Author Interview with Cathy Bryant

Please join me in welcoming back, one of my favorite authors, Cathy Bryant. Cathy’s debut novel Texas Roads was a 2009 finalist in the American Christian Fiction Writer’s Genesis contest. A Texas gal since birth, she lives in a century-old farmhouse with her husband of almost thirty years and a phobia-ridden cat.

[Anne] Welcome back, Cathy. I’ve been hearing some really wonderful things about Texas Roads. Will you remind us what the story is about?

[Cathy] Thanks for having me over for a visit, Anne. Texas Roads tells the story of a disillusioned widow’s quest for home. Here’s the back-cover copy:

Dani Davis longs for a place to call home. With quaint country charm, quirky residents, and loads of business potential, Miller’s Creek, Texas seems like the perfect place to start over … except for the cowboy who gives her a ride into town. Then malicious rumors and a devastating discovery propel her down a road she never expected to travel.

[Anne] You self-published this book, any regrets about not going with a publisher?

[Cathy] None at all. It’s been a huge learning curve, but what I’ve gained in experience more than makes up for the hours of work.

[Anne] I know you did a wonderful post on your blog about the pros and cons of self-publishing, but would you please list a couple that come to mind for those who may have missed it?

[Cathy] I’d be happy to. The biggest pro for me has been the ability to make all the decisions. I’ve always been the type of person who likes to get my hands into every part of a creative project. From cover design to interior design, I enjoyed learning about the process and making the final choices.

The biggest drawback for me has been the stigma associated with self-publishing. Unfortunately, many people won’t even take a chance on a self-published book. Truthfully, there are a lot of horrible self-published books out there, but there are also some really great ones (and some horrible traditionally published books). Statistics prove that more and more writers are choosing to go the self-publishing route, so I hope the self-publishing stigma will go the way of the dodo.

[Anne] Have you had any trouble lining up book signings? And do you feel they are worthwhile?

[Cathy] No trouble at all. In my opinion, book signings are more about gaining readers than they are selling books. While I’ve been very pleased with sales at the book signings I’ve done, I’m more pleased with the opportunity to meet readers.

[Anne] I totally agree with you there, Cathy. I love visiting with the readers too! You have a very successful blog, plus you’re a great writer. Do you keep to a rigid schedule that enables you to get everything done?

[Cathy] I’m a self-confessed workaholic, but I enjoy what I do. The hard part for me is fitting everyday life around my work. Last week, I finally took some time off to finish a major renovation project on our century-old fixer-upper. Sad, isn’t it? Take a break from work to—well, um—work!

[Anne] LOL. You’ve gotta love those working vacations. Do you have anything new in the works?

[Cathy] I just finished the rough draft of book two in the Miller’s Creek, Texas Series, entitled A Path Less Traveled. I hope to have it available to the public by October 2010. I also have a devotional book in the works.

[Anne] I had the pleasure of reading one of your devotionals in a recent Upper Room issue, so I’m looking forward to both your new books. What is your writing process like? Are you a plotter or a pantster?

[Cathy] I’m a card-carrying plotter! =) I compare writing a book to taking a trip. When I go on a trip, I want to know all the details ahead of time—which roads to take, where I’ll stay, what sights I’ll take in. I feel the same about writing a book. I spend at least two or three weeks plotting out every detail of the story, including lengthy character charts. My pre-writing is usually 50-100 pages long.

Next I zip through the first draft, usually in 4-6 weeks. After that, I spend considerable time on edits and revisions before sending out the novel to beta readers and editors.

[Anne] If you could be anyone of your characters, which one would you chose to be and why?

[Cathy] Without a doubt, Mama Beth. She’s the mother figure of Miller’s Creek, a woman shouldering a life-altering secret, but always willing to share her love and wisdom with anyone who needs it.

[Anne] Cathy, you’ve just been informed that Texas Roads is a NY Times bestseller and Hollywood wants to turn it into a movie. What actors would you choose to play your main characters?

[Cathy] Really? Thanks for passing on the good news! All kidding aside, Dani Davis would be played by Reese Witherspoon, and I see Scott Bakula in the role of Steve Miller.

[Anne] Great choices? What type of books do you like to read when you’re not writing?

[Cathy] I’m an eclectic reader. I read books in the genres I like to write, romance and women’s fiction. I try to read books from the Christian fiction market as well as books from the ABA. I also enjoy the classics, biographies, devotional/Bible studies, books on the craft of writing, and books that help me better understand the psychology of my characters.

[Anne] What advice would you give to someone who wants to self-publish their book?

[Cathy] Pray, pray, pray and research, research, research. Avoid subsidy publishing. You can do it yourself for much less money. Consider your time schedule and the LOADS of work required when self-publishing.

