For to us a child is born, to us a son is given;

and the government shall be upon his shoulder, 

and his name shall be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of his government and of peace

there will be no end, 

on the throne of David and over his kingdom,

to establish it and to uphold it 

with justice and with righteousness

from this time forth

and forevermore. 

Isaiah 9:6-7 (ESV)

Getting to Know Your Presidents!

Today we meet Clare Campbell. 

1. Where do you live? (You can use city and state or just state if you prefer) Belfast, Northern Ireland.

2. How long have you been a Word Weaver? Since 2017

a) What chapter are you President of? Online page 31 Fanfiction.

3. How long have you been writing—or when did you feel God was calling you to be a
writer? I started writing around late 2011 earlier 2012. I only started really pursuing it as a career
in 2016.

4. What do you like to read? Anything, I’ve a varied collection. Mostly, I enjoy contemporary fantasy/speculative. I like
inspirational historical stuff too. Non-fiction; biographies, self-help, lifestyle. The odd chick-lit and romance so long as it’s a little different or funny. I have a large stack of children’sclassics, and I’m always hunting through the YA/NA section for brand new talent.

5. What do you write? All kinds of fantasy/speculative – mostly mythological and based on my studies into old Irish
folktales merged with spiritual/wishdom/moral-compass style “hero” journey. I do dabble with historical and everything has a touch of romance in one form or the other. Nearly always aimed at YA or NA audiences. I also write Non-fiction. Originally started in Fanfiction where I’ve created a solid fan following and love that community. I’m always encouraging people to give it a go.

a) If you are published:
     1. First book? Only a short historical story named “Refuge” in the Faith and Freedom Anthology at present – close to                     publishing my first full length novel though (very excited).
    
6. Where’s your favorite place to write? Gosh, anywhere slightly warm. I hate being cold.

7. If you have a dedicated writing space, describe it for us. Yes, I’ve my own writing office. I love it. It’s large, a full length ceiling-to-floor bookshelf stuffed with trinkets, old, dusty books passed down the generations, and photos/certificates of awards won, The desk is attached to the book shelf, I keep it pretty organized—thank goodness for Ikea storage—with an antique lamp made with green and blue crystals, gives the room a beautiful glow. The laptop is a trusty, but looking a little battered now, macbook . . . some day I’ll have one of those split screen super macs. The room is an unused sunroom so I’ve windows all around with views of Belfast Lough, and on a clear day—Scotland. There’s
french doors that lead to a patio, so if I’m having a really bad case of writers blocks I can sit outside with a coffee and watch the boats sailing up and down the water.

8. What’s your ideal writing routine (time of day, with or without a beverage, snack to get to the
finish line, etc.)  I’d love to start around 10AM, after I get the chores finished up, and write to late afternoon/early evening. However, it usually looks like me grabbing a few hours in the late evening and burning the midnight oil. Girl’s got work.

8. We all have several authors we love to read so I won’t make you pick a favorite—but what has been your favorite book this year and why? (Great story, impactful, educational, etc.)
Hope Bolinger’s ‘Blaze’ was really good. I loved the idea of this modern day retelling of the story of Daniel. I can see it being used with youth groups and being a great talking point for teens. I also read The Red Queen by Victoria Aveyeard. It’s a very popular YA, it was interesting and gave me some food for thought for my own political YA fantasy. Currently
reading Michelle Medlock Adams & Bethany Jett’s Platinum Faith – with it’s empowering and encouraging message it might just become my 2019 non-fic fave. It really is helping me love myself more and deepen my faith and walk in the most positive way.

9. What’s one piece of writing advice you’d like to share with other Word Weaver members? (Maybe something you wished you would have known as you began writing.)
If I could back in time—just a few years—I’d tell my earlier self to stop being so hard on
myself. I put myself through some beatings if I didn’t feel I was coming up to scratch. You get
enough harsh feedback from the industry without piling it on yourself. In fact, the feedback
I’ve had from some industry leaders has been way nicer than what I would ever think of
myself. LISTEN to them! If you get a compliment—believe it. If you get a negative one—
learn from it. It’s a long, winding journey, and a big part of the growth and fun is in that
journey. So, chill. Take time to enjoy the opportunities presented at conferences, learn from
the rejections, and let people’s opinions wash off you. And, because faith plays a huge part in
our lives as writers, ALWAYS consult scripture and prayer. Believe. Believe. Believe.
Honestly, it will move mountains.

Bonus: If there is anything else you’d like to share about you or your writing journey that I have not asked in the above list – feel free to add it!
Only to say, that without Word Weavers, I could never EVER achieve what have in my owncountry and it’s tiny, closed-off industry. Never take for granted the AMAZING resources you have at your disposal. Make the most of the learning and opportunities, they are an immense blessing. And, I would also like to express my gratitude for the wonderful fellowship WW provides as I don’t know many professional writers here in Ireland. To have a community to
reach out to is such an answer to prayer.

Getting to Know Your Presidents!

Today we meet Bonnie Beardsley.

1. Where do you live? Saginaw, TX

2. How long have you been a Word Weaver? Four years

a) What chapter are you President of? Page 3

3. How long have you been writing—or when did you feel God was calling you to be a writer?
Since 2009, I had felt God call me several years earlier but had been discouraged by what others
had said.

4. What do you like to read? Devotionals, biographies, non-fiction, and I’m picky on fiction.

5. What do you write? Currently I’m writing a historical fiction on Rahab.

6. Where’s your favorite place to write? At my writing desk by the window in my room.

7. If you have a dedicated writing space, describe it for us. My writing desk is and antique Singer sewing machine, yes it works. I have a pack of antique needles and a wooden spools of thread in a small basket on the back corner, they were my grandma’s. I face the window and love when I can open the window. Behind me one of my research bookshelves.

8. What’s your ideal writing routine (time of day, with or without a beverage, snack to get to the
finish line, etc.) I love writing in the morning but have been know to stay up until three in the morning because
I’m on a roll.

9. We all have several authors we love to read so I won’t make you pick a favorite—but what has
been your favorite book this year and why? (Great story, impactful, educational, etc.)
Ruth Graham’s Forgiving My Father, Forgiving Myself. I can relate to her feelings, having an
emotional abusive dad myself. Some of what she said opened my eyes to a new understanding of
what I had buried.

10. What’s one piece of writing advice you’d like to share with other Word Weaver members?
(Maybe something you wished you would have known as you began writing.)
Your first draft isn’t going to be perfect and ready for publishing.

Bonus: If there is anything else you’d like to share about you or your writing journey that I have
not asked in the above list – feel free to add it!
I have learned that even though someone else has written on the same subject, they haven’t
experienced what you have, nor the insights only you can give. There is someone who needs to
here what you have to say. Be true to your voice inside you as you write.
 

In 2004, Bonnie left her hometown of Phoenix, AZ, to move to Ft. Worth,TX, with her husband, Rick. His job had moved there. They had two young boys and two dogs. One night in the house they were renting Bonnie heard God tell her to start writing Bible studies for women. She found an online study that she could lead a group in.

Then in 2014, God used friends and other circumstances to start writing her own Bible study, More Than Just Coffee was started. One of her early studies, Healing the Wounded Heart, has been published on YouVersion and has helped over fifty thousand people to deal with bitterness.