 Have you ever wished that you could sit down with a successful author and ask the secrets to their success . . . and more? We did! In this post, Morgan Busse pulls back the curtain and tells you the things she's learned over the years. This interview is jammed-packed with insights on keeping your joy while writing, questioning your work, revision and self doubt. Morgan L. Busse is a writer by day and a mother by night. She is the author of multiple series including The Ravenwood Saga, Skyworld, and The Nordic Wars. She is a three-time Christy Award finalist and winner of the Selah, Carol, and Realm Award for best in Christian speculative fiction. During her spare time, she enjoys playing games, taking long walks, and dreaming about her next novel. Keep reading to get Morgan's insider keys!  After years in the industry, what keeps you excited about fiction writing? It can be easy to get into a rut of meeting deadlines, goals, or other people’s expectations. And sometimes life gets in the way (perhaps it’s a move, a job change, or caregiving). Eventually, it leads burn out. Recently, I just finished an epic fantasy trilogy that had me gasping for breath at the end partly because I moved to three different states while writing and life trauma. I realized afterward I wasn’t dreaming any more. I wrote because I had to. Thankfully, I had years of experience writing so I could meet my deadline but writing no longer sparked joy. I didn’t daydream about scenes or my characters. It is dreaming that keeps me excited about writing. Those moments when a scene pops into my head, or a song stirs my heart, and I start imagining my characters. Dreaming—and making sure I have time to dream—are what sustains me. It took two months after turning in my last manuscript for my heart to dream again. And once I did, the next story started writing itself in my head. Dreaming is what keeps the dream of writing alive. Revision can often feel endless. How do you know when your book is done? When I write, I pour my heart and soul into my story. When it feels like there is nothing left inside of me, I know I am done. I can’t explain or quantify that feeling, I just know. I feel an immense sense of accomplishment and pride in what I have written and cannot wait for someone to read it and share in my joy. Every writer faces self-doubt. What’s a moment in your career when you questioned your work the most, and how did you overcome? I surprised a friend the other day when I confessed that after I finish each series, I consider walking away from writing. The reasons are many including self-doubt. It’s hard to put your heart out there for the entire world to criticize. I do not read my reviews, but occasionally when I’m checking something online, I’ll stumble upon a harsh one and that’s all I can think about for a long time. I had to come to a place where I figured out why I wrote. Was it for money? A career? Recognition? Those are all good, but it wasn’t enough for me to keep going. I realized I write because I love stories. Even if I never published another book, I would always write. I also have an amazing and supportive partner. It helps to have someone who believes in you when you don’t believe in yourself. Someone who wants to see you succeed and helps you overcome. When the doubts trickle in, he reminds me of who I am and what I can do. How do you reconcile the tension between writing what you love and writing what the market demands? Have you ever regretted following (or ignoring) trends? The market is always changing. Even if I were to follow the trends, I’m a slow writer (I write a book a year), and so I would miss the trend anyway. I also shared in a previous question that dreaming is what sustains my writing. I can’t imagine spending a year or more on a story if my heart isn’t in it. So, I write what I love. Sometimes that has surprised me. A few years ago, I wrote a quirky YA steampunk with science-based zombies. It was an itch I wanted to scratch, and yet funny enough the series has been one of my best selling. Who would have thought? When crafting a novel, how do you decide which themes or messages to weave in without making the story feel preachy or heavy-handed? I don’t decide on themes or messages when I first start writing. I’m here to share a story. But many times, a theme or message will rise during the writing process. I think that’s best because they show up organically in the story and I find subtle ways to expand on those thoughts more. Past themes I discovered while writing include financial prejudices (rich vs poor), breaking free from negative generational cycles, finding healing from an abusive parent, forgiveness, and recently, the destructive power of greed. Looking back on your career, what are you most proud of? That I’m still writing after twenty years. It’s a hard gig and not everything I dreamed has come to pass. But I’m still here and loving it most days. I’m also proud of every book I’ve written. I know sometimes writers look back on their earlier works and cringe. Not me. I still love even my first book and would write it all over again.  Warrior. Survivor. Daughter of the North. From the moment she is born, Brighid fights to survive in the wastelands of Nordica as a clanless one. But when a new power arrives offering a trial to join the Nordic warriors, Brighid enters, hoping to rise above her station. Soon she becomes one of their fiercest fighters and joins the war against the south. Kaeden carries the blood of the ancient Eldaran race in his veins but turns away from his heritage after the death of his parents. Years later, he is called back to his homeland and invited to be a healer for the southern forces. With the help of an old mentor, the power inside of him starts to awaken. However, his life is turned upside down when a mighty warrior of the Nordic forces is captured. As Kaeden interacts with the enemy, he discovers there is a darkness behind the Nordic Wars, one that is manipulating the people of the north. But who will believe him? And is there a power strong enough to break the hold of this hidden adversary? Or will the world burn in the flames of war?  This post was complied by Brandy Vallance, a literary agent with Barbara Bova Literary Agency, an award-winning author, and a Story Consultant for Writing Day Workshops. Brandy is the winner of two national writing awards, one of which included a $20,000 prize. Her novel, THE COVERED DEEP, has been featured in USA Today & Writer’s Digest. WITHIN THE VEIL has been called “passionate and riveting” and Publisher’s Weekly encourages those who like sweeping Scottish sagas to dive in because “the journey is wonderful.” Brandy loves helping writers break the chains of fear and self-doubt. You can find out more at brandyvallance.com.  Attend a writers conference in 2025 - 2026:
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