[Anne] Excellent advice, Cathy. Will you remind our readers where can we find you on the web?

[Cathy] At my blog, WordVessel (http://WordVessel.blogspot.com), my website (www.CatBryant.com), on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/cathy.england.bryant), and on Twitter (http://twitter.com/CathyBryant).

[Anne] And for those who haven’t read your wonderful book, where can we purchase Texas Roads?

[Cathy] For all eReaders: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/8963.

For a print version: http://www.amazon.com/Texas-Roads-Cathy-Bryant/dp/0984431101/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1278725220&sr=1-1

[Anne] Is there anything else you’d like to add?

[Cathy] Thanks again for the opportunity to join you at your wonderful blog, Anne. It’s always a pleasure!

[Anne] The pleasure was mine, Cathy. Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to visit. In closing, I’ll let you all view Cathy’s book trailer. Folks, if you haven’t picked up a copy of Texas Roads yet I highly recommend you do.

Author Interview with Vijaya Schartz!

Since her first book release in 2000, award-winning author Vijaya Schartz has published a dozen novels and novellas in Science Fiction, mainstream and romance, in print and electronic format, often mixing genres. Born in France and a world traveler, she writes romance with a kick (kick-butt heroines) and brings an exotic quality to her stories. Her books gathered three Golden Quill awards, an Ariana Award, a Quasar award for the cover, one Independent Publishers Book Award, several reviewers’ choice awards, as well as numerous five-star reviews. Her latest romantic science-fiction series, THE CHRONICLES OF KASSOUK, from Desert Breeze Publishing, started with WHITE TIGER in August 2009. RED LEOPARD came out in April 2010, and BLACK JAGUAR is scheduled for November 2010.

[Anne] When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer, Vijaya?

[Vijaya] When I was six, I wrote poetry. Then as a teenager, I was fascinated by detective stories and even thought of writing one. At eighteen, I started a book on how to run a country, because obviously, the French government wasn’t doing a very good job. At eighteen everything is simple, black and white. I abandoned the project when my boyfriend pointed out that Plato had already written my book for me in 480 BC, and it was titled THE REPUBLIC. I then decided that if I wanted to write, I had to acquire experience, so explored the world to learn something original and exotic to write about.

[Anne] Tell us about your latest book.

[Vijaya] RED LEOPARD is not only a romance, not only a suspenseful sci-fi adventure, but like many sci-fi stories, it’s about people’s ideals, passions, weaknesses, loyalties. It’s about making mistakes, getting out of tight spots, and doing the right thing in the most trying circumstances.

In charge of the fortress of Kassouk in the King's absence, what is Terek to do when a Goddian spacecraft lands in his medieval backyard, and the striking woman leading the galactic party insists on colonization?

Galya, the Goddian Princess commanding the geological vessel, is bent on finding a crystal with unusual hyper-conductor properties. And the futile resistance of the local population isn’t going to stop her. Not even that defiant tribal chief nicknamed Red Leopard, like the infernal feline that follows him everywhere.

Terek and his band of swordsmen and felines must defend their people’s freedom, no matter the cost. But with this unexpected arrival, an old prophecy surfaces, taking new meaning and carrying a new threat...

When political intrigues, greed, murder and betrayal tip the scales, whom can Galya really trust? Her fellow Goddians? the Mutants bred to serve her race? Or her primitive Human enemy?

[Anne] What inspired you to write this story?

[Vijaya] When Desert Breeze acquired WHITE TIGER and showed interest in a series, I was very excited about revisiting the world of Kassouk. RED LEOPARD is book two. Like Book One, I wanted it to revolve around the theme of an advanced galactic race challenged by a low-tech world. I like it when the little guys manage to win. There is poetic justice in my books. Each story is complete in itself, but if you are like me, you still want to read them in chronological order if you don’t want any spoilers, since some characters from previous books are mentioned in subsequent stories. In White Tiger, the heroine was a soldier raised in a low-tech society and the hero was highly educated and refined, so in RED LEOPARD, the hero is from the medieval Human world, and the heroine is a galactic princess.

[Anne] How did you go about researching your book?

[Vijaya] The research is always intensive. I am a medieval buff. I have a whole library of medieval research books in my office. It irks me when I read a historical novel with a bunch of flagrant historical mistakes in the way people live, the technology available at the time, etc. Often writers make the mistake of thinking that because something was invented in a certain year, everyone in the most remote villages had access to it. It spoils my reading pleasure. Only in the last fifty years did inventions and science discoveries spread instantly to the whole world, thanks to the fantastic communication network we enjoy.

