Edgy, Brow-Lifting, and Maybe with a Twist of Authenticity ... Hold the Sugar Please

Meet Tracy Krauss, folks. You'll be glad you did.

Tracy Krauss is an author, artist, playwright, director, worship leader, and high school teacher of Art, Drama and English. Originally from a small prairie town, she received her Bachelor’s Degree at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon. She and her husband have lived and worked in many remote communities in Canada’s far north, pastoring for part of that time while raising their four children They currently live in Tumbler Ridge, BC.

SDC: A few things about you interested me before we even made plans to do this interview, Tracy. Your love for drama, your style of book writing, and how you might find the time to write, since you are also busy teaching classes at a high school.

Tracy: At the moment I am still ‘recovering’ from my latest drama production which opened March 9 called ‘A Midterm Eve’s Phantasm’. My troupe of young actors has grown to 34 members this year and we just finished four shows to record crowds and rave reviews. I usually write, direct and produce my own material for the troupe, which is a huge commitment in terms of time and energy – this show was six months in the making. Sometimes I wonder if I’m digging an early grave with so much going on in my life, but I love, LOVE, LOVE working with teens and believe that their involvement in theater has such lasting value that I can’t imagine giving it up.

As for my writing style, which has been termed ‘Edgy Christian’, I suppose I just try to be authentic. I know there is a place for sweet romantic safe novels, but that is not what appeals to me and I don’t feel it is what I have been called to write. I prefer a good twist and I don’t mind delving into topics that might be slightly more risqué than the usual Christian fare. This is not to say that my work is graphic or contains gratuitously explicit content. It is probably just not what most people would expect coming from a pastor’s wife. (But then I never did fit that mold very well.  I hate baking and entertaining, I enjoy a good rock concert, and I’m perfectly fine with body art like tattoos and piercings if tastefully done.)

How do I fit it all in? I’m not sure exactly! Now that my children are grown I have more time for my writing than I used to. I guess I’m just a compulsive ‘doer’. I don’t sit around much. When I am passionate about something, I just do it.

SDC: Tell us about the influence your books and witness have been on your readers and your students.

Tracy: Since I work in a public school, I am not free to share my faith with students in the regular setting. However, my writing is a way to witness to people about God’s faithfulness in a non-threatening way. I think it also helps people realize that being a Christian does not mean you have to be some kind of ‘faker’ or ‘goody-two-shoes’. Christians are people just like anyone else. A lot of people are turned off by what comes across as hypocritical piousness. Part of what my writing does (I hope) is de-mystify faith in God. My characters are real, flawed human beings who find redemption despite themselves. Hopefully, the stories are intriguing enough that readers will enjoy them for what they are – fiction. However, I can’t help including the ‘faith’ element because that is who I am. I have to be authentic. My first book AND THE BEAT GOES ON brings up a lot of evidence for creation, so that has had a pretty big impact in terms of getting people to question their own beliefs about evolution and the origins of the universe.

SDC: How do you weave faith into your stories?

Tracy: So far, redemption has been a very strong and recurring theme in my novels. I suppose you could say it is the central theme.

SDC: How has your publisher helped you with your writing experience?

Tracy: I have had nothing but good experiences with my publisher, Strategic Publishing Group. They have remained in constant communication with me from the moment I signed my first contract until now and walked me through every phase. I am currently in the production phase of my third novel with them.

SDC: How do you receive strength from Christ in a way that greatly intensifies your writing experience?

Tracy: One of the things that I do is play the piano and sing worship songs. I am the worship coordinator at our church and also lead worship quite a bit, but I enjoy just sitting down when I am alone and playing and singing to the Lord. I also do a lot of prayer journaling. I find that when I ‘write’ my prayers I am more focused on the Lord and His voice, although they are often almost impossible to read afterwards because sometimes I get going so fast! Lastly, I have purposed to say a prayer – even just a quick one – each and every time I sit down at the computer to write.

SDC: Do you attend or teach women’s bible studies of any kind? And does your interaction with others give you creativity with your writing imagination? And also what books do you read that have helped you that you would suggest for others?

Tracy: For many years, especially when my children were younger, women’s Bible Studies were my life line. Right now I am enjoying a mixed group. I guess we all go through different seasons and this is where I’m at right now. The group that feeds my creativity the most at the moment is a local artist’s group that I attend that also just happens to be mostly made up of Christians. I’m finding that same sense of kinship and camaraderie that I used to enjoy at women’s Bible studies, only this time it is more like an evangelistic group. Because so many of us are Christians, we are able to witness through our lives and some wonderful opportunities have arisen because of it.

As far as books go, I think variety is the spice of life. Good writers also read and take note of stylistic differences etc. I love classics like Jane Austen and George Orwell, and I also enjoy the bizarre with a good twist - Sci-Fi, fantasy, mystery, thrillers … and maybe even some romance. (Nothing too sweet )

SDC: Tell us a little about this book that you are hoping to share with us today and that you want to offer up to one of our readers. And if you could ask our viewers anything what would it be?

Tracy: MY MOTHER THE MAN-EATER is the story of a forty-something ‘cougar’ out to find fulfillment through – you guessed it – men. Her life gets very complicated when she tries to juggle too many prospects at one time, exacerbated by the fact that she has five grown daughters, who, unknown to any of them, end up getting involved with said ‘prospects’ as well. Meanwhile, her ex husband, a mafia con-man, is out of prison and looking for revenge. The mix ups add up to lots of humor, but there is also a dark side to the story when we finally are allowed to see into Joleen’s past. Add to that drug deals, kidnapping, murder and you’ve got an action packed story full of surprises. I’m happy to report that MAN-EATER hit the best seller lists on amazon.ca in the ‘romance-contemporary’ category a couple of weeks ago. Not bad for a Christian novel.

My question: What is one of the most awkward situations you have ever found yourself in? (I’ve been in lots of awkward situations!)

SDC: Interesting question that should bring some intriguing answers. Thank you so much for being with us here at A Pen for Your Thoughts, Tracy.

READERS: Be sure to answer Tracy's reflective question. I'll be selecting the winner's name at random later in the week.

Congratulations to  Linda Strawn of Manton, CA. I know you'll enjoy that book!