Q :: Did you always want to be a writer?

Alicia ::  Short answer: no. But I have always loved words. Early on, words connected my head with my heart, my analytical brain with my artist soul. Writing has always been a joy, like swimming in clear waters or absorbing a fiery sunset.

Apart from school assignments though, writing was very personal and private. In other words, I never wrote picturing others reading. Writing was valuable whether or not another soul ever happened upon the words.

When Jesus interrupted my life, writing immediately expanded from therapy to conversation. Now, I had Someone to write to, to write with, to write about. Writing helped me focus my God-thoughts and longings. I would pray and write and pause and listen and study and pray and smile and write again.

Q :: Then how did you start writing professionally?

Alicia :: One Sunday back in 2002, I had just finished speaking at a church when a beautiful women came up to me and asked me if I liked to write. “Oh, I love writing!” I said thinking of endless happy hours with Jesus and my journal. She handed me a business card and said, “If you write like you speak, I’d like to talk with you.” Her name was Terri Gibbs and she was an acquisitions editor for the JCountryman gift book division of Thomas Nelson Publishing.

Within a few weeks, a contract to write Pure Joy arrived in my mailbox. Oh, the writing process! Sheer joy. I will speak more about that in the blogs this month.

Q :: Are there any new books on the horizon?

Alicia :: YES!!!! Jesus has gifted me with the opportunity to publish another book with Nelson that will be available January 2016. More to come on that for sure, but you may want to make space in your life early February to join me on a 40 day journey cross-ward with Jesus…