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Fresh Starts Second Chances

Today we welcome guest Michelle Greenwood as she shares about how writing aided her healing from life’s falls. 

I thought my relationship with God was great.  I volunteered at church. If the doors opened, I was there.  The truth is I became proud, thinking myself better than everyone else because of all the work I did.  I know Christianity doesn’t work that way, but I was lost. Despite appearances (the perfect Christian family) my family took a road of destruction.

My oldest son fell fast and hard. His reputation of being a straight arrow was demolished. The media treated his fall as they did Sam Berkowitz’s fall. I drowned in a sea of embarrassment.

Focusing on my son through visits created day to day activity. Then one day, a friend of mine gave me a puppy. She weighed 4 pounds and demanded attention. I could no longer wallow in self-pity I had a baby in need of care.

My son asked me to write daily and I did. I quickly realized I needed God to be able to write positive letters. I decided since I was writing why not share with others. I formed a blog for this purpose.

Initial entries came from Proverbs.  Through writing I realized I had fallen into the trap of pride. The letters I sent him contained personal notes as well as what I posted. our relationship improved. It took a few years for him to arrive at the conclusion that his arrogance led to this fall. Today he enjoys a great relationship with God. In prison he is the straight arrow without pride enjoying God’s blessings.

Next, I focused on Psalms. David has always been one of my favorite Bible characters. God calls David a man after His own heart. Writing about David’s words brought awareness of my need to talk to God as a regular person, my BFF if you will.  David screwed up all the time, yet David was humble. He brought everything to God.  I remembered Prayer is communication between God and me.  Prayers are supposed to be specific.  Today, when I am in the car by myself, I talk to God as if he is my BFF. I yell, I cry, but most of all, I listen. God has great advice. To hear, I must listen.

The protection and blessings my son now enjoys is due to the prayers of many.  One friend told me you have no idea how many people are praying for him. I told her I know people pray, I see the results.

My growth continues. I find myself more mindful of the trap of pride. Currently, my youngest son battles the green-eyed monster. My husband found a niche at church and work. When he speaks, God comes out. Recently we returned to volunteer work.

God is never done with us until we are with Him in heaven. I strive to focus on this fact: Life with Jesus is about #FRESHSTARTS and #SECONDCHANCES. When we fall Jesus is always there.

How has writing helped you heal from the falls of life? 

 

Originally from Midwestern Pennsylvania, Michelle Greenwood is a Christian, wife, mother of two and a (disabled) veteran. Although not yet published, Michelle is busy writing and submitting her work. Her first book is “How to Read the Bible Through Studying John” and she is currently penning her family’s story.

Connect with Michelle

Facebook   LinkedIn   Blog   Instagram   Twitter

 

5 Simple Ways to Stop Being Your Own Worst Enemy by Paula Zwenger

Ever felt paralyzed by the next step – judging it too far out on a limb? Or sat immobile, convinced no one else has ever faced what you’re facing? A part of you knows these thoughts are irrational. Still negativity holds sway.

Welcome to the world of neophyte writers. Desire burns to spill to paper a story trapped inside. Yet fire extinguishers proliferate like dandelions in springtime, converting your writing sparks to ashes. What to do? Here are tips I try when feeling stifled. Maybe one will work for you.

Write like no one will ever read it. This one I learned during Tosca Lee’s keynote address at the April WordSowers conference. It sounded counter-intuitive. Don’t we write so that someone will read our words? In trying it, I found a release to focus on truth, which lends authenticity to my writing.

Don’t edit as you write. Do set time aside once per week to edit. I’ve only recently begun this practice. Poems and blogs by nature are shorter pieces. They still need editing, but the time commitment is less than a chapter or story requires. This practice may save time and editing costs in the long run. Professional, final editing for longer works is still required.

Set weekly, monthly and annual goals. I first started setting weekly and monthly goals about a year ago. I created an editorial calendar for blogging on the advice of Lee Warren after the 2016 conference. I tried daily goals, but found it discouraging. They took longer to create and were often missed. I’m still warming up to the annual goal idea.

Try one new and different thing within the next three months. When I started writing I’d try new poetic forms as soon as I learned of them (i.e. sonnet, haiku, charita, ballad, villanelle, prose poetry, etc.). Now I focus on one at a time. A different, though related idea on my list is to attend and take part in a poetry reading. You might try writing a poem or reading something out of your favored genre to mix things up.

