#ThisorThat Thursday Author Interview with Rosalie Spielman

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The amazing Rosalie Spielman is my guest today for #ThisorThatThursday.

Favorite thing to do when you have free time: Now that it's Fall, I am starting up cross stitching again. I do it mostly when my husband is watching football or anything else I don't pay strict attention to. I like to sit under my quilt with the COL (cat on lap), despite his interest in the threads.

The thing you’ll always move to the bottom of your to do list: Cleaning the basement.

Things you need when you’re in your writing cave: My white board, my sit/stand desk, and copious amounts of coffee!

Things that distract you from writing: My phone. Occasionally, my offspring.

Things you will run to the store for at midnight: Creamer for my coffee.

Things you never put on your shopping list: Eggplant. It will always, always be eggplant.

Something you’re really good at: Apparently I'm a good baker. So says the people eating, at least.

Something you’re really bad at: Deciding when an avocado is ready.

Something you wish you could do: Dance. I mean…not a lot of rhythm in these old bones.

Something you wish you’d never learned to do: Download mobile games.

Last best thing you ate: I made grilled cheese last night, and it was so good. I used gouda cheese from Aldi, and the cheese pull was amazing.

Last thing you regret eating: I tried to make an online video version of potato duchesse, and for one, it was tasteless and for two, hurt my gut! Blah.

Things to say to an author: "I love your books!"

Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book: Criticize their book while also making it clear you didn't actually read it…

Most daring thing you’ve ever done: Probably join the Army. My mother was surprised, to say the least.

Something you chickened out from doing: For several years, I chickened out of doing "speed dating" at reader cons. I did it at Malice last year and realized my mistake. 😉

The funniest thing that happened to you on vacation: It wasn't technically a vacation because we lived there, but my husband and some friends and I went to Oktoberfest in Munich. It was a lot of fun, and I do remember most of it. One thing I clearly remember was a guy asking my husband if I believed in "free love." Um, no I do not. No thank you.

The most embarrassing thing that happened to you on a vacation: I hesitate to share this, but my family and I visited Barcelona, Spain, for Spring Break one year when we were stationed in Germany. We went to the beach, where a lot of the women were topless. I figured, hey, when in Rome, right? But that's not the most embarrassing part. That would be when a local worker cleaning up the beach walked by and said something to her partner about La Blanca. Yep, that's me. La Blanca.

The most exciting thing about your writing life: Being named the Writer of the Year for 2026 by the Military Writers Society of America. I go to Orlando later this month to receive the award.

The one thing you wish you could do over in your writing life: I wish I had slowed down the pace of my book schedule. I've had 13 books published in five years, plus six short stories. I wanted to take advantage of all the opportunities presented but should have taken more time to enjoy the process and not be stressed out all the time. I've learned the importance of passing on some things.

Best piece of advice you received from another writer: The most recent piece of advice that rocked me wasn't from a writer, but they asked me why I was stressing myself out so much for what almost amounts to a volunteer position. 😉 Don't get me wrong – I love writing and I love giving readers an escape from the real world, but I often found myself working more than a 40-hour work week, which would make my "hourly" payrate literal fractions of pennies. I love my readers, but that work rate is unreasonable to sustain.

Something you would tell a younger you about your writing: Make your health a priority so you can write for many years to come!

Recommendations for curing writer’s block: Step away from the story that isn't wanting to come out and "play." Maybe write a short story with completely new characters and setting. Get back to what you love about writing.

Things you do to avoid writing: "Research" for a story that will likely never be written. (AKA just surfing the web.)

 About Rosalie:

Rosalie Spielman is an author, mother, veteran, and retired military spouse. She strives to provide you an escape…one page at a time. In addition to short stories, she has written for two cozy mystery series, including books in her award-winning Hometown Mysteries. She is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and the Military Writers Society of America, the latter of which has named her the Writer of the Year for 2026. Rosalie lives near Annapolis, Maryland, with her family. 

#ThisorThatThursday Author Interview with Angela Haas

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I’d like to welcome Angela Haas to the blog for #ThisorThatThursday!

Hardest thing about being a writer: The imposter syndrome
Easiest thing about being a writer:  Getting to create the worlds I want. Want to have a fun sci-fi planet with dinosaurs? Done!

