Tag: Best-Selling Author

Interview with Best-Selling Author Davis Bunn

Post author By Lisa E. Betz
Post date April 13, 2021
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Can you share a little about your recent book?

The Cottage on Lighthouse Lane, Kensington Books, April 2021

Sometimes life flips the script . . .

Billy Walker is a North Carolina boy whose Hollywood star is beginning to shine. His rough past is in the rear view. Now seeing the world from the back seat of a limousine, Billy has no regrets about what he had to do, and the choices he made, to get there. But all it takes is one death-defying moment for Billy’s world to shift. When an on-set accident leaves him shaken, plagued by haunting dreams, he’s in desperate need of a rest cure. Given keys to a getaway cottage on Lighthouse Lane in Miramar Bay, he’ll regroup, relax, and recover. Yet as Billy’s dreams grow darker and more fearful, his only promise for light is in a stunning, mysterious, and uniquely gifted stranger . . .

And your next act is rewritten . . .

Mimi has never forgotten her tragic childhood in eastern Ukraine. Violence, a vanished family, abandonment, and a hard-won struggle to escape. Miramar Bay couldn’t be a more beautiful or unexpected refuge. In yoga, teaching dance, and imbued with a talent to read the unrestful visions of others, Mimi has a seemingly divine ability to comfort. She may be everything Billy desires, but Mimi knows what Billy needs. He must confront his troubling past—and not just in his dreams. As their connection deepens, Billy finds himself falling in love, and waking up to something he’s never felt before. But when the real world comes calling again, how can he say goodbye to a woman who’s changing his life one illuminating sunrise at a time?

Poignant, powerful, and surprising, The Cottage on Lighhouse Bay is a love story for every wounded heart that hoped for a second chance.

Davis Bunn. The Cottage on Lighthouse Lane

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

It seems like I transition from one theme to the next every three or four years. In my current version, I’m looking at stories based around the idea of lost hope, the unexpected opportunity to renew. Lighthouse Lane is book five in the Miramar Bay series, which is based around a mythical town on California’s central coast. Whoever finds their way to this place is offered a second chance at what is most important, what vital element is missing from their lives. If only they manage not to make the same mistakes all over again.

How long have you been writing?

I have been a published author for twenty-eight years. Before that, I wrote for nine years and finished seven books before my first was accepted for publication.

Which of your books is your favorite?

Some of the frequently-asked questions are so tough to answer honestly. Just two days ago completed a new first draft. It has dominated my life through this loooonnnng UK lockdown. Right now, I can’t see much further than this newest story.

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

I had a book, a legal thriller, that came out last September entitled Burden Of Proof. I wrote the first sixty pages seven years ago. They were powerful, really potent stuff, but I couldn’t find a way to make the rest of the concept live up to what I had done thus far. So I set it aside. Seven years passed, every now and then I’d reread the pages, until finally…

I was under huge unexpected pressure. My publishers had an empty slot in their list, another author was late delivering, could I help? It meant giving them a story in seven and a half weeks. Just as I was about to write and say no, literally staring at the email, ready to say so sorry, not a chance, it hit me. The missing theme came as one scene. The pivotal moment I had waited seven years to find.

How long does it take you to write a book?

As you can see from the last answer, it can sometimes take as little as two months. I do tend to write a lot. I think it comes from being so determined, so desperate, to make it work. During those looooonnnnnggggg nine years of struggle, I ran a consulting group based in Germany and operating through all Europe. I was in two, sometimes three countries every week. The temptation to quit, give up, go back to my well-paying day job was just so intense. I had no choice, not if I wanted to make this my professional life. I had to write every day. Become a regular, disciplined writer, accept this as a SECOND JOB. Whether I liked it or not, whether it felt good or not, this had to happen. I learned to write in taxis, airports, waiting rooms, hotel lobbies, wherever I could carve out ten or fifteen minutes. I developed a series of triggers to help me depart from the outside world and re-enter the story, the emotional state, the creative mood. I use these still.

So what’s the end result? Okay. Revealing secrets here. In the past twelve months I have written…

Wait for it…

Two full-length novels,

And

A feature-length screenplay,

And

A new series pilot,

And

The second series episode,

And

The season one bible (used in series to establish the character and story arcs for the season)

And

Half a Christmas novella

All because of the discipline learned in sheer desperation during those initial years.

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

The creative bliss. The unexpected moments when I become lost in the new story. When it becomes alive and I become transported. Elevated. Reformed in union. Bliss.

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

I have been rejected over forty times in the past twelve months. If you are going to keep growing, push beyond the boundaries that the commercial world wants to use as defining traits, this is going to happen. Learning to live with rejection, moving beyond, continuing the creative struggle, all are crucial to success.

Who is your favorite author to read?

I am researching a new story. As usual. What I look for on the non-fiction side are authors who manage to make the situation live for me. Who are not afraid of emotions. Who do not feel it necessary to write from a dry, dead-as-last-autumn-leaves perspective. So right now I’m reading Ben Mezrich’s amazing new book, Bitcoin Billionaires.

On the fiction side, I’m studying two authors who have taken their success as screenwriters and allowed this to refashion their approach to sentence and scenic structures. These are Robert Crais and Michael Crichton.

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

My very first mentor was Arthur C Clarke (2001, A Space Odyssey). When we started out, he required two things of me. One was, write a new page of new first draft every day. Second drafting, adding to what was already written, did not count. He forced me to confront the challenge of the empty page each and every day.

The second was, read at least one book by a living best-selling author in my chosen genre every week. The aim was for me to come to terms with what was working in the market in this present time.

A very wise man.

Davis Bunn’s novels have sold in excess of eight million copies in twenty-four languages. He has appeared on numerous national bestseller lists, and his titles have been Main or Featured Selections with every major US book club. In 2011 his novel Lion of Babylon was named Best Book of the Year by Library Journal. The sequel, entitled Rare Earth, won Davis his fourth Christy Award for Excellence in Fiction in 2013. In 2014 Davis was granted the Lifetime Achievement award by the Christy board of judges. His recent title Trial Run has been named Best Book of The Year by Suspense Magazine. Lately he has appeared on the cover of Southern Writers Magazine and Publishers Weekly, and in the past three years his titles have earned him Best Book and Top Pick awards from Library Journal, Romantic Times, Publishers Weekly, Booklist, and Kirkus. His most recent series, Miramar Bay, have been acquired for world-wide condensation-books by Readers Digest. Currently Davis serves as Writer-In-Residence at Regent’s Park College, Oxford University. Until Covid struck, he was speaking around the world on aspects of creative writing.

