Write what you wish you’d known: An Interview with Allison Pittman

Your current book is about Martin Luther from his wife's viewpoint. Why did you choose that point of view?

I chose to write from Katharina’s point of view because Martin Luther’s story is so well known, or at least well documented. Her story isn’t. In fact, it was a bit of work to research, as the facts are few and far between. As a writer, though, that was perfect, because I then allowed myself to fill in all the gaps between the facts with the story written from my imagination. I wanted to show that Katie Luther wasn’t just “the woman behind the man,” but that she herself is a fascinating character with a place in history.

What is Luther's connection to our current Christmas traditions?

Martin Luther is credited with the tradition of lighting our Christmas trees. Germany had long held the tradition of bringing trees into their homes for Christmas celebrations and decorating them with trinkets and fruit. Luther is said to have gone walking one night and having observed the beauty of the stars and their points of light, he wanted to bring that light inside. So, if you don’t have a pre-lit tree, you can thank Martin Luther while you’re struggling to untangle all those strings of light!

Could you give me a short synopsis of the story for my readers?

Germany, 1505 ~ In the dark of night, Katharina von Bora says the bravest good-bye a six-year-old can muster and walks away as the heavy convent gate closes behind her.

Though the cold walls offer no comfort, Katharina soon finds herself calling the convent her home. God, her father. This, her life. She takes her vows--a choice more practical than pious--but in time, a seed of discontent is planted by the smuggled writings of a rebellious excommunicated priest named Martin Luther. Their message? That Katharina is subject to God, and no one else. Could the Lord truly desire more for her than this life of servitude?

In her first true step of faith, Katharina leaves the only life she has ever known. But the freedom she has craved comes with a price, and she finds she has traded one life of isolation for another. Without the security of the convent walls or a family of her own, Katharina must trust in both the God who saved her and the man who paved a way for rescue. Luther's friends are quick to offer shelter, but Katharina longs for all Luther has promised: a home, a husband, perhaps even the chance to fall in love.

What are some of your favorite Christmas traditions?

Well…I’m not much of a cook or decorator, so a lot of that is kind of lost on me! What I really love is the time—time with friends, traveling to visit family. These days it’s looking forward to the kids coming home to visit me! I also love San Antonio at Christmas—the lights on the Riverwalk and some of our beautiful, historic neighborhoods all decked out for the holiday. I find that, even when we feel hustled and bustled, it’s still a season where people are saturated with light and love. And, finally, of course, I am a sucker for Christmas movies—Hallmark, Classics, Cartoons—you name it! Last Christmas I wrote a novella that is basically a love letter to Christmas movies called Lone Star Christmas Lights https://www.amazon.com/Starring-Christmas-Two-Novellas-ebook/dp/B01MTNXZ11

What’s next in your writing?

To be totally honest, I’m not sure what’s next! I have a couple of stories in the pipeline, but release dates are uncertain. Meanwhile, I hope readers will love spending some Christmas time with Loving Luther, and the accompanying novella, An Offering, which tells a sweet story that’s the perfect length to be enjoyed on a winter’s afternoon.

Any special event you’d like to mention?

I’m very excited and proud of the fact that next summer, my Monday night writers group will be celebrating 20 years of gathering together to celebrate God’s gift of writing. We started out with four ladies who responded to a note in a church bulletin. Since then, we’ve grown ten-fold, and have seen so many of our members go on to finish and publish their books, as well as become serious free-lancers, bloggers, and publishers! We are an awesome example of faithfulness and persistence.

What’s the best writing tip you’ve learned or been given that you’d like to share?

Don’t “write what you know.” Doing so puts limitations on your stories. Write what you wish you’d known. Write what you want to know. Write beyond your experience and expertise so that you can learn and grow with your characters.

What do you know now about writing and publishing you wish you had learned sooner?

I’ll always wish I had a better handle on social media for marketing’s sake. I never give myself enough lead-time. I always come up with ideas too late to really capitalize on garnering attention. I have to learn to think months in advance, which is so hard because I barely ever know what I’m doing in the moment at hand!

Any last words or tips?

A huge thank-you to readers who take time to post reviews and blogs…and even just share books around. No matter how fancy a marketing plan, the BEST way to increase a book’s presence in the world is by word of mouth. One reader to another. Thank you to all readers who are keeping literature alive!

