Author Interview ~ Laura Hilton

With us today is Laura Hilton. Laura is a pastor's wife, married to her wonderful husband of over twenty-two years. They have five children. She homeschools, writes book reviews and authors her own books. She has two books published, Hot Chocolate and Shadows of the Past, and one devotional in a compilation published by Zondervan. To learn more about Laura, visit her at http://lighthouse-academy.blogspot.com/.

Welcome, Laura! Did you see yourself becoming a writer as a child? If not, what did you dream of being?

I always dreamed of being a writer. When I was in third grade my teacher assigned us to write a short story…my story wasn’t so short. And I was hooked.

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

Well, a long time. I sold some poems, and some articles, but the first book was elusive though I did come close a couple times.

Many of the people who follow our blog are aspiring writers themselves. Can you share your favorite writing tip with them?

This is one that a friend shared with me. She says she keeps a button beside her computer. And that it stands for “put your butt on the chair and write.”

Now for the readers…many times, it’s easy for them to connect with the characters in a book, but not so much the authors themselves. Share something about your day-to-day life that might help a reader to feel as though they know you a little better.

I have five children, I currently homeschool three of them, and my two oldest ones are in college—along with my husband. I live in the country where it’s not unusual to see wild turkey, deer, red fox, or an occasional bear in our backyard.

Now that you are published, do you still experience rejections? If so, how are these rejections different or similar to the ones you received before becoming published?

Yes, but most rejections now are letters that tell “why.” Not just form letters. Though right before I sold I started getting the “why” letters too. They are good because you can improve your story.

Tell us a little about your latest release:

Scattered Dreams...Becky Troyer has committed the ultimate sin, and finds herself on the edge of her Amish community. Jacob Miller believes he was sent to the Old Order Community in Missouri to help out a distant cousin. Instead, he discovers he was part of an arranged swap--sending men from his Pennsylvania district to the Missouri district to bring new blood into the Amish community. Becky dreams of marriage, but doesn't dare hope that anyone would choose her--not with her history. Can God use the lies that have affected Becky and Jacob to bring them together? Or will Jacob rebel and head home to his first love?

If you could only share one line from PATCHWORK DREAMS, which one would you choose and why?

Oh, that’s a hard question. Maybe: "There is only One with the authority to deny the right to love. And He refuses to do so."

When this appeared on my manuscript page, I just sat back and read it over and over. Wow! What a profound statement.

Writers often put things in their books that are very personal—like a funny story that happened to them, a spiritual truth they learned through difficulty, or even just a character trait that is uniquely theirs. Is there something in PATCHWORK DREAMS that only people close to you know is about you or someone you know?

Not really, though I have done that in the past. The only thing I really have in common with these characters is that like Becky I am quite shy, preferring to stay in the background. And I love to read. But spiritually, I think we all to some extent struggle with “I love God, but can He really forgive me for (insert sin).” Sometimes that is a lifelong struggle to move past that, even though we still worship Him, because we still believe that He keeps us on the outskirts of His circle due to that past sin.

Readers often talk a lot about the hero and heroine of a story, but today I’d like to know something about your villain. Does he or she have a redeeming quality? Why or why not?

Well, yeah, all of them need to have a redeeming quality. Even if its something small like they care for animals. So, I tried to make mine more realistic by giving them something, be it big or small.

What kind of research did you have to do for this book? Can you share some articles or website links you found particularly helpful?

Well, I went up to Seymour, Missouri, on a research trip. I went inside an Amish farmhouse (she was having an in-house bake sale) and interacted with the Amish in town. I also took tons of pictures (but not of the people, that is not allowed). I visited a lot of websites, but they didn’t have a lot there about the Missouri Amish, more about the Ohio or Pennsylvania Amish. I watched all the documentaries I could find on the Amish, read research books, and it gave me a great excuse to read all the Amish books on the market.

Tell us what new projects you’re working on.

I’m currently writing the second book in this series, which will be published in September 2011. It is about Jacob’s friend, Matthew.

