Today I am interviewing bestselling and award-winning author, artist, and playwright, Tracy Krauss. She has published twenty-one titles, including Christian romantic suspense, science fiction, stage plays, nonfiction, and children’s books, plus contributions to several collections, anthologies, and magazines. Tracy’s won multiple writing awards and been on Amazon’s bestsellers’ lists. Tracy’s fiction strikes a chord with those looking for thought provoking faith-based contemporary fiction laced with romance, suspense, and humor. She holds a B.Ed from the University of Saskatchewan and taught secondary school English, drama, and art in five different provinces and territories, including many remote and interesting places in Canada’s far north. She and her husband raised four children and are now enjoying their growing number of grandchildren as she continues to pursue all of her creative interests in beautiful Tumbler Ridge, BC. She is currently serving as the president of InScribe Christian Writers’ Fellowship, a Canada-wide organization whose mandate is to minister and encourage Canadian writers of faith. Visit her website at: http://tracykrauss.com “Fiction on the edge – without crossing the line” Nina Faye Morey: Thank you, Tracy, for this opportunity to interview you about your writing. Your author tag line is “Fiction on the edge – without crossing the line.” Could you please explain how this tag line defines you as a writer? Tracy Krauss: The phrase “on the edge” describes a couple of different elements. First, it implies intrigue and suspense as in “on the edge of one’s seat,” something I try hard to incorporate in my work. Beyond that, it refers to what has been coined “edgy” in so far as Christian fiction goes. In my view, my work is all quite mild, especially in comparison to what has become mainstream in the culture at large. However, I appreciate that some Christians are not used to having certain, shall we say, “gritty” topics included in a story. I’m talking about things like prostitution, sexual and physical abuse, drug and alcohol addiction, promiscuity and pre-marital sex, racism and prejudice … you know, stuff that actually goes on all the time around us, but which is often covered up or glossed over, especially in mainstream Christian fiction, and especially if a character who is supposed to be saved is involved. I like to show the frailty and humanity of my characters. People aren’t perfect, even if they’re saved. Christ’s redemptive power and the importance of His ongoing grace are themes that underlie my work. Having said that, I don’t believe in “crossing any lines” just for shock value. There is no gratuitous profanity or graphic sex scenes or anything like that. If people do things, it is usually “off camera,” so to speak. I’ve taken some criticism for my style of writing, but I’ve also had much reader appreciation for my honesty. NFM: I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading some of your romance novels. How and when did you start writing in this genre? TK: Believe it or not, I’m really not that romantic! I grew up reading science fiction, and quite honestly, sci-fi and dystopian are still my favourite things to read (or watch). So, why write romance? It might sound cheesy, but I feel called to it, like a ministry. There are people who are encouraged—even relieved—because of the “authentic” (read “edgy”) elements I talked about in the last question. Not everyone comes from a Christian background and some mainstream fiction can be a bit saccharine in that everyone seems too perfect. These are the stories that God put in my head (and heart) to write, so I try to be obedient. Even if only one person is touched, then I’ve done my job. As far as when, I started writing my first novel back in 1985, soon after having my first child. It gave me a creative outlet and I haven’t stopped. It took me 16 years to complete that first novel, although I did work on three others during those years, and it took several more years to revise each one as they all got rejected multiple times. In all, it was a twenty-four-year journey of writing, revision, and rejection before I signed my first contract in 2008. It hasn’t been an easy road, but it has been very fulfilling. NFM: Why do you prefer to write romantic suspense and science-fiction novels? What other genres and subgenres do you or would you like to write? TK: Like I said above, I write the stories that are in my head. Nothing deep there, by any means! I do think I’d like to write more science fiction, though, because it is my first love in terms of fiction. I was a huge Trekkie when I was a kid. (Still am!) As for other genres, I wrote a lot of stage plays during my twenty years as a drama teacher, and I’ve been privileged to see a few of them get picked up by various play publishers. (Side note: I make the majority of my writing income from my plays and performance royalties across North America… Go figure.) I’ve also done some short nonfiction work and illustrated a children’s book, but that’s not really where my head is at. I love fiction and think it is such a powerful medium, so most of my writing energy goes into that. NFM: Could you describe for us your artistic process when you’re writing? For instance, are you a plotter or a pantser, and what is the most difficult part of this process for you? TK: I’m a hybrid. I usually start with just a “big idea” and jot it all down willy-nilly in a Word document. Then I might work on some character profiles and/or write random scenes and/or dialogue. At some point, I go into Scrivener and start plotting. I love its corkboard feature where I can outline basic chapters and scenes, although I have been known to use recipe cards in a similar way. However, I have yet to have a story follow the plan! Once I actually get to the writing, the story always changes, often quite dramatically. I always think of more details that need to be added, and since I know that’s going to happen, my outlines are pretty flexible. I just can’t think of everything in the beginning! Having a skeleton plan does allow me to skip ahead to a different scene if I am getting bored or don’t quite know how things are going to play out. So, I use both plotting and ‘pantsing’ in equal measure, kind of back and forth. NFM: When, where, and for how long each day do you write when you’re immersed in the process of writing a novel? TK: My general goal is one hour of creative writing per day. I usually do this right after lunch. Does it always happen? No, but if it doesn’t, I try again the next day. Much of the time, I find that if I force myself to sit down with the minimum in mind, the time stretches far beyond that. I used to stay in my office, but these days I sit on the couch with my feet up *smile*. (Keeping my feet elevated for medical reasons—for real!) I spend a lot of time each day on my writing career (2 to 6 hours depending on the day), but a lot of that time is online marketing, website maintenance, and other things that really aren’t writing creatively. That’s why I try for the above minimum of one hour of creative writing per day as some days I don’t feel like writing, especially if I’ve been on the computer a lot that day already. (I also work from home as a distance teacher.) NFM: Who is your favourite romance author and why? What other genres and authors do you enjoy reading? TK: I think my all-time favourite Christian romance author is Francine Rivers. She often includes some potentially edgy topics, which is why I think I’ve always admired her. Frank Peretti and Ted Dekker are also long-time favourites. As far as current authors go, I read a lot of emerging authors’ work, probably because I get sent free books from people asking for reviews or endorsements. Through that, I have become a fan of a couple of people in particular, namely April Gardner and Dana Pratola, again probably because of the edgy elements. Beyond that, I enjoy some of the classics and like to re-read books I’ve already read, sometimes more than once. The Narnia Series, Jane Austin, and at least one Shakespearean play make it onto my reading list each year. NFM: Do your characters tend to mirror yourself or resemble people in your life in any way? How do you manage to get into the heads of your male characters? TK: This is a tough question. I don’t think my characters mirror me, per se, but then again, I think it would be difficult to NOT put some of myself into my characters. I have modelled some of my characters from people I’ve met over the years, and since I’ve moved a lot in my lifetime—more than thirty times—I’ve met a lot of people from all walks of life. I am an observer of human nature, often taking stock of the way people act and react, so I think that comes into play as well. I probably make assumptions about how my male characters feel. While I do believe that women and men think differently in many ways, I also think that human beings have some universal needs and emotions that fit both genders. My main target audience is women, so in that regard, the men probably act the way my women readers want them to act. Having said that, none of the male readers I’ve heard from complain that men don’t actually “think” that way, so … I just do the best I can! NFM: Have some of your real-life experiences made their way into your novels, or do you rely mainly on your imagination, reading, or research when writing your scenes? TK: I’m just going to come right out and say it. I hate doing research! So, while I have to do it because it is necessary, I prefer relying on my imagination and my own life experiences! Most definitely, some real experiences, places, and people have made it into my work, usually in a modified form so as to protect identities. NFM: How do you incorporate faith into your novels so that it doesn’t overpower your story or sound preachy to readers? TK: I think I’ve grown in this regard since my first books came out a decade ago. The biggest thing is to keep it sounding authentic. Would this particular scene happen in real life? Faith elements usually appear in two main ways in my books: through deep POV (when someone is thinking) or through dialogue. Both need to sound like real conversations. Deep POV is a conversation between the character and him or herself, often laced with questions that don’t necessarily get an answer. Then there is dialogue. The biggest faux pas I see in Christian fiction is dialogue that doesn’t sound like a real conversation. Very few people can quote scripture verbatim, and if they do, they don’t always include the reference. There are exceptions, like John 3:16, but for the most part, when people talk about God, they only quote bits of scripture or explain concepts in their own words. Unless a preacher is preaching or someone is reading a passage from the Bible, leave out all the references and all the long-winded proselytizing! It’s a pet peeve and often the thing that makes me roll my eyes and want to quite reading. Here is the truth of the matter. Most people reading Christian fiction are saved already, so they don’t need the entire gospel message in the novel. Reading Christian fiction is not a substitute for Bible study! What about readers who aren’t saved? They may feel convicted, enlightened, or curious after reading the book, and hopefully, seek out a person (or other resources) that will meet their need for sound doctrinal teaching. Just make it sound real! NFM: Are you currently planning or working on a novel or another writing project? If so, can you tell us a bit about it? TK: I am! Tempest Tossed is Book 3 in the Three Strand Cord Series. I hope to have it finished and published by this summer. The entire series centres around three childhood friends, Tempest, Stella, and Cherise. In Book 1, Cherise gets entangled in a drug smuggling operation while chasing her boyfriend around the globe and her friends have to help rescue her. They all have their own hang-ups, challenges, and romantic foibles (Stella falls in love with two brothers at the same time) and narrowly escape death by the end of the book. In Book 2, Blood Ties, Stella gets married, and we follow up on Cherise’s disastrous love life along with two other characters from Book 1, her brother Dirk, a rich playboy who gets shot, and Blue Shepherd, the brother Stella rejects. (Sorry for the spoiler.) More intrigue ensues at a Mexican orphanage with more drug smuggling—this time pharmaceuticals—as well as cyber crimes. Which leads into Book 3, Tempest Tossed, which I’m working on now! The focus is on Tempest and two other characters from the series, again with more smuggling, (this time diamonds), mafia mayhem, and of course, romance. NFM: Describe the experiences and challenges you’ve faced in publishing