Finding Surprises in Writing Research: Author Interview with Lynn Dean

You’ve now published several books, but what inspired you to write that first one? What made you choose historical women’s fiction?
My very first professional writing project was Discover Texas, a history curriculum for parochial and homeschool students, now celebrating its 25th year. I wrote it because I couldn't find a history program for my own children that would help them experience history vicariously so they could better understand it. Of course it has an extensive book list including historical fiction selections. I've always loved that genre because it helps any reader see history through the characters' eyes.

While researching Discover Texas, I discovered a travesty of justice that took place in my own town during the Reconstruction Era. The victim was mentioned only in passing, a nameless footnote, which made me determined to learn his name and try to tell his and other stories of that period through the eyes of a fictional observer. More Precious Than Gold tells the story of Eliza Gentry, a spinster who's suffered injustice and losses of her own. When Eliza's father takes a stand for the real-life victim, things turn dangerous, forcing her to head west to the gold rush in New Mexico Territory. Attempting to outrun her grief, she runs headlong into the man who caused it.

The book has strong romantic elements, but I consider it historical women's fiction because the focus is on the things all women want and the challenges we face when God takes our life in a direction we would never have chosen.

How do you go about doing research for your books? How do you choose a time period? What’s one of the most unique facts you’ve discovered in doing your research?

Oh, my goodness, I could write a book just on these questions! I'm a research junkie. I was that weird student who loved research papers and asked if I could write more than the required number of pages. ;)

I started with the Texas History curriculum because I had a practical need. When I decided to write a historical novel, I chose the Reconstruction Era because it was rife with conflict, and I dropped my fictional characters right in the middle of a real-life riot to see what might happen.

Several unique and meaningful things happened while I was researching More Precious Than Gold. My first stop was the Baylor University Library which has a fabulous Texas Collection of original source documents. The librarian who offered to assist me was African-American, and I felt ashamed to tell her what I was searching for because it involved an atrocity against a young man, formerly enslaved, who was unjustly accused of a crime. I explained as delicately as I could, but I saw her recoil. She asked me why I wanted the information, and I explained that the article I read focused only on the legal aspects without ever mentioning the boy's name. I said, "I want to find out who hurt him, tell his story, and try to give him his name back."

Her eyes filled with tears, and she wrote down information about four data centers in our state where a copy of every written court record is kept on microfilm. With the name of the Freedman's Bureau official and a range of dates narrowed down to about a 20-month period, I set out to the nearest data center about 90 miles away, signed out a box of film rolls, and started scrolling. Three hours later I found the court case I was looking for. I was so excited! It's hard to explain, but focusing so intently on that slice of history I felt almost as if I'd travelled back in time. I became completely unaware of the rather vintage viewing room. The courtroom scenes I was reading were so much more real to me. I wrote copious notes, paid for a few copies, and headed home.

On the way, I called my mother. She was the first to encourage my love of stories, and since she'd been reading my early chapters, I knew she'd understand my excitement.

"Mom! I found him! His name was Tony McCrary. I found his mother's name and the name of the man who owned them. I even found the names of the accomplices and the no-good judge who refused to call a grand jury."

My sweet mama said, "That's wonderful! And were you able to find Eliza and her father?" When I reminded her that Eliza and Rev. Gentry were fictional characters, she said, "Oh, dear. I forgot. They feel very real to me."

That's when I knew I'd written a good story. ;) And that's why I love quality historical fiction. Writers have the power to help us see the world and its issues from many perspectives and to actually feel the hearts of others.

The second novel in the Sangre de Cristo series, Stronger Than Mountains, returns us to New Mexico Territory during the Land Wars, and this year I added a holiday novella, The Friendship Quilt, to further expand the community around Elizabethtown. A second generation of characters has begun to whisper parts of their stories to me, so who knows? The Sangre de Cristo series may become a family saga.

You’re part of a multi-book set with other authors called Our House on Sycamore Street. How did that come about? All the books tell a unique story, but they're all set on the same street. How do you make that concept work for all the books?
To tell the truth I'm not really sure who suggested my name to the series creator, Anna Jensen, but I'm SO glad she did! Anna is a British ex-pat living in South Africa. She put together a group of 14 Christian authors from South Africa, Australia, England, Ireland, and the United States who write in several different genres. The concept works, though, because each story takes place in one of the twelve houses on Sycamore Street in the fictional village of Eden Cove where the River Deben flows into the North Sea. 

Beginning with Anna's origin story, this series is sort of a community saga. (Think: the community spirit of Jan Karon's Mitford series combined with the strong sense of place in James Herriot's All Creatures Great and Small.) Each book introduces new neighbors, with characters from one story popping up in other stories. There's a cat mentioned in the very first novel, and generations of kittens that look just like him find their way into the pages of all the other stories, so watch for them! Items lost in one book may be found in a later story.
Of course, it's the sycamore tree for which the street is named that ultimately ties the series together.

Some say that the Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden was a sycamore tree, just like the one that grows in the park on Sycamore Street in Eden Cove. And, of course, we know it was a sycamore tree that Zaccheus climbed to catch a glimpse of Jesus that changed his life forever.
Each book in the series tells the story of one such life-changing glimpse of the Lord that becomes a turning point.

What’s the best encouragement you’ve had in your writing?
I mentioned that my mother was my first encourager. She wrote down my first stories and encouraged me to write more.