The most common thing I hear when people learned I’ve published a book is, “I’ve always wanted to do that.” Faced with this statement, what advice would you give to someone just starting out in this business?

Oh, I hate that question. Initially, I would try to encourage them to write, but I quickly learned that “I always wanted to do that” and actually WANTING to do that are two different things. If they wanted to do it, really, then wild horses wouldn’t stop them. They’d HAVE to write, even if its scribbled on napkins or scrap paper. So now I tend to smile and change the subject. Because really, what can I say? On the other hand, if they are truly just starting out, I would encourage them to write, and if they ask me to read what they wrote, I would try to give a gentle critique with lots of praise, so I didn’t discourage them. The harder critiques could come after they develop the mandatory alligator skin.

What is the one question you were afraid I would ask…and how would you answer?

The question above this one! Especially as my husband’s aunt and a man at church both said the same thing to me recently. And I wasn’t sure how to respond.

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Laura is giving away a copy of her book, Patchwork Dreams. Be sure to stop by The Borrowed Book on Friday for your chance to win!

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Sunday Devotional

Max has a very keen mind. He’s proven it in the little tricks he does when we’re not looking. In fact, just about the time I think I’ve put one past him, he surprises me all over again.

Take this weekend, for example. Max has a little rubber bone that has gotten ragged with time. The squeaky is torn out of it, one end is chewed off, and more than once, I’ve found the insides strewn across my dining room carpet. Thinking I’d replace it, I went by the pet store, picked up a new bone, and threw the old one in the trash.

Problem was…Max liked the old bone. He played with the new one for all of five minutes, then set off in search of the old bone.

“Max! Come play with your toy.”

I squeezed the new bone then sent it sailing across the living room. Max looked at it but kept sniffing, searching for his old bone.

“Max!”

I picked up the new toy and waved it in front of his face. Max ignored me and kept looking. Finally, he sat down in front of the trashcan and looked back at me expectantly.

Disgusted, I threw the new toy down and went into the kitchen to fix supper. In fact, I totally forgot about Max until my husband walked in the door from work.

“What is Max doing?” he said, shrugging out of his coat.

I looked over my shoulder at him. “What?”

My husband pointed. “Why is he sitting there? Did you throw away his toy or something?”

Realizing Max had been rooted to the same spot for almost twenty minutes, I laughed and dug his toy out of the trash.

“Can you believe that?” I said, watching as Max took the toy and trotted happily into the living room.

My husband shook his head. “Well, at least he knew where to look.”

Exactly. He knew where to look.

God said that if we want to know Him better, if we desire a knowledge of who He is, that we are to search His word—to study, in fact, and not just on Sunday. We’re to be diligent, as Max was, in waiting upon the Lord and learning from Him. Only then can we be called workmen who need not be ashamed.

2 Timothy 2:15-16 (King James Version)

15Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

16But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

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Winners!!

It's always so much fun to give away great books!! Congratulations to this week's lucky winner:

Cindy W. – The Deepest Waters by Dan Walsh

Cindy, please use the button in the upper right side of this page to email me with your mailing address so I can forward your information to the authors. Then, sit back and wait for your book to arrive.

Thank you all so much for stopping by The Borrowed Book and thank you, Dan Walsh, for your generosity in providing a book!

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Weekly Drawing

Entering our weekly drawing is easy:

1. Leave a comment on Fridays or...

2. Sign up to follow The Borrowed Book. Followers will automatically be entered for a chance to win that week's drawing!

This week, The Borrowed Book is giving away:

The Deepest Waters by Dan Walsh ~ What began as a fairytale honeymoon in 1857 for John and Laura Foster aboard the steamship SS Vandervere becomes a nightmare when a hurricane causes their ship to sink into the murky depths of the Atlantic. Laura finds herself with the other women and children aboard a sailing ship while John and a hundred other men drift on the open sea on anything they could grab as the Vandervere went down. Suspecting her John is gone but still daring to hope for a miracle, Laura must face the possibility of life alone--and meeting her new in-laws without their son if she ever reaches New York.

