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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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Writer’s Desk with Lisa Phillips

The Writer’s Desk with Lisa Phillips

Lisa Phillips is a USA Today and top ten Publishers Weekly bestselling author of over 50 books that span Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense line, independently published series of romantic suspense, and thriller novels. She’s discovered a penchant for high-stakes stories of mayhem and disaster where you can find made-for-each-other love that always ends in happily ever after.

Lisa is a British ex-pat who grew up an hour outside of London and attended Calvary Chapel Bible College, where she met her husband. He’s from California, but nobody’s perfect. It wasn’t until her Bible College graduation that she figured out she was a writer (someone told her). When she’s not writing, you can find Lisa with a proper cup of tea and her nose in a book.

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

More about Cold Dead Night:

The FBI betrayed her. Now they need her.

Private Investigator Kenna Banbury lost everything two years ago at the hands of a serial killer. From the ashes of that encounter, she’s built a life she believes in, searching for the lost and forgotten all over the western US.

Bringing her own brand of justice.

When a series of murders drags her into an FBI investigation, Kenna finds herself back in the place where it all went wrong. Struggling to make sense of the case, Kenna’s past and present collide in a deadly plot that risks another betrayal and threatens to shatter everything she’s built.

Kenna faces the darkest part of her past in this first book of a brand-new series from Lisa Phillips.

Purchase a copy of Cold Dead Night.

Q&A with Lisa Phillips

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

LP: I dye my hair.

TG: Where did you get the inspiration for Cold Dead Night?

LP: I wanted to write about someone who had suffered a trauma and is trying to still live their life, such as it is.

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

LP: I show up at work every day.

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

LP: Learn what process works for you, and keep looking for ways to optimize it.

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

LP: Fizzy water.

TG: How do you overcome writer’s block?

LP: It either means creatively you’re burned out — in which case you need to recharge those batteries. Or it means there’s something wrong with the story, even if you can’t tell what that is. You have to figure out which it is, and then work the problem.

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

LP: I get the story down, writing a list of things to fix as I go. At the end, I go back through and edit.

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

LP: Thinking a story is just about what the characters are saying and where they’re going. The story is actually about what they’re FEELING and why it matters.

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

LP: Don’t name the emotion (Susan May Warren). You have to show the reader with action and thought what the character is feeling. Saying “She was angry.” or “She felt scared” is flat and evokes nothing.

TG: What is coming up next for you?

LP: I’ll be alternating between this new series (Brand of Justice) and a new romantic suspense series, Benson First Responders. And in 2023 – Sunrise Publishing, and Last Chance County Fire and Rescue!!

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

Enter to win one of seven (7!!) copies of Cold Dead Night*:

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*Copies include 5 e-books and 2 signed paperbacks. Due to shipping costs, paperbacks can be shipped to US mailing addresses only.

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Writer’s Desk with Karen Ferguson

The Writer’s Desk with Karen Ferguson

Karen Ferguson is a freelance writer and small business owner with a background in K-8 education. A grateful wife, mom, and grandmom she loves words and the Word of God and is passionate about writing stories that grab and hold young readers’ attention while teaching them all about God’s unchangeable truths, and His unchanging love for them. She wants every child to know their life matters.

Karen loves reading, writing, staying active, and spending time with her family and their crazy Golden Retriever in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

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

Q&A with Karen Ferguson

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

KF: One of my favorite things to do in the evening is read, but if I try to read in bed after 8:30 pm, I immediately fall asleep… 😴

TG: Where did you get the inspiration for Guess How Much God Loves You?

KF: The Bible. This book is about the Creation Account as recorded in the Bible. I know there is some controversy surrounding The Beginning, and just how that happened, even within the Church. But none of us were alive then, and I’m a firm believer in the authority and authenticity of the Bible, so I relied on what God said happened at the very beginning.

But there is more to this book. This is the first of a six-book series, and there is a story thread throughout, with two main characters: Lucy Lu and Papa Joe. I didn’t want to just present facts from the Bible, I wanted those facts to be part of a personal story kids could relate to. And I wanted to create an experience for readers, something along the lines of the Magic School Bus series, so kids feel like they are living it firsthand.

The main motivator behind the book was frustration. I was seeing too many children’s books promoting anti-biblical principles. I remember how important it was for me to teach my girls about God in a way that was engaging, easy to relate to, and Bible-based, and now that I’m a grandmom it seems even harder to find these types of resources.

Young children are so impressionable and, unfortunately, they are bombarded with ungodly messages every day, in ways that would have been unbelievable ten years ago. I wanted to be part of the solution and create something dynamic, fun, and creative – grounded in the truths of the Bible – for parents and grandparents to share with the special children in their lives.

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

KF: Not really, although the words do seem to flow a bit better when I have a cup of coffee right beside me. One habit I gave up was obsessively self-editing as I wrote. I used to do this all the time and it really slowed me down and got in the way of creative thought. I’m getting better at letting the words flow freely in the first draft before I start editing too much.

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

KF: Waiting to edit until the second draft. Think of your first draft as more of a free write practice. I also encourage you to schedule your writing time just like any other important appointment. This is something I’m working on myself, as I’ve had a nasty habit of putting off writing for other “more important” things far too often. Sometimes those other things are legitimate reasons, but I have found they can easily turn into excuses.

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

KF: My favorite coffee: Kauai Coffee Company, Garden Isle Medium Roast. I discovered it when we were in Kauai many years ago and toured their coffee estate. I was thrilled to find it in local stores! The Hawaiian Islands hold a special place in my heart, so when I drink it, it feels like a little bit of paradise at home 🏝

I try not to snack when I write, once I get started it’s hard to stop 😋

TG: How do you overcome writer’s block?

