An interview with Anita Higman

Anita Higman

For a single girl in her 30s who longs to be married, it can be easy to feel a little lost when all your princes keep turning into frogs. Anita Higman details the twists and turns, triumphs and failures, in one young woman's search for love in her new book, Summer's List (River North/June 1, 2015/ISBN: 978-0802412324/$14.99).

 Life hasn't been easy for Summer Snow. She spent what should have been her carefree 20s selflessly caring for her ailing parents and denied herself the dreams in her heart to run her grandmother's bookstore. And if you asked her, she would say she's mostly happy - but she knows she's missing something - and her grandmother's love doesn't fill that aching part of her heart that longs for love and romance.

Q: In three sentences or less, tell us about your new book. 

A young woman, Summer Snow is sent on an unexpected adventure with Martin Langtree, a kind but gangly young man from Summer's past. A childhood friendship is rekindled, a romance is sparked and mysteries are solved in one magical Texas summer.

Q: What is the main theme that runs through Summer's List? 

Forgiveness and reconciliation do not come naturally to mankind, but it's the only right way to live. It's the way Christ taught us to live.

Q: What was the inspiration behind the story? 

My answer isn't romantic. It's not literary sounding in any way. It's the kind of answer that lets you see behind the curtain. I hope it doesn't spoil any of the magic for you, but here's my answer. It's always been easy for me to create quirky characters but not so easy to create conflict that can keep going for 80,000 words. So I thought if a heroine had a list of things she was compelled to do - and the list was challenging and fun, with surprises along the way - that this concept could create enough plot and conflict to get me through to the end of a book. I'll let you decide if my idea worked or not!

Q: Your heroine, Summer Snow, is used to putting others' interests before her own. We are taught to serve others, but is there a point when selflessness can become damaging?

Yes. It could be that Summer's parents should have insisted she at least attend a local college so she could prepare for her future while she was watching over them. Even loving parents can make selfish decisions at times.

Q: Can you identify with Summer's search for love? 

Yes, before I met my husband I was sort of lost in love like Summer. But I was fortunate enough to find my husband without a life-list.

Q: Why do you think the number of people delaying marriage into their 30s and even beyond is growing? 

I don't know for sure, but my guess is they are frightened of commitment. The reason may be because the divorce rate has some pretty scary statistics attached to it. For some men and women, maybe it feels hopeless for a marriage to last a lifetime. But it is possible. My husband and I have been married 35 years. We don't have a perfect marriage, but we're committed to each other, and we love each other. If we were to fall out of love someday, I know our commitment would keep us safe until we could fall in love all over again. My advice is to love freely, forgive easily and invite God to be ever-present in your marriage.

Q: What expectations and social pressures are put upon single women in the church?

Perhaps they feel if they can't find Mr. Right, then they are somehow second-class women. That is, of course, not true. But people in the church need to be sensitive to those who do not marry. We should never exclude them or make them feel they are somehow unacceptable or unlovable if they remain single.

Q: Can it be dangerous for women to believe in the notion of a "soul mate" or one single person whom God has for you to find and marry?

Yes, I suppose it could be a dangerous mindset because when you get bored or angry with your spouse - which is very common in most marriages - then it's easy to think you've made a grave error in your choice and someone else was your true destiny and would make you happier. That kind of faulty thinking is an effective way to dismantle a marriage.

River North, 2015

Q: What is the best advice you have for someone who truly longs for marriage? 

Tell God the desires of your heart. He cares deeply for us. But in my opinion, it wouldn't be wrong to consider using a good Christian dating service. I know of a woman right now who is living her happily-ever-after because of one of these services.

Q: Summer's story is unique, as she completes the "bucket list" her Grandmother made for her. What are some other ways single women can connect with their purpose in life, despite their disappointments?

 Make a list of all the talents God has given you, and then go about using them for His glory. You'll find satisfaction and purpose in doing what you were created to do.

