Tag: bestselling author

Interview with Bestselling Author Susan Neal

Post author By Lisa E. Betz
Post date November 1, 2021
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Can you share a little about your recent book? Why do you write? Do you have a theme, message, or goal for your books?

My most recent children’s picture book, Eat God’s Food: Kids Activity Guide to Healthy Eating educates and entertains children. Previously, I published seven healthy living nonfiction books for adults. Now I am launching into the children’s book genre to teach kids to eat wholesome foods. I want to change the American statistic: 50 percent of adults suffer with a chronic ailment and 40 percent experience obesity.

My mission is to improve the health of the body of Christ so others can serve God to the best of their ability. I fulfil that mission through publishing.

How long have you been writing?

I wrote a Star Wars Bible study around 2010, but I never published it. After that I dabbled in writing young adult fiction, but again never published the book. I self-published my first book, Scripture Yoga, in 2016. I received loads of persecution for writing about yoga; but I wanted to provide a godly environment for Christians to perform yoga, as I had been teaching Christian yoga at my church since 2004.

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 did not land my first traditional book contract until 2020. But I did not wait for a publisher. Instead, I self-published seven healthy living books from 2016 to 2019.

7 Steps to Get Off Sugar and Carbohydrates won the Selah award and sold over 17,000 copies in three years.
The sequel Christian Study Guide for 7 Steps to Get Off Sugar and Carbohydrates won the 2019 Directors Choice award.
The third book in the series, Healthy Living Journal, won the Golden Scrolls award “2019 Best Inspirational Gift Book.”
Healthy Living Series: 3 Books in 1 is a mega-book.
Solving the Gluten Puzzle: Discovering Gluten Sensitivity and Embracing the Gluten-Free Lifestyle helps those who are gluten intolerant.
Scripture Yoga became a #1 Amazon bestseller.
Yoga for Beginners

Which of your books is your favorite?

My favorite and cornerstone book is 7 Steps to Get Off Sugar and Carbohydrates. This book provides a day-by-day plan to wean one’s body off of these addictive products and regain health. It includes a spiritual and physical approach. There are few Christian healthy living books on the market, so this book met a need. It is beneficial to write a book that solves a problem for a large target market.

How long does it take you to write a book? What’s your writing work schedule like?

Typically, I take five months to write a book. I am most productive and creative from 10 am to 2 pm, therefore, that is the time I write. I tell myself I can answer emails and do the rest of my work before 10 am and after 2 pm.

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

I like to stay physically active, so while I am proofreading I either get on my stair stepper that is in front of my elevated desktop, or I walk around my house to gain steps. To learn additional tips, check out my article on Edie Melson’s blog The Write Conversation, Tips to Stay Physically Active When Writing.

What has been your greatest joy in your writing career?

I love it when a reader contacts me and lets me know how one of my books helped them. Last year, a reader informed me that his seven-year diabetes type-2 condition was reversed after following the guidelines in 7 Steps to Get Off Sugar and Carbohydrates. I was thrilled!

What has been your darkest moment? How many times in your career have you experienced rejection? How did they shape you?

It took over seven years to find a traditional publisher who would publish one of my books. I write about my experience in the Southern Writers Suite T blog, Finding Your Writing Path through Rejection. With time, I realized God did not want me to write fiction. He wanted me to use my nursing and medical background, along with Christian spirituality, to help others improve their health through the nonfiction health genre.

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

Don’t give up. Rejection is part of this career. It will strengthen you and may lead to a divine writing path like it did me.

Where do you get your ideas?

Most of my book ideas are divinely inspired, but as I perform research on topics, more ideas pop up. At that point, the words flow like water off my fingertips onto the keyboard.

What are common mistakes you see aspiring writers make?

As the Director of the Christian Indie Publishing Association and Christian Indie Awards, the number one mistake I see authors make is not getting fifty Amazon book reviews. After you get that many reviews, the reviews begin posting organically without solicitation. So work very hard to get those first fifty reviews. If I give my book to someone, I add to my calendar to contact them in two months and request a review. It is the least they could do. Be brave and ask.

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

If a writer cannot land a traditional publishing contract, they need to decide if they will self-publish. If they choose to do so, they need to publish well. I am a certified writing coach and teach many authors how to independently publish on my website under authorcoaching. Also, Christian Indie Publishing Association (CIPA) provides tools to publish professionally and market effectively. Learning about the publishing industry is challenging. CIPA discounts, educational materials, and marketing tools make an author’s experience easier and more profitable. Why do it alone when you can join CIPA?

As a Certified AWSA Writer Coach, Susan Neal RN, MBA, MHS, desires to help others publish and sell their God-given message. She is the author of seven healthy living books. Her self-published number one Amazon best-seller, 7 Steps to Get Off Sugar and Carbohydrates, won the Selah award and sold over 17,000 copies in three years.

Susan won the 2020 Christian Author Network Crown Award for Outstanding Broadcast Media for her book marketing campaign. She is a trusted advisor for authors and helps many sell more books. Susan is the new Director of Christian Indie Publishing Association (CIPA) and the Christian Indie Awards. CIPA teaches authors how to self-publish like a professional.

