Into the Fire

Today I’m going to interview an author of seven novels, working on the eighth. If you have any questions you’d like to ask her, please leave them in the comments, and she’ll get back to you.

Interviewer: What’s the most important facet of writing to you?

Author: I guess I would have to say the experience of putting the words to page—or screen, if you prefer. When I’ve written each one of my novels, I really had very little idea where the story was headed. (Laughs) I’m sure in light of the volume and length of my novels, no one is surprised at that. However, with Hope Of Glory one of the main characters, and there are many, is the racing secretary. That amazed me because my husband handled that end of things which took place in the race office. I mostly took care of things at the barn. So, right off the bat when I started writing the story, there were the soon to be retired racing secretary and his protégé successor. It surprised me, but I was drawn to them both and loved their characters.

Interviewer: Do you have a favorite one of your novels?

Author: This always seems to be a tough question for authors, and I can certainly understand why. Hope Of Glory is the “ordained” story, and I love it. Believe it or not, there is a sequel started. The Famous One, my second novel, is very personal. It had to be written. It’s really written more like a biography of the protagonist, chronicling his life. So those who expect zipping, fast hooks won’t stick with it. If they can manage to do so, honestly, I think they’ll find it worthwhile. My third and fourth novels are more traditional romance in many ways. And my fifth novel—well, I just flat love the characters and story. My sixth novel was difficult to write because I forced myself to stay within a strict word count, and it was stifling. I like the characters and story, but it’s not my favorite—and it might be as close to being categorized a “lit” as I will ever write, which, as you know, is not my preference. The one I’m slowly working on now I’m becoming very fond of, too.

Interviewer: Do you have any advice for writers who are pre-published?

Author: Of course I do, but what merit do my words have since I am technically “unpublished”? I will say this anyway. There are unlimited websites, blogs, and internet sources for unpublished writers trying to find their way into publishing. Many of them are helpful, encouraging, informative, and insightful, and many of them are not. The major push from most professionals in the industry is to urge writers to attend conferences. That way they see and hear you face to face and expect you to learn the ropes. While undoubtedly beneficial according to just about everyone who has attended them, they’re expensive if you have to travel.

My main advice to those who are just taking up the task and joy of writing is to establish if it’s for business or pleasure and IF it’s a call on your life. From my standpoint, if God has given you the direction and ability to write, you will not be denied the pleasure and privilege. Does that mean you will not stop until you’re published? No. On the contrary, it means you will write regardless of what He chooses to do with your efforts. And you will continue to develop what He has given you.

Interviewer: Why do you think you are not published?

Author: Well, there are several reasons, no doubt. One of the reasons is because I mostly write long books or sagas. There are long novels published in CBA but usually they are written by successful writers with a hefty platform or celebrity-type recognition, neither of which classification fits me. I think I’m a throwback to a different style of novel where it takes time to develop the storyline while the reader is becoming immersed in the characters. My stories tackle ordinary life for the most part. Many of today’s readers are assumed to be impatient and desire a story to develop quickly and smartly without any delay, and without a doubt those readers are out there. The professional interpretation of sales based on those kinds of readers dominates the current approach to publishing novels. I buck the trends, but it wasn’t intentional. I’d written five complete novels before I learned the acceptable and expected word count for a novel was supposed to be between 80-100,000 words and that my style wasn’t the norm. Woops.

Interviewer: What do you think your writing strengths are?

Author: Character development and dialogue. I love people, and I love to catch how different people talk. I think my characters are very believable/real and can be readily identified with in some capacity. My stories are more about how people handle their particular life struggles often within the framework of relationship between each other and between the Lord and themselves if they’re Christians or how they face the prospect of encountering God if they are not.

Interviewer: Any final words you want to say?

Author: Yes. Above all else, serve the Lord. Love Him above all others, passionately, faithfully, no holds barred. Give Him all of you. Write from His heart to yours. Write the stories He has for you to tell to the best of your ability, always desiring to please Him first. If you do that, you will experience success in Him even when it doesn’t always appear “successful” to others.

*PLEASE PRAY FOR KRISTY DYKES*