Welcome to Author Spotlight! Each week will feature a different author. We’ll get the scoop behind their writing life and dish a little. The authors will also be giving away a copy of their latest book. FUN.

The winner from last week’s Author Spotlight with Ace Collins is Shelly Daugherty (winner from Sarah Ladd’s Author Spotlight is Melody Durant) ! Please email my assistant Christen with your mailing address. (ckrumm@litfusegroup.com)

This week please welcome Siri Mitchell in the spotlight! To win a copy of her new book Unrivaled (Bethany House, 2013) , leave a comment on this post.

 

Share a little bit about yourself.

People always ask me where I’m from, but the truth is I don’t really have a hometown. After having moved often as a child, I’ve lived on three continents (North America, Europe and Asia) and visited five (still missing South America and Antarctica, but hope to get them in one fell swoop at some point). I’ve worked at all levels of government (local, state, and federal) and currently write full time.

And share something about your writing. What’s your genre(s), your areas of interest?

Although I’ve written contemporary fiction in the past, I’m writing historical fiction for Bethany House at the moment. I’ve always loved history so being able to combine that passion with writing is a dream come true.

How did you get started writing? Did you have a dream of being a published author?

I’d always been told I was good at writing, and I started dabbling with an idea in 1993, but I didn’t start seriously working on a book until we moved to Paris in 1996. That’s when I had the time and space to play with my ideas and I met a British author at our church who took me under her wing. It took another eight years, but in 2004, I signed my first contract.

After you started writing seriously how long was it before you were published?

Nearly ten years in total. I wrote four books that nobody wanted between when I started in 1993 and when I signed a contract in 2004 . . . and even then, that contract was for a fifth (as then unwritten) book.

Aside from a cup of good, strong coffee, what helps you get all of your “brain cylinders” firing so you can write well?

I’ve always said I’m a menace to society before ten o’clock in the morning and it’s true! Until then, my fingers are dyslexic and I stammer over words. About 9:30, I usually visit my favorite websites and check in with my e-mail loops and by 10:00 I’m at my desk and ready to go. After lunch, at some point before 2:00, I’ll usually make myself a shot of espresso.

Do you have any favorite places and routines when you write? How many hours a day do you spend writing?

I write from 10:00 – 3:00 four days a week (I leave one day free to run errands or make appointments and I try very hard to save the weekends for family.)

What has been the biggest help to you in the journey to publication? Writers’ conferences? Writing groups? Your mom as your first draft reader?

I started writing in earnest in Europe and didn’t have access to writers groups or writing conferences. The internet wasn’t then the hub of information and resources that it is now, so I started out on my own. It wasn’t until after I was published that I joined ACFW, RWA, HSN, or the Author’s Guild. As the rejections poured in (153 of them) I kept coming back to the thought that there was nothing else I really wanted to do.

Is the “writer’s life” what you thought it would be?

No – it’s tough work! And as I learn more about writing and strive to make each book better, it keeps on getting more difficult. I didn’t expect that. But it has its perks. My writing schedule is as flexible as I need it to be.

What are your biggest distractions?

The internet. (I could say e-mail, but if you saw the e-mails piled up in my in-box, you’d know it wasn’t true!)

What do you most like about being a writer? Least like?

I like being able to say what it is I want to say. I least like having people completely misunderstand and misinterpret what it was I’ve said.

What is the role and importance of an agent?

An agent is advocate, advisor, career planner . . . what doesn’t an agent do?! I don’t think anyone can long survive in this business without one.

What advice would you give to new writers?

Write. You can think about it, you can research it, you can talk about, but you have to actually write the book before you can become a writer.

Pretend I’m a customer at a bookstore looking for a good book. Give me a one or two sentence promo to convince me to buy your book.

How about this: Romeo and Juliet with taffy . . . and a happy ending! What could be better than that?

What’s on the book horizon for you?

A very fun historical set in 1924 Boston titled Love Comes Calling. Boston blueblood and collegiate Ellis Eton plans to leave the city for Hollywood just as soon as she can, but somehow life always seems to intervene. Though she tries her best to stay out of trouble, her friend Griff won’t stop poking his nose into other people’s business (like the mayor’s!), and a handsome police officer, starts asking questions about him, and her parents think she’s helping out at an orphanage instead filling in for a friend down at the telephone switchboard, and then she loses her friend’s job on accident . . . and before Ellis’ mad escapade is over, she’ll discover that laws can’t be broken without consequence and the role of a lifetime can sometimes be found right at home.

Last question, how can readers find you and your books?

In your favorite bricks-and-mortar or on-line bookstore. I’m on Facebook as Siri Mitchell, on Pinterest as SiriMitchell, and on Twitter @SiriMitchell and I would love it if readers would visit my website at http://sirimitchell.com I’ve put up some special links there to share the story behind the story.

Welcome to Author Spotlight! Each week will feature a different author. We’ll get the scoop behind their writing life and dish a little. The authors will also be giving away a copy of their latest book. FUN.

The winner from last week’s Author Spotlight with Sarah Ladd is (winner coming soon—stay tuned) ! Please email my assistant Christen with your mailing address. (ckrumm@litfusegroup.com)

This week please welcome Ace Collins in the spotlight! To win a copy of his new book Darkness Before Dawn (Abingdon Press, 2013) , leave a comment on this post.

What is the smartest writing advice you ever got? Write about what you know.