Tags Best-Selling Author, Davis Bunn, interviews

Bestsellers

Award-Winning Author Interview with James R. Hannibal

Post author By Lisa E. Betz
Post date April 1, 2020
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Can you share a little about your recent book?

Chasing the White Lion is a mash-up of thieves and spies. This book is the second in a series described as “Ocean’s Eleven meets Mission Impossible.” Talia Inger is a rookie spy who must wrangle a pack of elite thieves as the team attempts to infiltrate the world first crowdsourced crime syndicate. Their objective? Save a group of kidnapped refugee children from human traffickers tied to the organization. While they’re at it, they might have a shot at toppling the organization and exposing a traitor in our very own CIA.

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

Choose your adventure! That’s my overall theme. I’ve applied it to life and writing. In the old days of the Bantam Choose Your Own Adventure series, I wanted so much more than “Turn left or right” or “Take the path or enter the cave.” I’d always been a storyteller, but that’s when I started creating stories in earnest, writing new paths and new endings in my head.

My most recent story has a much larger goal, though. Chasing the White Lion is the first spy thriller highlighting a real charitable organization. My goal with that story is to help spread the world about the work Compassion International is doing to fight child poverty and to support them with a portion of every book sold. I hope the story helps readers see how meeting those in need right where they are helps slam the door on human traffickers.

How long have you been writing?

I’ve been writing my whole life. I tried to write my first book at the age of 4 (a story about pandas playing soccer which was suspiciously similar to a recent library book about raccoons playing basketball). My first short story was read over the radio at age 12. At age 17, I entered the military, so all of that got put on hold for a while, but my time there filled up my bucket of experiences to aid my future stories.

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?

I began writing my first real novel in 2006. Once I completed it in 2008, I had to wait an additional nine weeks for the military to review it and make sure I didn’t expose classified information. I sent it out in late 2008, and a small publisher picked it up at the end of 2009. They turned out to be unscrupulous. Even so, the book managed to gain accolades from Publishers Weekly and Clive Cussler, which helped me land my first real contract in 2012. I was working on my fourth book when my second book was finally picked up, and I have 42 rejection letters in a file to remind me how hard I worked to get there.

Which of your books is your favorite?

We’re not supposed to have favorites, but usually mine is the book I’m working on at the time. However, if I was forced to choose, The Clockwork Dragon would be my current fantasy pick and Chasing the White Lion would be my thriller pick.

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

Again, we’re not supposed to have favorites, but I do share a lot with Jack Buckles. When I sought to re-create the Sherlock Holmesian hyper-observant detective in a new way, my wife advised me to use my own synesthesia. This is a merger of the senses where both Jack and I see and feel sounds, hear and feel movement and flashes of light, see and feel smells, etc. Of course, we embellished it a little to help Jack see into the past through the history recorded in the molecular vibrations of stone, steel, and jewels (I can’t do that), but many of our experiences are the same—including using our synesthesia to catch bad guys.

How long does it take you to write a book?

Longer than my publishers would like. I spend the first several weeks developing the beats of the story and understanding the theme and characters. From this, I create a short story version of the book, anywhere from 20 to 40 pages. At this point, we might be at 6 weeks. From there, I go deep into writing and usually go in chronological order. Depending on the genre, a story can take anywhere from 6 to 9 months. After that, I like to spend another 4 weeks revising.

What’s your writing work schedule like?

Haphazard doesn’t even begin to cover it. I have two other jobs which both take up a great deal of time. I write when I can, stealing every moment possible.

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

I walk. I walk for twelve miles at a time on some days. This really fuels my creativity, and I’ll write multiple chapters by recording them on my phone via Dragon Dictation.

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

Without a doubt, the greatest joys come from receiving fan messages telling me how a story has impacted their lives. In one case, I received word that a Compassion child who had read the Spanish edition of The Lost Property Office who found encouragement from the story and finally realized that he too was a synesthete. Understanding our neurological phenomenon at an early age can be life changing, and I know it will be for that boy. I’m grateful to Compassion for bringing my work to those kids and following up to show me its impact.

What has been your darkest moment(s)?

Beware. There are many dark moments in a writing career. I’ve lost two movie deals that could have ended my need for another job and let me focus entirely on writing, one thanks to financial shifts at Sony and the other due to political pressure from China (no kidding). I’ve seen more rejections and harsh words than I can count. And I’ve received multiple death threats. Thank God my wife is always there to remind me that He is in control.

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

As I said before, I have 42 rejection letters in a file. And those are just the ones I remembered to save. Plus, most agents don’t bother to send rejection letters. Add to that rejections in Hollywood, angry reviewers, etc. Tallying them all up is impossible. If you want to work in this business, you’d better grow a thick skin fast.

Where do you get your ideas?

Ideas come from knowledge, experience, and inspiration. You can’t have the latter without the former two. So, fill up your knowledge and experience buckets in every way you can—reading, living, etc. That when, when the spark of inspiration comes, you’ll be ready.

Example: My biggest seller by far has been The Lost Property Office. Inspiration struck while I was in London, looking for 221B Baker St. The real Lost Property Office happens to be a few doors down at 200 Baker St. The world of secret societies that opened up for me on that day—The Ministries of Trackers, Guilds, Secrets, and Dragons—appeared only because of my previous study and experience. Without filling those buckets first, I’d have missed that chance.

Who is your favorite author to read?

I always go back to four: C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, Tom Clancy, and Clive Cussler. But I absorb a lot of other great authors in the meantime: Steven James, Brandon Sanderson, DiAnn Mills, Mark Greaney, to name a few.

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

Keep writing. I can’t count the number of aspiring writers I’ve met who’ve been tinkering with the same story for the last five years or more. Put it down. Write the next one. After my very first book, Tom Young told me “It’s not a book. It’s a career.” I can’t offer any better advice than that.

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

Impatience. On the opposite end of the spectrum from the “I’ve been working on this for five years and I think I’ve almost got it” crowd, we have the “I don’t have time to wait for an agent or publisher because people need to read my story now” crowd. No, they don’t. And most likely they won’t. The process of locating an agent and publisher is a crucible that makes us better writers. We’re losing that because of impatience, and the level of literature in our society is suffering.

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

See my answer to the “common mistakes” question. To sum it up: patience.

Former stealth pilot James R. Hannibal is no stranger to secrets and adventure. He has been shot at, locked up with surface to air missiles, and chased down a winding German road by an armed terrorist. He is a two-time Silver Falchion award-winner for his Section 13 mysteries, a Thriller Award nominee for his Nick Baron covert ops series, and a Selah Award finalist for his Clandestine Service series. James is a rare multi-sense synesthete, meaning all of his senses intersect. He sees and feels sounds and smells and hears flashes of light. If he tells you the chocolate cake you offered smells blue and sticky, take it as a compliment.