My third grade teacher, Mrs. Cathey, also went out of her way to encourage me. I was new to the town and to the school and feeling shy about making friends. I often finished my seat work early, and I guess she knew I needed a challenge, so she presented me with a workbook filled with story prompts and gave me her blessing to start anywhere I liked and just write. What a gift that was! She opened the door and gave my imagination permission to run and play.

I realized later that she had probably purchased the workbook with her own money, so when my first novel was published I tried to contact her. Her son answered the phone and let me know she had moved to a memory care center the week before. I told him what a wonderful thing she'd done...that I'd never forget her, and he said it was a comfort to know that as a teacher she'd touched and changed children's lives.

Marketing is the biggest key to making sales. What is the best marketing source you've used that has produced more sales rather than just clicks?
Before I answer, let me say that my best-selling publications have been written for very small niche markets. VERY small...but that can actually be an advantage. People who like Hobbit architecture or deeply researched historical novels don't always find a plethora of possibilities, so when they DO find an author they enjoy, there's a good chance they'll check out other things by the same author.

My favorite marketing source is Book Funnel. I'm slowly re-releasing my earlier works, and at the end of each I include the first chapter of the NEXT book in the series AND a link where they can download a bonus chapter, an epilogue, a quilt pattern, or a list of questions to use in hosting a book club. Of course, you ask nicely for their email address so you can send their free gift, promising never to spam them and expressing your sincere hope that you'll remain friends "happily ever after."

I don't know why it took me so long to realize this, but it works marvelously! My email list grows on its own as I bless people with gifts that cost me very little besides a little time and thought. Based on my early results, I'm very eager to add value to each of my publications. Of course, once you have a nice community of readers who enjoy what you write, writing a series or anthology with similar authors helps readers meet others who write about similar things. The more you share, the more everyone benefits!

You will get a few people who "grab the goodies and go," but I don't let that bother me. I'm looking for the folks who love what I'm offering and decide to stay. Marketing is mostly a matter of helping people find what they've been looking for.

What do you know now about writing you wished you had known sooner?
Aside from organic marketing, the main thing I wish I'd known sooner is that EVERYONE struggles with Imposter Syndrome--the fear that maybe we're really not that good.
You know what? I've read a lot of books that weren't as good as some others I've read, but I enjoyed them nonetheless. I'll often buy another book by a new author and enjoy watching their skills and voice blossom in later novels. It makes me feel like I know them.

My first book placed 3rd in a writer's contest...and I didn't tell anyone. I kinda thought, "If 2nd Place is first loser, what does 3rd Place say about me?" You know what? It says I'm a perfectionist with unrealistic expectations who needs to work on her confidence as much as on her skills!

If you're one of the many, MANY people who's "always wanted to write," please don't convince yourself that you have to be excellent on the first attempt. That's what editing is for! ;)

What is the best writing advice you’ve received or could give?
You are the only person who sees the world through your eyes. That means the stories you tell will be unique, just because they're yours. Don't try to write like anyone else. Write what you know, what you've lived through, and what you've learned from it. That will be a story others will want to hear and, maybe, see something of themselves in.

Are there any other points about writing you would like to add?
So much...but let's save it for another time. ;) The main thing is to start. Whatever's on your heart, just start!

I had the pleasure of meeting Craig Johnson when he was the keynote speaker at last year's Will Rogers Medallion Award presentation. He told about writing the first three chapters of a story and feeling so discouraged by an early bit of feedback that he buried it in a drawer. It stayed in that drawer for ten years before he pulled it out and finished it. That manuscript became the first book in his Walt Longmire Mystery series, which was eventually made into a popular television series. Don't bury your potential in a drawer.

What is the next book coming out? Can you give me a short synopsis?
The next book I have coming out is The Bookbinder's Daughter, available for preorder now and launching October 4, 2024 in paperback and ebook formats as book #10 in the Our House on Sycamore Street series.

The story is set in 1915 at the beginning of World War I. Molly Hopewell's husband has just left for duty in France when their Suffolk farmhouse is destroyed during a Zeppelin bombing raid. The aging recluse who lives at No. 9 Sycamore Street surprises everyone in Eden Cove by inviting the refugee family to move in with her, but Molly learns too late she's being used...and that her hostess isn't entirely sane.

As the community rallies to help each other through uncertain times, Molly isn't sure who she can trust with the truth about her dangerous situation. With few alternatives available, can she find ways to shield her children and learn to "love from a safe distance"?

This story takes a somewhat humorous look at what it's like to live with a narcissist who refuses to allow their delusions to be influenced by facts. ;)

I am impressed by the detailed research Lynn does for her books and her love of writing. I hope you'll start reading them if you aren't already. Here are a couple of links to learn more about her writing. 

Website: https://thorntonridgepublishing.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LynnDeanThorntonRidgePublishing/

And here's a special bonus for my readers... Lynn will send a copy of The Bookbinder's Daughter as soon as it releases. Just leave a comment on this post telling her if you linked to her website or Facebook page or both. If you can show that in your post so she can see it, that would be wonderful! One winner will be chosen by random from those who comment. Drawing will be next Friday!

The Struggle of Writing: Author Interview with Sara Jane Jacobs

Like many writers, you came to writing as a second career. How did your writing begin?

