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Writer’s Desk with Kara Swanson

The Writer’s Desk with Kara Swanson

Kara Swanson writes books about fairytales and fiery souls. Raised in overseas jungles as the daughter of missionaries, she quickly fell in love with stories of characters dropped into unique new worlds. Kara is the award-winning author of YA Fantasy novels including Peter Pan retelling, Dust and Shadow. Kara is the co-founder of the Author Conservatory where she has the honor of teaching young writers to craft sustainable author careers. She loves to chat about coffee, Jesus and mental health over on Instagram: @karaswansonauthor

Connect with Kara on her website, Instagram, Facebook, and sign-up for her newsletter.

More about Shadow:

Peter Pan has crash-landed back on Neverland. But this is not the island he remembers.

Desperate to rescue Claire and the fractured Lost Boys, Peter must unravel what truly tore his dreamland apart. But with each step, he is haunted by more of his own broken memories. Not even Pan himself is what he seems.

Claire Kenton is chained to a pirate ship, watching the wreckage of Neverland rocked by tempests. When she finally finds her brother, Connor is every bit as shattered as the island. Claire may have pixie dust flowing in her veins—but the light of Neverland is flickering dangerously close to going out forever.

To rescue Neverland from the inescapable shadow, the boy who never grew up and the girl who grew up too fast will have to sacrifice the only thing they have left: each other.

Purchase a copy of Shadow.

Q&A with Kara Swanson

TG: Everyone always asks for an interesting fact, we’re going to flip the question. What is one boring fact about yourself?

KS: Haha! Ummm…I don’t enjoy cooking and have yogurt for breakfast just about every morning 😊

TG: Where did you get the inspiration for Shadow?

KS: I loved the idea of delving into a well-loved fairytale and developing it more.

TG: Do you have any habits or rituals as a writer?

KS: Yes! I need to have a solid chunk of time to write, usually in the evening, and with coffee and a story inspiration song on repeat. 😊

TG: What habits would you encourage others to take up to be a more productive writer?

KS: Consistency and peer feedback

TG: What do you snack on or drink while writing?

KS: Chips or grapes!

TG: How do you overcome writer’s block?

KS: Take a break, brainstorm with a friend, etc

TG: Are you an “edit-as-you-go” writer or do you wait until the very end before you do any editing?

KS: I edit in chunks! I’ll write 5-10 chapters and then edit them

TG: What would you say is the most common mistake new writers make?

KS: Thinking they are ready for publication before they’ve gotten experience or professional feedback

TG: What is the best piece of writing advice you’re ever received?

KS: To write what you’re passionate about, but also write with intention

TG: What is coming up next for you?

KS: I just announced a new two-book deal with Enclave!

Don’t miss my conversation with Kara! Click the graphic below to watch!

Enter to win a paperback copy of Dust*:

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*Due to shipping costs, paperbacks can be shipped to US mailing addresses only.

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Writer’s Desk with Janyre Tromp

The Writer’s Desk with Janyre Tromp

Janyre Tromp is a developmental editor by day and writer of historical novels with a healthy dose of lyrical intrigue at night. She’s the author of Shadows in the Mind’s Eye and co-author of both O Little Town and It’s a Wonderful Christmas. And that all happens from her kitchen table when she’s not hanging out with her family, two troublesome cats, and slightly eccentric Shetland Sheepdog.

Connect with Janyre on her website, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, BookBub, newsletter sign-up, and her editor Facebook Q&A group.

More about Shadows in the Mind’s Eye:

Charlotte Anne Mattas longs to turn back the clock. Before her husband, Sam, went to serve his country in the war, he was the man everyone could rely on—responsible, intelligent, and loving. But the person who’s come back to their family farm is very different from the protector Annie remembers. Sam’s experience in the Pacific theater has left him broken in ways no one can understand—but that everyone is learning to fear.

Tongues start wagging after Sam nearly kills his own brother. Now when he claims to have seen men on the mountain when no one else has seen them, Annie isn’t the only one questioning his sanity and her safety. If there were criminals haunting the hills, there should be evidence beyond his claims. Is he really seeing what he says, or is his war-tortured mind conjuring ghosts?

Annie desperately wants to believe her husband. But between his irrational choices and his nightmares leaking into the daytime, she’s terrified he’s going mad. Can she trust God to heal Sam’s mental wounds—or will sticking by him mean keeping her marriage at the cost of her own life?

Purchase a copy of Shadows in the Mind’s Eye.

Q&A with Janyre Tromp

TG: Everyone always asks for an interesting fact, we’re going to flip the question. What is one boring fact about yourself?

JT: I am a middle-born kid.

TG: Where did you get the inspiration for Shadows in the Mind’s Eye?

JT: This story actually began while talking to my grandparents over a glass of lemonade. My U.S. History professor had given us an assignment to talk to family about the Depression and/or World War II. Until that point, I’d had no real concept of what the war was like, either for the soldiers or their families back home. I guess I’d thought that the greatest generation slid back into life and easily became the loving people I knew my grandparents were in their 70s.

When I discovered that wasn’t the case, I wondered how they had survived the fear and drastic changes. Even though the book idea started with wondering how my grandparents’ marriage survived the pressure of war, the book isn’t biographical. So, I needed a setting other than my grandparents’ hometown. For the characters that I was building, I needed a small town.

When one of my good friends told me she had an entire book of stories from her family in Arkansas, I jumped at the chance to read first-hand history. Amongst the Hughes family stories, I acquired the basis for Dovie May and Hot Springs, Arkansas—home to the largest illegal gambling racket in the country.

Well, I don’t have to tell you that mobsters and illegal activity are an excellent backdrop for a story with a bit of suspense. The book The Bookmaker’s Daughter by Shirley Abbott confirmed that Hot Springs mobsters operated with full permission of the authorities. In Shirley’s stories, I also discovered the foundation for Charlotte Anne’s father. All of which gave me a location and a cast of characters that could stoke Sam’s fears and make everyone (including the reader) wonder whether or not he was crazy.

TG: Do you have any habits or rituals as a writer?

JT: I typically start my morning in quiet. I do my devotions and then I read poetry. It fills my cup up for the day. Then I spend as much time as I can outside . . . even in the winter. There’s something about creation that helps me lose the constructs of my real life. I also have a way to capture ideas everywhere (because they always come at such random times). I use transcription software on my phone, shower paper in the shower, and a pad of paper with a light-up pen by my bed.

TG: What habits would you encourage others to take up to be a more productive writer?

