Last week I shared about the upcoming Christy Awards for outstanding Christian fiction. This week I get to interview Beth K. Vogt, a 2016 Christy winner, and get the inside scoop on her new Christmas release, Together This Christmas.
Author Interview
Tell us about your quote, “God’s best is often behind the door marked “never”.”
God has walked me through several significant doors I’d closed and marked with the word “NEVER” in big, bold letters. When I was younger, I said I would never marry a doctor or anyone in the military. Ahem. Enter my now-husband Rob, who was in the military for 28 years and is a family physician.
I also said I would never have children – there’s a story there – and Rob and I have four children.
Armed with a journalism degree, I said I’d never write fiction, but during a season of burnout, God motioned me over to the other side of the writing road and I discovered a love for fiction. Many things (and people) I love the most have been found behind those doors I’d closed.
What launched you on your writing career?
In some ways, I’ve had two writing careers. When I was in college, I asked myself this question: What do I love so much that I wouldn’t mind doing it every day for the rest of my life? I’d always loved words and writing, and so I pursued a journalism degree. My writing choices were all in nonfiction: writing and editing for newspapers and magazines. Then God surprised me with a second writing career as a novelist. And yes, I had to learn a whole new set of rules to succeed.
How did you settle on writing fiction?
I’ve hinted at this a bit already – I didn’t settle on writing fiction. I was very happily working as a freelance editor and writer. But then, burnout hit. I told my husband Rob I would never write again. (Ah, there’s that dangerous word never again.) When Rob came home three days later and found me at the computer, he asked me what I was doing. I confessed, “I’m writing,” all the while insisting I was writing a story just for fun. That no one would ever see it. A few years later – and after a lot of revisions – that “just for fun” story became my debut novel.
Tell us about your new Christmas book, Together This Christmas.
One of my favorite holiday traditions is to read Christmas novellas, and so I’m so excited to offer readers one this year. Yes, the season’s a busy one, but it’s also nice to slow down at the end of the day, sit by the fire or the Christmas tree – or both – and read a good book. A romance with a guaranteed happily ever after is even better.
What was the inspiration behind it?
I thought of the setting for Together This Christmas first, even before the characters. I knew I wanted a Colorado small-town. My husband and I drove through different towns in Colorado before we found the perfect spot for Chestnut, Colorado and then mapped out the town. The next thing was the “best friends to falling in love” trope for Mila and Ben and figuring out what kept them apart.
What is the spiritual thread you hope readers get out of it?
For this novella, I leaned into my favorite name of God, which is Emmanuel (Immanuel), which is found in Matthew 1:23 (NASB95), which says: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.” It’s so vital to remember who God is and how He desires to have a close relationship with each one of us. In all the busyness of the holidaze, we can lose sight of who God wants to be in our lives.
Who is your favorite woman in the Bible?
I love the Samaritan woman who met Jesus at the well. Jesus took time with her. Saw her. Talked with her. Answered her questions. When I visited Israel, we visited this site, called Jacob’s Well, and I was able to drink a dipperful of water from that well. It was the coldest, most refreshing drink of water I’ve ever had.
What is your favorite Scripture?
My life verse is Colossians 1:13 (NASB95): “For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son …”
Doesn’t that read like a wonderful story? To be rescued from an evil domain and taken to safety? But the amazing thing is, this is a true story. Verse 14 says, “in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” This is a life changing story. And it’s my story.
Anything else?
It’s never too early to start your holiday reading. Go ahead and start today. There are a lot of good Christmas novellas out there, and if you add Together This Christmas to your TBR pile, I thank you. I have to shout out Courtney Walsh, who designed the fantastic cover for my novella. She’s a wonderful author too.
About the Book
Title: Together This Christmas
Author: Beth K. Vogt
Publisher: Story Architect
Release Date: October 13, 2025
Genre: Sweet Small-Town Contemporary Romance Christmas novella (spiritual thread)
What if true love is only a text away?
Mila Maxwell is happy with her life in New York City. Her boyfriend Zane is perfect for her – and yes perfect means he offers her the stability she’s always wanted. Zane’s also not threatened by the endless text thread she keeps with her best friend, Ben Kendrick. Why should he be? They’re friends, nothing more.
Christmas is coming – a holiday she’d much rather skip – and Mila’s the maid-of-honor for her college roommate’s December wedding. When disaster strikes the wedding coordinator, Mila rushes to Colorado to save Angie’s big day and plunges headfirst into all the marital falalala.
As Mila works the details for Angie and Charles’ wedding, Ben steps up to help. After all, he’s the best man and someone in his life should have a happily ever after. This may be Ben’s last chance to convince Mila that they were meant for more than long texts and short video chats.
Mila must confront her fears about love and choose: Zane, who offers her the security she’s always longed for, or Ben, who has never given up on her. What if her true love has always been one text away?
PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | BethVogt.com | Amazon
Also Available
About the Author
Beth K. Vogt believes God’s best often waits behind the doors marked “Never.” She writes both contemporary romance and women’s fiction because she believes there’s more to happily-ever-after than the fairy tales tell us. Beth is a Christy Award winner, an ACFW Carol Award winner, and a RITA® finalist. An established magazine writer and former editor of the leadership magazine for MOPS International (now MomCo), Beth blogs for The Write Conversation and enjoys speaking to writers groups and mentoring writers. She lives in Colorado with her husband Rob, who has adjusted to discussing the lives of imaginary people.
Connect with Beth by visiting bethvogt.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.
Tour Giveaway
(1) winner will receive a $50 Amazon gift card, a “My Holidays are All Booked” mug from Pippi Post, and a print copy of Together This Christmas!
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight October 20, 2025 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on October 27, 2025. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
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