What was your biggest break?

Writing the book Lassie A Dog’s Life. That was the first book that not only hit the bestseller charts, but was made into two TV specials and got on all the network morning shows and CNN.

I’m inspired by . . .

. . . today’s college kids. They are much more invested in making a positive impact in the world that my generation was. They care less about money and more about making a difference.

My great adventure has been . . .

. . . Marriage. I am married to an amazing woman and each day offers new joys and wonders. Thirty-eight years after I said “I do” I still love being Kathy’s husband.

The one thing I hope to discover is . . .

. . . My potential. I just want to see how much I can grow and how long I can keep growing.

If I could go anywhere, it would be . . .

. . . I need to go back to Auburn, Indiana again.

If you have only an hour . . .

. . . I want to call and thank everyone who has impacted me life.

Describe yourself in one word?

Curious.

If your house were on fire, what one thing would you save?

If you are taking about material things; my 1934 Auburn.

What has been your most surreal, “pinch-me-I’m-dreaming” moment so far?

Having a bestseller. That was simple beyond comprehension.

What drives you to succeed?

I don’t know that I can describe it. I’m a storyteller and I have all these people inside my head that want to get out. So, in a sense, it is wanting to share those stories that pushes me on.

Best Surprise

When my wife was offered a job at Ouachita as a professor in the education department. It was so wonderful to see her dreams fulfilled and for us to get to move to this incredible section of Arkansas.

Best Saturday Afternoon Read

I like to pick up a biography about a classic Hollywood film star.

Best Forgotten Custom

Few know why mistletoe is a part of Christmas. Because I know I fully embrace what it originally meant.

Best Way to Break a Sweat

I run and the second best way is to walk our collies.

Best Style Icon

For me it would be Cary Grant.

Best Time-Waster

Watching college basketball.

Best Indulgence

Anything with peanut butter in it.

Best Advice

Plan for the future but live this moment as if it all you have.

Welcome to Author Spotlight! Each week will feature a different author. We’ll get the scoop behind their writing life and dish a little. The authors will also be giving away a copy of their latest book. FUN.

The winner from last week’s Author Spotlight with Brock and Bodie Thoene is Ava Pennington! Please email my assistant Christen with your mailing address. (ckrumm@litfusegroup.com)

This week please welcome Sarah Ladd in the spotlight! To win a copy of her new book The Heiress of Winterwood  (Thomas Nelson, 2013) , leave a comment on this post.

Share a little bit about yourself. Married with kids? Empty nester? Do you work full-time and write when you can squeeze it in?

I am married to a wonderful, supportive man, and I am mother to a sweet little girl. I work in marketing during the week, so I do most of my writing at night or on the weekends. (And occasionally, I write VERY early in the morning!)

And share something about your writing. What’s your genre(s), your areas of interest…

I write books set in Regency England, but as far as reading goes, I like to read books that take place in a wide variety of historical settings.

After you started writing seriously—how long was it before you were published?

I have always dabbled in writing short stories, but The Heiress of Winterwood was my first full-length novel. While I had the idea for the book many, many years ago, I didn’t seriously begin writing it until November of 2010.

Aside from a cup of good, strong coffee, what helps you get all of your “brain cylinders” firing so you can write well? Do you have any favorite places and routines when you write?

I am pretty much a creature of habit! I like to write in my home office or at my kitchen table, but sometimes I go to a coffee shop for a change of scenery. I almost always have a cup of coffee when I sit down to write, and I often listen to either classical music or movie soundtracks when I am working.

What has been the biggest help to you in the journey to publication? Writers’ conferences? Writing groups?

Before I “officially” started writing The Heiress of Winterwood, I attended the American Christian Fiction Writers conference. I didn’t know anyone, but I had an idea for a story and a passion for writing. At the conference I met other people who were “like me”. I joined a critique group and found a supportive group of ladies who encouraged me. I would have to say that getting involved and connecting with others who were on the same journey impacted me significantly.

What are your biggest distractions?

Facebook. And email. And my phone. I get distracted easily. ☺

What was one of the best moments in your career?

If you would have asked me that question two weeks ago, I would have said the day I received my contract. I don’t think my feet touched the ground for weeks after that happened! But just a few days ago I received my first “official” copy of The Heiress of Winterwood and held the finished work in my hands. WOW . . . amazing.

What is the role and importance of an agent?

I am thrilled to be represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency. She has supported me and advised me through every step of my publication journey  . . . Tamela is such a blessing!

What advice would you give to new writers?

My first piece of advice would be to write every day. Even if it is just for 15 minutes a day, write! Like every discipline, writing improves and gets stronger with practice. Secondly, I would suggest joining a writer’s group. If you write Christian fiction, American Christian Fiction Writers is a great place to start. Get involved with other writers in your genre or in your state . . .  the encouragement and support will be a blessing to you on your writing journey.

What’s on the book horizon for you?

I am currently working on edits for my second book in the Whispers on the Moors series and I am writing the third . . . and I LOVE doing it! As far as what is on the reading horizon, I am re-reading The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte.

Last question, how can readers find you and your books?

Here are few places where readers and I can connect:
Facebook
Twitter
Goodreads
Website

And here are a few places where readers can find The Heiress of Winterwood:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Christian Book Distributors
Thomas Nelson

Welcome to Author Spotlight! Each week will feature a different author. We’ll get the scoop behind their writing life and dish a little. The authors will also be giving away a copy of their latest book. FUN.

