautiful Central Oregon and features strong heroines named after the Three Sisters Mountains. These stories explore how God carries us, even when we can’t see where we are going. Connect with her on social media or sign-up for her newsletter to keep up-to-date on the publishing and release process.
Happy weekend to everyone in the Reader Room! I have a real treat for you today. April Kidwell is on the blog to talk about her life and work. Keep reading to find out more:
Welcome to the blog, April! It’s great to have you here. Why don’t we start at the beginning? Where did you grow up, and do you use this setting in your novels?
I grew up in Central Oregon, basically right in the center of the state. The Cascade mountains loom large to the West, the Ochocos rolling to the East, and high desert all around.
We can drive a couple hours in any direction and find some of nature’s most amazing sights—Smith Rock, Multnomah falls, Crater Lake, the Painted Desert, or the Oregon coast. At this point, all of my stories are set in Oregon because I love it so much.
I haven’t visited Oregon before, but it sounds like a beautiful and inspiring setting for your novels. Other than lovely settings, what else do you love about the genre in which you write?
The romance. And I don’t mean just the candlelight and flowers kind of romance. I focus on discovering how to love and show love to others. Each of us is uniquely designed and as such how we feel and share love is different. But ultimately it is knowing that God loves us first, so that we may love others that is pivotal in the best romances.
I completely agree with that and applaud you for exploring that in your writing. Seeing things through that spiritual lens deepens the story so much. Loving the genre in which we write can make the creative process go so much smoother, and it certainly helps when we stumble across the inevitable tough project. Which project of yours was the toughest to write? Why?
Book two of my Cascade Mountain Romance series. The story features a woman who was in an emotionally abusive marriage. She has taken the losses in her life and let them beat her into believing she is not worthy of love.
Her damaged self-image took some serious prayer and consideration to repair. Probably because it is my issue, too. How do we fully accept that we are lovable? Even in the end, she struggles.
I think it is such an important story, because even though she finds love (it is a romance), and she accepts God’s love for her, she doesn’t have it all figured out and still struggles on her bad days
That sounds like a compelling story and one from which readers will draw strength and comfort. Continuing along that line of thought, do you have any unfinished writing projects gathering dust in a drawer? Do you think you’ll ever try to publish them, or were they just part of the learning process?
I have a project I started while my husband was deployed fifteen years ago. It is a contemporary story with a historical thread. When I started writing it, there was no such thing as dual-time or split-time novels, so it was relegated to a drawer.
However, it’s not a typical split-time novel. In my story, the heroine is a historical romance author, writing a story that is parallel and instrumental to her self-discovery and growth. Add to that a haunted resort, a handsome resort owner, and a twenty-five-year-old murder. I’m thinking about pulling it out, dusting it off and see how it ends.
There just might be a way to bring this one back to life.
That sounds like an intriguing story. I hope it gets published someday because I know I’d love to read it! What hobbies do you have? Do you ever write about them in your books?
My son became an avid Disc Golf player during the quarantine life of 2020/2021. He bought a Disc Golf basket. In order to spend some mother/son time together, I started playing with him. I’m not the greatest, but I can enjoy the exercise and skill required to really play the game.
I like to include my hobbies in my stories. One of my upcoming novels, a young man with autism plays Disc Golf in the Special Olympics. In my novella that released this year, the couple likes to fly fish together (another hobby my son has encouraged me to do).
I love that you and your son can connect that way. Quality family time is such a blessing. Now, I know readers are chomping at the bit to learn more about your newest book release. Care to fill us in on some details?
The holiday novella, Next Christmas, released earlier this season. It’s a Hallmark-inspired, light romance. It’s not all Christmas, as it follows a couple through a year of holidays as they find their way to love.
Ginny Spencer believes she has found “the one.” He’s always been there for her—the best friend who advised, comforted, and helped her stay on the right path. Too bad she didn’t realize she loved him before he fell in love with someone else.
Ben Rutherford has loved Ginny since they met as kids. He’s been too afraid of stepping out of the friend zone to tell her. Now, it’s too late. She’s vibrant, determined, head-strong, and impulsive. So impulsive, she’s decided to meet and marry someone before next Christmas.
Can they surrender their heartaches and fears to the Lord in time to be honest with one another?
Thanks so much for joining us today, April. It’s been wonderful to have you on the blog! And your book sounds wonderful, a perfect read for the Christmas season. Thanks so much for sharing. If readers want to find you online, where should they look?
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Blessfulwritings/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blessfulwritings/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/blessfulwritings/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/aprilkidwell
Website: https://www.blessfulwritings.com
And Readers, there are several ways you can snag a copy of April’s books! You can receive a FREE copy by signing up for her newsletter, or you can purchase a copy on Amazon (link at the end of this post). Oh, and keep your eyes peeled for a giveaway that might be happening shortly on my Facebook author page.
Also, be watching for April’s upcoming July 2022 release, Love for All Seasons, A High Desert Romance.
Keep reading!
Shaen
*Featured image from Pexels.
2 comments
I enjoyed getting to know April in this interview. Thanks for sharing!
You’re welcome! Thanks for reading, Deena, and I hope you had a wonderful Christmas season 🙂
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