I am so excited to share this week’s author spotlight with all of you. Patti Callahan Henry is one of my favorite authors! Many, many years ago, I discovered her book, And Then I Found You, and I have been hooked ever since. I have read: The Bookshop at Water’s End, The Favorite Daughter, The Art of Keeping Secrets, and more. Her recent novel, written as Patti Callahan, took a dive into one of my favorite genres, historical fiction. Becoming Mrs. Lewis takes readers on an incredible journey through Joy Davidman and C. S. Lewis’ remarkable love story.
Patti Callahan Henry is an award-winning author, most recently she won the Harper Lee Award for Alabama’s Distinguished Writer. (As someone who has read To Kill a Mockingbird, at least 15 times, I find this award to be absolutely amazing!!!) Yesterday, Becoming Mrs. Lewis was re-released as an expanded paperback edition. This expanded paperback edition goes deeper into the insights she discovered, while doing research. (Previously heard on her podcasts.) It also includes a map of Oxford and a helpful timeline. This is a must-have for historical fiction readers.
Patti’s book tour was cancelled due to the pandemic, however she is not letting that stop her from celebrating this special edition. Follow her online, as she has an exciting virtual tour happening this week. She will be talking with various authors each day! Below you will see a short interview with Patti and links on where to find her incredible books.
Interview:
What inspired you to write Mrs. Lewis’ story?
I was so curious how these two very different people came to find each other. An American New York Award Winning poet, mother, atheist and wife (Joy Davidman) and then an Oxford don, a Christian apologist and famous author in England (C. S. Lewis) across the sea. How in the world did this happen? As I started my research I realized that this was so much more than a love story; it was the transformational journey of a brilliant woman who changed her own life, heart and work to then change the heart, life and work of one of our most important authors of the 20th century, C. S. Lewis. In an essay, Joy Davidman once asked, “If I should every grow brave what on earth would become of me?” She answered that with her life. I wanted to tell that story.
Congrats on winning the Harper Lee award! If you could have dinner with her and a character from To Kill a Mockingbird, who would you chose?
Oh, definitely Atticus. What wisdom would he give us now in these terrible times?
With this being Women’s History Month (and it getting lost in the pandemic) what would you like for readers to away from your stories?
These historical fiction stories allow these women of the past to have a voice today that they did not have then. I would want to tell others to look back to see their brave stories and bring them froward to inspire us today.
Which authors are you reading right now?
During these surreal days of the pandemic, I am turning to an old classic as well as new books and novels I said I would blurb. I am reading those who lost (like me) their book tours. So on my table to read right now are — Graham Greene The End of the Affair; Ariel Lawhon Code Name: Helene; Taylor Brown Pride of Eden, and for blurb I am reading London Restoration by Rachel McMillan.
If you could live in any fictional world right now, which would you chose?
Most absolutely (and probably not shockingly) Narnia. 
So where can you find this must-read edition?
Patti Callahan’s website
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