The winner from last week’s Author Spotlight with Donna Fletcher Crow is Connie Saunders! Please email my assistant Christen with your mailing address. (ckrumm@litfusegroup.com)

This week please welcome Brock and Bodie Thoene in the spotlight! To win a copy of their new book When Jesus Wept (Zondervan, 2013) , leave a comment on this post.

Share a little bit about yourself. Married with kids? Empty nester? Do you work full-time and write when you can squeeze it in?

Married 42 years and writing together for more than 25 of that. Four kids (all grown) and eight grandchildren from age 17 down to 1 ½…Most fun ever! (Just got back from taking one set of them to Disneyland) Pretty much writing full time when not with grandkids!

And share something about your writing. What’s your genre(s), your areas of interest…

70 novels—mostly historical fiction—life of Jesus, World War II, rebirth of Israel, Ireland and some westerns. Some contemporary political thrillers too. And non-fiction works, mostly delving into the Jewish roots of Christianity.

How did you get started writing? Did you have a dream of being a published author?

I (Bodie) got my start in journalism . . . newspaper and magazine writing. My big break was writing The Fall Guy with John Wayne’s stunt double, Chuck Roberson, which led to screen writing with John Wayne’s Batjac Productions and also led, indirectly, to writing The Zion Chronicles, the first of the historical novel series.

I (Brock) am a historian by training and interest, so I’m the researcher. We often say, if we were to create a fictional couple to write historical novels, we’d probably give him a background in history and her training in journalism . . . so God had that all planned 40+ years ago…long before we thought of it!

After you started writing seriously, how long was it before you were published?

My (Bodie’s) story is different from many novelists, because I was already a professional writer before the first novel came out. When we teach writing we teach journalism and we teach writing for publication . . . meaning: magazine articles etc as a way to build your craft and resume before attempting a book-length manuscript.

Aside from a cup of good, strong coffee, what helps you get all of your “brain cylinders” firing so you can write well? Do you have any favorite places and routines when you write? How many hours a day do you spend writing?

I (Bodie) write to music. I find that to be very important. Also having ample time to think before trying to write. If a scene takes 6 hours to compose, it might be 3 hours of thinking and 3 hours of writing . . . or it might be 5 hours of thinking and then pour out on the page in an hour!

Is the “writer’s life” what you thought it would be? 

Yes, but it’s not what other people think! Working ‘til 2am to meet a deadline and throwing away the last 200 pages and rewriting it in the last week is NOT glamorous!

What are your biggest distractions?

Grandkids! And very welcome they are, too!

What do you most like about being a writer?

Love the independence.

What advice would you give to new writers?

Learn journalism! Clarity is more important than cleverness! Hone your craft. It’s not so much a talent as it is a skill to be learned.

Pretend I’m a customer at a bookstore looking for a good book. Give me a one or two sentence promo to convince me to buy your book.

Take whatever you think you know about any Gospel story. Then ask yourself: ‘Why did the Gospel writer include that detail?’ Then ponder and explore that question and answer. Take Lazarus, for example. Besides being the man Jesus brought back to life, did you know that the religious rulers wanted to kill him too? (Not just Jesus!) Why? Having the attitude: ‘Everything means something,’ makes studying the Bible fresh and exciting . . . and our books will help open those windows.

What’s on the book horizon for you?

More about Jesus and many other subjects as the Lord allows!

Last question, how can readers find you and your books?

Thoene books sold everywhere . . . print and Kindle both . . . or autographed, exclusively from www.familyaudiolibrary.com who also sell our award-winning audiobooks.

Welcome to Author Spotlight! Each week will feature a different author. We’ll get the scoop behind their writing life and dish a little. The authors will also be giving away a copy of their latest book. FUN.

The winner from last week’s Author Spotlight with Beth Wiseman is Mary Levie! Please email my assistant Christen with your mailing address. (ckrumm@litfusegroup.com)

This week please welcome Donna Fletcher Crow in the spotlight! To win a copy her book An Unholy Communion (Lion Fiction, 2013) , leave a comment on this post.

Share a little bit about yourself. Married with kids? Empty nester? Do you work full-time and write when you can squeeze it in?

Hi Suzanne, thank you so much for inviting me to your Monday Author Spotlight!

A married empty nester. Stan and I will celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary next December. The trouble with being not just an empty nester, but a scattered nester is trying to gather our 4 children and 12 grand children back for a celebration since they live in Calgary, Boston, Kentucky and Los Angeles.

I work full-time—at my writing. I try to get to my desk about 10:00 every morning and stay until 3:00 when Stan (who also works from home) and I both break for afternoon tea.

And share something about your writing. What’s your genre(s), your areas of interest…

English Christian history is my passion, so all of my 43 books, even my Idaho pioneer family saga, has something to do with English history. My best-known work is GLASTONBURY, The Novel of Christian England, which covers 1500 years through Celtic, Roman, Arthurian, Anglo-Saxon, Norman and Tudor England.

How did you get started writing? Did you have a dream of being a published author?

I was an English teacher and avid reader. I fell in love with a minor character in a Georgette Heyer novel who demanded that I tell the rest of his story. BRANDLEY’S SEARCH, which became book three in my six-book Cambridge Chronicles, was the result.

