To make this fun I thought I’d play a little game and see if you can name the people in these photos. The person who gets the most answers right wins…books. I’ll probably keep the contest going until I get home!
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6. Please ignore the REALLY bad picture of me and concentrate on the person in the middle!
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Well, this will have to do for now. Internet connection is very slow!
I can hardly recall what happened Tuesday, but I’ll try! I showed up early so I could get out on the floor and check out all the booths. But the floor didn’t open until 9:30 and I had a 10:00. Yesterday I was only out on the floor for 45 minutes, but at least got a couple of books signed. Then I headed to the Fantasy Fiction press conference and met up with Eric Reinhold who missed the interview yesterday because we got our days mixed up. I did his interview and then hurried to my 10:00. My appointment didn’t show, but later learned he was there, just in a different room. I still need to email him for an interview.
So I had a little time before Terri Blackstock showed up! Wow! What a gracious wonderful woman. Not only do I love her suspense, but I love her heart. Luckily I snagged someone to take our picture. I also met with Nancy Rue who was just as wonderful and gracious. These woman truly have mastered the art of balancing writing and life. In fact, one theme I’ve learned through these multiple interviews, the one constant that successful writers have is they have a supportive family and they put that family first. The ones who do this walk in such a peace, the kind of peace I wish to have some day.
Some of my other interviews included Mark Mynheir, copwriter.com, who has generously given his time and police knowledge to help make my WIP the best it could be. I’ve only emailed him back and forth, but if felt like I was meeting with an old friend. I met some new authors like Carole Lewis, Thomas Phillips, and JoAnna Ward, the Hallelujah lady from Survivor the Amazon. I also talked with Don Levine, the guy who created GI Joe and now the Almighty Heroes and gave him some marketing advice. In fact, I need to email him with my ideas!
My memory is fading about now, but I also met Bryan Davis and James E. Robinson. I even got to walk the floor for over an hour. Of course, I had to skip lunch to do it, but I didn’t mind.
What wonderful memories, though even days later I’m still exhausted. I made so many great new friends and PR contacts! We’ll see what becomes of it all and I’ll be getting the interviews up on Writer…Interrupted just as soon as I get home and figure out how to do it!
I survived all my interviews and only missed meeting with a couple of writers! Everything is blurring together but I’ll try to get as much down as I can.
Saturday I had a great meeting with one of the agents interested in my WIP. You can read all about it here. Later that night I attended the Christys. And got my first taste of multiple interviews.
Sunday I went down to the Orlando Convention Center to register and paid $10 to park for 15 minutes! Sheesh! Then I called my writing pal, Cara Putman and we met for dinner to talk about writing stuff. I got to hold her precious two month old. It was a nice, relaxing time before ICRS and the work really began.
Monday I arrived early for my 9 o’clock interview, but my videographer wasn’t going to be there until 11am. So I pulled out my notes for James Scott Bell and waited. Sigmund Brouwer’s publicist showed up at 8:45 and asked if I could do the interview sooner. I had a little time and quickly found my notes, and new digital recorder. It took me a few moments to get into the interviewing groove, hopefully the recording with confirm my hopes. Sigmund brought his wife, recording artist Cindy Morgan and we had a great talk about their careers and balancing families.
James Scott Bell showed up next. Talking to him is always a pleasure. Then I got to hang with Claudia Mair Burney and the time was TOO short! I’ll have to do a following up interview. The rest of the morning escapes me, but by the time my videographer (VG) showed up I was shaking hands with the president! And I have photos to prove it. Well, technically it was John Morgan, President Bush impersonator, but you’ll have to wait to see the photos and the wonderful, inspiring interview.
The rest of the day was filled with interviewing new friends and old. Then me and my vidoe guy were off to the FireProof dinner and screening. I fell into my wall flower mode and being so exhausted from the endless interviews, I wasn’t up to asserting myself. But my reserved VG saw Kirk Cameron, made a bee line for him and sat down at his table for dinner. Of course I took my seat next to my friend who sat next to Kirk. In fact, I was happy for him to get to talk with him since the reason I invited this VG was because he was an alumni of my boys’ school and head to film school in Orlando on the exact day we were leaving. I wanted him to hook up with some of the people of FireProof and he did! He met a guy who was attending the same film school who had actually worked on Facing the Giants and FireProof.
If you haven’t heard of FireProof before, it is produced, written, acted… by the makers of Facing the Giants, the Sherwood Church at Albany, Georgia. There story is amazing, but not as amazing as what God is doing through their films. After eating dinner, talking with Kirk, the Executive Pastor/movie producer, and several others we snapped some photos and headed over to the screening. There’s so much I want to say about FireProof, but for now all I’ll say is that it’ll be worth your $8 or so. Be sure and see it on opening weekend, September 26th and tell a friend! The acting and emotions from the lead actors portraying a married couple of the brink of divorce is so real. But instead of taking the world’s easy out, the fight. Well, you’ll have to go see it. Let’s just say it’s filled with suspense (I held my breath at the firefighter scenes,) humor and real, raw emotions! Bravo to Kirk Cameron and Erin Bethea and the entire cast and crew who DONATED their time to make this movie that will help change the way we deal with marriage and divorce!
That’s all I have energy for today. I’ll recap Tuesday another day!
Creston Mapes
Todd and Jedd Hafer
Ted Dekker
TL Hines
Mike Dellosso
What do these names have in common? They’re the authors of the last books I’ve really liked. And I’m beginning to realize that some of my favorite books all have male protagonists and are written by men. So what does that say about me?
Not quiet sure yet, but maybe that I like suspense, mystery, thrillers and a plot that moves. These authors deliver all that.
Now there are female authors like Brandilyn Collins who rank up close to the guys and I still have yet to read her latest book Crimson Eve, and Lisa Samson always delivers, but when it comes to a guaranteed enjoyable read, it seems like I need to stick with the guys!
When I agreed to blog about ACFW, the finest Christian Fiction conference on the planet, I thought I’d share about the wonderful sessions, incredible worship, and unforgettable fellowship with fellow authors and agents. While all that is true, and I could probably share a blog post or two on the details of the conference and my personal experiences (actually did, just search my blog for them,) I decided instead to share a funny and what could have been really embarrassing moment for me and our key note speaker last year. Indulge me while I reminisce…
It was late when I finally arrived at ACFW. I had driven for over five hours and then visited with my sister in Fort Worth at the hospital. After making two treks from the car to the hotel room, I was tired. But not tired enough to change into my Writer…Interrupted T-shirt and head down to the lobby to see who was hanging out.
The lobby was buzzing with conference arrivals and those who had already settled into the lobby social hour. I immediately said hello to the edgy inspirational author aka Michelle Sutton, and Meredith Efken who were chatting away. Later I sat down with Meredith to chat for a while. The subject matter escapes me, but it’s the feeling of camaraderie and connection that I remember.
