You took a nine-year hiatus after wrapping up the Mitford series with the eleventh novel. What prompted your return in 2015 to release Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good?
My readers were wild to go back to Mitford. The general consensus was: Holly Springs, fine. County Sligo, fine. Now let’s go back to Mitford. Thankfully, I was curious myself. What was going on in the lives of characters I had lived with for 20 years? I was occasionally homesick for the place. Conclusion: Never say never.
What makes your books so popular?
When I began writing the series, I was dedicated to keeping it clean. That’s the way I like it, and I thought a few people might agree. Actually, millions agree, which, in the end, is no surprise. I find people everywhere to be basically decent, kindhearted, affectionate, helpful, funny, and ready for a laugh, a cry, and the assurance that God really does love us. I am here to encourage, console, and create a safe place between the covers of a book.
I have been intrigued about the way you develop your characters, as if they lead you rather than you creating them. What makes Father Tim so easy to be with and write about?
When I started writing about Father Tim, I found him on the boring side—too nice, maybe. Bland. But as we worked together, I got to know him better. He became deeper, and so did the author. He suffered, and so did I. We embarked on life together, and I began to find him trustworthy, funny, sensitive, loving, thoughtful of others, lacking a bit in self-esteem, hungry for love but scared of it, and with fewer defenses than the rest of us. I care very much for my man and thus have devoted, to date, 25 years of my life telling his story.
Jan Karon has written fourteen books in the Mitford series. I appreciate the way she talks about her relationship with her characters and her discovering their stories as she writes—very thought provoking! Congratulations, my friend, on a library of wonderful titles. You make our world a more beautiful place.
Have you read any of Jan Karon’s books? Which was your favorite and why?
Text Phyllis Hoffman DePiano
I became a MITFORD addict during a most stressful 2 years of taking in my mother, who suffered dementia and bad anxiety. I became house bound and JAN KARONS books took me so far away .My refuge was bedtime, a cup of mint tea and a small town tucked in the book series. I did pre-order the last book because I was so excited there was more. Thank you Jan!
Yes I have read most of her books and own 12 including the cookbook. I have bought three of the first one because I loaned it out and they were passed around and not returned; so I would buy another. Am excited about the event and meeting her and you as well.
I adore the Mitford books! I had not heard of them until I saw the first 5 being sold as a set many years ago in a Christian book club my husband was in. I devoured them, and passed them to my non-reader daughter who became a voracious reader, all because of those first Mitford books. I have all of them plus some of the small books. To pick my favorite would be impossible. Jan Karon is my favorite author.
I have read all 14 books and loved every single one.
I have no doubt that God has used Jan Karon in a very special way. He guided her hand as she wrote these books and He guided her heart, her mind and her soul. Her books have touched so many people’s lives, have helped people to heal spiritually and physically. Jan Karon is not just an author, she is a very special author, one of God’s messengers, for sure!
I’ve read every single one of the series and nothing else compares! I WISH I could go to this, but I’m a teacher and I don’t think it’s going to work with school
I love the Mitford series, and can’t pick a favorite! These characters get you to love them, each in their own way.
I’d love to attend this event but it’s not in my budget!
Dear Jan Karon and Victoria magazine, I have read every single one of Jan Karon’s books! Mitford and Jan’s newer books gave me many “wonderful armchair visits” in reading. Cynthia’s artistry in her children’s books were a wonderful inspiration to me personally as an artist. Father Tim was a humble, real person who loved God, his new family and everyone in Mitford. One day, I came across Jan’s cookbook from our library. It was a found treasure on the sale table! I took it home and made the recipe for ….Esther’s orange marmalade cake! I always wondered what made that cake so popular! I took the cake to my friend, Bette, who also read her books and was in the last stages of cancer. We laughed as we enjoyed sampling the delicious cake as we read the favorite recipes and stories in the cookbook. Bette even went and got the past Victoria magazine that you were featured in to peruse together. It was a memory with my friend that I will always treasure. Thank you Jan for your wonderful creative writing for our enjoyment through the years!
I have read and loved and shared most of Jan Karon’s books. I think God has given her a special gift. I look for them
at thrift stores so I can get them and share them. Thank you so much for such special books. The laughter and tears
and special times makes them so hard to put down.
LAST YEAR I WAS IN A THRIFT ASTORE LOOKING AT THE BOOKS WHEN A LADY CAME TO ME WITH THE FIRST BOOK OF THE MITFORD SERIES AND TOLD ME IT WAS A GREAT READ. IT WAS TATTERED BUT I BOUGHT IT ANYWAY . AFTER READING THAT ONE I ORDERED THE REST ON LINE AND I FINISHED THEM ALL IN TWO MONTHS. I WAS HOOKED. THEY GAVE ME A PEACE SPIRITUALLY LIKE NOTHING I HAD EVER EXPERIENCED. THIS SPRING MY HUSBAND BECAME VERY ILL AND PASSED AWAY IN SEPT. I KNOW THAT BOOK CAME TO ME FOR A REASON AS I KNOW I WOULD NEVER HAVE GOTTEN THROUGH HIS PASSING HAVING NOT READ THESE BOOKS . THANKS YOU JAN FOR HAVING SUCH A SPIRITUAL AND CALMNG AFFECT ON PEOPLE THROUGH YOUR BOOKS. GOD BLESS
My Mother-in-Law was Christmas shopping last year and the clerk in the bookstore told her about the Mitford 3-book gift box. She bought it for me. It took six months to finally sit down and read them, and after the first volume, I was hooked. I sent them over to MIL and she was hooked. I found the rest here and there and we passed them back and forth until the very last book. I know we will read them again. And again.
