Summer Reading – Callie Murray: The Power of Home, Hope and Helping Hands
Summer Reading Series! In this episode, Lisa sits down with author Callie Murray to discuss her historical fiction novel, The Brunswick. Set in 1939 Norcross, Georgia, the story follows Cora Kane, a woman who opens her family’s hotel to Jewish refugee children fleeing Austria as World War II looms overseas.
Callie shares the powerful inspiration behind the book—and how she wrote it before knowing she would one day adopt four children of her own. Together, Lisa and Callie explore the deeper themes woven throughout the novel, including grief, prejudice, and what it truly means to create “a soft place to land.” They also discuss the vital role of community in foster care, revealing how support systems can dramatically increase the likelihood of families continuing their fostering journey.
This conversation is a heartfelt reminder that while not everyone is called to foster, we are all called to care—and that real change begins when we choose to see people as individuals, not labels.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
The story behind The Brunswick and its historical roots
The importance of community support for foster families
Why relationships—not headlines—break down barriers
Callie Murray is an entrepreneur who has been featured on The Today Show and in The New York Times. Her debut Southern fiction book delves into the lesser-knows historical details preceding Would War II. Callie and her husband live in Norcross, Georgia with their seven children, four of whom came through the honor of foster care/adoption. Learn more at CallieMurray.com
*Proceeds from The Brunswick go toward supporting foster and adoptive families, with grants already making a real impact!