A crowd started to gather around our little area. We were on the couch, but I noticed several others gathered in a semi-circle around a gentleman in a chair. My memory is a little fuzzy, but I remember Camy Tang, Randy Ingermanson, and Sarah Anne Sumpolec being in the group laughing and talking.
I got up to greet some more friends and when I returned, Meredith had joined the little group. I was fading fast, so I plopped down on the couch next the to man in the chair who was engaged in conversation with the growing group.
Then unexpectedly, he turned to me and asked me my name. He held out his hand, and I shook it and said, “Gina Conroy, and you are?” (I was actually taking the advice of those on the conference loop that said when feeling introverted and shy, just ask someone their name!!! GREAT advice people! :0 Next time put a disclaimer to FIRST familiarize yourself with the key note speaker!)
The looks and giggles from “the group” surrounding him were memorable. I heard him say Jim something and then someone said, “He’s the key note speaker.” Call me slow… I’d just asked James Scott Bell who he was!!
When I got a good look at him, and titled my head slightly, he did look like his picture. I guess it was the location and pose that threw me off.
Jim was a good sport and said something like it being good for his ego! Then Camy bragged on me and my Writer…Interrupted site. Thanks Camy! Surprisingly enough I didn’t get embarrassed, and I milked it as a running joke for the rest of the conference. When I would see him in passing I would stick out my hand and say, “And your name is?” He’d shake it and give me a false name.
Like I said in previous posts on this blog. When I’m around other writers, even famous ones, I become a different person. I think I become the person God had designed me to be all along, before the crud and baggage of life crept in. I like the person who I am when I’m around other writers. I don’t have to pretend to be someone I’m not, I’m just me!
And it feels good!
More fun with James!
So for all those introverted writers (I’m one of them) you can rest at ease knowing you probably won’t do anything worse than I did last year at conference. And when you feel introverted and shy, like a guppy in a tank of big fish, just swim over and ask them their name! What’s the worse that could happen?
I can’t remember if I mentioned as President of the local ACFW chapter, I helped organize a miniconference with Deb Raney. I actually didn’t do much except get the room, help set it up, and do introductions and such, but I’ve been so busy with my boy’s play, I didn’t even think to blog about it. It was the first for our writer’s group, but definitely not the last. We hope to make this a yearly event and adding to it each year.
One of our members wrote an article about the day and I couldn’t have said it better myself!
DEB RANEY MINI-CONFERENCE A SUCCESS!
JoAnn Reno Wray
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The rich scent of coffee mingled in the air with laughter and a buzz of conversation as I walked into WIN-ACFW’s Mini-Conference featuring award-winning novelist, Deb Raney. Held in a room at the People’s Church near 71st and Mingo in Tulsa, this first special meeting had almost thirty in attendance. After a welcome and introduction by Gina Conroy, WIN’s President, Deb wasted no time and dove right into her program.
Bent heads, the scribble of pens, nods of affirmation, and occasional bursts of laughter were evident as Deb Raney expertly guided conferees through her “10 Steps to a Killer Rewrite.” One of her first statements was “Great writing is all about re-writing.” Deb also said that there are many approaches to writing, adding, “Take what you learn here that works for you and apply it.” Covered in the day-long class were Character Makeovers, Real Dialogue, Show Don’t Tell, Point of View, Use of Sensory Detail, Seamless Subplots, Elevated Suspense, Marking Time, Fine-Tuning, and a 10-point Checklist for Writing a “Keeper.”
Not only did the conferees listen and take copious notes, but Deb also put us through the paces with multiple writing exercises to illustrate various points that she addressed during the program. Regarding dialogue, for instance, Deb suggested that it should be used often. “Try not to let two pages go by without dialogue,” she said. “Lack of dialogue for several pages can be a clue to your manuscript falling into the ‘telling, not showing’ category. When creating conflict in your story, ask, ‘What can make it worse?’ This ramps up the interest and keep readers reading.”
Deb graciously brought and gave each conferee a mug with her “Latte-dah!” Logo and website URL: DeborahRaney.com. Conferees eagerly snapped up her books for study, and I suspect, pure pleasure. The low cost of a mere $20 for WIN members and not much for non-members for this information-filled day was a great bargain which included skilled teaching by a pro, fellowship with fellow scribes, and a chance to improve writing skills.
A big thank you to all the volunteers from WIN who brought beverages and shared their culinary skills with a tempting array of treats so none of the conferees were embarrassed by growling stomachs! Thanks also go out to those who pitched in the day before to set up the room and all who joined the work crew after the session ended to help put things back in order.
If you missed this mini-conference, you can purchase a CD of the program. Then next time WIN hosts a special meeting, be there! Sign up early – get under the spout where a shower of knowledge on the craft of writing will surely pour out.
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Nothing frustrates me more than reading a book filled with lazy writing. I’m talking about dialogue tags and telling. So and so “said eagerly, or demanded or protested,” so and so “felt defensive, violated, etc.”
Anyone whose been studying the craft of writing or some time will tell you to nix the dialogue tags when at all possible and go with action beats. “Jenny, come here this minute.” Allison tapped her toe, hands firm on her hips. Not only does this eliminated the annoying “said” it also shows that Allison is angry or impatient. I didn’t have to say Allison felt angry because the reader sees it! The reader doesn’t have to be told, she gets it. What telling does is distance the reader from the character. Showing helps the reader experience the emotions of the character.
I’m reading two books right now that could be considered opposites in storytelling. One is suspense, tight written, engaging, emotionally connected. The author doesn’t mince words, doesn’t use “said” and only tells when necessary for a transition.
The other book is general fiction, loose plot, not very engaging, blah characters, over use of “said” and telling. I can’t connect with the characters. I don’t feel their emotions and the lazy writing just plain irks me. I’ve never read this author before, might give her another chance because she’s very popular and has written over 100 books.
Yes, you read that right 100! Which brings me to a point to ponder. How can someone so prolific, who’s sold so many books, get so lazy in their writing. Or maybe it’s because this person whips out five books a year. Maybe she doesn’t have time to pour her best into her novels and it shows, at least in the current one I’m reading.
The other author, on the other hand, can only write one book a year. Aside from the intense plotting that goes into her suspense books, I see the toil and labor over every single word. Her writing is stellar and it shows.
Which brings me to my second point to ponder. Do I want to be like this prolific writer, that cranks out book after book, but writing is lax. Or do I want to be an author that writes one great book a year.
You’ve read the post. What do you think? I’d love your thoughts on this issue and the books you’ve read lately.
Tell us a little about your family and your call to write.
My husband and I have four children ages 16, 9, 8, and 4. While he serves as pastor of a church, I do my best to home school, write, clean house and any pastor’s wife responsibilities. That list didn’t even include being a mother and a wife, did it?
I’ve been writing on and off for as long as I can remember, but never seriously. I never had a clear direction until 2001. Though God had pursued me for years to write, I’d come to a point where I actually laughed at the very idea God would call me to such a purpose. But he didn’t let go, and I ended up reading Marlene Bagnull’s Write His Answer bible study for writers. I did this in order to know for sure that God had called me. Before I finished reading the study I knew. Call it a divine appointment, I then met DiAnn Mills who got me started in ACFW (Then ACRW) where I met my wonderful critique partners. Most of us still crit each other’s work today and several of us are published.
