Interview with Faith D. Cox & a Giveaway
I’m pleased to introduce Christian Fiction author, Faith D. Cox, to you this week. She’s sharing about her contribution to the Novelists in November anthology, My Heart Still Sings. Be sure to leave a comment below by Tuesday, November 26, for a chance to win a paperback of the book. (US winner only)
Welcome to the Hope-filled Fiction blog, Faith. Tell us about yourself and your family.
Thank you, Deena, for hosting me on your blog. I am a minister’s wife and mother of two grown daughters. I was born and raised in Texas, and it is home to our family. I have a tutoring business where I tutor students in math, reading, writing, and English, and I am an author and a produced screenwriter.
My short story My Heart Still Sings in Novelists in November anthology is my second short story to write and second to be published with my daughter Andrea Renee Cox. We are a family of writers. My husband, Richter, has a couple of books he has written, and Andrea Renee Cox is currently working on novels. My younger daughter Kristy has also shown a talent for writing, but it doesn’t fit into her schedule at the moment.
It’s great to share such a wonderful passion with others in your family. As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A writer and a teacher.
How wonderful that you’re doing both! Who was your favorite book character as a child and why?
One of the earliest characters I recall reading is Amelia Bedelia. She always brought laughter as she took to tasks literally. At such a young age, I knew it wasn’t how the chores were supposed to be performed, but it was a great concept to read how someone could misunderstand and perform their duties so literally. It was great entertainment!
How and when did you start writing?
When I was in fourth grade, the class received an assignment to write a story. I thought that was so exciting! I carried a spiral notebook and pen with me and wrote my first story. I knew then that I wanted to be a writer.
A sweet memory. What genre do you write and what inspired you to write that particular genre?
When I began tutoring, the Lord led me to tutor in a variety of subjects, not just one. The same is true with writing. The Lord has led me to write in a variety of genres. I have found a joy in writing contemporary Christian women’s fiction, romance, young adult, and tragedy short stories along with children’s and middle grade books. The Lord has also recently been speaking to me about writing devotional and inspirational books in the near future and possibly diving into a full-length novel in the more distant future.
God is my inspiration, always. Without Him, there wouldn’t be any of these stories. I have been called to share God’s love to encourage, inspire, teach, and entertain through the creation and penning of stories and devotionals.
I also write family-friendly, heartfelt screenplays. I have a short screenplay, You’ll Remember Me, that was released October 4, 2024, which can be viewed HERE. I also have a feature screenplay that is currently in pre-production. The Lord has also blessed me with 36 awards, including having scripts nominated for “Best Role for a Leading Woman,” “Best Ensemble Cast,” and “Humanitarian” awards.
Congratulations on your success, Faith! Tell us a little about Novelists in November.
Novelists in November is a Christian short story contemporary and historical collection with each story taking place in November with a character being a novelist. It features eleven emotional tales of authors finding their calling in Christ to share hope, joy, and inspiration with others.
Sounds like a cool concept. What do you hope your readers take away from Novelists in November?
With the book release being November 19, 2024, I haven’t had an opportunity to read all the stories yet, so I can’t speak as to what they all bring to the readers. With my story, My Heart Still Sings, I hope readers see the encouragement, resilience, and hope to apply to their own lives.
Hard times, and even difficult changes, sometimes life-changing, may come to each of us, but with God’s help, we can endure and strive to always be the best He wants us to be. I also hope the story will help readers be more aware of those struggling around them and be a part of their support system. Together, we can all do our part in creating friendships and better communities.
I love that. What was the hardest scene to write?
Oh, an emotional one between Kaylee and her coach—but I can’t give specifics because it will give too much away of the story.
We’ll just have to read it, right? What is one of your favorite quotes from your story in the anthology?
A favorite quote from My Heart Still Sings is when Coach Bennett tells Kaylee, “Success isn’t always measured in gold, silver, or bronze.”
Amen to that. How do you incorporate Christ and hope into your writing?
