Writing for Book Packagers: An Interview with Carolyn Larsen

What inspired you to write you Biblical storybook and devotionals for children?
When my husband and I raised our three children there were very few Biblical storybooks available for children to help them understand the truths of the Bible on their level. That realization coupled with God giving the opportunity to write the first book made the decision. I try -- when I know God is presenting an opportunity -- to take it. The adventure is always worth the fear or anxiety that comes with a new challenge.

When did you actually start writing your first book? How long did it take to write your first draft?
I started writing my first book in early 1994 and I believe I had about 3 or 4 months to write the first draft. It was 365 devotions for toddlers.

Who encouraged you along the way to complete the first book?
Nothing is more motivational than a deadline. However, I was working with a book packager who was a friend and he was very encouraging. My husband was also a great encouragement. He made certain that I had time and privacy in our busy household to work on the book.

What was your process like in getting your first book published? 
I was very blessed in getting started in my writing career. I worked in the office of a book packager who presented book ideas to publishers. When a publisher became interested in the idea of a bedtime devotional for young children, they wanted to see samples from several writers. My boss asked if I'd like to write a sample for him to present along with several others. I did. They chose mine and since that time I've published more than 50 books. 

The packager friend has done some of the legwork like an agent would do. I do not have an actual agent. Some of my proposals are rejected but I don't take those rejections personally. I view submitting kind of like a puzzle in which the publisher is putting together pieces that fit with their vision and goals. Sometimes my book idea fits and sometimes it doesn't. However, it was a learning process to not attach the rejections to my own abilities or style.

Are there any stories you’ve written that are l packed away that you hope will

get published someday? Anything you would like to share about them?
Yes, I have two that I keep wondering if God will have a place for someday. One is a book for children, encouraging them to look at the lives of Bible people and learn from them. It is a combination of modern day stories and Bible stories. The other "dream book" is a series of essays for adults about aging -- humorous and thought provoking. Someday . . .

Are you active with any writing groups? Who acts as the sounding board for your stories before they’re submitted to a publisher?
I have friends who I trust and can bounce ideas off of. I also have a daughter who is a writer and we have a healthy, honest relationship. She will always give me good criticism. But at this point I also am privileged to have a good relationship with a couple of different editors who will look at my proposals and give me good feedback.

What has frustrated you the most in the process of putting together the books? 
Writing is a lonely profession and it's easy to get stuck in my own head so that I become negative about my work and ability. 

What has pleasantly surprised you in the process?

Very often when I get stuck in that negative place, I will get an email or letter from a reader telling me how much a particular book has meant to them. I believe that is a gift from God and it's always encouragement enough to get me going again.

What are your writing goals? 
I try to write daily, though of course, there are days when that doesn't happen. My writing goal is to develop books that will encourage readers to have a close, honest relationship with God and to see the possibilities of the people they are becoming.
Do you think you’ll try any other genre?
I have enjoyed writing children's books, tween books and some teen books as well as devotionals for women. I hope to try other genres -- fiction and nonfiction life stories.

What is the best writing advice you’ve been given?
There are two good pieces of advice that I try to remember -- one is to just do it -- sit down and get busy. Realize that it isn't about me . . . it's about God. And the second is to tell stories. I try to make the things I write as real and practical as possible -- relatable.

What message would you like parents and children to take away from your books? 
I would like the take aways to always be . . . know God. Trust God. Don't be too hard on yourselves because the Christian life is a journey, not a destination. I'm currently working on a book about the basics of faith -- the things children need to understand about the faith they embrace.

That's all for today's interview. If you would like to learn more about Carolyn's writing and speaking engagements, here is her contact information. 

http://www.carolynlarsen.com/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/11496.Carolyn_Larsen

From Newspapers to Novels: Author Interview with Michele Huey

Your background includes writing for newspapers and doing a radio program. What made you decide to take the big step and write a novel?
After over a decade writing nonfiction (devotionals, articles), I felt I wasn’t developing the talent God gave me. I love to read fiction—why not try to write it?

