Last summer, I did my first radio interview as an author.  I hope to do many more.  But when asked to describe what types of things I write, I was kind of embarrassed to say that I had had recent success in romance.  That was not because of the genre itself, but because of what people think when they hear the phrase "romance novel."  You know what I mean.  They assume it's got a cover of a long-haired man ripping off the shirt of a young damsel in distress.

When I was on the radio, I said I was writing romance novels, but I quickly went on to say they were of the non-heaving bosom variety.  I think the host got a kick out of that because she pointed out that I just said heaving bosom on the radio. :)  Since I was in radio for well over a decade, I know what I can and cannot say live on the air and what I said was perfectly acceptable.  But she had a point.  It was a strange way to say it!  What I meant was that my style of romance is clean...sweet...or as I call it, a cute little love story.

I have since met a fellow author who started a facebook group and, more recently, a blog that feature stories exactly like the ones I write.  She calls it Sweet Clean Romance and I love that description.  No heaving bosoms involved and you don't even have to say no heaving bosoms to get the point across!!

I appreciate you reading my blog and participating in my journey as an author.  If you enjoy "cute little love stories" like some of the ones I've come up with, I invite you to check out the new blog on Sweet Clean Romances.  You can join and become a member or just check in from time to time and see what's new.

Sometimes, sweet clean little love stories are just what we need to put a smile on our faces for the day.  I hope to have many of my own featured on this blog as they come out.

http://sweetlycleanromance.blogspot.com/

Daring to Dream

A guest post by Rachel Skatvold

 

You are never too old (or too young) to set another goal or dream a new dream. ~C.S. Lewis

As a fellow dreamer, I love these words of wisdom by C.S Lewis. During my childhood I loved writing stories. My mom still has a binder full of them. However, I never dreamed of writing anything that would be published until right after my first son was born.

It’s ironic that my first novel started out as a dream. I woke up one morning with an idea for a Christian love story and started writing it down. For several months I kept my writing a secret, afraid I was having a midlife crisis early. However, I fell more in love with the characters every day and couldn’t stop writing their story. I didn’t realize it then, but my crazy dream would turn into my first full length novel.

Enduring the Flames is an inspirational romance following the love story of two college students. A mysterious fire left EVIE JAMES scarred and abandoned by her mother. Thirteen years later she begins a desperate search for the only parent she has left. Finding her mother seems hopeless until she means a talent Christian singer, JEREMIAH STEVENSON. As their relationship grows, there's no doubt that God brought them together for a reason. But when fiery trials come, will they be able to trust God’s plan and endure the flames? Click here to read the book teaser.

Now, two years after writing Enduring the Flames, my dreams of publication haven’t come true yet, but I have gotten some great reviews about the story from a publisher, fellow writers and friends. I’m hopeful that one day, my story will be on book shelves. During this journey I’ve learned so much about writing and with every revision, my characters and story line get stronger.

In the meantime I’ve been working on a free e-novella called, “Love is Just the Ticket.” It’s sweet and suspenseful Christian romance about a young widow returning to her small home town in search of new beginnings and a police officer running from dark shadows in his past. Click here to check it out.

If you are a new writer or a fellow dreamer, I would like to encourage you to keep pursuing your dreams. Jeremiah 29:11 is a great encouragement because it shows that God has a perfect plan for everyone who serves him. If He has placed a dream or vision in your heart, don’t give up. Trust Him with your dreams and although it may not turn out exactly like you expected, in the end they will turn out bigger and better than you ever imagined!

About Rachel Skatvold

Rachel is an inspirational author and stay at home mom from the Midwest.  She enjoys writing inspirational romance, devotions and encouraging blogs.  Rachel is currently seeking publication for her first inspirational romance novel, “Enduring the Flames.” Other than writing, some of her hobbies include singing, reading and camping in the great outdoors with her husband and two young sons. You can find out more about Rachel’s books and writing on her website: http://www.rachelskatvold.com and on her Facebook fan page: http://www.facebook.com/rachelskatvoldauthor

 

Am I the only one or are writers in general impatient?  In this blog I will talk about several things I have experienced impatience-wise.  I might say writers and maybe it is true for more than just me, but I am really talking about my own experiences.  Let me know if you can relate to some or all of them!  Here are a number of ways in which I, as a writer, am impatient.