Tags bestselling author, CIPA, non-fiction, self-publishing, Susan Neal

Bestsellers

Interview with Bestseling author Darlene Turner

Post author By Lisa E. Betz
Post date October 1, 2021
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Can you share a little about your recent book?

Lethal Cover-Up is a story about sisters and what happens when one is tragically ripped away from the other. Here’s a sneak peek.

Some secrets are dangerous…

But uncovering the truth could be deadly.

Border patrol officer Madison Steele knows her sister Leah’s fatal car crash was no accident. Someone’s willing to kill to cover up a pharmaceutical company’s deadly crime of distributing tainted drugs. Now they are after Madison to tie off loose ends. But with her high school sweetheart, Canadian police constable Tucker Reed, at her side, can Madison expose the company’s deadly plan before she becomes the next victim?

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

I write to share Christ through fiction. I believe readers can be encouraged while reading a novel. My stories always center around my relationship with Christ. My characters go through many emotions and struggles concerning their faith…some of which I’ve gone through. Knowing we can come out on the other side if we only believe and trust in our sovereign God are key components to my storytelling.

How long have you been writing?

I started when I was young with a “Mindy Dobson” series like Nancy Drew. LOL. However, more seriously within the past ten-fifteen 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 took me approximately ten years to find an agent and get a traditional pub contract. Every writer’s journey is different. I met my agent at a writer’s conference and pitched to her. That same year, I was blessed by winning a Genesis Award for one of my novels.

Which of your books is your favorite?

Such a hard question. How can I pick from my babies? LOL. I would have to say that there’s more of “me” in Lethal Cover-Up.

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

I can’t say I have a favorite, but I was able to relate to Madison (Lethal Cover-Up) the most. I also enjoyed writing the scene in that book where Madison and Tucker’s car plunges off a bridge into the river. Madison has to figure out how to get the unconscious Tucker to the surface.

How long does it take you to write a book?

The word count for Love Inspired Suspense is 55K, so it takes me approximately three months from start to finish.

What’s your writing work schedule like?

I’m an early bird, so after I do my devotions and go for a walk, I check social media, create memes and schedule posts. Then I get to writing. I write until about mid-afternoon. My evenings are spent reading, relaxing with my fave show, possibly more writing, or zooming with other writers.

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

Not really a writing quirk…but I love colored pens (I write my ‘to-do’ list on my calendar in a different color each day). I also have probably 30 plaid shirts. haha

What has been your greatest joy in your writing career?

Hearing from readers who have been touched by the stories I write. Just this week, I had someone thank me for ‘nudging’ her back to God after being angry with Him for a while. She related to my character. It brought tears to my eyes. This is why I write. For Him. I always ask Him to give me HIS words, not mine.

What has been your darkest moment?

I would have to say the times when I felt like giving up, but then God would remind me through someone else’s words of encouragement. It kept me going.

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

A fellow writer once told me that every rejection takes us one step closer to publication. This is so true. I went through a roller coaster of rejections. My first two manuscripts were never picked up. It was my third that Love Inspired Suspense contracted.

Where do you get your ideas?

I often have ideas spark from watching scenes in movies and TV. Also, from some news stories and even dreams!

Who is your favorite author to read?

So hard to pick just one! DiAnn Mills, Steven James, and Ted Dekker. There are many more but the list is too long to include them here. 

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

I would say keep on and don’t give up. I know that’s easy to say as there were times when I felt like giving up, but I had many supporters cheer me on.

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

Trying to fast-track their writing journey. One author told me once to “wait” to be published. Don’t try to jump the track as in the end that could hinder your writing career down the road.

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

Read writing books, go to conferences, and find a writing mentor. Write blogs, devotions, articles, etc to get your name out there. These will all help.

Darlene L. Turner is an award-winning and best-selling author and lives with her husband, Jeff in Ontario, Canada. Her love of suspense began when she read her first Nancy Drew book. She’s turned that passion into her writing and believes readers will be captured by her plots, inspired by her strong characters, and moved by her inspirational message. You can connect with Darlene at www.darlenelturner.com where there’s suspense beyond borders.

Books can be purchased: Amazon (both .com and .ca), Barnes & Noble, Christianbook, Chapters-Indigo, BAM

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Tags author interview, bestselling author, Darlene L. Turner, interview, romantic suspense

Bestsellers

Interview with Bestselling Author Janet McHenry

Post author By Lisa E. Betz
Post date June 2, 2021
No Comments on Interview with Bestselling Author Janet McHenry

Can you share a little about your recent book?

My book 50 Life Lessons for Grads: Surprising Advice for Recent Graduates (Worthy/Hachette) was a Christian bookstore bestseller. It shares what recent college graduates learned through real struggles, opportunities, and the fears they faced.

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

I write to teach others how to have a rich, purposeful life through the study of God’s Word and prayer.

How long have you been writing?

God called me to write for him in 1986. I began writing articles for Christian magazines, then started writing books a few years later. I wrote while also working full-time as a high school English teacher and raising four kids.

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 wrote 13 children’s books for David C. Cook, then got my first major book contract in 2000 for PrayerWalk, which became a bestseller. My agent challenged me to “write about that prayerwalking thing you’re doing.” My first response was, “I don’t think that’s a book. It’s five words: ‘You walk and you pray.’” Clearly, since it’s been in print for 20 years (WaterBrook/RandomHouse), it was indeed a good book idea.