Readers will be holding their breath as they sail through this emotional and honest story of hope, faith, and love in the face of uncertainty. Talented author Dan Walsh skillfully tells an epic story through an intimate focus on two lost lovers. Inspired by real events, this moving novel will capture the hearts of all who dive into its pages.

Winners will be announced on Saturday, 04/02/11.

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Missy Tippens Discusses "The Moral Premise"

A year ago my agent suggested I read The Moral Premise by Dr. Stanley Williams. This book has had a profound effect on the way I approach my writing. Missy Tippens is with us today to tell us what she's learned from reading the book and how it has influenced her writing.

Missy Tippens, 2006 Golden Heart finalist, made her first sale to Love Inspired in 2007. Her books have since been finalists in the Booksellers Best, ACFW Book of the Year and the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence. Her most recent from Love Inspired, A Family for Faith, is an April release. Visit Missy at www.missytippens.com.


Welcome, Missy, and thank you for stopping by today to discuss a book that I believe every aspiring author should read. In The Moral Premise, Dr. Stanley Williams states that the moral premise statement is what makes audiences connect with the story on a more profound level. Can you explain to our readers what this involves?

Dr. Williams talks about creating resonance, about touching on universal emotions. He says you need to have a moral premise that’s general enough that any reader can be changed, can learn a poignant truth about the human experience. Williams says that knowing and seeing the darkness from which a protagonist rises give the character transcendence. And gives us inspiration to live our lives better.

Is it difficult for authors to apply Dr. Williams’s concepts to novel writing even though his book was originally written for screenwriters?

I think it translates perfectly! I recently spoke at a local ACFW chapter meeting and used the word movie and book interchangeably. Since we need to write so the story unfolds like a movie in the reader’s mind, we can easily use the moral premise in our stories.

Can you give us an example of the form a moral premise statement takes?

[Vice] leads to [defeat], but [Virtue] leads to [success].
You fill in the blanks. An example:
Covetous hatred leads to death and destruction, but sacrificial love leads to life and celebration. (This is an example Williams uses for the movie Die Hard.) I’ll share an example from my book below.

How difficult is it to sum up the story’s conflict in a short phrase?

Williams give you an 8-step process in his book. You start out determining the controlling virtue, something you feel very strongly about. Something you’re passionate about. And then pair it with its opposite (the vice). In my stories, I seem to have two or three recurring themes. Look at your stories and see what it is that keeps popping up. That may be a controlling virtue/vice you’re passionate about. That’ll make the whole process easier, and your passion will show in your writing.

Once you have the basic premise of the story, what comes next? Do you have to apply this premise to every character in the book?

Yes! Williams says that moral premise should be reflected in each character’s journey. If your main character struggles with insecurity, then the others should struggle with it as well, in one form or another. Also, every scene should involve the moral premise. For any of you who’ve had a problem with episodic writing, this can help! While writing the last couple of books, I kept a copy of my moral premise in front of me and tried to think about it as I planned every scene. It helps keep you focused and can prevent you from getting too far off track.

Dr. Williams also talks about the Moment of Grace. What is that?

Somewhere around the midpoint is where the character becomes aware of the truth of the moral premise. And they work through the rest of the story to learn to practice the virtue. If they make the right choices, they have a happy ending. If the choose to keep practicing the vice, they don’t. Williams says that by the end, the protagonist realizes that it was this truth of the moral premise that was his real goal.

It seems then, that a writer needs to know the ending before beginning to write if he/she is going to craft a novel that resonates with readers in a meaningful way. Is this difficult for some writers? How can they overcome this problem?

People who aren’t plotters are intimidated by this. But I highly recommend knowing where you’re going in the story even if you’re not sure how you’re going to get there. I recommend to those who don’t plot (pantsers, who fly by the seat of their pants) that they try to do the first 3 steps of Williams’ 8 steps so that they at least know their moral premise. And then they can use this method to go back and check their story after they’re finished writing. To see if they carried the premise throughout.

As a multi-published author, have you used this concept in crafting your stories?

I’ve worked with a moral premise ever since my agent, Natasha Kern, recommended Williams’ book. It’s the first how-to book I’ve ever read all the way through! The concept really resonates with me. I’ve used it for the last two stories I’ve written, and I feel they’re better than my previous books.