How did you get your first “writing break?”
As I’m sure you know, the writing “game” isn’t for the faint of heart. I’ve come to believe that you must be driven and completely out of your mind to pursue it. That is, unless you’re a Christian and you know the Lord’s telling you to do something. That’s the wonderful advantage we have as Christian writers—we have the God factor. (maybe I need to start a blog on that one. he he) I said all of that because your question reminded me of how hard it is. I’ve had plenty of things fall through due to just plain bad timing, so the term writing “break” really is appropriate. In 2005 I partnered with Lisa Harris and Lena Nelson Dooley (both crit partners and close friends) to propose a states series to Heartsong Presents. We heard from the editor in January 2006 at which time I wrote the manuscript. Did not hear they had selected the series until October of 2006. My book did not release until December of 2007. It’s a very long process!
What do you write and why this genre?
Funny thing is that I never planned to write romance. I loved reading historicals so wanted to write that genre. But I learned to write by writing romances. I spent several years writing historical romances but my first book to be published is a contemporary romance—the first contemp I’d written. Still, I love thrillers and suspense and I couldn’t write the romance without an element of suspense. What has surprised me is how many readers comment on the mystery. Now that I consider it, I put a puzzle to solve into the story. I love new and interesting settings, action and adventure and a strong spiritual element. All of those can be put into any genre, perhaps creating a sub-genre.
What do you hope to accomplish through your novels?
My favorite novels always bring up and answer some deep question. I love nuggets and I love to dig for them. But most importantly, I hope to bring glory to God and in some way be “a planting of the Lord” – allow Him to use the work for his purpose. I hope my novels carry an important spiritual thread—but not preachy. Hopefully being a Christian writer means that the spiritual thread will grow organically from the story, rather than me trying to force a message into the story.
And now for the tough questions…
How do you balance being a mom, wife, and writer?
Oh. Ack! You had to ask this. Well it’s a tough question and the answer is tough—to find, that is. This is a continual struggle and it causes me to question God, not his calling, but why in the world He would call me to this. I think I’m doing much better at the balancing than I was. First and foremost is to not allow yourself to become obsessed with the writing. Stories come from living, spending time with your family, being the wife you want to be and the mother you want to be. I’ve done my share of ignoring the family to get that all-important manuscript written. At this point, I have a to do list and while I spend some time on writing, a good part of my day is spent on my family. I have to make a conscious effort to do that. I used to spend evenings on the computer but now I try to watch movies with my kids or we play board games.
I think, too, we spend too much time on non-writing related internet things—like IM and emailing. Networking is important, but just think how much time you would have if when you opened up your computer you did nothing else but write.
I don’t have a good answer to your question but I’m continually trying new things. Right now, I’ve been considering how much time I spend trying to market myself, blog, join endless social networks. I’m praying for divine appointments so that maybe I don’t have to do so much of that work myself.
Do you think it’s possible to give yourself fully to raising children, homeschooling, writing, and keeping in shape? If not, which one for you has to take a back seat?
No. SCREAM. I personally don’t think it’s possible though I’m sure there are those who would disagree. Let me know when you interview someone who can do it all. The first thing to take a backseat is exercise. I try to get them started on the home schooling and then squeeze in time on the treadmill or exercise bike while someone will read to me. I want to be available. But there are always so many unexpected interruptions. If I wait until later in the day to exercise it never gets done.
When do you find the time to write, and do you ever feel like you’re neglecting your children when you write?
I try to write in the afternoon after school is done and house is clean. The struggle is that it takes me a while to get into the story and sometimes, my writing time has ended by the time my head is there. But to answer your other question, yes I always feel like I’m neglecting them, especially if I end up writing through the evening. I sometimes will picture what it would be like if I weren’t a writer. I could play endless games with my kiddoes or do other meaningful things. But I know that they’re proud of me and each of them has asked for a copy of my book. My middle son asked if he could help me come up with ideas. My teenage daughter writes, too, so I know there are good things about the writing.
How do you handle interruptions in your writing life?
Not very well. It depends, too, on what type of interruption your referring to. I mentioned I have a four year old. He seems to be in constant need of attention. Wants me to hold him or get him milk or or or. . .It’s frustrating. I’ll admit there are times when I’m in a well-balanced state of mind and I’ll drop everything to answer his needs—as it should be. But other times I become frustrated.
Again, though, as I mentioned before, I’m learning to handle things much better. I’m learning to live one day at a time and to accomplish what I can, not worry about the rest. Sometimes I want to compare myself to others. For instance, it takes me a long time to put together a proposal, but I see others whip them out in an afternoon. I wonder what it would be like to have uninterrupted writing time which never happens. Never for me.
How do you get back into the flow of writing after you’ve been interrupted? Sometimes I don’t. I’ve heard that it helps to have a certain type of music you listen to while working on your project, then you can quickly get back into the story. For me, though, if I’m truly into the story, I don’t come out so fast because the characters continue to live on in my head. Sometimes, an interruption is just what I need because while I’m getting someone milk a new idea or scene comes to mind.
What do you do to encourage yourself during those stormy days every homeschooling mom has?
Well I usually start calling all the local Christian schools to see if they have openings! Seriously, I do that. Then I end up feeling good about the fact that I’m home schooling. It helps too, if you vary what you’re doing. Make schooling fun for everyone. Put on geography songs and dance to them. Anything can be a learning experience. When we have the stormy days the best cure is for Mom to relax, get happy and do something fun. I tend to become too serious and make us all miserable.
How do you position yourself to HEAR God’s voice when all the noises of life are swirling around you? That can sometimes take DAYS. It really is a condition of the heart even more than noises swirling, but the noises can affect that condition. For me, putting on my favorite worship music, even though it might take hours, will pull me back to that place where I can hear His voice.
If you do feel your priorities slipping, what do you do to get back on track?
Pray, pray, pray and work on my to do list. I’ve become fanatical about that list. As long as something is there I can organize when to get it done. I don’t worry about doing it until that moment. It’s the same with laundry. It took me a lifetime to learn how to keep up with laundry. Here I am in my forties with six people to wash for and I had to come up with a plan out of desperation. What did I do? I made a list! Each person has their own basket and their own day that their clothes are done. I stick to that list that way I don’t ever feel overwhelmed because all the laundry isn’t done. It’s the same for the priorities. Give priorities their days or times of day and stick to that.
Has there ever been a time God told you to set aside your writing to focus on other areas of your life? If so, how did you handle that?
Not in a big way, no. I keep waiting for him to do just that so I can have a break! But lately, He is showing me that I can put my writing aside to enjoy my family, to focus on Him, and then go back to it later that day or on another day.
Did you ever feel like you’ve “missed” God in regards to writing, that maybe you should be doing something else?