Find James’s books wherever books are sold, and get all the info about the different series at his website.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamesrhannibal

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/jamesrhannibal

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamesrhannibal

Website: https://www.jamesrhannibal.com

Tags award-winning author, Best-Selling Author, James R. Hannibal, spies, thrillers

Bestsellers

Best-selling author interview with Lisa Carter

Post author By Lisa E. Betz
Post date February 1, 2020
No Comments on Best-selling author interview with Lisa Carter

Can you share a little about your recent book?

I started out wanting to write another Christmas story and the plot of Stranded for the Holidays evolved from there. The standalone novel is part of an ongoing series set in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. The fictional town is Truelove—Where True Love Awaits. And three elderly matchmakers take the town motto a little too seriously. They’ve made it their personal mission to help everyone find their happily-ever-after. Whether the recipients of their efforts want them to or not!

Stranded for the holidays by Lisa Carter

Here’s a short blurb:

Running away led her right where she belonged.

AnnnaBeth is running away from her own wedding when her car breaks down in the middle of a snowstorm on an isolated mountain road. And of course, who happens along to rescue her? A handsome cowboy and his young, mini-me cowboy son, Hunter, who’s wishing for a mommy for Christmas. As the storm clears, city girl AnnaBeth will have to decide: does her heart now belong in the country?

AnnaBeth’s character type is one of my favorite to write. The banter and chemistry between the never-met-a-stranger, social butterfly and the pay-for-every-word, stoic cowboy was fun to create. When the town matchmakers get a hold of these two—by novel’s end, snowflakes aren’t the only thing falling between AnnaBeth and Jonas

I hope you’ll be on the look out for the fourth book in the Blue Ridge Matchmaker series—A Mother’s Homecoming—which releases June 1. I’m currently writing #5—also a Christmas story.

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

My ultimate desire is to proclaim the truth of God’s Word, His redeeming love as seen in the life of Jesus Christ and to help readers know for themselves this great, awesome God of all comfort and wisdom. He is enough for every need.

I hope my books will make readers laugh. And perhaps make them cry. But most of all, I hope my stories will warm their hearts with the greatest of loves, God’s love for each of them.

How long have you been writing?

I come from a family of storytellers. My mom used to entertain my brother and I on long road trips by inventing adventures featuring us as the hero and heroine. I told myself stories as a child to fall asleep at night. I thought everyone did this until I discovered in elementary school this might not be perceived as normal for the rest of the school population. But during summers, I became the neighborhood child who entertained my friends and organized epic retellings of prairie schooners in space, aka whatever I had watched on television lately—Daniel Boone, The Wild West, Star Trek (the original), or Gilligan’s Island. Yeah, I know I’m dating myself.

It was only after my children were in middle school that I got serious about pursuing a career in writing. My first novel was published in 2013. Twenty-five novels and counting, it’s been a whirlwind of adventure ever since.

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?

In 2009, God laid a story upon my heart and a compulsion to write it down that wouldn’t go away. I’d written for myself, as a freelancer, and for church organizations most of my life. But during this season in my life, God literally compelled me that now was the time to get serious about my secret dream of writing down the stories swirling in my head and that these stories were to be used for His glory. I wrote the story that became my debut, Carolina Reckoning, and God led me to a person who suggested a writing conference.

I attended the conference and God led a multi-published romantic suspense author to take a mentoring interest in me. I attended several more conferences, and God was always faithful in leading me one step further along the road to publication. I wrote three other manuscripts; I listened; I studied; I learned more about the craft of writing and the publishing industry. In 2011, I received the call from Abingdon Press regarding my Aloha Rose proposal. But Carolina Reckoning actually became my first published novel, releasing in August 2013.

Which of your books is your favorite?

Usually the one I’m currently writing is my favorite. We’re not really supposed to have favorites among our “children”. But if you’re going to make me say it, I guess Under a Turquoise Sky. That entire project was such a joy. I may never write another book like it, but the story was a gift to me as an author. It also won the Carol Award for Inspirational Romantic Suspense that year.

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

I’ve written three dual timeline romantic suspense novels, which is my favorite type of story to read and write. But my favorite character is probably Aaron Yazzie in Under a Turquoise Sky. There was such brokenness in him at the beginning but by the end, his character arc went through such an amazing transformation. Readers tell me that his journey touched them in a profound way.

How long does it take you to write a book?

I love to have eight months to write one of my suspense novels. I don’t always get that, however. I’m usually writing one book, editing another and often marketing yet a third novel. With the smaller Love Inspired novels three-four months is about average.

What’s your writing work schedule like?

I am a morning person so I do my best writing early. My day usually begins at the computer by eight a.m. I don’t have daily word count goals. My goal each day is to write the next scene or chapter. When I finish the scene or chapter, I stop for the day. Usually, I’m done—creatively, mentally and physically—by three p.m. I may tackle other tasks like marketing or business-related obligations for a short period. Or, I have tea and watch the next installment of one of my favorite British mystery series.

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

I like to read over the last scene I wrote the day before to plunge myself back into the novel moment. Then, I’ll go for a walk or bike ride, allowing the stream of my unconscious to flow and work it’s magic on the chapter or scene I know I need to write that day. I get into the shower and literally and figuratively allow the stream to continue. By the time I’m ready to sit down at the computer, I’ve actually visualized entire scenes and segments of dialogue in my mind and the words “flow” onto the screen.

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

Getting to know other Christian authors has been one of the greatest blessings during my writing journey. I also love when readers contact me and tell me how God has used my stories to impact their lives for His glory. Winning the Carol Award in 2015 and the Daphne du Maurier in 2017 was such an affirmation to me to persevere in writing. In 2019, His Secret Daughter and Stranded for the Holidays, part of the Blue Ridge Matchmaker series, both made the Top 25 best-selling lists. I got to see my name on the same list as Nicholas Sparks and Debbie Macomber. How fun was that!!!!

What has been your darkest moment(s)?

As my father’s primary caretaker, the last three years of his life as he battled Alzheimer’s were extremely difficult for me. My own family responsibilities didn’t stop. Deadlines didn’t stop.

Just before his death in 2016, I hit a “wall.” I was physically, emotionally, creatively and spiritually drained. And yet through it all, I can testify of God’s faithfulness to me as I walked to the other side of the “valley of the shadow of death”.

My editor and agent would tell you that I did some of my best and most powerful writing during that period. It was during this season of pain and suffering that I won the Carol and Daphne for two of my romantic suspense novels. And I encourage other writers to not be afraid of the pain, but instead to embrace it.