and marketing your books and any changes you’d make in the future. What are the best ways you’ve found to promote your work? TK: I’ve had several books and all my plays traditionally published (no fees, publisher takes all the risk, you get paid a royalty); tried vanity publishing twice (basically you pay a fee and they publish your book); and started my own publishing company so I could do it myself using online technology and ‘Print On Demand’ services. Every one of them has its own challenges. I had an agent at one time, who got me some of my traditional contracts. That is still a very viable way to go, but it does mean you don’t have control and often your work is tied up in the submission process for a very long time. In the end, the royalties vary, but you do have the backing and “prestige,” if I can say that, of an agent and a traditional contract. For some people, it’s what makes them feel “legitimate.” I would never again use a vanity publisher. It can be very expensive, often you still get low royalty rates, and sometimes the quality isn’t there because there aren’t as many checks and balances. With no investment from the publisher, they aren’t as likely to make sure the highest standards are in place, and you can’t make changes without paying some more. It’s pay, pay, pay all the way! I currently love the ‘do it myself’ option because I can make sure the quality is what I want it to be, and it is far less expensive. Yes, I choose to pay for things like independent editors, cover design, etc., but it’s on my terms. If I see an error, I can make changes immediately without paying someone else to do it, and I get the maximum royalty rate. The downside? It is labour intensive. Also, the distribution can be more challenging. Marketing is a whole other topic. Every one of the options requires that authors market their own books. Traditional publishers may have certain systems in place, may offer some support, and usually have their own catalogues where your books can be seen and sold. Vanity Presses may also have some of that. When you’re truly self-publishing, you are totally on your own. As I said, though, no matter the method, authors still need to do to the bulk of their own marketing. It is such a huge topic that I can’t really go into it too much here. My best advice is two-fold: build a mailing list and create a website or other online hub. Then you can speak directly to your readers, and you can send them somewhere online that is not full of other distractions. Of course, there is lots of hype about social media and tons of other ways to market from book launches, to signings, to other online campaigns, but really, start with those two things first and build from there. NFM: When you’re not busy working on a writing project, what do you like to do in your spare time? TK: These days (I’m writing this post COVID-19) I have lots more spare time! I paint/draw (I was an art major in University), sew and quilt, play the piano, listen to music, and read. I also decided to learn a second language, so I am practicing my German. NFM: Do you have some advice or anything further on writing that you would care to share with us? TK: Keep on learning and growing and don’t be afraid of criticism—it makes you stronger and will help you become a better writer. Mostly, just do what you love and follow your heart. I’ve had years to examine my motivation for writing, and I’ve come to the conclusion that I would still be writing even if I never sold another book. Thank you again, Tracy, for taking time to answer my questions and share your writing experience and knowledge with my audience. It’s been a pleasure to get to know more about you and your work. May you continue to be blessed in your writing career.
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3/28/2020 22 Comments PART II: HOW TO WRITE A PROFILEToday’s guest post is by Pamela Mytroen. If you missed Part I, feel free to check it out here. Post Interview: Separate the Dross from the Gold You have taken a ton of notes at your interview. There are a lot of glittery bits, but how do you find the pure gold? Everyone has their own approach, but I will share my technique, and you can decide if it works for you or not. Five Steps: 1) Transcribe everything you gleaned from the interview onto your screen, even little details you think you might not use. You’d be surprised what you draw on. 2) Read through the interview and highlight what grabs you emotionally. Did somebody suffer a tragedy? Does a humourous anecdote speak to you? How about a personal detail that humanizes a celebrity? Whatever touches you at the core will also speak to others. 3). Some people speak of theme like it should be outlawed, but I use it because it works. A theme is a way to build a piece. It’s like the Cotton-Candy Maker at the fair. He starts with a stick. It doesn’t look like much, but as he makes a pass inside the tub, around and around, he builds an attractive and irresistible confection. At the core of it all is a stick, holding everything together. Then he ends with a flourish and hands it to you. Start with the stick of your theme. For example, I interviewed a lady who had suffered many setbacks after she moved to Canada. She lived through devastating dust storms, the loss of family, financial hardship and grew strong through it all. She had come from Chicago, the Windy City, so I used the theme of storms to tie all of her life stories together. After you introduce the person and tie him or her to your chosen theme, make a swoop through your stories and layer them into your profile. For example, in the profile about a stormy life, I added one story, then another, and another, about storms in her life, some literal and some abstract. Keep gathering stories until you have a collection that centre around your chosen theme. Don’t use every story you have—only those that fit your theme. I often just use three or four poignant stories and leave the rest. Weave in those touching details that you highlighted in step #2. Don’t be discouraged if your cotton candy looks like a disaster and you have to throw it out several times. Hit delete (or cut and paste it at the bottom of your document) and start over. It takes me several tries to land on a theme that speaks to me and fits the person’s life. 4) End with a flourish or a twist like the Cotton-Candy Maker. You might have a quote that resonates with your theme, or you might make a humorous statement that ties in with the stories. Or you might want to point to the next big thing in that person’s life and ask a question such as, “How will she manage the next step?” Then answer it: “With the courage and character she’s cultivated from the storms life has handed her.” In any case, if you tie the ending back to something from the article, your reader will feel satisfied. You have made your point whether in dramatic or humourous fashion, and it ties off the piece perfectly. Many authors and speakers, such as Phil Callaway, Rex Murphy, Rick Mercer, Jean Robertson, and more, use resonation to end with a bang. 5) Throw out the rest of the information you collected. You will rarely use everything the person gave you in your interview. It’s like sifting a pan of sand. There may be some nuggets in there, but if they don’t fit your chosen angle, then they are just fool’s gold. Some More Tips: • Stick to the word count. • Submit your piece on time to your editor. • Keep certain facts confidential if you are asked to. • Read other profiles to get ideas for new questions. I read Writer’s Digest interviews for fresh ideas. Other Things I Often Do: • Use language consistent with your chosen theme. For example, if you use a fair or carnival theme, try something like this: “Around the next curve, she was to find out . . .” Or, “The ride isn’t over yet, but . . .” Or if the person is a cook, try a food theme and use language such as “simmering,” “back burner,” “stirring up a dream,” “flavor,” etc. I interviewed a photographer and used language such as “He’s focusing on another dream now,” and “He’s getting the big picture,” etc. • Bring in quotes from outside sources. For example, ask concertgoers what they thought of the concert. Ask other people at the gallery what they think of a specific painting, or ask customers what they think of a certain store. This gives validity to your opinion. I recommend using only positive quotes, unless you are entering the world of satire. Even then, kindness goes further than biting sarcasm. • Use fiction techniques to create tension and conflict to keep the reader riveted. “Will they get their dream? Will their hard work pan out?” In fiction this is called a “pay off.” You make a promise at the beginning of the story by showing that the character is striving for something, and you pay off the reader at the end by showing how the character achieved their goal or grew in character to handle the problems. In nonfiction, you could show that the person being interviewed has conflict too. Take your reader along for the ride through the high points and the valleys until the payoff at the end. Another fiction technique is to tell the reader that something is missing in this person’s life. What is it? Explore several avenues, creating curiosity, until you finally reveal what it is. I published an interview with a business owner of a hair salon called “Something’s Missing at (Business Place).” What was missing? Was it the award-winning manager who had worked with celebrities? No, that’s not what was missing. Or how about the relaxed family atmosphere at the salon? No. I added a couple more anecdotes until I revealed the missing thing. What was it? Ammonia. Hey, simple, I know, but I thought it was a different and effective approach. Things you don’t have to include: • You don’t have to include all the information you gathered from the interview. Write what grabs you and centre the piece on that instead. • It doesn’t have to be in chronological order. Start with something riveting. Then fill in the person’s backstory later. Or reveal the ending first and raise the question of how they got to that point. Then trace their journey. Those are fiction techniques. • You don’t have to write a perfect draft on your first try. Get it all out—everything that speaks to you about this person. Every story and detail. It will be drivel, but you can refine drivel until it’s divine. • You don’t have to please the person you’re interviewing. It is their story for you to respect and to tell truthfully, but it will be from your perspective. After you write the story, they might see themselves in a new light, which can be refreshing for them. Or not. But most importantly, you are serving your reader. Always write with your reader in mind. • You don’t have to write in third-person (he, she . . .) Once you’ve established a comfy spot in the newspaper or magazine, you might be invited to write editorials, which may include a profile. Once your readers know and trust your style, they might find it lovely and humorous to hear your up-close opinion of a person. • Negotiate with your editor if need be. Editors are not created equally! If they propose a change that you feel would take away from your piece, give your reasons and see what they say. • Overall, submit to the editorial process. Writers and editors grow together as each one comes to understand the needs of the other. Once you find an editor you have confidence in, surrender your work to them and trust them. They will see things that you missed, even if you triple-checked. Often, they can smooth out your wording and make it easier to read. Crafting a profile is like mining for gold. Some can’t handle the backbreaking work, and they quit before the mother lode is revealed. If you want to tell golden stories, you will have to search longer and dig deeper than everyone else. You will need to separate the gold from the dross and polish it until it shines. Pam Mytroen has published several interviews with musicians, artists, writers, business people and others, profiles and human interest stories, articles, editorials, short stories, and serialized fiction in various newspapers, magazines, and anthologies. She has discovered that the best way to solve a problem is to write a story, blog, Sunday School lesson, or devotional. She is also a Language Assessor and English as an Additional Language teacher at her local regional college. Pam enjoys reading thrillers and spending time in the kitchen baking brownies, pies and chocolate chip cookies, which is probably just an excuse to get out of writing. She is married to a tall Norwegian farm boy, and they have four children and three grandchildren. 3/14/2020 0 Comments PART I: HOW TO WRITE A PROFILE Today’s guest post is by Pamela Mytroen.
