The whole town is praying for Gabe Reynolds. And, as he comes into her shop every day, Faith Hagin finds herself in a budding friendship with the widower and single father. At least, she tells herself that they’re just friends. But as their friendship grows and she spends more and more time with Gabe and his daughter Chelsea she starts to wonder if this might just be a fresh start for them all.
WHAT LED YOU TO WRITE A FAMILY FOR FAITH?
The story was actually inspired by a father and young daughter I watched on a flight from D.C. to Atlanta. He was trying his best to put a bow in her hair and could not get the silly thing to stay. But he just kept trying over and over, and I knew I had to write about it. I wanted to write a story about a single dad dealing with a daughter at a time when she really needed a mom.
STARTING OUT, WHO WERE THE AUTHORS WHO INSPIRED YOU? WHO INSPIRES YOU NOW?
There are so many who’ve inspired me over the years I don’t think I could possibly name them. When I go to an American Christian Fiction Writers conference, I’m awed to be around authors whose books have entertained and touched me (and sometimes scared me or made me laugh and cry).
HOW DOES YOUR FAITH INFLUENCE YOUR WRITING?
My journey to publication took over ten years, which was sometimes—okay, I’ll admit it was often—difficult for me. But once I did sell, I realized that it had happened in His perfect timing. So now I try to remind myself that God brought me to this career, and He’s in control. I look to Him for guidance and pray that my stories will bring the message He wants me to bring. That the stories He gives me will touch lives.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU KNOWN YOU WANTED TO BE AN AUTHOR?
I always loved to read. Though I did well in language arts in school, I was actually a biology major in college and worked as a microbiologist until I had my first child. But while I was pregnant with my second child, I was put on bed rest. A friend brought me a huge bag of books to pass the time, and while reading them, I had my first nudge to try to write one. Of course, I wasn’t motivated enough to write it long hand! I waited until the following year when we bought our first computer. I wrote that first novel while nursing my son, typing with one hand.
WHAT DO YOU MOST HOPE THAT READERS GET FROM READING YOUR WORK?
I want them to enjoy their time spent reading. To fall in love with my characters. To feel at home in my towns and story world. But more than that, I want them to feel a sense of hope, and to realize how much God loves them.