Today I’d like to introduce you to an Indie author you probably aren’t as familiar with. I’ve had the fun of getting to know her at KDWC for several camps now, and she agreed to join me today for an interview. Please join me in welcoming Bekah O’Brien

Bekah:
When I was in my teens, I focused primarily on chapter books that would engage children between the ages of 6-12. As I got older in my early twenties, I found I enjoyed writing for a bit of an older audience—around age 16 and up. What I enjoy writing now would be considered historical fiction, though I have written a couple un-published novels set in modern day and I’ve published one novelette that is a modern day retelling of the Biblical story of Ruth.

Rebekah:
Oh, those sound interesting. What made you start writing books? Was it always a dream to write and publish books?

Bekah:
I was ten or eleven when my interest in writing began. I remember a childhood friend of mine that I really looked up to would carry around this notebook everywhere she went and write down stories. She was just a few years older than I was and I really thought it was the coolest thing ever, so my aunt purchased me one of those black and white composition books to get started. I began writing story ideas and plot lines, but it wasn’t until I came up with my main character, Martha Knight, that anything “big” happened. I didn’t know it at the age of eleven, but the very first book I wrote, Martha’s Fun Summer would turn into an eight book series! I still have that notebook where it all began and I will always cherish it.

Rebekah:
Really? That’s so neat!

Bekah:
I was able to get the first book published when I was seventeen. I think the idea of being a published author came when I was around thirteen or fourteen, but I never thought it would actually happen! But by the Lord’s grace I was able to begin publishing at the age of seventeen. It has been a challenge some days, but it has been a great lesson in patience and perseverance.

Rebekah:
Wow!
So, besides the “Martha Knight” series, do you have any other series or are they all stand alones?

Bekah:
I wrote a 2 book children’s chapter book series set in modern day about a girl named Zoe Shepherd. Both books follow a couple seasons of her life and I really enjoyed writing those. Other than that, the novelette I mentioned is standalone, and the project I’m working on editing WAS going to be a standalone, but I got attached to one of the side characters, so I’m working on writing Annabelle’s story right now. At this point, I have pretty much have written only series. Problems of getting too attached to characters! 😀

Rebekah:
Oh, I know the feeling! It can be hard to let those characters go!

Bekah:
For sure! Especially when those characters keep telling you they have their own story to tell!

Rebekah:
Tell me about it!
How do you write? Are you a plotter or a pantser, or do you do a bit of both?

Bekah:
There’s actually a bit of a funny story here. Up until around 4 years ago, I was a plotter through and through. I would have each scene of the book planned out before I even began the book. With the last few years however, I would say I’ve become a little of both. I usually will write a chapter or a scene and see where I think the story might be going, then do a little plotting. I might not even keep the original scenes I wrote at first, but I feel their main purpose is to jumpstart the story for me. It’s been  interesting to see how my style has changed recently.

Rebekah:
So there is a chance that someone who only plot might change down the road. That’s so neat!
Can you tell us a little bit about this series you are working on right now? Also, do you plan to publish the whole series at once or one book at a time?

Bekah:
There is definitely a chance someone’s style may change down the road! It can honestly be a bit bewildering, but it’s also been a fun ride! And yes! I would love to share a bit more. Boone and I had the amazing opportunity to visit a small silver mining town by the name of Georgetown last year. It is quite a beautiful place that I absolutely fell in love with. During a tour of the hotel there that dates back to the late 1800s, I found a story there about the owner of the hotel falling in love with a Sunday school teacher, who in the end refused a marriage proposal due to the fact that she did not agree with his beliefs on Charles Darwin’s evolutionary theory. I do not know much more about this woman except for, from what I remember, that she did end up marrying someone else and moving, but I got to thinking about the importance of standing strong in our convictions and standing upon the Word of God. So I made a fictional town based in Colorado very similar to Georgetown, but I felt making my own setting would be the most respectful of the real town as I did have to take some writer’s creative license with this story since I didn’t have a lot of details. It was a very fun story to write, but in some ways also the hardest story I’ve written. I wanted to get the story just right. I plan to, Lord willing, publish this first book I’m titling: A Loyal Devotion, sometime later this year and then someday down the road publish the second book on one of Hazel’s friends. Hazel is the name of my main character in this first book.
This all might have been more than a “bit” about my story. LOL 

Rebekah:
That sounds really interesting, Bekah. I also like making up my own towns. One, because it’s hard to get everything exactly like another town, and two, it saves a lot of research.   Thanks for sharing.
If there was one piece of advice that you would share with other writers, what would it be?

Bekah:
Thank you! And I agree! Making up your own town is easier on the research, and it can be exactly how I imagine it!
Hmmm…one piece of advice? Well, I will share something that God has been showing me recently in my own writing. I would encourage anyone reading this to be to be sensitive to where you feel God wants you to take your story. There have been times where I’ve been writing and I start feeling something in my heart, have a random idea, or a piece of Scripture will jump out at me and my story might take a turn I wasn’t expecting. Honestly, sometimes that can be a bit frustrating to more of a plotter like me, but I’ve been learning that when I yield my story to my Creator, it always comes out better than my own original plan. Also, if you feel stuck in your story, pray about it! God’s the one who gave us creative minds for our stories and He is more than willing to guide us on how to glorify Him in our writing.

Rebekah:
That’s wonderful advice, and I’d second it. Can’t we trust our story to the Ultimate Author?

Bekah:
We certainly can! And I am so very thankful for that fact!

Rebekah:
Thanks so much for coming and sharing with us today, Bekah! I’m looking forward to your story when it comes out!

Bekah:
Thank you for having me, Rebekah! It has been a joy to visit your lovely blog today! If I might say it, your journey as a writer and author yourself has encouraged me greatly to write for the glory of the King of kings! Thank you for being a shining light in the Indie Christian author community! You have blessed many!
And thank you! I am looking forward to seeing where God takes this coming book!

You can connect with Bekah on her blog Bekah’s Bookish Ramblings
Or on Goodreads HERE.

Have you read any of Bekah’s books before? Do you prefer book series or books that stand alone? Or do you like both? Who is an author that you would like to see interviewed on here?