Faith, Fear, and Fiction: Karen Barnett on Perseverance, Doubt, and Finding Your Writing Niche2/11/2026
 In this Q&A, award-winning author and former national park ranger Karen Barnett opens up about the intertwined roles of faith, fear, and perseverance in a writing life. With ten novels to her name, Karen shares how backstory fuels unforgettable characters, and how staying teachable ultimately led her to the niche that felt like home. Whether you’re battling a blank page or questioning your calling, her hard-won insights remind us that faithfulness, not fear, is what sustains a creative journey.  What's your secret to creating characters that feel alive and unforgettable? Do you start with backstory, flaws, or something else? I always begin with a character’s backstory, even though most of it never makes it onto the page. Every character wants something desperately, and that desire is shaped by their past—what they’ve lost, what they’re afraid of, or what they’re still chasing. If a character doesn’t want anything, there’s no story to tell. How do you tackle writer's block when you're stuck mid-plot or with a flat character? As a seat-of-the-pants writer, I find myself stuck more often than I’d like to admit. I tend to write myself into corners or wander off on interesting—but unhelpful—side paths. When that happens, I step back and refocus on my characters. What do they want? What are they afraid of? Those questions usually reveal where the story has gone off track. Once I answer them, the ice breaks and the plot usually starts moving again. I say “usually,” because—as you’ll see below—that isn’t always the end of the story. From querying agents to hitting bestseller lists, what was your biggest publishing hurdle, and how did you overcome it? My biggest publishing hurdle has always been fear—fear of not measuring up, fear of embarrassing myself, fear of rejection, and even, believe it or not, fear of success. It’s something I still wrestle with at times. When that fear sneaks up on me, I’ve learned to return to Scripture. I keep an ever-growing list of “Scriptures for Writers” on my desktop, verses that remind me where my confidence truly comes from. Some of my favorites include Psalm 139:4–6, Exodus 4:12, and Galatians 6:4–5. They help me remember that my calling isn’t to impress, but to be faithful.  Every writer faces self-doubt. What’s a moment in your career when you questioned your work the most, and how did you overcome? My “dark night of the soul” happened at a writers’ retreat. I was behind schedule on a book, so instead of enjoying the event, I spent long hours in my hotel room, staring at my laptop. I made a stubborn vow not to go to bed until the chapter was complete. But no matter how much I fretted, I couldn’t force any words onto the page. By the wee hours of the morning, I was on the floor in tears, imagining the phone call to my agent where I’d have to admit I couldn’t write this book after all. Eventually, I dragged myself down to breakfast, where a dear friend offered to pray over me. In that moment, God met me with a peace I hadn’t been able to muster on my own—and it gave me the clarity I’d been missing. I’d been living under the silent assumption that everything was up to me—and that pressure, or really that fear, was suffocating my creativity. The truth is, as a Christian author, I don’t create alone. God already knows the words that belong on the page. My job is to keep my eyes on Him and show up in obedience, trusting Him to do what only He can do. By His grace, the book was finished on time—and it’s one that I still receive letters about to this day. Looking back on your career, what are you most proud of? There are two things I’m most proud of. First, I stuck it out. Most people who dream of writing a book never actually finish one. And even if they do, many don’t persevere through the long, grueling process of self-editing, submissions, rejections, and professional editing all the way to publication. Writing is demanding work—especially for sensitive, creative types—and it requires a surprising amount of determination. I’m still a little amazed that I kept going. The second thing I’m proud of is that I eventually found a writing niche that truly feels like me. Some writers land in their “brand” right away, but for me it wasn’t until my fifth novel that I began experimenting with national park stories. When I finally hit on that idea, it felt like God quietly saying, “Yes—this is what I was preparing you for all along.”  Looking back, what’s one choice you made early in your career—about your writing, publishing, or mindset—that you credit for your longevity as an author? Early in my career, I learned the importance of being teachable. That mindset was essential at the beginning, when I had so much to learn—but it’s just as important now, after ten books. It’s tempting to sit back and assume I’ve figured things out, yet the publishing industry is constantly changing, and readers’ expectations continue to evolve as well. I still remember seeing my writing hero, Francine Rivers, sitting in a workshop and frantically scribbling down notes. That moment stayed with me. It was a powerful reminder that no matter how long you’ve been writing, there’s always more to learn. What advice would you give new writers chasing their first big break? Learn all you can. Attend writing conferences and take workshops from published authors and professional editors. Spend time getting to know other writers—not just the multi-published ones. Build relationships with fellow aspiring writers and cheer one another on. Writing can be isolating, and the friendships you form along the way will sustain you far longer than any single “big break.” Some of the most important growth happens quietly, long before anyone else is paying attention. Stay teachable, stay connected, and trust that God is at work even in the unseen seasons—because faithfulness over time is what carries a writing life. Buy Karen's most recent book here: https://tinyurl.com/34adhe86  A gripping tale of twisted family bonds set in Utah’s Zion National Park . . . Readers will be swept up." --Publishers Weekly In 1948, Zion National Park ranger Henry Eriksson and his wife, Alma, are less than one year removed from their infant son's sudden death in a flash flood, and the weight of the loss hasn't diminished with time. When Henry discovers an abandoned baby in a hatbox on his morning rounds, he's unsure how to react, but Alma is delighted, and she reignites with purpose at what seems to be a miracle from God. Nearly eighty years later, Talia Eriksson leaves her job at an athleisure company in Palo Alto, California, in disgrace and returns to Zion National Park to reconnect with her grandfather and review her life goals. But when an at-home DNA test exposes family secrets, Talia and her newfound friend, law enforcement ranger Blake Mitchell, work together to search for answers.  KAREN BARNETT is an award-winning novelist and former national park ranger whose stories are shaped by her deep love for God’s creation. She is the author of ten novels, including Through Water and Stone and Where Trees Touch the Sky, which reflect her passion for history, faith, and the national park landscapes that inspire her work. You can find out more at: https://karenbarnettbooks.com/  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 2026:
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