I'm a Guest Blogger Today

I'm usually busy with my own interviews and editing but today I am posting on another blog. It's a first for me and probably not the last time as others have been asking me to add my thoughts to their blogs. However in the past I have graciously declined. Mostly I've forgone the opportunity as I have been too busy with my other writing. I feel I need to stretch myself a little to get more motivated so I took on this new writing option. I hope you will hop over to read my thoughts entitled "Fear of Writing" at http://www.ckvolnek.com and click on blog.

But I don't want to leave you without some thoughts to ponder from reading my blog. What better way to do that than to give you glimpses of more famous writers and their thoughts on the topic of writing.

The wastebasket is a writer's best friend. Isaac Bashevis Singer

Writing is a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia. E.L. Doctorow
Everywhere I go I'm asked if I think the university stifles writers. My opinion is that they don't stifle enough of them. There's many a bestseller that could have been prevented by a good teacher. Flannery O'Connor

I try to leave out the parts that people skip. Elmore Leonard

If there's a book you really want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it. Toni Morrison

Substitute "damn" every time you're inclined to write "very;" your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be. Mark Twain

I'm not a very good writer, but I'm an excellent re-writer. James Michener

The time to begin writing an article is when you have finished it to your satisfaction. By that time you begin to clearly and logically perceive what it is you really want to say. Mark Twain

Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass. Anton Chekhov

Easy reading is damn hard writing. Nathaniel Hawthorne

Proofread carefully to see if you any words out. Author Unknown

I love being a writer. What I can't stand is the paperwork. Peter De Vries

Come back again next Tuesday for my next author interview and gain more insights on writing from new writers.

Interview with Victor Travison, sci-fi author of Savage Worlds

I've been a fan of sci-fi stories since I was a kid when I read a Rod Sterling book of Twilight Zone stories. I've also been a fan of writings by Asimov, Clarke and Heinlein with my favorite being the latter. I like how they can stretch your mind and your imagination. So today I'm hoping to your tickle your interest in a new sci-fi writer. Read on to find more about this author's writings.

Your blog and writing focuses on sci-fi. What has inspired you more in writing for this genre is it book authors, TV or movies? What sci-fi authors still inspire you today?
I have a great imagination, and watching how others use their imagination interests me. My primary interest in sci-fi comes from TV series, but I’ve also watched movies and read books. Isaac Asimov was one of the earliest authors I followed, as well as Robert Heinlein, Arthur C. Clarke, and others. Gene Roddenberry’s vision for Star Trek captured my interest from the first episode I saw. As for writing styles, I don’t try to emulate anyone but myself.

In regards to writing sci-fi you say you do your best to ensure it contains no contradictions with known science. How much research does this entail when you are creating space vehicles, new worlds or new creatures?
When I say “no contradictions with known science,” I’m talking about evolution, which is not a true science. In other words, the process cannot be seen, observed, or studied. I’m also thinking of the first Star Wars movie, which had X-wings and TIE fighters doing loop-the-loops in space, which is scientifically impossible without air.

I want to make my stories believable, so most of my research focuses on “Is it possible in the real world?” However, this doesn’t mean I can’t go beyond known science, which is what sci-fi is about. Faster than light travel, translators which can instantly teach an alien language, and paralyzing electrical weapons are among the things I invent to take my stories beyond.

In your book, Savage Worlds you say you let God have a voice, so He could be an interactive Player instead of sitting on the sidelines. Can you give me an example of what you mean by that?
I see so many sci-fi stories with a scene that begins “Do you believe in God?” and ends with a generic answer which does nothing for the plot. On Star Trek, God is regarded as a “concept” or a “myth,” which I know is not true. One of my purposes in this genre is to use God in a more active role, and not in a generic way that allows all sorts of interpretations, as in The Force of Star Wars. And of course, I have to be in tune with His guidance and His Word when I write these scenes.

How do you go about creating a new species of beings? Is there anything that is common to all your “aliens”?
The one thing all my aliens have in common is they were created by God. I believe the myth of evolution has entered our concept of aliens, to the point we think they have to look different from us to be “realistic.” But if someone from another country can be an alien, so can someone from another planet, with general build, facial features, color, culture, and language being the only differences. I don’t like using the term “species” for humanoid creatures, because that sounds like an animal classification. Instead I talk about “races.”

