BEST-SELLING AUTHOR INTERVIEW with Karen Witemeyer

Can you share a little about your recent book?

My latest release is a novella collection called The Christmas Heirloom which contains a collection of stories that are connected by a luckenbooth brooch that is handed down from mother to daughter across the generations, bringing true love to the bearer. In my particular story, Gift of the Heart, I played with that biblical motif of Ruth and Boaz with a wealthy hero and an impoverished widow who believes her one chance at true love lies in her past. I set up a fictional resort town named Hope Springs that was based on the true history of a Texas town called Mineral Wells. The mineral water discovered there had curative properties that brought people from far and wide to drink and bathe in the waters. I had fun with the names. Ruth was easy for the heroine. Then instead of a mother-in-law, I gave Ruth a seven-year-old daughter named Naomi. But for the hero, I didn’t want to name him Boaz since it’s not the most attractive name. So, I played with it a bit. Beauregard “Bo” Azlin became Bo[Az]lin. My Facebook fan group The Posse played an integral role in plotting this story as well. They were the ones to spark the idea of Bo suffering from a childhood wound and needing to take the waters himself as well as creating Theodore, the matchmaking cat. The story would not have been the same without them.

Why do you write? Do you have a theme, message, or goal for your books?

I write because I believe I have been called to do so. I’m not one of those authors who always wrote as a child. I only wrote when I had to for a school assignment. I didn’t even keep a diary. But I loved to read and to daydream. Little did I know that God would transform my love of consuming stories into a love of creating them. I don’t consider myself a naturally creative person, however. I’m far too left-brained. So I know that I am completely dependent on the Master Creator to supply my ideas. My goal as I write, and my prayer, is that my stories will uplift and entertain, but that they will also contain nuggets of God’s truth that will take root in the lives of readers and help them walk more closely with the Father.

How long have you been writing?

I have been actively writing with the goal of publication since 2003.

And how long did it take you to get your first major book contract? Or are you published non-traditionally? How did that come about?

It took me six years to sign my first book contract in 2009. My first book came out in 2010. My story about how I got there is rather fun.

In 2007, I took my first completed novel to the American Christian Fiction Writers conference in Dallas. I arrived a day early and worked at the volunteer station stuffing envelopes. I had no idea who she was. All I knew was that we had the same first name. However, as time ticked on, I picked up clues to her identity from others in the room. This was Karen Schurrer, an editor from Bethany House, my dream publisher. Only the Lord could have orchestrated such a meeting. I resisted throwing my pitch at her in the volunteer room, but two days later, I sat at her lunch table and after everyone told her about their projects, one brave writer asked if we could send her our proposals. She said yes.

After the conference, I sent in my proposal and soon had a request for a full manuscript. Surely a contract was right around the corner since the Lord was at work, right? Wrong. The acquisitions editor rejected my manuscript. She considered the plot too similar to something they had recently published. Nevertheless, she complimented the writing and said there was one component to the story that she did like—the dress shop. Could I come up with a new idea surrounding a dress shop?

Now you have to understand, in the original book, the dress shop burned to the ground by page four. There could be no tweaking to make this work. I would have to start from scratch. But publishing with Bethany House was my dream, so I started brainstorming, and even met with the editor in person at the 2008 ACFW conference where she gave me feedback and encouraged me to resubmit. By January 2009, Bethany House offered me a three book contract launching with A Tailor-Made Bride.

 How long does it take you to write a book?

I’m a slow, methodical writer who writes one careful, edit-as-I-go, draft. If I write one polished chapter a week (my goal), I can have a full-length novel finished in about 40 weeks. Add in one 10-chapter novella to the annual schedule, and you have my current publishing schedule of one 90,000+ word novel and one 20-25,000 word novella a year.

What’s your writing work schedule like?

I still have a day job, so my writing schedule is made up of fitting it in wherever I can. LOL. This is why I use a weekly goal instead of a daily word count goal. I need the flexibility. Some weeks I’m able to follow my ideal schedule of writing two polished pages a day on top of all the other writing-related items like blog posts, social media, interview questions, and critiquing. Other weeks, I’m cramming the entire chapter in over a weekend. I’ve learned to pray for God to allow the sun to stand still over my writing at times, and he is faithful. So far, I’ve never missed a deadline. Hopefully, that streak will continue.

Do you have an interesting writing quirk? If so, what is it?

My quirk is that I don’t turn off my internal editor. I give her free reign. Sometimes this is problematic when I get stuck on finding the perfect verb for a sentence or the perfect transition to move my story along, but in the end it works in my favor because I only write one draft. It’s slow, but it’s the method that works best for me.

What has been your greatest joy(s) in your writing career?

The biggest joy is definitely interacting with readers. When I get an email from someone who was emotionally or spiritually moved by something in one of my books, it reminds me that story can minister directly to the human heart. What an honor it is to share in that ministry!

What has been your darkest moment(s)?