Things you need for your writing sessions: Time and peace. The ability to shut out the day and just write.

Things that hamper your writing: My overthinking and perfectionitis

Something you’re really good at: Understanding what makes people tick
Something you’re really bad at: Over explaining myself/thinking I have to justify my existence

The last thing you ordered online: Melatonin for my bulldogs

The last thing you regret buying: A shirt from Free People. It was sooo expensive and the dye just absolutely faded after one gentle cold wash.

Things you’d walk a mile for: I’d walk 10,000 miles for my husband and my furbabies and my parents and friends.

Things that make you want to run screaming from the room: Barrel Leg Jeans. Like, why?

Things you always put in your books: Dogs, real restaurants I love, emotional wounds
Things you never put in your books: Politics or religion or anything else polarizing. Not because they aren’t important, but I want my readers (and myself to escape)

Favorite places you’ve been: The Florida Keys, Gross Ile, Michigan. Scottsdale, AZ 
Places you never want to go to again: Jamaica

Favorite books (or genre): I love action/adventure books like Clive Cussler, Emily Henry romances and Douglas Adams’ books.
Books you wouldn’t buy: Not a fan of historical fiction.

Favorite things to do: Writing, learning about new things, hanging with friends and family.

Things you’d run through a fire or eat bugs to get out of doing: The dentist. I know it’s necessary, but I would rather eat bugs than have someone try to talk to me while a metal bar scrapes my teeth.

Some real-life story that made it to one of your books: The story of the worst first kiss I’ve ever had. I kissed a boy who had just eaten Doritos and I didn’t know it and then there were Doritos in my mouth.

Something in your story that readers think is about you, but it’s not: The bad parents in my books

My favorite book as a child: The Island of Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell

A book I’ve read more than once: Mostly Harmless by Douglas Adams

Your favorite movie as a child: Pretty In Pink

A TV show or movie that kept you awake at night as a kid (or as an adult): The Dark Crystal

About Angela

Angela Haas was a buyer of art, books and gifts for fifteen years before moving on to teach communication, public speaking and mass media classes at University of Colorado Colorado Springs for eight years. She now works with her husband who owns and operates the Garden of the Gods Trading Post and their other seven retail stores. In addition to writing superhero fiction and romance novels, she works with local businesses as a communication training consultant. She loves NOT camping, salty snacks, and soft blankets. Her series Keepers of the Universe features older women as the superheroes because she was tired of the standard entertainment tropes of older women being the evil queen, jilted first wife, or wise grandmother. She and her husband live with an English bulldog, French bulldog and English Shepard mix in Colorado Springs and Rio Verde, Arizona.

#ThisorThatThursday Author Interview with Trevor Harrison

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Trevor Harrison is my guest today for #ThisorThatThursday.

Things you need for your writing sessions: time alone

Things that hamper your writing: distractions

Words that describe you: thoughtful, rational

Words that describe you, but you wish they didn’t: arrogant (sometimes)

Something you’re really good at: card games
Something you’re really bad at: electronic games

Favorite music or song: Wide ranging – classic rock, blues, jazz, some country

Music that drives you crazy: hip-hop

Things to say to an author: Focus on the details
Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book: This scene/person just doesn’t seem believable.

Favorite places you’ve been: Greece
Places you never want to go to again: not easy to say; have liked pretty much everywhere I’ve been

Favorite books (or genre): politics, history. poetry
Books you wouldn’t buy: Harlequin novels

Besides writing, what’s the most creative thing you’ve done: wrote the music for one of my poems and sang it

A project that didn’t quite turn out the way you planned it: wrote a journal article only to have the journal fold after the paper was accepted

Some real-life story that made it to one of your books: being robbed

Something in your story that readers think is about you, but it’s not: being in a fight

About Trevor

Trevor W. Harrison is a retired political sociologist at the University of Lethbridge. He is the author, co-author, or co-editor of fourteen previous books, including three books of poetry. His recent and fifteenth book, Safarnameh: A Traveller’s Journey Along the Hippie Trail, is both a personal memoir and a critical examination of the circumstances around which so many westerners made the overland trip to India during the 1960s and 1970s.