Celebrate small successes. This is easily neglected if you’re an all-or-nothing personality. If getting the book published is the goal and nothing less counts as success, the wait is long. There are many steps in that process. I recently learned how to schedule blog posts and a subscriber newsletter. My site is new and the subscriber list small, but it will grow and this was a necessary and good accomplishment.

Discouragement can often be a side effect of fear,

but if you take one simple step your path ahead will clear.

Continue with your mission and do not give way to foils.

Remember in the Kingdom to the victor go the spoils (1Chron. 26:27)!

 

What works for you when you are stuck? Share with your fellow WordSowers in the comments below.

 

 

Paula Zwenger is a wife, mother, and grandmother who, upon finding herself an empty nester, tried on the hat of rhyme loving writer. It fitted very well. Her joy manifests completely while taking the ups and downs of life and wrangling them into poetry. She has a passion for creating rhymed treasure hunts with a Catholic flare to celebrate the faith and learn a thing or two along the way. You can find her musings at RhymeLovingWriter  and connect with her on Facebook.

Today, we welcome freelance editor Debra Butterfield to our blog. We are highlighting her newest book, 7 Cheat Sheets to Cut Editing Costs. You are sure to use this book over and over! It’s not a long book, but it is packed full of valuable information. Ever wondered what goes into the editing process? Have you ever been a bit daunted by the thought of self-editing your book before initial submission – to your critique group or publishing house? Whether you want to do a better job at self editing or critiquing your writing partner’s book, or just be able to partner better with your publishing house’s editor, this book is for you.

Debra created cheat sheets for Research, POV, Showing vs Telling, Chicago Manual of Style, Punctuation, Creating a Style Sheet, and 10 Things to do before Hiring an Editor. Her writing is to the point and easy to understand. This is one resource you don’t want to pass up.

Purchase your own: Digital Copy   ~  Amazon (Print Copy)

Debra Butterfield is the author of 7 Cheat Sheets to Cut Editing Costs, Abba’s Promise, Carried by Grace: a Guide for Mothers of Victims of Sexual Abuse, and Mystery on Maple Hill (a short story ebook). As a freelance editor, she offers book and article editing, proofreading, critique, and coaching services, as well as Scrivener training. Her editorial credits include three award winners: Wilted Dandelions, This I Know, and Bethany’s Calendar. She is a former copywriter for Focus on the Family.

Connect with Debra:  Website   Facebook   Twitter  

 

Interview

What kinds of interesting things have you done in your life? I’ve been aboard C130 airplanes and watched US Marines jump out. It’s tough to beat that! I also lived in Germany from 1987-1991, during which time the Berlin Wall fell and the Gulf War erupted. I saw a lot of amazing places, but there was also danger in being an American in Europe—we learned things like checking our car for bombs whenever we went off base.

When you’re not writing, what do you enjoy doing? When I’m not writing, I’m editing. As a self-employed writer/editor, I battle balancing my time. It can be all work and no play, but that’s not healthy. I enjoy reading and crocheting. When I lived in Colorado, I went hiking. I miss that here in Missouri.

What does your family think of your writing? My parents (now both dead), children, and siblings are very proud of my books. They actively help me market them as well, especially my book Carried by Grace. I’m very fortunate to have them help that way.

Tell us about getting your mind in a creative mode? How do you begin your writing process? There is no “getting in a creative mode.” I sit down and do it. When I’m working on a book, I often reread a portion first to get myself oriented to where I left off. If I want to capture a specific mood for a scene I’m writing, I’ll play instrumental music that fits the mood. The closest I come to getting in a creative mode is to play movie soundtracks while I write because music stimulates my creativity. I think every writer should spend time learning what stimulates her/his creativity.

What motivated you to write on this topic? The same kinds of mistakes pop up in all the manuscripts I edit, so I decided to help writers solve those errors before they send their manuscript to editors or publishers. All writers need professional editing and helping them reduce those costs is what the book is all about. Simple things they can do that make a big difference in the time editors spend doing the work.

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What was the hardest thing about writing the book? The hardest portion of the book was the section on the editing process. I wanted to give writers enough information without overwhelming them with details. I hope by explaining the editing process and giving them a way to determine costs, it empowers writers to move forward with professional editing rather than blindly fearing the costs.