KF: I take a walk or listen to music. Worship music, primarily. There is something rejuvenating about getting out into green space and fresh air that is so good for my brain and body. It clears the clutter in my head and silences that inner critic that can distract and discourage. Add worship music into the mix, and my heart and mind are ready for new ideas.

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

KF: I used to edit obsessively as I wrote, which slowed me down and caused a lot of frustration. After hearing from several writers about their editing practices, I either wait until the second draft if I’m writing something short or until the end of my writing session to do some light edits if it’s longer.

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

KF: Expecting instant success. Like anything in life, something worthwhile takes time to achieve. The reality is very few people achieve instant success in any field. We just don’t see all the baby steps those ‘successful’ authors took to get to that place. Also, comparing yourself with other writers. Don’t do it! 😊 Too often we compare our beginning with someone else’s middle or even end. God has a unique plan for each of us as writers, so don’t let small beginnings discourage you. Each step forward is important, no matter how small.

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

KF: Don’t overfocus on building your platform at first. Focus most of your energies on learning how to be the best writer you can be. This is a paraphrase, but it was solid advice from Francine Rivers when I had the privilege and pleasure of meeting with her one on one at a writer’s conference in 2019. Of course, platform building is an important piece of the writing journey, but she explained how essential it is to first study and develop our writing skills, so we create something worth reading and sharing.

TG: What is coming up next for you?

KF: The second book in the Guess How Much God Loves You picture book series. It’s about the First Family of God (Adam, Eve, and the Garden).

TG: What book(s) are you currently reading?

KF: Breach of Trust by DiAnn Mills for fiction, and Mysteries of the Messiah by Rabbi Jason Sobel for non-fiction.

TG: What is your favorite place on earth?

KF: The library of course… ;-). I have often said to my husband that besides home and church, it’s my favorite place, and it’s true. But if I had to pick a more exotic location, it’s the Hawaiian Islands. As my dad used to say, Hawaii feels like “Paradise on earth.” There’s a beauty and feeling of wellbeing that goes along with it that’s hard to explain. More recently I’ve fallen in love with Seaside Florida (30A) on the Gulf of Mexico. Or the Emerald Coast as it is called – and for good reason – the water is amazing!

TG: Cats or dogs?

KF: Dogs all the way (sorry cat lovers ;-)! Growing up I had both, but my husband is allergic to cats, so after 30 years with just dogs, I’m not sure I’d know what to do with a cat now. Dogs are intensely loyal and loving, a true gift from God.

TG: What is one thing you can’t live without?

KF: Jesus.

TG: What is the best song to blast when you need to be pumped up?

KF: I love worship music, and mostly listen to that genre, but I have to say, “We Will Rock You” by Queen pumps me up every time! When it starts playing my reflex is to stomp and sing the lyrics aggressively no matter where I am…😁

TG: If you could time travel to any point in history when would it be, and who would you be hanging out with?

KF: The 1950s. There is something about that period that is nostalgic, but still current enough to have things I appreciate like easy access to clean water, bathrooms inside homes, and cars to drive. I’d be hanging out with Elvis, for sure. I’ve been a big fan of his ever since I was a kid listening to my mom’s records after school and dancing in my bedroom. As an adult, I appreciate not only his sound but his contribution to gospel music.

TG: If you weren’t a writer, what job would you have?

KF: I’ve worked in many different fields over the years. There was a point when I referred to myself as a ‘multi-passionate professional’ because it was hard for me to choose just one path. In fact, I started my business doing a little bit of several things, as the idea of a niche was intimidating, and next to impossible to decide at first. But if I wasn’t pursuing this writing dream now, I’d probably be working in human resources, which was my last major gig before stepping out to write exclusively.

TG: Who is your dream co-author?

KF: Ted Dekker. I’ve enjoyed his stuff for years. Some of my favorites are the ones with intense (and sometimes creepy) plots. The way he writes is adrenaline-laced and never fails to pull me in, but what I love most about his work is each story has a redemptive quality to it. He always points to Jesus. Sometimes subtly, other times more boldly. It was his work that inspired me to write fiction so I would love to finish the manuscript I’m working on with his help 😉

Enter to win one of five copies of Guess How Much God Loves You:

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More about Guess How Much God Loves You:

Guess How Much God Loves You is the story of seven-year-old Lucy Lu, a colorful, creatively curious first-grader, who is starting to have serious questions about God.

  • How old is He?
  • Does He sleep?
  • What does He do all day?
  • And the biggest one of all—does God love me?

After one particularly hard day of being bullied by her classmates at school, Lucy feels like she doesn’t matter. She sits with Papa Joe, who has promised to answer her questions about God, launching them onto a journey to discover God’s never-changing, never-failing, never-ending love.

What follows is a wild adventure through the Bible, where Lucy and her papa find themselves in the middle of each page of the exciting story of God’s love and faithfulness for all people throughout all of history.

Purchase a copy of Guess How Much God Loves You.

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Writer’s Desk with Misty M. Beller

The Writer’s Desk with Misty M. Beller

Misty M. Beller is a USA Today bestselling author of romantic mountain stories, set on the 1800s frontier and woven with the truth of God’s love.

Raised on a farm and surrounded by family, Misty developed her love for horses, history, and adventure. These days, her husband and children provide fresh adventure every day, keeping her both grounded and crazy.

Misty’s passion is to create inspiring Christian fiction infused with the grandeur of the mountains, writing historical romance that displays God’s abundant love through the twists and turns in the lives of her characters.

Sharing her stories with readers is a dream come true for Misty. She writes from her country home in South Carolina and escapes to the mountains any chance she gets.

Connect with Misty on her website, Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest.