-Finishing the Manuscript
I write quickly...feverishly, almost.  When I start a manuscript, my entire goal in life, practically, is to finish it.  I loathe letting it sit, waiting to be finished.  If it were up to me I'd probably sit at the computer day and night and bang it out until it was done.  Since my two girls don't seem to think that's a good idea, I work on it every chance I get as they allow until it's done.  I put off housework.  I put off clients and paying jobs.  I put off bills.  It's the way I like to write.  I like to get my ideas out there and off my mind before I forget them...before I forget character characteristics and mannerisms...before I forget where I was going with the plot and so on.  Because of this I tend to be able to crank out entire books in a month or less, even on very little amounts of time each day.  I had one fellow author ask me once, what's the hurry?  You seem in a rush to finish!  And yes, I guess I am, in some ways.  Because if I don't finish it today, who knows what tomorrow will bring and what mind frame I'll be in and what might be different!  Does that make me impatient?  Or is it just part of my writing process?  I know others that write painstakingly slow.

-Editing
Editing, like writing, is something I want to be done and behind me as quickly as possible.  The reasons are completely different.  When it comes to editing, I don't enjoy the process like I do writing.  Editing causes me to over analyze what I've written and second guess every word or phrase.  While I might like offering suggestions to other authors, I don't particularly like reading my own work in that light.  So when editing begins, I look forward to it being over.  Does that make me impatient?  Normal?  Or just anti-editing? (Which I'm not because I really believe it helps makes the books that much better in the end...just a tough process!)

-Submissions
I know this is true of other writers because I've talked to some like me myself.  When you submit a book or query to an agent or publisher, the impatience settles in.  Sure, their website says it'll be 4-6 weeks or longer until they read and respond, but your story will stand out, right?  So you check your email daily...hourly.  You'll get an answer!  You will!  :)  More likely you will get that answer when you have finally given up hope that an answer will come quickly and you stop checking quite so much.  I got my latest book contract offer while having my taxes done.  Joy!  Some good came out of the tax office!!  That answer was very fast compared to the others I have gotten in the past, but normally, the wait is agonizing.  When I'm waiting, I try to put myself on the other side of the fence.  The editors/publishers/agents have a lot on their plates.  They can't simply sit and read submissions all day everyday or they would never actually put any books out there...I say as I pace the floor waiting for an answer on my latest submission. :)

-Results
When a book comes out, everyone should buy it.  Now.  It's creative.  It's genius.  And you've been working on it for months, if not years.  It's one of the most important things in your life at that moment.  Shouldn't it be important to everyone else as well?  Haha.  We wish!  When a new books comes out, it's hard to wait for results...sales...and marketing efforts to start piling up.  My husband put "Someone Always Loved You" online back in 2010.  I wrote it more like in 2003 or 2004.  Today, in 2014, it is finally selling 100 or so copies a month.  Sometimes, the results can take years, but who wants to wait?!

-Ideas
When I have ideas, it takes all of my control and efforts not to go into writer mode and sit down and hammer them out.  The reason I do not is because of the above item...when I start, I can't stop until it's done.  I try to put the ideas in the back of my mind where they can cook, but not fester too much and bug me.  When they do that, there's no stopping the fingers on the keyboard.  Hence Mamarazzi's creation back in January. :)

As a writer, do you find that you are impatient about any of these things?  Are there other ways you see impatience in your craft?  Or are you patient about every aspect, much unlike me?  Patience is a virtue and I know it.  When I was in radio, my co-workers believed I was the most patient person in the world based on many situations they saw me in.  Until I had children, I agreed.  Patience takes work and practice and it's never easy.  As a writer, I practice it often and yet, I am still very impatient about many of these things in some ways.  But it makes up who I am as a writer and when it comes to that...I am who I am!

I've been thoroughly enjoying getting to know fellow Prism Book Group authors.  Some of them have allowed me the privilege of an interview while others are letting me read and review their books.  Mary L. Ball let me do both!  Below is the interview I enjoyed doing with her and you will find a review of her novel "Escape to Big Fork Lake" below that.


Tell us a little bit about your background.

I retired early from office administration to keep my grandson while my daughter works. That was 15 years ago. As a stay at home nana, I began creating non-fiction Christian articles. 


Now tell us how you got into writing.

Writing has always been part of my life, especially correspondence because of my career. Fiction stories naturally progressed from nonfiction. 


Was getting published hard?

