Tag: Carol Award

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Interview with Award-Winning Author Lauren H. Brandenburg

award-winning author

Can you share a little about your recent book?

The Marriage of Innis Wilkinson is another contemporary cozy set in the idyllic town of Coraloo. It’s a standalone novel, however, follows the antics of characters introduced in my first novel, The Death of Mungo Blackwell. It centers around the impending marriage of Margarette Toft to Roy Blackwell – super controversial as the families have been feuding since before the town was founded. The real chaos ensues as the families attempt to plan the wedding amidst a month-long festival and a town secret involving an actor with a severe case of kleptomania and the mysterious marriage of Innis Wilkinson. It’s a quirky modern-day tale of love and family with a heavy dose of absolutely loveable side characters.

The Marriage of Innis Wilkinson by Lauren H. Brandenburg

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

You know how sometimes you get to the end of a movie or book and it’s kind of like you exhale when it’s over – suddenly you want to tell everyone you know about it because it was just… lovely. That’s the only word for it. I find it most in children’s film and literature – creative storylines, maybe a bit of adventure, the out of the ordinary, a dose of imagination, and characters you remember forever. That’s my goal, to create something full of childlike wonder for grown-ups.

How long have you been writing?

I’ve been writing for ten years. My first adventure was with an indie-pubbed middle-grade series (that I still play with a occasionally) called The Books of the Gardener. I currently have six of the ten books complete and probably would have at least three more finished by now had I not taken a bit of a break to write for grown-ups, a venture that continues to surprise me.

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?

Seven years! I had always hoped my middle-grade books would find a traditional publishing home, but alas it was not to be. At the time my agent felt the market was just not acquiring middle-grade – it was during the social media boom when middle-graders hadn’t quite found their place and publishers didn’t know how to market to them.

So, she suggested I continue to indie-pub my MG series and write that “thing” – that quirky thing I had been talking about writing for two years but kept insisting I had to finish my ten book middle-grade series before I started on it. She had another idea. Hit pause on the MG series and write “that thing about the man who has his funeral before he died”. She knew I needed some refreshing and thought this might be good for me, especially since I talked about it all the time!

I wrote it in six months, pitched it at a conference to several houses, and had three requests for full manuscripts by the end of the day. Long story short… two years later after a bit of rewrites, I signed a two-book contract with Lion Hudson in England for The Death of Mungo Blackwell and The Marriage of Innis Wilkinson.

Which of your books is your favorite?

The Death of Mungo Blackwell is absolutely my most favorite thing I have ever written! While there is this quirky side story about a man named Mungo Blackwell who sailed with pirates, married the maharaja’s daughter, and had his funeral before he died, the real story is of a husband and wife who go through a major financial loss. So, this is a very personal book for me as well – my husband and I felt every inch of the financial crash of 2008, losing our home, selling our belongings, and doing our best to find contentment as we dug (and sold) our way out of it. It’s our story… just really exaggerated.

The Death of Mungo Blackwell by Lauren H. Brandenburg

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

Granny Blackwell will forever be my most favorite character, she’ll just have to make an appearance in one way or another in each of my books set in Coraloo. She has a bit of both my grandmother’s in her. She’s witty, funny, insightful, and has no problem speaking her mind. She also has an absolutely lovely backstory that I can’t wait to share with my readers.

Tell us about an award you won that was particularly meaningful.

Oh this just makes me all swoony to even thing about! I still can’t believe it! The Death of Mungo Blackwell recently won the American Christian Fiction Writer’s (ACFW) Carol Award for Contemporary Fiction. I’ve attended this conference for years – even before the book was a thought. It’s where I first pitched the novel. I’ve sat at the awards banquet so many times watching friends and fellow writer’s accept awards. I wondered so often what it would be like, and now I am just absolutely beyond grateful.

How long does it take you to write a book?

It usually takes me about four months to get the first good draft on paper and then I have several layers of editing before I let anyone read it. So… I’d say around six months before it goes to my editor or agent.

What’s your writing work schedule like?

I’ve fallen into the schedule of writing in the afternoons once all my distractions are out of the way, at least four days a week. Right after lunch and before my kiddos get home from school seems to be my sweet spot. That gives me the morning to tidy up my house, run errands, and do all the grown-up things that need doing. I try to do any marketing, interviews, phone calls, etc. in the morning as well – that’s usually first thing after the kiddos are off to school and my husband has gone to work.