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Goodreads: Books by Trevor Harrison (Author of Tales This Side of the Elysian Fields) | Goodreads

#ThisorThatThursday Author Interview with James M. Jackson

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James M. Jackson

I’d like to welcome the multi-talented James M. Jackson to the blog today for #ThisorThatThursday.

Favorite thing to do when you have free time: Sit outside, listening and watching the birds while reading a book.

The thing you’ll always move to the bottom of your to do list: Washing the car.

Things you need when you’re in your writing cave: Keyboard, display, computer, and quiet.

Things that distract you from writing: Any birds outside my window.

Hardest thing about being a writer: Marketing, hands down.

Easiest thing about being a writer: Procrastinating on marketing. Joking aside, it’s being grateful for all the support I’ve received in my writing journey.

Things you will run to the store for at midnight: Absolutely nothing. The nearest store open at midnight is an hour and a half away.

Things you never put on your shopping list: Snacks—and yet, somehow they sneak into the shopping cart.

The coolest thing you’ve bought online: Chaco sandals that I custom chose the colors and (since I had gotten birthday money for it and had some left over), I had them stitch “Right” and “Left” on the heel straps for people walking behind me to read. I’ve had lots of fun interactions from that purchase.

The thing you wished you’d never bought: Dragon dictation software—does not fit my style of writing, which I learned is very visual.

Something you’re really good at: If you want to pack a ton of stuff into your car, truck, or trailer, I’m your guy. I lay it all out so I can visualize it, and if it’s possible, I can figure out how to do it. Just stay out of my way and don’t offer to “help.”

Something you’re really bad at: Jigsaw puzzles. Go figure.

Something you wish you could do: I've always wanted to hike the entire Appalachian trail.

Something you wish you’d never learned to do: Curse as proficiently as I can.

Last best thing you ate: Every Saturday night Jan makes an awesome cheese, pepperoni, and black olive pizza.

Last thing you regret eating: A dish with green peppers; it takes me a day to recover.

Things to say to an author: I loved your book AND I wrote a review that I posted everywhere AND I told all my friends to read your book.

Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book: Why don’t you do something useful with your time?

Most daring thing you’ve ever done: I went parasailing in the Virgin Islands. (It’s only daring because I have a healthy fear of heights.)

Something you chickened out from doing: Bungee jumping from the Kawarau Gorge Suspension Bridge in New Zealand

Best piece of advice you received from another writer: “Don’t listen to the naysayers.”

Something you would tell a younger you about your writing: “Mom and Dad were wrong when they told you to never promote your accomplishments.”

Recommendations for curing writer’s block: I specifically give my subconscious the problem to solve and then don’t worry about it. The answer will come to me while I am out walking, or taking a shower, or watching birds.

Things you do to avoid writing: The ways are too numerous to mention, but one of the worst is doomscrolling on my phone.

About Jim

James M. Jackson writes justice-driven thrillers with “brains and bite.” His Niki Undercover Thriller trilogy, completed with Niki Unbound, stars Ashley Prescott, an undercover federal agent fighting domestic terrorism of all kinds. He also writes the award-winning Seamus McCree series, which explores financial crimes, family relationships, and their deadly intersection across eight novels, two novellas, and several short stories. A life member of Sisters in Crime and past president of its Guppy Chapter, Jackson calls home the deep woods of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. When he’s not tormenting his characters, he’s likely birdwatching, hunting for moose sheds, or tracking wolves. Find news, extras, and upcoming events at https://jamesmjackson.com.

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Website: https://jamesmjackson.com

Facebook: Facebook


#ThisorThatThursday Interview with Author Kalee Boisvert

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I’d like to welcome author Kalee Boisvert back to the blog for #ThisorThatThursday.

Hardest thing about being a writer: Battling my own perfectionism enough to actually share my work. I have to remind myself that if I wait until something feels absolutely perfect, it may never leave my computer. At some point, I have to trust that it’s ready, let it go, and know that perfection was never really the goal anyway.

Easiest thing about being a writer: Coming up with ideas. They tend to find me everywhere, usually when I’m doing something completely unrelated to writing. The real trick is remembering to write them down before they disappear.

Things you need for your writing sessions: A laptop, a little quiet, and several beverage options. It might be the ADHD in me, but I like to have a hot drink, a cold drink, and something fizzy all within reach. Apparently one beverage is simply not enough.

