For this podcast episode we sat down with Daena Creel, one of the foremost authorities on the life and work of the pioneering and best-selling Christian author Grace Livingston Hill (1865-1947).

Daena is also a writer, archivist, and historian. She works closely with the Hill family to preserve Grace’s legacy for future generations of readers, and is the author of The Grace Livingston Hill Cookbook: Vintage Recipes from the Holiday Books.

We learned many compelling facts about Grace's life and books during the interview including an overview of her family upbringing, characteristics of her work, her writing process, and reasons for why her books are just as spiritually valuable and relevant today as they were more than a century ago.

Grace's 119 books, and numerous other stories have firmly enthroned her in literary history as not just the creator of the modern Christian romance novel, but as a writer whose commitment to Gospel integrity and evangelism has led untold readers to salvation in Jesus Christ.

Moreover, Grace Livingston Hill's books stand firmly as landmark examples of fiction writing used as ministry, and are essential reading for believers of all ages.

You can learn more about Daena and The Grace Livingston Hill Project here.

You can also learn more about Grace and connect with fans of her work on Facebook at Grace Livingston Hill Readersand at Grace Livingston Hill.

Timestamps

03:16 – About Daena and how she become a fan of GLH.
07:11 – An overview of GLH’s life and career.
11:33 – When did GLH become officially published?
17:10 – Characteristics of a GLH book.
18:31 – What led GLH to write so much?
25:22 – What were GLH's books like mid-career?
27:27 – GLH and WWI.
28:30 – Grace's "formula" for writing.
34:51 – Why GLH books are valuable and relevant for modern readers.
42:38 – GLH book recommendations for new readers.
46:38 – GLH in the eyes of other authors.
48:14 – Where can people buy GLH books?
55:04 – How hard is it to get all of GLH’s first printings?
56:15 – Are there any lost GLH books?
58:05 – How did GLH approach the craft of writing?
1:11:20 – About The Grace Livingston Hill Cookbook: Vintage Recipes from the Holiday Books.
1:16:37 – GLH resources and online groups.

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Intro and outro music provided by Five Minute Plan.

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