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What did you think of this episode? What happens when a writer begins asking what success really means? Today, Bible teacher and author Andy Lee joins me with the story behind From Failure to Faith and what writing it taught her. Your Best Writing Life begins right now. Welcome to Your Best Writing Life, where Christian writers and speakers learn to write with excellence, navigate publishing with wisdom, reach readers with integrity, and steward the message God has entrusted to them. I’m your host, Linda Goldfarb. My guest is Bible teacher, author, speaker, and host of the Beloved and Becoming podcast, Andy Lee. She encourages believers to rest in God’s love and live out their calling with faith. Today, we’re talking about her devotional, From Failure to Faith.  We all want to know the story behind From Failure to Faith: A 40-Day Journey to Renew Your Faith and Reclaim Your Calling Devotional - “Faithfulness and obedience are God’s measuring stick for success.”  “God called you. He appointed you.” “Our deepest heartache will be our greatest ministry.” Writer’s tips.  ·      Attend one conference a year. (It’s about the relationships!) ·      Switch hands if what your doing isn’t working. (Ehud) ·      Find your why—what breaks your heart. Giveaway -  A 22-Day devotional on Psalm 119: Finding the Beauty{full} in God’s Word LINKS Website: https://wordsbyandylee.com/ Instagram: @wordsbyandylee YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@belovedandbecomingpodcast ApplePodcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beloved-and-becoming-podcast/id6785648400 Book Link (Amazon): https://tinyurl.com/4unxb6sw Visit Your Best Writing Life website. Join our Facebook group, Your Best Writing Life Your host - Linda Goldfarb #4 Podcast 2026 "Million Podcasts Top 30 Christian Writers Podcasts" #1 Podcast 2024 "Top 50+ Must-Have Tools and Resources for Christian Writers. Awarded the Spark Media 2023 Fan Favorites Best Solo Podcast Awarded the Spark Media 2022 Most Binge-Worthy Podcast

What did you think of this episode? Has life interrupted your writing? Or has a disappointment made it harder than you expected to return to the page? Edie Melson joins Linda Goldfarb on Your Best Writing Life to discuss how to jump-start your creativity after a lull. We talk about beginning again, finding a writing rhythm that fits your current season, and pitfalls to watch for along the way. Edie also shares how fun field trips can feed your creativity. Sometimes stepping away from your desk helps you notice something fresh and enjoy writing again. Download both free handouts: Jump-Start Your Creativity After a Lull and Fun Field Trips to Feed Your Creativity. You’ll find a simple restart plan and 34 ideas for creative outings. Welcome Welcome to Your Best Writing Life! I’m Linda Goldfarb. Are life’s interruptions wreaking havoc on your writing? Maybe you’re ready to begin again, but the words aren’t coming. Edie Melson is back to help us take that next faithful step—and share some fun ways to feed our creativity away from the desk. Guest Bio Edie Melson is an author, speaker, and photographer who encourages others to recognize and follow their God-sized calling. Through her blog, The Write Conversation, she offers encouragement and practical help for writers. Find her at EdieMelson.com. Episode Content Sometimes life disrupts our writing routine. Sometimes writing itself brings disappointment. Returning to the page can take more than clearing a space on the calendar. Edie and I talk about restarting creativity and finding fresh inspiration through experiences outside our usual routine. Our conversation includes: ·       Why creativity may need a restart. ·       Returning to writing after an interruption or disappointment. ·       Ways to get your creative juices flowing. ·       Warnings and pitfalls to watch for as you begin again. ·       Fun field trips that help you observe, explore, and gather ideas. Edie’s handouts help you carry the conversation into your week. Her restart plan offers questions to help you choose a manageable writing step. Her field-trip guide includes 34 outings and activities to enjoy alone or with friends. We also highlight her book, Soul Care for Writers. Free Listener Handouts Jump-Start Your Creativity After a Lull Fun Field Trips to Feed Your Creativity Soul Care for Writers  Connect with Edie EdieMelson.com Your Next Step Choose one idea from Edie’s handouts and make room for it this week. Visit Your Best Writing Life website. Join our Facebook group, Your Best Writing Life Your host - Linda Goldfarb #4 Podcast 2026 "Million Podcasts Top 30 Christian Writers Podcasts" #1 Podcast 2024 "Top 50+ Must-Have Tools and Resources for Christian Writers. Awarded the Spark Media 2023 Fan Favorites Best Solo Podcast Awarded the Spark Media 2022 Most Binge-Worthy Podcast

