AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT: DANICA FAVORITE

Good morning, how are you today?  Today I have an author spotlight on the Author Danica Favorite.  Please welcome Danica to my channel.

 

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I live in Colorado with my family in the mountain home that is a work in progress. We have chickens, ducks, geese, goats, horses, dogs, and cats. It’s busy, but fun! I love to tell stories and hear stories from others. Life gives me lots of inspiration!

 

What do you do when you are not writing?

I spend time with my family, reading, travel, knit and try to stay on top of our unending house projects!

 

Do you have a day job as well?

I work as a social media coordinator for a publisher.

 

When did you first start writing and when did you finish your first book?

I started writing about 18 years ago and my first book was published five years ago. It was not the first book I’d written!

 

How did you choose the genre you write in?

As a Christian, I found that a lot of the stories I tell come from the perspective of relying on God, so it’s integral to my stories to feature faith. And, I only read happy books and happy endings, so it has to be romance.

 

Where do you get your ideas?

Everywhere!

 

Do you ever experience writer’s block?

I can’t afford to have writer’s block. I have deadlines. 😊 When I’m stuck, it’s usually because I took a wrong turn with my writing, so I spend time reviewing what I wrote to see if it jogs anything. I also have a lot of creativity exercises I do to help me unlock whatever is stuck.

Do you work with an outline, or just write?

I use an outline because I sell my books to my publisher based on the synopsis.

Is there any author or book that influenced you in any way either growing up or as an adult?

The biggest influence on me as a writer and as a person has been Madeleine L’Engle. I absolutely love her work, and her journals have inspired me in so many ways. Her book, Walking on Water: Reflections on Faith and Art is a must-read for any aspiring authors. I revisit it often.

Can you tell us about your challenges in getting your first book published?

I was always a good writer, but I could never quite get there. My writing was always missing something, and I couldn’t figure out what it was. I faced a lot of rejection, and it was a long and discouraging journey at times. But if I’d quit, I wouldn’t be here today.

Who are some of your favorite authors that you feel were influential in your work? 

I mentioned Madeleine L’Engle already. She is such an inspiration to me. I wish I could have met her.

What impact have they had on your writing?

Madeleine taught me the value of not giving up, but also in living a creative life and understanding the ups and downs of that life. She also taught me a lot about viewing God in terms of Him being far more than anything we can imagine.

What do you think is the future of reading/writing?

I think there is going to be a greater acceptance that there is something for everyone, and the ability of everyone to see themselves in the stories being published.

Do you write more by logic or intuition, or some combination of the two?  Summarize your writing process.

It’s a combination of both. There’s a lot of intuition involved, but I always go back to logic and making sure the story structure supports what my intuition has given me. I put those intuitive leanings into an outline, then look for the logic holes and structural pieces in that outline.

 

What is your role in the writing community?

I encourage other authors and help them see ways they can fulfill their publishing dreams. I share what knowledge I can.

How does your book relates to your spiritual practice or other life path?

My books are heavily grace-based. I believe that God loves us all, and no matter what mistakes we make, His love and forgiveness is available for us all. We are never alone, and I hope my books share that message with my readers.

What is your testimony?

Wow, that is a long story. I did not grow up in a Christian home, but I was always drawn to God. When I was about 7 or 8, I stood in front of the family at Thanksgiving with an old Bible I’d found and informed them all that Thanksgiving was about God because Psalm 100 was subtitled “a prayer of Thanksgiving.” It is still my favorite Psalm. I went to church with anyone who would invite me. I longed to know God. I spent a season of turning away from God because I was bullied by Christians, but my heart always longed for Jesus. I’ve learned that while people can be cruel, God is not. So the imperfections we see in churches and in other Christians are not a reflection of God, but of the sin not yet given over to Him. I still see that a lot, but I am constantly using that as a reason to turn TO God instead of away from Him. Only He can fill the longings of my heart, so I continue to turn to Him.

What do you consider to be your best accomplishment?

I’m very proud of the fact that my children are good people. They aren’t perfect, but I’m always impressed and amazed at their good hearts and the choices they make.

What projects are you working on at the present?

I’m working on the second book in the Double R Legacy series, which is a follow up to my Three Sisters Ranch series. This series follows a man looking for his long-lost grandchild, and he discovers family he didn’t know existed. The book I’m working on is about one of the grandchildren, who does not take the news of his newfound grandfather well, and his story is about how your plans falling apart just may be the thing you need to have the life God intended for you.

What do your plans for future projects include?

The Double R Legacy is a four book series, and I’m working on book two, so I still have two more books to write. I also am working on starting a YouTube channel to share inside information about my books as well as tips and tools to help aspiring authors.