Gwen Faulkenberry: Author Interview and Book Giveaway

This is a super-busy week because I’m heading to the Mt. Hermon Christian Writers Conference on Thursday. I’ll be teaching a couple of workshops, hanging out with some of my writer/editor friends, and hopefully petting a banana slug.

To get everyone in the writing mood (since you will be hearing all about the conference from me, I’m sure) I’m excited about hosting an author interview AND a giveaway of two books.

 

Gwen Faulkenberry and I have known each other for about ten years. I had the delight of working with her at DaySpring and then staying in touch as a friend and fellow writer. She has recently published two books with Summerside Press, A Beautiful Life: Devotions for a Woman’s Heart and a Christian romance novel Love Finds You in Romeo, Colorado. 

 

I asked Gwen a few questions about her life and writing so you can get to know her a little too…

 

Tell us a little bit about you and your family.   I am 37 years old, and have been married 15 years to Stone, the best guy on the planet.  We have three great kids, Grace, 8, Harper, 6, and Adelaide, 2.  I am mostly a stay-home mom, but I also teach English part-time at Arkansas Tech-Ozark, a college near my home, and write cards for DaySpring. 

 

What is the first thing you ever remember writing?  I wrote stories that my fourth grade teacher "published" and put on her class bookshelves.  The other kids would check them out and read them during reading time.

 

You’ve written both fiction and non-fiction, how are they different?  (This is a hard question for me to answer.  I've typed in several different answers so far and they all sound stupid.)  For me, so far, the non-fiction has been a lot easier.  I'm not saying I think non-fiction is easier to write in general, but just that in my experience with these two books, the devotional was by far the easiest.  One reason for that, I'm sure, is that it was about 1/3 the size of the novel. 

 

But also, it's just pretty natural for me to get excited about beautiful people and share things the Lord is doing in my own life.  The stories and reflections sort of just gushed out, like I couldn't type fast enough.  When I got done I had tons of things left to say; it was like a casual, fun conversation with readers that I didn't want to end.

 

My novel was totally the opposite.  I felt just as annointed for the work, but it was painstaking.  I labored over single words and phrases.  I wanted it to be a literary masterpiece that would entertain and people and also challenge them spiritually, conveying the redemptive power of God's love.  I loved writing it, but I was so glad when I was finished!

 

What inspires you? Good music, good books, teaching, nature, listening to the stories of people around me, anything beautiful.

 

You’re busy raising three kids—how do you find time to write?  I have a wonderful support system.  My parents are retired, and my sister-in-law stays home with her kids.  They help me a lot with childcare.  And my husband is amazing.  I also don't sleep much.

 

If you could tell other women who want to be published one thing, what would it be?  I suppose it should be easy to give a pat answer here, but I don't have one big statement to make.  My own journey to publishing success has been something I never could have predicted. 

 

I believe what's most important is to trust the Lord.  Don't strive.  Move in His peace and don't try to force anything.  Do your best at whatever place in life He has you.  Work hard at the craft of writing.  Listen and learn.  Get help from people who know what they're doing, and follow their advice. 

 

Be willing to not be published if it's God's will.  At the same time, if you know it's a dream He's placed in your heart, don't give up on it. I've come to believe great writing will find its way into the marketplace, even if it takes a long time.

 

     

What is one of your “beautiful anomalies”?   Although this is definitely not something I see as beautiful, I know God doesn't see the way we see.  Your blog post reminds me of that, Holley, and I thank you for it.  I believe I am cursed by a genetic propensity to gain weight. 

 

My husband can eat a mixing bowl full of granola every morning, topped off with a pound of bacon and a three-egg, four-cheese omelette, and not gain an ounce.  On the other hand, if I eat more than a grape for breakfast without walking it off before lunch, I am apt to go up a dress size.  Okay, maybe it's not that bad, but it's close.

 

What has God taught you through the writing process?  He has taught me that He's a lot smarter than I am, and that He is big enough to do anything He wants, whenever He decides. His resources are not limited and He really doesn't need my help making things happen.  My part is to do my work faithfully, in quietness and trust, which of course I'm not always good at.  But, He doesn't seem to hold that against me. In fact, I believe He likes me anyway and keeps leading me onward and upward! 

 

Gwen graciously gave me two signed copies of A Beautiful Life to share with you! To be entered to win one, leave a comment telling us a book you've enjoyed reading lately. The random number generator will pick the comments and I'll announce them first thing Thursday morning before I head to California.

 

If you'd like to get copies of Gwen's books, they're available online and in stores,including LifeWay.

Where's God When It Rains?