What did you think of this episode? Have you waited so long to publish that you wonder whether you’ve missed your opportunity? Welcome to Your Best Writing Life! Award-winning author and illustrator Nancy Haack joins Linda Goldfarb on Your Best Writing Life to share the story behind her children’s picture book, In the Night Watch. Nancy’s dream of illustrating children’s books began in college and took decades to see the light of day. We talk about waiting on God’s timing, recognizing preparation, and following an opportunity that feels beyond your abilities. Nancy also shares how her book became part of a mission trip to Peru—and what that experience taught her about success as a Christian writer. If you’re discouraged by your publishing timeline, this conversation offers encouragement and practical questions to consider before your next step. Have you ever looked at your publishing timeline and wondered, “Did I miss it?” My guest, Nancy Haack, knows what it’s like to carry a writing dream for years. Today, we’re talking about the waiting—and what happened when it was time to move forward. Guest Bio AWSA Golden Scroll Award winner Nancy Haack lives in upstate New York with her husband and dog, Henry. She enjoys her grandchildren, volunteers with teens at church, and pursues her lifelong dream of writing and illustrating children’s books and writing romance novels. Episode Content Nancy studied children’s book illustration in college, but her path to creating books took longer than she expected. Along the way, she continued developing her craft and working with children. In this Story Behind the Story conversation, Nancy takes us behind In the Night Watch, an encouraging children’s bedtime picture book. We explore how her earlier experiences shaped the work and how a mission trip to Peru opened an unexpected opportunity to share it. Our conversation includes: What waiting can feel like when you dream of publishing. Recognizing how earlier work and experiences prepare you. How to discern which writing is meant to be shared publicly. Responding to an opportunity that stretches your confidence. Considering what faithfulness and success mean in your writing life. Nancy also answers our signature question: What’s one thing you can do this week to move toward your best writing life? Connect with Nancy Website: writingbynancy.com Instagram: @writingbynancy Facebook: Nancy E Haack Look for In the Night Watch and Nancy’s other books through Amazon or Barnes & Noble. Spanish editions of her children’s books are also available. Share This Episode Know a writer who’s wondering whether the waiting has been wasted? Share this episode with them. Visit Your Best Writing Life website. Join our Facebook group, Your Best Writing Life Your host - Linda Goldfarb #4 Podcast 2026 "Million Podcasts Top 30 Christian Writers Podcasts" #1 Podcast 2024 "Top 50+ Must-Have Tools and Resources for Christian Writers. Awarded the Spark Media 2023 Fan Favorites Best Solo Podcast Awarded the Spark Media 2022 Most Binge-Worthy Podcast

What did you think of this episode? What if Facebook limited the links you can share as a writer? Would you have to pay to reach readers—or could a better conversation do more than another link ever did? Today, Edie Melson helps us sort through Meta One, check what actually applies to our accounts, and make it easier for interested readers to find us.  Edie Melson is an author, speaker, and photographer. Her blog, The Write Conversation, reaches thousands of writers and has been recognized among Writer’s Digest’s Top 101 Sites for Writers since 2017. She’s also the executive director of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference and serves on the board of the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association. Edie, welcome to Your Best Writing Life!  Questions we cover: When writers see a post saying Facebook is becoming “pay to play,” what should they understand before they panic or purchase a subscription?  In your post, you distinguish Facebook Pages and Professional Mode profiles from ordinary personal profiles. What should a listener check on her own account, and what remains uncertain? Are groups part of the same reported test?  What is happening with external links on Facebook, as far as you can verify today? If a writer sees a limit, does it affect posts, comments, or both on her particular account? Your response was “I’m not panicking.” What have you been teaching writers about social media that helps you stay calm? Walk us through a real example from The Write Conversation. How do you turn an article into a Facebook post that invites conversation and stands on its own? You have often placed the link in the first comment. Does that still work for you? Why might a listener need a backup route if comments are restricted on her account? You wrote that writers must watch their focus because “it’s never all about me.” How can we tell whether a post offers something useful to the reader or merely asks for a click? You call social media “rented property.” For the writer who has never built a link hub, what is it, and why might a links page on her own website be useful?  Read Edie's post on Meta One here Edie Melson Contact Edie Melson Visit Your Best Writing Life website. Join our Facebook group, Your Best Writing Life Your host - Linda Goldfarb #4 Podcast 2026 "Million Podcasts Top 30 Christian Writers Podcasts" #1 Podcast 2024 "Top 50+ Must-Have Tools and Resources for Christian Writers. Awarded the Spark Media 2023 Fan Favorites Best Solo Podcast Awarded the Spark Media 2022 Most Binge-Worthy Podcast

