This week I am thrilled to have Aubrey on my blog for an author spotlight!
As a child, Aubrey spent countless hours creating characters and writing stories. Thirty years later, she took up her pen again, uniting her fascination for history with her passion for redemption. The stories she creates are a unique brand of gritty, honest wartime sagas, written from the German perspective. She is the mother of three, and married to her best friend Brian. When she’s not writing or taking care of home and family, she can often be found making music, reading, or spending time with friends.
First off, welcome to my blog. It’s so great to have you here!
It’s great to be here, Taylor. Thanks!
Is there anything you want to share before we dive into the questions?
Yes, the book I’m offering as a giveaway is not the book I’ll be talking about today. I wanted to take this opportunity to talk about an upcoming release from Brave Authors, entitled Every Life Treasured: Three Novellas About the Value of Life. Since that won’t be available until October, I’m offering a paperback copy of my novelette, Hans Waldemar Remembers Normandy, which I’m happy to send out to one lucky winner the first week of September!
What first sparked your passion for storytelling, and how has your journey as a writer evolved over time?
I remember playing outside with my mom when I was very young. She recounted that one day, I looked up at her and said, “We’re a story.” I guess even then, I saw a potential for story in the mundane bits of life. I had a chalkboard on the wall, and I would illustrate stories before I learned to write. Once I did learn to write, I was always making little books out of folded, stapled paper. Eventually, I moved to spiral-bound notebooks. All that ended when I was in my teens. It took me 25 years to come back to it, but since then I’ve found writing stories to be my greatest joy.
What unique aspects of your faith influence your storytelling style or the themes you explore?
I think my personal journey through severe depression, anxiety, and unrealistic expectations from the church led me to want to deal with topics that aren’t popular in Christian Fiction, taking on a fresh perspective of love and redemption. It also prompted an eventual move into the General Market. There were times I wanted to step away from the church, but I never—never—wanted to let go of Christ my Savior. The Bible says God has set eternity in the hearts of men, and I think a lot of people have a desire for Him hidden deep in their heart, but since they don’t feel acceptable to the church, or to the Christians around them, they stay away from the One Person who can heal them.
Do you have a favorite Bible verse or passage that has guided your writing or life journey?
My life verse is Psalm 27:4: "One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple.” While it hasn’t influenced my writing specifically, I pray that it influences everything I do.
Who are some of your favorite Christian authors, and how have they influenced your work?
Ok, confession time: I don’t read a lot of Christian Fiction. It’s an occupational hazard of being a Historical Fiction author: I spend most of my time reading non-fiction and memoir. The CF favorites I do have come from my circle of writer friends, and more than anything, they are a source of fellowship, daily encouragement, prayer, and accountability.
If you could collaborate with any Christian author, living or deceased, who would it be and why?
I think that already happened! I am thrilled beyond belief to have one of my novellas bound along with stories from Hannah Hood Lucero and Jennifer Q. Hunt in Every Life Treasured: Three Novellas About the Value of Life. We worked so well together and it was the best possible scenario for my first collab. The stories all center on the value of life, but they come at it from different angles, and each springs from our personal wheelhouse: Jennifer’s Historical Fiction novella, A Mother’s Tender Hand, is set in the Deep South after WWI, and Hannah’s Contemporary Romantic Suspense novella is entitled The Missionary and the Marine.
What’s your favorite scene or moment in the book, and why does it hold special meaning for you?
My contribution to Every Life Treasured is entitled Born for Adversity, and is set in post-WWI Europe. Broken-hearted and facing an unplanned pregnancy, Lani leaves her home in French-occupied Germany to fill out her term with a relative in Bavaria. There, she becomes friends with a young farmer named Leo. Unashamed to be seen in town with her, Leo buys her a warm, soft-baked pretzel. It’s such a simple scene, but I love these lines:
“I’m sure it’s going to be awkward being seen with me. If not now, then soon. Don’t feel like you have to do anything for me.”
“I don’t feel like I have to do anything for you. I just thought you’d be hungry.”
The inclusion of Leo also allowed me an opportunity to address the all-too-typical struggle not to rebound into another relationship, which isn’t easy for Lani!
Are there any surprising lessons or revelations you discovered about yourself or your faith through the writing process?
Well, I didn’t choose the German perspective. It chose me. It isn’t easy, because when you get as deep into it as I have, you discover a lot that goes against what you’ve been taught all your life. I think most of us would acknowledge that history has been written by the victors, though perhaps we give lip service to it (and some people even want to argue that it has not been written by the victors). I admit that there are ugly truths, but where truth has been lost to history, God knows the whole story. I find great comfort in that, and in His love and mercy on mankind.
How do you incorporate prayer or spiritual reflection into your writing routine?