Pam has published several interviews with musicians, artists, writers, business people and others, profiles and human interest stories, articles, editorials, short stories, and serialized fiction in various newspapers, magazines, and anthologies. She has discovered that the best way to solve a problem is to write a story, blog, Sunday School lesson, or devotional. She is also a Language Assessor and English as an Additional Language teacher at her local regional college. Pam enjoys reading thrillers and spending time in the kitchen baking brownies, pies and chocolate chip cookies, which is probably just an excuse to get out of writing. She is married to a tall Norwegian farm boy, and they have four children and three grandchildren. Profile Interview: How to Mine for a Story Your interview forms the core of your profile piece. This is where you will ask questions, gather information, and follow the sparkling veins of gold that lead to a treasure of a story. Do You Research Before the Interview? I usually research the website, other writings, and reviews of the person I am about to interview. This gives some ideas for specific questions, such as, “How do you feel about your writing being compared to C.S. Lewis’s?” Bringing context to the interview gives the person the chance to address or clarify their story. Basically, they can tell their own side of their story. However, it is also advantageous to conduct a “cold” interview without any preconceived ideas or opinions. In this way, their story may grab you. This may lead to fresh reading that will engage your reader. Whether you research or not, it is the strength and style of your writing that will pull your reader in and give him an emotional experience. Don’t Ignore Ordinary People I want my reader to be emotionally stirred, but that’s not an excuse for beefing up or bending somebody’s story. For example, some of the first people I was asked to interview were boring in my mind. They were, after all, ordinary people. However, I learned an important lesson—ordinary people are often inroads to the vulnerable underbelly of a story. I was once tasked with interviewing a concession worker at an airport that trained pilots in WWII. At first, I thought she wouldn’t know about the glory of an international airport at the cusp of Hitler’s world domination. And maybe she didn’t. But she did have an ear where the commanders might not have. At the concession, the pilots would come to buy one cigarette at a time, and while leaning against her counter, would release their burdens and confide about their hopes and dreams. They cried when a friend had died in training, or they would lean forward and whisper in choked tones how they feared they’d never see their little girl again. They would laugh when they had buzzed a farm so low that the farmer in the open tractor shook his fist. They told her about the little chapel on base where they had found enough peace to get through another day. The emotional heart of that story was behind a scarred wooden counter, buried within the heart of a simple concession worker. And it didn’t hurt to find out that full-size chocolate bars were only a nickel. Sometimes the bystanders and little details hold a backstage pass to the real drama. Don’t Forget the Little Details I have learned that the little details, rather than the well-known and “amazing” facts, are often more appealing to readers. A 100-year-old man I interviewed may not have been famous, but he shared an interesting tidbit. “What is your secret to long life?” I had asked him. “Flax in my porridge,” he snapped, “but it has to be ground.” I almost didn’t include that little detail, but I tacked it on, thinking it was a cute ending. The paper printed a favourable letter in response to that profile, and affirmed that tiny things, like flaxseed, make a big impact. Another little question I asked, which didn't have much to do with a star-studded concert, was, “What’s it like travelling together as a band?” Remigio Pereira told me how lonely it was travelling by himself from concert to concert, but once he joined the Canadian Tenors he felt like he had a family and a brotherhood. Readers always love to find out that celebrities are, in fact, human. Don’t Exclude the Little Anecdotes Would you read an article about the statistics of Operation Christmas Child? How many boxes they shipped and how many children received them? A newspaper refused to print that piece three years in a row. The coordinator gave up and asked if I would try. I bypassed the “millions of boxes” statistics and zeroed in on one story: a little Ukrainian boy who got dental floss in his box and because he had never seen it before, thought it was candy and licked the string, enjoying the minty taste. “I thought that Americans had interesting candy,” he said. It was just a funny little detail that caught the attention of the editor, and it opened the door to an annual story. Little people, little questions, little nuggets—they can lead to an unexpected mother lode of emotional payoff. Remember Story Sells Product Whether interviewing businesses or artists or anybody in between, they all have something they want to “sell.” But readers are not interested in price tags and warranties. They want a story. I have used the following questions to elicit stories: “Tell me, please, how did you get your start in this business?” That was the question I asked of an agricultural business. They wanted me to publish a detailed list of machinery and parts, but I wanted a story. This is what they told me with a shrug of their shoulders: My crop was under water, and if I didn’t save it, I would have to sell the farm. What would happen to my family? My new wife? I trudged to my Quonset in despair and patched together a piece of machinery from old parts that helped lift my crop from the water. He invented a part that not only saved his crop and his family that year, but also enabled him to open a business that has become a highly respected world player. Stories sell product, whether it is machinery, books, art, or reputations. “Why did you choose this town to open your restaurant?” The cook wanted me to print the menu in the paper, but again, I wanted a story. Turns out they were a financially depleted, disillusioned couple who packed everything they owned into their camper, headed west, and broke down in a small town long before their desired destination. They decided to stay and open a restaurant, “Mama’s Café.” Would you rather read that story, or a list of entrees and sides? And, by the way, their cinnamon buns were unforgettable. The business owner will always want to push his product, but you are a storyteller. Go behind the curtain and talk to the lighting and make-up people. Ask the small questions. Get the insignificant details. Their perspective is often more revealing and humanizing than the person under the spotlight. Setbacks are Real Stories “Did you have any setbacks?” That question might unearth an intriguing story like this one: Kornel Wolak, a Polish musician performing with Canada’s most distinguished orchestras said, “Nothing pushed me stronger towards exploring the clarinet more than my first teacher’s negative comment. He called upon my mother and told her frankly, ‘Your son is a complete anti-talent and should not continue on the clarinet.’ This truly shook me up,” says Wolak, “and I decided that before I quit I should at least check if he was right. Soon enough, the more time I spent with the clarinet, the more I realized it was ‘my thing’ and it has been so ever since.” Don’t Stop Asking Questions Continue to ask questions until you get the story behind the story. Use questions that start with, “Tell me about . . .” Open-ended questions cannot be answered with “Yes” or “No.” Rather, they provide an opportunity for the person to talk as much as they want, and to tell their story at their comfort level. Whether they provide emotional responses or just concrete details, it shows that you are a listener and want to hear their version. This builds trust, and they may open up and become more vulnerable as the interview proceeds. A List of Sample Questions: 1. Please tell me about . . . (your childhood, your business, your book, etc.). 2. How did you get started? What motivated you? Please tell me, even if it is something trivial. 3. How did you become so skilled? 4. What is a typical day like? What is it like travelling for your job? 5. Why did you choose this city to start your business? (write your book, etc.) 6. Did you have any obstacles to overcome? 7. Did anybody try to discourage or dissuade you from your endeavour? 8. What would you do if you didn’t sing, paint, write, sell cheesecake . . . ? 9. What is something trivial that makes you happy? 10. What scares you? What do you regret? (Readers love this stuff. They want to know that this person is human, not a divine creature they cannot relate to. Readers tweet, share, and repeat this kind of story because they feel affirmed.) 11. What is something most people don’t know about you, but you would like them to know? 12. Please tell me a fun fact about yourself. 13. What is the most interesting trend happening in your field right now? At the End of the Interview:
“Part II: How to Write a Profile” will cover crafting a written profile and separating the dross from the gold. Check it out here. Thank you for joining me on my blog for this interview with Doreen Pendgracs, a fellow chocolate lover, writer, and Toastmaster. Doreen has been a freelance writer since 1993. Beginning as an independent communications consultant, she began magazine writing in 1995 and continues to write for numerous publications. Doreen also writes nonfiction books and is known in the web community as the “Wizard of Words” for her blog posts on travel, lifestyle, entrepreneurship, writing, and other topics at http://chocolatour.net. Doreen expects to publish Volume II of Chocolatour: A Quest for the World’s Best Chocolate in 2020.
