Aspiring Authors | The Engrafted Word

The Writer Behind the Words — Kathleen Denly

Savanna Kaiser — Tue, 24 Jul 2018 21:31:40 +0000

———————————————————————————————————————

Kathleen Denly writes stories to entertain, encourage, and inspire readers toward a better understanding of our amazing God and how He sees us. She enjoys finding the lesser known pockets of history and bringing them to life through the joys and struggles of her characters.

Sunny southern California, a favorite setting in her stories, is also her home. She lives there with her loving husband, four young children, two cats, and too many fish to count. As a member of the adoption and foster community, children in need are a cause dear to her heart and she finds they make frequent appearances in her stories.

When she isn’t writing, researching, or caring for children, she spends her time reading, visiting historical sites, hiking, and crafting.

Kathleen is also a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and the San Diego Christian Writers’ Guild.

Always happy to hear from her readers, you can email Kathleen at WriteKathleenDenly@gmail.com and follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

———————————————————————————————————————

Welcome to the blog, Kathleen! I’m so blessed by how God introduced us through a writing contest and I’m so excited to have you join us today.

Savanna, thank you so much for this opportunity to speak with you and your readers! I’m excited and honored to be here!

So tell us… When did you first start writing?

This is a trickier question to answer than it might seem. I actually wrote a whole post on the subject once. However, I think if forced to pick a single day, I would say it was in the ninth grade when I awoke in the wee hours of the morning with the plot for a novel in my head and immediately jotted notes on a nearby notepad. I hadn’t considered myself a writer at the time and had never even thought to write anything so ambitious as a novel, but for reasons I still don’t understand, that’s how it began. It would be another decade, however, before I began to take my writing seriously.

That sounds very similar to me. An idea just hit me one day when I was still in high school and I started writing. I’d never thought of being an author before, but that day the dream was born. 🙂

What are you working on right now?

I’m working on a historical Christian romance featuring a young woman who concocts a seemingly perfect cover for her illegitimate pregnancy — claiming to have eloped with a wealthy stranger too busy managing his mine to come home. She could never have predicted he’d arrive in town the day after she received “news” of his death. In exchange for keeping her secret, the stranger demands just one thing—her hand in marriage, for better or worse, till death do they part. Suddenly, the lie that was meant to save her future, threatens to enslave it.

I have so many juicy surprises planned and, of course, historical events and characters. I’m very excited about this project.

Ohhhhh, I’m intrigued already. What a fun story idea!

Can you tell us about one of your favorite characters you’ve written so far?

That’s a tough one. They are each so unique. I suppose I’ll tell you about the heroine for the story I’m working on now since she’s the most on my mind.

When she was younger, she suffered a vicious dog attack that left her disfigured and forever changed her life. Shunned by society and hidden away by her parents, she doesn’t understand why God abandoned her. Her desperation to find someone who will love her as she is leads her to tragedy and heartbreak. When a man finally sees her for the beauty she is, she struggles to let him in. Particularly when his behavior reminds her of the man who left her.

What’s something you love about your home state?

That’s an easy one. I love it’s rich and varied history. From the times of the native peoples through the Spanish era, the Mexican era, and eventually the American era – complete with the gold rush that drew peoples from all over the world – so many cultures have touched this land. This unique heritage combined with the lure of western expansion provides a wide pool of characters whose stories I can read of in old diaries, letters, and newspapers. There are so many unique local historical sites to visit and libraries to delve into. Add to that: snow-capped mountains, majestic redwoods, lush farmlands, barren deserts and the surprisingly charming chaparral, this state provides a vast range of landscapes against which to set my stories. I could go on to describe the incredible variety of events which have occurred in this great state, but I don’t think we have the space today. 😉

I’d love to visit California some day! 🙂

What’s one of your favorite books?

I can only pick one?! Come on! *grumble* *whine* *cry-a-little* *sigh* … okay fine. If I have to pick one, it would have to be …. Pride and Prejudice. I know, it is far from original, but it’s the truth. I’ve read that book more times than any other book, excepting the Bible. I’ve written a countless number of reports and dissected it six hundred different ways. Yet, each time I read it or listen to it on Audible, I thoroughly enjoy it. Fun fact: When I was in high school I had to walk a mile home from the bus stop. I typically spent that time reciting lines from the Greer Garson version of the movie. I would start at the whatever line I’d left on the day before and continue through the movie, line by line, verbatim until we got home. My sister, who walked with me, thought this was fantastic! Just ask her. 😉

Haha! Love it. 🙂

What is one of your favorite Scripture verses?

My all-time favorite verse is from the book of Job, believe it or not. It is Job 2:10 when Job says to his wife, “You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?”

It isn’t the most cheerful of quotes on the surface, I know. However, it reminds me that all things are under God’s sovereignty and that reminds me of how He works in all things for the good of those who love Him. In my darkest valleys I need not despair, for God is with me and He is for me. Though I cannot see His path, nor always understand His ways, He is there and He loves me. So in all circumstances, I can say, “Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

I’m so glad you shared this. You’re exactly right. God’s sovereignty is such a comfort and strength through the unknowns of life.

Can you share with us a special moment from your writing journey so far?

I had to think on this one. There have been several. So many times I have felt the undeniable hand of God on my journey. It is difficult to decide which to share. I suppose I’ll share the one that introduced me to you.

Last year, I set some goals for my career designed to push me out of my comfort zone. One of those goals was to enter at least three contests by the end of the year. The first two I entered were mostly for fun and to get my butt in the chair, as we say. They were inexpensive, no-risk, twenty-four-hour short story contests that I knew I wouldn’t win, but which served a purpose, nonetheless. Then I pushed myself to enter a contest in the format I was serious about – novel writing. I wasn’t interested in winning, so much as getting out of my comfort zone. So I looked for one that didn’t cost much to enter and would provide me with some helpful feedback. I found the First Impressions contest, made a few edits to ensure my entry fit their formatting requirements and sent it in. In truth, the weeks following were so busy with birthday and holiday celebrations and adjusting to our newly adopted daughter, that I completely forgot about the contest.

