I’m so excited to introduce Angie Hyche, a fellow Scrivenings Press author.
Angie Hyche is an author and speaker. She is the author of Unholy Mess: What the Bible Says about Clutter, co-author of Uncluttered: Shaping Your Heart & Home for What Matters Most, and co-host of the Uncluttered podcast. She writes for anyone who feels overwhelmed with the clutter in their home, their schedule, or their mind. Angie spent 7+ years working in client homes as a certified professional organizer. She loves helping people simplify their lives so they can prioritize what matters most.
Christina: Let’s talk books. What is your book called?
Angie: Uncluttered: Shaping Your Heart & Home for What Matters Most
Christina: When was it released?
Angie: June 2024 by Scrivenings Press
Christina: Can you share your blurb with us?
Angie:
In a world where chaos reigns and clutter overwhelms, discover the profound connection between orderliness, faith, and inner peace.
When organizing gurus like Marie Kondo and The Home Edit talk about orderly living, people listen! From Container Store junkies who love labels and color-coded files to homeowners who struggle with too much stuff, fans of these experts often consider their teaching sacred knowledge.
But is that the only help available?
Thankfully, for Christians, the Bible is a wealth of organizing principles waiting to be mined.
In Uncluttered: Shaping Your Heart & Home for What Matters Most, professional organizers and authors Liana George and Angie Hyche delve into the timeless wisdom of God’s orderliness, revealing how it extends far beyond mere tidiness. Through poignant personal anecdotes, Scripture, and practical advice, this four-week devotional invites readers to embrace the beauty of simplicity.
From decluttering your physical space to clearing your mind, each day offers a transformative insight and actionable step towards a more serene existence. Whether you’re a seasoned organizer or a clutter connoisseur seeking solace, Uncluttered provides a roadmap to a life of harmony, purpose, and joy. And ultimately, making room for what matters most.
Christina: I love that you’ve joined organizing with a devotional. What inspired you to write this book?
Angie: While working as a professional organizer, I was able to easily see the negative consequences of physical clutter in my clients’ lives. The more I learned about clutter and looked in the Scriptures, the more I realized that clutter isn’t limited to piles of stuff. We can (and often do) accumulate clutter in our schedules and in our minds. When we’re able to let go of what isn’t important, we’re better equipped to prioritize what truly matters.
After writing my first book, Unholy Mess: What the Bible Says about Clutter, I was unsure what my next writing project would be. I was introduced to Liana George, a former professional organizer turned author, by a mutual friend. When we met virtually for the first time, Liana said she’d been saving ideas for a devotional book related to organizing for many years. She wanted to write a book but didn’t want to do it alone. Partnering together to write the Uncluttered devotional book was such a joy. I love helping people get closer to God as a result of uncluttering their lives.
Christina: What’s your favorite part of your writing process?
Angie: I delight in transforming ideas into pieces of writing, whether it’s a social media post, a book, a newspaper article, or a play. I’m a giant word nerd, and I really enjoy bringing a concept to life through my words.
Christina: Can you share any challenges you faced during the research or writing process?
Angie: Co-author Liana George was finishing up her trilogy of fiction books about a professional organizer, the Hopeful Hearts series. Since she was so busy with deadlines for the final book in the series, we had to delay the publishing date for the Uncluttered devotional. Then Liana was diagnosed with breast cancer while she was working on finishing her devotionals for the book. The treatments made it very difficult for her to think creatively and to write, but she didn’t want to further delay the book. Only through the power of prayer was she able to complete her portion on time. Completing the book and receiving an excellent prognosis was a beautiful testament to God’s care and His provision.
Christina: What a sweet story of prayer and provision intertwined with the story of Uncluttered.
If you could give one piece of advice to budding creatives, what would it be?
Angie: Just start writing! I’ve heard that of all the people who say they want to write a book, only about 3-8% (depending on the survey you read) actually complete one. As soon as you have ideas, get them down in a digital document or on paper. Even if you don’t get to work on it again for a while, you’ll have a good start on the project. Don’t wait until you’ve figured out the whole plan, have the perfect tools, etc. before you begin. Just write!
Christina: Can you describe your writing routine?
Angie: When it comes to a writing routine, I don’t necessarily have a specific plan I follow every time I write. I’m very deadline-driven. I work on assignments in the order that they’re due. If it’s a large project, I don’t wait until close to the deadline because I know that would stress me out. I get a start on it, figure out an overall plan, do some outlining (yes, I’m definitely a plotter, not a pantser!), and then get started. I usually go in order from beginning to end, but occasionally I’ll jump in and write what I’m most eager to write. I do everything digitally in Google Docs (despite the fact that the writing world heavily favors Word). I rarely have to correct grammar, spelling, or punctuation. In fact, I see errors all the time, even in popular published work. It’s a blessing and a curse. I have an adjustable desk with a large desktop monitor, and I like to alternate between sitting and standing when I write.
Christina: What do you hope readers will take away from your book?
Angie: My prayer is that readers will find the inspiration and tools they need to identify and eliminate the clutter from their homes, their schedules, and their minds so they can focus on what’s most important, especially their relationship with God.
Christina: What has been the most rewarding part of your publishing journey?
Angie: Working with Liana George and getting to know other Scrivenings Press authors has been so rewarding!
Christina: I’ve loved getting to know other Scrivenings Press authors as well.
Can you name something quirky in your workspace and maybe give a little backstory about said item?
Angie: I enjoy doing crafts and playing board games. Once a year in my hometown, I participate in a fundraising event called Re-Art at the ReStore sponsored by our local Habitat for Humanity thrift store. Artists gather materials from the Habitat store and gather on a Saturday during the summer to turn the materials into a piece of art. Artists can either leave their creations at the store for someone to purchase (to benefit Habitat) or take them home. A Habitat store employee had been collecting random game pieces for quite some time, so I had a great time using them to craft this piece.
Christina: That’s a fun piece!
If you could have dinner with any author, living or deceased, who would it be and why?
Angie: I would choose Charles Dickens for several reasons:
- He was one of the greatest writers of all time.
- He was a master at creating unforgettable characters.
- He used his life experiences (such as working in a factory as a child) to inspire his writing and the causes he campaigned for (child labor)
- We share a birthday (February 7).
- I played a character (Widow Corney) in a play (Oliver) based on his book Oliver Twist. My husband Eric played Fagin.
Christina: I would enjoy meeting Mr. Dickens as well!
Okay, you just won free tickets to anywhere in the world! Where are you going? And who are you taking?
Angie: I love this question because I love to travel! As far as who I would take, that’s easy! I’d take my wonderful husband Eric and my adult daughters Emma and Lydia. I’d like to visit the Galapagos Islands. I’m a former biology major/science nerd who loves wildlife.
Christina: That sounds like a great vacation. What upcoming writing projects are you working on?
Angie: I’m writing a play about a professional organizer who’s helping her reluctant mother declutter and downsize. I’m SO excited about this project! I’ve been acting in community theatre as a hobby for over 20 years, and as an author and organizer, I figure I’m uniquely equipped to write this. It’s the first thing I’ve written that involves making up a story. I’m having so much fun with it! I’m hoping it will be performed on a local stage in 2026.
Thank you so much Angie for sharing a glimpse into your writing world!
If you would like to connect with Angie, check out her website here: https://angiehyche.com/
On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angiehyche/
And on social media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angiehycheauthorandspeaker/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/angiehycheauthorandspeaker/