I have a vry special treat for you this week! I have an interview with a wonderful author! She is kind, talented, and I have reviewed several of her books here on See Lizzie Read (Including making her latest work A Wreath of Snow one of our Christmas Books of the Week a few weeks ago)! If you haven't guessed (or read the title ;) ) already, its Mrs. Liz Curtis Higgs! Here's what Mrs. Higgs had to say!
Liz Curtis Higgs
1. Several of your historical fiction books mirror the lives
of people recorded in The Bible. What leads you in your decisions on whose
lives to use?
Much as I love storytelling, I’ve been a Bible teacher for 30
years, and a novelist for just the last 15, so teaching God’s Word is always my
first priority.
Sometimes when I read certain accounts in the Bible, I long
to explore the rest of the story. Since we’re clearly told not to add to
Scripture (Deut 12:32, Rev 22:18), I decided the best way to dig deeper into
the stories of the biblical characters who’ve intrigued me—Leah, Rachel, Dinah,
Naomi, Ruth among them—might be to write historical novels inspired by their
stories, yet set in a different time and place. So, Thorn in My Heart, my
first Scottish historical, tells the story of Leah and Jacob set in the
Scottish Lowlands in 1788.
2. Some of your fiction and non-fiction books (Here Burns My Candle, Mine is the Night, and The Girl's Still Got It) revolve around the life of Ruth. What about Ruth has captured your attention and made you want to share her story with the world?
2. Some of your fiction and non-fiction books (Here Burns My Candle, Mine is the Night, and The Girl's Still Got It) revolve around the life of Ruth. What about Ruth has captured your attention and made you want to share her story with the world?
Ruth is unquestionably one of the Bible’s good girls, yet
I’ve always been fascinated by her back story. Growing up in Moab, worshiping
false gods, perhaps making sacrifices to Chemosh—oh, my. Lots there to
consider. She is in many ways the last woman a good and godly Israelite
like Boaz should marry, the last person you would expect the Lord to
graft into the lineage of David, and therefore into the lineage of Christ.
Yet God clearly chose Ruth, protected Ruth, provided for
Ruth, and redeemed Ruth through his servant, Boaz. I’ve been immersed in her
story for the last 5 years and have loved every minute!
3. When you go to write one of your books, do you already know how it will turn out or does the inspiration come as you write?
3. When you go to write one of your books, do you already know how it will turn out or does the inspiration come as you write?
For my novels, I have a general idea of where I want the
story to go and how it might end, but I let my characters lead the way. I spend
a long time getting to know my characters before I start telling their stories.
Even then, they usually stop me after a few thousand words and say, “Look,
you’ve got this all wrong. Just follow us around, and write down what we say
and do.”
That’s when the writing process gets fun for me. I literally
run to the computer each morning to see what’s going to happen next. Though I
do create a plot line at the start of things—mostly to assure my editor and
myself that we have a valid story in hand—the finished product is often quite
different than the original outline!
4. At what age did you begin to write? And when did you know that this was the ministry you had been called into?
I wrote my first novel, such as it was, at age ten—a cozy
mystery. very much in keeping with the Nancy Drew books I loved at that young
age. More notebooks filled with stories followed all through my teens. I was
the editor of my school newspaper, majored in English in college, and wrote a
lot of really bad poetry.
But it wasn’t until I embraced the grace of God at age
twenty-seven that I began to seriously consider any sort of writing ministry. I
was a radio personality at the time, with many opportunities to share my
testimony. I began teaching the Bible for women in my region as well, which led
to more speaking events, and eventually, to writing.
My first book was published twenty years ago. My thirtieth
book, A Wreath of Snow, was just published, with contracts for many more
in the years to come. I’m so incredibly grateful for the support of my faithful
readers and my wonderful publisher, WaterBrook Press.
5. What advice do you have for young women today who are trying to remain faithful to Christ?
Such a good question, Beth! Women of all ages face challenges
in remaining faithful, but for younger women, I think it’s especially
difficult. Not only because our culture has thrown virtue and chastity and
piety out the window, but also because there are so many distractions,
especially online.
Making time for Bible study, for fellowship with other
believers, and for service in Christ’s name may be tough, but it is so, so
worth it. We grow in Christ when we’re in community with his people and
immersed in his Word. I’m grateful for every opportunity that takes me away
from my computer and out into the greater world.
God’s blessings on you and your readers in 2013!
Until next time!,
Lizzie <3
Liz’s latest nonfiction,
available from your favorite bookseller:
The Girl's Still Got It:
Take a Walk with Ruth and the God Who Rocked Her World
“A perfect blend of humor,
extensive research, descriptive language, and insightful commentary.” Publishers
Weekly Starred
Review
Bible
Study Blog: http://www.LizCurtisHiggs.com/blog
Facebook:
http://www.Facebook.com/LizCurtisHiggs
Twitter:
http://www.Twitter.com/LizCurtisHiggs
Flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lizcurtishiggs/sets/
Liz’s
latest fiction, available from your favorite bookseller:
A Wreath of Snow
“Tender, touching and
sweetly Victorian, A Wreath of
Snow is a story of the
importance of finding your way to peace through truth, a tale imbued with the
romance of the times.” USAToday.com
Discover
more about Liz’s Scottish historical fiction:
Facebook:
http://www.Facebook.com/MyScottishHeart
Twitter:
http://www.Twitter.com/MyScottishHeart
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