This week I’m hosting Myra Johnson with One Imperfect Christmas and Julie Lessman with A Passion Denied. 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 (Nov. 8th) evening.
1. What made you start writing?
No idea! Writing has always been a part of who I am. However, I didn’t seriously pursue writing as a profession until 1983, when I came across a magazine ad for the Institute of Children’s Literature and decided to see if I had what it takes.
2. How long have you been writing? When did you sell your first book?
My first memory of story writing was probably in second grade, but I don’t remember a time when I wasn’t making up stories, either in my head or on paper. Partway through the ICL course, I sold one of my story assignments to a Sunday school publication, and the magazine sales continued fairly steadily after that. I eventually went on to teach for ICL for nine years. However, despite numerous “positive” rejections, I didn’t sell my first book manuscript until August 2008!!!
3. How do you handle rejections?
Rejections have always hit me pretty hard. There’s the initial shock of disappointment, then the questions, the self-doubt. Ultimately determination kicks in. I dive back in and make the submission even stronger and try again somewhere else.
4. Why do you write?
To get the stories out of my head, I suppose—LOL! Truthfully, I think I write to make sense of life. Stories can be a cathartic way of sifting through various events and the accompanying emotions. As a Christian writer, just as Jesus taught with parables, I hope to reflect God’s mercy, love, and grace through my fiction.
5. What would you be doing with your free time if you weren’t writing?
Probably reading more, seeking fulfillment in volunteer opportunities, or maybe traveling. Definitely not cooking or housecleaning!
6. What are you working on right now?
I’m working through revisions on a couple of novel manuscripts that my agent has high hopes for, both of which are stories of love, family, and reconciliation but with very different plots and settings.
7. Do you put yourself into your books/characters?
I think that’s unavoidable since I am the only person I know that well! But if I put too much of myself into my story characters, I’m afraid they’d get boring pretty fast. I’m sure that in many ways my characters are composites of personality traits I wish I had in greater abundance.
8. Tell us about the book you have out right now.
Actually, I have two books out. My debut novel, One Imperfect Christmas, is a September 2009 release from Abingdon Press. It’s about a young wife and mother coping with guilt and marital problems in the aftermath of her own mother’s stroke.
Autumn Rains, my Heartsong Presents contemporary romance, is out this month. This story, about a widow suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and an ex-con just released from prison, was inspired by an encounter my brother-in-law had with an ex-con passing through town on his way to find work.
9. Do you have any advice for other writers?
Be patient, be determined, be willing to be taught. Develop a tough hide, because rejections are inevitable. Learn everything you can from them and just keep writing.
10. How important is faith in your books?
Faith is integral to my stories because it’s integral in my own life. While my characters may not spout Bible passages on every page and my stories may not include the typical “conversion scene,” scriptural truths play out organically through story events and character growth.
11. What themes do you like to write about?
The theme of forgiveness comes up quite often. Another is self-worth (or, more accurately, the value Christ imparts to us as children of God). Family relationships in some form are always central to my stories.
12. What is your favorite book you’ve written and why?
While One Imperfect Christmas and Autumn Rains are both very special to me, my favorite book is one of the two I’m currently revising. This one is my favorite because I believe it’s the book in which my voice finally came into its own. I also love the setting and the central characters. I always hate to say too much about my works-in-progress, but I’m hopeful this story will one day find its way to publication.
13. What is your writing schedule like?
I usually put in a five-day work week, saving weekends for home and family. A typical morning begins with devotions, exercise (if I’m feeling especially disciplined
Beginning around 1:00 p.m. and for the next 4-5 hours, it’s all about the work-in-progress. Writing, rewriting, revising, research, whatever. I may sporadically check e-mail or look up something on the Internet if I need a short break, but afternoons are designated writing time, and I try not to let other things interfere.
Thanks so much for inviting me to join you on your blog today, Margaret! I’ve visited here so often to read about other authors and their work, so it’s an extra-special thrill to now find myself in the “hot seat”! It’s a joy and a blessing to know you, and I appreciate all you do to encourage new authors and shine a light on Christian fiction.
This sounds like such a cute story. Please enter me in the drawing.
Holly
oceandreamerfla(at)aol(dot)com
Enjoyed the interview. Please enter me in the drawing for what sounds like a wonderful story. Thank you!
cherierj(at)yahoo(dot)com
Great interview! Please enter my name in the drawing. Thanks!
debracollins(at)tds(dot)net
Would love to win this book, please enter me also I enjoyed the interview with Myra
mamat2730(at)charter(dot)net
Great post. This book sounds great. Please enter me. Thanks
tarenn98[at]yahoo[dot]com
I'm excited to see the first release of a new author and Myra's book has received good reviews. It's on my wish list and I'd love to win a copy. Thank you for the giveaway, Margaret.
cjarvis [at] bellsouth [dot] net
What a great interview!
Enter me,too. ^^
marthanadnny(at)hotmail(dot)com
Congrats on your novels, Myra!
Myra and Margaret — great interview!
And, Myra, I didn't know before now where you got the inspiration for Autumn Rains … ahem, THE book that beat me out of the Golden Heart in 2005!! Can't wait to read it!
Hugs,
Julie
What a great interview. Thanks for sharing, Myra, and I can't wait to get my hands on One Imperfect Christmas.
Congrats on your book…and the future books that I know will be coming soon 🙂
Blessings,
Pepper
pepperbasham@yahoo.com
You've definitely given me hope, and inspiration Myra! If you can study the craft of writing from 1983 and not publish a book until 2008, you are a true writer for sure. I would love to read one of your stories!
eileenastels[at]rogers[dot]com
Thanks, Margaret, for these giveaway opportunities!!
I would like to enter for the One Perfect Christmas, but not the Julie Lessman book! It is a wonderful book, but I already own it! = )
martha(at)lclink(dot)com
Great interviews, Margaret, of two of my favorite writers. No need to enter me in the giveaway . . . just wanted to stop by and echo my praise for these gals and their books.
Thanks to everyone for your kind words about my book!
Eileen, if it weren't for the regular "positive" rejections and steady sales to magazines and devotionals, I honestly don't know if I could have kept at this for 25 years hoping to sell a novel. God always seemed to know when I needed an extra dose of encouragement, though. And His timing is always perfect, even when it doesn't seem like it to me!
Julie!!! I may have whupped you in the Golden Heart, but you had an agent AND a book contract LONG before me! Just look at your success!!! I am in awe!
Hey Myra (Fellow Abingdonian!)
We started out the same way—taking the ICL course! I enjoyed reading about your writing journey and how God's timing is perfect. I would love to win your novel, One Imperfect Christmas. Blessings!
sherry@sherrykyle.com
I enjoyed the interview and thanks for the opportunity to win the book!
choco1950(at)netins(dot)net
What a wonderful interiew…Thank you for the opportunity to read this fabulous book…
karen k
kmkuka(at)yahoo(dot)com
Myra,
I LOVE the cover of One Imperfect Christmas!
Please enter my name into your drawing
Cindy
cindykirk(at)aol(dot)com
Whoo-hoo!!! Loved the interview.
One Imperfect Christmas is one perfect book for Christmas!
Love it!
No need to enter me in the contest, Margaret. I've got a copy already.