The characters in my books are in control.

I write the characters’ lives, but if they want to go to the bar that day, I’ll write them into the bar. If they want to worship Jesus that day, that’s what we do.

One character might be germophobic, as in Book 2, Rescued (Affiliate link) living with her hoarder Gamma, so when the germophobic character comes home from her job, she can’t just take her boots off and go barefoot in the house. She has to carefully balance on one foot and then the other foot to take off her boots and slip on brand-new hotel slippers. Then she can go into her hoarder Gamma’s house.

Otherwise, she might come in contact with … a germ.

After that scene, I tiptoed to the kitchen and washed my hands.

Oh! I’m not her. I’m me.

Am I germaphobic? Heh. Come to my house. It’s definitely livable. You don’t have to take your shoes off when you enter.

Many of my characters are angels. Some are demons.

How do I untangle from that?

Some writing days are very intense—meaning I am locked into the scene. Demons and angels, remember? Every movement, each response is life-threatening. The character needs a drink badly and drives erratically.

At that moment, I remember that I will need milk for tomorrow.

Unhook from the story, get into my car, and drive to the store

What if my character needs to water the houseplants?

Right? I jump up and water my own.

Yes, an author writes from their own life, their own experiences. Many authors admit that they heal from writing those books, those articles.

If you read my books, every character is me. Every character is in need of healing from something. Every character needs Jesus … just ask me about anger.

I’m not in control. The characters are. But God takes us all where we need to go, right?