I first became acquainted with Doreen through an article that was published in Toastmaster magazine.¹ In addition to being a freelance writer, nonfiction author, speaker, blogger, and photographer, Doreen is the owner of a chocolate tourism business called Chocolatour, hosting customized tours of cacao growers and artisan chocolatiers around the world. She also arranges chocolate dinners, chocolate and wine pairing events, and group presentations on everything chocolate. She’s written articles on chocolate and travel for several print and web magazines, including National Geographic Traveler magazine, Westjet magazine, Destinations Magazine, and Travel with a Challenge. Doreen recounts her own chocolate adventures on her Chocolatour blog and in her book, Chocolatour: A Quest for the World’s Best Chocolate, Volume One, which won the Bronze Medal in the Cooking/Food Category in the Readers’ Favorite 2014 International Book Awards. I originally did an email interview with Doreen in December 2017, and her responses formed the basis of this article that I wrote for the February 2018 issue of FellowScript magazine, sharing with readers her advice on adapting writing to suit the needs of particular audiences.² I am posting this article here because I feel it offers some helpful tips on this topic for readers of my blog. Research Your Audience Being a writer or author today is much different than when I started in the 1990’s. To be successful today, you’ve got to be current in your thoughts and practices. You need to speak your readers’ language and enjoy interacting with them on their terms. The audience has to be front and centre in your writing. I always try to research my writing or speaking audiences. I write for several publications with different audiences, so I make sure I understand their demographics and tone. I know I’m connecting with readers when publications receive responses to what I’ve written or I get responses to my blog posts. Be Real and Authentic I’m an experiential writer and write in the first person. Personal anecdotes illustrate to your audience that you know what you’re talking about. I find articles much more lively and authentic if they’re written in the first person and based on personal experience. That’s why I excelled in feature writing in journalism school versus straight journalism where it’s “just the facts.” Research is great for augmenting an experience you’re writing about, but it can never replace the authenticity experiential writing brings to the page or screen. Being real and authentic is so important. It’s part of everything I do. Communicate with Personality and Clarity Much of what I write is sharing my travel tales, so I write mainly in a conversational style as if I were talking to a friend—with lots of passion and enthusiasm. I avoid technical jargon at all costs! Whether you’re writing a story or making a presentation, you lose the audience once you get too technical. I write in plain English as much as a story allows. Since I’m in the Boomer generation, much of my writing is intended for this audience. Write what you know using language/terminology that’s comfortable for you and your audience. Engage Readers with Examples and Visuals Using plenty of examples to illustrate my ideas is a great way to get my points across. As a highly visual person, I also like to include lots of visuals. In the case of travel or chocolate stories, I use plenty of photos. My readers always mention how much they enjoy the visuals as they bring the stories to life, and they tell me that enables them to feel they’re right alongside me on my journeys. Choose an Appropriate Mode of Delivery When creating content, match the mode of delivery to the audience’s preferences. One mode of delivery definitely does not fit all. People in their 20’s prefer Snapchat and other e-platforms that are “in the moment.” They generally don’t reread something or give it a second look. Those of us in the Boomer demographic are very different. We’ll read something once and often reread it again when we’re less distracted or in a different frame of mind. Promote on the Proper Platform As I mentioned earlier, blogging is an important way for me to connect with readers. Since they’re so travel-intensive, it takes me several years to complete the travel for just one chocolate travel book. But blogging enables me to stay current on everything I’m doing and everything in the marketplace. I promote my work on a variety of social media platforms, including Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Instagram. Each platform has a slightly different audience, so you need to know your readers’ preferences. Once you understand each platform’s nuances, you can more effectively tailor your promotional efforts to reach your target audience. ¹Mitch Mirkin, “‘Chocolate Queen’ Charts New Terrain,” Toastmasters Magazine, November 2017, 12-13. ²Nina Faye Morey, “Doreen Pendgracs’ Tips On Adapting To Your Audience,” FellowScript Magazine, February 2018, 26. Hello and welcome to my blog, fellow writers. Thank you for joining me today for my interview with emerging author, Kathy Istace. Kathy is also the adoptive mother of three children, a part-time veterinary dental technician, and a speaker, blogger, and marathon runner.
Kathy Istace writes horror, fantasy, historical fiction, and nonfiction. Her fiction has been published in A Face in the Mirror, a Hook on the Door: An Anthology of Urban Legends and Modern Folklore; FellowScript; Night Chillers: Voyage into the Macabre; Coast to Coast: Canadian Stories; lit.cat; twosentencestories.com; fridayflashfiction.com; and she is a Reader's Choice Award Winner on indiesunlimited.com. Her nonfiction articles have appeared in Pet Rescue Magazine, AHT News, Alberta Veterinary Medical Association Magazine, Veterinary Technician magazine, Veterinary Technician Journal, Canadian Vet Tech magazine, and she has written a chapter in the textbook Small Animal Dental Procedures for Veterinary Technicians and Nurses published by Wiley-Blackwell. Find her on Twitter: @KathyIstace. Nina Faye Morey: I introduced you as an emerging author, i.e., someone who hasn’t yet published a book but whose writing has been published in periodicals, journals, and anthologies. Is that how you’d describe yourself at this stage in your writing career? Kathy Istace: That sounds accurate. I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember. I was first published (in a national fiction and poetry anthology) when I was 15 years old, but try as I might, I still haven’t been able to pick up an agent yet for any of my novels. I’m currently working on my third novel, so here’s hoping third time’s the charm! However, I just signed a contract for a nonfiction book: An Introductory Guide to Pet Dental Care with CABI books. NFM: How and when did you first discover the power of words and that you wanted to become a writer? KI: I think I first fell in love with stories even before I could read. I remember drawing pictures and then dictating the story so my mom could write the text beneath. My first ‘book’ was about a little girl and boy who befriend a dragon, and then, at the end, are eaten by the dragon. My storytelling style hasn’t changed much! But the moment when I first realized I could be a writer, that I had something in me that other people could enjoy, was when I was in second grade. We were given an assignment to write a short story including a beginning, middle, and conclusion. I worked on it all weekend, but on Monday when it came time to turn in our papers, I was dismayed to see that I’d done it wrong. Everyone else showed up with a few paragraphs of work, whereas I handed in a 10-page tome titled “The Witching Hour.” But I felt much better when later that week, my teacher assembled the whole school in the gym and read my story aloud to everyone. I was elementary-school famous! NFM: What books or authors have had the greatest influence on you as a writer? KI: If you can’t tell by the above answers, I’m a big fan of horror, sci-fi, and fantasy. My favourite authors are Stephen King and Anne Rice, but surprisingly, though I consistently enjoy their books, my very favourite novels have no elements of fantasy in them at all. My all-time fave is To Kill a Mockingbird, and my second (though it’s definitely not PC) is Gone With the Wind. I’m a big fan of strong but flawed female characters, and that’s the sort of main character I tend to write about. I gravitate toward books set in interesting or pivotal times in history: turning points in technology, race or gender relations, or the fall of a paradigm. I’m also a huge Potterhead, and was greatly influenced by C.S Lewis and Tolkien as a kid. NFM: Your writing has been published in a number of print and online publications, and you’ve written a chapter in a textbook for veterinary technicians and nurses. Please tell us a bit about these writing and publishing experiences. KI: Writing nonfiction articles is fun and easy for me. Because I’ve been in the veterinary dental industry for two decades, I have plenty of contacts in the publishing world on that side, and I’m often commissioned to write rather than having to write and then seek publication. Writing for a textbook was tough: so many references, so many hoops to jump through, everything has to be extremely well-researched and precise. And we recently had to go back and update it all with new surgical techniques, drug protocols, etc. for the second edition, which will be out later in 2020. Writing fiction is a different beast. I am now a rejection-letter veteran! I’d probably be published more than I am if I were better at writing short stories, but it seems most of my plots are supersized. When I do write poetry or shorter fiction, I’ve been able to get most of them published from one or two submissions. But breaking into traditional book publishing is something I’ve yet to manage, and I don’t think I have the kind of social skills or business acumen to make a go of self-publishing. I was originally writing for the YA market because I like fiction about teenagers (they make a lot of bad choices!), but due to a lack of interest from agents and comments from some of my beta readers, I’m going to try my hand at adult fiction instead. Maybe I’ll have better luck there. NFM: You’ve already written a few fiction and nonfiction books, and I believe you also have at least one current WIP. Could you tell us just a wee bit about them? KI: My first novel is a YA time travel story set in ancient Egypt, in the time of Tutankhamun. I’m a bit of an Egyptophile, and I’ve studied eighteenth dynasty Egyptian history extensively. The main character is a god who thinks she’s a twenty-first century human teenager. I had a lot of interest in it from agents, but it turned out to be too sophisticated for what they wanted. I’m thinking about changing it up a little and then marketing it to agents as “Rick Riordan for adults.” My second novel is about the daughter of an alleged suicide bomber who attempts to clear her mother’s name with the help of a genie unleashed from an artifact she finds among her mother’s personal effects. I still think it’s a great read, but it has two major problems: 1) YA agents won’t touch anything about suicide bombers, even alleged ones, and 2) Her mother was a soldier in Iraq, which, for obvious reasons, no one wants anything to do with that right now. And you’d be surprised how many YA agents say NO MILITARY STORIES in their MSWL. So let’s just say I’ve discovered how current events and people’s squeamishness about difficult topics can derail hopes for publication. Lesson learned: I will stick to uncontroversial topics/places from here on out. I may pop that one onto Wattpad or some other platform for kicks. My WIP is an adult historical