I never skip morning devotions. In some seasons, I love intense Bible study, but in other seasons, it’s just a few short verses with reflection and prayer. Sometimes, I come back to it in the middle of the day because I need that refreshment. I love listening to music that spurs my writing, but sometimes I just need to turn on worship music and remind myself of “things above.”
What do you enjoy most about connecting with readers, and what feedback has resonated deeply with you?
I’m not super social, but when I’m around people who “get” me, or get me talking about my passion, and I will talk for hours. I love doing in-person events such as vendor fairs where readers come up and start asking me questions. They see that my books are specifically German-focused and want to know how on earth I got into such a thing.As for feedback, one of my writer friends told me that one of my books “turned her brain inside out.” That sounds silly, but it was a huge encouragement to me, because without calling the entire narrative into question, I do want people to think more about the German side of the story. People talk a lot about “Never Again,” but I am fond of saying that the only way that can ever really happen is if we are willing to look at the entire picture.
Have you seen your book make an impact in someone’s life, and can you share that experience?
As I said above, I rejoice every time someone says that my book got them thinking. I still don’t know why God called me to this, but I feel like it is something God is urging people to consider. The war ended 80 years ago, yet so much has been left unsaid. I’m blessed to play a small part in opening up that dialogue.
What’s one thing you wish readers knew about the process of writing Christian fiction?
Well, not all my books are written for the CF market. I had to move out of that because of the kinds of topics I address. I feel like I can be more free and honest writing for a general readership, although I do still maintain content standards. For example, you’ll never find an open-door romance scene in my books, but a number of my books acknowledge the fact that unwed intimacy happens. This is the case with Born for Adversity, and the novel it is connected to, Dearest Gunter. I don’t paint it as a positive, but I’m also not afraid to talk about the potential consequences. I know Christian authors want to avoid stumbling readers, but there is a definite line between stumbling and talking about the realities of life. We seem to err on the side of legalism, creating artificial standards, when sometimes God wants us to challenge the status quo.
How do you celebrate the completion of a book, and what does that milestone mean to you?
I don’t, really. I have two standing lunch dates each month: one with my aunt and one with a dear friend from the German-American community here in town. If I’ve had a new release, I might celebrate by ordering the $25 entrée instead of the $15, or a special dessert or a fancy drink.
If someone were to adapt your book into a movie, what would be your dream casting for the main characters?
I recognize a laughably small number of movie stars. That said, I’ve always wished a young Thomas Kretschmann could’ve played my character Christian (from my books The Christmas We Both Needed and The Rubicon).
What advice would you give to aspiring authors who are just starting out?
Pray. A lot. If you’re not already feeling the pressure to succeed based on what others call success, you will once you get going. You’ll to want to be the author winning awards or getting contracts, but that may not be what God has for you. It’s important to go into it with a strong sense of what He wants for your writing. It will make it easier to “stay in your lane” and keep your eyes focused on Him and His goal.
Lastly, before you go…Can you talk about any upcoming projects or books you’re working on?
I had every intention of writing Book 2 of my Separate Ways series… but then something else came up. It’s very different, and something that has been marinating in the back of my mind for over two years. The words are coming like a torrent, though it’s also causing a lot of prayer, introspection, and tears. I’m not sure I’ll ever publish it, but it has a purpose, and I’m leaning into it.
Now for her book, Every Life Treasured.
Born for Adversity by Aubrey Taylor
A child grows in Lani’s womb, a constant reminder of the young man she loves and will never have. The handsome François Durant fancies her, and would give her a safe and comfortable life–if only she’ll have ‘it’ taken care of. Instead, Lani seeks solace with her family in Bavaria. There, she will not only face the decision whether to keep the child or give him up for adoption, she will also be challenged to overcome the desire for a man’s love–a challenge made more difficult by the kind young farmer down the road.
And Aubrey has teased us with a snippet from her story:
“I know your Grandpa Thompson never wanted to talk about the war.” I stretch my arms the same way I did when Colby called me an old man. “I don’t want my stories to die with me.”
“Thank you, Opa. That means a lot. What I want to know is”—she takes a deep breath—“are the other stories true?”
“What stories?”
“You—you know.”
I sigh deeply. Yes, I do know. The stories that have prevented communication in countless families for three generations. I swirl my soup a little. “There’s going to be a lot to unpack, Liebchen.”
“You have to start somewhere.”
Enter the giveaway below for a chance to win a signed paperback copy!
(Giveaway runs for three weeks. Winner will be contacted by author.)
Giveaway Link: https://forms.gle/Br2gLjoGfDVjM7bg9
Make sure to follow Aubrey on Social Media:
Website: https://aubreytaylorbooks.com
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