After you started writing seriously, how long was it before you were published?

It seemed like forever at the time. Several years while I attended writers’ conferences, got to know the business and honed my skills. I finally got a contract for the book, but the publisher was slow to bring it out. Then I was sitting with Carole Streeter from Victor Books at a writer’s conference when I got the news that that publisher was going out of business.

“What do I do now?” I asked Carole.

“Send it to us,” she said.

“You don’t publish fiction,” was my reply (surely one of the world’s all-time hard sells).

“We’re just starting a new fiction line,” she said. That launched the Cambridge Collection series which was later reprinted by Crossway Books as The Cambridge Chronicles.

Aside from a cup of good, strong coffee, what helps you get all of your “brain cylinders” firing so you can write well? Do you have any favorite places and routines when you write? How many hours a day do you spend writing?

Make that a good strong cup of English Breakfast tea. It helps a great deal if I have an outline, or at least some scattered notes to remind me where the story is going. Notes and pictures from my research trips are absolutely essential for putting me in the scene. My goal is to write a minimum of 5 pages a day. The next morning, after Morning Prayers and the above-mentioned tea, I do a few stretching exercises while my computer boots, check my email, and begin work by rereading what I wrote the day before. Hopefully the story will flow from there for another 5 hours or so.

What has been the biggest help to you in the journey to publication? Writers’ conferences? Writing groups? Your mom as your first draft reader?

Writers’ conferences, definitely. The Mount Hermon Christian Writers’ Conference was my “home” for many years. After attending several times I was asked to teach and was twice given their “Writer of the Year” award.

Is the “writer’s life” what you thought it would be?

Since I rather fell into it I’m not sure what I expected, but I never could have imagined anything being so much fun. Of course the struggles are terrific but I’ve been in the business for more than 30 years and every day I thank God for the joy of being allowed to do this.

What are your biggest distractions?

Biggest distraction is my greatest joy—my grandchildren. When I was writing with children at home I thought it would be easier when they were out on their own. Not so. As I mentioned above we are scattered to the four corners of the continent and getting to visit them is a challenge. It was much easier when our children were home in their own beds—even when I was changing diapers.

What was one of the best moments in your career and what was one of the worst?

Two bests: First, the satisfaction of writing and the publication of my epic GLASTONBURY.

Then the worst, a ten-year hiatus from 2000 to 2010 when I had nothing published—which led to another best—the publication of A VERY PRIVATE GRAVE, first of my Monastery Murders which has led to an almost all-new career at the age when my more sensible friends are retiring. Life is definitely never dull!

What do you least like about being a writer? Most like?

I dislike feeling overwhelmed by the amount of writing and promoting I feel I should be doing. I love doing those things, but I dislike the feeling that I’m never done because there’s always so much more than could be done.

Research is one of my favorite parts of the process. Because one of my goals as a writer is to give my readers a “you are there” experience I try never to write about a place I haven’t visited first. That means a wonderful research trip for every book. You can see pictures from some of my more recent trips on my website.

What is the role and importance of an agent?

Ah, without Janet Benrey I certainly wouldn’t be here today. Janet, who is English, really understood my Monastery Murders series and sold them to an English Publisher Monarch Books. That restarted my career, as I recounted above. Now Janet and her husband Ron have their own publishing company, Greenbrier Books and they have published several of my books in ebook format, including GLASTONBURY, my Daughters of Courage pioneer saga and The Lord Danvers Victorian True-Crime series. A TINCTURE OF MURDER is my newest release with them.

What advice would you give to new writers?

Read, read, read! Read the classics and the very best in your favorite genre. Then write from your passion.

Pretend I’m a customer at a bookstore looking for a good book. Give me a one or two sentence promo to convince me to buy your book.

Would you like to take a trip to Wales? AN UNHOLY COMMUNION takes you across the idyllic landscape of mystical Wales with history, mystery and romance to keep the pages turning.

What’s on the book horizon for you?

I am just finishing A JANE AUSTEN ENCOUNTER, Book 3 in my Elizabeth and Richard literary suspense series. After that I’ll be back to the Monastery Murders with A MUFFLED TOLLING. This time Felicity is going to Oxford to help some nuns with a publishing project. “Now don’t get into trouble,” Antony warns. If you know Felicity like I do, you know that’s a laugh line.

Last question, how can readers find you and your books?

To read more about all my books and see pictures from my garden and research trips go to: http://www.donnafletchercrow.com/ And I would love to have you follow me on Facebook.

Thank you for sharing your writing life with my bleaders! (blog + readers = bleaders)

Thank you, Suzanne. It’s a pleasure to be here today. I love meeting new readers. If anyone has any questions, leave them in the comments below and I’ll drop by to respond.

Welcome to Author Spotlight! Each week will feature a different author. We’ll get the scoop behind their writing life and dish a little. The authors will also be giving away a copy of their latest book. FUN.

The winner from last week’s Author Spotlight with Deeanne Gist is Elizabeth Dent! Please email my assistant Christen with your mailing address. (ckrumm@litfusegroup.com)

This week please welcome Beth Wiseman in the spotlight! To win a copy her book The House that Love Built (Thomas Nelson, 2013) , leave a comment on this post.

What is the smartest writing advice you ever got?

