Author Interview: Tricia Goyer

Tricia Goyer was named Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference "Writer of the Year" in 2003. She has written hundreds of articles, Bible Study notes, and both fiction and non-fiction books.

Yet those things pale in comparison to Tricia's love for her family. She's married to the love of her life, John, and they have three great kids whom she homeschools: Cory (16), Leslie (13), and Nathan (11). They make their home in Northwest Montana with their dog, Lilly.

Tricia's first novel, From Dust and Ashes (Moody) was inspired by true stories from World War II veterans. Tricia heard so many great stories from veterans she embarked on a second novel Night Song (Moody), released September 2004. Tricia's third novel Dawn of a Thousand Nights (Moody) was released Fall 2005. Night Song won 1st Place for Book of the Year in the Historical Romance category from the American Christian Fiction Writers association.

Out of her own experiences as a teenage mother, and her work with young moms, Tricia also has written Life Interrupted: The Scoop on Being a Young Mom (Zondervan). Life Interrupted was a finalist for The Gold Medallion.

Her merriest book to write, Ten Minutes to Showtime (Tommy Nelson), was inspired by the types of stories she loved reading to her own kids. This first children's book was released October 2004.

In addition to writing, Tricia enjoys sharing Jesus' love through volunteering as a mentor for teenage moms in her community. And she also joins the rest of her family, leading children's church every week.

Tricia's also blessed to travel around the nation as a speaker, mainly giving presentations to women's groups.
Tricia also loves to hear from her fans. You can email her at frmdustandashes.com.





Plug time. What book or project is coming out or has come out that you’d like to tell us about?

My newest novel, Dawn of a Thousand Nights, was released September 2005. I love the summary from Library Journal: "The promising relationship between pilots Daniel Lukens and Libby Conners is tested when he is transferred to the Philippines and later captured by the Japanese. Through the horrors of World War II, they must rely on faith and discover their worth in Christ."

This novel, in a way, is a word picture of my personal experience in finding my worth in Christ. So many times we THINK we know God’s will for us, but we usually discover God has different plans . . . and He has much more in store for us than we ever imagine!

This is the case with Dan and Libby. Dawn of a Thousand Nights takes places in the South Pacific during World War II, but readers will be able to relate to the question of how pain and hard circumstances in our life work into God’s eternal plan for His kingdom.


How long had you been writing seriously before you got “the call” that you were going to be published? Tell us how you heard and what went through your head.

My writing journey began in 1994 when I attended my first writer’s conference with my friend, Cindy Martinusen. Cindy and I went to the same church and we both had dreams of become writers. Everything at Mt. Hermon was new to me. I just followed the instructor’s directions. It took two years of hard work, but I was soon writing magazine articles for publication. Over the next five years, I also worked on missions’ curriculum, a devotional book, and study notes for the Women of Faith Study Bible (Zondervan). (My friend, Cindy, is now a published author too of four novels!)

During those years, in addition to writing, I was also raising three small children. In 1999, I felt God asking me to start a crisis pregnancy center in our town. I didn’t want to do it. I was busy enough writing and taking care of kids. I also was working on novel projects—with no success. I had novels make it to committee many times, with no contract!

Finally, I relinquished my dreams to God. I knew I needed to be obedient, even if I never got a novel published. Instead of closing the writing doors for good, the opposite happened. God brought people into my life who shared these amazing stories from World War II. I knew those were the books I was meant to write. Two years after the pregnancy center was up and running, I had the contract for my first novel, “From Dust and Ashes” (Moody, 2003). I remember answering the phone and hearing a “smile” in my agent’s voice. As she told me, one of my favorite songs by Fernando Ortega was playing in the background, and I felt delighted that God granted me such a gift.

Do you still experience self-doubts regarding your work?

Yes! I have TONS of doubts about me and what I can accomplish, especially as a deadline nears. I know that when there’s only one month to finish a book and still 2/3s of the book to write (talking from experience!) that I cannot do it with my own strength. Yet, I also realize it’s a perfect place to be because I have to depend on God completely, and He always comes through!

What’s the best advice you’ve heard on writing/publication?

Butt in chair and focus on the ONE THING you have to do next. My author friend, Anne de Graaf gave me that advice and it works!

What’s the worst piece of writing advice you’ve ever heard?

Write what you know. I knew nothing about World War II when I started writing. Yet I was interested in the story, and I knew others would be too.

What’s something you wish you’d known earlier on that might have saved you some time/frustration in the publishing business?

Relinquish my desires to God. He may want me to write or He may want me to volunteer or serve or just spend more time with my family. We get frustrated when WE have a plan and expect God to follow. Instead I try to see what God’s up to and join Him. Since He’s already a work then my part is easy!

Do you have a scripture or quote that has been speaking to you lately?