Tell us how you used it in your next release.

For my book that officially releases April 1 (and is out now!), A Family for Faith, the moral premise is:
Self-protection (selfishness) leads to unhappiness, but being generous with love (even if it’s risky) leads to true happiness.

In A Family for Faith, my hero’s beloved first wife died, so he’s scared to risk loving again. The heroine, who’s been rejected by her father and a husband (and in a way her son), feels inadequate as a wife and mother. She’s scared to love again, but even more, she needs someone who’ll be totally committed to her, someone she can finally depend on. And of course, the fearful hero isn’t able to do that for most of the book. Her fear makes her hold back, protecting herself. His fear leads him to withhold the love and commitment she needs. It’s a big hurdle to overcome!

What advice would you have for writers who want to use the moral premise to make their stories have a deeper impact on their readers?

I highly recommend you read Stanley Williams’ book, The Moral Premise: Harnessing Virtue and Vice for Box Office Success. Evaluate the story ideas you’ve worked with so far. Figure out what virtues mean a lot to you—your personal common themes. And go from there! Write a story you’re passionate about, one that has resonance and will leave readers sighing when they finish reading.

Is there anything else you’d like to tell us?

If the method feels uncomfortable to you, keep trying. For pantsers, it can take some getting used to. But as I said, you can use the method to check your work after the fact.

Thank you, Missy, for a great interview. I can see you share my belief in Dr. Williams' concept. I know it has been enlightening for our readers.

For those who want to pursue this idea further, ACFW will host Dr. Williams at the Early Bird Session of the 2011 Conference in St. Louis. I can hardly wait to sign up for the class.

What about you? Do you already incorporate this concept in your writing, or do you just hope that the finished product will resonate with readers? We'd be interested in knowing how you feel about "The Moral Premise."

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Author Interview ~ Dan Walsh

Dan Walsh is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and the Christian Author’s Network. His first novel, The Unfinished Gift won 2 Carol Awards (Book-of-the-Year) from ACFW for best debut author and best short historical fiction. The sequel, The Homecoming, released in June 2010. His third novel, The Deepest Waters, will hit the shelves April 1st and his fourth, Remembering Christmas, comes out in September. He’s finishing his fifth book now, and Revell has just signed him to write three more. For those who haven’t read Dan’s novels, reviewers often compare his books to Richard Paul Evans, Jason Wright and Nicholas Sparks. He served as a pastor for 25 years and now writes fulltime in the Daytona Beach area, where he lives with the love of his life, Cindi, his wife of 34 years. They have two children, both now grown, and one grandson. As they await more grandchildren, they enjoy the company of two mini-aussies, Bailey and Darcy.

Did you see yourself becoming a writer as a child? If not, what did you dream of being?

My desire to write novels came a little later, in the 11th grade. As a child, I wanted to be an astronaut. That dream was dashed when I found out how much math and science was involved. Meanwhile, I was getting straight A’s in English, Composition and Speech class. And I discovered how much I loved writing and reading good books.

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

My story is odd, full of fits and starts. I wrote with passion in my junior and senior years in high school (back when dinosaurs ruled the earth). Then stopped completely for almost 20 years. Picked it up again for a year or so in 1996-97, when I got the idea for my first novel, The Unfinished Gift. Long story, but I stopped again…completely, after getting halfway through. Then finally, in the summer of 2007, at the urging of my wife, I picked it up again and haven’t looked back since. Two of the first 3 agents I contacted wanted to represent me. I signed with one, Karen Solem, and she had a contract for The Unfinished Gift in just a few months.

Many of the people who follow our blog are aspiring writers themselves. Can you share your favorite writing tip with them?

Think I’ll share my favorite writer’s quote by NY Times bestselling author Elmore Leonard: "In your writing, try to leave out the part readers tend to skip."

Now for the readers…many times, it’s easy for them to connect with the characters in a book, but not so much the authors themselves. Share something about your day-to-day life that might help a reader to feel as though they know you a little better.

