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Mindy Baker is the author of the just released middle-grade novel Soledad and the Curse of the Phoenix. I had the opportunity to ask the author a few questions about her writing process, her inspiration and her life.

What is your writing process like?

I need to be in a quiet part of the house or alone in the house. I have a room that I call my “coffee room” with a chair that I love. 

I try to let the words flow freely even if I know they don’t sound very good and they are not exactly right. Then I go back to my computer on multiple days, continuing to shape and refine what I have written into something better. I add description, rephrase dialogue, add movement details, and work out plot problems until I think it is finally good enough to show my critique group. Once my group looks at it and gives ideas, I then go back to work editing and refining some more taking into consideration their comments.

Finding critique partners was critical for my growth as a writer. Not only did I receive good feedback, but I also got to be part of other people’s writing process which helped me improve tremendously.

What inspired Soledad?

Soledad started out as a variation of the “woman at the well,” which is a well-known Bible narrative. I chose Soledad’s name because it meant loneliness, and I knew from the beginning that I wanted to incorporate “esperanza” (hope) into the ending somehow. I also knew I wanted her people to be called ruin-dwellers.

Because I teach Spanish, I thought she should have a llama friend, and the setting of Peru made sense because there are waterfalls there. The story grew from there.

One book that had inspired me in writing about Soledad’s journey was Hinds’ Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard. I also took some influence from the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis as well as the movie Frozen 2.

Who was your favorite teacher and why?

I loved school and had many favorite teachers over the years. One teacher that stands out is one of my high school English teachers. I loved that she stamped our papers “work in progress, errors may exist” rather than correcting every little mistake.

Do you identify with any of the characters in your book?

I identify with Soledad in the way that she had to forgive both herself and others. Also, I have recently had to demonstrate determination and courage in multiple scenarios in my life. Finally, learning to trust others and work as a team has also been a big part of my life’s journey. 

https://chickenscratchbooks.com/soledad-and-the-curse-of-the-phoenix/

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Mindy Baker writes character driven picture books with read-aloud potential, middle grade novels, and devotional material for all ages. She resides in Indiana with her husband where she is a high school Spanish teacher. She has always said her library card is her most valuable possession and she keeps her passport up-to-date, ready to travel at any moment. She is passionate about her faith, her family, and living life to the full. Mindy loves to connect with her readers. You can find her on social media sites as @mindybakerbooks and at her website is www.mindybakerbooks.com. She also has a mini-magazine for parents, grandparents, and other caregivers of children. You can sign up to receive it here. 

MOUSE’S CHRISTMAS GIFT(Zonderkidz 2018)

SOLEDAD AND THE CURSE OF THE PHOENIX (Chicken Scratch Books 2025)

www.mindybakerbooks.com

Instagram: @mindybakerbooks

Facebook: @mindybakerbooks

Twitter: @mindybakerbooks