Things that hamper your writing: Having my email open, overthinking, and my little sidekick Jax suddenly needing something that, despite other capable humans being nearby, apparently only Mom can do.

Words that describe you: Curious, sensitive, creative, optimistic, a little unconventional, and an unapologetic french fry lover.

Words that describe you, but you wish they didn’t: Impatient, perfectionistic, and easily distracted.

Last best thing you ate: Hand rolled sushi from a fabulous little sushi spot in Vancouver. So simple, so fresh, and so good.

Last thing you regret eating: The unlimited ice cream at the Museum of Ice Cream in Vegas. Turns out “unlimited” is less of an invitation and more of a warning once you’re over 40.

Things you’d walk a mile for: A crazy adventure with my kiddos and pretty much any ride at Disney. Disney is probably the only place where I can put in an outrageous number of steps and somehow not mind at all.

Things that make you want to run screaming from the room: Most bugs. Although I’m really working on this fear. I’ve rescued several spiders and safely sent them back outside this summer, so I’m calling that progress.

Things you always put in your books: Heart and authenticity. Whether a story is silly, serious, or somewhere in between, I want there to be something real underneath it that readers can recognize in themselves.

Things you never put in your books: Anything that talks down to kids or tells them exactly what they’re supposed to take away from a story. I’d rather give them something to think about and let them decide what it means to them.

Things to say to an author: That something in their book made you think about something differently or stayed with you after you finished reading. I can’t imagine a better compliment than knowing something you created meant something to someone else.

Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book: Point out a typo immediately after they’ve finally convinced their perfectionist brain to stop editing and release the book into the world.

Favorite things to do: Travel and pretty much any adventure with my kids. They are genuinely two of the coolest and most fun people I know. I also love eating really good food and going to Disney, which is absolutely my happy place. I recommend Disney to people of literally every age. There is something about it that forces you to be present, have fun, and get excited about whatever is coming next.

Things you’d run through a fire or eat bugs to get out of doing: Paperwork. Especially paperwork that has to be printed, filled out by hand, and returned with an original signature. Also returning things. I would almost always rather just keep the thing. And cutting up a full watermelon. I can’t explain it, but simply looking at one feels like a task I am not prepared to take on. I am deeply grateful to whoever decided pre-cut watermelon should exist.

Besides writing, what’s the most creative thing you’ve done: I recently created a full rap song for my 12 year old daughter, completely unprompted. I was very committed to the concept.

A project that didn’t quite turn out the way you planned it: That same rap song. I somehow ended up performing it myself with her little brother as my backup dancer. She has officially passed on a career as a rapper, but she did thoroughly enjoy the song and our performance, so I’m still calling it a success.

Some real-life story that made it to one of your books: My daughter once told me she wanted to become a YouTube star and join all the kids making the big bucks, but she wasn’t sure she had any big talent to build a channel around. That conversation became the inspiration for Spectacularly Mediocre Maisey. It made me think about how most of us won’t be extraordinary at everything we try, and that was never supposed to be the point. We can do things simply because we enjoy them. We can be mediocre at something and have an absolutely spectacular time doing it.

Something in your story that readers think is about you, but it’s not: Some readers might suspect that Bernice, the Busiest of Bees is based on my own tendency to be constantly doing something and struggling to just slow down. But Bernice is a bee, and I am not, so I think I disguised that one pretty well.

The first 8-track, record, cassette, or CD you ever bought: New Kids on the Block. I was completely obsessed. I’m pretty sure knowing all the words and having a favorite New Kid was basically a requirement at the time.

A type of music that’s not your cup of tea: Country. No offense to the country artists out there because I appreciate all forms of art. It’s just never been the soundtrack for me.

About Kaylee:

Kalee Boisvert has spent over fifteen years in the financial industry, driven by a desire to rewrite the money story she grew up with. Raised in a single-parent household, she became passionate early on about financial empowerment and helping others create freedom and confidence through money. But her path didn’t stop there.

Over time, Kalee’s work expanded into something deeper: a soul-level invitation for women to remember who they are. Today, she writes both financial and spiritual books—offering practical tools, tender truth, and gentle reminders that you are already enough.

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More information can be found at: Kalee Boisvert - Your Money Guru | Contact

#ThisorThatThursday with Author Penny McGinnis

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I’d like to welcome Penny McGinnis for #ThisorThatThursday!

