Thanks for joining me today, Rebecca. We’re going to start our interview today with a little flight of fancy. How would you complete these sentences?

If I could be an Olympic athlete, I would compete in…  gymnastics.

(Me too!)

When I was a child, I wanted to be a…  cowgirl, writer, and teacher. (2/3…not too bad)

(Definitely a pass 🙂 )

One item on my bucket list is…  white water rafting.

(Um…I’ll let you do that one without me. Lol!)

Okay, getting down to business now, Breathing on Her Own has quite an emotional premise. What inspired you to write this story?

My husband and I knew several grandparents raising their grandchildren. Usually it was due to drugs or abandonment. I couldn’t imagine what that would be like. That was, however, the beginning of this story. I wondered, “What conditions could possibly lead to me raising our grandchildren?” I couldn’t think of anything unless it was an accident. Even then I had trouble “killing off” the parents. So I came up with an accident where Molly and Travis have to step in and help with the grandkids for a while.

Could you tell us a little bit about the main characters in this story?

Curiously, when I started the story, I thought it would point to the evils of drinking and driving. I thought the story would be about Laney, the daughter who had an accident while driving under the influence of alcohol but it turned out to be the story of Molly, her mother, who has to come face to face with what she believes about God and her relationship to him.

Which of these characters did you find it easiest to identify with and why?

Of course I identify with Molly. Not because of her faith issues though I’m sure somewhere along the way I had some of the same questions if not under such dramatic circumstances. I think I identify with her most because of her age and the fact she is a wife, mother, mother-in-law, and grandmother.

Which of these characters did you find it most difficult to identify with and why?

I never even considered leaving my children with my husband to go out “partying” with my girlfriends, so, though I’ve seen young women do this, I had the most trouble identifying with Laney’s choices and actions.

What surprised you about these characters as you wrote their story?

I was totally surprised by Molly. She grew up in the church. She professed her faith in Jesus at an early age. I think I expected her to be a saint. She wasn’t. It turns out she’s flawed just like the rest of us.

What did you learn from these characters as you wrote their story?

What did I learn? I think I learned to be a bit more forgiving and perhaps less judgemental. I realized if Laney were my daughter I would be willing to forgive and stand by her. When others “fail” or hurt me or someone in my family, I need to see them as hurting people and reach out to them instead of condemning them.

What did you find most challenging about writing this story?

Breathing on Her Own was my first novel so I had a great deal to learn about structure and point of view, showing instead of telling. All of that could be considered challenging, but I enjoyed the journey. It was simply plain fun.

Thanks for chatting with me today, Rebecca!