Interview with Beth White

A inteview I did with Beth White about her new book Tour de Force, which I will be reviewing soon..


Tell us about yourself?

Well, I am a pastor’s wife. I’ve been married to Scott for twenty-eight years. We minister at a big Baptist church in Saraland, Alabama, where I teach second-grade Sunday school and play flute in the orchestra. My son is married and serves in the Navy, and my daughter is a junior in college. Our family is completed by a funny little Maltese puppy named Zoë.

Besides the writing thing (I have a master’s degree in creative writing), I have a full-time job teaching piano and chorus at a high school here in Mobile. Needless to say, I’m pretty busy!

What is the name of your book and is it out yet? Where is it available?

Tour de Force is indeed out. I’ve heard from people who have bought it—even though my author copies have not arrived yet! It’s in the major Christian bookstores—LifeWay and Family Christian—as well as the chains like Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million. Readers can also buy it online at the aforementioned stores, plus Amazon.com and ChristianBook.com.


Have you written other books?

I sure have. Tour de Force is my thirteenth book in print. I started with four novellas for Tyndale’s HeartQuest romance series, then I did a three-book miniseries with Border Patrol heroes for Steeple Hill’s Love Inspired Suspense. For the last few years I’ve been writing contemporary romance for Zondervan. All my titles can be found on my website, www.elizabethwhite.net. Most of my stuff is set in South Mississippi, Alabama, or Texas, with brief jaunts to New York City.

How does your faith affect or how is it applied in your writing?

Since my faith is the bedrock of my life, it’s impossible to keep it out of what I write. Besides, I made a conscious choice to include spiritual themes in my fiction. I think good writing will paint pictures of how God works in the lives of people. However, with that said, the spiritual themes grow out of the story, not the reverse. I start by getting to know the characters. As they work through their conflicts, God is always working to draw them to Himself.

Of course I haven’t experienced exactly the problems that afflict my characters—I’ve certainly never injured my back in a ballet!—but the general principals they learn often reflect the things God is teaching me. For example, I struggle with sharing my faith in a nonthreatening way with unbelieving friends and coworkers, especially those with different lifestyles than me. I struggle with trusting God when He denies me what I want. I struggle to submit myself to authority.

One of my main goals in writing Christian romance is to demonstrate handling courtship and marriage in a way that is pleasing to God. Of course along the way, I often wind up illustrating what happens when we disobey biblical principles. That’s a big part of the conflict in my stories.

Do you have plans for any more books coming out this year?

Yes, in June my second Love Inspired Historical will release from Steeple Hill—Crescent City Courtship. It’s a sequel to Redeeming Gabriel, which released last November. CCC is about a young woman who wants to go to medical school and become a doctor—in 1879 New Orleans.

Final thoughts from Beth

Cindy, thank you for inviting me to your "Stamping" grounds. I'd just like to add that it's been a real privilege to have visited with y'all here. Please come visit me at www.elizabethwhite.net. I've got the welcome mat out!



Conclusion, as Beth told us in her interview, her new book is out and in bookstores, and available online also, Take a moment to check out her website, there you can keep up with upcoming news about Beth and her writing. Beth White