Author Carrie Turansky is as sweet and kind in person as she is through email. I met Carrie back when ACFW, American Christian Fiction Writers was a young, fledgling organization. We were among the earlier members before the group grew to almost 2000 strong! Carrie and I shared in our struggles to break into publishing, and she did so a few years ahead of me. She has continued to sell her work and has a new book coming out with Steeple Hill next year.

Carrie Turansky is originally from Oregon but now lives in central New Jersey with her husband Scott. They have been married for over thirty years and have five great kids, a lovely daughter-in-law, a great son-in-law, and two darling grandsons. Now that her children are grown she has more time to be involved in ministry with her husband who is a pastor and who also oversees The National Center for Biblical Parenting. They often travel together when Scott presents parenting seminars around the country. Carrie leads the women’s ministry at her church, teaches Bible studies, and enjoys mentoring younger women. When she is not writing or spending time with her family, she enjoys reading, gardening, trying out new recipes, and walking around the lake near their home. Carrie and her family spent one year in Kenya as missionaries, giving them a passion for what God is doing around the world. Carrie is the coauthor of Wedded Bliss, Kiss the Bride, A Big Apple Christmas, A Blue and Gray Christmas, and the author of Along Came Love and Home to Fairhaven. She always enjoys hearing from her readers.

Carrie’s latest release from Barbour, out last month is A Blue and Gray Christmas, which includes Carrie’s novella A Shelter in the Storm.

Here’s the blurb:

Surrender yourself to the forces of love in four engaging Civil War Christmas romances. Join up with Leah Woods as she searches for her missing fiancé in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Stick to your guns with Arabella Lambert as she pledges her allegiance to pacifist Barry Birch, a man labeled a coward. Ride out the storm with Rachel Thornton as she resists her attraction to the wounded artist-correspondent James Galloway. Saddle up with Confederate-born Hannah McIntosh as she falls for Chris Haley, an embittered Union soldier. Can these couples forge an everlasting union in the tide of civil war?

You can find A Blue and Gray Christmas at these online bookstores: Amazon, CBD, and Barnes & Noble

I asked Carrie to give us some insight into how God is using her and her writing.

Jill: When and how did you know that you wanted to be a writer?

Carrie: I’ve always enjoyed reading, but I didn’t start writing until 1998 after our family returned from spending a year in Africa. I missed it so much, I thought I could relive my experiences by writing a book set there, and so I did. I didn’t know anything about how to write fiction, so it will never be published, but it was a great way to begin the process of learning how to write.

Jill: I know what you mean! My first attempts at fiction are also happily buried in a box somewhere. :)

Can you share with me some of the highlights of your writing journey–something particularly memorable or humorous?

Carrie: Here is one incident I will never forget. As I prepared to board an airplane for a flight home to NJ, I prayed the Lord will open up an opportunity for me to talk to someone and encourage them spiritually. Often people pull out a book, and that is a great opportunity for me to ask them what they are reading and start a conversation. That day, I was in for a big surprise. My seatmate pulled out a copy of my latest book. “I can’t believe you are reading that book!” She didn’t know what I meant, but when I explained myself, we both laughed and enjoyed talking about books and authors we enjoyed.

Jill: What an awesome experience! Tell me a bit about what you write now and what you hope/plan to write in the future. Do you have a favorite genre?

Carrie: I write inspirational romance and women’s fiction. I have written for two companies – Barbour and Steeple Hill Love Inspired. I enjoy writing stories that touch my heart and help me see the world in a new light, and I hope my readers will find that is true of my books as well.

Jill: Do you consider your writing the work God has given you to do for a lifetime or for a season of your life? If you could pursue anything else, what would it be?

Carrie: I believe I am called to love and serve the Lord, and I do that in several different ways. My first priority is loving and serving my husband and children and next is my commitment to our ministry in our church. Writing comes after that, but I am blessed to be at a stage of life where my children are grown and I can devote a good amount of time to writing.

Jill: Are there people in your life who encouraged you, who are responsible for you becoming a published author?

Carrie: My husband has always been a faithful encourager and supporter of my writing. He believed I would become a published author long before it actually happened. I am so thankful for that support. I have had some wonderful critique partners who have faithfully helped me improve my work and challenged me to keep growing as a writer. Through ACFW I have met several authors who are a few steps ahead of me in the publishing process, and several have made an effort to reach back and help me along.

Jill: I know how that feels. ACFW’s published authors have given me the best encouragement as well! Can you share one struggle that entered your life as a result of writing and how God helped you to overcome it, to make you more like Christ?

Carrie: When I first started writing I had five children at home and I was homeschooling, so I struggled to balance writing time with my other responsibilities. I learned how to focus and write with a lot of distractions around me, which is a valuable skill. I had to continually re-evaluate how much time I was spending on writing and how it affected my family. As I said earlier, now that my children are older, I have a lot more freedom in my schedule and time to write.

Jill: I totally agree. The first five years we homeschooled, I wrote one book. I didn’t have time for more. But you do learn to write amidst distractions.

Likewise, is there a particular joy in this writing business/ministry that God has used to remind you that He is, in fact, using your words to His glory?

Carrie: Receiving emails and letters from readers who have been touched by my books is such a blessings and encouragement. It is amazing to see the way God can take my words and use them to stir up someone’s love for their husband, or answer a question they have wondered about for years, or teach them more about prayer. I didn’t set out to “teach” those things when I wrote my books, but it’s humbling and amazing to be able to team up with God and see His Spirit work in people’s lives through my stories.

Jill: So true! And a wonderful ministry for you!

Has writing opened opportunities for you to give your testimony and witness for Christ or minister to fellow believers? If so, can you give one example?

Carrie: Yes! I have been in two writers’ groups that have people of different backgrounds. It was a great way to make connections in my community and build friendships with people who don’t yet know the Lord in a personal way. Many of them read my books, and seeds were planted. I also look for opportunities to give away books and use them as a tool to open up conversations with people. Recently, I heard about a request from our local high school for Christian fiction books for their library. I contacted some author friends and together we were able to donate 70 books to our high school. I am praying those books reach kids with God’s truth and love.

Jill: What a great idea! You inspire me!

Carrie’s Upcoming Release:
Home to Fairhaven, Steeple Hill Love Inspired, 2010

Hiding a secret that could destroy her reputation, former teacher Rachel Clark comes to Fairhaven, Washington, hoping to make a fresh start. When she meets handsome frame shop owner, Cameron McKenna, she believes she’s finally found someone she can trust, but will she have the courage to open her heart and tell him the truth about her past?

You can visit author Carrie Turansky and get to know her better by checking out her website.

Thanks Carrie, for joining us this month on Spotlight!