All We Thought We Knew

Jan 21, 2025 | Book Reviews

Novelist Michelle Shocklee has been a guest on this blog several times and I’m thrilled to host her again. 

Michelle’s full endorsement: 

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If you like historical fiction and character-driven stories—with a touch of romance—this novel fits the bill. If you like fairy tales, that’s another bonus.

If you’re a fan of WICKED, the musical or the movie, you’ll get a chance to see where all the Oz hoopla originated—with the inimitable L. Frank Baum.

If you’re a Baum fan, you’ll get the feel of what it was like to be with him.

If you’re unfamiliar with Baum, you’re in for a treat, for you’ll have the pleasure of getting to know him.

Read more and watch the book trailer on my website here.

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Now I want to put the spotlight back on Michelle, writer of dual timeline Southern fiction.

Tyndale Fiction (October 1, 2024)

Blurb

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Michelle’s other books

These are the ones I’ve featured on the blog, along with the blurb for each. Having read these three, I can heartily recommend them. Click on each title to go to the corresponding blog post.

Under the Tulip Tree

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Count the Nights by Stars

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Appalachian Song

Author Michelle Shocklee

Here are more by Michelle, though I haven’t read these:

The Women of Rose Hill series:

  • The Planter’s Daughter
  • The Widow of Rose Hill

The Mail-Order Brides Collection (historical stories from 9 authors)

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Here are excerpts from previous Q & As. Click on the title to go to the blog post.

First, an excerpt from Under the Tulip Tree Q & A:

Michelle: I’m a firm believer in learning from the past in order to make the future a better place for everyone. The years before and after the Civil War interest me for different reasons. One is that my own great-grandfather fought for the Union Army. History doesn’t seem so far removed when someone in your own family participated in it. I also find it mind-boggling and unimaginable that my great-grandfather lived in a time when someone could be owned simply because of the color of their skin. So for me, studying about and writing about this period of history helps me understand the world, then and now, a little better.    

Michelle: I’ve been privileged to work with older women for the past 25 years. I also had a wonderful grandmother who lived to be 103 years old. When I was developing the character of Frankie, all of these precious women found their way into her character in one way or another. Grandma was a master storyteller. I loved hearing her spin stories about the Great Depression and farm life. She saw many changes in the world during her time on earth. I’ve also enjoyed the stories told to me by my elderly clients through the years. I hope someday some young person will want to hear my tales.

Michelle: I was blessed to grow up in a family with mixed heritage. My father’s family is Hispanic and my mother’s roots go back to Germany. I also grew up in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with various cultures–Spanish, Mexican, American, and Native American–intersecting. Because I was exposed to so much beautiful diversity from an early age, I didn’t realize the world was such a divided place until I attended college. Rena’s naivety about the world around her comes from my own experience, although her story is very different from mine.   

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Michelle: Two books in particular have had an impact on me as a writer. From an early age, Little Women by Louisa May Alcott instilled in me a desire to become a writer like Jo March. I remember the summer my mom read this book aloud to my sister and me, and although I didn’t truly believe I could be a writer, the seeds of a dream were firmly planted in my heart. The other book that changed my writing path was Uncle Tom’s Cabin. I was in my 40s when I read the book for the first time, and it completely wrecked me. It wasn’t long after reading this book that I discovered people had once been enslaved in the area of Texas where my family was living and that stunned me. My research into this shocking revelation led me to write my plantation novels.

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Q & A excerpt From Count the Nights by Stars

Michelle: While there are other hotels in Nashville’s history, none are quite as fascinating as the Maxwell House. It was built prior to the Civil War and was used as a hospital and prison for Confederate soldiers once the Union Army took control of Tennessee. After the war it became the place to stay in the city, with movie stars, authors, and several presidents listed in the guestbook. 

Then there’s the cool connection to Maxwell House coffee, which was first served in the hotel’s famous dining room before it became available to the public through mass production. 

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Q & A excerpt from Appalachian Song

Adoption is very near and dear to my heart. We have several members of our extended family who are adopted and some who have adopted children. I also have the privilege of knowing a young woman who bravely gave up her baby for adoption as a young unwed teenage mother. 

