Author Interview and Giveaway – The Tea Chest – Heidi Chiavaroli

61 Comments

Timeless. Gripping. Masterful. Passionate. Empowering. These are just a few descriptors I’ve seen circulating about The Tea Chest. Heidi Chiavaroli is here to give us an insider on how this story came into being, as well as share some of her favorite reads. Welcome back to the Index, Heidi!

The Tea Chest

Boston, 1773
Emma Malcolm’s father is staunchly loyal to the crown, but Emma’s heart belongs to Noah Winslow, a printer’s assistant and a Patriot. Her father has promised her hand to Samuel Clarke, forcing her to give up Noah and the friends who are like family to her—as well as the beliefs she has come to embrace.

After Emma is drawn into the treasonous Boston Tea Party, Samuel blackmails her with evidence condemning each participant, including Noah. Emma realizes she must do whatever it takes to protect those she loves, even if it means giving up the life she desires and marrying Samuel.

Present Day
Lieutenant Hayley Ashworth is determined to be the first woman inducted into the elite Navy SEALs. But before her dream can be realized, she must return to Boston in order to put the abuse and neglect of her childhood behind her. When an unexpected encounter with the man she once loved leads to the discovery of a tea chest and the document hidden within, she wonders if perhaps true strength and freedom are buried deeper than she first realized.

Two women, separated by centuries, must find the strength to fight for love and freedom. . . and discover a heritage of courage and faith.

Heidi’s Website

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Questions about Heidi’s Story

What inspired your story?

Since I knew I wanted to write about the events of the Boston Tea Party, I dove into researching everything I could about the circumstances surrounding it. My historical heroine, Emma Malcolm, was birthed when I read an account of the brutal tarring and feathering of customs official John Malcolm. This servant of the crown was quite a character in his own right—very outspoken and stubborn, with no patience for the antics of the Patriots. And yet I found myself feeling compassion for him. He was treated cruelly and inhumanely by those we find ourselves lauding as heroes today.

I imagined what it’d be like if he had a daughter—one who sympathized with the Sons of Liberty . . . one who sympathized with the very political side her father was intent on squelching. What if his daughter befriended those plotting to dump the tea? What if she aided them? What if she was even in love with one of them?

Once I had the historical story line down, I thought it might be fun to explore a contemporary woman who also longs to fight for her country and prove herself the best way she knows how. In my research about women in the military I learned that in July 2017, it was announced that for the first time, a woman would enter the training pipeline to become a Navy SEAL. I imagined what this unidentified woman had gone through and what propelled her to enter such rigorous training. I decided to explore her story in fiction.

Emma and Hayley, my contemporary heroine, both long to serve their country despite broken families. They both long to prove themselves and seek a greater worth and identity.

What was the hardest part of your book to write?

There’s a scene with Emma at the end that I fought tears to write. She had become dear to me and I didn’t exactly look forward to what I was about to put her through. But I better not say any more, or I might spoil things!

What character in your book turned out to be your favorite?

I have a soft spot in my heart for my historical hero, Noah Winslow. He has some real struggles, but in the end I admire him for how he deals with them.

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Questions about Heidi’s Reading

What was the last Christian Historical Novel that surprised you with a plot twist you didn’t see coming?

The Seamstress by Allison Pittman. Oh, my, what a masterpiece. That plot twist at the end completely wrecked me, but the story was all the better for it.

What was the last Christian Historical Novel you read, and what was your favorite thing about it?

We Hope for Better Things by Erin Bartells. This was a seamless telling of three different timelines, which made such a beautiful (and heartbreaking) impact on the reader. So well done.

Heidi is giving away a paperback copy of The Tea Chest (USA Only). Enter the Rafflecopter below!

**If you don’t want to enter Rafflecopter, tell me in a comment below: “I’m not entering the rafflecopter, but please throw me in the hat” so I can manually put you in there for a chance.**

a Rafflecopter giveaway

61 Comments

Ooh, that’s a hard one…I like my modern conveniences! I would say WWI era is a time period I would like to have lived in.

I’ve always been enamored by the Pioneer days

I was born in 1954, but I’d love to live in the 50s as an adult. I loved the fashions and innocence of much of that time period.

I think I would re-live the 60’s but as an adult this time instead of as a child.

I am not sure…maybe back in the 1950’s. I think the Civil War era would be interesting, but I would not like wearing those dresses!

I’d like to go back and visit Regency England for a day or two. I’d miss all the conveniences we have now–indoor plumbing, central heating/AC, my heated mattress pad, ready-made food & other items, etc. The 1950s would be interesting to go back and live as an adult. It seemed like an ideal time as a child.

