Tricia Goyer

This morning I was honored to be interviewed by Jack Jacobs from KJTY: Topeka, Kansas. Jack is one of my favorite interviewers. He always has great questions and is excited about my books. How could I not like that?

It’s weird, though, to think the people I’ll most likely never meet listened to my voice over the radio. As I sat in my computer chair, overlooking the Montana Rocky Mountains, people in their car, or at work, or maybe making breakfast were listening to my words.

It’s humbling really. I mean the other 99% of my day is completely ordinary. I’m ordinary . . . or at least I was until God decided to use me for His purposes.

Today, when I was cleaning off my desk I came upon this verse I’d written on a notecard. Acts 20:24 reads, “But my life is worth nothing unless I use it for doing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus–the work of telling others the Good News about God’s wonderful kindness and love.”

It’s a good reminder for me, because there are days like today when I’m able to share the Good News over the radio. Then there are other days when the sharing is more subtle . . . but either way, my life is worth nothing unless I use it to do the work assigned to me by the Lord Jesus.

Sometimes, on a rare occasion, a mom gets sick and is allowed to stay in bed for the day. That was my day today.

The stuffed nose and sore throat weren’t fun, but (should I admit this?) the idea of going nowhere, doing nothing sort of appealed to me.

Yes, the kids still did their school work. I even staggered out of the covers a few times to help them and answer their questions.

And they didn’t starve. In fact, my 11-year-old made me lunch, and a friend brought me homemade chicken noodle soup for dinner. (Thanks Twyla!)

My errands were completed by my 16-year-old, who still doesn’t mind driving around town if it means he can use up the gas in my vehicle instead of his.

Laying in bed, I had time to finish my Bible Study homework (Beth Moore, Breaking Free). And I pulled out a few books I’ve been wanting to read, especially A.W. Tozer’s The Knowledge of the Holy.

Since I didn’t feel well enough to actually write, I actually got caught up on my email correspondence and sent a “to-do” list to my wonderful webmaster, asking for updates on my website.

My plans for tonight include diving into A Stitch in Time, a soon-to-be-released novel by my friend Allison Bottke, who I’m going to write an endorsement for.

And, since my husband’s out of town for work, I propped myself in the center of the bed, tucked all the covers around me, and refused to even brush my hair or shower. (Sniff, sniff, although I that might be changing soon.)

Like a good patient, I’ve been upping my fluids and taking the antibiotics my doctor prescribed yesterday. Which means, I should be feeling better by tomorrow.

Then again . . .

. . . is it going too far for a mom to spend TWO days in a row sick in bed?

Today I found myself lounging on my bed with my notebook computer and a stack of books surrounding me.

The topic: The Spanish Civil War

The mission: Write a three book series that will highlight this time in history, incorporating real-to-life characters, a page-turning plot, and beautiful descriptions that will transport a reader to 1937 Spain. Basically, a story that will force readers to tell all their friends, “You’ve got to read this book!”

Okay, the truth is I can’t think about all those things at once. Nor can I think about my faith reader. And especially not the reviewers who each have an opinion on whether my work deserves a thumbs up or thumbs down rating.

Instead, I must focus on the glimpses. The bit of research that captures my attention. The character that begins as a foggy impression in my mind, but soon starts to take shape.

Many people ask how I can write a 400 page novel. I can’t. It would be impossible. Instead I write the emotions, the bits and pieces of dialogue. I write glimpses as I receive them, and somehow they build until a story unfolds.