I wouldn't say hard, but I certainly devoted a lot of time to finding a publisher. I sent query letters (55+) and took the comments seriously, rewriting my debut story four times. A year and half later, Prism Book Group (then Inspired Romance) offered me a contract.   



Give us a summary of your current novel.

Stone of Destiny is my current book.

Taylor has given up on everything but her work. After becoming the youngest CEO of Mugful’s Beverage Company, she believes life is complete--until her grandmother asks her to oversee the renovations of the family home, in addition to searching for a missing heirloom.

Her first contact with what she believes is an insignificant ring, lost for fifty years, sends her life spinning. Taylor experiences strange. Unexpected feelings surface that she doesn't understand. Thoughts that should remain unspoken are voiced.

Taylor’s emotional journey begins, testing a heart as cold as the ring itself and forcing her to question everything she believes.

Is this a fairytale, or simply her soul reaching out for a different world--a life she can only find through faith and a divine trust in God?

 
And what about your upcoming release?

I'm excited about Redemption in Big Fork Lake. Prism hasn't announced a release date, but I'm hoping for late fall. It takes the readers back to Big Fork Lake Alabama and visits the most of the same characters in Escape to Big Fork Lake. 

Below is the blurb.  

Redemption in Big Fork Lake

What happens when an addiction takes over?

Only after Robert Turner attempts to hurt someone does he realize how much of a hold alcohol has on his life.  

 For Robert, a chance meeting with an Alcoholics Anonymous sponsor offers hope. A new devotion to the Lord and a relationship with Belle McBride gives him expectations for a better future.

His life appears to be on the right track, until he comes full circle with his past and faces the one mistake that haunts him daily. Can forgiveness-free Robert? Will he return to the life he once had?

 
  Where do you get your ideas?

 Something sparks my imagination. It will be a newscast or another person's comment, if the situation really sticks in my conscience. I’ll feel a need to create a story. In Stone of Destiny, my grandson was reading a book on magic and that incident sparked a desire to show God's wondrous ways.   

How long does it take you to write a novel?


I have so many things going on in life. I can't write as I'd like, a normal first draft usually takes4- 6 months. 


What do you enjoy doing outside of writing?

I read, a passion that started with Nancy Drew mysteries. J          
 My husband and I both enjoy fishing. I also like to sing praise songs. Hubby and I sing at church and often-other places.

Do you find certain times of the day or certain things inspire you to write?

Not really, I steal times to write when I can and as often as possible.

What advice would you give to a new writer wishing to make it in the publishing world?

Never give up and don’t let comments about your writing detour you from the goal of being published. Writing is ever learning, don’t waste time putting yourself down, just grow in the craft.      

We'd love to hear a few quirky facts about you...things that don't normally come up in an interview!

Seriously, being weird is my middle name. I enjoy washing dishes. I’ll dig for the fishing worms without batting an eye and I would rather eat at a diner than a five start restaurant.

Mary was kind enough to send me a Kindle copy of Escape to Big Fork Lake, which I began devouring immediately.

In my reviews, I try to give away as little as possible so I apologize in advance if I talk in generalities, but here goes.

In the beginning of the book, the main female character has a few frightening experiences and then after that, an unexpected change.  Once she starts a new life, things settle in and the romance begins.  At that point, I thought, well that's that, I know what's going to happen now!  And just when I was ready to watch what I KNEW would happen unfold the author hit me upside the head with something totally unexpected, which I love.  Reading a book you can predict can still be enjoyable, but once I was completely caught off guard, I no longer read that way at all.  I still had my ideas about what might happen and I was wrong about many of them.  It makes me admire the author and her imagination.  It felt like she did it on purpose...led me one way so I'd think something and then changed direction.  She did it masterfully and I thoroughly enjoyed it.  Overall, the book was an adorable love story with some mystery and intrigue thrown in, something that can be hard to do, but Mary L. Ball did it well.

In any book, I also try to list a few things that stood out on the other side, even if I enjoyed the book to its fullest.  This is the author in me that is continually trying to improve on writing myself.

For "Escape to Big Fork Lake," two things caught my attention.  One was that on occasion, the perspective would change between the two main leads without warning.  Now, when there's a chapter break or even a break within the chapter and the change occurred that was okay, but the changes within chapters without warning were jarring at times.  That being said, it wasn't hard to figure out who was thinking what.

