By Ellie Whyte
Kacy Barnett-Gramckow is the author of Dawnlight, a Biblical Novel inspired by Matthew 27:52-53, as well as Moody Publisher's THE GENESIS TRILOGY. Kacy also writes Christian fantasy fiction as R.J. Larson.
Kacy finds research almost as interesting as writing, and she brings a lively knowledge of history to bear on her settings and characters.
She and her husband, Jerry, have been married for more than thirty years, and they live in Colorado.
The following is a recent interview with Kacy.
PLUS! ENTER THE GIVEAWAY
Post a comment about this interview at the end of the blog post and enter the Rafflecopter draw for a Kindle copy of one of Kacy's books - THE HEAVEN'S BEFORE, DAWNLIGHT, or her upcoming Infinite title, EXILES. A valid comment on the blog is an entry requirement into the draw. Contest open to entrants WORLDWIDE, and ends on Saturday, 12 July.
Tell us a little about yourself.
I’m an ordinary person who happens to
write—my effort to deal with my huge imaginary inner world. Writing allows me
to pour my daydreams (and nightmares) into the computer, ridding my mind of its
excesses. However, my imagination retaliates by concocting new storylines,
which threaten to take over my every waking thought. Not good when I’m working
full time and trying to keep track of my busy family!
Writing is also my
quiet ministry. I love to reach people’s hearts and souls with my stories!
How did you become a novelist, and did you always want to write?
I never intended to become a writer, but
I’ve always had classic author traits. I began imagining stories almost as soon
as I could form full sentences. As soon as I learned to read at age five, I
read everything. Vitamin labels, cereal boxes, encyclopedias, the
dire warning tags on furniture, and every book my parents handed to me—in
addition to all the books I carried home from our local library.
I simply loved-LOVED to read.
Writing professionally, however, never
crossed my mind until my sister-in-law, Kathi Macias, became an editor. I was
in my twenties when she showed me a manuscript she was editing. I don’t
remember the author’s name or even the book’s subject. I looked at that neat
stack of pages with all those words, and I thought, “I can do that!”
I wrote a 300,000 word medieval tome, which
is still unpublished, but a terrific apprenticeship. While I was writing, I showed
a few chapters to Kathi, and she promptly volunteered me as a contributor to a
collection of devotionals. More devotionals followed, and my circle of
publishing contacts grew.
One of my editors later became an agent and
she asked if I was still writing. By then, I’d moved into the Biblical fiction
realm, and offered her a manuscript, The Heavens Before, which was published
under my true name. Within five months, Moody Publishers offered me a contract
for a three-book series, which is still in print.
What do you think is significant about Christian fiction?
Christian fiction offers food for the soul,
and eternal hope, which is rarely found in secular fiction. Humans are born
with the innate need to connect with their universe and to worship—a longing which must be expressed and experienced. This
longing to worship often turns inward, with self-worship. Or we worship idols,
sometimes in the form of Hollywood stars, or royalty. But for those who are
searching—no matter what they believe or worship—fiction helps readers clarify
their personal values as they enjoy other lives through the printed word.
This is why soul-inspiring fiction is so
vital, and why I pray over each manuscript as I’m working. Fiction provides a
neutral realm for readers to sort through many of life’s difficult questions.
Moreover, Christian fiction entertains and serves those who believe in the Lord
and who seek eternal, Biblical ways to deal with modern problems, or ancient
ones.
For writers, that’s a
big responsibility. Scary, even….
How do you hope your readers react to the stories you write?
Above all, I want them to love the
characters and react with them as they confront the challenges and fears we all
face. I’d also hope that my protagonists will allow readers to explore the
ancient Scriptures from new perspectives, offering fresh views on the Book we
all love.
What responses to your novels have affected you the most and why?
When a reader contacts me and writes, “I
was in the same situation. I suffered the same hurt,” I always pause and
pray. When a reader writes, “This story
made me dig deeper into the Word…” I celebrate!!!
How has being a novelist impacted your relationship with Christ?
My worship, my adoration of the Lord has
deepened. I have always loved Him and
honored Him, but as I noted earlier, I pray over each new story for His will.
I’m always amazed by the Lord’s boundless love and grace in every aspect of my
life. Writing has been an unexpected gift from my Creator!
Other than writing great novels, what other goals do you have for your life?
To eventually be the very best worst grandmother
in the world. I’m already practicing my line: “Yes, whatever you want, honey!”
Not to mention my smile as I hand the kid back to his or her parents! Hehehe!
