By Teddi Deppner
Havok’s Multiversal season and its unique character prompt approach has challenged our author community in fresh ways. As Havok’s marketing director, I also find it challenging at times to communicate our vision and offer that spark of motivation that authors can use to dive into writing another story. At a recent lunch with author Deborah Bainbridge, I was inspired to hear how she approached this challenge, and how it has equipped her with stronger writing skills. I hope you all will find it as encouraging, as well!
T: Tell us about your writing journey. Have you always been a writer? What are the milestones you look back and see in your journey from the beginning until now?
D: I have wanted to write for over thirty years but continued putting other things first. Four years ago, my friend Sarah posted about a writer’s conference and encouraged me to attend. I said I would think about it and I did. Yet, thinking about it in my world can sometimes mean thinking and praying over something for months or more. My amazing hubby told me not to think, but to go get my computer right now and sign up. I was a little nervous so he sat right there with me. I attended the conference and loved it! I learned so much, yet had no idea where to start when I got home.
T: This was when we met, right? At the Vision Christian Writers Conference in the beautiful Santa Cruz mountains. I was thrilled when I had the chance to see you there again this past April. You are one of the poster writers of Havok–someone who grabbed onto this opportunity to learn and grow with flash fiction and has truly come to shine. But how did it all begin?
D: Six months after that first conference, I decided I would never write anything unless I started writing something. Lol. I pulled out my notes from the conference and a small Havok post card fell out of my notebook and onto the floor. I remembered a wonderful woman in my class called Teddi who had invited me to write for Havok and looked it up to see what it was all about.
Havok was a perfect fit for me, and I have been submitting stories to you for over three years now. I love the challenging themes Havok offers, the editing feedback from their fabulous editors, and the encouragement from the other authors. Because of these things, I am continuing to learn the craft of writing and growing as an author.
T: Well, you’re doing a fantastic job with that. We’re pretty thrilled to see your story Tree of Memories is a finalist in the flash fiction category of the Realm Awards this year. You’ve written a great variety of stories so far, and I love how you tie in your personal experience with places you’ve been and events you’ve experienced. What do you enjoy writing the most?
D: So far, I love writing short stories, mostly fiction and speculative fiction and my favorite genres are mystery, thriller, and romance. I have a romance published with Spark Flash Fiction and some poetry publishing soon with Twenty Hills Publishing, in Wonder Tales Volume Two.
T: Tell us about your experience with the Multiversal theme prompts. What did you think of the characters?
D: The Multiversal theme was different than anything Havok had offered since I’d started writing and I was a little put off by Joe Enza. For some reason, he and I didn’t click as I really didn’t like the guy and certainly did not want to write about him. That was a decision I regretted after the theme closed as it was a challenging writing opportunity I chose to pass up. From that moment, I decided I would try to submit a story for every character offered and not miss anymore opportunities to learn and care about another author’s character.
I adored Kytt Windthorn when I read her character profile and had a blast writing my version of her. I also loved writing about Spark Spaulding and Zaivar Witz.
But, when I read the character profile for Phezznibbet Maplebark, a 2’7″ red squirrel, I remember saying out loud to myself, “What in the heck am I going to do with you?” Wow! Challenge accepted!
I am a runner and the peace and tranquility of the trees are my greatest inspiration. So, each morning, before I headed out to walk or run, I re-read his character profile and thought of nothing but him for that day’s exercise. I needed to get into his head and it took me over a week. Where I run, there are loads of grey squirrels which truly helped inspire and teach me more about Phezz. We also have bobcats which are the enemy clan I created for Phezz’s world. I began studying squirrels and bobcats and my story came to life.
It was challenging in a good way, helping me learn to get into a character’s head and see their world. By the time I finished writing my version of Phezz’s story, I had fallen in love with him and his world. And to think, I would have missed out if I hadn’t accepted this challenge.
T: Yes! That’s exactly the sort of experience we were hoping our authors would have. We recently announced the final characters in the Multiversal cast: Harmony Star by J.M. Allison and Luke James (aka Therrus) by Olivia Gratehouse. These were the winners of our public and staff character profile contests. You can read all about them at our Season Themes page.
Meanwhile, we hope everyone will check out our friend Deborah Bainbridge at these links:
- Instagram: @deborah.bainbridge
- Read Deborah’s stories on Havok
- Read her story Skyfall on Spark (romantic flash fiction magazine)
Her story about Phezznibbet Maplebark, Forging A New Path, is coming out May 8th on Havok’s Thriller Thursday.
Thanks for sharing your writing journey with Havok, Deborah!
Other Recent Havok News
Our Remember When merch fundraiser just launched! Get cool Havok merch and support our author payments at shop.gohavok.com.- Havok author J.M. Allison recently won the 2025 Vision Christian Writers Conference writing contest. Congrats, J.M.!
- Several Havok authors and staff are finalists in the 2025 Realm Awards! Congrats to Lincoln Reed, H. M. Hershberger, Deborah Bainbridge, Olivia Gratehouse, Cathy McCrumb, Sophia Hansen, Jane Maree, J.J. Johnson, and others!
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