The second thing that I noticed was an abundance of people using other people's names.  The author used hardly any "said so and so" type tags after sentences.  Instead, the people would use each other's names when addressing one another.  After a while, this became a bit much for me because I personally don't talk that way.  Honestly, I can't remember the last time I said my own husband's name when talking to him. 

Neither of those nit picky little things were deal breakers, of course.  Overall, the story was there, the elements were in place and best of all, I was pleasantly surprised in several areas.  Well done Mary!

This might be a strange blog for an author's website, but it was on my mind the other night so here it is!  As I was trying to sleep, I kept coming up with things that I experienced and enjoyed during my childhood that my kids probably never really will because of the cultural and technological changes the world has gone through and will continue to go through.  It got me to thinking about how their experience will be different than mine.  It's interesting to think about.  What things will be different for their kids?  And the kids after that?  Here are a few things that I experienced as a child that my kids likely never will.

-Walking to School

When I was a kid, walking home from school was something I did on a regular basis.  I lived within a mile of the elementary school and the Jr. High so when it was a nice day, my mom simply wouldn't pick me up and my friends and I would walk.  This is something that my girls will likely never do.  One, because we live a few extra miles away from the school (about a 15 minute drive so walking that would be rather far!).  And two, just because the world is a different place now.  It's not that things didn't happen back when I was a kid.  I'm sure they did.  But we didn't hear about them as much.  Now, kids can't go on a bike ride without being kidnapped or something equally awful.  I don't know if it's the media or if more bad things are happening, but I don't know that I would be trusting enough to let my kids walk to or from school, even if we lived close enough.  And that's too bad.  I enjoyed the extra bonding time with my friends to decompress after the day's work....talk about boys...and just be outside!

-Number Munchers and Oregon Trail

When I was growing up, computers were just coming on the scene a little bit.  There was maybe two at school and on occasion, we would get to play Number Munchers or Oregon Trail on them.  A friend of mind had one and we played those games in awe.  Computers were a rarity and the games were rudimentary, but they were the coolest things ever and so much fun.  Now, computers are everywhere.  I don't know that any game will ever be that cool again because there are so many and they aren't special any more, you know?  Kids have ready access and it's no longer a treat...it's almost a necessity.  I'm sure there are other things out there that are just as awe inspiring to kids today, but awe at games like this will not be one of them!

-Disconnection

Remember when not everyone had a cell phone?  Remember how there were times that you just couldn't get a hold of your friends?  You have to leave a message or something and wait for them to get home in order to call you back?  Weird thinking that kids today won't really have that experience.  Cell phones and smart phones are wonderful.  I have one myself and enjoy it greatly.  But I think I appreciate what it can do for my life because I remember what life was like before.  It's not like I was lacking then or anything.  I got through every day just fine without being able to call and email and text and so on.  But my kids?  They won't know a world without these capabilities.  Now, I don't know when we'll get my daughters cell phones.  Certainly not any time soon.  But just the idea that you can pretty much get a hold of someone at anytime and always be within reach yourself no matter where you are is a whole new world.  It's not only a convenience, but a safety issue a lot of the time.  I hope my girls have the strength to disconnect from time to time and be out of reach (to everyone but me maybe) so they can understand a quieter world.

-The Ice Cream Man

There was nothing better on a hot day then the sound of the ice cream man's truck running through the neighborhood.  I'm sure they're still out there, but they don't come around our house.  My girls will have to go to the freezer or to the store to get that kind of treat.  And while that's still nice, it's just not the same!


There are plenty more and I could go on and on, but I want to hear more from you and what you experienced that your kids will not experience because of the change in times.  Let me a comment or send me a message.  You never know when these ideas might turn into a book!  There, I rounded the blog entry back around to writing.  Happy? :)  I am.  Ha!

I have been enjoying getting to know other Prism Book Group authors and I have started to dig into their writing so I can get a feel for the publishing house as a whole and help them out with reviews, as I hope they will help me in the future.  Plus, I just love to read and I finally figured out a way to get back to reading...(I put the kindle app on my phone so I can read while rocking my daughter to sleep!)  Paula Mowery, fellow Prism Book Group author was the first one to offer her book to me so I could read and review it.

"Legacy and Love" is made up of two novellas..."The Prayer Shawl" and "The Inheritance."

In "The Prayer Shawl" we meet two main characters, and let me just tell you, the characters are very vivid.  I felt like the story was being driven by and orchestrated by them.  I'm not sure how Paula Mowery writes, if she thinks of stories first or characters first, but I felt like the characters were very alive.  I envy this in writing because it's not something I feel like I always do well.

