Rebecca Price Janney

Rebecca accepting her Golden Scroll Award for her historical fiction novel, Easton at the Crossroads.

Rebecca accepting her Golden Scroll Award for her historical fiction novel, Easton at the Crossroads.

Rebecca Price Janney is a woman of many talents. She is an award winning author, historian, speaker, podcaster, and more. Rebecca has written two dozen books, both fiction and non-fiction. She received her doctorate from Missio Seminary in Philadelphia, focusing her studies on the role of women in American history. She is also a member of the Daughters of the Revolution. 

Her newest book, Easton at the Pass, was released last summer and is the fourth book in her award-winning Easton series. The series explores the relationship and connection between two people living two centuries apart. According to a radio interview with WDIY 88.1, the first book, Easton at the Forks, was inspired by Rebecca’s own genealogical research and family history. 

Rebecca also records a weekly podcast, Inspiration from American History. You can listen on her website and all popular podcast apps.  

Below are Rebecca’s answers to FURL’s local author spotlight questions. You can also read more about Rebecca on her website, www.rebeccapricejanney.com.

How did you get started writing?

When I was fifteen, I faced-off with the editor of my local newspaper–I wanted to write for the paper; he nearly laughed me out of the office. Then I displayed my ace–a portfolio of celebrity interviews I'd written for a bigger paper’s teen supplement. By the next month I was covering the Philadelphia Phillies! During my senior year in high school, Seventeen published my first magazine article and in conjunction with the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, named me a runner-up in their teen-of-the-year contest. 

Where did you get the idea for your first book?

Sweet, Sweet Spirit, published last year was one of the first books Janney wrote nearly 40 years ago.

Sweet, Sweet Spirit, published last year was one of the first books Janney wrote nearly 40 years ago.

There are two answers because my first published book wasn't the first one I wrote. I had the idea for the first book I ever wrote during high school when I was politically active and very idealistic. That book was written and rewritten over the next few decades before finally getting published last year; it's called Sweet, Sweet Spirit.

The first book I had published was the initial novel in my Nancy Drew-type Heather Reed Series for 10-14 year-olds. Called The Cryptic Clue, it was inspired by a dream I had one night about a TV villain. It was so vivid, and over the following days, a story line developed.

How long did it take to write it?

Sweet, Sweet Spirit took over 40 years of writing and revision; The Cryptic Clue went quickly, about a year.

Was there any part of the publishing/promotion process that surprised you? 

There's so much marketing involved. An author doesn't just write and revise and edit a book; then comes the promotional part. This has been the hardest part for me because I dislike promoting myself.

Who are your favorite authors? 

I'm pretty eclectic – among my favorites are:

Easton at the Pass, book 4 and the newest publication from Rebecca Price Janney’s Easton series.

Easton at the Pass, book 4 and the newest publication from Rebecca Price Janney’s Easton series.

  • C.S. Lewis

  • Jan Karon

  • Homer Hickam

  • Jane Austen

  • Chaim Potok

  • Sandra Byrd

  • Robin Jones Gunn

  • Marlo Schalesky

  • Charles Dickens

  • David McCullough

  • John Ferling

  • Catherine Marshall

  • Timothy Keller

  • Rudyard Kipling

  • Dr. Seuss

  • T.S. Eliot

  • Robert Frost

What's the best book you have read in the past year?

The year is still young, and I'm carrying forward what I started last fall, which is reading Jane Austen's novels. I particularly enjoyed her wordplay in Pride and Prejudice.

Is there any advice you would give to “budding authors?"

Writing is no half-way endeavor. Unless you are 100% dedicated to the entire writing and publication process, you're better off doing something else. If you are called to write professionally, get as much training as you can, immerse yourself in reading great writing, and develop a thick skin because rejection is a huge part of this profession, even when a writer is well established. Finally, never think you've arrived. The best writers are never completely satisfied with their work; they welcome the expertise of excellent editors.  

Anything else you would like to share?

I am deeply grateful to be able to write as my profession, so grateful to God for giving me this ability and for publishers, and a husband, who believe in me, and for loyal readers, who keep my characters and stories in their hearts.