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

Rejection began early and continues to be a regular part of my writing journey. But nothing ventured; nothing gained. Writers must develop Teflon-coated skin. One of the most encouraging pieces of advice I ever read came from best-selling novelist, Elizabeth George. She said, ”You will be published if you possess three qualities—talent, passion, and discipline.”

And the most important of these? Not talent, or passion. But discipline—perseverance. The ability to keep on keeping on. Writing one word after the other. Never quitting. Never giving up.

Where do you get your ideas?

My story ideas come from everywhere—my past, my friends and their past/current experiences, and the news.

Who is your favorite author to read?

It depends on the genre. I read widely. And as soon as I name favorites, I realize I’ve left someone out. But initially in my career, I was inspired by Catherine Palmer’s romantic suspense adventure series, Treasures of the Heart, set in Africa. I still love those books. I continue to re-read them over and over.

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

Read. A lot.

Write every day.

Every year attend the best conference you can afford.

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

Don’t listen to the lies of the Enemy. Don’t listen to the nay-sayers. Don’t give up.

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

The key to my publication journey has been about building relationships—

1. With God foremost—a conscious choice to pursue His leading.

2. With others in the publishing industry.

3. And, to pursue relationships over pursuing contracts.

Multi-published author Lisa Carter likes to describe her romantic suspense novels as “Sweet Tea with a Slice of Murder.” A Vast and Gracious Tide released in June 2018. The Stronghold won a 2017 Daphne du Maurier. Under a Turquoise Sky won the 2015 Carol Award. Beyond the Cherokee Trail was a 4½ star Romantic Times Top Pick. She also has two contemporary romance series with Love Inspired. Lisa enjoys traveling and researching her next fictional adventure. When not writing, she loves spending time with family and teaching writing workshops. A native North Carolinian, she has strong opinions on barbecue and ACC basketball.

Join the adventure at http://www.lisacarterauthor.com.

Tags Best-Selling Author, Lisa Carter, romance, suspense

Bestsellers

Best-selling Author Interview with Hannah R. Conway

Post author By Lisa E. Betz
Post date January 1, 2020
No Comments on Best-selling Author Interview with Hannah R. Conway

Can you share a little about your recent book?

Christmas on a Mission is my latest book and I’m a bit partial to it. It’s got all the Christmas feels for sure. Heartwarming!

I kept playing with this idea of a couple meeting through a care package. I knew my heroine was going to work in the school system, and I knew my hero was going to be a deployed soldier–and I knew they’d meet because of a care package he received from her, BUT the way the story unfolded was even better than I imagined.

When I finished this book, I was seriously sad! I miss these characters and can’t wait to meet up with them again in the future!

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

Loaded questions!

A theme…hmm. I’d say there seems to be a theme of redemption in my books…and freedom. Redemption and freedom. And that’s definitely why I write. I want my readers to experience redemption and freedom through the stories I write…whether it’s through the character’s journey or on a deeper personal level.

How long have you been writing?

Ha! Since the 1st grade! However, I didn’t begin writing novels until around 2008. It’s been a long, winding, wonderful journey.

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 four years to get my first book contract–six years if you count the learning curve years.

I’d always wanted to write, but felt like either I had nothing to write about or I didn’t have the time. After years of being a military wife, and walking with my husband through his experiences with PTSD & TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury), God showed me that those experiences could help others. So, my first book “The Wounded Warrior’s Wife” was born from those experiences.

I began writing that book, or what would become that book, in 2008. Finished it. Started reviewing books for authors, inviting them to do interviews on my blog, got some great advice from them–and began attending writing conferences.

In 2012 I met my publishers–Olivia Kimbrell Press. With SEVERAL rounds of edits they decided to pick up my first book and it was published in 2014! The rest is history.

Which of your books is your favorite?

Oh goodness, that’s a hard one. The first has this special place in my heart, but I’d say my favorite is “Christmas on a Mission.”

It’s so cozy, but deep, filled with goodness, a hope for love, and redemption–sigh. This book is rich and captures my heart. If I could open my heart and show readers what’s inside–it would be the content and message of this book.

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

You ask hard questions! So…I really love Audria and Quinton from Christmas on a Mission–for so many reasons! There’s this scene in Gatlinburg with twinkling Christmas lights, a snowy bridge, and a kiss! But this kiss is more than a kiss. It’s a choice Audria has to make between letting go of her past and embracing a future. I love how the scene transpires, her response, Quinton’s response…all of it! I seriously cried writing this scene!

How long does it take you to write a book?

That really depends. For me, it takes about six to nine months to write the book, and then edits. I have a family, and work part time so sometimes it can take me a bit longer to get a book done.

What’s your writing work schedule like?

Right now it’s pretty set, which is wonderful! I write on Monday’s, Wednesday’s and Saturday mornings (before the kids get up). My weekly goal is 3600 words, which is typically one chapter.

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

I don’t know if it’s interesting, but I listen to white noise “music” on YouTube while writing. It helps me focus and it’s like my brain says “Okay, it’s time to write.”

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

The readers! I love hearing from them. Some of them have actually become friends!

What has been your darkest moment(s)?

Several come to mind…but two stand out the most…

Walking with my husband through his experiences with PTSD and TBI were very dark–however, they shaped us. God provided friends to walk with us and we are better people, and have a stronger marriage because of those moments.

Recently, though, my darkest moment has been the loss of a sweet friend. Kenna was killed in a car crash…I miss her every day. Grief doesn’t go away. I’ve realized I won’t ever “get over it” but through it–one step at a time.

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

I’ve lost count! BUT, rejection is a great teacher. I’ve found, especially in the writing world, rejection often comes with constructive criticism which is valuable. That feedback has helped me become a better writer, and has encouraged me to continue.

Where do you get your ideas?

That’s hard too…and truthfully, I have no clue. It’s not one place. It’s all over, all the time. Maybe a dream. A story I heard. A conversation I overheard. Something my mind put together while I was driving.

I believe the ideas are a gift from God–stories he wants me to tell.

Who is your favorite author to read?

So many! I read across genres, so my taste is a bit eclectic. I adore Tosca Lee, Joanne Bischof, Elizabeth Byler Younts, Suzanne Collins, Rick Riordan…just to name a few.

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

Hands down, the BEST advice I received and heeded was to attend writer conferences. It’s a great way to meet agents, editors, and experienced writers…pick their brains and get that constructive criticism.

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

Probably not investing in learning the craft of writing, and cold querying agents without going to conferences.

Most agents and editors give priority to the writers they’ve met at conferences.

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

I know it may sound a little redundant, but go to a writers conference. Start there. And don’t give up! Keep writing. Keep going to conferences and learning the craft of writing.

