Teri Wilson’s interview

» Posted on May 7, 2009 in Blog | Comments Off on Teri Wilson’s interview


This week I’m hosting Roxanne Rustand with her book, Deadly Competition and Teri Wilson with her book, Love, Lilies and the Unbroken Straw. If you want to enter the drawing for the book, please leave a comment on one of the post during the week with your email address. I will not enter you without an email address (my way to contact you if you win). If you don’t want to leave an email address, another way you can enter is to email me at margaretdaley@gmail.com. The drawings end Sunday (May 10th) evening.

Teri Wilson’s interview:

1. What made you start writing?

The first thing I ever wrote was my Bible Study workbook (All Creatures of Our God and King: What God’s Word Says About Animals – Eden Publications LLC, 2006). And that really began as a personal project. I was leading a Bible Study at my church and most of the participants were animal lovers, like myself. I was looking for new materials for our group and thought it would be great to find a Bible Study about animals in the Bible. But, after looking everywhere, I couldn’t find one. Figuring there just wasn’t enough about animals in the Bible to warrant an entire study, I began doing my own research. I was astounded at the huge amount of verses dealing with animals. I remember saying to my son one night, “Hey, did you know one of the Ten Commandments even prohibits animals from doing work on the Sabbath? There’s so much about animals in here someone really should write a study.” My son said, “Why don’t you do it, Mom?” So I did.

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

I started writing in 2004. Including research time, it took about a year to write the Bible study. I sold it to the first publisher I approached – a small press dealing specifically with Christian books for animal lovers. Fiction writing was a completely different story! I took a year to write my first novel and it was promptly rejected by everyone who laid eyes on it. And there’s a good reason for that – there are numerous problems with it. But it was a huge learning experience and time well-spent. My next effort was far better.

3. How do you handle rejections?

Eat a pint of cookies & cream ice cream and move on.

Seriously, I try to look at each rejection as a good thing. If you are getting rejections, it means you are writing. You are getting words on the page and books finished. And with each page, you are learning more and getting closer to your goals.

4. Why do you write?

I think I write because I love books so much. Growing up as an only child, I was a voracious reader. (And still am.) I know how much books can mean to people. I love how God used my love of books to bless me with the gift of writing my own.

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

Well, I’m a big dog lover and I show my dog in obedience and conformation dog shows. So, that’s my other passion.

6. What are you working on right now?

Right now I’m working on a novella for White Rose Publishing called Once Upon a Collar. It’s an inspirational, modern twist on the traditional fairy tale. This is actually a really exciting and unusual project. Once Upon a Collar will be released by the publisher one chapter at a time, for free, only to members of the White Rose Publishing Yahoo Group. The first installment will be available late summer/early fall. Anyone is welcome to join the Yahoo group. The more the merrier! To join, visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WhiteRosePublishing/

7. Do you put yourself into your books/characters?

Oh, yes. Usually, my heroines all love dogs. I recently heard from a cat lover who wanted me to write something with a cat character. So, I wrote a short story called A Perfect Fit, which will also be released as a free read by White Rose Publishing. And I’ve also done some work on a novel with a heroine who hates dogs and ends up working at an animal shelter. That’s been great fun.

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

My latest book is Love, Lilies & the Unbroken Straw from The Wild Rose Press. It is Book Two in my Hoofbeats & Heartstrings series of romance novels that celebrate love, miracles and the beauty of horses. The setting for the Hoofbeats & Heartstrings books is a horse rescue farm just outside of San Antonio, Texas. A portion of the proceeds go directly to help horses in need at Saddlebred Rescue. Both of the Hoofbeats & Heartstrings books are available on Amazon.com.

Here is a little glimpse of Love, Lilies & the Unbroken Straw:

Christabel Wilde’s life has just turned upside-down. With little more than the clothes on her back and her newly rescued Chihuahua tucked under her arm, she makes a pledge to start over and applies for a job as a groom at a horse rescue farm. Nevermind that she’s never been up close to a horse before, she has a bigger secret to hide. A mysterious gift her new neighbor, Dr. Declan Armstrong, is determined to uncover. When the irresistible veterinarian volunteers to give her riding lessons, Christabel knows it could be the end of her secret. With the Easter holiday approaching, she tries to remember that sometimes what looks like the end is really a new beginning.

9. Do you have any advice for other writers?

Write. Just get the words down. My other advice would be to read, especially in your genre. Without a doubt, reading has made me into the writer I am today.

10. How important is faith in your books?

Faith is very important in my books. The Hoofbeats & Heartstrings series is not inspirational, but there are still threads of faith and Christianity there. My upcoming romance, Cup of Joe, is my first fully inspirational novel and I couldn’t be more excited about it. I like to have strong spiritual themes in my inspirational fiction – not just mention church here and there. I like to show characters who really incorporate their faith in all aspects of their lives.

11. What themes do you like to write about?

Well, it’s pretty obvious I enjoy writing about animals. I also like exploring themes of rejection and rescue. And I have a special fondness for fairy tales, so I like paying tribute to fairy tale themes in my writing.

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

Without a doubt, Cup of Joe is my favorite book I’ve written. It will be released from White Rose Publishing later this year. I don’t have a specific release date yet. It is about a woman coping with the death of her grandfather, and how she resists the cups of comfort offered by the shy, but handsome, owner of the neighborhood coffee shop. I came up with the idea for this book shortly after my Grandpa passed away. After I plotted it out, I didn’t even start writing it for a year because I wanted it to be as perfect as possible. I love the way it turned out. It reminds me of my Grandpa and I also have a sentimental attachment to it because it’s my first inspirational romance.

13. What is your writing schedule like?

I write anywhere and everywhere I can. I have an Alpha-smart word processor keyboard I take with me just about everywhere I go. I like it because it’s lightweight, runs on regular batteries that never seem to run down and I can’t surf the internet on it and get distracted! I try to write 1,000 words a day. Sometimes life gets in the way, though. I do the best I can.