Author Interview with Lori Hatcher

Love Lines from God welcomes author, Lori Hatcher, to our website today. 

Welcome, Lori. Tell us when you decided to become a writer? In other words, what made you actually sit down and write something?

I grew up on the rocky shores of Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island. As a teenager, I’d sit along the shore and write long poems of unrequited love. Those remain unpublished. I served as the editor-in-chief of my high school newspaper, but when I considered a career in writing, my guidance counselor wisely said, “It’s hard to make a living as a writer.” I chose to go into dentistry instead. I’ve been a dental hygienist for thirty-five years now. What I didn’t know at the time was that the Lord was providing a day job so I could later pursue my love of writing.

Every writer is eventually asked this question, but where do your ideas come from?

After my first book released, a patient said, “Oh no! You’re not going to quit being my dental hygienist, are you?”

“Absolutely not,” I said, “where else would I get my material?”

Seriously, an occasional dental patient does show up in one of my devotions, but most of my inspiration comes from my daily Bible reading. For years, I’ve read through the Bible every year, and my last two book concepts and material have come from that practice.

Why do you write what you do?

I am a busy woman: pastor’s wife, healthcare professional, daughter, mother, grandmother, friend, and church member. I love God, but I struggle to find time for Bible reading and prayer. My goal is to write five-minute devotions to help other busy women connect with God in the craziness of their day.

What is the hardest thing about the creative process of writing?

Guarding my writing time. I’m easily distracted. Fingerprints on the window. Dirty dishes in the sink. Cute pictures of my grandchildren on Instagram. Just about anything has the power to lure me away from my writing time.

If you’re a Christian, what are the challenges you believe Christian writers face now and in the future?

The world is becoming less and less tolerant of biblical truth. Believers all over the world are suffering persecution, and it will come to us. We need to decide today that we’ll stand for truth, even when it costs us something. We need to be bold AND winsome as we speak and write, to speak the truth in love, but not shy away from speaking the truth because we fear the backlash.

If you would, please tell us what was the hardest thing about writing your last book? How long does it typically take you to finish your books?

The hardest thing about writing Refresh Your Faith, Uncommon Devotions from Every Book of the Bible was writing the chapter on Jonah. I had submitted the manuscript well before our family vacation to the mountains of North Carolina and was looking forward to relaxing. Both daughters, their husbands, all the grandkids, and even the granddog were there. 

In the middle of a rousing game of Exploding Kittens, I got a notification from my editor. “You promised uncommon devotions, and this chapter is not uncommon.” 

Jonah is such a short book (only four chapters) and so familiar! I made a second attempt and sent it to her. She sent it back. I wrote a third. That one came back too. Finally, after thinking and praying deeply, I managed to write a message that was uncommon, yet true to the biblical narrative. Now it’s one of my favorite devotions in the entire book.

It usually takes me about a year to write a book.

Name your three biggest frustrations about the writing business.

Building a writing career is a terribly slow process. (I like quick.) You cannot do it on your own. (Networking doesn’t come naturally to me.) Talent isn’t enough. You must have self-discipline and diligence, too.

On the flip side, what excites you the most about the creative process?

I love it when I read something I’ve written and see God’s fingerprints all over it. I know the most beautiful parts are His, not mine. It’s a joy to work in partnership with God and see how He takes my meager offerings and transforms them into something that has the power to inspire readers and help them fall in love with God and His Word.

What are you reading now, and who are a few of your favorite authors and why?

I’m reading within my genre, Lisa Tyrkerst’s devotional, Embraced. I’m reading for fun, Tammie Jo Schulz, Nerves of Steel. And I’m reading for inspiration, Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest.

Could you give our readers your buy links?

Refresh Your Faith, Uncommon Devotions from Every Book of the Bible (Our Daily Bread Publishing)  https://amzn.to/2S7IAnz

Hungry for God … Starving for Time, Five-Minute Devotions for Busy Women https://amzn.to/31uyvUy

Bio

Lori Hatcher is the author of several devotional books including  Refresh Your Faith – Uncommon Devotions from Every Book of the Bible, with Our Daily Bread Publishing, and Hungry for God … Starving for Time, Five-Minute Devotions for Busy Women , the 2016 Christian Small Publisher Book of the Year. The editor of Reach Out, Columbia magazine, she’s also a blogger, writing instructor, and inspirational speaker. Lori’s goal is to help busy women connect with God in the craziness of everyday life. You’ll find her pondering the marvelous and the mundane on her blog, Hungry for God. . . Starving for Time . Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter (@LoriHatcher2), or Pinterest (Hungry for God).

