Every now and then, Amazon’s recommendation engine actually gets it right. One weekend, while browsing, I stumbled upon Valerie Howard’s work — and sure enough, they were right that I’d like her work. Valerie is a versatile writer whose creativity spans multiple genres: she’s penned writing help books for fellow authors, stage plays (Christmas productions), novels, and even children’s picture books. She sometimes collaborates with her husband, Steve. The first work I read was the Christmas play Christmas Catastrophe, which she co-wrote with him.

I also immediately bought this four book set to help with my writing:

Intrigued by her range and inspired by her ability to juggle so many formats, I reached out to Valerie with a few questions about her writing career.

What inspired you to become a writer?

Reading and listening to stories always made me want to make up my own since I was a little girl. I’d read Encyclopedia Brown books in third grade, and I’d write my own mysteries. (They all got solved the same way, because I do NOT think like a mystery writer.) So, for me, reading really inspired a love for stories, and that made me want to write them.

I started writing to publish after I graduated college as a “well, let’s try it, I’ve always wanted to write a book” type of thing. But once I held my first book in my hands, I was hooked, and wanted to write more!

You write such a variety of book formats. Writer’s guides, stage plays, novels, kids’ books, and nonfiction. What is your favorite and why?

My favorite type of writing is where I can use my imagination and encourage others in their faith at the same time. If I can create realistic characters and help them learn truths from the Bible through hard-earned life lessons, count me in, no matter what format that may take. I think full-length fiction novels are actually my favorite because I get to live in that world for a much deeper dive.


Talk about the creative process of writing a play that churches can use. What writing tips do you keep in mind to make them able to be produced? And have you ever had a chance to stage one yourself?

My church has put on a Christmas play every year since I can remember, so I was in a dozen or so plays as a child, and also directed the Christmas play at our church for a few years, so all of that experience helped me write plays for other small churches. I’ve seen how churches like ours struggle to find quality Christmas plays that don’t need twenty characters, five soloists, and a huge four-part children’s choir in order to make it work. I wanted to write plays that don’t have a lot of complicated props or many actors needed so they can be produced on a tight budget with minimal volunteers. The key word is simplicity. We’ve performed all but one of my plays at our church at one time or another, and it has been very fun to see the vision come to life.

I’m intrigued by the fact that you collaborated on one of the stage plays with your husband, Steve Howard. How did you find co-writing vs. solo writing?

My husband, Steve, and I wrote that play when we were working for my parents’ accounting firm and we had some downtime… It was fun to bounce ideas off each other and see how the story took shape. Steve is brilliant and has a great sense of humor, so it was really fun to write with him. I think a 25-minute play is easier to write alongside another person, because it’s pretty short, simple, and sweet. I don’t think I could collaborate with anyone for a full-length novel because it’s so much more complicated, and my poor brain couldn’t handle all of my ideas in addition to someone else’s for that.

What advice would you give to writers just starting out about the writing journey and getting published?

I would first say to a new writer: read a lot, write a lot, and learn your craft. There are many free writing videos online that can help you learn all about story structure, self-editing, character development, character voice, etc. Even though I’ve been publishing for 14 years, I still have a lot to learn, and there is always room for improvement. I’d also say: decide your why. Why do you want to write? That will help you decide if self-publishing or traditional publishing is best for your project, and what audience you are writing for. Knowing the “why” behind your writing will also help you through the hard days when the words aren’t flowing, the characters aren’t cooperating, you get a rejection letter or a bad review, and you are tempted to give up forever. And the last thing I’d say is: be ready to work hard. Writing is fun, but it isn’t all fun. You have to treat it like any other skill. It takes determination, practice, and perseverance just like anything else you want to excel at.

Valerie, thank you for joining me today on my blog. I hope my readers will check out your work! I look forward to using your Writing books on my next book.

You can visit Valerie Howard’s AUTHOR CENTRAL PAGE on Amazon to check out more of her books.

Follow her on FACEBOOK.

Or visit her OFFICIAL WEBSITE to be kept up to date and get some great freebies.

Valerie Howard Biography:

Valerie’s goal in writing is to bring people closer to Jesus one chapter
at a time. Valerie has been writing stories since she was in second grade when she
wrote “The Mystery of the Missing Crayon.” She gave up writing mysteries
soon after and now concentrates on real-life stories that tackle tough
issues such as homelessness, unplanned pregnancy, family tragedy,
childhood trauma, foster care, poverty, and terminal cancer.

All of her books are filled with the hope and love of Christ and are
uplifting and feel-good with happy, though sometimes tearful, endings as
her characters overcome their obstacles with God at their side. She also
writes biblical non-fiction, indie author non-fiction, children’s books,
allegorical fiction, and small church Christmas plays. (She’s a little
obsessed with writing.)

Valerie is a fan of summer, warmth, and flip-flops, so she often wonders
why she lives in Maine where she is frozen for the better half of the
year. But her amazing husband and adorable sons live there with her, so
it’s not all bad. She graduated from Bible College with a degree in
Bible and Missions a long, long time ago in a state far, far away.