Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a writer, editor, homeschool mom of 4 young kids, and ministry wife to the director of a college ministry network in Kansas City. Most importantly, I am a daughter of King Jesus who I have known as my Lord and Savior since I was a young child! I have been reading, imagining, and writing stories for as long as I can remember. My first book, Finding Freedom, released in January of 2020. It’s a romantic suspense novel that explores some pretty heavy issues (such as trafficking and domestic abuse) with a theme of redemption and the unrelenting love of God.
Aside from writing fiction, I write articles and journalistic stories for a few ministry publications. I also do some graphic design (I designed the cover of my book, for example!).
In addition to writing and reading, a few of my favorite things are: my husband, my kids, coffee, chocolate, music, and taking walks. I love all things FBI/mystery/military, but I also dig a good, well-developed romance. I enjoy books, movies, and TV shows that depict complex characters and real life issues with intense drama (basically, I like having my heart wrenched a few times, as long as there’s an underpinning of hope). I have a degree in Psychology, so I like people and characters!
I’m an introvert with an outgoing personality. I prefer one-on-one interactions with people, but I also enjoy teaching publicly. I’ve been told I have a gift for counseling and mentoring. Small talk, large groups, and crowds I can do without, however. 🙂
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Finding Freedom. The initial inspiration for the book came over seven years ago. I had a fictional scene in mind that to me illustrated the gospel of Jesus Christ very clearly. That climactic scene was my muse for the entire book; I always kept it at the forefront to guide the story.
The theme of freedom came later. I was reading another author’s blog and she encouraged praying over the theme of each book. As I did, the concept of freedom emerged. There’s a nonfiction book called The Prodigal God that explores the idea of finding freedom from our goodness and freedom from our badness in Jesus Christ, but I hadn’t read a fiction book that illustrated the same concept. Finding Freedom juxtaposes two characters – one who is in desperate need of freedom from her past and her shame, and the other who is in desperate need of freedom from his own attempts to be good enough. That juxtaposition meets at the cross of Jesus.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Mochas. Lots of mochas 🙂 Usually decaf, though, because I have the caffeine tolerance of a 95-year-old. My preferred writing location is at a corner table in a favorite coffee shop or in the oversized chair in the reading nook of my living room. I’m usually listening to my “Break of Reality” station on Pandora…I can’t listen to music with words when I write, but I love intense, emotion-filled instrumental music.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Marcus Pfister first drew me into the wonderful world of fiction with his shiny book “The Rainbow Fish” when I was just a wee tot. It may have been the sparkles, but those shimmering scales had me hooked nonetheless.
When I was 15, I read Francine River’s Redeeming Love for the first time. I couldn’t put it down. I was totally beguiled by the power of that story to convey the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. That was the first time I really saw how a work of fiction could be a vessel of life-transforming truth. From that moment on, I committed that if I ever wrote a novel, it would be THAT type of novel…a complex story with raw characters that illustrated the power, mercy, grace, and love of God in tangible and compelling ways.
Soon after that I read Lynn Austin’s “Candle in the Darkness.” I underlined the heck out of that book! It challenged me to think, ripped my heart out, put it back in, and left me again marveling at the incredible power of fiction to transform thought.
From a more classic standpoint, the ingenuity of the storytelling of G.K. Chesteron, C.S. Lewis, and J.R.R. Tolkien is always inspiring. The Man Who Was Thursday by Chesterton is utterly brilliant.I don’t have a fraction of their creativity and intelligence, but they serve as reminders that fiction is a worthwhile endeavor.
Finally, Julie Lessman. She was the first non-family member to read my manuscript of Finding Freedom. From that point on she has championed me, told me it was worth publishing, offered me guidance and advice, endorsed and promoted my book. Her mentorship has been invaluable, and it means the world coming from a successful author whose books have impacted my heart.
What are you working on now?
Book 2 of The Prodigal Series, “Finding Forgiveness.” The series is intended to be a three-book series (at least). I have visions of a prequel as well. The theme of the second book, if you hadn’t guess, is forgiveness.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Great question! I’m still a newbie at this, so…ask me again in a year?
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just keep writing. After I released my first book, the response from my readers was overwhelmingly positive. They kept saying “When will the second book come out???” I felt this intense pressure to promote the first book and get the second book written. Under all that angst, my inspiration to write disappeared. I had a horrible case of writer’s block until one date night my husband said, “It sounds like you’re losing your joy in writing.” He was absolutely right. I had to remember why I do this: because I love writing and believe stories can impact hearts!
Once you’re published, there is a long list of ways you could spend your time, and it takes wisdom to figure out how to juggle it, especially if you, like me, have other responsibilities (like raising 4 kids). There’s always more you can do to promote your book. But you know what? If you stop writing, or your writing becomes so filled with pressure you can’t enjoy it anymore, you’ve lost the very thing that makes your writing yours to begin with. No matter what, just keep writing.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
With regards to writing a novel, “tell the story.” That advice keeps me grounded as I’m writing. I’m always asking myself, “what’s the story? Does this scene, this character, this setting, help tell the story?” It also keeps me from over-obsessing about the perfection of the first draft so that I can focus on telling the story – there is time for polishing, perfecting, and closing loopholes later, but the first draft is about getting the story out.
What are you reading now?
I just started The Land Uncharted by Keely Brooke Keith, a new-to-me author. I’m not very far in, but the summary was intriguing.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Continuing to write The Prodigal Series. After that, I have another story lurking in the back of my mind set in Ireland during the height of the Irish Revolution.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Ahhh! Only 3 or 4? My Bible is a given, plus Redeeming Love, Bridge to Haven, and Candle in the Darkness. I could read those endlessly.
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