Author Interview with Susan Mathis

Today, Love Lines from God welcomes author, Susan Mathis. 

After a career in writing nonfiction, I hear you’ve settled into writing only historical fiction. What is your most difficult writing obstacle?

Transitioning from writing nonfiction to historical fiction was a huge leap but a wonderful discovery in finding my sweet spot. I studied fiction writing for about two years before launching out in this wonderful journey. I read books about the craft, went to writing conferences, and learned from mentors, critique groups, and more, and I’m thrilled to dedicate the rest of my writing career to this genre. Now I have five published historical fiction books on the market and am working on another for the end of the year.

Why do you write what you do and where do your ideas come from?

I grew up just twenty minutes from the Thousand Islands. In fact, my husband and I visit the Thousand Islands region in upstate NY every summer. It’s a beautiful, largely unknown piece of the world where the St. Lawrence River meets Lake Ontario. There are nearly 1800 islands there, including the largest, Wolfe Island, which is in Ontario, Canada. 

I chose the Gilded Age because that’s when the playground of the rich and famous took off—1872 until about 1910. The Bournes were one of the Gilded Age titan families from New York city whose “hunting lodge” called The Towers was built on Dark Island. Intrigue, mystery, and beauty surround this Thousand Islands Gilded Age story.

All summer long, tourists enjoy cruising around the Thousand Islands, passing by Pullman Island (the setting of my first novel, Katelyn’s Choice), and hearing the stories of yesteryear. As a historic landmark, these islands are invaluable, and so are the stories that go with it. 

What kind of research did you have to do?

Ah, how I love research, and I love to be accurate. Besides combing through volumes of information, there’s nothing like being there on the island. The owner of the island has had us over to visit the island twice now. He’s toured us around and let us roam at will to get the “feel” of being there. My sweet hubby took hundreds of photos that jog my memory as I write.

I’m also super blessed because my historical editor is the president of the Thousand Islands Historical Association and has written several nonfiction books about the island. She’s awesome and has gone through each of my manuscripts with a fine-tooth comb. When I mistakenly have my character take a left instead of a right to get to the kitchen, she faithfully corrects me. 

What is the hardest thing about the creative process of writing? 

Sleeping. I lie in bed and think about the next scene, the next chapter, and the next book until I have to get up and write it down.

What are the challenges you believe Christian writers face now and in the future? 

Being salt and light in this ever politically-correct and darkening world without beating readers over the head with the truth. We need to season our writing with love and truth, but also make it palatable for not just the choir. 

If you would, please tell us what was the hardest thing about writing your last book? And how long does it typically take you to finish your books?

It takes me less than six months to write a full-length novel—three to four months for a novella. I guess the hardest thing was knowing how much detail to add to my story. There was so much interesting information I could’ve added, but that’s where my wonderful editor helped me slice and dice it to perfection.

Name your three biggest frustrations about the writing business.

Spending so much time marketing, low return on investment (few authors get paid what they deserve) and Amazon gobbling up so much of the marketplace. 

On the flip side, what excites you the most about the creative process?

Dreaming up the story! The characters. The scenes. The plot. And taking real historical figures and places and integrating them into a story that shows what it was like back then. My imagination really is my playground.

Tell us a little about Devyn’s Dilemma.

Longing for love, can she escape the shadows that follow her to Dark Island?

1910, Thousand Islands, New York. Others may consider The Towers castle on Dark Island an enchanting summer retreat, but to Devyn McKenna, it’s a prison. Yet as she works as a maid for Frederick Bourne, former president of the Singer Sewing Machine Company, her life blossoms under the kindness of his family and fascinating entrepreneurs such as J.P. Morgan, Thomas Lipton, and Captain Vanderbilt. But more than anything, the growing friendship of Mr. Bourne’s valet, Brice McBride, begins to pry away the painful layers that conceal Devyn’s heart. 

