It's Beginning to Read a Lot Like Christmas 2025: Author Interview with Heidi Gray McGill

What made you decide to write a Christmas-themed book?

That’s such a fun question. Everyone loves Christmas, don’t they? There’s just something about the season that makes everything feel a little more urgent. Emotions deepen, miracles seem closer, and stories move faster. For me, Christmas is the perfect setting for redemption and second chances, which are at the heart of every book I write. I love exploring how God meets us in our most ordinary moments… even when those moments are wrapped in tinsel and snow.

Could you give a short synopsis on the book for my readers?
Of course! A Place to Belong follows Josephine Blake, a woman carrying more baggage than a Christmas sleigh. She’s alone, pregnant, and desperate for a fresh start when she arrives in Shumard Oak Bend. There she meets Jeremiah Remington, a war veteran missing an arm and carrying emotional scars of his own. What I love most about their story is that it’s not about perfection; it’s about grace. Josephine and Jeremiah both learn that belonging isn’t something you earn; it’s something God freely gives.

If that sounds like the kind of story that warms your heart, now’s the perfect time to purchase A Place to Belong. During the month of November, the eBook is just $0.99 — a little early Christmas gift from me to you. I hope readers will not only enjoy the story but also be reminded that no one is beyond God’s grace and that we all have a place in His plan.

What are some of your favorite Christmas traditions?
Confession time: I do not enjoy decorating. I know that’s strange, but all that extra “stuff” feels like clutter to me. Don’t get me wrong, I love seeing other people’s beautiful displays and how much joy it brings them. But for me, the candlelight service on Christmas Eve is what fills my heart. There’s something sacred about singing those old hymns surrounded by your church family. When the house lights go down and the sanctuary glows with candles, I’m reminded that Jesus truly is the Light of the world.

What’s your next book project?

I'm glad you asked! I have a special Christmas surprise coming soon, exclusively for my newsletter subscribers. There’s still time to join in the fun at heidigraymcgill.com/free_book.
I’m also hard at work on Book 6 in my Discerning God’s Best series, Keeper of My Heart. I’ve known Cecelia Shankel since she was a little girl in Book 1, and now she’s all grown up and more than ready for her own story. She’s strong-willed, capable, and just might meet her match in Jimmy Reeves, a book-smart pharmacist who’s learning life lessons that can’t be found in any textbook.

And if your readers are near the Carolinas, I’d love to meet them in person! I’m coordinating the Carolinas Christian Book Event on April 18 in Fort Mill, South Carolina. We’ll have special guests like Misty Beller, Amy Clipston, and Vincent Davis, plus a host of wonderful authors… including yours truly!

What’s the best writing tip you’ve learned or been given?
This one’s easy: Know your why. Writing is not for the faint of heart. Reviews can make your day or ruin it. Publishing, traditional or indie, requires patience, perseverance, and prayer. If you don’t know why you’re writing, it’s easy to get lost in the noise. My “why” has never been about numbers or recognition; it’s about Jesus. I write so readers can see Him more clearly, feel His love more deeply, and maybe encounter Him in a way they never have before. That purpose steadies me when everything else feels uncertain.

What do you know now about writing and publishing that you wish you’d learned sooner?
Great question. I wish I’d known how much more there is to this than just writing a good story. You can have the most beautiful book in the world, but if you don’t understand the business side (marketing, metadata, audience, and presentation) it won’t reach the readers who need it most. Even if your heart views writing as a ministry, your mind must treat it as a business. Learn from others, attend conferences, find a critique partner, read loads of craft books, and read widely in your genre. It’s the best education you’ll ever get.

Any last words or tips?
If God has called you, He will equip you. I didn’t start out as a writer. I was the founder and director of an English as a Second Language program. My degree wasn’t in English, and I barely scraped through college writing courses. But when God planted the desire in my heart to share Jesus through story, I simply said yes. He supplied the rest. Your obedience is what He blesses.

What’s your newest release that you’d like to tell my readers about?
Thank you for asking! Keeper of My Heart is coming soon, and it’s one I’m especially excited about. It’s set in 1877 Missouri and follows Cecelia Shankel, who’s been part of my series since childhood. She’s a fiery, capable frontier woman—strong enough to break a horse and stubborn enough to think she doesn’t need anyone’s help. Enter Jimmy Reeves, a thoughtful, slightly awkward pharmacist learning herbal medicine on the frontier. Their worlds collide in unexpected ways, and together they’ll face both physical and spiritual challenges that test their courage and faith.

I’m so grateful to you, Christine, for giving me the chance to share about my stories and my heart for writing. It’s always a joy to connect with readers who love faith-filled fiction as much as I do.