Which of your books is your favorite?

My favorite is The Complete Guide to the Prayers of Jesus: What Jesus Prayed and How It Will Change Your Life Today (Bethany House). When I started prayerwalking in 1998, I went on a journey to read everything I could about prayer, including reading the Bible all the way through each year to note textual references to prayer—centering on what Jesus taught about prayer, his prayer practices, and his actual prayers. I wanted people to have a resource that had everything in one volume about his prayer life.

How long does it take you to write a book?

I’ve written a complete book in as short as three weeks.

What’s your writing work schedule like?

I work on marketing and social media tasks in the morning (including my daily blog), then shift to writing.

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

I’ve learned that when I’m a bit blocked, that mowing the lawn or doing the laundry or going for a prayerwalk will help my left and right brains make friends again, so the words can find themselves dropping onto the page. Also, popcorn and Coke Zero can help.

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

(1) Meeting a reader I had not known who tells me my book changed her life (typically the book PrayerWalk).

(2) A few awards: Mt. Hermon Christian Writers Conference Writer of the Year (1993), 2020 Jennifer Kennedy Dean Award (AWSA), and AWSA Member of the Year (2004)

What has been your darkest moment(s)?

My darkest moment was the day my husband Craig was falsely convicted of six felony animal abuse charges related to the deaths of six young calves in a two-day snowstorm; we took on the appeal ourselves, and the case was overturned in the California Court of Appeals two years later in 2007. We had 5-1/2 years of struggle related to that criminal case that should never have gone to trial. I am planning on writing a memoir related to that unjust experience. I didn’t have a published book from the 2006 to 2015; the experience really was tough, and it still hurts.

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

Good grief, I have no idea. Hundreds, probably—compared to the 24 books I wrote under contract with traditional publishers.

Where do you get your ideas?

Titles just come to me. I wrote headlines for a daily newspaper for years. A whole book concept will come to me as a title first.

Who is your favorite author to read?

Fiction: Cynthia Ruchti and Jan Karon Nonfiction: the late Jennifer Kennedy Dean, who wrote books on prayer that will become classics some day

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

Learn how to study the form of the genre you wish to write. While I heard that expression many times when I was beginning, I really didn’t know how to do that. I taught myself, and I now teach that analysis skill for writers conferences and my own Sierra Valley Writers Retreat.

What are common mistakes you see aspiring writers make?

I often see aspiring writers just sit down and start writing. They really need to create a proposal first, even if they’re going to self-publish the book. My agent, Janet Grant, says a proposal is basically a business plan, but it also is a vehicle for creating a much better book. It will focus the content, better meet the needs of the potential audience, and create a product that is unique.

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

Beginning writers should find their tribe so as to have a ready-made audience for their book. They should also attend as many different writers conferences as they can—so as to make connections in the industry and to learn the craft. I attended THREE major Christian writers conferences within that first year after God called me to write for him, and I kept going to one (Mt. Hermon) nearly every year thereafter.

A national speaker, Janet McHenry is the author of 24 books–six on prayer, including the bestselling PrayerWalk and her newest, The Complete Guide to the Prayers of Jesus. She is also the creator of the masterclass Prayer School, a certified writing and life coach, and the host of the Sierra Valley Writers Retreat. Janet and her husband Craig raised four children in the Sierra Valley in northern California, where he is a rancher and where she taught high school English and served as an academic advisor. She loves connecting with readers and writers: janetmchenry.com.

Where to buy books:Amazon.com, Christianbook.com, Barnesandnoble.com, janetmchenry.com

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Tags advice for Christian writers, author interview, bestselling author, Janet McHenry, prayer

Bestsellers

Bestselling Author Interview with Jane Kirkpatrick

Post author By Lisa E. Betz
Post date August 1, 2020
No Comments on Bestselling Author Interview with Jane Kirkpatrick

Can you share a little about your recent book? (Releasing in September 2020)

Like most of my historical novels, Something Worth Doing is based on the life of a real woman, Abigail Scott Duniway. She was an early reformer as well as a wife, mother of 6, businesswoman, teacher, wrote 22 novels, was a public speaker and owner of a newspaper for 16 years, all in the 1800s when women were to be seen and not heard. Oh, and she was a suffragist for 40 years working on behalf of women’s rights. a remarkable woman who is a metaphor for endurance.

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

I’ve been intrigued by stories of historical women whose stories are often forgotten. Virginia Woolf wrote that “women’s history must be invented…both uncovered and made up” and that’s why I moved from non-fiction or biography to fiction. My stories don’t have to have a happy ending, but I want them to have a hopeful ending. I’m asking a reader to choose time to read it when they might be doing something else, so I want to be respectful of their time and engagement in the story. Most of all, I’m answering a question that the story has posed, and it won’t let me go until I answer it. For example, when I visited an Oregon state park that a man had created for his wife in the 1800s I wondered why there was no mention of her there — except that it had been his gift. It was a mansion, formal gardens, on the Oregon coast, an incredible landscape. I kept asking “what kind of woman would inspire this and why doesn’t anyone talk about her?” That became A Gathering of Finches written in 1997 and still in print and has been adapted for the stage.