Brice is drawn to the mysterious Devyn even though he’s certain she’s hiding a secret, one far more dangerous than the clues they find in The Towers that hint of a treasure on the island. When Devyn is accused of stealing Bourne’s investment in Vanderbilt’s New York City subway expansion, he might not be able to protect her. 

Can you give us your social links so others can follow you? 

Website: www.SusanGMathis.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SusanGMathis

Twitter: https://twitter.com/@SusanGMathis

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susangmathis

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/susangmathisaut

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6044608.Susan_G_Mathis

And can you give us the buy links for you newest book?

Lighthouse Publishing: https://shoplpc.com/devyns-dilemma

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Devyns-Dilemma-Thousand-Islands-Gilded/dp/1645262731  

Susan G Mathis is an award-winning, multi-published author of stories set in the beautiful Thousand Islands, her childhood stomping ground in upstate NY. Her first two books of The Thousand Islands Gilded Age series, Devyn’s Dilemma and Katelyn’s Choice are available now, and she’s working on book three. The Fabric of Hope: An Irish Family Legacy, Christmas Charity, and Sara’s Surprise are also available. Visit www.SusanGMathis.com for more.


Susan is also a published author of two premarital books with her husband, Dale, two children's picture books, stories in a dozen compilations, and hundreds of published articles. Susan makes her home in Colorado Springs, enjoys traveling globally with her wonderful husband, and relishes each time she gets to see or Skype with her four granddaughters.


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Author Interview with Terri Wangard.

Today, Love Lines from God welcomes author, Terri Wangard.  

Welcome, Terri. Tell us when you decided to become a writer, and what made you actually sit down and write something?

I’ve always loved books. Visiting libraries was (and still is) a favorite pastime. I did well in writing classes but hadn’t considered trying to write a book. That changed after I’d read books that left me thinking, I could do better than that. So it was a bit of “put my money where my mouth is.”

Every writer is eventually asked this question, but where do your ideas come from? Why do you write what you do?

My first writing attempt was a cruise romance. I love cruising, and writers should write what they know. My first published book, Friends & Enemies, was inspired by family history on the German side during World War II—again, what I know.

Do you work to an outline or plot or do you prefer to see where an idea takes you? How do you think you’ve evolved creatively?

Most of my writing is historicals, and I’m a slave to detail. In my WWII series, the mission schedules of the B-17 groups are known, so I felt I had to stick to those dates. In that sense, I had an outline for the hero. For the heroine, I had ideas of her activities that were more flexible as I wrote.

What is the hardest thing about the creative process of writing?

Maintaining continuity. I work full-time, and due to a tendency for migraines, I limit my off-hours time on computers. My writing is confined to weekends, and it’s hard to pick up where I left off.

Name your three biggest frustrations about the writing business.

Maintaining a social media presence and keeping it fresh and interesting, mastering marketing, and following all the “rules” of correct writing.

On the flip side, what excites you the most about the creative process?

I love research—learning about the time period and imagining what my characters experience. Writing allows me to vicariously live through my characters.

What are you reading at the moment, and who are a few of your favorite authors and why?

The Fire and the Darkness; the Bombing of Dresden, 1945 by Sinclair McKay. I read as much, if not more, non-fiction as fiction. My favorite fiction authors include Robin Jones Gunn, Kristi Hunter, Sarah Sundin. Their writing is not dark. I want my reading to be relaxing, not stressful.

Tell us about your most recent book.

Roll Back the Clouds features the Lusitania. I love cruising, and I’ve always been more fascinated by the Lusitania than the Titanic.

Geoff and Rosaleen Bonnard travel to England aboard the fabled liner. When a German submarine hurtles a torpedo into the grand ship, Rosaleen makes it into a lifeboat, but her husband is missing? Geoff is finally located in a Cork hospital, suffering a back injury. Rosaleen sinks into depression, the battered faces of dead babies haunting her. Her once happy life seems out of reach. 

Can you give us your social media links and website so readers can follow you?  

