How do you find time to connect with God?

I begin praying with my first conscious thought and keep that conversation running with the Lord until I fall asleep at night. . . .I can go to Him with the smallest need or delight—mine or others.  That constantly amazes me.  Spending time in Scripture is important for me.  It reminds me that nothing is new under the sun, and that God’s Word is applicable to every situation in every generation. .

~See Tyora Moody’s Interview for Faithwebbin~

               

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How long have you been writing, and when did you realize that God had called you to write for Him?

I’ve been writing in one form or another for much of my life.  My first published pieces appeared about sixteen years ago—features and in depth stories for newspapers.   Plays and monologues were produced on local stages and in churches, and some of my poetry was published locally.  Essays appeared in “My Turn to Care—Affirmations for Caregivers of Aging Parents”, “Chicken Soup for the Single’s Soul” and “Woman’s World.”  Most of my fiction was performance based—given as readings in bookstores and libraries.  “William Henry is a Fine Name” is my first novel.  I signed that book contract on my 50th birthday. . . .

Your first novel, “William Henry is a Fine Name”, was recently released.  And, I must say, it is a “fine book”!  What inspired you to write this novel?

From the moment in childhood that I learned of the Underground Railroad and those daring races to freedom, I’ve been captivated by those courageous runners, station masters, and conductors who risked their lives for one another.  The danger, the secrecy, the unique hiding places only added to the appeal.  I’d always wanted to write a story about the Underground Railroad, and once the voices of William Henry and Robert filled my head, they needed to find a way to tell their story.

I’ve also known what it is to be “caught in the middle” between people I love very much, and forced to take a stand—as is Robert.  I think that is true for many young people.

The characters in “William Henry is a Fine Name” are very much alive.  They jumped off the page and took center stage as I was reading the book.  What are some techniques you use to create such believable characters?

I reach into the storehouse of my life and reading and draw from all the voices I have heard or read or imagined.  My characters are composites of people and attitudes I’ve known.  Having grown up in the south during the civil rights movement, and having lived in New York  and  . . . .I love diversity in people and treasure those things that make us each unique.  Characters reveal themselves to me gradually, and I say . . .

Cathy, you’ve worked as a drama director for adults and young people.  How did this experience play into the writing of your novel?

Drama taught me the importance of dialogue and dialect.  I know from writing scripts and directing actors that you have to keep dialogue sharp and action moving.  Everything must contribute to what you see and hear. . . .There is no room for dead space with no tension.  Do that and the magic is gone—you lose your audience.

The same is true in writing fiction . . .

What do you see as the role of Christian fiction in building the Kingdom of God?

Jesus told stories.  He fleshed out the Kingdom of God in our minds with his parables. . . . teaching us to live graciously, passionately, generously. . .

I see Christian fiction as an opportunity to follow our Lord’s example.  Through writing we are privileged to build one another up, to encourage, to pierce ignorance and injustice in a non-threatening form, to reach into dark and lonely places and sit compassionately with readers, to bear the light of understanding.

~See Mary Ann Diorio’s Truth Through Fiction~

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Did a particular passion drive you as our wrote (“William Henry is a Fine Name”)”

My passion is to bless young people, to let them know they are not powerless, not alone, that they, too, can effect change in their own spheres by the grace of God, and that there are real life answers in the Bible for all of us.  Our questions may change through the years, but God’s answers and the principles that lead to life are for all generations.

What questions have you had that were answered by the faith and principles you mentioned:

. . . Questions like—What does God want of me?  How do I honor Him in my life?  How can I live a Christian life in school, at home, at work, at church, and in the world when people around me look down on or ridicule that? How do I treat someone who looks or believes differently than I?  If I don’t like my situation or if it is hurtful what can I do to change it?  What if changing my situation hurts someone else?  Is there a way to heal both? . . .What if helping one person hurts another?

Is there something in your own life that fuels a passion for that theme (the theme in “William Henry is a Fine Name”)?

Many life events fuel my passion for this theme.  Here is one.  I grew up in the south during years of the civil rights movement.  Laws changed more quickly than attitudes.

