Book Reviews and Author Q&As: Episode 6: Author Sara Brunsvold

Welcome to Book Reviews and Author Q&As Episode 6 with award-winning author, Author Sara Brunsvold! Come with me and meet this Christian Contemporary Women's Fiction author who is taking the writing world by storm.

Book Reviews and Author Q&As

Book Review of The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip by Sara Brunsvold

The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip is a Christian Contemporary Women’s Fiction about an amazing elderly woman, Clara Kip, who is living out her last days in hospice. However, despite the death sentence, this spunky woman makes the most of every last breath.

Aidyn Kelley is a talented, up and coming, newspaper reporter, delegated to filler pieces for the Kansas City Star. When given the job of writing an obituary for a woman who is still alive, Mrs. Clara Kip, she knows it is a punishment for wanting and asking for more important stories. What she doesn’t know, is that the interviews with Mrs. Kip will change her life in more ways than one.

Mrs. Clara Kip, though frail and dying, teaches the young Aidyn Kelly how to truly live by sharing her journals that tell the story of an extraordinary life lived for God and by being an example of a life lived in love and sacrifice to others.

This is an extraordinary tale, Mrs. Kip’s and Aidyn Kelley’s. The older woman at the end of her days and the younger woman beginning hers. This story is poignant, engaging, and filled with moments of laughter, tears, and inspiration. I highly recommend this story for women young and old. For we can all learn from Mrs. Clara Kip how to live our lives to the fullest until the Lord calls us home.

Book Review of The Divine Proverb of Streusel by Sara Brunsvold

The Divine Proverb of Streusel by Sara Brunsvold, is a Christian Contemporary Women’s Fiction. This novel is about a young woman’s hurt and disillusionment after her parents’ divorce and the repercussions that come along with the rending of a family. In her haste to escape the emotional upheaval her father instigated and the serious boyfriend she cannot face; Nikki Werner seeks a haven and lands at her father’s childhood home.

Between the nearby uncle, Wes Werner, who is kind, understanding, and willing to let Nikki stay in the old homestead, fun-loving Great Aunt Emma who brings the family history to life, and the handwritten notebook of recipes and wisdom of her deceased German grandmother, Nikki discovers the heritage and family she'd been denied as a child. In addition to the connection to the past, Nikki finds the emotional and spiritual tools to rebuild her broken relationships.

This story is full of fun, endearing, lovable and not so lovable characters, delectable recipes, heart wrenching, heartwarming moments, and hope that with God, healing is possible. And with God, even what appears to be irrevocably torn can be mended. This novel doesn’t shy away from raw emotions and hard topics. I highly recommend this honest look at one woman’s journey to faith, healing, and forgiveness. It is definitely worth the read.

Book Reviews and Author Q&As

Author Q&A with Author Sara Brunsvold

Sandy: Please tell us a little bit about your novels, The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip, The Divine Proverb or Streusel, and your upcoming novel, The Atlas of Untold Stories.

Sara: Each of the novels is contemporary women's fiction for the Christian market. All three feature intergenerational relationships and are set in the Midwest. Specifically, all three have ties to Kansas City, where I live. While they are stand-alone novels, I love pulling threads from one story to the next. As a result, you will find Easter eggs in each book.

Sandy: Out of the three books, do you have a favorite character? Why?

Sara: Clara Kip from my first novel, The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip, will always be my sentimental favorite. She was a character I needed at the precise time she shuffled into my imagination.

Sandy: In The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip and The Divine Proverb of Streusel (and perhaps The Atlas of Untold Stories) there is an older woman sharing her wisdom with a younger woman. Has there been someone in your life who inspires those more mature and wise characters?

Sara: Intergenerational relationships, particularly among women, is a heartstring for me. I have been blessed to have a number of "Titus 2 mother hens," as I call them, who have poured and are pouring into my life. My late mother-in-law was among them, and I'm thrilled that my daughters also understand the value of having an older woman (or two) walking with them.

Sandy: In The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip, you introduce us to the plight of Laotian refugees in the 1970s. What part of the research behind the Laotian refugees’ struggle surprised or intrigued you most?

Sara: All of it was eye-opening for me. Up until I started learning about this part of history, I hadn't considered the refugee plight much. I definitely came away with a deeper compassion for refugees in all parts of the world.

Sandy: In The Divine Proverb of Streusel, your main character, Nikki Werner, finds a notebook of handwritten recipes by her deceased German grandmother. Did any of these recipes originate in your own family?

Sara: Two of them did: scalloped cabbage and raisin nut cookies. My great-grandmother would have been so proud!

Sandy: In The Divine Proverb of Streusel, you give us several of the recipes. Though it’s hard to choose, I think the German Hamburgers sound delicious! Do you have a favorite amongst the many wonderful recipes?

Sara: Funny you should mention the German hamburgers. They became a family favorite during my recipe testing. I serve them on the regular now. Scalloped cabbage has been my favorite since childhood, though, so I can't NOT mention that one. For a limited time, I am offering a bonus recipe on my website for Brown Butter German Shortbread Cookies. Readers have said they devour them as fast I do!

Sandy: In your novels, you deal with some weighty topics such as divorce, disease, death, and political upheaval. Out of all those difficult subjects, which one challenged you the most?

Sara: The most personal was divorce, which is the backdrop of The Divine Proverb of Streusel. I drew from my own experience of navigating my parents' divorce, which meant I had to go back to some difficult memories. Writing about the end of life was probably the most emotionally draining, though. But as a writer and as a reader, I desire to sit in the hard places and intentionally look for the lovely there. The lovely, the noble, the praise-worthy, the honorable. Often I learn more from the hard than I do from the happy.

Sandy: As you’ve written these novels, is there one spiritual lesson you’ve learned you can share with us?

Sara: Writing has taught me just how reliant I am on God to write a single word that resonates with others. Psalm 16:2 captures it well: "I said to the Lord, you are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing."

Sandy: Why did you choose to write for the Christian market?

Sara: I think it chose me.

Sandy: How can readers connect with you?

Sara: I'd love to keep the conversation going! You can find out more about me, my story and my books at www.sarabrunsvold.com . I'm also on Instagram and Facebook.

Coming June 17, 2025

The Atlas of Untold Stories by Sara Brunsvold

To learn more and where to pre-order go here!

Did learning more about Sara Brunsvold, her stories, and her love for the Lord bless your heart as much as it did mine? If you contact Sara and I hope you will, tell her Sandy Kay Slawson sent you! 😄

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