Carrie Fancett Pagels Interviews Karen Witemeyer

Karen Witemeyer

Karen Witemeyer is the author of Short-Straw Bride and three other award-winning, inspirational historical romance novels.

Karen, welcome to Overcoming Through Time – With God’s Help.  We appreciate your willingness to share your testimony of overcoming with our readers. 

Would you tell us about the most difficult thing in your life you have had to overcome, with God’s help?

If I had to point to one event or circumstance, I would have to say that losing my father when I was sixteen was the most difficult thing I've ever had to overcome. My daddy was my hero. He taught me to drive, to calculate algebraic equations, to give my best to whatever task I was called to complete. He was my spiritual mentor and the man I used to sing hymns with on Sunday mornings as we got ready for church. He teased me, tickled me, and could reduce me to tears simply by raising a single, censorious eyebrow. It is because of his influence that I am person I am.

In 1987, my daddy contracted a rare virus that attacked his heart. In two weeks, he was gone. His loss devastated our family. My mother sank into grief and depression. My younger brother began acting out. And me? Well, as the oldest, I tried to fill my daddy's shoes. An impossible task. However, my young faith solidified during this time of trial. I had prayed fervently for the Lord to make my father well, but when he didn't grant my request, I learned that a God who says no can still love fiercely and strengthen those who lean on him in their times of sorrow and pain. I didn't experience the same level of grief that others in my family did. I became the family's anchor, instead. The Lord held my heart together, not allowing it to break, so that I could be the glue that held the rest of the family together.

I still miss my daddy, and still rely on God's daily provision to keep grief at bay. My father wasn't there for my high school and college graduations. He wasn't there to walk me down the aisle at my wedding or to hold each of his precious three grandchildren when they were born. He will never hold one of my novels, and I'll never again get to hear him say that he is proud of me. But just as his influence in my youth shaped my personality and values, his loss and the Lord's subsequent faithfulness shaped my faith and gave me the power to endure.

Head in the Clouds

What is your favorite bible verse and why?

I have two that keep me going through the writing life.

The one that keeps me going in the middle of a project is: He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. ~ Philippians 1:6

The one I keep on my desk to remind me that writing is a ministry and not about the prestige or praise is: Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory. ~Psalm 115:1

To Win Her Heart

Disability friendliness: Is this latest release available in audio format or do you have any other works available on audio?  Do your e-books have audio capability? Do you have any in large print? 

Yes, all four of my books are available in audio format. My older titles are available in large print editions, and Short-Straw Bride should be available in that format as well in the near future.

A Tailor-Made Bride

What has been the most important thing you hope your readers will get from your books and why?

I want my readers to be entertained, to get lost in the pages of a great story, but that isn't my highest goal. The most important thing to me is that they find nuggets of God's truth embedded in the stories—truth that resonates with their souls and help them mature as believers. This is why my characters tend to be mature believers themselves. Mature, yet like the rest of us, still flawed and still with much room to grow. My wish is that my readers will be able to see themselves in these characters and grow along with them.

Short-Straw Bride

In this latest work, do you have any topics useful for bibliotherapy, or therapeutic influence through reading about a disorder or situation?  

One of the overarching themes in Short-Straw Bride, is that there is power in community. When we've been hurt emotionally or physically, it is easy to withdraw, to protect ourselves from further hurt by walling ourselves away from others. However, when we do this, we also wall ourselves away from the encouragement and joy that can be found in fellowship.

In my story, Travis Archer must learn to tear down his physical barriers as well as his emotional ones. He must surrender his control to God and trust others with burdens he's never allowed anyone but himself to carry. It is a grueling journey requiring vulnerability and trust, but in the end, the rewards of love and fellowship far outweigh the hardship of the struggle.

Thank you, Karen for agreeing to answer these questions.  Have a blessed day and keep on writing!!

Karen Witemeyer's books can be purchased at Amazon, CBD, B & N, Lifeway and other Christian book stores. 

GIVEAWAY:  Leave a comment and your email to be entered in this week’s contest.  Drawing will be late Saturday.  Your choice of any of Karen's books, choice of format*. 

Additional giveaways:  Karen has a signed paperback copy of Short Straw Bride for an American winner.  Carrie has an ebook* or paperback copy of any of Karen's books for our 200th Follower on OTT-WGH! *International winners will only receive the book in ebook format not as a paperback. Void where prohibited by law.