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I’m not a big fan of social media, but I am thankful for the writer friends it has helped me find.
And I’m very thankful that Instagram connected me with one of my favorite critique partners, Hannah Kaye.
Hannah is a middle-grade author who loves crafting page-turning adventures that fuel readers’ imaginations and growing their love for good books. If you like cryptic messages, ghost towns, and mysterious outlaws, you’ve got to pick up a copy of her middle-grade western, Goldwater Ridge (Amazon Affiliate Link). It is SO much fun.
In the interview questions below, among other things, Hannah talks about the importance of storytelling in communicating truth, growing empathy, and reflecting the very glory of God. She has a clear passion for stories and the creative process, especially as it relates to her faith.
Read on to learn more about Hannah and her writing!
What inspired you to begin your writing journey?
Hannah: “Storytelling and make-believe have been a part of me since I was very little. When I was growing up, my three sisters and I loved inventing fictional worlds and acting out stories set in them. (If this brings to mind the March sisters from Little Women, that’s actually not too far off!) Somewhere along the way I started calling myself a writer, filling up spiral-bound notebooks with my stories, and dreaming of the day when I could hold a book of my own words in my hands. That dream has been shuffled down, pushed to the back burner, and put on hold more times than I can count. But about this time last year, something inside of me clicked. I realized that if I waited until I had time to write (until I had time, until my baby was more independent, until I felt ready, etc.) then I’d wake up twenty years from now having never actually put a word on paper. So I jumped in with two feet and raced from “vague story idea” to “published debut novel” in eight months. Crazy? Maybe. Worth it? Absolutely.”
What inspired your most recent story?
Hannah: “My debut novel, Goldwater Ridge, was largely inspired by a running story my sisters and I created probably close to fifteen years ago. Most of the main characters, settings, and even a few of the plot points were borrowed from our childhood. It’s a crazy little book with plenty of goofiness to go around, and I’m so proud of it.
I was inspired to write Goldwater Ridge because I wanted to learn how to have fun with my writing again. I’d spent so much time putting pressure on myself to write something great that I’d forgotten what it felt like to write something I enjoyed. One of my main goals in writing Goldwater was to make myself laugh. I’m happy to report that I succeeded in that goal!”
Why do stories matter?
Hannah: “Oh boy, I could go on and on about this question—it’s a topic that’s very dear to my heart—but I’ll try my best to keep it concise!
First of all, I believe that stories matter because they have always mattered. Storytelling is intrinsically human. In every culture, regardless of geographic location or time in history, stories have been held at the heart of a people’s identity. Stories are humanity’s way of preserving knowledge, teaching lessons, and interpreting the world around us. Through story, we are able to empathize with people we’ve never met in places we’ll never go. Storytelling, particularly fiction, allows us to put ourselves in the place of the characters, learn how other people feel and think, and practice the important skill of understanding those we see as “other” than ourselves.
As important as empathy is, I think that even more importantly, storytelling is built into our nature as humans because we are made in the image of God. By telling stories, we reflect the nature and character of the greatest Author of them all. The Bible calls God the “author and finisher of our faith.”
Jesus, too, is a wonderful storyteller. When Jesus wanted to convey huge, big-picture truths to his people, he told them stories, or parables. For example, when he wanted to teach his followers about God’s love for sinners, he chose to frame that truth in the context of a story about a father’s love for his rebellious and wandering son—a story that we relate to on an emotional and personal level. We easily grasp the truth about God because Jesus wove it into a very human story, putting a great truth on an accessible level.
As Christian writers, we have the immense honor and responsibility of imitating our Master Storyteller in what we write. While fictional stories will never be a substitute for Biblical teaching, there’s no arguing that there is much truth to be gleaned from them. Even in books (like the one I wrote) that do not have an overtly evangelical message, we are called to use our creativity to glorify him. (1 Cor. 10:31.)
So, for a quick summary: stories matter because through stories, we are able to communicate truth in ways that are easy to understand, empathize with those different than us, and most of all, reflect the very glory of God by using the creativity he has blessed us with.”
What have you learned about God, our Creator, through your personal creative process?
Hannah: “There are so many things in my book that stem from myself and the people I love—little reflections of my personality scattered all over the pages. In the same way, I think there are so many aspects of God’s creation that are His self-portrait, a revelation of His divine character (Romans 1:20.) The experience of pouring so much of myself into my story gives me a greater appreciation of God’s divine creative imagination. If I can look at my work and see my own personality reflected in it, how much more can I see God’s personality portrayed in the beauty of His creative work! His fingerprints are all over the world we live in and the creatures and people that He created to live in it. His attention to detail, order, and structure are mind-blowing reminders of how much care he put into crafting His creation.
My creative process is a labor of love, but it pales in comparison to how much God loves and cares for His creation. Practicing creativity gives me a wonderful new perspective on God as a maker and creator, and I am so thankful He gave me the opportunity to imitate Him in a small way through my own creative efforts.”
What is a message you’re particularly passionate about sharing with your readers?
Hannah: “I am passionate about writing characters that can model godly virtues for my readers. As a mom, I want my son to read books about heroes who make the right choices, who are brave even when it’s hard, and who are willing to put themselves at risk in order to protect others.
C.S. Lewis wrote, “Since it is so likely that [children] will meet cruel enemies, let them at least have heard of brave knights and heroic courage.” Characters who model these attributes are so important to me and my writing. As a Christian who believes in absolute truth and objective morality based on God’s standard of right and wrong, I’m not interested in morally-gray antiheroes, especially in middle grade books. I want there to be a clear right and wrong. I want good to triumph over evil. I want the good guys to make good choices (even if they have to struggle and learn and grow on their way there!) and I definitely want the bad guys to get soundly defeated in the end!
I’m also passionate about fun. There are a lot of middle grade books out there right now tackling real-world heavy issues like grief, illness, and loneliness. I think those books are wonderful, and they certainly have their place in this broken world we live in, but I am not the one to write them. As Jane Austen famously wrote: “Let other pens dwell on guilt and misery.” I want to hold the pen that writes a book to take you on a wild adventure when you have to stay at home. I want my book to be the one that you stay up late with because you just have to know what happens next. I want my book to be the one that makes you laugh out loud. I want my book to bring you joy.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Hannah Kaye is the author of the middle grade western, Goldwater Ridge. Her goal as a middle grade author is to provide clean, high-quality storytelling that blends strong character-building messages with page-turning adventures, fueling readers’ imaginations and growing their love for good books. Hannah lives in northeast Oklahoma with her husband John, her son Samuel, and their aquariums full of tropical fish.
Connect with Hannah on Instagram, Facebook, and on her website, www.hannahkaye.blog.
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