Spotlight on Tricia Goyer
I’ve met award-winning author Tricia Goyer online through American Christian Fiction Writers and through our co-host association on
Favorite PASTimes Blog when PASTimes first began. We have not actually met in person, but I had the privilege of being one of the judges for ACFW’s Book of the Year Contest a in 2005 and got to read Tricia’s WWII novel, Night Song. Normally, it takes a lot for me to want to read through a book of that size, but Tricia’s mastery of the craf
t and storytelling voice not only drew me in, she held my interest in the story until the very last page. Needless to say, I gave her very high marks. :) Other judges must have agreed with me, because Night Song won 1st place in the Long Historical Romance category.
Tricia Goyer is the author of five novels, two non-fiction books, and one children’s book. Tricia was named Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference “Writer of the Year” in 2003. In 2005, her book Life Interrupted was a finalist for the Gold Medallion. Also in 2005, as I mentioned above, her novel Night Song won ACFW’s Book of the Year for Long Historical Romance. In 2006, her novel Dawn of a Thousand Nights also won Book of the Year for Long Historical. She’s written over 250 articles for national publications and hundreds of Bible Study notes for the Women of Faith Study Bible. Tricia lives in Montana with her husband and three kids where she homeschools, leads children’s church, and mentors teenage mothers. Tricia is also the caregiver for her grandmother who also lives with their family. But just to make sure things don’t get too boring, Tricia and her kids love pets. (And her husband lets them.) Currently, they have three birds, one fish, two hamsters and two dogs. The Goyers also love to care for and feed their friends and others in their community—and there are always extra faces around the dinner table – particularly at holidays!
Tricia’s latest release A Valley of Betrayal is not a World War II novel. Instead, Tricia has transported back to five years before the United States became involved in World War II. The Spanish Civil War is sometimes called the “first battleground of the Second World War.” You’ll discover why within the pages of the book. Here’s the back cover copy:
Artist Sophie Grace has one goal: finding her beloved Michael in war-torn Spain. His work as a news photographer has taken him deep into the country wracked by civil war between ragtag Spanish patriots and Nazi-backed Franco forces.
Secrets abound in ruined Spain. Michael is loving but elusive, especially about beautiful Maria. The American who helped Sophie sneak into Spain turns up in odd places. Michaels’ friend Jose knows more than he tells. When reports of Michael’s disappearance reach her, Sophie is devastated. What are her feelings for Phillip, an American soldier who comes to her rescue? Sophie must sift truth from lies as she becomes more embroiled in the war that threatens her life and breaks her heart.
A Shadow of Treason Book #2 in the The Chronicles of The Spanish Civil War series will be out this fall and A Whisper of Freedom #3 in the series will be out in Spring 2008.
You can purchase A Valley of Betrayal at these three online bookstores:
CBD, Barnes & Noble, or Amazon.
At the end of this interview, I’ve included Tricia’s comments on a history behind this story, for those who love historical fiction and want to know more.
I asked Tricia 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?
Tricia: I’m an unexpected writer that is for sure. Growing up I never had grand visions of writing. I wanted to be a schoolteacher. I didn’t even think about writing until I was married with two kids and one more on the way. It was then a friend from church wanted to be a writer. When she told me, something clicked inside me. I knew that was what I wanted to do. I grew up LOVING to read, and the idea of actually writing excited me! I thought to myself, “Wow, real people do this?” It had never occurred to me before.
Jill: Tell me a bit about what you write now and what you hope to write in the future.
Tricia: I write a variety of things. In the next nine months I have three books coming out—all completely different. In September Moody is releasing my 6th historical novel, A Shadow of Treason. It’s the 2nd book in The Chronicles of The Spanish Civil War series. That same month my book for teens is releasing with Thomas Nelson, Children’s Division. The title is My Life, Unscripted, and it’s a book for teen girls. Then, next January, I’m releasing Generation NeXt Marriage with Multnomah/Random House. As you can tell, I write what interests me—mentoring young women, marriage/parenting, and historical fiction. They are ALL aspects of me.