Q&A with Misty M. Beller

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

MB: It takes me all day to work through my daily Bible reading. I have five kiddos, ages 7 months through 14 years, and it seems like I never get to sit down and focus for very long. I used to try to push through and read even with distractions, but I found myself just reading to get through the text. Now I let myself stop when there are too many distractions, then come back at a quieter time and read again. So…it often takes me all day to make it through my daily portion.

TG: Where did you get the inspiration for Grace on the Mountain Trail?

MB: Great question! In the early 1800s when the book takes place, it was more common than many people realize for men to have a family in the east and a family in the west. Sad, but true. The two families usually didn’t know about each other. As I brainstormed with writer friends about how that could play into a story, the idea for Grace on the Mountain Trail was born!

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

MB: I actually dictate my writing as I walk on our driveway. I’ve found that the movement helps my creativity, plus I get some exercise. A win-win!

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

MB: Find your most creative time of day. For me, it’s the afternoon. The words flow so much better from about 2:00 – 5:00 pm, and I can be much more productive! It took trying lots of different times and watching for patterns to learn that fact about myself.

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

MB: Lots of coffee in between writing walks.

TG: How do you overcome writer’s block?

MB: If it’s writer’s block in a particular writing session, usually just brainstorming ideas can help. Or sometimes if I stop writing and do something different when I come back to the story, more ideas are there. Occasionally I need to skip ahead to the next scene to find my rhythm again.

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

MB: I do like to edit as I go. I always have one pass to clean up my dictation, one pass as the first edit, one pass by my critique partner, then a final read-thru before the book goes off to the editor.

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

MB: So many answers for this one, things like not showing instead of telling and not taking the reader deep enough in the character’s mind. One I think many new writers don’t even realize is that they often start the story in the wrong place. An excellent book that helped me understand this (and many other things!) better is Plot and Structure by James Scott Bell. It belongs in every writer’s tool kit!

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

MB: Not sure if I could pick one best thing! Maybe I can give you a resource instead? I’ve already mentioned Plot and Structure, so the other book that’s been instrumental in helping me learn how to create better stories is The Story Equation by Susan May Warren. This book is SO FULL of good stuff! I use it every time I plot a new story.

TG: What is coming up next for you?

MB: I just started writing Calm in the Mountain Storm, the next book in the Call of the Rockies series. It releases in September, and I’m already LOVING the characters!

Click the graphic below to watch my conversation with Misty M. Beller!

Enter to win the first seven books in the Call of the Rockies series (open Internationally!):

a Rafflecopter giveaway

More about Grace on the Mountain Trail

This epic journey is her last hope to find her lost brother—the only family she has left.

When Lola Carson’s father died, his last words spoke of a half-brother she’d never known about. And now, to claim her own inheritance and come to terms with her father’s secret life, she must find this mysterious man—whose last known whereabouts are somewhere west of the wild Rocky Mountains. After hiring family friends to accompany her on the trek, she sets out for a wilderness few white women have ever seen. She doesn’t expect the majestic peaks to captivate her so, nor the half-dead brave they find on one of the slopes.

White Owl left his village and his broken heart behind when he set out for a fresh start. His newfound faith is the one anchor in his life. He’s desperate to learn more about the God he’s committed to following and become an interpreter for the missionaries who led him to faith. But he barely starts his journey when a hunting accident nearly kills him. The woman who discovers him in the midst of his fevered delirium seems to be a gift from above.

But the more White Owl learns about Lola’s companions and her dangerous quest, the more he realizes his own calling is clear—to take her safely to her brother. The question is, will he have to sacrifice more than his heart to accomplish that goal?

From a USA Today bestselling author comes another epic journey through breathless landscapes and adventure so intense, that lives will never be the same.

Purchase a copy of Grace on the Mountain Trail here.

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Writer’s Desk with Sami Abrams

The Writer’s Desk with Sami Abrams

Sami Abrams grew up hating to read. It wasn’t until her 30’s that she found authors that captured her attention. Now, most evenings you can find her engrossed in a Romantic Suspense. In her opinion, crime and a little romance is the recipe for a great story.

Sami has finaled over 15 times in writing contests, including receiving first place in American Christian Fiction Writer’s Genesis Contest in 2019 and 2020, and Faith Hope and Love’s Touched By Love Awards in 2018.

She lives in Northern California, but she will always be a Kansas girl at heart. She has a love of sports, family, and travel. However, a cabin at Lake Tahoe writing her next story is definitely at the top of her list.

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

Q&A with Sami Abrams

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

SA: I’m terribly boring with my choice of foods. Plain and simple makes me happy.

TG: Where did you get the inspiration for Impending Strike?

SA: When applying for the Elite Guardians season with Sunrise, Lynette had chosen three secondary characters—Lizzie being one of them. And she had a side note about Lizzie and Charlie together. I thought it would be fun to have the two bodyguards together. I mean, who guards who? Given the normal storylines of EG, obviously, Lizzie had to guard Charlie, but why? That’s when I came up with him hurt and not being able to remember, and it went from there.

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

SA: I love to listen to music in the background. If I’m writing, I’ll blast Christian Pop Hits on Alexa or K-Love. If I’m editing, it’s either quiet or the music is turned down low.

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

SA: Sit down to write every day (or as many days as possible) even if you only get in two hundred words. AND find yourself a writing partner. Virginia Vaughan and I Zoom most days and write together. Sometimes we work and never talk, other times we brainstorm or just enjoy a conversation in between writing sprints.

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

SA: If you would’ve asked me that a few months ago, I’d have given you a different answer. But now, I always have a big glass of water sitting next to me and usually, M&Ms are somewhere within reach.

TG: How do you overcome writer’s block?

SA: I call up my writing partner and we either brainstorm, or she tells me to get to work. Haha! I usually just need a kick in the pants to sit down and do it.

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

SA: I’m a combination of the two. I do edit as I go, but not excessively. I’ll go back and delete and rewrite if it doesn’t sound right, but it doesn’t have to be perfect either.