Facebook: www.facebook.com/AuthorTerriWangard

Twitter: @terriwangard

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/terriwangard

Instagram:  @terriwangard

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/terriwangard/

Website: http://www.terriwangard.com

And what is the buy link for your book?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1659679842

Tweetable: Stop by for an interview with author Terri Wangard. 

Terri Wangard grew up in Green Bay, Wisconsin, during the Lombardi Glory Years. Her first Girl Scout badge was the Writer. These days, she writes historical fiction and won the 2013 Writers on the Storm contest and 2013 First Impressions. She is also a 2012 Genesis finalist. Terri holds a bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s degree in library science. Her research has included riding in a WWII B-17 Flying Fortress bomber. Classic Boating Magazine, a family business since 1984, keeps her busy as an associate editor.

Thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts! We also invite you to follow and like us on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram. Help us spread God's encouragement through His Love Lines.

Author Interview with Denise Weimer

Love Lines from God welcomes author, Denise Weimer. 

Welcome, Denise. Tell us when you decided to become a writer? In other words, what made you actually sit down and write something?

Around age eleven, I began to scribble stories about the historical sites my parents took me to visit. My active imagination compelled me to take pen in hand!


Every writer is eventually asked this question, but where do your ideas come from?

I love to spin stories from the little-known lore and legend of my home state of Georgia, but I believe the drive and skill to write is a calling from God—along with the themes I prayerfully work into my stories.

Why do you write what you do?

I started with historical romance and branched out into contemporary at the urging of my agent. Writing stories set in the past is refreshing due to the manners and morals that were present in most periods of American history. Many of my contemporary stories have some history woven in because I love to have characters learn lessons from the past. I tend to spurn main characters who are warm and fuzzy and perfect the whole way through the book for those who start with some rough edges (usually covering insecurity or past hurt) and experience transformation or healing through God’s power throughout the story.

What is the hardest thing about the creative process of writing?

The creative process is the easy part for me—though I will admit, I get nervous about whether a story idea will be gripping or appealing enough for readers. Once I’ve settled on the topic and plot, though, things begin to flow. 

For me, the hard part is marketing. I love creating memes on Canva and participating in Facebook parties. But marketing is a hard taskmaster. Once a book releases, it eats up all your time and a lot of money—paying for ads and blog tours and booth fees, giving away lots of free books, and traveling to signings. There’s also a lot of vulnerability in putting yourself out there, both on the page and socially. It can be rewarding to form relationships with readers, but you have to expect crushing moments as well. That’s why it’s good to know you are called to write, that you do it for the Lord and not just for yourself—and that your self-worth is not dependent on followers or reviews.

If you would, please tell us what was the hardest thing about writing your last book? 

For Spring Splash, the thing that scared me the most was writing secondary characters with special needs. I don’t have relatives with special needs, and I wanted my depiction to be accurate and respectful. But I wanted this athletic romance to incorporate more than what I’d gleaned in fifteen years as a swim mom. The special needs team I’d seen compete during my daughter’s high school meets inspired me several years ago, and I haven’t been able to forget them. So I visited that local special needs organization and their swim team and asked the directors to serve as beta readers. 

I believe the fear of getting something wrong keeps many authors from including special needs characters in their stories, which in the long run is a disservice. If writers wrote strictly on what they had experienced and places where they lived, we’d lose so many impactful stories. And there would be no historicals—my original genre and the one for which I serve as a managing editor at Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas!

Name your three biggest frustrations about the writing business.

Great question! First, it’s disappointing how self-publishing and e-books have flooded the market so thoroughly that it’s almost impossible to get a new release noticed. Authors rely on sales and reviews for a publisher to pick them up again, yet they have only several months after a book releases to generate buzz in this crowded market.

Second, readers usually have no idea how little an author makes on each book sold—often under a dollar per book. Even when selling their own copies in person, they have invested 40 to 50 percent of retail, more if they paid shipping. Then, we have to add in travel, booth fees, and the percentages charged by retail shops. I dearly wish things were different so that authors who work almost full-time at their craft could make a living at it. Instead, most make under $5,000 annually.