Author Barbara Cameron told me five years ago to take care of myself. To keep my doctor and dentist appointments and to make time for resting. She’d been writing a lot longer than I had, and I was so excited to be published that I had jumped on the train full speed. Years later, I am heeding her advice. It’s so easy to put off everything else but writing. And there’s a price for that. Your health.

What was your biggest break?

I broke in with Amish fiction. My first series—The Daughters of the Promise—sold to Thomas Nelson in late 2007. I’ve been riding the wave ever since. ☺ Although, now I am alternating between Amish novels and non-Amish contemporaries.

I’m inspired by. . .

. . .the people and events around me. And God’s grace, of course.

My great adventure has been. . .

. . .I’m living it. Every day.

The one thing I hope to discover is. . .

. . .how to avoid fear and worry and to feel the true peace that I write about in my books.

If I could go anywhere, it would be. . .

. . .It used to be to cooking school in Italy, but since I’m dieting…I might have to rethink that, lol.

If you have only an hour. . .

. . .I would want to spend it with my family.

Describe yourself in one word

Driven.

If your house were on fire, what one thing would you save?

After my pets, I’d grab my photo albums.

What has been your most surreal, “pinch-me-I’m-dreaming” moment so far?

When my agent sold my first series to Thomas Nelson.

What drives you to succeed?

Fear of failure.

Best Saturday Afternoon Read

My reading preferences are all over the place. Hard to pick just one book, lol. ☺

Best Forgotten Custom

When my children were young, we decorated the Christmas tree together. Now, even if they are home for the holidays, I end up doing it myself. ☹

Best Way to Break a Sweat

Tennis!

Best Style Icon

I live and work in Tshirts and sweats/shorts. I’m not sure I have any style icons, lol.

Best Time-Waster

Playing games on my phone—Wordfeud, Ruzzle, and Hanging with Friends.

Best Indulgence

Mexican food!

Best Advice

Miracles happen to those who believe. BELIEVE.

Welcome to Author Spotlight! Each week will feature a different author. We’ll get the scoop behind their writing life and dish a little. The authors will also be giving away a copy of their latest book. FUN.

The winner from last week’s Author Spotlight with Catherine West is Robbie Pink! Please email my assistant Christen with your mailing address. (ckrumm@litfusegroup.com)

This week please welcome Deeanne Gist in the spotlight! To win a copy her book It Happened at the Fair (Howard Books, 2013) , leave a comment on this post.

Deeanne is giving away an iPad Mini! Click the banner below to see what others are saying about her new book, sign up to win, and RSVP for her Facebook party on 5/22!

What is the smartest writing advice you ever got?

Finish the book.

What was your biggest break?

Discovering RWA (Romance Writers of America)

I’m inspired by… 

…a deadline that isn’t looming. I hate writing under pressure or when I’m behind. But I truly enjoy the process when I’m on schedule and not under the gun.

My great adventure has been…

…backpacking through Europe during college. My roommate and I had no idea where we were going to stay or what we were going to find. We simply boarded the train and off we went.

If I could go anywhere, it would be…

…Yosemite National Park. I caught one corner of it when I was researching The Measure of a Lady and have always wanted to go back and see it at my leisure.

If you have only…an hour…

…I pray really hard for God to increase my time and then I become very focused.

Describe yourself in one word

Optimistic

If your house were on fire, what one thing would you save?

My dog.

What has been your most surreal, “pinch-me-I’m-dreaming” moment so far?

Going to my publishers for the first time in 2004 and sitting at a long conference table with all the players. Carol Johnson, the VP of Editorial, turned to me and said, “Dee, You’re not just an author to us. You’re a member of our family. We’re going to pray for you and you’re going to pray for us.” I was floored. Never in a million years did I expect to hear my publisher say something like that to me. All my anxiety immediately fell from my shoulders. I’ll never forget that moment as long as I live.

What drives you to succeed?

Deadlines. Not wanting to disappoint. Wanting to use my gifts and talents to make the world a better place.

Best Surprise

My husband read—and liked—my books.

Best Saturday Afternoon

Read Years, by LaVyrle Spencer

Best Forgotten Custom

Men censoring their language in front of women.

Best Way to Break a Sweat

There is no best way to do that, sister.

Best Style Icon

Grace Kelly or Audrey Hepurn

Best Time-Waster

Pinterest. Love that site.

Best Indulgence

Anything chocolate.

Best Advice

Finish the book.

Welcome to Author Spotlight! Each week will feature a different author. We’ll get the scoop behind their writing life and dish a little. The authors will also be giving away a copy of their latest book. FUN.

The winner from last week’s Author Spotlight with Ann Shorey  JEAN BORSHEIM! Please email my assistant Christen with your mailing address. (ckrumm@litfusegroup.com)

This week please welcome Catherine West in the spotlight! To win a copy her book Hidden in the Heart (OakTara, 2012) , leave a comment on this post.

Share a little bit about yourself. Married with kids? Empty nester? Do you work full-time and write when you can squeeze it in?

Thanks for having me as your guest, Suzanne! Yes, I’ve been happily married for almost 27 years now, to the most wonderful man in the world! Our two children are now grown, and our daughter is about to get married in May! Our son studies music at Berklee in Boston. We’ve enjoyed the empty nest, but this summer after the wedding, our daughter and her new hubby will be moving home to Bermuda, so I’m looking forward to spending more time with them, as they’ve been living in Canada.