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

This is really weird, but I have to have movement around me – a candle burning, a fire flickering in the fireplace, a fan spinning. Stillness is so distracting! It makes me want to just get up and do something else, anything else – usually laundry, dishes. It’s so silly, I know. Maybe it’s because I’m so ridiculously fidgety.

What has been your greatest joy(s) in your writing career? I would have to say (next to winning the Carol Award) was going to England with my family for the UK release of The Death of Mungo Blackwell – visiting my publishing team, radio interviews on BBC radio, seeing my book in a magazine on a grocery store shelf, and chatting with a book club at a library outside of London. It was absolutely magical! As my daughter and I would say, it was “Roses for days!”

Could you tell us about a dark moment in your writing career? Oh… right… there are those. And I had one hit me really hard in the months before the release of The Death of Mungo Blackwell. It’s really easy as a writer to set expectations of how everything is going to look, especially when you have writer friends who are releasing at the same time. On top of that, my children were entering private school after I had homeschooled for ten years, we moved into a new home in a new and unfamiliar community, and I was working on my second book that I just couldn’t seem to get right.

I felt like I had lost my identity as a homeschool mom (which had been a huge platform for me marketing my middle-grades), and I was not seeing my “launch” go as well as I had intended. Or let me be honest, I didn’t have as much to post on social media as my friends who were launching their books around the same time. That spirit of comparison is a beast! It all seems so selfish looking back on it, but I had found myself in a really dark place. I was sad, just really sad. It was hard for me to find joy in anything.

The trip to England changed everything and it really had nothing to do with the book – it had everything to do with reminding me who I was and that my identity isn’t defined by book sales or how I choose to educate my children. I had to find contentment in other areas of my life before I could find contentment in my author life. I feel like I found myself in England and was happy to bring her back home.

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

I’ve seriously lost count. I think there were five rejections on Mungo before he found a home. And dozens on my middle-grade series. I learned to be patient and that if you pray for the right fit, you just have to be willing to wait for it. Every rejection was absolutely worth finding my publishing home with Lion Hudson. I’ve always been in love with England—all things England! So having a British publisher was truly worth the wait.

Where do you get your ideas?

Dead people. I’m just kidding! Sort of… Mungo Blackwell was originally inspired by an actual man in my family who had his funeral before he died. But mostly I’m inspired by life, real people, and that bit of oddness in all of us. I find that people tell me a lot about their quirky family members. And while my characters aren’t directly based on any of these stories, I do like to document tendencies, mannerisms, and uniqueness that make us so fun.

For example, when I was teaching… years ago… I had a co-teacher who had a great grandmother who kept misplacing her letters. I twisted it a bit and created a grandmother in one of my middle-grade novels who kept losing another kind of letters – A, B, C. I could people watch for days! We’re just a fascinating creation.

Who is your favorite author to read?

Roald Dahl. I know… children’s author. But he’s usually my go to when I’m starting one of my novels for grown-ups. I just love how far he reaches into the imagination, his use of language, and words. He has a tone that is so lovely it bounces. I’m a huge fan of story, and he was an amazing storyteller. Grown-up novels shouldn’t have to be so heavy. We live heavy lives. Our reading should allow us to escape into those same worlds we lived in as children.

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

Find your people. The author world can be a lonely world filled with unnecessary anxiety. It helps to have people in your life who know exactly how you’re feeling when your spouse has no idea why you are melting down over a self-inflicted deadline. Find people to join you on the journey – those who have published and those who haven’t put the first word on paper but have a really good idea. Glean from the experience and be willing to share what you learn – at all levels of your writing career. I truly wish I had found my people sooner, but now that I have them… I don’t want to ever let them go.

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

Rushing. It seems that a lot of aspiring writer’s (my early writer self included) find themselves on self-inflicted timelines. They set goals for when the story will be done, when they will get an agent, and when they will publish. And when these goals aren’t met, they rush into indie-publishing. Indie-publishing is great, but it is really hard work! There are no short cuts. Most of the successful indie-authors know their audience and how to market to them. They stay on top of the trends, keep spreadsheets and are as good at the business end of the industry as they are at writing. The road to publication whether indie or traditional is long and hard. Don’t rush into either one. Take your time. Get it right.

