How to Dress a Dinosaur is a board book published in March by Familius. It describes a mother and toddler going through the daily trial of getting dressed. She imaginatively pretends he is various dinosaurs to get the job done.
Why do you write? Do you have a theme, message, or goal for your books?
I write for both religious and general markets. I think laughter is the common denominator and the best way to connect with kids.
How long have you been writing?
My first resource book for library programs was published last century! 1987.
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 was an editor for DC Cook. They had some art from another project and asked if I’d like to write a book to go with the pictures. That was the first Baby Bible Story Book – now sold over 1M copies!
Which of your books is your favorite?
I love the art and timelessness of Tuktuk: Tundra Tale, the story of an arctic lemming who outwits bigger animals to get a cozy winter home. I just read it of 11 different classes virtually on WRAD and still love it most!
Do you have a favorite character or scene in one of your books?
In How to Dress a Dinosaur, my favorite is the last page where the mom and kid are both green and scaly and smiling with dino love!
Tell us about an award you won that was particularly meaningful.
When The Very Best Story Ever Told won the 2020 Serious WRITER Book of the Decade, I attended the live dinner and presentation. Even in the middle of COVID it was the most wonderful award.
How long does it take you to write a book?
Write? 20-23 min. Edit: 7 to 10 years.
What’s your writing work schedule like?
I am most productive 1st thing in the morning but I love research and can get down a rabbit hole of information and crawl out at lunch. I do get very productive in Feb and March because in Jan I take the Story Storm challenge and come up with 31 ideas in 31 days!
What has been your greatest joy(s) in your writing career?
It rewarding to see kids enjoy any of my books – especially the droolers and chewers of my board books!
Could you tell us about a dark moment in your writing career?
I still get discouraged with I fall for the lure of the Twitter Pitch and get no little hearts!!
How many times in your career have you experienced rejection? How did they shape you?
Is there a bigger number than a bazillion-gazillion? I try to remember there is a right time and publisher for every manuscript. And I rewrite. Sometimes it goes in a drawer.
Where do you get your ideas?
I get ideas whenever I sit on the floor – with the preschoolers in church chapel or my own grandkids. They now have to help me up!
Who is your favorite author to read?
Covers the library from Thomas Hardy to John Grisham!
What advice can you give aspiring writers that you wished you had gotten, or that you wished you would have heeded?
As stable as the book world seems there are changes all the time. If you get a chance to submit or meet up or write, grab it!
What are common mistakes you see aspiring writers make?
Oh dear – the ones who ask how much they will make on their book!
Where/How do you recommend writers try to break into the market?
Agents are the key – I know there a exceptions, but a good agent unlocks so many doors!
Multi award winning author Robin Currie led children’s departments of public libraries and now volunteers teaching English in developing countries. Robin has published seven resource collections of creative ideas for library story times, and more than 40 picture books. She writes stories to read and read again!
How to Dress a Dinosaur
2022 Moonbeam Award
2022 Speak Up Talk Radio, Winner Firebird Award
2022 Purple Dragonfly
The Very Best Story Ever Told.
2020: WINNER Serious Writer’s Book of the Decade
2019 Focus on Family Top 10 Family Friendly Picture Books
2019 First Place, Wright Medal, North Carolina Christian Writers Conference
M. J. Padgett is a YA author and co-owner of Pirate Cat Publishing and I asked her advice about how to keep readers turning pages.
DJS: So much of our time as writers is spent trying to hook a reader, but that’s only part of the task. What do you feel are the most important elements a story needs to keep YA readers engaged?
M.J.: Keeping young adults engaged is a difficult task for anyone, especially a writer. Times change quickly, but the core elements of life pretty much stay the same.
Everyone wants a sense of community, of fitting in, finding people with whom they can create strong, lasting bonds (and maybe some romance.) While slang words and phrases, societal concerns, and social climate might change, those are human needs that rarely disappear.
When writing, I try to remember those things and touch on important topics like family—both good and bad aspects, especially including examples of healthy familial relationships—friendships, and young love. Engaging their thoughts and emotions by putting characters in similar situations they might be experiencing is key, especially in true-to-life books.
In fantasy, a sense of escapism that might help readers see their problems in another light, hopefully one that is positive and aids in growth.
What keeps readers engaged is honest discussion about topics we all face. It’s important to bring a Christian perspective to common concerns, showing teenagers that their feelings are not only understandable but also something we have all faced at some point, then offering them realistic and healthy ways to manage those feelings and situations.
DJS: What are some common pitfalls you’ve seen that can cause a reader of teen fiction to lose interest?
M.J.: Recently, many of my YA readers have voiced the same concerns–YA content has become too adult for their liking. Extensive scenes where teens are sexualized and often exploited, characters that are abusive in one way or another are portrayed as desirable, and too political content turns them off. They want to feel, but they want to do it in a healthy way.
DJS: Some stories for teens and YA readers seem to be long-lived favorites. What are your favorites among older literature, and what do you think makes them so timeless?
M.J.: The Anne of Green Gables series, Little House on the Prairie, Little Women, and so on are all classics I see resurface among YA readers from time to time. I think, even though they might contain some worrisome topics here and there, they represent a time when literature was more wholesome and realistic. They told tales people related to and in a way that people can still relate to today. I think they survived because their authors knew how to write good stories that would stand the test of time and change.
Writing is M. J. Padgett’s true passion (after raising her daughter, of course), and she writes as often as possible. When it comes to reading, she loves a book that can make her forget where she is no matter the genre. If she can get lost and feel like the characters are her real friends, she’s a happy reader.
M.J.’s latest release is the YA Fantasy, Dark and Devious.
Something dark and devious lurks in the moors around Roisin Dubh’s home, and it’s her duty to stamp it out before it gets its claws into the humans she’s vowed to protect.… even though those humans would kill her on sight if they knew she was Fae.
Roisin is bound by a vow to protect the humans of Gwenlyre from dark Fae at all costs, but now something sinister has entered Gwenlyre, and it will strain Roisin’s vows – and her heart – to their limits.
Why do you write? Do you have a theme, message, or goal for your books?
While I never set out to be an author, I’ve always been a storyteller. I see the world in stories, I learn in stories, and I think we grow from the stories we hear and the ones we tell ourselves. There is no deliberate theme to all my fiction and nonfiction books, but I would say that all center on the idea that we are capable of more than we know. I want to show people “you can get there from here,” or perhaps “God can get you there from here”—no matter where “here” is and what you are facing.
How long have you been writing?
I began seriously pursing publication in 1997, published my first book in 2001, and now have over 50 published titles to my credit. In fact, I’ll publish my 60th book the week of my 60th birthday later this year!
Tell us about one of your greatest joy(s) in your writing career.
There’s no greater joy than having a reader tell you how you touched their heart or gave them a much-needed boost at a challenging time. I love teaching my productivity method, The Chunky Method and watching the light-bulbs of possibility go off over writer’s heads!
Tell us about one of your darkest moment(s) in your writing career.
I had a friend once say “publishing will hand you a reason to leave every single day.” Most days, the daunting odds, whopping workload, and the sheer flying into the midst required to write a book can drag you down. This is a business where your best weapon is resilience, which is why I published My Daily Momentum to show others the daily journaling practice I use to keep going in the face of writing’s uphill climb.
Rejection is a common experience for writers. How do you overcome rejection? How has rejection shaped you or your career?
Having started life as an actor, I learned very quickly that rejection is an unavoidable part of the process. Until you learn to hear “no” as “not now” or “not here,” it can be tough going. After a twenty-year career, I have enough personal stories of rejections being gifts wrapped in disappointment. But do I still reach for pie or chocolate? You betcha.
In what ways has God led you to coach other writers? Were you surprised when a certain skill or connection led to coaching opportunities?
The Chunky Method came to me from my professional days as a grant-writer, where deadlines and breaking things down into manageable pieces were essential skills. The “ah-ha!” moment for me happened when I realized we can absolutely apply these tactics to art. In fact, applying a personalized structure to art only empowers greater creativity. I take tremendous gratification from unlocking a writing practice for a writer and watching the great work that flows from it. Was I surprised? My writing career has been so packed full of God-surprises that while I was astonished and grateful, I wasn’t startled.
Tell us about a facet of coaching that particularly excites you.
So often people here “you must do this” when talking about writing. “Serious writers write this amount of words or write every day.” Nonsense. What every writer needs is a structure built on how their creative mind works—and that looks different for everyone. I love to watch writers light up when they realize “that’s why _____ is so hard for me” or “now I understand what works for me.” It’s like watching a rocket take off—which is why I call my initial coaching program “The Chunky Launch Package.”
What venues/methods have you found most effective for meeting and coaching writers?
I am a highly extroverted person—rare in the writing world, I know. My favorite is always teaching in person at events (all those lightbulbs going off over all those heads….), but I’ve adapted to our virtual reality and coach more often now over video and phone as well as webinars. Many writers meet me through The Chunky Method Handbook, too.
Have you organized or led groups to support writers? (Retreats, ACFW chapters, etc.) How has that experience helped you to coach writers?
I work extensively with business book coach Cathy Fyock on a weekly on-line writers forum and retreats. I often speak at conferences, ACFW chapters, RWA chapters, and other writers groups. It’s always a great way to introduce writers to the Chunky Method.
Have you organized or directed a writers’ conference? Tell us about that experience, and/or share an anecdote that illustrates how you saw writers being coached and encouraged through the event.