Q: Have you ever made a bucket list? How did it change your life? 

 I've not made a bucket list, but my husband and I have made a list of places we'd like to travel to before we journey to heaven. Some places left on that list are Israel, Greece and Norway. Can't wait!

Q: Why do God's plans for our lives often look so very different than our own?

Because we see through a glass darkly while we're here on earth. If we could see more as God does, we would have different plans. They would come closer to lining up with His ways, and there would be much less turmoil and disappointment.

Q: Summer manages a children's bookshop. Was there someone in your childhood who helped instill in you a love for literature? 

 My mother read fairytales to me when I was a little girl. Those stories had a profound effect on me. People have told me my novels read a little like modern fairytales. My husband and I are about to break ground on our retirement home. Can you guess what it is? It's a fairytale house in the woods. Stories stay with us for a lifetime!

Q: You are, in fact, very enthusiastic about promoting literacy and have even won awards for your efforts in that arena. Why is that such an important cause for you?

If people can't read, I'm out of business. But beyond that reasoning, I always hope all people are able to read and know the power of words. Imagine going a lifetime without reading Oliver Twist or Pride and Prejudice or the Bible!

Q: What is the number-one message you want your readers to receive from Summer's List?

My brand is "Stories with a soft landing because life is hard." I hope readers finish all my books with a lighter heart and a sense of joy and hope.

To keep up with Anita Higman, visit www.anitahigman.com become a fan on Facebook (AuthorAnitaHigman) or follow her on Twitter (@anitahigman).

Read More

An Interview with Deborah Raney

On Tuesday, author Deborah Raney gave us a tour of her sweet new office space. Today she's agreed to answer some questions for us.

1) Welcome back to The Borrowed Book, Deborah! Tell us -- 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 knew I wanted to be an author the summer I was 11 and read all of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House books. That’s the first I remember making the connection that books had authors and that being an author was something you could be when you “grew up.”

My granddaughter has been reading through that series this year. I love seeing kids reading good books.

2) 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?

LOL! Nothing quite so dramatic as the above, but I’ve definitely had some things happen that made me laugh. Usually at myself. At one of my early conference speaking gigs, when I was an unknown author. I was delighted when over 800 women showed up at one of my workshops. I was feeling rather smug about my growing fame when I overheard two conferees saying they couldn’t wait to hear me speak: “She’s Dennis Rainey’s wife––from Family Life Today, you know!” Oops. No wonder they were flocking to my sessions!

That's funny! But you can take comfort in the knowledge that now, they come to hear you.

3) What do you love about being a writer, and what do you like the least?

I love that I get to work from home and make my own hours. I especially love that I’ve gotten to meet some of my own favorite authors, who are now friends.

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

Almost completely a pantser, but I do occasionally plot a few chapters ahead.

Viva la pantsers!

5) Do you write full time, or do you work it in alongside a full-time job?

I’ve been very blessed to be able to write full-time since the beginning. My husband has been wonderfully supportive of my writing career and has made it possible for me to devote full time to writing.

6) A supportive husband is a tremendous blessing. So what do your kids think about your being a writer?

When they were younger, they took it for granted. It wasn’t until they went off to college that they realized that what I do is somewhat unusual and that sometimes they would run into complete strangers who were impressed that their mom was “the” author Deborah Raney. I remember my oldest daughter calling me from her out-of-state college, incredulous, to say, “Mom, did you know you’re famous!” She’d returned some books to the library, had seen one of my books on the check-out counter, and expressed surprise. Apparently the librarian was very excited that the author’s daughter was a patron.

That's awesome!

7) How do you get your best ideas?

Because I write contemporary women’s fiction, most of my best ideas sprout from the seeds of real-life stories––newspaper headlines or stories I heard from a friend of a friend of a friend. Of course, I change as many details as possible to make the story my own, but when you start with a situation that’s actually happened, the story can’t help but feel real.