fiction novel based on the true story of the woman banned from competing in the first modern Olympic marathon in 1896, but who ran it anyway. It’s a fascinating story that way too many people, even in the running community, know nothing about. My current nonfiction project is the aforementioned An Introductory Guide to Pet Dental Care. It will be marketed to veterinary clinics as an aid to educating veterinary technicians, front office staff, and clients on different dental pathologies, prevention, and treatments. NFM: Describe your writing process. For instance, are you a plotter or pantser? When, where, and for how long do you like to write when you’re working on a book or novel? KI: I’m definitely a plotter. I research everything meticulously (I think in another life I would have loved to be a researcher for other novelists), anything from daily life in eighteenth dynasty Egypt to the origin of djinn, to which streets the upper class built their homes on in nineteenth-century Athens. My plots grow from my research, and though I might not have an idea of every scene of every chapter, I usually have a planned goal and obstacle for my main character(s) in every chapter. And I always know how it ends! I write wherever I can. Since I have three school-age kids, take care of my best friend’s toddler, work part-time, run, blog, and sometimes even manage to clean the house, I have to be flexible. Most of the time, you’ll find me cross-legged on the couch with my laptop and the TV tuned to some cartoon while chaos brews in the background. I can knock out three or four hours of writing one thing before my brain screams to move onto something else, so it’s good that I can bounce between fiction and nonfiction. I’ve tried to write early in the morning or after the kids go to bed to have some peace and quiet, but usually I’m way too exhausted at both of those times. NFM: What do you find the most enjoyable about the writing process, and what is the most difficult part for you? KI: I love writing stories! No part is unenjoyable. Even editing and cutting are satisfying. The part I hate is writing query letters, synopses, researching agents, emailing out my hopeful queries, and then getting the inevitable rejections. Basically, I hate everything after writing the words “THE END.” But if I ever want to get my novels out into the world, I have to suck it up. To paraphrase Thoreau: We only hit what we aim at. I’m trying to perfect my aim. NFM: Do your characters tend to resemble you or people in your life in any way, and how do you manage to get into the heads of your male characters? KI: My characters usually have at least one personality trait or peculiarity of mine, or that of someone I know. But most of my characters tend to jump, fully-formed, into my head. Their traits are usually determined by what they want, and what they have to go through to get it. Characters and plot are my strengths, it’s description that I really have to work hard at. I’ve never thought too much about writing male characters versus female characters; we’re all human (and I’ve written plenty of nonhuman characters as well) and though gender does play a part in how we think and act, I don’t think we’re so different. I have been told by some of my male beta readers that I’m pretty good at writing male characters. Maybe it’s because I’m not a particularly girly-type girl, or maybe it’s because I read a lot of male authors. Or maybe I’m not that good and they’re just being nice! NFM: You’ve done some extensive travelling around the world. Have any of these places or experiences made their way into your novels? KI: Yes, I’ve travelled to both Egypt and Greece, among other fascinating places, and travel really helps me ground my stories in reality. Some of them need more grounding than others. I’m a big history buff, especially ancient history, and growing up in Canada, I always felt starved for that sense of ancestry, that sense of permanence. As I said, description is not my strength, so when I can describe something I’ve actually seen or places I’ve actually been that helps a lot. NFM: You’ve also had a number of interesting life experiences. For example, you’ve acted in a pet company’s online commercial and done dental procedures on exotic animals, such as tigers and sea lions. Tell us about some of your most memorable experiences and whether any of them have or will appear in your novels? KI: It was actually an online tutorial on how to brush cats’ and dogs’ teeth, commissioned by a pet toothpaste company. As the content expert, I had to write my own script (a new experience for me), memorize it, and not only act, but act with animals! It was filmed in Montreal and was five minutes long, but it took a day and a half to film. Luckily, the animal actors were great, even if the human (me) was a newb. My work in the veterinary dental field is anything but boring! I’ve cleaned teeth and assisted in a root canal on a 300-pound tiger at the Edmonton Valley Zoo (she was scary until she was asleep, and her paws were as big as my head), and I’ve assisted in extractions on sea lions at the West Edmonton Mall Sea Lions exhibit (less scary but just as big). That one felt like cowboy medicine. We had to cart all of our dental and anesthesia equipment to the mall ourselves, and instead of using our wall-mounted digital dental X-ray unit, we had to borrow a portable horse X-ray machine and use old-fashioned dental films. We also had to extract teeth while kneeling on baffle boards on a concrete floor! That experience did wind up as a case report in a veterinary dental magazine. I’ve also worked on monkeys, lemurs, and even a porcupine. An animal or two usually appear in my books, but I haven’t based them on any of my patients (yet). NFM: Do you have a network of writing friends or beta readers? If so, how have they helped you to become a better writer? KI: I actually don’t have many IRL writer friends, but I do belong to several online writing message boards and Facebook groups. My beta readers are my hapless husband and several of my closest friends who are big readers. I’ve also used the Writers’ Guild of Alberta’s Manuscript Reading Service, and I found that feedback valuable. That reader was the one who first suggested my Egyptian book might be a better fit with an adult audience. NFM: Did you seek any professional advice before you sent queries out to agents and publishers? If so, what advice did you receive and have you found it helpful? KI: I’ve used both Jane Friedman and QueryShark for query letter and synopsis critiques. Both were very helpful since querying stresses me out, and it was heartening to know I’d worked with professionals to craft the very best queries that I could. My tendency runs to wordiness, and in both cases, they were able to help me cut down my queries to a manageable word count and make them snappier. But since I’m still unagented, I can say that even working with the best doesn’t guarantee anything. But I’ve learned enough now through the process that I think I’ll be able to write my next query on my own. NFM: You’ve received some requests from agents and/or publishers to submit your manuscripts and book proposals. How have you found these experiences so far? KI: Submitting full manuscripts was great … at the beginning. I allowed myself to get overly excited, and I had stopped submitting queries to other agents during that time. I won’t make that mistake again! One of the agents I submitted a full manuscript to loved the novel, but the massive changes she wanted just didn’t feel right. That’s when I first suspected I might be better off writing adult rather than YA fiction. Later, that was confirmed. In contrast, writing a nonfiction book proposal was pretty easy since I’d already been approached by the publisher at a conference. They told me what they were looking for and asked if I would be willing to submit a proposal based on their guidelines. I did have to outline my previous publishing experience and credentials, a chapter-by-chapter breakdown of the contents, and provide a list of other veterinary dental professionals they could run my proposal by to see if it covered all the bases. Approval of the proposal took about three months. Now I’ve got to start writing the thing! NFM: You’re also a very committed runner and marathoner. Why did you start running, and how did you decide to participate in marathons? KI: Well, yes, I am a runner, but I haven’t run a full marathon yet. I’ve run hundreds of races and about twenty half marathons, but injuries have always prevented me from going a full 42 kilometers. In fact, I’m recovering from peroneal tendinitis right now! I hope to complete my first marathon while writing my book about the first female marathoner. I originally started running to get in shape for my wedding. I’ve always been thin, but I wanted to be in really great shape. And I’ve never been much for sports, but once I started running, I fell in love! I ran a charity 5K fun run soon after and got bit by the racing bug, too. That was over twenty years ago, and over the years, my motivation to run has changed dramatically. Now, I run for my mental health and some much-needed alone time. I don’t feel like myself when I can’t run. It would be like not brushing my teeth. NFM: You recently started a blog on the topic of winter running. What is the name and address of your blog? What have you talked about in some of your most recent posts? KI: My blog is Hypothermic Runner at https://hypothermicrunner.weebly.com. One of my most recent posts is about getting an attitude adjustment after feeling sorry for myself about my injury. Some of my other posts include “How I Fight my SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) with Running,” “How I Dress to Run in -20C,” and “Acclimatization So Winter Running Doesn’t Suck.” NFM: What other hobbies or activities do you enjoy when you’re not writing or running? KI: I’m a huge nerd, so lately, you’d find me in front of the TV watching one of the new Star Treks. I’ve even sucked my ten-year-old daughter into watching ST: Discovery and ST: Picard! I’m also a big fan of The Mandalorian, The Witcher, and (way out in left field), The Young Pope. And since I’ve been recovering from my injury, I’ve been doing a lot of physio and strength training, which I hate but have come to realize are necessary. And reading, of course! I just finished The House of Silk, a Sherlock Holmes novel by Anthony Horowitz. NFM: Do you have any writing advice or something further that you’d like to share? KI: I wish I were seasoned enough to dole out advice! I guess what I’d like to share is if you’re hoping to go the traditional publishing route and feel like you’re banging your head against the gates, you’re not alone. I’m right here with you, trying to write while working a day job and taking care of kids and being too introverted and tired and busy to do much else. And after another rejection letter, we’ll both pick ourselves up and bang some more until those gates finally open. Thank you, Kathy, for agreeing to do this interview for my blog and for sharing your writing experience and insights with my audience. I’ve enjoyed this opportunity to get to know more about you and your work, and I wish you all the best in your future writing endeavours. 1/28/2020 0 Comments WEEKLY QUOTESCreativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes.
Art is knowing which ones to keep. ~ Scott Adams Welcome to my blog, fellow writers. Today I have the pleasure of interviewing award-winning Canadian author and speaker, Marcia Lee Laycock. Marcia writes in a variety of genres, and her novels include One Smooth Stone (winner of the Best New Canadian Christian Author Award) and its sequel A Tumbled Stone (a finalist in the Word Guild’s Word Awards).