I’ve never organized one myself, but I’m often booked to speak at them.
If you speak at writers’ groups or conferences, what are some of your favorite topics to speak about?
I speak almost as much as I coach and write! Aside from The Chunky Method, I teach craft classes on characterization and dialogue, on fiction skills for non-fiction writers, and several other topics.
What advice do you have for writers as we interact with our peers? What can we do to be better supporters, mentors, and coaches of our fellow writers?
Ditch the comparisons! We’re so quick to line ourselves up—usually wrongly—against others, forgetting that our paths are unique to us. I’ve been speaking a lot this year on professional jealousy, and how that can be such a trap for any artist.
Do you have a favorite resource or two that you recommend to beginning writers?
Well now, I wouldn’t be doing much of a job if I didn’t say The Chunky Method Handbook is my favorite, would I? There are loads of great craft books out there, but I do think writers need to get a solid writing practice established in order to have a successful career.
Do you have a favorite resource or two that you recommend to writers who are struggling with discouragement?
Other than chocolate and pie? My usual advice is this: take 24 hours and allow yourself to yell OUCH. Hurt. Journal out what you’re feeling, pray, whine to friends. Then call it done and get back to the next right step.
What are common mistakes you see aspiring writers make?
Trying to be someone else. Be you. Be authentic, be well-crafted, strive for excellence, but be you. A distinct voice is one of the greatest assets you can have in this business.
What advice can you give aspiring writers that you wished you had gotten, or that you wished you would have heeded?
I got great advice from the beginning: “Allie, hush up and just WRITE.” Nothing begets writing like writing. Reading books on craft or tactics is great, conferences and classes are useful, but if you’re doing that and not writing, it won’t work. There are no substitutes and no shortcuts.
An avid knitter, coffee junkie and firm believer that “pie makes everything better,” Allie Pleiter writes both fiction and non-fiction working on as many as four novels at a time. The bestselling author of over fifty books, Allie has enjoyed a twenty-year career with over 1.5 million books sold. In addition to writing, Allie maintains an active writing productivity coaching practice and speaks regularly on the creative process, publishing, and her very favorite topic—The Chunky Method of time management for writers. Visit her website at www.alliepleiter.com to learn more.
The most recent books I’ve written are holiday books, but my most recent big novel is The Magician. It’s part of a collection of books that centers around the historic town of Donora, PA. The Magician is set in 1920-40 and is inspired by the childhood years of Stan Musial—baseball hall of famer. He grew up in Donora and the book is truly about dreams and love and finding your way in the world. It’s historical fiction, but the themes of love and survival (Depression years) and family resonate today as much as in the time I’m writing about.
Why do you write? Do you have a theme, message, or goal for your books?
I write because stories seem to rise up in front of me all the time. Even seeing someone in a coffee shop who has an interesting way of dressing or talking, or moving through space can cause a story to spring up in my mind and I make a note of it and use it later. I’ve tried to quit writing fiction a few times when I was frustrated with the business, but I think the longest I quit for was one day.
How long have you been writing?
I’ve been purposely writing to get published since about 1998ish.
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’m an indie author. I found an agent and was going the traditional route in about 2005, but it didn’t work out with my agent and I just kept writing and writing with books piling up that weren’t sold and just when I was going to try to find a new agent, the world shifted and suddenly it was possible to find readers without going through New York to do it. I asked myself what I wanted more—the stamp of approval that the traditional route offers (I love being stamped with approval—I got a PhD and that stamp is powerful to me!) or to see my work get into the hands of readers—readers won out. So I hire people to do all aspects of the publishing process that require a unique skill set and I try to create a product and process that mirrors the traditional book experience. I’ve written about 18 books/novellas, edited some anthologies and, and written countless articles and am happily working on the next books right now! Neither path to publication is perfect, but I am so happy being an indie publisher/author.
Which of your books is your favorite?
Oh my goodness, I can’t really answer this. I was just going to say Love and Other Subjects, because it’s light and fun but heartwarming, and then The Last Letter popped to mind because it’s inspired by 160 year old family letters, but then no, it’s the Donora story collection but no, it’s my holiday books… on and on. Everyone says it and I agree—my books are like my children—I love both and can’t pick a favorite!!!!
Do you have a favorite character or scene in one of your books?
One of my favorite scenes is in The Magician and grew out of Stan Musial’s autobiography. He mentions how his older sisters were supposed to keep him from drinking the sweetened condensed milk because it was expensive, but he would sneak it whenever he had the chance. So, I took this one little fact that he’d tossed into a large book about his baseball career and created a scene that brings to life his family, shows the impact of economics on them, the sibling dynamic, the parental dynamic and also how neighbors come into play—all in one scene. Love that one.
How long does it take you to write a book?
Depends on the book! I wrote Cinder Bella in two months, The Christmas Coat in a month, The Magician in 18 months, The Kitchen Mistress in 3 years…it really depends on how complex the story is and how long. Also, whether it’s historical or not. Writing historical fiction, at some point in every book, I literally stop every other sentence to double check if the words I chose existed at the time, if the objects in a scene existed, if the environment is “right,” etc… it’s tedious and way more time consuming than contemporary writing. For me any way! It may be different for others.
What’s your writing work schedule like?
I write every day when I’m not taking a break. Actually, even when taking a breather from a novel, I’m usually writing tiny stories and articles for social media. But I like to write first thing in the day or after going for a walk in the morning best.
Do you have an interesting writing quirk? If so, what is it?
I always purchase totems to go with the books I’m writing. If it’s historical fiction, I find artifacts that play into the story or into the characters’ lives. Even with contemporary, I purchase things to help me better understand the worlds I’m building. For example, in Puff of Silk, Ameila is a dressmaker and I’ve learned to stitch a few things, drape material, bought a few types of material so I better understand what it feels like to turn all these pieces into wearable art. Not that I can do any of that, but playing with the items gives me a sense of what it would be like.
What has been your greatest joy(s) in your writing career?
Readers contacting me or running into me and introducing themselves, telling me that they love my work. There is nothing like that.
What has been your darkest moment(s)?
It took me a while to build up a body of work that could stand up to the constant rejection and criticism that comes with putting your work into the world. At first, when I got bad reviews or someone said they didn’t appreciate indie publishing it was jarring, it left me self-conscious and worried whether their opinions were “right.” But now, with a body of work that is shaped by mostly “good,” feedback, when something negative comes to me, I can depersonalize it better. Learning to figure out the motivation behind the negativity has helped as well—some people just like to be rude. Other times, criticism genuinely comes from a person just not connecting with my work. That’s how this works, but it’s hard to learn that and it takes a while to learn to shake off casual negativity if there’s nothing substantive in it.
How many times in your career have you experienced rejection? How did they shape you?
Tons of rejection—first in the traditional world, friends who disagree with Indie publishing, and readers who dislike my work. Learning to live with all of that has been made easier by building up a catalog of books that most readers seem to appreciate. Keep going is my motto. The right thing will connect with the right reader.
Where do you get your ideas?
I get ideas everywhere—newspaper, historical magazines, coffee shop conversations, family letters and lore—ideas live everwhere and in every moment.
Who is your favorite author to read?
Kate Morton
What advice can you give aspiring writers that you wished you had gotten, or that you wished you would have heeded?
My advice is to write a ton and read a ton. Don’t get hung up on perfecting everything at the expense of writing a lot when you’re in early stages. Not everything has to be queried or published. But you have to get into the groove of producing. Play with how you want to get your story across and that means you have to write and write and write. Get feedback—ask how what you want the reader to get from your story is coming across or not to trusted readers.
What are common mistakes you see aspiring writers make?
I don’t really see mistakes—just different paths taken, different artistic and business choices made.
Where/How do you recommend writers try to break into the market?
If you really want to be traditionally published, embrace that path using all the resources available. And if you want to be indie published do the same. Some people like to publish shorter things on their own and save their bigger novels for traditional routes and that works great for them!
Bestselling author, Kathleen Shoop, holds a PhD in reading education and has more than 20 years of experience in the classroom. She writes historical fiction, women’s fiction and romance. Shoop’s novels have garnered various awards in the Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY), Eric Hoffer Book Awards, Indie Excellence Awards, Next Generation Indie Book Awards, Readers’ Favorite and the San Francisco Book Festival. Kathleen has been featured in USA Today and the Writer’s Guide to 2013. Her work has appeared in The Tribune-Review, four Chicken Soup for the Soul books and Pittsburgh Parent magazine. Kathleen coordinates Mindful Writing Retreats and is a regular presenter at conferences for writers. She lives in Oakmont, Pennsylvania with her husband and two children. For more information, visit facebook.com/Kathleen-Shoop.
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
A true story of beating insurmountable odds can be stranger than fiction. From the moment her story opens with border guards wielding guns and threatening arrest during interrogation, to overlapping traumas spanning decades, you bite your nails, get angry, cry, laugh and shout when she consistently comes out as a victor, instead of a victim.
Nothing about Carol Graham or her memoir, Battered Hope, is conventional – yet it speaks to anyone who has ever experienced trauma.
When Carol tried leaving her abusive first husband, he had her gang-raped and left for dead, compounding her already compromised state of health. Surviving an ugly divorce but later marrying the love of her life, she was devastated when diagnosed with ovarian cancer and told that without a hysterectomy she would die. She refused to accept that and gave birth 14 years later.
