Katie Pownerhttps://www.katiepowner.com/
Author of When The Road Comes Around
T4JYM: Can you tell us about your latest book and what readers can expect from it?
KP: When the Road Comes Around is a story of faith and family, grace and grit. It’s about a young man with a reputation for trouble who’s given a chance to prove he’s more than his mistakes when he’s hired to work at Come Around Ranch for the summer. When trouble follows him to the ranch, he has the opportunity to learn what grace really means.
T4JYM: What is next for you? Are you working on something new? Anything different?
KP: After When the Road Comes Around, I have a new book releasing in April 2026 that is a little different than the books I’ve published so far. It’s called Birds on a Wire and it’s about a foster mom and bio mom who form a tenuous friendship over the baby they both love. I wrote the story almost ten years ago based on personal experience as a foster parent, and I’m excited that it’s finally going to be published!
T4JYM: Where do you get ideas for your books?
KP: Since I began writing full-length novels almost twelve years ago, I’ve been surprised how many of my ideas are not actually my ideas. They’re events or people or news articles or conversations from my life that I observe and write down and piece together. The world around us is full of stories!
T4JYM: Love the Book Club extras you provide on your website! Do you ever get invited to speak at Book Clubs or events?
KP: I’m invited to speak at Book Clubs several times a year, and I love talking with readers! It’s always fun to meet people from all over the country who have read my stories and want to learn more about them. They always have such interesting questions and insights.
T4JYM: Time for some favorites. What is your favorite: Food? Drink? Color? TV show? Musician/Band? Hobby? Movie?
KP: Dark chocolate, orange juice, red. I don’t really watch TV. I love classic country artists like Dolly Parton, Randy Travis, Reba McIntyre, and George Strait. My hobbies are reading and walking. I’m not sure I have a favorite movie, but I’ve watched the entire Hunger Games series at least five times, and I’ve watched Hamilton at least seven times.
T4JYM: Who are some of your favorite authors? And why? Have you ever met any of them?
KP: I love Leif Enger, Dale Cramer, Chris Fabry, Lisa Samson, and Susie Finkbeiner, to name a few. They’re my favorite authors because their stories are not focused on romance or people in extraordinary positions, but instead on ordinary people navigating family relationships, friendships, and growth. I also love these authors because their writing is literary and beautiful and moves me. I’ve only met Chris and Susie so far, but I would love to meet the others someday and pick their brains!
T4JYM: Will you share a short testimony of how you became a Christian?
KP: By God’s grace, I grew up in a Christian family and attended church regularly. I began to seriously consider my own personal faith when my grandma, who lived next door, was killed in a housefire when I was eleven. As I stood in the yard watching the house burn down, I wondered if I would see her again and what happened after you died. I wondered where God was in a situation like that. Then when I was fourteen, my dad was diagnosed with a brain tumor and that was a pivotal moment in my life. I knew deep down that I had to either lean into my faith or turn away from God. By God’s grace once again, I chose to lean in and accept Christ and live for him.
T4JYM: I see you offer various services for aspiring authors, which is awesome. What advice would you give to someone interested in publishing their work?
KP: Great question! The piece of advice I give most often is to give your current story everything you’ve got, submit it to whichever agents or editors you would love to work with, then start something new. Working on a new project is a great way to keep yourself busy while you’re waiting to hear back from the industry, and it’s also a great way to grow in your craft. Too many writers get stuck on one story, revising it over and over and over, and never really improve. To be a better writer, you have to keep writing.
T4JYM: What advice would you give to the youth of this world?
KP: It’s tough out there, and you can’t do it alone. Surround yourself with other people who are willing to take the same stands you are willing to take. Willing to make the same sacrifices you are willing to make. Even having just one other person who will stand beside you when the whole world is saying you’re crazy or you’re a fool to follow Jesus can make all the difference.
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