The author discusses
Griselda Takes Flight, our third visit to the little community of Bright’s Pond.
WHAT WERE YOUR GOALS IN WRITING GRISELDA
TAKES FLIGHT?
Griselda Takes Flight is the third installment in the
Bright’s Pond series, so I wanted to continue the travels and antics and
mysteries of the town. For those who read the first one, The Prayers of Agnes
Sparrow, they’ll know that at the end Griselda was just beginning to find
herself. I wanted to continue that trend and give Griselda the room and the
nerve to spread her wings.
THIS IS YOUR THIRD VISIT TO BRIGHT’S
POND — WHAT KEEPS BRINGING YOU BACK?
I love this quirky, little
community and all the people. I keep getting surprised by what they’re going to
do next. I enjoy the idea and philosophy of community and how important it is
that we maintain our relationships with neighbors, friends, shut-ins, homeless
etc.I hope the people of Bright’s Pond exemplify what it means to know you
matter in the grand scheme.
HOW DOES YOUR FAITH INFLUENCE YOUR
WRITING?
It keeps me going for one thing. I
know when I’m stuck I can usually lay it out to God and He will pull me
through. I tend to recite, “I can do all things through Christ (even write
a novel)” a lot. There is strength in the Name. And I love it that God
uses us, very flawed people to get His work on Earth completed. I hope that
comes through in my novels. To be honest, my faith wavers sometimes. I ask a
lot of questions but God never lets go of me. When I think I’m hanging on to Him and slipping I do better when I realize He’s the one hanging on to
me.
WHEN YOUR BOOKS COME OUT AND YOU START
GETTING FEEDBACK, HOW DOES IT AFFECT WHAT YOU WRITE NEXT?
I was
surprised by how involved my readers became with the characters. The concern
for their futures astounded me. So I listen a great deal to what my readers
think about the characters and if I can use that info in the next book, I will.
When The Prayers of Agnes Sparrow released, I was amazed at how many people were a little
angry with Griselda and wanted her to stand up for herself. I knew she needed
that also but it was wonderful to know the readers did also,so I hope they’re
happy with what she does in Griselda Takes Flight.
WHAT DO YOU MOST HOPE THAT READERS GET
FROM READING YOUR WORK?
First of all, I hope folks are
entertained. I hope they laugh, cry, and keep turning the pages. But, I also
hope that they come away with a sense of what it means to be in community, of
wanting to be part of the greater good. I might write my books in silence,
aloneness, but I love that they get read in community like Book Groups and are
discussed in reviews and blogs posts. It really is about community for me.