Hannah R. Conway is a military wife, mother of two, former middle school teacher, women’s ministry director, best-selling author, and popular speaker. Her novels are a deployment experience of their own, threaded with faith, and filled with twists and turns. Hannah is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, and My book Therapy. She and her family live in Tennessee.

website: https://hannahrconway.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hannahrconway_author/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorhannahconway/

Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/660379

Books can be purchased here

Tags Best-Selling Author, Hannah R. Conway

Bestsellers

Best-selling author interview with PeggySue Wells

Post author By Lisa E. Betz
Post date December 1, 2019
No Comments on Best-selling author interview with PeggySue Wells

Can you share a little about your recent book?

I have three new releases.

Homeless for the Holidays is the heartwarming story of an upscale executive who loses it all and finds he and his family truly have everything.

Chasing Sunrise is the fast-paced suspense about a special forces military man who must use all his training to protect those he cares about when international killers arrive on St. Croix at the same time Hurricane Hugo unleashes it fury.

The Girl Who Wore Freedom is the inspiring true story of the five-year-old girl who was liberated, along with her French village, by American troops on D-Day.

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

I write because it is a bridge of connection and communication with people, a vital tool to do life better, together. A creative art form, writing is a means to reveal thoughts, express ideas, and convey dreams. I write to know, to understand this incredible and zany world and to appreciate fellow travelers on this challenging journey. I write to be known, open, transparent, and vulnerable, to give, encourage, and inspire others far beyond my immediate sphere of influence. Words permit me to possibly be the wind under the wings of another who is weary, disheartened, and disillusioned. I enjoy both the challenges and victories of the craft because it satisfies my spirit. I write because writing is an essential. Through writing I give voice to others, champion integrity, bring humor, and share stories.

How long have you been writing?

In college, I blew out my knees as a dancer and shifted to the other subject that made my eyes light up – journalism. After being the editor of the college newspaper and magazine, I went to work as a news reporter and magazine editor. While raising my children, I wrote freelance and my first book was published in 1995.

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

Presently I have 29 published titles, and many books I ghosted. Most of those are traditionally published. My first book, Holding Down the Fort, I sent out as a proposal to ten top publishers. Bethany House phoned and said they wanted to contract the book. Bethany House published my first two titles.

Which of your books is your favorite?

Chasing Sunrise and The Patent(with Max Garwood) are at the top of my list. I adore writing action-packed, fast-paced adventure novels. I’m fond of all of my titles and have greatly enjoyed the relationships built co-authoringBonding With Your Child Through Boundaries with June Hunt, What To Do When You Don’t Know What To Say with Mary Ann Froehlich, and What To Do When You Don’t Want To Go To Church with Pat Palau.

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

Michael Northington, sidekick Bryce Lassiter, commander Corbin MacIntyre in Chasing Sunrise are fun men of integrity, adventure, and courage. I like Elise, Jerry, Brother Ned, June, and am writing a novel telling Antonio’s story before he came to St. Croix. The Patent picks up later in Michael’s career when he commands his own special forces team. Marc Wayne and his sister, Mallory Wayne, are fun to write into impossible situations and watch them work their way out. If you like Clive Cussler books, you’ll like The Patent and Chasing Sunrise.

How long does it take you to write a book?

I just completed a book with Pam Farrel for Baker House titled Best Decisions A Single Parent Can Make that I wrote in three months. That book releases in September.

What’s your writing work schedule like?

I rise early, journal, read Scripture, pray, read for 30 minutes, and write for 90 minutes. Next, I work on business items for 2 hours. Write and work until dinner. Exercise in the evening and write before going to sleep.

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

I adore drinking tea while working. My friend and first co-author, Mary Ann Froehlich, lives across the nation and we still send one another tea by mail. I’m a fan of dark chocolate and the occasional vitamin Ms (peanut M&Ms). I can write anywhere and do exactly that. Noise and activity do not distract me. I take my laptop to busy restaurants, traveling, when I accompany my daughter who rides rodeo.

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

I’m thankful for the friendships I have with people I admire. Teaching others to write, bringing someone’s message to the world, and creating works that will outlive me are great joys. What freedom to be able to write/work anywhere and that all experiences, observations, and travel are material for my writing. My heart is full to see two of my children thriving as professional writers. Though my adult children are in different states, they started a book club where we read books together and talk about what we read each week over a soul-nourishing zoom call.

What has been your darkest moment(s)?

Measuring the gap between where I want to be in my career and where I am is sobering. There have been broken contracts, and poor business practices but that is probably the stuff of life. I have a couple literary novels I’m eager to get out of my head where they have lived for a lot of years and into published books.

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

Rejection is typically a situation where the project merely is not a fit. I appreciate the feedback that helps me write better, pitch better, find better fits for me and my projects, and guides me to be more creative.

Where do you get your ideas?

The struggle is in deciding which ideas to pursue! So many ideas, so little time. Sometimes the challenge is in not knowing how to bring an idea from theory to concrete. For instance, I have a game that I’d like to bring to market as well as online classes but will have to learn the process.

Who is your favorite author to read?

Richard Paul Evans is a kind friend, brilliant writer, and I’m thankful that he endorsed Homeless for the Holidays and Chasing Sunrise. Clive Cussler, Vince Flynn, Jan Karon, Ken Gire, and John Erickson.

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

I would like to have learned much earlier to focus on the facts and not make up stories about those facts. For instance, when a publisher published two of my books, then passed on my next two ideas, I assumed that meant they didn’t want to work with me anymore. That was a story I made up in my head about the facts. However, the facts were merely that they decided to pass on my next two pitches that were not a fit for them. In this industry, keep pitching great ideas and networking.

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

Writers must have a significant audience or following. Being a good writer is not enough today when marketing is just as important. Books have to sell so everyone from writer to publisher can support themselves. Money may not be everything but it is the currency of exchange in our culture for food, shelter, and clothing.

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

Develop your craft, become an excellent writer, and be teachable. Find mentors.

History buff and island votary, PeggySue Wells skydives, scuba dives, parasails, and has taken (but not passed) pilot training. PeggySue is the bestselling author of 29 books including Homeless for the Holidays, The Girl Who Wore Freedom, and Chasing Sunrise. She is a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Christian Authors Network, Run Hard, Rest Well, advisory committee for the Taylor Writers Conference, and talk show host on Five Kyngdoms Radio. Connect with her at PeggySueWells.com, @PeggySue Wells, linkedin.com/in/peggysuewells, and facebook.com/peggysue.wells.

Tags Best-Selling Author, PeggySue Wells

Bestsellers

BEST-SELLING AUTHOR INTERVIEW with Allen Arnold

Post author By Donna L.H. Smith-Managing Editor
Post date October 1, 2018
1 Comment on BEST-SELLING AUTHOR INTERVIEW with Allen Arnold

Can you share a little about your recent book?

