The Hope Prose Podcast

Today on Hope Prose, Rebekah and Tara sit down with extremely successful YA author, Nadine Brandes. Nadine is the Carol-Award winning author of FAWKES, ROMANOV, and the Out of Time Series. When she's not busy writing novels about bold living, you can usually find her drinking her weight in tea, hanging out on Instagram, or adventuring through Middle Earth with her husband and their Halfling c...

Rebekah and Tara switch roles in today’s episode for the launch of Tara’s debut novel, FADE TO WHITE. Listen as they have fun chatting about what started Tara on her journey towards authordom, how important mental health is, and how reading and writing can help others in their own road to healing, and of course, all the details on how FADE TO WHITE came to be. Tara lives with her husband, two daug...

In today’s episode of Hope Prose, Tara and Rebekah are whisked away to the land of childhood novelty by none other than YA author, Kara Swanson. Kara spent her childhood running barefoot through the lush jungles of Papua New Guinea and is the award-winning author of The Girl Who Could See and Peter Panretelling/sequel Dust (Enclave Publishing, July 2020). She helps young writers explore their pass...

In this week's episode, Tara and Rebekah sit down and chat with the extremely talented middle-grade author, Claire Swinarski. Claire is the author of multiple books including What Happens Next (coming May 19th, 2020 from Harper Collins) and Girl, Arise: A Catholic Feminist’s Invitation to Live Boldly, Love Your Faith, and Change the World. Listen as they chat about what makes middle grade boo...

In this week's episode, Tara and Rebekah get to celebrate the book launch of Seeing Voices with fellow debut Canadian YA author Olivia Smit. We learn about the benefits of completing an undergraduate program in creative writing, how to write from a hard of hearing character's POV, and how Olivia's passions for small towns, baking and hope-filled stories work into her own novels. Enj...

Happy Easter! This bonus episode is a collaborative effort created in light of the global pandemic we are currently faced with. As a member of the Christian Podcast Association, we wanted to come together to create a message of hope for listeners this Easter. And so began the Hope Collaboration. In this episode, we share some of the amazing hope-filled podcasts available for free through your favo...

In today's episode, Tara and Rebekah have the pleasure of sitting down with June Hur. Born in South Korea, raised in Canada, and she studied History and Literature at the University of Toronto. Her debut novel THE SILENCE OF BONES (Feiwel & Friends/Macmillan, April 2020) is a murder mystery set in Joseon Dynasty Korea (early 1800s), and also a coming-of-age tale about a girl searching for...

In today’s episode of Hope Prose, Tara and Rebekah sit down with widely successful YA author, Taylor Bennet. Taylor Bennett is a dandelion-wishing, world-traveling lover of books, words, and stories. Based in the Pacific North West, she dreams of seeing the world and writing stories set in unique locations. Listen as she chats with your hosts about all things hedgehogs, traveling, and how it feels...

In today’s podcast, Tara and Rebekah sit down with an extremely talented YA author and talented film producer. Phillip Telfer began his journey as a creative communicator through singing and songwriting. He also started teaching and mentoring teens as a youth pastor and camp speaker. He now directs the non-profit ministry Media Talk 101 and is author of the book Media Choices: Convictions or Compr...

In today’s podcast, Tara and Rebekah sit down with an extremely talented YA author and teacher. Chawna Schroeder is a Minnesotan writer who enjoys snow, chai tea, and playing “what if?”—even if that game occasionally gets her into trouble. She loves stretching both imagination and faith through story. Chawna’s books include The Vault Between Spaces, Beast, and the Bearing the Sword curriculum. Lis...

In this episode of Hope Prose, Tara and Rebekah chat with McCall Hoyle who is a young adult and middle-grade author, including her two YA novels, The Thing with Feathers and Meet the Sky while also teaching middle school language arts. When she’s not reading or writing, she’s spending time with her family and one of their golden retrievers or their three-legged tabby cat, who may make a cameo in M...

Today, Tara and Rebekah sit down with YA author Susan Miura and chatted about her book SHARDS OF LIGHT. Susan is the author of three young adult novels, HEALER, SHARDS OF LIGHT (A continuation of the story form Healer), and her third novel SHOW ME A SIGN is set for rerelease in October of this year. Faith, family and a passion for nature, traveling, writing and photography nurture Susan’s soul. He...