What did you think of this episode? Writing a devotional is not for sissies! Gretchen Huesmann shares her story and offers great tips to help you on your creative journey. Welcome to Your Best Writing Life, an extension of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference held in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of NC. I’m your host, Linda Goldfarb. Each week, I bring tips and strategies from writing and publishing industry experts to help you excel in your craft. It’s great to have you listening in. In this episode, we explore the story behind It’s a Good Day to Be a Teacher. Our guest is Gretchen Huesmann. Gretchen has taught in private and public schools across seven states. Today, she mentors and encourages educators, ministry workers, and writers. Her book, It’s a Good Day to Be a Teacher, speaks to the teacher’s heart and soul. Her picture book, A Time for Everything, will be released in 2027. We all want to know the story behind It’s a Good Day to Be a Teacher: 52 Devotions to Equip and Encourage Educators – give us some background. I was a teacher before I became a pastor’s wife. The Lord called my husband to 5 churches over 35 years, during which I taught, substituted, and tutored. Each time, we left friends, our church family, and my job. Now I understand God was preparing me. After a particularly difficult ministry shift­, I became frustrated and a bit angry at God. I mourned the loss of another fantastic teaching job and speaking career in the upper Midwest. Then COVID hit. Conferences were offered for free and online. With a bit of a “cold shoulder” toward God, I “decided” to pursue my dream of writing children’s picture books. One closed door after another followed. God and I “made-up” and I continued learning, listening, and seeking direction from my Savior. Eventually, He didn’t just open doors; He swung them wide with neon signs. Writer’s tips. Know our Father’s good plan for us began long before we typed one word.Believe that if He planted the seed (the dream), it will sprout and grow in His timing.Trust Him with every open and closed door.  What Listeners Will Gain –  Writers who want to write devotionals will need to study comparables and look for special elements, such as my “Live the Lesson” and “Extra Credit” portions, that will set their book apart. Readers will find encouragement in any workplace. My topics address issues with bosses, coworkers, and more. Although the introductory narratives are placed in school settings, the concepts apply to all of us.   Book: https://www.gretchenhuesmann.com/book/ There, you can find links to Amazon, or, if readers prefer to avoid Amazon, you can order it directly from the publisher, Iron Stream Media. A Time for Everything - Picture Book Link: https://www.amazon.com/Time-Everything-Paraphrase-Ecclesiastes-Children/dp/1640705554/ Publisher is Our Daily Bread. Giveaway - Our Dreams His Plans: A Bite-Sized Bible Study for Writers   SOCIAL LINKS: Website: GretchenHuesmann.com https://www.facebook.com/gretchen.huesmann https://www.facebook.com/gretchenhuesmannwrites/ https://www.instagram.com/gretchenhuesmann/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/gretchen-huesmann-60313751/   Visit Your Best Writing Life website. Join our Facebook group, Your Best Writing Life Your host - Linda Goldfarb #4 Podcast 2026 "Million Podcasts Top 30 Christian Writers Podcasts" #1 Podcast 2024 "Top 50+ Must-Have Tools and Resources for Christian Writers. Awarded the Spark Media 2023 Fan Favorites Best Solo Podcast Awarded the Spark Media 2022 Most Binge-Worthy Podcast

What did you think of this episode? Did you know AI can help protect you from scammers trying to steal your digital identity?  Today’s guest shares how AI can be a helpful second set of eyes. Welcome to Your Best Writing Life, an extension of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference held in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of NC. I’m your host, Linda Goldfarb. Each week, I bring tips and strategies from writing and publishing industry experts to help you excel in your craft. In this episode, you’ll learn how to stay safer online against scams.  My industry expert is one of our favorite guests, Edie Melson.  Edie is an author, speaker, and photographer. Her blog, The Write Conversation, reaches thousands and has been on the Writer’s Digest Top 101 Sites for Writers since 2017. Her passion is to help others define their God-sized calling and follow that path. She’s the executive director of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference and a board member of the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association. Find her at EdieMelson.com  5 Red Flags, 5 Simple AI Prompts, Edie’s 3-Question Rule  LINKS Stay Safer Online Handout Edie Melson  The Write Conversation  Visit Your Best Writing Life website. Join our Facebook group, Your Best Writing Life Your host - Linda Goldfarb #4 Podcast 2026 "Million Podcasts Top 30 Christian Writers Podcasts" #1 Podcast 2024 "Top 50+ Must-Have Tools and Resources for Christian Writers. Awarded the Spark Media 2023 Fan Favorites Best Solo Podcast Awarded the Spark Media 2022 Most Binge-Worthy Podcast

What did you think of this episode? I think we can all agree that our societies are struggling to thrive amidst today’s relational chaos. In Make Families Great Again, Dr. Mel Tavares offers insight into getting back on track. And she has great tips for writers. Welcome to Your Best Writing Life, an extension of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference held in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of NC. I’m your host, Linda Goldfarb. Each week, I bring tips and strategies from writing and publishing industry experts to help you excel in your craft. It’s great to have you listening in. In this episode, we explore the story behind Make Families Great Again. Dr. Mel Tavares is an award-winning author of books, articles, devotionals, and short stories. She is the Acquisitions and Managing Editor of Arise Daily, the award-winning devotional and ministry of the Advanced Writers & Speakers Association. Mel and her husband reside in Middletown, CT, and are parents to seven adult children and eleven grandchildren ranging in age from two to twenty. We all want to know the story behind Make Families Great Again – give us some background Make Families Great Again is a non-fiction book and first-place winner in the parenting/relationship category at the 2026 Christian Indie Awards. Equipping parents and grandparents by helping decode what is happening in today’s youth culture. Today’s Christian families are facing crises in their homes. Parents are taking kids to church and raising them with Biblical values, yet ‘losing’ their kids to the world. I’ve worked with families for 40 years and did my doctoral work on the topic. Because of the crisis, I felt compelled to write a resource to help families.  