The Story of With is a roadmap for dreaming with God. It’s been called a “beautiful, revelatory parable, filled with wonder, mystery, and adventure.” I wrote it as an allegory because we don’t need more principles or theories about creativity. We need our hearts awakened. And nothing reaches the heart faster than story.

The protagonist of the allegory is Mia, an up and coming chef who hungers for more in her life and her dreams. Yet she feels like it’s all up to her to make things happen. Through a series of events, she finds herself ushered into a fantastical place where the only way home is through filling four mysterious vials. It’s ultimately a journey from the Orphan Realm to the Freedom Realm.

At the close of each chapter, I briefly explore the themes or ideas from that section in “The Shift to With.”

I hope the unique fusion of the mythic and practical will invite readers to pursue their heart—and their art—with God.

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

My passion is to help awaken the hearts of creatives, drawing them into deeper intimacy, identity, and imagination with God by knowing Him more fully as both Creator and Father.

I believe nothing is more important than knowing God intimately—and a key way we are invited to do that is through our gifting. It sounds almost too good to be true, but we weren’t primarily created to simply do things for God. We were created to pursue life with God. Story lets me explore that concept in a million different ways!

How long have you been writing?

I’ve always been drawn to story. In fact, God primarily used story to shape my Story. As a boy, it was through the heroics of comic books. Then novels and movies. Later, as founding Fiction publisher at one the world’s largest Christian publishing houses, I had the honor of overseeing the development of more than five hundred novels from authors such as Ted Dekker and Stephen Lawhead. So while The Story of With is my first book, I’ve lived in the world of story my entire life.

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?

I chose to self-publish The Story of With…and am so glad I did. I spent twenty years in the traditional publishing industry. I still have many talented friends who work in that world…but am disheartened by some of the ways the industry is changing.

More than ever, it seems the focus is primarily on established authors or celebrities with large social media followings. The new voices that publishers used to find and invest in now receive little focus or promotional dollars. And in most cases, first-time authors have a very limited window for their book to succeed before the publishing team moves on to the next project.

From the start, I knew The Story of With wouldn’t fit easily within the normal publishing model. It isn’t a straightforward fiction or non-fiction title. It’s an allegory with some teaching. And rather than publish it as inexpensively as possible, I wanted to pay special attention to details that would cost more—but matter to the reader. It was important to me to use high quality paper with larger type and more white space than most book pages include. I wanted readers to experience a sense of spaciousness as they entered into this story of freedom and hope. I also desired to create an audio version of the book with some of the industry’s top voice talents—an expensive proposition that I felt that would be less likely to happen for a first time author at a traditional publishing house.

Mainly, I sensed this message would be an evergreen title that grew slowly yet steadily over time. Given that, it just made sense that the best person to steward this process would be me rather than a publishing team tasked with juggling numerous titles simultaneously.

It’s been a good journey. I’ve realized my dreams for the book. And yes, there’s even an audio book available featuring two of the top voice talents around.

How long does it take you to write a book?

Great question. The short answer is “as long as God wants.” I used to believe there was a formula. Now I understand that writing is a journey I take with God…and I don’t know how long the trip will be until He says we’ve arrived.

The best journey we can invite readers into is the one we’re currently on. That means as writers we must be living more than we are writing. Because we can’t write a better story than we’re living.

The process of co-creating with God resembles the rhythm of a dance more than the efficiency of an assembly line. It requires the artist to set aside the illusion of control and go at the Father’s pace.

I often find I can’t write more until I’ve lived more. That journey can take days or months. It’s easy to grow impatient along the way. Then God reminds me that the goal isn’t to simply finish a project because of deadline but to bring it fully to life in God’s time.

What’s your writing work schedule like?

Each morning, I wake up and expectantly and ask God what He has planned for the day. Sometimes He invites me to start writing immediately. Other times, He lets me know it isn’t a day for writing but to simply spend time with Him. I love story…but I crave God more than writing so I give Him full control of my schedule and creativity.

It can often feel like there isn’t enough time to write. But do we really think the Creator of time won’t give us enough time for what He’s stirred us to create?

What I’m inviting others into is the wild, unpredictable mystery of creating with God. It certainly isn’t as neat as a daily word count. But sense when does the number of words written reflect the eternal value of what was written? Perhaps we should count less and create more.

What has been your darkest moment(s)?

Early in my career, I was an extremely driven man. During my twenties and thirties, I felt I could open any door through sheer force of will. What seemed extreme to others was energizing to me. And the problem was, it was working.

But from a soul perspective, I was in a free fall. I thought the way to be more was to do more. And so I kept doing more until my heart went numb. I felt deep shame at who I had become…but also a glimmer of hope in who I could become. I believed God could make all things new…I just never realized it was me who needed to be made new.

I share a bit of that story in the first few pages of The Story of With. It was the start of my journey from being a self-made man to becoming a son of God who longed to do every part of life with my Father.

Who is your favorite author to read?

My favorite novelist is Stephen Lawhead. And my favorite series from him is the Song of Albion trilogy. That series came more than decades ago and changed the way I saw life, God, and myself. It actually fueled my desire to become a Fiction publisher. Then, more than a decade later, God opened the door for me to be Stephen Lawhead’s publisher.

The Song of Albion trilogy is general market fiction written from a Christian worldview (a fantastical Celtic tale mixed with modern day characters). If you’re curious, the first book is The Paradise War.

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

The life you have with God while creating determines the life your art will have. As your life grows closer to God through shared adventures, first you are refined. Your talents and gifting then follow.

In that way, our creativity reveals more about us than we think. What we give birth to – from ideas to stories to songs – possesses both the strengths and the blind spots of the creator. You simply can’t create art more powerful than your own life. Where you are faking it, your art will be less true. Where you haven’t gone, your creations can’t go.

What we create alone from our own strength can’t surpass our weaknesses. Yet what we create with the Creator can’t help but transcend us.

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

Many times. But I’ve learned that rejection simply means others don’t get it or perhaps that my vision needs refining. That’s especially true when one is creating something new rather than recycling a concept that’s been done countless times before.

We tend to base our art’s worth on the reactions or reviews of others. We need to aim higher. Ask God to reveal the true value of your art. He is, after all, the One who gave you your talent. The impossible becomes possible as you invite the Creator into every aspect of your creativity.

The life we have with God will determine the life our art ultimately has. He wouldn’t have it any other way.

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

I’m a big fan of Ryder in The Story of With. He’s a complex character…and he ushers Mia (and readers) into the scars of our stories. The quicksand scene with Ryder (Chapter 10) is my favorite scene of my book. To say more would be to say too much until readers experience the story.

