Author Spotlight: Janalyn Voigt

Dorothy, the Cowardly Lion, The Swiss Family Robinson, Robinson Crusoe—I met all of them before I could read. Snuggling at bedtime usually came with a new chapter from one of the classics, read in my father’s deep voice. It vibrated, deep in his chest, as he brought fascinating stories to life for my brother and me. Often a chapter would end on a cliffhanger, and I would lie in bed that night imagining what would happen next in the story.

I still fall asleep at night asking the same question, but for the books I write.

Childhood Glimmers

My early storytelling spread to include the neighbor kids. They gathered in a circle around me as I made up tales, none of which I remember today. They must have been wonderful, I am certain, judging by the rapt attention of my audience.

Reading came naturally at an early age. I consumed the adult novels in my parents’ bookcase, numerous articles in my family’s set of encyclopedias, and began reading a dictionary from cover to cover. I loved words and their nuances, something I’ve often shared on this blog in my history of words posts. My vocabulary expanded, but mostly from reading. As a result, my pronunciations sometimes needed correcting. Even now, my editors occasionally question my use of archaic words and expressions.

I began recording the stories in my head on paper, although I didn’t share them with anyone. Due to a sixth-grade creative writing assignment, I drafted a tale about pirates and read it out loud to the class. The immediate, positive feedback startled me. My teacher kept me a few minutes after class, during which he encouraged me to become an author. This conversation marked the first time I considered writing a book of my own. Storytelling was a part of me, as natural as breathing, which is why I needed someone else to point out my calling. Now I couldn’t "unsee" it.

A Dream Come True?

The idea of a book I wrote getting published seemed remote. It took time, hard work, and grit—plus the Lord working in my life—for my dream of publication to come true. On release day for my debut novel. DawnSinger (Tales of Faeraven, book one), no one beat down the door wanting my autograph. Life went on pretty much as usual. I remember pausing in the middle of scrubbing a toilet, struck by the contrast of the dream versus reality. On launch day for Hills of Nevermore (Montana Gold, book one), I’d become more jaded.

I once purchased an oil painting for less than the cost of its frame. As a culture, we enjoy our artists but reward the artisans. Whenever I am tempted to think more of myself than I ought, I remember that fact.

Of the writing of books, as Solomon so eloquently noted in the Bible, there is no end. Gone are the glory days of the select few—the literary elite, if you will—making it into print. Amazon has made it possible nowadays for millions upon millions of books to see publication. With so much competition, it’s easy to feel like a needle in a haystack. That’s where faith comes in.

Learning to Fly

Like Wendy Darling and her brothers, I soared into the starry skies—at least in my childhood dreams. Neverland beckoned Blame it on my father’s bedtime stories, but the love of flying never left me. Peter Pan and Dumbo both had my heart. The Pegasus legend left me giddy. 

What would it be like to fly to adventure on the back of a winged horse? I wrote the Tales of Faeraven epic fantasy series to find out, and to bring readers along for the ride. Rather than dip into Greek mythology, I created a fleet of “wingabeasts” to carry Guardians of Faeraven as they sought to protect the life of a maiden destined to release the DawnKing, and his redeeming power into a divided land, with a single, pure song. I started this story as a single book, but DawnSinger blossomed into the four-book Tales of Faeraven Christian allegorical fiction series.

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Falling in Love with the Wild West

On a road trip home from a Yellowstone vacation, I visited Virginia City, Montana. This partially-inhabited ghost town captured my imagination. I learned of the Montana Gold Rush, when gold “stampedes” created boomtowns, outlaws rode out after stagecoaches, and a local vigilance committee sprang up in response. The hanging of Sheriff Plummer, who may or may not have led a gang of road agents, sparked my imagination. As I gazed out the passenger window at the beautiful grassland with a wide–open sky and the mountains blue in the distance, it struck me with a sense of awe. History happened here. Most of us know of the Wild West mythos, but what was it really like to live back in the day? I determined to write a series that would take readers along into the real Wild West, if I could discover it? The six-book Montana Gold series was born from these musing. Much research followed, including a return journey to Virginia City and Bannack ghost towns. The Montana Gold series explores real historical events as it follows the lives and loves of a family of Irish immigrants surviving in the Wild West.

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Future Musings

With two completed series, I took a much-needed rest. I’m tying up some loose ends before diving back into full-time writing. Whatever I write next, I’m sure it will be a romantic adventure. Maybe I should take up that pirate story again. What do you think?

You're Invited!

Thanks for taking time to get to know me a little. Let's stay in touch. You can reach me through my website at http://janalynvoigt.com. Click the "Join Creative Worlds" button to sign up for my newsletter. You can also find me on Facebook, Pinterest Instagram, BookBub, and Goodreads. I love to hear from readers! You can reach me on social media, through the form on my website, or by replying to one of my newsletters. The first ten people to contact me through my website before May 1st with the subject "Author Spotlight" will receive a digital copy of any one of my books.