Angela Breidenbach

I’m so pleased to feature speaker, author, and busy, busy lady, Angela Breidenbach today.

Angela is a speaker and author of Gems of Wisdom: For A Treasure-Filled Life, Gems of Wisdom Companion Guide both from Sheaf House's Journey Press imprint, and Creative Cooking for Simple Elegance from Westbow Press, a division of Thomas Nelson. Other works by Angela include compilation books and devotionals from Guidepost, Group, and articles in magazines, ezines, and newspapers.

Angela serves as an assisting minister in her congregation in Missoula, MT. She connects missions to her work with Hope's Promise Orphan Ministries and the Jadyn Fred Foundation. Angela also teaches online classes and coaches one-on-one. She's certified in mentor/peer counseling as a Stephen Minister and CTA Life Coach. She also volunteered as the American Christian Fiction Writers publicity officer from 2009-2010. Not only did she walk the hard line of donating her mom's brain, but Angela is on the donation list for the Brain Bank-Harvard McLean Hospital.

Angela is married, has a combined family of six grown children, and 2 grand children.

Anne - What one or two lines best sums you up as an author?

Angela - God uses broken vessels. His wisdom shines in all our experiences.

Anne - What activity consumes your time when you’re away from the keyboard?

Angela - Away? I’m supposed to get away? No, seriously, I do a lot of volunteerism for the Jadyn Fred Foundation, my church, and jewelry sales for Hope’s Promise Orphan Ministries. I attach the charities to my work as a part of my purpose and tithing. I love to speak professionally also.

Anne – Like I said in the intro, busy, busy lady! Tell us about your most recent release.

Angela - In Gems of Wisdom: For A Treasure-Filled Life you'll embark on a treasure hunt for God's unique gems of wisdom. Be empowered, learn to influence through your own life lessons, and preserve important relationships. Gems of Wisdom invites the reader on a treasure hunt to find important life concepts represented by the beautiful stones God created. Excellent for small group Bible study and book clubs as well as individual study.

Anne - Is there a message in Gems of Wisdom: For a Treasure-filled Life you want readers to grasp?

Angela - Oh yes! I hope that readers will understand all our negative experiences (including negative attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors) are actually beautiful opportunities to learn the gems of wisdom we can use to pour out onto others. God uses broken vessels to complete His work, not perfect people. What we think of as shameful, God will use to shimmer and shine in our lives. We can change the world if we are willing to face our pirates and earn our gems of wisdom.

Anne - How long does it take you to write a book?

Angela - If I’m focused on that one book, three months. But often there are articles, other books, marketing, events that have to fit into the schedule so it’s expanded to six months.

Anne - Describe your home office as appears right now. Is this a good or bad thing?!

Angela - It’s always a bit tumbled. But I love it. It’s very colorful to enhance creativity. I have an idea for better organization, but I haven’t had the time to do it yet. My desk is an “L” shaped counter top built into the wall. It’s completely covered. But I don’t have desk drawers. So I’m going to find some cute bamboo system from a discount store, paint them purple, pink, and blue to match the designs on my focus wall. Then I’ll tuck them under my counter top desk. I’m excited about this idea, but I really can’t tell you when it will happen. Sometime this summer, I hope. Maybe, lol.

Anne - Do you belong to any writer’s organizations, critique groups, and/or depend on beta readers?

Angela - I actually belong to several writer organizations and use about 30 beta readers. My memberships include: ACFW (www.acfw.com), AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association), RWA-FHL (Romance Writers of America’s Faith Hope and Love chapter), and RWA MT Romance Writers. I think there are several others, but these are my most active. I have a critique group of three in my area, too. We meet in person and by email. It’s crucial to me to be involved heavily with other writers on the journey.

Anne - How long did your journey from wannabe writer to published author take?

Angela - I began freelance writing about 10 years ago and started getting articles published pretty quickly. But for book length, it took about 5 years from the time I decided I wanted to actually write books in addition to articles and devotionals.

Anne - How many rejections did you acquire along the way?

Angela - 13 rejections.

Anne - What kept you going?

Angela - The message of Gems of Wisdom: For a Treasure-filled Life is my testimony. It is a burning message I believe God placed inside of me to help other with what I’ve been through.

Anne - If you could just snap your fingers and go, where would you visit, return to, or move?

Angela - Oh I so want to spend a month in Scotland and another in Sweden. Why? I want to dig in and discover my roots, the people that came before me, and then I want to write novels about their stories. That’s my actual dream that I want to accomplish before I go to heaven.

Anne - Of all the characters you’ve created, does one hold a special place in your heart?

Angela - Right now it’s Cookie Smythe. Why? So often we get lost in our shame and don’t see how God can bring the good out of any situation. I love how Cookie is surprised when he gets a different result than he expects. He’s so ashamed of his failings and it’s exactly those shameful failings that end up shimmering for him.

Anne - What is the hardest part of writing for you?

Angela - Waiting for it to sell! J

Anne - What is the most surprising thing you’ve learned about yourself from your writing?

Angela - That I could, lol. It always surprises me when something I wrote touches the heart of someone else. That’s why I write, but it still surprises me that anyone likes what I write.

Anne - Are you a glass half-empty or half-full kind of person?

Angela - I love to smile and look for the happy moments, so over flowing. I’ve been learning that just because I see a glass half-full doesn’t mean I have my glasses on. God keeps faithfully showing me He’s constantly filling my cup even when I don’t see Him standing right there behind me with the pitcher. J

Anne - What makes you cry? Laugh? Lose your temper?

Angela - People who believe in me. I received an amazing gift from some friends that was way out of my comfort zone. They did it because they believe in me. I couldn’t stop crying for half an hour.

Laugh? Almost anything. I love life and humor. I find little comments, funny animal antics, and wonderful unexpected moments hilarious.

Lose your temper? Injustice, mean-hearted people, cruelty.

Anne - Any words of advice for struggling, unpublished writers?

Angela - Listen, listen, listen at the feet of the writers you love to read. Go to writers conferences. Build your online platform so it’s there when you do “pop” onto the scene. Help others by promoting the work you love before it’s your turn because by building the industry, we continue to promote excellence.

Anne - Quick. Your favorite quote.

Angela - My favorite quote is from George Bernard Shaw, “You see things and you say, why. I dream things that never were and say, why not?”

Anne – Where can readers reach you?

Angela - Links and information: http://www.AngelaBreidenbach.com, http://www.MyGemOfWisdom.com, http://www.GodUsesBrokenVessels.com (my blog), http://www.theFaithGirls.com (group blog)

Interested in having Angela speak? Contact Christian Speaker Services 800.871.9012 x40250 Karen@ChristianSpeakerServices.com

Anne – Thank you so very much for taking time from your busy schedule to spend time with us today, Angela. I wish you every success, now and in the future.

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Are you an author? Do you have a recent release?

I'd love to interview you and talk about your book(s).

Email me: annekalbert AT gmail DOT com

& mention “AKA blog feature” in the heading.

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