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

SA: The most common mistake is trying to please everyone because you don’t trust yourself. It’s a hard thing to overcome, but you’re new and everyone else “knows what they’re doing.” There comes a point when you listen to others then you have to go with your gut on what is right.

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

SA: Listen to others, but trust your gut. It was hard at first. As a new writer, you try to take every comment and suggestion at face value. But that only leads to confusion and frustration. I’ve learned to listen to critiques, understand why the person made a comment, then do a gut check. Does this work with my story? Do I need to address this? Many times, the WHY is more important. If you know why then you can fix it in a way that stays true to the story and your voice.

TG: What is coming up next for you?

SA: ACK! What a question. LOL! I have an Elite Guardians Christmas Novella with Sunrise coming out in 2023, and another Elite Guardians full-length novel in 2024. I also write for Love Inspired and have Love Inspired Suspense novels coming out on August 23, 2022, February 28, 2023, another around November 2023, and my final one in this series in 2024. Phew! I’m already tired just thinking about it. Hehe!

Enter to win a copy of Impending Strike*:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Due to shipping costs, the giveaway for the physical copy is open to US mailing addresses only.

More about Impending Strike

He loves her, but he can’t have her…

Elite Guardian Charlie Lee knows that there is no future with the woman he loves—fellow Guardian Lizzie Tremaine. And he gets it. Lizzie’s a single mom focused on protecting her daughter, and Charlie’s got his own baggage anyway. It’s easier, and safer, to keep things the way they are.

Then, the unthinkable happens. While Charlie is undercover, he’s seriously injured…and his memory of the past four years is gone. But maybe it’s the fresh start he didn’t know he longed for.

And now he’s getting too close…

Lizzie cares for Charlie, but she’s lost all the men she’s ever loved and can’t risk her heart again. Still, she’s determined to protect Charlie, and help him discover who attacked him—and why.

But in the process, she begins to discover an unburdened, impossible-to-resist version of the man she knows. And—along with the details of his attack—Charlie seems to have forgotten their reasons for keeping things platonic. Suddenly, all of their self-imposed rules are gone, and Lizzie needs things to get back to normal, stat.

It’s her heart…or his life.

Problem is, the closer Charlie gets to uncovering his memories, the closer he gets to trouble. What will protecting Charlie cost Lizzie?

Purchase a copy of Impending Strike here.

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Writer’s Desk with Jody Hedlund

The Writer’s Desk with Jody Hedlund

Jody Hedlund is the author of over thirty historicals for both adults and teens and is the winner of numerous awards including the Christy, Carol, and Christian Book Award.

Jody lives in central Michigan with her husband, five busy children, and five spoiled cats. Although Jody prefers to experience daring and dangerous adventures through her characters rather than in real life, she’s learned that a calm existence is simply not meant to be (at least in this phase of her life!).

When she’s not penning another of her page-turning stories, she loves to spend her time reading, especially when it also involves consuming coffee and chocolate. Connect with Jody on her website, Instagram, Facebook, BookBub, and sign up for her newsletter.

Q&A with Jody Hedlund

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

JH: I like eating casseroles. Yes, I’m a Midwestern girl through and through and grew up with church potlucks where we ate casseroles!

TG: Where did you get the inspiration for To Tame a Cowboy?

JH: This book is set in the high country of Colorado. I lived in Colorado (in Middle Park) when I was little, and then I also lived in Denver for a few years while my husband was in grad school. Because of that, Colorado has always had a special place in my heart.

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

JH: When I’m in first draft mode, I give myself a daily word count six days a week, and then I make myself write until I hit my goal even if that means I have to write all day and into the evening (most days that doesn’t happen though, thankfully). I’m pretty tough on myself about making my daily goals!

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

JH: I believe every writer should set realistic goals for whatever life season they’re in. For example, when my kids were younger and I was in the thick of homeschooling, I set my daily word count goal at 500 words a day. That was realistic for me at that stage. I made myself write that amount every day so that I built good habits of self-discipline and focus.

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

JH: Coffee all the way! Black and lots of it!

TG: How do you overcome writer’s block?

JH: Because of my stringent daily word count goal (and not allowing myself to veer from it), I push through writer’s block by simply writing whatever comes to mind, even if it’s not particularly inspiring.

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

JH: I start my writing day by re-reading a portion of what I wrote the previous day. I edit that lightly before moving on. But mostly I wait until the end to turn on my internal editor.

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

JH: It’s normal and natural to get excited about finishing the first book. But I’ve seen many writers eager to publish (and even rush into publishing) that first book. It’s almost always wise to wait to seek publication (or indie publish) until you have completed several books, taken classes, read writing craft books, and had critique partners.

TG: What is coming up next for you?

JH: In 2022, I’ll be publishing four more books in my Knights of Brethren series (a medieval romance series). I’ll also have another book in my Colorado Cowboy series releasing in the fall. And somewhere in all that, the third book in my Waters of Time series is coming out.

Don’t miss my conversation with Jody — now on YouTube! Click the image below to watch!

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They share a passion to heal what is broken, but it’s their own hearts that need to be made whole.

Brody McQuaid is a broken man, and he knows it. While his body survived the war, his soul did not. Besides loving his little niece, his only sense of purpose comes from saving the wild horses that roam South Park. Ranchers in the area have taken to killing the horses, which are competing with their cattle to feed on the open grass.

Savannah Marshall is a veterinarian on her family’s Colorado ranch. She longs to keep her father happy following the tragic death of her older brother, including marrying a man of his choosing. But days before her wedding, she gets cold feet and disappears to South Park. As she learns more about the destruction of the horses, she joins Brody in an attempt to save the wild creatures. But when Savannah’s family and the resentments of the area cattlemen catch up with them both, Brody and Savannah will have to tame their fears if they’ve any hope to let love run free.

