Since on this day I should have been on an airplane or in an airport on my return from Israel when this post went live, I asked my friend Carrie Turansky to fill in for me. Of course, I am not on a plane or in an airport because the terrorist attack on Israel stopped my planned pilgrimage to the land. But this post is too good not to feature as planned. Enjoy!
~robin
My latest novel, The Legacy of Longdale Manor, releases this month, and it’s my first dual-time novel. People have asked why I switched from writing historical novels to dual-time stories, so I thought I’d share a bit about that decision and what I’m learning in the process.
I’ve written almost thirty novels. Earlier in my career I wrote mostly contemporary novels and novellas, but for the last ten years I’ve focused on writing English historical novels set in the early 1900s. I thought using what I’d learned writing those novels would equip me to write a dual-time novel. But I’ve discovered writing a dual-time novel is more challenging than I first imagined! Finding themes that can cross and connect two plots and discovering ways to weave that all together has really stretched me as a writer!
Learning why people enjoy reading dual-time novels has helped me include some of the elements readers expect. I hope including these will make the Legacy of Longdale Manor and other dual-time novels I hope to write meaningful and intriguing for my readers.
Here are some of the reasons I think people enjoy reading dual-time novels:
- The parallel storylines in a dual-time novel often give the story more complexity and depth. Readers enjoy finding the themes and connections between the two timelines.
- The alternating timelines create a sense of mystery. Readers want to keep reading to discover how the events in one timeline relate or impact the other. This adds an element of suspense that keeps the reader engaged and eager to unravel the connections.
- Dual-time novels often prompt readers to reflect on the passage of time, the impact of choices made in the past, and the way history repeats itself. This can make readers think more deeply about life, faith, and their own experiences.
- Themes of love, loss, family, and personal growth can be explored across time and generations. This can create a more powerful reading experience as readers see how these themes impact characters in both storylines.
- Dual-time novels offer a unique narrative structure that is a change from traditional linear storytelling. This variety in style appeals to readers who are looking for something fresh and different in the next book they read.
Have you read any dual-time novels? What do you enjoy about that type of storytelling? Here are a few dual-time novels I’ve enjoyed. Please comment and tell us about any you’ve enjoyed.
Secrets She Kept by Cathy Gohlke
The Orchard House by Heidi Chiavaroli
Hope Between the Pages by Pepper Basham
Hidden Among the Stars by Melanie Dobson
Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate
The London House by Katherine Reay
Until Next Time
~ Happy Reading
Carrie
Carrie Turansky is the award-winning author of twenty-two inspirational novels and novellas and a winner of the ACFW Carol Award, the International Digital Award, and the Holt Medallion. Her novels have received stared reviews from Christianbooks.com and Library Journal, and they have been translated into several languages to be enjoyed by readers around the world. Visit: carrieturansky.com
Robin Lee Hatcher
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I have noticed that there are a lot of Christian dual timeline novels! The first one I remember reading was Jaime Jo Wright’s The House on Foster Hill. How perfectly the two timelines seemed to intertwine! More recently I have read Robin Lee Hatcher’s, I’ll Be Seeing You (which I loved!), Amanda Dykes’ All the Lost Places (all of her novels are magical!), and Roseanne M White’s Yesterday’s Tides–which I thought was absolutely perfect in every way!
In my TBR pile is The Legacy of Longdale Manor which I can’t wait to read!
Hi Martha, thanks for sharing those titles for dual-time novels you’ve enjoyed! Thank gives our reading friends more stories to consider and add to their TBR pile. I’m happy to hear The Legacy of Longdale Manor is on your list. I hope you’ll enjoy it. I loved visiting the Lake District in England where this story is set and visiting Beatrix Potter’s Hill Top Farm. That was a great inspiration for this story. Happy Reading!
Definitely Jaime Jo Wright. I love how the story in each timeline leaves you in suspense for the other one.
Thanks for sharing your recommendation for Jaime Jo’s books! She definitely adds suspense and mystery to her dual-time stories. Her lates is The Lost Boys of Barlowe Theater.
This is an important, but somewhat difficult topic. I am an avid reader and read all genres, but historical fiction is my favorite – all time periods. I have read a number of dual-time novels because it seems that many of my favorite authors have switched to this format. Some I’ve enjoyed, and some I have not. I can only guess that publishers are pushing for this format.
