Hi readers! It's me again, and I'm peppering this week's featured author for a list of her favs. Kim Griffin, a huge Jane Austen fan, joins us to talk about what's going on in her life and her new book Not Quite Mr. Knightly. (PS. Her next novel, Not Quite Miss Austen drops on Jan. 31st.)
PT: Hi, Kim! So
let’s start on page one. What genre do you write in and why?
KG: I write Christian women’s fiction with romance. Most of my books are
contemporary, but there is a 1970s book and a 1955 book. I love to craft
stories that point Christian women to Christ and encourage them to read His
Word.
I also love a good romance story, but always want
readers to understand that though a godly romance is very satisfying, it will
never completely fulfill our desire to be loved and will never be perfect. Only
God can love us perfectly and fill those empty places. When we go into a
relationship and ultimately marriage understanding this, we learn to gain our
significance from Christ and not our spouse. This frees us up to love them
better and strengthens us when our spouse fails us (because they are not
perfect).
I also write devotionals, and I’m working on a Bible study. This is a natural
outpouring of my years of studying scripture and leading Bible studies. I’ve been leading Bible studies since my freshman year
in college, so I’m in
my 37th year! I advocate for inductive Bible studies, which teach people to
study deeply using God’s
word as the primary source and uncover God’s truths for themselves.
PT: Is there any genre you secretly would like to
write in?
KG: Christian Regency romance. I love Regency romance
but it is intimidating because there are so many who have gone before me in
that genre, including those, like Jane Austen, who lived through it. I worry I
will get the details wrong. Eventually, I will try it.
PT: What drew you to become a writer, and what’s the best thing
about the writing process for you?
KG: I’ve
been making up stories for as long as I can remember. I was almost five by the
time my twin brother and sister were born, and at that time I had a whole cast
of imaginary friends and family that I made up stories about. I was just too
young to write them down. I wrote a number of short stories throughout my
younger years and even wrote a couple of plays for my siblings and neighbor
friends to perform.
In sixth grade,
I convinced my best friends to help me put together a “newspaper” for our grade,
and we wrote stories and articles for it. In middle school, my creative passion
moved to interior design.
I was always a reader, though, and as an adult, it
wasn’t until my oldest two
children had graduated from homeschool and my third was taking dual enrollment
classes that I had time to read for myself and not just books for their
schooling. In 2019 I discovered an online writing platform, and it had a lot of
non-Christian garbage, but there were a few Christians there. I decided I could
put some of the ideas that were always bouncing around in my head into story
form and use it as a platform to share Christ.
At the time, I had no aspirations of publishing my
books, though people suggested I should publish. Eventually, I realized that my
reach there was limited as the platform became less popular, and God kept
placing people in my path through social media who were independent authors. I
did some research, prayed, and felt like God was laying everything before me to
begin publishing my books. Not Quite Mr.
Darcy was my first published book, and I just celebrated it’s two-year anniversary on October 18.
PT: Do you have
a genre do you enjoy reading the most?
KG: Most any Christian fiction with romance. I read a
little of almost every type of book except horror, and I’m picky about fantasy. I love historical, mystery, and
books with unexpected twists and turns in stories.
PT: I love music so let me ask what your favorite
song is right now?
KG: I have a
couple that are very different. The first is Andrew Peterson’s “Is He Worthy.” I love that it puts me before the
throne, worshipping and longing to be face to face with my Savior. The second
is “Dusty
Bibles” by Josiah Queen. It is a reminder that we are constantly distracted by
electronics and should pick up our Bibles and spend time with God.
PT: I’m stuck on a favorite
list now, LOL. Favorite verse?
KG: I have so many, but I’ll share a section in Hebrews and my writing verse
from Romans 15.
Hebrews 12:1-3 ESV - 1
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us
also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run
with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder
and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the
cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of
God. 3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so
that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.
I love the way Hebrews beautifully ties together the
Old and New Testaments. In fact, I have a lot of verses from Hebrews in my
Starry Night: Christmas Advent Devotional. But these particular verses remind me to keep my eyes
on Jesus and lay aside and ignore the things that distract me from what He has called
me to do in my time here on earth. I’m
reminded of the faith of those who have gone before me (those listed in the
chapter before). And most meaningfully, I’m reminded that Jesus endured the cross for me and
each believer—we were the joy before Him that spurred Him to go on.
I’d
also like to share my writing verse. Romans 15:13 ESV - 13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in
believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
This is the verse I use as my theme verse for
writing—both my fiction and nonfiction. In my nonfiction, I strive to lay out
important truths in scripture that will strengthen your relationship with God
and help you understand those truths so you will have joy and peace in Him! My
fiction takes characters through hard things and brings them to a place where
they see God is the only one to place their hope in, and they also have
glimpses of His mercy (not getting what they deserve) and grace (getting what
they don’t
deserve or God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense).