Which part of your book was the most enjoyable to write? Writing the cheat sheets. I do this stuff every day; that made them easy to write. That’s not to say I never reach for my style guides or catch every error when I proofread. But if writers follow this advice, they’ll create stronger stories and cleaner manuscripts, and that translates into saving $$$ in the professional editing process.

What has been your biggest challenge when it comes to self-editing?

~ ~ ~

Our guest today is Paula S. Zwenger. Paula  is a wife, mother, and grandmother who, upon finding herself an empty nester, tried on the hat of rhyme loving writer. It fitted very well. Her joy manifests completely while taking the ups and downs of life and wrangling them into poetry. She has a passion for creating rhymed treasure hunts with a Catholic flare to celebrate the faith and learn a thing or two along the way. You can find her musings at RhymeLovingWriter. You can also connect with her on Facebook.

From Paula…I sat in a quiet kitchen one week after our youngest son moved into his college dorm room thinking, “This is it. I’m finally going to do something I’ve talked about for years. I’m going to start writing.”

And I did. For nearly two hours that afternoon, interrupted by numerous side stops to check Facebook or email each time a notification bell dinged, three games of Sudoku plus the daily crossword puzzle online, and two trips to the refrigerator for tea, I wrote. No inkling at all remains of work produced that day, but I was on the path.

In the intervening two years I’ve moved in fits and starts from being a closet poet to a fairly consistent rhyming blogger. The way has been enhanced by on-line writing classes with Metropolitan Community College (MCC), two WordSowers conferences and several monthly meetings, countless hours of internet research, and being part of a writing community. The sheer amount of information available is staggering, but digestible in small bits. Even in these early stages I’ve learned valuable things.

Be not afraid. This is easier said than done some days. Fear of getting things wrong and looking foolish often slows me. But not trying guarantees I won’t succeed and every ‘failure’ holds a lesson.

Speak the words “I’m a writer.” Aloud. This took me a long time. I’d produced two to five pieces of poetry daily for months and created numerous rhymed treasure hunts for family and friends.  Yet when people asked what I did I’d stutter, “I’m thinking about writing.” I wasn’t thinking about anything. I was doing it! Because my work hadn’t been sold, or wasn’t in book format, it somehow didn’t count. The first time I actually said the words, I waited for the sky to fall or a gigantic finger to point out my mistake. Guess what? No one blinked or laughed and I’m still breathing. Tada!

Write something every day. This was easy at first because words burst from pen to paper. Eight months later things slowed down. Now once in awhile it feels like work (gasp!), and that’s OK.

There is no one perfect path. Do you write the book first? Start a website? Attend a conference? Join WordSowers?  Yes, yes, yes, and yes – in whatever order works for you.

 

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At the most recent WordSowers conference in April, I learned many more great tips. I’m practicing them as I write this post. You can read more about what I learned here.

Finally, because I write in rhyme, I’d like to leave you this little ditty:

If you have tips to share with all, we beg you, don’t be shy.

There’ll never be a better time to tell another why

it’s worth the work and sweat and toil to write the words He sends.

When sown for love of Him who saves – the story never ends.

 

Do you remember the moment when you

finally called yourself a writer?

Rose Zediker, 2017 Wordsowers Conference workshop leader, will be presenting Put Your Manuscript on a Diet.

Multi-published author and RITA finalist, Rose Ross Zediker, writes contemporary and historical inspirational romances and has hundreds of publishing credits in the Christian magazine genre for children and adults. Her titles have appeared on ECPA bestseller lists and been finalists for the RITA, National Reader’s Choice, Booksellers Best and Book Buyers Best award contests. Rose is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America.

                           Connect with Rose    Blog   ~  Inkspirational Messages

What would you like conference attendees to know about you? Maybe something that would help them feel comfortable approaching you. I like to talk about all aspect of writing, the good (new markets, acceptances) and the bad (cancelled contracts, rejections).

What do you see as the greatest take away from your workshop? Who will get the most out of your workshop? The greatest take away from my workshop is editors want tight, active writing and the over use of adverbs is ‘telling’ not ‘showing’. Beginning writers and anyone in the revision process will benefit from this information

If you could share only one piece of information/tip/encouragement with a writer, what would it be? Read as many books on the craft of writing and the business side of writing that you can!

