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 Thank you, Karen, for allowing At Home with Christian Fiction this interview! Through your books we have witnessed God’s eternal love for His children and how He can restore broken lives. We’ll be eagerly looking forward to the release of your movie, Gideon’s Gift! Those with us today are: Dell Smith Klein (http://www.smithklein.net); April Gardner (http://www.aprilgardner.com); Catherine Terry (http://www.athomewithchristianfiction.com) Karen, your website held an abundance of great information pertaining to your professional and personal life! We would like to refer our viewers to your FAQ page, On Becoming an Author, for information regarding your writing journey. CT: Karen, I can’t help but consider all of the many readers that you have influenced by your writing. I read that you had created the trademark, “Life-Changing Fiction ™ ” in order to describe your books. Would you care to share with us some of the ways that God has used your writing to change lives? KK: Many people write to tell me that God has used my books to save their marriage or to help heal a relationship. Some people have even remarried after reading one of my novels. It’s humbling and amazing to watch God work through the power of story. CT: How has publishing played a role in your spiritual life? KK: I am forced – thankfully – to stay very close to God so that I can have fresh takes on Scripture for my stories. CT: What is your seed Scripture and why? KK: Jeremiah 29:11 is a verse I use often, because it’s wonderful to know that our God has a plan for our lives. DSK: How do you go about researching your books? Do you do all the research yourself, or do you have a staff to handle that? KK: I research through personal experience and through exploration of the web. I handle all research, although before my brother died he was helping me with some location research. DSK: I was particularly interested in the Redemption series. Did you do onsite research after Nine Eleven? KK: Yes, I researched by visiting Ground Zero and talking to the people who were personally involved in the tragedy and clean-up after that horrible event. DSK: In April I reviewed SUNRISE for At Home with Christian Fiction. Have you, like Dayne Matthews and Katy Hart, been dogged by journalists and photographers? KK: Not really. Once in a while I get recognized or find the topic of my books coming up more than usual – but for the most part I don’t live a life like Dayne Matthews. There are big conference type events where I get more of this feel, and that’s been helpful in researching the life Dayne Matthews leads. DSK: Please tell us about Gideon’s Gift and the upcoming movie. KK: Gideon’s Gift has been held over to Christmas, 2008 – it should release around Thanksgiving of that year. Also, Like Dandelion Dust will be released in theaters sometime around summer, 2008. AG: In your article “A Call to Adopt”, one of the huge things that struck a chord in my heart was that your three adopted sons are so grateful for even the smallest things and have such tender hearts for the Lord. The trials that they endured in their young lives have certainly molded them in this way—the way we as American parents long for our children to be. Have you seen these Christ-like qualities being transferred to the rest of your family? In what other ways has your family’s (specifically your biological children’s) attitudes/dispositions been positively affected by these additions to your family? KK: Our decision to adopt was a family one, therefore from the beginning I’ve seen Christ’s love amplified in all members of our family. It’s been six years since we brought home our first two adopted children, and I’ve only seen that love and acceptance grow. God has blessed our family’s decision again and again and again. AG: What was the most discouraging part of the adoption process? KK: The length of time it takes to process paperwork, and the waiting while our file sometimes sat on the desk of someone in Haiti for weeks at a time. AG: What advice can you give someone interested in adopting? KK: Make it a family decision, and then pray about whether you can handle a special needs child or not. We chose to adopt kids without special needs – though all kids are special and have needs! In this way, we could handle adopting three boys who weren’t biologically related, because all our focus was on blending and transition, without the additional concerns of special needs. I think a special needs child would be best in a family where the other children are already grown. Also, of course, much prayer is needed before, after, and during the adoption process. It is only by God’s grace that the details ever work out. AG: You stated in your “A Call to Adopt” article: “Adoption has also made me more compassionate in my novel writing.” Have you written or plan to write a book that deeply involves adoption? KK: I’ve written several books that involve a thread or theme of adoption. Those can be found on my website, where I list my books by topic. AG: How long was the adjustment period for your family once Joshua, EJ, and Sean arrived? KK: The greatest and most intense period happened in the first three months while our new little boys learned English. CT: I read the pages on your website dedicated to America’s heroes of the war. I prayed for the many faces before me and thanked God that you created a place where we can honor our soldiers, those currently serving and those who have fallen. KK: I’m glad you’re enjoying this page. CT: What inspired you to create this branch of your ministry? KK: I wrote Ever After, a novel devoted to the troops – both fallen and active. I decided a page on my website was very necessary, after hearing back from thousands of members of the military and their families. CT: Knowing that God is faithful, have you received any praise reports from the families of the soldiers you placed on your site? KK: Definitely. God is working in the lives of our troops. CT: For those who know someone who is currently serving in a war zone, and would like to send you information concerning the individual, what are you looking for? KK: You can find this on my website at the soldiers link. CT: I encourage all of our readers to visit Karen’s website (http://www.karenkingsbury.com). Today we have only covered a portion of the ministry which Karen Kingsbury has built. KK: Thank you . . . this is a great place for readers to learn more about the ministry of fiction, and the lives God is touching. CT: Is there anything, in particular, that you would like to share with our readers before we end this interview? KK: Thank you so much for your devotion to reading stories with the power to change lives. I consider each of you my friends, because that’s what we’ll be in heaven. I hope to meet you in person someday! Until then, may God continue to hold you close and bless you and yours with His great love and mercy. CT: Thank you, Karen for taking the time out of your busy schedule to visit with us. |
