Author Mike Ehret and Beyond December

I’m excited to welcome Mike Ehret to the blog again. Last time, he talked about his novella, Big Love. I got to spend some time with Mike at ScrivCon – Scrivenings Press’s writing conference. He is lots of fun and has a tremendous sense of humor.

This time on the blog, he’s sharing more about his writing style, and we’re talking about his new novel, Beyond December, which I have read and it’s fabulous.

**This page contains affiliate links. If you choose to purchase after clicking a link, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Jen – Hi Mike, I’m glad to have you back. I’m curious about your writing style. How do you come up with your ideas? And do you outline or do a rough draft?

Mike – Quite honestly, I do not come up with ideas for my books. I sit down at the computer, open a file, and start writing. When the prose goes somewhere interesting, I follow it. When a character speaks, I record what he or she says. 

So no, there is no outline. There is not even a beginning and a known end when I start. When I’m done, it pretty much stays written in the order it came out. I do a lot of revising, enhancing, editing, etc., but very rarely does anything get moved around. Scenes do get deleted from time to time, but what I write, I write. 

Jen – Wow, I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone do it that way. That leads to my next question: What’s the hardest part about writing a book? 

The hardest part about writing

Mike – Making myself sit down and take the time. I will noodle about ideas and scenes in my head for a bit, but most of those don’t actually get written. I believe it’s just my brain getting ready to tell the story. 

I see my scenes unfolding cinematically—as if they are scenes in a movie. What happens and what characters say is what naturally comes next. But I need to put daily life on hold to enable this to happen. 

Jen – Not to mention that you work full-time! What themes do you enjoy using?

Mike – So far, my writing has been big on transformation and male/female relationships. A thing happens and characters are forced to change, to transform. I find that Romans 12:2 informs much of my writing: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then (such an important word) you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing, and perfect will.” 

In “Beyond December,” Zak is a nominal Christian, but he doesn’t see himself that way. He thinks he’s a solid Christian, just not as crazy about it as some people. When his wife dies unexpectedly, and he faces one more tragic abandonment in his life, he has to examine what he believes and why. When he does, he goes through a transformation.  

Beyond December

Jen – The way you write about his grief and transformation really touched me. It was very honest and raw (in feelings, not bad writing!). Were there pivotal moments or challenges in your writing career that helped define your path? 

Mike – In 2004, when I returned to college, a writing teacher challenged me to try Fiction writing and then, when she saw what I produced, she required me to join American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW). Through associations and opportunities there, I found my calling and helped define my career as a writer, editor, volunteer organizer, and novelist. 

Jen – I love how someone saw your potential and gift and encouraged you. That’s very cool. So, as a writer, you may have had criticism or even rejection. How do you deal with that?

Mike – I’m sort of lucky in that I don’t really worry about those things. But what kills me is waiting for someone’s reaction to what I’ve written. I really, really want to know what readers think of my books. Did it help you? Did it give you something to think about? Did it move you closer to God? Were you entertained? 

Waiting on reactions and reviews kills me. (So, if you’ve read “Big Love” or “Beyond December,” don’t keep me in suspense!) 

Authors love reviews!

Jen – Yes! Reviews are so important to us authors! What’s the best writing advice you’ve received? 

Mike – It’s not going to be great straight out of the gate. Reread, revise, rewrite. It’s OK to not be perfect. Just strive to get better. And hang around with people who do likewise. 

Jen – Great advice. Especially to find like-minded people. What are you working on next? 

Mike – I have at least three ideas in the hopper, but the one that is furthest along is a novel about (surprise) relationships and baseball and the transformative nature of baseball. No, I’m not a baseball fan. Fortunately, I have several relatives who are reading this for baseball errors as I go along.  

Alternately, there are second and third books lightly “planned” to follow in the world of “Beyond December.” BD is a big cast book, and there are a lot of stories in that city that could yet be fleshed out—as well as characters we don’t yet know about. 😊  

But there’s also a Christmas novella idea I can’t stop thinking about based on the song “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas,” specifically the not-often-heard opening of the song: 

“Christmas’ future is far away 
Christmas’ past is passed 
Christmas’ present is here today 
Bringing joy that will last.” 

Shall we vote on what the next book will be?  

More about Mike

Jen – I like that idea! What do you like to do when you’re not writing? 

Mike – More than anything, I like to spend time with my wife and my dog. Even if we’re just sitting around, each of us (well, not the dog) reading a different book together. The biggest comfort in my life is Deb’s presence. I don’t really like to go anywhere without her. I do, of course. But if I had my choice, I would not. 

Learn more about me and what I do: https://writingonthefineline.com/about/ . Sign up for my newsletter and receive a short story I wrote called “P.S.”

Mike’s novels are:

Big Love (a novella)

Berly Charles remembers the days before her father was a successful business tycoon in Indianapolis. Growing up a razor’s edge from homelessness planted a tiny desire for home in her heart that she now, as the owner of Le Petite Maison, LLC, fills for others by building their tiny home ideals. Now she has the opportunity to take her tiny house company big time—is this the chance she’s been waiting for? 

Nathan “Rafe” Rafferty is a writer for the nationally reputed architecture journal who is used to calling his own shots and covering the biggest and the best architectural accomplishments of the modern world. But when his hipster, much younger, editor assigns him to cover a new trend—tiny houses—the assignment stirs unpleasant memories and thoughts of revenge. 

Beyond December

Zak Cooper knows his wife, Kay, is dead. She died mere weeks before Christmas, and his newspaper covered the story extensively. So why is he seeing Kay around town, and why is she talking to him? And why can’t he touch her? 
 
Are they “bereavement hallucinations,” as his doctor suggests? Or is it something more? And what about Jenny Miller, new in town with her young daughter? A daughter similar in age to what Zak’s daughter would be if she’d lived? 
 
Can Zak move beyond this life, this love? Can he move beyond December? 

All about Mike Ehret

Michael Ehret loves to play with words. He is the author of the novella “Big Love” and the new novel, “Beyond December.” He is enjoying his current playground. Previous playgrounds include being the Managing Editor of the magazine ACFW Journal and the ezine Afictionado for seven years. He also plays with words as a freelance editor and has edited several nonfiction and fiction books, proofedited for Abingdon Press, worked in corporate communications, and reported for The Indianapolis Star. 

Read Creative Exercises to Spark Inspiration and Improve Your Writing, and then follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram, and subscribe to my newsletter to keep up with news about my book and any special offers! Be sure you grab your FREE 10-step checklist to plan your novel when you subscribe!

Hi, I’m Jen! I’ve been married for over 38 years, have 5 amazing kids and 3 adorable grandkids. I homeschooled our three youngest children and used to blog about homeschooling. I also taught Oral Communication as an adjunct instructor for over 5 years.

Jen Dodrill Writes is born of a passion of mine – to write a novel! My first cozy mystery, Birds Alive!, released Feb. 27, 2024! The second in the series, Where’s the Quetzal? releases on Feb. 25, 2025!

When I’m not working, you’ll find me writing, spending time with my family, or curled up on the couch reading and drinking a mug of dark roast coffee. (Don’t forget to check out my mug shop – JDMugs!)