In this episode of the Hope Prose Podcast, Tara and Rebekah answer your questions on everything from what their New Year’s goals are, what’s on their TBR list, and what their most anticipated reads of 2020 are. Listen as they give some exciting updates on our writing lives and give tips on finding clean YA reads and how to query an agent well. Enjoy! The Hope Prose Podcast's Instagram Alex&ap...

In today's episode of Hope Prose, Tara and Rebekah sit down with New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over forty novels, C. J. Lyons. C.J.'s most recent novel, The Colour of Lies, veers from her usual adult 'Thrillers with Heart' to share the story of Ella, a young girl with synesthesia who can see everyone else's lies except the one haunting her own life. Fi...

In today's episode of Hope Prose, Tara and Rebekah sit down with award-winning novelist, Shawn Smucker and discuss his YA novels, THE DAY THE ANGEL FELL and THE EDGE OF OVER THERE. They also talk about writing routines, the influence of great stories on our craft, and why asking deep questions is a big part of what makes Shawn's work so intriguing. (Think: What if death is a gift? OR Wha...

In this episode of the Hope Prose podcast, Tara and Rebekah are joined by Melanie Kilsby who pens Fairy Tale retellings, rich in history, hoping to draw readers closer to the love of her life--Jesus. Mother of five, she has never been one to shy away from hard work and joins them on the show to chat about her writing journey, starting her YouTube channel, Christian YA Books and More, and how diffi...

In today’s episode of Hope Prose, Tara and Rebekah have the honor of sitting down with Nicole Quigley award-winning author of the young adult novel “Like Moonlight at Low Tide,” which was published by HarperCollins Christian Publishing/Zondervan. The book was later released in the Zondervan imprint Blink YA Books and also released in Germany. USA Today listed “Like Moonlight at Low Tide” as a “rec...

In this episode of the Hope Prose podcast, Tara and Rebekah answer 5 of your questions about YA books, writing and living as a Christian teen. Some of the highlights include their outlining styles, ways to increase your writing speed, and what are some of the first steps towards publishing. The Hope Prose Podcast's Instagram Alex's Instagram Tara's Instagram

In today's episode, Tara and Rebekah sit down with Savanna Roberts, a YA author living in Utah and she enjoys delving into the Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Contemporary genres. She’s written stories and poems since she could hold a pen, and she published her first book on Amazon when she was eleven. Listen as they chat about her newest release STORYTELLER, what her favorite childhood book was, what i...

In this episode of Hope Prose, Tara and Rebekah chat with Stephanie Morrill an author who writes books about girls who are on an adventure to discover their unique place in the world, and is the founder of GoTeenWriters. She is the author of several contemporary young adult series, as well as the 1920s mystery, The Lost Girl of Astor Street, and the WWII era romance, Within These Lines. Join them...

In this episode of Hope Prose, Tara and Rebekah sit down with Tessa Emily Hall, an award-winning author who writes inspirational yet authentic books for teens to remind them they’re not alone. Tessa writes both fiction and devotionals, including her most recent fiction release FALLEN LEAVES and her upcoming devotional, LOVE YOUR SELFIE, which is slated to release March 2020 from Ellie Claire. List...

In this episode of Hope Prose, Tara and Rebekah sit down with Laura Gallier, winner of the prestigious 2018 Christy Award for The Delusion series. Having battled her own enemies of the soul, particularly during her teen and young adult years, Laura’s writing exposes deception with the light of truth, bringing hope and healing to a generation in need. Listen as they chat about all things her latest...

In this episode of the Hope Prose podcast, Tara and Rebekah sit down to answer 10 of your questions about YA books, writing and living as a Christian teen. Some of the highlights include their favorite contemporary and historical Christian or Clean YA reads, how to finish your book and start your next one, and a guest response from Pastor Erik Jenson about some of the deeper questions related to f...

In PART TWO of Tara and Rebekah's interview with Douglas Bond, (who is the author of more than twenty-five books and the director of the Oxford Creative Writing Master Class) get a peek at his latest release, THE RESISTANCE, a YA historical thriller, find out what inspired him to start writing, what he thinks makes a truly great story, and why he thinks young writers tend to have a hard time...

In this episode of Hope Prose, Tara and Rebekah sit down with Douglas Bond who is the author of more than twenty-five books and is the director of the Oxford Creative Writing Master Class. Get a peek at his latest release, THE RESISTANCE, a YA historical thriller, find out what inspired him to start writing, what he thinks makes a truly great story, and why he thinks young writers tend to have a h...