A Close-Up of Author Laura Hilton

On Tuesday, Laura Hilton shared with us about how she did some of the research for her latest release. Today she's back to talk about her writing life in general.

1) Have you always wanted to be an author? If not, what made you decide to write, and how long have you been at it?  

I have always wanted to write – ever since I was old enough to read. I played at writing all the way through school, had some poems published in middle school. I wrote and rewrote and rewrote my first book (Shadows of the Past, Treble Heart Books, out of print) so many times trying to learn the craft. 

2) Are you a plotter, a pantser, or a combination?  

I am very much a pantser. If I plotted the story out I would lose all interest in telling it.  That said, I do let the idea simmer in my head awhile before I start writing. I know the characters names. I know the basic blurb, and then I start. With a lot of prayer and wonderful critique partners, when I finish the first draft I’m finished with the book – no rewriting, other than editorial changes, which so far haven’t been major. 

3) Wow, I'm impressed! My first drafts aren't fit to show anyone, let alone submit to a publisher. So do you write full time, or do you work it in alongside a full-time job? 

I’m a pastor’s wife, a stay-at-home mom, a home school mom, a book reviewer… so even though none of the above are paid, I work full time.  

4) I'd say that's a full-time job, yes! What do your kids think about your being a writer?  

They say they like it. They like the research trips/field trips.  And my oldest son says “fully supportive.”

5) What a blessing! When you're writing, what’s your favorite method for keeping a story’s middle from sagging? 

An unexpected twist. 

6) Do you write every day? What does your typical writing day look like?  

I try to write every day, but it depends on life.  I get up, I make the bed, I sort school for the girls, I start a load of laundry, eat breakfast, promote on Twitter and Facebook whatever is on my blog, and then do a little marketing on my book – such as promoting this interview. Then I answer reader emails and letters, help the girls with their school work and write a word here and a word there the rest of the day. 

7) Do you like to listen to music when you write?  

No. I’d prefer silence. But in a busy family of seven that doesn’t happen!  I am pretty good at blocking out general noises, so unless my son puts on country music  full blast and jars me out of the zone, I’m good. 

8) Do you have any rituals you like to go through before you start writing, such as make yourself a cup of coffee or tea? Do calisthenics to get the blood flowing? Lock yourself in a room and warn your family not to disturb you upon pain of death? Read something inspiring? Pray?  

My ritual is pretty much described in question six. But, that said, McDonalds makes some great iced coffees. And with some trial error, I have learned to make it at home. So every morning I have a glass of iced coffee (Almond Joy flavor) and I pray about what I write, that the message in the book is what God wants me to say. Also I have devotions.

9) Writing is a sedentary occupation. What do you do for exercise?  

Not nearly enough.  I have an exercise bike in the middle of the living room (which is also where I write. I don’t have an office) and on nice days I go for a walk around the block. 

10) Do you have any pets? Do you own them, or they you?  

We have a dog named Nanook. He is a Siberian Husky and he’s a member of the family. No one owns anyone.  Well, technically, he is my son’s dog, but it is my lap he thinks he belongs in during thunderstorms.  And  he’s  a big dog for a lap.  

11) What fun fact would you like your readers to know about you?  

I love winter. I love snow. I love lighthouses and have visited most around the Great Lakes. 

12) Nice to know I'm not the only winter-lover in the world. People think I'm nuts, but I completely agree with you on that. Have you ever had a funny experience connected with being an author? For instance, has someone ever overheard you discussing the merits of one murder weapon over another or caught you shooting at a can of gasoline to see if you could make it explode? 

Well, no. Not like some people have. But I don’t write murder mysteries or suspense.  I am accused of stalking Amish though. 

LOL - just don't stalk them with a camera. That's frowned upon. Thank you, Laura, for inviting us in to observe you in your natural habitat!

Award winning author, Laura Hilton, her husband, Steve, and their five children make their home in Horseshoe Bend, Arkansas. She is a pastor’s wife, a stay-at-home mom and home-schools three of her children. Her two oldest children are homeschool graduates and are in college. Laura is also a breast cancer survivor.