JT: With a day job and kids and all the things, I’m one of those people who can’t write every day. Letting myself off the hook with that and just writing consistently helps my rule-following self relax and enjoy the process a bit more.

TG: What do you snack on or drink while writing?

JT: Water, coffee, tea. I recently discovered caramel extract and it makes iced coffee AMAZING.

TG: How do you overcome writer’s block?

JT: One of my favorite tips is to use the book poemcrazy. It helps writers find creative ways to say things in the voice of their characters. Sometimes stepping away from my current book and working on some of the activities in poemcrazy help me break through an impasse.

TG: Are you an “edit-as-you-go” writer or do you wait until the very end before you do any editing?

JT: I’m kind of a mix. Since I’m a developmental editor by trade, by the time I hit the midpoint of the book, I tend to know where major flaws are. If I push through to the end at that point, I risk making a big muddled mess. So I go back to the beginning and rewrite the first half and then push through to the end. I also tend to re-read what I wrote the day before and tweak it a bit before I start writing for the day.

TG: What would you say is the most common mistake new writers make?

JT: The first mistake is not following the basic rules. Rules are rules for a reason. They help keep you in the realm of what’s accepted. The second mistake is blindly following everyone else’s rules. You’re allowed to break rules if there’s good reason and you know why you’re breaking them. See my refusal to take the advice to write every day.

TG: What is the best piece of writing advice you’re ever received?

JT: That oftentimes the places where we’re struggling most, the times when we see the most resistance, is the place where we’re most meant to go. Writing is not always an easy endeavor. Story is meant to dig into truth, to find things other people don’t see, and that’s not typically a comfortable place to be.

Also, don’t sweat the commas too much. Every publishing house has a different standard, which means there are very few hard and fast rules. Make sure you have a series (or Oxford) comma and be consistent on the rest.

TG: What is coming up next for you?

JT: I actually have a Christmas novella collection O Little Town: A Christmas Romance Collection releasing Sept. 27. I’m in that with Deborah Raney and Amanda Wen. All the stories take place in the sleepy small town of Mapleview, Michigan, where Christmas is always something special. Each of us explores a different generation of Mapleview residents longing for love—and finding it—during the most wonderful season of the year.

My novella “While Mortals Sleep” takes its title from the second verse of the carol and it’s about Eleanor Sweers, a big city news reporter who returns home to face the repercussions of the death of her sister and her nightmare of Christmases past. But the homefront isn’t as far from the war as she thought: a bomb has landed in the middle of the U.S. Now Eleanor and family friend Gideon Braum may have to choose between the scoop of a lifetime and the love of a lifetime.

It has all my favorite things—second-chance romance, a little mystery, and the real history of a WWII Japanese bomb falling on a small town in Michigan.

Don’t miss my conversation with Janyre! Click the graphic below to watch!

Enter to win an audio or paperback copy of Shadows in the Mind’s Eye or a paperback copy of O Little Town*:

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*Due to shipping costs, paperbacks can be shipped to US mailing addresses only.

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Writer’s Desk with Dan Seaborn

The Writer’s Desk with Dan Seaborn

Dan Seaborn is the founder of Winning At Home, a non-profit organization that seeks to support marriages and families through speaking, counseling and coaching services, community events and other media resources. Dan is an engaging and powerful speaker and a thoughtful and practical writer. He has a comfortable and humorous communication style that allows him to connect easily with audiences of all ages. Through energetic and memorable live presentations or through his books, Dan talks openly about family life—often by revealing his own struggles or failures.

As a featured speaker at various large-scale events and through his books, Dan has earned recognition as an influential and passionate communicator. Speaking all over the country, he uses practical illustrations and real-life examples to teach others how to win at home. His sincerity through his spoken or printed words, often leaves audiences nodding in agreement and his quick wit leaves them laughing.

In addition to being an international speaker and president of Winning At Home, Dan serves as the leader for the Marriage & Family Division of the American Association of Christian Counselors.

Dan has authored more than 12 books about marriage and family, and his advice is broadcast to over 350 radio stations across the United States. As a columnist, he has written hundreds of articles related to marriage and family and he is frequently asked to speak on the topic. He holds a master’s degree in Christian Ministries from Indiana Wesleyan University.

But his best experience has probably come from his own life and being married to his wife, Jane, for more than 30 years and being dad to his four children and Grandpa to six grandchildren.

Connect with Dan on his website, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Vimeo.

More about Winning at Home:

Combining the expertise of credentialed counselors, coaches, and pastors, Winning at Home offers clarity in the midst of chaos on hard-hitting topics like mental health, technology, sexuality, and identity, for parents who are trying to raise children from a faith-based perspective.

Your home should be a place of victory for your family. But all too often, it feels like it’s not.

Parents today are raising kids in a culture that not only disagrees with their Christian faith—it strongly opposes it at every turn. We know our faith must inform every aspect of our parenting, but the Bible doesn’t always offer cut-and-dried answers on subjects like parenting a child with mental health problems, helping your kids develop good interpersonal skills and boundaries, understanding sexual identity, or successfully parenting adult children. Nor does the Church always address them—and for that reason, they can be both messy and frightening.

In Winning at Home, Dan Seaborn teams up with several of the credentialed members of his ministry’s staff to dive into the mess and help parents seeking a faith-based perspective on some of our culture’s most complex topics find firm footing.

So bring your questions with you into these pages, where you’ll discover a wealth of wisdom and resources to help you navigate the challenges of twenty-first-century parenting. It’s time to turn your losses around and start winning at home.

Purchase a copy of Winning at Home.

Q&A with Dan Seaborn

TG: Everyone always asks for an interesting fact, we’re going to flip the question. What is one boring fact about yourself?

DS: I moved in the opposite direction that many people do in the US. I grew up in South Carolina and moved to Michigan in the late 1980s, so I’m really used to snow and cold now!

TG: Why did you write Winning at Home?

DS: Because of the combination of the work that our ministry does (therapy along with the more pastoral work that I do), we are uniquely positioned to both see the challenges that families and parents are facing right now as well as to get the word out about those challenges. And that is what this book is all about. I had the opportunity to partner with some of the counselors, coaches, and pastors on our staff to bring biblical, helpful, and practical advice in an effort to bring clarity to the chaos that many parents are feeling as they navigate the challenges of modern life.

TG: Did you have any surprises or learning moments while writing this title?

DS: Because I collaborated with some of the counselors, coaches, and pastors that work with me at Winning At Home, there are several of the more therapeutic things that go well beyond what I knew before starting on the book. Particularly some of the mental and emotional heal-focused sections were very informative for me.

