Friday, December 15, 2023

Recommended Books For Christmas Gifts By Bestselling Author Donna Fletcher Crow - New Releases, Jane Austen, Kishanda Fulford And More


Crow writes meticulously researched, entertaining novels of romance, history, adventure and mystery in an engaging you-are-there style that allows readers to live the history. Reviewers have compared her work with PD James, Dan Brown and Barbara Pym.

Award winning author Donna Fletcher Crow just released her recommendations for the best books for Christmas gifts. In a post on her site, she stated in part:

It should be easy, shouldn’t it? Everyone knows books make great gifts, so that should be all you need to know for your friend who loves to read. Right?

Wrong. Choosing the right gift for a booklover can be one of the trickiest challenges of the season.

As Oliver Darkshire warns in his delightful book Once Upon a Tome, The Misadventures of a Rare Bookseller: 'Purchasing a book for someone isn’t like running to the shop and picking up a box of decorative soaps, or a bottle of wine. You can’t just take a stab in the dark and hope for the best. In the best-case scenario, a well-chosen book shows just how intimately you know a person, their interests, their politics…their very sense of self. In the worst case, it can show that you barely have any interest in who they are.'

Of course, one concern in choosing a gift for an avid reader is finding a book they haven't already read. Fortunately, I have a new title out this month, so I have a ready offering I know my friends won’t have read yet. 'Going There, Tales from the Riviera and Beyond' even offers a special full-color, hardback gift edition for the special someone who loves to travel, likes mystery stories, and and perhaps just happens to be a Francophile.

Other recommendations offered by Crow:

"For those who love history I also have a special collection of Christmas short stories based on scenes from my various historical series: 'A Lighted Lamp, Scenes of Christmas Through Time.'

"For those who love history and true stories of strong women Kishanda Fulford’s extensively researched book 'The Spite of Fortune', is an account of her husband’s ancestress, the intrepid 18th-Century Heiress Louisa Carolina Colleton.

"And for the Jane Austen lovers on your list, especially those fans of the wonderful Sanditon television series, there is 'Sanditon', as rewritten by Kate Riorden with a foreword by Andrew Davies for the television version."

The full text of the piece with more recommendations is available at Crow's website at https://donnafletchercrow.com/p/507/Christmas-Shopping-for-Booklovers-New-Releases-Jane-Austen-Kishanda-Fulford-and-More.

Crow said in a recent interview, "I love giving books because I know I'm giving so much more than just an object. I'm giving that friend an experience. Books expand our experience, they take us to places we've never been before, or let us revisit favorite locations on the map or in our minds. Books give us valuable information or provide a much-needed distraction. And as has been pointed out before, they are not-fattening. What could possibly make a better gift?"

Donna Fletcher Crow is the author of 50 books, mostly novels of British history. She has taken a number of high-level industry awards for her work. Many of her books have been bestsellers in their categories, including 'A Most Inconvenient Death', which achieved #1 bestseller status in Christian Suspense. 'The Fields of Bannockburn', the epic from which The Celtic Cross Series, Part I: Scotland, The Struggle for a Nation is based, was listed as Fiction Bestseller by Christian Book Distributors and 'The Banks of the Boyne', the epic from which The Celtic Cross Series, Part II: Ireland, The Pursuit of Peace is based, hit #3 Best-Selling Fiction.

Her latest release is, 'Going There, Tales from the Riviera and Beyond'. In the summer of 2021 amidst a world-wide pandemic, Donna, her daughter-in-law, and granddaughter managed to slip through a narrow window of calm for a remarkable journey to France and Switzerland. And much to Donna’s surprise and delight, she was accompanied on the undertaking by characters from her mystery series—who had adventures of their own. This book, scheduled to be available December 1, 2023, is an account of a memorable travel experience in the real world and the fictional. It takes the reader to places physical and imaginary.

The 10-volume Celtic Cross series covers the history of Scotland and Ireland. The leading historic figures of the day interact with fictional characters to bring the stirring events alive. Each epoch is tied to the series with the on-going events in the lives of modern young people as old wars and current conflicts keep them striving to find answers that provide hope for the future. The series is comprised of 10 novels. ‘The Keeper of the Stone,’ book 1 in the series was #1 on Amazon for Historical Scottish fiction.