Purchase a copy of  To Tame a Cowboy here.

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Writer’s Desk with Ashley Bustamante

The Writer’s Desk with Ashley Bustamante

Ashley Bustamante has created stories from the moment she could scribble and staple sheets of paper together. She simply cannot recall a time when writing was not a force in her life. When not running through lines of dialogue in her mind, she enjoys taking photographs and spending time with her husband, three children, and any furry, feathered, or scaly creature she can find. She currently works at Arizona State University. Connect with Ashley on her website, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and sign up for her newsletter!

Be sure to sign up below for a chance to win a signed hardbook copy of Vivid! 

Q&A with Ashley Bustamante

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

AB: I like chocolate. I feel like everyone likes chocolate, so that’s not very exciting.

TG: Where did you get the inspiration for Vivid?

AB: It came from a dream I had about a young lady in a yellow dress and a charming young man in a top hat. They had a brief adventure together, which is now part of Chapter 5 in Vivid. The young lady had such strong, conflicting feelings. She was terrified to be with this boy, but when he left, the only thing she wanted was for him to come back. I could not get the characters and the scene out of my mind. I needed to know the rest of their story! I finally had to write that scene down and it grew from there.

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

AB: It’s not always possible depending on when I have writing time, but I like to have a shower before I sit down and write. It just seems to wake me up and clear my mind, plus it gives me time alone to think before I start writing.

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

AB: Sleep! I’m really bad about this one myself. But I think it’s pretty common for writers to keep odd hours. We really shouldn’t. I find that my writing is so much better when I’m well-rested, and I’m able to work faster.

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

AB: Nothing! For some reason, I can’t focus on writing if I’m eating or drinking. However, I do like to treat myself to something sweet after a writing session. Anything chocolate works.

TG: How do you overcome writer’s block?

AB: I will read for a little bit and then come back and try to write again. If I’m really feeling stuck I sometimes have to take a break for a few days. Sometimes it’s because I’m just not feeling motivated. When that happens, I go back and read some of my favorite scenes and that helps me get excited about the story again.

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

AB: I do some of both. For the most part, I wait until the end, but if I get stuck and don’t want to lose productivity, I’ll go back and edit until I feel ready to write more.

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

AB: Submitting their work too soon. I definitely did this and I still cringe when thinking about the poor editors I sent my early drafts to. It’s normal to feel really excited once you finish writing a book! But if you submit it before you’ve put in sufficient work to refine it, it won’t serve you well. I think for new writers there’s a common misconception that as long as your concept is cool enough you’ll get a publisher because it can always be edited later. While it’s true most manuscripts will go through several rounds of edits with the publisher, they still need a polished product to start with, otherwise, it’s going to be a ton of work and they don’t know if you can deliver.

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

AB: A friend once told me “It’s not over until YOU say it is.” It can be really discouraging trying to get published and sometimes it can feel like it’s never going to happen. But if it’s something you really want, you put in the work and don’t let anyone tell you to quit. It might mean writing a new story. It often means attending conferences and workshops. It means researching. It means revise, revise, revise! But if you keep at it, the right opportunity will eventually come along.

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Danger Lurks Behind Every Color

Ava Locke dives into the mysteries of forbidden Yellow magic and discovers a dark path filled with secrets and injustice.

When Ava Locke was five years old, she began a journey to join the Benefactors—the leaders of the magical continent of Magus. Twelve years later, she unwittingly started down the road to betray them.

On Magus where colors fuel magical abilities, yellow is banned in an effort to protect people from its mind-controlling capabilities. When a rogue Yellow magic-user named Elm escapes imprisonment Ava becomes innocently fascinated with his story. Once this mysterious Elm shows up at her school, Ava pushes her interest to the next level by helping him evade the Benefactors. Ava grows increasingly conflicted as her intrigue leads her down a dark road of secrets about her world. As she learns more about Yellow magic’s potential to control its victims, Ava now must question whether her rash decisions are all her own or if someone else is pulling the strings.

Purchase a copy of Vivid here.

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Writer’s Desk with Tosca Lee

The Writer’s Desk with Tosca Lee

Tosca Lee is the award-winning, New York Times bestselling author of eleven novels including A SINGLE LIGHT, THE LINE BETWEEN, THE PROGENY, THE LEGEND OF SHEBA, ISCARIOT, and the Books of Mortals series with New York Times bestseller Ted Dekker. Her work has been translated into seventeen languages and has been optioned for TV and film. A notorious night-owl, she loves movies, playing football with her kids, and sending cheesy texts to her husband.

You can find Tosca on social media or hanging around the snack table. Visit her on her website, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, BookBub, TikTok, and sign up for her newsletter here.

Q&A with Tosca Lee

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

TL: Sometimes, when I lay in bed watching TV on my phone, I fall asleep and drop the phone on my face.

TG: Where did you get the inspiration for The Progeny?

TL: A fan asked me to write about “Blood Countess” Elizabeth Bathory. I had just come off writing about the Queen of Sheba and needed a break from historical fiction and heavy-duty research. I wanted to write something modern and breakneck. So I decided to write about Bathory’s modern-day descendants and a centuries-old blood feud complete with secret underground societies.

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

TL: I pray before I begin. It sounds a lot like begging.

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

TL: Set goals for what you want to get written and by when. Do everything in your power to stick to them. If you don’t feel you can spend a big chunk of time trying to make tracks, then tell yourself you’ve only got 25 minutes and see how much you can get done. Write for that 25 minutes even if it’s bad.

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

TL: Buttered movie popcorn. Which makes typing really awkward.

TG: How do you overcome writer’s block?

TL: I take a break, fold laundry, and then come back and remind myself to have some fun already.

