Howdy!

This week and next I’m hosting some amazing people here on the blog. I’m really excited to feature them and I hope you enjoy the interviews!

This week, Amanda Tero and I are actually swapping interviews on our blogs. I have several of her stories waiting for me on my Kindle and I’m really looking forward to reading them. You can find out more about them on her blog!

And now on to the interview!

What inspires you to write?

My relationship with the Lord. Usually, I get an idea for a theme or a lesson before the plot actually comes along (though, an exception would be my “pet medieval” story of which I’m dreaming ;)). That, and my desire to help others. I love teaching lessons that the Lord has taught me.

From what I read in reviews of your short stories, you do it really well! 🙂 Is there one element that always appears in your stories?

Faith. Though it appears in different ways, it is definitely the heartbeat of my stories.

Definitely where it should be. What do you think the best genre is, and why?

Ooh…hard one. If I were to cater to what I enjoy most, it would be historical fiction (preferably Christian) — I can’t even choose a favorite time period within that genre because I love them all.

Historical fiction is one of my preferred genres to read as well! Let’s talk characters. What’s your favorite type? The strong silent type, happy-go-lucky, or tortured soul?

Strong and silent! Though I recently wrote my first novella whose character might be described as “tortured soul” (Journey to Love), I identify most with the characters who get up and do things. Not pushy and showy and “look at me,” but those silent workers who make a difference.

*High-five* Strong and silent characters are the best. You compose music as well as write. How do you think the two are similar? Different?

I find them to be very similar! They both take patience and work. Anyone can plunk a chord on the piano and anyone can piece together a sentence, but to create something that is of true value, one must diligently study the craft and practice what they’ve studied. I run into “dead ends” in both and have to do a lot of praying and seeking God’s direction for both. As far as different … I would say that the main difference I’m finding is the audience. You say “Book” and tons of people grin and rush forward. You say, “Sheet music” and most of them shrug with, “Uh, I can’t read music.”

Haha! I guess that is very true. Didn’t even think about it being a piano player myself. 😛 In school we talk about things called BHAGs (Big Hairy Audacious Goals). What’s your big, audacious, life goal?

Okay… wow… so, I’m not a huge dreamer. I actually never really and honestly dreamed that I’d be a published author (okay, so maybe I dreamed it once or twice…). 🙂 Spiritually speaking, I’d say my continual life goal (and battle!) is to glorify God in all that I say, write, play, or do. Physically speaking, it’d be pretty cool to write a few dozen books, record a dozen or so CDs and publish a few dozen hymn arrangement books. Not to mention that I’d absolutely love to have my own publishing house to help support upcoming Christian authors and musicians. That big enough? 😉

I think that’s big enough! 😀 Love the idea of a publishing house! And finally, because random questions are the best, you are stuck in a magic elevator with only three buttons. Floor 1 takes you to a swamp full of red toadstools, Floor 2 takes you to an enigmatic dwarf guarding a rickety bridge, and Floor 3 hosts a mystery door. Which do you choose and why?

Realistically, I’d probably choose Floor 1 because I know what it is and it’s not scary. 😉 But a part of me would really choose Floor 3 just for mystery’s sake.

Haha! Mystery doors are very tempting. Thanks for coming over, Amanda! 🙂 

Amanda Tero is a homeschool graduate who desires to provide God-honoring, family-friendly reading material. She has enjoyed writing since before ten years old, but it has only been since 2013 that she began seriously pursuing writing again – starting with some short stories that she wrote for her sisters as a gift. Her mom encouraged her to try selling the stories she published, and since then, she has begun actively writing short stories, novellas, and novels.

If something she has written draws an individual into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ, it is worth it!

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5)

You can connect with Amanda using the links below! 

Email: amandaterobooks@gmail.com

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Blog | Goodreads | Amazon