Then one afternoon as I was leaving the pediatric dental office with my four children, I got a call from someone who said something about ACFW. I thought maybe they were calling to check whether I wanted to renew my membership or something so I was only half-listening while I ushered my kids into the van and strapped in my toddler. Then I heard, “First Impressions Contest” and my full attention was snagged. When I finally wrapped my brain around the fact that they were telling me I was a finalist, I did a happy dance that shook the whole van and made my kids burst out laughing. As you know, I wound up winning that contest and I am in-no-small-way grateful for the encouragement of that win, but in hindsight, the best things I got out of that contest were 1) exactly what I hoped for: the confidence that comes with trying something new and not dying as a result, 2) the unexpected blessing of a new and cherished friend. Although we haven’t yet met in person, the encouragement and support you have shown me since we first reached out to congratulate each other on being finalists together is worth far more than any contest award.

I LOVE hearing more of the behind-the-scenes to your contest successes. I’m SO thrilled we met and I can’t wait to see you at ACFW in a few months. 🙂

What’s been one of the most challenging aspects of writing?

Ugh. Contradictory advice from seemingly equally authoritative people. It’s the worst. Yes, I’m an artist, but there is a big part of me that likes black and white, check marks and lists, right and wrong, yes and no. All this gray area is enough to drive me batty some days. LOL If only I could write an excellent novel by filling in the blanks like a third-grade worksheet … then again, it probably wouldn’t be as fun if I could.

We are so much alike. I love my check marks and lists too. haha!

Name a few authors who inspire you.

Oh boy. Another tough one. Okay, in no particular order here are just a few of them: Jane Austen, L.M. Montgomery, Francine Rivers, Tracie Peterson, Tamera Alexander, Karen Witemeyer, Sondra Kraak, Pepper Basham, Rachel Hauck, Angela K. Couch, Lauraine Snelling, Mary Connealy, C.S. Lewis, Gilbert Morris, Regina Jennings, Melissa Jagears, Roseanna M. White., Elizabeth Camden, Jody Hedlund…. and I know I’m forgetting more. I’m going to smack my forehead ten seconds after this is posted, I just know it.

Each of these authors inspires me in a different way. Some for their incredible ability to put humor into their stories, some for the way they paint vivid pictures in my mind, others for their poetic prose, and still others for the way they tug my heartstrings or keep me turning pages long after I should be asleep. Each represents something I hope to emulate in my writing in my own way.

Can you share a word of advice to other writers out there on the road to publication?

Believe that YOU are enough because HE is enough. If He has called you to write, then He is able and faithful to equip you for the journey He has planned for you. This is a truth I am still learning myself, but I think if you cling to it, it will see you through the highs and the lows of this crazy business.

I’ve done a lot of talking about me, today. I’d love to hear more about you! What first inspired you to become the reader you are today? Can you share with me a particular book that especially spoke to your heart?

GIVEAWAY!!

As my thank you for taking the time to get to know me and sharing a little about you, I’m offering a $15 Amazon gift card to one random commenter.

If you’d like to learn still more about me, I’d love to have you visit my website at www.KathleenDenly.com and sign up to become a member of Kathleen’s Readers’ Club where I share exclusive book reviews and giveaways, current sales on excellent books, exclusive history tidbits, the latest news on my writing journey and more! You can also find me on Pinterest and Twitter @KathleenDenly and on Facebook www.fb.com/KathleenDenly.author. I’d love to see you there! 🙂

It’s been a delight having you here, my friend. Blessings on you, your family, and your stories. I will be eagerly following your journey from here. 🙂 Hugs to you!

———————————————————————————————————————

Thanks for entering! Contest ends July 31, 2018. The winner will be notified by email. Happy Reading, everybody!

The Writer Behind the Words — Andy Brodrick

Savanna Kaiser — Tue, 10 Jul 2018 16:22:24 +0000

———————————————————————————————————————

Andy Brodrick is a licensed mental health counselor by day and a writer by night. He makes his home in the Ozarks and loves hiking in the scenery they provide. Though he isn’t published yet, Andy has written several novels and short stories. He’s an introvert who will almost always choose a good book and a cup of coffee over going out. However, he’s also fully aware that he would only be half of himself without some very good friends (you know who you are). A lot of people think Andy is quiet, but that’s only because they haven’t asked him about Superman, the Lord of the Rings, the Legend of Zelda, or his next writing project. Most people don’t know this, but Andy is an accomplished self-defense tactician, the kingpin of the Chocolate Chip Cookie Black Market, and a former Olympian (he’ll let you guess the sport). Also, he wrote this bio at 2am, so some of the above statements may actually be flat-out lies. He’ll let you guess those too.

Connect with him over at his blog: withoutmapsblog.wordpress.com

———————————————————————————————————————

Welcome to the blog, Andy! It’s so much fun to welcome a local ACFW pal here today.

So tell us… When did you first start writing?

I’ve written on and off since I was young. I remember making up and writing down stories as a kid. However, I didn’t really start taking it seriously as an adult until 2014. Since then, I’ve written two short stories and three novels. Nothing published yet, but hopefully someday!

What are you working on right now?

Right now, I am editing my first novel. It’s a suspense novel in which the lead male and female characters witness a crime and both have to be placed in witness protection. I wrote it during a season of my life where I felt invisible, so taking two characters and literally making them invisible gave me space to process those emotions. I’m also planning to write a new short story later this summer.

Wow. Sounds like a powerful story. I love how God uses our own stories to influence our writing.

Can you tell us about one of your favorite characters you’ve written so far?

My characters are real people to me, so I really like this question. One of my favorite characters is named Joe. He’s a security guard from one of my early stories. He’s pretty no-nonsense and a little rough around the edges, but he takes his job of keeping people safe very seriously and I respect him for that. When I was writing up character bios for that story, most of the characters started in their memories. Joe demanded to be started present-day and wouldn’t let me delve into his memories. I remember scribbling down somewhere that I felt like he was keeping secrets from me. About halfway through the story, I found out why. That’s all I’ll say for now.

Love it! I can’t wait to meet him someday. 🙂

What’s one of your favorite books?

It’s so hard to choose! I’ll say Iscariot by Tosca Lee. Yes, it’s the story of Judas. But it’s just as much the story of Jesus. Lee’s depiction of a Savior who is both kind and strong at the same time had an impact on me. My favorite stories are the ones that change me enough to stay with me forever.

I need to add it to my TBR list!

What is one of your favorite Scripture verses?

I love Jude 1:24-25. Those verses have carried me through some dark days. Remembering God’s ability to keep me from falling takes the pressure off me. As a person who can easily create unnecessary pressure for myself, these Scriptures are a comfort.

Thank you for sharing that. Those verses hold such comfort and strength.

