Writer’s Desk with Heather Kaufman

Heather Kaufman is the author of multiple books and devotions, praised by Kirkus Reviews for writing “a charming and well-crafted tale.” She delights in highlighting the goodness of God through storytelling. When not reading, writing, or accumulating mounds of books, Heather can be found exploring new parks with her husband and three children near their home in St. Louis, Missouri.

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

More about Up from Dust

“Heather Kaufman is a truly fresh voice in biblical fiction with great promise.”–Tessa Afshar, bestselling author

“A biblical story with a heart for today’s world, pulling out an array of joy and hope, sorrow and loss.”–Mesu Andrews, award-winning author

“Taking us on an intriguing journey through heartbreak and healing, Heather Kaufman leads her readers directly to the joy of the empty tomb.”–Connilyn Cossette, award-winning author

Martha of Bethany is no stranger to adversity. After her mother’s untimely death, Martha shoulders the responsibility of raising her siblings—quiet and studious Lazarus, and wild and rambunctious Mary. She finds solace in friendship and the beginnings of first love, but just as Martha begins to imagine a new future, hardship strikes again, and her dreams crumble into dust.

Ten years later, Martha’s friend pleads for the new teacher, Jesus of Nazareth, to come and heal her husband. When Martha discovers that the carpenter-rabbi is connected to her past, she’s not sure she can trust him with her future. But as he continues to perform miracles, the invitation to believe becomes harder to resist, renewing Martha’s hardened heart, even as she faces an unknown future.

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Q&A with Heather Kaufman

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

HK: My favorite color is brown, which sounds so drab to say out loud. Sometimes I dress it up by saying I love “earth tones,” but really what I mean is I love the color brown—in all its various gorgeous hues!

ARCF: Where did you get the inspiration for Up from Dust?

HK: During an Easter sermon in 2016, I was startled by a new admiration for Martha of Bethany. I’m sorry to say that I hadn’t really thought deeply about her up until then. When I did think of her, it was usually in cautionary terms. “Don’t be like Martha! Don’t be too busy serving Jesus that you miss out sitting at His feet.” But the Martha in John 11 is a tremendous woman of faith, one I long to emulate! It led me to wonder about her life, her heart. I scribbled the following words on my church bulletin: “Martha’s backstory . . . God wants me to write this!” And by His strength and grace alone, I did.

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

HK: Just a few! I always grab a cardigan and comfy socks or slippers. Nothing pulls me out of writing like chilly feet! As I write, I regularly reread what I’ve just written. I’ll write a paragraph or page, reread it, and then write the next paragraph or page. It can be slow at times, but it grounds me and helps my brain stay focused on the story.

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

HK: When you’re done with a writing session, give your brain an “assignment” until the next session. Sometimes the sheer scope of a novel can be overwhelming and lead to mental paralysis (or is that just me?!). It helps to give yourself small mental tasks to chew on such as a character’s motivation in a particular scene or an argument between two characters. Focus yourself one small bite at a time.

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

HK: I actually don’t like to eat while I write! But if it’s morning, I’ll drink coffee (always dark roast and with my favorite Planet Oat caramel oat milk creamer!). If it’s later, I’ll drink hot tea, preferably rooibos with a splash of coconut cream and honey.

ARCF: How do you overcome writer’s block?

HK: I read good books in a different genre than I’m writing. Absorbing excellent storytelling tends to “grease the wheel” and get things moving. A change of scenery is also a welcome way to help clear mental fog. A good walk in the park, lifting my eyes and heart up from my desktop and toward God’s creation gets the creative juices flowing.

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

HK: I painfully edit as I go. I’ve tried to change this about myself since it slows down the process considerably, but it’s just the way my brain works! Even though it’s slow, editing as I go helps me figure out my characters sooner and keeps me excited about where the story is going. When I labor to get scenes and wording “just right,” I gain momentum. As a result, my “first draft” is usually more like a “second draft” and I have a much firmer grasp on the story and its themes.

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

HK: Overusing certain words and sentence structures. We all have “favorite words” that we gravitate toward, and it takes effort to recognize them and intentionally vary our writing. To combat repetitiveness, I read my work slowly and out loud as if I’m performing it. This helps my ear catch the fact that all my characters seem to be “grinning” or that I’m beginning too many sentences with a prepositional phrase. Additionally, I keep a running list of words that I know are stumbling blocks for me, and I search for them in my manuscript.

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

HK: Years ago, an older gentleman in our church encouraged me to view my writing like the widow’s jars in 2 Kings 4. Just come each day, even if you’re coming empty and used up. Come and expect God’s faithfulness to meet you. This is great encouragement to faithfully move forward even if you don’t “feel” like writing. Don’t wait for inspiration to hit. Don’t wait until circumstances are “just right” or you feel all pumped up and ready. It’s okay to come empty. Just come and do the work. God will be faithful.

ARCF: Cats or dogs?

HK: I’m allergic to cats, so this one is easy. Dogs! As a girl, I had a beautiful Golden Retriever who was laid back and chill. When I got married, my husband and I adopted a Jack Russel mix whose personality is an interesting combination of persnickety and hyper. He has, however, mellowed in his old age.

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

HK: Phil Wickham’s “It’s Always Been You” is my anthem! This song lifts my spirit every time and compels me to worship. Its lyrics and soaring chorus turn my focus off of myself and onto my “why.” I dare to write hard things because He’s worthy of my best. I push forward even while absolutely terrified because His track record with me is unbroken. It’s always been about Him and for Him.

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

HK: I would hang out with the women who were the first to observe the empty tomb of Jesus Christ and encounter Him face-to-face in the garden. This event had to radically and permanently upend their lives! Can you imagine? I don’t think I’d talk of anything else for the rest of my life. I would just love to gaze into the faces of these sweet sisters as they recalled that moment.

ARCF: What is coming up next for you?

HK: Two more books are in the works for the “Women of the Way” series! I recently turned in the manuscript for Book 2. I won’t give away who the main character is, but let’s just say it’s a lady who doesn’t receive nearly as much attention as she deserves. Book 1 took us to the country. Book 2 whisks us into the city. Get ready for political intrigue, family secrets, a marriage of convenience that blossoms into more, and many grand-scale moments where the heroine must choose between safety and bold faith.

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