A Writer's Resolution

Elaine here, hoping everyone had a wonderful Christmas. Are you ready for 2017?

Like everyone else, I’ve resolved to be better during the New Year. Eat healither. Exercise more. Stop a bad habit. One thing I’ve learned from past failures is how important it is to have someone hold me accountable. Other than God, of course, because we’re always accountable to God.

Since I lost my dear husband this year, I don’t have him to hold me accountable. So for my writing resolution, I’m asking you, our STT readers and writers to hold me accountable.

My writing resolution for 2017 is to publish a new series of three books I’ve been working on for years. These books began before I started writing Christian fiction. They were standalone secular stories, and Harlequin was interested in one of them, but I couldn’t bring myself to agree with their terms. It isn’t because they were erotic. They were clean romance, but missed the mark of what I wanted to say.

For years these stories simmered on the back burner as I waited for the Lord’s direction. I revised, adding some sermonizing, but preaching isn’t my gift, and my characters didn’t sound authenic. Most of my inspirational themes come across as witnessing. Christian characters overcoming the world’s difficulties through their faith. I revised again, but that didn’t work either.

Then I realized these stories were more like parables, circumstances everyone can relate to, but with an overreaching theme that teaches a moral. I don’t know why I’d never noticed it before, but every one of these plots had the same theme—people deceived by the wolf in sheep’s clothing.

The obvious title of my series became The Wolf Deceivers. Though the villain in each book is known by the POV character and the reader, the people are deceived. In the first book, set in Scotland in the 1770s, the clan is deceived, and the chieftain must fight the villain to save his people. In the second book, set in Regency England, the London aristocracy is deceived, and the heroine must fight the villain to regain her reputation. In the third book, set in the post Civil War South, the ex-Confederates are deceived, and the hero must fight the villain to achieve peace.

I’m amazed at how easy the edits are now with this new perception, and I take that as my green light from God that I’m on the right track. I might even be able to promote these books to the secular audience. After all, Jesus used parables to speak to those who didn’t have the spiritual perception to see or hear.

At any rate, now that I’ve shared my resolution, I’ll be more likely to carry through, and it will be a lot easier than sticking with my diet.

Thank you for being my witnesses, and since I’ll need comparable books about wolves in sheep’s clothing, if you’ve read a book with such a villain, please mention it in your comments. The first book I remember reading with this type premise is Jamaica Inn by Daphne du Maurier, but I'm sure there are many more in both Christian and secular genres.   

Do you like audiobooks? Comment on any post through Dec 31 to get your name in the drawing for Stephenia McGee's audiobook version of Leveraging Lincoln.

Author Interview – Laura V. Hilton

Laura V. Hilton

I have the privilege of welcoming multi-published Christian author Laura V. Hilton to discuss her writing career and latest holiday book releases, “White Christmas in Webster County” in September and “A Snow Globe” this month.

Thanks for joining us, Laura. Would you share a brief overview of your books including your inspiration for them?   

A White Christmas in Webster County

Wanting to relocate from Shipshewana to somewhere new, Mercy Lapp answered an ad in The Budget to work as a mother’s helper for Matthew and Shanna Yoder in Seymour, Missouri. Mercy relocated from Shipshewana to give herself space and time to heal after the death of her beau in a fishing trip on Lake Michigan. Abner Hilty fled Shipshewana to Montana to work on a ranch after he and his twin brother witnessed a murder. Now that the killer is safely behind bars, Abner decides to visit his brother Abram in Missouri where he’d settled with his bride of one month. Mercy is surprised to see Abner there, and equally surprised by how much he’d changed physically since she’d last seen him. Even though the two live in different districts they occasionally see each other in town and form a fledging friendship. As Christmas approaches, an unexpected heavy snow lets Abner and Mercy spend a lot of time together in wintertime fun. Abner hopes to interest Mercy in a more permanent relationship. But then Mercy has a potentially life changing discovery. Will she return to Shipshewana to answer the summons of the past? Or settle in a new place?

***The inspiration behind A White Christmas is I was asked to write a Christmas novella with another Amish Author. But it didn’t work out – she was going with a publisher my agent refused to work with. And my publisher wanted to see it. I based it around Abram’s (in Awakened Love) twin brother who’d gone to Montana and an article I read about Amish going fishing on Lake Michigan. 