As a Christian you believe that God created man in His own image. That carries over in your sci-fi writing as well where you believe that “aliens” would also be created in God’s image though not the same physical design as homo sapiens. However, why couldn't space aliens be non-human or more specifically a planet that exists of creatures that do not have the final creation in God's image such as our planet existing without man?
I would ask, “If the final creation does not have God’s image, then who created them?” On the planet Kyan in Savage Worlds, the oppressed Bosti race formed a colony on a fully animalistic world, including boar-like creatures called namzali, so I think it is possible to have a fully nonhuman population.

But if you’re asking “Why couldn’t God’s pinnacle of creation be in some other image besides God’s?”, I know there’s a theory that God’s image is not necessarily in hominid form, but in essence only. However, from what I’ve read and seen in science fiction, even the essence tends to be less godlike—aliens confused about good vs. evil, for instance—so I’m not sure the theory holds up. Still, everyone must make up their own mind about this, since no one really knows whether outer-space aliens exist, much less what they look like.

In Savage Worlds your characters travel in a “houseship.” Could you tell my readers how that concept evolved? Do you envision this book to have a sequel?

I envision the houseship in the same sense as a houseboat, where people can live while traveling down a river or on another body of water. I wanted to avoid overdone terms like “starship,” though it was unique when Star Trek started.

The houseship also carries the idea of a family exploring space together, not a military force, with some homebound words mixed with the standard nautical ones. Since family is very important to God, this should appeal to the sense of family unity most of us have. And yes, there is a sequel to Savage Worlds now in the final stages of edit, under the title Pirates from Gnorlon.

You've also written a trilogy about a group called the Justice Coalition about a group of handicapped people who can call upon divine powers to save people in need, or to save themselves as they are assisted by other handful of able-bodied friends. How did this storyline come about? What do you want readers to take away from the stories?
I’m involved with a group of Christian handicapped people called TRYAD, which stands for To Reconcile You Able-bodied and Disabled. My own disability is congestive heart failure, which disallows me from working a standard job anymore. I have seen first-hand how often people who have a physical infirmity can have skills in other areas. I had wanted to write a superhero story of sorts for some time, and I thought, “Why not invent a group of handicapped people who get power from God to rescue?” Therefore, the Justice Coalition was born.

I like the book notes for this trilogy that says, “They fight not only for truth, justice, and the American way, but to rescue the lives and souls of all mankind in need.” This of course is reminiscent of the opening lines for the early Superman series. Why did you choose that concept?
Superman was an early childhood hero of mine. Though now a bit clichéd, the line has always appealed to me because “truth, justice, and the American way” is also God’s dream for us. With the Justice Coalition, I wanted to extend their mission beyond Superman’s, so I added “to rescue the lives and souls of all mankind in need.”

What do you know now about getting published that you wished you had known earlier?
I self-publish with CreateSpace for printed books, and Smashwords for e-book formats. The CreateSpace versions are also available on Amazon. I’m something of a perfectionist, so I’ve learned to take more time going over my manuscript, several times, before I upload it. Being in a hurry is never an advantage, because I always manage to miss something. When I tried a more traditional route, I learned it’s very hard getting a potential publisher to agree with all of the new concepts that are important to my faith.

What if anything has surprised you the most in getting published and talking with people about your books?
It’s a lot more work to format my own book than I thought it would be. When I talk to people about my books, I give a synopsis like “It’s about a family of crew members who explore space together,” and if they’re interested, I give them an author card that gives my pen name and the first three books I published, as well as my website. Recently a friend who read The Wild Green Yonder made a suggestion about the rank of one character who is a nurse, so in the interests of accuracy I republished it with the change.

What is the best piece of advice you have received about writing that you would like to pass on to others?
Rewrite, rewrite, rewrite. We all like to believe our ideas come from God, but we have to remember we’re not writing Scripture. We have to go back and edit, change paragraphs, add and delete to make it a better story.

I just rewrote an entire chapter and a half of Pirates from Gnorlon, because the scene did not ring true or logical with the rest of the story.