How long have you been writing?

I wrote “wretched little poems” when I was very young and always loved words and their sounds. My teachers said kind things about my writing through the years. But it wasn’t until I left my job as a mental health clinic director in 1982 and moved with my husband to a remote ranch (I called it rattlesnake and rock ranch) that I began to write for others to read. I took a creative writing class at the local community college and had magazine articles published before we moved. My first published book was a memoir in 1991 about that journey to the end of the world. The first novel came out in 1995 and there have been one or two books each year since then.

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?

My books are traditionally published though when a non-fiction grief book went out-of-print, I did self-publish a new production of A Simple Gift of Comfort. My first book, a memoir Homestead, was sold by a proposal. I read a book about how to write a proposal and proceeded to treat it like a college term paper. It was 75 pages long! I don’t recommend that, but it included some of the essays I’d had published in regional magazines. I read dozens of memoir and read the acknowledgments and when I found one I particularly liked (A Walk Across America by Peter Jenkins) I sent my fat proposal to their publishers unsolicited. Also not recommended but this was 1988. After about a year they called and said they were interested, and the rest is history. The novels were also all written by proposal and I ended up signing contracts for them, usually three books at a time to come out yearly so I always had a deadline. The good news was I had convinced someone besides my mom that this was a great story. The bad news is that I never know if I can write it!

Which of your books is your favorite?

The one I’m working on now.

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

I have always liked the opening sentence of my first novel A Sweetness to the Soul because I know where I was when I wrote it and didn’t imagine it would be the opening to a story. I was sitting on a hillside watching our alfalfa field become flooded. It went from all green with little pools of water to all water with little pools of green. Here’s the sentence: “Like the slow rising of the river after an early snowmelt in the mountains, he seeped into my life, unhurried, almost without notice until the strength and breadth of him covered everything that had once been familiar, made it different, new over old.” It introduces the narrator of this story and speaks of change in our lives and how it can happen so slowly we barely notice the enormous change that results.

How long does it take you to write a book?

A lifetime really. Each of the stories began somewhere in my own experience even though I’m writing about another woman from the past. But specifically, I block out June, July and August to write 8-10 hours a day, five-six days a week for a book due September 1. Then I begin researching the book that will be due the following year in September and I’m also promoting the book that has just come out in September. So, while I’m promoting, I’m researching, and working on queries from my editor for that book I just turned in and doing what I call “the work before the work.”

What’s your writing work schedule like?

See above. That’s kind of a picture given the schedule of when manuscripts are due and when they are published. For three months a year, I am getting up at 4 or 5 in the morning, taking a break around 8 for breakfast, returning and writing until noon then back at it until 4 or 5 pm. In the evening, I’m researching, checking on timelines etc. When I worked full time, which I did for most of the first 20 books, I wrote for two hours in the morning from 5-7 am every day. You can get a lot of work done in two hours.

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

Hmmm. I suppose the early morning thing. As I get closer and closer to finishing I get up earlier and earlier so sometimes I’m writing at 1:00 am after having gone to bed at 10:00 pm. I also answer three questions (from Structuring Your Novel by Roberts and Fitzgerald) before I start writing. What’s this story about? What do you feel deeply about? How do you hope a reader will be changed by reading this story?” I might write many pages to answer them, but I get it down to one sentence each that I put on top of my computer screen in tiny font. So, when I get lost in the writing, wonder why I’m doing this, and who will care I look up there and get inspired. The other note I have up there is from Anne Lamont: “You don’t have time for that.”

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

Being part of a panel with two authors I so admire and both National Book Award winners, Barry Lopez and Ivan Doig. It was at a Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association trade show and we were asked questions about writing and life. The other moments of joy have come from readers who have written about how the books have touched their lives. After 9/11 I had a signing which was a scary time for people. I didn’t expect a crowd, but we had close to 100. The last woman in line told me she had wondered what she could do for a Pakistani family who had not come out of their house since the tragedy. She told me she asked herself what she thought my characters would have done and then she baked bread and took it to them and broke bread with these neighbors whom she had never spoken to before that time. That story and others has given me great joy. Some of the best stories of my marriage have come from shared research trips. And my husband has done the maps in my books. I love that connection.

What has been your darkest moment(s)?

Being told that a novel I’d written didn’t cut it. Rejection is the worst, isn’t it? But these women I write about have taught me much about how to deal with rejection or much worse: despair, loss, grief, powerlessness etc. I find myself weaving their strength into my stories and my own life.

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

Ah, you were reading my mind! I’ve been blessed with editors who did have to tell me the manuscript didn’t meet their expectations but could also tell me why and suggest how I could fix it. And then they gave me the opportunity to rewrite the novel. One editor told me I had not answered the question: “whose story is it, the mother or the daughter?” That was so helpful. Editors who can ask those questions always make the work better. Bad reviews. I have a book I read called Rotten Rejections. It includes rejections of greats like Hemingway and Faulkner. That makes me feel better.

Where do you get your ideas?

