Interview with Lynn Squire

Lynn Squire, author of "Joab's Fire", is an avid writer who artistically intertwines Biblical truth with colorful narrative. Her childhood farm life, coupled with her equestrian experiences, brings authenticity and heart to her stories.

What was your path towards publication like?
Continual personal and spiritual growth and understanding as God stretched me and molded me...and He's not done yet.

I started out writing for horsemanship periodicals and books, but I wasn't satisfied with that. About the time I started writing horsemanship stuff, I wrote two little chapter books for my nephew and niece. Okay, I admit those were pathetic stories, but I had fun doing it, and the process made me realize I was capable of writing full-length novels.

I've learned so much about life from being a mom. That knowledge enabled me to see the world on a much deeper level. Add to that, moving to California from Canada and joining a fabulous church, and you have the perfect, God-designed elements for what I write: fiction that presents Biblical truths.

When I started taking my fiction writing seriously I had an inkling that it should be a ministry. Little did I know how much God would narrow my focus and turn up my passion for reaching women through story. My writing ministry is taking off, and I pray God will continue direct me as I soar through the storms and blue sky under His wing.


What was the first market you queried and why did you choose that market?
Way back in 1984 I wrote a short story that my English professor read. She loved it, and encouraged me to submit it to a magazine. I honestly don't remember what magazine that would have been, but I do remember being rejected. At the time, I didn't realize rejection was a way of life for a writer. I just assumed it wasn't good enough. Looking back now, I laugh. The editor had kindly made suggestions on how to improve the story. Had I left my foolish pride behind and done so, my writing career may have started years earlier.


What is your biggest obstacle when it comes to pitching yourself as a writer and what steps have you taken to overcome that obstacle?
That foolish pride that so easily captivates me.

Last November I sat through some tremendous sermons during our church's home missions conference. The last sermon really stuck it to me about not marketing myself to minister to others. I had always said, "This is not about me; It's about God." Putting such a principle into action is very difficult because pride comes in, often disguised as humility. Oy. If only I had recognized that sooner.

I'm learning to, moment by moment, set thoughts of myself and my books aside, and focus on the message God has given me for my readers.

When I keep my focus on meeting the needs of my readers—the need for them to gain a closer relationship with God or even begin a relationship with God through faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ—then what I write can be used by God.

Truth is, I have no purpose in life if I'm not glorifying God. If I'm glorifying myself to make a sale, then I'm not doing anyone any good. The Apostle Paul had such a heart for people, for his disciples, that he was willing to die to get them the message, and he was willing to live to meet their needs. "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain... Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you." Philippians 1:21,24 (KJV) I want to live with the same passion Paul had to serve the Lord and fellow Christians. Because of that passion, I no longer consider the need to pitch myself. I simply let the passion to share the Gospel, to teach, and to disciple govern how I interact with my readers and my potential readers.


How do you balance your life as a writer with your duties as a parent or spouse?
This is an ongoing battle and because of my task-oriented personality, a source of a great deal of stress. However, I've schooled myself to only work during the hours I've assigned to writing, and I make specific plans to spend time with my family.

I also do as much as I can to include my family in what I do. My husband has traveled with me to events. My children have sat through my readings and my signings. I count my eldest daughter my right hand girl.

However, last summer our new puppy taught me the greatest lesson. A puppy is like a baby and needs lots of attention. I would get so frustrated because the responsibility of carrying for Jasmine, our pup, fell to me—a very busy mother and writer. After many sleepless nights, a destroyed garden, not to mention toys, and a trainer's declaration that our pup was impossible, I finally reached the end of my coping ability. The dog was out of control and had sent my life into a fast spinning downward spiral. Well, that's when I surrendered the controls to God.

When I put my trust in Him, He pulled me out of the spin and set me back on course, this time with Him as the pilot. Control-freak Lynn got demoted and that was the best thing that ever happened to me (except getting saved, of course).


What is your best advice for getting past writer's block?
I wish I knew! For me, I go to the Bible and pray. When I dig into God's Word, listen to His Holy Spirit, and worship Him through prayers and singing, I'm refreshed. New ideas come when I turn my focus back on Him.


What was the best writing-related advice you ever received?
Write what you are passionate about and don't write for the market.

This resonates with me because of my commitment to serve the Lord. If I'm writing only what people want to read (or hear) then the reader becomes my lord and not God. Keeping in mind that my passion must come from Him as He lays it out in His Word, helps me to shut out those who would tell me to write what the publishers want.

I had an agent for awhile. She was a wonderful lady who really believed in me. But I learned a big lesson when she asked me to write a romance novella for a specific publisher. I tried, but my heart isn't in romance writing. That experience taught me that romance is not my genre, even though I often have romantic elements in my work. This experience, as well as others, also taught me that my passion doesn't mesh well with the direction many CBA publishers are heading. What incredible freedom I experienced when I understood I did not need to travel down the road most Christian fiction authors take. Such a peace came when I discovered it was all right to be different.


What do you feel is the single most detrimental thing a writer could do to destroy his/her career as a writer?
Leave God behind and live for yourself.