Writer’s tips.  1.     Do adequate research for your topic and cite sources. I recommend using a variety of sources to build credibility.  2.     Use Scrivener as a platform to organize, whether writing fiction or non-fiction. This is also where you can store research material, notes, graphics, etc.  3.     Write down all of your random ideas and observations. Not every thought or idea is appropriate for a book, but might be a great option for a shorter piece such as a devotion, article, or short story.   What Listeners Will Gain - As writers, we are also parents, grandparents, or extended family members. We all care about what is happening in youth culture and how it affects Christian families. This book offers the understanding, action steps, and resources you need to strengthen the family unit and protect youth from the societal woes they face. You can find out more about Dr. Mel in our show notes. SOCIAL LINKS: Website: https://www.drmeltavares.com/ Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/mel.j.tavares/    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drmeltavares/ Amazon Author: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B089T8FFR1?ingress=0&visitId=ca74d834-d79c-480c-9570-98bdeb7ec229&ccs_id=a2955576-3d4d-45a7-aa62-392f042ae2f7 Visit Your Best Writing Life website. Join our Facebook group, Your Best Writing Life Your host - Linda Goldfarb #4 Podcast 2026 "Million Podcasts Top 30 Christian Writers Podcasts" #1 Podcast 2024 "Top 50+ Must-Have Tools and Resources for Christian Writers. Awarded the Spark Media 2023 Fan Favorites Best Solo Podcast Awarded the Spark Media 2022 Most Binge-Worthy Podcast

What did you think of this episode? Have you discovered hidden gifts during times of grieving? Raewyn Elsegood shares her story behind the story and offers tips to help you excel as a writer. Don’t go anywhere. Your Best Writing Life begins right now. Welcome to Your Best Writing Life, an extension of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference held in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of NC. I’m your host, Linda Goldfarb. Each week, I bring tips and strategies from writing and publishing industry experts to help you excel in your craft. It’s great to have you listening in. During this episode, we experience The Story Behind 21 Gifts: A Sacred Dance Through Grief and Healing. Today’s guest, Raewyn Elsegood, is an Australian chaplain, speaker, and award-winning author of 21 Gifts: A Sacred Dance Through Grief and Healing. Drawing on more than 30 years in ministry and a decade of chaplaincy, she equips people to walk compassionately beside those experiencing grief, helping them discover hope, faith, and purpose even in life's deepest losses. Raewyn, welcome to Your Best Writing Life! We all want to know the story behind 21 Gifts – give us some background 1. God wrote a different book than I intended. I thought I was writing and journaling about surviving my daughter's death. Instead, God revealed that He was writing a book about discovering His gifts hidden within grief. The manuscript became as much my healing journey as it did a book for others.  2. Writing became an act of discipleship. Every chapter required me to sit with God before I could write for anyone else. Sometimes writing wasn't about producing words—it was about letting God reshape my heart first. 3. My greatest wound became my greatest ministry. Losing Amy changed every part of my life and transformed my chaplaincy. The book helped me realize that God was inviting me to move from telling my story to equipping others to walk compassionately alongside grieving people. 4. Publication wasn't the finish line. Publishing 21 Gifts opened unexpected doors to media, including teaching at conferences, YouTube, radio, podcasts, speaking engagements, disaster recovery chaplaincy, and a grief support program. The book is becoming the beginning of a much larger ministry. 5. God is still rewriting the author. One conversation with a literary agent after a writers' conference completely changed the direction of my next book. Their feedback helped me realize God wasn't simply calling me to tell my story—He was calling me to teach from my experience as a chaplain. That shift is beautifully shaping my next book project, The Chaplain's Chair.   Writer’s tips.  1. Write from transformation, not simply information. Readers remember books that changed the author before they changed the audience. 