Of all the genres, why write fiction for Catholic teens? How were you personally drawn to sharing your faith in this way?

Because there isn’t enough good Catholic fiction available for a demographic that needs God the most. Teenagers face so many confusing issues, not just the usual coming-of-age struggles that every teenager has to contend with, such as puberty, friendships, relationships, parents, and peer pressures, but also cultural issues that, as a result of the world we currently live in, present excruciating pressures. And in a world where God is literally pushed out, it’s become a crisis. Social media and this ever-growing device culture has significantly increased the anxiety of our teens, leading to more bullying, more depression, more suicide, more addiction, more teen pregnancy. I don’t envy teens in this society. The world is topsy-turvy and they need a balance. They need a light. And since we are all called to be lights in this dark world,  I strive to provide this light in my fiction.

In your mind’s eye, who is your audience, your ideal reader?

Thirteen to eighteen-year-olds.

You’ve had the opportunity to visit a classroom of students who had read your book The Destiny of Sunshine Ranch. What did you take away from the experience?

This sixth grade class was extremely engaged. They had so many insightful questions, not just about the story and the characters, but about the writing process itself. It wasn’t just a story for these young boys and girls. They really connected with the characters and the struggles Benedict, Tommie, Micah, and others were dealing with. The students wanted to know more about them. They wanted to see more of them in a sequel. But most importantly, they all found a part of themselves in one or more characters, and it gave them hope. The experience was so inspiring, and it made all those years of writing The Destiny of Sunshine Ranch worth the effort. And it gave me the motivation to keep plugging away.

Your Faith & Kung Fu series is an original pairing. What parallels does the series draw between the two seemingly dissimilar topics?

Gabriel, the sixteen-year-old protagonist throughout the series, uses his kung fu to strengthen his faith. What Gabriel gets out of kung fu, he puts into his faith, such as physical and emotional strength, discipline, modesty, and balance. Kung fu is also an external manifestation of his internal devotion to God. He doesn’t need kung fu to get to God, it just puts him in the perfect mindset to receive Him fully.

If you could hire out someone to manage one aspect of the writing/editing/publishing/marketing business, what would it be?

I think probably marketing. It takes a lot of time and effort, and quite honestly, I’d rather spend my time writing the book because I love to write.

What are you working on now?

Currently, I’m working on book three of the Faith & Kung Fu series. This is a four-part series, and I hope to get the next installment out this summer, God willing. And, as you know, Carolyn, I’m also working alongside you and other CatholicTeenBooks.com authors to put together an anthology. It will give readers a sample of our writing styles and the variety of genres they can find at our website. So, I’m extremely excited about that.

 

And since we are all called to be lights in this dark world, I strive to provide this light in my fiction. @TMGaouette Share on X

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T.M. Gaouette is a wife, home-school mom, homesteader, and fiction novelist. She was born in Africa, brought up in London, and is now living in New England, where she raises goats with her husband and four children. Devoted to Him, Gaouette is dedicated to glorifying God by sharing His word through her fiction for teens, and young adults. She is the author of The Destiny of Sunshine Ranch, Freeing Tanner Rose (Bk. 1-Faith & Kung Fu), and Saving Faith (Bk. 2-Faith & Kung Fu).

Website: https://tmgaouette.com/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TMGaouette

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TMGaouette

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6037114.T_M_Gaouette

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/T.-M.-Gaouette/e/B008IAC4D0/

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