Who helped you with the editing? 
I belonged to an online critique group when I wrote my first two novels and when I began the third one, Getaway Mountain, my critique group partners helped with the initial drafts. Marsha Hubler edited The Heart Remembers and Before I Die when they were published by Helping Hands Press.

I published Getaway Mountain as an independent author/publisher, and I hired Barbara J. Scott, a freelance editor who edited for a major Christian publishing house for decades before going freelance, to do a developmental/substantive edit.

Your books fit a very specific niche - with your protagonists in the retirement age. Since that is out of the normal 30 and under character leads, what was the feedback you received from agents and editors?
I really didn’t pursue traditional publishing after I dropped my agent, and even then I got few comments about the older protagonist. I’ve never been a jump-on-the-bandwagon person, and I’m not a “formula” writer (I do follow structure). I’ve read and immensely enjoyed fiction with older women protagonists, so I followed my own advice to write what’s in my heart.

Are you currently active with any writing groups? 
Yes. I looked for an online critique group after the one I mentioned above became inactive, and finally (just last month) became part of a new online critique group.

Who encouraged you along the way?
My husband, my brother, my best friend, friends, my critique group partners, writing colleagues/friends I met at writing conferences, my CWG mentor (I took the Craftsman fiction course) and my fellow Craftsman classmates. I’m sure there are more, but too many to mention.

How do you get past writer's block?
Write. Write. Write. Just get words onto the page (screen) and don’t try to edit.

What are some of the more difficult aspects of writing a romantic mysteries?
This is my first romantic suspense book in the series. I’ll let you know when I write the second book in the series.

Have other novels been started and stopped along the way?
One—Whiskey Run —which I plan to return to and finish as a novella (have 18k words now). It’s a historical novel based on a real coal boom town in western Pennsylvania by that name. I plan for two more novellas in that series. I also started a novel based on WWII and the Battle of Attu. But the characters weren’t coming into focus, so I moved on. I plan to return to that, if the characters cooperate.

You also write daily devotional books. It looks like the first one was only 25 pages and the next one 112 pages. Was the first book testing the waters to see what feedback you would get?
No. I published Minute Meditations: Meeting God in Everyday Experiences and I Lift Up My Eyes: Minute Meditations Vol. 2 with Ampleos Press in 2000 and 2002, respectively. They are compilations of my weekly newspaper column, which was “Minute Meditations,” which later became “God, Me & a Cup of Tea” when I went to another newspaper. The column won second place in the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association’s Keystone Press Awards in 2009.

I published the books because my readers were telling me they cut out my column and sent them to people they knew. One lady (who lived in a skilled living facility) cut them out and out them in a scrapbook. I decided to compile 50 of my favorite columns and publish them as a devotional book. They still sell well at my book table when I speak at Christian conferences. I continue to get comments on them. Even after 16 years, God is still using these books to touch people.

God, Me & a Cup of Tea was published by Helping Hands Press at their request. The publisher wanted to do ten devotionals in one eBook to start. When he’d published five eBooks (total 50 devotionals), he published a print book with all 50.

I’m currently in the process of typing the Minute Meditation books to publish as eBooks (Kindle edition).

How do you promote these books?
Through social media, direct mail, e-mail, newsletter, press releases . . . Whatever way I can. I’m still on the learning curve.

What do you know now about writing/publishing now that you wished you had known sooner? I wish I’d have believed in myself when I was younger (right out of college). I didn’t get serious about writing until I was in my forties. But then, I believe in God’s timing. I had more fodder and life experiences when I did start writing in earnest. I’ve enjoyed the process—both writing and publishing—each step of the way.

What other books do you have in the works?
Book 1 of the “Almost” Angel series and Book 2 of the PennWoods Mystery series. And the eBooks of my meditations.

What is the best advice you’ve been given about writing or that you’ve learned that you would like to pass along? 
Write what’s in your heart. Anything else will sound fake. Write the first draft from the heart. Lock up the editor and let the muse dance. You can let the editor out when you’re ready to revise.

Are there any other notes you’d like to add? 
Buy my books. Please.

That's all for today's interview. If you would like to know more about Michele's current and upcoming books, use this link:  https://michelehuey.wordpress.com/