Brenda S. Anderson writes authentic, gritty, life-affirming fiction that shows God at work in people’s messy lives. She enjoys live sports and theater, walking along the shores of Lake Superior, and sharing hot cocoa with friends and family. She lives near Minneapolis with her newly retired husband and their twin mischievous kitties.
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WRITING AWARDS
2012 ACFW Genesis Finalist
Contemporary Romance
for
Hearts at Risk
(Now titled Risking Love)
2012 ACFW Genesis Semi-Finalist
Women’s Fiction
for
Pieces of Granite
MEMBERSHIPS
ACFW
American Christian Fiction Writers
ACFW Minnesota NICE
(Novelists Inspiring Christian Excellence)
The Birth of Imagination …
I grew up in the best place in the world: a dairy farm in Minnesota. Oh, I know, many of you are wrinkling your noses and thinking, what about Hawaii? California? The Rocky Mountains? Any number of places could be better, definitely warmer, and a whole lot less work.
Yet, in spite of stepping in fresh manure piles, tossing bales in 90 degree heat and stifling humidity, and suffering through temperatures cold enough to freeze breath and limb, fun was had and stories were born.
My daughter tells me I grew up spoiled. I had everything a child could possibly want: hay sheds for building forts, hay lofts with rope swings, tons of swimming lakes within biking distance, a sledding hill right across the road, our own pond to skate on, snow piles–high as our house–in which we created little cabins, acres of trees to climb and and to weave bike paths through, corn fields in which to play hide and seek, all the homegrown sweet corn we could eat, a baseball field with unique boundaries … I could go on.
To make it even better, I have four brothers and two sisters who were built-in playmates. At the farm next door, they had eight children so it was never difficult to find enough players for football or softball or whatever game we wanted to play.
Our farm was laid out over rolling hills. The sunsets and sunrises were filled with hues city dwellers can only imagine. The northern lights could be seen in their full cascade of colors. Shooting stars were commonplace. Nothing says it better than Psalm 19:1: “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”
The farm was also fertile ground for imagination. I’d often go for walks, with my faithful German Shepherd at my side, and imagine myself in a different time and place. Some of those stories made it onto paper and several teachers encouraged my imagination.
Like so many authors, I always dreamed of writing a novel, but for many years that’s all it was: a dream. Practicality said that there was no career in writing, so why waste my time?
Fast forward several years later. In the spring of 2005 I was a stay-at-home mom whose three kids were in school full time. I considered doing the practical thing by getting a job to help support the family. I even picked up an application from the local Christian book store.
Then I felt the nudging. The LifeKeys course at our church taught me that God gave us our passions for a reason. Our passions had a purpose. I’d never believed that before, but then I gave it consideration. My imagination had never stopped; the stories had become more real, more complex.
It was time to write.
Two weeks later I confessed to my husband that I spent my free time writing. His answer? “It’s about time.” How’s that for confirmation?
So now, it’s eleven years later with five books published and more on the horizon, all stories written in a partnership with God, stories I believe He placed within my psyche for a purpose. It’s my prayer, as I record the stories God has given me, that my words will do them justice, that others will hear the message God wants me to convey.
Comments 9
“God gave us our passions for a reason.” Thank you for this, Brenda. Reading this a few years ago would have saved me stressing over whether I was to write fiction.
Keep writing. And your childhood sounds like the best!
I’m glad you’re writing fiction now, Janet! I’m praying that God will richly bless this new path in your life. 🙂
And I’ll agree–my childhood really was the best!
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Hi Brenda: A delight for me to learn of you and your Writings from the New Releases from ACFW Authors for October 2016. I look forward to becoming familiar with your books. Reading your ‘About You’ section caused a huge smile on my face since My mother was born and raised in Sacred Heart, MN. She loved MN. She never quite adjusted to the change in people’s attitude and culture when she met dad and they moved to PA. I have always lived in PA but made it a point to go to College in SD. I often imagine myself on a farm in MN and loving it. It’s in the genes (haha). Take care. Mary
Hi Mary – Thank you for your nice note! I’m familiar with Sacred Heart as a college roommate grew up there and still lives there. It’s terrific farm country!
Yes, Minnesota is a great place to grow up, and I’m abundantly grateful that God planted me here. 🙂 But I’ve driven through PA a number of times and spent a week in Hershey, PA. Such a beautiful state!
Can’t find Word of the day. I would like to enter raffle. Thank you.
Hi Mary – the Word of the Day begins on February 28. You will find it on the daily blog post: https://brendaandersonbooks.com/blog/.
Thank you for visiting!
God bless,
Brenda
I just got done reading Coming Home (PDF), I could not find a place telling what I thought about what I had read, I am not on Facebook, Twitter or other places.
I like it a lot, written a little differently but well done, a part of me wanted more. I am 64 year old grandma of 16 and by the latter part of July, 17 wonderful grandchildren. Please continue writing, it was realistic, and covers what we all go through whatever our experiences we have. The expected is not always there, but the unexpected is always there. I was a stay at home mom, who later volunteered for some years and had to quit. But I have had a good life, frustrating at times but good.
Thank you
Sandy D
thank you
Thank you, Sandy, for your kind words and for sharing a bit about yourself! 16+ grandchildren?! That’s a blessing in itself!
I’m always grateful when my stories resonate with readers. 🙂
God bless you and have a happy New Year!
Brenda