Whose Words Are They, Anyway?

For more than 30 years, Kristin Gjedstad kept her extraordinary spiritual experiences mostly to herself. As a mental health professional, she wondered how others might respond to the things she had seen, heard, and experienced.In this episode of My Friend Writes, Kristin shares how those experiences eventually became her book, Benedictions Given to an Ordinary Woman. We talk about writing later in life, finding joy in unexpected places, her deeply personal experience at her grandmother's bedside, and the courage it takes to share a story that others may not understand.It's a conversation about faith, obedience, and recognizing God's presence in ordinary life.Keep the conversation going: Kristin has written a companion essay on Substack, sharing more of her personal reflections and the lessons she's learned along the way. I hope you'll take a few minutes to read her words, subscribe to her publication, and join the conversation.

What happens to a writer when their journey takes an unexpected turn, especially when she believes God has given her words to share? In this solo episode of My Friend Writes, I'm reflecting on faith, stewardship, lessons learned, and the decisions that come after publication. Then, join me on Substack for a walk along the beach, where I'm once again talking to God about the same book, only this time with different questions.

What happens when a childhood dream finds its way back into your life years after you've tucked it away?This week on My Friend Writes, I'm visiting with Kayla Nelson, author and founder of Sower and Seeds Magazine, a Christian publication that brings together writers of all ages to encourage families in their faith.We talk about writing as a path to healing, the unexpected joy of becoming a publisher, and the importance of preserving our authentic voices in a world increasingly influenced by AI. Kayla also shares encouragement for anyone who feels called to write but doesn't know where to begin.Then visit the My Friend Writes Substack for show notes, links to Kayla's work, and her answers to a few follow-up questions.

What happens when life gives you stories you never imagined having to tell?This week on My Friend Writes, I'm catching up with my friend and fellow author Lea Turner, whose book, The Freedom to Feel: Finding God in the Midst of Grief and Trauma, grew out of unexpected loss, family challenges, and her journey through grief.We talk about writing through painful memories, the healing that can happen along the way, the courage it takes to share stories involving people we love, and why Lea eventually needed to step away from writing about grief.Lea also shares what surprised her most about writing an entire book: discovering she was actually a pretty good writer! But that realization came after plenty of self-doubt, uncertainty, and wondering whether her words would make a difference.Listen to My Friend Writes, then head over to our Substack to read more from Lea as she reflects on finding her voice, gaining confidence through writing, and learning that sometimes we have to take the next step in faith before we feel ready.

You wrote the book, celebrated its release, and maybe even enjoyed a little success. Then someone asked, "So, what's next?"I'm flying solo this week on My Friend Writes, exploring a question I've been asking myself lately: What if that was my only book?I'm sharing what it's like to write in the shadow of Reflections of Joy, why my next book, What Now, God?, has taken a few unexpected turns, and how easy it is to lose the joy of writing somewhere between publishing, promoting, and planning what comes next.We'll also talk about five simple ways to pick up the pen again, why every idea doesn't have to become a book, and the freedom to grow into a different kind of writer.If you've ever wondered whether you have another story worth telling, this conversation is for you.A question to consider: If your next piece of writing didn't have to live up to anything you'd written before, what would you write?

Barbara Howlin didn’t begin writing Can It Be That Easy? A Practical Guide to Rewild Your Intuition because she had everything figured out. She began because a flash of jealousy made her ask herself an honest question: Do you want to write a book? The answer was yes.In this episode of My Friend Writes, Barbara talks about moving from burnout and self-doubt toward creativity, curiosity, and intuitive trust. We talk about Morning Pages, imposter syndrome, Human Design, Reiki, sharing the messy middle, and what it means to “rewild” the parts of ourselves we learned to silence.Barbara also shares how writing her first book became one of the biggest exercises in intuitive trust she’s ever experienced, and why she believes creativity becomes easier when we stop demanding the whole plan and begin trusting one step at a time.Can It Be That Easy? eleases November 1. Listen and then grab her links and more info on Substack at My Friend Writes

What happens when writing your story helps you finally recognize yourself?This week on My Friend Writes, I’m talking with author and creative director Shonda Ramsey about the journey from poetry to nonfiction to clean and wholesome romance, and what each book has taught her about herself.We talk about plotting fiction, building a writing life around a full-time career, creating characters readers care about, and the unexpected healing Shonda found while writing Authentically Anchored.That process also changed the way she lives. Shonda shares how she’s learning to trust herself, become more intentional with her “yes,” and say “no” to the things that don’t align with who God created her to be.Listen to our conversation, then find Shonda’s follow-up reflection on Substack.

A technical writer and paranormal investigator walks into a 165-year-old jail… and eventually writes a book about it.This week on My Friend Writes, I’m talking with my longtime friend Edward Quentin, author of Historical and Haunted Tales of the 1859 Jail. What began with paranormal investigations led Edward deep into the history of Independence, Missouri, uncovering stories involving Frank James, Harry Truman, the Civil War, and more than a few things that are harder to explain.We talk about research rabbit holes, moving from technical writing to storytelling, the realities of publishing, and what Edward learned when he decided to find out if he could actually write the book.Listen to the episode, then head over to My Friend Writes Substack for Edward’s follow-up essay and a little more of the story behind the story.

Writers do a strange thing. We spend months, sometimes years, writing a book, and then we get uncomfortable telling people about it.In this solo episode of My Friend Writes, Kim reflects on receiving an award for Reflections of Joy and the reminder it gave her to stop, look around, and appreciate the work that brought her there. She talks about why writers struggle to celebrate their accomplishments, why promoting your book does not have to feel like bragging, and why the story you worked so hard to tell still deserves to be shared long after launch day.If you wrote the book, share the review. Celebrate the milestone. Post the picture. Tell people about the award. Your book may feel familiar to you, but someone who needs it may simply not know about it yet.And every once in a while, before asking, “What now, God?” give yourself a moment to say, “Thank You for this.”For more of the story, including Kim’s acceptance speech from the Gala and her reflections on the moment, read the companion essay on her Substack My Friend Writes.

What happens when you know God has called you to write, but you do not yet know what story He is asking you to tell?In this episode of My Friend Writes, I talk with Jennifer Longenecker, co-author of Held in the Dark, about writing alongside her daughter, Heather, and telling the story of their family’s journey through eating disorder recovery.Jennifer shares how the writing process helped her see her daughter’s experience differently, release some of the guilt she carried as a mother, and trust the story that was unfolding. We also talk about rewriting a manuscript when the story needs more of you, letting go of perfection, and taking the next step when you believe God has called you to write.Jennifer knew she was called to write nearly a decade before she knew what the book would be. After you listen, visit My Friend Writes on Substack to read her follow-up and discover how years of journaling, blogging, learning, waiting, and saying yes prepared her for the story she eventually understood she was meant to tell.