The darkest moments for me come when insecurity creeps in on the heels of a bad review or a challenging editorial letter. When my schedule is so overflowing that I feel overwhelmed and start doubting that I’ll get everything done. When pride puffs me up and has me patting myself on the back when what I really should be doing is bowing at the Master’s feet and giving him the glory. Thank God for his grace and his willingness to carry me through the valleys.

Which of your books is your favorite?

That is a hard question. Like my children, each are special in their own way. If I were forced to pick, though, I’d have to say that To Win Her Heart was my favorite. Levi Grant was such a unique hero, and his character really spoke to my heart. I had a lot of my own flaws written into the heroine of that story, and each time he pushed her to better herself, I felt the push to better myself as well.

Who is your favorite author to read?

Another toughie. I really enjoy Kristi Ann Hunter, Mary Connealy, and Regina Jennings. They all write in a style similar to my own with touches of humor woven into historical settings.

What advice can you give aspiring writers that you wished you had gotten, or that you wished you would have listened too?

Be prepared to work hard. I think what surprised me most about publishing is how much writing I have to do outside of the novel itself. There’s back cover or catalog copy, character and setting descriptions for the design team as they work on the cover art, tons of guest blog posts and interviews to put together when a release date nears, FB posts, my own blog posts, and when I’m asked to speak, there’s writing involved in putting together presentation materials. It seems to never end. The most valuable thing I’ve learned is to eat the elephant one bite at a time. Especially when a release is approaching, my to-do list seems astronomical. But if I focus on just one task at a time, with God’s help I manage to get everything done.

How many times in your career have you experienced rejection? How did they shape you?

Rejection is a constant in this business. My first manuscript was rejected and has still never been published, but beyond that, I face rejection each time a bad review comes out, or an idea for a future book is shot down my an editor, or I get overlooked for an award. Writers have to have thick skin and must look at rejections as opportunities to grow. Striving for good enough won’t get me very far, but if I listen objectively to my critics and sift through the muck to find the golden nuggets hidden within, I’ll be better for it. God can work through rejections in ways that produce greater results than gushing praise. The refining fire is never pleasant, but it works.

Do you have a favorite character or scene in one of your books?

In my latest release Gift of the Heart, in The Christmas Heirloom, there is a scene where the heroine’s young daughter overhears the hero grumbling about the cat that always seems to be underfoot. He called the cat a little miscreant in frustration. Later, the girl finds the stray, scoops him up, and brings him to the hero thinking she has rescued the man’s cat and proudly tells him that she found little Miss Creant. After a heart-to-heart conversation on the front stoop explaining that the cat is actually a boy, they decide to dub him Theodore. This scene bonds the hero and the heroine’s daughter in a special way and even opens the door to making an irritating, interfering feline a part of the family.

Where do you get your ideas?

Ideas come from many places. Movies, books, Bible stories, even a random comment someone might make—the possibilities are endless. Something will resonate with me, and I’ll start asking “what if?” until I twist it around into something unique and fresh. Then I jump in with historical research and it starts to get a little meat on its bones. Finally, I dive in with character development, and the idea finally comes to life.

What are common mistakes you see aspiring writer’s make?

Rushing to publication before the craft is ready. The new age of self-publishing has opened doors in marvelous ways. More writers are sharing their stories with readers than ever before. However, the ease of self-publishing brings with it the temptation to jump into the market before a story is fully ready. Take the time to polish and perfect your craft before you send it out into the world. I wrote for six years before I was contracted. That time was invaluable for training me in the art of quality craft and plotting. You can only make a first impression once. Make sure you’re making the best possible impression you can by putting in the time on the front end. You’ll be glad you did.

Where/How do you recommend writers try to break into the market?

Write the type of book that you love to read. If you don’t love it, no one else will, either. Then learn all you can about perfecting your craft and about the industry. When you have a complete, polished manuscript that you are excited about, I highly recommend making the investment to attend a writer’s conference. Discoverability is huge in this business, and these days nearly all publishers will refuse to look at unsolicited manuscripts. The only way in is with an agent. Yet agents only want to work with authors who have proven themselves. So what is an unpublished author to do? Go to a conference. One where you can make editor and agent appointments. That one-on-one time with an editor has the power to open doors that would otherwise be closed. If your book is good enough, a foot in the door is all you’ll need.

Bio:

For those who love to smile as they read, bestselling author Karen Witemeyer offers warmhearted historical romance with a flair for humor, feisty heroines, and swoon-worthy Texas heroes. Winner of the ACFW Carol Award, National Reader’s Choice Award, HOLT Medallion, Inspirational Reader’s Choice Award, and a finalist for both the RITA® and Christy Awards, Karen is a firm believer in the power of happy endings. . . and ice cream. Learn more at www.karenwitemeyer.com or join her private Facebook group-The Posse.

Amazon buy link for The Christmas Heirloom: https://amzn.to/2RXXBGg