8) What do you do to get past writer’s block?

One of my best tips is simply to keep writing, even if it feels like your work is absolutely awful. Sometimes I find in editing that my writing wasn’t as bad as I feared. Other times I find it was indeed awful, but at least I have something to work with. Anything is better than that formidable blank page.

I agree. The worst thing you ever wrote is better than the best thing you never wrote.

9) What’s your favorite method for keeping a story’s middle from sagging?

Kill somebody. LOL! Usually if I’m struggling with a sagging plot it’s because I haven’t set the story up well enough, haven’t turned up the heat on my characters, haven’t asked enough questions. If I fix those things in the earlier chapters, there’s usually no problem filling the middle with interesting scenes.

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

There truly is no such thing as a typical day. It all depends on what point in the life of a book I’m at. When I’m on deadline I need to get at least 1000 words a day on the page. The last couple of weeks before a book is due, I may have to write 2-3 times that many words. But before that deadline gets close, I often spend more time on social media, doing interviews, working on edits for the last book I turned in, or going back and forth with the cover designer or publicist. My deadlines don’t always allow, but I try to take a nice break––at least a couple of weeks between books to clean off my desk, gather my research material, and gear up for the new story. I also travel 5-6 times a year to teach at writers conferences around the country.

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

Yes! I’ve found that movie soundtracks are great background and mood music to write by. The music in movies greatly enhances the emotions you feel while watching, and for me, it’s the same with writing a novel. I hope those heightened emotions I’m feeling as I listen to music come through in the emotion of the novel.

12) 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?

I have to have a tidy house (beds made, dishes done, pillows fluffed) before I can write. Then I choose my music to write by, light some scented candles, make a cup of coffee in the Keurig coffeemaker that sits in my office. If it’s raining outside my window, that’s the formula for a perfect writing day!

If I had to have a tidy house before I could write, I'd never get anything written! But I agree with the rain part. Perfect ambiance.

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

Every weekday at 6:30 a.m., my husband and I head down to our basement workout room for 45 minutes on the treadmill and elliptical machine. We also do stretches, lift hand weights, and run the stairs a few times. All while watching old TV series on the TV. I’ve come to rather enjoy those morning workouts!

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

We’ve loved a series of cats throughout our 38 years of marriage, but now that we are traveling together several times a year, it’s easier not to have a pet. We miss having a cat in the house though, and I suspect we’ll get another one once our schedule doesn’t include quite so much travel.

Pets are good companions, but you're right--it's easier to travel when you don't have to worry about them.

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

Though I was told as a teenager that I probably wouldn’t be able to conceive, the Lord blessed us with four children. But their births spanned the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s! I gave birth to a boy in the ’70s, a boy and a girl in the ’80s, and our surprise baby girl in 1990.

Never say never! When people told you that, I expect God chuckled, knowing what He had in store for you.

Thank you, Deborah for visiting with us at The Borrowed Book.

And readers, don't forget to come back tomorrow to enter to win a free copy of Deb's

latest release, The Face of the Earth.

Deborah Raney is the award-winning author of several novels, including A Nest of Sparrows and the RITA award winning Beneath a Southern Sky and its sequel, After the Rains. Deborah's first novel, A Vow to Cherish, was the inspiration for World Wide Pictures' highly acclaimed film of the same title, which in December 2004 aired on prime time network TV for the second time. Deb's novella, Playing by Heart, was a National Readers Choice Award winner and a 2004 Christy Award finalist. Her novel for Howard/Simon & Schuster, Yesterday's Embers, appeared on the ECPA Christian fiction bestseller list. Known for her sensitive portrayal of family struggles and relationships, Deb has also written nonfiction books and articles and often speaks at women's retreats and writers' conferences around the country. She and her husband, illustrator/author Ken Raney, have four children and make their home in Kansas.

  

Learn more about Deborah at http://debiraney.blogspot.com.

Read More