I have some friends who refuse to read dual-time books. They say they don’t like looking back, trying to figure out the connections, how they relate. I can understand this, because several times I’ve found myself looking back so often that it destroys my enjoyment. I even found that in some instances I had to take notes. This reminds me of a reading cartoon I recently saw in which a little boy is talking to his teacher and says, “I’ve compared and contrasted, made connections, inferences, and summarized. Now can I just read.” I taught language arts to 5th graders for 23 years, so I understand this. I am retired now and so look forward to reading. I don’t want to have to work at it.
As I said at the beginning, I have enjoyed many dual-time novels. I will not disparage any author because I know how hard authors work. However, it does not take a dual-time book to achieve complexity and depth. I just finished Captured Bride, a wonderful book by Michelle Griep as part of the Daughters of the Mayflower series. It had complexity, depth, strong characters, wonderful descriptions of the time period, suspense and intrigue, with a surprise around every corner. And I didn’t have to keep looking back to see how it connected to another time.
Of course, this is only my opinion about the concept of a dual-time novel. I love your historicals Carrie, and appreciate all of the hard work you put in to research and write.
Hi Betty, thanks for sharing your thoughts. I agree with you on many points. Some readers don’t enjoy the dual-time story structure, and some do. There are many beautiful novels, both historical and contemporary, that achieve complexity and depth in a straightforward manner rather than using a dual-time structure. I’m glad we have so many choices as readers!
I love dual timeline novels! Like you, I think it adds a depth and richness to the story. My current dual timeline read is A Million Little Choices by Tamera Alexander.
Hi D’Ann. I heard Tammy talking about A Million Little Choices on a podcast, and I’m looking forward to reading or listening to that story. Thanks for the recommendation!
LOVE this post! And you too, of course, Carrie! This is my absolute favorite style of novel and all the reasons you gave and more are why. 🙂
All the novels you listed are fabulous! So excited the growing amount of variety for this style. Such enjoyable and thought-provoking reads for sure.
Thanks, Morgan! I was thinking of sharing this in our Facebook group. I’ll check and see if anyone else has shared it there. If not, I will. Thanks for helping readers and authors connect and discover dual-time novels.
I love reading dual-time novels. I recently read The Legacy of Longdale Manor and loved it. You are one of my favorite authors, and I have enjoyed every book of yours that I have read.
Hi Ruth, thanks so much for those kind words! I am deep into revisions on my next book, A Token of Love, and I needed some encouragement today. Happy Reading to you!
Carrie
These are so helpful. Reading your book helped me understand the concept better. I’m about half-way through writing my dual-time thriller, perhaps a questionable choice for a first novel.
Hi Steve, I admire you for taking on the challenge! It’s not easy, especially for a first novel. But, you will learn a lot in the process, and that’s how writers grow and strengthen their skills. The best to you on your writing journey!
Thank you, Carrie, for highlighting dual-time novels. I’ve read many over the years and agree with your insights and many of the commenters points of view. I believe my intro to dual-time was reading Kristy Cambron’s Hidden Masterpiece series (The Butterfuly and the Violin, A Sparrow in Terezin) which were marvelous stories. Not only a great example of dual time, but surprising new perspectives of WWII, compelling storylines and dear characters that captured me from the first, and an amazing ability to portray hard things (I mean there were concentration camps!) in such a way that one could read the story without dissolving in grief. Those were a great into into dual-time stories.
I’ve also discovered, as Betty mentioned above, some authors handle dual-time better than others. I, too, find it off-putting to have to continualy turn back and forth to keep things straight. Some authors draw such clear characters and engaging storylines that it is easier to keep grounded in eras as the novel moves forward and we switch back & forth. So–looking forward to reading The Legacy of Longdale Manor, and I appreciate your recommendations of others. Thanks again!
Hi Mary Kay, thanks for sharing your thoughts. I agree, creating clear and unique characters helps readers to move back and forth between plots and enjoy the different storylines. I hope you enjoy reading The Legacy of Longdale Manor!
I’ve often imagined what it would be like to live in a different time and place, sometimes feeling like I was born in the ‘wrong’ time period. I think that is what makes dual time novels so intriguing.
Hi Sherry, that’s a fun thought! Reading dual-time novels does give you that taste of what it would be like to live in a different time period. Thanks for commenting!