That's it for today's interview. If you'd like to learn more about Victor's sci-fi thought click on his website which is http://victortravison.webs.com. It includes his blog, Lightwalker’s View, where he compares popular science fiction and fantasy ideas with the Bible. And in the left sidebar you’ll find his fictional “Sci-fi Philosophy” and several Story Samplers.

If you would like to buy his books click here for a direct link to Amazon. If you're interested in an e-format click here.

A Time to Harvest

The theme for this month's blog chain (read the others in the chain as noted to the right)is harvest which is why I have included this picture depicting the crisp bright colors of the harvest season - the deep reds, the lush orange and yellow and just the hint of brown. It's a time to celebrate the bounty of growing season. In the new area where I live every weekend in October seems to have one group or another who is celebrating with a harvest festival.

According to Wikipedia, harvest is the process of gathering mature crops from the fields. Reaping is the cutting of grain or pulse for harvest, typically using a scythe, sickle, or reaper. Harvest thus marks the end of the growing season and growth cycle. Then there is another harvest symbol known as the grim reaper who bears a scythe. His part of a harvest of sorts is cutting down those at the end of their life cycle.

As the words in the old tune by The Byrds (taken from Bible verses)there is a time for every purpose...a time to live and a time to die. Most people when attending the end of life cycle event(IE funeral) are sober and full of sadness. But that is not the way a death is celebrated with a New Orleans funeral march. It does start with the funeral dirge going to the cemetery but once it is done they finish with joyous music -- the most notable tune "When the Saints Come Marching In." These funerals show the sadness of the loss of the physical presence of the the loved one, but they also go on to celebrate the joy that the loved one is now experiencing in being in heaven.

I went to a funeral of a dear aunt of mine when I was six years old. She was a Christian as was my whole family at the time. I remember everyone crying and saying how sad it was that she had died. That perplexed me and I asked why everyone was so sad if they believed that she was now in heaven with Jesus. That sounded perfectly wonderful to me.

Of course now I understand the more personal aspect of missing the person who you will not be seeing any more this side of heaven. Today I am more grieved when I hear of a funeral of someone who is not a Christian believer. There are many religions in the world who give you a road map to your final harvest reaping that is based on your good works balancing out your bad ones. But how good do you have to be to tip the scales?

Christianity is the only religion that isn't based on achieving nirvana by checking off a list of appropriate deeds or actions. It all boils down to just one belief which is accepting Christ as your personal Savior and loving others as He loved us. It's not an exclusive club, the thief on the cross who died with Jesus that day gained paradise or heaven. Ordinary fisherman, tax collectors, world leaders and those who once persecuted Christians have turned to accept Christ and His offer of salvation.

Everyone will have a final harvest in their life. When your harvest is done how will you be celebrating? Will there be tears or joy? We each make our own choice. What will be the dawn for your eternity. I've made my choice. What will yours be?

Interview with fitness instructor and author Kimberley Payne and her book, Fit for Faith

Today's interview is with Kimberley Payne who is a motivational speaker and a former personal trainer who has taken those two skills and put them together as an author of the book, Fit for Faith - 7 weeks to improved spiritual and physical health. Read on to learn more about her writing and ideas for fitness.

How did you come up with the idea of your current book, Fit for Faith?
Years ago, I began a spiritual and physical health partnership with God. Each morning, I started my day with a prayer. "Dear Lord, I pray that You will remind me every day that You are at work within me and around me.” Or, “Dear God, I pray that You will instill in me a sense of responsibility to care for my body—to both nourish and sustain it.” At the end of the day, I would write in my diary about my new faith and fitness journey.

I also spent time reading my Bible and seeking out scriptural truths about God’s character. I started to memorize favorite verses such as, “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13). Then I felt a God-nudge that this type of program would also help others. So I used what I had learned, including my experiences as a personal trainer, to create a workbook.

What type of background in the fitness or nutrition field do you have?
I certified as a Weight Instructor through the YMCA, then went on to certify as an Aerobics Instructor through A.C.E., then went on to certify as a Personal Trainer through Can-Fit-Pro. I owned my own business, called Within Reach, for over 10 years.