I won't give away details in the story and you can read a summary below, but let me just say that it was a delightful, very Christian-oriented story.  It had themes of miracles and belief and it's a great read for anyone needing something to reconfirm their faith.

Then came "The Inheritance."  This story surprised me.  When I read the first few chapters, I figured I knew where it was going.  It seemed typical in plot and I thought I could predict what would happen.  But the two main characters have to find something and I was surprised by what they had to find.  Then, as they started finding things, I was surprised by those items as well.  Serves me right for thinking I knew what was coming! 

This story is also very Christian-oriented and a great read for those who enjoy Christian romance stories.  It also had tinges of mystery to it.

My biggest complaint of the stories is that they moved very quickly, given their shorter lengths.  I think either or both could have been expanded into full books and that would have been enjoyable as well.  The stories moved at a fast clip and could have slowed down in places to give the reader even more detail.  That being said, they were great the way they were.  I would recommend"Legacy and Love" to Christian readers who enjoy stories of faith and hope.

Tell us a little bit about your background.


I was a middle school English teacher before quitting to homeschool my daughter. I have always set the example of writing whether for my students or for my own daughter.


Now tell us how you got into writing.


Reading and writing have always been things I have loved doing. Reading Christian fiction has been a hobby and still is. As my daughter began to move up in grades, she did more independent work. This is when I started to write. I had over 15 manuscripts written before I ever got the courage to submit anything.


Was getting published hard?


Getting published is definitely not easy. I wrote and wrote and read and read. Then, I joined an online writers’ group and learned and learned. After that came learning to submit, looking for a place to submit, and building the courage to submit.


Give us a summary of your current novel.


My newest release is entitled Legacy and Love. There are two stories in this book in which each heroine has been influenced by a godly grandmother. For a more specific idea about what each story is about, please read the blurbs for each.

Blurbs for Legacy and Love

 

The Prayer Shawl

 

Sean Holland is a magazine reporter always looking for the next story. Hope Weaver is a pediatric nurse who shares Christ through making prayer shawls. The shawls are just the touchy-feely story Sean needs, even though he’ll have to endure Hope’s strong Christian beliefs to get it. An unexpected connection brings them together as a couple. But, can they find love if they don’t share their faith?

 

 

Inheritance

 

Alex Lyndon’s life has been a series of fits and starts with no finishes. She finds herself jobless and divorced. Now her only family, Granny Olivia, is critically ill.

 

Chase Carson had to step into running the family business when his father died. The time is past due to visit Miss Olivia.

 

Alex and Chase must go on a treasure hunt. Will each find purpose and love for their lives in the process?


And what about your upcoming release?


The two stories in Legacy and Love are truly special. In each I reveal a little bit about my own grandmother. I’ll give you a hint: She always read her Bible before going to sleep and listened to Southern gospel music as well as allowed me to sit near her as she crocheted.


Where do you get your ideas?


That varies. I have gotten ideas from sermon illustrations, newspaper articles, ancestry studies, and even eavesdropping (which is called research if you are a writer).


How long does it take you to write a novel?


The length of time it takes for me to write a novel varies as well. Inheritance, one of the stories from Legacy and Love, took about two to three years because of revising and chopping. Whereas, The Prayer Shawl took several months.


What do you enjoy doing outside of writing?


In addition to writing my own novels, I am an acquisitions editor. In this role I get to help other writers achieve their publishing dream. I also do some speaking, mostly to women’s groups. I do enjoy sharing with them. And aside from the writing world, I enjoy spending time with my hubby and daughter.


Do you find certain times of the day or certain things inspire you to write?


Because of the schedule I have to keep, I’ve had to manipulate those inspiring times to write. I have another part-time job in public school so I have to adjust my thinking and write when I am home to do it. In other words, I can’t presently take advantage of my best hours to write or when I can produce more. I just have to take what I’ve got! I arrive home each day during the week around 12:30. I have lunch with my daughter and then I set out to mark off my to-write and to-edit list.


What advice would you give to a new writer wishing to make it in the publishing world?


Read, write, learn, and repeat! Read in the genre you are interested in writing. Practice writing. Take a course or join a writing community and learn. Then, stay persistent and consistent.


We'd love to hear a few quirky facts about you...things that don't normally come up in an interview!