Hardest thing about being a writer: I’m guessing a lot of authors would agree with me. The hardest part is marketing. I enjoy meeting people at book signings and chatting about books, but I’m not good at the publicity part. I saw a post that said, “I’m terrible at marketing. Please read my book.” That’s me.

Easiest thing about being a writer: I love to create the setting and imagine the small town where my characters live. I grew up near a small town and have enjoyed recreating the community vibe.

Words that describe you: Hopeful, White-haired, Creative, Wife, Mom, Grammy

Words that describe you, but you wish they didn’t: Tired and Non-energetic (is that a word?)

Something you’re really good at: Writing—I hope—or at least that’s what I’m told—by my sister and some of my friends.

Something you’re really bad at: Cleaning the house. I hate dusting. It literally makes me sick. So, I use my allergies as an excuse to let the dust bunnies live.

Favorite music or song: My favorite song is an old hymn, “It is Well With My Soul.” I learned it in college with my friends, and I appreciate the hopeful message.

Music that drives you crazy: Loud music where I can’t understand the words. Yep, I’m that age.

Things you’d walk a mile for: My dog. We take her for at least a mile walk most days.

Things that make you want to run screaming from the room: Spiders—I advise them not to enter my home.

Things you always put in your books: An animal. My cozy mystery has two adorable Valais Blacknose Sheep.

Things you never put in your books: Curse words

Favorite places you’ve been: I had wanted to visit Maine for most of my life, and I finally got there for my sixtieth birthday. We stayed near Portland and explored the southern coast. I got to see puffins and lots of lighthouses. I want to go back and visit the northern part.

Places you never want to go to again: Florida. I went there to visit my Grammy when I was a kid and have no desire to go back.

Favorite books (or genre): My favorite genre is cozy mystery. I love solving the puzzle and the justice served.

Books you wouldn’t buy: I wouldn’t buy horror.

Most daring thing you’ve ever done: I rode a zipline at the camp where my daughter worked and enjoyed it. There was an eighty-year-old woman in line behind me, and that gave me the determination to try.

Something you chickened out from doing: A second ride on the zipline a year later. After I had the harness on and waited to step off the platform, I totally froze. (At least I tried and succeeded once.)

Besides writing, what’s the most creative thing you’ve done: I was a quilter for several years, and I’ve embroidered most of my life. This year, I’m learning to weave on a simple loom. It’s been fun.

A project that didn’t quite turn out the way you planned it: Any time I tried to ice a cake with pretty flowers, I totally failed. I’ll stick with fiber arts.

The first 8-track, record, cassette, or CD you ever bought: I’m guessing it would have been a John Denver album. In high school, I had all of his albums.

A type of music that’s not your cup of tea: Opera—I don’t understand it.

My favorite book as a child: When I was five, it would have been Dr. Suess, but Little Women is my all-time favorite.

A book I’ve read more than once: Christy by Catherine Marshall is a fantastic story set in the Appalachian Mountains.

About Penny:

Penny Frost McGinnis has lived in the world of books most of her life. From a small library shared with her cousins to a career working in libraries until retirement, she has developed a deep respect and love for the written word. An avid reader, Penny lives in Ohio with her husband and their golden retriever, Rosie May. She embraces and enjoys her faith, family, fiber arts, and baseball. Her writing goal is to give readers a place to be uplifted and encouraged and to leave reality behind for a bit.

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Website/Blog: https://www.pennyfrostmcginnis.com/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PennyFrostMcGinnisAuthor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pennyfrostmcginnisauthor/

Amazon Author Page:  https://www.amazon.com/author/penny.frost.mcginnis.author

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#ThisorThatThursday Author Interview with Zachary Hagen

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I’d like to welcome author, Zachary Hagen, to the blog for #ThisorThatThursday!

Favorite thing to do when you have free time: Play with my son and relax with my wife.

The thing you’ll always move to the bottom of your to do list: Literally any cleaning task. I despise it. I’d rather keep things tidy than clean later.

Things you need when you’re in your writing cave: I play wordless music, something mildly stimulating so that I don’t lose focus on the writing but don’t get distracted by other noises.

