I haven’t met author Roxanne Henke yet, but I’ve heard great things about her writing, and I hope to meet her someday soon.

Roxanne Henke’s first novel, After Anne, was selected as Christianbook.com’s Favorite Book of 2002. Her subsequent five books (Finding Ruth, Becoming Olivia, Always Jan, With Love, Libby, and The Secret of Us) have appeared on a Bestseller list, been “Top Picks” for Romantic Times magazine, and given a Retailer’s Choice award. Her most recent release is titled, Learning to Fly. Roxanne was named Writer of the Year at the 2003 Mt. Hermon Writers Conference in California, and has served on the faculty of the Glorieta Writers Conference in New Mexico. In addition to writing, Roxy also speaks and teaches at conferences and events across the nation on the topics of friendship, depression, achieving goals, and writing. She writes from her home in rural North Dakota, where she lives with her husband and an annoying-friendly dog named, Gunner. She has two, young-adult daughters who are also friendly…but not annoying! Two wonderful sons-in-law have recently been added to their family. In her spare time Roxy enjoys spending time at her lake cabin in northern Minnesota. She also loves to read and take long walks outside. . .and has actually figured out a way to walk AND read at the same time. (Do not try this without supervision!) She has not fallen or broken any bones. . .yet.

Roxy’s novel Learning to Fly released last month from Harvest House Publishers:

Just when, exactly, do you become a ‘mom?’

And how do you become a good one?

That’s what new mother, Susan Schaffer, wonders when her daughter, Lily, is born.

A chance meeting with high school acquaintance, JoJo, also a new mom, gives Susan and her daughter friends to learn and grow with.

The two women, along with their husbands, parent their girls, Lily and Tiffany, through the stubborn toddler years, the growing years of grade school, the dramatics of junior high, and the challenges of the high school years. Finally, as the girls approach graduation all four of these women face the inevitable questions:

Are the Lily and Tiffany ready for life on their own?

Are the mothers ready to let their girls go?

Have they indeed learned to fly?

“All the self-help books or parenting classes in the world will not score a direct hit like Henke’s message…a must read for all mothers and mothers-to-be.”
Andrea Sisco, Armchair Interviews.com

You can find Learning to Fly at these three online bookstores:
Amazon
Christian Book Distributors, or
Barnes & Noble

I asked Roxy 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?

Roxy: I’ve always had the notion that “someday” I would write a book. I just didn’t know that it would take me close to 40 years before I sat down and did anything about it. From the time I was a young girl I dreamt of the day I would write my own book. In the in-between years I read (and read) and wrote a variety of other things. (Which were all teaching me something about writing, although I couldn’t see it at the time.) When my youngest daughter graduated from high school it seemed it was time to put my dream into action (or quit dreaming about it). The rest, as they say, is history.

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

Roxy: Much of writing (or rather, trying to get published) involves a good deal of rejection…not much funny in that. But I do remember the day I went to our little-town post office and found a check in the mail from Reader’s Digest (they’d published a ‘quip’ I’d written). The check was for thirty-five dollars but you would have thought I’d won the lottery for all the jumping up-and-down I did…right in the post office!

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?

Roxy: I write women’s contemporary fiction. . .which is also what I love to read. (Although I’ll read most any genre if the story is compelling.) I like taking modern day issues (which are mostly timeless–ie: friendship, contentment, depression, aging, parenting, marriage) and wrestling with them on paper. I write about issues I’ve dealt with in my own life. . .fictionalized, of course. From the reader mail I get I’ve learned I am not the only person dealing with these topics.

As for what I’ll write write in the future? I’m not sure. I’m waiting on God to let me know what’s next.

Jill: Do you consider your writing the work God has given you to do for a lifetime or for a season of your life? Can you see yourself pursuing something outside of writing for His glory?

Roxy: I’m guessing I will always work with “words” in some form or another my whole life…but I do sense there may come a time when it’s time for me to step aside and make room for others to tell their stories.

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

Roxy: When I was in high school our English teacher gave our class an assignment to write a poem. This was back in the Vietnam War era and I wrote a poem about the conflicting sides of that battle. My teacher read my poem in front of the class and then looked at me and said, “You should think about getting this published.”

I didn’t do anything about it…but she’d planted a seed. From that time on I studied the business of writing, laying the groundwork for what it would take for me to become a published author.

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?

Roxy: I can tell you how God “used” a struggle in my life for a good and better purpose. Before I sat down to write my first novel, I went through a time of severe clinical depression. During that time I often questioned God, pleading with Him to tell me “why” I was going through such an awful, emotional struggle. I didn’t get an answer until several years later when I wrote my third novel, “Becoming Olivia.” In that book I walked through that time of depression again (only this time with my characters on paper). The reader mail I get in response to that book is the answer to my prayer of “why.” There are so many people who struggle with depression and this book seems to be helpful, bringing understanding and hope.

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?

Roxy: I’ll be repeating myself here, but the joy and reward is (without question) reader mail. I’ve had people tell me my books have changed their life, strengthened their faith, forged new friendships, and helped their marriages. God has used my stories in amazing ways. I am honored and humbled.

Jill: 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?

Roxy:: In all my dreaming about writing, I never dreamt about having the opportunity to stand in front of a variety of groups (both church and business related) and share my personal story. . .the “story behind my stories” so-to-speak. I have had the opportunity to share my real life fears and dreams and tell about the way God has used these times in my life for His greater purpose. I’m constantly surprised that my little-town-life has resonated with so many people God is good. . .and very clever!

Roxy’s other books (and the topics they deal with) are:

After Anne—A story about friendship
Finding Ruth—The search for contentment
Becoming Olivia—Overcoming clinical depression (but it’s NOT depressing!)
Always Jan—Aging and the changes we go through as we get older…often for the better!
With Love, Libby—Finding purpose in life
The Secret of Us—Marriage a story about new love and “old”

Wow, Roxy, these books look great! I need to get my hands on them!

You can visit author Roxanne Henke and get to know her better by checking out her website and click on “Roxy Writes” to read her blog.

Thanks Roxy, for joining us this month on Spotlight!