Then I also research the future by keeping abreast of the latest technologies, trying to extrapolate the direction of scientific progress. Did you know that within a few years, the luxury cars will actually drive themselves with their GPS? The prototypes are already fully functional. Did you know that Hawkins (the father of black holes theories) recently made an announcement that we were and are probably visited by alien races, and that it wouldn’t be a good idea to initiate direct contact? His metaphor was that if we did, we would likely be treated like the first explorers on the American continent treated the natives, and it wouldn’t be to our advantage.

[Anne] Hummm. That’s interesting…and scary. Do you have anything new in the works?

[Vijaya] I’m actively writing book three in the Chronicles of Kassouk, BLACK JAGUAR, where the hero is a son of the characters in book two, and the heroine is from a less evolved native tribe, but she is a healer and a mind reader. Of course, expect a lot of galactic interference and dramatic complications.

[Anne] What is your writing process like? Are you a plotter or a pantster?

[Vijaya] I started as a pantser when writing my first four novels. Then I became a plotter when my editors requested fifteen page synopses even before I wrote the book. But I noticed that plotting far in advance deprived the story of the natural complications that mature as you deepen the characters. So now, I do both. I have a story arc, I know the beginning, the end, and a few twists in between. But I let the characters write the story and I give them time to develop organically. It makes for deeper characters and a less predictable story, without taking out any of the action or suspense.

[Anne] I totally agree! If you could be anyone of your characters, which one would you chose to be and why?

[Vijaya] I would probably be Tora, the medieval cavalry officer in White Tiger. She is fierce and dedicated while retaining all her feminine qualities. She is the perfect balance of independence, strength, bravery, compassion, and ability to love.

[Anne] Say your publisher has offered to fly you anywhere in the world to do research on an upcoming book, where would you most likely want to go? (Okay so maybe this isn’t very likely to happen but since I’m asking the questions…)

[Vijaya] One can always dream. I’ve been to so many places, like India, Egypt, Japan, Thailand, and all over Europe. I would probably choose a South American archeological site, like the Nasca plateau, Machu Pichu, or some little known Aztec or Mayan ruins. I find all these mysterious places inspiring and full of little known history and legends. I am fascinated by the unexplained knowledge of some ancient civilizations.

[Anne] You’ve just been informed that your latest release was a NY Times bestseller and Hollywood wants to turn it into a movie. What actors would you choose to play your main characters?

[Vijaya] Bless you for suggesting this financial downfall, although the chances of a Sci-Fi romance becoming a NYT Bestseller are remote. But if I did manage to get so lucky, the difficulty would be to find a good enough actor with all the physical attributes of my characters. For Red Leopard, the hero should be as fierce as Russel Crow but younger, and better looking. I’m open to suggestions…

[Anne] That would be a tough cast to fill. What type of books do you like to read when you’re not writing?

[Vijaya] I read all kinds of books. I like romance with a gritty plot, and other elements like suspense, paranormal, fantasy or sci-fi. You’ll never catch me reading horror, however. Giant worms or zombies leave me cold. I like my thrills to be totally believable, even in fantasy. My logical mind demands it.

[Anne] Name three things you can’t live without (excluding spouses and family because that’s a given).

[Vijaya] I couldn’t live without cats, or chocolate, or good, entertaining novels (or an ebook reader fully loaded with my favorite titles).

[Anne] What advice would you give to any aspiring writers out there?

[Vijaya] Write every day. Keep polishing your craft. Learn the rules so you know when to break them (when it’s best for the story). Write the book of your heart. Listen to constructive critique but always make the final decision. You know your story and your characters best. The most important thing is to believe in yourself.

[Anne] Where can we find you on the web?

http://www.vijayaschartz.com
http://romancingscifi.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Vijaya-Schartz-Author/109777709045040
http://www.myspace.com/vijayaschartz

[Anne] Where can we purchase your book(s)?

http://www.allromanceebooks.com/storeSearch.html?searchBy=author&qString=Vijaya+Schartz
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-template/VijayaSchartz/Page.bok
http://www.sapphirebluepublishing.com/catalog/index.php?manufacturers_id=25&osCsid=f4c7287d180828db5450783076708628

[Vijaya] All my Kindle and paperback titles are available on my amazon page:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B001JP7UJ4

[Anne] Is there anything else you’d like to add?

[Vijaya] Thank you so much, Anne, for letting me share.

Vijaya Schartz, Romance with a Kick http://www.vijayaschartz.com/

Author Interview with Barri Bryan

Visiting us today is romance author, Barri Bryan.

Barri’s Bio: Barri Bryan is a pen name for Billie Houston. I acquired the pseudonym at the behest of my adult children when they discovered a steamy excerpt from one of my romances at the web site of a publisher.