But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God. John 3:20

I want all I do to be seen by others as something done through God.

Is there a particularly difficult set back that you’ve gone through in your writing career you are willing to share?

In 1999, I was twenty-eight years old and had already published over one hundred articles for national publications. I'd also been contracted to work on two book projects for well-known publishers. Still, I felt far from successful. For five years I'd labored full-time on my own book projects with no luck. My agent didn't understand, "These are excellent proposals," she said. "I don't understand why they're not being snatched up."

I just have to try harder, write more, I thought. It didn't help.
Around that time, I started going through the workbook Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby. I learned one phrase that kept going over in my mind. "Look to see what God was doing and join him." The premise is this: if you're doing something that doesn't work, put what you're doing aside and see what God was doing. I did that. And... I discovered God had different plans!

First, my grandfather was diagnosed with cancer. I invited him into our home. Between doctor's appointments, hospice visits, taking care of my husband and three children, there was little time to pen prose. My grandfather passed away after only four months, but inside I was changed. It was as if my heart had been rubbed raw with sandpaper. My eyes were opened to pain, and I had a new appreciation for helping those in need.

Lord, what do you want me to write? I prayed.

A few months after my grandfather's death, my pastor and two women in the church approached me about starting a Crisis Pregnancy Center. (There wasn't one for hundreds of miles.) I didn't want to do it, but I told my pastor I'd pray about it.

The next morning I did pray. I told God. "Lord, I can't help with this center. I'm a writer and my articles are helping people around the country."

His response was, "Well, what about the people in your own community? What are you going to do to help them?" Ouch.

Obviously this was something God was doing, so I joined him.
Soon, I was using my writing and organizational skills to create community newsletters, and to write radio commercials and grants. In one year, we had a huge center (given to us for free rent), forty volunteers, and we were reaching hundreds of women. We even received a $13,000 grant to teach abstinence education in the schools!

At night I often felt drained by the number of young women who needed assistance--who needed hope--yet, I also felt a renewed sense of satisfaction. Obviously God was at work. I was glad I'd joined him.
I was a hard time in my life of giving up my will for God’s will, but I’ll never go back to the way things were again!

What are a few of your favorite books? (Not written by you.)

Winter Passing, Cindy Martinusen
Romance Rustlers and Thunderbird Thieves, Sharon Dunn
The Victory Club, Robin Lee Hatcher
Experiencing God, Henry Blackaby


What piece of writing have you done that you’re particularly proud of and why?

I’m especially proud of my latest novel, Dawn of a Thousand Nights. One of the main characters, Natsuo, is a Japanese solider. He was one of the most challenging characters to write, and it took a lot of research to figure him out, but I’m pleased with how his story ties into the others! It challenged me as a writer, and I’m thrilled it did.

Do you have a pet peeve having to do with this biz?

That more people don’t read fiction! Our lives are so busy that I think America is missing out on the wonderful experience of being carried away with the words.

Can you give us a view into a typical day of your writing life?

I spend the mornings homeschooling my three kids. I work with them until 1:00 p.m., and then I write in the afternoons. Of course, there’s also music lessons, sports practice, grocery shopping, etc. so I when I write, I HAVE TO produce words.

When I’m nearing a novel deadline I write 2,000 words a day. When I’m not on deadline, I’m usually writing articles, future book proposals, and research for the next novel-to-be.

I also volunteer once a week at our Teen MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) group. I’ve found, as a writer, getting out and connecting with people in the community is one of the best things I can do. It pumps me up to see God at work on a daily basis. Being a servant to others (outside of writing) feeds my soul in a way that only makes sense in God’s eternal way.


If you could choose to have one strength of another writer, what would it be and from whom?

Hmmm . . . I suppose I’d like to suck readers into books like Francine Rivers. I don’t know how she does it, but when I’m reading one of her books I’m there.

Do you have a dream for the future of your writing, something you would love to accomplish?

I would love to work on novels with my kids. All three of them love stories and have a gift of words. Someday we might be writing stories together!

Was there ever a time in your writing career you thought of quitting?

Uh, every day! No, seriously, if I didn’t have God I wouldn’t even consider writing. He is my strength.

What is your favorite and least favorite part of being a writer?

My favorite part is creating books that can reflect reality and honor truth. My least favorite part is not being able to do it all. I have SO MANY ideas, I wish I could write each one.

Parting words?

God has wonderful dreams for what He longs to do in your life too. When it comes to my novels, I depend on God to unfold the story as I research and write. I have faith that He sees the end of the story, even before I write one word. It's the same with our lives. God sees the end of the story. And He knows how to unfold each chapter before us--with His perfect end in mind. It's our job to stay tuned-in, ready to face the next plot twist with His guidance, wisdom and strength.