The whole journey began with an interest in acting. I started in church plays and branched out into community theater. Then, after high school I worked as a secretary and a co-worker was working on a screenplay. This grabbed my attention since I loved theater production. I began working on a fanfiction screenplay and then began working on an idea for a Christian movie. That really wasn't a common thing back in the 80’s but I sent the screenplay to a few Christian ministries and never heard back. I was feeling a bit frustrated when a good friend suggested that I turn my stories into books. 

What inspired you to write that first book?

I treated writing my novel as a hobby, so it took me about fourteen years! Finishing it was just the beginning of another phase. It would be about nine more years before I made the decision to really pursue a writing career. 

How many revisions did you do? 

Too many to count! Like a lot of writers (and artists) I tend to be a perfectionist. I'm learning to overcome that now. I even heard Reese Witherspoon say in an interview that as a producer she had the same problem, and she had to come to a point where she let her work go out into the world. The struggle is real. 

What is the hardest part of writing for you? 

Stopping, which also makes it hard to start because I know that once I start, nothing else will get done. 

What’s the best encouragement you’ve had in your writing? 

The editor that I work with now. She is amazing. I was looking for someone to proofread Season of Hope and she became a mentor to me and has helped me grow as a writer. Her proofreading turned into eighteen months of revisions. I was inspired to write some new scenes and add deeper POV. Also, readers have reached out to me about their love for the stories and the characters. That is priceless to me. When a reader takes the time to message me or email me, it's a tremendous encouragement for me to keep going. 

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?

The bookfunnel group promos have been very helpful. Also promoting with Faithful Reads is always a good sales day for me. They're great. 

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

That no one writes a perfect first draft. I read a J.K. Rowling tweet years ago (2018 - I looked it up) where she said, "When rereading last week's work, the trick is to stop for a biscuit just before your blood sugar levels drop to 'every single word of this is worthless.'" 

What is the best writing advice you’ve received or could give? 

There are so many things I have learned that I can't even think of one single piece of advice. But the best writing advice I could give would be to keep writing, learning and growing as a writer. 

Are there any other points about writing you would like to add? 

Take care of yourself. Writers can pick up some unhealthy habits. I became a certified health coach after I started writing full time because I had picked up some of those habits—like sitting in front of the computer for hours without breaks and not stopping for a healthy meal. 

What is the next book coming out? Can you give me a short synopsis? 

The next book is Season of Faith. I haven’t written the synopsis yet, but I will have it up for preorder as soon as I write that synopsis! 

That's all for today's interview. To learn more about Sara's writing, here's the link to her website: https://www.sarajanejacobs.com/ 

And here's a bonus for one of my readers...Leave a comment on this post, and we'll chose randomly choose one reader to win a FREE eBook of Season of Hope. Deadline is next Friday. So what are you waiting for? Leave a comment now!

We All Have Value: Author Interview with Heidi Gray McGill

Why did you choose to write romance novels? 

I started writing Christian historical fiction because this is what I love to read the most. Having nothing to lose was a gift when I self-published my first book. I knew my purpose was to glorify God. Whether five or five-thousand people read what I published didn’t matter.
Last year I wrote my first Christian contemporary romance, Dial E for Endearment, to shed light on Vision Awareness Month. The blind community blessed me with kindness through notes and reviews. When I realized the impact my words could have on hurting individuals, I wrote Dial P for Perfect, a curvy-girl Christian contemporary romantic comedy.

What is the hardest part of writing for you? The hardest part of writing is not getting distracted! I have difficulty shutting off my mind when I need to focus on something or someone. I’m easily distracted by things—even good things—like the laughter of my grandsons, the smell of dinner cooking, or the ping of my phone when I get a text. I’ve learned to put my phone aside, but I have to schedule a time to write when there will be minimal distractions to keep me in line.

Learning to say no to others when I’ve scheduled a specific time to write is another issue with  which I struggle. Reminding myself this author gig isn’t a cute hobby, but a ministry means  saying no when the need to complete a deadline is essential. I’m an introverted extrovert. I need social interaction in small batches, and I cannot lock myself in a room for days to accomplish a task. Taking walks, stopping for healthy meals, talking to a friend, and planning activities with family help me stay true to myself. Keeping a color-coordinated calendar helps me see at a glance the balance between work, family, friends, church, and downtime.

What is the best marketing tip you can offer?
Marketing is its own beast in the author world, and not all of us have the weapons to slay it. An excellent place to start is to determine if you have more time or money. If it is money, there are wonderful ways to share your book with the world, such as a BookBub Featured Deal. If you’re short on funds, finding places to connect with others is the best place to start. Being a part of the social media community can be a time sucker, but if you want to make superfans that will buy whatever book you put out before they read the blurb, you have to be a genuine friend. It takes time but is worth the effort.

What’s the best writing advice you could offer?
Every author should know their purpose for writing before they begin. For me, it sounds like this: Writing is my ministry, and it’s how I share Christ with those who may never pick up a
Bible or step foot inside a church. I also write to encourage those in the Faith to live abundant lives—full of all God desires for us. Writing is also how I work through my heart’s questions and embrace God’s best for me. Charles H. Spurgeon, in All of Grace, says it best. “Begin as you mean to go on, and go on as you began, and let the Lord be all in all to you.”

Tell us something about yourself that is not in your bio.
I am legally blind and have only 5% of my vision remaining. My diagnosis of Retinitis
Pigmentosa in 2001 was devastating. There is no cure, and there is no surgery. But that does not mean there is no hope. I still have value. Those who do not know me well often don’t realize I have low vision or zero vision in a dark room. We humans are amazingly adaptable, and I do a pretty good job covering up my disability.