The book I’m writing next is A Whisper of Freedom, my 3rd novel in The Chronicles of The Spanish Civil War. I just finished my last book (the one for teens) two days ago. Research for the next one … starts tomorrow.
Jill: If and when did you realize your writing was a calling?
Tricia: From the first Mt. Hermon Writer’s Conference I felt something click. I listened to the speakers and met other writers and felt belonging and understanding. There were others like me. I understood myself growing up, and finally figured out I loved what I loved. I felt God’s pleasure as I sought this path. After that, I couldn’t NOT write.
Jill: What means did God use to confirm in your heart that this is exactly what He has prepared for you to do for Him?
Tricia: God has met me on every book I write. I can feel Him meet me at the keyboard. He guides me to the right research, the right people to help me. And sometimes He plops these people into my lap as a special, and unexpected, gift.
I also feel that this is NOT all God has called me to do. If I just focused on this one aspect of ministry I’d miss out on so much. In fact, I think escaping into a “writer’s solitary world” is a trap.
Since I’ve started writing, I’ve also helped to launch a crisis pregnancy center. I’ve started support groups for teen moms. I’ve homeschooled my kids (and still do). I volunteer at church weekly. I think that we are most effective as writers as we’re reaching the world around us, too. In fact, this is the quote I have on my website.
The words we write can make a difference in
transforming our world. Our difference in the
world can equally transform our words.
~~ Tricia Goyer
So while I feel called to writing, I’m also open to whatever God brings into my life. He’s the boss! All I know is that I’m here as one small part of the body of Christ, and my job is to reach the lost, encourage fellow believers and glorify God. If I do that through writing, Praise Him! If He asks me to do this in other ways, Praise Him!
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?
Tricia: Yes, a few years ago I had a horrible experience. I had interviewed a group of teen moms for my book Life Interrupted, and many of them were not Christians, which I did on purpose. Anyway, a rumor started via the Internet that I went to an online forum and used all their quotes without their permission. They saw some of their friends quoted on a first chapter (a chapter that was posted online), and they didn’t know I had gotten permission for those quotes.
The rumor spread and grew. And they were saying things like, “I wonder if she used my words, too.” They posted HORRIBLE stuff on Amazon.com. They wrote my publisher, etc.
I was floored. On their forum, I posted a brief note stating that I’d gotten permission. I also offered a free book to any of them—so they could read it for themselves. It didn’t matter. The rumor continued and GREW.
I brought this to the attention of my editor and my publisher’s legal counsel. They were AMAZING. I’d done everything right, and they thought that continuing to defend myself would just work these young women up even more. So, I had to stop defending myself. Instead, I remained silent. I had to read all their accusations and not respond.
The worst thing is that I wrote this book FOR these girls. I wanted to help them. Yet, I was condemned for those I tried to minister to.
I suppose this helped me understand Christ even more after that. I cried and cried, and my heart broke because those who I wanted to help instead tore my name apart.
Thankfully, things DID die down and Amazon.com took all the bad reviews off. The next year I discovered Life Interrupted was a finalist for the EPCA’s Gold Medallion. Also, that book has gone in the 4th printing, and I’ve gotten tons of response from people who have benefited from that book. Many groups around the country have used it to support teen moms. So, in the end, the heartache has been worth it. Joy came after the struggle. And God showed me that I can’t help everyone, but I will help some. He’s also showed me how the support of others makes all the difference to hold us up in hard times.
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?
Tricia: Yes, there are far many more joys! I suppose my favorite thing is getting letters from readers. Or hearing my books are being translated in another language. For example, my books have been translated in French, Spanish, German, and Dutch. I think that is SO amazing that my words are being able to be shared in languages I don’t speak. Now THAT is God at work. I’ve even heard my books are quite popular in South Africa and Holland. Go figure! Go God!