The Snow Globe

Victor Petersheim has left the Amish and works on a river boat on the Mississippi River, spending three months on the river then having three months off. During his off-work months he returns home to his Amish community and helps out on his grandparents’ farm. When he returns home after his most recent absence, he discovers his grossmammi has developed health problems and they’ve hired Esther Beachy to be a “mother’s helper.” Victor is unsettled by this woman living in their home, but has to accept it. Esther loves listening to Victor’s grandmother’s stories and while puttering around in a store while the grossmammi’s in the hospital, she discovers a snow globe that depicts an area where the Petersheims used to live. She buys it as a gift for the grossmammi to cheer her up during her hospitalization. Victor is touched by Esther’s gift and her care for his grossmammi, and strives to be friendlier. Will Esther’s gentle heart draw him back to the community? Or will he return to the river once again?  

***The inspiration behind this one is when I had breast cancer, I was going through chemo treatments. One of the other people fighting cancer worked on the river as a cook.  It intrigued me and I started asking questions.  She took the time and answered them, and the question came to me, what if an Amish man worked on the river?  Why would he? The story came from there. 

What led you to write Amish fiction?  

I always loved Amish fiction.  It was mentioned once on ACFW to look at your bookcase to see what kind of books you collect and write that genre.  That didn’t work so well with me. I have contemporary, suspense, romance, Amish, historical… you name it.  But I do have Amish relatives on my maternal side. And it interested me. Always. So I decided to give it a try. And to my surprise it was bought – immediately. On proposal. 

What are you currently working on? Do you have plans for any non-Amish books?

I am currently writing book three in the Amish of Jamesport series – coming out in September 2015 and it is due to the publisher this month!  So I need to wrap it up and get it polished. 

I do have proposals out for contemporary romance, romantic suspense,  and historical romance.  So Yes, maybe, someday, if God wills one of those will be published.  There are some that I *really* want to write.

Many struggling writers wonder how long it takes to get a book published. Obviously, the process is probably more streamlined as you publish more books. How long did it take from the time you started writing your first book until it was published?

Well, most people say that the first book you write will never be published. They say the average is the third book that gets published.  That is the average. Some people’s first books are published. 

I started writing when I was in third grade. I didn’t get published until 2004 with a small press, (I was not impressed with this small press) then it was several years later before a traditional publisher picked me up. 

So, write for yourself. Write for God. Don’t write to be published. That will come in God’s time. And He will guide, whether traditional publishers, small press, or self-publishing.

What encouragement do you have for other Christian writers struggling to get published, especially when rejection letters keep coming?

Learn from the rejections. If an editor takes the time to comment with what’s wrong they see potential in your writing. Learn from it. Rewrite. Redo. Study the craft, whether by studying nonfiction or fiction. Take online (or in person) courses. Join a critique group.

Thanks for sharing, Laura.

Award winning author, Laura Hilton, her husband, Steve, and three of their children make their home in Arkansas. She is a pastor’s wife, a stay-at-home mom and home-schools. Laura is also a breast cancer survivor. Laura also  has two adult children. 

Her publishing credits include three books in the Amish of Seymour series from Whitaker House: Patchwork Dreams, A Harvest of Hearts (winner of the 2012 Clash of the Titles Award in two categories), and Promised to Another. The Amish of Webster County series, Healing Love (finalist for the 2013 Christian Retail Awards). Surrendered Love and Awakened Love followed by her first Christmas novel, A White Christmas in Webster County, as well as a three book Amish series with Whitaker House, The Amish of Jamesport series, The Snow Globe, The Postcard in April 2015, and The Bird House in September 2015. Other credits include Swept Away from Abingdon Press. Laura is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and a professional book reviewer.

Laura's Amazon author page

Visit Laura's blogs: Lighthouse-Academy and Laura V. Hilton

Twitter: @Laura_V_Hilton

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Laura-V-Hilton/161478847242512
Pinterest:  http://www.pinterest.com/vernetlh/

Purchase Laura's books:

Amazon   http://www.amazon.com/Laura-V.-Hilton/e/B004IRSM5Q 

CBD: http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/easy_find?Ntt=laura+hilton&N=0&Ntk=keywords&action=Search&Ne=0&event=ESRCG&nav_search=1&cms=1
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/laura-hilton?store=allproducts&keyword=laura+hilton

Deeper Shopping http://www.deepershopping.com/index.php?query=laura+hilton&x=0&y=0&module=productsearch&_logmode=Y&querymodule=SPX

An Interview with Sandra Robbins...

by Patricia Bradley

Today I am excited to welcome my friend Sandra Robbins to Stitches Thru Time. 