My friends have learned to watch out for me and alert me to potential pitfalls, some better than others, which is always good for a laugh. I use a cane when I’m navigating alone.

When I wrote Dial E for Endearment, I used personal experiences. I wanted readers to view the world from a new perspective and help them see that God does not discriminate. Through
laughter and love, I desire that my readers learn we all have value.

That's all for today's interview. I hope you've been inspired by what you've read and appreciate your blessings. If you'd like to learn more about Heidi's book's, here are some links to get you started.

https://www.amazon.com/author/heidigraymcgill
https://www.instagram.com/choosingjoynovels/
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/heidi-gray-mcgill
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorHeidiGrayMcGill
https://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/2066

And here's a bonus for my readers...If you go to Heidi's website and click on the "FREE BOOK" tab,  and sign up for her newsletter you'll automatically get her prequel to my Discerning God’s Best series for FREE. 

https://heidimcgill822089357.wordpress.com/

The Everything Else of Writing: Author Interview with Christine Schulze

Your bio says you’ve always loved reading magical fantasies. What made you decide to write the first one of your own? 
Well, if we’re being completely technical with this answer, I wrote my first fantasy book around the age of four or five, as a wedding gift for my babysitter. It was called Johnny to the Rescue and was inspired by these “Surprise, Surprise, Puppy Surprise” toys I had. They were these little dogs and cats that came with surprise outfits, like princess, mermaid, cowboy, etc. That made me come up with the concept of what I called “Surprisers,” which were dogs and cats who talked, walked, and did everything like people. Johnny was this heroic figure who was always rescuing Princess Brighteyes from King Baddy. I wonder if perhaps I got that idea from my love of watching my babysitter rescue Princess Peach from Bowser on my Super Nintendo.

I bring all this up because that book and the series that sprang from it would ultimately set the foundation for many of my current books. I remade the Johnny to the Rescue series a couple different times as I grew older and eventually expanded their world, creating the realm of Loz that’s seen in both my currently published series, The Amielian Legends and The Gailean Quartet. Other inspirations behind my current works include The Legend of Zelda games, Lord of the Rings, anything by Diana Wynne Jones, and Narnia.

If Johnny to the Rescue is my earliest work, let’s talk about my most recently published Symphony of Crowns, third in The Gailean Quartet and my longest work to date, coming in at 800+ pages. The original version was written back when I was in college, so about twelve or so years ago. Since then, I thankfully found my current editor, Kira Lerner. We’ve honestly spent the past few years revising the entire series, including this book, so it’s hard to say how many revisions it’s undergone. A lot. A lot of rewriting, expanding the world, expanding the characters and their complexities, and a lot of just overall learning to improve as a writer.

I actually just had a reader give the most humbly glowing review. So, from Johnny to the Rescue all the way to Symphony of Crowns, I’d say all the hard work, dedication, and learning with my editor is well worth it.

What is the hardest part of writing for you? 
I think sometimes it’s just all that “middle stuff,” if you will. I love crafting a good, tense, in the moment beginning, and I likewise love writing emotionally satisfying conclusions. I’ve never been one to write completely in the order of events, and it’s fair to say that sometimes I have the beginning and end sorted before the middle.

But I have found in more recent years that outlining really helps. The word “outline” used to be terrifying, but I now understand that an outline doesn’t have to be anything formal or overly structured. Even just writing a list of events in the order they will occur can really get my thinking on track for how things ought to go, avoiding plot holes, etc.

What’s the best encouragement you’ve had in your writing?
I think one of the biggest encouragements has come from having a really great editor to work with. I would highly recommend that anyone serious about writing and publishing find a really good, solid editor who really knows their stuff. Who isn’t afraid to challenge you to change your book for the better, but who can also believe in you and your work, believe in what it can become once polished. If you can’t afford an editor right away, which is completely understandable, work on developing a team of beta readers who can read your book and provide both guidance and encouragement. You can find beta readers on various Facebook groups, Tiktok, etc.

It doesn’t hurt to have encouraging friends or encouraging significant other either. My boyfriend of two years now is super supportive of everything I do as I strive to make my dream of becoming a full-time author a reality. While it was never a relationship requirement for me, I am blessed in that he reads and loves everything I produce. I don’t think this is necessary, but you definitely need someone who supports what you do as an author and what it means to you.

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’ll be honest in saying I’m rather new to the world of book marketing. I’m actually taking time off from writing this year because I’ve found that with my full-time day job, I don’t have the time I need to devote to both writing/editing and trying to learn/understand marketing.

That being said, I’m starting to see that it can be valuable to have a regular newsletter (mine is monthly) that includes exclusive info that readers aren’t going to get anywhere else. It’s intimate, personal, and a good way to start forming a bond and building a trusted relationship with your readers. I also just started my first Booktok. I’m still getting the hang of it, but I find making short videos on my books to be fun and it’s been a great way to engage with some new readers. I’d like to look into avenues like podcasts and more interviews like this one as well.

What do you know now about writing you wished you had known sooner?
This isn’t so much about writing itself, but I think it’s valuable for writers to realize that the real challenge isn’t writing a book. It’s not even publishing a book, as that can be done pretty easily these days. The challenge comes from everything else: having a solid editor, making all those revisions, finding the right cover artist, branding yourself, knowing how to get your work in front of readers, etc. For those who want to get serious about writing and publishing, there’s so much more that goes into it besides writing the book itself.