2. Let God edit you before you edit your manuscript. The deepest writing often comes after we've wrestled honestly with God. Deep conversation---- 3. Don't chase publication—pursue faithfulness. Success isn't measured only by book sales. It's measured by obedience to the message God has entrusted to you. What Listeners Will Gain -  Although 21 Gifts was written for grieving people, writers will discover something equally valuable. They'll learn that our deepest pain doesn't disqualify us from writing—it often becomes the place where God develops our most authentic voice. Readers will gain practical, faith-filled tools for navigating grief, while writers will be encouraged to embrace vulnerability, write with courage, trust God's timing, and recognize that every story can become someone else's hope. Ultimately, 21 Gifts reminds us that God rarely wastes our suffering; He often transforms it into the message we're uniquely called to share. Link to Paula Mosher Wallace - Three Stages of Writing Your Pain You can find out more about Raewyn Elsegood below. SOCIAL LINKS: Website - www.raewynelsegood.com Book 21 Gifts: A Sacred Dance Through Grief and Healing Amazon and major online bookstores Instagram - @raewynelsegood YouTube - @ChaplainsGriefInsights Email - [email protected] Visit Your Best Writing Life website. Join our Facebook group, Your Best Writing Life Your host - Linda Goldfarb #4 Podcast 2026 "Million Podcasts Top 30 Christian Writers Podcasts" #1 Podcast 2024 "Top 50+ Must-Have Tools and Resources for Christian Writers. Awarded the Spark Media 2023 Fan Favorites Best Solo Podcast Awarded the Spark Media 2022 Most Binge-Worthy Podcast

What did you think of this episode? Curious why self-publishing has become a popular choice for many authors? Christy Bass Adams shares her story behind The Master’s Classroom and writing tips to help you in your craft.  Welcome to Your Best Writing Life, an extension of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference held in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of NC. I’m your host, Linda Goldfarb. Each week, I bring tips and strategies from writing and publishing industry experts to help you excel in your craft. It’s great to have you listening in. During this episode, we continue a new addition to Your Best Writing Life with The Story Behind the Stories series. Christy Bass Adams is a former elementary teacher turned college instructor, a boy mom of two, a wife of a country boy, and the author of five books. She is the Outreach and Connections Coordinator at Fellowship Baptist Church, and her family lives in the “booger woods” of North Florida. We all want to know the story behind The Master’s Classroom  Writer’s tips.  Ask God what he wants you to write every time you sit down to type. Be willing to pour your heart onto the page, even if it means only one person will ever benefit. One is enough. Obey God’s leading and trust that there is a reason for everything he prompts you to write, even if it’s scary or deeply vulnerable.   What Listeners Will Gain –   Anyone in education, or who has ever worked in it, will be challenged to approach their classrooms in a completely different way. From how they view their students to how they plan their lessons, The Master’s Classroom will show them that Jesus can be part of every single piece.    Those outside of education can be the wonderful friend who buys this book for someone in the school system. Both public and private school teachers can benefit from the deep challenges this devotional Bible study brings forth.    And for writers in general, the way this book came about will inspire them to keep looking to Jesus, because we never know what assignment he has for us next. Called to Christ Freebie  LINKS www.christybassadams.com  https://www.facebook.com/christybassadams  The Master’s Classroom on Amazon: https://a.co/d/0gEKW1iZ  www.tiktok.com/@christybassadams  www.instagram.com/christybassadams  https://www.youtube.com/@christybassadams8 Visit Your Best Writing Life website. Join our Facebook group, Your Best Writing Life Your host - Linda Goldfarb #4 Podcast 2026 "Million Podcasts Top 30 Christian Writers Podcasts" #1 Podcast 2024 "Top 50+ Must-Have Tools and Resources for Christian Writers. Awarded the Spark Media 2023 Fan Favorites Best Solo Podcast Awarded the Spark Media 2022 Most Binge-Worthy Podcast

What did you think of this episode?  Does your story contain elements of addiction and recovery? Heather Greer shares her story behind Hope Even After, along with writing tips to excel your growth, no matter your genre.  Welcome to Your Best Writing Life, an extension of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference held in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of NC. I’m your host, Linda Goldfarb. Each week, I bring tips and strategies from writing and publishing industry experts to help you excel in your craft. It’s great to have you listening in. During this episode, we continue a new addition to Your Best Writing Life with The Story Behind the Stories series. Heather Greer loves Jesus and great stories. She prays every book she writes helps readers embrace the greatest and truest story of all—the one of God’s love and desire for relationship with them. Whether lighthearted or serious, contemporary or historical, Heather’s books show people living faith, one story at a time. We all want to know the story behind Hope Even After – romantic women’s fiction. The romantic portion is a second-chance romance. Overall, Hope Even After is the story of addiction, recovery, and faith from the perspective of both the addict and the one who loves them.  Writer’s tips.  Embrace the tough topics if those are the stories God is laying on your heart. BUT do your due diligence. Professional feedback from those working in your subject matter, research on the topic, and personal experience (yours and others) should all weave together to show the truth of a situation, not a stereotype of the subject.You may write from a place of hurt at first, but make sure the final draft is written from a place of healing. Stick close to God throughout the process. It’s His truth and His heart that readers need to hear when they read the story. What Listeners Will Gain - Happily ever after doesn’t look the same for everyone, and that’s okay. But there is always hope. As writers, we sometimes need to show hope, not just happiness.  