Adoption is a beautiful gift and is part of God’s perfect plan for humankind. Romans 8 reminds us that God adopts us as his own children when we put our faith in Christ, giving us the freedom to call him, “Abba, Father.” As I considered including the thread of adoption in this book, I knew the characters had to understand that truth too. The theme of “I choose you” is at the heart of the book. 

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Michelle Shocklee Bio

Michelle Shocklee is the author of several historical novels. Her work is included in numerous Chicken Soup for the Soul books, magazines, and blogs. As a woman of mixed heritage–her father’s family is Hispanic and her mother’s roots go back to Germany–she celebrates diversity and feels it’s important to see the world through the eyes of one another. Learning from the past and changing the future is why she writes historical fiction. With both her sons grown, she and her husband now make their home in Tennessee, not far from the historical sites she writes about. Connect with her at MichelleShocklee.com.

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Join me next time for a visit with author Amanda Wen.

Meanwhile, have you read All We Thought We Knew or any others by Michelle Shocklee? What’s your favorite? Do you enjoy Southern fiction and/or dual timeline stories? Answer in the comments below.

Ever reading,

Laura

Coming soon: A Hundred Magical Reasons, a novel

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15 Comments

  1. Anita Klumpers

    Michelle’s endorsement of “A Hundred Magical Reasons” is delightful! Anyone who can craft a review with that much skill
    and heart must be an excellent writer.
    Tennessee is such a great state: on my top ten favorites!
    As a history lover, I appreciate her choice of settings and eras.
    And I agree that “Magical Reasons” makes the reader wish to have been friends with Baum!

    Reply
    • Laura DeNooyer

      Thanks for your kind words, Anita. Yes, Michelle is an excellent writer and novelist! And I agree about Tennessee. I love that state too.

      Reply
  2. Mary Larson

    All We Thought We knew looks like a fabulous read. Deep Characters with intriguing story lines are the best. It sounds like some challenging topics are covered, as well. The story seems likely to captivate me!

    While I’ve heard great things about Michelle Shocklee I have not yet read one of her books. My plan is to start with this one! I’m now following her on Goodreads too.

    Reply
    • Laura DeNooyer

      I’m glad you’re going to finally read one of Michelle’s books, Mary! Yes, this one has an intriguing premise–but so do the rest of her novels. 🙂

      Reply
  3. Joy Shelden

    I LOVE books set during WWII! I’d definitely love to read All We Thought We Knew, & her other books…actually, I’m gonna follow Michelle Shocklee on goodreads right now!

    Reply
    • Laura DeNooyer

      Good! Glad you’re going to give her a try, Joy!

      Reply
  4. Stephanie

    Michelle’s books have been on my tbr list for a while now and maybe it’s time for me to start reading them sooner. I think I’ll start with All We Thought We Knew as it sounds like an engaging book to read for the first time.

    Reply
    • Laura DeNooyer

      Actually, any of her books would be a good place to start, Stephanie!

      Reply
  5. Leela

    It sounds like a wonderful read.

    Reply
  6. Ruth Schmeckpeper

    I love Michelle Shocklee books! Each one is special on it’s own, but I think my favorite is Appalachian Song or Under the Tulip Tree. See, I can’t even decide which one I like the best!
    Keep writing, Michelle.

    Reply
    • Laura DeNooyer

      Those are both good ones. It’s tough to choose a favorite, I think!

      Reply
  7. Carol M. Hamilton

    I haven’t read any of Michelle’s books yet, but I’m adding them to my reading list. I’m a fan of dual-time novels. I especially like that Michelle writes historical details set in her own backyard of Tennessee.

    Reply
    • Laura DeNooyer

      Glad you’re adding them to your list, Carol! I love Michelle’s setting too.

      Reply
  8. Deena Adams

    I’ve read every one of Michelle’s books and LOVED all of them! She’s such an amazing writer. As are you, Laura!

    Reply
    • Laura DeNooyer

      Thank you, Deena! You’re ahead of me–I haven’t read every single one of Michelle’s books, but I have read four and loved each one.

      Reply

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