I think we all have nagging doubts at times. Even though I’ve run from Him on the issue of writing in the past, and I know that I know that I know that he’s called me to do it, yes, sometimes I begin to doubt, thinking I’ve missed Him.
What advice would you give to writing moms who are have their hearts set on publication?
That is a tough place to be. I’m there, too. Once you achieve publication, you have to keep achieving it. The struggle never ends. That’s why it’s most important
to put writing in its place. You don’t want it to become an idol. Remember that where you heart is there your treasure is also. But if God has told you to do a thing, do it with all your heart, and do it unto Him, then you can never go wrong. Your validation comes from Him, not from publishers. It’s a hard truth, but isn’t He the one that gives the desire? When you’re discouraged just pray for the Lord’s guidance and comfort and I promise He will give it along with encouragement in your writing. Every time.
Is there anything else you’d like to share?
Balancing anything is always hard. In fact, before I finished this interview two of my little guys climbed into my lap and wouldn’t let me keep writing! I thought it was strangely appropriate, though. Home schooling moms who write are special. I wrote an article last year on my blog called the homeschooling-multi-children-novel-writing-mom syndrome. You can read it for fun.
http://bethgoddard.blogspot.com/2006/08/homeschooling-multi-children-novel.html
Thanks Gina for this opportunity. Blessings!
Thank you! I can really relate to you and your writing journey! And I’m sure other writing moms can as well!
I can’t remember how Tina and I first met online, but she soon became a kindred spirit. Then I heard her share her testimony at ACFW and I became an instant fan. This is Tina’s second interview here at Portrait. Be sure you don’t miss her first!
How does writing while unpublished differ from writing under a contract?
Ruby Among Us is the first novel I wrote, so I was writing it without too much thought of publication or anyone outside of loved ones reading it. Hardly anyone knew I was writing it for a long time, so there was a sense of purity to the process of writing the story. I had no censor inside or out to tell me I was doing it wrong. Maybe first novels all have the earmarks or mistakes of a first novelist, but there is nothing as innocent and pure as writing the first book.
Many people write a first book like this, but never get it published! What a testimony to the gift God has given you.
Writing with a deadline changes everything in that it can be hard to focus and get back to that place where the story is pure and true. It’s not impossible, obviously since novelists do it all the time, but the second time around takes more diligence. You no longer have just the writing to worry about. Suddenly there’s business to
concentrate on whether it’s publicity, marketing, or a long list of other things to do that are related to the contract.
One really has to step back from all the business stuff to focus on the writing or it can go by the wayside.
Do you miss those days of writing in obscurity without a looming deadline?
Yes! I miss writing without pressure to achieve and the risk of failure. I am so worried I am going to be a big
flop now that my book is going public. I have stopped reading reviews until my husband or sister reads them first because the negative ones make me feel so much pressure. I’m happy to say that I’ve had way more good reviews than not-good, but even just one less than stellar review really gets me down.
I am sure that it won’t always be like that once I get used to people reviewing my work. I really do appreciate an honest review, but for awhile, I just don’t need to read them. They’re for readers anyway, right? Not for the authors! If I were still writing in obscurity, there would be no reviews.
But having said that, I certainly wouldn’t trade in my contract. My publisher is phenomenal and it’s exciting to
get Ruby Among Us in front of readers. I always told myself that I would be okay if nobody outside of my family ever reads it, but now that the possibility is here for it to reach further, I’m glad for it.
I’m afraid of writing under a deadline. Afraid I’ll loose the joy of writing. Afraid my work won’t be as good because it will be rushed, and afraid my priorities will be skewed. Do you ever feel this way and how do you handle this?
Yes, all the time. It’s hard not to feel rushed and to organize priorities in an efficient manner. Sometimes I take a little break, but on the most part I just write through it. I know it sounds easier said than done, but it’s
really the only thing you can do. I have a junk file that I write in when my brain just won’t focus. It keeps me
writing while giving me permission to write really, really bad. I got the idea from an article I read once about Sue Grafton who does something similar.
Are there any more books in the future for this series?
My next book comes out in 2009. While it focuses on a sister-sister relationship, readers will get to see what happens to some of the characters in Ruby Among Us, including my favorite character, Kitty.
Do you have any other books coming out or in front of an editor?
I do have a handful of proposals that are in front of my agent now.
How did you land your agent?
I was blessed that a family member who knew a literary agent went behind my back and put my manuscript
on his desk. Thank goodness he liked it and offered to take me on; otherwise I would have been humiliated for my family member – and myself!
Did you get your agent before or after you sold your first book?
I found my agent before I sold my first book.
What would you tell writing moms and dads looking for that agent who will sell their first
book?
I would highly recommend having an agent to help sell your book. They know people. They know the ins, outs, and where your book will work best.
Look for agents at writer’s conferences where you can meet them face to face at appointments. Take the opportunity to sit by them at meal time to see if your personalities connect. Pay close attention and ask around the conference to see what other writers think of agents you are targeting for your projects. Ask the published authors you know to see what they think.
Be sure to ask for several references and also check them out on Preditors & Editors at http://anotherealm.com/prededitors/ or other watch groups before you sign on. If a potential agent reacts negatively to your request for references or to questions you have, then they probably are not legitimate.
Another bit of advice I would give is that agents and editors rarely pursue unknown novelists, so if you are approached out of the blue by an agent wanting to represent you, consider steering clear of them. Good agents especially usually have their hands full and don’t need to aggressively pursue potential writers.
What will you do if the next contract never comes?
Keep writing, just like I did before I had a contract. I love the act of writing so much that even though I love the idea of reaching real readers and sharing my stories, I would never stop writing just because I’m not contracted. I have to write!
People say write what you know? Was this true for you and A Ruby Among Us?
As writers, we mine our own experiences in order to know how a character would feel or what they might say or do. That doesn’t mean what we write is true. In fact, sometimes writing about a true situation can really end up quite boring because we are too close to it.
Ruby Among Us was influenced by experiences in my life or by situations I have seen. Once I put them on paper those situations changed to something new and became larger than life. It’s true that I was a single mom for awhile, so I know what it’s like. During that time in my life I also met other single moms in situations worse than mine, so I didn’t have to reach far to write about that experience for my characters even though the story is fiction.
So my answer is yes and no. It’s okay to write what you know, but you need to have some distance from it when you write fiction. It helps if you are willing to turn reality upside down and write the hypothetical side of it.
I’ve read several chapters of Ruby Among Us and I’m enjoying it very much, but it’s very different from the genre fiction I’m used to reading. How would you classify it? The first thing that comes to mind is it’s more literary than anything else in CBA.
Shhhh…I heard that’s a term for fiction that doesn’t sell! LOL. My publisher classifies it as Women’s Fiction. I don’t want to write something obscure that most readers can’t relate to. I want to write about emotions that are universal, but I want to approach it in ways that I can’t do in genre fiction.
