Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Writer's Life: Beth K. Vogt

Welcome to another edition of Writer's Life! Every Wednesday features a writer of inspirational or sweet romance novels. I'm excited to share some of my favorite authors and hope you'll find new books for your to-be-read pile!

Today we have the oh-so-encouraging and talented Beth K. Vogt!! You know how some people just give you the warm fuzzies? Well, Beth is one of those people. She goes out of her way to make everyone around her feel special, and she's SO gifted as a writer. Her latest inspirational contemporary romance, Somebody Like You, sucked me in and wouldn't let me go. Yes, I cried! My review is posted below. 

Let's get to it! 

1.  What about writing makes your heart sing?

There are times when writing makes my heart grumble – usually when I’m lost in rewrites. But the days when the words I’ve written turn into scenes that match the vision I have for a novel – that’s when writing creates music inside of me. Or when readers tell me they connect emotionally with characters and can’t stop thinking about them … or when a spiritual truth experienced by one of my imaginary characters also touches the heart of a real life reader … those are times when writing “sings” for me.

2.  What is the biggest hurdle you're facing right now as a writer?

I’m launching my newest book, Somebody Like You, starting the fast draft of a new novel, and waiting for edits of a novella. Balancing all those #1 priorities is a challenge. Some days I manage better than others.

3.  What do you do to fill your creative well?

Two disparate things help me be more creative: silence and music. I’ve dealt with insomnia for several years now and, as much as I don’t like the loss of sleep, I treasure the quietness of the house when I’m the only one awake. I spend time in the Word, pray, journal – all three refresh my soul. I also enjoy creating musical playlists on Spotify. Some are geared to the novels I’m writing and some are just personal favorites. Listening to music often helps me tap into the mood of the scene that I’m writing.

4.  What are you working on now?

I’m brainstorming my next novel. I’m part of the My Book Therapy leadership team and I love to use The Book Buddy, a worktext developed by best-selling author Susan May Warren, to plot out my novel: themes, Story Question, characters, subplots, spiritual thread – things like that. Once I have these elements developed, I’ll dive into my fast draft and discover what this novel is about.

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Sounds like you're super busy, Beth! I'm with you on getting lost in rewrites--it's difficult to change the story, keep the threads together, and strengthen the book. Insomnia--yuck. I'm impressed you found a way to make it positive. I usually sit there while the same thoughts race around my head. Your way is better! Congratulations on your upcoming novella, and happy first-draft-writing!

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SOMEBODY LIKE YOU ~

Can a young widow find love again with her husband’s reflection?

Haley’s three-year marriage to Sam, an army medic, ends tragically when he’s killed in Afghanistan. Her attempts to create a new life for herself are ambushed when she arrives home one evening—and finds her husband waiting for her. Did the military make an unimaginable mistake when they told her Sam was killed? 

Too late to make things right with his estranged twin brother, Stephen discovers Sam never told Haley about him. As Haley and Stephen navigate their fragile relation­ship, they are inexorably drawn to each other. How can they honor the memory of a man whose death brought them together—and whose ghost could drive them apart? 

Somebody Like You is a beautifully rendered, affecting novel, reminding us that while we can’t change the past, we have the choice to change the future and start anew.

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About Beth ~

Beth K. Vogt believes God’s best often waits behind the doors marked “Never.” A nonfiction writer and editor who said she’d never write fiction, Beth is now a novelist with Howard Books. She enjoys writing inspirational contemporary romance because she believes there’s more to happily-ever-after than the fairy tales tell us. Connect with Beth on her website or check out her blog on quotes, In Others’ Words.

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My review: 5 Stars!!

I’ve been anticipating this book for months. What can I say? I’m a sucker for any identical twin drama. This one lived up to its premise and then some!! There’s so much to love about this book—the tension of not knowing how Haley and Stephen can get past the death of Stephen’s twin brother, who was Haley’s husband, to forge a future, then there was the serious but warm tone, the heartbreak of giving birth as a widow, the sweet, sweet acts of kindness Stephen showered on Haley. I could go on and on. I loved this book. Did I cry? Of course I did! Do yourself a favor and buy Somebody Like You! It’s wonderfull!


**I received an advanced reader copy of this book with no obligation to review it. All opinions are my own.**

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Thank you, Beth, for being my guest today!!

Do you love stories featuring identical twins? And how many of you read the Sweet Valley High series? (Guilty!!)

Have a terrific day!

6 comments:

  1. Great interview!

    I can relate to insomnia - because of illness and PTSD, I rarely sleep, and find that I, too, love that silent time of zero dark thirty. It's when I write my bet stuff.

    http://blessed-are-the-pure-of-heart.blogspot.com/2014/05/the-first-love-language.html

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    1. Way to use your unwanted downtime, Andrew! I'm sorry you get so little sleep, though. Deep rest is something easy to take for granted until we don't get enough. :(

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    2. Andrew: I found I can either rale against insomnia, or embrace it. And yes, there are things to love about it. But sleep is a beautiful thing too.

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  2. Beth, I'm glad I'm not the only one whose heart grumbles now and then at writing. LOL! Honestly, though, if someone told me it never made them grumble, I would never be able to trust said liar again. Haha! Just kidding...maybe there really are people who never, ever get frustrated while writing...

    And yes, Jill, I read some Sweet Valley High books. I wasn't hugely into them, but I did read some. :)

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    1. I try to keep my grumbling private ... and behind the closed doors of my office or while I'm on a walk with my husband. I do love what I do, but there are times when it's frustrating. Sometimes I create the frustrations ... and other times, well ...

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    2. I just let those grumbles out--to my close friends. :) I'm with you, Melissa--anyone who claims otherwise is a liar!!

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