That’s all for today’s interview. If you would like to learn more about Allison’s writing and buy her books, here are some options for you.

Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Allison-Pittman-Author-Page-121203897897741/
The Offering novella: http://amzn.to/2zubnaF
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Allison-Pittman/e/B001JP0ZG4/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

Instragram:  @allisonkpittman or Twitter @allisonkpittman

Christmas Duo Team Up: Authors Rachel McMillan and Allison Pittman

Today I have the pleasure of introducing two authors who teamed together to create one book featuring both of their novels. Could you give me a short synopsis of the stories for my readers?

Rachel: Falling for a Christmas Star is about two people ---a tenure track Medieval Women’s Studies professor, Merry Strathford  and a made-for-TV Christmas star, Sam Medina, who find love during the holidays. It takes you behind the scenes of the filming of a Serendipity Network movie.

Allison: Lone Star Christmas Lights is a San Antonio tale about coffee bar owner Mari Medina and Texas craft beer brewer Larsen Clarke who date via social media marketing campaigns while finding their way to each other.

What made you decide to do a Christmas themed book?

Rachel: I love Christmas. It is my favourite time of the year by far. I start celebrating November 1. One of the reasons I love Christmas is the warm fuzzies you get from the endless roster of Made for TV Christmas movies that start Hallowe’en night.  It is my love for these movies ( and my chats with Allison about these movies) that really informed the creation of Starring Christmas.

Allison: I was excited for an opportunity to write in a contemporary voice. I love writing historical, but the idea of setting a story in this world—in my city—was just too enticing to pass up. Writing a Christmas-themed novella seemed a great way to dip my words into this water.

What are some of your favorite Christmas traditions?  

Rachel: I always go up to my parent’s house ( in a small town in Ontario) and I love the snow and decorating the tree.  My favourite part of Christmas is the carols --- so candlelit Christmas eve services are another favourite tradition. We also go through my little hometown at night on a drive to look at the Christmas lights—that is another favourite tradition.  Toronto (where I live) hosts a European Christmas market in one of the oldest, Victorian areas of the city and that is a favourite visit of mine each year.  

Allison: Because I’ve spent my entire life living on a school calendar, Christmas has always been about that long vacation in the middle of the year. Visiting family, sleeping late, cooking and eating and cooking and eating…Just taking the day-to-day schedule and ignoring it for days on end. Our only real family tradition is that there are no traditions. Families are different from year to year. We just try to live with year-long forgiveness and grace.

What’s next? (future books, novellas, special appearances you want to mention)

Rachel: My Herringford and Watts series about trouser-wearing lady detectives in Edwardian Toronto have two new releases happening in 2017: Conductor of Light releases in January and The White Feather Murders in May.

Allison: My next novel release is still under wraps—another reason why I wanted to take this chance to get something out to my readers! Stay tuned, though. By this time next year, you’re going to read about a romance for the ages.

What’s the best writing tip you’ve learned or been given that you’d like to share? 

Rachel: You cannot wait for writer’s block to pass.  I am someone who has a career and writes in my spare time.  With deadlines looming and edits to do, if I waited for writer’s block to pass, I would never get anything done. If you get stuck, move ahead, work on another piece, rework a scene. But, always be writing.  

Allison: Don’t ever feel like you’ve learned enough. Continue to study the craft, ask questions, forge relationships with writers with whom you can exchange ideas and advice. Turn friendships into mentorships and vice-versa. Also, trust that your editing and marketing team come with a completely different skill set. Trust their instincts and judgment.

What do you know now about writing and publishing you wish you had learned sooner? 

Rachel: That the first book you submit to an agent or publisher may not be the one that gets you through the door.   It takes perseverance and always having another manuscript in your back pocket. You have to be malleable.

Allison: Be ever-aware of opportunities to promote your books. Not obnoxiously, but in places where they’ll fit into the conversation.

Any last words or tips?  

Rachel: If writing stops being fun, then find something else to do!

Allison: hahaha…because I would never characterize writing as “fun” for me. Satisfying? Usually. But fun—not until the project gets to the written stage. What makes it fun is being a part of the writing world. Find people who do what you do and nourish those relationships. 

Starring Christmas is largely a product of the friendship between Rachel and me. Lots of internet chats and messages. We talk about writing and books and stories—we see each other through that lens. Find someone to be that other part of you. Non-writers don’t get it.