 

Check out Rose’s novella Railroaded into Love, a part of the inspirational novella collection, Lassoed by Marriage.

Railroaded into Love

Montana 1895-Molly is tainted by having an outlaw brother on the run and seems the least likely bride for a pastor of a chapel railroad car. Forced together by duty to family and faith, can they build a life and mission together?

Purchased your copy: 

Amazon   ~   Barnes and Noble

 

 

Click HERE to get more information about our 2017 conference and to register now.

 

Sally Jadlow

Today, we introduce you to Sally Jadlow, one of Wordsowers Christian Writers Conference workshop leaders.

Sally Jadlow has written poetry for over forty years and delights in learning new ways to express herself. Beside poetry, she writes historical fiction, short stories, devotionals, and inspirational faith building books.

Her God’s Little Miracle Books have just been expanded with scripture and study questions suitable for individual or group study and are available on Amazon

Connect with Sally Website  Facebook  Twitter

What would you like conference attendees to know about you? Maybe something that would help them feel comfortable approaching you. I’m old, so my sharp teeth are pretty worn down so I don’t bite–very hard. I only eat small children, not adults.

What do you see as the greatest take away from your workshop and why/who will get the most out of your workshop? I think its always fun to learn new poetry forms. As writers, we need to learn to write tight. Poetry teaches us to say the most with the fewest words. So, if you want to sharpen your writing skills, no matter if you are a newbie or are an old hand at this writing business, come on in. The water’s fine!

If you could share only one piece of information/tip/encouragement with a writer, what would it be? Never give up. With each rejection, you are step closer to that acceptance.

Click HERE to register for Wordsowers Christian Writers Conference.

Use #Wordsowers2017 when you share this event with your friends.

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Today, I would like to introduce you to another one of our workshop leaders, Nancy Kay Grace.

Nancy is the author of the award winning devotional, The Grace Impact. She has been published in several Chicken Soup for the Soul books, devotional compilations (including Abba’s Promise), and magazines. Currently Nancy has an article in the Spring 2017 issue of Just Between Us magazine. She lives in Springdale, AR with her husband Rick, who is senior pastor at SpringCreek Fellowship. They have 2 grown children and 5 grandchildren.

 

Connect with Nancy  Website/Grace Notes newsletter ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~Pinterest

What would you like conference attendees to know about you? Maybe something that would help them feel comfortable approaching you. I have been discouraged in my writing journey, thinking I misunderstood what God wanted me to write. Plans changed by things outside my control. I’ve had to learn to trust God with my next step. God uses everything in our lives which us material for writing. His timing is far better than I could have planned.

What do you see as the greatest take away from your workshop and why// Who will get the most out of your workshop? My workshop is “The Potter’s Hand and the Writer,” which will offer inspiration and encouragement for the writer’s journey. If you are discouraged about the writing/ publishing process, this workshop will offer you hope is press on.

If you could share only one piece of information/tip/encouragement with a writer, what would it be? It’s easy to be overwhelmed with all that is involved in the writing journey. One tip I would share is to do the next step. Even if it’s one small thing, move forward toward your goal. Each person’s journey and timeline is unique.

 

The Grace Impact

Through the Bible we see how God lavishes His grace on us. In all things at all times, His grace covers every detail of life, not just the good things, but the difficult, sad, and complicated things. That knowledge can give us the ability to walk confidently through life knowing our heavenly Father is with us every step of the way. As we grow in understanding grace, we are called to be grace-givers.

The Grace Impact has been awarded the 2016 Next Generation Indie Book of the Year Award in the Christian Non-fiction category. The book has also a finalist in the daVinci Eye Cover Design and honorable mention in the Spirituality category of the 2016 Eric Hoffer awards.  It was also a finalist in the 2016 International Book Awards in the “Religion: Christian Inspirational” category.

Watch the trailer HERE.

Get your copy of Grace Impact HERE.

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Don’t miss out. Click on the image below to register for Wordsowers Christian Writers Conference.

Click to Tweet your friends about #Wordsowers2017

 

Today, we would like to introduce you to conference workshop leader, Ben Wolf, founder of Splickety Publishing Group (SPG). He will be teaching three workshops at our 5th annual Wordsowers Christian Writers Conference, April 28-29, 2017.