Being a pastor’s wife, I have to be really careful about how closely a story or character resembles someone in my church. They are always looking to see if I wrote them into a story. I think that is so funny because I’m always sitting in church wondering if my pastor/hubby is going to share a story that everyone will know is something stupid I did.

When my first book came out, I practiced my signature for booksignings – reminded me of when you would practice writing your married name when you were dating someone in high school.


Anything else you want to add!...

My writing, editing, and speaking are encompassed into the calling God gave to me about three years ago when He made it clear that this is what He wanted me to do in this season of my life. I am humbled and grateful He would choose me to present His truths through fiction.

Thank you for this opportunity to share.

Paula Mowery is a published author, acquisitions editor, and speaker. Her first two published works were The Blessing Seer and Be The Blessing from Pelican Book Group. Both are women’s fiction, and their themes have been the topics of speaking engagements. In November of 2013, her first romance released in the anthology, Brave New Century, from Prism Book Group. Legacy and Love is her first solo romance. Reviewers of her writing characterize it as “thundering with emotion.” Her articles have appeared in Woman’s World, The Christian Online Magazine, and the multi-author devotional blog, Full Flavored Living.

As an acquisitions editor for Prism Book Group, Paula particularly looks for romance stories with Christian values at its core. She’s especially attracted to those manuscripts that leave the reader mulling over the story long after turning the last page.

Having been an avid reader of Christian fiction, she now puts that love to use by writing book reviews. She is a member of ACFW and is on the author interview team.

Paula is a pastor’s wife and mom to a first year college student. She homeschooled her daughter through all twelve years, and they both lived to tell about it. Before educating her daughter at home, she was an English teacher in public school.

You can follow Paula at www.facebook.com/pages/Paula-Mowery/175869562589187. Learn more about Paula at her blog at www.paulamowery.blogspot.com or enjoy her monthly columns on www.christianonlinemagazine.com.

I'm currently in the thick of editing "Wrong Place, Right Time" with my lead editor from The Writer's Coffee Shop.  When I spoke with her via Skype, it sounded like quite a process.  First, we would do the substantive edit, which takes several months.  Then there is copy editing and line editing and a few other stages.

I have to admit, editing is not my favorite thing to do when it comes to writing.  I prefer the creative part where I get it all out and then leave it behind.  But I know it's important and I wanted to learn from the process.

Recently, I got the first section of edits back from my editor to work on on my end.  I opened the document, which I took a picture of to show you what it looked like.  When I saw the margins completely full of purple comments from top to bottom on every one of the 16 pages she sent back to me, I quickly turned the computer off and moved on with my day.  It was Friday and I didn't want to ruin the weekend thinking about it when I knew I wouldn't have time to work on it.

Once Monday rolled around, I knew I had to get to work so I opened the document back up and dug in.  Once I got going on it I realized it wasn't nearly as bad as it looked.  That's assuming I did what I was supposed to do with it! :)  Mostly, she deleted things here and there and I had to approve or deny those changes.  I approved most.  They made sense.  Especially given the fact that the story is moving toward a shorter length.

Sometimes she would give her reasons for deleting something or rearranging a sentence and other times she just did it.  And there was one area she wanted me to expand a scene, which made sense so I did that as well.  I am thrilled to report that the first small section of the substantive edit did not take me nearly as long as I thought it might.  I was thinking it might take the entire week...really I was!!  Since it wasn't as painful as I predicted, I look forward to the next section and the one after that. It'll be fun to see it all come together into one cohesive story.  I am excited to move on to cover design and other promotional aspects of the publishing process.  The substantive edit is supposed to be complete by the beginning of June.  I hope the rest isn't as bad as the first part, which wasn't as bad as I thought it might be.

I also have my fingers crossed that editing for "Accept this Dandelion" will not start with Prism Book Group until editing for "Wrong Place, Right Time" is complete with The Writer's Coffee Shop.  I have this hope for several reasons...one, just for time's sake.  I don't want to get overwhelmed with too much and too many deadlines at once.  And two, so I don't get confused on character storylines and characteristics and so on.

While I await the next section, I am hitting the freelance writing world hard with paying articles and blogs and web content.  The fiction stuff is way more fun, but it'll be a long time before it pays anything...if ever!

So for anyone else going through the editing process, just keep in mind it may not be as bad as you think.  I was dreading it and now I'm not quite so much anymore.  However, even if it IS bad and hard, it's worth it in the end to see your story the best it can be!