I remember the day the church at the end of our street installed a basketball hoop and net in their parking lot.  It was a grand day for the kids in the neighborhood.  We rushed through dinner and ran to the church, dribbling our basketball and shooting hoops until dark.  None of were very good players, but it was great fun.

Pretty soon an African American boy who lived across the street and beyond the field joined us.  Joe (not his real name) was a great basketball player!  He’d rarely miss a shot and taught us what he knew.  That his skin was black made no difference to us. . . .we all wanted him on our team.

After the third night my mother received a phone call from a “concerned parent” who lived near the church.  She’d seen my mother’s “white daughter” playing with “that colored boy” and wanted to advise her . . .

. . . the woman made our game sound dirty, and told my mother that if she didn’t call a stop to it her children would not be allowed to play with my brother or me.  The woman was certain the other mothers in the neighborhood would feel the same.

That was the last night of basketball in the church parking lot for a long time  . . . We all knew it was unjust, unfair and small minded.  Even as children, we understood that.

The few times I saw Joe later . . .We lost so much more than basketball that night.  I’ve often wondered if Joe remembers that time, or if it was just one in such a long line of injustices that he’s forgotten.  I’ve always wished I could have done something better in that situation.  Now, by God’s grace, I can.

    ~See Paula Modenhaer’s interview at Crosswalk.com or her unedited version at
GraceReign

. . . Do you have advice for parents as they discuss the difficult issues of this book?

Hold your children close.  Mourn loss with them.  Mourning a character or situation in a book helps children understand that it is okay to cry, that grief is normal, and that life does go on, even after bad things happen.  Let them know that the bad things people have done to each other are not right and should never be repeated.  Tell them that by knowing these things they can decide, like Robert, how and when to take their own stand for what is right and good and true, and how to keep going when life is very hard.  Help children recognize unfair, unjust treatment in the world they live in.  Help them understand how they, even in their youth, can respond to that.  Talk about the people who helped Robert, the people he could trust and why they were trustworthy.  Talk about trustworthy people in your child’s life, and why you, or they, believe them trustworthy.

I love the way you weave amazing description and beautiful writing into a story with lots of drama and action.  My boys were mesmerized by the action.  I was mesmerized by the cadence of your words.  How did you do it?  Any hints for writers?

You are so generous, Paula.  I love the beauty of language and celebrate that in the things I read—poetry and prose.  I love the rhythm of words and the way they fit together. Reading aloud and performing my work helps tremendously.  I love a good story.  I remember being young and exploring old houses, searching dead tree stumps, scratching at the base of gravestones, desperately wishing an exciting mystery might pop up for me to solve.  Writing provides just the opportunity for that sort of drama and action.  It’s great fun to write something, then whistle, and shout, “Whoa!  That could’ve happened!”

My best advice to writers is to listen appreciatively to voices and dialects, to love real people and delight in their stories and natures, then compose fictional characters from that treasure trove.  Read widely, write honestly, and spend time polishing writing to a fine sheen. I think the richness of language is something we’ve cut so sharply to save time and space that we don’t always realize when we are bleeding and have lost strength.  Re. action, pretend you are performing a radio play or theatre in the round.  Ask if your story alerts every sense, if it is compelling enough to pull your audience into the drama, to make them believe they are part of the story.

What one message would you like to leave with your readers?

We are not victims in life.  We each have the opportunity to make choices about what we believe and how we act upon those beliefs.

If you could only do one thing in life, what would it be?

The desire of my heart is to encourage people to seek after the Lord, trust Him, and accept the amazing free gift He offers us through Jesus Christ.  I pray that my writing does that.

~See Paula Moldenhauer’s A Book for All Ages:  “William Henry Is a Fine Name”

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Take us through your process of writing a novel briefly—from conception to revision.

        Something intrigues or fascinates me: it could be a snippet from history, the expression on someone’s face, a conversation I’ve overheard, that morning’s Bible reading, or a twist on something I’ve read in the newspaper. I explore that picture in my mind and people it with story characters. That exploration might include research, people watching, or relaxing enough to watch the mental movies my characters create.