That's all for today's interview. If you’d like to keep up with Heidi's latest books, devotionals, and behind-the-scenes fun, here's how you can connect with her.
https://heidigraymcgill.com/
https://Store.heidigraymcgill.com/
https://www.amazon.com/author/heidigraymcgill
https://www.instagram.com/AuthorHeidiGrayMcGill/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20851872.Heidi_Gray_McGill
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/heidi-gray-mcgill?follow=true
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorHeidiGrayMcGill
https://twitter.com/HeidiGrayMcGill

And here's a special bonus for my readers... Sign up for her newsletter which you'll find on the top left once you open https://heidigraymcgill.com/ I just did that and look forward to reading that story.
  
Audiobook fans can enjoy her stories on all major retailers and subscription platforms, borrow them through your local library, or listen free on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@authorheidigraymcgill/?sub_confirmation=1

We All Have Value: Author Interview with Heidi Gray McGill

Why did you choose to write romance novels? 

I started writing Christian historical fiction because this is what I love to read the most. Having nothing to lose was a gift when I self-published my first book. I knew my purpose was to glorify God. Whether five or five-thousand people read what I published didn’t matter.
Last year I wrote my first Christian contemporary romance, Dial E for Endearment, to shed light on Vision Awareness Month. The blind community blessed me with kindness through notes and reviews. When I realized the impact my words could have on hurting individuals, I wrote Dial P for Perfect, a curvy-girl Christian contemporary romantic comedy.

What is the hardest part of writing for you? The hardest part of writing is not getting distracted! I have difficulty shutting off my mind when I need to focus on something or someone. I’m easily distracted by things—even good things—like the laughter of my grandsons, the smell of dinner cooking, or the ping of my phone when I get a text. I’ve learned to put my phone aside, but I have to schedule a time to write when there will be minimal distractions to keep me in line.

Learning to say no to others when I’ve scheduled a specific time to write is another issue with  which I struggle. Reminding myself this author gig isn’t a cute hobby, but a ministry means  saying no when the need to complete a deadline is essential. I’m an introverted extrovert. I need social interaction in small batches, and I cannot lock myself in a room for days to accomplish a task. Taking walks, stopping for healthy meals, talking to a friend, and planning activities with family help me stay true to myself. Keeping a color-coordinated calendar helps me see at a glance the balance between work, family, friends, church, and downtime.

What is the best marketing tip you can offer?
Marketing is its own beast in the author world, and not all of us have the weapons to slay it. An excellent place to start is to determine if you have more time or money. If it is money, there are wonderful ways to share your book with the world, such as a BookBub Featured Deal. If you’re short on funds, finding places to connect with others is the best place to start. Being a part of the social media community can be a time sucker, but if you want to make superfans that will buy whatever book you put out before they read the blurb, you have to be a genuine friend. It takes time but is worth the effort.

What’s the best writing advice you could offer?
Every author should know their purpose for writing before they begin. For me, it sounds like this: Writing is my ministry, and it’s how I share Christ with those who may never pick up a
Bible or step foot inside a church. I also write to encourage those in the Faith to live abundant lives—full of all God desires for us. Writing is also how I work through my heart’s questions and embrace God’s best for me. Charles H. Spurgeon, in All of Grace, says it best. “Begin as you mean to go on, and go on as you began, and let the Lord be all in all to you.”

Tell us something about yourself that is not in your bio.
I am legally blind and have only 5% of my vision remaining. My diagnosis of Retinitis
Pigmentosa in 2001 was devastating. There is no cure, and there is no surgery. But that does not mean there is no hope. I still have value. Those who do not know me well often don’t realize I have low vision or zero vision in a dark room. We humans are amazingly adaptable, and I do a pretty good job covering up my disability.

My friends have learned to watch out for me and alert me to potential pitfalls, some better than others, which is always good for a laugh. I use a cane when I’m navigating alone.

When I wrote Dial E for Endearment, I used personal experiences. I wanted readers to view the world from a new perspective and help them see that God does not discriminate. Through
laughter and love, I desire that my readers learn we all have value.

That's all for today's interview. I hope you've been inspired by what you've read and appreciate your blessings. If you'd like to learn more about Heidi's book's, here are some links to get you started.

https://www.amazon.com/author/heidigraymcgill
https://www.instagram.com/choosingjoynovels/
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/heidi-gray-mcgill
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorHeidiGrayMcGill
https://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/2066

And here's a bonus for my readers...If you go to Heidi's website and click on the "FREE BOOK" tab,  and sign up for her newsletter you'll automatically get her prequel to my Discerning God’s Best series for FREE. 

https://heidimcgill822089357.wordpress.com/