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In this interview, Brenda McDaniel shares how her journey from earning a master’s in counseling to writing for the magazine Faith on Every Corner and publishing three books shapes her work rooted in faith, hope, and love. In the following interview, she explains the motives behind her storytelling and how connection drives her writing.

Editor’s Note: The following interview reflects the personal faith, experiences, and views of the interviewee. It is shared as an individual perspective on writing, purpose, and inspiration.

Brenda, thank you for joining us. Could you start by introducing yourself, sharing a little about your background and what drives the work you do?

Hi, I’m a freelance writer and author of three books. I have a Master’s degree in Counseling and am currently retired. For about five years, I’ve written articles for the digital Christian magazine called Faith on Every Corner. I felt compelled by the Lord, when my parents passed away, to tell their story of faith, hope, and love. They were part of the Greatest Generation who saved our world from disaster. I also feel compelled to write of the Lord’s many blessings and miracles in my life and our world.

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Looking back, what pivotal moments in your life stand out as having shaped who you are today?

The first pivotal moment in my life was learning my dad had a mental illness (schizophrenia)—my hero—as he served in the Navy in WWII. This discovery about Dad helped me be more kind, accepting, and understanding of others, especially the mentally ill and physically disabled. Also important was the love and strength of my dear mother, who I call my angel. I inherited her strength, courage, and everlasting love for the Lord, her, and myself. She also gave me a love for reading and writing, as she wrote an unpublished children’s book and loved to read herself. I’ve been writing poems and short stories since early childhood.

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How do you approach storytelling as a way to capture both personal and universal truths?

In my stories, I tell of personal truths I’ve learned through the years of my life and my family’s lives. My stories are based on the values and beliefs I inherited from my parents and on personal stories of struggles, hardships, and overcoming. In the end, I show personal truths we all learn through the years. Some universal truths are that we all need faith, hope, and love to do more than just survive in this hurting world.

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What challenges have you encountered along the way, and what strategies have helped you through them constructively?

The real challenges in being an author are learning to write correctly and edit better as you become more experienced. It’s important to constantly learn and read about writing—but don’t pay for it, as there are plenty of free resources. Be sure to look out for scams and scammers, whether in writing, publishing, or marketing. Also, getting reviews is a challenge, but book review sites, book clubs, and social media usage are good for gaining reviews.

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Can you share an example of a project, milestone, or recognition that felt especially meaningful to you?

A milestone or award I look back on was getting recognition for writing articles for the digital Christian magazine Faith on Every Corner for over six years. I thoroughly enjoyed this type of writing. Another milestone was being on social media for five years and gaining numerous followers and friends over the years. On the Alignable website, I’ve been chosen for three years as the top business leader for my community in Pilot. Project-wise, I’ve written and published over three books now and written seven others not published yet.

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Many readers look for inspiration in how others balance personal lives and professional pursuits. How do you tackle this balance in your life?

I limit my time in writing, publishing, and marketing in my daily life. I always make time for myself and my family. The most important thing is to make time for my loved ones daily. I always put my Lord and family first but keep my writing going too, daily.

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Collaboration often enriches any endeavor. Could you describe a time when working with others helped strengthen your vision or outcome?

I’ve always tried to reach out to other authors or writers to get their opinions and help my writing. I have a newsletter and share other authors’ books, and they share mine on their website or newsletter too. I’ve also joined book clubs or other author and reader sites to increase reads and reviews of my books and help other authors as well.

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What role do curiosity and learning play in your growth, and how do you keep these qualities alive in your day-to-day?

I’m always interested in increasing my knowledge of writing, publishing, and marketing articles, short stories, and books. I join book clubs or review clubs constantly and read/review other authors’ books. Never stop learning writing skills and keep up with new trends in writing, etc.

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When people engage with your work, what do you hope they carry with them afterward?

My most important reason for writing is opening up people’s minds, hearts, and souls to God’s love, support, and strength. I hope they live a “Life Worth Living.” I also hope they won’t have to suffer in confusion, pain, or depression, and pray they live in faith, hope, and love.

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Looking ahead, what aspirations or goals are you most excited to explore next?

My aspiration is to possibly have a film adaptation of some of my books. I want to continue writing Christian books, articles, and short stories for as long as possible. I feel the Lord will guide me in my writing always.

Brenda’s Links

• LinkedIn
• Website
• Facebook

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