LAND OF THE MORNING CALM

LAND OF THE MORNING CALM
Friday, June 12, 2026 by REBECCA PRICE JANNEY

Categories: Friday's Fiction / GUEST AUTHORS

PLEASE WELCOME

REBECCA PRICE JANNEY

FICTION FRIDAY

THE AUTHOR’S STORY

People often ask where my book ideas come from. The answer is usually a mix of research, personal experiences, and long hours of planning. But now and then, a story arrives in a way I can only describe as a gift.

That is exactly what happened with my Korean War novel East of the Sun—and ultimately, with my new release, Land of the Morning Calm.

In September 2023, while my husband was away on an extended Grand Canyon trip with his college best friend, I spent a quiet evening watching an old episode of M*A*S*H. That night, I had a vivid dream. In it, an army nurse was called to triage a severely wounded North Korean officer. He could not speak, but when she looked into his eyes, she felt an immediate, unmistakable connection—a spiritual recognition that defied everything his uniform suggested. Somehow, she knew he was not who he appeared to be.

I woke up with that scene still burning in my mind.

Throughout the day, my imagination kept building on it. By evening, I was scribbling notes. Over the next several days, the story continued to unfold almost on its own. Within weeks, what I had was not just an idea, but a full-fledged novel taking shape. This was unusual for me. Normally, I spend months researching and outlining before I begin writing. But this story came nearly complete—I simply had to put flesh on the bones.

As I wrote, connections from my own life began to resurface: relationships formed in seminary, a professor who had served as a missionary in Korea, Korean students I had taught after earning my doctorate, and former neighbors. All of it wove naturally into the narrative. My editor agreed with my growing sense that this story was a gift from God.

In East of the Sun, Army Nurse Shelby Kichline gets to know the mysterious Korean soldier. As their story deepens, so does the past behind it. When Shelby discovers Parker’s true identity, they uncover a remarkable connection: their grandfathers once knew each other in Korea during the great revival of 1907.

That discovery led me to write Land of the Morning Calm.

This inspirational novel steps back in time to tell the story of those two young men—seminarians whose lives intersect at a mission in Pyongyang. Jacob wrestles with doubt after exposure to Modernism at Princeton Seminary, a worldview that questions, “Did God really say?” In contrast, Soon-hee Oh’s faith remains strong, yet his life is burdened by personal and national struggles: a rebellious brother, family tensions, fragile health, unfulfilled love, and the shadow of Japanese occupation over Korea.

Against this backdrop, missionaries and believers gather to pray—persistently, fervently, even desperately. For months, they fast and petition God to move, just as He had in Wales, India, Kentucky, and Azusa Street in Los Angeles.

And then, in January 1907, He does.

What follows is a powerful outpouring that transforms lives, ignites faith, and spreads across a nation. Jacob and Soon-hee are forever changed, along with countless others. Korea itself is revived.

As a theologically trained historian, I have long been drawn to stories of revival. I’ve explored this theme in earlier works such as Great Stories in American History, Morning Glory, and Sweet, Sweet Spirit. Writing Land of the Morning Calm felt both natural and deeply meaningful. History shows us that

God often moves most powerfully in the darkest moments—

when hearts are weary, when faith feels fragile, and when hope seems distant.

That truth feels especially relevant today.

As I look at the challenges facing our own nation, I am not discouraged. On the contrary, I am expectant, especially as I see many signs of renewal, particularly among our youth. The same God who moved in Korea in 1907 is still at work.

And that is the heartbeat behind Land of the Morning Calm—a story of doubt and faith, struggle and surrender, and the kind of awakening that changes not only individuals, but entire nations. (Scroll down for comments by the blog host)

MORE ABOUT LAND OF THE MORNING CALM

TWO SEARCHING HEARTS, TWO DISTANT WORLDS—A SURPRISING WORK OF GOD.

At Princeton Seminary, Jacob Kichline longs to serve God with his whole life. But the tide of Modernism undermines his trust in Scripture, shattering his calling—and his hopes with Pearl Smith. Struggling to recover a lost sense of purpose, he accepts a temporary post in Korea to assist missionaries with translation work, unaware that the journey will test far more than his scholarship.

In Pyongyang, Soon-hee Oh clings to faith amid turmoil at home and unrest across his land.

His parents’ favoritism toward an ailing brother and his deceptive schemes, as well as the tightening grip of the Japanese occupation, threaten Soon-hee’s health and his relationship with the woman he loves.

Circumstances draw Jacob and Soon-hee together, and each must face the truth about pride, surrender, and what it means to follow a living God on shifting ground.

When the enemy comes in like a flood, God rises with power no one can ignore—and lives are forever changed.

A powerful sequel to East of the Sun, this tale of conviction, heartbreak, and divine sovereignty calls readers to trust God’s mighty hand in our own turbulent days.

Purchase Link:

https://www.amazon.com/Land-Morning-Calm-Heirs-Freedom/dp/B0GY54GHG

ABOUT REBECCA PRICE JANNEY

Rebecca Price Janney is the multi-award-winning author of twenty-eight books, and they all have happy endings. She began writing professionally at the age of fourteen and by the following year was covering the Philadelphia Phillies. With her love of American history, she pursued degrees from Lafayette College, Princeton Seminary, and Biblical Seminary, where she earned her doctorate. Rebecca is a popular speaker and appears regularly in various forms of media. When she’s not writing or curled up reading a great book with a cup of Japanese Sencha tea, she enjoys trying new recipes on her longsuffering husband and son, watching classic movies, especially if they include Fred Astaire, Cary Grant, or Gary Cooper, and taking nature walks. Along with her family, she resides with her Cavalier King Charles Spaniel in Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley where her ancestors have lived since the 1740s. Connect with her at www.rebeccapricejanney.com and on social media: Facebook, Instagram, MeWe, X, LinkedIn

NOTE FROM FICTION FRIDAY BLOG HOST/LINDA WOOD RONDEAU

While I’ve yet to read Land of the Morning Calm, I have indeed read East of the Sun, a compelling romance set at a time when prejudice was more prevalent than today, and today prejudice still whacks a hole in a divided country. I gave that book a five-star review. I can say, without hesitation, you will find this second book of the series just as engaging.

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Rebecca Price Janney From Easton, PA At 6/13/2026 11:46:07 AM

Thank you, Linda, for featuring my new inspirational novel, LAND OF THE MORNING CALM. I always enjoy working with you and am grateful for the way you celebrate the work of Christian authors. God bless!