[Mackenzie]

@pixie

Favorite writing music: definitely soundtracks. But whatever I’m listening to, I always do it with an ear to finding songs for my WIP Spotify playlists– and the song titles have to be appropriate to my story 🙂 You?

A personalized soundtrack for your WIP is an awesome idea! Does it help as you craft the characters and environment of your story?

Yes, my main WIP having the theme of growing up, romance and courtship definitely plays into it! I’m really passionate about God’s way of cultivating sound relationships between guys and gals, especially in an age where romance is usually gutted of genuine love, and the social frameworks for single guys and gals are usually misplaced or messed up.

I’ve been disappointed by many a surface-level romance in a book, and crave something deeper and more meaningful. I’m excited about what you’re doing with Quest of the Boy!🙂

[Mackenzie]

@pixie

Hi Ariana! Welcome!😊 I’m Mackenzie. I love my dogs, sunset walks, and unputdownable books. I enjoy both historical fiction and fantasy, and tend to yoyo between the two. I like a good mystery/suspense novel every once in a while as well.

I haven’t read a George MacDonald book in years! He was my favorite author once upon a time. (Now I have more than I can keep track of.😄 You know how it goes.) I think I only read the second Curdie book, but it was a gem.

A few questions for you:

What type of music do you like to listen to when you write?

Out of the two WIP’s you mentioned, which one is your favorite?

Do you include romance in your writing?

You sound like a wonderfully creative person! And I admire your desire to use your skills for God’s Kingdom.😊 It’s lovely to meet you!

[Mackenzie]

@felicity

I’ve heard of the Covenant Series. I’ll have to add it to my TBR pile.🙂 Have you ever read The White Rose Resists by Amanda Barratt? (Unsolicited book recommendation alert!😄) It takes place in the same time period, and is about the true story of two siblings, Hans and Sophie Scholl, who refused to do nothing in the face of Hitler’s actions. The author also adds two original characters, making a fascinating mixture of fiction and fact. You might enjoy the history of it and the elements of faith.❤️

Do you tend to heavily plan your writing projects? I admire strong plotters!😊 I never like the way what I plan turns out. I’m just rubbish at coming up with ideas that make sense together, apparently. Do you have any advice on how to plot well?

It’s awesome that you can run what you’ve written by your siblings! (Siblings are great!) My siblings are as single as I am, so we’re very much the shy, awkward blind leading the blind. 😄

Your WIP sounds lovely! You strike me as a person who creates heart-felt, meaningful stories.❤️ Are you planning for Marian to be homeschooled? Will she be a complete stranger to the gospel, or will she have a surface-level faith? How does she meet the guy she falls in love with? (If you don’t mind questions! Don’t feel like you have to answer.)

I’m very bad at describing my WIPs, so have mercy on me.😄 While considering trying my hand at writing fantasy, I was intrigued by the idea of making magic evil. A villain of sorts. And then break the rules and give my character magic against her will. She hates herself for something outside of her control, unleashing a flurry of emotions and events I really wanted to dive into.

[Mackenzie]

@felicity

Ah, the dreaded curse of historical fiction research! Sometimes it offers a gold mine, other times it’s wasting half an hour trying to find out what shoe polish smelled like two hundred years ago.

I don’t know if you should take romance writing advice from me!😄 (So read this at your own risk.😉) In the project I’m currently working on, I’d intended for my MC to fall in love with one character, but realized she had better romantic chemistry with someone else and changed my plans. I’m writing a POV I wasn’t expecting, and love it.❤️ My tip would be to be to hold your plans loosely and change them if it feels right. Do you have any romance writing tips yourself?

A YA contemporary romance sounds fun!! Could I ask what it’s about?🙂

[Mackenzie]

@felicity

Misbehaving ovens are a pain! Ours likes to overcook one side and undercook the other. It has quite the contrary personality.😄 Yours sounds like a bit of a trickster.

I used to mainly write historical fiction, but I’ve been dipping my toes into the fantasy genre lately. Two vastly different writing experiences, but I suppose I like fantasy with a historical feel.

What genres do you write? Do you ever include romance? (Writers seem to have passionate feelings about this!) I’m trying to convince myself that I can make two people fall in love, but I’m not sure if that’s true.😄

[Mackenzie]

@felicity

Thanks for the offer!😊❤️

What’s the worst mishap you’ve ever experienced in the kitchen? And what did you learn from it?

[Mackenzie]

@thearcaneaxiom

Ah, I see. Not quite a riddle, then. How would you answer your own question?

[Mackenzie]

@thearcaneaxiom

You did say that ‘no cat’ has zero tails, didn’t you?😄 Clearly, I am not a riddle person. This is bringing flashbacks to my Mom’s riddle phase when I was younger, goodness. Do you write riddles yourself?

[Mackenzie]

@felicity

Wuzetka sounds delicious! I’ve always considered baking fun, and cooking necessary. (But I could blame this entirely on my sweet tooth.😉) I’ve never explored a particular cuisine. Is it difficult to find the ingredients you need?

I love how homesteading has given your writing a unique authenticity.❤️😊

[Mackenzie]

@thearcaneaxiom

Hi ArcaneAxiom! Thanks for the welcome!😊

In my opinion, (don’t hate me for this!😄) when worldbuilding takes center stage it can read like a text book. I do appreciate worldbuilding and rigorously defined rules, especially the work that goes into them, but they’re not aspects I’m drawn to in a book. I still believe in keeping details consistent, but I’m a character driven reader and writer.

Sharon Hinck wrote a fantasy series about a world where dancers are able to control the weather and plant growth with dance. I’ve never been particularly interested in ballet, but her writing is so breathtaking, I was swept away.

I enjoy exploring how the rules of the world can work for or against my main character in my own worldbuilding.

How about you? Hard or Soft worldbuilding? (Though I suspect I know the answer.😉) What worldbuilding idea has most intrigued you? What do you love most about your own worldbuilding?

And last but not least:

All cats have one tail because ‘no cats’ have zero tails.

[Mackenzie]

@keilah-h

That’s awesome!😊

[Mackenzie]

@orangearmadillo

No problem.😄 I appreciate both of your answers. Thank you for being so careful to cover everything in each response!🙂

[Mackenzie]

@orangearmadillo

I’ve been wondering, have you ever spoken to a person who used to be a Christian about God? I find this to be far more difficult, because they already know what the gospel says. How can we encourage former believers to see Christ in a new light?

[Mackenzie]

@smiley

I appreciate you sharing your opinion!❤️ And you’ve brought up a good point! Several good points.

(I’ve always wanted to visit the Ark Encounter!😊 That’s so cool!)

 

[Mackenzie]

@orangearmadillo

It just takes one eye opening talk to change a person’s mind about God…well said.😊

How would you  respond to someone who doesn’t necessarily look down on you or get angry because of your faith, but kind of treats you as childish for it?

 

[Author]

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