From Rain on Me: Devotions of Hope and Encouragement for Difficult Times

A few years ago, I read the book Captivating by Stasi Eldridge. In one part she challenges women to ask God how He’s showing them His love.

I was at the beginning of my storm during that time but still far enough into it to feel a bit abandoned. So I initially balked at the question.

Finally, with a sigh, I silently asked, “Lord, how in the world are You showing me You love me right now?”

In an instant the answer came. I gently sensed God say to my heart, “I’m walking through the rain with you and I’m giving you my umbrella.”

My mind flashed back to a day in college when an unexpected storm swept in while I was in class. I dreaded the long trek home. As I exited my classroom, I couldn’t believe what I saw. My boyfriend Mark (who is now my husband) stood waiting for me with a smile on his face and an umbrella in his hand. He had come to walk me through the rain. It’s still one of the sweetest and most loving things anyone has ever done for me.

Of course, the best part of the walk home that day was staying right beside Mark. Umbrellas aren’t very big and the closer you get, the drier you stay. It’s the same way with God.

I know what’s it’s like to want to run away into the rain as fast as you can. I’ve done exactly that many times. But the sweetest moments in my journey have come when I’ve chosen to stay under God’s umbrella and let Him wrap His loving arms around me. 

Being under God’s umbrella still isn’t like a walk in the park on a sunny day. But there’s an intimacy to it that we may look back on with longing one day. We’ve all heard people say, “I’m glad that time in my life is over…but I sometimes miss how close I felt to God.”

God is waiting outside the door of your heart to walk you through the rain. This may not be what you would have chosen but it will be a journey you’ll always remember.

Read

After a time of great difficulty, God tells His chosen people that He will bless them with His presence and, “It will be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and rain.” ISAIAH 4:6 NIV

Reflect

How is God showing you his love right now?

What do you think God is saying to your heart today?

Are you choosing to stay under God’s umbrella or running into the storm? Why?

 

Respond

Lord, thank You for Your love. Sometimes it’s hard to see in the midst of all this rain. I pray You will show me how You’re taking care of me today. I especially need You to___________________. Amen.

 

You can use my friends and family discount code, RAINON20, for an additional 20% off the book and everything else you order from DaySpring.com by April 1.

 

Winners and Whiners

I'm excited to anounce that we have three winners and one whiner! Let's start with the winners.

Thanks to all of you who entered the journal giveaway. The random number generator came up with comments 2, 41, and 43. Here they are...

My blessing today is I will not have to miss work, have another surgery and only need to go to physical therapy for my knee!! WOO HOO. I loved this blog entry because I too tend to lean towards the negative. My mind races through all the things that could go wrong. God is teaching me how to slow down and listen, to "Be still." Blessings ~ Angela

My blessing for today was a phone call from my mom. We live only 25 minutes from each other and we talk every day but today I realized how lucky I am to have her in my life. She's always been one of my best friends. SusanB

Well.... since I haven't officially said anything on my blog yet, let's just say I got some REALLY good news today that counts as a huge blessing ;) At the risk of sounding irreverent, God "knocked my socks off" today. Mrs. H

Congratulations, ladies! Look for another giveaway coming next week!

Now let's talk about the one whiner. Don't worry, it's not you. It's me. Yesterday I was in a funk. You know the kind. You're just going along through life and then out of nowhere "Wham!" the moody blues hit and everything turns upside down for a bit.

In my case it was brought on by 1) exhaustion 2) not enough exercise 3) too much alone time (I'm an introvert but you can still have too much of a good thing) 4) the weather 5) eating too much sugar, oh, and a bunch of other stuff.

Today I feel much better. But I wrote this little prosey-poemy thing yesterday and I wanted to share it anyway. Warning: it feels a bit "junior high girl writing in her notebook" but I suppose even grown-up writers are allowed to revert now and then. 

p.s. If you're my rlf (real life friend) please don't yell at me for not telling you I had a bad day. It was weird, I didn't know what to say, and now I'm okay. And yes, I'm also stubborn and independent. I'm working on it--promise.

Funky blue…

deep and wide

as the ocean.

I visit you occasionally,

like an unwelcome vacation.

You are the opposite of R&R—

instead you drain me, low,

like an emotional funnel

leading to who knows where.

I resist you, silly thing,

and tell you that you aren’t real—

an imaginary friend I can wave away

with a nap, cup of coffee, piece of chocolate.

But you remain, drawing me in,

asking me to sit on your shores

to turn my back on the world

and everything, everyone in it.

I will not give in to you.

You want me, I know,

want me so fiercely I can feel it.

But you can’t have me.

No, I belong to the King,

and His unending love is

Crystal blue…

deeper and wider

than the ocean.

Anyone else out there ever visited my funky blue friend?