When I joined Prism Book Groups and signed the contract to see "Accept this Dandelion" published in February of 2015 I decided I wanted to do as much as I could to help the other authors involved with the publisher.  This is simply because I love authors and I know what they go through and publicity is hard.  Plus, I find the writing process and the different stories people come up with fascinating.  So, from time to time, you'll see various author interviews, highlights, book reviews and other such things on my blog.  The following is the first author interview I offer you from a fellow Prism Book Group author.  Meet Sharon McGregor!  I hope you enjoy getting to know her a bit as I have!

Tell us a little about your background.

 I'm a 'stubble jumper' from Manitoba. I moved to the British Columbia coast nearly three years ago. Much as I love my home province, I don't think I could handle another prairie winter, so I think I'm here to stay. I retired once, but it didn't take. Three years ago, I bought an ice cream soda shop with my daughter and now we have another store, a bath and body shop. They keep me quite busy but I always manage to find my writing and reading time. I have five grandchildren and it's such a joy to watch them grow, without the pressures of parenting (I think it's called revenge)

Now tell us how you got into writing.

 I began to write as a form of self-preservation. I was divorced when my children were going through teenage angst and the thing that kept me sane was trying to find  humour in situations that appeared catastrophic at first glance. I began selling humour articles to magazines. The pay wasn't great, but the catharsis helped. I found it even made a good threat-"If you don't behave yourselves, I'm going to use your real names."

Was getting published hard?

I was lucky with my first attempts at humour. I managed to find a few smaller circulation magazines that published my articles on a regular basis. When I began writing fiction, I  needed to look for new markets. It seems every time I sold a story and thought I found a new home, the magazine would cease publication. I almost felt like a jinx. I spent a lot of time outlining stories before I finally got over my fear of tackling a longer project. I still have a few collecting dust somewhere. Then luckily, I submitted Northern Lights to Prism and it was accepted. I also had the luck to receive the help of a terrific editor, Jacquie.

Give us a summary of Northern Lights.

Maddie Smart is at a crossroads. Her job and her relationship have both suddenly ended. On the advice of a friend she flies to a northern fishing lodge to recoup and plan her next move. Here she meets fishermen who don't fish, a policeman who does, a man who says he's seen Sasquatch and a lodge owner who sets her pulses racing.

She finds herself running headlong into danger with no idea of who she can trust. Her feelings for Lodge owner Rupert are clouded by his hot and cold moods, and her growing suspicions of his right hand man's involvement in a bear part harvesting ring. Maddie must face her deepest fear before she can find answers. She also must learn to trust again before she can find her own happy ending.

Where do you get your ideas?

Usually it's a combination of smaller items that sit and fester at the back of my mind. Then suddenly it's like a kaleidoscope twisting and two or three previously unrelated ideas will shift and form a pattern.

We used to take fishing vacations in Northern Manitoba and I fell in love with the setting. Then I read an article about poaching bears to harvest their parts. I found it quite distressing and decided it would make a good plot line, especially with the northern setting. That was the start of Northern Lights

Family background provides some true life grounding for other stories. My next book coming out with Prism, Autumn Dreams, was inspired by my Aunts, both of them one-room country school teachers in the forties. Prairie Promise came to me from the life of my Grandmother who came from Ireland as a young woman and ended up homesteading on the prairies. Of course this was just the basis. The stories themselves wandered far from the experiences of my relatives.

How long does it take you to write a novel?

That's a difficult question since I write in stages. I wrote Northern Lights, a novella, in about three months but let it simmer for another year before I dug it out, rewrote large parts of it and decided to submit.  The next two novellas I wrote for Prism, Autumn Dreams and Prairie Promise took less time for the first drafts, probably because I was more focused now with the confidence of having sold Northern Lights. But again, they sat for a while between drafts.  I also just finished a cozy mystery.  It took about four months to write, but then I was writing it at the same time as one of my novellas.

What do you enjoy doing outside of writing?

Reading is a given, of course.  I love history and puzzles of all sorts, which is why I enjoy mysteries so much. I love horses, but haven't ridden lately. In the winter I usually play the spectator, watching my grandchildren play hockey and figure skate, but I actually tried snowshoeing last winter. I want desperately to travel but time only allows me a short vacation every year- a winter one someplace warm to meet my son and his family. We've been to Cuba the last two winters.