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

Network! Network! Network! Online is great, but it’s not the same as meeting face to face. So find a local writer’s group and attend at least one writing conference a year. It’s where the industry hangs out – authors, editors, agents, publishers. We’re all there for one purpose – books. It’s where you build relationships, learn the trends, hone your craft, and most often have the opportunity to have real conversation with editors and agents. My agent once told me that I had to be the one to pitch my book because nobody knows my story like I do… and I tend to get really excited and passionate about what I write. I imagine my wide-eyes and flailing arms are a bit amusing. Apparently, it worked – not sure I really could have been myself in front of a computer screen.

Lauren H. Brandenburg is an author and storyteller who happily blurs the lines between traditional genres in both middle grade and cozy fiction. She was longlisted for the People’s Book Prize in the United Kingdom and recipient of the ACFW Carol Award in contemporary fiction for The Death of Mungo Blackwell, as well as a two time Selah Award finalist. 

Lauren is a former junior high and high school English teacher who stepped away from her profession to raise and homeschool her two children. She currently lives with her husband and their two children in a lovely little town just south of Nashville, Tennessee where they cook, play games, and laugh a lot. 

Books are Available online wherever books are sold in the US and UK:

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Bestsellers

Award-Winning Author Interview with Naomi Stephens

award-winning author

Can you share a little about your recent book?

Shadow among Sheaves is a 19th-century retelling of the Ruth and Boaz story, set during the British occupation of India.

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

So far, all the books on my writing plate are allegorical in nature—they’re biblical stories reset in a different historical framework. More than anything, I want to write characters who feel human and relatable, and so I tend to explore character flaws and highlight struggles of conscience.

How long have you been writing?

I can’t remember a time in my life when I didn’t love books and stories. My mom kept a story I wrote in first or second grade, called “Magical Mittens,” about a little boy who found a pair of mittens that could change the color of the snow. Even then, I loved storytelling. I started attempting full manuscripts in college and grad school, though those early efforts were extremely rough and unruly.

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 started drafting Shadow among Sheaves in January of 2016, a few months after my son was born. At that time, I wrote as much as possible during his naps. I started querying agents a little over a year later and signed with Adria Goetz of Martin Literary Management in September of 2017. We received an offer from Barbour the following spring. From start to finish, it was roughly a three-year process.

Which of your books is your favorite?

As my debut, Shadow among Sheaves holds a special place in my heart, but I’m actually growing even fonder of my second book, which I’m happy to say is now entirely written!

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

Uncle George will always be one of my favorites. Initially, I’d thought he’d have the same manners/outlook as his son, Thomas, who’s an unscrupulous and arrogant scoundrel. But as I worked through his scenes, he turned out to be so wonderfully gray in spirit and regretful. He’s not a “heroic” character by any stretch, nor even truly honorable, but he tries to be, in his own way. He was a surprising character for me as an author, and that was great fun.

Tell us about an award you won that was particularly meaningful.

Winning the Carol Award in the debut category was one of the utter highpoints of my writing journey. I didn’t expect to make it as far as I did, and when they read my name I very nearly burst into tears. It made me realize the full impact of everyone who has taught, supported, and guided me up to that moment—I never could have done it alone, and I’m so thankful.

How long does it take you to write a book?

It takes me about a year to have the kind of draft I’m comfortable sharing with my agent. I don’t necessarily write a rough draft and then a revised draft when that’s complete, etc., but I revise circularly as I’m going, always doubling back and tightening things before I feel comfortable inching ahead with the plot. Which means, by the time I write the end of my draft, the book has already been tightened, edited, and gone over by my critique buddy a few times.

What’s your writing work schedule like?

As a stay-at-home mom, my writing schedule varies quite a bit from one day to the next. Some days, I crank through a few hours of work and feel super productive. Other days, it feels like I’m stringing together one tiny word at a time, and I’m thankful if I end up with a completed paragraph by the end of the day. I’ve been learning a lot of lessons in prioritization and flexibility.

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

Hmm, I can’t think of any. I’m pretty boring! Lol.

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

I’ve cherished every moment I’ve been able to share with my family. From book events and signings to a lovely sushi dinner on release day, my husband and kiddos have been there to celebrate every special moment with me. Very recently, we took a family road trip to the location of my book in progress. That was a fabulous adventure, and I’m so thrilled that my young ones will always remember being a part of it.

Could you tell us about a dark moment in your writing career?

I can’t really think of a “dark” moment, per se, but I was recently 160 pages into a manuscript that just wasn’t clicking for me. I abandoned the book and started from scratch on a completely new project. Starting over was a terrible feeling, and very frustrating, like I was taking ten steps backward. But that decision has been so worth it because I am far more confident and excited about my new book than I ever was about the one I shelved.