Ben says his writing career started in the 7th grade after he saw the movie Congo on TV. It was so bad that he wrote a parody of it set in Australia and featured murderous kangaroos instead of gorillas. You don’t want to miss his workshops. The Wordsowers Christian Writers (WCW) Leadership Team had the opportunity to interview Ben and share a bit with you about this award-winning author on the Splicity—fast—writing track.

Ben founded Splickety Publishing Group (SPG) to meet the needs of busy folks like him: people who appreciate great fiction but lack the time to read. SPG offers three quarterly flash fiction magazines: Splickety (multi-genre), Havok (speculative), and Splickety Love (romance).

What piece of advice helped you or made a difference in your writing? I’ve always been a fan of Mickey Spillane’s quote, “The first chapter sells the book; the last chapter sells the next book.”

A quote I saw recently said every story is built with the use of the same alphabet—26 letters? How do you glean ideas for a new story line, something different? My ideas come from a bunch of random sources. It could be anything from a dream or a daydream to an observation to a mashup of ideas or concepts that wouldn’t ordinarily go together without serious thought and creativity. It has been a ton of fun to play with my ideas and craft something new and weird and exciting.

When beginning a new novel, how do you piece together your protagonist—find a photo, have a file on hand filled with ideas, or do you fill out a form with all the details? I’m actually really bad at this. Usually I’m a plot first guy, so my characters have to get developed later on. I take notes on the basics (hair color, eye color, height, weight, build, personality traits), but in general I try to let the characters reveal who they are to me as I write the story.

Do you have any amusing story that happened to you while marketing your books? Nothing too unusual has happened to me while marketing my work… yet. This is quite peripheral, but I met Jeff Goldblum at the Oregon Christian Writers Conference a couple of years ago. He was filming an episode for Portlandia, and he proceeded to serenade me in the hotel lobby with piano jazz tunes. It was surreal and amazing. I had books to sell at the conference. Does that count?

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Ben has written six action/adventure novels (five of which are good) and has multiple other projects in the works. His first novel, Blood for Blood won the 2015 Cascade Award for Best Speculative Fiction Novel and has been characterized as “bold…with nonstop tension” and “hard to put down.” It examines the question of whether or not God can redeem anyone—even a vampire. His debut children’s book, I’d Punch a Lion in His Eye for You, is a 2016 Cascade Award finalist and is beloved by children nationwide.

In addition to his writing career, Ben offers a variety of professional services to aspiring writers including: Editing and Proofreading, Ghostwriting, Strategic Novel Planning, Coaching, and Marketing/Branding Consulting, Public Speaking and Teaching on Writing, Publishing, and Flash Fiction, One-on-One Mentoring and Encouragement.

For more information about his writing and his professional services, please visit his website, www.benwolf.com. You can also friend Ben Wolf on Facebook and follow him on Twitter (@1BenWolf).

 

Click HERE to get more information about our 2017 conference and to register now.

Ben will also be available for paid critiques at the conference.

critique submissions
To order your paid critique, click HERE.

 

 

This year we welcome Susan King back to our conference. She will be presenting two workshops. Style: The Key to Excellence in Writing and Turning Personal Experience into a Devotional Message

Susan and husband, Joe, have three grown children and two young grandchildren.  While Joe and their children are whitewater rafting on the Ocoee River, Susan can be found with her daughter-in-law and the grandchildren at a children’s museum or aquarium.

How did you get into writing/publishing/editing? As an English major in college, of course I was always intending to write “The Great American Novel.”  When a stay-at-home mom and pregnant with my third child, I started writing that novel as a catharsis while going through a major crisis with my parents’ marriage.  When the crisis abated, my motivation to finish that novel ebbed as well.  At the same time, I discovered magazine-feature writing as a way to help bring in money to support our family.  A year later, due to rumors that the company my husband was working for was closing down, I sought and secured a position as a writer and editor for a Christian psychological institute and later began teaching English full-time at Biola University.  Soon after my husband’s job took us to Nashville (and a teaching position at Lipscomb University), the sale of our house in California fell through and I had to seek a second full-time position—this time as an editorial assistant for The Upper Room.  (When I answered the ad, all I knew was that it was a part-time secretarial position at The United Methodist Board of Discipleship.)  Before long, I was Assistant Editor and then Associate Editor (all the while continuing to teach full time).