With so many fitness books out there why write another? Why should someone invest in buying your e-book as opposed to others?
Fit for Faith makes no assumptions about the activity level of the reader. All levels, whether a sedentary individual or a seasoned athlete, can benefit from this program. It emphasizes overall health, not just weight loss.

Expertise and professionalism are provided throughout the program in easy-to-read “fit tips” and goal-planning assistance. The program includes strategies that empower people to make small changes in their daily routines to improve the quality of their life.

Fit for Faith makes no assumptions about the reader’s spiritual walk. All levels, whether a new Christian or a mature Christian, can benefit from this program. It is a program for a new Christian who wants to learn about prayer, journal writing and Bible study in the comfort of their own home, but a mature Christian can still be refreshed in their faith and re-commit to a daily relationship with God. It is motivating with inspiring reflections included each day and Christian truths set forth in a non-threatening manner.

How is it different from other fitness and health books?
Fit for Faith is a well-rounded balanced program that follows the stages of change and so inspires confidence and builds esteem.

What motivates you to exercise on those days when you just might want to kick back and do nothing?
I find the best motivator is a partner. When I’m not in the mood, my friend can buoy my spirits and get me moving again.

All your books are in the e-book format. Did you first try the route with a traditional publisher? Do you personally edit or do you have an editor?
I’ve always self-published my works. I believed in my writings and wanted to get them “out there” in a timely fashion. An e-book is just as difficult to market as any other book – you still must put out the best effort. I edit my own stuff for the first round, but always use an editor to complete the project. I wouldn’t ever think of putting something out that hasn’t first seen the red ink of a good editor.

What are some of the most productive ways that you promote your books?
I believe that book reviews are the most productive ways to promote my books. It’s one thing to say that my book is great, but it’s a whole other ball game when someone else says, “Read this book, it’s wonderful!” I wish that I had kept a record of every positive comment and asked people to post reviews.

You are a member of The Word Guild and Inscribe Christian Writer's Fellowship. Can you tell me a little about these groups?
They are both Canadian associations that believe in helping writers and editors who are Christian. Everything I’ve learned about writing has come from these organizations. I attend the regular conferences, read the newsletters, volunteer on teams, participate in contests, join in on discussions on the listserves, etc. They are my connection to the world of writing.

I see you also have a blog entitled Fit for Faith which includes some of your ideas about exercise, healthy eating and includes a matching Bible quote. How often do you follow up on the blog since it is not dated?
Ideally, I like to post every day (except the weekends) and have changed up the format a few times over the years. I started the blog in 2005 and have featured guest writers, contests, current news etc.

Right now, I am matching the style of my book with a prayer, a note about my exercise, a Bible verse and a note about my eating for that day. It helps keep me in check and hopefully motivates others as well.

You also do devotionals for families and individuals. Which is the better seller either of those or the Fit for Faith book?
My natural writing style is a devotional. The devotionals I sell are collections of ones I’ve written over the years in a local newspaper. They are not big sellers, but I do like to make them available to anyone who is interested. That’s why they’re kept inexpensive.

You also do workshops. How long have you been doing those? As a motivational speaker what have you learned about how to keep an audience interested? Have you had any special feedback from those events that have encouraged your spirit?
I’ve done workshops for over 10 years. When I had my business, Within Reach, I regularly offered workshops on many different health and fitness topics. I like to include my audience in my workshops, and I like to get them moving around and applying what they learn.

I don’t like theory only but rather want the audience to walk away inspired and ready for action. I’m encouraged when I get an invitation to talk to a group based on someone’s recommendation who had been in a previous workshop of mine.

That's all for today's interview, but I hope it has inspired you to learn more about Kimberley's writing and ideas on fitness. You can get a visual on her fitness ideas by watching her YouTube video of exercises that can be done right at your computer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bN5IG4tuLSM

If you are interested in reading her devotionals, check out her blog at http://www.returnhomeandtell.wordpress.com

If you'd like the opportunity for some freebies check out her newsletter. If you add your name to the mailing list at http://kimberleypayne.com, you'll also receive a coupon for her novel, Tooth for Tooth.

