Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Nikki Hertzler
What was your inspiration for the book? When our youngest child was nearing the end of high school, my husband and I decided to not be empty-nesters. We were blessed with a nice house, and had a heart that was willing to be obedient to God’s calling of loving vulnerable children. So we began the hardest journey of our lives, and it has brought us a multitude of joy, humbleness, and leaning on Him for help, along with the opportunity to publish a book about fostering!
Imagine being rushed into the dark night to sit in the back of a police car alone. Imagine your mom and dad still yelling at each other and at the police, the red and blue flashing lights making the situation more surreal. Imagine hauling all your belongings from one foster home to another, while you don’t know where your siblings are. Where is God?
God is there. Powerfully. Compassionately. As a foster mom, I get to see Him working in the lives of the children, their parents, and in myself and my husband.
We had friends that had adopted, and our pastor was fostering to adopt. A statistic I’ve read says that 64% of foster and adoptive families are in the church. The church is showing God’s strength and compassion to these vulnerable children.
What sort of research did you do for your book? The “research” for this devotional was my family’s
I sent out request after request. Each chapter is on a different issue, so each family had that unique issue to write about. Then I basically sat back and watched God send the chapters in. From California, Missouri, Massachusetts, even Canada. From caseworkers, a family judge, foster families, and even a woman who had been in the system herself. Every chapter a blessing and every chapter bringing tears to my eyes.
Tell us about your road to publication. In every step of this book’s road to publication, I saw God working. It was beautiful to be along for the ride. First, I attended a writer’s conference and met the lady who would be my agent. When I presented my idea of a prayer devotional for foster parents, multiple people in my round-table group chimed in that either they or someone they knew had also fostered. Within a week, I had sent my agent sample chapters that she could present to publishers. Within two months, she had an offer for me. Then of course came the deadlines. I met so many amazing people through these chapters. I wrote about a third of the book myself, pouring my heart and tears and joy into each one.
What is one thing you wish you could do? Not everyone can foster or adopt, but everyone can do something to help the families who are, and I want to encourage folks to look for those opportunities. For example, my church partners with an organization called Foster the City. Our focus is to surround each foster or adoptive family with four sets of Support Friends so they have consistent monthly help. Statistically 50% of families drop out after the first placement, but with this kind of support, that number drops to about 10%, showing that with support, we can keep on-mission longer. There are organizations like this around the country. One of the chapters is written by a family who are missionaries full-time with Backyard Orphans, traveling from church to church to train the members on how to help. Their contact information is at the back of my book.
What is your advice to fledgling writers? I whole-heartedly recommend attending writers’ conferences for learning the craft, figuring out marketing, and for the joy of networking with like-minded folks. The one I’ve attended several times is the Westcoast Christian Writers’ Conference.
What is your next project? When I presented the idea for my prayer devotional, I was actually there to propose my historical biblical fiction book series, so I am continuing to work on that. The books are targeted for middle grade children. In the first in the series, the reader experiences the life of David through the eyes of his fictional friend. The second is seeing the first century and the aftermath of Jesus’s first coming through the eyes of a fictional boy who is the slave boy chariot driver of the Ethiopian man who Phillip explained the Scriptures to in Acts 8. I am also nearing the end of writing a Hallmark Christmas-type novel about a former professional skier. His love interest is a former foster child!
What is your favorite thing about being a writer? I love seeing how God works through my writing; occasionally I will hear from someone who the book has affected. Additionally, it is humbling and exalting to see what God does in my own life through both writing and fostering. He is still trying to teach me time management, for example. Moreover, I appreciate that He is teaching me that though I can plan my way, He will direct my steps. (Proverbs 16:9)
About the book:
Purchase Link: https://link.amazon/B08eN7fFr
Connect with Nikki:
Website/blog: http://www.NikkiHertzler.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Nikki_Hertzler
Email: nikhertzler@gmail.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teacher_nikki_lee
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Nikki_Hertzler
Email: nikhertzler@gmail.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teacher_nikki_lee
Photo credits:
Author photo and book image: Courtesy Nikki Hertzler
Telephone: Pixabay/Markus Winkler
Bryce Canyon: Pixabay/Hans
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