There are other writers like Lisa Samson, Francine Rivers, Elizabeth Berg and Mary E. DeMuth (DeMuth endorsed Ruby Among Us) who I think do a better job than I do, but are very successful at mixing literary and commercial writing. After I wrote Ruby Among Us and started attending conferences, I was thrilled to discover Samson and DeMuth.
But I don’t think people write literary on purpose (do we?). It’s just something that happens when you sit down to write and it probably is also reflective of the kind of fiction we love to read the most.
Did you study the craft of writing before you wrote Ruby Among Us? While reading it, I have a hard time analyzing it (which is good) because I’m drawn into Lucy’s world, but I notice the first couple of chapters are heavy with narrative and back story, but it works. Why do you think that is?
Thank you. And yes. I am an English Major and in college I focused mostly on literature and writing, although getting a B.A. in English is really just breaking the ice in the field of literature. I wouldn’t say it qualifies me for anything spectacular, but I really think I began to find my voice when I was attending
When I wrote Ruby Among Us, I just wrote my heart thinking I could fix things later. I didn’t plan up front to write a lot of back story. I would never recommend a writer do that, but it just seemed to fit for this particular story.
Later, when I became contracted, my editor helped me to tighten the manuscript, but she let me keep the integrity of the story. I don’t know why it worked, except that the story came from my heart and my editor respected that. Everyone needs good editing and an editor who believes in the story without trying to shape it into something it’s not.
If you would compare your style to another author, who would it be?
I don’t dare. J But what I will say is that I love certain authors like Sue Monk Kidd, Mary E. DeMuth, and Elizabeth Berg.
What authors influenced your writing?
I’m sure every author I’ve ever read before writing Ruby Among Us has influenced me and anything I’ve read since will influence me in the future. I’m a book person rather than favorite author person and some of my favorite books I read before Ruby are The Hundred Secret Senses, Jane Eyre, Gone With the Wind, The Shell Seekers, Madame Bovary, and The Mark of the Lion Series, to name only a few that I loved. I guess the traits all of those books have in common are probably a strong sense of, or desire for, family connections and the search for redemption.
I’ve also read a lot of historical fiction and suspense, but I’m not sure how that plays into that. I think everything we read influences our writing, so it probably has affected me in some way that I don’t know!
Thanks for having me on again, Gina! I love your site!!
www.tinaannforkner.com
Rene Gutteridge is the author of twelve novels, including the Boo series, the Storm series, and the novelization for The Ultimate Gift, as well as Scoop and Snitch, the first two Occupational Hazard novels. She lives with her husband, Sean, and their two children in Oklahoma City. You can read my original interview with her here.
How does writing while unpublished differ from writing under a contract?
It’s not all that different, if you’re just talking about the writing part itself. I think there is pressure both ways. Either way, you’re asking yourself, Am I good enough?? There are very few writers who have full confidence in their abilities. Writing under contract does give you access to a lot of constructive criticism, though! It’s a delight to work with great editors, though. They work their magic in remarkable ways!
Do you miss those days of writing in obscurity?
Ha! Well, I still feel like I’m writing in obscurity! Writing is so solitary, even when you’re published. It’s so nice to hear from fans through my website. I love it. It makes me feel more connected to my readers.
I’m afraid of writing under a deadline. Afraid I’ll loose the joy of writing. Afraid my work won’t be as good because it will be rushed, and afraid my priorities will be skewed. Do you ever feel this way and how do you handle this?
My first deadline was CRAZY! My son was five weeks old when I got the contract for a book that was just in proposal form. It took me several years to get everything adjusted in my life. This is really the first year that I don’t write on weekends, but that’s because my kids are in school and I don’t have little ones around anymore. It’s helping so much. Deadlines are good, though, in that they really make you finish the project and write with a goal in mind. You’re under contract and you have to deliver. I tend to work well under pressure, but if you sense it’s going to be difficult for you, make sure that you talk to your publisher about the length of time they’re giving you. If they say six months and you need nine, definitely bring that up.
Are there any more books in the future for this series?
Not as of right now. I’m working on a new romantic comedy and a new suspense. But I may return to the Hazards. They are a fun bunch to hang out with.
How did you land your agent?
I had published three books by the time Janet came on board. I was in desperate need of her, though. I was having a difficult time with two young ones writing the books, not to mention the business side of things. I had met her at Mt. Hermon the year before but it wasn’t until the next year that we seriously talked about it. It was nice to meet her face to face, and I think nice for her too. We clicked right off, and that was helpful in making me decision. She also had a stellar reputation among publishers.
What would you tell writing moms and dads looking for that agent who will sell their first book?
You have to look at it like publishing. It’s going to take some time and you’re going to get rejected. Don’t be discouraged, but also try to step back and look at the reason for rejection. If you’re getting several letters stating your writing is not up to par, look at it objectively and see where you can improve. If possible, meet agents at writers conferences so you can get a feel for their personality. And remember, it is still possible to be discovered from the slush pile!
What will do if the next contract never comes?
Well, that’s every writer’s nightmare! First, I’d cry. A lot. It would be a hard thing to swallow. Then I’d probably enjoy being a non-working mom and wife. At least for a little while. But I am an artist, so I would need to find some outlet for that, whether it’s oil painting, which I used to do when I was younger, or screenwriting. Something! At the end of the day, though, I’d simply have to trust God and know that He has not abandoned me. He has a purpose and a plan for my life, plans to prosper me!
Blissfully unaware that Atlantica Flight 1945 from Atlanta to Amsterdam is about to make aviation history, First Officer Danny McSweeney focuses his energies on navigating the turbulent personalities of an eccentric female captain, a co-pilot with a talent for tactless comments and conspiracy theories, and a lead flight attendant with an outsized attitude that definitely exceeds the limits for carry-on baggage.
On the other side of the cockpit door, the unscheduled in-flight entertainment includes a potbellied pig, a jittery diamond courier, and the recently jilted Lucy Meredith, whose personal mantra of “What Would Oprah Do?” will be challenged by the sudden appearance of her ex and his new traveling partner. On her left sits Hank Hazard, whose unusually polite but constant requests–prompted by his covert role as a spy for the airline–test the limits of the crew’s customer service.
But as Lucy and the rest of the crew discover, Hank’s odd behavior is linked to a quiet faith that may play a key role in the fate of everyone on board. Especially when an unexpected traveler sets this already bumpy flight on a course toward the unfriendly skies.
Buy Skid today or enter to win a free copy!
It’s as official as it can get. I’m going to ICRS (International Christian Retail Show) as media! That means I get to interview authors for my blog. That also means I’m being inundated with phone calls and email requests by publicity people wanting me to interview their artist/authors.
YIKES! Talk about biting off more than I can chew. There are soooo many people, and I have an empty schedule waiting to be filled. I’m not even sure where to begin! I don’t want to overload my schedule, and I really don’t know what to expect. Luckily I have my reporter’s hat stashed somewhere in the closet. Guess now’s the time to pull it out, dust off the old tape recorder (do they use those any more) and start figuring out who to interview.
Any one who’s been to ICRS I could sure use some pointers!