I love the solitude that goes with writing and research, but I also love to be with people. I love to laugh but, for a guy, I cry much too easily. I love fine cuisine but half the time prefer pizza. We live in Daytona Beach. When I was young I surfed. Now I love taking long walks on that same beach with my wife, or just sit and read with her under an umbrella, dangling my toes at the water’s edge.

Now that you are published, do you still experience rejections? If so, how are these rejections different or similar to the ones you received before becoming published?

I know rejection is a huge part of the writing business and a normal part of a writer’s life. And I’ve made some great writing friends who’ve experienced real heartache from this, so I’m sensitive to the pain. Since getting published, though, I’ve had very little rejection (had very little on my journey before that). I can’t explain why this is so, though I’m not complaining. I hope this doesn’t mean my rewards in heaven will be few.

One area of discouragement, although I don’t think it qualifies as rejection, is having the desire to write books in several genres but knowing this isn’t a realistic expectation in today’s marketplace. Especially when an author is fairly new and growing a readership. Readers like to read certain kinds of books (why there’s so many sections in a bookstore). It’s hard to grow a readership if you keep switching genres, so authors are asked to settle on one genre they enjoy and resist the urge to drift too far from there.

Tell us a little about your latest release:

It’s called The Deepest Waters. Here’s a one-paragraph summary we came up with.

What began as a fairytale honeymoon for John and Laura Foster aboard the steamship SS Vandervere becomes a nightmare when a hurricane causes their ship to sink into the murky depths of the Atlantic. Just before she goes down, an old wooden ship comes to their rescue but can only take the women and children aboard. The couple is pulled apart, certain they will never see each other again. Laura sails alone to New York to face a family she has never met. Inspired by a true story, The Deepest Waters weaves a tale filled with action and suspense but is also an amazing love story, one that could only happen if miracles come true.

If you could only share one line from The Deepest Waters, which one would you choose and why?

Yesterday, when it had become a certainty their ship would sink, Laura and John Foster held hands, as they had on their wedding day three weeks ago, and made a vow: when that moment finally came they would leap into the sea together and slip beneath the waves.

This is how the book opens. Why pick this line? Hoping it beckons you to read more.

Writers often put things in their books that are very personal—like a funny story that happened to them, a spiritual truth they learned through difficulty, or even just a character trait that is uniquely theirs. Is there something in The Deepest Waters that only people close to you know is about you or someone you know?

I guess I’d pick a spiritual truth learned through difficulty. Fair to say, one I’m still learning. One of the main characters is Micah, an old, illiterate Negro slave; but a man who has a deep walk with God which has a profound effect on everyone around him. After many days of watching him endure far greater suffering than she has, even through the shipwreck, Laura asks him to tell her the secret of his happiness. His answer reveals a lesson God has been teaching me in the last several years.

Readers often talk a lot about the hero and heroine of a story, but today I’d like to know something about your villain. Does he or she have a redeeming quality? Why or why not?

Sad to say, the main villain, Ayden Maul, has no redeeming qualities. At least not in the span of time covered by the book. Perhaps beyond the pages of this tale, God may still reach someone like him.

What kind of research did you have to do for this book? Can you share some articles or website links you found particularly helpful?

Since the story was set in 1857, I had to do extensive research. I’d been fairly familiar with the Civil War era, but this story happens in the decade before the war. Before writing this book, I knew nothing about the 1850’s. Since it is based on a true story, but one that is little known, I found only two books (one out of print) that covered it. But they were very helpful. I also found many websites that helped me learn about life on the sea during this time, as well as some fascinating historical facts about New York City and San Francisco. I hadn’t realized this before, but the 1850’s saw the transformation of San Francisco from a small seaside village to a major boomtown on the west coast.

Tell us what new projects you’re working on.

I’m finishing up my 5th book for Revell. The working title is A Persistent Rumor. It’s a story that begins in the present, returns to the 1940’s in the middle, then resolves back in the present. It’s about a grandson who discovers his grandfather’s amazing past after inheriting his home in Charleston, things he’d kept hidden from the family while he was alive. I’m also part of a team of authors writing in a series for Guideposts called, The Miracles of Marble Cove. I’m writing book 5 for the series.

