I met best-selling, award-winning author Kristin Billerbeck through ACFW, before her chick-lit days, when she wrote category romance for Heartsong Presents. (I enjoyed her writing then too, but she found her writing voice in Ashley Stockingdale.) Our online communication led to a brief in-person meet at one of the ACFW Conferences. (The conferences have grown over the years, so meeting up with people isn’t always so easy.) But I always enjoy reading Kristin’s posts, and her honest sense of humor. (If you’ve never visited her website, check it out and read her bio under “About Kristin.”) My German side would love her grandma!

Kristin Billerbeck is the author of over 30 novels, including the award-winning Ashley Stockingdale series and the Christy-nominated “Trophy Wives Club”.  She is a lifelong Californian and lives in the Silicon Valley with her husband and four children.  She is currently working on a young adult novel titled, “Perfectly Dateless” which comes out with Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group in the Spring of 2010.

Hey cool! I didn’t realize we’ll be with the same publisher. I’ll look forward to seeing this book! Though it doesn’t release until next year, here’s a sneak peek at the blurb:

One overachieving high school senior with everything, except what she wants: A date for the high school prom.

Daisy Crispin has 242 days to find the right date for the prom. There’s only one problem–her parents won’t let her date or even talk to a guy on the phone. Oh, and she’s totally invisible at school, has to wear lame homemade clothes, and has no social skills. Okay, so maybe there’s more than one problem. Can she talk her parents into letting her go to the prom? Or will they succeed at their obvious attempt to completely ruin her life? With hilarious and truthful writing, Kristin Billerbeck uncovers the small–and large–mortifications that teen girls encounter. Readers will fall in love with Daisy’s sharp wit and resourcefulness as she navigates the world of boys, fashion, family, and friendship.

You can pre-order Perfectly Dateless and watch for the cover art on Amazon,

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

Kristin: Seriously?  I don’t think I ever really planned it, but I was a big lover of the classics, and a very picky reader, so I suppose it was bound to happen eventually.  I don’t know that I’ll ever be “good enough” to write something that pleases me.

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

Kristin: The highlight was definitely doing “The Today Show”.  Not because I sought fame, but because I overcame my fear of being in the public eye.  It really changed the core of who I was knowing that I could face that fear.

Jill: 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?

Kristin: I’m writing women’s fiction now as well as young adult chick lit.  I have written romance and although I have dealt with darker subjects, I always want my writing to be uplifting and sprinkled with humor.  I consider myself the frothy “People” magazine of Christian fiction.

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?

Kristin: No. In fact, I’d be surprised if I stuck with anything for a lifetime, but writing…I have always written even in my head at night, so I imagine this is something I will do forever, even if God chooses another pathway for me to bring in income. I love the written word. What I love about writing heroines is that if I’m interested in a particular subject, I can become that subject and leave it when the book is done. I used to say if I could do anything, I would be a speech writer for the president or a sitcom writer/comedy sketch writer. I’m less interested in the politics as I get older.

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

Kristin: There are many, probably too many to list, but I hold Tracie Peterson and Becky Germany most responsible because they helped me along to that next level.  Tracie plucked me out of the slush pile and Becky gave me the tools to be an effective storyteller.

Jill: 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?

Kristin: I think I learn “in the negative”, which is why I love books like “Tess of the D’urbervilles and characters like Scarlett O’Hara. These people have to overcome huge obstacles to become better versions of themselves. Though they are never perfect. There are so many paths I’ve walked that have just taught me deeper compassion and understanding that it’s not my job to be perfect. Sometimes, it’s my job to be there for people. To help them through a valley I’ve already come out of. Struggles I’d list are multiple sclerosis, growing up with a severely autistic brother, special needs’ children and more.

All of these rejections/downtimes in life prepared me for what I needed to be able to endure to be a writer. It’s not really the other way around.

Jill: 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?

Kristin: I have many stories, but my favorites of course are people coming to Jesus or changing their lives because God used my words. To think God can change lives through chick lit, I just think that shows how big He is.

Jill: That’s so awesome!

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?

Kristin: I think my gift is to package the Truth in palatable bites.  I want there to be enough truth of life in my books, where you can pass it on to an unbelieving friend, and find common ground. Truth resonates. If there is no truth, there is no comedy. And making people laugh is something that comes fairly easily to my nature. I am not afraid to be humiliated for a good laugh.

Jill: I wouldn’t want to see you humiliated! But I’m glad you write humor. We all need a good laugh now and then!

Thanks, Kristin, for joining us this month on Spotlight! (Don’t forget to check out Kristin’s website to learn more about her and her books!) And if you’re a writer, check our her writer’s page for some great advice. Favorite quote is at the bottom of that page: “A badly finished manuscript can be fixed. A blank sheet of paper? Not so much.”

You can also visit her two blogs: Girly Girl and Girls Write Out.