Can you share with us a special moment from your writing journey so far?

A friend in our local ACFW chapter encouraged me to enter the Genesis contest this year. I had never done it before, so I submitted a couple entries not really knowing what would happen. I ended up making the semi-final round! That accomplishment is really special to me.

Writer friends are the best! 😉 I was so excited to see your name on the list. That’s a huge accomplishment. And on your first try too!!

What’s been one of the most challenging aspects of writing?

Time management has really been a challenge for me. I work full-time in a job that can be mentally and emotionally demanding. Making sure I carve out regular time to write (and using my creative energy wisely) is something I’m constantly fighting to do.

Name a few authors who inspire you.

Ted Dekker, Frank Peretti, Tosca Lee, Steven James

Can you share a word of advice to other writers out there on the road to publication?

Yes, but you might not like it — just keep writing. Keep doing the work, over and over and over. Put in your 3000 “silent hours” that nobody knows about. Stay disciplined. Steward your parcel of Kingdom land well.

Very well said. Thanks for the encouragement, Andy. So glad you could join us today. Praying the Lord continues to bless and guide you as you write for Him.

———————————————————————————————————————

The Writer Behind the Words — Kimberly Joy

Savanna Kaiser — Tue, 20 Mar 2018 18:58:23 +0000

———————————————————————————————————————

Kimberly Joy spent sixteen years in Australia, teaching kindergarten and working in church ministries. She and her three teenage sons now live in the Missouri Ozarks, where she operates a small daycare and blogs at www.kimberlyjoyauthor.com.

———————————————————————————————————————

Welcome to the blog, Kim! I’m so happy to have you here today, my local ACFW pal! 🙂

So tell us… When did you first start writing?

About ten years ago, I wrote a novel to enter in a contest, then put it on the shelf and, along with it, my dreams of writing. A couple years ago, I recognized my desire to write was a gift from God that He could use for His glory. I attended a writers’ conference, began to learn and grow as a writer, and started a blog in which I seek to encourage believers in their walk with God.

What are you working on right now?

I’m writing a devotional book for women, inspired by my work as a daycare provider. In Devotions from the Daycare, 31 Life Lessons Learned while Chasing Toddlers, I use real-life stories to bring encouragement and teach spiritual truths. It always amazes me how much I learn from the children I care for each day. They are akin to little walking object lessons!

I love this idea for a book. I can’t wait to read it someday. 🙂

What’s something you love about your home state?

I was blessed to live in Australia for sixteen years, and now I live in southern Missouri. I loved walking the paddocks (pastures) surrounding our home in Australia, watching the kangaroos bound effortlessly over fences. Here in Missouri, I enjoy hiking with my boys, soaking up the beauty of the Ozark hills.

Too bad we don’t see kangaroos here! 😉 That would be so cool!

What’s one of your favorite books?

I grew up with the books of Janette Oke, and her Love Comes Softly series was probably my first love, if books can be a first love! My favorite nonfiction book is Streams in the Desert. Though I’ve read it over and over, it never fails to bring comfort in the “desert times” of my life. I dream of one day writing such a book, a book that brings healing to broken hearts.

That series by Janette Oke was one of my early favorites too. It reminds me of my grandma because she had the complete set and I’d always read them at her house.

What is one of your favorite Scripture verses?

My life verse is Isaiah 40:31, “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” Though there are times in my life when I feel weak, God never fails to give the love, strength, and comfort I need.

A wonderful verse, a beautiful reminder.

Can you share with us a special moment from your writing journey so far?

My first article for a Christian publication was memorable in the fact I was unaware my article had been accepted. (Just because we live in the age of email doesn’t always mean perfect communication.) I opened my box at the post office and pulled out a check and contract. I was so surprised and excited I had to stifle a scream. We live in a small town, after all, and I didn’t want people spreading rumors about that crazy daycare lady who blogs. 😊

Haha! Congratulations!! I am soooo excited for you.

What’s been one of the most challenging aspects of writing?

I’m a single mom of three teenagers as well as running a daycare, so my biggest challenge is finding the time to write. At present, I use naptime at my daycare as my writing time. It’s not ideal, but I do manage to get some writing done in between fixing bottles and cleaning up the daycare kitchen!

Name a few authors who inspire you.

To me, the most inspiring authors are the writers in my local ACFW group. They welcomed me with open arms and cheered me on as I took those first few halting steps toward my writing dreams. They are each at various stages of writing and publication, and the knowledge and encouragement they have given me has been invaluable.

We love you, Kim!! 🙂

Can you share a word of advice to other writers out there on the road to publication?

If you are afraid to do something, do it anyway. When I first starting writing, I was terrified—of what people would think, of being a failure, of chasing a dream that might turn into ash in my hands. I still have to fight the demons of fear nearly every time I push the “publish” button on my blog, or submit an article for publication. I’ve learned that the only way to conquer the fear is to do the thing that scares me.

That is powerful advice, my friend. You are exactly right! That’s a good reminder for me as well. We all battle fears on a daily basis. The only way to get over them is to face them. 🙂

Hugs to you, Kim! Thanks for joining us today. Praying the Lord continues to bless and guide you as you write for Him.

———————————————————————————————————————

The Writer Behind the Words — Kimberly Joy

Savanna Kaiser — Tue, 20 Mar 2018 18:58:23 +0000

———————————————————————————————————————

Welcome to the blog, Kim! I’m so happy to have you here today, my local ACFW pal! 🙂

So tell us… When did you first start writing?

What are you working on right now?

I love this idea for a book. I can’t wait to read it someday. 🙂

What’s something you love about your home state?

Too bad we don’t see kangaroos here! 😉 That would be so cool!

What’s one of your favorite books?

That series by Janette Oke was one of my early favorites too. It reminds me of my grandma because she had the complete set and I’d always read them at her house.

What is one of your favorite Scripture verses?

A wonderful verse, a beautiful reminder.

Can you share with us a special moment from your writing journey so far?

Haha! Congratulations!! I am soooo excited for you.

What’s been one of the most challenging aspects of writing?

Name a few authors who inspire you.

We love you, Kim!! 🙂

Can you share a word of advice to other writers out there on the road to publication?

That is powerful advice, my friend. You are exactly right! That’s a good reminder for me as well. We all battle fears on a daily basis. The only way to get over them is to face them. 🙂

Hugs to you, Kim! Thanks for joining us today. Praying the Lord continues to bless and guide you as you write for Him.