Where do you get your ideas?

I get my ideas from spending time on the playground of creativity with God. There’s nothing better. He is the most gifted storyteller. The best Father. The Creator of oceans and sunsets and stallions. When I spend time with Him, I’m always in awe of what we come up with together.

At a recent writer’s conference, my friend Ted Dekker gave the audience this transformative challenge: Don’t write to teach. Write to discover.

If I want to take readers somewhere new, I have to go there first. It’s the same for you. Your readers don’t want you to be comfortable in the creative process. Stop trying to master the process and start exploring. Forget the cozy chair and seek disruption. Readers want to be invited somewhere new by storytellers going new places. They prefer trailblazers to teachers. Stretch yourself. Then stretch your readers.

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

The biggest mistake I find authors make (whether new or proven) is chasing success rather than pursuing God in their creativity.

That leads to striving and to formula.

With so many creative people working in the world of story, how did we become so comfortable with the familiar; so dependent on formula? When something works, businesses tend to want more of that something. There’s the pressure to repeat and systemize success, driven by a false belief that the next breakthrough will come by recapturing that same lightning in a slightly different-colored bottle. Yet that never works. What propelled the first book was its originality…not a repeat of what had already been done.

That’s the problem with formula. The pull to the proven and predictable doesn’t lead to what’s fresh or what’s next. It leads to more of the same.

But the answer isn’t striving. As I say in my book The Story of With: “God doesn’t need your help as much as he wants your heart. Whenever you start to focus more on your talents and gifts than on him, you miss the main invitation. Which is to pursue them together. With him.”

That is what true success looks like…and the way to infuse your art with an eternal spark.

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

First, do the hard work of discovering your unique voice and style. Among other things, you must continue seeing and experiencing new things. When authors let their own lives become too predictable, the stories will follow. A problem of formulaic stories may point to a life lacking spontaneity. If your days are a bit too similar, find ways to eradicate formula from your life first.

Then—and this is key—you must stay on the journey of discovery rather than growing comfortable, setting camp, and settling into the same. As your life grows, your voice will grow. As you scale new heights, you’ll face more obstacles and more breakthroughs. Let your stories do the same. Surprise us with what’s now awakening your heart rather than give us another serving of what once did. Show us the view from the new peak you just climbed rather than write from the old one that is safe.

As you create, the goal is never to be the “next” ___________ (fill in the blank with a bestselling author).

It’s to be the “first” you.

We were never meant to pursue our art alone. I hope you’ll join me in this journey of greater creativity, bigger dreams, and truer success. You can find The Story of With on Amazon and Audible – and follow my insights on creativity via Twitter @thestoryofwith.

BIO

Allen Arnold is the author of The Story of With, a book that reveals how stepping into our identity, imagination, and intimacy with God can forever transform our talents, dreams, and creativity. A highly sought-after speaker, Allen has shared this transformative message at hundreds of gatherings, including Dave Ramsey’s creative team, numerous writing and worship conferences, the Association of Christian Schools International, and Grace and Lace, a fast-growth apparel company featured on Shark Tank. As founding Fiction Publisher for Thomas Nelson, Allen oversaw the development of more than five hundred novels spanning every genre. He now directs the content at Ransomed Heart, a ministry in the mountains of Colorado founded by John Eldredge (the New York Times Best-selling author of Wild at Heart). His favorite way to spend the day is with his family – in whatever that day’s adventure may hold. He loves blue oceans, black coffee, hot salsa, and big ideas.

Tags Allen Arnold, Best-Selling Author, creativity, The Story of With, www.almostanauthor.com

Bestsellers

BEST-SELLING AUTHOR INTERVIEW — with DeAnna Dodson

Post author By Donna L.H. Smith-Managing Editor
Post date September 1, 2018
No Comments on BEST-SELLING AUTHOR INTERVIEW — with DeAnna Dodson

Can you share a little about your recent book?

The one I’m working on right now is called Flotsam and Jetsam. It’s Book 24 for the Mysteries of Martha’s Vineyard series for Guideposts. Here’s the blurb:

While preparing for her upcoming marriage to Gerald O’Bannon, Priscilla Grant has a lot to keep her busy. It isn’t easy to blend two established households into one, especially when the one is a tiny seaside cottage on Martha’s Vineyard. But all of her carefully laid plans are interrupted when Gerald’s prized family heirloom, a valuable eighteenth-century ship’s figurehead, is stolen from the East Shore Historical Museum before it can be moved to its permanent home in Priscilla’s lighthouse. While the police try to figure out who could have taken the figurehead and how, elderly Alzheimer’s patient Tom Campbell claims he knows how it was done. He doesn’t remember who did it or when, but he’s seen this before, and he’s sure that if he thinks about it hard enough, the details will come to him. Soon Priscilla begins to wonder if the thief would rather get rid of the old man than have him remember too much. Can she find the figurehead and the thief before Tom is silenced forever?

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

I write because I am unable to not write. It’s just how I’m wired. But now that my boss of 21 years has decided to retire, I write because I have to earn a living, too. However, one of the main reasons I want to keep writing is to keep presenting a Christian worldview to the world. Secular writers seem to be pushing the envelope more and more, changing society for the worse in many ways, calling wrong right and right wrong. I want to do my part to keep presenting characters who live Christian lives with no apology and yet face the same struggles as everyone else.

How long have you been writing?

I started writing in my teens. I used to write episodes of my favorite TV shows and things like that. Then I started writing medieval scenes just to amuse myself when I was bored in my college classes. Those scenes eventually became my first book, In Honor Bound, but that wasn’t published until about fifteen years later. I guess I’ve been a serious writer for about 25 years.

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 was a complete miracle, but my first book was accepted by the third publisher I queried, Crossway Books. I never expected to be published at all, so their offer was a total surprise. All of my books are with traditional publishers, but I might try out some independent projects too someday. If I ever get caught up.

How long does it take you to write a book?

It depends on what kind of book it is and what else is going on in my life. My first book took me about eleven years. Now I can write a book in about two months, as long as I’ve done my preparation ahead of time and have a solid synopsis already worked out. My Drew Farthering Mysteries take me about five months.

What’s your writing work schedule like?

It’s gotten a little crazy lately, because one of my publishers changed their minds about what they wanted after I had written about half of the book, so I pretty much had to start over on that one. I had to double my daily quota to get caught up again. I try to write only Monday through Friday, but I often use Saturdays as a catchup day. I don’t write on Sundays. I feel like I’m more productive if I have at least one day off a week. I have a printout with my word count for each day on it divided into one-hundred-word increments. I figure anybody can write a hundred words, right? So I just keep ticking off 100s until I’m done for the day. Easier said than done.