And share something about your writing. What’s your genre(s), your areas of interest…

I am a lover of all things romance! I love writing romance. All my books will have a fairly strong element of romance in them, even if they aren’t classified as a straight romance. My stories are contemporary, and lately I’ve been writing what I would call ‘family sagas’. Big, meaty books with lots of colorful characters and subplots.

How did you get started writing? Did you have a dream of being a published author?

I’ve always loved to write. I remember writing my first ‘romance’ when I was in high school. Thought I was quite grown up! LOL! That got me hooked, and I always had some kind of story on the go. I never really considered the possibility of becoming a published author until much later, once I was at home with my kids. Of course that was a busy time for me, so my writing was sporadic, but when they went off to school, I got serious about it and started to investigate exactly how I would go about getting published. This was actually a couple years before the birth of the Internet, so it was more difficult, especially living in Bermuda. Once the Internet came along, a whole new world opened for me! I found RWA and ACFW, and I was really able to learn my craft. Until then, I didn’t have a clue what I was doing. It was no wonder those first few editors rejected my offerings!

After you started writing seriously–how long was it before you were published?

Many, many, many years! I can’t even remember now how many exactly. I did put my writing on hold for a few years, but I guess I wrote off and on for about fifteen years before I finally became agented. It was about another four years before my first novel was contracted.

Aside from a cup of good, strong coffee, what helps you get all of your “brain cylinders” firing so you can write well? Do you have any favorite places and routines when you write? How many hours a day do you spend writing?

Ah, yes, the coffee is a must! We have a home office that I use to do my most serious writing, when I’m in the middle of a story and don’t want to be disturbed. I enjoy the couch in the family room as well. ☺ At home, I can really write anywhere. I find it more difficult to write out in public, so you won’t find me parked in a coffee shop working away any time soon. Too many distractions. As for inspiration, books I’ve read, news articles and well-written television all help to get my wheels turning! A typical day for me, (when I’m not focusing on a wedding), would be about four to five hours, more perhaps if I sneak in some evening time. It really depends what I’m working on. These days, however, let’s just say it is a good thing I am not on a deadline! I will get back to my routine this summer. ☺

What has been the biggest help to you in the journey to publication? Writers’ conferences? Writing groups? Your mom as your first draft reader?

Without a doubt, I don’t think I would be published today were it not for American Christian Fiction Writers. The critique groups I have been part of, the mentors who’ve encouraged me along the way and all the wonderful friends I’ve made through this group have all been instrumental in my journey. I try not to miss a conference if possible, the networking is vital for me as far as keeping me focused on my goals and encouraging me to push forward, and of course the teaching is invaluable. I don’t think a writer can ever stop learning and I’m so grateful to know this conference is available to us!

Is the “writer’s life” what you thought it would be?

I’m not sure I had any fixed ideas about what it would be like! I’ve been fortunate to be a stay-at-home Mom, so life tends to go on around me and I’ve learned to balance the kids, the husband and the house and the dog with my writing life. Of course it’s much easier now that I only have the husband and the dog to worry about!

What are your biggest distractions?

Facebook, Facebook, Facebook… You could call me an addict. I love it. When I really have to do something or get a couple chapters written or write an interview…I need to ‘go dark’. Otherwise I’ll be checking it, checking my email, that’s another big one for me…I wouldn’t say I have ADD but I am definitely easily distracted!

What was one of the best moments in your career and what was one of the worst?

Oh, this one I have to answer in reverse order! The worst moment was when my agent persuaded me to put the book of my heart on the shelf. It was the book she contracted me with. She loved the story, I loved the story. We worked hard on it. I worked with two outside editors on it, because I wanted to be sure I was putting the best work out there. And yet, we couldn’t sell it. None of the big CBA publishers were interested in a romance that took place against the backdrop of The Vietnam War. Go figure. ☺ So, as heartbreaking as it was for me, I put that book aside and worked on my next novel. But that story wouldn’t let me go. Eventually I asked my agent if it’d be okay if we tried other avenues, perhaps smaller publishers.

And then came the best moment of my career. ☺ I sent that story, Yesterday’s Tomorrow, to Ramona Tucker at OakTara. She loved it as much as we did. In March 2011, the book of my heart was published. And I learned a valuable lesson. Timing, God’s timing, is everything.

What do you least like about being a writer? Most like?

Hmm. I have to say I don’t like the pressure I put on myself. I’m always wondering how I can do more, sell more, get the word out…etc…it’s emotionally draining. I’m trying really hard this year to just do what I can and be satisfied with that. I’m not superwoman. I’m not Karen Kingsbury. I need to be okay with that. I also don’t enjoy the misconceptions people seem to have of being a published author. I’m always being asked when my next book is coming out. They seem to think it’s an automatic given that once you’ve been published, you’ll just keep popping books out year after year. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way!

What is the role and importance of an agent?

These days, with very few houses even considering an un-represented author, I say an agent is vital. A good agent. I’ve heard some horror stories, and while I don’t know any bad agents personally, I know they exist. Do your homework before you start querying agents. An agent will work for you because they love what you do. You need to love your agent and they need to love you. It’s important to have an agent that you trust, that you can communicate openly with and rely on to guide you through issues in the publishing world that you might not have a clue about!

What advice would you give to new writers?

I always say, if writing is the path God has put you on, stick to it. It’s discouraging, it’s hard, but it’s truly worth it if it is where you know you’re supposed to be. Study the craft, go to conferences if you can, find good critique partners and never, ever, give up!