Do you find certain times of the day or certain things inspire you to write?

 I've always been a morning person and I find that's when I can focus best on writing .In the afternoons my brain gets fuzzy, but strangely it is a better time for getting new ideas or plot breakthroughs, at least that's what I tell my family when I'm stretched out, eyes closed, on my Lazy Boy.

What advice would you give to a new writer wishing to make it in the publishing world?

 Mostly, don't be afraid to submit. Trust yourself. And don't take rejection personally. I think fear was my biggest enemy; it took me a long time to offer my first submissions.  It's been said by so many people  in so many ways. "If you don't try, you can't succeed."

We'd love to hear a few quirky facts about you-things that normally don't come up in an interview.

Like Maddie  I'm afraid of heights. Like her, I tried skydiving and learned to fly, actually getting my pilot's license for a single engine plane. I still have the license in a drawer somewhere with my log book, but it' s not valid now. It usually takes an atavan or a double rum and coke to get me on a plane which is so sad as I love to travel.

I'm an avid hockey fan.  One thing my ex-husband and I had in common was that we both cheered for Montreal  We actually planned our honeymoon around the NHL schedule, arriving in LA when the Canadiens were scheduled to play the Kings. I can still remember the score-it was a 3-3 tie.

Links!!

My web page is www.sharonmcgregor.com

My blog is www.sharonmcgregor.com/blog

My FB author page is https://www.facebook.com/NorthernLightsSharonMcGregor?ref=hl

My twitter account is @sharonmcgr

My Amazon author page is http://www.amazon.com/Sharon-McGregor/e/B00IO31F1I 

Nearly a year ago I was part of a pitch day with a Harlequin editor.  A few dozen people were allowed to pitch an idea to an editor online.  The editor I "spoke" with thought my concept (which was for "Accept this Dandelion") was intriguing and asked for me to send a full proposal.  At that time, I only had the idea and nothing was written.  So I then wrote the first three chapters and the summary and the other necessary items and turned them in.  Ultimately, the editor decided it was not right for their line.  I let the beginning of the novel sit for a while, but I really wanted to see where it went so I eventually finished it off.  Turns out it became a romantic comedy because I wrote it in the sleep-deprived throes of having a new baby at home.

Meanwhile, I secured a contract with The Writer's Coffee Shop Publishing House to publish "Wrong Place, Right Time."  Once I realized it would be the only piece I would publish with them for reasons I cannot disclose due to the non-disclosure agreement I signed with them, I began to search for another publisher to take "Accept this Dandelion" on.

A while back I subscribed to an online magazine called Author's Publishers.  I get emails from time to time with articles about writing and there are also emails with information about various publishers.  When I saw a publisher I thought might interest me, I would save that email.  So when I began my search, the first thing I did was go back through those to see which ones might fit "Accept this Dandelion."

I found three and submitted the manuscript.  Before the week was over, I heard back from my top choice of those three.  I could not have been more excited that Prism Book Group wanted to publish it and seemed nearly as excited about the tale as I was when I wrote it.  The original email from Author's Publishers had very good things to say about Prism Book Group including that the authors they spoke with are happy working with them.  And the website looked like it would fit my work to a T because they publish both Christian and CLEAN romances, exactly what I do.

After a few questions and some consideration, I signed a contract to publish "Accept this Dandelion" with Prism Book Group.  The book is tentatively scheduled to be released in paperback and digitally in February 2015.  I couldn't be more thrilled.

The editing for "Wrong Place, Right Time" is going on now and will continue till the beginning of June.  "Accept this Dandelion" has a line of other books in front of it for editing so I'm hopeful the two won't intersect too much.  Partly because I don't have all that much time each day and partly so I don't get confused on characters and storylines etc.

There were times when I thought I would never get published at all and here I sit with two publishing contracts.  I feel like perhaps I've finally made it!

Next up?  Mamarazzi!  When I get breaks in editing "Wrong Place, Right Time," I am going back through "Mamarazzi" and preparing it for submission.  I hope to submit to Prism Book Group as I would really like to form a relationship with a publisher and become a frequent author.  Fingers crossed for "Mamarazzi" and the other pieces that are already signed!

Future blogs will talk about the editing processes as well as publicity and the rest of the stuff that goes into putting a book out so stay tuned!  In the meantime, if you enjoy cute little love stories, check out what Prism Book Group already has to offer!