Media

Short Bio

Lindsay Harrel is a lifelong book nerd who lives in Arizona with her young family and two golden retrievers in serious need of training. She’s held a variety of writing and editing jobs over the years, and now juggles stay-at-home mommyhood with writing novels. When she’s not writing or chasing after her children, Lindsay enjoys making a fool of herself at Zumba, curling up with anything by Jane Austen, and savoring sour candy one piece at a time. Connect with her at www.LindsayHarrel.com.

Long Bio

Lindsay Harrel is a lifelong book nerd with a B.A. in journalism and M.A. in English. She lives in Arizona with her young family and two golden retrievers in serious need of training. Lindsay has held a variety of jobs, including curriculum editor for two universities, medical and business writer, and copywriter for a digital marketing agency. Now she juggles stay-at-home mommyhood with working freelance jobs, teaching college English courses online, and—of course—writing novels.

When she actually has time to do other things, she loves to sing, read, and sip passion iced teas from Starbucks. She loves to watch God work in ordinary lives to create something extraordinary, and she writes to bring hope to those who may have lost it along the way. Connect with her at www.LindsayHarrel.com and any other place she hangs out online, including Facebook and Twitter.

Reviews

“Harrel’s honest portrayal of two women struggling with grief, healing, and moving forward with their lives will appeal to any fan of inspirational fiction.”
—PUBLISHERS WEEKLY (for The Joy of Falling)

“…[an] uplifting tale…a charming story about finding one’s voice after letting go of the past.”
—PUBLISHERS WEEKLY (for The Secrets of Paper and Ink)

“Harrel’s (One More Song to Sing, 2016) second novel is a charmingly gentle read that will please those who enjoy faith-based, hopeful fiction with a delightfully positive tone.”
—BOOKLIST(for The Heart Between Us)

“There is so much to love about Harrel’s charming new novel, and it touches the heart in a way that will likely leave the reader gushing over it! Themes of facing fears and chasing dreams are key and relatable, as is the struggle to trust God in all situations. There are so many profound truths woven throughout this tale, including learning to live life to the fullest and recognizing it for the gift it truly is. Descriptions are so vivid that the reader will feel like they’re travelling along with Megan and Crystal. This book is a beautiful tribute to organ donors as well.”
—RT BOOK REVIEWS, 4.5 Stars, TOP PICK (for The Heart Between Us)

“Harrel’s second book is a well-crafted, compelling story about love, hope, relationships, family importance, and God’s trustworthiness.”
—CBA CHRISTIAN MARKET (for The Heart Between Us)

“This novel is a keeper! Endearing characters hit all the right notes and feel like lifelong friends—or, at least readers will want them to be. Nashville becomes a secondary character of sorts, sharing its spotlight with the intriguing ins and outs of the country music industry. Behind the sweet romances and the rising star plot, however, is the real star of this show—a tender message of belonging and forgiveness that leaves behind a lingering melody of grace.”
—RT BOOK REVIEWS (for One More Song to Sing)

Endorsements

The Joy of Falling

“What started as a story about a race turned into a deeply moving novel about recovering from grief and finding joy not just at the end but in the middle of the process. Full of powerful truths, The Joy of Falling is a beautifully written novel that made me laugh, made me cry, and has all the feels of a book you want to read over and over. Highly recommended!”

– Susan May Warren, bestselling author of the Montana Marshalls series

“In The Joy of Falling, Harrel beautifully connects with us as she takes us to the hard places of grief—the doubt, the fear, the sadness. Then, with sensitivity and hope, she walks us back out to the dawn on the other side—to joy! Touching, true, and full of sensory detail, this book enchants.”

– Katherine Reay, bestselling author of Dear Mr. Knightley and The Printed Letter Bookshop

The Secrets of Paper and Ink

“In a delightful weaving of past and present, Lindsay Harrel creates authentic characters around a moving story that both inspires and encourages. The Secrets of Paper and Ink is about broken people, second chances, hope, and—my personal favorite—the incredible power of story.”

– Heidi Chiavaroli, Carol Award-winning Author of Freedom’s Ring and The Hidden Side

“Harrel pens an honest, true-to-life novel that’s woven through with the Truth that offers hope when our decisions—or the decisions of the ones we love—wreck our dreams for happily ever after.”

– Beth K. Vogt, Christy award-winning author

The Heart Between Us

“Life is more fleeting than we know and this timeless story reminds us to love well.”

– Rachel Hauck, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author

“Lindsay Harrel has penned a charming story that is sure to touch the hearts of her readers. Through the stories of Megan and her sister Crystal, readers get a glimpse of adventure, restoration, conquered fears, and realized dreams.”

– Lauren K. Denton, USA Today bestselling author

One More Song to Sing

“One More Song to Sing will have your heart singing. As if fresh off the set of the television series Nashville, this book captured me from the first strum of Ellie’s guitar with the drama of a young singer reaching for her dreams only to discover so much more. Harrel has a way with words that made me feel the music, hear the roar of the crowd, taste the angst of fragile hearts and long for a happy ending. Like a love song that weaves inside and fills you with hope, this beautifully written, heart-tugging story about loss, second chances and God’s providential grace in the darkest of circumstances will linger with you long after the sweet ending. A brilliant debut novel!”