———————————————————————————————————————

The Writer Behind the Words — Katie Powner

Savanna Kaiser — Tue, 09 Jan 2018 18:13:00 +0000

———————————————————————————————————————

Katie Powner lives in Montana and loves Jesus, dark chocolate, and red shoes. She is a biological, adoptive, and foster mother who believes in the power of family. She won OCW’s Cascade Award in 2017 and ACFW’s First Impressions Contest in 2016. To find out more about what she’s up to, find her on Facebook and Twitter (@katie_powner), and visit katiepowner.com. For every new subscriber, she will donate $2 to Sacred Portion Children’s Outreach (SPCO), up to the first 500 subscribers. SPCO works with adoptive and foster families and runs Rehoboth Children’s Home in the Philippines.

Visit her at https://www.katiepowner.com/

———————————————————————————————————————

Welcome to the blog, Katie! I loved hanging out with you at ACFW last year and I’m so glad we’ve kept in touch! What fun to have you join me here today.

So tell us… When did you first start writing?

I’ve been writing stories since I learned how to write. The earliest project I can remember distinctly is an epic 10-page Mother’s Day poem I wrote when I was about seven. It was long and detailed and painfully terrible, but of course my mom loved it.

Love it! Moms are awesome like that. 🙂

What are you working on right now?

Right now, I’m working on my fourth full-length novel. It fits in the Contemporary Women’s Fiction genre, and it’s about an 18-year-old addict whose baby boy is taken away by the state, and the 40-year-old woman who fosters him. As the young woman fights to get her baby back, the two women form an unlikely friendship, but only one can be the baby’s mother. Who will it be?

Very intriguing! I’m looking forward to reading it. 🙂

Can you tell us about one of your favorite characters you’ve written so far?

In my unpublished novel UNARMED, there is an 11-year-old girl named Janie. She is super spunky and sarcastic and learns a lot of hard lessons throughout the course of her journey across an economically devastated America in 2056 with her father and older sister. She is my favorite character so far.

What’s something you love about your home state?

I love the wide-open spaces of Montana. I feel like I can breathe here.

I hope to visit Montana someday. It’s quite a road trip from Missouri, though. 😉

What’s one of your favorite books?

I have so many, but one that stands out is Summer of Light by Dale Cramer. It changed my life and the course of my writing journey.

What is one of your favorite Scripture verses?

Again, there are many, but I would have to choose Galatians 6:9. “Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

Love that verse!

Can you share with us a special moment from your writing journey so far?

I have to share two. The first is the first time I entered a writing contest. I promptly forgot all about it, but a couple months later I received a phone call saying I was a semi-finalist. That phone call came right when I was questioning whether to continue writing or not. The second special moment was in September 2017 when I attended my first writer’s conference. I stood in a room full of writers and finally felt that I had found my “people.” I had never had that before.

I love how God sends us just the right encouragement when we desperately need it. Last year’s conference was a highlight for me as well. So happy we crossed paths!

What’s been one of the most challenging aspects of writing?

Persevering despite multiple rejections and dead ends. But I swear every time I want to give up, the song Even If It Breaks Your Heart by the Eli Young Band comes on and by golly I decide to give it one more shot!

Great song!

Name a few authors who inspire you.

Yikes, this list could get long fast. For past authors, definitely C.S. Lewis, George MacDonald, and Edna St. Vincent Millay. For contemporary authors, Dale Cramer, Amy Sorrells, Katie Ganshert, Chris Fabry, Rene Gutteridge…I could go on and on.

Can you share a word of advice to other writers out there on the road to publication?

No two journeys look alike! My path to writing “success,” whatever that will be, is going to be different than yours. Don’t get so caught up watching what God is doing in another author’s life that you miss what He’s doing in yours.

Thanks for joining us today, Katie! Wishing you, your family, and your stories a BLESSED 2018!

Readers, Katie has a question for you…

What kinds of things has God sent your way to encourage you at the moment you were thinking of giving up?

———————————————————————————————————————

The Writer Behind the Words — Angela Arndt

Savanna Kaiser — Tue, 02 Jan 2018 15:20:09 +0000

———————————————————————————————————————

Angela Arndt writes women’s fiction with a thread of romance, telling stories of strong, independent women in difficult situations set in small Southern towns. Her biggest hope is that she will show God’s immeasurable grace and renew joy in the lives of those on the back roads. She and her husband, Charles, live on a bee farm in the middle of a big wood with their furbabies: Beau, Harley and Buddy the Wonder Dog (we wonder where he came from).

Connect with me via Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Pinterest and Instagram using @aearndt.

———————————————————————————————————————

Welcome to the blog, Angie! I loved meeting you at ACFW last year and I’m thrilled to have you here today.

So tell us… When did you first start writing?

I wrote my very first poem when I was six. It was about deer. When I was in sixth grade I wrote a “novel” of three or four pages, also about deer. At the time, I lived in the suburbs with traffic, a few bunnies, but no deer. Oddly enough, now I live in the woods and see deer all the time.

When I was in my thirties, I dreamed an entire book. A mystery, but I wasn’t a writer. It was interesting, but that’s not who I was. About five years later, I opened a magazine and as I turned the page, I saw, “Write Your Story.” It was an ad for the Christian Writers Guild and it tugged at my heart. I knew I was being called to write.

What are you working on right now?

Most writers finish a book within a year or two of starting to learn the craft. I’m trying to find a home for my very first book and I’m starting my second book. Book one is called The Beekeeper’s Daughter, about an injured big city firefighter who’s inherited her father’s bee farm in a small town. She’ll lose her inheritance unless she can keep the bees alive for a year. And of course there’s a hunky helper on the farm. When someone on Town Council tries to put bees on the dangerous animals’ list, she’ll fight for the farm, but is she fighting to keep it, or fighting to sell it?

Oh I love the sounds of that. You leave me intrigued! 😉

Can you tell us about one of your favorite characters you’ve written so far?

Sabrina, my firefighter heroine, is my favorite. She had to undergo several makeovers to become a strong character, but I think if I met her today, I’d like her. She reminds me of a bantam rooster: she has no idea she’s tiny. But even though she’s petite, she puts her whole heart into anything she does.

I like how you describe her. It makes me want to meet her too! 😉

What’s something you love about your home state?

