At Victorious By Design, it’s our pleasure to feature authors who are boldly walking in purpose. That’s why we are excited to feature award-winning author Natasha D. Frazier. “Writing allows me to dream on paper,” Natasha says. “I fell in love with the written word around the age of 15. My mom would buy the Arabesque romance novels and leave them around the house, unread. One day I asked if I could read it, and I’ve been reading romance ever since."
We had the distinct pleasure of talking with Natasha about why she writes faith-based romance, her most satisfying moment as an author, and the strategies she use to keep going even when things are tough.
Who inspires you to write?
Inspiration often comes from something I’ve seen or heard or even something I’ve encountered in my personal life. For example, Shattered Vows, Book 3 in the Love, Lies & Consequences series stemmed from me hearing about a woman who said she didn’t love her husband anymore. My thoughts spiraled out of control with a storyline for that book once I heard that. Nina’s diagnosis in With Every Breath, was inspired by my vertigo. After experiencing that, I did a little research to see where I could take her story and to explore Andrew’s depth of love for her.
Where do you write?
I typically write at my desk in my home office. Every now and then, I need a scene break so I’ll go to a coffee shop or restaurant to write or even sit by the pool in the backyard. Sometimes a change in scenery helps spur my creative juices.
There are many different genres, what inspired you to write faith-based romance?
I fell in love with romance before I was saved and before I knew I wanted to become a writer. My first two books are devotionals. Early on in my writing career, I didn’t even realize that there was such a thing as faith-based romance. It makes my heart happy to write in a genre I love and still honor my Heavenly Father.
What has been your most satisfying moment as an author?
Anytime I receive a personal e-mail from a reader sharing how much they’ve enjoyed my work or was inspired by something I wrote, I am satisfied. It’s at that time when I feel like I’ve connected with the reader, and I’ve done my job well.
Who was your favorite character to write?
In With Every Breath, I loved writing both brothers, Andrew. and Darius McCall. If I had to choose between the two, I’d go for Darius. He’s the one who has a lot of growing to do. He has the most issues. LOL. But his growth in book 2 is beautiful, so I’m excited for him.
What is your advice to aspiring authors?
Don’t allow fear, others, or even yourself stop you from reaching your goal. Pray and write. One of the things I hear most is, “I don’t know where to start.” Whatever is in your head/heart, start there. The first draft is just that, a first draft. No one ever has to see it, just get the words out and fix it later. You might surprise yourself.
What helps you to keep going even when things are tough?
I remind myself of my why. There are days when I question if it’s even worth it. However, the moment I get behind the keyboard and my fingers fly across the keypad, I’m in my happy place, operating in my purpose. I was created for this. Knowing that writing is knitted in the fabric of who I am pushes me forward.
Are you working on a new book? Can you tell us a little about it?
Yes! We’re editing book 2 in the McCall Family Series. I’ve started writing book 3, but put it aside to work on the edits. As of now, the McCall Family Series will consist of three titles.
About Natasha
Natasha fell in love with love around the age of twelve because of artists like Babyface, Boys II Men, Whitney Houston, and New Edition. Around sixteen when her mother purchased a romance novel and left it lying around the house untouched, Natasha read it and a spark for the written word had been ignited. Since 2012, Natasha has penned both fiction and devotional titles.
She believes that writing is one of her life’s purposes and contributions to the world. She feels accomplished when she can get a few words written and like blah when life gets in the way. Her hope is that at the end of every novel, readers will feel like they’ve been wrapped in a cozy blanket with a mug of their favorite coffee/tea/warm drink.
Natasha is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and the Jackson State University Houston Area Alumni Chapter. She resides in Houston, TX area with her husband, Eddie Frazier, Jr. and their three children, Eden, Ethan, and Emilyn. Her greatest joy and commitment is to her family who she hopes to inspire above all else. One of her many mottos in life is: Faith removes limitations.
Connect with Natasha
Autographed copies: https://bit.ly/Breath13
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/craves.2012
Website: http://www.natashafrazier.com/
