|
In January, new members will
join the ACFW board, relieving some of
us of our duties. While it is an incredible honor to serve, it also
takes a gift of time and talent from the board members. Robin Miller
(writing as Robin Carroll) will turn over the reins to a new president.
Before we let her leave, we
decided she is someone you should meet
if you haven’t already. Enjoy this back-and-forth with the talented and
hard-working Robin Miller.
Robin, when you started
as ACFW president two years ago, what was
your biggest challenge? And what had you excited to tackle the
challenges of the position?
My biggest challenge
was to bring ACFW up to the next level. The
organization had grown so much and so fast in such a small timeframe
that we needed to buckle down and bring every aspect of our group up to
the level we’d already reached in numbers and reputation. What excited
me most was I truly felt led to even agree to run. I had several people
contact me prior to the nominations being opened and ask me to
prayerfully consider running. Until that point, I hadn’t considered
running for president. I knew I wanted to serve ACFW as the group had
helped me so much, but president wasn’t what I was thinking! LOL. But,
after much prayer and discussion, I just knew God
had led me here. So I was excited to see what He had in store for the
organization.
Though you won’t be
president anymore, you aren’t truly leaving
ACFW. You will serve in the new position of ACFW conference director.
What’s your vision for the future of the conference?
I
envision the conference to continue growing in regard to the quality
and diversity of what is offered. We have so many industry
professionals who tell us that our conference is the best for Christian
fiction writers. I’d like to see that continue. I took the position
because while I feel like the anointing I had for the president’s chair
is over, I still want to serve the organization that I dearly love.
I’ve had two years of overseeing the conference, and I truly love
working with the boards, the committees, and the amazing professional
event planner ACFW utilizes. I’m pretty excited about 2009 already.
You write books for
Love Inspired Suspense and recently landed a
contract at the 2008 ACFW conference. Tell us more about what you’re
writing now.
I don’t think I could
ever write in anything but the
suspense genre—it’s my passion. For Steeple Hill I write romantic
suspense/mystery. My three-book contract with B&H is also for
romantic suspense, but the suspense percentage is a bit higher than
what I write for Steeple Hill.
If someone asked you
for advice on how to become a writer, what would you tell them?
Funny, because my niece
wants to be a writer. What I’ve told her
(she’s a young teen) is to study the books she loves to read to help
determine where her passion is, to read craft books, and when ready to
join a good writers’ group. Iron does sharpen iron, and I don’t believe
I’d be where I am in my career without the wonderful members of ACFW.
What vision has He put
in your heart for the next two years in your writing?
Well, the books I’m
writing for B&H have definitely been put
on my heart by Him. Big subject matter and lots of research. I also
hope to continue to write for Steeple Hill. God’s shown me that if I’m
obedient in what He gives me, the rest is up to Him. He’ll get those
stories to the people who need them. I do my part, then trust Him. I
have deadlines to meet over the next two years, and of course, I must
honor those and always try to beat them. I’m only along for the ride in
the journey He’s given me . . . I write because I have to . . . I write
for Him because He gave me the gift.
Thanks so much, Robin, for all
you have done for ACFW. And good luck with your future books and
service!
|
