Have you always wanted to be a writer?  No, I was too busy being active to sit and read and write, but God told me when I was twenty years old that I would be a writer. I shrugged my shoulders and thought, “Well, I better start reading then.” Though I was not a reader as a child, I had an extraordinary imagination and was very analytical. I was athletic, so I thought about majoring in kinesiology in college. However, in obedience to God, I finally went to my college counselor during my junior year of college and declared English as my major. I’m very glad I obeyed Him.  

What inspires you to write? The Holy Spirit inspires me to write. He gives me ideas and “cheats” for me, sometimes giving me an ending or a scene that I’m sure I could never create on my own. I imagine my books leading a crowd of people to Jesus in Heaven, which motivates me. Also. I want my writing to illustrate life as a believer being imperfect yet faithful.  

Do you ever experience writer’s block? If so, how do you get pass it? Yes, writing is a lonely job. I don’t get to see my readers’ eyes light up or tear fall down as they read my stories. Writing is also filled with more rejection and obstacles than I could imagine. Sometimes, it is difficult to sit at a computer and not get discouraged, but I trust God and obey His leading. When I finally get the courage to start writing, the story quickly brings me excitement and anticipation.  

What is a common theme in your writing? Faith is always a theme in all my books. In my Fantasy Fiction Books, The Violet Moon Series, I take the elements of faith and rewrite them in a different way for the people of Rodesh. They are still the same aspects of faith but seen through new eyes. My fiction is usually speculative in nature (fantasy, Sci-fi, Dystopian, Etc.), but I do have an idea for a historical novel that I can’t wait to write.  

What has enabled you to be consistent with your blogging over the years? I was a full-time homeschool mom for many years. Blogging became my way to do something for myself. I was able to stretch my faith and my knowledge of God’s Word. I would usually write at night when my kids went to bed. I looked forward to 7:30 pm when I could sit at my computer with a chai tea and just explore my thoughts as I typed.  

What advice do you have for discouraged or uninspired writers? I would say don’t give up. If you feel called to write, keep writing and trust the results with God. I would also say that when we become discouraged, it is usually because our personal expectations for our writing have not been met. God’s understanding and ways are not our own (Isaiah 55:8-9). He is doing something beautiful in our writing even if we don’t see it yet. Also, we need to continually steward our minds and hearts. It is easy to fall into the trap of discouragement, which could lead to depression and self-pity. We can focus on how blessed we are and stay expectant that God will use our writing for good. We just need to trust Him.  

Who inspires you and why? My husband inspires me. He has supported my writing from the very beginning and has invested money, time and resources into me and my work. He believes in me more than anyone in this world, and I love him for that. He inspires me to do the same for him. 

What do you want your readers to take away from your books? I want all my readers to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ. I also want them to see how much God loves them. Finally, I would like them to gain an understanding that they don’t have to be perfect to be valuable and used by God. Especially in my fiction books, I want to illustrate a world where messy people can live by faith and grow in that faith.  

What is something a reader (or anyone) has said that encouraged you to continue writing? I gave one of the first books I published about being an MMA fighter to a young man at the gym. I found out several years later when I saw him at the mall that he went to jail the next day. He took my book and a book by Joseph Prince with him to prison, and both books greatly encouraged him while he served his time. This young man now has his own business and beautiful family.  

Is there a book that you’ve written that is near and dear to you? Would you like to share a little about it? I wrote my prequel novella, Straight to Eternity, while I was going through a difficult time. But I told myself that if I just kept writing, God would meet me there. Though my healing didn’t come suddenly like I wanted, I knew God was there with me when I read the book. It is the final book of my dystopian Onoma Series, which started with my debut novel, Eve of Awakening, that I wrote almost twenty years ago.   

I know writers are usually voracious readers, which book besides the Bible has had a great impact on your life? Currently, I’m not reading much fiction unless it’s written by a friend and fellow writer. I read a ton of nonfiction books, though. They feed my imagination for my writing and encourage my soul. I’ve read so many books that have impacted me and imparted some valuable insight that it’s hard to pick one. However, books my Calvin Miller have had a great impact on my life and my perception of faith and Christianity. I met him before he died, and he signed several of his books for me. Now I collect any signed book of his. 

What advice have you been given that you will always remember? “You have to be bad at something before you can become good at it.” Actually, this is a quote I made up to tell my children, but it applies to me. I made so many mistakes learning how to write and publish books. But every mistake I made and learned from made me a better writer and publisher. Now, I can honestly call myself an expert at it. Not because I was instantly perfect but because I had to grow and change and learn. It took twenty-five years to go from a girl who wanted to be in athletics to a woman who is able to write, edit, format and publish books and who can create book covers, book trailers and marketing materials. That’s why I say never give up. We will make a million mistakes, but they will mold us into the best version of ourselves. 

What is something you do or say that your friends and family can recognize you by? I’m a praying person. If someone needs prayer, I will pray for them in my prayer room, but I also like to pray for them the very moment they ask for it. Once my kids grew up, I still wanted to engage as their mother in a powerful way. I found that ability through prayer. They may not see it, but I know my prayers are influencing their lives for good in Christ. I took my desire to pray for my kids to those around me and then to a world level. I have a beautiful prayer routine that I have developed, and I use it to be proactive about establishing God’s goodness on earth.  

What do you want your legacy to be? First, I want to leave my family as a legacy. Being a wife and mom is more important to me than being a writer (though I do value my calling). I want to place within my kids the ability to have a beautiful, God-centered family life one day as well, so they can be an example to others. Second, I want to leave my books as a legacy to the world. I imagine them being a strong army bringing the Gospel to the masses and freeing people from strongholds. I want the Holy Spirit to pour out of my books like Living Water.  

You can find Alisa at her blog alisahopewagner.com. Be sure to check out her books. She has such a variety you’ll be sure to find something you enjoy. (Thank you for this interview, Alisa. I was encouraged and inspired by your answers)