        I see parts of the story as movie scenes or stage dramas in my head, and sketch scenes or dialogues from those. Though I don’t know the entire story, I begin a flow chart, and imagine how those scenes might link together. That is when I begin to see the story as a whole, form a general plot, and create an outline. I’ve written with and without a chapter by chapter outline and have found that an outline keeps me on task.

        Now I’m ready to write the story. If I get stuck I go back to my outline. If I’m really stuck I’ll skip ahead to a scene I see more clearly in my head and pick up there. I can always go back and fill in what I’ve missed. I read over what I’ve written for the day before I go to sleep at night. My mind sometimes resolves problems as I sleep.

        Each new writing day begins with prayer, then editing what I wrote the day before. Editing allows me to dip my feet into the story and regain momentum.

        Once the first draft is written I read the entire manuscript, cut, revise, rewrite, and hone. I tighten each chapter’s beginning and ending, edit line by line, working with the arrangement of words, and make certain my characters remain in character and maintain their voices.

        When the manuscript is as polished as I can make it I give it to a group of critical readers. I take their comments into consideration, rewrite where I think best, polish, and send it to my editor. That is when the editing process with the publishing house begins, and I realize how much I don’t know.

      ~See Ane Mulligan’s complete interview at Novel Journey

Book Reviews:

“I Have Seen Him in the Watchfires”

In this excellent Civil War sequel to the Christy Award-winning William Henry Is a Fine Name, Robert Glover is now 17 years old. Although he promised his father not to join the Union Army until he became of age, circumstances force Robert to head for the war. He must also cope with his mother’s growing mental illness and rely on his own faith to carry him through his trials. Gohlke’s attention to authentic period detail and well-drawn, engrossing characterizations distinguish this outstanding historical novel, and the first-person narrative will draw readers into Robert’s gripping life and adventures. Equally appropriate for adults and teens, this is highly recommended for all collections. Gohlke formerly worked as a school librarian.

~~Library Journal

“William Henry is a Fine Name”

   “. . . Cathy Gohlke’s manuscript is a wonderfully built drama centering around the Underground Railroad. The world that existed then comes alive in the telling of this fictional tale based on the reality of that time period. . . There isn’t a single thing I would change about this book and I would recommend this even for school project reading because it does show so many aspects of the personal involvement in the Underground Railroad. Yes, there are some historical facts and figures but this focuses on the people’s hearts and emotions. Very well done.”

~~Lori Graham

    Cathy Gohlke has written a fascinating, gripping story about the terrible wrongs of slavery and the courage of those willing to fight against it. The characters are so well developed, the emotions so overwhelming that the reader is pulled into the story from the first page to the end. This story will grip your heart. It's more than just a book, it's an experience.

It's hard to believe this is Cathy Gohlke's first novel. Expect more from this very talented writer.

~~Barbara Warren

    Thirteen-year-old Robert has been raised in a family divided on the issue of slavery, and as he grows up he must decide where he stands and what he will do about it. Through his friendship with his best friend William, time spent in the south with his grandfather, and seeing first-hand the affects of slavery he chooses to become involved with the Underground Railroad. Cathy Gohlke's first novel is a beautifully written treasure! It can be enjoyed by both adults and teens. The characters and events of the story are so powerful they will stay with you long after you finish the book.

~~Carrie Turansky

See more Reviews from Amazon.com

Interview Excerpts:

Cathy, describe yourself for our visitors:

I love exploring ruins and historical sites, old diaries and books, attic trunks—place and things that time forgot.  My imagination runs wild in those moments and I conjure stories and images that lead me down all sorts of rabbit holes.

I love campfires.  One of my favorite things is to sit around the campfire by our house on a chilly evening, listening to my son play his guitar while we all sing or grow mellow—after eating too many roasted marshmallows!

I also love reading good books and those moments when I’m writing and feel in sync with the Lord, prepared and partnered for the mission He’s given me.  I love riding my bike on a sunny day and dancing with my husband.

I love hands on mission work . . .