Finally, I wish it was easier for new authors to break into traditional publishing. Twitter’s online pitch days help out, but attending conferences where one can meet editors and agents is cost-prohibitive for many.

On the flip side, what excites you the most about the creative process?

The moment when the research is done, the plot is outlined, and the story begins to flow. And you look back at the chapter and feel in your heart that it’s good.

What are you reading now, and who are a few of your favorite authors and why?

As I’m doing this interview, I’ve just finished reading two novels, Sand Creek Serenade by Jennifer Hough Uhlarik and Mist O’er the Voyageur by Naomi Musch. Jennifer and Naomi are Smitten Historical Romance authors like myself, and I thoroughly enjoyed both of their novels. They’re right up there with my traditional favorite historical romance authors Shannon McNear, Laura Frantz, Francine Rivers, and Michelle Griep.

Can you give the readers the buy links for your books?  

Spring Splash

Traces

Sautee Shadows

Witness Tree

And could you provide readers your social media links. 

Monthly Newsletter Sign-up

Website

Facebook

Twitter

BookBub

Tweetable: Read what author, Denise Weimer, says about writing and her latest book, #springsplash.

Denise Weimer writes historical and contemporary romance and romantic suspense set in her home state of Georgia. She’s authored eleven novels and a number of novellas. As a managing editor at Smitten Historical Romance and Heritage Beacon Fiction, Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas, she also helps others reach their publishing dreams. A wife and mother of two daughters, Denise always pauses for coffee, chocolate, and old houses.

Author Interview with Megan Kinney

Today, Love Lines from God welcomes author, Megan Kinney.

Welcome, Megan, Tell us when you decided to become a writer? In other words, what made you actually sit down and write something?

I’ve always loved to write, but my earliest memory of it was in the second grade when I wrote a story about a leprechaun for St. Patrick’s Day. I wrote my first book sixteen years ago when I was pregnant with my first child.  

Every writer is eventually asked this question, but where do your ideas come from? 

Most of my ideas come from hearing about a circumstance and imagining what it would be like to be that person. For instance, with my debut novel, Dakota Peace, I was at a funeral for a fallen police officer. The dispatcher who had taken the call when the officer died called the officer’s number over the radio for the last time and told the officer to rest in peace because they had it from there. I couldn’t get that moment out of my head, and the story of a dispatcher with burnout was born.

Why do you write what you do?

I write women’s fiction because those are the characters I have the most connection to. 

What is the hardest thing about the creative process of writing? 

The hardest part of the creative process for me is finding a conflict that motivates the characters to change and that will continue through the whole book. I usually create the character’s personalities and their struggles pretty easily, but sometimes the plot gives me problems or people who know more about that issue shoot holes in my plot. My husband is a state trooper, and he did that several times in Dakota Peace. But the book is better because he made me rethink the plot.


If you’re a Christian, what are the challenges you believe Christian writers face now and in the future? 

I’m Christian writing in the general market, so I struggled with how to help the characters grow without giving God the credit. 

If you would, please tell us what was the hardest thing about writing your last book? How long does it typically take you to finish your books?

The hardest thing about writing Dakota Peace was working through many of the mistakes first-time authors make. I had a lot of back story that had to be edited out, and I needed to be more consistent in the struggles my characters were trying to overcome. Cutting some great scenes that did not move the story forward was hard, but I see how the finished product is far better than the original. It usually takes me a year to write and edit a book. 

Name your three biggest frustrations about the writing business.

I’m just starting my journey through the writing business, so my frustrations were more from my own ignorance of the process. Learning to market, especially online when I didn’t have much of a platform to begin with, was tough. I could have used some more instruction from the beginning, but I’ve found some amazing people who have guided me through it. Finding a publishing company that wanted to take a chance on a first-time author was difficult as well. 

On the flip side, what excites you the most about the creative process?

I love when the words flow and a scene comes together, especially when it’s unexpected even to me. And I love it when I get positive feedback on my work. 

What are you reading now, and who are a few of your favorite authors and why?

My favorite genre to read is historical fiction because I love to step back into a different time period. I just finished On Wings of Devotion by Roseanna M. White. It’s about a nurse and a code breaker/pilot during WWI. I love reading Elizabeth Camden, Melanie Dickerson, Jody Hedlund, and Jen Turan’s historical novels. 