I’ve also heard from readers who usually don’t read Christian books, including some of the people I interview. (After all, they WANT to read the book their quoted in.) One unchurched WWII veteran even wrote me to ask me about the faith element of the novel. I was thrilled to share my personal story with him. I’m not sure what impact that had on his faith—but hopefully I’ll see Him in eternity!
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?
Tricia: I’ve spoken at many events, include crisis pregnancy center banquets. I think it’s amazing to give my testimony of being a teen mom who gave her heart to the Lord, and has NO formal training and say, “Look what God can do.”
Many people shake their heads when they see the many books that I write and the numerous ways I volunteer. I think this is centered on the Joy of my Salvation. I was saved 18 years ago from a sad and painful life, and I’m thankful every day for what God has done for me ever since. So I’ll keep sharing and writing and speaking wherever He leads. He brings the opportunities then He strengthens me to follow through. That works for me!
Tricia maintains a number of websites where you can find out information about her books and other ministries. They are:
The Story Behind the A Valley of Betrayal:
A few years ago when I was researching for my fourth World War II novel, Arms of Deliverance, I came across a unique autobiography. One B-17 crewmember I read about claimed to make it out of German-occupied Belgium after a plane crash due, in part, to his skills he picked up as a veteran of The Spanish Civil War. Reading that bit of information, I had to scratch my head. First of all, I had never heard of the war. And second, what was an American doing fighting in Spain in the late 1930s? Before I knew it, I uncovered a fascinating time in history—one that I soon discovered many people know little about. This is what I learned:
Nazi tanks rolled across the hillsides and German bombers roared overhead, dropping bombs on helpless citizens. Italian troops fought alongside the Germans, and their opponents attempted to stand strong—Americans, British, Irishmen, and others—in unison with other volunteers from many countries. And their battleground? The beautiful Spanish countryside.
From July 17, 1936-April 1, 1939, well before America was involved in World War II, another battle was fought on the hillsides of Spain. On one side were the Spanish Republicans, joined by the Soviet Union and The International Brigade—men and women from all over the world who have volunteered to fight Fascism. Opposing them, Franco and his Fascist military leaders, supported with troops, machinery, and weapons from Hitler and Mussolini. The Spanish Civil War, considered the “training ground” for the war to come, boasted of thousands of American volunteers who joined to fight on the Republican side, half of which never returned home.
Unlike World War II, there is no clear line between white and black, good and evil. Both sides committed atrocities. Both sides had deep convictions they felt worth fighting and dying for.
Loyalists—also known as the Republicans were aided by the Soviet Union, the Communist movement, and the International Brigades. If not for the weapons and volunteers from these sources their fight would have ended in weeks rather than years. While many men fought side by side, their political views included that of liberal democracy, communism and socialism. The Catholic Basque Country also sided with the Republic, mainly because it sought independence from the central government and was promised this by Republican leaders in Madrid.
Nationalists—or Francoists were aided mainly by Germany and Italy. The Nationalist opposed an independent Basque state. Their main supporters were those who believed in a monarchist state and fascist interests. The Nationalist wished for Spain to continue on as it had for years, with rich landowners, the military, and the church running the country. Most of the Roman Catholic clergy supported the Nationalists, except those in the Basque region.
During the Spanish Civil war, terror tactics against civilians were common. And while history books discuss the estimated one million people who lost their lives during the conflict, we must not forget that each of those who fought, who died, had their own tales. From visitors to Spain who found themselves caught in the conflict, to the communist supporters, Basque priests, and Nazi airmen . . . each saw this war in a different light. These are the stories behind A Valley of Betrayal.
Tricia Goyer, October 2006
I hope you enjoyed the interview with author Tricia Goyer. Please check out her website and her books. If you like historical fiction that lives, you won’t be disappointed!
Thanks Tricia, for joining us this month on Spotlight!