The Daughters of Courage, 'Kathryn', 'Elizabeth' and 'Stephanie' is a pioneer family saga based on the stories of Crow's own family and other Idaho pioneers in the Kuna, Nampa and Boise area.

'Glastonbury' is her best-known book, which received the prestigious First Place, Historical Novel, award from the National Federation of Press Women. Readers and reviewers have raved about 'Glastonbury', calling it "The best of its kind," "richly fascinating," "beautifully researched," "gloriously evocative," and "panoramic." One Amazon reader said, "WHAT a work! Every reader can be enveloped in the sheer scope and quality, every historian be constantly nodding at the precise detail and accuracy, and every Christian can rejoice in the fullness of scripture. For me it is simply beyond descriptive praise. I would urge all who value truth to treat themselves to a feast."

The Elizabeth & Richard Mysteries is a literary suspense series using literary figures as background: Rudyard Kipling in 'The Flame Ignites', Dorothy L Sayers in 'The Shadow of Reality', Shakespeare in 'A Midsummer Eve's Nightmare', and Jane Austen in both 'A Jane Austen Encounter' and 'A Most Singular Venture'. Watch for 'A Prodigious Sum of Corpses: Seeking Sanditon at Jane Austen’s Seashore', which will take readers to all of Austen’s favorite seashore resorts. Accounts of Crow’s visits to these sites are available on her blog under the heading "Jane Austen Seashore Tour."

The Monastery Murders Series features atmospheric contemporary crimes with their roots buried deep in the middle ages. Books in the series include 'A Very Private Grave', 'A Darkly Hidden Truth', 'An Unholy Communion', 'A Newly Crimsoned Reliquary', 'An All-Consuming Fire' and the newly-released 'Against All Fierce Hostility.'

Where There is Love is a 6-book series of the enduring legacy of love and faith all based on historic people and events. The titles are: 'Where Love Begins', 'Where Love Illumines', 'Where Love Triumphs', 'Where Love Restores', 'Where Love Shines', and 'Where Love Calls'.

The Lord Danvers Victorian true-crime series is an Amazon bestseller in the British Detectives category. Books in the series include 'A Lethal Spectre', 'A Most Inconvenient Death', 'Grave Matters', 'To Dust You Shall Return' and 'A Tincture of Murder'. Donna provides a no-charge download of 'A Tincture of Murder' for those who sign up for her newsletter. More information is available at her website.

Donna Fletcher Crow's awards include:

The Dawning Of Peace, of Dreamers and Designers, Book Excellence Award 2023
Where Love Begins, Best Historical Romance, Pinnacle Awards 2019
A Lethal Spectre, Best Mystery, Pinnacle Awards, 2019
Glastonbury, First Place, Historical Fiction, National Federation of Press Women Award of Merit
The Banks of the Boyne, Silver Angel; First Place Historical Fiction, National Federation Press Women
The Fields of Bannockburn, First Place Historical Fiction, National Federation Press Women
Professional Achievement Award, Northwest Nazarene College
Juvenile Books Award of Merit, Idaho Press Women
Top Idaho Author
Pacesetter Award, Mt. Hermon Writers Conference
Outstanding Historical Fiction, Idaho Press Women, National Federation of Press Women,
Idaho Writer of the Year
Best Inspirational Novel, Finalist Romance Writers of America
Writer of the Year, Mt. Hermon Writers Conference

Donna is available for media interviews and can be reached by email at donna@donnafletchercrow.com. All of her books are available at online book retailers. More information, including a no-charge download of 'A Tincture of Murder', is available at her website at https://www.donnafletchercrow.com.

About Donna Fletcher Crow:


Donna and her husband live in Boise, Idaho. They have 4 adult children and 15 grandchildren living on 3 continents. Donna is a former English literature teacher and lifelong Anglophile. Idahoans with long memories will remember her as a former Queen of the Snake River Stampede, Miss Rodeo Idaho and runner-up for Miss Rodeo America. She is an enthusiastic gardener.

Contact:

Donna Fletcher Crow

donna@donnafletchercrow.com

https://www.donnafletchercrow.com