Can you give readers the buy link for your book? 

https://shoplpc.com/dakota-peace
https://www.amazon.com/Dakota-Peace-Megan-Kinney/dp/1645262553

And can you provide your social media links so readers can follow you?

Facebook
Instagram

A foster mom and policeman’s wife, Megan Kinney combines her experiences and love of writing in her debut novel. When she’s not behind a book or computer, she’s enjoying the Black Hills of South Dakota with her husband and four daughters. 

Author Interview with Maria Henriksen

Today, Love Lines from God welcomes author, Maria Henriksen. 

Maria, tell us when you decided to become a writer. In other words, what made you actually sit down and write something?

I have always liked writing. In fact, I wrote and illustrated books and comic strips as early as third grade. It wasn’t until I was in my thirties that I seriously entertained the notion of becoming a novelist. At that time, I decided it was important to read as much as possible. From there, I figured out what type of genre I wanted to write.

Every writer is eventually asked this question, but where do your ideas come from?

Honestly, the ideas just pop into my head. I use actual experiences as a springboard and then from there the real creativity flows.

Why do you write what you do?

I write what I like reading. Since I frequently worked in a high school, I had access to young adult novels. Something about being around teenagers and reading about them always interested me. I’m also a sucker for a little romance, and I was disappointed when romance never ensued in the books I read. Also, most of the books I encountered were not Christian, and as a believer, I craved that spiritual component. It wasn’t until I sat down to write Not Again that I combined all the elements I enjoyed reading into one novel.

What is the hardest thing about the creative process of writing?

Honestly, once I start writing, I don’t have many issues. In that sense, I suppose the hardest thing is finding the time to write. I really need to schedule it in my day and make it a priority or it doesn’t happen.

If you’re a Christian, what are the challenges you believe Christian writers face now and in the future?

As a Christian writer, I feel the challenges we face are embracing the differences in how we share the gospel. Since my target audience is the youth, I intentionally created intense scenes and kept the plot moving to keep the interest of readers who expect instant gratification. Teens today are exposed to so much in terms of graphic violence, pre-marital sex, and otherworldly sins that should not be swept under the rug. Ignoring the existence of sin will not put an end to it. It is our responsibility, as Christian writers, to offer alternatives. Not Again addresses these sins in a relatable way and provides practical and spiritual methods to combat them.

If you would, please tell us what was the hardest thing about writing your last book? How long does it typically take you to finish your books?

The biggest challenge I faced in writing my novel was deciding where to end it and what to add and delete. My original manuscript extended the time period into college, and I didn’t realize the length of my novel. I had no idea how many words a typical young adult novel consisted of. It wasn’t until after I wrote it that I decided to shorten the time frame of the novel by restricting it to high school years and to make the remainder of the original the beginning of the sequel. That required adding an epilogue along with other chapters to enhance the character development which lays the groundwork for the sequel. It took me a few months to write the original manuscript. The actual finished product took well over a year.

Name your three biggest frustrations about the writing business.

Finding professional people of integrity who provide valuable services is the biggest frustration I have encountered. I have worked with several people who demonstrated their inexperience, incompetence, or lack of work ethic, yet asked for more money than the agreed upon contract amount. I had to start over and find new people to perform certain services or learn how to do it myself.

Dealing with the outcome of people who have publicly slammed my work has been gut-wrenching, too, but it has opened my eyes to the realization that my novel is not for everyone—as I originally thought. As published authors, we are artists who put our work out there, making ourselves vulnerable to criticism. Some authors choose not to read their reviews for that reason. An author friend said, “Opinions, everyone has them.”

Finally, promoting my book is an ongoing frustration. If I don’t constantly promote it, I risk losing what I have built. Not only is it costly to get the word out, but it is also challenging to crack the many codes for effective advertising. Bottom line, it takes time, money, and energy to promote a book. That’s time, money, and energy taken away from writing the next masterpiece.

On the flip side, what excites you the most about the creative process?

I find it rewarding to create something out of nothing. Putting words on the screen that evoke intentional reactions like crying or laughing is satisfying. Healing hearts one page at a time is rewarding. Having someone accept Jesus as a result of reading Not Again is the biggest gift imaginable.