That's it for today's interview. If you would like know more about this book and their writing, here are some links to get you started.
To buy Starring Christmas: http://amzn.to/2hPU0Y6
Allison's page: https://www.amazon.com/Allison-Pittman/e/B001JP0ZG4
Rachel's page:http://amzn.to/2hvE94o 

Writing with Grace: An Interview with Christian Fiction Author, Allison Pittman

You’ve now published several books by large publishing houses. What was the first thing that you wrote that got published?

My very first publication was a devotional compilation…and I totally don’t remember the name of the book. I know my mother has it proudly displayed on her book case, though! 

When did you decide to start writing a novel? 

My initial desire as a writer was to have a column in a Christian magazine, taking on family topics, etc. Then I learned I’d never have a column if I didn’t have a history as an article writer. Well, free-lance article writing is way too complicated for me! Deadlines and queries and follow-ups and such. No, no. 

When I won a copy of Eve’s Daughters by Lynn Austin at a writers conference. I’d never read a Christian novel before, and I knew halfway in that I wanted to pursue writing Christian fiction. I had no idea such a thing existed. I started my first novel, Ten Thousand Charms, and had an editor request it the following year. 

Unfortunately, my confidence didn’t match his, and it would be 3 more years before I would finally finish writing it. I’m so glad Rod Morris (now at Harvest House, but then with Multnomah) didn’t give up on me!

You now speak at conferences, but what encouraged you most about being an attendee at a conference? Is there any one person you met who really inspired you to write?

Oh, my goodness. Rod Morris, as I mentioned earlier, was a huge source of encouragement. And James Scott Bell. I remember weeping with him at a breakfast table, and his pep talk to me is now featured in The Art of War for Writers. (I’m the “young woman” referenced on page 50.) And then, of course, my agent, Bill Jensen, who is such a risk taker! He’s signed some very exciting new writers, and I really think we’re in for a beautiful new wave in CBA fiction!

What advice do you have for someone who is attending their first conference?

I think the best advice for someone attending a conference for the first time is this: listen. Don’t be afraid to sit on your comment or question in a presentation—you don’t want to be the person who gets the conversation off-track. Wait until the end, and if you issue hasn’t been addressed, follow up with an email to the presenter after the conference. I know that sounds harsh (and, you know me…I’m a pretty blunt person!), but I honestly believe in the power of absorption. 

Listen close, and you’ll hear the Holy Spirit filling in those silent places, showing you exactly where this information fits into the plans the Lord has for you.If you’ve submitted your work for a critique, listen. You’ve paid for this advice, listen to it. Now, listen doesn’t mean heed, necessarily. But don’t waste time arguing and defending. Listen, absorb, apply what works for you and toss what doesn’t.

You write Christian themed historical romance. How would you describe that genre?

Of my nine novels, I only have a couple (Ten Thousand Charms, Lilies in Moonlight, and my fall release All for a Story) that are technically romances, meaning, the establishing and growing the romantic relationship between the two lead characters is the main focus of the story—taking them from strangers to Happily Ever After, and so on. I’m much more drawn to the historical element, and a woman’s place within that time period. 

Is there any specific time frame you like to write about?

Not really. In my first series, The Crossroads of Grace books (Multnomah), I had these women in my head, and I had to decide which would be the best setting for their story. Then, I latch on to things…I went on a historical baseball binge, and realized there were no books featuring baseball players, and set out to fix that. The third book in that series, Lilies in Moonlight made me fall in love with the 20’s, and launched the idea for my current series. Tyndale approached me about writing a novel set in the early Mormon church, and Camilla and Nathan Fox (from For Time and Eternity) were born. 

What type of research do you do for these stories?

It varies. I did get to go to Salt Lake City for a week to do my Mormon research, and wandering among the Pioneer Women’s museum was heartbreaking and enlightening. But, I’ve found so much available online. I took a lovely virtual tour of the hotel featured in All for a Song. I’ve stumbled upon travel blogs that give me great ideas for details. Now that I’m working largely in the 20th century, I love looking at vintage advertising to get a feel for what these people saw in the most ordinary of circumstances. I like ordinary, real, private sources. Letters, journals, yearbooks—real people, never realizing they would ever be a part of history. 

Tell me a specific book you've used?

I bought a 1912 math book for $3 in a basement used book store. That kid—she never knew how it would be featured a century later in a novel about a girl her own age sent to prison for… well, that book’s coming out next year!