While lying in the hospital being treated for spinal meningitis, Carol received a devastating phone call. Her house had been destroyed through vandalism; her husband’s business partner depleted their bank accounts, stole their diamond business, and disappeared. Carol called her husband in Johannesburg, South Africa who had already received the terrible news and was standing on the ledge of the 19th-floor balcony about to jump. The ringing phone stopped him.
Carol and her husband were later arrested on trumped-up charges by former business partners and their only witness committed suicide days before the trial. Her husband was convicted and went to prison.
At the same time, Carol’s heart had been broken when their adopted son was ripped from her arms after the birth mother demanded him back – a year later.
Carol and her husband lost two soaring gemstone businesses to business partners who stole everything and left them penniless.
Years later a car accident caused her husband severe brain injury and doctors warned him after being bedridden for seven years “This is as good as it gets.”
Does this sound like a life of misery? Possibly. But instead of defeat Carol saw victory in every situation and never ever gave up hope. She used each trauma as a stepping stone to a better life. As a result, her memoir and talk show have benefited thousands of people worldwide.
When asked the question “How did you stay sane?” Her response: “God knew the end of my story. When there was only a thread of hope, I never let go!”
Through all these experiences, she conveys how to handle grief and loss, to win over defeat, never allowing bitterness and unforgiveness to rule, to stay focused and persevere through any trauma, and most importantly….NEVER, EVER GIVE UP HOPE!
Why do you write? Do you have a theme, message, or goal for your books?
After writing my memoir, I began writing articles, stories, and another book based on miracles and the hope God gives each one of us.
How long have you been writing?
15 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?
My first book was self-published
Which of your books is your favorite?
My memoir is my life so must be considered a favorite. But the one that is changing lives and making an even greater impact, is currently available as a course online but not yet published. This is the one I teach at seminars, workshops, and coaching sessions on how to pray the answer, instead of the problem. Consequently, it is special.
Tell us about an award you won that was particularly meaningful.
The One Woman Fearless award was especially meaningful. My daughter nominated me for the award because she watched me live as an example of a woman who never gave up, always trusted God, never complained, and showed incredible strength. At the award ceremony, everyone was impacted and I received a standing ovation.
How long does it take you to write a book?
About a year
What’s your writing work schedule like?
One day a week
What has been your greatest joy(s) in your writing career?
Hundreds of people have accepted Christ as their savior after reading Battered Hope.
My book on miracles is changing lives more than I imagined possible.
Could you tell us about a dark moment in your writing career?
Ten years ago our son left us with no warning and no explanation. Although difficult, I was able to write many articles and teach in various venues how to deal with estrangement – often more difficult than the death of a child – there is no closure.
How many times in your career have you experienced rejection? How did they shape you?
Remarkably, I rarely am rejected and cannot recall any except the occasional story for Chicken Soup for the Soul.
Where do you get your ideas?
My personal life experiences and what I teach in my prayer courses.
Who is your favorite author to read?
Harlan Coben
What advice can you give aspiring writers that you wished you had gotten, or that you wished you would have heeded?
Accept criticism and learn from it is my advice.
What are common mistakes you see aspiring writer’s make?
Writing a book that has been written before. I will rarely read or endorse an idea that has already saturated the market.
Where/How do you recommend writers try to break into the market?
Social Media
Carol Graham is the author of a fast-paced award-winning memoir, Battered Hope. In 2015, Carol received the Woman of Impact Award from Focus on Women Magazine and Author of the Year for her memoir, Battered Hope. In 2018 Carol received the global award for One Woman – Fearless which is given to women who have faced their fears and are making the world a better place for women to thrive.
Carol hosts her bi-weekly talk show Never Ever Give Up Hope which has an international audience in over 140 countries.
Why do you write? Do you have a theme, message, or goal for your books?
I write to help others. I believe we are all here to help each other Home and it is my responsibility to do that through the gifts God gave me in writing and public speaking. It wasn’t long after my husband’s death that I discovered the power of authenticity in the written and spoken word. I am completely transparent in sharing what I have learned as a writer, mother, wife, caregiver, widow, and in my faith journey. I have mined my own pain to help others, so as not waste it. If that sounds somewhat altruistic, keep in mind that helping others helps me, too.
How long have you been writing?
I wrote short stories and poems as a child and was the kind of teen who loved English classes and essay tests. I stopped writing for pleasure during college, though I still loved essay tests. I abandoned my pursuit of a master’s degree after giving birth to my fourth child. That’s when I picked up the pen again, determined to maintain some sort of creative endeavor as a stay-at-home mom of a growing family.
I was paid $50 for my first published piece in 1989, and that was all it took to get me hooked on freelance writing. Determined to have my first book published before the age of 40, I was 37 when Homeschooling from Scratch was released in 1996. I didn’t have another book published for fifteen years.
Working as a newspaper reporter and writing for magazines and anthologies, I stopped counting after I hit 600 published clips. My husband David had always believed I would write more books, but it wasn’t until seven months after his death in 2012 that I signed my next book contract. I’ve signed six more book contracts with Familius Publishing since then.
Tell us about one of your greatest joys in your writing career.
I’ve had many mini moments of joy: the first time I sold an essay to a Chicken Soup for the Soul anthology, being hired to write a weekly column for a local newspaper, an all-expenses paid trip to be featured in a documentary about couponing after my couponing book came out, the first time I discovered what it was to do a presentation on a topic I was passionate about, and the chance to speak with a writing mentor. Those are all lovely memories.
But when I think of true joy, it is the moment I opened the box of advance copies of Called to Be Creative: A Guide to Reigniting Your Creativity in the summer of 2020. I waited until I was in my son’s woods, the land where I’d grown up, to open the box. I still think of it as my mother’s woods, a sacred space she would also retreat to. Because Called to Be Creative celebrates her creative legacy, it seemed the perfect place to catch my first glimpse of the finished product. I’d written the outline of the book just months after my mother had died, a year before I lost my husband. I picked up the manuscript again when I was miserable in a job that should have been perfect for me, as a newspaper reporter.
After writing so much on the difficult topic of grief, it felt wonderful to lose myself in a project that became a tribute to the legacy of a creative mother, a book that would encourage and inspire others to create a life that honored God’s design for them. Though I had several books published in the years after David’s death, Called to Be Creative felt like the book that signified I was no longer actively mourning. I did a Facebook live recording as I opened the box in Mom’s woods. Viewing the recording later, I saw a look in my eyes I hadn’t seen since losing David: one of pure unadulterated joy. Certainly, I’d felt joy in the years since my husband’s death, but I’d failed to capture those moments on camera. On the contrary, it had been much too obvious to me that the cloak of sadness I wore always meant my smile had never reached my eyes.
Tell us about one of your darkest moments in your writing career.
What should have been one of my happiest moments; seeing my book filling the window a local Barnes & Noble store display, instead became a hauntingly sad moment. My husband had encouraged me to write the ethnographic history of extreme couponing. After all, I had lived and breathed the couponing lifestyle for the majority of our marriage. Our date days consisted of strategic shopping expeditions.
It was David who’d spotted the New York Times report on the popularity of couponing as the newest extreme sport, David who had pointed out the timeliness of the topic with the “Extreme Couponing” reality show. I’m not sure I ever would have begun the research and writing of Coupon Crazy: The Science, the Savings, and the Stories Behind America’s Extreme Obsession without David’s support and encouragement. Yet David didn’t live to see the book that had been his idea come to fruition.
I will never forget that moment, standing in front of the bookstore, looking at an entire window display of my book, and feeling…nothing. I was numb with overwhelming grief. Not only had my husband died the year before, but I was facing the loss of a grandson who would die of cancer the following month. While that numbness gradually grew less with each subsequent book release, it wasn’t until Called to Be Creative that I could feel what I imagine most authors experience with their first book release: complete and utter joy.
Rejection is a common experience for writers. How do you overcome rejection? How has rejection shaped you or your career?
This is what I tell students in my beginning writing classes: Rejection is integral to writing. The only way to avoid rejection is to never submit anything. Try not to take it personally. Rejection only means you haven’t yet discovered the right fit for your piece or book.
I state those truths, but it remains difficult to repeatedly face rejection. When you’ve put your heart and soul into something that is rejected, it’s hard not to take it personally. I’ve learned to allow myself to wallow in the emotions for a while, and then move on. Tweak the rejected piece if necessary, and then submit elsewhere. It helps to be stubborn. I have proof on paper that I submitted my Chemo-Therapist: How Cancer Cured a Marriage to over 100 agents and publishers before I set it aside for a while. I was more experienced as a writer when I finally found the right fit for it, so it is a better book for having languished in a file cabinet for five years.
In what ways has God led you to mentor other writers? Were you surprised when a certain skill or connection led to mentoring opportunities?
My first mentoring experience was in 2009 with a group of young, homeschooled teenagers. I’d been writing for twenty-five years. An audience of girls the same age as my daughters seemed a safe place to start sharing the lessons I’d learned. I taught them the basics of getting published. I designed a similar course for adults the following winter, after my mother died.
My husband had encouraged me to treat my mother’s empty house as my own private writing retreat. It was there I planned a Beginning Writing course for adults, designed my first power point presentations and wrote the outline for my creativity book. My husband got to see me in action as he sat in the back of the room for my first power point presentation. He remarked later that I came alive during the presentation, and he loved seeing me that way. My first writing class for adults was held at a community college the weekend my husband came home from the hospital following a heart stent surgery. He died sometime during the night two days later.
