Episode 20 | Grace Notes in the Desert: How Belinda Pollard Weaves Faith into Mainstream Mystery

Former journalist, Belinda Pollard, now writes books, is a book editor, and coach who specialises in writing mainstream crime novels, such as her "Wild Crimes Mysteries" series. Rather than writing traditional Christian fiction, she focuses on writing with purpose by incorporating what she calls grace notes with subtle hints of the Kingdom into stories that tackle difficult real-world issues. She aims to reach readers who are away from the faith and nudge them closer to God through relatable characters and storytelling.In her journey of creating with God, Belinda has had to unlearn the "lie" of the creative muse, discovering that faith-based writing requires discipline regardless of whether one feels "inspired" or "in the flow". She is a passionate advocate for the Christian author community and founded Grace Writers in 2017 to support those writing for the mainstream. Her current project, Scorched Earth, reflects her commitment to deep research, as she recently spent time in Coober Pedy to authentically capture the experience of living underground for her mystery setting. Ultimately, Belinda encourages other writers to protect and nourish their unique, God-given voice, believing that every creator is uniquely fashioned to offer a perspective no one else can.