Author Interview - Joy Margetts - historical fiction

Guide to Categories – Author Interview – an interview with an author, if there is no review from me, I have not read the book and cannot speak to its appropriateness for a school library

Links in this post may be affiliate links. Purchases made using these links will not cost you more but may pay me an affiliate fee.

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and related sites. Thank you for using my links.

About the Book

Book: The Stranger

Author: Joy Margetts

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction

Release date: November 22, 2024

What do you do when your life’s work lies in ashes at your feet? When your heart and body are broken and your faith shattered?

Disillusioned, grief-stricken and feeling abandoned by the God he once trusted, Brother Silas runs. He sets out on a lonely journey, not knowing where the path will take him, determined to distance himself from his painful past.

But Silas cannot escape the Love that will not let him go. Through the unexpected kindness of strangers, and a series of inexplicable events, Silas’ heart begins to heal. Then an unlikely reunion puts him back on the path to rediscovering who he really is.

Will Silas find where he truly belongs or will he remain a stranger forever?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author – Joy Margetts

Joy combines a life- long love of history and a deep passion for the Word of God to write stories, inspired by her own faith journey. She lives on the beautiful North Wales coast, amidst abbey ruins and ancient pilgrim paths.

More from Joy Margetts

I live in a most beautiful area of the UK, on the coast of Wales, surrounded by a stunning landscape of mountains, forests and sea. This is an area that is not only stunning in its natural beauty but also rich with history; castles, abbeys, old churches, and ancient pilgrimage routes. These things inspire my writing, which is why my books are set in medieval Wales, and feature abbeys, monks, knights and maidens. No dragons though! And no murders!

Some years ago now my life was forever changed when I became unexpectedly ill, from what was later diagnosed as Chronic Fatigue. Months of being able to do very little turned into years. Years where I lost much including my job and career, experiences with my children which I will never get back, and my role in ministry. Through this time I questioned all that I had known of God. I had followed Jesus all my life but when things got really tough it felt like He had abandoned me. I didn’t know if I could trust Him any more, if He really cared, if all that I had once believed was actually true. Over time God pursued me, revealing His love for me in unexpected ways, using others to display Himself, helping me to rediscover my faith and choose to trust Him again.

In writing my books I wanted to tell my own story, but through the fictional lives of characters living centuries ago. The Healing, my first novel, told my story of healing and redemption, and no-one was more surprised than I when the book was published. But God had given me a gift to write and He wasn’t finished with one book. The Stranger is actually my fourth novel and the most personal in many ways. The central character has to navigate what it feels like to question his faith in the face of devastating disappointment. I think this is something that many Christians can equate with. The story follows him as he tries to turn his back on his God, and discovers that God does not give up the pursuit of those He loves. It is my story. God pursued me and would not let me go. He is the lover of my soul and has proved faithful. I want my books to carry hope, and to glorify Him.

I love the Word of God. It has been my place of comfort and strength through tough times. My books are littered with scriptural truth, and I make no apologies for that. It is the truth, and believing in the truth, that sets us free.

My Author Interview with Joy Margetts

When you are not writing, what other hats do you wear? What do you do for fun?

My life is full. Sometimes too full to write! I am a grandmother and love helping to care for two small grandkids. I am actively involved in church life and do admin for the church. I support my elderly parents who are both frail now, and I keep house for my husband and one son still living at home.

As a result of my writing and meeting other like minded writers, I have started a group called Kingdom Story Writers. We run retreats and produce podcasts, and have a Facebook page and website that I help maintain.

For fun? I like to read, puzzle, crochet, bake and watch my husband garden! We also have a small terrier who is great fun.

What is your favorite genre to read? What about that genre draws you?

No surprises here but my favorite genre has always been historical fiction! Perhaps that is why, after years of working in the medical field, I have gone back to my first love – history. I love the sense of escapism that going to another time and place gives you. History has always fascinated me – particularly how people lived in days past. Visiting historic ruins, castles, country houses, and military sites were part of my childhood, as my father also loved history. We carried that on with our children and my son ended up studying history at university. Now we live in a town with its own castle and a ruined abbey just a few miles away. I will always gravitate to the historical fiction shelves in a library or bookshop. Any period of history – but particularly medieval!

How does your faith play out in your writing?

All of my books are inspired by my own life experiences, particularly the things God has taught me on my own faith journey. Although they are set in another period, and told through other characters, there is a lot of my own story in my books. The first book, The Healing, was particularly based on my own healing journey, but told through the friendship between a world weary wounded knight and his monk friend. Certain characters from that first book have stayed with me and the subsequent books feature their stories. I come up with a spiritual truth I want them to learn and grow in and wind the story around that. The second book, The Pilgrim, explored themes of forgiveness particularly self forgiveness. The third book, The Bride, was about God’s father heart and love for His own. The latest, The Stranger, considers what happens when we begin to question God and run from Him.

As a former K-12 school librarian (and since this blog is geared toward school librarians) I have to ask – what is your favorite children’s book?

Oh my, that is a difficult question. I love the Winnie the Pooh books. I have a vivid memory of my parents reading AA Milne aloud to us, and us all laughing together. Of course I read them for myself too later on. The House at Pooh Corner is probably my favorite. I also devoured CS Lewis’ Narnia stories, and they have stood the test of time.

My favorite current children’s books are by a UK based author called Joy Vee. They are beautiful stories that explore how to live for Jesus in today’s world, for school age children and their families. I can’t wait for my grandchildren to be old enough to read them.

Young Author’s Days were an important part of my work as a school librarian. What advice would you give to a child or teen who wants to be a writer?

Read. Read. Read. You need to read to be a writer! You have to love books, and learn from other writers. You have to know when a story line works well, when a character is relatable, how to draw your audience in. You also need to grow your vocabulary and gather new words!

And then write. Write anything and everything. Try to write in different genres. Challenge yourself. Learn about the craft of writing. Share your work with others.

Most of all – don’t make being a writer the only thing you live for. It is not easy, and not many writers are very successful. Make sure you put Jesus at the center of everything and ask Him what He wants you to do, and to write.

Thank you so much for joining us today. We enjoy learning more about the authors behind the books.

Views expressed in this interview/guest post do not necessarily reflect the views of this blog host.