Minoring in magazine production in college, all I really wanted to be was an editor, but I didn’t know how to become one.  I knew how to become a college professor (since both my parents were).  Yet, for over 20 years now, I have worked as an editor.  Long after I had put that dream aside, God gave me the desires of my heart. (See Psalm 37:4.)

What do you see as the greatest take away from your workshop? The motivation and skills to write an excellent devotional and to improve a conferee’s writing in every genre.

Who will get the most out of your workshop? Anyone who wants to write excellently and to reach an audience of millions all over the world.

What book are you currently reading? The Language of Bees by Laurie R. King.

If you could share only one piece of information with a writer, what would it be? While writing and publishing a book sounds very appealing, don’t forget the many advantages to writing for magazines before, during, and after the book writing.

Thank you, Susan.

We look forward to seeing you again at the Wordsowers Christian Writers Conference April 28-29!

To find out more about our conference and to register click HERE.

 

 

 

Today we welcome Brenda S. Anderson, author of Capturing Beauty, a Where the Heart Is Romance. 

First Impressions

That initial reaction when you see, hear, feel, taste, smell, or sense something. As we all know, that first impression does not define what we’re sensing, but it does matter.

Think of a first date with someone. You want your date to see you at your best, so you spend extra time and special care in preparing.

Consider how you choose the books you read. Chances are, what initially drew you in was the cover—and many readers do judge a book by its cover—yet the cover is only a one-dimensional, often false, peek into the story inside.

I’d be remiss not to mention the latest political climate. A single headline will set people off. A headline only reveals the very tip of a large iceberg, but still spawns arguments.

Or take a look at an unpolished agate. At first glance, it looks like any other stone, but once smoothed and polished, the stone reveals multi-layered, multi-hued beauty.

People aren’t much different than agates, are we?

Everything—everyone—has an important story to tell if only we reign in our initial reaction and listen, learn. It’s always important to look deeper than that shallow first impression.

  • When you pass the homeless person begging for food, they have a story beyond living on the street.
  • When you watch a comedian perform, they are more than the jokes they tell.
  • When you see a model with the perfect face, perfect figure, know that they are more than skin deep.

They are all fiercely loved by God, and He wants us to see past the exterior, past the first impressions, into the heart He sees and loves.

What kind of first impression do you leave others?

  • When you nip at a store clerk for making a mistake.
  • When you cut someone off in traffic.
  • When you’ve just finished painting the house and haven’t had time to clean up.

Don’t you want the grace of having others see deeper than their initial reaction? I know I do.

And I’m beyond grateful that we have a Savior who knows every sordid, beautiful detail about us, yet is still wholly devoted to us.

~ ~ ~

About the characters in Capturing Beauty:

Callie Beaumont’s job as a graphic designer is to create dazzling first impressions for her clients. She’s surrounded with what the world defines as beautiful. Her parents are popular TV news anchors. Her sister is a model. And she considers herself plain. People tend to look past her and see only her family. If anyone knows the value of first impressions, it’s Callie.

Then there’s Haven Carlysle. He’s a nature photographer on assignment to capture the north shore of Minnesota’s unique beauty. He’s challenged to see beyond the magnificent waterfalls and lighthouses and lift bridges others photograph and learns to find beauty in the seemingly ordinary, such as earth worms that help dirt breathe allowing vegetation to grow.

Their Story

He’s a nature photographer returning to make amends. She’s a camera-shy naturalist seeking privacy. Their love for a boy brings them together, but the camera could drive them apart.

Photographer Haven Carlysle is a changed man. Six years earlier, he had run from his tragedy-filled life in Duluth. Now he’s back in town to capture the North Shore’s beauty … and to recapture the love of his son. But that means making amends with his ex-girlfriend too. When camera-leery Callie Beaumont steps in to bridge the relationship between Haven and his former family, he’s wary, but she’s his only hope.

Callie Beaumont is surrounded by beauty. Her parents are local news celebrities. Her sister is a model. And Callie is … Ordinary. All her life, Callie has longed to work outdoors soaking up God-breathed beauty, and the opportunity is finally on the horizon. But being the liaison between the handsome photographer and his son has thrown her dreams, and her heart, into chaos.

