Tricia Goyer is a busy mom of four, grandmother of one, and wife to John. Somewhere around the hustle and bustle of family life, she manages to find the time to write fictional tales delighting and entertaining readers and non-fiction titles offering encouragement and hope. A bestselling author, Tricia has published thirty-three books to date and has written more than 500 articles. She is a two time Carol Award winner, as well as a Christy and ECPA Award Nominee. In 2010, she was selected as one of the Top 20 Moms to Follow on Twitter by SheKnows.com. Tricia is also on the blogging team at MomLifeToday.com, TheBetterMom.com and other homeschooling and Christian sites.

In addition to her roles as mom, wife and author, Tricia volunteers around her community and mentors teen moms. She is the founder of Hope Pregnancy Ministries in Northwestern Montana, and she currently leads a Teen MOPS Group in Little Rock, AR. Tricia, along with a group of friends, recently launched www.NotQuiteAmishLiving.com, sharing ideas about simplifying life. She also hosts the weekly radio podcast, Living Inspired. Learn more about Tricia at www.triciagoyer.com. I’m delighted to have her here today on Story Matters.

Tricia, how did you become a writer? I first thought about writing in 1993. A friend from church, Cindy Martinusen told me about her aspirations to become a novelist. My first thought was . . . Real people do that? She invited me to attend Mount Hermon Christian Writer’s Conference with her. I was new as new can be. I was also 22-years-old and pregnant with my third child, but I learned enough at that conference to start off on the right track. And I’ve been actively working at my writing ever since.

You co-wrote your latest novel, Love Finds You in Glacier Bay, Alaska, with Ocieanna Fleiss. How did that work? Ocieanna and I split up the book. I wrote the contemporary part and she wrote the historical letters. She sent me the letters as she wrote them, and as I wrote the scenes with Ginny I wove the letters in. I knew her basic idea for the plot, but I read only one letter as a time. I wanted to read them as my character did. I wanted her response to be real, fresh. I think it worked!

How did your research trip to Alaska come about? It was Ocieanna who first suggested we travel to Glacier Bay. Living in Arkansas, that’s a long trip … especially with a toddler. I wasn’t planning on it until one day, a few months prior, my husband turned to me. “I’m ready to get out of this Arkansas heat. Do you have a book to research in Alaska?” That did it. Within a day I’d talked to Ocieanna and we’d set our schedule. I’m so glad we went. There are many things we could have figured out through the Internet or through interviews, but the book came to life on the page because we went there.

You two obviously had a blast there. Was Alaska anything like what you expected? I lived in Montana for 15 years so I expected Glacier Bay to be like that. Wrong! Montana is rustic. Glacier Bay is RUSTIC. I knew we were someplace unique when most of the houses I saw weren’t completely sided or roofed. I understand now … they have to fly everything, EVERYTHING, in.

What other kind of research did you do for this book? God blessed us with the most amazing help. We connected with Lee & Linda Parker through the Internet and they were a treasure trove of information. Lee’s grandfather was one of the first settlers and both of them are historians. They had an answer for everything, a photos and stories to back it up!

What inspires you to write? I have a video where I talk about that! As for how I balance being a writer and a mom… I talk about that on my blog.

Who is your favorite author and why? My favorite author is Francine Rivers. I LOVE her novels. Also, I know her as a person and I know these novels don’t come easy. I’ve been with her as she’s spent days pouring over Scripture to get her mind focused on the characters in her novel–as they relate to Biblical people. She’s as amazing in person as her books are!

 Thanks so much, Tricia!

Friends, leave a comment on this post and you will be entered to win a copy of Love Finds You in Glacier Bay, Alaska. Next week, we’ll hear from Tricia’s co-author, Ocieanna Fleiss.