This week I’m hosting Debby Mayne with her book, Love Finds You in Treasure Island, Florida, Mary Connealy with her book, Montana Rose, and Steve Bonenberger with his book, Through the Gates of Fire. 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 (June 14th).
Steve Bonerberger’s interview:
1. What made you start writing?
I have been writing for many years. I have been interested in story-telling for sometime. Most of my first sets of writings were sermonic—as I was a pastor in another life. From there, the writing evolved into creating and crafting short-stories & then I got the ideas that grew into the Through Gates of Fire series.
2. How long have you been writing? When did you sell your first book?
I have never ‘sold’ a book. I work through Tate Publishing & this is a self-publisher that has some strength but does little for distribution. As I stated, I have been writing for many years.
3.How do you handle rejections?
Very difficult question. Rejection(s) are never easy on me. The reason is that I love what I put down on paper. The other side is that rejection(s) are very helpful when they are accompanied with letters or points of explanation. I find that most ‘criticism’ has the potential of acceleration & improvement attached as you work hard to understand & find such.
4. Why do you write?
I write now to tell stories mostly. I am drawn to the power of story & how it impacts my life first & than hopefully the lives of others. For me, the epic tale of adventure & travel and journey is highly compelling. I remember once in high school, a teacher made us read (Cliff Note version I am sorry to say) The Odyssey. I remember that teacher telling us with a great deal of animation that each real story-teller has been creating their own renditions of that work since that day.
5. What would you be doing with your free time if you weren’t writing?
I am not a full-time writer. I have a ‘day job’. I write now as I am able.
5. What are you working on right now?
I have mostly been working on my work items. I am constructing a new business portal for micro-lending and am hard at this task. The creating process is swallowing up most of my writing time.
7. Do you put yourself into your books/characters?
I work hard not to do this. As I find myself appearing, I ferret out those passages or portions. To me, the characters have to be real & each one has to be authentic in their self-expressions. The individual ‘ticks’ & winsome features that show forth from their unique flaws are what draw me.
8. Tell us about the book you have out right now.
Through Gates of Fire Volume Three: Lifting Breezes is the completion of the trilogy. This book is the ending portion of the main character’s life. This book brings the hero to full flex of his muscles which have been diminished in size and proportion but extended via his faith. The book shows that some do, some will and some can. These are the people that speak to all of us.
9.Do you have any advice for other writers?
WOW! I learned long-ago the peril of advice giving. But I will take my salvo over the bow of this boat. First and foremost, just write. By this I mean, don’t censure your thoughts & emotions. The passion play that you are creating has meaning & will find its own audience.
Second, outcomes are uncertain. My experience is that the book/tale will unravel. Having the answers to the conundrum at the start is a vexing issue because you have to write/target to that mark. I find it now better to let the tale unfold itself to you. Third, be patient and write something each day. Inspiration equates to time in the chair. Hope this helps!
10. How important is faith in your books?
Faith is the friction for all of my books. I view faith as the primary antagonist. As I review how faith impacts my life, I find continually this to be the case. I know this may in fact grate upon some, but that is the point isn’t it?
11. What themes do you like to write about?
I like to write about the epidemic of isolation. I find that as life progresses—especially for men—that events shrink a life. Many lives are smashed and shipwrecked on these rocky shoals. It is the life redeemed that somehow continues to muster the strength to spit in the eye of this peril that impacts so many & has certainly & continually impacted me.
12. What is your favorite book you’ve written and why?
My favorite book is the least favorite of all to most others. Through Gates of Fire Volume One: Wingless Flight. This is a modern-day adaptation of The Book of Job. For me, this is the ultimate & pinnacle book of scripture. (Please hold your darts as I know the gospels are the telling of the story & passion of Christ). But to ponder the notion that God & Satan discuss our lives—individually—and have the option of creating wager over them, I mean wow! That is a story. I still read portions of Book One and am amazed at the reality of paradise found, paradise lived and paradise lost. The notion that maybe there is some ‘bigger contributing factor’ that pushes this schedule as agenda is something for me to ponder. And it still causes me to pause…
13. What is your writing schedule like?
My writing schedule has never changed. I love the mornings. “Morning by morning new mercies I see.” I am an early riser. I love to get up and see what it is that God has in store for me on that day. I am zealous and jealous about this time. I know it must make & drive my wife crazy but I am pulled to the time of morning contemplation. All of my life springs forth from this font of joy and expression.
