The New Diary Blog Tour (Kick-Off and Author Interview)

by Kellyn Roth |

February 1, 2017

Well, guys, today we’re doing something a little different … a blog tour! That’s right, I’m hosting the blog tour of my dear friend, Hanna Kraft! It’s a small blog tour (in length and participants), but Hanna and I hope you’ll enjoy it. 🙂

~ About the Book ~

One Summer Sunday in 1930, Carol Ayers decides to keep a diary. She records many life changes over the days, weeks, and months. Can Carol and her family accept, and even like the changes, and at the same time continue their traditions?

The New Diary, a fictional account, contains actual excerpts from the real diary of Carol Ayers, the author’s great-grandmother.

Find it on Goodreads

~ About the Author ~

Hanna Kraft, an introverted Christian Homeschooler, is very grateful to have the opportunity to learn at home, and desires to spread her love of Jesus to others. Every day she sees new ways the Lord has provided, blessed, and cared for her and those she cares for. Hanna enjoys writing much more than any of her five siblings, and has enjoyed it for several years. When she realized her ability to publish The New Diary, she decided to pursue writing as a bit more than a mere hobby.

Besides reading and writing, Hanna lives in the country with her family, and enjoys playing the banjo, swimming, listening to much Southern Gospel music, and watching college basketball.

~ The Interview ~

Why did you decide to write your great-grandmother’s story over just some random fiction tale?

All the credit goes to my mom, actually. See, this book was a school project. Therefore, my mom had an invested interest. She knew that Grandma Carol (her grandmother) has written diaries, and that my grandma had kept them. She suggested that I use that for my project. I thought it was a great idea; plus, it wasn’t like I had any other good ideas of a ‘random fiction tale.’

When you started writing The New Diary, did you ever think you’d share it with anyone other than family and close friends?

When I realized that I would be writing a book, I dreamed that I would become a (famous?) author. With The New Diary, though it was primarily for my family, I knew I would want to share it with others.

Do you have a favorite character?

Ah! I do love them all, as I’m sure all writers can understand. I think Carol ends up being my favorite, since she is my great-grandmother. I did enjoy writing scenes with Irish, Pete, and Edythe, though.

If you could tell people one thing about The New Diary to interest them in reading it, what would that be?

Hm… maybe that Pete’s daughter said that is was like reading the Little House books? Maybe I would rephrase my statement and say that I ‘modeled’ it, in a way, after the Little House books.

What was the hardest thing about writing The New Diary?

I would say the hardest thing about writing it was keeping it historically accurate and diary-accurate. The research was not easy at all, either! (Try searching for “Rural 1930 life in New York” in a search engine, and see what comes up! Not much.)

About how much of The New Diary is fiction and how much is nonfiction?

I would like to say 100% is nonfiction. That is not true. However, almost every scene is based off of what Carol mentioned in her diary. Even Carol’s visit to the Shelps was mentioned in her diary; although her conversation with Gertie about Carol’s many siblings was fiction, it is fact that she visited the Shelps on that particular day. Sometimes I have detailed facts- for instance, that make-up woman in the tent really was smoking a cigarette!

Do you see writing as a hobby … or could it become a future career?

Both! I love writing, and therefore it is a hobby. I do want it to become a ‘career’ of some sort, although I believe I shouldn’t focus on doing only that with my life.

Do you snack while writing? Do you listen to music?

Snacking? No. Listening to music? Yes, if possible. While writing my first draft of The New Diary, there was no way to listen to music: I wasn’t near a computer, nor was there a nearby CD player. With Book #2 of The Heritage Diaries, however, I hope to listen to music while writing.

Is there a special place you go to write?

Not really. I like writing on my bed, but I can easily write anywhere.

What’s your next writing project going to be?

The next big, publish-able project will be Book #2 of The Heritage Diaries, which I plan on starting this Summer. (So excited!!)

Well, that was a fun interview, wasn’t it? Pumped for the blog tour? Well, I am! 😛
Over the next couple days, there will be some great posts. Here’s the schedule so you can find out where and when:

Wednesday the 1st

-Kellyn Roth @ Reveries Reviews (kick-off/author interview)

Friday the 3rd

-Megan @ A Barefoot Gal (author interview)
-Kellyn Roth @ Reveries Reviews (excerpt)

Saturday the 4th

-Kellyn Roth @ Reveries Reviews (review)
-Angela R. Watts @ The Peculiar Messenger (review/author interview)
-Anika Joy @ Anika’s Avenue (review/author interview)

It’s a short blog tour, but hopefully it will be a really fun one! 🙂
~Kellyn Roth

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5 Responses

ilovereading2 says:

February 1, 2017 at 8:41 am

This looks like a good book!!

Reply
1. CutePolarBear says:
  
  February 1, 2017 at 11:54 am
  
  Thanks so much! 🙂
  CutePolarBear/Hanna
  
  Reply

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The New Diary Blog Tour (Kick-Off and Author Interview)

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