Your character, how you behave, reveals where your faith lies and to whom you are loyal. No one is perfect. We all do and say stupid things, but the consistency of your character comes through and you become known for what you believe. Few people will view a career in light of eternity. Many times a career seems only to last a few years. But in truth, what we do in our careers affects eternity, whether in our lives or the lives of others. If we could grasp the eternal consequences of our daily living, we would be concerned less about the immediate outcome of our actions and seek to provide for the eternal outcome of our lives. That eternal perspective will filter down to how we interact with people. Fifty years from now, what would you want such and such a person to say about how you behaved? When you die, what do you want people to say about how you lived? When you stand before the Great White Throne, what do you want read from the book of your works? If you care only about financial success or fame, then sure, cater to the world and scheme to build a career based on what the world wants. But if you care about how your career affects eternity, then draw closer to God and let Him govern it.


Can you tell us a little bit about your latest book?
My latest book, "Joab's Fire", is both a short novel and a Bible study based on the book of Job. Here's the back cover copy:

Joab Black and his wife Sarah overcame the worst of pioneer hardships in order to establish a prosperous farm in Alberta, Canada. But those challenges never prepared them for the tragedy they now faced—a staggering loss and intense pain causing them to doubt everything they had ever believed. In the midst of their sorrow, even their closest friends interpret their sufferings as a result of God’s judgment. Has God abandoned them?

Sergeant Dixon, the local North West Mounted Police officer, investigates the events leading to the Blacks’ plight. While his work gives them a ray of hope, his probing into the activities of a certain stranger possibly connected to the case may cost him his job and even his life.

Inspired by the Biblical book of Job, this novel includes a Bible study exploring the perfection of God’s plan and the bounty of His love even in the most inexplicable and intense sufferings.


How did you come up with the idea for your book?
I love Job. I've loved it ever since the night I sat by the toilet vomiting and wondering why God let me have these wretched allergies and chemical sensitivities. That night, back in 1985, God told me to read Job. What an incredible source of comfort.

I was attending the University of Lethbridge at the time and had become so sick that I couldn't complete the year. For several years after that I struggled to live a normal life under an immunity illness that separated me from others. Then a doctor at the University of Saskatchewan put me on an experimental program that God used to heal me.

The drugs in that program are not available anymore as they were too risky. However, I believe God gave me a reprieve from my allergies so that I could serve Him in various places. When my third child was born, the allergies returned, though not as severe as they were back in the 80's and 90's. Now I see these allergies as a blessing...a continual reminder of God's provision and as a way to keep me from eating myself into oblivion (I love food).

When I began planning "Joab's Fire", I knew I wanted to base it on the book of Job. I wanted others to know the comfort I found from reading that book. I also love history, and I am very proud of my Albertan heritage. These played into choosing the setting. I never really expected "Joab's Fire" to be published. I actually used it as a way to practice writing techniques. Since I never intended to publish it, I started to post it on my blog for Fiction Friday.

Then a discussion with friends led me to consider writing Bible study questions to accompany it. I started receiving emails from people who were touched by the story. That's when I considered publication. Was it possible that God would use it? After much prayer, I reworked it, included Bible study questions for each chapter, and voila, I have "Joab's Fire".


What was the most difficult aspect of writing this book?
Overcoming my insecurities, which kept telling me the story isn't good enough.

Perhaps it will never hit the bestsellers list, but when I realized that it might help someone understand God's plan and God's love, I determined to press on. If even one person finds God's faithfulness and love through my words, that would be a greater reward than the sale of a million copies or fame. If one person came to understand how she can be saved through faith in Jesus Christ and humbled herself to proclaim Jesus as Lord of her life, then every bit of effort in creating this book would be worth it. Eternity is at stake here. Kill my pride. The message of God's plan of salvation, of how God provides shelter in even your darkest hour, is far greater than whether my story is considered a literary work of art or a literary success.


Did you have to do any special research for your book?
Besides the obvious in-depth study of Job and Scripture, I spent time researching the history surrounding the notorious character of Louis Riel.

This man has been lauded as both a hero and a traitor in Canadian history (depending on how you want to interpret history). My main character, Sergeant Dixon, viewed him as a traitor because Louis Riel Dixon was present at the Duck Lake Massacre where, in real history, many volunteers and North West Mounted Police officers lost their lives at the hands of Louis Riel's men. But the book isn't set there.

It is set where my hometown, Arrowwood, Alberta, now exists. At the time of the book, Arrowwood did not exist. The land was a part of the Blackfoot Indian Reserve. So I created a fictitious town, Surbank, to be in the approximate location, near the Blackfoot Indian Reserve. Since this is where I grew up, I used my memories and pictures of landscape, buildings, etc. I also relied on my grandparents' memoirs and other local history books. My mother and father discussed with me various aspects in order to keep it true to the culture of the time and location.


If you could choose just one thing for your book to accomplish, what would it be?
That someone would come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Yup, that takes me back to that preachy fiction bit. The naysayers of the Christian fiction world would tell me this was foolish, but God gave us the great commission. I'd better obey God rather than man. I believe the Holy Spirit is the one who convicts and calls a person. Not man. If He chooses to use my words, than I count it an honor and a privilege. I'm merely the messenger. I'll let God take care of the rest.


What’s ahead for your writing?
I have several books lined up to begin the publishing process. Some of these are novels in which I will be including Bible Studies in much the same manner as "Joab's Fire". Some of these are small booklets of short story and devotional collections. I plan to publish at least one book a year, more if the Lord allows.

Visit Lynn Squire at http://www.lynnsquire.com or http://faithfictionfunandfanciful.blogspot.com

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This post was sponsored by The Dabbling Mum.

For more articles geared towards authors and writers, check out DM's Writing Center.