Things that distract you from writing: Frankly, my wife and kid. I try to write later at night when they’ve gone to bed because of this.

Hardest thing about being a writer: Having enough faith in your work to bet money for ads, professional covers, editing, and such to be able to sell the books consistently.

Easiest thing about being a writer: Telling stories you’re excited about. I love getting to dither tell a new story or a new take on an old one.

Things you will run to the store for at midnight: Listen, I know it’s not in the spirit of this list, but nothing is good enough for me to go anywhere at midnight. That being said, I keep sparkling water stocked in my house.

Things you never put on your shopping list: Excess sweets. If I’m going to spend the calories, anything I make at home is going to taste better than anything out of a package.

Favorite snacks: I am a sucker for almost anything peanut butter.

Things that make you want to gag:  Anchovies. With the way they were trending on my feed, I tried them in a calzone. Those little stinkers only have business being where they cannot be directly tasted such as dressings and other sauces.

Something you wanted to be when you were a kid: I wanted to be a writer and a teacher.

Something you do that you never dreamed you’d do: I’m entering into a stage of life where I’m an entrepreneur of sorts, which is way out of my comfort zone, but I’m excited, so I push forward into the unknown, so to speak.

Last best thing you ate: I had this absolutely incredible tomato dish in Remy on the Disney Fantasy this summer, and it completely stunned me. I had no idea tomatoes, of all things, could be so delicious.

Last thing you regret eating: To repeat a theme, a calzone with anchovies in it. I’m never doing that again.

Things to say to an author: “I really enjoyed your last book! If you ever need a review or an arc reader, let me know!”

Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book: “I liked the Hunger Games better.” I actually had someone say basically this in a review. It was for a fantasy book, which is wildly different. I wasn’t trying to pass it off as dystopian fiction, but that was the gist of the review. Odd.

The most exciting thing about your writing life: The flow of ideas and the privilege to talk to such amazing people.

The one thing you wish you could do over in your writing life: I wish I’d put more effort into my debut launch and started with more momentum. Now, I feel like I’m catching up, but I also know I can do this.

Recommendations for curing writer’s block: Plot the entire story from start to finish. You can catch the block there. If you know a story beat doesn’t work, you haven’t spent 30k words and hours and hours getting to it. Start with the whole plan, and then everything flows once you know the whole story and the voice you want to write in.

Things you do to avoid writing: Do not ever edit while you write unless it’s a minor typo. If you stop to edit everything, you’ll never finish writing.

About Zachary:

Zachary Hagen is a Minnesota based fantasy author and editor. He lives there with his wife, Claudia, and their dog, Flynn. When he isn't busy writing his next book or working with an editing client, you can often find him walking around his neighborhood or hiking.

From a young age he was enthralled with the world of story. From the stories his parents read to him from his blue bedtime story books (if you know, you know) to the first two series that he read, The Chronicles of Narnia and A Series of Unfortunate Events, Zachary's tastes continued to develop throughout his years of reading.

The influences for his first series, The Eternal Chronicles, include Christopher Paolini, J. R. R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, and others.

#ThisorThatThursday Interview with Rachael M. Colby

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I’d like to welcome Rachael M. Colby to the blog this week for #ThisorThatThursday!

Hardest thing about being a writer:

The hardest thing about being a writer is pushing past all the must-do-now’s that beckon to get to my desk. Then quieting their chatter and getting my head in the writing zone.

Easiest thing about being a writer:

I wasn’t aware there was anything easy about being a writer. Especially if the goal is to always learn and grow, and to pursue excellence. But it’s wonderful when inspiration strikes like lightning and I capture it right then.

Things you need for your writing sessions:

Chocolate and ice-cold fruit-flavored vitamin-enhanced water. Of most importance are prayer, God’s presence, and leading. Various Christian music to energize, inspire, or settle me as needed.

Things that hamper your writing:

It weighs on my heart when loved ones go through turbulent seasons or walk treacherous paths. I must remind myself again to place them in Jesus’ capable care in order to focus and write.

Words that describe you:

People call me an encourager. (It’s my joy to encourage faith and help writers.) Artist. Truth seeker. Poet. Problem solver. Strong-willed, passionate and unapologetic about my beliefs. Work-in-progress. Jesus lover.