TG: What do you hope readers take away from your book?

DS: I firmly believe that with the added cultural influences on parents and our children, we all need clear, Biblical guidance on the key issues we face today. It is my hope that this book can be both a challenge and encouragement for parents and that God would use this book based on solid, scriptural truth to bring hope and clarity to the journey of parenting.

TG: Do you have any habits or rituals as a writer?

DS: I’m constantly in conversation with parents and couples about the challenging parts of family life that they’re facing. So when I see patterns show up in what people are dealing with, then I know what I want to address in my writing. I would say that my biggest habit as a writer is paying attention to those patterns.

TG: What habits would you encourage others to take up to be a more productive writer?

DS: I like to do things that help get me into a “thinking space.” Strangely enough, that’s often while I’m doing lawn care or going for a drive. I would encourage people to find their “thinking space,” even if it doesn’t look like they might think it’s supposed to look.

TG: What do you snack on or drink while writing?

DS: Peanuts and almonds are some of my favorite go-to snacks. I like them roasted or chocolate covered!

TG: How do you overcome writer’s block?

DS: One thing that helps me is the fact that I lead the ministry of Winning At Home and I travel and speak many weekends throughout the year. So I have enough other work responsibilities that I can just shift my focus on to other facets of my job. And letting my mind take a break by focusing on other things is helpful.

TG: Are you an “edit-as-you-go” writer or do you wait until the very end before you do any editing?

DS: I actually started writing as a secondary way of communicating. My main role and passion is speaking, so I think my style of speaking preparation influences my writing style. I tend to think and write in blocks of ideas if that makes sense. I flesh out one idea at a time and then I see how that fits with the next idea and the next one. So, I edit as I go and then fit the pieces together along the way.

TG: What would you say is the most common mistake new writers make?

DS: Whenever people talk to me about their idea of getting in to writing for the first time, the biggest hurdle seems to be that they think of writing as needing to write a whole book rather than “getting ideas down on paper.” It’s a tough thing to try to fully articulate, but it’s probably how a non-exerciser would think of completing a triathlon or something. You don’t start with the idea of doing the whole thing; you start by chipping away at some beginning goals and see how that goes. If you enjoy the process of writing (or training), then keep going. And if you keep at it for months and months, you’ll accomplish more than you might expect.

TG: What is the best piece of writing advice you’re ever received?

DS: Be transparent about your own flaws and failures. The very things that we’re tempted to cover up and not share with others are often the things that resonate deeply with other people who are struggling with the same things.

Don’t miss my conversation with Dan! Click the graphic below to watch!

Enter to win one of five copies of Winning at Home*:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Due to shipping costs, paperbacks can be shipped to US mailing addresses only.

Sharable Graphics! Just click, save, and share!

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Writer’s Desk with Kimberley Woodhouse

The Writer’s Desk with Kimberley Woodhouse

Kimberley Woodhouse is an award-winning and bestselling author of more than thirty books. A lover of history and research, she often gets sucked into the past, and then her husband has to lure her out with chocolate and the promise of eighteen holes on the golf course. She loves music, kayaking, and her family. Married to the love of her life for three decades, she lives and writes in the Poconos where she’s traded in her hat of “Craziest Mom” for “Nana the Great.”

Connect with Kimberley on her website, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, BookBub, and sign up for her newsletter here.

More about A Gem of Truth:

Escaping her shattered past is much more difficult than she imagined.

Julia Schultz has a reputation for being a storyteller, or as others see it, a liar. But with her dark and painful past, stories are all that have kept her company throughout her life. Longing for a fresh start and a second chance to earn real trust, Julia takes a job as a Harvey Girl at the El Tovar Hotel, where she’s challenged to be her true self.

Learning the trade of a master jeweler is hard work, but Christopher Miller takes pride in running his family’s small shop and earning the respect of the people around him. But when he discovers that he has six weeks to buy his building from his landlord before it is sold, he must find a way to save his grandfather’s legacy.

United by the discovery of a legendary treasure, Chris and Julia find hope in each other. But when Julia’s past catches up with her, doubt creeps into Chris’s heart. Can he really trust her and her stories?

Purchase a copy of A Gem of Truth.

Q&A with Kimberley Woodhouse

TG: Everyone always asks for an interesting fact, we’re going to flip the question. What is one boring fact about yourself?

KW: I used to be an extrovert. Now, I’m an introvert.

TG: Where did you get the inspiration for A Gem of Truth?

KW: At the Grand Canyon back in 2008. It was actually one of the interpretive placards that sparked this story—the second in my Secrets of the Canyon series. The Spanish had an expedition in the 1540s as they were searching for the cities of gold. A small contingency was sent west to see what they could find. This little troupe stumbled upon the Grand Canyon. From there, I created a (fictional) legend for my story that includes a treasure from the 1540s.

TG: Do you have any habits or rituals as a writer?

KW: I’m one of those that needs quiet and focus. I can’t go to Starbucks or Panera Bread and write amongst the crowds. 😊 So… my writing space is very important to me. I’m a bit on the OCD side (at least, I have tendencies – lol) and structure, schedule, and planners are all crucial for my creative process. I use three monitors and now have a standing desk (one of those powered, massive ones) with a treadmill that keeps me moving as I write since this full-time job of mine is quite sedentary. 😊

TG: What habits would you encourage others to take up to be a more productive writer?

KW: Write, write, write, write, write. Be disciplined about it. Don’t allow yourself to make excuses for why you can’t write. Creative people are great at coming up with distractions.

TG: What do you snack on or drink while writing?

KW: Water. Lots and lots of water. I drink 160 ounces a day. I try not to snack at my desk because that could be hazardous – lol! (In more ways than one!)

TG: How do you overcome writer’s block?

KW: I keep going. If I need a little five-minute refresher, I go do something around the house and then come right back to my desk and dive back in. Stephen King once said, “Amateurs sit and wait for inspiration, the rest of us just get up and go to work.” And Annie Dillard said, “Get to work. Your work is to keep cranking the flywheel that turns the gears that spin the belt in the engine of belief that keeps you and your desk in midair.” I have these posted in my office to remind me that writing is hard work and I have to be disciplined about it if I want to get into the “flow state.” It doesn’t just happen on its own. 😊

TG: Are you an “edit-as-you-go” writer or do you wait until the very end before you do any editing?