Marcia’s writing began in the attic of her parents’ home where she wrote poetry and short stories for her dolls. They never complained so she kept it up. Since those humble beginnings, her work has been published in both Canada and the U.S., broadcast on CBC radio, and appears frequently on Medium.com. Her devotional column, The Spur, goes out by e-mail to avid readers. Marcia’s work has won many awards, garnering praise from notable writers like Janette Oke, Mark Buchanan, Phil Callaway, and Sigmund Brouwer. Marcia has also written for the Associated Gospel Churches of Canada, Gospel Union Canada, and Wycliffe Bible Translators. She is a sought-after speaker for women’s events. To learn more visit her online at https://marcialeelaycock.com/. Nina Faye Morey: How and when did you first discover the power of words and that you wanted to become a writer? Marcia Lee Laycock: I began reading and writing at a young age. Home life was rather stressful when I was young, so reading and writing became an escape. I think in some ways, perhaps, they were also a way to control my world, or at least my imaginary world. Once I got into school, I was fascinated with words and sentences and paragraphs. My teachers were very encouraging and, as most people do, I thrived under that affirmation. When I was eleven years old, an aunt gave me a copy of Emily of New Moon by L M Montgomery, and I was delighted to discover that you could actually call yourself a writer, so at that young age I determined that’s what I would be. NFM: What genres do you write in and why do you prefer these ones over others? MLL: My first two novels were contemporary fiction. I also write fantasy (I have 4 middle grade novels out and am writing another series now). I love writing short stories and poetry and have written a slew of devotionals for local and national publications. I like writing in different genres, though that’s not a great strategy for marketing. NFM: Why did you decide to also write under the pen name, M.C. Spencer? MLL: When I showed the cover of my first middle grade fantasy to my daughter, she commented that kids that age, especially boys, might not be interested if they saw a picture of a grandmotherly woman on the back cover. Since fantasy was a departure for me, I decided it might be a good idea to write under a pen name for that genre. I’m not sure if I will continue to use it. The jury is still out! NFM: Describe your writing process. For instance, are you a plotter or pantser? When, where, and for how long do you like to write when you’re working on a novel? MLL: I am definitely a ‘pantser’—I love letting the story unfold as I write. There usually is a point when I stop and do a bit of a timeline and maybe jot down some ideas as to where the story might go, but I’m not into doing a complete outline as some do. I’m not a morning person, so I try to be at my desk in the basement of our home by 9:00 in the morning and work until noon or later. I will sometimes work through the afternoon, as well, if I’m on a roll, but usually the afternoons are for trying to do some marketing, working on a course, or helping the students who are taking my courses. I share an office with my husband, so that can be a bit of a challenge at times. But if it’s too much of a distraction, I have a laptop so I can work in my living room. I prefer complete quiet to write—it boggles my mind how anyone could write in a coffee shop! NFM: Tell us about your publishing experiences and if they’ve altered your writing process in any significant way? MLL: I was blessed to win the Best New Canadian Christian Author Award for my first novel, One Smooth Stone. That award meant publication by Castle Quay Books, based in Ontario. The publisher, Larry Willard, was great to work with, so it was a good experience. Larry had agreed to publish the sequel, A Tumbled Stone, but the economy took a nosedive right then, and he had to drop all of his fiction line. That was very disappointing and, for a while, it looked like the second book would never be in print. Then my dear mother-in-law asked why I hadn’t published it. When I explained that I did not have the funds to go the self-publishing route, she offered to finance the book. I chose Word Alive Press and was quite happy with the product they produced. Some time later, I discovered something called Create Space, Amazon’s self-publishing arm (now merged with Kindle Direct Publishing). I loved having complete control, being able to design the covers, etc. myself. I have produced all of my other books on that platform (ten so far). I’m not sure which direction I will go with the fantasy series I’m working on now. I may try to find an agent for that one to see if there is interest from a traditional publisher. NFM: How has winning writing awards changed your life as an author? MLL: The awards I have received have all been a great encouragement to me. When I have one of those days when I think I have no talent and am wasting my time, (and yes, I do have those days, as most writers do), I think of those awards and keep going. NFM: What is your definition of literary success? MLL: I think if anything I have written has made some kind of difference or change in a person’s life, that piece is a success. I have had some amazing responses to my novels and to some of my devotional writing (mainly something in my devotional book, Spur of the Moment). I am so thankful that the Lord has allowed me to know about these stories: a young woman who moved from bitterness and anger to believing God loves her; a man who called his estranged daughter and asked her to come home—and she did!; an elderly woman who had attended Christian women’s clubs for years but never made the decision to accept Christ until reading Spur of the Moment. I have been overwhelmed at times and deeply humbled to see how God has used my words to do amazing things in people’s lives. That’s what keeps me writing. I sometimes get discouraged that my books haven’t sold as well as I would like, but then I go to that file and read the emails and letters, and I realize I am doing what God has called me to do and that’s all that matters. NFM: Do your characters resemble you or people in your life in any way, and how do you manage to get into the heads of your male characters? MLL: My characters have all been composites of people I have known, but I don’t think it’s possible to write anything that doesn’t have at least a small part of the writer embedded in it somewhere. I’m not sure about how I get into a male character’s head. I don’t find it difficult, perhaps because I was raised with a number of boys and had few female friends when I was young. NFM: Do you have a personal network of writing friends? If so, how have they mentored you and helped you to improve your writing? MLL: I am very thankful for the writing friends I have met, mostly through InScribe. Sigmund Brouwer and Elsie Montgomery especially come to mind as two who have been informal mentors and have helped me a great deal over the years. I also have a couple of friends who will critique my work when asked, and that has been a great help as well. NFM: How has your faith influenced your writing, and how do you incorporate it into your novels without sounding preachy? MLL: My faith is such an integral part of my life that it is just there, in everything I write. I submitted a poem to a secular contest a number of years ago and was pleased when it took the first prize, but I was stunned when the judge commented that the thing he liked best about the poem was the subtle way in which God was introduced. I had not even intended to write a poem about God, but that’s what he saw! It isn’t easy to write about faith without being preachy. I don’t always succeed, but I try to keep the story as natural as possible, without interjecting religious content where it just doesn’t fit. It’s easy to cross over that line into propaganda, and that will always kill a story. NFM: Tell us a bit about your published books and any that you’re currently working on? MLL: I’ve mentioned One Smooth Stone and A Tumbled Stone. There may be a third ‘stone’ book in my future. Spur of the Moment was my first devotional book and is now in third printing. Journey to a Strong Tower, Journey through Fire and Smoke, and Journey to a New Beginning – the Higher Ways Series – fantasy for middle grade readers and up. (Adults have also liked them.). The Second Rite – fantasy written especially for middle grade boys. Celebrate This Day – a devotional for special occasions. A Traveler’s Advisory – a devotional all about travel. Christmas – short stories for that season. Love in the Room – devotionals for the Christmas season. WIP – fantasy about a young girl, abandoned by her mother and rejected by her father. It’s all about her desperate need for love and a place to belong. NFM: What writing organizations or communities are you a member of and how have they contributed to your success as an author? MLL: I have already mentioned InScribe Christian Writers’ Fellowship, which has been a tremendous help and encouragement to me for over 30 years. I also am a member of The Word Guild and American Christian Fiction Writers, both of which have broadened my reach as far as getting to know other writers, editors, and publishers. NFM: You regularly speak to diverse audiences and teach other writers in a number of venues. How have these experiences shaped and enriched your own life as a writer? MLL: I don’t think I have ever spoken or taught that I did not learn something, sometimes a great many ‘somethings,’ in the process. My speaking/teaching ministry has been a great blessing to me. My mom always said I should have been a teacher, and I guess I should have listened! I love seeing a student move forward with their writing and sometimes even their very life, as a result of something I’ve said or taught. NFM: What is the most important tip or piece of writing advice you have to offer fellow writers? MLL: Focus on what God intends, not on what you aspire to. His agenda is so often very different than ours, but always has your best interest at heart, as well as that of your readers. So many times, I have been at a speaking event or a book signing or a marketing effort, thinking it was all about selling my books. But then God shows me why I’m really there, and it blows me away. Keep your eyes and ears open for the divine appointments, and pray, pray, pray for your readers. Thank you, Marcia, for agreeing to do this interview for my blog and for sharing your writing experience and insights with my audience. I definitely enjoyed getting to know more about you and your work, and I wish you continued success in your writing career. When the New Year dawns, most people feel compelled to compile a list of resolutions. If you’re like me, you take the first few weeks to think about and set your writing goals for the upcoming year. It’s always a good idea to periodically review our writing life in order to celebrate our past achievements, and to determine where we are presently at, what we want to focus our time and energy on in the future, and which of our previous goals we want to slam the door on. If that last one sounds a bit defeatist to you, I’d prefer to call it realistic. Not every goal we set for ourselves will work out, but remember that when one door closes, another one always opens.
While things might not always work out as we hoped, we tend to be more productive if we take the time to create a plan for the future. To begin devising an effective plan, here are a few questions to ask yourself: • What is my vision for my writing? • Where would I like my writing career to be in five years? • What do I like to write? • Who do I want to write for? • What are my strengths and weaknesses? • What is my purpose? In addition to planning your writing goals, here are twelve steps you can take to prepare for the upcoming year: 1. Refill Your Creative Well There are a number of things that you can do to keep your creative well from running dry. Number one is read, read, and read some more. What you decide to read will depend on what type of writing you do and what type of books you enjoy reading. You’ll also want to read some good books, blogs, and websites on writing. Spend time talking and corresponding with fellow writers. If you don’t already belong to a writer’s group or online writing community, join one now! Attend some writing conferences and take some writing courses either in person or online. Take up some new hobbies and activities that will get you out of your chair and provide some exercise, as well as introduce you to some new and exciting topics and people to write about. 2. Finish Your Works in Progress We all have works in progress sitting in our drawers or computer files. This may be due to a number of causes: loss of interest once your initial excitement wears off, you’re procrastinating out of fear, you’re paralyzed by your perfectionism, you’ve dropped the thread of your plot, or you’re spending more time reading about writing than actually writing. Locate a few of these unfinished articles, short stories, poems, novellas, and novels. Choose at least one or two of these WIP to finish this week, month, or year. Then set daily time and/or word count goals for them, and don’t stop working on them until they’re finished. 3. Follow Up on Previous Queries & Submissions Editors and publishers are very busy people. They may have hundreds of queries and submissions sitting in their inboxes and be working on a number of assignments on any given day, so you shouldn’t expect an immediate response. However, you should receive a reply in a reasonable length of time, depending on your market’s editorial cycle. That’s normally a week or less for newspapers, three or four weeks for magazines, and six to eight weeks or longer for book publishers, If you don’t receive a response within these time frames, then send them a brief and polite follow-up email, attaching your original query so that they don’t have to spend precious time searching through their inbox for it. You will want to know whether or not they are interested as soon as possible, so you can resubmit it elsewhere for consideration. 