Words that describe you, but you wish they didn’t:

I considered starting a support group called Overthinkers Anonymous, but since I’m also a procrastinator, that probably won’t happen.

Last best thing you ate:

Lavender blossom bittersweet chocolate bark by Ragged Coast Chocolates in Maine.

Last thing you regret eating:

Brussel sprouts.

Things you always put in your books:

Hope, redemption, encouragement, fun, harmony in diversity shown in nature and relationships. Truth, even when it’s wrapped in fiction.

For Mother’s Day, my daughter gave me a custom-designed embosser for my books. The words on it say, “Imagined with love.”

Things you never put in your books:

I do not include swearing, graphic sex, or violence in my writings. Neither do I write depictions or messages of evil being good, nor promote any behavior that is contrary to biblical standards.

Things to say to an author:

Tell them how their writing encouraged, inspired, or instructed you. Don’t quit.

Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book:

When someone says they’re a writer and you reply, “Oh. That’s a nice hobby.” Another is, “You’re just in it for recognition and the money.”

Favorite books (or genre):

I love nonfiction about inspiring lives, people who overcome obstacles, do courageous, seemingly impossible things, and change others’ lives for good. Also books that help me hone my craft and draw closer to God. I enjoy clean reads that make me laugh.

Books you wouldn’t buy:

I don’t buy books that include graphic sex or violence, crude language, or promote lifestyles contrary to biblical standards or that slander good.

Favorite things to do:

Long walks with friends on the beach. Getting lost in a book. Watching sunsets and chasing moonrises with my husband. When my grown kids are all together, I love observing their interactions, listening to their banter and laughter.

Things you’d run through a fire or eat bugs to get out of doing:

Running through fire would frizz my hair, and I work hard to tame it. I prefer 77 degrees and a light tropical breeze—and keep the fire over there. Bugs bug me out, so I’ll pass on those too. (Including when friends had a cicada party and made chocolate chip cicada cookies, salad, and stir-fry with them.)

Maybe to avoid math.

Most daring thing you’ve ever done:

I gave my grandmother’s eulogy, though the minister had denied me permission to do so before the service. That story titled “A Time to Disobey” originally published in the compilation book Mountains Moved: 45 Devotions on Bold Faith, is now also on my website here: https://tattooitonyourheart.com/2025/12/13/a-time-to-disobey/

Something you chickened out from doing:

I sidestepped speaking from a stage during my school years (though it was mandatory) and for my entire life until I started writing. In 2015, an older friend and mentor persuaded me, and trembling, I shared a poem at an event for the first time.

The funniest thing to happen to you:

My vacuum cleaner tried to scalp me. Originally published in the compilation book Chicken Soup for the Soul: Well, That Was Funny, my story titled “A Hairy Dilemma” is now available to read on my website here: https://tattooitonyourheart.com/2026/03/27/a-hairy-dilemma/

The most embarrassing thing to happen to you:

There’s no way I’m sharing that. But I suggest you let your husband watch your kid at church and go to the bathroom by yourself.

Besides writing, what’s the most creative thing you’ve done:

I’ve painted custom scenes of people’s favorite places on the one-to two-inch wooden frames of antique windows. I also scrimshaw on antique ivory piano keys (engraving artwork in ink) to make bookmarks.

A project that didn’t quite turn out the way you planned it:

When my $70 batch of soap cracked and fell out of the mold in several pieces rather than a solid block. But I redeemed it. But that’s another story.

My favorite book as a child:

The Chronicles of Narnia series by C.S. Lewis.

A book I’ve read more than once:

The Chronicles of Narnia series by C.S. Lewis when I was nine years old, at 21, and in my 40s.

About Rachael:

Rachael M. Colby has a heart for reconciliation and a passion to uplift those who serve in tough places. She writes to connect cultures’ questions with Christianity’s answers, inspire faith, and motivate.

She’s a multi-genre, award-winning writer, Cecil Murphey protégé, Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild member, speaker, editor, and the author of Tropical Dreams.

Rachael’s work has appeared in Chicken Soup for the Soul, on The Write Conversation, BRMCWC Blog, online publications, compilation books, and the Oak Ridger newspaper.

This Jamaican-born wife and mom resides in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, runs on chocolate and a lotta “Help me, Jesus,” and blogs at TattooItOnYourHeart.com.