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

There were a lot of rejections in the early days, back when I was still querying agents. And sometimes even the kindest step asides kicked up a lot of doubts about whether or not my book was strong enough to make it on shelves. I’m glad I kept at it, though, because teaming up with my agent, Adria, has been an incredible joy.

Where do you get your ideas?

I have two answers to this question:

As I work in the realm of historical fiction, a lot of my ideas are inspired by historical events. Whenever I hit a wall with my plot or characters, I force myself to turn back to the research pile, which almost always sparks some fresh idea.

Also, some of my best ideas have come about through conversations I’ve had with friends and family. Brainstorming out loud with other people is such a crucial part of my process. I actually tripped upon the ending of my current book while out on a drive with my husband. I was talking about how I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with one of my major characters, how to tie off the ending properly. And as I was talking through all of my concerns, the answer I needed popped out of my mouth before I even realized I’d thought it. I’ll never forget how my husband and I looked at each other and smiled when I said it—we got to share a very cool aha! moment.

Who is your favorite author to read?

Oh, wow, this is a nearly impossible question! Overall, I’m a lover of the classics—Jane Austen, the Brontës, Dickens, etc. I reread A Christmas Carol during the Christmas holiday, and it provided such a refreshing dip from some of the research I’ve been occupied with lately.

What advice can you give aspiring writers that you wished you had gotten, or that you wished you would have heeded? What are common mistakes you see aspiring writer’s make?

The raw excitement of finishing a manuscript can make it so tempting to move forward too early. I actually queried two manuscripts before Shadow among Sheaves, and those turned out to be big mistakes at the time.

So, I encourage all fellow writers to take some time: time away from your project before you reread it; time reading in your genre to remind yourself of your form and your audience; time researching agents; time going over your query letter, your elevator pitch, and your sample chapters. I recommend going over everything multiple times with a fine-tooth comb to make sure you’re always putting your absolute best foot forward.

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

There are dozens of paths forward, and any one of them could lead to the conversation you really need to pitch your project to the right person. When I first started querying agents, I had no platform, no background in publishing, no professional social media presence, and zero connections in the market. So, whichever route you’re taking, my only advice, really, is to keep knocking on doors!

Naomi Stephens is a bookworm turned teacher turned writer. Her first novel, Shadow among Sheaves, is an Inspy Award shortlister and winner of the 2020 Carol Award in Debut Fiction. 

In bookstores, Naomi gravitates towards 19th-century British novels—the broodier the better (i.e., Jane Eyre)—but she can also be found perusing the young adult, mystery, and fantasy sections. Anything that keeps her turning pages past midnight!
​
Though she’s called many places home over the years, she currently lives in Ohio with her husband, her two children, and a rascal of a dog named Sherlock. When not writing or having adventures with her family, she can be found drinking tea, practicing photography, and pining for London.

Website: naomistephens.com 

Facebook: facebook.com/ShadowAmongSheaves

Instagram: @authornaomistephens

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Bestsellers

Award-Winning Author Lindsay A. Franklin

award-winning author

Can you share a little about your recent book?

My latest release is the third in a series, so I probably shouldn’t share too much (spoilers!). But I can tell you about the series overall. In The Weaver Trilogy, art is magic, and when supernaturally gifted storytellers weave tales, strands of light and color pour from their hands. Those strands then collect together and crystallize into solid objects to sell. All young story peddler Tanwen En-Yestin wants is to use her gift to work her way to the capital city and become Royal Storyteller to the king. Instead, story strands she can’t control begin pouring from her hands, accusing the king of treason—and now she’s on his most-wanted list.


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

My first goal is always to tell a good story—one that grips my reader emotionally and makes them fall in love with my characters. And as a woman of faith, my worldview will always be laced throughout my storytelling. But I also think fiction is a wonderful place to explore deep and difficult topics. The Weaver Trilogy touches on identity, found families, loyalty, courage, racism, trauma, and more.

How long have you been writing?

Since I was little. I wrote my first “novel” when I was eleven. But I entered the publishing industry, complete draft in hand, about ten years ago.

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 agented within my first year in the industry, but it took us six years to sell my first full-length fiction to a publisher.

Which of your books is your favorite?

Tough question! We’ll say the most recent, The Story Hunter. But that answer could change tomorrow.

