You've now
published over one million books. Back in 2000, when you first got started did
you really think your books would be that popular?
I’d hoped they
would be popular, but I didn’t imagine they would be this popular (and I’m so
very, very grateful!).
What made you
decide to write Amish stories?
My interest in
the Amish started when my husband and I moved to Ohio. Being from Arkansas, I
was unfamiliar with the Amish. When we moved to Geneva, OH, we were close to
Middlefield. Around the same time, Amish fiction was growing in popularity, so
I tried my hand at writing it.
Why do you think
there's such a large market for their stories?
I think the
complexity and swiftness of our society is a big reason why Amish and Mennonite
fiction have large appeal. We long for simplicity and we love nostalgia,
especially when life is overwhelming. The Amish also represent both the past
and the present, which makes the connection to the stories more immediate, as
opposed to those that are only historical.
How did you go
about finding an agent/publisher? Did you go to conferences? Send out
queries?
All of the
above! Going to conferences and belonging to writer’s groups had the biggest
impact on me finding an agent. I highly recommend doing both if you’re a new
writer.
What is the
hardest part of writing for you?
The first
draft, absolutely. I love working with words on the page but getting them on
the page is difficult. That’s where discipline comes in—the only way to edit
words is to create them, and you have to have the discipline to sit down and
write.
What does your
editor remind you to do most often?
Good question. Timelines
and details are my Achilles heel. I have difficulty keeping track of time in a
story, and details like ages, hair color, names, etc. often get mixed up in my
manuscripts. I’m so thankful for my editors! It’s also the reason I started
keeping a series bible at the end of last year because all the details were
getting too unwieldy for me to keep track of in my head.
What’s the best
encouragement you’ve had in your writing?
I’m most
encouraged when people tell me that my books were an escape during a difficult
time. I’ve experienced that myself during hard times, so I know how important
it is to have a book that can transport you into another place for a few hours.
We have all
experienced rejection. How have you learned to write past it?
I’ve treated
all my rejections with the same attitude—learn from the experience and move on.
Some rejections are a simple “no”, but others are opportunities to improve my
writing and my personal character.
I’m not immune
to rejection—no one is—but looking at it from a practical viewpoint instead of
emotional makes it easier to keep writing.
What has
surprised you the most in writing/publishing?
I’d say how
stories and characters sometimes form themselves. For example, Cevilla
Schlabach, an elderly, spry matchmaker who features in several of my books,
came to me fully formed. I personally haven’t known an elderly, spry, Amish
matchmaker, so the fact that she’s so easy for me to write is one of those lovely
mysteries of storytelling.
What frustrated
you the most?
I have to admit
it’s the speed at which publishing, marketing, and really, life in general, is
running right now. That could be due to the fact I’m middle-aged and can
remember a time when cell phones weren’t glued to our hands and when people
still sat on the front porch and had conversations with each other instead of
getting their information from Twitter, but I do think it’s not just us older
folks who get exhausted by the pace.
I’m not sure
what the answer is, especially in fields where using technology and social
media are super important, but I do think we can take a lesson from the Amish
and slow down a bit for our mental, physical, and spiritual health.
What do you know now about writing you wished you had known sooner?
What do you know now about writing you wished you had known sooner?
That I need to
be organized. I’m still working on that!
What is the
best writing advice you’ve received or could give?
Keep writing.
Perseverance is the most important trait you can nurture in yourself. Get a bad
review? Keep writing. Sales aren’t what you want them to be? Keep writing. The story won’t take shape? Keep writing. Always keep writing.
Are there any
other points about writing you would like to add?
My only other
tip would be to fall in love with storytelling. Love of stories will get you
through the hard stuff.
What is the
next book coming out? Can you give me a short synopsis?
In January, I released The Innkeeper’s Bride.
Here are the details.
The book
returns to the Amish community of Birch Creek, where an inn provides the
perfect backdrop for romance.
Levi Stoll
moved to Birch Creek with his widowed father, sister, and grandmother to run a
much-needed inn in the small town. Within this thriving community, Levi has
found his purpose and joy in the new inn. It doesn’t hurt that the move also
provides him a fresh start, leaving behind some mistakes he’d much rather
forget.
Selah Ropp has
returned to Birch Creek after trying to outrun her own unhappiness. Genuinely
glad to be back with old friends, Selah starts to work at the inn and can’t
deny the sparks that fly between her and the handsome innkeeper. He’s like no
man she’s ever met.
But Selah has a
past, and she knows Levi will reject her if he discovers it. What she doesn’t
know is that Levi is overcoming his own past mistakes while trying to ignore
his attraction to his employee. The Innkeeper’s Bride reminds us all
that with God’s grace, the past is forgotten, and love will reign supreme.
That’s all for
today’s interview. If you’d like to learn more about Kathleen’s writing and
upcoming books, here are some links to get you started
Website: www.kathleenfuller.com Sign up for her
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