Fabulous Friday Feature-Laura Frantz

Today I welcome Laura Frantz,
a gracious lady showing the love of Christ with her smile.

Enter to win Laura's September 2013 release,

Love's Awakening
Scroll to the end of the post to see how to enter.

I was introduced to Laura at an ACFW conference by my a fellow Writer's Alley Cat writer. Immediately I saw Laura's gracious spirit. It's been about two years since and I thought of that Christlike spirit when I noticed her new book release. I asked Laura to share with us the journey God has led her on for her writing career. Of course she graciously agreed. Here is what she said:

You Were Born For Nothing Less

Thanks so much for having me here, Mary. It’s always a joy to revisit my writing journey as it stays fresh and is always humbling to think how God led me to this place. 

In a nutshell…

I’ve written stories – historical fiction only – since I was seven years old. I think I came into the world hardwired to write. I didn’t study craft books and only took one creative writing course in college (which I hated). I think my best teachers were books. 

I read voraciously as a child and young adult, especially historical fiction or biographies of famous historical figures. When I was working as a teacher and social worker and even as a college student I would carry around legal pads and pens and write my heart out in spare moments. Aside from my family and the Lord, writing was and is my greatest joy and blessing.

Until I was in my 30’s I simply wrote for myself, never dreaming or thinking of publication. Then one day my pastor brother challenged me, telling me I’d been given a gift to share and should stop being a closet writer. He actually arranged for my family to help pay for a freelance editor to read my first novel, The Frontiersman’s Daughter. At the same time I submitted to Writer’s Edge. In about six months Revell Publishing perused my manuscript and picked it up.

**Mary here, this should encourage many who have been leery about submitting to Writer's Edge. 

I was so ignorant of the CBA and their standards as I’d read very little in the inspirational market. I didn’t have an agent or an online presence and I hadn’t been to any writing conferences, etc. But the Lord had a plan. 

I’m always amazed that authors come to publishing in such unique, individually tailored ways. God is so creative in how He leads us and opens and closes doors. When I received my first three-book contract, I was amazed (and still am!) that the Lord took the writing dreams of a little Kentucky girl and made them a reality.

Now, six years and five books later, I can honestly say that publishing has been something of a spiritual boot camp for me. I’ve had to let go and trust the Lord in fresh, often frightening ways. But I’ve found that He’s always faithful, always trustworthy. 

I’ve grown and changed so much since my debut novel went to print. Sometimes I feel I’m not the same person! And I agree wholeheartedly with Beth Moore who says this about serving Christ with the gifts He gives us:

“You surrender yourself to living in the tension where you’ll always be stretched and often be broken… You accept that far easier ways to live exist, but you were born for nothing less.”

Author bio:

I was born and raised in Kentucky and my heart has always been in Berea, Madison County, the place my family has resided since the 18th-century. I came to know Christ there at the age of 12, was baptized, and spent my childhood roaming through the woods and swimming in the rivers of my books.

My earliest memories are of the public library, standing in front of shelves filled with those little biographies of famous historical figures like Daniel Boone and George Washington and Sacajawea

I attended college at Denison University in Ohio and also in England, living in a manor/castle and studying the American Revolution from the British perspective. Shakespeare and 18th-century literature form the backbone of my English degree. Strangely enough, I only took one creative writing class.

It was never a desire of mine to be published. I simply love to write for the sheer joy of writing – and that was enough. But as Proverbs 16:9 says, “The heart of a man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.”

Web site: www.LauraFrantz.net

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LauraFrantzAuthor

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/laurafrantz

To enter the contest for an autographed copy of 

Laura Frantz's book: "Love's Awakening":

leave a comment (and email address)

and become a follower of this site if you aren't already.

Winner announced on my facebook page.

Thank you, Laura, for Joining us This Weekend!

Friend, wasn't it wonderful to read how God led Laura even when she didn't have the training? Let's see here are a few she mentioned: 

She read and read and read
Her brother pastor approached her about pursuing her writing interests (who needs to approach us before we step forward)
She has found publishing a spiritual boot camp (translated - it's not easy!)
She hold's to the Beth Moore quote at the end of her post. (good words to reread)


Choose one and add your comment.