I would like to live during the Civil War Era and be part of the Underground Railroad.

I think I would go forward into the future and see what life bring us. Maybe those flying cars will actually be a thing!

Not entering the Rafflecopter ,but please throw me in the hat.
Thank you for the giveawy and interview.And a chance to win.

Meant * Giveaway *

I am not sure I would want to live to far in the past, I would miss the modern conveniences!

i would like to relive the 50’s
Marion

I think it would be around 1840s

I just love historical fiction of any era You can learn so much from all

I think the 50’s would be fun

I would like to live in the Antebellum era. I’ve always been fascinated by that time period.

I’d live in the 1940’s where marriage meant something.

I think right after WWII. Although, my mind spins to future wars that might draft my kids….. But I like indoor plumbing too much.

Viking era around 800-900 AD.

I would choose the late 1800s.

I can’t decide. I would either like to live in the Civil War era or in the 1960’s in my early 20s or in the Pioneer era.

Sounds like an interesting read! A time period I have imagined myself living in is during the Great Depression & WWII. Through my family’s personal stories to others biographies, that time period amazes me and motivates my life in the present.

I would love to live in the Regency time period. I would love to wear the dresses, live in a massive home, go to balls and be courted by gentlemen. 🙂

I would have to say sometime around the late 1700s to early 1900s.

I would like to live in the Victorian time period in England! Thanks for the chance to win!

England early 1800s

The time period I would like to live in would be revolutionary War period.

I would like to live in the Regency era.

I guess I would say the Victorian times if I had to pick a time.

I would have liked the Victorian era.

I love to read of the old days but I think I would want to live with my modern convenience. Especially air conditioning and inside toilets.

I’d rather go forward than backward in time.

Regency England. Would love to see the splendor for myself.

Early 1800s but I really wouldn’t want to work as hard as they had to! I guess I’d have to be wealthy so I had servants.

I love the Regency period so that would be my pick! Thanks for the giveaway chance.

I don’t think that I could go back in time. Too wimpy for that!

I think the pioneer day. Thank you for hosting this giveaway, I’ve been seeing this book and am looking forward to reading it.

wfnren at aol dot com

I would like to live in the late 1800’s

When I was young, I always dreamed of being part of a wagon train heading west. Now a days, I’m too spoiled with modern day conveniences for that to be the slightest enticing anymore. I’m ready for self driving cars or simply beaming from place to place & have my delicious meals prepared for me by a replicator. LOL!

I think during the Regency era, if I could have all of the fancy and all that comes with it.

I’d visit the colonial period. But I’d visit many periods if I could! It’s my dream to try on a dress from every era, and what better way than to do it in real life?

I’d visit every period! It’s my dream to try on a dress from every era.

This is a tough one but it would have to be the Victorian era or WWII

I would love to live either during the Medieval time period (though I probably would die quickly, lol) or during the 1940s. I love the WWII era!

That’s a tough one. I would say the Victorian Era.

I would love to live in the pioneer days. Where work was hard but satisfying. Where we could build our dreams from the land. Where we could find it easier to commune with God without so many distractions.

I’d go back to the 1890s. I think that is a very important time. Also, it’s my favorite.

i would love to live in the pioneer days

It would be fabulous to be able to explore and experience time of my great grandparents as well as my grandparents. To be able to be in a time frame that those that I knew and loved lived in and see the sights that they did would be grand. To see all the marvelous inventions come to be had to be awesome.

Thank you for the fabulous opportunity to win a copy of “The Tea Chest” which is definitely on my TBR list!

I like the to live during WWII and help the men overseas who gave their lives for our freedom

I recently read three books by Gloria Repp. The books had strong heroines who had faith in God but faced some suspenseful challenges.

Civil war era!

I would choose the 1940’s and 1950’s so I could experience the world that my grandparents lived in as young people.

This book sounds very intriguing and like a very good page turner. I think I would pic the Civil War Era.

Can I say the future? I’d love to be here to see my grandsons with kids and grandkids of their own 🙂

Biblical times especially during the time of Jesus and be one of those who listened to him preach and share as he traveled the countryside

i think i would like to live in the Pre Civil War era…..

I would choose the mid-1800’s.

There are many time periods I would like to visit (like pre-revolutionary America, or mideivel England), but I love my modern conveniences too much to want to stay permanently.

The Gilded age and Regency time period.

Perhaps during the 20s. Women had gotten the right to vote and were experiencing freedom they’d never known. My Dad was born in 1923 so I would know some of the events of his early years.

Inspirational Historical Fiction Index

Christian Historical Fiction sorted by setting, period, historical events, and more.

Author Interview and Giveaway – The Tea Chest – Heidi Chiavaroli