Mrs. Alie Vogelaar-van Amersfoort has loved telling stories since she was very young. From telling stories at bedtime to her siblings, to writing missionary stories for the Paulus magazine, to publishing her first book when she was a teenager, she has become an author whose books are loved in the Netherlands, United States, and Canada. We recently spoke with Mrs. Vogelaar about her writing.
What do you enjoy most about writing?
I just love spinning a story in my head. If the story is about a historical event or a real person, I also do a lot of research to make sure every detail is correct.
Can you give an example of books you have written that have required much research on your part?
My oldest son suggested that I write a story about New York City on September 11, 2001. I gathered every magazine and newspaper article about the tragedy, carefully researched the events as they unfolded that day, and wrote the book with the title Falling Towers. When a writing project required a great deal of research, there were usually piles of books and articles all over my office floor! This happened again while my husband served the Kalamazoo, Michigan congregation. I had been asked to write a book about the life of Rev. Kersten and how the Lord used him to shape the Netherlands Reformed Congregations. It was a tremendous project which required a great amount of study and research.
What can you tell us about the first book you wrote?
The first book I wrote was about a Jewish boy during World War II, and it was based on the many stories I heard from my parents and relatives about their experiences during the war. It was published in the Netherlands when I was a teenager.
You also wrote stories about mission work, didn’t you?
Yes, that began when I wrote a children’s story for the Dutch mission magazine, Paulus. The editors accepted my story and I wrote mission stories for them from 1964 until 1976. Later I also wrote three books about a young boy in Irian Jaya named Tekko, and they have also been translated into English.
We understand that your father was a talented artist and that you have received that gift from him. Did you illustrate any of the books you wrote?
I have illustrated only one of my books, and that was the first volume of the Tekko series.
What inspired you to write the twelve-volume
series on church history?
I began writing those stories for the Banner of Truth. Rev. Moerkerken took the first set of stories to a publisher in the Netherlands, and they published the first volume and the rest of the series. Now almost all of them have been translated into English.
How many books have you written in all?
I think I have written more than 70 books, but not all of them have been translated from the Dutch language.
Do you have a favorite book that you have written?
Yes, I do, but I would rather not say which one it is because it’s a very personal story.
Is there anything else you would like to say about your writing?
I have needed the Lord’s help in using the talents He has given me. I hope that there is a message in the books and that the Lord will use it for the furtherance of His kingdom.
Author Interview – Alie Vogelaar