Debut Author ~ Erica Vetsch

ERICA VETSCH is married to Peter and keeps the company books for the family lumber business. A home-school mom to Heather and James, Erica loves history, romance, and storytelling. Her ideal vacation is taking her family to out-of-the-way history museums and chatting to curators about local history. She has a Bachelor’s degree from Calvary Bible College in Secondary Education: Social Studies. You can find her on the web at www.onthewritepath.blogspot.com

When did you decide to be a writer?

.

I’ve written stories in my head for as long as I can remember. In that twilight time between awake and asleep, I’d spin tales and weave imaginary worlds. Then college, marriage, kids, and life happened. I still read voraciously, but the story-spinning was put on hold. But the desire didn’t die, and I began the journey of writing for publication in the summer of 2004.

How long did you write before you sold your first book?

.

Four years and several novels.

Everyone’s journey to publication is different. Now that you’ve walked that road, what tips can you give to authors still hoping for that first contract?

.
1. Persevere. It’s an uphill climb with plenty of steep grades and drop offs.
.

2. Prioritize. If this is something you want, you’re going to have to make room for it in your schedule. You’ll have to not do some of the things you used to.
.

3. Write. You can’t sell an unwritten or half-finished book.
.

4. Don’t despise the process. Enjoy the journey, learn all you can, meet people. Sure, there will be some setbacks, rejections, low contest scores, harsh critiques, but it’s so much better and easier if you recognize it as part of the process and not the end.

Was there something about the experience of getting published that was a surprise to you?

.

There were several things.

.
1. Reader responses. Family, friends, strangers who email. So far, things have been mostly positive. People are happy for me, knowing how long it took to get to this point.

.
2. The unreal feeling of holding your book in your hands, seeing your name on the cover, realizing that it really did happen. I still get goose bumps.
.

3. Just how many people band together to get a book into print. Author, agent, editors, graphic arts, marketing, publicity. All with an interest in getting the story into the hands of the readers. The writing might be a somewhat solitary venture, but the publishing definitely isn’t.

Are you a disciplined writer or do you just write when you feel like it?

.

I’m fairly disciplined, though I wish I was even more so. There are days when it’s pretty hard slog, and others when the words flow more freely. I do something writing related every day, whether creating new words, editing, marketing, plotting, reading craft books, etc. With several books coming out in the next few months, I don’t have a lot of wiggle room to slack off.

What kind of activities do you like to do that help you relax and step away from your deadlines for a bit?

.

I enjoy walking with my daughter when the weather cooperates. I am addicted to Hidden Object games on my computer. And I love to read.

What is your favorite novel (not written by you) and what made it special?

.

To The Hilt by Dick Francis (who passed away on Valentine’s Day this year.) It’s tight, fast, fascinating. The main character is an artist, and the peek into his world and thought processes is enlightening. I enjoy all of Dick Francis’s work, but To The Hilt is my favorite.

How do you think reading the work of others helps you as a writer?

.

It would be difficult to overestimate the impact reading has on my writing. Vocabulary, characterization, discovery of techniques I’d like to try, pacing, humor. Reading skilled writers helps me hone my own craft.

Tell us a little about your latest release:

.

The Marriage Masquerade (Heartsong Feb. 2010) is set in 1906 on the shores of Lake Superior. An heiress and a ship captain embark on a collision course of secrets and revelations at Sutton Island Lighthouse.

From the back cover:

Noah just wants to start over.

Captain Noah Kennebrae can no longer deal with the shame and guilt from the wreck of his ship. So he changes his name and takes a job as assistant lighthouse keeper on Sutton Island, heedless of the marriage contract his grandfather has arranged for him. No woman in her right mind would want to marry him now, anyway.

Desperate to escape the calculating grasp of her father and his cronies, Anastasia Michaels leaves her home to take the unlikely job of housekeeper on a remote island. Knowing how terrified of water she is, surely her father would never think to look for her there.

But neither Nick nor Annie considered that God’s hand might be at work in their lives. When they each take things into their own hands, He must work a miracle to bring them back to His original plan.

Where did you get your inspiration for The Marriage Masquerade?

.

The idea for the setting of The Marriage Masquerade sprang from touring beautiful Split Rock Lighthouse on Lake Superior’s North Shore. The idea for the series came from touring the Great Lakes Maritime Museum in Duluth, Minnesota and learning about the Mataafa Blow, a severe storm that hit Superior in 1905. One shipping tycoon, three grandsons, three heiresses, three arranged marriages, three chances for heartache or love.

Which character is most like you?

.

This is a tough one. I tend to write characters I wish I was like, rather than characters like me.

Who is your favorite character and why?

.

I love the grandfather, Abraham Kennebrae. He’s fighting a losing battle against age and fragility, yet he refuses to be daunted. He wants to control his future and that of his grandsons, and he rules his family with an iron fist. Though he can be a tyrant, I feel for him, trying so hard to hang on to something, fighting for what he believes in, not realizing that what we have in this life means nothing in the light of eternity.

Did you know how The Marriage Masquerade would turn out? Were you surprised by any of the plot twists or characters?

.

I had a pretty clear idea of what I wanted for the ending of The Marriage Masquerade. I’m a big believer in my characters having to either face their worst fear or having to face the lie they’ve believed throughout the book. I try to plot my stories with that in mind.

What is the main thing you hope readers remember from this story?

.

That they enjoyed it. More than teaching a lesson or teaching about history, though those are both wonderful things, I want readers to be entertained by my stories, to be taken to another era and place, to experience through the eyes of the characters a story that touches them emotionally.

What kinds of things have you done to market this book? Have you found anything that works particularly well?

.

Interviews like these to get the word out, blogging, book signings. I love reading blogs and I love blogging, so that’s where I put a lot of my focus. I’ve heard it advised by book marketers to focus on the one or two things you really enjoy doing in marketing and let the rest go.

Tell us what new projects you’re working on.

.

I’m working on a new historical series for Heartsong set in 1880’s Colorado during the silver rush which should come out sometime in 2011.

Do you have any parting words of advice?

.

Just, write, read, learn, submit.

Thank you, so much, for having me here today!
.
Erica is giving away a copy of her book The Marriage Masquerade. Be sure to stop by The Borrowed Book on 04/23/10 for your chance to win!