I started reading the Mitford series as they came out. I wondered over the years how each one could get better and better than the one before it. But they did and I was hooked on reading all of your books . I retired in May 2019 and since then I have read all 14 books in the series. As I did from the beginning- I cried , laughed and thoroughly enjoyed myself the second go round. I’m now reading the cookbook/ reader again- brings back wonderful memories. I’m so looking forward to knowing about Dooley and Lace’s baby , the RVers and all the rest. Thanks for the wonderful series- each and everyone has been special to me!!!
I love love LOVE her books. Every one of them. It seems like Father Tim and Cynthia are real people! I want to go to Mitford and visit with them personally. Im so thankful there are still authors out there who can write a “clean” book that doesn’t leave you sick to the stomach. I wish there was some way to thank Jan personally. Does she have a mailing address does anyone know??
I would love the books to continue telling about Mitford and the characters. They are my very favorite.
I have loved each and every book in the Mitford series and all the Mitford novels. I even reread To Be Where You Are now in the Corona virus times.
Thank you , Jan, for creating community and portraying real, even sacrificial love among the characters. It has warmed my heart and given me hope that maybe, just maybe we could with God’s help work towards a sense of community right where we are.
Would you consider writing one more Mitford novel, Jan? I so want to read about Dooley and Lace’s baby, hear how Father Tim and Cynthia’s trip went, and how Avis and Chuckie are faring. And our dear Louella, will she die in the next book? Or Esther Cunningham? They are almost 90! Oh, my goodness, I am the reader, you and the God the authors of this precious series.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart! I am so glad you decided to face your fears and write!
Wishing you God’s blessings and His Peace especially in theses troubled times!
Vicki den Exter Blokland
I love Jan Karan’s books. I have all of the one in the Mitford Series. It applies to me as I was a Church Secretary for 21 l/2 years. I learned a lot about personalities, believe me and I loved the job. I worked with different pastors as well. Now I am planning to buy her new book. She explains the characters so well. When I was in the book store one day, I told them she was the best author ever. I do realize I read so many books and the authors are different and good. It was just the message she was giving me at the time, I guess. I have read books by many different and GOOD writers
I have read the complete series. I have lost track of how many times I’ve read them. I get a need at times to escape and visit Mitford. Once I start then I have to go through them all. Once I finish the last one I’m always wishing that there was another. Will there be another in the series? I hope there will be. I know for me Mitford is the place that I always wish I could live with all these people being my friends and neighbors. All I can say is they are Wonderful. Thank you so much for Mitford and Father Tim.
As so many before me, stress their delight in the Mitford series, I, at 78yrs. young , have thoroughly enjoyed Jan Karon’s creativity. Thank you God for these thy blessings. With a Grateful Heart, MarieRose. Mitford will always be a part of my life with all the references to God which our country sure has neglected and it’s delightful and delicious foods( I have the cookbook) thanks again.
During this Covid lockdown I read the entire series for my third time! The books are so soothing and heartwarming. I do hope there will be another . I couldn’t bear to never hear news of the Mitford family again! So sorry to miss the event in Asheville. It was sold out before I was aware .
I love these books. Have enjoyed the complete series three times. I would love to read a new book about Dooley , lace and whole mitford gang. God Bless you for writing such a beautiful story.
I love these books. I was introduced right before Covid hit. So sensing libraries may close I went to my ‘local’ and grabbed all they had. Thank you for these wonderful books!
I read the first 4 books when they first came out. Life got very hectic. I recently started reading the Mitford series again after watching the Hallmark movie, At home in Mitford. I was depressed from this Covid virus and watching the movie made me feel more positive. I am now reading the rest of the books! Thank you Jan!!!
I first read the series about 20ish year ago as Jan was writing and publishing them. I was relatively young and sending my kids off to college and a life beyond home. At the first reading. I recall identifying very strongly with Cynthia as she continued to grow into her better self and found such joy in reading and watching. In February of 2021…as I was cleaning out my Mom’s house and sending the last couple of weeks of her life with her, I found the first three Mitford novels on her bookshelf with a note I had included many years before. It reminded me how much I loved the books and I immediately began re-reading the series. Mom passed away peacefully about two weeks later and for the next 6 months, I slowly read through all of Karon’s remaining books. It was as if she…through Father Tim and company…had come to help me walk through this shadow of death called “grief”.
To have stumbled on this series so many years ago and then once again when I needed it the most – blessed!