KW: I allow myself to read what I wrote the day before. One: to get myself back into the project. Two: to *lightly* edit. I don’t allow much though. It’s better to stay in “writing mode” – get the story out onto the page and then put on my proverbial editing hat and change gears. The two are different and require different parts of the brain. If you switch back and forth too much, you’re not allowing yourself to truly get into one or the other.

TG: What would you say is the most common mistake new writers make?

KW: Not taking enough time to study the craft. It’s not something you can learn overnight—even for the most gifted of storytellers. It’s a lifetime pursuit and understanding that from the very beginning is the best service you can give yourself.

TG: What is the best piece of writing advice you’re ever received?

KW: This tag-teams off of the last question. 😊 The best advice I was ever given was to keep studying, learning, and growing. No matter how many books of mine might get published. Never stop learning.

TG: What is coming up next for you?

KW: The third book in the Secrets of the Canyon series is A Mark of Grace and it releases in January of 2023. Then the first book in my Alaska cyber series 26 Below releases in March, followed by the first book in our Kalispell series, A Heart’s Choice in May. In September, the first in what I’m calling my “Dinosaur series” releases, and then in November, book 2 in the cyber series 8 Down releases.

Don’t miss my conversation with Kimberley! Click the graphic below to watch!

Enter to win one of two copies of A Gem of Truth*:

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*Due to shipping costs, paperbacks can be shipped to US mailing addresses only.

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The Sister Circle Online Event – Join Us!

Are you free Friday, May 22? I have some really exciting news. Join me for the Sister Circle Online Event!

My friend Chrystal Evans Hurst is getting her sister circle together to help you take time to nourish your soul, challenge your mind, and choose to live. And… I’m joining her!

 

Are you free Friday, May 22? I have some really exciting news! ​ My friend Chrystal Evans Hurst is getting her sister circle together to help you take time to nourish your soul, challenge your mind, and choose to live! And… I’m joining her!

 

There are three parts to this event:

​The Event will help you build a plan to pivot in your life and passion. Amazing speakers will inspire you!

​The VIP will also receive all the sessions, plus a digital swag bag and Coffee with Chrystal Hangout.

​The Summit is designed to help you write your book and develop your speaking platform. (That’s where I join in!) You get all of the above plus extra teaching and mentoring. I’ll be available LIVE to answer your questions!

​
If you don’t know of Chrystal, she’s amazing. The daughter of Tony and Lois Evans, the sister of Priscilla Shirer … and my friend! 🙂 Like me, Chrystal was a young, single mom who turned to God and allowed Him to completely transform her life. Also, like me, Chrystal balances serving women while also homeschooling her kids!

Chrystal interviewed me HERE about what it practically looks like to walk out our faith, one step at a time.

And I interviewed Chrystal HERE about how God transformed her heart, helping her to realize her worth.

Now, we want YOU to be part of the conversation!
​

Join me, Chrystal Evans Hurst, and a host of other speakers for The Summit at The Sister Circle Online Event. Again … The Summit is designed to help you write your book and develop your speaking platform.

The Summit at The Sister Circle Online Event is for you if you:

  • Have thought about writing your book for years, but didn’t know where to start
  • Want to explore publishing your book yourself
  • Want to become a speaker, but feel stuck
  • Don’t have a large platform and need to learn how build from the ground up

Plus, with The Summit, you also get access to the Event, where the ladies and I will share our passion, skills, and experiences with practical information that will help you to live your story!

Learn more about The Summit at The Sister Circle Online Event or get your tickets HERE.

 

 Are you free Friday, May 22? I have some really exciting news! ​ My friend Chrystal Evans Hurst is getting her sister circle together to help you take time to nourish your soul, challenge your mind, and choose to live! And… I’m joining her!

 

My Session:

Making Room for Writing

 

My Takeaways:

1. Your writing benefits your family.

2. Work in pockets of time. <- lots of practical helps

3. Find an accountability partner for support

 

My LIVE mentoring:

Friday, May 22 from 12:35pm – 1:35pm CST

 

In full disclosure, if you register for The Sister Circle Online Event via my link, I’ll receive a commission. That’s one reason why I only recommend events I truly believe in.

If you have any questions about the event, reach out to tsc@chrystalevanshurst.com​

I’ll see you there!

Tricia

 

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Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” Read full privacy policy here.

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Writer’s Desk Issue No: 5: Lacy Williams

Writer’s Desk Issue No: 5: Lacy Williams

We’re so excited to have Lacy Williams featured on this week’s writer’s desk. Lacy Williams wishes her writing career was more like what you see on Hallmark movies: dreamy brainstorming from a French chateau or a few minutes at the computer in a million-dollar New York City penthouse. In reality, she’s up before the sun, putting words on the page before her kids wake up for the day. Those early-morning and late-night writing sessions add up, and Lacy has published fifty books in almost a decade, first with a big five publisher and then as an indie author. When she needs to refill the well, you can find Lacy birdwatching, gardening, biking with the kiddos, or walking the dog. Be sure to stick around until the end of the post for more about her most recent release plus a chance to win a copy!

Do you have a writing routine? When/Where do you write?

I have four kiddos, so my most productive hours are before they wake up. Usually, I get up at 5 am to write for a couple of hours. I don’t have an office, so I usually write in a corner of the living room in a comfy/overstuffed chair. I catch up on marketing stuff during rest time/mom’s quiet time in the afternoon.

When are you most productive?

Those two hours in the morning are my most productive hours of the day. My brain is fresh and there are no interruptions. Also, I’ve started dictating over the past six months and it’s made a big difference for me in getting wordcount in.

What do you snack on or drink while writing?

M&Ms are my thing. I’m actually trying to wean off of them because I eat too many handfuls (“it’s just a few!”).

How do you overcome writer’s block?

The best way I’ve found is to slog through. Just keep going. Even if I can only get a few hundred words in that day, it still counts toward my bigger word count goal. My mastermind group recommended a book Alter Ego that has also helped break through some mental blocks for me. I’d recommend it to other writers for sure.

What is your outlining process? Are you a pantser/plotter or something in between?

I prefer to start brainstorming characters before I plot anything out. I use Susan May Warren’s Story Equation (great book!) to really get a feel for my characters and what’s going to push them outside of their comfort zones and into real conflict. I’ll do a lot of character work and then start the story knowing some major plot points but I never have an outline.

Best advice for someone who is just starting out?

Find a great writing group and get engaged. Put words on the page (over and over again). Don’t give up.

Writer's Desk: Lacy Williams. Lacy shares her 3 tips for making the romance sizzle in your novel! Enjoy!

