Meet Ben Chapin (T.K. Chapin)
Today, I have Ben Chapin (known as T.K. Chapin) visiting and I'm thrilled to invite you to sit in on our conversation. Ben is a bestselling author who has written more than sixty books in the Christian fiction genre. He has sold over a million copies of his books worldwide and has a loyal fan base. So, pull up a chair and settle in for a treat.
Michelle: Ben, you've written over 60 books?!
Ben: Yes, and I'd love to invite everyone to download a free copy of one of my novel When Broken Roads Lead Home.
Michelle: Thank you! I can't wait to read it. But I'm still stuck on that number. SIXTY books?? How do you come up with so many story ideas?
Ben: Story ideas for me come one of two ways. First, real life situations I have experienced or seen. That’s the start of an idea and then I think up an entire story plot from there. The second way I do story ideas is to take other stories that already exist and completely change them into something new. An example of this is the movie Enough. It’s a story about a woman who ran away from an abusive husband and relocated across the country to start over. He ends up coming for her. I took that idea and made One Thursday Morning. If you’ve read the book and seen the movie, you can see they’re completely different from each other.
Michelle: Oh, they're very different! Your stories are overflowing with messages of faith and your writing is unmistakable. Sounds like you've perfected the art.
Ben: No matter how many stories I write, my wife or editor finds a “your” that is used wrong in my manuscript. I can’t help but laugh because it doesn’t matter how hard I try to make it perfect, there’s always at least one. I think it’s God’s way of keeping me humble.
Michelle: (laughs) That's hilarious. It's good to have a sense of humor about it. And I'm glad to know I'm in good company when it comes to that! For a reader picking up one of your books for the first time, what should they expect to find in its pages?
Ben: Forgiveness, redemption, and second chances are big in my stories. I believe that everyone deserves a second chance, and that theme is reflected in my books. I also like to explore the idea of faith and how it can help people overcome difficult situations.
Michelle: Beautiful. I know that resonates with a lot of our readers. I'm curious about your process. Would you call yourself a Pantser or a Plotter?
Ben: I used to be a pantser, but now I plot everything.
Michelle: Do you plot in the wee hours or in the dead of night?
Ben: Morning 100%, I try to get to bed by 9pm at the latest.
Michelle: (laughs) Bruh. We could never be friends. Just kidding! If a friend came over to visit, what would they find you doing? How do you spend your free time?
Ben: I play video games in my free time, I enjoy anything to do with water, I lead a Small Group at my house on Thursday nights and Sunday School class on Sundays.
Michelle: Awesome. Awesome. Looks like your mug is almost empty, let me get you a refill Was that coffee or tea?
Ben: Coffee, black with a small amount of water to cool it down.
Michelle: Absolutely. And may I offer you something to eat to go along with that coffee? What do you treat yourself with once you've written "The End" on a book?
Ben: Hmm… Cookies :) Let me specify… Fresh baked M&M cookies from Albertson’s.
Michelle: Sounds delish, I think I'll join you. Thank you so much for visiting today, Ben. It's been great fun!
Be sure to visit T.K. Chapin's website to
grab your free book and stay up to date on his latest news! You can also find him across social media at the links below:
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