It would have been easy to give up on the classes and workshops after his death, so little had any meaning to me right then. But my husband was right. I did feel more alive in front of an audience. I found a passion and purpose in helping others. I’m certain the workshops facilitated my healing.
Tell us about a facet of mentoring that particularly excites you.
I love being a part of helping someone discover the fire and talent within themselves. I have worked with men and women who have felt the call to write but believed for way too long that their writing was not good enough to be published. I am just as excited as they are the first time they get something published after I encourage them to submit. One acceptance is all it takes for them to submit again. I see the light go on in their eyes. To be a part of that? It’s an honor and a privilege.
What venues/methods have you found most effective for meeting and mentoring writers?
I’ve taught writing classes at libraries, community colleges and conferences. I’ve also conducted classes at my workplace as a program coordinator at a spirituality center. I founded a writer’s conference there, as well. Most of my mentoring relationships have come about by accident, not intention. By that, I mean I did not plan to become someone’s mentor, though I’ve certainly felt a kind of “soul connection” with another writer, which is how I discovered my own mentors.
I’ve become an “accidental” mentor when a fledgling writer follows me on social media after taking one of my classes. When they approach me with questions, I answer them, unlike many authors I approached years ago as a new writer myself. I do understand time constraints. I can only imagine how many e-mails some famous authors get asking for help. While I’m not inundated with e-mails like a more famous author might be, I get enough requests that if I were to take the time to help everyone as much as I’d like to, I would never have time for my own writing.
I do answer every e-mail, however briefly, attempting to guide the questioner in the right direction. Even with those writers I take under my wing, I need to limit how much help I can give since I also work fulltime. I learned from my own mentor, Cecil Murphey, who has written over 125 books and mentored many writers, to know my own limits and offer a specific amount of help, such as looking at five double-spaced pages, instead of promising to read an entire manuscript.
Have you organized or led groups to support writers? (Retreats, ACFW chapters, etc.) How has that experience helped you to mentor writers?
I’ve been speaking at the Cedar Falls Christian writer’s workshop since 2012. As a librarian, I began a monthly writer’s critique group at the library. As a program coordinator at the Shalom Spirituality Center, I began a similar monthly group, which pivoted to online during the pandemic. I also founded the annual Faith Writers Conference in February 2020. Our 2021 conference was virtual.
Have you organized or directed a writers’ conference? Tell us about that experience, and/or share an anecdote that illustrates how you saw writers being mentored and encouraged through the event.
My experience in helping with the annual Cedar Falls workshop and in organizing an annual Hope & Healing grief retreat since 2016, led me to believe I could successfully organize a writer’s conference at my workplace, and I was right. The first conference was a resounding success, as was our pivot to a virtual retreat the following year. We had attendees from several other states and even a writer from Nigeria attend. I’m already planning our third conference for February 2022.
If you speak at writers’ groups or conferences, what are some of your favorite topics to speak about?
I’ve spoken on prescriptive topics such as writing book proposals and query letters, navigating social media, marketing and promotion, planning programming as an author, and writing non-fiction and short memoir. Though my workshops are both educational and entertaining, my real strength is in the inspirational and encouraging messages I’ve conveyed in keynote presentations. I’ve opened and closed several conferences with powerful messages that resonate with the audience.
What advice do you have for writers as we interact with our peers? What can we do to be better supporters and mentors of our fellow writers?
The best gift we can give a fellow writer is to review their book on Goodreads, Amazon, and other book sites. As for any envy we might feel about another author’s success, we need to remind ourselves that someone else’s success doesn’t take anything away from us. Their success doesn’t equate to our failure. There’s no room for envy in the world of publishing. We need to revel in each other’s successes.
Do you have a favorite resource or two that you recommend to beginning writers?
Cecil Murphey Hisbooks Unleash the Writer Within and Writer to Writer and his writer blog are helpful resources
Funds for Writers Sign up for a free weekly e-mail list of markets. C. Hope Clark, founder, has great insight in her columns and is a mystery writer and non-fiction author
Free Electric Speed newsletter via e-mail. Can sign up for her daily blog or weekly blog digest. Also, her book, The Business of Being a Writer, is excellent.
Do you have a favorite resource or two that you recommend to writers who are struggling with discouragement?
Find your tribe, people that lift, encourage and inspire you. For several years my tribe was a Bible study that gathered in my home until I moved away from them for a job three years ago. I have yet to replicate that emotional and spiritual support but I do have tribes of my own making in the writer’s group and annual writer’s conferences.
What are common mistakes you see aspiring writers make?
Throwing arrows, hoping to hit a deer. By that I mean not targeting markets before submitting. I did it myself early on in my writing career. Desperate for a publisher or agent, I’d submit anywhere, hoping I’d catch the right attention. There’s no excuse for that now when we can find information about publishers and agents online.
I also see too many new writers who become so desperate to be published they fall for a publishing scam. One woman asked me recently which of the two publishers who’d offered her a contract I thought she should choose. One promised a bestseller and the other promised a speedy book release. I told her to Google the publisher name, followed by the word “scam” and see what popped up in the search results. There were pages and pages of complaints about both publishers. She must not have liked my answer, as I never heard from her again. Now, I do workshops on how authors can protect themselves from scams.
What advice can you give aspiring writers that you wished you had gotten, or that you wished you would have heeded?
I wish I’d known how much work it takes to promote and market our books. I also wish I’d known how important it is to keep our books in front of an audience after those first six months following the release. I’d heard about HARO (Help a Reporter Out) long before I took it seriously and started to respond to queries so that I would be quoted as an expert on the topics I was writing about.
I’d stopped getting royalty checks for my couponing book a few years after it was published, but when I started getting quoted as an expert on saving money, royalties started coming in again. I’m regularly featured on ReadersDigest.com, Redbook.com, ThriveGlobal, and others. This is a topic I cover in workshops, as well as a great resource for your readers.
Mary Potter Kenyon graduated from the University of Northern Iowa and is a certified grief counselor and Therapeutic Art coach. Mary is Program Coordinator for the Shalom Spirituality Center in Dubuque, Iowa, where she lives with the youngest of her eight children.
She is widely published in newspapers, magazines, and anthologies, with essays featured in ten Chicken Soup for the Soul titles. She is the author of seven books, including the award-winning “Refined By Fire: A Journey of Grief and Grace” and her newest release “Called to Be Creative: A Guide to Reigniting Your Creativity.”
Mary has been teaching writing classes and conducting workshops for community colleges, women’s groups, churches, and libraries since 2011. She is a popular public speaker on the topics of writing, grief, and creativity. She founded the annual Hope & Healing grief retreat and a Faith Writers conference in Dubuque.
Strength of a Woman: Why You Are Proverbs 31 looks at Proverbs 31 as an acrostic poem of the Hebrew alphabet. Verses 10-31 each begin with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet. In Hebrew, the letters are pictographic. The pictures hold meaning that shows up in the verse that we miss in English.
Why do you write? Do you have a theme, message, or goal for your books?
I’m a teacher and a big Bible study nerd. I love the process of discovering those “a-ha” moments. There is great joy in watching others make those same discoveries. Proverbs 31 is so often looked at as a harsh standard. I want women to know it is actually a heroic hymn recognizing their strength. Knowledge is power and the struggles of our lives do not disqualify us from God’s use.
How long have you been writing?
Not very long. Maybe five years. I write curriculum and academic papers but I’ve never considered myself a creative story teller.
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 a year to research and write the book. I attended the Florida Writer’s Conference as a test. Does God really want me to do this, or have I just wasted a year of my life? My submission won first place in the Bible study category and first place overall for nonfiction.
Through that I obtained my agent Karen Neumair with Credo Communications. She and I worked on my proposal for about 6 months than she began the pitch process which took a year. I received two publication offers in that time, but she encouraged me to decline them and keep working the process. Turning down those offers down was crazy to me, but I trusted her. In the end, we finally received the offer from Iron Stream for two books, Strength of a Woman, and an accompanying devotional. I’m so glad I hung in there with Karen.
Which of your books is your favorite?
The main book, Strength of a Woman: Why You Are Proverbs 31.
Tell us about an award you won that was particularly meaningful.
Winning 1st Overall in Nonfiction! It was God’s amazing YES over me. I’d never written. Never attended a conference had no idea what I was doing, but God said yes. The other was winning the Christian Market Book Award 2020. My book launched April 15, 2020, in the middle of a worldwide pandemic. As it was for everyone, all my speaking engagements and marketing were canceled. I was sure the project would die before it even launched. That award gave me such a boost, another big yes from God. I spent the summer hustling and chasing down every marketing opportunity.
How long does it take you to write a book?
Forever! I research for months and dump everything in to structured notes. Then I’ll begin writing through the notes. I always get beta readers and have things edited before I submit to contests, or to my agent.
What’s your writing work schedule like?
I work fulltime so I do most of my writings early Saturday morning. Otherwise I have to make myself write after work.
Do you have an interesting writing quirk? If so, what is it?
It must be silent, even the radio is too distracting. Most of my writing is prayer and a constant conversation with God. It’s His message and I want to get it correct. And peanut M&M’s help.
What has been your greatest joy(s) in your writing career?
Watching God work through this process. The nudges, catapults, and opportunities He has provided as answer to prayer have been amazing. My faith has grown as I’ve surrendered all of this to Him. Then, when someone shares how the book spoke to them – Yes, Lord!
Could you tell us about a dark moment in your writing career?