What are 3 tips you have for making romance believable in your writing?

1) Give your hero and heroine real conflict. Something in their past that they have to overcome to be whole for the other person.

2) Word hard for great dialogue. Revise, revise, revise.

3) Don’t skimp on the little moments of magic. The hand-holding. The touch on her face before they kiss. The meeting of eyes across the room.

Favorite thing to binge-watch?

I love superhero movies. Right now I’ve been binging Spiderman movies with Tom Holland.

Book(s) currently reading?

Family for Beginners by Sarah Morgan.

Favorite song right now?

My three-year-old daughter has been singing Jesus, You’re My Firm Foundation all day long, and it always makes me smile.

Favorite thing to order at Starbucks (or wherever you get your coffee/tea fix!)?

Hot Plum tea at All About Cha.

Enter to win a signed copy of His Small Town Girl from Lacy Williams*

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 
*Due to shipping costs open to the US only.

Be sure to catch the video interview with Lacy on Friday, May 15th at 2 PM CT HERE, and be sure to join Avid Readers of Christian Fiction group so you don’t miss any of our other fun author LIVE chats coming up!

More about His Small Town Girl by Lacy Williams:

She’s sweet and wholesome. And hiding something.
He’s back home, resurrecting old ghosts.
One of them is going to get hurt.

Molly arrives in Sutter’s Hollow out of gas and out of options. The rundown ranch seems like a perfect place to hide. Except the man who owns it seems just as dangerous as what’s chasing her.

Cord’s mantra growing up? Get out of Sutter’s Hollow. Now he’s back in town, but only long enough to get rid of his grandma’s ball and chain—the ranch. He doesn’t need a complication like Molly, who reminds him of an injured baby bird. He’s no protector. So why can’t he tell her to get lost?

His Small-Town Girl is Book 1 in a brand new trilogy from Family Fiction’s #1 Essential Christian Romance Author (2020).

”Lacy’s books are just so darn cozy and wholesome, without being cloying.” WendyTheSuperLibrarian book blog

Amazon | Kindle

Connect with Lacy Williams

Website | Instagram | GoodReads | Facebook | Bookbub

 

Want more writing inspiration? You might enjoy these other posts of The Writer’s Desk:

Writer’s Desk Issue No: 4: Cara Putman

 

Writer’s Desk Issue No: 3: Cindy Coloma

 

Are you new here? You might want to subscribe to my email updates, check out my podcast, or follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+, or Instagram.

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above

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Writer’s Desk Issue No: 4: Cara Putman

Writer's Desk: Cara Putman. Cara shares her 3 tips for launching your writing career while you're still working your day job! Enjoy!

Writer’s Desk Issue No: 4: Cara Putman

We’re so excited to have Cara Putman featured on this week’s writer’s desk. Since the time she could read Nancy Drew, Cara has wanted to write mysteries. In 2005 she attended a book signing at her local Christian bookstore. The rest, as they say, was history. There she met a fellow Indiana writer Colleen Coble. With prompting from her husband, Cara shared her dream with Colleen. Since those infamous words, Cara’s been writing award-winning books. She is currently writing book 33 and dreaming up future books, not hard when she sees what-ifs everywhere.

Cara Putman is an active member of ACFW and gives back to the writing community through her service on Executive Board. She has also been the Indiana ACFW chapter president and served as the Area Coordinator for Indiana.

Cara is also an attorney, full-time lecturer at a Big Ten university, active in women’s ministry, and an all-around crazy woman. Crazy about God, her husband, and her kids that is. She graduated with honors from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (Go Huskers!), George Mason Law School, and Purdue University’s Krannert School of Management. Be sure to stick around until the end of the post for more about her most recent release plus a chance to win a copy!

Do you have a writing routine? When/Where do you write?

I usually write in my home office though I’ve been known to move around as needed to get inspiration. If there’s too much chaos at home or in my office, it can be hard to create, so I’ll go somewhere like a coffee shop to get jumpstarted. When I’m on deadline I write about every day, but unlike Tricia, I write in the evenings. It’s the time that works best.

When are you most productive?

When I’m on deadline. Just kidding…sort of. I’m most productive when I can block an hour or two to write. That means I’ll do it whenever I can, except early mornings. I used to be an early bird, but now I’m more of a late-night owl.

What do you snack on or drink while writing?

This sounds so crazy, but my writing food is almonds or a sliced apple. I’m also a sucker for nachos, but those are hard to each while writing. I primarily drink coffee, hot tea, or water. I know. Exciting 😉

How do you overcome writer’s block?

I’ve learned to do one of a couple of things. 1) I press through. Sometimes I don’t have time for writer’s block. 2) Step away for a bit. I’ve learned that it can be a sign I need to step away and think about something else while I let my subconscious work on the book and characters. It seems so counter-intuitive, but it really does work for me. 3) I’ll go take a walk. If it’s nice, always outside. If not, then on my treadmill. I’ve found there’s something about the physical movement that helps, too.

What is your outlining process? Are you a pantser/plotter or something in between?

I’m somewhere in between. I can plot when the publisher requires it – and frankly, those books are easy to write. But I can also be a pantser. I find those books are harder though. With my next book, I really want to go back to plotting. That basically frontloads the work and makes the writing faster and cleaner for me.

Best advice for someone who is just starting out.

Write and read every day.

Writer's Desk: Cara Putman. Cara shares her 3 tips for launching your writing career while you're still working your day job! Enjoy!

What are 3 tips you would give to anyone who is trying to launch their writing career while still plugging along at their day job?

  • Be consistent.
  • Don’t be discouraged. If you follow #1, you will finish your book.
  • Pick one social media platform that you enjoy and become an expert at it. Don’t try to do them all right out of the gate.

Favorite thing to binge-watch: Right now, Castle and the Marvel movies in order

Book(s) currently reading: The Nightengale by Kristin Hannah (on audio: so GOOD!) and Nancy Mehl’s latest novel Dead End

Favorite song right now: The Blessing by Kari Jobe

Favorite thing to order at Starbucks (or wherever you get your coffee/tea fix!): When I’m not making them at home, a caramel macchiato with half the sugar/sweetener.

Enter to win a copy of Flight Risk from Cara Putman*

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*Due to shipping costs open to US only.

Be sure to catch the video interview with Cara HERE, and be sure to join Avid Readers of Christian Fiction group so you don’t miss any of our other fun author LIVE chats coming up!

More about Fight Risk:

Bestselling author Cara Putman returns with a romantic legal thriller that will challenge the assumptions of truth tellers everywhere.