I pray about my projects and seek God’s will and words for each one. Each character is unique, and every story reveals Christ’s love and hope somewhere between the front and back covers through the characters’ journeys.
Hope and love … just the kind of stories I enjoy reading. How do you balance writing with your other life and family obligations?
I fit writing in whenever I can throughout the day if the day allows it. I normally find my best writing time is when everything has settled down for the evening, so I’m able to accomplish the most with my writing late evenings into early morning hours.
Do you enjoy marketing and social media? Which platform are you most active on?
Yes, I do enjoy marketing and social media. I hand out bookmarks, and sometimes other swag, personally while I’m out running errands. I’ve met some really great people through personal marketing! I also post on social media accounts. Other than my website and blog, I am most active on Twitter, now known as X.
Comment on @FaithDCox’s author interview by 11/26 for a chance to win a paperback of the Novelists in November Anthology. (US only) #giveaway #ChristianFiction
TweetJoin the conversation. Who was your favorite book character as a child? Does an anthology focused on novelists as the main characters sound interesting to you? Are you a fan of short story anthologies? Do you have any questions or comments for Faith?
Be sure to comment below by November 26 for a chance to win a paperback of Novelists in November anthology. (US winner only)
Novelists in November Anthology
Click the book cover for purchase link
Novelists in November is a Christian short story collection featuring eleven emotional tales of authors finding their calling in Christ and pursuing hope, joy, and inspiration. This anthology contains touching stories from contemporary and historical fiction authors with a mix of romance, women’s fiction, and mystery!
My Heart Still Sings by Faith D. Cox
An Olympics-bound swimmer meets with a life-changing accident and struggles to resurface through her pain.
Faith D. Cox began a love of writing with a fourth-grade writing assignment. As a Christian wife and mother, she became a published poet and then ventured into writing books and screenplays and earned the title of author and produced screenwriter.
After writing children’s and middle grade manuscripts, Faith’s next adventure took her into screenwriting. She writes original, family-friendly, heartwarming drama and romantic comedies to encourage, inspire, and entertain through laughter and tears. She is a produced, multi-award-winning screenwriter. Through Faith’s tireless dedication and relentless hours of screenwriting, she has been honored to have multiple screenplays awarded as Semi-finalists and Quarter-finalists along with scripts nominated for “Best Role for a Leading Woman,” “Best Ensemble Cast,” and “Humanitarian” awards. She has also placed #8 on “The Hot 100 List.” Faith enjoys creating honorable screenplays for the entire family.
To continue in her love of writing, Faith delved into Christian Women’s fiction, romance, and tragedy short stories. Within a brief time, she is getting her short stories accepted by publishing companies, with many more ideas in the works, and enjoying the journey with the support of her family.
Faith enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters in Texas. Whether it is a simple walk around the neighborhood or an occasional road trip, she values the time the Lord gives her with her family.
Faith greatly appreciates the writing and reading community and welcomes your comments!
Connect with Faith: Website / Blog / Amazon / BookBub / Goodreads / Twitter / IMDb
Please share Faith’s interview on social media to help spread the word about the anthology’s release!
If you missed my spotlight on Misty M. Beller last week, find it here.
Deena Adams
As a Jesus girl for more than thirty years, Deena Adams understands how important hope is to daily life, which fuels her passion to inspire others through hope-filled fiction based on true to life stories. She is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency and is a multi-award-winning writer, an active ACFW member, and ACFW Virginia president. Connect with Deena through her website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
70 Comments
Deena Adams
Congratulations to Judith, the winner of the giveaway! Please reply to the email from me to claim the book. Thanks to all who joined the conversation! I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Cherie J
I loved Amelia Bedelia too as well as Nancy Drew. I love anthologies! They are a great way to find new to me authors and this group of stories sounds so interesting.
Faith D. Cox
Hi, Cherie! According to the blurbs, we have a wide variety of stories. Hopefully you find some authors you really enjoy! Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
Deena Adams
Hi, Cherie. Nancy Drew mysteries were my favorite as a kid!