Her publishing credits include three books in the Amish of Seymour series from Whitaker House: Patchwork Dreams, A Harvest of Hearts, and Promised to Another. And the Amish of Webster County series, Healing Love. Surrendered Love releases April 2013, and the third book will release September 2013. A nonAmish book The Appalachian Ballad Quilt will release November 2014 from Abingdon

Press. Laura is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. Laura is a professional book reviewer for the Christian market, with over a thousand book reviews published at various online review sites.

Stop by tomorrow and enter to win a free copy of Surrendered Love:

Janna Kauffman loves grocery shopping for the homebound in her Amish community. When Janna’s sister washes her hands of her rebellious daughter, Meghan, and sends her to live with her Amish relatives, Janna is spending less time shopping and more time explaining Meghan’s actions to police officer Hiram “Troy” Troyer. Formerly Amish Troy becomes a regular part of Janna and Meghan’s lives as Meghan continues to act out due to her Englisch mother’s rejection. Could God tame a headstrong teenager and help Janna and Troy find love in the midst of it all?

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Researching a Real Location by Laura Hilton

A long time ago, when I was young and single I moved to Springfield, Missouri, to live and work.  My mom lived in Arkansas, and when I drove home to visit Mom, I would drive through Seymour, Missouri.  I would see the horses and buggies along the sides of the road and thought oh, how neat. Amish. That was before Beverly Lewis was published. And as a young single I was a long way from bringing my writing “out of the closet” to seriously learn the craft. Let alone come up with a brilliant idea about writing a story centered around the Amish. 

Years passed. I married and had children. My husband’s family lived outside Springfield, so even though we moved away we’d still go through Seymour in order to visit them. When I came up with an Amish story idea, the first place I considered was Seymour. It is only two hours away from where I live. My husband has an aunt who lives there. And everyone wrote their stories in Ohio or Pennsylvania at that time. 

My husband’s aunt laughed when I mentioned I was writing a story in Seymour. She said “There’s nothing here!” I said, “There are Amish.” And we drove up. We discovered Amish love McDonalds. Of course, that’s pretty much the only fast food in Seymour. I saw an Englisch driver carrying a trailer full of Amish boys down the highway. They were all standing and were packed in very tight. I wish I would’ve followed that vehicle to see where they were going! 

We made several trips up to the area, discovered where the Amish lived (obviously, not in town!) and drove down the back roads. One nice Amish family allowed us into the main areas of their house, although I think it rather shocked them that someone would ask! And they answered some questions. I met another couple at the Dollar General who had the most adorable baby girl, and talked with them awhile. And my aunt-in-law got into the research by tracking down interesting news stories about what happened with the Amish. 

In Surrendered Love, the real life stories where the bear in the tree—it was actually on my aunt-in-law’s street!  And she heard the bear rummaging around in her garage before it climbed the tree. And also the buggy accident where the horse fell down, but that actually happened when the horse ran into a school bus. I changed it slightly for the story. There unfortunately was a fatal accident involving a speeding car and an Amish buggy. 

I listened as the Amish corresponded in their dialect (which, in Seymour isn’t Pennsylvania Dutch, since these are Swiss Amish) but I did use Pennsylvania Dutch and their dialect in my stories since that is what most Amish readers expect. I am somewhat familiar with the language as my maternal relatives came from the Pennsylvania Amish and my mother grew up speaking the language. 

When you use a real location, you do need to be careful to get the facts right—even though some may change due to creative license. If you use real business names in your stories (which some publishers allow) you need to be careful they are still there when the book comes out! In one of my stories the main characters visited the Starbucks in the Bass Pro Shop in Springfield. But when I went to Springfield, Starbucks had moved across the street and another coffee shop was inside the Bass Pro Shop. I called my editor in a panic and she did a quick change to the manuscript to a genetic term, instead of a name. 

Research is fun and it definitely helps to know the area you are writing about. If you can’t go there, make sure you find a friend who lives there who can help you with the familiarity of the location, and contact the tourist department for further information. Also some areas have pages on Facebook. 

Stop by Friday when Laura will be giving away a copy of her book, Surrendered Love.

Award winning author, Laura Hilton, her husband, Steve, and their five children make their home in Horseshoe Bend, Arkansas. She is a pastor’s wife, a stay-at-home mom and home-schoolsthree of her children. Her two oldest children are homeschool graduates and are in college. Laura is also a breast cancer survivor.

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