Savannah Daniels has worked hard to build her law practice, to surround herself with good friends, and to be the loyal aunt her troubled niece can always count on. But since her ex-husband’s betrayal, she has trouble trusting anyone.

Jett Glover’s father committed suicide over a false newspaper report that ruined his reputation. Now a fierce champion of truth, Jett is writing the story of his journalism career—an international sex-trafficking exposé that will bring down a celebrity baseball player and the men closest to him, including Savannah’s ex-husband.

Amazon | Kindle | IndieBound

Connect with Cara Putman

Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

Are you new here? You might want to subscribe to my email updates, check out my podcast, or follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+, or Instagram.

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above

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Writer’s Desk Issue No: 3: Cindy Coloma

Writer's Desk: Cindy Coloma. Cindy shares her 3 tips for building a long-term writing tribe! Enjoy!

Writer’s Desk Issue No: 3: Cindy Coloma

We’re so excited to have my dear friend, Cindy Coloma featured on this week’s writer’s desk. Cindy Coloma is a bestselling author with over twenty-five published books (fiction and nonfiction) and has written under Cindy Martinusen and Cindy McCormick Coloma.  She also works at Microsoft in communications and storytelling. Cindy and her husband live in the Pacific Northwest with the younger of her five children who range in age from seven to thirty. Her first grandson was born last year. Be sure to stick around until the end of the post for more about her most recent release plus a chance to win a copy of Winter’s Passing and my book From Dust to Ashes!

Cindy was my first writing partner and the one who encouraged me to pursue writing. You can learn more about my and Cindy’s adventures for the book research trip we took HERE!

Do you have a writing routine? When/Where do you write?

I write much of the day for my job, so during this season of life, my own writing fits into the spaces — some early mornings, some late nights, some weekends, on scraps of paper, or when commuting sometimes I record lines or ideas. During this season, some weeks, months even, I’m not writing, because I’m doing so much at work. But favorite times to write are in the sweetness of very early morning, and during that joy of very late night when everyone is asleep and I have hours of quiet ahead. I absolutely love writing until the sun comes up.

When are you most productive?

When I have a deadline, and there’s no other option for procrastination.

What do you snack on or drink while writing?

Coffee, coffee, and more coffee (and alkaline water when I remember to stop drinking coffee).

How do you overcome writer’s block?

I don’t get writer’s block. I get writer’s scatter. I struggle from a lack of writing focus in that I can jump around from story to story and need to reign myself in if I want to complete something. That’s a constant struggle even now – to finish. To do that, I need deadlines, or I’ll set timers or say no more coffee till I hit a goal, things like that. Even after all this time, it’s the same struggle. But I’m too full of ideas to get blocked.

What is your outlining process? Are you a pantser/plotter or something in between?

For my own writing, I don’t outline and usually dive into writing. It may begin with a sentence that comes to mind, a story idea from somewhere else, or a character that I encounter in my head. At first, I may not know what the project is going to be or where it’s going, I just go. Very soon, however, I start trying to define it and exploring possibilities of genre, POV, audience, and such. I also write out-of-order and get down the scenes, dialogue interactions, or descriptions that come easily, then later I work at editing or the harder stuff. Usually, it’s not until about one-fourth or one-third of the way into the word count that I organize the book into an outline or chapters. Sometimes I’ve already written the end, and I definitely know where I’m going by this point.

When I’ve worked as a ghostwriter/co-author and now at Microsoft, I outline the project from the start since it’s a collaborative endeavor. This was a tough transition because I write faster and with more creativity when I follow the above process.

Best advice for someone who is just starting out.

Can you be fulfilled doing something else? If so, do that. If writing won’t leave you alone, commit to it. After you commit, start writing, find your community, or a few writing friends (to help through the many hard, lonely spots, which is why I ask the first question), and never, never ever stop developing your craft.

Writer's Desk: Cindy Coloma. Cindy shares her 3 tips for building a long-term writing tribe! Enjoy!

What 3 tips would you give to someone who is just starting out on the writing journey and would like to cultivate a friend/critique partner relationship long term?

NO FAMILY — For a long-term critique partner, seek one who isn’t a family member. Most of our family and close non-writing friends cannot give objective criticism that can help you grow as a writer. And if they can do this, it can be too painful living in the same house or having Christmas dinner with them (there are rare cases in everything). While it’s great if you can share your writing with family and friends and get their input, it’s usually best to have someone outside your immediate circle to share this very important part of your writing journey.

BUILD TRUST — Be sure you trust this person and his or her input. Do you trust that this person really wants you to succeed? Do you trust their ability to give solid feedback and editorial guidance? Do you trust this person to view your heart and soul, see the beauty and the ugliness, and still support your growth. In other words, be really selective.

LIKEMINDEDNESS — Writing groups, conferences, and conventions (virtual or in person) are great places to find other writers and cultivate critique partners. Your critique partner can write in a different genre, have a totally different writing plan/path in mind, and different opinions on things like social media presence, outlining/stream of conscious writing, audience to target, etc. The differences can help grow you and discover unique perspectives. But to really work effectively in a long-term critique partnership, you need likemindedness in core values and expectations. You also should respect in a likeminded way that at the end of the day, each of you is the author of your own work, and you each follow your heart and/or gut on how best to shape a story.

Favorite thing to binge-watch My Brilliant Friend – It’s an Italian series on HBO about two Italian girls, growing up post-WW2, and their lifetime of friendship. It’s beautifully directed, written, and produced. There is so much said and felt (love, hate, jealousy, insecurity) through the characters’ facial expressions, gestures, and through what isn’t said. I just started reading the first book by Elena Ferrante because I finished both seasons of the show, and I just can’t let these characters go. And of course, a book always explores more than a show.

Favorite song right now I listen to a lot of 40s music — Edith Piaf, Louis Armstrong, Etta James, Billie Holiday etc.

Favorite thing to order at Starbucks Hot mocha, no whip, then I come home and add Ceylon cinnamon.

Enter to win a copy of Winter’s Passing and From Dust to Ashes!*

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*Due to shipping costs open to US only.

Be sure to catch the video interview with Cindy on Avid Readers of Christian Fiction on Friday, May 8th at 2 PM CT!  And make sure to join Avid Readers of Christian Fiction group so you don’t miss any of our other fun author LIVE chats coming up!