PT: Favorite drink?
KG: Hot tea. I love both herbal and caffeinated teas
with no sugar or cream. Right now I’m
loving Lady Grey tea. I’ve
never been a coffee drinker, though I love the smell, and it reminds me of
growing up since my parents drank it.
PT: Favorite season?
KG: Summer. I love to run around in shorts and
flip-flops, and I get cold easily. I thrive when it’s above 70. In the winter I have to wear so many
layers and I want to hibernate.
PT: Favorite holiday?
KG: As an adult, Easter because it’s easier to focus on Jesus. I love Christmas, but
there’s so much commercialism
around it, and so much is always scheduled that time of year that it is real
work to carve out quiet times with God. That’s how I ended up writing my Starry Night: Christmas Advent Devotional. It was a way to slow my mind down and focus on Jesus in the
midst of the Christmas chaos.
PT: Favorite Fictional character?
KG: Elizabeth
Bennet—I love her introspection and dry wit.
PT: Now MY favorite prompt. Tell 5 things about Kim
Griffin that have nothing to do with writing.
KG: My degree is in Interior Design / Interior
Architecture.
I was a homeschool mom, but all of my children have
now graduated. My youngest just did in May!
I have 4 children; the youngest is adopted from Haiti,
and two grandchildren.
I’m a
city girl living in a rural community in middle Tennessee, and we have a few
beef cows (I leave that up to my husband. LOL).
I love to cook healthy food, but I will eat a
delicious dessert now and then, especially if it’s chocolate.
PT: Tell us how you started the Not Quite Series.
KG: I’ve
loved Jane Austen’s
books for years and had read Pride and Prejudice, Emma, and Sense and Sensibility many times. But I
always wished Jane had put a faith message in them. As much as I enjoy a good
love story, I know that our culture often builds up romance and romantic love
as the ultimate goal in life—as if we will be fully satisfied once we find our
person. That creates an unrealistic burden on marriages and relationships
because our spouses are not perfect.
I had written several books that I hadn’t published before I decided to publish, and in my
first published book I wanted to marry the idea of the perfect Mr. Darcy, who
generations of women have swooned over, with the realism that no man except
Jesus can love us perfectly. That was my idea behind Not Quite Mr. Darcy. I didn’t intend for it to be a series at first, but when I
was partway through, the idea for Not Quite Colonel Brandon formed. The stories kept coming.
PT: How do Jane Austen’s books connect with yours?
KG: None of the series books are anywhere near
retellings, but they each have nods to the books that correspond with the name.
Each of the main characters also enjoys the books that correspond with the
name. In the back of each book, I have a QR code for an extras/trivia page on
my website that tells its connections with the corresponding Jane Austen book.
It also gives fun details about how I came up with ideas, other Easter eggs,
and details I found when researching the book.
PT: Tell the readers more about Not Quite Mr.Knightly.
KG: Here’s
the tagline and blurb:
A runaway bride
A marriage of convenience
A love worth fighting for
While interning at the U.S. Embassy in London, Nancy
Wilson, a spirited Southerner from Greenville, South Carolina, thought she’d found her very own Mr. Knightley—straight from the
pages of Emma.
Yet on the eve of her wedding day, a devastating
letter from her future father-in-law shatters her dreams, leaving her with a
heart-wrenching decision. Opting to leave London, Nancy returns to the familiarity
of Greenville, only to be haunted by regret and a longing to reclaim her lost
love. After attempting reconciliation and facing an unexpected rejection, she
questions everything she once believed.
Back home, Nancy must grapple with newfound challenges,
testing her resilience and faith. Amidst her broken heart, she encounters a
surprising proposal that could change her life forever—a marriage of
convenience that may hold the key to finding her true Mr. Knightley. This tale
of love, loss, and self-discovery will resonate with anyone who has ever
yearned for a love story worth fighting for.
Set in 1970, Not Quite Mr. Knightley is the third book
of the Not Quite Series and can be read as a standalone, though it’s best enjoyed after reading Not Quite Colonel
Brandon. While not a retelling of Emma, this story contains elements Austen
fans will appreciate.*
PT: Ahhh, the tea tastes great! And that cover is sweeter than sugar. You can get your copy of Not Quite Mr. Knightly today by following the links or visiting your favorite bookstore, or you can stay around for the free book given to one lucky person who leaves a comment.
Thanks, Kim for visiting the Diamond Mine of Christian Fiction and spilling the tea about your new novels!
*Content Warning: This book contains characters who consider abortion and who have an
abortion in their past. Abortion is discussed several times from a Christian
perspective, emphasizing forgiveness and healing in Christ. If you have an
abortion in your past, please read the resources section at the end of the book
and visit DeeperStill.org for free Christ centered retreats.
