Into the Fire

Brenda S. Anderson has agreed to answer a few of my questions since her new release Home Another Way. So let's get started.

Brenda, tell us about the Potter House Books and how you came to contribute your three novellas to this collection.

The series was begun by author Juliette Duncan. She wanted a group of writers who would tell stories about God at work in lives, molding and shaping them. One of my street team members is also Juliette’s virtual assistant, and she recommended me for the series. It’s really been a blessing!

What did you like or dislike about writing novellas?

It’s difficult writing complete stories and developing full characters in less than half the number of words. I’d want to add more meat to my characters, and twists to the plot, but the space wouldn’t allow. The good thing was, it did take less time to write the stories, which was necessary as I released three books in the space of 8 months. But I didn’t like having to write books that quickly. I prefer to let my stories sit and simmer a bit before editing, but when having to release a book every four months, I can’t take that time.

Would you mind sharing a brief blurb about these three most recent releases?

Long Way Home is about a young woman who has to travel across country in a renovated school bus with the man who once bullied her. It’s a book that takes a look at bullies and their motivations and then how their actions can have long-term effects on the bullied.

Place Called Home is about a young woman who runs from an emotional abusive relationship. She injures herself along the way and is helped by a young man. But is he just as controlling as the man she’d run from?

Home Another Way is about an activist (also a senator’s daughter) who is sentenced to 100 hours of community service. At a place offering warm meals for the homeless, she meets and butts heads with the organizer, a formerly homeless young man. Sparks fly between the two as she learns what it really means to serve.

Sometimes it can be difficult projecting who the audience for our novels will be or "should" be? Who do you think your novels are geared toward? Who do you think your audience is and who do you "want" your audience to be if they differ? And do you think with your different series, the audience might vary?

Well, I’d like my audience to be those who’ve been wounded in life, those who may have turned their backs on God, or even those who don’t know Him at all. The reviews that impact me the most are those that say I’ve made them think about issues differently and those that say my stories have impacted their walk with God. Those are WoW moments!
My audience isn’t a large one in Christian fiction. I don’t write fluff or beach reads. I don’t water down life’s hurts, and I really try to get to the heart of characters. Why does a bully bully? How does a young woman end up in a controlling relationship? How do people from loving families end up homeless, and how does that affect those around them?
I did take a detour in my writing for my Where the Heart Is series in an attempt to reach the broader audience within Christian fiction. Those stories were romance focused, but I still dealt with life issues like home foreclosure, alcoholism, self-esteem issues, and more. And it was these stories that captured the attention of agents and editors and got me a final in the ACFW Genesis awards. You’d think those would be my best sellers.
But not at all. The rest of my books far outsell the romances, which is affirmation that I need to write those gritty stories God lays on my heart and not cater to the market.

Tomorrow we'll conclude the interview with Brenda. See ya then for more of her thoughtful answers to my inquiries. 

Father, you know all there is to know about us all – our needs, desires, hopes, and fears. I pray your abundant provision upon Brenda and her family. Encourage as only you can do. Keep those stories brewing in her heart that you've designed just for her to tell. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.