Pretend I’m a customer at a bookstore looking for a good book. Give me a one or two sentence promo to convince me to buy your book.

You existed before you were adopted. But what if the woman who gave you life doesn’t want to be found?

What’s on the book horizon for you?

How I wish I knew! At the moment we’re shopping a couple of projects, one romance and the other a family saga…so we’ll see what happens there. I’m continuing to write while I wait, and that’s about all I can tell you!

Last question, how can readers find you and your books?

Website
Facebook
OakTara Website
Blog
GoodReads

Amazon Links:

Yesterday’s Tomorrow

Hidden in the Heart

Welcome to Author Spotlight! Each week will feature a different author. We’ll get the scoop behind their writing life and dish a little. The authors will also be giving away a copy of their latest book. FUN.

The winner from last week’s Author Spotlight with Valerie Weaver-Zercher in the spotlight is Naomi Martin! Please email my assistant Christen with your mailing address. (ckrumm@litfusegroup.com)

This week please welcome Ann Shorey in the spotlight! To win a copy her book When the Heart Heals (Revell, 2013), leave a comment on this post.
Share a little bit about yourself. Married with kids? Empty nester? Do you work full-time and write when you can squeeze it in?

I’ve been married for twenty-two years to the best husband in the world. We’re empty nesters who lavish affection on our dog, Amber, when our grown daughters aren’t available. I’m blessed to be able to write full-time.

And share something about your writing. What’s your genre(s), your areas of interest…

I love history and historical fiction, so that translates to my writing. Currently I’m writing in the Historical Romance genre.

How did you get started writing? Did you have a dream of being a published author?

My dream of being an author started way back in high school, but wiser heads told me I needed to find a way to actually make a living. Fast forward a few decades to the days after my late husband died. Our children were already out on their own. I’d always wanted to write, and now had the time to fulfill my dream. So I took classes, devoured Writers Digest, and attended conferences.

I first wrote a nonfiction family history, then took inspiration from family stories and began to write novels in 2001.

After you started writing seriously–how long was it before you were published?

My first novel was accepted by Revell in 2007 and released in 2009.

Aside from a cup of good, strong coffee, what helps you get all of your “brain cylinders” firing so you can write well? Do you have any favorite places and routines when you write? How many hours a day do you spend writing?

The good, strong coffee is #1—there’s a cup sitting on my desk right now. Aside from caffeine, prayer is my first stop before writing. Once I commit my words to the Lord, and seek His help for the day’s output, I sit down and get busy. I write for four or five hours a day in my home office—with my dog keeping me company beside my desk.

What has been the biggest help to you in the journey to publication? Writers’ conferences? Writing groups? Your mom as your first draft reader?

For me, it’s been writer’s conferences. Between the classes and the networking, they’re the best investment of my time and finances. I started with attending conferences in my home state, and then branched out to traveling to conferences out of state. The ACFW Annual Conference is my hands-down favorite.

What are your biggest distractions?

Email and Facebook are huge distractions. I have to turn off my email to really focus on writing.

What do you least like about being a writer? Most like?

The toughest part is having to say no to participating in family activities that come up when I’m on a tight deadline. The thing I enjoy the most is spending time creating characters and stories. What fun!

What is the role and importance of an agent?

My agent is Tamela Hancock Murray. I love how she’s there for me. One of the most important aspects of being agented, and Tamela does this perfectly, is having someone between me and the publisher who will handle my questions and concerns.

What advice would you give to new writers?

First of all, don’t get discouraged and quit. Find a good critique group of serious writers and pay attention to their suggestions. Be willing to delete even your most golden words if they detract from your story.

Pretend I’m a customer at a bookstore looking for a good book. Give me a one or two sentence promo to convince me to buy your book.

If you enjoy stories about unconventional heroines, you’ll love When the Heart Heals. The main character, Rosemary, is a nurse in a time when nursing was not an acceptable profession for young, unmarried women.

What’s on the book horizon for you?

The next novel in the Sisters at Heart series is coming out in early 2014, and I’m busy with edits, cover design, and all the other fun stuff that goes with a book release. Additionally, I have a novella included in a collection with authors Jane Kirkpatrick, Amanda Cabot and Laurie Alice Eakes. The release date is mid-2014. This will be Revell’s first venture into the novella field, so it’s exciting to be part of the process.

Last question, how can readers find you and your books?

My website is www.annshorey.com. Readers can find my contact information there. Additionally, find me on Facebook.
Please check your local bookstore for my books—if they don’t have them in stock, I know they’ll be happy to order a copy for you.
My website has direct links to several online retailers, including Amazon.com and Christianbook.com: http://www.annshorey.com/novels.html

Thank you for sharing your writing life with my bleaders! (blog + readers = bleaders)

Thank you for inviting me, Suzanne! It’s been a pleasure.

Welcome to Author Spotlight! Each week will feature a different author. We’ll get the scoop behind their writing life and dish a little. The authors will also be giving away a copy of their latest book. FUN.

The winner from last week’s Author Spotlight with Lisa T. Bergren is Betti Mace! Please email my assistant Christen with your mailing address. (ckrumm@litfusegroup.com)

This week please welcome Valerie Weaver-Zercher in the spotlight! To win a copy her book Thrill of the Chaste (The Johns Hopkins University Press 2013), leave a comment on this post

Share a little bit about yourself. Married with kids? Empty nester? Do you work full-time and write when you can squeeze it in?