How long does it take you to write a book today as opposed to your first novel?

The first novel took years, because I had no deadline. I sold it as an unfinished manuscript, though, and had to write like the Dickens to get it done! Which, I have to say, pretty much sums up my writing style now. My contracts usually allow about 8 months. And I need every minute of every day. 

How many times do you rewrite a chapter or do a full edit?

I never rewrite a chapter until an editor tells me to. Part of why I’m a slow writer is because I totally don’t subscribe to that notion of getting it down and going back to make it pretty. I agonize over sentences. I’ll write half a page in half a minute and then spend 20 minutes on a line of dialogue. I wait for the perfect word to come. 

When I do my edit before turning it in, I clean it up, of course…looking for repetition (usually missing it…), or discovering gaps I need to fill in. Inconsistencies, things like that. I add, but I don’t change or delete much. I don’t trust myself. I’d never declare it finished. I’ve been blessed with the best editors who will say, “um…you need to cut this” or “hey! Let’s add a scene where…” and I’ll go along with what they say, with a heart full of gratitude.

  

How long does it take for a writer to write exclusively and not hold down a second job?

That depends entirely upon how attached they are to a roof and food. Seriously, if you’re talking about “writing exclusively,” that can’t really mean writing your fiction exclusively. It would mean writing articles and blog posts for a paying market to not only supplement your income, but to constantly grow an audience.  In the world of traditional publishing, advances are getting smaller and royalties are getting rarer. With self-publishing, you’ve got to be prepared to be a professional marketer to move your books either off the shelves or onto e-readers. 

The thing with writing? It’s not always dependable. Like, I’ve had great ideas that I loved and my agent loved and my editor loved…but someone in Sales, not so much. So, months after writing my proposal and tentatively planning the luxuries I would buy with the advance (Nutella, a fancy spiral, maybe socks…), I find out it’s not a go. Or, you write a couple of books that are fabulous enough to be finalists for CBA’s highest award, yet they don’t sell through. 

Bottom line: you cannot, cannot go into this business thinking that your reward will be of the monetary world. This is something you do to glorify God in the way that He has gifted you. You trust Him to meet your needs, and He will not fail you. However, His way of meeting your needs might be by getting you that part-time job at Panera Bread. Which would be awesome.

How much does social media play in your promotion of your books?

Oof! I. am. the. worst. As my publicist will no doubt testify. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all over facebook letting the whole world know what I’m making for dinner, or what my cat just did, or what people should and shouldn’t do with their money or their bodies or their time…but then it’s like, “Oh, yeah…Hey! Buy my book!” I have wonderful friends who are such strong supporters and promoters for my books, and I cherish them!! I really can’t think of anyone worse to give advice in this area. Let me just say, follow Michael Hyatt on twitter. @MichaelHyatt Seriously. It’s everything you need to know!

What do you know now about writing, that you wished you had known sooner?

Wow… that is a fabulous question. I think for me, it comes down to the fact that, since I had a relatively easy time selling my first novel, I figured everything after that would be just fine. Like, if I wanted to write it, then somebody would want to publish it. Every rejection I’ve ever had came after my first sale. So, I wish I’d had a more realistic outlook, maybe? I also wish I’d had a better handle on passive voice. And, I wish I hadn’t used the character name “Delano” on my least-read book.

What is the best advice you’re been given about writing?

It comes back to that conversation with James Scott Bell. He illustrated the writing industry like a pyramid. At the base is every “Wannabe” writer out there—those that think that maybe, someday, they might sit themselves down and try to write a story. At the tippity-top is the person who, like your earlier question, makes a living by writing. A.K.A. Max Lucado. “Your job…is to keep moving up the pyramid. Each level presents its own challenges, so concentrate on the ones right in front of you. As you move up, you’ll notice there are fewer people, not more.” (James Scott Bell, The Art of War for Writers, Writer’s Digest Books, 2009).

I think that Christian writers need to write out of a sense of obedience. God has given you a voice and a story and the means to put them together. The act of writing is a miracle. Practice it.

Great words from Allison on her life and inspiration as a writer! I personally know her from one of the writing groups where I am a member. If you are not a member of a writing/critique group, find one. It's a great way to interact with other writers and improve your writing.

To learn more about Allison and her writing, here are two links...

http://www.allisonpittman.com/      http://apittman-crossroads.blogspot.com/