An Interview with an Author: June Foster
It’s Author Thursday on my blog! Today, please get to know Christian author June Foster.
In 2010, after retiring from a 34-year career as an elementary teacher, the Lord placed on June’s heart the desire to write contemporary fiction. At the time, she never thought she could write a book, but eventually she knew that she knew she had to write for His glory. She loves to assure others they are never too old to do something new.
As of today, she’s written more than 20 novellas and full-length novels. She loves her editor, Cynthia Hickey of Winged Publications. June has a bachelor's in education and a masters in counseling. Her degree has come to the rescue many times in helping her understand her characters. She belongs to ACFW, American Christian Fiction Writers, an organization for writers. She said she gained so much learning and wisdom from this group on learning how to write a novel.
Her book, Ryan's Father, won second place in contemporary fiction at the Oregon Christian Writer's convention.
Learn more about June through the links at the end of this interview.
—By Jessica Brodie
JB: Tell us about yourself and your faith journey.
June: I was raised in a non-Christian home, but God touched my heart three years after I married my non-practicing Catholic husband. The Lord revealed Himself to me in a very strange way—through a movie. After much prayer, twelve years later, my husband also received the Lord in his life, and we now serve at our church.
JB: When did you know you wanted to become a writer?
June: Strangely enough, I didn't begin writing until after I retired from teaching and was a grandma. I had never planned to be an author, but one day I found a story lurking around in my head. I could even see the characters and the setting. I happen to tell the story to my daughter, and she encouraged me to write the story. That was the spark I needed. I began penning my first novel while my husband and I sailed along the highways in our RV.
JB: How does your faith influence your writing?
June: In every way. I write stories from a Christian worldview. My Christian characters may make mistakes and sin, but they always ask forgiveness from the Lord. My stories are filled with romance and suspense, but are not graphic. Any reader who doesn't want to read worldly story elements can feel confident reading one of my books. There was a time when I didn't know the Lord, and today I yearn for every one of my family to come to faith in Jesus. I like to write characters who aren't Christians at the first and later give their lives to the Lord.
JB: When did this particular story first stir in your heart?
June: Since I first started writing, I found I love writing stories about identical twins and the crazy things that can happen when they are mistaken for the other. Once when I taught at a Christian school, one of my fellow teachers said she was married to an identical twin. For some reason it fascinated me, and I asked her a lot of questions. She said once right before she got married, she mistook her fiancé for his brother and kissed him. After I started writing I couldn't wait to write a story where something similar happened. So, in A Kiss Under the Mistletoe, I contracted with my editor to write a Christmas story. Immediately as I wrote, I knew the young woman would fall in love with a youth pastor who had a very, very different twin.
JB: Do you have other books coming out in the future?
June: Yes, I'm writing a romantic suspense entitled, The Inn at Cranberry Cove. It will be out around December 10 of this year. A young woman inherits her aunt's inn in Washington state and leaves her job in Denver to get the inn ready to open. A man she first believes is the gardener is the son of the owner of a large cranberry plant in Cranberry Cove. Only thing, he hides a secret from her. He lost is wife and child several months before in a horrific car accident. Together they try to discover the identity of the mysterious midnight intruder who repeatedly shows up at the inn.
JB: What do I hope for readers to take away from this book, A Kiss Under the Mistletoe?
June: First of all, I hope the reader will enjoy the holiday theme of this novel. In the story, the hero is a youth pastor. He hides the truth about his twin brother from the pastor, the hiring staff, and the woman he loves. Trust among Christians is important, including two people who're in love.
Check out June online:
Website: https://junefoster.com/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/junefoster
Twitter: https://twitter.com/vjifoster
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorjunefoster
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/junefoster