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Interviewer: Your writing centers primarily on Christian romance. For many people out there, that classification tends to be an oxymoron. What led you to write inspirational fiction and how do you use it to minister to the lives of your readers?

Kathleen Y'Barbo: This is going to sound cliche, but the Lord led me to write inspirational fiction. I had completed 8 novels for the general market and had a New York agent circulating four of them when the Lord started working in my heart. I was a new Christian and had no idea that I would be called to a writing ministry. Then DiAnn Mills walked in to an RWA meeting, and my life has not been the same since. I asked my agent to pull my books from consideration, and she did - only to find that a major publishing house wanted to make an offer on a historical trilogy of mine. When I said no, they upped the offer. Sigh..I'd been writing nonstop for three years at this point and had finally reached my goal, only to have the Lord tell me He had a better one. Suffice it to say He did. The day after I turned down the second offer, DiAnn contacted me about writing a novella about Texas Rangers. I wrote two paragraphs and sold that book two weeks later. The first month of its release, YELLOW ROSES made the CBA bestseller list.

My deepest wish is that my readers will be blessed by my words and touched by the message the Lord has laid on my heart. Jesus gave comfort, life lessons, and hope through His parables. I want to do that too.

Interviewer: Your first published work jumped quickly to the CBA (Christian Booksellers Association) bestseller's list within the first month of its release. You've since gone on to publish 7 novels, 11 novellas, 2 children's books and several devotionals. Where do you see your career going in the next 5 years and what goals do you have for your own path?

Kathleen Y'Barbo: Yes, I was extremely blessed to have YELLOW ROSES do so well. I've got quite a few more novels and novellas coming out for Barbour in 2006 and 2007, and I am very excited about that. This year, aside from my novel, THE DWELLING PLACE, I have three novellas: OUTLAW SHERIFF in Brothers of the Outlaw Trail; DREAMS OF HOME in Bayou Brides; and DREAMING OF A WHITE CHRISTMAS in Mountains, Mistletoe and Memories as part of a Christmas 2-in-1 (the 4-in-1 for that is entitled Ozark Family Christmas).

I love my Heartsong readers and it's so much fun to hear from folks who have found my novellas in stores all over the country. I'm especially thrilled, however, to announce that I will have a trade fiction novel coming out in November of 2007 from Barbour. Set in 1834 New Orleans and Florida, BELOVED CASTAWAY is the story of one woman's journey from slavery to freedom with the unwitting help of a man who is running himself. It is a story of escape and shipwreck, of redemption and second chances - and of a love that endures despite all odds.

Read More. Read all of Kathleen Y'Barbo's Interview at Willwriteforfood.com

Related Authors

• Kathleen Y'Barbo

Related Books

• Beloved Castaway (Trade Paper)