More about From Dust to Ashes:

It is 1945, and a group of American soldiers liberate a Nazi concentration camp. Helene is the abandoned wife of an SS guard who has fled to avoid arrest. Overcome by guilt, she begins to help meet the needs of survivors. Throughout the process, she finds her own liberation–from spiritual bondage, sin, and guilt. Readers will be intrigued and touched by this fascinating story of love, faithfulness, and courage amidst one of the darkest chapters of mankind’s history.

Amazon | Kindle

More about Winter’s Passing

Some old mysteries can’t stay buried in the past.

In 1941, a young woman faces the firing squad at Mauthausen Concentration Camp with only a lone secret and a deep faith to comfort her.

In the autumn of 2000, Darby Evans hears her grandmother calling the name of a stranger. A deathbed promise sends Darby on a journey across the world and into the secrets of Austria during World War II. The journey is full of twists and turns, shocking revelations, and dangerous people who still seek a missing inheritance.

As Darby seeks answers, her search opens old wounds, awakens new dangers, and just might provide healing and love after six decades of a long winter of sorrow.

Pre-order Winter’s Passing here!

Connect with Cindy Coloma

Website | Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook

Are you new here? You might want to subscribe to my email updates, check out my podcast, or follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+, or Instagram.

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above

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Writer’s Desk Issue No: 2: Tracy Higley

Writer's Desk: Tracy. Tracy shares her 3 tips for researching on-site for your novel! Enjoy!

Writer’s Desk Issue No: 2 Tracy Higley

We’re so excited to have Tracy Higley featured on this week’s writer’s desk. Tracy started her first novel at the age of eight and has been hooked on writing ever since. She chased down a graduate degree in Ancient History to help bring readers more of what they love about her books: adventure that transports readers into the heart of the stories she tells, sweeping them into the smells, sights, and sounds of the ancient world. She has authored fourteen novels and one nonfiction book, and traveled through Greece, Israel, Turkey, Jordan, Egypt, and Italy, bringing back for her readers all the history and culture her head could hold. Be sure to stick around until the end of the post for more about her most recent release plus a chance to win a copy!

Do you have a writing routine? When/Where do you write?

My best time is in the morning, and lately, I’ve been trying to focus on writing from 6 am to 10 am, before the rest of the day intrudes, including my kids at home due to coronavirus! I am fortunate to have my own office in our home, so I hide out in there to get the work done.

What do you snack on or drink while writing?

Coffee, always! Sometimes: Almonds if I’m feeling virtuous. Chocolate chips if I’m not.

How do you overcome writer’s block?

For me, outlining and researching form a core part of my preparation to write. On a macro level, I do a good bit of outlining my story before I start the first scene. And then on a micro level, I have a “scene worksheet” that I’ve tailored to my specific needs over the years, that I fill out just before beginning each scene. Besides the major plot points of the scene, my worksheet forces me to think through the sensory elements, as well as the emotional ones. After thinking that deeply about a scene, I can usually write it without feeling any “writer’s block.”

I also take walks. Lots of them. In which I have been spotted talking to myself. For some reason, getting out and moving helps dislodge whatever stuck points have been giving me trouble.

Best advice for someone who is just starting out.

Write a book that you would love to read. That’s my best advice. The joy comes through, the passion makes a difference. If you can also make it something that has a marketable hook or is a popular genre, go for it. But first and foremost, to enjoy and persevere in the writing journey, you have to love what you’re writing.

Writer's Desk: Tracy. Tracy shares her 3 tips for researching on-site for your novel! Enjoy!

You’ve traveled so much for research for your novels. What are three ways to make the best out of on-site research for your novel?

1. Don’t get bogged down with the stuff you can easily learn in textbooks or online. Do that research ahead of time, or when you get back. Instead, spend your on-site time absorbing the sights, smells, sounds, and feel of the place. How long does it take to walk from one place to another? What can you see when you stand in this or that location?

2. Take a friend. Someone willing to help with logistics, worry about transportation, remind you of things you want to see or do, encourage you to take some risks, even carry your stuff while you’re writing or dictating notes.

3. Dictate notes! There are tons of great apps now for dictating that will transcribe your words later. Test them out before you go, especially if you’ll be dictating while outside, to make sure the transcription comes out clearly. But even if it doesn’t, you can always listen to the recording later. Dictating, rather than writing your impressions down, is much faster and likely to capture much more.

Favorite thing to binge-watch: I try to avoid this!

What book(s) are you currently reading: Streams of Living Water by Richard Foster; Emotionally Healthy Spirituality by Peter Scazzero; The Murder of King Tut by James Patterson & Martin Dugard

What is your current favorite song: You Say by Lauren Daigle

What is your favorite drink to order from Starbucks: Sugar-free Vanilla Café Misto

Enter to win a copy of The Incense Road from Tracy*

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*Due to shipping costs open to the US only.

Be sure to catch the video interview with Tracy Higley  HERE, and be sure to join Avid Readers of Christian Fiction group so you don’t miss any of our other fun author LIVE chats coming up!

More about The Incense Road:

An epic quest across the sands of Arabia

In the exotic lands of the east, a secret sect of Persian magicians study the night sky for generations.

When the stars announce a strange royal birth, Misha, a first-level mage, is ready to prove himself by chasing down this new world leader.
But then an ancient document surfaces, whispering of an artifact of immense power. The temptation to seize power is too great to resist.

And Misha is not alone in his quest. The king’s general Reza seeks power to fulfill his mysterious destiny, and both he and Misha have their eye set on the Egyptian princess Kamillah, who will do anything to gain the artifact that could break her bondage to the sorcerer Zahir.

The soldier, the mage, and the princess each have a secret to protect.

But if they are going to survive the dark forces warring for their prize, they must learn to trust each other—in what will surely be the journey of a lifetime.

Amazon | IndieBound | Barnes & Noble

Connect with Tracy Higley

Website | Facebook

Are you new here? You might want to subscribe to my email updates, check out my podcast, or follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+, or Instagram.

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” Read full privacy policy here.

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Writer’s Desk Issue No: 1: Christen Krumm

Writer's Desk Issue No: 1: Christen Krumm. Join us this week as Christen shares her writing process and what's coming up next!

Writer’s Desk Issue No: 1 Christen Krumm

We’re so excited to have Christen Krumm featured on this week’s writer’s desk. Christen is the author of the YA novel, It Happened at Christmas. She lives with her real-life superhero husband and three barefoot wildings in small-town Arkansas. Coffee is the lifeblood, books are her happy place, and creating stories is her favorite. Be sure to stick around until the end of the post for more about her most recent release plus a chance to win a copy!

