Hello friends! Today I’m pleased to welcome to the blog award-winning novelist Heidi Chiavaroli (pronounced shev-uh-roli ). Heidi writes women’s fiction, combining her love of history and literature to write split-time stories. Her books often explore themes of sisterhood and women-helping-women, and she isn’t afraid to tackle tough topics like domestic violence. In The Orchard House, her story springs from the setting and author of perennial fan-favorite Little Women.

Heidi, welcome! To start with, please tell us — what inspired the story line of The Orchard House?

Like so many girls and women around the world, I’ve always been captivated by the story of Little Women—a seemingly simple domestic tale that, with its timelessness, explores the complexities of family, friendship, and love. But there was something else that made this tale come alive for me—a childhood visit to the very place where Louisa wrote her beloved story. Orchard House brought Louisa and her novel alive in a new way. I remember being completely captivated by this place where these fictional (and real-life) heroines lived, of beholding the very desk where Louisa wrote her masterpiece. For a child who loved this story, and books in general, this made a real impression on me.

Setting out to write a story involving Louisa and Orchard House, I dug through her biographies, journals, and letters for some interesting, lesser-known morsel about this famed author. When I learned about her time as a nurse in the Civil War, her experiences nursing a certain young blacksmith for whom she held strong feelings but who would end up dying, and her subsequent near-death experience with typhoid shortly after, I knew I’d stumbled upon something. I thought it might be interesting to have my historical heroine, Johanna, be the sister of Louisa’s “prince of patients.” What if these two women struck up a friendship? What if Louisa offered her a way to Massachusetts? What if Louisa became a mentor to Johanna, who found herself in a difficult marriage?

From this story line came the idea of women helping women, both in a contemporary story and a historical story. Themes of sisterhood, friendship, forgiveness, and helping the downtrodden—all themes in Little Women—were brought to the forefront of the book to further tie in and give honor to this much-loved story and author.

Who did you write this book for?

When I started this novel, I knew I wanted to bring Louisa and Orchard House to life for those who already loved Little Women. I also wanted to give a deeper appreciation for the woman behind the inspiration of Jo March.

As the book unfolded, I felt a strong desire to speak into the lives of women tied to unhealthy relationships. This was a cause dear to Louisa’s own heart, and yet it didn’t stop there because this novel is not just for women who are in such predicaments, it’s for women everywhere—women who need help and women who are the ones helping. There’s a bond there I wanted to explore. Whether it be one of friendship or one of sisterhood, I wanted this book to feature women helping women. And so, in that regard, I hope women everywhere will be able to appreciate this story.

How did you get the idea for the relationship between your two main contemporary characters and your two main historical characters?

I wanted a big part of this novel to be about women’s friendships and sisterhood. This was such an integral part of Little Women that I didn’t feel I could leave it behind. And yet I wanted the freedom of fictionalizing my historical heroine, Johanna. I could give free rein to her character and still allow her to be molded and shaped by her true-to-life friend, Louisa.

I thought it would be interesting to parallel their relationship in a modern-day friendship. I wanted to explore the intricacies and blessings of such a friendship, as well as some of the tangles it potentially creates. Later, when both Victoria and Johanna experience abuse, I wanted to take Louisa’s bold stance on domestic violence and bring it around to the present. It was interesting to include Louisa’s heart for the downtrodden through both the past and the present stories.

Your stories often deal with heavy topics, such as domestic violence. Why do you feel called to discuss these subjects through fiction?

My goal as a writer is to shine light and hope into the darkness. I’m a firm believer in not shying away from the hard but facing it head-on, trusting God to be enough to conquer the heavy. I think fiction can be a valuable place to do this. In a story, we can actually experience what it’s like to be in the shoes of a character. There’s something powerful about that. We can grow, change, become more empathetic. Our world can grow bigger, our eyes wider. And I pray that in that space, we will be able to experience the wonder, majesty, and sufficiency of our victorious God.

Thank you for being here today, Heidi! It’s been a pleasure to have you.

About the book:

Concord, Massachusetts

2001
Abandoned by her own family, Taylor is determined not to mess up her chance at joining the home of her best friend, Victoria Bennett. But despite attending summer camp at Louisa May Alcott’s historic Orchard House with Victoria and sharing dreams of becoming famous authors, Taylor struggles to fit in. As she enters college and begins dating, it feels like Taylor is finally finding her place and some stability . . . until Victoria’s betrayal changes everything.

1865
While Louisa May Alcott is off traveling the world, Johanna Suhre accepts a job tending Louisa’s aging parents and their home in Concord. Soon after arriving at Orchard House, Johanna meets Nathan Bancroft and, ignoring Louisa’s words of caution, falls in love and accepts Nathan’s proposal. But before long, Johanna experiences her husband’s dark side, and she can’t hide the bruises that appear.

2019
After receiving news of Lorraine Bennett’s cancer diagnosis, Taylor knows she must return home to see her adoptive mother again. Now a successful author, Taylor is determined to spend little time in Concord. Yet she becomes drawn into the story of a woman who lived there centuries before. And through her story, Taylor may just find forgiveness and a place to belong.

About the author:

Heidi Chiavaroli’s debut novel, Freedom’s Ring, was a Carol Award winner and a Christy Award finalist, a Romantic Times Top Pick and a Booklist Top Ten Romance Debut. Heidi loves exploring places that whisper of historical secrets, especially with her family. She loves running, hiking, baking, and dates with her husband. Heidi makes her home in Massachusetts with her husband and two sons. Visit her online at heidichiavaroli.com.

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Thanks to Tyndale House Publishers for providing me a free copy of this book. All opinions are mine.