Lisa Parrish
I loved the Bobbsey Twins books as a child. I think the November short story collection sounds amazing!
Deena Adams
Thanks so much for reading Faith’s interview and commenting, Lisa!
Faith D. Cox
Hi, Lisa! Thank you for joining the conversation. I hope you enjoy the Novelists in November story collection if you get a chance to read it.
Lynn Moore
Faith! What an interesting chat between you & Deena! How fun it must be to sit around your dinner table and talk “shop” with your familh of writers. Blessings to you as you continue sharing your faith through your work! ✍️
Deena Adams
Thanks so much for reading Faith’s interview and joining the conversation, Lynn! It would be fun to have family members who write also. My mother loved writing, as did my grandmother. I wish they were still here to share in my journey.
Faith D. Cox
Hi, Lynn! Thank you. Yes, it’s fun sharing about our characters and story lines with each other. It really brings them to life even brighter!
Phyllis R
Enjoying learning more about Faith Cox’s writing and the premise for Novelists in November. I love fall and don’t have many fall themed books so this one would be lovely to read.
Deena Adams
I hope you get a chance to read Novelists in November, Phyllis. Thanks for stopping by!
Faith D. Cox
Hi, Phyllis! I don’t have many fall-themed books, either. I hope you get the opportunity to read Novelists in November and enjoy the stories!
Thank you for being interested in learning more about my writing journey. I just recently began a street team… Faith’s Faithful Friends. Everyone is welcome to join. If interested, the sign-up form is at https://faithdcox.com/faiths-faithful-friends/.
Ruth
I enjoyed reading this. Thank you for posting the interview and I’m looking foward to reading your story, Faith. 🙂
Deena Adams
I’m so glad you enjoyed Faith’s interview, Ruth. Thanks for reading and commenting!
Faith D. Cox
Hi, Ruth! Thank you for stopping by and reading the interview. Deena is a great hostess, and the interview was lots of fun! Thank you for your interest in reading “My Heart Still Sings.” I would love to hear your comments about it! If you don’t mind sharing, feel free to review on Amazon, Goodreads, etc. or send me a message on my contact page on my website at faithdcox.com. If that’s not your thing, no worries! I hope you enjoy the stories!
Michelle
Fantastic interview, Looking forward to reading Novelists in November.
Deena Adams
Thanks for your comment, Michelle!
Faith D. Cox
I’m glad you enjoyed the interview, Michelle! I hope you enjoy the stories when you get an opportunity to read them.
Karen Warfle
As an aspiring novelist, reading an anthology of short stories about other novelists would be most interesting and encouraging. I have had the privilege of being published in an anthology and found it to be a wonderful way for new authors to “rub shoulders” with previously published authors.
One of my favorite characters was Fern from Charlotte’s Web. I could relate to her caring and perhaps somewhat naive personality.
Deena Adams
Thanks so much for reading Faith’s interview and joining the conversation, Karen. I think being part of an anthology would be fun. Maybe one day I’ll have that opportunity.
Faith D. Cox
Karen, congratulations on your anthology you were blessed to be a part of!
Charlotte’s Web is a great book with characters that are continually enjoyed through the years. I guess we can all dream of writing one of those.
Christy Morris-Colley
Great interview and beautiful cover! I’d love to read and review this book!
What was your favorite part of collaborating with the other authors for this anthology and would you write more anthologies? Sorry if you answered that in the interview – I have horrible brain fog and short term memory loss.
Deena Adams
Thanks for your comments and questions, Christy!
Faith D. Cox
Oh, I would love for you, and any of the others, to review the book. It would be great to hear your comments.
The favorite part of collaborating with the other authors in this anthology was to get to know them a bit and have my story in the same book as theirs. It’s a great group of women wanting to give hope and encouragement to the world! I’m open to participating in more anthologies, but at the moment I’m trying to get some of my works out there on their own.
Also, I will pray that you improve as you are dealing with terrible brain fog and short-term memory loss.