Or, I take a break, pig out on the kids’ pizza rolls, go mope in bed and stare at some stupid TV show until my husband comes in and tells me to go make it fun again.

Usually the second one.

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

TL: I used to wait until the end, but these days I’ve kind of shifted. I’m not sure how I feel about it because I always felt in my early books that I got a lot of good stuff by just writing without heed and coming back to cut and chop later.

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

TL: Trying to get it perfect. Procrastinating because it won’t be.

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

TL: It’s the one I have to tell myself: write like no one will ever read it.

TG: What is coming up next for you?

TL: My new WWII historical with Marcus Brotherton, currently titled The Long March Home.

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I’m twenty-one years old and my name doesn’t matter, because it’s about to be erased forever.

When you wake up, you remember nothing. Not your name, or where you were born, or the faces of the people you knew. Just a single warning written to yourself before you forgot it all: Emily, it’s me. You. Don’t ask about the last two years… Don’t try to remember and don’t go digging. Your life depends on it. Other lives depend on it. You start over in a remote place with a new name, a fresh life. Until the day a stranger tells you you’re being hunted for the sins of a royal ancestor who died centuries before you were born. You don’t believe him, until they come for you. Now you’re on the run. Every answer you need lies in a past you chose to erase. The only thing you know for sure is that others are about to die and you need those memories back. But first, you have to stay alive.

Read a sample chapter here.

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Writer’s Desk with Tracy Fredrychowski

Writer’s Desk with Tracy Fredrychowski

Tracy Fredrychowski is a country girl, author, homesteader, and everything simple living. She has a passion for writing about the simpler side of life, much like the life she lived growing up in rural Pennsylvania.

Her life has always been intertwined with the Amish, and it’s only fitting that she has a genuine passion for their simplicity, sense of community, and God-centered lives.

Growing up in Northwest Pennsylvania she spent her childhood immersed deep in Amish Country. The clip-clop of horse and buggy woke her each morning as Amish men drove past her childhood home on their way to work. As a young woman, she was traumatized by an Amish murder that involved a family member and changed her life forever.

Even though she currently lives in South Carolina her travels take her through Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Wisconsin’s Amish Country every year. During those stops, she researches the communities she visits and prides herself on writing Amish fiction that truly represents the Amish culture. She considers herself very fortunate to have made friends in those communities and values the information they share and wants nothing more than to represent their lifestyle as accurately as possible. Be sure to visit Tracy on her website, Instagram, Facebook, her private Facebook group, Bookbub, listen to her podcast, and sign up for her newsletter.

Q&A with Tracy Fredrychowski

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

TF: That’s a tricky question … I’d say the fact that I am in bed by 9:00 is pretty boring. I work hard, get up early, and by the time I sit down for the day, I typically fall asleep in my chair.

TG: Where did you get the inspiration for (insert featured book)?

TF: I have a passion for real stories that I can relate to. I felt the need to write a series that touched on some of the issues women face. Regardless of my Amish characters, they still face some of the same challenges we face. A loss of a child, depression, bitterness, pride, and so many more that this new series will touch on.

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

TF: Besides my intake of coffee, I always start my writing sessions with a prayer. Most days, my stories write themselves, and that is because I let God and the message, He wants to share fall on the pages. Next, I keep a pretty rigid writing schedule. I block out periods during the year when I do nothing else but write. No marketing, no podcasts, or interruptions would prevent me from knocking out that first draft.

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

TF: Trust God in the process and keep to a schedule. Make writing a priority in your day and get something on paper, even if it’s a few hundred words. I am a left-brain, right-brain kind of person. I can only do one task at a time. Lastly, I am a firm believer if you take care of God’s business first, he’ll then take care of yours.

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

TF: Coffee and smoothies. I’m not much of a snacker, but I reach for something salty if I do.

TG: How do you overcome writer’s block?

TF: I write in blocks of six weeks, just a few times during the year. Typically have a good idea of how I want the story to go before I sit down to write. Still, on those occasions when a scene isn’t working for me, I go for a walk or change my scenery. I may go to my favorite coffee shop or to the library. Nothing like finding inspiration by being surrounded by thousands of books.

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

TF: I go chapter by chapter. When a chapter comes together, I stop and flesh out scenes or conversations until I feel it flows smoothly.

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

TF: Trying to do it all and comparing their success to someone else’s. Nothing will discourage a writer more than comparing their journey to someone else’s. You don’t have to do it all. Don’t compare yourself to any other writer and stay in your own lane. I know successful writers only do a few things, but they do them well. You don’t have to do all the social media platforms; pick one and do it well. Then choose a couple of other things (newsletter, blogging, speaking events) and put your all into it. Be consistent in whatever you choose!

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

TF: First, don’t read your reviews all the time. You might often scan them to see if anything negative jumps out that can be addressed, but don’t fixate yourself on them. You’ll never make everyone happy or be the right fit for all readers. Second, don’t take your readers for granted. Respond to their emails, answer their questions, and make them feel like you have a vested interest in them. Third, don’t sweat those minor typos or edits that slipped through the cracks in editing. It happens to the best of them.

TG: What is coming up next for you?

TF: Book 3 in the Amish Women of Lawrence County Series. Ann’s story releases in August. Also, An Amish Christmas at the Apple Blossom Inn comes out in November. That story I am co-authoring with Debra Torres. Our worlds both revolve around Northwestern Pennsylvania, so it was only filly we collaborated on a Christmas story for our readers.

Click on the graphic below to watch my interview with Tracy Fredrychowski on Emma’s Amish Faith Tested

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More about Emma’s Amish Faith Tested

Her trust in the Lord has been tested beyond all strength. Can this grieving believer reclaim the way back to enlightenment?