South Carolina is easy to love. We’ve got mountains and the beach within a two-hour drive, no matter where you live. From the frigid water of Whitewater Falls to the historic waterfront of Charleston to the wide, sunny beaches of Myrtle Beach, if you like being near water, you’ll love South Carolina.

It’s on my bucket list! 😉

What’s one of your favorite books?

Besides the Bible? I’m not sure. Any book that draws me in and makes me hate to turn the back cover is my favorite as I’m reading it. Francine River’s The Last Sin-Eater is one of my favorites, but I really enjoyed Beth Webb Hart’s Moon Over Edisto, too. Almost any book I’m reading is my favorite.

What is one of your favorite Scripture verses?

“Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy heart.” Ecclesiastes 9:10 (It’s in the King James Version because that’s the way I memorized it when I was a child.)

It’s simple and yet so powerful.

Can you share with us a special moment from your writing journey so far?

Like my favorite books, I’ve had so many special moments in my writing journey, but I guess my favorite is when I had a fifteen-minute mentoring session with Beth Vogt at Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference that ended forty-five minute later. That session helped me envision the ending for my manuscript, but it also marked the beginning of a sweet friendship with Beth that I still have today.

I love reading this. The writing community is so special. What a blessing you two have in each other.

What’s been one of the most challenging aspects of writing?

Because I have a long list of chronic illness and I’m also co-caregiver with my eighty-nine-year-old mother, it’s hard to find stretches of “good times to write.” As with anyone, I can’t wait for blessed openings in my calendar. Instead, I have to get up early, while the house is still quiet to write, or write through the times when my body is wracked with pain, or snatch bits of writing time while in the waiting room at the doctor’s office (for either me and my mom).

Sounds like you are faithful in the work He’s called you to do. Such an inspiration and a reminder to all of us to make our time count. Thanks for sharing!

Name a few authors who inspire you.

Beth K. Vogt, Sharon Hinck, Mesu Andrews, and Gayle Roper are at the top of the list. I’ve just started reading Charles Martin’s books, too. Each one of those award-winning authors has “pushed through” and kept writing, in spite of what life has thrown at them. That’s what I want to do “when I grow up.”

Can you share a word of advice to other writers out there on the road to publication?

Here’s my top five pieces of advice for any writer:

1) Never stop learning about the craft of writing.

2) Invest in a subscription to Grammarly or ProWriting Aid to help you with the mechanics.

3) Go to as many writers’ conferences as you can afford. It’s best to attend one every year or at least every other year. If you can’t afford it some have scholarship programs.

4) Write ever day, whether you feel like it or not. Put your writing time on your schedule and keep the appointment!

5) But most importantly, pray over your writing. I keep a tiny beanbag pillow beside me, so that I drop to my knees before every writing session.

Ahhh, I love the beanbag pillow idea! 🙂

Is there anything else you want to share?

Readers who sign up for my newsletter will receive my e-devotional, Joy on the Back Roads: Devotions for Detours, to thank them for subscribing. I’ve written twelve anecdotes with Scripture and photos from around our state to encourage you to keep going, even when times are hard. That’s my goal with my newsletter, too. Here’s the link, if you’d like to subscribe: http://eepurl.com/cVSJFj

Thank you SO much for joining us today, Angie! Many blessings on you and your stories. I look forward to reading your books someday! 🙂

———————————————————————————————————————

The Writer Behind the Words — Ruthie Burrell

Savanna Kaiser — Tue, 14 Nov 2017 17:21:15 +0000

———————————————————————————————————————

Ruthie Burrell is a writer, blogger, and storyteller who loves stories for their power to soften hearts, inspire people to hope and action, and reveal truth in new and unexpected ways. She currently serves as the Director of Biography at FamilyArc, a company that helps families share their stories and values. In her free time, she loves hanging out with friends at coffee shops, traveling to new places, and volunteering with a local after-school program.

She’d love to connect with you on her blog (ruthanneburrell.com/blog) or through social media (Ruth Anne Burrell on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram)!

———————————————————————————————————————

Welcome to the blog, Ruthie! I loved meeting you at ACFW and working the registration desk together. 🙂 That was such a fun weekend! I’m thrilled to have you here today.

So tell us… When did you first start writing?

When I was 8! I got a puppy for my eighth birthday, which served as inspiration for a “trilogy” of stories about a girl and her dog who were very creatively named Annie (my middle name is Anne) and Perky (our second choice of name for my puppy). Looking back, the stories are pretty hilariously terrible. The second one was a mystery about Perky being stolen—Annie and her friend go to the police station to look up license plate numbers in “the license plate book,” and it turned out that the bad guy stole Perky “just because he suddenly felt like it.” Great understanding of motives right there. 😉

Ha! That’s awesome. You definitely don’t want to lose those first stories. 😉

What are you working on right now?

I’m currently editing a historical romance tentatively titled A Rose in the Flame. It’s a Beauty and the Beast type story set in World War II Germany—an American nurse trapped in Germany fights to keep her disabled patient safe from the horrors of Hitler’s euthanasia program.

Sounds amazing. I LOVE historical romances!

Can you tell us about one of your favorite characters you’ve written so far?

Can I pick two?

Mattan is a secondary POV character in a YA fantasy novel I was working on a couple years ago. He has awesome swordsmanship skills, he’s a sweet and strong father-figure to my traumatized heroine, and his back story reveals a lot about my villain. He wasn’t even in my first draft of the story, and now I can’t imagine it without him!

Rosalind isn’t actually even alive during my current historical novel—she’s the mother of my two main male characters and she passed away when they were boys—but I’ve always felt her presence very strongly in the story through her influence on them. Recently I started writing a few excerpts from her journal, and I love her voice!

They both sound like unforgettable characters. 🙂

What’s something you love about your home state?

The sunsets, for sure! I live in Kansas, and with nothing but corn and wheat fields to block the horizon, we get some pretty gorgeous sunsets.

Love your picture! We’re not too far away then. I’m a Missouri girl. 😉

What’s one of your favorite books?

I loved all of the Chronicles of Narnia books growing up (they’re hard to beat), but my favorite was definitely The Last Battle. I read it when I was about eight or nine, and it was the first book that helped me picture heaven in a way that excited me. I remember finishing it and feeling this indescribable longing to be able to go to the place it described.