Up ahead? Revell has just signed me to write 3 more novels for them, with a goal of releasing two books a year (like we’re doing in 2011, one in the Fall, another in the Spring). We’ve already agreed on the storylines, all stand-alone novels, similar in genre to the books I’ve been writing (which I love). One takes place in 1962, during the height of the Kennedy years. One takes place in the present. And one begins in the present but flashes back to the turbulent years of the Viet Nam era.

The most common thing I hear when people learned I’ve published a book is, “I’ve always wanted to do that.” Faced with this statement, what advice would you give to someone just starting out in this business?

It’s not for the faint of heart. If you don’t have a deep desire to excel at the craft of writing (not just love to tell stories), if you become easily hurt or discouraged when you receive input or criticism, if you don’t enjoy long hours of solitude, if you don’t love to read great books, if you are known for starting many things but finishing few, if you don’t have a tenacious zeal to keep at something until you succeed…you might want to consider doing something else.

What is the one question you were afraid I would ask…and how would you answer?

Why would I answer that question if I’ve gotten to the end of the interview and have successfully dodged that bullet?

Seriously, I haven’t been asked a question yet, in any interview, that I was afraid to answer.

Connect with Dan Walsh on the web:

http://www.danwalshbooks.com/
http://danwalshbooks.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/authordanwalsh

Also, stop by The Borrowed Book on Friday for your chance to win a copy of The Deepest Waters by Dan Walsh.

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Writing 101: The Professional Editor Visits *gulp*

I’ve heard tell of them--Editorial Letters. Eight or nine page beasts that require an author to sift through their manuscript as cold sweat drips down their back and the taunt “Now everyone knows what a terrible writer you are,” echoes in their ears. But I had never encountered one myself, though I must admit that the taunt runs through my mind throughout the writing of a manuscript, e-mailing of finished product, and subsequent edits. There now. That doesn’t leave out any part of the process, now does it?

But this, my very first “official” editorial letter, was different. Not at all what I expected.

It all started out innocently enough. I received an email. From this lady. Her name is Jamie Chavez and this is how it started:

Hi Sandra!
This is just a quick email to introduce myself and tell you that we're gonna
work on your novel, A Recipe for Deceit, together. Really soon! And quickly!

What captured me right away is the cadence of her email. The energy. And if any of you have ever read a LaTisha Barnhart mystery, you know LaTisha is all about attitude and, in her own way, energy. I think I expected something stodgy and stuffy. “Greetings, My name is William Wunderkiedz and I am an intellectual genius with a three digit IQ and more degrees in English, particularly Grammar, than you have teeth. . ."

What I got was. . .

HI! So nice to meet you! A quick background on me: I'm a mom (OK, OK, my boy is 27), I worked for Thomas Nelson for 11 years before I went freelance back in 2004, and I love, love, love what I do. I have a website, so you can see my portfolio. Oh, and I'm on Facebook, if you're
interested. :)

Down to earth. Kind. Funny. Spunky. I was relieved. I then did what any self-respecting author would do. I googled “Jamie Chavez” and found jamiechavez.com (duh, now why didn’t I think of that?). Jamie’s picture grabbed me by the throat! Can’t you just SEE LaTisha looking over her reading glasses like that? Okay, so this lady is legit, and she’s jazzed, and I’m getting excited because I like working with high-energy people.

Second, third, fourth, and fifth thing to grab me is. . .she’s a Mac gal! Yeah! A woman who has not only stepped into the 21st century but has embraced the simplicity and beauty that is Mac. Check out her Macbook Pro! Drooling. . .

Then, within a week, she sent me THE LETTER and I realized. . .



Over the course of the next few Tuesdays, we're going to peek into the relationship between an author and developmental editor as Jamie Chavez and I work through Recipe for Deceit, the third and last of the LaTisha Barnhart Mystery series. Jamie is going to join me in this and we’re going to be open to any questions you might have. Drop us a line!

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