Interview with C.K. Volnek, author of Tween Fantasy Books

You’ve just released your first book which is for tweens. What drew you to writing in that genre? How did you come up with the idea for the book? Where you inspired by the history?
It’s funny sometimes how you end up writing a certain genre...sometimes, it just picks you. I have always loved to write and dreamed of writing for children. I love their openness and imagination and how they crave a good story. Though, from personal experience, I know it can be challenging to get some middle graders to read. I had a son of my own that hated to read. But when you could turn him onto a good book, he usually saw the story through. I seized the challenge to write stories for this age; to capture their love for a good story, and let their imagination fly.

The idea for ‘Ghost Dog of Roanoke Island’ came when I read a news article about the Lost Colony. I didn’t remember ever studying it so my muse was intrigued by the mystery of how 117 colonists could disappear without a trace. I couldn’t help but research the mystery and my muse took over, coming up with her idea of what happened.

During my research, I read of the atrocity of Richard Grenville, how he destroyed an entire Native American village because he thought one of them had stolen a silver cup from his ship. This stirred my muse to weave elements of tolerance and forgiveness into my book so as to inspire our next generations the value of peace and brotherhood.

What writing credits did you have prior to submitting this book for publication?
I’ve always loved to write, though after getting married and starting our family, I was forced to find a career that could pay the bills on a regular schedule. My degree is in art and creative writing so most of my career has been based in the Commercial Art area. I then went on to write article for newsletters and magazines. I had a short story in a children’s magazine and also wrote a story selected for ‘Chicken Soup for the Christian Family Soul.’ It’s titled ‘Just Another Day,’ and is still making its way around the internet.

Could you give me a short synopsis on Ghost Dog of Roanoke Island for my readers?
In 1587,117 colonists disappeared from Roanoke Island without a trace, leaving behind not only unanswered questions, but a terrifying evil. Now it’s up to twelve year-old Jack Dahlgren to unravel the age-old mystery and save his family from the hateful beast that haunts the island.

With the help of newfound friend, Manny, a Native American shaman, and an elusive Giant Mastiff, Jack must piece together the clues of the Lost Colony to discover what really happened. Shrouded in ancient Native American folklore, it's up to Jack to uncover what the evil is and why it haunts his island. But can he destroy it...before it destroys him?

You also have two other books in the process one due out in December and then another in April. Have these books been in the process for awhile or are you a prolific writer?
About eight years ago, with my children getting a little older, I started to resume my dream of writing novels. With two teen age children still at home, though, it was a little difficult to find time to write on our one home computer. Almost a year later, my children and husband surprised me with a laptop of my very own so I wouldn’t have to share their computer time. This dream touched me deeply, not only because they gave me a laptop, but because they believed in me and wanted me to pursue my dream just as much as I wanted them to pursue theirs.

The story coming out in April is actually the very first novel I finished. ‘The Secret of the Stones’ is a lighter story; kind of a Harry Potter meets Merlin the Sorcerer and is based on the Merlin legend. It a book where kids can laugh along with the characters and let their imaginations soar. It is also the first book of a series titled ‘The Lost Diaries of Northumberland.’

‘A Horse Called Trouble’ is a horse story for girls. I grew up with horses and my love for these enduring creatures still thrives. There is a special bond formed with a horse; building trust and confidence. After visiting a special Horse Therapy program for troubled youth, the story just begged to come out.

From the time you sent in your manuscript to your publisher, Muse It Up, how long was it before you got any feedback?
I have known Lea Schizes for several years from attending her MuseItUp Writing conferences and being in one of her MuseItUp critique groups. I knew she had started a Publishing House so I initially queried her in an e-mail to see if she was accepting tween stories. In the email I outlined a bit of my novel. She expressed interest so I sent in the full story and within two weeks I had a contract.

Did you contact any other publishers to produce your book? Did you contact any agents?
Yes, I had sent all three of my stories to other publishers and agents. There was some interest but no contracts so I kept looking.

What type of publicity do you expect your publisher to do in promoting your book?
The book industry is changing daily. The Big Publishers buy ads and TV time. Smaller publishers do the marketing in a bit smaller way. But, I even know independent authors who have gained best-seller status with their self-published titles and making the rounds on the internet.

I’ve found that no matter where the author is published, they still need to get out there and create their own platform. It’s been challenging for me to reach outside my comfort zone and meet so many new people, but it’s so rewarding. I have made so many new friends and met so many fabulous authors.

