What was your motivation behind THE PIPER’S PURSUIT? Why did you want to write it?

I wanted to give Steffan his own story, as he was the rebellious, troubled bad boy in my last book, The Warrior Maiden, so he could redeem himself and get his happily ever after. I also wanted to write a retelling of the Pied Piper fairy tale. I’d loved that story even more after I visited Germany and took a day trip to Hamlin to see all the touristy fun they have with that story there—plays, everything you can imagine shaped into rats, a church glockenspiel depicting the story, and statues of the Pied Piper you can pose beside.


"Readers who enjoy Young Adult fairy tale retellings will probably like The Piper’s Pursuit by Melanie Dickerson. In keeping with its YA branding, the romance is very clean and the prose had that YA feel where it’s not deeply beautiful, but it’s entertaining. The Piper’s Pursuit was an easy, fast read for me that has a permanent home on my bookcase."


"It takes a lot for an author to take an old loved story and make it her own, and Melanie Dickerson is an expert at it. She breathes her own new life into these fairytales, and just maybe someone can find the Lord through her books. I highly recommend this book to anyone because I believe everyone can enjoy this one."


"As with all of Ms. Dickerson's fairytale recreations, Piper’s Pursuit is so interesting. It's also unique in that I've never read (or heard of) a retelling of the classic Pied Piper until now. . . . very enjoyable and enchanting."


Did Katerina dare to stay out hunting past dark? The sun was going down, casting long shadows as she skirted the forest on her right and an empty meadow on the left. At least the town gate was visible ahead.

She checked her crossbow, making sure the arrow was strung and ready. Her unruly brown hair was starting to come free from the leather tie taming it at the nape of her neck.

She picked up her pace as she passed a particularly dark section of the forest. She could easily imagine the giant wolf, or whatever the beast was that had killed so many, coming out of those dense trees and leaping at her. Would she have time to aim her crossbow before she fired? She would only get one shot.


"I have always loved the Pied Piper of Hamlin story and she does wonders with this one! I was captivated from the very beginning and read it in one day. Highly recommended."


"This was such an interesting read! I personally never read the original story of the Pied Piper -- I only know a little bit about it and definitely plan to read it after having read this amazingly written re-imagining. Melanie Dickerson is such an awesome writer. The way she weaves in the word of God in her books is simply amazing."


Life Is What It's Called - What do you hope readers will gain from this book?

Melanie Dickerson - I hope they understand that true love is kind, and true love protects. Also, that you can fight unfair situations and, with God’s help, you can win!

"The Piper's Pursuit is probably one of the best books out of the Hagenheim series. There was action, adventure, mystery, romance and more. . . . It's definitely worth a read."


"I really enjoyed seeing Steffan's path to redemption and getting to know Katerina- these characters really came to life . . . . There is plenty of suspense and action, and the romantic tension slowly grows as Steffan proves himself worthy of Katerina's trust. . . . Overall, an exciting and satisfying escape into this creative retelling of The Pied Piper.


"Melanie's books never cease to amaze me. Her ability to bring my favorite fairy tales to life in a beautiful and pure way just makes my heart soar. . . . This story is riddled with danger and adventure. From fighting the beast, fleeing Henneck and his guards, protecting children, and freeing a city...Kat and Steffan will take you on a journey as they pursue truth, freedom, and love."


His thoughts were suddenly redirected by a sight he’d never seen before—a herd of rats moving down the street, streaming into an alleyway up ahead. They roiled as they crawled and tumbled over each other, making faint screeching sounds, mingling with the collective clicking of their tiny claws on the cobblestones.

A man walking into the path of the rats suddenly cried out and started to back away. The rats reached him before he could escape, engulfing his feet as he cried out again, lifting one foot then the other. Steffan held his breath, too far away to help the man as he tried to walk on top of the rats. When he lifted one foot, a rat hung by its teeth from his ankle.


"The Piper's Pursuit was a wonderful story, filled with adventure, intrigue, and romance. Melanie Dickerson's distinct style of storytelling shines bright in this book. The rich historical and regional details leap off the page in vivid color, leaving the reader completely immersed in the 15th century storyworld. You will love characters and hate the villains. And, I'm sure, like me, will be unable to put down The Piper's Pursuit for even fire, famine, or flood."


He burst out the door behind Katerina. He pursued her down the cobblestone street, but not before he noted the hulking man pushing himself off the shop front he was leaning against and coming after them.

She was walking fast. He stayed just behind her. Perhaps he could wait until she was less angry before trying to convince her to trust him.

He knew a lot about anger. He’d spent the last year realizing how foolish his own anger had been. Now, when that anger rose up, instead of drinking too much to make it go away, he asked himself where it was coming from. Oftentimes he realized he was blaming someone else for something that was mostly his own fault. The person he was most angry at was himself.


