I just adore authors. I love to sit beside them and listen as they brainstorm plots or discuss characters. I love to watch as their process unfolds and cheer on book launch days. Recently I had the opportunity to interview two lovely ladies. Here are their answers, book reviews and links to their new offerings. You'll see why I love authors and these two are on my new favorites list. Which of your character’s do you personally identify with the most? Tricia: I can usually identify with some aspect of most of my main characters. Though not King Respen or Harrison Vane. I would be a little scared if I identified with them. Leith handles emotions much the way I do. Renna has a lot of my fear of well, everything. Rosanna and Brandi both have my love of adventure. Alex...sad to say, I identify with his struggle with pride. Hopefully I’m less insufferable than he is, but pride does have a tendency to go after all of us in one way or another. Sarah: Probably Maggie as she’s a mum like myself. She’s been through a lot, but she’s not bitter; rather her experiences have softened her towards others in need. I can identify with or understand ALL my characters reasoning and motivation though. That’s one of the things I love doing, getting into characters heads and figuring them out. How has your life story impacted your writing? Tricia: Honestly, I’m struggling to come up with an answer for this. I had a happy childhood, I have a close family, good friends. I started drawing stories at two years old before I even had much of a life to start impacting my writing. If anything, my stories have had more impact on my life than my life has had on my stories. As a writer, you have to ask yourself the tough questions and figure out what you believe and what answers you have. It forces you to think deeply and search Scriptures in a way you wouldn’t otherwise. Sarah: My own experiences with loss, doubt, love and pain are heavily woven into what I write. Without the pain in my own life, physical and emotional, I couldn’t possibly be in a position to reach out to those hurting in similar ways. I guess that’s part of why I find I can relate to my characters, even the nasty ones. I been in bad places before, dealt with some pretty heavy things and seen things that changed me. Because of everything I’ve been through, I can relate to a wide range of people and I can share the benefit of my experience within what I write. What do you wish your reader’s knew about why you write? Tricia: I wish readers knew just how much prayer Christian writers put into their books. Every single thing in my books is in there because, after much prayer and Scripture-searching, I believe it gives glory to God. As readers, you might not feel it was necessary and it might not be to your personal preference, but I hope the readers never question the heart I have behind it. Sarah: Well said Tricia. I’ve noticed since publishing, that while secular writers might get slammed for poor writing, Christian authors will have their faith questioned. It’s very disheartening when we are all striving to bring glory to the same God. I wish readers understood that not every Christian Author writes for the same audience. For me, I want to reach the hurting and the lost. Yes, sometimes they are within the Christian community, but for me it’s more important to fulfill the mission God has been preparing me for. I write in the Christian Fantasy category because I am not ashamed of the gospel but by the same token I want to reach more than just those already ‘saved’. This means my writing has to be relatable while still providing healthy and positive examples backed by my understanding of scripture. How has grace been evident in your life? Does grace impact your writing? How? Tricia: Thanks to God’s grace, I’ve been a Christian my entire life, and my faith has continued to deepen the older I get. I pray as I write that God pours His grace into the words to touch others’ hearts. Sarah: Wow. Okay, so I’m putting myself on the line here. I’ll be honest. I haven’t always lived a Christian life. I’ve been in the dark, at times crushed by fear and anxiety. I was terrified and alone, looking to worldly things for comfort. I didn’t understand the enormity of God’s love for me until later in life. I lived for so long thinking I was a Christian but had never even read the Bible, let alone studied it. I made so many mistakes, I lived apart from Jesus, without hope, without understanding of what Grace is. I didn’t understand that there is no limit to how far God will go to bring us home to Him. I didn’t understand there is nothing we can do that will change the way He feels about us. This is why I write for the lost. I’ve lived both lives. And I know what incredible freedom and joy waits for those who seek the truth. Imagine Pocahontas in the world of Sleeping Beauty. This retelling is a fantastically fun view of women warriors, honor upheld and new love. Tricia had me believing her characters were people she knew. I'd put this book in the hands of any young adult who loves adventure with a hint of romance. Well done! Sarah Addison-Fox writes pain and endurance as if she's seen it herself. Dissociate is the third book in The Allegiance Series which explores the intrigue of spies, slaves and redemption. If you enjoy suspense and are looking for a good weekend read this is for you.
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About MeI love Jesus. I think my two daughters can change the world. I think you can too. Past Posts
August 2020
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