Author Interview with Beverly Varnado

By Deena Adams

I hope you’ll enjoy my final post of 2020, an interview with Anaiah Press author, Beverly Varnado. Learn more about Beverly and her Christmas novella, A Season for Everything.

If you read Beverly’s book and enjoy it, please leave a review on Amazon, Goodreads, and any other book selling platforms possible.

Now, let’s get to know Beverly!

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Tell us a little about yourself and your family.

I am a novelist, screenwriter, and blogger who writes to give readers hope in the redemptive purposes of God. I’ve written a nonfiction memoir as well as several novels and screenplays, one of which was a finalist for the Kairos Prize in Screenwriting.

I also have pieces in anthologies and periodicals. I’m an artist, so when I’m not writing I’m working on a new painting. 

I live in Georgia with my husband, Jerry, and our chocolate Aussiedor who is outnumbered by several cats. I am Mom to three children and Mimi to two grandchildren. 

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How and when did you start writing? 

My passion for writing began at eight when I published my first magazine, which I sold door to door for a nickel. I also received a long-awaited present of a journal for my birthday that year. The magazine folded in the first week, but the journal writing continues to the present day. 

Though I’ve written since I was a child, it wasn’t until about twenty years ago, I began to sense God wanted me to devote more time to my writing and seek publication.

I initially worked in non-fiction, but God led me to write a novel, which at the time, felt a bit like walking on water since I had always thought of writing fiction as doing the impossible. But somehow, through a lot of prayer and God’s help, I did it. Multiple novels later, I’m still at it. 

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How do you incorporate Christ and hope into your writing? 

I aim for the Christian content in my stories to be an unbreakable thread which ties the story together from beginning to end. It is not just tacked on to make the story a “Christian” story, but rather is the axis from which the story will find hope and resolution.

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Are any of your stories inspired by true events or personal history? 

As a matter of fact, there is a scene in my Christmas novella, A Season for Everything, which was inspired by a real-life situation.

My husband and I occasionally have the opportunity to spend time in a large wildlife area. We had heard the endangered Red Cockaded woodpecker nested there. So, one morning at daybreak, our hosts guided us to a spot where we could see these rare woodpeckers.

I will never forget the wonder of this experience and it inspired the scene where my protagonists, Collin and Catherine also spot the woodpecker.

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What does your writing space look like?

I love writing in my office, which is actually a sunroom. Perched at my desk, I have a portal to nature. Woodpeckers, cardinals, chipmunks, one chocolate Aussiedor, and three cats distract me as I write. No wonder some critter usually finds its way into my writing. 

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What do you hope your readers take away from the book?

During this challenging time, I hope the readers of A Season for Everything take away hope and joy. My characters, Catherine and Collin, have recently faced major difficulties and wrestle with finding a new season in their life.

Many of us may have Christmases this year that will look very different from previous ones, but we can still find joy despite the circumstances. 

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Which character in A Season for Everything was easiest for you to write and why? Which character presented the biggest challenge? 

Catherine was both the easiest and the hardest perhaps because I recently had to navigate grief myself and so the emotional landscape was familiar, but she was also the hardest because I had to go through those emotions again. 

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Who is your favorite fiction author? Favorite novel?

Jan Karon’s Mitford series is at the top of the list. Jan Karon took the time to communicate with me at the beginning of my writing journey and encouraged me to write, so she and her work will always be dear to me. I hope my readers can see a little of her influence in what I write. 

Karon has such an interesting personal story of perseverance despite overwhelming odds. I’d love to talk to her about what inspired her to keep pushing toward her dream of seeing At Home in Mitford published. I keep hoping I will meet her someday.

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What’s next from you? 

I have two projects I’m working on. One is another book in the Worthville series called Every. Little. Thing. And I also have a historical set in the late 1960’s. 

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Besides posting comments on your website, how can your readers and fans support you?

I’d love to have my readers visit my blog, One Ringing Bell, read some of my other books, as well as post reviews on Amazon and Goodreads. It would be a real blessing.

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Any last words for your readers?

I consider the time readers spend in my books very valuable, and I never take that for granted. I hope they find encouragement and hope as they read.

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Thanks so much for being a guest on my blog, Beverly. I wish you the best as you continue writing for the Lord.

Join the conversation. Did Christmas look different for you this year? Despite the challenges, did you find hope and joy in Christ? Do you have any questions or comments for Beverly?

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If you missed last week’s interview with Jennifer Chastain, you can find it here.