What is the best writing advice you’ve received or could give?
I would tell others who are struggling to just start writing. You can always edit what’s on the page, but you can’t edit nothing. And also, while it’s important to have a good editor and to make revisions and to make something the best it can be, on the other hand, once it’s done, it’s DONE. I’ve seen a lot of folks get hung up on nitpicking the details and never letting their work just be “finished.”

An author I follow on Tiktok, E.A. Winters, recently brought up an excellent analogy. She said that a carpenter doesn’t make just one chair that he spends years perfecting. He makes many chairs, tables, beds, etc. and continues to improve his craft with each new piece he makes. Writing is like that. The best way to improve and grow as a writer is to know when your current work is done and then move onto the next. I truly feel like I learn something and improve with each new book I write.

And that doesn’t mean that the older ones are bad! I’ve had loads of people who still find and enjoy my older works. They’re still solid, they’re still the best they could be when I wrote them. But the newer books will be even better as you apply all you learned from writing the first books and press forward.

What is the next book coming out? Can you give me a short synopsis?
My next book in the works for 2023 is The Last Star, a stand-alone YA fantasy novel with Words Matter Publishing. I’m pleased to share the blurb with you:

The first Stars were extinguished that fateful night. The work of the Shadows had begun.

Aspiring teenage astronomer, Lianna Sidra, knows the Stars are nothing more than blazing fires, providing light and warmth to her world of Novalight. They aren’t magical, protective Guardians. Those are just silly stories, fairy tales from which Lianna strives to protect her imaginative little sister, Celesse. After all, such superstitions drove away their flighty mother, and Lianna couldn’t bear to lose Celesse in the same way. Ever since Professor Donati took them in, life has been normal. Stable. And Lianna would prefer to keep it that way.

But then Novalight’s Stars begin to vanish, plunging their world into darkness, cold, fear. Shadow-like beings take over where light once reigned. Together with Celesse, Professor Donati, his goofy son, Dashiel, and her crush, the spiritual Soranu, Lianna embarks on a race against time. The pursuing Shadows seem especially drawn to Celesse. What’s more, evidence of ancient magic indicates that the key to defeating the Shadows lies in finding the next “Blue Star,” or ruler, of Novalight, challenging everything Lianna believes about her safely rational worldview.

As Lianna and her friends discover mysterious connections between their families at the Stars, they realize things are not as they appear. What are the Shadows, and why are they so fierce in their pursuit? Can they unravel the mystery before the last Star is destroyed, ending all light and life on Novalight? And can Lianna challenge her own beliefs to discern truth from fiction before she once again loses the people she loves?

Good Cliffhanger! But that's all for today's interview. If you'd like to learn more about Christine's books, here are some ways to get started.

Sign up for her newsletter to get exclusive content about her books: https://www.A.com/newsletter
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Christine-E.-Schulze/author/B007DZRX2S
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/%22Christine%20E.%20Schulze%22
Booktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authorchristineeschulze

And here's a bonus for my readers... Leave a comment on this post and you'll be entered to win one of her eBooks from her Amielian Legends series. One winner will be chosen next Wednesday night. Here's a link to that series: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08L9F4JJ1

Writing Through the Ages: Author Interview with J. Traveler Pelton

You’ve published 50+ books, which to me is quite a feat; but what inspired you to write that first novel and continue writing? 
I have always written: I started in 4^th grade when a wonderful teacher named Mrs. Campbell had us write story each week out of our spelling words.  I loved spinning the tales.  I had my first actually published story in Highlights at 14, and then Stone Soup.  And then I was bullied at school about being smart for a girl and didn’t write willingly for several years.  

I started up again when I had children of my own: I was going to homeschool, so I wrote texts to teach my daughter to read someday.  I started writing children’s stories for some magazines.  I wrote the first book with my kids as a school project: and then I wrote some others and again I quit when I got a really nasty editor who told me I was terrible and should quit before I seriously destroyed anyone’s belief a woman could write-so I was young and thought he must know because he was an “real”editor.  

Several years later, I was working full time as a social worker and started collecting off news clippings which became the foundation of my first full length novel, The Infant Conspiracy, which I wrote when I retired from the agency and opened my own office so I had time.  That was back in 2014 and I have been writing ever since. 

You’ve written several series, but one in particular intrigues me as it starts in the Civil War era and goes up through space travel. Tell me what inspired you to write a family saga about the Oberllyns? 
 This series started in the middle with The Infant Conspiracy which was based on real facts, as I said before.  I started wondering what the back history of this family might be and started writing backwards, again using historical stories and combining them into one family.  For instance, the prequel is based on an actual biography of a young native who was sold into slavery in Scotland and what happened to her.  

The next book was the family years later heading west to California, and is based again on historical events, like the founding of Pinkerton’s Detective Agency and the U.S. marshals. I just kept going forward with the family until there was no more history and I took it into conjecture; hence they ended up colonizing Mars.  They were adventurers all through the history, so of course the next logical step would be space travel. 

What’s the best encouragement you’ve had in your writing? 
My fans write to me on my website:  they tell me they’ve enjoyed what I write.  The reviews on Amazon have been great, most of them.  Once in  a while, they can be downers but generally, I learn from them.  I have been accused of being a Mormon,  racist,  homophobe,  conservative,  liberal, Democrat, Republican and  agnostic. 

