Today, I’m welcoming Courtney Hope Jones to The Writer’s Desk! Courtney is an author, speaker, entrepreneur, and podcast host. In 2018, Courtney released It Is Written, a devotional that teaches you how to use Scripture to speak truth over lies. Since then, she started Little Creative Company, which provides website design and SEO for creatives and service providers. She’s also the host of the newly relaunched podcast Vessels, which shares conversations that equip multi-passionate Christian women in their calling. Courtney is truly a rockstar in all areas, and I’m so excited to share our conversation. If you’re interested in writing and publishing a book (whether through self-publishing or traditional publishing) and learning more about best practices for building a platform, this is the episode for you.

As always, I also share an update on my own writing journey. I’m currently writing a Christian nonfiction book geared toward women in their 20s. You can read more about it on my Substack.

For episode visual guides and other resources, follow The Writer’s Desk on Instagram!

Links:

Courtney’s website, Instagram, and book

Courtney’s podcast (Apple, Spotify)

Courtney’s web design and SEO company’s website

Courtney’s self-publishing course

Courtney’s self-publishing podcast series (traditional vs. self-publishing, is self-publishing worth it?, 5 things I wish I knew before self-publishing)

Today, I’m welcoming Addison (Addie) Ott to The Writer’s Desk! Addie is an author, podcaster, and entrepreneur living in Indiana. She is the founder of gentle & lowly co., a clothing brand that helps you carry the gentle love of Jesus. Her first book, Fellowship Over Followers, was published in 2024, and Addie is currently working on her second, which we will discuss in today’s episode. Addie balances all of these creative pursuits along with her day job as a graphic designer. This conversation is perfect for anyone interested in writing, self-publishing, and balancing pursuing multiple creative projects at the same time.

As always, I also share an update on my own writing journey. I’m currently writing a Christian nonfiction book geared toward women in their 20s. You can read more about it on my Substack.

For episode visual guides and other resources, follow The Writer’s Desk on Instagram!

Links:

Addie’s Instagram

Addie’s website

gentle & lowly co. website

gentle & lowly co. Instagram

gentle & lowly co. podcast

She Speaks Conference

Today on the show, I chat with Sarah Spradlin. Sarah is a poet and farmer raised in Georgia, now living in Central America, where she's worked in cross-cultural ministry since 2020, which pretty much boils down to planting things, talking to people, and writing poetry on long bus rides. Her poetry has been published on Story Embers and Kingdom Pen (just to name a few).

In this conversation, we discuss the role encouragement played in helping Sarah overcome her hesitancy to call herself a poet, the unfortunate reality that self-doubt never really goes away in the creative process, and why it’s important not only to share our stories but also to invite feedback from others.

As always, I also share an update on my own writing journey. I’m currently writing a Christian nonfiction book geared toward women in their 20s. You can read more about it on my Substack.

For episode visual guides and other resources, follow The Writer’s Desk on Instagram!

Links:

Sarah’s Instagram

The Rabbit Room website

Mary Marantz (website, Instagram, podcast)

Mary Marantz’s episode on Alli Worthington’s podcast (You’re Not Starting Over, You’re Starting From Wisdom: The Truth About Pivots and Purpose)

Today on the show, I chat with Katherine Hall, author, speaker, and creator of Everyday Scripture, a free Bible study resource. Katherine is passionate about making Scripture engaging and easier to understand. In this wide-ranging conversation on writing, publishing, theology, and faith, Katherine not only shares the backstory of Everyday Scripture and what’s next, but also a verse that makes clear there is so much more to be said and written about Jesus.

As always, I also share an update on my own writing journey. I’m currently writing a Christian nonfiction book geared toward women in their 20s. You can read more about it on my Substack.

For episode visual guides and other resources, follow The Writer’s Desk on Instagram!

Links:

Everyday Scripture (website, Instagram, Bible app reading plans)

Katherine’s website

She Speaks Conference

The Bible, Simplified by Zach Windahl

Today on the show, I get to talk with Jessica Kitchel! Jessica and I first met through North Point Community Church back in 2013. I’ve always admired how Jessica has honestly and openly shared the good and the hard things she has walked through. Jessica first began publicly sharing her writing on a blog, but now shares on Instagram. As you’ll hear more about in our conversation, Jessica began sharing her writing when she and her husband experienced unexplained fertility. Their family has now been touched by adoption, IVF, spontaneous twins, and Down syndrome. Through it all, Jessica has continued to share her and her family’s story to bring hope and comfort to others.

As always, I also share an update on my own writing journey. I’m currently writing a Christian nonfiction book geared toward women in their 20s. You can read more about it on my Substack.

For episode visual guides and other resources, follow The Writer’s Desk on Instagram!

Other links:

Jessica Kitchel’s Instagram

In this episode, Lydia shares her progress on her Christian nonfiction manuscript and an inspiring conversation with author, artist, and disability advocate, Alyssa Kumle. Alyssa’s debut book, Doubtless, was published in April 2025. More than a memoir, Alyssa's story is an invitation to anyone facing life's hardest battles to see that challenges don't have to define us. They can refine us. Lydia and Alyssa discuss Alyssa’s writing and publishing journey, as well as what’s next for Alyssa and her ministry. If you’re an aspiring Christian author or just interested in learning more about how a book comes to life, listen in!

Other links:

Lydia’s Substack

Alyssa Kumle’s website, book, and Instagram

In this episode, Lydia shares her progress on her Christian nonfiction manuscript, a newfound realization about the consistent role of doubt in the creative process, an exciting update on the podcast's future, and more! If you’re an aspiring Christian author or just interested in learning more about how a book comes to life, listen in!

For episode visual guides and other resources, follow The Writer’s Desk on Instagram!

Other links:

Lydia’s Substack

Second Life podcast episode with Alison Roman (Apple Podcasts, Spotify)

Second Life podcast episode with Andrea Beaty, children’s book author (Apple Podcasts, Spotify)

In this episode, Lydia shares her progress on writing her Christian nonfiction manuscript, the unexpected inspiration she found from the winter Olympics and U.S. skier Breezy Johnson, and details on other behind-the-scenes things like writing copy for her new website and figuring out what to wear for the headshots she’ll be doing in a few weeks. If you’re an aspiring Christian author or just interested in learning more about how a book comes to life, listen in!

For episode visual guides and other resources, follow The Writer’s Desk on Instagram!

Other links:

Lydia’s Substack

Little Creative Company

Desk of Lauren

Olympic gold medalist Breezy Johnson’s interview