Into the Fire

Part Two with Ane Mulligan

11. Your planning and access allowed for you to get a pretty good jump on marketing your novel. Do you enjoy marketing and promoting?

I have to plan and have it done early; otherwise marketing resembles an elephant and scares the fire out of me. My mind isn't organized, I'm too right brained, so I have to have my world around me in line.

12. What is your primary job at the highly respected Novel Rocket website and how has it evolved over the years?

Janitor and orchestrator. Seriously, Gina Holmes started the site back in 2005. Nobody was blogging author interviews back then. We were the first. It was soon apparent that she couldn't keep up the pace of finding authors to interview, putting new content up every day, and still find time to write.

She brought in Jessica Dotta and me (we'd been critique partners since 2004) and we each took 2-3 days a week. We don’t know why God chose to bless Novel Rocket, but He did. So, after a few years, we wanted to offer others the chance to build a platform like we'd had. I moved to senior editor when Gina contracted her first novel. Since then, we've added several team members, of which you're one, and I'm now president (whatever that means).

13. If you had to choose between being respected as a writer or being widely read, which would it be? "Both" is not an acceptable answer. We're talking difficult choices here because we know they don't have to be mutually exclusive but they definitely can be.

Widely read. I don't have any misconceptions or delusions about my work. I'm not a literary genius or poetic. I'm kind of a blue-collar writer. But the world needs more laughter (and a bit of Lucy and Ethel). I'm just happy to provide it.

14. What is your preferred POV (point of view) to read? Favorite to write?

I used to say third person, but I've found I love first person, too. I don't have a favorite. For me, I've read and written both, and the story dictates the POV. Some call for third person while others refuse to be anything but first person.

15. In the course of your story development, is there a particular part that gives you trouble?

The hardest part is the first draft. I love to edit. For me, that's where the magic happens. Getting the first draft down is really hard work, requiring much hair pulling and cabinet kicking. 

16. If you could pinpoint one characteristic which makes Chapel Springs Revival unique, what would you say? 

It's Claire, the main character. She's a mess! She has no filters. But she's so much fun. 

17. Your tagline is "Southern-fried fiction". Tell us what that means to you and how you expect it to define your work.

My stories are set in the South, populated with Southerners. The fried part is, like good Southern-fried chicken, it crackles with humor. Author Rose McCauley pinned the brand on me through my emails. I realized it fit my novels, too. It's my voice.

18. Tell us something about your publisher Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas.

Lighthouse is a small press that is headed up by Eddie Jones, who was willing to take a chance on my book. He thinks outside the box when it comes to marketing, and I'm seeing him do things most small presses don't.

19. Finally, Ane, what specifically do you want your readers to know about Chapel Springs Revival and your future books?  

Chapel Springs Revival is a romp through miscommunication in marriage. The sequel, Chapel Springs Survival, will offer up more fun and misadventures in Chapel Springs.

Father, you love to bless your people. Please continue to bless Ane in all your wonderful ways because I know she blesses you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.