Everywhere. It goes back to that unanswered question. My 2019 release, One More River to Cross grew from a footnote I read while researching another book. It referred to “eight women, 17 children and James Miller” who had spent the winter of 1844-45 in the Sierras. What were they doing there? Who were they? I had to find out. Sometimes people bring story ideas to me and I must tell them that they are the keeper of that story and they should write it. But sometimes they wear me down and I am so glad they do because those have been wonderful women to spend time with. A Light in the Wilderness and The Memory Weaver are books like that.

Who is your favorite author to read?

Oh gosh! Let me count them. There are many I sign up for to be notified when they’ll have a new book. Donna Leon, Ivan Doig, Kathleen Ernst, C.J. Box, Louise Penny, Karen Zacharias, Michael Zimmer, Martin Walker, Bob Welch, Casey Donis, Robert Crais, Alan Bradley, Anne Lamott, Wendell Berry, Parker Palmer, Mary Oliver, Kim Stafford. Should I go on?

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

Listen to the story. Try not to write for the market, for what is “hot” at any given moment. Because then even if the story takes a long time to find publication, you will have the satisfaction of knowing you listened to the story finding its teller which is a privilege. When promoting it or pitching it, that’s when I try to identify the current market interest. For example, I don’t pitch historical novels because publishers say, “they don’t sell.” I pitch the story of a strong woman who did x or y which is very much the struggle of women today. Or “It’s a story of how to endure in challenge not of one’s making.” I try to relate the story to contemporary readers.

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

Being unwilling to reach out to a freelance editor to have a look at their work. Insisting that what they’ve written can’t be changed or improved. Believing they will make a lot of money :).

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

Look for where your strengths can be showcased. Contribute to newsletters of organizations you care about, for example. Pay attention to blogs and Writer’s Digest and other places that let you know about possible markets. Check out Linked in. Find a writer’s conference that brings editors/agents in and research them finding those who match your story-telling strengths. Volunteer for such a conference that can connect you informally with agents and editors and published authors. I met with an editor at a conference who didn’t pick my manuscript but over breakfast the next day when I told her about a novel I was thinking of writing she spent an hour giving me great suggestions I ended up using and that novel is my most awarded book. She was a big part of that.

Jane Kirkpatrick is the New York Times and CBA bestselling and award-winning author of more than thirty books, including One More River to Cross, Everything She Didn’t Say, All Together in One Place, A Light in the Wilderness, The Memory Weaver, This Road We Traveled, and A Sweetness to the Soul, which won the prestigious Wrangler Award from the Western Heritage Center. Her works have won the WILLA Literary Award, the Carol Award for Historical Fiction, and the 2016 Will Rogers Gold Medallion Award. Jane divides her time between Central Oregon and California with her husband, Jerry, and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Caesar. Learn more at www.jkbooks.com.

Tags bestsellers, bestselling author, historical fiction, Jane Kirkpatrick

Bestsellers

Interview with Best-selling Author Sarah Sundin

Post author By Lisa E. Betz
Post date November 1, 2019
No Comments on Interview with Best-selling Author Sarah Sundin

Can you share a little about your recent book?

Burdened by his past, fighter pilot Lt. Adler Paxton battles the Luftwaffe over Nazi-occupied Europe as the Allies struggle for control of the air before D-day. Violet Lindstrom wants to be a missionary, but for now she serves in the American Red Cross, where she arranges activities at Adler’s air base in England. Drawn to the mysterious Adler, she enlists his help with her programs for local children. Adler finds his defenses crumbling. But D-day draws near. And secrets can’t stay buried forever.

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

I write because I can’t stop. The stories won’t leave me alone. I never start a novel with a theme in mind, but the theme develops from the characters and what they’re learning.

In the Sunrise at Normandy series, the heroes are three brothers who are estranged from each other. Forgiveness is the overarching theme of the series, and each novel in the series explores forgiveness from a different angle.

How long have you been writing?

Almost twenty years now.

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 several years before I was ready to submit, and then I had five years of rejection letters before receiving my first contract. My first contract resulted from a submission to an editor at Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference, and my first novel, A Distant Melody, was published ten years after I first started writing.

Which of your books is your favorite?

I have three adult children. I have no favorites. Same with my books.

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

In The Sky Above Us, there are some heart-wrenching scenes—I take perverse pleasure writing those. There are some action scenes—the hero is a fighter pilot on D-day—and those scenes were great fun to write. But the scenes I loved writing most were when Adler and Violet were together and bantering.

How long does it take you to write a book?

I write one book a year—that involves research, outlining, the rough draft, editing, and promotion.

What’s your writing work schedule like?

It’s definitely a full-time job! Since I’m not a morning person, I spend my mornings on emails, social media, and business aspects of writing. Over lunch, I read research books. In the afternoons, my brain kicks in and I focus on the actual writing.

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

I don’t think so. I don’t need special candles or snacks or music. When I started writing, my kids were little, so I learned to write anytime and anywhere. Even though I have a quiet empty nest and my own office now, those habits have continued.

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

While contracts and awards are wonderful, my absolute favorite moments are when I receive a message from a reader that one of my books touched them deeply. When I hear that a story helped a reader through a difficult time, or that a character’s journey gave the reader a personal insight, or that God used a story to teach courage or forgiveness or humility—well, those fill me with incredible joy.

What has been your darkest moment(s)?