I am married and have three sons, ages 12, 10, and 8. I am a freelance editor and do developmental editing and copyediting work for a variety of publishers and individual authors. In addition to writing Thrill of the Chaste: The Allure of Amish Romance Novels, I write book reviews, features, and essays for a variety of publications. I love both writing and editing, and try to maintain some balance between the two.

And share something about your writing. What’s your genre(s), your areas of interest…

In addition to more academic or analytical nonfiction, I enjoy writing creative nonfiction and memoir. Frankly, I love to combine a journalistic approach to a topic with personal narrative writing, so that the prose ping-pongs back and forth between an investigation into some issue and my own experience of that issue. I also enjoy writing review essays that examine two or more books that revolve around the same topic.

How did you get started writing? Did you have a dream of being a published author?

I have enjoyed writing ever since I was in elementary school. My first job out of college (after a year abroad) was in editing, and it gave me the chance to write editorials and features and news articles. That first job was invaluable in terms of teaching me to write in a disciplined way, and under deadline! It also gave me critical experience in the editing side of the publishing equation; now that I have editors editing my writing, I understand and appreciate their role more than I would have had I not had that first job.

After you started writing seriously–how long was it before you were published?

That first editorial job gave me the opportunity to publish short pieces, and it gave me the confidence to keep submitting pieces for publication even after I had moved on to other jobs and to graduate school. Only after I had kids, however, did I begin to take myself more seriously as a writer and start treating it as a vocation that I wanted to pursue rather than just a hobby to be dabbled in. I don’t think I started really seeing myself as a writer until a few years ago, actually. It was much safer to call myself an “editor” or a “mother” than a “writer.”

Aside from a cup of good, strong coffee, what helps you get all of your “brain cylinders” firing so you can write well? Do you have any favorite places and routines when you write? How many hours a day do you spend writing?

I usually write in my basement study. (This room, which we remodeled a few years ago into my study, is likely different from most home offices in that it is, shall we say, a “multipurpose” room. There are a toilet and a sink in one corner! Our house was built in the 1960s, and we assume that the original owners decided to add a toilet in case they ever added a whole bathroom. We have simply put bookshelves up in front of it to hide it from view.) Anyway: I write best by myself—i.e., not in a coffee shop and not when my kids are home. I don’t have to have a beautiful place to write: just a computer, a desk, a chair, and some quiet.

What has been the biggest help to you in the journey to publication? Writers’ conferences? Writing groups? Your mom as your first draft reader?

Although I had already been publishing by the time we began meeting, my writing group has been invaluable in terms of helping me learn to revise. The women in my group are incredibly intelligent, careful, and compassionate critics and teachers of writing, and they offer helpful feedback whenever I show them a piece of my writing.

Is the “writer’s life” what you thought it would be? 

I don’t think I anticipated how much I would love the writing life. It is much more difficult than almost anything I’ve done, but also much more absorbing and lovely than most activities that fill my life. When I am in the middle of a large writing project, the time passes extremely quickly and I am surprised and saddened when the end of my work day arrives.

What are your biggest distractions?

Apart from raising kids and keeping a household running (someone always seems to be getting sick, and the laundry always accumulates way too fast), my biggest distraction these days is worrying about how my book is being received. I am very distracted by reading reviews of my work, scheduling interviews and signings, and worrying about whether people like my book. My tendency is to become the epitome of the needy-writer stereotype, and I’ve really had to work on separating myself from those extrinsic rewards and criticisms. I’m slowly learning to focus on the work of writing itself rather than people’s responses to it.

What do you least like about being a writer? Most like?

One of the difficult things for me about being a writer is that it’s such a private, at-home activity that many people who know me don’t really know what I do. That is, people at church and friends and acquaintances aren’t necessarily reading the things I write or edit, so I think they sometimes wonder what I do all day! Freelance writing and editing is also difficult in that the payments I receive for various jobs are quite inconsistent, and so it’s hard to plan on any specific monthly income. There also aren’t the usual “perks” of a regular job—health and retirement benefits, tech support, raises, and a supervisor to help you figure out how to do your work better,

Having said that, I feel incredibly privileged to be able to do the work that I most love to do in the world. Being able to devote some daytime hours to writing, rather than only after the kids are in bed, feels like a gift.

What advice would you offer to new writers?

I have found getting published to be an incredibly slow process of accruing contacts and confidence and skills. Frankly, I would not recommend it to the faint of heart! Learning to just keep writing and to remain hopeful in the face of rejections is akin to a spiritual discipline. In fact, writing often feels like a spiritual practice to me. So I guess I’d say: approach writing with care, cautious joy, and fear and trembling!

Pretend I’m a customer at a bookstore looking for a good book. Give me a one or two sentence promo to convince me to buy your book.

A new Amish romance novel appeared on the market at the rate of one every four days in 2012. Ten years earlier, only two new Amish novels were published. What has changed between then and now? Thrill of the Chaste: The Allure of Amish Romance Novels explores why Amish-themed fiction is so incredibly popular. If you find yourself curious about why so many people are curious about the Amish, you will enjoy this book.

Last question, how can readers find you and your books?

Thrill of the Chaste is available for purchase on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and the Johns Hopkins University Press website.