Emma Yoder is struggling to cope. While the young Amish mother is devastated after her only child dies in the womb, she and her husband gain little comfort from the Old Order’s rigid ways. And whispers among her people lead her to suspect the truth has been concealed from her for years.

Still fighting internally to forgive God for her tragedy, Emma sets out on a journey to discover the deep healing she craves. But her discovery of a newfound secret love of Jesus’s teachings puts her at direct odds with the traditions of her community.

Can this woman of conviction find the courage to seek grace from the Almighty?

Emma’s Amish Faith Tested is the inspirational first book in The Amish Women of Lawrence County series of Amish women’s fiction novels. If you like spiritual explorations, real-life challenges of emotional bravery, and basking in God’s light, then you’ll adore Tracy Fredrychowski’s exploration of hope.

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Writer’s Desk with Carrie Anne Noble

Writer’s Desk with Carrie Anne Noble

In the wake of her thrilling past as a theater student, restaurant hostess, nurse aide, and newspaper writer, Carrie Anne Noble now crafts enchanting fiction for teens and adults. Her debut novel The Mermaid’s Sister won the 2014 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award for Young Adult Fiction and the 2016 Realm Award for Book of the Year. Her other books include YA fantasies entitled The Gold-Son and Gretchen and the Bear. Carrie lives in the Pennsylvania mountains, where she enjoys taking walks, frolicking with her half-Corgi, and hosting the occasional mad tea party. Connect with Carrie on her website, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Bookbub, and sign up for her newsletter.

Q&A with Carrie Anne Noble

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

CAN: I eat peanut butter toast for breakfast almost every day.

TG: Where did you get the inspiration for The Mermaid’s Sister?

CAN: My initial inspiration for The Mermaid’s Sister came to me as I sat beside my sister’s hospital bed in October 2012. She was dying from cancer and shrinking away. I thought, “What if she was becoming something magical instead? What if she was transforming into a mermaid?” In the weeks after she died, I wrote the first draft of The Mermaid’s Sister, creating a world sprinkled with magic where Clara, whose sister was slowly becoming a mermaid, wrestled with grief and the question, “Who am I without my sister?” I like to think the tale has two happy endings.

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

CAN: I like to get up before the rest of the family, read the Bible while my tea is brewing, and then head upstairs to my office. There, I read over a little bit of what I wrote the day before, put on my writing music, and get to work.

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

CAN: First of all, treat writing like it’s your job—even if it’s only a part-time thing for you—and let your family and friends know that this work is as important to you and must take priority. Also, connect with other writers who will encourage you on your journey and will hold you accountable for getting the work done.

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

CAN: My childhood best friend keeps me stocked up with lovely varieties of chocolate and tea. And I love potato chips very, very much. Unfortunately, they end up in the keyboard if you’re not careful.

TG: How do you overcome writer’s block?

CAN: I do “morning pages” when I get stuck. It means free-writing five pages as soon as you wake up before your mind gets cluttered with other stuff. Whatever I’m stuck on, whether it’s a plot thing or just a general “now what,” it almost always works to generate new ideas and rekindle my enthusiasm for the story. It’s pretty magical.

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

CAN: I confess to doing a lot of editing along the way—although it’s no replacement for the later editing. This explains why it takes me a while to get a book done!

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

CAN: Being afraid to share their work with a critique group, or with a more experienced writer friend at the very least. It’s definitely scary because writing is so personal, but no one can grow into a better writer without some help.

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

CAN: There’s a Neil Gaiman quote that’s stuck with me for years, and it’s probably a paraphrase or a conglomeration of several things he said, but it’s “Keep writing, and finish things.”

TG: What is coming up next for you?

CAN: I’m working on a YA novel set in the 1980s, in which a girl obsessed with the faerie realm gets a “wrong number” telephone call from a bridge troll with ill intentions. It may contain autobiographical elements.

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More about The Mermaid’s Sister

Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Winner for Young Adult Fiction

Realm Award Winner for Best Speculative Fiction of the Year

There is no cure for being who you really are…

In a cottage high atop Llanfair Mountain, sixteen-year-old Clara lives with her sister, Maren, and guardian Auntie. By day, they gather herbs for Auntie’s healing potions; by night, Auntie spins tales of faraway lands and wicked fairies. Clara’s favorite story tells of three orphaned infants―Clara, who was brought to Auntie by a stork; Maren, who arrived in a seashell; and their best friend, O’Neill, who was found beneath an apple tree.

One day, Clara discovers iridescent scales just beneath her sister’s skin: Maren is becoming a mermaid and must be taken to the sea or she will die. So Clara, O’Neill, and the mermaid-girl set out for the shore. But the trio encounters trouble around every bend. Ensnared by an evil troupe of traveling performers, Clara and O’Neill must find a way to save themselves and the ever-weakening Maren.

And always in the back of her mind, Clara wonders, if my sister is a mermaid, then what am I?

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Writer’s Desk with Allen Brokken

The Writer’s Desk with Allen Brokken

Allen Brokken is a teacher at heart, a husband and father most of all. He’s a joyful writer by the abundant grace of God. He began writing the Towers of Light series for his own children to help him illustrate the deep truths of the Bible in an engaging and age-appropriate way. He’s dedicated 15 years of his life to volunteer roles in children’s ministry and youth development. Now that his own children are off to college he’s telling stories and sharing clean humor on social media. Connect with Allen on his website, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest, TikTok, BookBub, and sign up for his newsletter!

Q&A with Allen Brokken

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

AB: The very first thing I do EVERY morning is make coffee, have a very brief bit of hygiene, when the coffee is done I take a walk. Pretty much every day between 5:30 am and 7:00 am even on the weekends.

TG: Where did you get the inspiration for Light of Mine?

