A Conversation with Keynoter Grace Hitchcock: 'Keep learning and following your dreams'

We can't wait to hear from inspirational novelist Grace Hitchcock at this year's Southern Christian Writers Conference on June 7-8 in Birmingham, Alabama. Grace will present a keynote address titled "What's Got your Pen?" and the workshop "7 Steps from Idea to Inspirational Novel." 

Grace's path to writing success is an encouraging one we can learn from, and we know that her presentations at the SCWC will be wonderful.

We recently talked to Grace about her writing journey, her faith, and her plans for the conference.

How did you get started as a writer?

I started my writing journey in high school, writing my first novel for my senior project. Finding that I did indeed loved writing, almost as much as reading, I decided to get my Masters in Creative Writing. It took nearly five years from Masters graduation to the point of holding my first traditionally published work. It was a long road to publication, but full of learning as I attended writers conferences, studied the Christian Fiction craft, and submitted to agents and publishers.

Have you always wanted to write historical fiction? how did you get into that genre?

When I turned twelve, I began to read pretty exclusively Christian Historical Fiction and read pretty much every book our local library had to offer! I loved the romantic element that long gowns, courting, and etiquette lent stories. When I encountered stories that ended with the heroine marrying the wrong guy (in my opinion haha), I would re-write the endings in my head and eventually, decided to try my hand at writing a novel and I was hooked by the genre!

Tell me a little bit about your publication journey. I know our members are always interested in how successful novelists first found a publisher or agent?

After maaaaany rejections, I signed with the Steve Laube Agency in 2015. After I signed with the agency, I received many more rejections from publishers until I was contracted by Barbour Publishing for a novella in 2016. I didn’t set out to write a novella, but that’s what the publisher wanted, so I pivoted and it taught me to write tight and deliver a full story on a short word count. Since then, I’ve published four novellas and eight novels with 2-3 more novels in production.

What advice would you give to writers in that area?

It is important to remember that when you get a rejection letter, they are not rejecting you. They are rejecting the work. And as much as you see your book as a work of art, the publishers see it as a product. They are there to sell a product and if the product isn’t ready, it won’t sell well, so take heart and “hone your craft” and focus on any feedback you received that has merit. That critique was very hard for me to hear haha but it helped push me to keep learning, attending writers conference, and following my dreams. So keep it up! You can do it!

How does your faith integrate into your writing in practical ways? 

No matter how subtle my theme or short the verses, my stories will always point the reader to the Lord. Usually, whatever I am personally learning spiritually while writing impacts my heroine/hero in some way.

For my latest release, To Catch a Coronet, the heroine, though a firm believer, dives head long into disaster of her own making because she doesn’t want to wait on God. It’s a very realistic struggle, and the reader can see through the story the redemption of her mistake and the beauty of trusting God in our daily walk and with our biggest dreams.

And what is your general feeling about the importance of Christian fiction today?

It’s vital. With all of the craziness that the world throws our way, it’s important to stay grounded in God’s truth and to show the Christian walk on the page, no matter how big or small. In the Historical Romance genre, I want show what a godly relationship can look like. The characters will have real struggles and have to come before God and place theirs sins before the Father, but it is in the bending of their knees and bowing hearts before the Lord, that magic can happen. For when two people love God more than themselves, beauty follows.

Do you have a fun or interesting story about when you finally felt like you'd made it as a writer?

It never fails to take me aback when I run into a fellow avid reader who has read most of my books! It always makes my heart jump to know that a story I wrote brought this reader laughter and entertainment.

What do you hope to provide SCWC attendees with this year through your keynote address and workshop?

My goal is to encourage writers in their individual journeys while offering practical steps that they can take to hopefully achieve their dreams. We will chat about how to write your novel, to what to do when your book is rejected, or how to move around a road block.

What is your life like outside of writing?

Besides reading at least one book a week, I love to take long walks to the park with my family, exercise on my bike, plan the family’s next travel adventure, and try new baking challenges. As a wife and mama of three, I usually have some happy recipients for the new recipe. 

Learn more about Grace at her website.

See all of Grace's books on her Amazon Author Page.

Read her blog.

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The 2024 SCWC takes place June 7-8 at The Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, Alabama. Featuring keynote presentations by Grace as well as David Bennett and Denise George, the conference also includes 24 workshops on a variety of writing topics. You can attend in-person or virtually, and there are still slots available. You can sign up using our registration form HERE. 

Let's get excited about learning from Grace, while also having a wonderful time of fellowship, networking, and inspiration.