For the record, none of those happen to occur in this head on a regular basis.  I’m a Christian author; I write where my very active imagination takes me.  I find that my writing can cause people to think encouraging, even if they sometimes draw the wrong conclusions about me personally. 
  

Marketing is the biggest key to getting sales. What is the best marketing source you've used that has produces more sales rather than just clicks? 
Three things; giveaways to add emails to my newsletter lists, my newsletter, and website.  I have used some paid sources but they aren’t all that cost effective. 
  
What do you know now about writing you wished you had known sooner? 
Not to listen to grumpy old editors.  Look for positive people.  I just got back from the 20K convention in Vegas and it was wonderful to be surrounded by other authors-everyone spoke the same language, so to speak.  

What is the best writing advice you’ve received or could give? 
 To not give into imposter syndrome-where you think you don’t measure up.  To not allow anyone else to set my goals for me and what the definition of success has to be. 

Are there any other points about writing you would like to add? 
Always read, every day, good books by others.  Read things that stretch your vocabulary; read things that give you new thoughts.  Don’t copy their ideas but let them augment the fomenting pot in the back of your head where the ideas come out. 

What's coming up next in your writing?

My newest devotional, The Sage, the Swindler and the Sheep  is based on the book of Hebrews. Here's the link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BSTQHF5K

My newest compilation/omnibus/book set is 4 books in one called the The Falconcrest Chronicles.  It's nearly 775 pages in paperback, and from March 24^th to 31st, it's on sale for $1.99-that's five dollars off for the launch.  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BWFPVMML

I am doing several boxed sets this year, and prepping for a Christmas mystery cozy based in the Tritowns.  Somewhere in there is book three of the Melody’s Zoo series.  I plan on 12 releases this year; I am still firming up my planning/marketing schedule. 

Website:https://travelerpelton.com (includes a FREE course on self-publishing. Find under the "courses" section)

For all her other books, go to her Amazon author page: 

https://www.amazon.com/stores/J.-Traveler-Pelton/author/B07837X14 

And now a special bonus for my readers... The author will do ONE giveaway for EACH of her book categories. one devotional, one sci-fi/fantasy, one historical. This is for a print book that will be autographed by the author. USA addresses only. 

 That's a total of 3 prizes. All you need to do is choose which category you'd like to win and write that in a comment on this post. One week from today, we'll announce the winner. 

So, check out her website and pick the book you want to win, and leave a post. Do it now!

The Lure of the Cowboy Romance: Author Interview with Linda Ford

Amazon lists you as having published 129 books. That’s quite the book catalog! But what inspired you to write that first one? 

Although my mother was a published author, I didn’t grow up planning to write. But when I was struggling with acting-out teenagers and my life seemed out of control a friend invited me to attend a starting group for those interested in writing. I only went to keep her company but as I listened to a talk on how to organize a non-fiction project, I was instantly hooked. This was something I could have control of. I started with doing interviews for the local papers and farm publications. I did some human-interest stories and thought how some of them would make a good fiction story. My first published book was a spin off on one of those human-interest stories.

What made you choose writing historical western novels?

Why historical westerns? I have said I am uniquely qualified to write these. I grew up where men still wore jeans, cowboy boots and a battered cowboy hat—not because they were stylish but because that was their working clothes. Add to that a father who talked about the early settlers and took us to museums and then a hubby who considered a date was perfect if we watched a western on TV and I fell in love with cowboys.

How many books did it take before you realized you could make a career of it?

I wrote at the same time as I had a job taking care of a live-in client for years. I was published with Barbour and Harlequin Love Inspired. When the historical line in Love Inspired closed, I was left without a contract. About the same time, Indie publishing was taking off and my client went into a care home. I decided to jump into the Indie market. It took a couple of years to build a solid business. By the time I published my first independent book, I had around 50 published with traditional publishers so had some wonderfully loyal readers.

Why do you think there is such the high interest for that genre?

I think westerns are popular because they represent a time when it seems life was simpler. People more open and honest. Besides, what is more appealing than a man on horseback with a wide, welcoming grin. Oh wait. That might just be me. Lol. 

Since you are writing books about a previous century, how do you go about doing research? 

As to research, museums are great, reading first-hand accounts is a wonderful source but nowadays, the internet is my best friend. I have fairly easy access to journals of actual people. This was a wonderful resource when I did my wagon train series.

What are some of the most interesting points you've discovered as you were doing your research? 

I have discovered so many interesting and colorful things in my research. Like what the inside of a soddy is really like—dark and earthy smelling. Or how very brave these men and women were to venture across uncharted land without a phone, a map, or even a store within driving distance. It boggles my mind.  

What’s the best encouragement you’ve had in your writing?

I suppose it would be when I had entered a contest. I don’t recall if I won anything. The judge was a real-live Harlequin editor. (I was in awe back then. 😊) She said two things that steered me in the right direction and encouraged me to keep on aiming for publication. She said I had an historical voice and that I wrote deeply emotional with a touch of humor. Those words continue to encourage me. Affirmation is so valuable.

Marketing is the biggest key to getting sales. What is the best marketing source you've used that has produces more sales rather than just clicks?

Bookbub does well. Facebook ads are currently doing well. But everything with Indie is a moving target. What works well today might not next year or tomorrow. Marketing is a whole new part of the writing business. I am now as much a business person as a writer.  

