Ann Gabhart Interview

Today I am pleased to welcome one of my favourite authors Ann H. Gabhart. Ann is the bestselling author of several Shaker novels--The Outsider, The Believer, The Seeker, The Blessed, and The Gifted--as well as Angel Sister, Small Town Girl, Love Comes Home, Words Spoken True,

and The Heart of Hollyhill series. She lives with her husband a mile from where she was born in rural Kentucky.

Ann, welcome to Interviews & Reviews!

For those who aren't familiar with your work, can you tell us a little about yourself?

I’m a Kentucky farm girl who has been writing since I was ten and decided to write a mystery like the Hardy Boys books. I’ve published books in various genres, historical, family stories, young adult books and now, finally after all these years, a few mysteries. I still live on a Kentucky farm near where I grew up.

So you have been writing since you were a child. That's amazing! When was your first historical romance published?

My first historical romance was published in 1978. So I’m looking toward my 40th year as a published author.

Wow! How many books have you written?

I’m often asked this question, and I always say I don’t know how many books I’ve written. I do know I’ve published 33 books with a couple more out there on the road to publication. But a few of my books ended up on my reject shelf. Never wanted to count those, but they were good practice at putting words together.  

Pre-order today!

What is your latest book about?

These Healing Hills is about a woman in need of a new start in life. Already a nurse, she goes to the Kentucky Appalachian Mountains to train to be a nurse/midwife with the Frontier Nursing Service. Her life is completely changed by the people she meets in the mountains.

When I came across an account of how Mary Breckinridge began the Frontier Nursing Service, I was immediately interested in plopping 

my midwife character down into the middle of that history. Then I stirred in a soldier returning home after World War II and had the beginnings of a story. 

Is there a message in your book that you want your readers to grasp?

The Frontier Nursing Service had a saying that nobody came to the mountains to work with the service by accident. Often, after we are knocked down by disappointments, God opens up new paths and unexpected opportunities. The Lord has a way of leading us toward a better plan we might not even imagine.

Are there things you put off doing because you dread them?

Of course. Washing windows. Cleaning out my closets. Going to the doctor. Running marathons. Oh wait, I don’t have to put that off because no way am I ever going to run a marathon. But I do like taking hikes. I don’t put that off.

When is your next book due out and can you tell us about it?

My next book will be another historical story like These Healing Hills. Sweet Redemption (the tentative title) is set in the little Kentucky town of Springfield. My story idea was sparked by a true event that happened during the 1833 cholera epidemic. That book is scheduled for release in July 2018.

I can't wait to read it! I always enjoy your books so much. Thank you so much for talking with me today.

​If you would like to know more about Ann's books and to keep up with new ones coming out, you can touch base with her at www.annhgabhart.com