Quilting Circles Archives | Mona Hodgson

Book Club Fun to Celebrate The Quilted Heart

Posted May 1st, 2014 | Mona Hodgson

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Do the members of your book club or reading group enjoy reading a series of novellas and spending time with an ensemble cast? If so, Elsa Brantenberg’s Quilting Circle in St. Charles, Missouri, might be a great fit. And I’m happy to say the 1860’s heartland setting lends itself well to having fun with historic Main Street and riverside flair.

For some book club fun, your group may want a themed meeting after each of the novellas, or may choose to save the party for after they have read Ripples Along the Shore, the third and last novella in The Quilted Heart omnibus. Either way, here are some meeting ideas and resources for a Quilted Heart celebration. (more…)

Quilters and Quilts #5 – Kathleen Belongia

Posted December 30th, 2013 | Mona Hodgson

I’m excited to welcome Kathleen Belongia, another quilting reader-friend, to my blog today to give us another peek at quilters and quilts! And I’m seeing stars! (more…)

Quilters and Quilts #4 – Susan French

Posted December 23rd, 2013 | Mona Hodgson

A very sick baby boy. A mother’s desperate prayer. A church quilting circle.

Reader-Friend, Susan French, is my guest in Week 4 of my Quilters and Quilts Series. I chose Christmas week to share Susan’s compelling story about the gift of a quilt stitched with love and drenched in prayer. (more…)

The Quilted Heart Novellas, 3 in 1

Posted September 25th, 2013 | Mona Hodgson

The Quilted Heart novellas only available as individual eBooks?

Not for long!

January 21st, WaterBrook Multnomah will release Dandelions on the Wind, Bending Toward the Sun, and Ripples Along the Shore as a print omnibus–three novellas in one thick book.

In 1999, I’d gone to St. Louis for a conference and a children’s book signing event. On a program-free afternoon, this Arizona girl decided to slide into her rental car and head out for an adventure. I ended up in St. Charles, Missouri. Immediately smitten by its historical Main Street and charming riverside perch, I dreamed of one day setting a story in Saint Charles.

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Research Trip for The Quilted Heart: 1st Stop, Gateway Arch

Posted March 4th, 2013 | Mona Hodgson

In March 2012, after thirteen years, I returned to St. Louis and St. Charles, Missouri. This time, as a historical novelist writing for WaterBrook Multnomah, to do research for my new series, The Quilted Heart. The post Civil War mid-1860s provides the historical backdrop for my three Quilted Heart eBook novellas.

First stop: The Gateway Arch and the Museum of Westward Expansion in St. Louis. Everything about the grounds and the Arch mesmorized me, but the museum…well, it was like a candy store with all my favorite sweets. Props from American history.

The park at the Gateway Arch

Going Up inside the Gateway Arch

Hubby Bob inside Gateway Arch

The Quilted Heart novellas, the Prequel to a wagon train series

Already daydreaming for the next series

Less than one year later, Dandelions on the Wind, the first of The Quilted Heart Novellas released, and is now available as an exclusive eBook.