4. Resubmit Rejected Manuscripts Never revise and resubmit your rejected article or book to the same publisher unless you’ve been invited to do so. Do, however, go ahead and resubmit it to other relevant publications or publishers as is or with any necessary revisions required to slant it to suit a different market. Don’t let these rejected manuscripts just sit idle on your computer or in your desk drawer. Keep them circulating out there in the marketplace. And never throw them in the wastebasket! Some of the material they contain may very well prove useful for future articles or books. For the same reason, never throw out material you’ve gathered in your research files. 5. Resubmit Previously Published Work If you’ve sold your previously published articles to a publisher for first serial rights, you are free to sell the second rights to other publications as many times as you like. Publishing your previously published works as reprints is a great way to boost your writing income. Small or regional publications are often willing to purchase reprints, but be sure to mention in your cover letter that you’re offering second or reprint rights and provide a proper citation giving credit to the first publisher of the work. 6. Try Writing Something New If you’re experiencing a slow period in your writing life, perhaps you’re just tired of writing the same old thing and need to recharge by trying something new and exciting. Although, I’ve never experienced writer’s block, I suspect this might be a great way to help you get your creative flow back. If you regularly write in a particular genre, try experimenting with a different one. If you’ve only written short stories, try writing a novella or novel. If you only write biographical pieces about athletes, try interviewing an artist instead. You get the idea. You might also try a few simple writing exercises to get your mojo back. For example, take a sentence from a book or a bit of overheard conversation and rework and insert it into your own original short story. 7. Establish New Writing Habits You call yourself a writer, but you’re not actually writing that much. Writers write! So you need to establish a daily writing routine. Habits account for 40-45% of our daily activities, so it’s vital for you to examine your current habits to determine which ones are holding you back and identify new ones that will help you move forward. If you want to be happy, productive, and successful in your writing career, you will need to incorporate these new habits into your writing routine in order to achieve your goals. In his book Turning Pro, Steven Pressfield points out that it takes more than natural talent to succeed: “The difference between an amateur and a professional is in their habits.” 8. Create/Update Your Website/Blog Even if you’re unpublished, it’s important to develop an online platform. Create your own author website and/or blog and update it regularly. It will help you to develop your writing skills and showcase your work in a public space. You won’t have many followers outside of your family, friends, and a few fellow writers to start with, but over time you’ll be able to build up a more substantial audience. In the beginning, your website/blog will not look perfect, but keep in mind that it’s a work in progress. By the time you’ve built up a substantial online presence, you’ll have figured it all out and have a professional looking site. 9. Create/Update Your Online Bio & Writing Resume It’s essential that you have an about page on your website/blog. It helps visitors to your website learn about you and helps you build your brand. Tell your readers your story, mention any books or other writing credits, and include a personal photo. If you do editing, speaking, coaching, or provide writing courses and workshops or some other type of service, you will also want to have a page with a detailed writing resume. Always keep your bio, photo, and writing resume up-to-date. 10. Revisit and Reorganize Your Clipping & Research Files Revisit your clipping and research files to find new topics to write about or new angles to pursue. While you might think you can’t come up with any new writing ideas, there are probably hundreds already sitting in your files. Keep your research notes from previous writing projects, as there is always information you haven’t used or that can be easily repurposed. Have these files clearly labelled and well-organized, so you don’t waste precious writing time searching for the information, quotes, or citations that you need. This also applies to your computer files and bookmarked websites. You’ll also want to keep your own clipping file or writer’s portfolio up-to-date and well-organized, so you can easily find and repurpose content from past articles or interviews. 11. Organize Your Writing Space Don’t let a whole forest of dead wood pile up on your desk. Disorder can pose a barrier to good writing. Just as pruning fruit trees of their dead branches increases their production of fruit, trimming those piles of paper on your desk will increase your productivity. I’m not implying that you need to go overboard on the tidiness front, but try to keep your desk clear of anything that’s unrelated to your current writing project. A well-organized space will help you be a more efficient and effective writer. 12. Organize and Secure Your Writing Files If you still prefer to work mainly with paper files, invest in a box of multi-coloured file folders and use and reuse them. It will help you to keep organized if you use different coloured folders for your various writing projects, research, and correspondence. Have them clearly labelled and neatly filed in a filing cabinet. You can deduct office furniture expenses from your writing income, so go ahead and purchase whatever new or used file cabinets or book shelves you require. Even if you keep electronic files on your computer and correspond via email, you’ll probably want to keep print copies of your most important correspondence, contracts, invoices, etc. If you rely mainly on computer files, be sure to keep them safe by installing the latest version of your antivirus software and performing regular backups. Also, be careful about where you store your backup files. Keeping them in your desk drawer is fine if your computer crashes, but it won’t protect you from fire or theft. Protect your backup files by storing them in your safe deposit box or with a trusted family member or friend. So there you have it, fellow writers, my list of twelve steps you can take to prepare yourself for the upcoming year. Now I’d like to turn it over to you. How do you prepare for another productive year of writing, and what New Year’s resolutions have you made for yourself? 12/31/2019 0 Comments MY YET-TO-READ BOOK LIST FROM 2019So many great books and so little time to read! Several books have either entertained or educated me over the course of this year, but there are still so many more I’m looking forward to reading in the future. Here is a list of a dozen of this year’s best books in a variety of genres that I’ve yet to read:
Title: The Testaments: A Novel Author: Margaret Atwood Publisher: McClelland & Stewart, Sept. 10, 2019 Details: 381 pages, Kindle Edition CAN $16.99 • Winner of the Booker Prize, Longlisted for the Scotiabank Giller Prize, & International Bestseller Acclaimed Canadian author Margaret Atwood’s spellbinding sequel to her dystopian masterpiece The Handmaids Tale that has become a contemporary classic. Title: The Silent Patient Author: Alex Michaelides Publisher: Celadon Books, Feb. 2019 Details: 297 pages, Kindle Edition CAN $14.99 • The instant #1 New York Times bestseller Michaelides’ debut novel is an intense psychological thriller comparable to Hitchcock’s with a gripping plot that has a startling twist ending. Title: Someone We Know: A Novel Author: Shari Lapena Publisher: Doubleday Canada, July 30, 2019 Details: 304 pages, Kindle Edition, CAN $13.99 • An Instant #1 National Bestseller • An Instant New York Times Bestseller A fast-paced, nail-biting thriller along the lines of an Agatha Christie novel with plot twists that will keep you guessing until the end. Title: Mrs. Everything Author: Jennifer Weiner Publisher: Atria Books, June 11, 2019 Details: 481 pages, Kindle Edition, CAN $14.99 • A New York Times 100 Notable Books Of 2019 Selection • One Of NPR’s Best Books Of 2019 • The Washington Post’s 50 Notable Works Of Fiction In 2019 • Good Housekeeping’s 50 Best Books Of 2019 Bestselling author Jennifer Weiner examines women’s roles in society through the tales of two sisters whose lives turn out much different than they’d imagined. Title: The Body: A Guide for Occupants Author: Bill Bryson Publisher: Doubleday Canada, Oct. 15, 2019 Details: 424 pages, Kindle Edition, CAN $16.99 • New York TimesBestseller • National Bestseller A comprehensive head-to-toe tour of our miraculous human body that’s full of information, facts, and anecdotes, told with healthy doses of wit and humour. Title: The Unwinding of the Miracle: A Memoir of Life, Death, and Everything that Comes After Author: Julie Yip-Williams Publisher: Random House, Feb. 5, 2019 Details: 301 pages, Kindle Edition, CAN $16.99 • New York Times Bestseller • “An exquisitely moving portrait of the daily stuff of life.”--The New York Times Book Review (Editors’ Choice) • Named One Of The Best Books Of The Year By The New York Times Book Review • Time • Real Simple • Good Housekeeping A moving memoir in which the author candidly chronicles her terminal cancer journey and counsels her readers to live full lives. Title: Once More We Saw Stars: A Memoir Author: Jayson Greene Publisher: Knopf, May 14, 2019 Details: 239 pages, Kindle Edition, CAN $15.99 • “A gripping and beautiful book about the power of love in the face of unimaginable loss.” -- Cheryl Strayed • For readers of The Bright Hour and When Breath Becomes Air, a moving, transcendent memoir of loss and a stunning exploration of marriage in the wake of unimaginable grief. A gripping memoir that chronicles a couple’s struggle to find hope and healing in the face of overwhelming tragedy, grief, and loss. The strength of their love enables them to come to terms with the fragility of life and the finality of death after a devastating accident ends their two-year-old daughter’s life, and it empowers them to continue on and find meaning in life. Title: The Huntress: A Novel Author: Kate Quinn Publisher: William Morrow, Feb. 26, 2019 Details: 557 pages, Kindle Edition, CAN $11.99 • Named one of best books of the year by Marie Claire and Bookbub • "...compulsively readable historical fiction…[a] powerful novel about unusual women facing sometimes insurmountable odds with grace, grit, love and tenacity.” - Kristin Hannah, The Washington Post A suspenseful tale of predator and prey, transgression and redemption, Quinn’s WWII historical fiction tells of a British war correspondent and a Russian female bomber pilot who join forces to track down the Huntress, a murderous Nazi war criminal. Title: Beyond the Trees: A Journey Alone Across Canada’s Arctic Author: Adam Shoalts Publisher: Allen Lane, Oct. 1, 2019 Details: 288 pages, Kindle Edition, CAN $15.99 • National bestseller • A thrilling odyssey through an unforgiving landscape, from "Canada's greatest living explorer." This bestselling Canadian author and adventurer vividly describes how he set out from Eagle Plains, Yukon Territory in the spring of 2017 on a frantic 4,000 km solo race across North America’s majestic Arctic wilderness in order to arrive in Baker Lake, Nunavut before winter settled in. Title: The Flatshare: A Novel Author: Beth O’Leary Publisher: Flatiron Books, May 28, 2019 Details: 321 pages, Kindle Edition, CAN $14.99 • “A delight from start to finish…A warm, enchanting love story perfect for fans of classic rom-coms.”―Kirkus, starred review • “This quirky romantic comedy has surprising depth…Colorful storylines, generous-hearted characters, and British banter make this a refreshing novel.”―Christian Science Monitor When a desperate Tiffany answers an ad for a flatshare, she becomes roommates with Leon. She occupies the apartment nights and weekends; nightshift worker, Leon, occupies it during the day. Although they never actually meet, they soon start exchanging notes. These two opposites soon become steady pen pals, and then so much more. Title: How to Write a Page-Turner: Craft a Story Your Readers Can’t Put Down Author: Jordan Rosenfeld Publisher: Writer’s Digest Books, Feb. 11, 2019 Details: 234 pages, Kindle Edition, CAN $11.45 • Infuse Your Fiction with the Powerful Tug of Tension! A writer’s guide on how to tightly weave threads of tension throughout a story. Author, editor, and writing coach Jordan Rosenfeld not only teaches how and where to build in tension but analyzes examples from contemporary page-turners to help writers craft unputdownable books. Title: The Last Fifty Pages: The Art and Craft of Unforgettable Endings Author: James Scott Bell Publisher: Compendium Press, Feb. 18, 2019 Details: 110 pages, Kindle Edition, CAN $5.32 • “The first page of a book sells that book. The last page sells your next book.” –– Mickey Spillane International Thriller Writers Award winner and #1 bestselling writing teacher James Scott Bell explains how to create memorable story endings and provides examples from several well-known stories. Thank you for joining me today for my interview with award-winning writer, editor, and illustrator, Ann-Margret Hovsepain. She is the author of three devotionals for tween girls, The One Year Designer Genes Devo (Tyndale House Publishers, 2007), Truth & Dare: One Year of Dynamic Devotions for Girls (David C. Cook Publishing, 2011), and Truth, Dare, Double Dare: Another Year of Dynamic Devotions for Girls (Cook, 2014). Her own devotional colouring book, Restore My Soul (Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2016) received rave reviews. Ann-Margret also illustrated the colouring book for breast cancer survivors by Beverly Vote, Inkspirations for Breast Cancer Survivors (Health Communications, Inc. 2017).