What plans do you have to promote your book?
Oh my, where do I start? I actually began promoting my books a year ago. I built a web page, started a blog, joined several writer’s and reader’s groups, twitter, Facebook, etc. It’s been a year of baby steps but I was amazed when a friend told me just a few weeks ago that she had googled my name and it picked up over 57,000 results. I guess baby steps, has taken me miles from where I started.

What do you know now about the publishing process that you wished you had known earlier?
One thing I wish I would have known, was how to prioritize and schedule my time wisely from the very beginning. I know I’m still a little fish in a giant pond and learning so much each and every day. You have to get out there and just do it.

What is the best advice you’ve been given about writing? What advice on writing would you give?
The best advice I’ve given is that everyone has a story to tell…and if you don’t tell it, it will never be told.

Being a writer can be hard…if you’re only in it for the fame and the money. Sure I want readers to buy up my stories. I would love to quit my day job and focus only on my novels. But until that happens, and even if it doesn’t happen, I write because my muse won’t let me not write. I’m in love with my characters and stories; it’s my creative passion.

So I encourage those who want to write, to never give up on their writing. Write for the fun of it, for the legacy of your story, and if you reach fame and glory, consider that a bonus.

If you'd like to learn more about C.K.'s writing or to buy her books, here's some helpful links... ckvolnek@yahoo.com or her web and blog at www.ckvolnek.com and www.ckvolnek.com/blog.html. Other options are her Facebook (C.K. Volnek) or Twitter (CKVolnek.

Her book trailers are on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbJEF9TjZzo. You can buy her books at the MuseItUp Book Store: http://tinyurl.com/3pgwul2 or on Amazon.

Interview with award winning author and speaker, Kathi Macias

My interview today is with Kathi Macias who is a multi-award winning writer who has authored more than 30 books and ghostwritten many more. Other writing credits include being a former newspaper columnist and teaching creative and business writing in various venues. Kathi also won the 2008 Member of the Year award from AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association). I met her earlier this year at a writer's conference and I am happy to share her story with you.

On your website it lists your name as Kathi “Easy Writer” Macias. How did the “Easy Writer” nickname come about?
My husband and I were long-time Harley riders, and as an author, “Easy Writer” seemed to fit the bill as the perfect “road name” (which every biker needs). Now, however, we’ve traded in the two-wheelers for a 2005 sunburst orange Corvette. I’m still Easy Writer, but in style (and comfort!) now.

You’ve now written over 30 books but you live 80 miles from the downtown L.A. How important is it these days to live in a major metro area for your books to get published and get a following?
It makes no difference whatsoever in the writing/publishing of books. With the Internet at our fingertips, we can travel the world without leaving home. My publishers are on the East Coast, as is my agent, and my publicist is holed up somewhere in the Rockies. But we all make it work.

However, when it comes to the inevitable public speaking appearances that go with writing and publishing, it’s handy to be situated as I am—midway between LA and San Diego. I can actually stay busy speaking/teaching within a two-hour radius of home, though I still fly around the country for engagements several times a year.

You’ve won many awards for your writing. Is there one award that means more to you than any others? If so, why.
Each is special, of course, but the results of the last one—the Novel of the Year Award from Golden Scrolls for my novel Red Ink—make it stand out from the others. When Red Ink was given the award, the news went out across Christian news wires, and I soon heard from Bob Fu, President of China Aid, who told me he had read about my award, including how I accepted it on behalf of Li Ying, the woman imprisoned in China for her faith whose story inspired the book. Mr. Fu told me he knows Li Ying and offered to get a copy to her parents.

What a blessing! I had prayed from the beginning of the project that Li Ying would somehow know how she had inspired me, and now she will, even if she can’t actually see the book.

You were a former newspaper columnist. How did that help or hinder you in writing and producing novels?
Newspaper writing is the best training any writer can ever get. I always tells people it taught me to write “on task, on target, and on time.” That’s huge! I learned to write fast and clean, which has enabled me now to write three or four novels a year (though I intend to slow down a bit—honest!). It also taught me how to do in-depth research so I could write about countries and cultures I’d never visited or experienced. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to get into the writing field.