Probably a bad contest score at the end of my rejection-letter years. I felt very confident about my entry and was convinced it was my year. It wasn’t. What hurt more than the score—which was pretty brutal—was that I’d already submitted the same entry to editors at Mount Hermon. For a few days I was convinced I’d wasted years of my life in a futile attempt to get published. But family and friends and the Lord bolstered me. And that submission at Mount Hermon was the one that led to my first contract.

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

I lost count. For five years, my first novel was rejected by just about every editor and agent in the business. But I wouldn’t trade those years for anything. Not only did I improve in my writing and in my knowledge of the publishing industry, but the Lord used it to teach me about humility and His sovereignty and His perfect timing.

Where do you get your ideas?

All sorts of places—historical events, news articles, what-if questions, songs, even from a dream.

Who is your favorite author to read?

Too many to name!! I hate to list any because I might accidentally omit writers I love.

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

Patience, patience, patience. I received this advice over and over but resisted it. Over time I’ve learned to trust in God’s perfect timing.

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

Rushing to publish. The advent of self-publishing has been a wonderful gift, but many promising writers now publish after—or before—the first rejection. It takes time to learn the craft of writing, and those rejections and contest losses teach you vital lessons.

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

Writing conferences. I can’t recommend conferences highly enough. You learn about the craft and the industry. You meet publishing professionals and get to know them as human beings. You receive professional feedback and often have the opportunity to pitch or submit. And you meet other writers on the journey and forge lasting friendships.

Sarah Sundin is the bestselling author of historical novels, including The Sea Before Us, The Sky Above Us, and The Land Beneath Us (coming February 2020) Her novel The Sea Before Us received the 2019 Reader’s Choice Award from Faith, Hope, and Love, When Tides Turn and Through Waters Deep were named to Booklist’s “101 Best Romance Novels of the Last 10 Years,” and Through Waters Deep was a finalist for the 2016 Carol Award and won the INSPY Award. A mother of three, Sarah lives in California. Please visit her at www.sarahsundin.com

Facebook: SarahSundinAuthor

Twitter: sarahsundin

Pinterest: sarahsundin

Find her books at:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

ChristianBook.com

Tags advice for writers, Best Selling, bestselling author, historical fiction, Sarah Sundin

Bestsellers

Bestselling Author Interview – Jolina Petersheim

Post author By Lisa E. Betz
Post date May 1, 2019
3 Comments on Bestselling Author Interview – Jolina Petersheim

Jolina Petersheim is the bestselling author of How the Light Gets In, The Alliance, The Midwife, and The Outcast, which Library Journal called “outstanding . . . fresh and inspirational” in a starred review and named one of the best books of 2013. That book also became an ECPA, CBA, and Amazon bestseller and was featured in Huffington Post’s Fall Picks, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and the Tennessean. CBA Retailers + Resources called her second book, The Midwife, “an excellent read [that] will be hard to put down,” and Romantic Times declared, “Petersheim is an amazing new author.” Her third book, The Alliance, was selected as one of Booklist’s Top 10 Inspirational Fiction titles of 2016. Jolina’s nonfiction writing has been featured in Reader’s Digest, Writer’s Digest, and Today’s Christian Woman. She and her husband share the same unique Amish and Mennonite heritage that originated in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, but they now live in the mountains of Tennessee with their three young daughters. She blogs regularly at jolinapetersheim.com

Can you share a little about your recent book?

My newest novel, How the Light Gets In, is a contemporary spin on Ruth set on a cranberry farm in a Wisconsin Mennonite community.

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

I write to understand my own heart, and from that understanding, to draw closer to the heart of God. My themes change as my personal journey changes. I’ve explored the devastation of family secrets (The Outcast), motherhood (The Midwife), the divide between trust and action (The Alliance series), and marriage during the young parenting years (How the Light Gets In).

How long have you been writing?

I’ve been “writing” since before I could read. My father was a carpenter by trade and a songwriter in his spare time. Therefore, I grew up being immersed in music and language. This, combined with always having my nose in a book, made me want to be a writer.

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 got my first book contract for my debut, The Outcast, when I was twenty-five. My eldest daughter, now seven, was only twelve weeks old. The Outcast was my third “novel,” but the first I ever submitted to an agent. I met my agent at an author reading for our mutual friend because we both have distinctly Pennsylvania Dutch last names, which aren’t often heard around Nashville. He asked what I was working on, and the rest, as they say, is history. He’s been my agent for the past seven years. I admire how he treats everyone with respect and kindness.

How long does it take you to write a book?

Well, my pace has slowed with each child (my husband and I now have three girls). I wrote The Outcast in six months; How the Light Gets In took two years. The beauty of the writing/life journey is that even though I’m a slower writer, my children are teaching me how to live.

What’s your writing work schedule like?

Right now, I wake at 5, write until 6:30, get my firstborn daughter off to school, and then write again at 2, which is nap time/quiet time for my two younger daughters. I try to wrap everything up when my eldest daughter gets home at 3:15. That’s certainly not a lot of time to work on a manuscript, but I have found that slow and steady helps me reach The End. Of course, my writing schedule often changes due to sickness (like this week, when we’ve been passing around a respiratory virus), field trips, and book signings, but the key is to jump right back in when I’m able. I love having a creative outlet that works around my family’s life.