JACKIE HOUCHIN
I love this idea of a CHRISTIAN anthology. November is gratitude month, so this is very appropriate. I’m eager to read Faith’s entry as well as the others. Keep writing for Jesus.
Deena Adams
I agree with you, Jackie!
Faith D. Cox
Hi, Jackie! Thank you for your very kind words. I didn’t realize November is gratitude month. That is perfect as I am very grateful to be a part of this particular anthology and to be published this month with my daughter, Andrea Renee Cox, and the other authors.
I am blessed every month that Jesus has allowed me the opportunity to write and share His love with others, and I always want to follow Him and seek His guidance. Thank you for your support and encouragement.
Judith Robl
What a beautiful interview! The anthology is now on my TBR list. It’s such an inspiration to see how these things come together. No matter what it looks like in the world, God is still in charge.
Deena Adams
Amen, Judith! Thanks so much for stopping by the blog and joining the conversation.
Faith D. Cox
Thank you, Judith! Yes, God is still in charge. Amen! I hope you enjoy the stories when you get a chance to read them.
REBECCA KOWLOWISKI
Sounds like a interesting book! I enjoyed reading this interview!
Deena Adams
Thanks so much for reading and commenting, Rebecca! I hope you get a chance to read Novelists in November.
Mark Buzard
Sounds interesting. I’d love to win a copy
Deena Adams
Best of luck in the giveaway, Mark!
Faith D. Cox
Hi, Mark! Thanks for joining the conversation. As every story had to have a novelist, it was interesting to see how God led an Olympics-bound swimmer into novel writing in my story, “My Heart Still Sings.” I hope you have the opportunity to read it along with all the other stories.
Katie Andersen
I’m here from the Avid Readers of Christian Fiction page! This cover is gorgeous! Love orange colors. I think my favorite character was Laura Ingalls Wilder, I loved the prairie setting books. Yes, I love short stories and about novelists sounds like so much fun! What screenplay or book that you’ve written is your favorite and why?
Faith D. Cox
Hi, Katie! Laura Ingalls Wilder is one of my favorites, too. I liked the idea of novelists for this collection, and I’m looking forward to reading about all of them soon.
Oh, you ask a very tough question. Every project I write is special to me, so I’ll just choose one to speak about. All of my stories are heartfelt and many bring both laughter and tears. “Gabriel’s Legacy” is a screenplay that the Lord inspired me to write in only two weeks. That is an exceptional quick time of writing a full length feature script. The Lord kept giving me the story day by day, and I typed the words with tears streaming down my cheeks. It has some enjoyable scenes, but it is a tragedy written to encourage everyone who has lost anyone. Hopefully one day, we’ll all be able to see it on a screen… or maybe in a book. I have considered that. I write to encourage, inspire, and entertain, and this story is an inspirational one to help people continue living even after an excruciating loss.
Deena Adams
Welcome, Katie! I love the Avid Readers group! I appreciate your input to the conversation here.
Faith D. Cox
Hi, Rebecca! Thank you! I hope you get an opportunity to read the stories. Through the process, it’s been enjoyable getting to know the other authors a bit. Thanks for stopping by.
Jeanette Davis
This book of short stories sounds wonderful. Thank you for the opportunity to win a copy!
Faith D. Cox
Hi, Jeanette! Thanks for joining in the conversation! I’m also looking forward to reading all the short stories. I’ve only had the opportunity to read one other story during editing, other than my own, and it was a delightful mystery.
Lorraine
What a beautiful cover! I would love to read this anthology.
Deena Adams
Thanks for your comments, Lorraine. I couldn’t agree with you more!
Faith D. Cox
Hi, Lorraine! I hope you get the opportunity to read Novelists in November, and I appreciate your stopping by and joining in the conversation.
Deena Adams
You’re welcome, Jeanette. Best of luck in the giveaway!
Lindsay
I love anthologies! I naturally write short story length stories, and they’re great to read with a busy schedule. The concept of all authors is interesting. Relatable. This book sounds inspiring!