Which writers inspire you?
There are many, but Alan Paton is at the head of the list. He is the author of Cry the Beloved Country, which changed my life and contributed to my passion to write my own South African novel, No Greater Love. I have also been inspired by C.S. Lewis, Brennan Manning, Oswald Chambers, Brock and Bodie Thoene, and Francine Rivers, among others.

You’ve ghostwritten books but your website doesn’t mention what the topics were. Was it for individuals or book packagers? What was that process like for you? What important facts did you learn in ghostwriting that has helped in other writing?
I’ve ghostwritten books primarily for individuals, though I’ve done a few for book packagers as well. I’ve covered nearly ever topic in the Christian market, and enjoyed ALMOST every one of them. The process has been different with each author I worked with, as some sent me a plethora of material to work with, while others gave me nothing but the nugget of an idea.

It helped my research and organizational skills tremendously, and taught me to take on various voices in my writing. Acting classes were extremely helpful in developing that aspect of successful ghostwriting.

I see you had two books that were released in August. Are you that prolific an author or was one of the books a slow release process? How many hours a day do you spend writing? How many books a year do you try to release?
I suppose I would be considered prolific, as I often write three or four books a year, and occasionally juggle some ghostwriting and editing along with them. Both the August/September releases were written within about a six-month span.

A comfortable writing day for me is 2500—5000 words, though I often do more. I hit it early in the morning and work pretty much straight through, eating lunch at my computer and then knocking off for the day around three or four, just before my husband gets home so we can spend some time together.

You write a variety of genres from nonfiction discipleship to motivational books for women, a mystery series and a book on writing. Is there any one style that you feel more comfortable in writing? Or that fills you with joy in writing?
I always say that my favorite book is the one I’m working on right now. One particular nonfiction book I wrote, BEYOND ME: Living a You-First Life in a Me-First World, is what I consider my “flagship book,” in that all my other books/teachings flow out from that basic tome. However, overall I have to say that I prefer writing fiction to nonfiction, mostly contemporary and issues-driven. That gets me the most fired up!

Your current line of books deals with topics such as the persecuted Church/honor killing and human trafficking. What motivated you to tackle these subjects, particularly using mostly young adults and teens as the main characters?
The persecuted Church around the world and human trafficking are two topics I’m passionate about, so it was natural for someone like me who’s always been at the forefront of social issues to incorporate those issues into my writing.

I think it’s important too, that although the books are written primarily to adults, teens and young adults relate to the stories as well. One of the greatest compliments I ever received was when a high school senior who had just finished reading my Extreme Devotion series came up to me and said, “Mrs. Macias, your books make me want to lead a noble life.” It really doesn’t get any better than that, does it?

Since you’ve written a book on writing what’s one example of what you can pass on to other writers to encourage and motivate them?
The most important advice I’ve been given as a writer and that I happily pass along to other writers is to identify and pursue the passion God has given you. Remember you’re an individual.

Though we may need to be aware of publishing trends, we shouldn’t let them dictate our work. If we do, we may find ourselves jumping on the latest publishing bandwagon, only to find it’s already overloaded and the wheels are coming off. Take the time to develop the talents and gifts God has given you, and trust Him to open the right doors at the right time.

There's so much more I could ask Kathi about her writing, but we'll save that for another time. If you would like to learn more about Kathi and her writing or if you want to buy any of her books, here's some links to do that...
www.kathimacias.com
www.thetitus2women.com
http://kathieasywritermacias.blogspot.com
http://christiansread.com

On Journeys and Writing

As the Chinese proverb says, "Every journey begins with a single step." And with writing it begins with the first word on the page. As I am currently on a journey to a new home, it makes me think about comparisons between the trip and writing.

When you get ready for a journey you usually map it out to make the going easier. It's the same with writing except that the map now becomes the outline. The outline helps me go from a beginning to a completion. As with a journey I can always add side trips with writing I can also take my characters to side stories.Yet with both cases I still need to keep the end in mind.

It's the start of a new month and a new blog chain topic. I hope you'll take a look at it. Lots of good thoughts can be found in these posts so take some time to read them. I will be adding my new interview on Tuesday.