ICRS. The International Christian Retail Show. This huge gathering of authors and publishers had been an enigma to me. Something I’ve wondered about but never experienced. This year I had three different opportunities to attend. Two would be out of our budget and would entail attending a mini conference. One other opportunity won’t cost me a dime. I could go as media and set up interviews with people like Terri Blackstock, Brandilyn Collins, James Scott Bell, etc.
Before I recieved the list of interviewees I had resolved not to go. Though I have family living in Orlando and thought about making it a family vacation, that would mean two days of driving and with the gas being so high, I didn’t want to do it. Plus, we just went to Disney World last year. So I was resigned to skip this event and vacation closer to home.
Then I got the list of attendees and I started to drool! What an incredible opportunity to meet authors, pick their brains, and bring back their answers to my Writer…Interrupted readers. It’s so tempting. And there’s still time. But I’m not sure what to do.
What do you think? If you had this opportunity, what would you do?
Megan welcome to Portrait! Tell us a little about your family and your call to write.
My husband and I are the parents of three adult children. In one sense, my road to publication was decades long. I first knew I wanted to write when I was in elementary school. I’ve always loved words and got my degree in Communications. Many years later, as a new mom, I went out and bought pens and paper (yes, it was about 26 years ago!) and sat down and prayed about a writing career. God clearly told me that was not my season to write a novel. In the early 1990s, I worked as a freelance writer and stringer for a local newspaper, but I still yearned to write a novel. In 1995, I prayed again and got the go-ahead. I began to write my first novel, completing it in 2001. Of course, it was awful. But I didn’t know that until I started getting more involved in the industry.
In 2001, I joined ACRW (I’m member # 94) and attended my first writers conference, the Colorado Christian Writers Conference in
In 2004, I decided to make a solid effort to become published. I continued to attend conferences, CCWC and ACFW in 2004, 2005 and 2006. I joined a local writers group and an ACFW critique group. I studied books on craft, hung out with other writers and wrote and wrote and wrote. Oh, I also submitted and received rejections.
I know lots of other moms who are successful at writing and raising their children at the same time. I’m not one of those women. If I tried to do both at the same time, I fear neither pursuit would have turned out well.
How did you get your first “writing break?”
I started writing Searching for Spice in early 2004 to enter it into the ACFW Noble Theme Contest (now called the Genesis Contest). I would write and then ignore the story for months and then write a bit again. I was 99% finished with Searching for Spice when I went to the 2006 ACFW conference. During the last meal of the conference, I sat at a table hosted by Tyndale’s acquisition editor Jan Stob. Because of that unplanned meeting, she requested a proposal. I went home, finished writing the story and sent out my proposal in October. A few months later Jan requested a full manuscript, and I got “the call” in March of 2007. I was at my day job when she called, and I actually jumped for joy.
What do you write and why this genre?
I write contemporary fiction with humor. Because I write in first person, some people have called my genre chick lit, but that’s not exactly accurate. I write about women’s issues but have a light-hearted tone despite exploring somewhat difficult issues. The reason I write this way is simply because it’s my voice and my comfort zone.
Do you have any recent contracts and up coming releases?
My first novel, Searching for Spice, is now available, as they say, “everywhere books are sold.” Searching for Spice was written as a response to a running joke I had with some girlfriends. You know, despite being long married, women still want romance in their lives. God hard wired us to crave closeness and a special connection with the men we love. Unfortunately, some times we need to remind them of that.
Right now I’m just completing edits on Out of Her Hands, which is due out in October. Out of Her Hands features the same family as Searching for Spice. This time the story is more focused on the joys and frustrations of living with young-adult children. Out of Her Hands is scheduled to release in October 2008.
What do you hope to accomplish through your novels?
I like to write stories that bring humor to situations we face every day, while challenging readers to consider what is truly important in their lives. My characters are steeped in marriage, family and relationships with friends. The ordinariness of life is actually filled with lots of drama and humor, that’s what I want to bring to my readers.
And now for the tough questions…
How do you balance being a mom, wife, and writer?
About four years ago, I decided to really put my head down and take a run at publication. At this time, my youngest child had just graduated high school, so the toughest parts of parenting were behind me. Now that my children are adults, I don’t have to stress about meeting their daily needs. I always try to make time to spend with my husband and children though—this life is but a season, and I intend to spend as much time with loved ones as possible.
Did you write when your children were at home? Why or why not?
I wrote at my leisure while my children were in school for many years, working on a manuscript that never has and never deserves to see the light of day. What’s good about that experience is that it proved to me that I could write a full-length novel. By the time I had joined writers groups and gone to conference to learn the craft, my kids were nearly out of high school, and didn’t require my supervision. Also by that time I had gone back into the workforce full-time, so I was only able to write nights and weekends.
When your kids were younger, did you find the time to write, and did you ever feel like you were neglecting your children when you write?
I would mostly write while my children were in school. I always dropped whatever I was doing when my children needed my attention. That’s probably one reason why I couldn’t have been successful with little ones at home. I would have never made deadlines with kids underfoot. I salute those women who can do that, but know what my limitations are.
Do you think it’s possible to give yourself fully to raising children, writing, and keeping in shape? If not, which one for you has to take a back seat?
As I’ve previously said, I’m not one of those women who can do it all and do it all well. Even now, and my children are young adults, I tend to prefer time spent with them to time spent alone, writing. As for keeping in shape, I often throw a piece of plywood over the bars of my treadmill, put a suitcase on top of that and put my laptop on the suitcase. You can see a picture of that here: http://megandimaria.blogspot.com/2008/01/ta-da.html.
Is it any easier writing now that your children are grown?
Without a doubt. There aren’t the interruptions I would have had when my children were little.
Is parenting your grown children easier than raising them while they were young?
It’s a mixed bag. The issues young adults face are often more important in the big scheme of things than issue that concern young children. But on the other hand, my relationship with my children is richer now that they’re adults. We enjoy spending time together.
What would you say to moms who can’t wait until their children are older so they can write more?
Pray. Follow God’s guidance. Make time for your children, they’ll be grown sooner than you expect. If it’s your calling to write while your children are little, God will make a way for this to happen.
What interruptions in your writing didn’t you expect once your children were older and out of the home?
Life! Regardless of whether you have children at home or not, there’s always something vying for your attention.
How do you handle these interruptions in your writing life?
I’ve learned to say no, and to be the first one to leave Starbucks when I (occasionally) meet friends for coffee. Writing is an important part of my life, and I’ve discovered that I have had to set boundaries. People often view working at home as not really working, and they think that since you can set your own schedule it’s easy to blow off the afternoon. The truth is work is work whether you’re answering to a boss or yourself.
How do you get back into the flow of writing after you’ve been interrupted?
I put myself back in my seat and just plug away. I don’t think there’s a magic answer to this question other than to just be serious about your work.
Has there ever been a time God told you to set aside your writing to focus on other areas of your life? If so, how did you handle that?
Yes, when my children were young God clearly told me this was not my season to write fiction. He was gracious though, and removed that burning desire to write for several years.
