Does your character have a traumatic backstory—but somehow that trauma disappears when the actual story begins?

If your character has experienced abandonment, abuse, neglect, loss, or another significant emotional wound, that history can affect how they think, react, build relationships, make decisions, and respond when something in the present bumps into a wound from the past.

In this episode, we're talking about how Christian fiction writers can create trauma-informed characters without allowing trauma to become the character's entire identity.

I'll share a little of what I've learned from my own trauma-informed training and why the difference between "I won't" and "I can't regulate right now" changed the way I think about behavior. Then we'll take those principles onto the page and look at Harper from my Cozy Corner Mysteries to see what trauma responses can actually look like inside a novel.

We'll look at Harper's abandonment wound, what happens when Ben tells her he's leaving, the physical responses that show up when she reaches her "red zone," and the patterns Harper begins to recognize in herself. We'll also talk about her decision to go hiking even when anxiety shows up and the small moment when faith begins making its way back into her life.

We'll talk about:

Trauma-informed doesn't mean trauma-defined.

Your character is more than what happened to them.

Give them wounds, but also give them strength. Give them struggles, but also give them joy, relationships, purpose, faith, and room to grow.

Wound → Belief → Behavior → Growth.

When we write with truth and leave room for hope, we can create characters whose struggles feel real—and whose stories remind readers that the wound doesn't have to get the final word.

Do your fictional characters feel like real people—or do they sometimes feel a little too perfect, predictable, or flat?

Creating characters with depth means knowing more than what they look like, what they do for a living, or what role they play in your plot. Your character's backstory, relationships, fears, past experiences, and the lines they don't want to cross all influence how they react when the story gets difficult.

In this episode, I'm sharing three character development tips that will help you create believable, layered characters your readers can connect with.

I'll share what I learned when I first started writing stories where everybody got along and nobody had any real problems, why I create a backstory before I write the book, and how a mind map helps me understand what shaped my characters. We'll also talk about why your main character needs other people who can reveal things they would never say about themselves—and why sometimes the best thing you can do for your character is make them cross the line they swore they wouldn't cross.

I'll also take you behind the scenes of my Cozy Corner Mysteries and show you how Harper's backstory, her best friend Sage, and everyone's favorite barista, Zoe, help me create a character with more depth.

We'll talk about:

You don't have to tell your reader everything you know about your character.

But you need to know what shaped them.

Because when you understand your character's past, relationships, fears, and motivations, you can create reactions and choices that feel believable on the page.

We're not here for perfect characters. We're creating characters with depth, heart, struggles, and room to grow.

Have you been saying you want to finish writing your book — but somehow everything and everyone else keeps coming first?

If you've been struggling to create a consistent writing habit, make time to write, or turn your book idea into a finished novel — you're not alone. The problem may not be that you don't know how to write. It may be that you don't consistently come back to your book.

In this episode, I'm sharing the three reasons I believe so many aspiring authors don't finish writing their novels — including the one I've struggled with myself for years.

We'll talk about people pleasing, guilt, writing motivation, learning novel structure, and why finding a writing community matters. I'll also share why I once thought my entire kitchen had to be clean before I could write, what The Big Leap taught me about making room for my writing, why watching another episode of Poirot isn't always "research," and what bad apples, brown bananas, and the first terrible song I ever wrote have to do with finding your writing people.

We'll talk about:

You don't have to finish your whole novel today.

You just have to come back to your book.

Stop looking backward at all the days you didn't write. Open the manuscript, find where you left off, and keep pressing forward.

Your stories matter. And it's not too late to start.

Sponsored by Fatal Fixer-Upper -https://a.co/d/092EOCBN

The Big Leap -https://www.amazon.com/Big-Leap-Conquer-Hidden-Level-ebook/dp/B0026772QU

Have you ever opened your manuscript after your editor sent it back and thought, "Oh my gosh. Look at all these comments. Why am I even writing books?"

If editor feedback, developmental editing, or revising your novel sends your imposter syndrome into overdrive — you're not alone. I've written more than twenty books, and I still get that wave of panic when I open an edited manuscript and see all those comments waiting for me.

In this episode, I'm taking you behind the scenes of the editing process for Winter Wedding Murder and sharing actual comments from my editor — including one pretty big character-name oops!

We'll talk about how to approach editor feedback without letting overwhelm or self-doubt convince you that you're not a "real" writer. I'll also share how I break novel edits into manageable pieces, why editing takes a different kind of brain power, and why you should actually celebrate when your manuscript comes back covered in comments.

We'll talk about:

Your editor didn't write the book.

You did.

They're helping you polish the story you've already created — and sometimes they're helping you remember that you've already used the name Dale in another book.

Your stories matter. And it's not too late to start.

This episode was sponsored by my free cozy mystery novella - Dead Quiet At The Library - Grab your copy - https://kgauthor.myflodesk.com/cozymystery

Or listen on Audible -https://a.co/d/0bvwGD7f

Save The Cat Writes A Novel - https://www.amazon.com/Save-Cat-Writes-Novel-Writing/dp/0399579745

How To Write A Cozy Mystery: Step By Step - https://www.amazon.com/How-Write-Cozy-Mystery-Reader-Favorite-ebook/dp/B0BLQF3PK3

 Winter Wedding Murder :

Think your character has to be perfect for readers to love them?