What are you reading now, and who are a few of your favorite authors and why?

I really don’t have any favorite authors, but I plan on reading Knit 2, Purl 2, Kill 2 by Erina Bridget Ring.

Would you give the readers the buy link for your book?

https://kdp.amazon.com/amazon-dp-action/us/dualbookshelf.marketplacelink/1733390413

And could you provide your social media links so the readers can connect with you?

Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/292254218386413 or https://www.facebook.com/PurpleNchocolate/

Instagram: 

https://www.instagram.com/maria_t_henriksen

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mariathenriksen

Goodreads: 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/47789132

Bookbub: 

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/maria-t-henriksen

Amazon Author Page: https://amazon.com/author/mariathenriksen

New subscribers to my blog/newsletter also receive a FREE relaxation-audio download. Go to the bottom sections of my website to sign up for a free subscription. https://www.mariathenriksen.com

Maria T. Henriksen is a newly published author of Not Again. Not Again is a young adult edgy Christian romance novel. Since she was a child, Maria has dreamed of becoming a published novelist and plans on writing the sequel to Not Again.

Maria wears many hats. She is a wife to a doting husband and a mother to boy/girl teenage twins, as well as a substitute teacher of all grade levels and disciplines. In addition to writing, subbing, and rearing her amazing twins, Maria can be found running on trails or the track to stay fit. Her son is the inspiration for her running and she loves it so much that running is incorporated in her book.

Maria considers writing her ministry. As a guest blogger, Maria writes devotions and featured articles relating to the writing and publishing world. She also hosts her own blog and is a featured guest speaker on podcasts.

Maria also helps aspiring and fellow authors by showcasing them and their writing on her blog and in her Facebook group, Maria’s Muses: Inspirational, Christian, and Close-to-the-Heart Readers.

Thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts! We also invite you to follow and like us on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram. Help us spread God's encouragement through His Love Lines.

Author Interview with Norma Gail

Today, Love Lines welcomes my friend and author, Norma Gail.

Welcome, Norma. Tell us, when did you decide to become a writer? In other words, what made you actually sit down and write something?

I remember wanting to write as soon as I could read. Even as a child, I made up stories. I have notebooks full of stories written in junior high and high school. One of my great aunts was a wonderful storyteller. I sat at her knee, listening, and wanted to write down the stories she told. I longed to see my name on the cover of a book.

In 2006 or 2007, when a story about a couple in Scotland kept growing instead of going away, I began to write it down—from the seat of the pants with no planning or plotting. It was too long and not very good. I began attending writer’s conferences and working to improve my book. After my second writer’s conference, I received a contract for Land of My Dreams from Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. My dream came true. 

Every writer is eventually asked this question, but where do your ideas come from?

My ideas come from a lot of places: other books, stories I’ve heard, abandoned houses along the highway, an interesting person in the grocery store. Land of My Dreams actually came from a recurring dream around the time we visited Scotland. I love family history and have found some great stories I would love to turn into historical fiction. 

Why do you write what you do?

I enjoy working to create characters and circumstances readers relate to until they can’t stop turning pages. I long to challenge people to examine their hearts, and grow as the character grows. From my heart and soul, I write what I love to read—the emotions we all experience and struggle with.

What is the hardest thing about the creative process of writing? 

The most difficult thing about creating a story is to bare your soul and to put your heart and emotions into words others will read. And sometimes, life intervenes in the process, as it did between my first and second books. Within Golden Bands is due to release spring 2020. It was hard to follow up the lives of characters I created many years before. One quarter of my reviews requested a second book, but I wanted it to be better, to dig deeper, and to arouse intense questions in the hearts of my readers. I wanted them to feel the agony of an infertile woman who longs to give her husband the family he was denied by the death of his first wife and child.

If you’re a Christian, what are the challenges you believe Christian writers face now and in the future? 

The Christian market is a difficult sell for books. Publishers want cross-over books, acceptable to both the secular and Christian markets. It is possible to write good, clean fiction most readers will enjoy. However, to remain true to my heart and my calling as a Christian writer, my characters must grow in their walk with the Lord through my book, as my growth led to the story.

