A Writer Who Sends Words to the Heart of Her Readers: Holley Gerth

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Elisabeth: Hello Holley and welcome to Kindred Grace! I’m delighted to welcome you here to chat with me today! It would be lovely if you could begin by introducing yourself to the readers of Kindred Grace. How do you describe yourself and what fills your days?

Holley: I’m Holley Gerth—God-sized dreamer, life coach, best-selling author {blush} and friend to YOU.

What do you write and what is it that motivates you to pick up paper and pen (or screen and keyboard) and write?

I write books that encourage women to grow into all God created them to be. I love seeing women take hold of who they truly are, what they’re called to do and then taking courageous steps to live that out in new ways.

Fun Question: How do you like to write? With paper and pen or screen and keyboard? At a desk in your office or on your knee in your garden?

I have terrible handwriting so God knew I’d need to be born in the age of computers. Everything I do is digital and most of it happens in my little home office or at one of my favorite coffee shops.

I recently read You’re Already Amazing: Embrace Who You Are, Become Who God Created You to Be and I was so blessed by your compassionate, full-of-grace heart for women. I imagine that each of us – with our unique personalities and stories – will be blessed in a different way by this book. What is your favourite thing about You’re Already Amazing?

You’re Already Amazing is what I would like to personally say to each woman in the world if I could sit down and have coffee with her. So I love that my words get to be wherever my readers are and do that for me.

You just published You’re Made for a God-sized Dream: Opening the Door to All God Has for You. What is this book about and how do you hope that it will encourage and inspire women?

You’re Made for a God-sized Dream is about discovering and pursuing the purpose God has for your life. It’s not really about size at all but instead what perfectly fits your heart. I hope that it will help women have the courage to pursue their dreams and let them know they’re never alone on the journey.

Fun Question: What is the best thing about writing?

What I love about writing is that my words get to go places that I never will and connect with hearts that I never will. I have readers all over the world and one of the things I’m looking forward to in heaven most is getting to hug them. I also sense God’s joy when I write. And that’s what success means to me – being a servant who brings joy to her Master.

Which books inspire you and make you laugh and cry “just because”?

I’m a very eclectic reader. Lately I’ve enjoyed Daring Greatly by Brene Brown and In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day by Mark Batterson. I hardly ever read fiction. The more I write, the more I need to read so my word bank stays filled up!

You write for women and you encourage the hearts of women so beautifully. Which women – in history or fiction or your real life – encourage you as a woman and inspire your faith?

I had the honor of co-founding (in)courage with Stephanie Bryant. The thirty women who regularly write there have taught me so much about God-sized dreams and what it means to be brave with words. I’m also inspired by the women who link up their posts in my weekly God-sized dreams series. They’re very diverse and yet they share this in common: they love Jesus and they’re willing to say “yes” to whatever He asks of them. They remind me to do the same.

Thank you so much for taking the time to chat today, Holley, it’s been a pleasure!