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

Well, for years I’ve been writing at the kitchen table (which is where I am now). The kitchen table is our family’s hub, and I like to be in the center of everything, so my family doesn’t feel like I’m choosing my art over them. Plus, who knows what my children would get into while I was in a closed room.

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

Yesterday, a reader at a book signing showed me a dog-eared section of How the Light Gets In, where Mabel is giving marital advice to Ruth. Another friend rewrote one of Ruth’s letters and sent it to her husband, which served as a medium to help them reconnect. Another friend told me her parents listened to the audiobook version of Ruth’s story while on their way to the beach, and their marriage—at one point—had been severely strained. I love using stories to bring connection and clarity to relationships.

What was your darkest moment(s)?

At the end of 2014, my husband had emergency brain surgery to remove a benign (non-cancerous) tumor. My darkest moment didn’t happen the night before his surgery but the two weeks after it. He was still not well, our children were sick, and the snow was piled up outside our little Wisconsin farmhouse. I remember standing at the window and staring out at that snow. I prayed, and I prayed, and then I walked into the playroom and stretched myself across the guest bed, too tired to cry. That night, our entire household slept, which is no small feat with a newborn and a two-and-a-half-year-old with croup. Looking back, I see that moment as a pivotal shift in my relationship with God. He went from this distant paternal figure to someone who came close to me when I called His name.

Which of your books is your favorite?

Right now, I would have to say How the Light Gets In, but that might be because it most closely reflects my stage of life while trying to juggle marriage, motherhood, and creativity.

Who is your favorite author to read?

Ah! That is always hard for me to answer. I read widely, so I love discovering new authors—or at least authors who are new to me. I recently read and thoroughly enjoyed a forthcoming novel called Call Your Daughter home by a debut author named Deb Spera. I met Deb when we sat beside each other at a book signing in Atlanta. She said her novel was about the “ferocity of motherhood,” so I told her I needed to read it! Call Your Daughter home has beautiful language, an electric atmosphere, and a thread of justice that pulls everything bowstring tight. I loved it.

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

I would tell aspiring writers that no part of the process—writing process and life process—is ever wasted. Not the rejection slips filed in a recipe box. Not the manuscript on a thumb drive that will never see the light of day. I had a goal to be published by twenty-five. I received my first book contract at twenty-five, and though I am extremely grateful for getting an early start, I would tell myself to relax a little more and to enjoy the journey.

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

I’ve experienced rejection more times than I can count. However, I believe we really find out who we are in those moments. Are we going to be the kind of person who just wallows in bed with a piece of dark chocolate (though chocolate is never a bad idea), or are we going to pull ourselves up by our muck boots and get back out there? I do believe it’s important to acknowledge pain, whether large or small, process that pain, and then leave it once it’s processed. Rejection is part of life. Pain is part of life. But it doesn’t have to define you.

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

I love tucking my personal experiences into my fiction. When I was seventeen, I did a short-term outreach at an orphanage in Bogotá, Colombia, with my future husband and his family (though he wasn’t even my boyfriend at the time). We visited this beautiful stone house while we were there with an orange roof. It had a large round table with a circular skylight above. I remember joking that I wanted to come there for my honeymoon one day. Well, in How the Light Gets In, I placed my characters Ruth and Chandler there for their honeymoon. There’s this one scene where the two of them dance on the table and kiss beneath that circular piece of sky. It was as if my husband and I got to go back there, if only for a moment.

Where do you get your ideas?

My ideas take time to percolate. For instance, I’d been thinking about writing a contemporary spin on Ruth since I took a snowy Wisconsin walk with my firstborn daughter, who was only a baby. I imagined a woman coming there after having lost almost everything. Later, when I put my daughter down for a nap, I had the idea of Ruth. It only took me six years to publish it!

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

Well, I won’t call out anyone else’s mistakes, but I will share mine. Comparison is one of the greatest downfalls in the business. It is easy to get our identity in our book’s success (or lack thereof), and either success or failure can be debilitating if this is our foremost goal. However, when we keep our eyes focused on the ultimate Author and His unconditional love for His fellow creatives, everything else clicks into place.

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

Social media is always a great way to connect, but there is truly nothing like face to face interaction. Any creative pursuit requires us to consistently step outside of our comfort zones. Even the most embarrassing experiences can later be turned into funny stories. So, go for it!

Jolina’s books can be found at Barnes and Noble, Books a Million, Powell’s, IndieBound.org, Amazon, Christianbook.com, Target.com, Walmart.com.

Please check out Jolina’s social media below:

Facebook: jolinapetersheimauthor/

Instagram: jolinapetersheimauthor/

Twitter: Jolina_Joy

Pinterest: JolinaPetershei/

Goodreads: .Jolina_Petersheim

Tags Amish fiction, best seller, bestselling author, Jolina Petersheim, romance

Bestsellers

BEST-SELLING AUTHOR INTERVIEW with Margaret Daley

Post author By Donna L.H. Smith-Managing Editor
Post date January 1, 2019
No Comments on BEST-SELLING AUTHOR INTERVIEW with Margaret Daley

Can you share a little about your recent book?