The launch. In a pandemic. I really questioned God. Why would you have me go through all this just to have it flop? I had to really surrender the book to Him. He isn’t surprised, or worried and I can’t be either. It’s a hard process.
How many times in your career have you experienced rejection? How did they shape you?
All.the.time. A no just means no for them, not no for me personally or no for my book. Things just weren’t a fit for them. It is disappointing and after multiple no’s you really start second guessing. So, I have to find the one who will say yes. I really seek God through all my projects, and He has the plan. My challenge is discovering the plan and being faithful to walk it out. It takes FOREVER, but I’m learning God wants time with us. The walk and the wait are how He gets our attention and time.
Where do you get your ideas?
Studying, research and prayer. I have a fairly long commute into work, and I keep my radio off and pray. I don’t think I’m a very good writer, so I ask God to give me a story tellers eye. God has sparked some interesting ideas on those rides.
Who is your favorite author to read?
Charles Martin, Tosca Lee (she has an incredible vocabulary), John Grisham.
What advice can you give aspiring writers that you wished you had gotten, or that you wished you would have heeded?
Don’t give up and don’t assume someone else will do things for you. The publishers want to see your platform because YOU are responsible for selling your book. They will help but less than you realize. If you want the book launch, podcast interviews, the speaking engagements, book signings, radio interviews, social media presence, etc., it only happens when YOU do it. And the life of your book baby is a marathon not a sprint. You must be in it for the long haul.
What are common mistakes you see aspiring writers make?
Not networking. Writing is such an isolating activity, but we must network, help and support each other. There are enough readers and styles, for everyone. We aren’t competing with each other. If you have a chance to help someone, do it.
Where/How do you recommend writers try to break into the market?
You can’t go wrong with writing conferences. You will learn so much and make great connections. The appointments, whether with mentors, agents, or publishers, will save you months of time.
Lauren Crews is a multi-award-winning author who loves God’s Word. She holds an MDiv and more than twenty years in women’s ministry. She works as a high school English teacher and an adjunct Bible professor for Northwest University. Lauren lives in Jacksonville with her husband and two chocolate labs who have their humans well trained.
Why do you write? Do you have a theme, message, or goal for your books?
I write because I can’t not write. I’ve long been an avid reader and recorder of ideas, but writing for a Christian commercial audience had not occurred to me until 2012. I discovered a topic in an area which God had blessed me, while many others struggled. As a long time business and life coach as well as a leadership development professional, I believed I could meet a need by sharing what God had shown me.
How long have you been writing?
Since 2012
Tell us about one of your greatest joys in your writing career.
When my box of books was delivered by the publisher for my first book. I could hold the evidence of the work as well as God’s blessing in my hand.
Tell us about one of your darkest moments in your writing career.
Struggling to envision what was next after the first three books were published. I’d had vision and clarity for each of them. Once that was complete, I knew God wanted me to continue, and yet I had no clear direction. It meant motivation was in in short supply.
Rejection is a common experience for writers. How do you overcome rejection? How has rejection shaped you or your career?
I had 14 rejections on my first book before the “yes” came. My agent helped me understand two important things:
Rejection is a chance to gain insight into what must be shaped or changed to make the work better. “No thanks” can be a gift if you are willing to see it as an opportunity to learn. Perhaps the pitch needed to be strengthened. Or the proposal more thorough.
Ask for feedback, seek out critiques, and be open to learning.
In what ways has God led you to mentor other writers? Were you surprised when a certain skill or connection led to mentoring opportunities?
I’ve been a business and life coach for years. Mentoring / coaching writers has been a natural transition. I had so many experienced and talented writers who poured into me when I was starting out. I’m grateful beyond words and love paying it forward. You can’t outgive God.
Tell us about a facet of mentoring that particularly excites you.
I love to watch the lightbulbs go on. I solicited 22 not yet published writers to be part of a compilation book organized around a specific theme. I loved educating them. I edited their work and coached every writer. It was exhausting, but I’d do it again in a heartbeat. They now have the knowledge, enhanced skills, and confidence- along with a soon to release publishing credit – they did not have prior. Release is scheduled for late July 2021.
What venues/methods have you found most effective for meeting and mentoring writers?
I’ve taught at conferences – both large and small. I’ve participated in online conferences as well. I’ve build a writing group in North Texas and I’ve mentored authors in every genre from non-fiction to dystopian in one on one coaching sessions.
Have you organized or led groups to support writers? How has that experience helped you to mentor writers?
Living Write Texas is the name of the writing group I founded three years ago. We keep our group small to support trust for critiques and genuine investment in the success of the group members. I was the only published author in the group when we began. Today seven are published. Five have received a variety of awards from the BRMCWC Selahs to AWSA’s Golden Scrolls.
Have you organized or directed a writers’ conference? Tell us about that experience, and/or share an anecdote that illustrates how you saw writers being mentored and encouraged through the event.
As mentioned above, I’ve organized a couple of writers’ conferences. One for a group located in another state that lacked local learning opportunities. In the other I created the content for the annual AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association) conference for their protégé program for new writers. Regardless of the gap between the abilities in these two disparate groups, the outcomes were similar.
These programs created quick connection and the openness of attendees. We created a positive environment to learn in a safe place. A thorough but supportive style of critique was presented to them as to how we’d support one another’s growth. When the guard is down, the willingness to hear helpful and appropriately delivered insight about their work was simple and quickly embraced.
If you speak at writers’ groups or conferences, what are some of your favorite topics to speak about?
Writing well / craft essentials. Nothing is more important. Great ideas, poorly written will remain on the aspiring author’s hard drive alone. And it’s a huge category.
Mind Mapping. If you don’t know where you’re going, any path will do. But it won’t lead to publication. Whether it’s fiction or non-fiction, publishers want books that may have surprise twists and turns for the reader. But the writer must always be the guide that leads them through the story.
One Sheet Design and the essentials of the proposal process. The nuts and bolts of the stuff nobody loves.
Confidence Boosters. Many write well but struggle to represent their work effectively when speaking with agents, editors, and publishers.
What advice do you have for writers as we interact with our peers? What can we do to be better supporters and mentors of our fellow writers?
Comparison is a thief; resist the urge to engage in it with other writers. Resist the urge to let the good work of others diminish, discourage, or derail you from continuing to write. Turn that “I’ll never be as good as he/she is. Who am I kidding? I can’t write” response into: “Wow I’ve found a great resource who might help me with a suggestion, a resource, or simple encouragement. Gold mine!”
Taking that critique partner down a peg. Offering a less than positive (or less than truthful) comment or critique is small, petty. Be honest and offer suggestions, resources, brainstorming time. And it won’t make you feel better about your own.
Do you have a favorite resource or two that you recommend to beginning writers?
The Christian Writers’ Market Guide – if they are writing in that world.
Local writing groups or national organizations like AWSA, Word Weavers, or others. Great opportunity to find a one-on-one coach or mentor.
Do you have a favorite resource or two that you recommend to writers who are struggling with discouragement?
For those who write from a faith basis, the Bible.
One-on-One personalized work with a coach. Full focus on the writer’s individual needs.
Groups like those identified above.
What are common mistakes you see aspiring writer’s make?
Inattention to the details – failing to proofread, dismissing the need for learn to self-edit. “The editor will fix those details. That’s their job.”
Closed to feedback.
Focus on the writing alone with little interest in learning to market, build platform, etc.
What advice can you give aspiring writers that you wished you had gotten, or that you wished you would have heeded?
I have to admit that once I made the decision to write, I read voraciously on the craft and business side both. I searched for online resources and engaged a coach. I took online courses and found a writer’s group. I didn’t ignore a single avenue of learning. However, some of those avenues were superior to others, and some a waste of time and $$ altogether. I do wish I hadn’t tried to take in so much at once. Learn how to write well. Without that, nothing else matters.
Deborah DeArmond is a recognized leader in the fields of performance development, facilitation, and executive coaching. She is also an award-winning author.
She is the author of Related by Chance, Family by Choice, I Choose You Today, and Don’t Go to Bed Angry. Stay Up and Fight! All three books focus on relationship dynamics, communication, and conflict resolution. She has published more than 200 articles in print and online, including a monthly column in Lifeway Magazine with an international circulation of 300,000.
Deb helps clients achieve success in becoming the coach others desire to work through through her engaging inquiry, humor, and straightforward approach. Her clients have described Deb as “candid but kind” and skilled at asking the questions that help “guide others to discover their answers and solutions to success.”
Deb’s education is in the field of communications, California State Polytechnic University
Deb holds numerous professional certifications as a master facilitator/trainer including: Conflict Resolution from the Center for Collaborative Solutions, Development Dimensions International, Situational Leadership, and several style/personality profile assessments including Strengths Finders and DiSC. Deb also holds a coaching certification for authors/speaker from AWSA – Advanced Writers and Speakers Association.
Why do you write? Do you have a theme, message, or goal for your books?
I write because I can’t not write. Writing is like breathing for me. It has always been the best way for me to communicate my ideas. The theme of all my writing is for everyone to live significantly. The goal and message of my books is to move us toward authenticity in our faith and practice thanks to God’s love for us and our love for Him.
How long have you been writing?
As far back into childhood as I can remember I have always been a writer. Songs, poems, plays, and musicals were my first genres. Professionally, I have been writing since 1991, 30 years now.
Tell us about one of your greatest joys in your writing career.
The greatest joys in my writing career come when someone says he or she was changed, touched, encouraged, or motivated by something I have written.
Tell us about one of your darkest moments in your writing career.
