Tell us a little about your family and your call to write.

My husband and I have four children ages 16, 9, 8, and 4. While he serves as pastor of a church, I do my best to home school, write, clean house and any pastor’s wife responsibilities. That list didn’t even include being a mother and a wife, did it?

I’ve been writing on and off for as long as I can remember, but never seriously. I never had a clear direction until 2001. Though God had pursued me for years to write, I’d come to a point where I actually laughed at the very idea God would call me to such a purpose. But he didn’t let go, and I ended up reading Marlene Bagnull’s Write His Answer bible study for writers. I did this in order to know for sure that God had called me. Before I finished reading the study I knew. Call it a divine appointment, I then met DiAnn Mills who got me started in ACFW (Then ACRW) where I met my wonderful critique partners. Most of us still crit each other’s work today and several of us are published.

How did you get your first “writing break?”

As I’m sure you know, the writing “game” isn’t for the faint of heart. I’ve come to believe that you must be driven and completely out of your mind to pursue it. That is, unless you’re a Christian and you know the Lord’s telling you to do something. That’s the wonderful advantage we have as Christian writers—we have the God factor. (maybe I need to start a blog on that one. he he) I said all of that because your question reminded me of how hard it is. I’ve had plenty of things fall through due to just plain bad timing, so the term writing “break” really is appropriate. In 2005 I partnered with Lisa Harris and Lena Nelson Dooley (both crit partners and close friends) to propose a states series to Heartsong Presents. We heard from the editor in January 2006 at which time I wrote the manuscript. Did not hear they had selected the series until October of 2006. My book did not release until December of 2007. It’s a very long process!

What do you write and why this genre?

Funny thing is that I never planned to write romance. I loved reading historicals so wanted to write that genre. But I learned to write by writing romances. I spent several years writing historical romances but my first book to be published is a contemporary romance—the first contemp I’d written. Still, I love thrillers and suspense and I couldn’t write the romance without an element of suspense. What has surprised me is how many readers comment on the mystery. Now that I consider it, I put a puzzle to solve into the story. I love new and interesting settings, action and adventure and a strong spiritual element. All of those can be put into any genre, perhaps creating a sub-genre.

What do you hope to accomplish through your novels?

My favorite novels always bring up and answer some deep question. I love nuggets and I love to dig for them. But most importantly, I hope to bring glory to God and in some way be “a planting of the Lord” – allow Him to use the work for his purpose. I hope my novels carry an important spiritual thread—but not preachy. Hopefully being a Christian writer means that the spiritual thread will grow organically from the story, rather than me trying to force a message into the story.

And now for the tough questions…

How do you balance being a mom, wife, and writer?

Oh. Ack! You had to ask this. Well it’s a tough question and the answer is tough—to find, that is. This is a continual struggle and it causes me to question God, not his calling, but why in the world He would call me to this. I think I’m doing much better at the balancing than I was. First and foremost is to not allow yourself to become obsessed with the writing. Stories come from living, spending time with your family, being the wife you want to be and the mother you want to be. I’ve done my share of ignoring the family to get that all-important manuscript written. At this point, I have a to do list and while I spend some time on writing, a good part of my day is spent on my family. I have to make a conscious effort to do that. I used to spend evenings on the computer but now I try to watch movies with my kids or we play board games.

I think, too, we spend too much time on non-writing related internet things—like IM and emailing. Networking is important, but just think how much time you would have if when you opened up your computer you did nothing else but write.

I don’t have a good answer to your question but I’m continually trying new things. Right now, I’ve been considering how much time I spend trying to market myself, blog, join endless social networks. I’m praying for divine appointments so that maybe I don’t have to do so much of that work myself.

Do you think it’s possible to give yourself fully to raising children, homeschooling, writing, and keeping in shape? If not, which one for you has to take a back seat?

No. SCREAM. I personally don’t think it’s possible though I’m sure there are those who would disagree. Let me know when you interview someone who can do it all. The first thing to take a backseat is exercise. I try to get them started on the home schooling and then squeeze in time on the treadmill or exercise bike while someone will read to me. I want to be available. But there are always so many unexpected interruptions. If I wait until later in the day to exercise it never gets done.

When do you find the time to write, and do you ever feel like you’re neglecting your children when you write?