If you’ve been trying to write clean fiction with strong, likable characters — but your story still feels flat, predictable, or emotionally disconnected — you’re not alone. And honestly, the problem might be that your character’s life is just too easy.

In this episode, I’m sharing why your character needs to fail, what a blackest moment actually is, and how disasters and dilemmas create the emotional depth readers connect with most.

I’ll walk you through practical ways to raise the stakes in your middle grade or YA novel while still writing clean, faith-aligned fiction full of heart, growth, and emotional tension.

We’ll talk about:

You do not have to write perfect characters to write meaningful stories.

You can write characters who struggle, fail, grow, and keep going — and honestly, those are often the stories readers remember most.

Your stories matter. And it’s not too late to start.

🔗 Resources Mentioned

Grab the Middle Grade Magic Workbook:

Sponsored by Sera Craven Mystery #1 — The Case of the Missing Person:

Grab the FREE Social Media Safety Workbook:

Think clean middle grade fiction can’t keep readers hooked?

If you’ve been trying to write middle grade or YA fiction that’s exciting without relying on profanity, graphic scenes, or inappropriate content — feeling unsure whether readers will actually stay engaged — you’re not alone. And trying to figure this out on your own can keep you stuck longer than you need to be.

In this episode, I’m sharing how to write a clean middle grade novel kids genuinely want to read — while still honoring your Christian values and keeping your stories full of adventure, heart, mystery, and emotional depth.

I’ll walk you through a few key elements that make clean fiction work, especially if you’re a Christian writer who wants to create meaningful stories without compromising your faith.

We’ll talk about:

You don’t have to compromise your faith to write compelling fiction.

You can start small. You can start where you are. But you don’t have to do this alone.

Your story matters. And it’s not too late to start.

🔗 Resources Mentioned

Grab the Middle Grade Magic Workbook:

Sponsored by Sera Craven Mystery #1 — The Case of the Missing Person:

Grab the FREE Social Media Safety Workbook:

Is technology is one more obstacle standing between you and writing your book?

If you’ve been trying to figure out things like writing software, publishing platforms, websites, or even basic tech tools… feeling overwhelmed, intimidated, or wondering if you’re “too behind” to learn it all — you’re not alone. And trying to navigate the tech side of writing alone can keep you stuck longer than you need to be.

In this episode, I’m joined by special guest Donna Sherrie — author, book writing coach, and host of the globally ranked podcast Book Writing Made Simple.

Donna helps women of faith write and finish their books using Holy Spirit-led strategies, and in today’s conversation, we’re talking about overcoming fear of technology, simplifying the writing process, and moving forward with confidence even when the tech side of writing feels intimidating.

This episode is especially for Christian authors, writers, and empty nesters who know God placed a story on their heart — but feel overwhelmed by all the technology that seems to come with modern writing and publishing.

We’ll talk about:

You don’t have to let fear of technology stop you from stewarding your story.

You can start small. You can learn as you go. But you don’t have to do this alone.

Your story matters. And it’s not too late to start.

🔗 Resources Mentioned

Connect with Donna Sherrie and listen to Book Writing Made Simple

Join the Novel Writing for Christians community:

Join the email list for encouragement and writing tips:

Tired of trying to make time for writing while everyone else’s needs keep coming first?

If you’ve been trying to write your book between volunteering, caregiving, housework, errands, and exhaustion… feeling distracted, overwhelmed, or wondering why writing always seems to end up at the bottom of the list — you’re not alone. And trying to figure this out alone can keep you stuck longer than you need to be.

In this episode, I’m sharing the mindset shift that completely changed the way I approach writing — especially as a Christian woman who spent years believing writing was selfish or less important than everyone else’s needs.

I’ll walk you through the deeper reason many Christian writers struggle with distraction and how learning to treat writing like obedience instead of indulgence helped me finally protect the calling God placed on my life.

This episode is especially for Christian authors, writers, and empty nesters who are ready to stop pushing their stories to the back burner and finally move forward with novel writing for Christians.

We’ll talk about:

You don’t have to keep treating writing like the leftover scraps of your life.

You can start small. You can start where you are. But you don’t have to do this alone.

Your story matters. And it’s not too late to start.

🔗 Resources Mentioned

Grab the Author Mindset Checklist:

This week's episode was sponored by Fatal Fixer-Upper, grab your copy - https://a.co/d/03Vv9BMU

Sick of trying to figure out how to get your characters talking when you’ve never written a book before?

In this episode, I’m sharing three powerful tips to help you get your characters talking — along with examples from my own writing.

We’ll talk about:

You don’t have to feel stuck when it comes to writing dialogue.

🔗 Resources Mentioned

Sponsored by Fatal Fixer-Upper -https://a.co/d/092EOCBN

Wondering if you’re supposed to write a book in this empty nest season of life — but not knowing where to start?

In this episode, I’m sharing why this empty nester season might actually be the best time for you to write your book — and how I walked through this shift myself.

We’ll talk about:

You don’t have to keep wondering if you should start.

🔗 Resources Mentioned

📚 Get the free cozy mystery novella, Dead Quiet at the Library:

🎧 Listen to the audiobook on Amazon: