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 Cathy Richmond is Kristie D! Please email my assistant Amy with your mailing address. (amy@litfusegroup.com)
This week Ira Wagler is in the Spotlight! To win a copy of Ira’s latest book, Growing Up Amish, 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 was married for seven years, but have been divorced since 2007. No children, which in retrospect is a blessing. I work full time as the general manager of Graber Supply, LLC, a pole building supply company located right on the border of Lancaster County and Chester County, PA.
I write mostly evenings and weekends. That’s been my schedule, ever since I got serious about writing, and I’m not sure I could write full time. Wouldn’t mind trying, though.
And share something about your writing. What’s your genre(s), your areas of interest…
Mostly my blog writings have focused on where I am emotionally and what is going on in my everyday life. I also love to write sketches of my Amish childhood and about the Amish in general. “Growing Up Amish” is my story of doing just that.
How did you get started writing?
I’ve always written sporadically, and learned to express myself while in college. But I never got serious about it until after my marriage imploded in 2007. The jolt of that experience triggered a great flood of words, and I started to blog weekly, posting every Friday evening for a few years. Somehow, in that process, I found my writing voice, which had always eluded me before.
Did you have a dream of being a published author?
I’ve always had that dream. As life moved on, the dream diminished, because I couldn’t see how it was going to happen. My father was a writer and leader among the Amish, and I guess I got some of that drive from him. But I didn’t want to write trite, didactic stuff. I wanted to write of life as it is and life as it comes at you. In all its grandeur and messiness. Let the reader figure out the lessons.
After you started writing seriously–how long was it before you were published?
I started blogging in April, 2007. Tyndale will release my memoir, “Growing Up Amish,” on July 1, 2011. So I guess it took a tad over four years.
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?
Well, it’s not a set in stone thing. If something’s on my mind, I mull about it, even at my “real” job. Take mental notes. I write best evenings, sometimes late into the night. More than a few times, as I was working on my book, I glanced up at the clock, and it was 3:30 AM. Always on a weekend, thankfully. I’m not a morning person, when it comes to writing, although I do depend on a good cup of coffee to get me going (in the morning, that is).
How many hours a day do you spend writing?
Depends on the deadline. Some days I do no writing at all. But as a deadline looms, either self-imposed for my blog (or the monthly deadlines I had with Tyndale), the juices stir, and the words flow. Right now, with the tension of waiting for my book to come out, I’m posting a blog only once every three weeks, always on a Friday evening. I tinker with the next post for two weeks, then get serious the third week.
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 am a “loner.” Never attended even one writer’s conference, and I’m not sure I ever will, unless invited as a speaker. And I don’t know a whole lot of writers. Seems to me that some writers are so busy connecting with each other that they forget to go out there and live the experiences that will give them writing fodder. There’s nothing like actually having lived it and seen it, to make the story real for your readers.
The biggest help for me has been consistency and honesty. My blog garnered a huge readership, and my readers expected a new post every Friday evening. I produced, some weeks with more quality than others. And in time, I learned the discipline of producing, even when the muse seemed distant.
Is the “writer’s life” what you thought it would be?
So far, it’s been so much more than I could ever have imagined. Launch a blog, keep your schedule, keep posting, land an agent because of a blog reader who knew someone who knew someone, then write a book for Tyndale. Can’t get much wilder than that, but that was pretty much my game plan from the start. Keep producing quality stuff, and one day someone with connections will notice. Pretty naïve, in retrospect, but it worked.
What are your biggest distractions?
A distant deadline. Tyndale allowed me to send in monthly installments of anywhere from 40 to 60 pages. When I was writing my book in the summer/fall of 2010, there were some weekends when I should have been pounding it out. But I couldn’t get motivated until the last half of the month, as the deadline loomed. When I have to produce, I will. I write rather sporadically, but when it flows, it flows. An hour of intense production is worth more to me than half a day of doodling about, trying to force things. And, of course, the rewriting process never stops, right up until I hit the “send” button.
What was one of the best moments in your career and what was one of the worst?
Best: When my agent emailed me that Tyndale had made an offer for a book. At that moment, I realized I had a real shot at my dream. Worst: When a “sure thing” private deal fell through with Harvest House in early 2009. But my Harvest House connection was the one who referred me to my agent.
What do you least like about being a writer? Most like?
Not sure there’s anything I really dislike about writing, except maybe once in a while I get so immersed in going back and reliving an experience that it extracts a hefty emotional toll. Parts of the book were extremely difficult to relive. Once, I called one of my sisters and apologized for a serious wrong I committed the day after her wedding. I mean, what could I have been thinking back then?
I love writing, because, well, I love to write. And I will write, one way or another, for the rest of my life.
What is the role and importance of an agent?
Without Chip MacGregor of MacGregor Literary, I’d still be posting on my blog every week or two. I most definitely would not have a book being published by Tyndale. Chip did his job, getting me through the door. And I can’t say enough about Tyndale, by the way. A classy organization of true professionals at every level.
