Q&A: BRENDA COULTER, PT 1

For the next three days, inspirational romance novelist Brenda Coulter is on a blog tour with her new novel, A Family Forever (Steeple Hill). (Read an excerpt here.)

Here, then, is our Q&A with Ms. Coulter ...

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PART 1.

Are you an "entertainer" or a "minister"?
Definitely an entertainer; I'm writing romance novels. My goal is to provide a "guilt-free" read, an emotional adventure with a happily-ever-after ending. While I don't see it as my mission to change lives through my writing, I do get a lot of letters from people who say my novels have touched them deeply and made them want to move closer to God. But that's the Lord's doing, not mine. I'm just writing stories about Christians overcoming emotional obstacles and learning spiritual lessons as they fall in love.


Who are your literary influences?
Jane Austen and P.G. Wodehouse. Quite a combination, huh?

Who are your spiritual influences?
Charles Swindoll. As a new Christian and young mother, I listened to him on the radio every weekday. Also, C.S. Lewis. And my own pastor.


What is the best thing anyone said about your books?
In my favorite review of Finding Hope, the reviewer argued at length against the conservative Christian principle of believers not being "unequally yoked" with unbelievers in marriage, then went on to admit that the issue worked well as part of my book's premise because of my character's strongly-held beliefs. The reviewer was predisposed to hate my "too evangelical" book, but was charmed against her will. I took that as a great compliment.


What is the worst thing anyone said about your books?
Just last week, a blogger who reviewed my book (and who doesn't care for romance novels) stated flatly that an intelligent, talented blogger like Brenda Coulter could have written a much better novel. I believe she meant that as a compliment, but the truth is that A Family Forever, my second book, is a project I'm tremendously proud of. It's the best novel I'm capable of writing. Anyone who thinks I dashed off a fluffy little romance novel just to make money is gravely mistaken.

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Come back tomorrow for the next part of our Q&A. In the meantime, find Brenda online at BrendaCoulter.com and at her blog, No rules. Just write. Click for more info about Christian Fiction Blog Tours.

Related link:
Q&A: BRENDA COULTER, PT 2
Q&A: BRENDA COULTER, PT 3

Other author Q&As:
CHRISTINE SCHAUB
BRANDILYN COLLINS
MARILYNN GRIFFITH
RANDY SINGER
JAMES SCOTT BELL