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

I don’t know how interesting it is, but I can’t listen to music when I write. Actually, I can listen to music, but not to singing or music I know the words to. If I hear words from a song, I can’t hear the words in my head.

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

I really enjoy it when readers connect with the characters, when they worry about them and get mad at them and want to know what they’ll do next. If a character seems real to a reader, I’ve done my job. I also love it when readers take something my characters have learned from what they are going through and apply it to their own lives.

What has been your darkest moment(s)?

I think the worst was that, after my first three books, my publisher decided they didn’t want more from me. Very foolishly, I let that keep me from dusting myself off and trying again for about ten years.

Which of your books is your favorite?

Oh, man, that’s a hard question, but I think it’s probably Murder on the Moor. I had a ton of fun with that one. Here’s a quick summary:

Drew Farthering comes to Bloodworth Park Lodge on the mysterious Yorkshire moors to investigate incidents of mischief making, poaching, longstanding grudges, and even the murder of the local vicar. Do the affections of the lady of the Lodge lie with her husband or with his fiery Welsh gamekeeper? And what’s behind rumors of the spectral black hound that haunts the moor? Drew must separate fact from fiction and find the killer before it’s too late.

Who is your favorite author to read?

I have so many, it’s hard to say. For mystery, it’s probably Margery Allingham or Agatha Christie. For romance, I have to go to Georgette Heyer. She knows the Regency period so well and she has a wicked sense of humor. I love C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien. I could go on for pages. My favorite depends on my mood.

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

Expect rejection, but don’t let it keep you from doing what you want to do. And don’t expect to make a lot of money in the business. Yes, some people do very well, but I compare it to acting. A lot of aspiring actors are working hard at their day jobs trying to make ends meet until that big break comes. Some make it big. Most don’t. After 21 years being published and having my nineteenth book just come out, I am only now trying to live off my writing income. That wouldn’t be possible if I hadn’t squirrelled away most of my earlier writing income in case of emergency. Will I be able to make it without a day job? Ask me in a year.

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

I think I’ve been singularly blessed, because I haven’t had a huge amount of rejection up till now. Yes, I’ve had it. Certainly. And, yes, it’s hurt. A lot. But I’ve also had a lot of acceptance. Without that, I don’t know if I could have handled the rejection and kept on trying. I might have decided I wasn’t meant to be a writer and tried something else. But I think God has called me to this business, for His own reasons, so I do my best to write my books in a way that pleases Him until He shows me He wants me to do something else. But anyone who wants to be published is going to have rejection. It’s what you do after that rejection that makes the difference between failure and success.

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

I like all my heroes the best, but maybe Tom Chastelayne from my very first trilogy is my favorite. Drew Farthering is a very close second.

Where do you get your ideas?

I depends. Usually I’ll read something or see it in a movie or on television and it makes me think “What if?” I think most often I see something that has been done a hundred times before and wonder how I can turn that on its head in a way that will surprise people.

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

I think the worst one is rushing to publish something that’s not ready to be published. I’ve heard that to become an expert at anything, one has to spend 10,000 hours learning to do it. That’s a lot of time to spend without getting anything in return, even just the joy of seeing your name on a book cover. But, really, serious writers spend that kind of time. Even the most gifted need to study the craft so the presentation of their wonderful ideas will be appreciated instead of being dismissed because of spelling, grammar and punctuation problems. On the internet, you can’t hide five hundred of your early vanity-published books in your basement. Once it’s on Amazon, that cringeworthy first attempt will never go away. And often readers who read a first attempt are forever soured on that author, no matter how fabulous he may become in time. Take the time to learn the craft. You’ll never regret it.

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

That really depends on the writer. Self-publishing has pretty much shed its “vanity press” image. Excellent writers are self-publishing and doing very well with it. It all depends on what kind of work the writer wants to do. Does he want to concentrate on writing and let someone else take care of marketing and distribution and book design and all those other things that go into publishing a book? Then traditional is the way to go. If he wants to be in control of every aspect of the book, including the responsibility of getting it distributed nation- and worldwide, then indie is probably the way to go. Anyone can self-publish. Smart indie authors take the time and trouble to do it as professionally as possible.

Bio:

JULIANNA DEERING has always been an avid reader and a lover of storytelling, whether on the page, the screen or the stage. This, along with her keen interest in history and her Christian faith, shows in her tales of love, forgiveness and triumph over adversity. A fifth-generation Texan, she makes her home north of Dallas with three spoiled cats and, when not writing, spends her free time quilting, cross stitching and watching NHL hockey. Her series of Drew Farthering mysteries set in 1930s England debuted from Bethany House with Rules of Murder (2013) and is followed by Death by the Book and Murder at the Mikado (2014), Dressed for Death (2016), Murder on the Moor and Death at Thorburn Hall (2017). Also, as DeAnna Julie Dodson, she has written a trilogy of medieval romances (In Honor Bound, By Love Redeemed and To Grace Surrendered) and several contemporary mysteries for Annie’s Fiction and Guideposts. She is represented by Wendy Lawton of the Books & Such Literary Agency (www.booksandsuch.biz).

My books can be purchased from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Christian Book Distributors as well as directly from the publishers.

Publishers:

Bethany House/Baker Books http://bakerpublishinggroup.com/bethanyhouse

Guideposts https://www.shopguideposts.org/

Annie’s Fiction https://www.anniesfiction.com

On the web:

www.juliannadeering.com

www.deannajuliedodson.com

On Facebook:

https://business.facebook.com/AuthorJuliannaDeering/

https://www.facebook.com/julie.dodson.9659

On Twitter:

@DeAnnaJulDodson

On Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6565151.Julianna_Deering

Tags Best-Selling Author, bestsellers, DeAnna Dodson, Drew Farthering Series, Julianna Deering, www.almostanauthor

Bestsellers

BEST-SELLING AUTHOR INTERVIEW with Hallee Bridgeman

Post author By Donna L.H. Smith-Managing Editor
Post date August 1, 2018
No Comments on BEST-SELLING AUTHOR INTERVIEW with Hallee Bridgeman

Can you share a little about your recent book?

In January, I released a book titled Jade’s Match, about a summer Rio Olympian and a winter PeyongChang Olympian coming together in a fake media romance in a marketing campaign for a cell phone company that turns into a real-life romance. I loved writing this book, because I love the Olympics. Interacting with the publicist for the USA men’s hockey team was a joy, and as the time came close to publish it, my husband and I decided becoming Olympic sponsors was the right thing to do.

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

My mission statement in writing is always to prayerfully crafts stories as modern day parables to uplift fellow believers and minister to seekers in our fallen world.