Her first book, Pedigreed Bloodlines, was published by Barbour in 2008. Since that time she has written for Love Inspired Suspense and Harvest House. Her books have been finalists in the Daphne du Maurier Contest for excellence in mystery writing, the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence for romance, the Holt Medallion, and the ACFW Carol Award. In Barbour’s 18th Annual Heartsong Awards for 2010, she was one of five authors voted by readers as favorite new authors, and The Columns of Cottonwood which went on to be a finalist in the ACFW Carol Award was voted by readers as one of ten favorite historical romances of the year.   

Patricia:    Beyond These Hills is the last of the Smoky Mountain Dreams series that is set in Cades Cove, Tennessee. What sparked the idea for setting a series in this area?

Sandra: As a lifelong resident of Tennessee, I have always loved the Smokies and enjoy visiting there. I especially enjoy the Cades Cove area where the cabins and churches are preserved. You can see how the people lived there for hundreds of years. The story, though, of how the residents had to sell their homes and move out so the Great Smoky Mountain National Park could be established is very sad. I wanted to let readers who hike or camp or are just interested in the history of the area know that there were those who had to sacrifice so that generations to come could enjoy the beauty of Cades Cove.

Patricia:  Were there any particular challenges in writing the series?

Sandra: I wanted everything to be historically correct, so I did a lot of research. It’s amazing what I was able to find. I knew, for instance, that their was a Civilian Conservation Corps Camp in Cades Cove, but I was able to find a picture of it. Writers today are so fortunate to have the internet. When I was writing the scene where Laurel and Andrew hike with her father up Gregory’s Bald, I found a YouTube video that a group had filmed when they did that same hike. The video showed all the azaleas on the mountain top. That was the easiest hike I ever took.

Patricia: I love what we can do with the Internet, just wish it didn't eat up so much time. :-) Beyond These Hills has a very strong faith-based theme. What role has your faith played in your writing?

Sandra: I knew when I started writing that my faith would guide what I write. I grew up in a strong Christian family, and my faith guides me in my life each day. I’m glad I can share it with people I will never meet through the books I write. 

Patricia:   What do you like most and least about writing?

Sandra: I love thinking up the stories I’m going to write. When I first started, I thought that’s what writing is all about. After I became published, I found out you have to do a lot of marketing, and that’s difficult for me. I’ve never been one to push myself on other people, and sometimes I fear doing that when I’m trying to promote a book. But I try to remember what a boss I had one time used to say--”He who tooteth not his own horn gets it not tooted.”

Patricia: I know. Marketing is the hardest thing for me, too. What advice do you have for beginning writers?

 Sandra: I’m sure beginners have been told to attend conferences, get a critique partner, and write the story on their hearts. I think two of the most important things that any writer can do is write a lot and read a lot. Reading what other people are writing can help to challenge you in your own pursuits.

Patricia: Great advice. Tell me, are you a plotter or pantser?

Sandra: I’m both. I plot my story before I begin it. Once I start writing, however, my characters can just take charge and go off in an entirely different direction. So I go with them to see where it’s taking us.

Patricia: What encouragement can you give writers who face rejection?

 Sandra: It may sound callous, but I would say “get used to it.” Rejection is a part of being a writer. Not everybody is going to like what you write, and you have to adjust to the fact that it’s not personal. This is a business, and publishers are in to make money. If your story isn’t one they think will sell, they won’t buy it. I know it hurts, but it’s something we all have to deal with.

Patricia: One last question: What is the most difficult thing about being a writer?

Sandra: For me, it’s the marketing. It’s one of those necessary things that we have to do, so I try to approach it with a smile.

Patricia: I feel your pain. Thank you so much for joining us on Stitches Thru Time. 

Check out Sandra's other 2013 releases:

MountainHomecoming -- March, 2013 from Harvest House

                              

A Lady’s Choice -- April, 2013 from Guideposts

DangerousWaters -- September, 2013 from Love Inspired Suspense

YuletideJeopardy -- December, 2013 from Love Inspired Suspense 

Readers: What's your favorite genre?