Jesus is our salvation and our healer, but that doesn’t mean the struggles always go away when we come into relationship with Him. And it’s okay for writers to show that.  Giveaway Download: https://www.heathergreer.com/downloads/  Poster https://www.heathergreer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Psalm-121-Lighter-Version.pdf Wallpaper https://www.heathergreer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/2.jpg SOCIAL LINKS: Website: https://www.heathergreer.com Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16924648.Heather_Greer Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorHeatherGreer/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/1heather.greer/  Newsletter Sign Up: https://preview.mailerlite.io/forms/2026129/185007145808299122/share  Link to purchase Hope Even After – https://scrivenings.link/hopevenafter Visit Your Best Writing Life website. Join our Facebook group, Your Best Writing Life Your host - Linda Goldfarb #4 Podcast 2026 "Million Podcasts Top 30 Christian Writers Podcasts" #1 Podcast 2024 "Top 50+ Must-Have Tools and Resources for Christian Writers. Awarded the Spark Media 2023 Fan Favorites Best Solo Podcast Awarded the Spark Media 2022 Most Binge-Worthy Podcast

What did you think of this episode? Social media collaboration opportunities for writers. Samantha Evans Tschritter shares strategies to help you get seen.   Welcome to Your Best Writing Life, an extension of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference held in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of NC. I’m your host, Linda Goldfarb. Each week, I bring tips and strategies from writing and publishing industry experts to help you excel in your craft. I’m so glad you’re listening in. During this episode, you’ll learn about … Social Media Collaboration for Today’s Writers With 20 years of leadership experience and contributions to forty books, today’s industry expert… multi-award-winning author S. E. Tschritter (Shridder) leads readers toward hope with content that resonates beyond the final chapter. Tschritter lives in South Carolina with her husband, three daughters, and their Siberian Husky, who’s earned the hashtag #HuskySmartPuppyDumb.  Talking Points:  1.) What does it mean to collaborate? What can that look like? 2.) What are the benefits of collaboration? 3.) No collaboration too small. How does that work? Substack – YouTube - Instagram SOCIAL LINKS: Love United  Linktr.ee   Listener giveaway…example of Instagram collaboration…. https://www.instagram.com/p/DbuReLJgAtH/?img_index=1 Visit Your Best Writing Life website. Join our Facebook group, Your Best Writing Life Your host - Linda Goldfarb #4 Podcast 2026 "Million Podcasts Top 30 Christian Writers Podcasts" #1 Podcast 2024 "Top 50+ Must-Have Tools and Resources for Christian Writers. Awarded the Spark Media 2023 Fan Favorites Best Solo Podcast Awarded the Spark Media 2022 Most Binge-Worthy Podcast

What did you think of this episode? Have you considered writing an action-adventure technothriller? PeggySue Wells shares tips for writers, along with the story behind The Patent.  Welcome to Your Best Writing Life, an extension of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference held in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of NC. I’m your host, Linda Goldfarb. Each week, I bring tips and strategies from writing and publishing industry experts to help you excel in your craft. It’s great to have you listening in. During this episode, we continue a new addition to Your Best Writing Life with The Story Behind the Stories series. Today’s guest, PeggySue Wells, is the award-winning USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of nearly 50 books, including the mystery suspense title of the year, Unnatural Cause. Known for her captivating novels spanning action and adventure, romantic suspense, military romance, and cozy mystery genres—such as Chasing Sunrise, Homeless for the Holidays, and The Patent—she also empowers readers with practical nonfiction, including The Ten Best Decisions A Single Mom Can Make. A prolific writing coach, collaborator, and independent publishing strategist, PeggySue’s mission is to fill the world with stories and guides that take readers to places they’ve never been before. PeggySue shares her fabulous writing journey of The Patent. Writer’s tips.   1) Keep learning about anything and everything so you have something to write about. Always have fresh experiences so you have fresh content to include and influence your writing.  2) Write the story. No preaching, no worries about themes or word count. Trust the power of the story. After it is roughly put down, the natural themes appear. Write first. Polish after you know the project works. As with raising children, the writing often turns out 50 percent as anticipated, and the rest takes on a direction of its own.   3) Readers are not fond of being told what they must, should, or need to be, do, or think. They prefer to watch how things work out and then apply what fits in their own life. Don't save anything for the next book. The reader can sense when a writer withheld. Give your best and your all. Pour out, and the Lord refills you for the next project.  Quick Guides to Writing Well Set - check this out!!! What Listeners Will Gain – when they buy your book Giveaway - https://authorpswells.myshopify.com/products/preorder-cohen-code-with-bonus-set-5-quick-guides-to-writing https://authorpswells.myshopify.com/products/preorder-cohen-code-get-3-bonus-novels You can find out more below: SOCIAL LINKS: Preorder Cohen Code, and be the first to read the next novel in the Marc Wayne Action Adventure series PeggySueWells.com Chasing Sunrise The Patent Secrecy Order Unnatural Cause, best mystery suspense of the year The Ten Best Decisions A Single Mom Can Make  SingleMomCircle.com   Visit Your Best Writing Life website. Join our Facebook group, Your Best Writing Life Your host - Linda Goldfarb #4 Podcast 2026 "Million Podcasts Top 30 Christian Writers Podcasts" #1 Podcast 2024 "Top 50+ Must-Have Tools and Resources for Christian Writers. Awarded the Spark Media 2023 Fan Favorites Best Solo Podcast Awarded the Spark Media 2022 Most Binge-Worthy Podcast