– Susan May Warren, RITA award winning, best-selling novelist of the Montana Rescue series

“A tender, life-affirming story of love, acceptance, and second chances. Lindsay Harrel knows how to get to the heart of the matter and make it sing.”

– Susan Meissner, Best-selling author of Secrets of A Charmed Life

“Lindsay Harrel is a fantastic new voice in the world of inspirational women’s fiction. The story of Olivia and Ellie is heart-tugging and poignant, leaving an impression long after the last page, and the Nashville music scene is especially intriguing. Make room on your keeper shelf because Harrel definitely has more songs of her own to sing.”

– Melissa Tagg, Author of the acclaimed Walker Family series and the Enchanted Christmas collection

Q&A with Lindsay

How long have you been writing?

I’m one of those I’ve-been-writing-since-I-was-a-kid people. I remember creating “books” by folding over a stack of papers and stapling them together, then writing and illustrating them (although the writing was much better than the very poor illustrating!). I took creative writing in high school but decided there was too much competition to consider writing books as a career. I decided to pursue journalism instead, which ended up being a great route, since you learn how to “write tight” in journalism school. I went on to receive my master’s as well, but during my program, something happened. I took a fiction class as an elective and remembered how much I loved creating stories. At the time, I also worked with several people who were writing fiction on the side. We talked about writing all the time, and it got me excited about trying my hand at it. So when I finished my degree in 2011, I began to seriously pursue publication.

What has your publication journey looked like?

Like almost every author, it’s been paved with rejection. I wrote my first book quickly in 2011—it’s now something I lovingly refer to as The Book That Must Not Be Named (Harry Potter reference, anyone?). Once I pitched that book at a conference and figured out it was not very good, I attended several retreats and other conferences and read a ton of books to strengthen my craft. I wrote another book and landed an agent, who asked me to rewrite the book because “the premise [was] flawed.” Double groan! But I did it, and I learned a lot in the process. Then, when nothing came of pitching that book, I wrote another book, and it was finally contracted by a small press (Ashberry Lane) in 2016. I wrote yet another book, and it began to look like I might never land the “big contract” I’d always dreamed about. I even took a break from writing for several months and prayed about whether to set aside my proverbial writing pen for a season, since I had a toddler and was pregnant with my second son. But God had other ideas. In late 2016, I was offered a two-book contract with Thomas Nelson (an imprint of HarperCollins Christian Publishing), my dream publisher. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to work with such a well-known publisher and to improve my craft with the help of the amazing team of editors there.

Where do you find your inspiration?

I look for inspiration everywhere, but the main spark for my books is often something I hear on the radio or read in the news. And while I don’t write people I know into my stories, characters sometimes will have personalities or quirks similar to people I’ve observed. I usually end up putting some of myself in every main character I write as well, though not intentionally! In addition, some of the themes I’ve dealt with in my novels have been things I’ve experienced personally. For example, in The Heart Between Us (2018), Crystal deals with a family member who has had a long-term illness. My mother fought cancer for many of my formative years, and that’s something that left a lasting impact on my life. It’s always interesting to delve into these types of topics within a story. I always learn something new about myself in the process.

Why do you write?

To become a millionaire! Kidding, kidding. I do know some authors who say they simply have to write or they’ll burst. That’s not really me. Telling stories is difficult. Being original takes energy, vulnerability, and lots of emotion. In other words, it takes a lot out of you. It’s far easier in some ways to NOT write. But I know it’s what I’m meant to do because it’s so challenging. Nothing else requires me to rely on God and to be part of something bigger than myself like when I write. I also love knowing that my stories touch others’ lives. To be able to offer encouragement and hope to people who have great need of it makes my job as a writer priceless.

Who are your favorite authors?

Oh man, this is a tough question. Like many readers of Christian fiction, the first book I ever read in the genre was Francine Rivers’ Redeeming Love. It’s a powerful book about God’s deep abiding love for his people and the forgiveness he offers each of us—even those we’d see as the “least deserving.” Other authors whose works constantly challenge me include Susan Meissner, Katie Ganshert, Susan May Warren, Rachel Hauck, and Melissa Tagg in the fiction realm, and Lysa TerKeurst, Ann Voskamp, and Shauna Niequist in the non-fiction realm.

What advice do you have for others who want to write?

Keep writing. It sounds cliche, but it’s the truth. If one book keeps getting rejected, move on to a new project. It will bring a fresh perspective and an opportunity to strengthen your craft. Also, join a writing organization; if you’re writing Christian fiction, American Christian Fiction Writers is the best! My Book Therapy is also an amazing organization that helps writers learn the craft. I would not be published without what I learned from both of these groups. I’d also say to attend conferences and get online—and network! Get to know others in your industry and never stop learning. Finally, stay focused. Redefine success. The writing industry can be slow-going and it can be difficult to feel like you’re making traction. Keep your eye on the prize and remember that forward progress is exactly that—progress.