With our country preparing to celebrate its 250th anniversary, I couldn’t think of a better book to feature than THE BELLE OF CHATHAM by Laura Frantz. History lovers, prepare to be swept into the heart of the American Revolution, where loyalty is tested, espionage lurks around every corner, and love rises amid the turmoil. Richly researched and deeply emotional, this novel is a timely tribute to the Patriots who shaped our nation and the personal sacrifices behind their courage.
LIGHTNING ROUND
- In three words, describe the vibe of your book. Patriotic. Conflicted. Triumphant.
- What’s your ideal writing fuel: coffee, tea, wine, or chaos? Irish tea w/ cream/sugar.
- Plotter, pantser, or “organized mess”? A plotter for proposals to my publisher but a total panster when writing. Organized mess describes it best, yes.
THE DEEP DIVE
- Every book has an origin story. What was the “lightning strike” moment that made you say, “I have to write this”? The realization that America’s 250th anniversary of independence or birthday was coming up in 2026. I’m old enough to have dressed in costume as a child for the 1776 bicentennial celebrations. A wonderful way to honor our Patriots, then and now!
- Tell me about a scene you rewrote multiple times. What made it so tricky, and how did you finally crack it? The linen closet scene. I had to decide who had the most at stake in the scene (the hero won!) then write it from their perspective. Who knew a linen closet could be so romantic? I had to keep rewriting it till it was seamless and chef’s kiss as they say!
- Your protagonist: Did they arrive fully formed, or did you have to excavate them layer by layer? What surprised you most about who they became? Writing a novel is always like falling in love to me. You meet these characters who keep you company for more than a year and slowly unravel who they are. It’s a very delightful, mysterious process. What surprised me most is how much strength my heroine had beneath all the lace and good manners. My hero, in reverse, has to learn to temper himself as he’s a frontiersman who is anything but tender. They have a unique effect on each other that I hope shows as the novel progresses.
- What theme or question haunted you while writing this book? Did you find an answer, or are you still sitting with the mystery of it? I tried to place myself in my characters’ shoes in 1777, a very tumultuous time that we have little understanding of today with all the comforts and freedoms those Patriots fought for cushioning our lives. Which side of the American Revolution would I be on? How would I treat family who didn’t feel or believe as I did? Would I be able to take up arms against my brother, father, etc.?
THE PERSONAL TOUCH
- I love hearing about authors’ reading lives. What’s at the top of your TBR pile right now, and what made you add it? I am addicted to the William Monk series by the late Anne Perry. Some of the smartest writing I’ve ever read. Each book gives you a hard look at Victorian London that is fascinating and disturbing at the same time.
- We’re kicking off a new year! Do you set any creative intentions or rituals for January? How do you approach fresh starts as a writer? I’ve stopped scrolling on socials! After devoting much of my life to that since 2009, I’ve given it up the last few months. It allows more time for what matters, writing and real life, especially my Bible and prayer time. It also allows me more room with readers who respond to my social media posts. I love reading friends!
- If you could have dinner with one of your characters (or boot one out of the book entirely), who would it be and why? I would sit down with Coralie, our heroine’s sister, and try to figure out where she went wrong before booting her!
LOOKING AHEAD
- Without spoiling anything, can you give us a tiny peek at what you’re working on next? Even just the vibe or the question you’re exploring? I just turned in a novel set in London 1798 which is quite different than anything I’ve ever written. Now it’s back to an 18th-century Christmas novella at my favorite American historical site. I’m also beginning a colonial American novel set in the south.
- What’s the best way for readers to stay in touch and follow your literary adventures? (Website, social media, newsletter, carrier pigeon…) I’m active on socials and love to have readers join me for my newsletter which used to be seasonal but will be monthly starting this year. Just sign up at my website.
BONUS: The Author’s Playlist
Optional but fun: Share 3-5 songs that capture the mood of your book or that you listened to while writing. I’ll include them in the post!
Music sure sets the stage for writing and reading! Spotify has playlists for many of my novels, including THE BELLE OF CHATHAM. Here’s the link if you’d like to listen: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3oLuR9mTZsG51lr3Za4Rkr?si=ecEXYfnlSAmNZ9RDwFPndQ&pi=VjdWJ8JDQ7yr6
Thank you so much for sharing your insights and creativity. I can’t wait for readers to discover your new release. Happy writing!
Love written interviews and so appreciate your insightful, fresh questions! Thank you!
THE BELLE OF CHATHAM by Laura Frantz
Narrator: Pilar Witherspoon
A Colonial-Era Historical Romance Set During the American Revolution
The call for liberty creates a divide between family and country, desire and duty, love and loyalty.
In 1777, caught in the crossroads of the American Revolution, sisters Maebel and Coralie Bohannon’s quaint New Jersey village becomes a battleground as they house American officers in their home. Rebellion ripples through their family as members take opposing sides—Patriots and Loyalists—causing a deep chasm that fractures their once-unbreakable bond.
As Mae’s friendship grows with the American general Rhys Harlow, Coralie continues her liaison with her childhood sweetheart, a British officer stationed in New York. Mae, torn between her deepening love for the general and suspicion that her sister is a British spy, leaves the only home she’s ever known for the New York frontier. When betrayal strikes in the heart of the wilderness, she’s forced to take a perilous journey that tests her very survival and those she loves, all in the name of liberty.
On the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Laura Frantz offers a stirring friends-to-lovers historical romance of divided loyalties, patriotism, sacrifice, sisterhood, and love set during the American Revolution.
Christian | Romance Historical [ Revell, On Sale: January 20, 2026, Trade Paperback / e-Book / audiobook, ISBN: 9780800746568 / eISBN: 9781493452712 ]
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About Laura Frantz
Laura Frantz is a Christy Award winner and the ECPA bestselling author of eleven historical novels, including The Frontiersman’s Daughter, Courting Morrow Little, The Colonel’s Lady, and The Lacemaker. When not reading and writing, she loves to garden, cook, take long walks, and travel. She is the proud mom of an American soldier and a career firefighter. When not at home in Kentucky, she and her husband live in Washington State.
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About Jennifer Vido
Jennifer Vido writes sweet romances set in the Lowcountry, earning acclaim as the award-winning author of the Gull Island series. When not writing fiction, she interviews authors for her weekly Jen’s Jewels column, leads water exercise classes, and directs a legal nonprofit. Currently residing in Maryland, she and her husband are proud parents to two grown sons and a rescue dog named Fripp.
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