My favorite non-fiction book is Me, Myself, & Bob, the autobiography of Phil Vischer, founder of Veggie Tales. The book goes all the way from Phil’s growing up years and the conception of Veggie Tales, to its bankruptcy in 2003 and the journey he went through after that. I recommend it to all my writing/creative friends because of how much I appreciate Phil’s wisdom on what to do when your dreams fall apart.

I’ll have to look that up. Thank you for the recommendation!

What is one of your favorite Scripture verses?

Zephaniah 3:17—“The Lord your God is in your midst, a victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.”

Beautiful!

Can you share with us a special moment from your writing journey so far?

When I was 18, I traveled to Israel for a 3-week study abroad program at my college. I was just starting out my college career studying writing, and I’d been struggling a lot with my motivation for writing and whether it was pure or not. Toward the end of the trip, we were staying beside the Sea of Galilee, and I got up early one morning to go have some quiet time with God beside the water. As I was sitting there, He impressed on me that this was where Jesus had called Peter and Andrew, James and John, to follow Him—and to give up everything they knew to do so. I felt God asking me whether I was willing to do the same. Suffice it to say, I definitely wrestled with the question for a while. I wasn’t sure what He would ask of me, and the idea of possibly giving up my dream of writing was terrifying. Ultimately, I ended up leaving my pen buried in the sand on the beach—my way of telling Him “yes.” I actually wrote about this experience a little more in-depth on my blog!

Wow! That is incredible! Now I have to hop over to your blog for the rest of the story. 🙂

What’s been one of the most challenging aspects of writing?

I think for me, one of the biggest challenges has been figuring out where I fit in the writing world. I have so many things I’d like to write—young adult fantasy, historical romance, Sunday school curriculum, in-depth Bible studies—and none of them really go together. I’m still very much in the middle of figuring out what direction to go on this. I’m hoping by some miracle to find some way to combine them or try out all of them!

Finding time has been a challenge too. I’ve worked full-time for most of the last four years, and when I haven’t been working full-time, I’ve also been taking classes or running a volunteer after-school program. Life’s busy! (And I think that’s true for most of us. 😊) One thing that has worked well for me is to set small, reasonable goals. NaNoWriMo is awesome, but it’s hard for me to commit to that much with my schedule. Setting smaller goals, 3,000 words a week for example, works because I have time for it and then I don’t get discouraged by falling behind.

Love all your ideas and your advice for balancing a busy schedule. Great tips!

Name a few authors who inspire you.

I love Madeleine L’Engle’s book Walking on Water. It has some really beautiful thoughts about writing and Christian art. C.S. Lewis, of course, is always an inspiration. I loved getting to visit his home in Oxford a couple years ago and hear about some of his quirks, like how he and his brother had books stuffed in every nook and cranny of their house. Marilynne Robinson’s Gilead has some of the most beautiful depictions of love and grace and returning home that I’ve read in a long while. And more recently, I’ve become a fan of Rae Carson’s A Girl of Fire and Thorns series. Rae admits she isn’t a religious person, but says she was tired of how condemning a lot of literature is toward faith. I’m fascinated by the way that she, as someone who doesn’t hold to any particular faith, is able to write about a faith-filled character in what I think is a very engaging way. (Lisa Bergren has a great interview with Rae on her blog!)

Can you share a word of advice to other writers out there on the road to publication?

These three things have been hugely helpful in keeping me encouraged in my writing journey.

1) Write whatever you can, whenever you can. I’m not published in book-length work yet, but I’ve had opportunities over the last few years to work as a writer in a number of capacities—biographer, blogger, journalist, grant writer, etc. These roles haven’t necessarily furthered my publishing career, but they help me hone my writing skills and they let me make a living as a writer, while I keep working on my more creative projects.

2) Find a tribe of likeminded writers. Whenever I finish a writing project (or when I get stuck in the middle of one), my go-to people are two wonderful friends from my college writing program. Not only do they give me great advice and point out the sometimes-hilarious plot holes in my writing, but they also offer an immense amount of encouragement and affirmation. Keep your writing buddies close!

3) Remember why you’re writing. One of the Scripture passages I often go back to is Matthew 13:12-13. I love the way it’s phrased in the Message version. “Whenever someone has a ready heart for this, the insights and understandings flow freely. But if there is no readiness, any trace of receptivity soon disappears. That’s why I tell stories: to create readiness, to nudge the people toward receptive insight.” These verses always remind me of why it’s worth it to keep pressing through discouragement or the scary prospect of starting something new or the tedious work of editing. As storytellers, we have the awesome privilege of creating readiness in people’s hearts.

Wonderful advice, Ruthie. Thank you SO much for joining us today! Many blessings on you and your stories. I look forward to reading your books someday! 🙂

READERS, Ruthie has a question for you…

“Which authors inspire you?”

———————————————————————————————————————

The Writer Behind the Words — Casey Herringshaw

Savanna Kaiser — Tue, 17 Oct 2017 15:54:01 +0000

———————————————————————————————————————

Casey Herringshaw is a homeschool graduate and has been writing since high school. She is a rural Eastern Oregon transplant into the oh-so-large city of Colorado Springs, where she lives her dream stalking—er visiting with her favorite Colorado authors. Taking the stories God has placed on her heart is one scary and invigorating journey, but one she wouldn’t want to trade for something more mundane and boring like cleaning her apartment (which is in part of a home built in 1904—not to make anyone jealous though). Casey is a member of ACFW and their Carol Award Coordinator. You can connect with her through her personal blog, Writing for Christ, or her group blog, The Writers Alley.

———————————————————————————————————————

Welcome to the blog, Casey! I’m so happy you could join us today!

Thank you for having me, Savanna! It’s great to be here.

So tell us… When did you first start writing?

I first started writing in Junior High—what feels like a long time ago (but really wasn’t that far behind me!). I was homeschooled and my dad saw an aptitude in me for the written word. I wrote a series of short stories (that I still have and try to avoid reading at all costs—LOL!) through those two years in Junior High and then wrote my first novel—a Civil War historical in High School. I still think of that story—my first story—with fondness. Though, it will probably never, ever see the light of publication. And I’m ok with that. : -)

What are you working on right now?

My novel writing journey is a bit dry at the moment as life has taken me a different direction from being able to truly dedicate to my craft. And for now, I’m ok with that. I have a contemporary romance that is quietly mulling in the back of my mind that I hope to someday write. It combines so many of my favorite things: the Colorado mountains, ranching and sassy characters.