What is the best writing advice you’ve received or could give?

If you want something bad enough, you’ll go after it until you get it. Take courses. Get feedback (even if it hurts). Go to workshops. Above all, write, write, and write some more. I had a lot of rejections before I got published and wrote many failed books, most of which won’t ever see anything but the inside of a dark drawer. 

Are there any other points about writing you would like to add?

Do not let anyone tell you there is only one way to write. Such as you have to have an outline. Or you need to have X number of plot points. Or conversely, it’s best to just jump in and let the story unfold as you write it. The only right way is the way that works for you. I am neither a plotter nor a pantser. I consider myself a planner. I know enough to have the shape of my story. The rest I discover as I write. But. That. Is. Just. Me. Everyone has to discover their own way and that is mostly by trial and error.

 What is the next book coming out? Can you give me a short synopsis?

I’ve just started to release a new series: Montana Mail-Order Brides. There are currently 5 in the series and more coming. The setting is western Montana, on the Shannon ranch. There are four Shannon men (all sigh worthy) and other cowboys and neighbors.

The first is Mail-Order Mommy. Here is the blurb.

Past pain. Future hope.

Matt Shannon lost his fiancé to a tragic accident. He does not want anything more to do with love and marriage. But he is now guardian to four-year-old Lindy. Desperate for a woman to mother the little girl, he arranges for a mail-order bride. The agreement is for convenience only, but Gwen’s kindness and good nature threaten his barred heart.

Gwen Humber is willing to do anything to guarantee herself a permanent home…even travel west for a marriage in name only. She’ll become mother to a little girl. She instantly loves the delightful child, but loving Matt is not part of the deal. Can she keep her heart under control?

Will love overcome their past pain?

That's an intriguing blurb. I have not read this one yet, but I did just finish another book of Linda's. I don't normally read western romance, but that book hooked me. If you'd like to start reading this new book, here's the link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BLHWLGNP

And here's a bonus... sign up for her newsletter on her website: https://lindaford.org/The link is found in the upper left corner. Once you do that, you'll see where you can receive a free eBook.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Linda-Ford/author/B001HPGG3C
Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/LindaFordauthor/
Become a follower on Bookbub to hear about sales and free books: 
Linda Ford Books - BookBub

Finding the Balance Between Writing and Marketing: Author Interview with Heather Huffman

Heather Huffman writes cozy mysteries, romance, and women's fiction. She is not afraid to include the topics  of poverty, empowering women, and fighting human trafficking in her stories. She also walks the talk and supports charities that fight poverty and human trafficking.  Read on to learn her writing journey.

What inspired you to write your first novel?
I’ve always loved to write, ever since I was a child. At one time, my closet was filled with notebooks that were my early books. My first published novel was Throwaway. Like so many of my books, that one came to me in a dream. I dreamed a scene–it was like watching a scene from a movie. In it, a prostitute and a cop were sitting in a greasy spoon diner having a conversation. I woke up and instantly knew I wanted to write their story. I spent weeks thinking about them, who they were, what their backstory was, and how they came to be in that diner. The more I researched, the more things fell into place.

You write contemporary romance, romantic suspense, women's fiction, and cozy mysteries. What storyline is easiest to write for you? 
Each genre has something that’s easier about it and each comes with its own set of challenges. With my romances and women’s fiction, I was always a “pantser” –I’d fly by the seat of my pants as I wrote. My mysteries have to be plotted out a bit more than that; there are too many loose ends to lose track of otherwise. With my straight-up romances, I think the hardest thing is to put believable conflict in that isn’t just drama for the sake of drama, if that makes sense. I hate reading a book and thinking “Oh, just grow up and talk to each other already!” When I write romance, I tend to fly through the first half, get bogged down in the murky middle, and then things fall into place in my mind and the end moves quickly for me.

For the mysteries, they move slowly while I’m still puzzling things out. I tend to creep through those first five chapters, getting to know the story and who my lineup of suspects is. I spend so much time researching and thinking about those books. Once I have the puzzle pieces in place, it moves much faster. I also know about how many chapters I want them to be. I know what needs to happen in the first couple and last couple of chapters. I know what side stories I have going on. So, before I write, I create an outline of what needs to be addressed in each chapter. That helps me stand back and look at the pacing and side stories and whatnot to be sure it all works.

Your books are independently published. Did you do the formatting and cover design, or did you hire others? What’s the hardest part for you in publishing and marketing your own books?
I started out wanting to be published by one of the big houses. For about six months, I submitted my books and met with agents and had a lot of promising leads that never quite went anywhere. Finally, an agent from a respected agency told me “I love your writing, but I can’t sell this book.” She went on to say that my books were too much of a paradox for her to be able to market them well – awful things happened to my main character in Jailbird, but the story is actually warm and funny. So, I independently published the first four books that I had written (through Smashwords, at the time.)

Then I was picked up by a mid-sized publisher out of Seattle. They republished those first four books under their banner and went on to publish the next seven or eight books that I wrote. There was a lot I loved about that publisher, but I found the benefits didn’t outweigh the cost: my freedom.

I reclaimed the rights to my first twelve novels in 2016. My career took a bit of a hiatus after that because life pulled me in so many other directions. When I got serious about my writing again in 2021, there was no question for me that I wanted to stay indie. I love the pacing and the creative control. I enjoy the process of publishing a book every bit as much as the writing of it.