As Christian authors, we’re writing in a time when Amazon is not overly friendly to books categorized as Christian. Facebook and other social media censor many Christian posts. The world tells us we must not offend, yet Christ very often offends. 

Life is difficult, and people need to see characters who triumph over their circumstances through Jesus Christ. As writers, our stories must be biblically sound. That doesn’t mean to quote scripture at every turn, but we do need to point to God’s Word as the source of our character’s victory. We must write from a place of pain and longing to resonate with our readers.

If you would, please tell us what was the hardest thing about writing your last book? How long does it typically take you to finish your books?

The hardest thing about writing Within Golden Bands was first to find the struggle the characters from Land of My Dreams would face in a new marriage. For an American college professor to give up everything she’s ever known to marry a Scottish sheep farmer and pastor in a foreign land doesn’t go quite far enough. I wrote about three stories before I knew Bonny and Kieran’s struggle was infertility and adoption. It’s a painful battle I know well, as the mother of two adopted children. However, because my children are now adults, it required me to dredge up the emotions experienced over thirty-five years ago, and those of other couples we knew.

Land of My Dreams was published in 2014, so the span between my first two books is six years. I’m that slow of a writer, but there’s a degree of insecurity about being up to the task. It’s a challenge to fit marketing and writing into daily life without it taking over. Also, there is the need to carve out time to write when life, health, and aging family members intervene.

Name your three biggest frustrations about the writing business.

Only three? First, I find it very intimidating to pitch a book to a publisher. It’s like sending your child into the cold, cruel world to be bullied and rejected. Second, the time required for social media and marketing cuts into writing time. Third, it’s a challenge to reach new readers for a book that’s been out there for a few years.

On the flip side, what excites you the most about the creative process?

I’ve been living with the same set of characters for a number of years. Their story is told, and I’m really happy with how it turned out. I have a novella almost ready for an editor, so I’m anxious to see how my new characters and their story are received. I have ideas for a historical series based on old family stories that are begging to be written. I’m excited to sit down at the computer, write from the seat of my pants again, and see where research and my imagination take me. It’s fun and exciting to live in a world of your own creation with characters who constantly surprise you by doing things you didn’t plan and aren’t certain how to fix. It’s an exercise in allowing God to lead me to the story he wants me to tell. 

What are you reading now, and who are a few of your favorite authors and why?

Because I’m heading toward historical fiction where my heart has longed to go for a while, my new current favorite author is Lori Benton. I love the way she uses words and weaves storylines together. Davalynn Spencer also uses verbs in a wonderful way, paints characters I relate to, and writes about Colorado, which is one of my favorite places to visit. I enjoy Liz Curtis Higgs for the time period and Scottish setting. My all-time favorite is Michael Phillips for the spiritual depth of his books. He even endorsed Land of My Dreams.

Could you give the readers your buy links?

Within Golden Bands is not yet listed on Amazon.

Land of My Dreams: https://www.amazon.com/Land-My-Dreams-Norma-Gail-ebook/dp/B01ENKEL02/

And what are your social media links?

Website – http://normagail.org

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/AuthorNormaGail

Twitter - @Norma_Gail

Instagram - @normagailwrites

Linkedin - http://www.linkedin.com/pub/norma-gail-thurston-holtman/42/71a/3b2

Pinterest - http://pinterest.com/normagailth/boards/

Thank you so much, Norma, for spending a few minutes with us today. We wish you the best with your new book. 

Norma Gail is the author of two contemporary Christian novels set in Scotland. Her heart’s in the highlands, and there’s no place she’d rather be than the mountains. She led women’s Bible studies, both in Bible Study Fellowship and her local church, for over twenty-one years. Her main focus now is caring for a ninety-two-year-old uncle and writing. Her devotionals, which have been published at ChristianDevotions.us and in The Secret Place, come from the heart of her relationship with Christ. 

Norma lives in the mountains of central New Mexico with her husband of forty-three years. They have two adult children. She and her husband enjoy traveling the country in their RV, where she always manages to fit in some family history research or visit sites that feed her love of history.

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