What did you think of this episode? What story idea has God whispered, only to leave out the details? Maureen Miller shares her story behind Gideon’s Book with added tips to strengthen your writing.  Welcome to Your Best Writing Life, an extension of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference held in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of NC. I’m your host, Linda Goldfarb. Each week, I bring tips and strategies from writing and publishing industry experts to help you excel in your craft. It’s great to have you listening in. During this episode, we continue a new addition to Your Best Writing Life with The Story Behind the Stories series. Today’s guest, Maureen Miller, is an author and speaker who loves encouraging others in their journey with Jesus. Married to her childhood sweetheart Bill, she lives on Selah Farm in the mountains of North Carolina. She blogs at Windows and Wallflowers (maureenmillerauthor.com), and her debut novel, Gideon’s Book, is now available.  We all want to know the story behind Gideon’s Book – give us some background 1)    God can whisper a story idea but leave the details for another time, allowing the writer to learn to listen, lean in, and let go. 2)    As an adoptive mother, with three amazing birth moms who chose life for their unborn babies despite difficult circumstances, I believe these women are heroes, and there are many among us. 3)    God’s Word—those placed by Gideons International and otherwise—is not just a figurative guide but a literal one as well, truly a lamp to our feet and a light to our path; I found this to be true in my life, and I wanted to weave such into this story. 4)    As a mother of a child of color and having experienced a literal moment when God called me to have a difficult conversation with two women at a restaurant, I wanted to weave the truth that “all it takes if pullin’ up a chair”—that being, an opportunity to share healthy, honest conversations about challenging topics. 5)    My prolife views are rooted in a decision I made long ago after facing what I feared was an unplanned pregnancy when I was seventeen and unmarried. Writer’s Tips.  1)    Stay the course, trusting God for His perfect timing to birth your words (Esther 4:14);  2)    “Hone your craft!”—Said by the wonderful Cecil Murphey, who keynoted at Write To Publish 2007, which echoed throughout the almost two decades it took to write Gideon’s Book;  3)    Be courageous enough to write the messages God gives, believing His will to be accomplished even when it’s hard.  What Listeners Will Gain - I believe they’ll gain truth steeped in God’s Word from my Gideon’s Book backstory, and thus be encouraged to seek Him more specifically to discover for themselves how God might be calling them to a task that they know is beyond their ability—only God! (Like Gideon in Judges 6 and in my story!)  Listener giveaway - One copy of Gideon’s Book in the format of your choice! Join us on Facebook -  Your Best Writing Life and leave a comment prior to 7 PM ET August 3, 2026. LINKS Facebook -- https://www.facebook.com/maureen.miller.393/ Website – “Windows and Wallflowers” at https://maureenmillerauthor.com Email – [email protected] Gideon’s Book Amazon Link -- https://a.co/d/0332c4T7  Visit Your Best Writing Life website. Join our Facebook group, Your Best Writing Life Your host - Linda Goldfarb #4 Podcast 2026 "Million Podcasts Top 30 Christian Writers Podcasts" #1 Podcast 2024 "Top 50+ Must-Have Tools and Resources for Christian Writers. Awarded the Spark Media 2023 Fan Favorites Best Solo Podcast Awarded the Spark Media 2022 Most Binge-Worthy Podcast

What did you think of this episode? How do you write a book that tells intimate details of your life? Amanda Scarborough shows us how as she shares her story behind A Beautiful War. I’m glad you’re here… Welcome to Your Best Writing Life, an extension of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference held in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of NC. I’m your host, Linda Goldfarb. Each week, I bring tips and strategies from writing and publishing industry experts to help you excel in your craft. It’s great to have you listening in. During this episode, we continue a new addition to Your Best Writing Life with The Story Behind the Stories series. Today’s guest, Amanda Scarborough, is an award-winning author, speaker, and entrepreneur who helps women find hope in life’s darkest seasons. While facing postpartum depression and overwhelming fear, she encountered the restoring power of Jesus. Today she shares her story to reveal His love, guiding others toward healing, freedom, and a renewed identity in Christ.  We all want to know the story behind A Beautiful War: Finding Hope in the Darkest Moments  – Amanda shares deep insight into Postpartum Depression, Surrender, Obedience, Patience, and Healing. Her memoir shows Surrender, Hope, and a mother's personal Perspective Writer’s tips.  