The darkest moment in my writing career happened when I pitched my work to a certain literary agency, and they said my platform was much too small for them to represent me. It wasn’t so much what they said, but the way they said it that made me feel insignificant and made me feel my work had no value.
Rejection is a common experience for writers. How do you overcome rejection? How has rejection shaped you or your career?
I overcome rejection by realizing every no is getting me closer to yes. No just means that particular company doesn’t need what I have right now, it doesn’t mean my work is unworthy. I wear a t-shirt from time to time that sports a quote from Nelson Mandela that says, “I never lose; I either win or I learn.”
In what ways has God led you to mentor other writers? Were you surprised when a certain skill or connection led to mentoring opportunities?
I mentor other writers by teaching them how to think through their book projects the way a publisher would think about them. I help them build their ideas into publishable products with the readers’ felt needs in mind and a marketing strategy. God gives me discernment. As I listen to my clients tell me about their book ideas, I can mine the gold and diamonds from their thoughts enabling them to clearly see what they are really trying to communicate. I’m grateful every time God opens another vein in the rock, so He’s surprising me at every meeting.
Tell us about a facet of mentoring that particularly excites you.
The facet of mentoring that particularly excites me is what I mentioned in the above answer. I’m excited whenever I see the Holy Spirit move in a meeting. The ideas that blossom as I talk with clients are so awesome that I know they are sparked by Him.
What venues/methods have you found most effective for meeting and mentoring writers?
Like everyone else, I pivoted to teaching virtually because of the COVID pandemic and that has caused my business to thrive. I also teach at writers’ conferences virtually. Now that the country is opening back up to in-person events, I’m being scheduled at those now too. I am a conference junkie and I love to teach writers and join them on their journey to publication.
Have you organized or led groups to support writers? (Retreats, ACFW chapters, etc.) How has that experience helped you to mentor writers?
I own AuthorizeMe Consulting, Coaching & Editing Firm, and Literary Agency through which I (obviously) consult, coach, edit, agent, and teach masterclasses helping writers reach the publishing goals. My company mentors writers because my clients experience hands-on help making sense of how to implement all they learn from me and from writers’ conferences they attend.
Have you organized or directed a writers’ conference? Tell us about that experience, and/or share an anecdote that illustrates how you saw writers being mentored and encouraged through the event.
Yes, I have been assistant director and director of the Sandy Cove Christian Writers’ Conference, Northeast, MD. I started the first ever teen major track at a writers’ conference at the Mount Hermon Christian Writers’ Conference, where I served on faculty in various capacities for 20 years. I am currently co-director of the West Coast Christian Writers’ Conference.
There are so many examples I could share. Let’s see. I remember one woman who wanted to write her memoir and I asked her the question I ask all memoir writers, “Who cares? As an unknown, why would people want to read your story? What’s in it for them?”
She returned to the next portion of my workshop the next day realizing that her story was about her release from shame. That was it! The title and table of contents how to focus on release from shame which was the felt need of her audience. We were all excited for her to have had that breakthrough and she was able to finish storyboarding and outlining her book knowing her new direction.
If you speak at writers’ groups or conferences, what are some of your favorite topics to speak about?
Some of my most popular topics for workshops and keynotes are:
“Starting Strong and Maintaining Momentum,”
“Getting Started as a Professional Freelancer,”
“From God Through You,”
“Excuses, Excuses, Excuses,”
“The Magic of Storyboarding,”
“You’re in the Right Place,”
“Branding Your Ministry,”
“Move to the Excellent Level: The Ten P’s of Your Writing Success.”
What advice do you have for writers as we interact with our peers? What can we do to be better supporters and mentors of our fellow writers?
Pray for each other.
Support each other’s work.
Purchase each other’s books.
Write reviews.
Share posts.
Do you have a favorite resource or two that you recommend to beginning writers?
The Bible.
My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers.
The Synonym Finder by J. I. Rodale.
The Soul at Rest by Tricia McCary Rhodes.
Scribbling in the Sand by Michael Card.
Do you have a favorite resource or two that you recommend to writers who are struggling with discouragement?
The Bible.
What are common mistakes you see aspiring writer’s make?
Giving up on traditional publishing too soon.
What advice can you give aspiring writers that you wished you had gotten, or that you wished you would have heeded?
I heeded advice I was given. I knew nothing about publishing, so I actively did what I was being taught to do. I’d tell aspiring writers to listen to the experts. Do what we tell you to do, the way we tell you to do it, until it does not work for you anymore. Don’t try to reinvent the wheel. “In the multitude of counselors, there is safety.” Avail yourself to as many writers’ conferences as possible. Do a little at a time, but just keep at it. Do not settle for mediocrity; reach for perfection.
Sharon Norris Elliott Bio:
“Live significantly!” That’s the inspiring message of Sharon Norris Elliott: author, speaker, Bible teacher, editor, consultant, and literary agent. She writes challenging yet encouraging books in several genres including women’s non-fiction, parenting, devotional, and children’s literature. Her most recently published title is A Woman God Can Bless (2020, Harambee Press). Her 13th book and 3rd parenting book, Didn’t See That Coming: When How They’re Living’s Not How You Raised Them is due to launch from Elk Lake Publishers in late 2021; Elk Lake has also contracted her 7-book children’s I Really Need to Know series.
God’s goodness has brought Sharon from Compton, CA, to standing before great audiences. She’s a cum laude graduate of Biola University, holder of an honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree, member of ACE, AWSA, and SCBWI. She is also a religious broadcaster on HSBN.tv, CWWN.tv, Spotify, and other social media outlets. She is Founder and CEO of Life That Matters Ministries; AuthorizeMe® Consulting, Coaching, & Editing Firm,and Literary Agency LLC; and Milk & Honey Life Retreats. Sharon serves as co-director of West Coast Christian Writers’ Conference.
She and her husband James live in Southern California and enjoy their church, their children, and their grandchildren.
All books can be purchased via Amazon, BarnesAndNoble.com, and Sharon’s website.
The First Impressions Contest is held every year by ACFW. This year, Annette Griffin made it to finalists’ list for the young adult category.
Congratulations, Annette!
What advice would you give writers considering entering writing contests?
Entering contests has been one way I challenge myself to become a better writer. Here are a few things I’ve learned–the hard way– about submitting successful contest entries:
1) Be sure to pay close attention to the contest submission guidelines, follow them precisely, then check again for compliance before you hit the send button.
2) Write with passion, but when you’re done go back and highlight all the passive language and replace it.
3) Before you hit the send button be sure to pray. Ask God to align your heart with His plans for your writing and pray for favor and open doors according to His will.
Why did you decide to write young adult fiction?
My characters tend to choose the genres I write. My YA characters are some of my favorites–each are inspired by my work with young adults through years of youth ministry.
What is your biggest writing dream or goal?
I have a different take on this question than most of my author heroes and mentors. Yes, goals are very important. Without them I would wind up spinning my wheels most days. I do have practical short term and long term goals that include word counts, craft development, marketing aspirations, networking etc. but when it comes to my biggest writing “dream” I really just want to accomplish WELL what God has already pre-planned for me to do (Eph 2:10). I can dream big, but I learned a long time ago that MY idea of big may not look at all like God’s does. His ways are better, higher, and perfect. His plans for me are good and will be used for His glory. I want to do Him proud as I work to fulfil His dreams for me.
Great advice. When I get caught up in the work, it’s all too easy to lose sight of the main purpose, the reason for starting in the first place. It’s always good to remember the big picture vision behind the effort.
Who has been your biggest inspiration?
If you’re talking about my biggest inspiration in life, Joni Earekson Tada has inspired me since I was a young girl. She is an example of a woman who despite physical devastation, heartache, trial, and constant pain has chosen to live her love for Jesus publically–with so much joy–to help others find their strength in Him.
I’ve always admired Joni. She’s one of my heroes, too.
I love your answers!
Thank you for talking with us, Annette.
Annette is an award winning author who writes inspiration and fiction for women & children. Her debut children’s book What Is A Family? released this July. She and her husband live in NC with their two teens and beagle named Bella who keeps them all on a leash.
The Silent Queen captures my passion for men and women to discover the gifts and talents God has hidden within them. Historically, society has determined that men and women should act a certain way, but look at what God said to us in the beginning and you will see that we are called to rule and reign in partnership. Women have been told they are subordinate and men have been told they must bear the burden of ruling alone, but that’s not what our Father said.
Jesus is the proof. In a world that treated women like property, he valued them. He listened to them, encouraged them, and befriended them. Before Jesus, women hardly figured in historical accounts. Even in the Old Testament, women hardly speak and many who do go unnamed. But after Jesus, women began to speak and men began to listen. At least for a while.
In our lifetimes, we’ve come a long way towards reaching equality. But there is still a long way to go, especially when it comes to the church.
Why do you write? Do you have a theme, message, or goal for your books?
I write for fun and because if I didn’t write I might burst. Writing is how I engage with my own thoughts and the world around me.
My message is to tell people that there’s no bad news in the good news. Your heavenly Father loves you as you are and he wants nothing more than for you to enjoy his love.
How long have you been writing?
As a university professor, my primary outlet was writing for academic journals. I did not publish my first book until I reached my late thirties.
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 have only sent out one proposal to a traditional publisher, and it was accepted. That was for my first book and although the publisher did a fine job, they picked a book cover that I did not like. I spent two years writing the book, yet someone in their marketing department had the final say on how my book would appear. That bugged me, and I resolved to never again give up creative control of my titles. All my subsequent books have been self-published with covers picked by me. One of those covers even won a design award.