Ann-Margret Hovsepian is an award-winning Montreal-based writer and illustrator, with over 25 years of professional experience in various areas of the publishing world. She has written hundreds of articles for dozens of different Canadian and U.S. print periodicals and is a best-selling author of multiple devotional books. In addition to her writing and drawing adventures, Ann-Margret has spoken or led workshops at several professional or ministry events. She is passionate about missions and women’s ministry. Nina Faye Morey: Tell us about your career path as a writer/illustrator and in the publishing industry. Ann-Margret Hovsepian: I never set out to become a writer. In high school and college, my only thought was to go into science, specifically chemistry. When it became clear in college that I wasn’t cut out for that, I struggled to figure out what to do next. My first application to university was rejected, so I looked for a temporary job while I reapplied. I landed at a small trade magazine where I was asked to take care of typesetting and proofreading. Within days, I knew that I belonged in publishing, though I still didn’t have a specific career in mind. Four years later, at which point I was managing the editorial department and doing some copy writing, I decided to start my own business. I was going to offer desktop publishing, copy editing, and proofreading services, writing freelance articles only as a side job. I still didn’t think of myself as a writer, although my parents told me I was gifted in that area. Twenty-three years later, with over 300 hundred articles and several books published, it’s safe to say that I did eventually evolve into a writer, in spite of myself! The “illustrator” hat was plopped onto my head when I started sharing my doodles—something I did simply as a hobby—on Facebook several years ago. Friends encouraged me to create a colouring book, and then an editor I had worked with on one of my books presented an opportunity for me to have five of my illustrations published. That gave me the courage to pursue illustration more seriously, and I’ve had two colouring books published since then. NFM: What inspires your creativity? AMH: Everything. Nature, the people in my life, books I read, walks around my neighbourhood, the news, difficulties I go through, things I learn at Bible study, stuff I see on social media, and even my own journals and word banks (thoughts I’ve saved on my computer or in a physical file folder). Everything that happens in life has the potential to spark an idea or turn into solid material for an article or drawing. NFM: Describe your creative process when you’re working on a book project. For instance, do you craft the text or the artwork first? AMH: I’ve only combined writing and artwork in one project, my book Restore My Soul. For that project, I wrote all 40 devotions first and then sketched out the illustrations they inspired. NFM: What are the main media you use to create your illustrations? Do you prefer to draw by hand or do you also use digital technology to produce your artwork? AMH: I draw by hand using the best quality pens and paper I can find. If necessary, I will pull scans of my drawings into Adobe Illustrator to clean them up a little, but I rarely manipulate the original drawings. People seem to like seeing some imperfections and wobbles in my colouring pages. NFM: Who has had the biggest influence on your writing and illustrating career? AMH: If I were to talk about my writing and illustrating in general, it would be almost impossible to point to one or two people. I started devouring books at a young age and am sure that many excellent authors have had an impact on my writing. As well, many illustrators and artists I’ve run across—mainly online—have inspired and influenced my drawing style. As far as my career goes, however, the biggest influences have been a few editors who took a chance on me when I started freelancing in my 20s, as well as the literary agents I’ve worked with. If not for their guidance and their confidence in me, I wouldn’t be where I am today. NFM: What does your work schedule look like? Do you have a fixed daily routine? AMH: My life outside of work tends to function on an organized and fixed routine. When it comes to my work, it’s a whole other story. My assignments vary so much and their arrival is so sporadic, I really have to take each week as it comes. A deadline will determine what the days leading up to it look like. Part of this comes down to my personality, too. As a creative person, I don’t work well with too rigid a routine. I need a more fluid schedule to allow room for inspiration and imagination to do their thing. Okay, okay, I’ll admit it: I work better under pressure sometimes. Don’t all writers? NFM: Describe your most recent book, and the project you’re currently working on? AMH: My most recent book is a colouring book for breast cancer survivors. My co-contributor provided the inspirational quotes, and I created nearly three dozen original illustrations to go with the text. I’ve been working on a book proposal for a while now but, as God has been working in my life and teaching me about transformation, my book idea has gone through changes too. I’m taking my time to see how God leads me with this project. NFM: What advice would you give to aspiring or novice authors/illustrators? AMH: Identify your motive for wanting to write. Is it to become rich and famous, to have an outlet to express yourself, or to serve others? Your motive will shape your journey as a writer. These are all valid goals, but I would encourage aspiring writers to choose “to serve others” and let God take care of the outcome. Decide, from now on, not to be driven by how many books you sell, how much money you make, or how many people follow you on social media. You obviously need to spend some time and energy on marketing but don’t let those things define your level of success. You are successful if you are faithful and obedient in the opportunities God gives you to use the writing talent He has given you. Feed your soul. Reading and training for professional development is vital, as is staying physically healthy, but unless your spiritual life is also nourished, you will be withdrawing from an empty bank account. Don’t neglect your walk with God, no matter how busy you think you are. NFM: Tell us about some of the highs and lows of your author/illustrator career. AMH: Many years ago, I spent hours and hours and hours working on a feature story for a Christian magazine, and it involved a long phone interview with someone in Alaska. This was before I had a good long-distance phone plan, so my phone bill was quite high. After working on multiple revisions with the editor, I was told that the story wasn’t going to run because the topic was too controversial. I think I received a small kill fee, but I was too discouraged to care at that point. Other than that, my “lows” have probably been typical in this field: late payment or low pay rates, miscommunication with editors, rejection of ideas I thought were brilliant, etc. High points would include affirming words from my readers, especially young girls who respond positively to my devotional books and reach out to me with questions, prayer requests, or testimonies. You can’t put a dollar amount on how precious those letters are. Of course, another high point for me was when my devotional colouring book, Restore My Soul, sat on the Christian bestsellers list for three consecutive months in 2016. I never dreamed something like that would happen to one of my books. NFM: What do you enjoy doing when you’re not writing or illustrating? AMH: I have so many hobbies and so little time to get to them all! I enjoy gardening, cooking, sewing, reading, decorating, and crafts. I also volunteer many hours to serving in my church as a clerk, newsletter editor, and deaconess, as well as participating in mission work through my family’s ministry, which focuses mainly on Armenia. NFM: Tell us about your faith journey and how that has shaped your writing/illustrating career. AMH: I grew up in a Christian home and was blessed to be surrounded by God-fearing, Christ-following, Bible-studying family members. I was seven years old when I approached my father, then an elder in our church (he became the pastor when I was 15), and told him I wanted to become a Christian. That day I made a conscious, informed decision to commit my life to Christ. It’s been an interesting journey since then, with many dips and climbs along the way, but I’ve never doubted that putting my life in His hands was the best decision I ever made. How my faith has shaped my career probably has more to do with my character and how I approach my work—whether it’s with integrity, honesty, trustworthiness, respect and zeal…or not—than with my talent, skill, or success. NFM: Do you have any further advice or insights into the life of an author/illustrator that you would like to share? AMH: Regarding distractions: The best way to limit distractions when working depends a little on two things: your personality and your circumstances. It’s easier to limit distractions if you’re an introvert and live alone, for example. If you’re a social butterfly and live with a big family, that will be more of a challenge. But start by signing off all social media and turning off your phone, resisting the urge to check them. Let the people close to you know that you need some undisturbed time for an hour or two or five. Beyond that, make sure you’re comfortable, hydrated, and fed (but not stuffed) so that you can just settle into your writing. Regarding rejection: As disappointing as rejection can be, I’ve learned to keep things in perspective. First of all, every publisher has a limited number of slots for new book projects, so the percentage of proposals they can accept from the mountains that land on their desks is tiny. A rejection is almost never personal, unless I’ve submitted a lousy proposal, of course. Generally, it means my proposal was badly timed, it overlapped with a similar proposal they’ve already decided to go with, or it just doesn’t meet the needs of the publisher’s target audience. My agent and I will either rework the proposal (if the publisher gave any indication that they’re still open to the concept) or pitch it to other publishers. There have been a few ideas we simply put aside while we looked at new ideas. We sometimes revisit rejected proposals and reshape them and try again. All that to say I don’t give up! Thank you, Ann-Margret, for taking the time to answer my questions and for sharing with my audience the knowledge, insights, and experiences you’ve gained in your writing, illustrating, and publishing career. I’ve enjoyed this opportunity to get to know more about you and your work, and I wish you all the best in your future endeavours. (This is an expanded and updated version of my interview with Ann-Margret, previously published in the FellowScript “InScribe Interview,” August 2018.) |
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Nina Faye Morey is a Canadian freelance writer, editor, and artist. Archives
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