Shelley Shephard Gray’s interview

If you want to be entered in the drawing for her book, HIDDEN, please leave a comment with your email address or email me at margaretdaley@gmail.com. The drawing ends on Sunday evening.

Shelley’s interview:

1.What made you start writing?

I’ve always loved to write. I started writing my first romance during the last few years I was teaching school. I’d write during my lunch breaks, mainly as a way to relax and refocus~I was teaching sixth grade at the time, and kids that age can be a little squirrely!

2.How long have you been writing? When did you sell your first book?

I’ve been writing almost ten years. I sold my first book in 2000. It was an Avalon romance titled Finding Love’s Fortune.

3.How do you handle rejections?

I always have more than one book submitted at a time. So when I get rejections (and I still get them!)I always have something else to be hopeful about. I learned to never take rejections personally. It’s the book that is rejected, not me.

4.What would you be doing with your free time if you weren’t writing?

Well, writing is my job now, so I write about thirty to forty hours a week. When I’m not writing, I’m usually doing something with my family. Both of my kids are in high school, and are active in sports. My favorite thing to do for fun is to sit out on my back porch and read.

5.What are you working on right now?

Right now, I’m working on a book for Harlequin American titled Baby Makes Six and working on some proposals for my Sisters of the Heart series for Avon Inspire.

6.Tell us about the book you have out right now.

Hidden is an Amish Inspirational romance. It also has a bit of suspense in it. The novel opens with Anna, my English heroine, on the run from a powerful boyfriend. She goes into hiding at an Amish Bed and Breakfast.

7.Do you have any advice for other writers?

My best advice for other writers is to not give up and to keep sending things out. I’ve also found taking workshops has helped me a lot. Taking time to improve my writing has been very beneficial.

8.How important is faith in your books?

I’ve loved exploring faith in my books for Avon Inspire. I feel like the characters struggle with some of the same things that I do. Having my characters grow in their faith and find a connection with Jesus Christ feels very personal and meaningful to me.

9.What themes do you like to write about?

I seem to write a lot about the need to belong and be valued. Over and over, my characters search for a way to fit in-whether it’s through a love with God, love for family, or finding acceptance and romance with a special partner.

10.What is your favorite book you’ve written and why?

My favorite book is a historical western that I’ve yet to sell. I think it’s my favorite because I wrote it strictly for fun. It has a lot of my heart in it.
Who knows? Maybe one day an editor will like it, too!

11.What is your writing schedule like?

I’m a morning person, so after my kids go to school, I usually go right up to my computer. I always count pages, so the number of pages I write depends on how close of a deadline I have. I’m not a procrastinator, so writing close to deadline pretty much gives me an ulcer!

12.How do you juggle writing for different houses?

Sometime this can be a challenge, but so far, I’ve found writing for two houses gives me a lot of freedom. I love writing about the Amish and exploring my faith, but I love a good romance, too. There’s just something so nice about writing about two people who fall in love.