Which of your books is your favorite?
It’s a cliché, but my favorite book is always the next one.
Tell us about an award you won that was particularly meaningful.
I was delighted when Stuff Jesus Never Said won a couple of awards because it is a sort of art-book and I’m not an artist. I was way outside my comfort zone on that one. Not only did we have the thorny issue of dealing with licensed artworks, but it was also the first book we printed in China.
How long does it take you to write a book?
It varies. I wrote the meat of The Hyper-Grace Gospel in about two weeks, but I also have a half-written children’s book that has been simmering for ten years. On average, a book takes about eighteen months of intermittent activity. I’ll knock out a complete draft in four to five weeks, put it aside for a couple of months, then repeat four or five times until it’s done.
What’s your writing work schedule like?
I’m creative in the evenings, ruthless in the morning, and next-to-useless in the afternoon.
Do you have an interesting writing quirk? If so, what is it?
My handwriting is so bad it’s illegible even to me. I’ll scribble down some notes then later have no idea what I wrote.
What has been your greatest joy(s) in your writing career?
When my daughter was eight years old, her school had a Book Parade where every student came dressed as their favorite fictional character. My daughter went as one of the children from my children’s book The Big House. Of course, nobody had a clue who she was, but this daddy was pretty chuffed.
Could you tell us about a dark moment in your writing career?
Half-way through the writing of The Silent Queen, I experienced every authors’ worst nightmare. I discovered that my book, or one very much like it, had been published several years ago. I was reinventing the wheel. Dismayed, I was ready to can the whole project. However, my wife convinced me that the topic was sufficiently important and my audience sufficiently unique, that there was room for both books. I left the book to simmer for a few weeks then came back with a fresh approach. The final book was completely different and much better than the earlier draft
How many times in your career have you experienced rejection? How did they shape you?
The beautiful thing about being self-published is you get no rejection letters. Kindle never says no!
Where do you get your ideas?
I get a lot of ideas while walking. I use the recorder app on my phone constantly. I’m also blessed to be in a position where I hear a lot of stories from readers.
Who is your favorite author to read?
Tough, tough question. No one has shaped my understanding of God like the Apostle Paul; few people have fired my imagination like C.S. Lewis; and no one writes more propulsive prose than Lee Child.
What advice can you give aspiring writers that you wished you had gotten, or that you wished you would have heeded?
The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt. Give yourself permission to write a stinky first draft.
What are common mistakes you see aspiring writer’s make?
A common mistake is finishing the first draft and thinking you’ve finished the book. Well done for finishing an entire draft. Not everyone can do that. But now it’s time to swing the butcher’s knife.
Where/How do you recommend writers try to break into the market?
I am a big fan of self- or independent publishing. The rules of the game have changed. The power has shifted from the middleman to the author and the reader, and this is a good thing. Resist the temptation to hand over thousands to a vanity press; figure out how to upload a book to Kindle (it’s not hard); and go for it! There has never been a better time to be an author.
Bio
A scientist, scholar, and Bible smuggler, Dr. Paul Ellis is the author of books such as Letters from Jesus and The Silent Queen. Paul pastored a multicultural church in Hong Kong for ten years and was a professor at a leading business school. Ranked as one of the world’s most prolific scholars in the field of international business, Paul writes regularly about the good news of God’s grace at escapetoreality.org. Paul lives with his wife and their four children in Auckland, New Zealand.
For most magazine articles, I need information beyond what I have myself. To gather this information, I will often interview someone. For more than thirty years, I’ve been interviewing different people. Some of them are well-known celebrities and bestselling authors. Some of them are unknown people. No matter who I’m interviewing, I get a touch of panic right before the interview happens. Maybe it’s the same sort of adrenaline rush that I’ve read about in figure skating. I’m hesitant to admit it but it still happens. Whether well-known or unknown, each of these people have graciously answered my questions and provided the story material that I’ve needed for my magazine articles.
Whether you interview on the telephone or in person, it’s an excellent skill for every writer to add to their skill set and highly recommended. For beginning writers, I recommend you begin with someone familiar—such as a family member or a friend. Prepare a list of questions, establish a time to interview them and turn on your tape recorder. I recommend taping the interview so you can capture the quotations and don’t always have to be tied to writing notes. I’ve never been able to write fast enough (even learning shorthand in high school—and haven’t used it since) to capture someone talking at a regular pace. It slows down the interview process to continually pause and for the person to wait as you complete your notes. I record mostly to make sure I get my quotations right.
If you are recording on the telephone, I recommend you use the Radio Shack “Smart” Phone Recorder Control. For legal reasons, you need to tell the other person that you are recording and secure their permission on the tape (the rules are different in every state but to make sure it’s the best procedure). This device makes recording easy because it’s directly connected from your telephone line into any tape recorder. Telephone interviews are some of the most difficult—because you can’t see the other person for the visuals to add to the article. Also it’s a situation much more out of your control. For example, the other person can have an interruption, such as another phone call, and suddenly end your conversation—and sometimes you are stuck not getting your required information.
Whether on the phone or in person, make sure you prepare with a list of questions and a plan. It’s not a firm plan because other questions will develop during the interview. Like many of the skills that I’m highlighting in this series, interviewing is something to practice repeatedly and you will improve your techniques.
Over the years, I’ve been amazed at the people who forget about my tape recorder and will say to me, “I’ve never told this to anyone but…” Often this story material becomes some of the best in my articles.
During the interview, I always make sure to find out how to return to the person for possible follow-up questions or to give them a copy of the article. If you don’t, you will be shocked how you think of one important question as you write the article or you hang up the phone—and can’t get back to the person. In general, the high profile the person, it’s more typical for them to call you—and not reveal their phone number—often for control purposes. Asking how to return to them is a critical question that everyone needs to include in their interview.
During my interviews, I’ve learned way more information that I include in my actual magazine articles and I recommend interviewing as a skill which every writer needs to develop and include in their skill set.
My last book is titled TREASURED GRACE and it’s book 1 in the Heart of the Frontier series. The series is set in 1847 and goes through 1856. The location is the Oregon Territory and book one deals with the Whitman Mission massacre. It’s a romance set against tragic events that helped to mold the governments’ attitude toward Native Americans.
Why do you write? Do you have a theme, message, or goal for your books?
Writing for me is a ministry. I want to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ in each book, but give it in a way that isn’t just hitting people upside the head with a Biblical 2×4. I also include Bible application and encouragement for the believer. I want each of the books to do what I call my 3E’s. I want them to entertain, educate and encourage.
How long have you been writing? And how long did it take you to get your first major book contract?
I had tried off and on to publish since I was a teen. I got my first contract in November of 1992. You have to remember, however, that I wanted to write Historical Christian romance and there wasn’t a market for it prior to that. I was even told at one point, “Christians don’t have romances.” Since then, most publishing houses agree that Christians do have romances and have tried their hand at publishing stories about that. Now I write primarily Christian Historical Romantic Intrigue and was recently introduced as the Queen of Christian Historicals. I thought that after 110 books, most of which were historical, the title was a good fit.
How long does it take you to write a book?
I dedicate 3-4 months for each book’s writing. However, I’m doing research well in advance of writing and I’m plotting out story ideas prior to that. I also write up a detailed synopsis as a road map for each book which allows me to write super fast and then have lots of time for editing.
What’s your writing work schedule like?
Normally I write each day. I strive for a chapter a day and when I sit down to write it, I go over the chapter I wrote the day before to get me into the flow of writing the next chapter. I write the first draft fast and furiously and then spend a good amount of time in editing. When my writing for the day is done – sometimes this takes a couple of hours and sometime it takes a lot more – then I do research work for future projects, look for events and locations I’d like to write about, answer fan mail and so forth.
Do you have an interesting writing quirk? If so, what is it?
I don’t know if it’s a quirk or not, but I’m a stickler for two things. I want accuracy in my writing and reading materials. I research as much as possible for each book because nothing ruins a book faster for me than historical inaccuracy. I am also a stickler for a detailed chapter by chapter synopsis which I know seat-of-the-pants writers would consider a negative quirk. J
The detailed synopsis saves me from ever having much in the way of rewrites, however, so I’ll stick with it. Some writers worry that this takes out the spontaneity of the story, but it doesn’t. I use it as a guideline only. If I need to make changes or add characters or subplots, I do. It’s just that with the detailed synopsis I can write something even when I don’t feel overly creative.
What has been your greatest joy(s) in your writing career?
Seeing lives transformed by the stories God has given to me to write.
What has been your darkest moment(s)?
Hmmm, that’s a tough one. I can’t think of any real dark writing moments. I suppose the thing that bothers me most is seeing authors caught up in the contests and best-seller’s lists and being depressed when their books don’t get there. Satan uses the world’s judging standards to make authors feel like winners and losers, and it has ruined many a great author. I remember an author coming to me once after her book didn’t win in a contest. She told me she was giving up writing because apparently, she didn’t have what it took to win. That’s a dark moment.
Which of your books is your favorite?
That’s really impossible to say – kind of like “which kid is your favorite”. I can honestly say they’ve all been favorites for one reason or another. Generally, however, the book I’m writing at the time is my favorite just because it’s uppermost in my mind.
Who is your favorite author to read?