As a writer, what influences have inspired you the most to write, and continue writing?
My mother's abiding love of books and my own love of stories proved to be my earliest influences. Our home was filled with books and the instant I learned to read, I routinely raided my mother's bookshelves for novels.
My passion for the written word was so limitless that I began to write at age 23--on a whim at midnight!--and I've never stopped. I'm constantly thinking of stories and characters. The problem is that I don't have the time to type then into the computer!
Every writer struggles with various aspects of their writing journey. What has been the most difficult aspect of writing for you, and what come the most naturally?
Time is my most consistent struggle. I work full-time outside the home, and so my two days off a week are devoted to writing. I have to use my time wisely and focus on my work. Fortunately, my characters are always rattling around in my thoughts, and their unending busy-ness is only hushed when I can pour their storylines from my thoughts into my computers.
What's easiest and most natural is envisioning my characters. I'm a very visual learner and writer. I can see and hear my characters as they're dealing with their none-too-quiet daily lives. Even the smallest, most minor character has a story to tell. The problem is making them all behave and obey my word counts!
What is one piece of advice you would like to give to aspiring writers - either something you adhere to, or something you wish you had known when you started writing?
Take advice and persist! That's actually two pieces of advice, but they work well together. Listen to what industry professionals are telling you--particularly if you hear the same advice more than once--and then put that advice to work, patiently and diligently. You can't write one manuscript, glance it over, and then fling it out into the WorldWideWeb and expect it to gain traction. Good writing is the result of a solid apprenticeship and learning your craft.
As a reader, which stories excite you the most to read, and do you have any favourite novelists?
I read many genres and have many author-friends I love and respect. Off the top, I'd say, Donita K. Paul, Susan Meissner, Siri Mitchell and Tosca Lee.
I love solid, richly detailed historicals, vibrant and active YA--clean, not smutty--and I adore fantasy in most forms. The characters have to be real to me!
Well-researched biographies always draw me in; I've read biographies since third grade, even if I had to keep my thesaurus at hand to look up words.
What are some of your most favourite places on the internet to visit, that help challenge you as a writer, and encourage you as a reader?
Soul Inspirationz is beautiful--perhaps you've heard of it. I love visiting the site during my rare free moments!
http://www.christianfictionsite.com/
Book Fun/Book Club is great and encourages writers to interact with readers:
http://www.bookfun.org/
I also visit bookstores online. Not just Amazon, but Christian Book Distributors and others. It helps to see what's selling, and how other authors are writing from year to year. Even if you've been writing for decades, it's important to stay fresh. ACFW is also a wonderful resource and they have great conferences! Even introverts need to step away from their computers and socialize once in awhile.
What can you tell us about your most recent and upcoming novels?
Right now, I'm finishing up my fantasy series as R. J. Larson. I expect to begin the (thus far) last book of the Infinite series this month. R. J. Larson's
Prophet is free through July! https://tinyurl.com/pt39qbd
Exiles and
Queen should both be published this year through Elk Lake, which is a new publishing company run by Fred St Laurent of BookFun fame.
As Kacy Barnett-Gramckow, my latest novel
Dawnlight (based on Matthew 27:52-53) was published this spring and readers are proclaiming it a multiple-hankie read. Admittedly, I cried through certain scenes, no matter how many times I read them, as I was working on the manuscript, but I didn't intentionally set out to write a handkerchief book. I've been reassured that the joyous ending more than makes up for all the weeping!
I wrote
Dawnlight because my very persuasive and persistent youngest brother, Joseph, told me I should. In retaliation, I named one of the characters after him, and then the character immediately took ill. My brother has cheerfully dealt with the matter, but he hasn't suggested any new writing musts for me recently, and no wonder. The character ends well, I promise!
Do you have any parting words?
Thank you, readers! You're so appreciated! Don't hesitate to contact me with any questions; I'd love to hear from you.
http://www.gramcoink.com/ and
https://www.facebook.com/RJLarson.Writes
ENTER THE GIVEAWAY
Post a comment about this interview and enter the Rafflecopter draw for a Kindle copy of one of Kacy's books - THE HEAVEN'S BEFORE, DAWNLIGHT, or her upcoming Infinite title, EXILES. A valid comment on the blog is an entry requirement into the draw, followed by the mandatory entry on Rafflecopter. Please indicate in your comment which title you would like to win the most, in order of preference. Contest open to entrants worldwide, and ends on Saturday, 12 July.
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