Can Haven capture her heart when she won’t let him capture her image? And will his poor choices cost Callie her dream job and him the love of his son?

Purchase your copy: Amazon  iTunes   B&N   Universal link

~ ~ ~

Brenda S. Anderson

Brenda S. Anderson writes gritty and authentic, life-affirming fiction. She is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, and is Past-President of the ACFW Chapter of the Year, MN-NICE, from Minnesota. When not reading or writing, she enjoys music, theater, roller coasters, and baseball, and she loves watching movies with her family. She resides in the Minneapolis, Minnesota area with her husband of 29 years, their three children, and one sassy cat.

Connect with Brenda  Website   Facebook  Twitter  Pinterest  Goodreads  Newsletter 

 

Today our guest is Brooke Williams. She is a former radio producer and announcer turned stay at home mom/ freelance writer/author. Thank you for joining us, Brooke. Let’s jump right into the interview. What do you do as a freelance writer?

It’s such a fun job. I learn something new everyday. I write a variety of things for a variety of clients. I work for a marketing company that has me writing blogs for everything from window companies to auto tune up shops. There’s a company in England that often sends me articles to write on historical events and they also send a lot of product descriptions my way. And then there are websites that take things called listicles, I did one recently on funny pictures of people at amusement parks. I’m sure there are even some of me out there, but I didn’t use any of those. It’s a little bit of everything. No two days are a like and as long as I’m writing, I’m happy!

So that’s your ‘day job,’ how about the author portion, what’s new there?

Plenty! I decided to really give it 100% in 2017 so I’m releasing something every quarter this year. On March 14th, What Happens at the Airport comes out. It’s a short story about a woman who is down on her luck with me. Every time she breaks up with someone or a relationship doesn’t work out, she flies to visit a friend or family member and she’s tired of it! Just when she’s about to give up on love completely, an incident on a plane turns things around for her. That’s all I’ll say. Don’t want to give too much away! That story is up for pre-order HERE so you can grab it anytime.

Then, in June, I am re-releasing Wrong Place, Right Time. That romantic comedy first came out with a publisher in 2014. I just got the rights back to it and am doing a new cover and re-releasing it myself. It’s a fun little story about a girl who tries to stop a wedding, but interrupts the wrong couple. Oops!

And on September 12th, the release I’m most excited about this year, is The Leftover. I’ve been working with BQB Publishing this time and am really excited that they have a huge distributor so the book will be available to bookstores across the country as well as online. The Leftover revolves around a local version of the TV show Survivor. If you’ve ever seen any of the competitions on that show, you can imagine the types of things that will go wrong in this romantic comedy!

Last, but not least, I plan to release Another Backwards Christmas in December. It is based in the fictional town of South Pole, Alaska, which I created for the short story Backwards Christmas. In this second short story, we get to see one of the side characters from the first story find her way to love as a reporter comes to town and tries to ruin their backwards holiday traditions.

That sounds like a lot! What fun! How do you get all of that in with children at home?

I have two little girls, ages 7 and 4. My oldest is in second grade and my little one is in preschool. I am rather stringent about naptime because that is the only time I get to write! So I get about 1-2 hours a day to pull together whatever I can. That isn’t much time, but I type so super fast you’d be amazed at what can result from that small amount. In a year and a half, both of my girls will be in school and I’ll have hours upon hours to fill. I dread that time. I want to keep them little!

Where do you get your inspiration?

I just write what the voices in my head tell me to write. Ha! That’s not that far from the truth, really. Inspiration comes whenever it wants from wherever it wants. Sometimes I get something from a TV show, like Survivor. Sometimes I’ll get pieces of a scene from my own life, like a poor woman accidentally catching fire by getting too close to a candle on a date. Other times things are completely made up. I get a kick out of making things happen to these poor characters, though I sometimes feel sorry for what I put them through. I will say that I don’t write anything unless the story idea is bothering me so much I can’t NOT write it. Stories, when they appear, bother me and bother me until I absolutely have to write them down. And once I start, it’s like an obsession. It’s hard to stop until it’s done.

How can we keep up with your releases this year?

Stop by my  website. All the information is there. I also have a blog on the website and you can sign up to receive updates by email. You can like me on Facebook  or find me on Twitter . I love to hear from fellow readers and writers!!

 

Your turn readers. Do you have any questions for Brooke?

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