Did you ever feel like you’ve “missed” God in regards to writing, that maybe you should be doing something else?
No. I believe I’m doing what I was created for. When I’m “in the groove,” I feel God’s pleasure.
What advice would you give to writing moms who are have their hearts set on publication?
Choose not to give up during those long sessions when you feel like your writing will end up in a black hole. I confess, many times in my writing journey I was tempted to throw in the towel. But the moral of the story is, don’t give up. Hold on to your dreams. Press on. Trust God. I’ve been told that writers done fail, they quit. Writing is a craft, crafts can be learned.
Is there anything else you’d like to share?
Write regularly, read regularly, join a writers group or two, hang out with writers, have your work critiqued and attend conferences if you can.
CONTEST Closed! Thanks for all who entered! Melissa @ melissamashburn.com is our lucky winner. Come back on Mondays for more book giveaways, or leave a comment asking to be put on my book giveaway list. I only send you emails when I have a book I’m giving away!
Welcome Nicole, writing mom to a four and one year old. So all you writing moms of toddlers know that if it’s God’s will for you life to be writing NOW, it will happen. Be encouraged by Nicoles’ journey!
Tell us a little about your family and your call to write.
I have such an amazing family. My husband, Aaron, and I have been married for nearly nine years now. He is the pastor of a vibrant, growing church in our small town. Not only is he the most intelligent person I know, he is also the funniest. Aaron and I have two sons. Isaac is four-years-old and equally interested in sports and books. I love the unexpected combination of his imagination and athleticism.
As for writing, I think God called me to write from a very young age. I’ve been a poet, a journalist, an author, and an all-around dreamer since I first learned to write at the age of five. Even if I never published a single poem, article, or book, I know that I would continue writing until I am physically or mentally incapable of doing so. Writing has always been, and always will be, a part of my life.
How did you get your first “writing break?”
It was totally a God thing. I wasn’t even seeking publication when God opened a door for me to get a manuscript directly into the hands of a highly respected acquisitions director. I sent her the first fifty pages of a brand new novel, and, against all odds, she liked it. A few months later I signed a two-book contract with Tyndale House Publishing. After the Leaves Fall was released in September of 2007, and the sequel, Summer Snow is due out in the spring of 2008. Now I have an agent and another two-book contract. In some ways it seems like I went from a stay-at-home mom to a published author overnight.
What do you write and why this genre?
I write contemporary fiction right now, but I certainly don’t feel married to that genre. I have lots of ideas for historical novels, a few along the lines of suspense/mystery, and even a young adult fantasy hidden somewhere deep in my possibilities file. But I suppose I debuted with contemporary fiction because it was the most accessible; there’s no research needed. That probably makes me sound lazy, but I’m not at a point in my life right now where I can devote months to extensive research before penning a novel. And I would never dream of writing something that I couldn’t talk about with as much knowledge and professionalism as possible. Anyway, I do hope that I have the chance later on in life to try my hand at different genres.
Do you have any recent contracts and up coming releases?
Summer Snow is my next book set for release. It will hit stores this coming spring, and although it is technically a sequel to After the Leaves Fall, I don’t think you necessarily have to read Leaves in order to enjoy and understand Snow. Actually, I think both books could be stand-alone titles. Snow picks up where Leaves left off, but while Leaves is a coming-of-age story, Snow is all about forgiveness and forging ahead. I’m really excited about this new book and I can’t wait to see if it will be as well received as After the Leaves Fall has been.
I am also blessed to have a contract for two more books with Tyndale. Currently, I’m working on a third book that is completely unrelated to the first two. It is contemporary fiction, but it also has elements of suspense. The book is told from three different points-of-view and the storyline spans thirty years. In some ways I suppose it could be compared stylistically to a Jodi Piccoult or Alice Sebold book. I am having so much fun writing it. And my fourth contracted book is still in the brainstorming stage. At this point I have a number of ideas I can work with, but I haven’t started the book yet.
What do you hope to accomplish through your novels?
That’s a difficult question for me to answer. I wish I had a mission statement for my writing, but I really don’t. My goals are multifaceted and varied, and they seem to change with every novel. A few things that don’t change are my desire to make my writing an act of worship, my hope that readers will find both beauty and truth in my work, and the expectation that God will continue to refine me and my writing.
And now for the tough questions…
How do you balance being a mom, wife, and writer?
Some days it is so hard! My family is, and always will be, my first priority. But now I also have deadlines to meet, obligations to fulfill, contracts to complete… It can get a little crazy. Thankfully, my husband is extremely supportive, and his job can be flexible. He watches the boys one morning a week while I write, and he is also willing to help me out whenever I’m in the throes of a creative moment and simply unable to draw myself away from the scene that I’m working on. I don’t know what I would do if Aaron didn’t understand or wasn’t supportive.
But with or without a sympathetic husband, it’s still hard to keep everything balanced. I’ve found that though it sounds a little counterintuitive, I tend to compartmentalize my life a bit. Of course, my writing bleeds over into every aspect of my being, but I try to keep family time sacrosanct, and I attempt to focus on whatever is in front of me at the moment instead of splitting my attention. For example, I lead a women’s Bible study on Monday mornings. Well, from
Do you think it’s possible to give yourself fully to raising children, writing, and keeping in shape? If not, which one for you has to take a back seat?
I think it is difficult, but definitely possible. One of the things that really helps me to maintain balance in my life is simplicity. We live in a small town and there is no such thing as rush hour, traffic jams, or even carpooling because everything is nearby. The pace of life is very laid back and focused on relationships instead of activities. All of this contributes to a much less hectic schedule than what my husband and I endured when we were suburbanites. Less craziness means more time to simply live my life, and I’m usually blessed to find that everything just sort of comes together without much fuss. For example, when the weather is nice (and often when it’s not), I walk or bike everywhere with my boys. The grocery store is several blocks from our house and so is a beautiful park, so when I get groceries on Monday I make it a fun excursion. We walk to the park and play for a while, then head to the store to pick up what we need for supper. By the time we get home, I’ve played with my boys, planned and cooked a great meal for my husband, and gotten a lot of fresh air and exercise.
But before you start to think that I live in some idyllic throwback to old Leave it Beaver ideologies, let me tell you that things don’t always work out so prettily! In the winter we’re buried in snow and it’s hard to get outside. Sometimes my kids are moody and miserable and I wish I could shut them in their rooms and write instead. And I go through seasons where it’s just difficult to get the right words down on paper. At one point or another, everything in my life has had a chance to take a back seat. I’ve gone months without doing anything substantial to stay in shape, and I’ve gone weeks without spending any real, solid time writing. And, sadly, I know I fail my kids, too. (I’m sure that will all come out in counseling for them someday!) But I keep trying, and so far I’m loving every minute of it–even when it’s hard.
When do you find the time to write, and do you ever feel like you’re neglecting your children when you write?