"The stakes are high with this one. With a beast... or two? . . . The descriptions are chilling and the mystery compelling. I hate the villain with a passion. This is definitely one of my favorite[s], if not my favorite Dickerson book I've read to date."


"THE PIPER'S PURSUIT is a twist on the Pied Piper and the Prodigal Son with a strong heroine in the middle and a town to save. The characters are likable, the story entertaining, and the romance is sweet with an inspirational aspect as these characters seek to forgive others, themselves, and trust in God. Recommended to Christian historical romance fans."

"This Pied-Piper reimagining (blended with the story of the Prodigal Son) allows the truth of Steffan’s character to shine—and brings him just the type of fierce female he needs. Katerina challenges him, even as she has her own lessons to learn, and together, they make a great team. I enjoyed rooting for them throughout the fairytale adventure."


". . . Dickerson weaves a story of redemption, learning to give yourself forgiveness and grace for past mistakes, and good conquering evil that is an entertaining addition to the entire Hagenheim series (and readers of the entire series will enjoy the connections to the other stories throughout The Piper’s Pursuit)."


"I was excited to read this one, and easily found myself captivated by Katerina’s story! . . . full of thrilling adventures full of action and mystery, the promise of danger, suspense, romance, redemption and love."

Q: What are your favorite genres to read and write? What are your favorite books?

A: My favorite genre is historical romance. It’s hard to imagine writing in any other genre. My favorite books are Pride and Prejudice, everything else by Jane Austen, Jane Eyre, A Vision of Light and the rest of that series by Judith Merkle Riley.


What is your next release and/or what are you working on now?

M: The Peasant’s Dream releases in July, and I just turned in the first round of edits on that. It is, alas, the 11th and final book in the Hagenheim series. But I’m also writing Court of Swans, the first book in a new series set in England in the reign of King Richard II in the late 1300’s. This first book is a retelling of the Wild Swans fairy tale. I’m excited about this new series!

"The Piper’s Pursuit’s action-packed plot kept me on the edge of my seat. Dickerson’s story shows that people aren’t always as they appear—for better or worse." - by teen guest reviewer, Faith


Kat got a strange feeling, a prickling at the back of her neck, as if something were breathing just behind her. She turned, but only Steffan was there, slightly behind and to the side of her. Beyond him were dark, shadowy trees. The sky seemed to have become overcast, hiding the sun and making the forest even darker.

She continued forward. How had she never seen this path before? Or gone this way? It must be a very new path. A fallen tree lay up ahead. She vaguely remembered seeing it before, lying against a large boulder, half covered. But today there were other downed trees that looked to have been piled up around it, covering the boulder, if indeed her memory was correct.


"I have really really enjoyed this book. I'm so glad that I got to be on this tour. I don't know when I have enjoyed a book so much! But just wow! It's so exciting with twists and turns that it will leave you biting your finger nails and frantically turning the page to see what happens to Katerina and Steffan!! These two are incorrigible! They certainly make an adventure exciting!! . . . I highly recommend this book. Melanie Dickerson is an excellent author who can bring the old fairy tales back to life in ways one can never imagine."


"As always, Melanie Dickerson’s fairy tale retellings do not disappoint. . . . This story has all the delights of a fairy tale, and yet, there’s so much more to it. . . . If you are a lover of fairy tales, be sure and read this one!"

The Piper's Pursuit
(Hagenheim #10)
By Melanie Dickerson
YA Fairy Tale Retelling, Christian, Historical
Hardcover, Audiobook & ebook, 320 Pages
December 3rd 2019 by Thomas Nelson

A fairy-tale journey of intrigue and romance that reimagines the classic Pied Piper story.

A plague of rats. A giant beast outside the village walls. A host of missing children. And one young woman determined to save her people.

In 1424 Hamlin, Katerina faces threats from all sides. An outbreak of rats has overtaken the village, a mysterious beast is on a killing rampage of the village’s children, and Katerina’s evil stepfather is a dark presence inside the walls of her own home. Katerina is determined to hunt and kill the Beast of Hamlin herself before more lives are lost.

When Steffan, the handsome but brash duke’s son, comes to town seeking glory and reward, Katerina decides he might be the ally she’s been looking for—even though the only gentle thing about him seems to be the sweet music he plays on his pipe. But there’s more to Steffan than she suspects, and she finds herself drawn to him despite her misgivings.

Together Katerina and Steffan must stop the enemy from stealing the children of Hamlin. But their interference might create an even worse fate for the entire village.

Praise for The Piper’s Pursuit

“The Piper’s Pursuit is a lovely tale of adventure, romance, and redemption. Kat and Steffan’s righteous quest will have you rooting them on until the very satisfying end!” --LORIE LANGDON, author of Olivia Twist and the DOON series
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