Obsessed (second book in Everyday Heroes Series) blurb:

Stalker. Arson. Murder.
When a stalker ruthlessly targets people she loves, a woman flees her old life, creating a new identity as Serena Remington. Her plan to escape the madman and lead him away from family and friends worked for three years. Now he’s back. With nowhere else to run, her only choice is war. Quinn Taylor, her neighbor and a firefighter with expertise in arson, comes to her aid, but will it be in time to save her?

Buy links: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Apple, Kobo and Google Play

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

I’ve always been a storyteller from a young age. I never thought I would write down those stories I made up when playing with my dolls. I went on to become a special education teacher (27 years). I loved reading and one day decided to see if I could write down a story. That is what started me writing stories for publication.

How long have you been writing?

Since 1977. I would never let anyone see that first story but after that I had the writing bug.

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 wrote for about three years before Silhouette bought my first book in 1980. I’ve written for many publishers over the years: Silhouette (later bought by Harlequin), Dell, Simon and Schuster, Harlequin Love Inspired, and Abington.

How long does it take you to write a book?

Usually between 8-12 weeks.

What’s your writing work schedule like?

Right now I’m recovering from total knee replacement. Usually my writing schedule is to write throughout the day (often 6 to 7 days a week). I do take breaks and do other things like researching and brainstorming.

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

When writing mysteries/suspense stories, I often don’t know who is the “bad guy” because I set up several along the way. I don’t want to know. Usually it comes to me about 2/3 of the way through the story—sometimes even later.

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

Reading the letters and emails from my readers.

What has been your darkest moment(s)?

I wrote and published over twenty books in the eighties then went through a long period of not being able to sell another book. In the middle of the nineties, I sold seven more books after a dry spell for eight years and almost giving up writing. But I didn’t. Then Harlequin’s Love Inspired bought one of my stories in 2000, and I’ve been writing stories ever since. I’ve now written over 105 books.

Which of your books is your favorite?

Saving Hope, the first book in my Men of the Texas Rangers. It is a romantic suspense about child trafficking.

Who is your favorite author to read?

James Rollins (adventure and suspense)

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

Know the rules for writing, but also don’t be afraid to break them if it makes your story better.

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

I’ve experienced many rejections. That is part of this career. The rejections made me stronger and more determined.

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

Usually it’s my current hero and/or heroine which is Sadie Williams and Brock Carrington in the story I’m writing right now titled Trapped.

Where do you get your ideas?

They just come to me. Something (like a news story) might spark an idea. I often say that God is my muse.

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

Things to look for when writing: developing your main characters and know them well, pacing is important, if you don’t have several reasons for a scene, leave it out or combine with another scene, research when needed but don’t put everything you learned into the story—only what is needed.

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

Now a writer can be self-published, but there is a lot to learn about self-publishing. Whether you self-publish or try to get a publisher to buy your story, you need to research the market. There are organizations like Romance Writers of America that can help you with it.

Bio:

Margaret Daley, a USA Today’s Bestselling author of over 105 books (five million plus sold worldwide), has been married for over forty-eight years and is a firm believer in romance and love. She is currently writing for Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense and self-publishing. When she isn’t traveling or being with her two granddaughters, she’s writing love stories, often with a suspense/mystery thread and corralling her cats that think they rule her household. To find out more about Margaret visit her website at http://www.margaretdaley.com.

Link to my books: https://margaretdaley.com/all-books/

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

Twitter: http://twitter.com/margaretdaley

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/238174.Margaret_Daley

Link to sign up for my newsletter on front page of website: http://www.margaretdaley.com

Tags author interview, bestsellers, bestselling author, Margaret Daley, www.almostanauthor.com

Book Reviews

BEST-SELLING AUTHOR INTERVIEW with Karen Witemeyer

Post author By Donna L.H. Smith-Managing Editor
Post date December 1, 2018
1 Comment on 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

Tags bestselling author, Christmas Heirloom Collection, Gift of the Heart, Karen Witemeyer, www.almostanauthor.com

Bestsellers

BEST-SELLING AUTHOR INTERVIEW with Lynette Eason

Post author By Donna L.H. Smith-Managing Editor
Post date July 1, 2018
No Comments on BEST-SELLING AUTHOR INTERVIEW with Lynette Eason

Can you share a little about your recent book?

Called To Protect is the second book in the Blue Justice Series.

Here’s the back cover copy:

For the past year, Chloe St. John has been working as a K-9 cop with her German shepherd partner, Hank. After being dumped by her fiancé for another woman, Chloe has decided that Hank is just about the only male she likes. She’s over the whole romance thing and focuses her attention on doing her job. Because a serious case of human trafficking with connections to her missing cousin just landed in her lap.

When US Marshall Blake MacCallum’s daughter goes missing, he’s ordered to kill the judge he’s protecting and tell no one about his daughter’s disappearance or she will die. Blake races against the clock to rescue his daughter while Chloe and Hank are asked to be a part of the task force assembled to bring down the traffickers. Chloe finds herself attracted to the silent, suffering man, but thanks to her previous bad judgment, she wonders if she can trust him. And can Blake trust himself around this firecracker of a woman?

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

I started writing out of loneliness, but fortunately, it morphed into a full-time job. There are different themes/messages throughout the books. Mainly, I write to entertain—and to minister. If God chooses to use the words to touch someone’s life then I praise Him for that.