What advice would you give to new writers?
Find your voice. Write what you know. And be honest with yourself and with your readers.
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.
My book is the most honest work ever published about the Amish (That’s my opinion). It’s not pretty, in some places. But it’s honest.
What’s on the book horizon for you?
Right now, I’m waiting for my first book to be released. When and if I write another book will depend on the sales of the first, I suppose. I haven’t made any noises to anyone, including my agent, about another book. What will come will come, all in its time.
Last question, how can readers find you and your book?
You can find me on my blog at www.irawagler.com. The book will be distributed nationally by Tyndale, so most book stores should have it in stock on July 1st. Or you can find it on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Borders, and a bunch of other vendor sites right now for pre-order. I also have a link to various vendor sites on my blog.
Thank you for sharing your writing life with my bleaders! (blog + readers = bleaders)
Thanks, Suzanne, for your support and for your friendship.
I can't wait to read Ira's book. I love reading Amish fiction. I'm excited to get an inside look at the Amish through a man's perspective!
I agree with Erica; reading about the Amish from a male point of view would be very interesting.
Ira, I can't wait to read your new book. I grew up in NE Ohio which is home to the 4th largest Amish community in the U.S. All my neighbors are Amish.
Sounds like a very interesting story!
I am looking forward to reading this book. I love Amish fiction, but the non-fiction brings it all home.
what an interseting interview 😉 of course I am a bit biased with Ira being my uncle 😉 Dorothy
Can't wait to read the book. Hope you're having a great day. 🙂
Would love to read a book written by someone who grew up Amish to hear his experiences of childhood. I love reading all the books about Amish from Suzanne, Beverly Lewis, Amy Clipston, and so many others.
I would surely read this book! Sounds very interesting.
Kathy Faberge
I ALSO WILL READ THIS BOOK AS SOON AS I AM ABLE I AM READING EVERY THING THAT I CAN READ ON THE AMISH PEOPLE. I FIND THAT I WISH I HAD STARTED READING ABOUT THEM LONG AGO,WILL CONTINUE AS LONG AS THEY COME OUT.
Just like the other posters, I love Amish fiction and your Amish wisdom that you write. I am excited to read this book and like the fact that he's promoting it as an honest portrayal of his experiences. I certainly hope to learn more about the Amish way of life!
I love reading anything I can about the Amish. I live near a small community of them in NW PA and love visiting Lancaster PA and Walnut Creek OH, whenever we get a chance. I am very intrigued by the Amish and their way of life. I would absolutely love to read Ira's book!
I also love reading Amish fiction and have always read anything about them. Definately
a book I want to read
amhengstATverizonDOTnet
Amish fiction leaves me cold, since the little I have seen is far too fictitious. I look forward to reading Mr. Wagler's book, as I have enjoyed his blog and believe that the book will be as honest and transparent as the blog.
Ira, You rock!
I know you tease me incessantly about the bonnet fiction I read but hey, when your book comes out, it will be in my hands! I would love to get the kindle version, but then I cant get you to sign it. So maybe a signed copy of the book for my shelf, sorry tree, and the kindle, so I have an E copy! (Don is so rubbing off on me:)
Looking forward to reading Ira's book. It will be a very interesting read I'm sure. I love all Amish books, fiction or non-fiction. It's very interesting to learn about their way of life.
This book sounds very interesting. Would enjoy reading it. I really enjoy reading about the Amish.
plhouston(at)bellsouth(dot)net
People leaving the Amish faith has always interested me. I like honesty and candor in my books. Can't wait to read this one! kristiedonelson(at)gmail(dot)com Thank you.
thanks for the opportunity to read ira's book 🙂
karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com
I look forward to reading Ira's book. I grew up among the Amish and enjoy them for neighbors, relatives and friends. Mary
Loved this interview. The book sounds fabulous, interesting to read a man't view of being Amish, for a change. would love to win this book.
I would love to read this book. I really enjoy reading about Amish people and love their simple life. They have inspired me to return to reading my Bible again. Thank you for the opportunity and God Bless.
Amanda Allen
This was a very good interview. I would love to be able to read Ira's book and review it for my blog. njones127 at tampabay dot rr dot com
I read about the book "Growing up Amish" recently in the Des Moines Register. I went to the bookstore right away and purchased the book. I started reading it yesterday and I can't seem to put it down. I grew up in Pulaski, IA and Bloomfield, IA (my parents still live there)so I was always around Amish. My family used to buy eggs from them and they did some remodeling in my parents' house and built our cabin in the country. I always wondered how their way of life was different from ours. I can't wait to get through the rest of the book. It is so interesting to me. I have a book on order for my parents too.
Hi! This is kind of off topic but I need some guidance from an established blog.
Is it tough to set up your own blog? I’m not very techincal but I can figure
things out pretty fast. I’m thinking about setting up my own but
I’m not sure where to start. Do you have any ideas
or suggestions? Appreciate it
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