Heidi Gray McGill is my guest on Episode 8 of Season 2. Her newest Christmas novella - A Place to Belong - comes out on November 18th. It is the latest book in her Discerning God's Best series. Our conversation runs the gamut from how she first felt called to begin a writing career in 2020, to the why's behind publishing under her own imprint, to her ongoing process of learning the craft of writing novels, to the challenges of writing squeaky clean romances. She pulled out some of her favorite books that have helped her hone her skills (I have listed them below). We also discuss how and why to enter writing contests as well as why she published her audio books 'for free' on YouTube. Heidi is a wealth of knowledge and a generous soul who is willing, wanting and able to help her fellow Christian authors thrive in their writing lane. Again, I learned so much.

GMC: Goal, Motivation & Conflict: The Building Blocks of Good Fiction by Debra Dixon

The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide to Character Expression by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi

Save the Cat! Writes A Novel: The Last Book on Novel Writing You'll Ever Need by Jessica Brody

Understanding Show, Don't Tell (And Really Getting It) by Janice Hardy

The First Five Pages: A Writer's Guide to Staying Out of the Rejection Pile by Noah Lukeman

How NOT to Write a Novel: 200 Classic Mistakes and How to Avoid Them--A Misstep-by-Misstep Guide by Howard Mittelmark and Sandra Newman

In Episode 7 we have the privilege of hearing from Val Barschaw who has walked with her husband - a heart transplant recipient - through 35 years of medical care. It was this very personal journey that gave Val the information, the experience and the passion to equip others who are facing hospitalizations for themselves or their loved ones. Surviving the Hospital: Six Secrets Every Patient Should Know is an essential guide for anyone who is navigating the complex world of healthcare - to do so with confidence and empowerment. On the podcast, Val takes us into the moment she knew God called her to write the book and then all the steps that followed to get it published and into the hands of those who need it. You can follow Val and find more resources on her website - www.hospitaltohealth.com

Ann Harrison is my guest for Episode 6 of Season 2. She is the author of a new devotional entitled Praying Through the Seasons: Seven Aspects of Prayer and Communion with God. Ann is not only an author but a poet and freelance editor - she is also totally blind. She is tenacious about overcoming obstacles whether that be from technology, external forces or her own inner struggles. Throughout this conversation, you will find that Ann has connected herself to a bunch of writing resources and groups including Christian Book Academy and 540 Writers Community. I learned so much from Ann and I'm sure you will too.