I do have a team I work with. Shari at Madhat Studios does my covers (and I adore her). I work with Wing Family Editing to edit most of my books, though I am lucky to have a lot of great editors and proofreaders in my friends and family circle, so sometimes I ask them for help if my usual editor is booked. A friend of mine runs a small publishing company and helps lay out the book interiors for me, though I’m looking to bring that in-house this year.

I worked for a publisher for a while as well, so I live and breathe books. I love them. I suppose the hardest part of the process for me is not always having a second opinion—or perhaps balancing things. I feel like I could spend 40 hours a week writing and not keep up with the stories in my mind. I could also spend 40 hours a week marketing. Finding a balance between the two—while still having a semblance of a life—is tough.

What is the hardest part of writing for you? 
I think the hardest part depends on the genre, but universally it would have to be starting. Once I get that first sentence out, I’m usually pretty good to go. If I get stuck beyond that, it’s always in the middle. That’s about when I start to question everything I’ve ever written.

What’s the best encouragement you’ve had in your writing?
There have been so many wonderful moments along this journey. Seeing Jailbird, the book I was told would never sell, at the top of the Amazon charts in between Hunger Games and Mockingjay was a particular highlight. Watching the Nora Jones Mysteries take off has been incredibly gratifying. (When my sister called me to compliment that series, I knew I was on to something—she’s never done that before!) But more often than not, the best encouragement comes from my readers. It never fails that about the time I think I’m crazy to do this for a living, I get an email from a reader telling me what one of my books meant to them and it keeps me going.

You have a book series about human trafficking. What made you decide to delve into this topic? How have the books been received?
When I was doing my research for that first novel, Throwaway, I stumbled across human trafficking. That was more than a decade ago, before people were really aware it was going on. The more I learned, the more appalled I was. I knew I wanted to do something about it. I went to a conference in mid-Missouri to learn more and the keynote speaker said something about “Maybe one of you sitting here in the audience will be the voice for those who have no voice,” and I knew I wanted to use the books I was writing to give these people a voice.

Throwaway wound up becoming a 12-novel series, The Throwaways. Most of the books can stand alone, all of the stories intertwine in a shared universe, though. Some deal with human trafficking and some don’t. So much of what touched on trafficking in Throwaway I found through my own research. But after those first four were released, a reader contacted me to say her grandmother ran a nonprofit that was at the front lines of the fight. She put us in touch, and I began working with Project Liberty to raise money and awareness. In turn, she put me in touch with their lead investigator, who shared with me stories of children and women they’d recovered through the years. Those stories were woven into my books to raise awareness, especially Devil in Disguise.

There are some people who can’t stand The Throwaways because they aren’t dark and gritty. I’ve been dinged on reviews saying Throwaway is too unrealistic and could never happen. But I’ve also received emails from trafficking victims who said my books made them feel seen. I was told that Devil in Disguise was sitting on the desks of one of our country’s first human trafficking units to remind the officers there were people behind the statistics. Grandmothers and parents have said they watch their children more closely now.

I’m honestly humbled and grateful for the reception those books got. They changed my life.

What do you know now about writing you wished you had known sooner?
Oh, gosh. That’s a good question. I mean, I do believe I’ve gotten better at my craft through the years. But so much of that growth there is no shortcut for—just lots of words on page. I suppose the hardest thing for me to learn was to balance the feedback with being true to my stories. 

The agent all those years ago wasn’t wrong: There are rules to genres, toss them out at your peril. But if I’d worried too much about the rules, I wouldn’t have written the books I know I was meant to write. That said… there are rules to genres, toss them out at your peril. It’s a balancing act, giving readers what they expect without getting so hung up on those rules that you lose all the magic in the creating.

What is the best writing advice you’ve received or could give?
Write—and keep writing. The book won’t manifest itself; you have to put the work in to write, even if you don’t feel like it. Make yourself sit down, turn the wifi off on your laptop, and put words on a page for a set amount of time every day. (I do give myself Sundays off.) Even if they’re terrible words. Editing is easier than starting from scratch.

If you don’t take your writing seriously and prioritize it, nobody else will. I spent too many years letting everything else take priority and my books kept getting pushed back to “someday”. It took getting a serious case of Covid to make me reevaluate those priorities.

Are there any other points about writing you would like to add?
Don’t let yourself get overwhelmed by all of the advice. Just keep chipping away at the marketing stuff and getting ever-better at the craft of writing. And don’t forget to enjoy it!

Tell me about your latest release. Can you give me a short synopsis?
My most recent release is Gator in the Gallery, the third installment of the Nora Jones Mysteries. These books are lighthearted, fun escapes set in St. Augustine, Florida. They’re full of endearing characters, intriguing mysteries, and a dash of romance. In this third book, one of Nora’s friends finds a live alligator in her art gallery! Fortunately, she’s got a group of friends who love sticking their noses where they don’t belong, and the crew sets out to help her solve the mystery.

I have a handful of books planned for this year—a sequel to my women’s fiction novel, the next two books in my Lakeport Romance series, more Nora Jones, and a spinoff or two from Nora Jones’ world!

That's all for today's interview. If you'd like to learn more about Heather's books, here are some links to get you started. 
Website: https://www.heatherhuffman.com/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/heather-huffman
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathers_mark/
Body in the Books (free!): https://dl.bookfunnel.com/wcasr8b18u