Develop a writing prayer team. If the Lord has called you into unfamiliar waters, pray and trust His guidance. Go to reputable writing/speaking conferences.Tell us a little more about A Beautiful War: Finding Hope in the Darkest Moments. The new, revised & expanded version is available now in eBook, audio, and paperback wherever books are sold.  What Listeners Will Gain - They will learn to find hope in dark seasons or times of struggle, how to surrender, and the difference between knowing who God is and being in a relationship with Him. Listener Giveaway Drawing -  A Gift Basket - (without a basket - lol)  1- Signed copy of A Beautiful War1 - A Beautiful War Leather Bracelet A few - Red Heart of Hope Prayer Cloths 32 Prayer Cards of HopeThe drawing is for U.S. distribution - Your name is placed in the running when you leave a comment on Amanda's Tuesday, July 21, 2026, release post in the Your Best Writing Life Facebook Group. The drawing will take place on Monday, July 27, 2026. The winner will be announced in the YBWL group. Amanda Scarborough's SOCIAL LINKS: IG: https://www.instagram.com/amanda.l.scarborough/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/Amanda.L.Scarborough/ Website: www.AmandaLScarborough.com Book links: Amazon https://a.co/d/052CxGsE Visit Your Best Writing Life website. Join our Facebook group, Your Best Writing Life Your host - Linda Goldfarb #4 Podcast 2026 "Million Podcasts Top 30 Christian Writers Podcasts" #1 Podcast 2024 "Top 50+ Must-Have Tools and Resources for Christian Writers. Awarded the Spark Media 2023 Fan Favorites Best Solo Podcast Awarded the Spark Media 2022 Most Binge-Worthy Podcast

What did you think of this episode? Is your writing a result of perseverance? Sarah Schwerin shares her story behind The Willow Still Sings and tips to equip your writing.  Welcome to Your Best Writing Life, an extension of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference held in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of NC. I’m your host, Linda Goldfarb. Each week, I bring tips and strategies from writing and publishing industry experts to help you excel in your craft. It’s great to have you listening in. During this episode, we continue the new addition to Your Best Writing Life, The Story Behind the Stories series. Today's guest, Sarah Schwerin, a former homeschool mom, is an author, a speaker with Stonecroft Ministries, and a mentor with Word Weavers International. Her writing has appeared in publications including Mature Living, Bible Advocate, and The Upper Room. Her 1950s historical novel, The Willow Still Sings, is available now on Amazon. Tell us the story behind The Willow Still Sings ·      The Willow Still Sings is loosely based on my mother’s journey with polio. Her faith and compassion in the face of hardship helped me become who I am today. The end of my book includes my mom’s story in her own words. I’m awed that her story can encourage and inspire others just as it did me.  ·      In The Willow Still Sings, Florence struggles with misplaced guilt from her childhood, which shapes many of her reactions in the novel. My journey mirrors Florence's in that I have struggled with shame but have embraced the hope and healing only God provides.  ·      After homeschooling my two sons, I began to pursue writing and speaking full-time. At my first conference, I felt overwhelmed by my lack of knowledge and the eventual rejection. At my second conference, God taught me an important lesson when I lost a contest and had to accept an award for a friend. Be happy for your writing friends and enjoy the journey. Every writer’s journey is unique. Your day will come. It won’t look like someone else’s. But your writing will do just what God wants it to do.  ·      Writing The Willow Still Sings helped me realize the truth that there is nothing new under the sun. Polio outbreaks were similar to life during the COVID pandemic. People had to quarantine, and there was widespread fear and confusion. We can learn a lot from our past.  Three tips for writers. ·      Research helps a story come alive for readers. Research can be conducted in a variety of ways, including my favorites: interviewing others and taking field trips.  ·      Events in our lives and the lives of family members can encourage others and provide a way for our loved ones’ legacies to live on.  ·      Events in our lives and the lives of family members can provide “story seeds” for our current and future projects.   What will the listeners gain from your book?  ·      Listeners will learn the importance of perseverance. Like Florence, we must continue to choose to love and to remain in God’s calling, even when life is difficult.  ·      Listeners will learn to use stories from their lives as a seed to begin or enhance their own stories.  ·      Listeners will learn about the importance of research in their writing projects.  Free download – Giveaway | Sarah Schwerin LINKS ·      Website: sarahschwerin.com ·      Amazon book link: https://a.co/d/065Jtq26  ·      Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SchwerinAuthor/ ·      Instagram: Instagram Visit Your Best Writing Life website. Join our Facebook group, Your Best Writing Life Your host - Linda Goldfarb #4 Podcast 2026 "Million Podcasts Top 30 Christian Writers Podcasts" #1 Podcast 2024 "Top 50+ Must-Have Tools and Resources for Christian Writers. Awarded the Spark Media 2023 Fan Favorites Best Solo Podcast Awarded the Spark Media 2022 Most Binge-Worthy Podcast