Episode 79 - A Story Passed Down: How a Grandmother’s Legacy Sparked a New Calling

Date: July 5, 2025 Podcast Show Notes: Interview with Nancy Haack

 

Episode Highlights: In this heartfelt episode of The Women Behind the Words, host Debbie Dufek welcomes author and illustrator Nancy Haack to share her beautiful journey of creativity, calling, and God’s perfect timing. Nancy opens up about the childhood passion for art that eventually blossomed into something more—writing stories that echo the legacy of faith she inherited from her grandmother.

Although Nancy never set out to become a writer, God used a lifetime of unexpected twists, jobs that seemed unrelated, seasons of quiet waiting, and a deepening walk with Him to prepare her for something new. With vulnerability and wisdom, she shares how her grandmother’s unwavering faith inspired her debut novel A Day to Remember and how she’s learned to trust God’s plan even when the road didn’t make sense.

This episode invites listeners into the beauty of waiting, the significance of finding a community of support, and the power of holding fast to Scripture during life’s transitions. Nancy’s story is one of surrender, hope, and the reminder that God never wastes our waiting.

Whether you’re stepping into a new calling or struggling to find clarity in your current season, Nancy’s testimony is a powerful reminder that it’s never too late to begin again and that God truly uses all things for His glory.

 

About the Guest: Nancy Haack has spent her life in the Northeast where she married her best friend, raised two daughters, and now embraces her role as a proud grandmother. From a young age, Nancy’s artistic talent was nurtured in a home that celebrated children and creativity. Her passion for illustration took root in college where she discovered how artwork can reflect God’s heart.

Over the years, Nancy has worn many hats, from window washer to writing tutor, but each role served a purpose. Through conferences, Scripture study, and faithful obedience, her creative path unfolded. Now, as both a children’s illustrator and romance author, Nancy continues to follow God’s lead with an open heart and willing hands.

 

Book Spotlight: A Day to Remember Julia Kelly has always loved life on her family’s quiet farm in the New Hampshire mountains. But everything changes when her mother dies during childbirth and her father remarries the infant’s nurse. As the McGrath family takes over the farm and Julia is sent away to the Kimball Academy for Girls, she is plunged into a world far removed from the one she knows.

While trying to navigate this high-society life, Julia must choose between DJ McGrath, the grounded, sarcastic farmhand she can’t forget, and Jonathan Ashcroft, a wealthy suitor with a hidden past. Set in the 1920s, A Day to Remember follows Julia through loss, longing, and redemption as she discovers her identity, fights for hope, and learns to forgive.

This novel is ideal for readers who love faith-filled romances, historical settings, and strong, relatable women. With heartache, redemption, and God’s grace woven throughout, Nancy’s debut is a story that will leave you deeply moved and hopeful.

 

Connect with Nancy: Instagram: @nancyhaack Website: www.nancyhaack.com

 

Closing Thought: Sometimes the calling you never imagined turns out to be the one God had planned all along. What part of your story is He preparing you to tell?