Meet Rena Groot
- Rena Groot
- Sep 29
- 4 min read
1. What inspired you to start writing, and how have your life experiences shaped your writing?
I’ve kept journals for most of my adult life — quiet places where I poured out my heart, recorded prayers, and processed life’s twists and turns. While teaching in China, I had a rare free day and felt deeply stirred to begin writing my story. I spent the entire day under a mosquito net, scribbling from morning until night. Two years later, in Israel, I finally turned those raw notes into my first book, A Life Set Free — a testimony to God’s relentless, unfathomable love.
Most of my books are born from moments like that — inspiration meeting purpose. Mommy & Baby’s Journal was created with the hope that an expectant mother might choose life after holding the journal in her hands and seeing the beautiful photos of babies.
The Narrow Path Trilogy was my heartfelt attempt to bring the message of Revelation to those who may never open a Bible, inviting them into a story that mirrors eternal truths.
I created the Broken to Beautiful Journal to uplift women walking through brokenness, helping them rediscover the beauty in their story.
And because I’ve always been drawn to the passion and depth of historical romantic fiction, it’s been pure joy to write several novels in that genre.
Now, I’m preparing to release BETRAYAL on 1 December — a raw, powerful story of infidelity, heartbreak, and one woman’s courageous journey toward healing and wholeness.
2. You’ve written in a variety of genres, including romance and a children’s story. How do you approach writing across such different styles?
I’ve lived a life full of varied experiences, which made writing across different genres feel natural. My children’s book, Bubs Bunny Goes to Camp, was inspired by the years I spent as a camp counsellor. I brought it to life using my paintings, a beloved stuffed bunny, and photos of two of my daughters, making it a joyful, personal project from start to finish.
3. How has your faith influenced your writing, particularly when blending Christian themes with fiction?
My faith in God is the reason I write. It’s at the heart of everything I do. Through my stories, I want others to catch a glimpse of His goodness, His power, and His unfailing love. I’ve always tried to make conversations with — and about — God feel as natural as breathing, weaving Him into the pages of my stories in a way that’s real, honest, and deeply personal.
4. Tell us about The Highlander’s Secret and what readers can expect from this story within the Our House on Heather Wynd series.
The Highlander’s Secret follows Fiona, a spirited Scottish lass living in the year 2000, who discovers a 150-year-old diary hidden within her newly purchased home on Heather Wynd. As she turns its timeworn pages, she’s swept into Aileen’s world — a tale of clan wars, secrets, and forbidden love. What begins as curiosity soon becomes a deep connection, and Fiona realises her own life has been forever shaped by the courage and legacy of a woman who lived generations before her.
5. What inspired The Highlander’s Secret? Are there any personal experiences or themes that influenced this particular story?
I’ve always been captivated by the mystique of Scotland — its ancient legends and timeless beauty. Researching the real locations in my book brought the setting to life in unexpected ways, but what surprised me most was how the story seemed to write itself, evolving with a heartbeat of its own. When I finished The Highlander’s Secret, I genuinely missed Aileen and Fiona. They had become like dear friends, an d I wasn’t ready to let them go. Thankfully, their journey isn’t over — Lynn Dean is continuing a part of their story in the next book in the Our House on Heather Wynd series.
6. Faith, love, and healing are prominent themes in The Highlander’s Secret. How are these explored in the story, and how do they reflect your personal beliefs?
It’s only because of God’s amazing grace that I’m alive today. His love has carried me through, and that unshakable faith is woven into every story I write. Through the lives of my characters, themes of faith, love, and healing come to life — because they’ve been central to my own journey.If you’d like to know more about why these themes matter so deeply to me, I invite you to read my story here: A Life Set Free.
7. As a mother of four and someone with such a varied background, how do you balance writing with family and other responsibilities?
Balancing writing with everyday responsibilities can sometimes be a challenge. Thankfully, our four children are grown and living lives of their own now — so I just work around my husband’s schedule. Still, there are moments when I steal away to write in the stillness of the night to fully lose myself in the world of my characters. I’ve written through the night a few times — not the wisest habit, but sometimes the story just won’t let go. In fact, it’s past midnight as I write this.
8. What does success as a writer look like to you?
For me, it’s measured by connection—when your words touch a heart, stir a memory, spark a dream, or give someone the courage to keep going.
Success is writing the story that won’t let you go.
It’s finishing a book when it felt impossible.
It’s hearing from one reader who says, “Thank you, I needed this.”.
It’s staying true to your voice in a world that often wants to shape it.
In the end, success is about being faithful...to share the words in my heart.
And that is something to be known for…
9. What advice would you give to aspiring writers who feel called to write stories with a strong Christian message?
Ask God to breathe life into your words, so they reach the hearts He’s prepared. Speak truth. Be bold. You have this one life to make an eternal impact — so go for it! Write for an audience of One, and trust that God will use your words for His glory. Let your pen be His instrument, and your story a light in the darkness.
Connect with Rena.
https://amzn.to/4kQ2Y7C (Amazon to see my books…)
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