(1) What moment in your life, whether in your faith journey or writing career, inspired you to write the story featured in this anthology? How did God guide you during that process?
 

Act in the Living Present was born out of my own deepest frustrations and worry. As a new adult (okay, I’m past 20, but I still consider myself a new adult) I’ve struggled a lot with the “adulting” process and specifically with my future. How do I live a fulfilled, worthwhile life? What percentage of my dreams should I follow and what percentage not? How do I know what career to pick? Through my character, Myriam, I was able to do some self-journaling and explore the answer to the question, “How do I make my life worthwhile right now when there’s nothing big happening?” God was certainly present through it all and there’s no way I could have written it myself. I love seeing how he just plants the ideas and weaves it all together… 

 

(2) Writing can be a ministry in itself. How does your faith influence the way you craft your characters, including those who face deep struggles or life-changing moments?
 

When I write, 99% of the time I write out my own emotions. I may not have the same experiences, but the emotions and lessons are all taken from my own current life. I would say my writing is all about faith, because most often, the stories are just vehicles for me to wrestle out a topic with the Lord. It drives me to the Bible; it helps me see how different passages and teachings fit in together; it brings up verses in my memory; and it has me work out what God is teaching me. 

 

(3) Many Christian authors experience times of doubt or spiritual dryness. How does your faith sustain you through these difficult times, both personally and professionally, and how does this translate into stories you tell?
 

Heh, well, actually, my writing journey is a pretty even divide between frolicking in the writing oasis and languishing in doubt and spiritual dryness. It’s very difficult for me to write when I’ve wandered from the Lord, and as much as I try to remember to invite him into the process, I usually end up trying to do it by myself and freaking out because of how underqualified I am. The best stuff I ever wrote were the ones I thought stank but that God was super involved in and basically made me write… Anyways, basically, I’m still working on that aspect, but I think my answer is that I just need to learn to stop relying on my strength and realize he cares to help me in my writing, because really, it’s all about him in the end. 

 

(4) If you could describe the impact you hope your readers walk away with after reading your story, what would it be? How does this reflect your own walk with Jesus?
 

There’s several themes I hope readers pick up on, but the #1 would be: life is huge and frankly, terrifying, because you can’t see anything into the future. But you don’t have to figure it all out right away. Take just one step at a time. And the very first, basic step, is realizing that if you love God with all your heart, everything else will fall in place as you become in tune with him. It’s definitely something God has to keep teaching me!

 

(5) What biblical lesson or Scripture has been a constant source of encouragement for you as an author, perhaps, especially when navigating the ups and downs of a writing career?
 

I wouldn’t say there is any scripture that has struck to me through the years, but there’s a few quotes that have always stayed tucked away in my mind, and they’re all somewhat similar.
 

“Redeeming love has been my theme and shall be till I die.” (William Cowper)
 

“I love to tell the story; more wonderful it seems than all the golden fancies of all my golden dreams. I love to tell the story; it did so much for me; and that is just the reason I tell it now to thee.” (Arabella Katherine Hankey)
 

“Lord, give me words to express to others how great your love for them is.” (Pinterest Quote) 
 

Yeah, I think that basically sums up the point of my writing. 

 

(6) Has there been a particular moment in your writing journey when you felt God's presence in a powerful or unexpected way? How did that shape your perspective as a believer and a writer?

 

As a teen, the idea of being a published author was all-consuming, and I became bitter and depressed because there were so many obstacles in my way. In my midteens, God finally got ahold of my heart and I surrendered my dreams and my writing. Last year, I was officially published in Wild Blue Wonder Press’s Springtime in Surrey. As of November 2024, I’m about to be in 16 published works, including the upcoming Wild Blue Wonder Press Fingerprints in Frost anthology, and my standalone novella published by Beyond the Bookery, A Noble Comfort, which releases February 2025… and not counting a handful of short stories I published on Amazon. God has fulfilled my childhood dream in such a better way than I ever thought and it overwhelms me when I think of how good he has been. Talk about a good reminder that he is “planning better things” than we ever could dream. 

 

(7) Do you have any specific prayer requests you would like readers to take to the Throne Room?

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Yes! Currently I’m in a very hectic period of my life: attending school 3 times a week, volunteering at the library, launching two anthologies and working on my novella, looking for a part-time job, launching my editing business, and trying to keep up with blogging, reviewing, marketing, and just plain life. Emotionally, physically, and spiritually, it’s a rough time. Prayers for wisdom, strength, health, dedication, and joy would be so appreciated!