Tell us about yourself.:
I'm a Canadian Christian author residing in Niagara, Canada.
I write NF under the author name Miranda J. Chivers and fiction under MJ Krause-Chivers. I write from a background in law, social work, tourism, personal trauma and a deep, inspiring faith. My mission in life is to heal hurting hearts through story.
Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?:
I grew up in sunny Manitoba, Canada in a Russian Mennonite home. I was surrounded by avid story-tellers who spoke of their incredible refugee journeys fleeing from the Russian Revolution during the 1920's, and others who ran from the Russian army after WW2. These stories inspired my imagination and I yearned to travel and see the world of my ancestors. In 2014 I traveled to Poland and Ukraine and visited my roots. On this trip, I knew I wanted to write about my heritage.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I need silence to begin writing. Then, as I get into the mood of the chapter or article I'm writing, I adapt my environment around that. Music, bird songs, or mindless chatter alters the content of my work. I'm emotionally driven in my writing — if I'm depressed, my writing becomes dark and argumentative; conversely if life is going well, the characters are more upbeat. Walking helps me sort out my (story-telling) pacing and sequencing.
What authors have influenced you?
I grew up in sunny Manitoba, Canada in a Russian Mennonite home. I was surrounded by avid story-tellers who spoke of their incredible refugee journeys fleeing from the Russian Revolution during the 1920's, and others who ran from the Russian army after WW2. These stories inspired my imagination and I yearned to travel and see the world of my ancestors. In 2014 I traveled to Poland and Ukraine and visited my roots. On this trip, I knew I wanted to write about my heritage.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Read. A lot. Read everything and anything you can. Traditional, journalistic, and self-published. Each style of writing will teach you something new. And you discover that you resonate more with some things than others. Don't be afraid to try new styles of writing. It takes awhile to find your voice.
What is the best advice you have ever been given?
Don't edit while you write. It will slow you down. I have a hard time following this advice.
What are you reading now?
I'm a beta reader and book reviewer. I'm constantly reading new books that are on their way to being published. I'm eclectic in the types of books I read. Nothing is off limits.
What’s your biggest weakness?
Procrastination. Especially with marketing. I need to stay involved with my book writing groups to stay motivated. I spent too many years spinning my wheels and watching daytime TV. Old habits die hard.
What is your favorite book of all time?
Definitely the Bible — but that's 66 books there. From there, I go to the book of Job, then Psalms and Proverbs. There's so much wisdom and poetry in these books.
When you’re not writing, how do you like to spend your time?
I read, hiking, or just walking and enjoying the beauty of nature, play with the neighbor's dogs. Before Covid, I traveled. But for the past eighteen months, I've stayed home. I love watching movies based on real life.
Do you remember the first story you ever read, and the impact it had on you?
As a kid, I read Nancy Drew mysteries. I wanted to be a mystery writer when I grew up. Alas, I haven't achieved that goal, yet. However, when I read Brock/Bodie Thoene about ten years ago, I decided to write historical fiction after that.
What has inspired you and your writing style?
My Christian faith is my biggest inspiration. Everything I write has faith inspired themes. When I first became serious about writing, I began writing Christian articles and blogs. I couldn't get comfortable writing anything else. In those early days, I studied the Bible intensely and perhaps that propelled me into this direction.
What are you working on now?
I'm working on the series: Russian Mennonite Chronicles. Katarina's Dark Shadow is the first book in this series. I've planned a five book series for this topic of two Mennonite sisters fleeing from the Russian Revolution. The parallel story is an adult son who trying to make sense of his life after WW2 and his mother's presumed death.
What is your favorite method for promoting your work?
Frankly, there are hundreds of places where authors can promote their work including right here on mybookplace.net. Overall, I'm still learning how to market. Ask me again when I've published a few more books.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I'm continuing to work on my series. My writing career is mapped out for at least the next five years.
How well do you work under pressure?
I need pressure to stay motivated. But deadlines cause me to panic. There's a balance in there, but I don't yet know what that is.
How do you decide what tone to use with a particular piece of writing?
As mentioned earlier, my mood often determines the tone of my piece. If I'm not connecting with the mood of a particular chapter, I'll leave it and go on to write one that does.
If you could share one thing with your fans, what would that be?
WRITE A REVIEW. Every author needs them. We can't survive without them. They are our adrenaline. Please feed us.
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