Do you have a writing routine? When/Where do you write?

Pre-world pandemic (ha!), I was able to get up before the school day and get in around 750 – 1000 words a day. Now that my babies are home, I write what I can, when I can. Normally this looks like carrying a notebook around and jotting scenes as they come to me. It’s not ideal, but it’s better than nothing! I have a home office, but a lot of times I’ll write at the kitchen table (and the couch and outside on the porch, in the car, etc)

When are you most productive?

Right before I have to sit down and write. Everything (except writing) gets done.

What do you snack on or drink while writing?

I always have coffee and water. If I’m going to eat, generally it’s popcorn. Occasionally, I’ll have some kind of gummy candy or M&Ms.

How do you overcome writer’s block?

I really try not to give “power” to writer’s block. If you think about it, writer’s block can easily turn into procrastination, or a reason not to do the hard thing. If I’m really stuck, I’ll talk it out with my critique partner (who says that I’m a verbal processor—she’s so right) this gets my creative brain going again and excited about the story.

Do you have any tips for writing during this quarantine?

I don’t know about you, but I’ve had a hard time staying inspired during the pandemic. My routine completely flipped — and I thrive on routine. It’s a little bit harder, but I’ve started doing a couple things that have really been helping.

(1) I stick to three small daily goals. Right now I’m keeping it super simple. I have a small daily word count goal — 200 (which by the time I sit down and start, rarely can I stop at 200, but if the day is completely overwhelming, I’m still getting at least 200 words down). I’m making sure I’m either reading a chapter in a craft book or watching an inspiring writing video — something to get those creative juices excited. And since I’m in the middle of a draft, I’m also making sure that I get two scenes down on post-it notes. This way I know where I’m going the next time I sit down to get my “200” words in.

(2) Zoom write-ins. These are super simple and can really encourage you to get words down. Basically, all you do is “meet” via Zoom with a writing friend or two, check-in with each other, and then start writing. You break every 30-45 minutes to chat or brainstorm if needed, set a new goal and get back after it. I’ll get more writing in during a Zoom write-in then if I’m just doing a word sprint with a friend.

(3) Carry a notebook — yes, even if it’s just around your house. Remember these aren’t normal times. Even if you normally wouldn’t write free-hand, get words in where you can. If that’s twenty words while you’re waiting for your coffee to brew, fifty words while your child works out a math problem, or three words while in between mom (or dad) duties — it’s still more words you have then if you were waiting for the “perfect writing time” (spoilers: during this crazy time … that doesn’t exist!)

What is your outlining process? Are you a pantser/plotter or something in between?

I’m a little bit of both. The first half or so of my books are always pantsed. I’ll write all the scenes I have in my head (if you want to call it that … it’s more like a brain dump then writing), and then stop — normally around the 20-25k mark — organize what I have, figure out what I still need, and then finish the book. Then I’ll go back and do a couple of hard edits. I’m a terrible under-writer, so there will be 15-20k added during edits.

Best advice for someone who is just starting out.

Just start writing. Don’t wait for things to be perfect. Don’t wait for one day. It’ll never happen.

If you’re a younger writer, please, don’t wait until you have more life experience (which is what someone told me, I took it to heart, and didn’t write anything for a long time). Start now.

Favorite thing to binge-watch: I don’t watch a lot of tv — and if the tv is on, the kids are watching something (especially now). I do enjoy the occasional British drama or cop show, but other than that … I do more reading if I have the time.

Book(s) currently reading: I somehow always have more than one books going at the same time (I blame it on that time in college where I was majoring in English. I took multiple English lit classes and was always reading 3-4 books at the same time for different classes…) I’m listening to The Glass Hotel for book club. Have Amy Matayo’s The Aftermath going on my Kindle, and I’m alternating between hard copies of Truly Devious and The Death of Mungo Blackwell.

Favorite song right now: This is a hard one! With my kids home, my daughter has been blasting music almost 24/7. Like Myself by Elizabeth Grace is playing pretty much on repeat, and I have to admit it’s pretty catchy.

Starbuck’s order: I’m very boring. I generally just stick with a vanilla latte. If I’m feeling like a treat, I’ll order a coconut mocha (with almond, soy, coconut, or whatever “not milk” they have on hand) from my local shop, but other than that … just a vanilla latte.

What’s coming up next? 

I’m working on another fun YA contemporary romance loosely based on You’ve Got Mail to be released in late summer/early fall, and I’m also in the midst of revisions on a dystopian-ish manuscript (story of my heart) that I’ll hopefully start querying agents for in the fall.

Enter to win a signed copy of It Happened at Christmas + fun swag pack from Christen*

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 
*Due to shipping costs, signed copy and swag pack to US only.

Be sure to catch the video interview with Christen Krumm HERE, and be sure to join Avid Readers of Christian Fiction group so you don’t miss any of our other fun author LIVE chats coming up!

Links mentioned in the LIVE with Christen Krumm

Unsplash — website for free photo downloads
Some of Christen’s favorite YA and non-YA books
To Best the Boys | Mary Weber
Unblemished series | Sara Ella
Coral | Sara Ella
Romanov | Nadine Branes
Natalie Walters
Dee Henderson
Jaime Jo Wright

More about It Happened at Christmas:

In this enchanting YA spin on While You Were Sleeping, Christen Krumm delivers laughter and Christmas sparkle through a swoon-worthy story of first love and belonging.

Life at Iverson Preparatory Boarding School isn’t easy when you’re basically the maid. Murphy Cain spends her days cleaning up after her upper-class peers in exchange for tuition while dodging their cutting remarks. All of that changes when she rescues her crush, the popular and hunky Tripp Harrington, after a near-fatal accident and is mistaken as his girlfriend.

Murphy finds herself struggling with the choice to reveal the truth or play along. As Tripp’s girl, his wealthy family will offer Murphy something she’s been craving her whole life—a chance to be one of the “in” crowd. A chance to belong. Without it, she’ll be right back where she started.

It only gets worse as Tripp’s brother Hank enters the picture. He’s handsome, down to earth, and seems to understand Murphy better than anyone else. The only problem? She’s supposed to be dating his brother.

As Christmas break draws to a close, Murphy must decide if telling the truth is worth losing it all or if the risk will bring a greater reward in the end.

Amazon | Kindle | IndieBound

Connect with Christen Krumm

Website | Instagram | Pinterest | Facebook | Twitter

Are you new here? You might want to subscribe to my email updates, check out my podcast, or follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+, or Instagram.

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” Read full privacy policy here.

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