I try to write in the afternoon after school is done and house is clean. The struggle is that it takes me a while to get into the story and sometimes, my writing time has ended by the time my head is there. But to answer your other question, yes I always feel like I’m neglecting them, especially if I end up writing through the evening. I sometimes will picture what it would be like if I weren’t a writer. I could play endless games with my kiddoes or do other meaningful things. But I know that they’re proud of me and each of them has asked for a copy of my book. My middle son asked if he could help me come up with ideas. My teenage daughter writes, too, so I know there are good things about the writing.

How do you handle interruptions in your writing life?

Not very well. It depends, too, on what type of interruption your referring to. I mentioned I have a four year old. He seems to be in constant need of attention. Wants me to hold him or get him milk or or or. . .It’s frustrating. I’ll admit there are times when I’m in a well-balanced state of mind and I’ll drop everything to answer his needs—as it should be. But other times I become frustrated.

Again, though, as I mentioned before, I’m learning to handle things much better. I’m learning to live one day at a time and to accomplish what I can, not worry about the rest. Sometimes I want to compare myself to others. For instance, it takes me a long time to put together a proposal, but I see others whip them out in an afternoon. I wonder what it would be like to have uninterrupted writing time which never happens. Never for me.

How do you get back into the flow of writing after you’ve been interrupted? Sometimes I don’t. I’ve heard that it helps to have a certain type of music you listen to while working on your project, then you can quickly get back into the story. For me, though, if I’m truly into the story, I don’t come out so fast because the characters continue to live on in my head. Sometimes, an interruption is just what I need because while I’m getting someone milk a new idea or scene comes to mind.

What do you do to encourage yourself during those stormy days every homeschooling mom has?

Well I usually start calling all the local Christian schools to see if they have openings! Seriously, I do that. Then I end up feeling good about the fact that I’m home schooling. It helps too, if you vary what you’re doing. Make schooling fun for everyone. Put on geography songs and dance to them. Anything can be a learning experience. When we have the stormy days the best cure is for Mom to relax, get happy and do something fun. I tend to become too serious and make us all miserable.

How do you position yourself to HEAR God’s voice when all the noises of life are swirling around you? That can sometimes take DAYS. It really is a condition of the heart even more than noises swirling, but the noises can affect that condition. For me, putting on my favorite worship music, even though it might take hours, will pull me back to that place where I can hear His voice.

If you do feel your priorities slipping, what do you do to get back on track?

Pray, pray, pray and work on my to do list. I’ve become fanatical about that list. As long as something is there I can organize when to get it done. I don’t worry about doing it until that moment. It’s the same with laundry. It took me a lifetime to learn how to keep up with laundry. Here I am in my forties with six people to wash for and I had to come up with a plan out of desperation. What did I do? I made a list! Each person has their own basket and their own day that their clothes are done. I stick to that list that way I don’t ever feel overwhelmed because all the laundry isn’t done. It’s the same for the priorities. Give priorities their days or times of day and stick to that.

Has there ever been a time God told you to set aside your writing to focus on other areas of your life? If so, how did you handle that?

Not in a big way, no. I keep waiting for him to do just that so I can have a break! But lately, He is showing me that I can put my writing aside to enjoy my family, to focus on Him, and then go back to it later that day or on another day.

Did you ever feel like you’ve “missed” God in regards to writing, that maybe you should be doing something else?

I think we all have nagging doubts at times. Even though I’ve run from Him on the issue of writing in the past, and I know that I know that I know that he’s called me to do it, yes, sometimes I begin to doubt, thinking I’ve missed Him.

What advice would you give to writing moms who are have their hearts set on publication?

That is a tough place to be. I’m there, too. Once you achieve publication, you have to keep achieving it. The struggle never ends. That’s why it’s most important

to put writing in its place. You don’t want it to become an idol. Remember that where you heart is there your treasure is also. But if God has told you to do a thing, do it with all your heart, and do it unto Him, then you can never go wrong. Your validation comes from Him, not from publishers. It’s a hard truth, but isn’t He the one that gives the desire? When you’re discouraged just pray for the Lord’s guidance and comfort and I promise He will give it along with encouragement in your writing. Every time.

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

Balancing anything is always hard. In fact, before I finished this interview two of my little guys climbed into my lap and wouldn’t let me keep writing! I thought it was strangely appropriate, though. Home schooling moms who write are special. I wrote an article last year on my blog called the homeschooling-multi-children-novel-writing-mom syndrome. You can read it for fun.

http://bethgoddard.blogspot.com/2006/08/homeschooling-multi-children-novel.html

Thanks Gina for this opportunity. Blessings!

Thank you! I can really relate to you and your writing journey! And I’m sure other writing moms can as well!

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