In the meantime though, I’m excited to say I’m working to get my blog back up and running! After three years of letting it sleep, I’m slowing bringing it back to life and hope to have it converted to a domain name and once again active around the first of the year. I’m excited to reconnect with my readers in that forum once again.

That’s exciting. I love your blog!

What’s something you love about your home state?

I grew up in Oregon and now live in Colorado. I love Oregon because it’s where I grew up, where my family is and it will always hold a nostalgia in my heart.

You can’t beat the mountains of Colorado and I’m so grateful to have this chance to live in and explore this beautiful state. One of my favorite things to do is book a weekend getaway—even just one night—into a nearby mountain town and find some trail to hike. My camera and I find lots of pretty things to occupy us. 😉

I definitely need to plan my next vacation there! 😉

What’s one of your favorite books?

Gosh! This is a hard question to answer. I’ll go with the first book that comes to mind: Never the Bride by Rene Gutteridge and Cheryl McKay. It was a novel that changed how I looked at my single life and impacted how I lived my life as a single person. Pretty powerful when fiction accomplishes this, wouldn’t you say? In fact, this reminds me, I’m probably due to re-read that one again. :- )

What is one of your favorite Scripture verses?

“…but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31

A favorite of mine too. 😉

What’s been one of the most challenging aspects of writing?

For me, it’s the editing process. I just don’t love it. Primarily, because I’m still working to understand it. And while I greatly value it and know it’s worth, getting down and dirty and doing the work just isn’t my favorite part of the process.

And also, as it is for many writers, the waiting. Letting God guide the reins of where my career—or maybe even—lack of a career—in publishing is a matter of trust. Of not rushing ahead. Of knowing He has the best plans for me and that He’s just calling me to be faithful to His call. This writing journey has deepened my faith walk, because it’s not just me out there trying to publish a book. It’s me, by His side, praying for His guidance and direction and my heart to be patient for His perfect timing.

Girl, can I give you a hug?! 🙂 Your words are a needed reminder for me too.

Can you share a word of advice to other writers out there on the road to publication?

Be willing to follow God wherever He calls you on this journey toward publication. It’s not going to look exactly how you planned. It’s not going to be smooth, but it will be worth it. You will be challenged, but you will also be greatly blessed. Be willing to slow down. To breathe in. To not hold so tightly and wish to control something that is beyond it. And be amazed when God blows the socks off your expectations!

Wise words. Thank you, Casey. It’s been so fun chatting with you today.

GIVEAWAY!!

Casey has graciously offered to give away a surprise stash of books to one lucky reader. That’s right, a STASH of books! 😉 Enter below and it could be YOU!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks for entering! Contest is open only in the U.S. and ends October 25, 2017. The winner will be notified by email. Happy Reading, everybody! 😉

The Writer Behind the Words – Laurie Lucking

Savanna Kaiser — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 15:47:19 +0000

———————————————————————————————————————

An avid reader since birth (her parents claim she often kept them up late begging to hear just one more story), Laurie Lucking discovered her passion for writing after leaving her career as an attorney to become a stay-at-home mom. She writes young adult fantasy with a strong thread of romance, and her debut novel, Common, will release in 2018 from Love2ReadLove2Write Publishing. Laurie is the Secretary of her local ACFW chapter and a co-founder of www.landsuncharted.com, a blog for fans of clean young adult speculative fiction. A Midwestern girl through and through, she currently lives in Minnesota with her husband and two young sons. Find out more about Laurie and her writing by visiting www.laurielucking.com.

———————————————————————————————————————

Welcome to the blog, Laurie! I’m so happy you could join us today!

So tell us… When did you first start writing?

I left my career as a lawyer to become a stay-at-home mom about five years ago, and needed a project to keep my mind occupied. The crazy idea to write a book entered my head, and I couldn’t quite shake it. I’ve always enjoyed coming up with stories, but I had never bothered to write any of them down. Once I summoned the courage to give it a try, I fell in love.

What are you working on right now?

I’m currently working on a story that I hope will become the second novel in my Tales of the Mystics series. (The first book, Common, will release in early 2018!) It has elements of both Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast, and tells the story of a teenage girl who is humiliated by the prince because of the scars on her face, then must risk her life to help him overcome a curse.

Sounds very intriguing! 🙂 How fun!

Can you tell us about one of your favorite characters you’ve written so far?

Ooh, that’s a tough one. I’ll go with Gretchen, who is featured in Common as a fellow servant and good friend of my main character, Leah. Gretchen was fun to write because she’s so full of spunk and energy! She’s funny, loyal, a bit of a flirt, and a tad dramatic—all of which makes her the perfect counterpart to shy, sensible Leah. Every scene involving Gretchen couldn’t help but have some comic relief 🙂

What’s something you love about your home state?

I grew up in Wisconsin, and people there are so fun, kind, down to earth, and very proud to be Wisconsinites! Also, Culvers 🙂

Minnesota has been my home for the past 10 years (14, if you count college), and I love that there are beautiful lakes and ponds everywhere. And they coined the phrase “Minnesota nice” for a reason, the people here are amazing!

What’s one of your favorite books?

Eeep, another hard question! I’ll go with The Mermaid’s Sister, by Carrie Anne Noble. The prose is just SO beautiful. There were so many lines and paragraphs I had to go back and read again because they struck me so forcefully. I really connected with the protagonist, Clara, as she navigated the difficulties of changing relationships and finding her place in the world. And it had a perfect blend of family, friendship, romance, adventure, and fantasy, which are all elements I gravitate toward in both my reading and writing.

What is one of your favorite Scripture verses?

Matthew 6:26 “Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”

I love that reminder of how much our heavenly Father values us, spoken by his own Son! And I tend to be a worrier, so I often need to go back to this passage for reassurance that God has it all under control and will take care of me and my family, even if it’s not in the way I envisioned.

Love this. Thank you for sharing.

Can you tell us about a special moment from your writing journey so far?

I am blessed to have the most incredible critique group. They aren’t afraid to make the challenging suggestions I need to hear to improve my writing, but are also a constant source of encouragement. When I got to share the final chapter of my first book with them, their enthusiastic responses were both humbling and gratifying. Even though my manuscript still needed a lot of work, it helped me realize that despite its imperfections, my story had the power to make an impact and touch people.

What’s been one of the most challenging aspects of writing?

Overcoming discouragement can really be a struggle for me. Whenever I get feedback that a certain scene or character isn’t working, or see an author who seems to be so much more successful than I am, the doubts pounce quickly and I wonder why I bother doing this. I’m so grateful for my family and especially my writing friends, who never fail to provide the support I need to keep trying.