Deena Adams
Thanks so much for reading Faith’s interview and commenting, Lindsay! I hope you get a chance to read Novelists in November soon. 🙂
Faith D. Cox
Hi, Lindsay! Thank you for your comment. I really enjoy reading and writing short stories. Although shorter in length, they still tell great inspirational stories that can fit into busy schedules!
SARAH TAYLOR
Hello this sounds like such a great book I love reading short stories
Faith D. Cox
Hi, Sarah! I love reading short stories, too! Of course, I enjoy writing them, also.:)
Thanks for stopping by and joining in. I hope you enjoy “My Heart Still Sings” and all the other stories if you get an opportunity to read them.
Deena Adams
Thanks, Sarah. I appreciate you reading Faith’s interview and joining the conversation!
Sara G Miller
Great interview. Indeed a fun read! So excited for your story and NiN, Faith. 😀
Deena Adams
Thanks for stopping by and joining the conversation, Sara!
Faith D. Cox
Hi, Sara! Thank you for joining in and for all of your encouragement!
Deena Adams
Thanks for your input, Sara. I appreciate you stopping by!
Andrea Renee Cox
Deena and Faith, this was a fantastic interview! I also love the Amelia Bedelia books! I’m a literal-minded person but not THAT literal-minded!
Please don’t enter me into the giveaway, as I’m Faith’s daughter and one of the authors of Novelists in November (I wrote “Melting-Pot Thanksgiving”).
Deena Adams
Hi, Andrea. Congratulations on your story being published in Novelists in November! I’m looking forward to reading the book.
Andrea Renee Cox
Thanks so much, Deena! I hope you enjoy the whole collection. 🙂
Faith D. Cox
Hi, Andrea! Thanks for joining in the conversation. I’m happy we’re published together again, and I’m excited to read “Melting-Pot Thanksgiving” soon!
Andrea Renee Cox
Yes! I can hardly wait to see what you think of MPT.
Faith D. Cox
Hi, Deena! Thank you for hosting me and allowing me to share a bit about myself and my story “My Heart Still Sings” in “Novelists in November.”
The interview was lots of fun!
Deena Adams
My pleasure, Faith! I’m looking forward to reading Novelists in November.
Priscilla Bettis
The Novelists in November anthology sounds fantastic. I love short stories!! And I was a competitive swimmer in college, so “My Heart Still Sings” sounds fantastic.
Lorraine Groom-Ashmore
I was fascinated by the Betsy Tacy books by about the 6th grade and Maid Hart Lovelace remains my favorite author. I look forward to reading this anthology.
Deena Adams
Thanks for reading and commenting on Faith’s interview, Lorraine! I’ve not heard of Betsy Tacy or Maid Hart Lovelace.
Faith D. Cox
Hi, Lorraine! I haven’t heard of Betsy Tacy or Maid Hart Lovelace, either. Thanks for sharing! I’ll do some digging and see if I can locate something they have written.
Thanks for joining in on the conversation, and I hope you enjoy “Novelists in November” if you have the opportunity to read it.
Andrea Renee Cox
Lorraine, I keep hearing so many good things about the Betsy Tacy books. I’m going to have to try one soon!
Deena Adams
Hi, Priscilla. I love the premise of the Novelists in November anthology. Defintiley sounds like something I’d enjoy reading. Thanks for stopping by!
Faith D. Cox
Hi, Priscilla! I love short stories, too! When I sat down to begin writing, I had other thoughts in mind for this story. But before my fingers touched the keyboard, God revealed to me that the story was to be about an Olympics-bound swimmer… no one could have been more surprised than me! However, I knew, without a doubt, it was the story I was to write. I immediately began praying for the Lord to guide me as I researched and reveal to me the story He wanted me to write.
I love that you were a competitive swimmer in college. Maybe you have your own story??? I hope you enjoy Kaylee and her story “My Heart Still Sings” if you get the opportunity to read it.