Raised on a farm in South Carolina, Misty M. Beller left a successful corporate job to pen romantic mountain stories set in the 1800s frontier. She is the author of the bestselling Mountain Dreams Series and the Texas Rancher Trilogy.

Writing is a dream come true for Misty. Her stories combine a love for Christian fiction and the simpler ranch life. Misti’s family, both immediate and extended, is the foundation that holds her secure in that dream, and her husband and daughters add another dimension to her life, keeping her both “grounded and crazy.

 

What started you on your writing journey?

Great question! I’ve always loved reading, and there were many times growing up when my mom would tell me to pull my nose from the book and go outside! I never thought I could write those engaging stories I read, though.

But several years ago, I was putting together my bucket list, and realized that I really did want to write a novel. So, “Write a novel that’s published” made it near the top! I decided, it’s now or never, and made the commitment to do it.

Once I started, I realized how hard it truly is to learn the craft required to write a novel, but I also realized how much I love it! And I’ve spent countless hours sitting with my laptop pouring out words onto the screen. Writing is in my blood. It’s my passion. A true gift from my Heavenly Father, and I pray daily that He uses the words for His purpose.

Just as all good novels include a plot twist, the Author and Creator of our lives often writes in a twist that ultimately blesses us more than our original plan. Have you ever experienced such a “Divine Detour”?

Honestly, my journey into writing has definitely been that kind of twist! I worked in the corporate world for over thirteen years, and worked my way up the ladder. God opened so many doors for me there, but through the years, work became more and more stressful and time with my family became shorter and shorter. Then He opened up the world of writing to me, and I was incredibly blessed when it finally became something I could do full time. I sure never saw it coming!

Let’s talk about your new book, Hope’s Highest Mountain (Bethany House, October 2019). Please tell us about it.

I’d love to!

Ingrid Chastain readily agreed to accompany her father to deliver vaccines to a mining town in the Montana Territory. She never could have anticipated a terrible accident would leave her alone and badly injured in the wilderness. When rescue comes in the form of a mysterious mountain man who tends her injuries, she’s hesitant to put her trust in this quiet man who seems to have his own wounds.

Micah Bradley left his work as a doctor after unintentionally bringing home the smallpox disease that killed his wife and daughter. But his self-imposed solitude in the wilds of Montana is broken when he finds Ingrid in desperate need of medical attention, and he’s forced to face his regret and call on his doctoring skills once again.

Micah can’t help but admire Ingrid’s tenacious determination despite the severity of her injuries, until he learns the crate she brought contains smallpox vaccines to help quell a nearby outbreak. With Ingrid dead set on trekking through the mountains to deliver the medicine—with or without his help—he has no choice but to accompany her. As they set off through the treacherous, snow-covered Rocky Mountains against all odds, the journey ahead will change their lives more than they could have known.

What led you to write this particular story?

I love mountain stories, especially when there’s a mountain man involved. : ) Also, the theme of hope was important to me as I wrote this story and is something God’s been teaching me through the past couple of years. As Hope’s Highest Mountain starts, Ingrid and Micah were both in the depths of hard times in their lives. Micah’s was a self-imposed penance as he grieved the loss of his wife and daughter and the part he played in their deaths. For Ingrid, she’d just lost her father in a tragic wagon accident, and had no idea what her life should look like moving forward. Through the story, both of them realized that though life would be different in the future, there was hope that the new life God had planned for them could be even better. They never would have found the better, though, if they hadn’t gone through the hard times.

A few fun questions…

When the words aren’t flowing—or when you want to celebrate if they are—what is your favorite comfort food and why?

When the words aren’t flowing I often turn to potato chips. Or sometimes even chocolate, although if I get that desperate, I try to keep to small portions.

What Bible passage or story best describes your journey of faith?

Hmm… I haven’t thought about this before in relation to my overall journey. I’m not sure if I can point to one particular story, but I so want to be a woman after God’s heart, as King David was known. My year verse for this year is Matthew 5:16, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

In the story that is your life, are you the strong, female lead; the girl next door; the mysterious woman behind dark glasses; the super heroine; or the little girl trying to walk in high heels?

Some days I feel like the strong female lead, and some days I feel like the frazzled mom who forgot to put on make-up and is running ten minutes late for everything. LOL.

I’m a dog lover. Please tell us about your pets, if any, or your favorite pet as a child.

We’re animal lovers too! Growing up we raised horses, and I actually trained horses professionally right after high school. Now, we only have three pasture ornaments (horses), two dogs, and two cats. : )

Thanks, Misty! It’s nice to have you as a guest at Divine Detour!

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For more information about Misty, visit her website and/or on Facebook or Twitter. For a limited time, you can read her novel, This Treacherous Journey, FREE. Click here.

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