Name a few authors who inspire you.

Only a few?? Okay, I’ll try to narrow it down 🙂 Shannon Hale was one of the first authors who motivated me to write young adult fantasy because her characters are real and relatable, yet also inspiring. And she is such a positive voice for women in the publishing world. Melanie Dickerson writes beautiful romances and is so kind and responsive to her readers and fellow writers. And Mary Weber puts so much raw emotion and vulnerability into her books, in addition to being a beacon of encouragement in the writing community.

Can you share a word of advice to other writers out there on the road to publication?

Be patient with yourself, and take the time to grow into your writing style. There are so many careers out there that people spend years preparing for, but for some reason writing often isn’t treated that way. I completely get it, because I started out very impatient to get published, too. But that kind of attitude causes writers to become discouraged so easily, and to want to put their work out there before it’s really ready. So take a deep breath, plan to be in it for the long haul, and know that if you persist and are willing to learn you will get there eventually. And when that time comes, you’ll be so much more prepared for publication because of the wait!

Great advice, thank you, Laurie. It’s been so nice chatting with you today.

Thank you so much for having me, Savanna! Now I’m going to turn around and ask you guys the tough questions! What are some of YOUR favorite books, characters, and / or authors?

Readers, don’t forget you can learn more about Laurie by visiting the pages below.

Website: www.laurielucking.com

Blog: www.landsuncharted.com

Readers’ Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1191276077665496/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLaurieLucking/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LaurieLucking

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurielucking/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/22270968-laurie-lucking

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/luckinglaurie/

———————————————————————————————————————

Have a great week, everyone!

The Writer Behind the Words – Valeria Hyer

Savanna Kaiser — Tue, 09 May 2017 15:38:31 +0000

———————————————————————————————————————

Valéria Hyer, a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, is a native of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She moved to the United States in 2000 to marry her American husband. She later earned her Bachelors Degree in English from Middle Tennessee State University in 2003. She has worked as an interpreter and translated documents into the Portuguese Language for different firms. She also translated into Portuguese Don Finto’s YOUR PEOPLE SHALL BE MY PEOPLE (Regal, 2001), in which she fell in love with Messianic Judaism. Valéria resides in Nashville, Tennessee with her husband and three homeschooled children.

Visit her at www.valeriahyer.com

———————————————————————————————————————

Welcome to the blog, Valeria! I’m so happy you could join us today!

So tell us… When did you first start writing?

I started writing when I was in fifth grade. I’d write short stories about princesses being rescued by brave and handsome princes. I was raised and born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, so all those stories were written in Portuguese. While everybody in the U.S. was reading Laura Ingalls, Emily Dickinson, and Mark Twain, I read Brazilian literature classics. By the time, I reached high school, my little fairy tales became contemporary romances. During my teenager years, I fell in love with the English language. I wanted to eventually teach American and British Literature in a college in Rio, but my life took a different route when I met my American husband and moved to the United States. Here, I finished my degree in English and started writing my own short stories in English. Those stories were never published. I graduated and took a break to raise my children. It was not until one year ago that I started feeling the itch for writing again. I wrote my first book Into the Blue Crystal Sea, the story of a Brazilian girl and a Messianic Jewish guy. I hope to bring diversity to Christian Fiction in a way that will appeal to Americans, but yet reach into many different cultures.

What are you working on right now?

I’m currently working on short stories based on Bible characters that had encounters with Jesus. I’m also writing my second romance novel about a Portuguese girl, Laura, who inherits a bankrupted winery. After trying to drown her sorrows with Port wine at a local pub, she wakes up the next day married to a stranger. This stranger happens to be David Sorento, the man who wants to buy Laura’s farm and take away her family business.

Awww, I’m intrigued! 😉 Sounds like a fun story to write too.

Can you tell us about one of your favorite characters you’ve written so far?

Guadalupe Montoya Garcia. She is a vivacious Latina in my first book Into the Blue Crystal Sea. I needed to bring a free spirited and fiery secondary character to the plot. The heroine has a lot of trauma to deal with. Guadalupe spices things up and shows Jacquie, the protagonist, that it is perfectly fine to be yourself.

What’s something you love about your home state?

I love the people from Tennessee. They are loving, welcoming, and warm.

What’s one of your favorite books?

Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen

What is one of your favorite Scripture verses?

Psalm 23:3 “He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”

Can you tell us about a special moment from your writing journey so far?

2016 was my first ACFW. I had finished Into the Blue Crystal Sea, but still needed to do all kinds of edits. I didn’t want to pitch the book to an editor, but an opportunity opened up. I decided to take it. This editor and I had a great conversation, and he asked me for the manuscript. I was in awe. The book didn’t end up being what this editor was looking for, but I felt honored that he took a chance on this newbie here.

That’s so neat. I love hearing about authors’ big moments like that at conferences. 🙂

What’s been one of the most challenging aspects of writing?

Prepositions. They are arbitrary, so I always have to make sure I have them right.

Name a few authors who inspire you.

Colleen Coble, Denise Hunter, C.S. Lewis, Buchi Emecheta, Charles Martin and Becky Wade

Some of my favorites there too. 😉

Can you share a word of advice to other writers out there on the road to publication?

Don’t give up. Our worth isn’t measured by rejections or how many books we have sold. Published and unpublished authors are all part of the kingdom. My perspective changed as I settled in my identity as a daughter knowing that if God called me to write books, I had to do my part, and He’d have to do His. I felt like a big burden fell off my shoulders because I believed I needed to make things happen. That was sucking the joy out of my writing and stressing me out. I learned to abandon myself in Him and trust that my Heavenly Father has the best for me. Being established in our sonship is pivotal to any process we feel called to. Enjoying the road and the process can lead us to major internal transformation. Sometimes, we benefit more from this journey than the destination. I’m not saying it’s easy, but doable and oh, so special.

Thank you for that, Valeria. It’s been so nice chatting with you today. Do YOU have a question for our readers?

Was my answer to the last question an encouragement to you? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Readers, you can learn more about Valeria by visiting the pages below. ..

My website www.valeriahyer.com
Email: valeria@valeriahyer.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/valeria.hyer
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Valeria_Hyer
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hyervaleria/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/valeriahyer/

———————————————————————————————————————

Have a great week, everyone!

Save