I write two mornings a week for five hours each. Ten hours doesn’t sound like much time, but I do a lot of my writing in my head throughout the rest of the week. I really brood over every scene or chapter I write, so that when I sit down to actually put pen to paper, I pretty much know exactly what is going to happen (even down to specific word choice).
With this schedule, I don’t feel like I neglect my children when I write because they are well cared for by my mother or my husband. In fact, my kids love the change of pace. However, I do sometimes feel like I neglect my kids when I take care of all the little things that life as an author entails: returning emails, blogging regularly, setting up book signings, and the list goes on and on. Publicity is kind of a four-letter word in my home because it sucks time away from the things I really want to do: spend time being the best wife, mom, and author I can be.
How do you handle interruptions in your writing life?
I guess I just keep plugging on. Interruptions are so much a part of my life that I don’t really even think about them anymore. For example, my husband and I can be in the middle of an intense discussion only to be interrupted by a very insistent four-year-old toting some must-see toy or creation. We’re able to give him our attention, smile and nod at whatever he’s showing us, and then resume our conversation as if nothing ever happened the moment he races out of the room. Because I’m so accustomed to interruptions, I’ve worked hard to prepare myself for the inevitable. I try to go with the flow when it comes to both interruptions and inspirations. I have strategically placed little notebooks and pens all over my house as well as in my purse, in my son’s diaper bag, and in the car. That way, I’m ready to quickly jot down ideas and inspirations wherever I may be, regardless of any interruptions that might try to derail me.
How do you get back into the flow of writing after you’ve been interrupted?
I try to go back and pick up where I left off. It’s not always easy because sometimes that almost magical creative moment has passed, but I do try to give myself little hints for later before I give in to the interruption completely. For example, if I’m writing in my favorite coffee shop and someone stops by to chat, I might take a moment to quickly jot down ten or so key words that will refresh my memory about what I was working on before I got interrupted. Then when they leave I can reread my instant notes and fall back into whatever scene I was crafting. That little tactic works great for me, although I do worry sometimes that people feel as if I’m half-listening. And sadly, that may be true! Sometimes I’m so deep in the middle of whatever I’m doing that when I’m interrupted I don’t even notice. I’m one of those readers that can be completely blind to the rest of the world when I’m buried in a book (my dad even claims I once read through our smoke alarm going off). It’s the same thing with writing when I’m really into it: I can be utterly unaware of what is going on around me.
What do you do to encourage yourself during those stormy days every writing mom has?
I think my stormy days are more often related to writing than they are to my family. I always thought that if I ever achieved my dream of being published, I would never want for anything again. Now that I’m published, I’ve found that there are lots of things I still long for! Five-star reviews, critical acclaim, good sales, another publishing contract, and respect among my peers and readers are just a few of the things that keep me up at night. When someone is unenthusiastic about my book or my sales look crummy, I can start to feel a little fragile. But I have to remind myself that though in my soul I am a writer, being an author is simply what I do. Who I am–my value as a person–has to come from something other than my writing. I try to spend time every day reminding myself that I am beloved of God, regardless of whether or not I write well, regardless of whether or not I’m the perfect mom or wife. Though I don’t always do a very good job of convincing myself, I try to accept the fact that the Lord is pleased with my humble offerings when they come from a heart that longs for Him.
How do you position yourself to HEAR God’s voice when all the noises of life are swirling around you?
I try to cultivate a very prayerful life. My grandmother once told me that she never says amen. She explained that prayer is a conversation with God, and that since He is always with us, she sees no reason to ever end the conversation. It’s taken me years to begin to understand this and put it into practice in my own life, and I still have a long way to go. But I do my best to acknowledge that God is constantly with me. And to that end I pray all day long. Sometimes I just shout out a “thank you!” Other times, God and I have a long heart to heart. Then, when I think I hear Him speaking to my soul, it’s just a matter of confirming it with Him. I’ll continue to pray and petition, and when I feel that He has affirmed my assumptions by placing the same thing on my husband’s heart, or made His will obvious through evidence in my life, I proceed in faith.
If you do feel your priorities slipping, what do you do to get back on track?
Aaron’s job as the senior pastor of an active church has many possible pitfalls that keep him on his toes. Likewise, I could screw up my priorities very fast if I started to let my writing take over my life. So, the two of us have come up with a strict accountability system: Aaron keeps close tabs on my life and I watch for areas of weakness in his. At first, this little setup was awkward and very difficult. I felt attacked if he challenged me about spending too much time focusing on something that could potentially drag me down. In fact, I often retaliated by coming up with some overblown issue that I was supposedly concerned about in his life! But now I feel like we’ve reached a place where we can be very honest with each other, and, let me tell you, it has changed my life. For example, a few months ago I became obsessed with prowling the internet for anything related to my books. I checked Sitemeter daily to see who was visiting my website, lived for writing-related emails, and, when I got bored, Googled After the Leaves Fall. Aaron put a stop to that real quick. He challenged me to give up Google entirely, check email once a day, and visit Sitemeter only once a week. The addiction faded rather quickly, and now I sometimes go weeks without even thinking about who is visiting my website or what people are saying about my book. I do, of course, have to check my email daily, but I don’t feel like my whole life centers around my writing. It has freed me up to play with my kids, bake cookies, have friends over… lead a normal, balanced life. Or at least try to!
Has there ever been a time God told you to set aside your writing to focus on other areas of your life? If so, how did you handle that?
Absolutely. When I graduated college I worked for four years full time as a high school English, Spanish, and ESL teacher. While teaching is incredibly rich and rewarding, it is also exhausting. Teaching absolutely consumed me. I had no time left over for writing in any form. That is, until a few years into my teaching career when I picked up the latest issue of The English Journal and noticed a call for articles on teaching poetry. I had just finished teaching a poetry unit that I was very excited about, and before I knew it I had written a lengthy article that I blithely sent in. Believe it or not, the article was published! Shortly after that I started writing fiction again. In some ways it was nice to have that little break from writing, but when I got back on track I realized just how much I had missed it. I don’t think I’m fully myself unless I’m writing in some form.
Did you ever feel like you’ve “missed” God in regards to writing, that maybe you should be doing something else?
No. This is exactly where I am supposed to be, and I can see God’s hand leading me to this point from a very young age. Of course, if you would have told me two years ago that I would be a published author someday, I would have laughed. But now it feels so right–I absolutely love writing and I love the fact that I get to live my dream.
What advice would you give to writing moms who are have their hearts set on publication?
That’s such a hard question! I wish I could tell everyone, “Keep plugging! It will happen for you!” But then again, it might not. So maybe I should say, “Don’t set your heart on publication, be content with writing for the Lord.” But that sounds trite and almost holier than thou. Shouldn’t I be content simply writing for the Lord then, too? What gives me the right to set my heart on publication? Honestly, I don’t quite know what to say, nor do I feel suited to give advice. What I can tell you is my story–take it for what it’s worth.
I spent my whole life wanting to be a published author. I dreamed about it, I planned for it, I imagined exactly what it would be like. There were periods in my life when I obsessed about it, feeling that I could never lead a full and