Surprises from History: Author Interview with Jonita Mullins

Amazon shows you’ve published 11 multiple books, but what inspired you to write that first one? What made you choose historical fiction?
I always enjoyed history and historical fiction is a genre that I enjoy reading, but my early writing was focused on daily devotionals. I knew I wanted to write a novel one day so it remained on my “bucket list" for many years.
 
Then over twenty years ago, I went to work at a small history museum. This museum was approached by the local newspaper looking for someone to write a weekly column on area history. I was tapped for this responsibility and I have been writing my column for twenty years now and have produced over a thousand articles for the Muskogee Phoenix.
 
Naturally that many articles required a great deal of research and I decided to use that to find a subject for my first novel, Journey to an Untamed Land. It is the story of the first schoolteacher in Oklahoma (then a part of Arkansas Territory). I found her inspiring story in a book about missions to the American Indians. I had never heard of this woman and wondered why her life on the frontier had not been told. I decided I needed to tell it.
 
I have written four more novels since that first one, all set in early Oklahoma history and I am currently writing my sixth.

You do a lot of research for your books. Could you give me an example of something that surprised you in doing your research?
Like most writers, I enjoy reading so I always have reading material close at hand and it is usually history related. Every day I spend time looking for subject matter for my column and that often leads me to interesting finds for my books.
 
I read an article about a town that rioted in protest of someone’s marriage. It was an interracial marriage between a Cherokee man and Euromerican woman and their defiance of convention created an uproar.
 
 I was certainly aware of what social confines existed in 1825, but was surprised at the vehemence community members displayed to protest this young couple’s union. They actually marched in the streets and burned the bride and groom in effigy! So, of course, I knew I had to tell that story and it was the basis of my fourth novel called The Marital Scandal.
 
Marketing is the biggest key to getting sales. What is the best marketing source you've used that has produced more sales rather than just clicks?
I have found Facebook, Twitter and to a lesser degree even LinkedIn to be effective ways to mention my book and stir interest. But my best sales usually come with public interactions such as speaking engagements, arts and craft shows, and teaching continuing education classes.
 

I also send out a e-newsletter to folks who have purchased a book or signed up to receive the newsletter. I always have a sign-up sheet with me when I am at a public event. As soon as I announce a new book is coming out, many of my e-news readers reach out to me to learn how they can buy it.
 
What do you know now about writing you wished you had known sooner?
I have learned not to demand perfection of myself. I no longer struggle to create the perfect sentence and focus instead on simply telling the story well. Once I get the story down “on paper,” I can go back and strengthen the writing with stronger verbs or tighter sentences. I think of it as first creating a black and white drawing then going back to add color.
 
What is the best writing advice you’ve received or could give?
Writing is a craft that demands discipline and that is something most of us struggle with at times. Fortunately for me, I had to learn the discipline of writing every workday when I was on staff of a daily devotional magazine. Now that I produce a weekly newspaper column, I also am forced to discipline myself to meet that regular deadline.
 
I find that if I make myself sit down at the computer every workday even just to jot down some ideas or complete one sentence, I can maintain the discipline I need to complete a novel. 
 

Are there any other points about writing you would like to add?
I remember an editor telling me once that she was suspicious of anyone who claimed that they “loved to write.” Her meaning was that writing is hard work and often not very fun at all. I know many people who have told me they want to write a book but when they actually try to do that, they discover how challenging it can be.

Sometimes writing is fun, when the muse is present and the words and ideas are flowing. But just as often the muse is missing and the blank canvas of your computer screen is daunting. When I’m struggling to fill that blank screen, I remind myself that writing is hard work and even though it isn’t very fun at the moment, it is still worth the effort. There are few things more satisfying than seeing your completed work in print.

What is the next book coming out? Can you give me a short synopsis?
I am currently writing my sixth novel with a working title of The Long Trail. It will cover the dreadfully difficult journey the Choctaws made from Mississippi to Indian Territory (Oklahoma) in 1832. They were caught in a freak snowstorm that took many lives and they were forced to leave behind their beloved family pets to cross the Mississippi River. Life for the native people forced to move to a new land was hard, but they were resilient and their story is inspiring.

That's all for today's interview. I hope it inspires you to learn more about Jonita's writing. Here's how you can do that.
Amazon Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jonita-Mullins/author/B00JUW1BJ8
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jonita.mullins                                                      Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7568272.Jonita_Mullins

 And here's a bonus for my readers... Leave a comment on this post with your name and we'll pick one winner next week who will get a copy of her Christmas novella Love’s Perfect Gift. So what are you waiting for? Write a comment now!