Interview with Andrea Boeshaar & GIVEAWAYS  | The Engrafted Word

In addition to writing, Andrea Kuhn Boeshaar speaks at writers’ conferences and for women’s groups. She has taught workshops at conferences such as: Write-To-Publish American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), Oregon Christian Writers Conference, Mount Hermon Writers Conference, and many other writers’ conferences. Andrea is also co-founder of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) organization. For many years she served on the advisory board and was also CEO of the ACFW.

Visit her at www.andreaboeshaar.com

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Savanna:  Welcome to the blog, Andrea. I’m so honored to have you here today. Congratulations on your recent release, A Thousand Shall Fall. Everything about this story draws me in – the title, the cover, the plot. I’m so excited to read it!

Andrea:  Hi, Savanna! Thank you for this blog opportunity.

Interview with Andrea Boeshaar & GIVEAWAYS  | The Engrafted WordSavanna:  What part of this story did you enjoy researching the most?

Andrea:  I’ve been interested in the Civil War era since I was in my twenties. My father was a Civil War enthusiast and evidently his love of the time period rubbed off on me. So when an editor asked me to write a love story in a romantic-sounding place, I chose the Shenandoah Valley. Unfortunately, the fiction line closed before our contract was finalized. But then I had this story whose characters I had come to care about. I asked my agent shopped it around, and it was a fit at Kregel Publications. My favorite part of researching the Shenandoah Valley was actually visiting the area. I saw the Belle Grove Plantation in Middletown and battlegrounds of Cedar Creek. I walked down the historic part of Winchester and toured a preserved home in Woodstock.

Savanna:  The Civil War era captured my heart and interest years ago too, fueled by my brother’s interest in that history. 🙂 What historical places are at the top of your list to visit someday?

Andrea:  I would like to return to the Shenandoah Valley and see what I didn’t get time to visit last year. Also, I’d like to visit Washington D. C. and New York. In NYC, I’d like to tour the 9-11 Museum.

Savanna:  What has been the most memorable book you’ve read so far this year?

Interview with Andrea Boeshaar & GIVEAWAYS  | The Engrafted WordAndrea:  Right now I’m reading To Mend a Dream, a novella by Tamera Alexander. It’s wonderful.

Savanna:  Ah, I LOVE Tamera Alexander’s books. 🙂

As co-founder of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) organization, can you share with us a piece of writing advice that has helped you?

Andrea:  Networking with editors and agents is so important—which is one of the reasons Lynn Coleman and I, along with four others, started ACFW (then ACRW, American Christian Romance Writers). At the national ACFW conferences, writers and published authors can meet each other in an atmosphere that feels like a spiritual retreat. The organization has grown so much under the present advisory board, of which I’m no longer a member. They have organized zones, and local ACFW groups, so all year long, writers can network and encourage each other and also hear professional speakers. God has certainly blessed the ACFW organization from its inception 15 years ago.

Savanna:  I LOVE ACFW! I’ve been a member for a couple years now and it’s been a huge help to me in learning the craft and connecting with other writers. 😉

Interview with Andrea Boeshaar & GIVEAWAYS  | The Engrafted WordYou’ve taught several workshops at several writing conferences and women’s retreats. What is one of your favorite topics?

Andrea:  I like to discuss various interpersonal relationships, from marriage to healthy author-agent relationships. God teaches me every day about what it means to be a good, godly wife, mom, client, friend, etc. I don’t always live up to God’s expectations, but I try to learn from my failings. I feel that sharing my experiences with writers or at retreats encourages other women who might be experiencing what I did.

Savanna:  That’s wonderful. I’m so glad you could join us today, Andrea! Is there anything else you’d like to add? Any upcoming projects you can share with us?

Andrea:  Thanks, Savanna!! This year was a busy year for me. In July, a historical novella I wrote with author Christina Miller was published in The Convenient Bride Collection. In November, my novel A Thousand Shall Fall was released. This month, I had another release—a contemporary novella collection called Seasons of Love. The latter is 3 novellas that have correlating recipes at the end of each story.

Savanna:  Sounds great!! I’ll be looking forward to them. Happy New Year!

GIVEAWAY!!

Andrea has graciously offered to give away 1 print copy of A Thousand Shall Fall  – AND – 1 e-book of Seasons of Love to two different winners.  How fun!! 🙂

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks for entering! Contest ends January 5, 2016.  The winner will be notified by email. Happy Reading, everybody!