AB: When my kids were young there was really nothing better than getting out of my car at the end of a long day at work and having my three little kiddos run up to me and give hugs because Daddy’s Home! As a father of three young children I was very concerned about the direction society was taking. I wasn’t sure that with how things were going that I had the knowledge or the skill to train them up in the way they should go, as the Bible directs.

Then in 2008, I took a new job that had me traveling four days a week. It was one of the hardest times of my life, the stress of a high-pressure job, the loneliness of being on the road, and the uncertainty of being a young parent really brought me to the end of myself. However, all of the travel gave me a lot of time to study the scriptures and learn from the writing of great bible teachers.

It was during this time that I began to write stories for my children. At first, I brought my children’s stuffed animals to life for silly adventures. But then one day while we were putting together a play fort in our back yard I saw a sunrise pattern in the wood at the top of the tower. I thought:

“What if there was a Tower of Light shining God’s goodness over the children and their animals?”

“What if the children experienced the indwelling of the holy spirit in a real way like Sampson or David?”

“What if the full armor of God was physical armor they could use to defeat the darkness?”

As I shared my story with my children, they loved it.

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

AB: I’m blessed to be a fast writer, I can compose about 1000-1200 words an hour. However, that’s the hyperfocus superpower I get from having ADD. That said, I don’t control when I get hyperfocus. So I have to have a fairly structured process for corralling the chaos of how my brain works. If you check my social media you can see the “burn down chart” I use to track finalizing things. Without deadlines and publicly shared micro-goals, I would get nowhere, but inevitably there are days I need to “catch up.”

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

AB: I feel like we all need a tribe. My tribe is the Realm Makers consortium which is a group of Christian Writers of speculative fiction. Within that group, there’s a small critique group the Iron Sharpeners that I just rejoined after taking a break while my day job was in flux. There’s nothing better than getting the point of view of half a dozen people on a particular theme. There’s also just an act of bringing diversity to your thought. For example, I’m not, nor have I ever been, nor ever will be a 12-year-old girl or a mother of 3. Having my characters critiqued by women makes them so much more believable. Plus going back to my “chaos” writing style having to submit content every two weeks keeps me writing.

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

AB: Coffee … lots of coffee. I don’t know that I have a particular food. I find myself eating a lot of celery lately, but that’s more New Year’s resolution than anything else.

TG: How do you overcome writer’s block?

AB: I write something else and or work with other people’s content. I have some other content I’ve started and may produce in the future, but the other thing is I do daily videos on social media. Mostly Dad Jokes, occasional Star Wars humor, or writing-related posts. I read a lot of other people’s jokes for inspiration for my channel and read a lot of other authors as well.

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

AB: That’s a tough question. For the first draft, I do a lot of “blast” writing where I get on, tear and just write. When I do that I turn off Grammarly and ignore anything else. But if I’m not in a blast I like to keep the grammar prompts on just to keep the words tighter. Also, the bi-weekly critique group adds some discipline to the grammar because you don’t want bad grammar to distract them from the conceptual questions you might want to make.

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

AB: I made this mistake and most people do. There is a huge desire to promote and sell your book on social media and a lot of pressure to do so either from publishers or from your own pocketbook. After six years of doing it wrong, I realized that people expect your social media to be you and not just an ad for your stuff. So, find a thing you enjoy that’s part of you…I’m a Dad telling Dad Jokes it’s just part of who I am and there are people who resonate with that. Over time people get to know the real you and want to see you be successful. Then if what you write fits their preferences they’ll buy.

I’m not saying you don’t advertise on social media, I use paid ads all the time. But I leave that to the ad engine and my channel is just me as much as I can…unless I’m having a huge sale. 😉

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

AB: When you ask for writing advice, and someone with experience gives you writing advice, actually do what they say. In 2018, I was in a session at Realm Makers where a smaller publisher was talking about getting published. I later had a pitch appointment with her, and her feedback was I needed to take a break from my project, for a while, and really rethink it because in her opinion at the time what I was doing was unmarketable. That hurt. However, I listened to her, took time off, wrote in a completely different world for about 6 weeks, and then came back and with the help of some amazing people transformed … Darkness Cloaks the Land into Light of Mine.

TG: What is coming up next for you?

AB: Book 5 in the series Wellspring of Life is launching right here on Tricia Goyer’s show in November. Then the final book 6 Demolishing the Stronghold will be out in 2023. After that, I’m looking to make single-character early-reader chapter books in the same world.

Click on the graphic below to watch my interview with Allen Brokken on Light of Mine

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More about Light of Mine

After their parents’ mysterious disappearance, Lauren Aiden and Ethan discover the Armor of God.

Will their faith be strong enough to keep dark forces from destroying the Tower of Light?

Alone on the farm, twelve-year-old Lauren and her brave little brothers, Aiden(9) and Ethan(5) must guard the Tower of Light that will guide both parents home. But when a hooded stranger is caught trespassing the farm, and a new bishop claims the church, confusion pervades their close-knit community. Will the children be able to recognize who is a threat to the Tower and who is there to help them protect it?

With little else but the aid of a trio of blessed pets, three holy weapons, and their growing faith, the children find it is up to them to stop the agents of The Dark One from putting out the Light and dooming the heathlands to Darkness.

“Every child who can read chapter books has read this book as quickly as they could because the next child was ready to snatch it from them! We highly recommend this book and can’t wait for the rest of the series.” – Erin Slocum Home School Mom, For Him and My Family

Fans of Little House on the Prairie will feel at home in the series’ classic farmstead setting, and the sincerity of the children’s love for one another— nurtured by the example of their parents—will bring a smile to readers and listeners of all ages.

Light of Mine helps teachers and home educators enhance their student’s learning experience. It contains a reading comprehension section with questions from throughout the book. This provides educators with potential reading assignments and discussion topics. The section also provides access to a downloadable four-week unit study from Towers of Light Christian Resources.

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