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

It’s really hard to pick a favorite character, but the main character in The Weaver Trilogy is based on my daughter, and that’s special. I love her bubbly, positive energy, though she can have a sharp tongue when she wants (very like a certain twelve-year-old who lives in my house).

Tell us about an award you won that was particularly meaningful.

I was blown away by the award recognition The Story Peddler received last year. It was not expected, to say the least. Winning the Carol Award at ACFW was a huge moment for me, as was being named Book of the Year and Alliance Award winner at Realm Makers. For the Carol, it was overwhelming and incredible for a fantasy book—my fantasy book—to win in the debut category. Realm Makers is my speculative fiction community, and being acknowledged within one’s community like that is…humbling. Such an honor.

How long does it take you to write a book?

I spend as long as I need pre-writing (brainstorming, figuring out who my characters are, outlining), sometimes a year or more, depending on how deeply focused on the work I’m able to be. Once I start writing, I can finish 100K-word novel in a few months fairly easily. The outline is the key for me. I have written a whole novel in a month, but that’s a breakneck pace I don’t enjoy at all!

What’s your writing work schedule like?

I’m not very creative until the afternoon hits, and really, my best time to write is after 6:00 p.m. If I’m on deadline, I’ll try to write a couple thousand words per day. If I’m really on deadline, you might catch me writing eight or ten thousand a day, but I really try to plan well enough to avoid that.

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

I listen to very loud music when I’m writing. When I read or edit, I can’t have anything playing in the background except instrumental scores. But when I write? Super loud music, with lyrics and all.

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

There have been so many unexpected joys. Getting notes or tags on social media from readers who read something in my stories that touched them will never, ever get old. Being able to stand at an awards podium and thank the agent who believed in me when I was a very green writer (and stuck by me through all the years of rejections) and the editor who took a risk on me, even though I was unproven, was a joyous moment. Honestly, I’m so lucky that I get to do this as my career.

What has been your darkest moment(s)?

In my career? It wasn’t the rejections, though they do sting. I’m a strong supporter of indie publishing, so I knew I had options if traditional publishing didn’t work out for me. There was some business-related instability at one of my publishers for a while, and that was very, very hard. Because for a while, I thought my dream had finally come true but was going crumble beneath me, and there was nothing I could do to stop it. Everything worked out, thankfully. But that was a hard season.

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

Goodness. A lot? My agent and I tried to sell my first fantasy series for about a year. Then we tried to sell a YA contemporary stand-alone for about a year. We got very close to a contract with both of those books, but ultimately ended up with a pile of rejections. And that’s when I began writing The Weaver Trilogy. The thing is, the rejection never really stops in publishing. Once you have a contract and your book baby is out in the world, you face “rejection” from readers all the time. Those one- and two-star reviews hurt, but I think they have helped me let go of my perfectionism. No book will be universally well-received. No book is for everyone, and that’s perfectly okay.

Where do you get your ideas?

From everywhere. News headlines, historical events, random thoughts flittering through my brain, musings about the past, dreams…

Who is your favorite author to read?

This is an impossible question! I’m not sure if I have a favorite because every author brings something really unique to the table.

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

Be patient. Work hard, but don’t rush to publication. Once you’ve crossed over into that next phase of your career, you can’t go back to the days before your first contract. That season is beautiful, full of learning and unbound creativity. It’s special. Don’t rush.

What are common mistakes you see aspiring writers make?

Learning from peers rather than those who are a little further down the road than they are. Now, you can and should grow alongside your peers. Critique partners are wonderful for this. But I routinely see bad writing and marketing advice given (and taken) in online writers’ groups because everyone participating in the conversation is inexperienced. I’m a big fan of going your own way, doing your own thing. But I also think it’s important to learn from those who have traveled the path before you—to glean their wisdom so you know how best to apply your own spin.

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

This certainly isn’t the only way to do it, but my career was definitely jump-started by attending writers’ conferences to learn, meet agents and editors, and connect with like-minded writers with whom I could grow.

Lindsay A. Franklin is a Carol Award–winning author, freelance editor, and homeschooling mom of three. She would wear pajama pants all the time if it were socially acceptable. Lindsay lives in her native San Diego with her scruffy-looking nerf-herder husband, their precious geeklings, three demanding thunder pillows (a.k.a. cats), and a stuffed marsupial named Wombatman. You can find Lindsay on Instagram @LinzyAFranklin.


The Weaver Trilogy is available at all major retailers.
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