Again, there are a great many. I love Charles Martin, Liz Curtis Higgs, Jen Turano, Judith Miller, Kimberley Woodhouse, Cathy Marie Hake and Elizabeth Camden just to name a few. There are also quite a few secular authors I regularly read.
What advice can you give aspiring writers that you wished you had gotten, or that you wished you would have listened too?
Over the years, I got a lot of really good advice, but one question came to me from a little workshop I attended when I was first getting started. It was so simple, but so important. This was the question: Why are you writing? It’s critical to know why you write. If you are writing for money, then it will send you in a different direction than if you’re writing as a ministry. If you’re writing as a ministry, then that will send you in a different direction than someone who is writing to make the New York Times best-seller list for the fame of it or to make their mom proud or to prove something to someone who put them down. Everyone has a reason they write and what it is they’re trying to accomplish. However, what I wish every writer would do is write for the pure joy of storytelling. I know that I would write, even if I never published another book. I love writing and storytelling and therefore whether a book sells one copy or a hundred thousand, I enjoy what I do. Knowing why I write takes a huge pressure off.
How many times in your career have you experienced rejection? How did they shape you?
I had a lot of rejection letters in the early years of pursuing publication. Some were form letters and others were given with kind comments. Those rejections made me try harder. If advice was given, I heeded it and went in search of learning.
Do you have a favorite character or scene in one of your books?
Not really.
Where do you get your ideas?
They come from all around me. I truly believe that my storytelling ability is a gift from God and I know that He gives me ideas by sending things into my life. Some come from Bible studies, some from non-fiction reading and often from travel, but always I know God is at the very core of it.
What are common mistakes you see aspiring writer’s make?
Some of the biggest problems I see with new author work today is that they haven’t bothered to do their research. I’m known for my detailed research and accuracy is important. It doesn’t mean I won’t make mistakes and readers are ever so happy to let me know when I do, but I try to be accurate. I’ve read books lately that were so bad where research was concerned. Even silly details like a book saying that Denver sat surrounded by mountains. (It doesn’t – they’re on the western side only). Or an author having a gelding horse give birth or describe a bay horse as having a pale blond coat. These are easy things to research and if an author is unwilling to do their work in those areas, then I can’t trust them to have done it in other areas more critical to the story. Writers need to remember the reader develops a trust with them and keeping that trust is important.
I see a lot of head hopping with new authors – where they are in one character’s point of view and in the next paragraph they’re in another’s and back and forth. It’s impossible to get into deep pov-which is preferred by most publishers without sticking to one pov at a time. You can separate points of view by chapter breaks or space breaks within a chapter, but don’t bounce back and forth in the same paragraph.
Probably the other really big mistake I see is refusing to take correction. I’ve been the managing editor of a line and can’t tell you the number of times new authors would argue with me about something I pointed out or ask them to change. For example, I had one woman who had written a story based on something her grandmother had told her. The situation, however, was well-documented and didn’t happen that way at all. I ask the writer to make changes because I liked the general story, but she refused because her grandmother’s word was Gospel to her. Another time I pointed out the head-hoping to an author and ask them to rewrite to one pov at a time. She refused and said it ruined her story. The publisher, however, had a hard fast rule about this and I couldn’t buy the story even though I loved her work. Yet another time I asked an author to verify and offer proof of details she’d put in her book and she wouldn’t or couldn’t and told me she shouldn’t have to.
Writers, especially newbies, but all writers need to respect the authority of the publishing house. It doesn’t mean you can stand up for your work, but you need to handle things in a respectful manner. I’ve had publishers challenge details before. I remember once, early in my career, I had written into a story the location of the train depot in Washington D.C. At that time it was at an intersection of two streets, however those streets no longer intersect. My editor called me on it and I produced the map to show her that in 1840 those streets did intersect. It’s important to be able to show proof to defend your writing with something more than “grandma’s word”, but it’s also important to realize that your editor is only trying to make your book the best it can be.
Writers do not publish a book alone. The writing is just one aspect of the book. There are so many people who will play a role in your book from editors, proofers and typesetters, to artists and design experts, to marketing and distribution people, to bookstore owners and the readers themselves. Without any one of those people, your book suffers.
Where/How do you recommend writers try to break into the market?
I think the best thing writers can do is attend conferences where editors and agents will be present to take one-on-one appointments. Most publishing houses are requiring agents now, but even if they don’t, they like to use agented material. The publishers rarely ever look at anything that comes in without first being requested so it’s important to at least get their attention at a conference. Sometimes it also saves the writer a great deal of trouble by sending their work to a publisher or agent who doesn’t deal in that type of writing. There are a lot of really good conferences out there and often, even if there aren’t a lot of editors or agents attending, a writer can team up with other authors who might be able to get their work into the hands of an agent for consideration.
Ultimately, it’s up to the writer to be the best they can be and that includes being well-informed. Join a local or national chapter of writers. You can learn so much this way. I helped to found American Christian Fiction Writers and know that this organization has helped to get many an author published. They offer great workshops online and at conferences, as well as net-working, critique groups, industry news, etc. They’re just one of many writer groups out there.
Last of all, I encourage all writers to keep writing. Your genre may not be popular right now, but I’ve seen various genres rise and fall over the years. Chasing the market by writing what you think the market is looking for can be a deadly trap. I’ve seen authors try this and instead of writing what they know and are really good at, they try to emulate other authors and fail. Often this has ended their career. So write what you love and have a deep passion for writing. It shows in your work and will definitely be noticeable to the editor.
Tracie Peterson is the best-selling, award winning author of over 110 books. Her work in historical romance garnered her the Best Western Romance Author of 2013 by True West Magazine. She was given the Life Time Achievement Award from American Christian Fiction Writers in 2011 and the Career Achievement Award in 2007 from Romantic Times, as well as multiple best book awards.
Tracie has been married to Jim for over 37 years and enjoys working with him on historical research for each of her books. They make their home in the mountains of Montana. They have three grown children and three grandchildren. They also have an adopted family in Africa that has given them another seven grandchildren – two of whom were named for Tracie and Jim.
The most important thing about writing for Tracie is – this is her ministry. It is her deepest desire is to share the Gospel with a dying world and to bring glory to God in her work. She works with each storyline to include the message of salvation and Biblical application for daily obstacles. Throughout her career she has been blessed to see how God has used the books for His glory to change lives. Tracie works to make each book meet her required 3 E’s. The books need to Entertain, Educate and Encourage – all to the glory of God.
Summing up what she does, Tracie said, “I get to do something I dearly love – tell stories, travel to meet wonderful and interesting people and see new places, work with my husband and serve God, all while being paid. Who could ask for anything more?”
If you’ve never done an interview with someone else, the thought can be frightening. I want to take away the fright factor and give you some ideas how to get this information and where to begin.
For your first interview, I recommend you use a family member or good friend. These interviews do not happen on the fly. One of the most important steps is to prepare a list of questions ahead of time. With your questions, you can be confident that you will gather information and add spontaneous and follow-up questions during the session. The skill of interviewing others and asking good questions is something you can develop and improve as you do it over and over. Understand that everyone feels a little awkward the first few times and then like any other skill, it will seem natural and easy.
I’ve been interviewing others for many years—since I started writing sports for my high school newspaper. You can learn the skill of writing quotations from others, asking good questions and gathering the information you will need to write your story.
Sources for Your Magazine Article
Where do you locate experts to interview? Who has the information that you need to write your article? You can use Google to find experts on a particular topic. Also, understand that many companies have a public relations department or a publicist who is eager for you to interview their experts. The PR people will work with you if you are writing an article on speculation but they definitely prefer writers who have a definite assignment. You get an assignment with a magazine when you write a a query letter which gets their attention.
These publicists and PR people will be able to provide you with background information, press releases, books and other research material to help you pull together the information for your interview and eventually for your article.
Has this “expert” written a book? Then your best course of action is to set up an interview through their publisher. Call the publisher and ask to speak to someone in publicity. It’s one of the few times I recommend people call the publisher. Tell the publicist about your assignment and ask for background materials (review copies of the books, other articles, etc.). Then ask the publicist to set up your interview and give the person the times when you are available. Wise authors who want to sell books take advantage of these interview possibilities. You will quote this “expert” and mention their book in the article and get to tap their expertise and quotes for your article. It works as a package and everyone has something to gain from the experience—you, the expert and the publisher.
With increased publishing experience, you can expect to write more on assignment and less on speculation (spec). Even an assigned piece can sometimes not work out for a particular publication. Maybe the editor sees it and thought the query was a good idea—but the execution is wrong for their publication. I’ve not had this experience often but it does happen. In these cases, the magazine will often pay a “kill fee.” It’s a token payment for the writing work you poured into the article. Believe me, it’s better than nothing but pretty disappointing.
Many years ago, I interviewed Dan Quayle on a magazine cover story. It was a challenge to reach the then-Vice President but the article was perfect—a November cover story during an election year. (This publication doesn’t exist any longer—another common occurrence in the magazine world.) Unfortunately, the Vice President was running late and crammed my 30 to 45 minute scheduled interview into about 15 minutes. My assigned format was a Q & A — which means the interview has to have something worthy of his actual words appearing as the main text of the article. I got nothing but clichés and pat answers in the crammed time frame. I wrote my article, turned it in—even turned in my transcribed interview. It resulted in a kill fee for vast amounts of time and energy.
Just remember, on the road to publication there are many possible junctures where it can fail. Some are in your control and others are completely outside of your control. You control what you can and you work with the other details. It never gets published until you hold the finished magazine article or book in your hand.
