“As the Ink Flows” Author Interview (and a Giveaway!): Claudia Loopstra

Over the next few days, we’ll be hearing from all five authors of As the Ink Flows: Devotions to Inspire Christian Writers & Speakers. So far, we’ve talked with Melony Teague and Carol Ford, and today we get to chat with Claudia Loopstra!

As well as being co-author of As the Ink Flows and author of Redemptive Love: Living with an Alcoholic Father, Claudia’s short stories and poems have been published in three books of anthologies. She has given various topical seminars and for ten years co-facilitated bereavement groups. Claudia is a wife, mother and grandmother. She lives in King, Ontario with her husband.

Learn more about Claudia at her website: www.claudialoopstra.com

As the Ink Flows is a devotional by writers for writers, integrating the craft of working with words with the faith of people of the Word to deepen, sustain, and expand ministry in the world. This collection of 90 devotions features a focus Scripture, a brief meditation on the text and the writing experience, and a prompt for personal reflection and creative response. Written by five members of a Christian writers’ group, As the Ink Flows offers inspiration and encouragement for writers and speakers who want to connect their convictions and their craft for the glory of God and the equipping of God’s people.

“Whether they are beginners or seasoned pros, writers and speakers of all types will find inspiration and gentle encouragement within the pages of As the Ink Flows. It’s a breath of fresh air for the creative soul!” – Carla Laureano, award-winning author of the MacDonald Family Trilogy

Hi, Claudia! Welcome to the blog!! 🙂 I start all of my guests out with a fast four –

Claudia: I enjoy apples that have a good crunch to them.

Carrie: Mmmmm, yes. Non-crunchy apples are just all kinds of wrong.

Claudia: Summer as I see friends and family members more often.

Carrie: But… but … heat. And humidity.

Claudia: Dogs. I have a Shih Tsu who has so much personality that he’s almost human.

Carrie: yay for dogs! My dog (and blog mascot) Zuzu is the same way.

Claudia: Coffee. I may sleep through the day if I don’t have my “cuppa” java.

Carrie: I’m the same way with my McDonalds Diet Coke (with extra ice in a foam cup)

Around here I like to say that reading is my superpower. If YOU had a superpower, what would it be?

Claudia: If I had a superpower, it would come in the form of relentless energy to accomplish the many things I would like to tick off my “to do” list each week.

Carrie: Could I borrow that one too? 😀

Books are kind-of a big deal around here. When you walk into a bookstore, where do you head first?

Claudia: The first place I go is to the biography section or historical non-fiction

Carrie: I’m sensing a pattern with you non-fiction authors haha! Your answers are awfully similar lol…

How did the five of you find each other and how did you all decide to team up for As The Ink Flows?

Claudia: Carol has summarized this very well with respect to our friendship. She introduced me to Melony. I had known Glenda for many years through my daughter’s friendship with her and bumped into her again while attending a Write Canada conference. Through the same conference, I met Marguerite. Each one of us had the same goal—to form a writer’s group.

Carrie: It sounds like God had the same idea for the five of you – His hand was definitely on all of you meeting each other!

Which devotional from the book is your personal favorite?

Claudia: I cannot pick one devotional because each one holds a unique purpose for the individual writer (and reader), I believe.

Carrie: And each one might mean different things to each person at different times….

What do you most want authors (or readers or bloggers) to take away from As the Ink Flows?

Claudia: I would like them to journey in the word of God through the craft of writing or speaking as they read and absorb what they may find as an encouragement to pursue God’s will in each reader’s life.

Thank you so much for taking time to talk with me! 🙂 Before we say goodbye for today, tell us what‘s coming up next for you!

Claudia: In 2014, I completed my memoir Redemptive Love: Living with an Alcoholic Father. Since its publication in 2015, I have been speaking at different venues with the story of my faith journey and how Christ’s forgiveness led me to gain a forgiving heart and a genuine love for my father. Recently, I began speaking for Christian Women’s Connection.

With respect to further projects, I am waiting upon God’s direction with regard to writing a book for dementia victim caregivers.

Carrie: What a powerful testimony!

One of my readers (living in either the US or Canada only) will win a copy of As the Ink Flows! Give it to your favorite author or keep it for yourself! I have it myself and really enjoy it!

Giveaway is subject to Reading Is My SuperPower’s giveaway policies.

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Come back tomorrow to hear from Glenda Dekkema & another chance to win!