I am a former high school English teacher. I like George Strait's music, old movies, and Earl Grey tea. My hobbies are reading, quilting, sewing, knitting, crocheting, taking long walks, and growing house plants and herbs. I'm a four-time EPPIE winner and a published author with over twenty novels, four books of poetry, numerous essays, several short stories, and one non-fiction how-to-write to my credit. I have been seriously pursuing a writing career since 1990. My first romance was published in 1998. I write the kind of stories I enjoy reading --- romantic tales about relationships; stories that probe feelings and explore emotions. The plots revolve around ordinary people caught in extraordinary circumstances and faced with difficult decisions.

[Anne] I’m’ thrilled you could join us today, Barri. Congrats on the Eppies. Wow! That is awesome. When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

[Barri] I have been writing poetry since I was a child. My desire to write and publish romances came after I'd retired from teaching. I had been reading romances since I was in junior high school. I decided it was time I tried writing one.

[Anne] Tell us about your latest book.

[Barri] My latest book is titled Search for Paradise. It's the story of a forty-six year old woman who has just suffered through the trauma of a nasty divorce and estrangement from her two adult children. Financial difficulties force her and her mother to return to Paradise Ranch, the homestead they left forty years ago. They have scarcely set foot in the depilated old ranch house when their next-door neighbor, Hank Sinclair, arrives to announce that he has prior claim on Paradise. Kate is forced to enter into a business arrangement with this handsome bachelor and soon finds herself falling in love with him despite the fact that he has made it plain that he wants no lasting relationship.

[Anne] What inspired you to write this story?

[Barri} My grandmother was the inspiration for Search for Paradise. Since I was I child I'd heard stories about how that, after her husband died in 1918, she moved with her four children from her comfortable home and her family in Central Texas to a wind-swept desolate stretch of land near the Texas New Mexico border where she didn't know a soul.

[Anne] How did you go about researching your book?

[Barri] Since the time of my story is now, I didn't have to do too much research. I did have to research some about ranching.

[Anne] Do you have anything new in the works?

[Barri] I'm beginning to outline a story set in the 1930's during the Great Depression,

[Anne] What is your writing process like? Are you a plotter or a panster?

[Barri] I'm definitely a plotter. I make an outline and do some research before I ever begin my actual story.

[Anne] If you could be anyone of your characters, which one would you chose to be and why?

[Barri] I think I'd choose to be Kate McClure in Search for Paradise. She's a mature woman (46). She has learned for experience the importance of family and the value of true love. She has a zest for living and the spirit to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

[Anne] Say your publisher has offered to fly you anywhere in the world to do research on an upcoming book, where would you most likely want to go? (Okay so maybe this isn’t very likely to happen but since I’m asking the questions…)

[Barri] I don't even have to think about this one. I've always wanted to visit the Greek Islands, especially Crete, Lesbos, and Rhodes.

[Anne] Oooh nice choice! Okay, now you’ve just been informed that your latest release was a NY Times bestseller and Hollywood wants to turn it into a movie. What actors would you choose to play your main characters?

[Barri] After I came down to earth again, I'd choose Reece Witherspoon to play Kate McClure. She'd have to consent to having her blonde locks dyed red. Sam Elliot would be a perfect Hank Sinclair.

[Anne] Mumm Sam Elliot :-). Perfect choice! So, what type of books do you like to read when you’re not writing?

[Barri] I like contemporary and historical romances. I read a lot of poetry. I enjoy mysteries and I have recently been exploring paranormal and time-travel romances. I also enjoy non-fiction books about how to improve writing skills.

[Anne] Name three things you can’t live without (excluding spouses and family because that’s a given).

[Barri] Three things I can't live without are my morning cup of tea, good books, and country music.

[Anne] What advice would you give to any aspiring writers out there?

[Barri] Decide where your book is begging to go and then take it there. Let it be true to your perception of reality and reflect your originality and creativity.

[Anne] Good advice, Barri! Where can we find you on the web?

[Barri] http://barribryan.com/

[Anne] Where can we purchase your book(s)?

[Barri] You can purchase Search for Paradise at: http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-67/Search-for-Paradise/Detail.bok  The Cupid Dairies at: http://www.classicromancerevival.com/the-cupid-diaries.html

[Anne] Is there anything else you’d like to add?

[Barri] I've had a lovely time visiting with you. Thank you for inviting me.

[Anne] I’m glad you were able to drop by. I’ve enjoyed having you, Barri!

Author Michele Ashman Bell Interview

Please join me in welcoming author, Michele Ashman Bell, who has penned over twenty books so far, ranging from romance to children’s books. Michele, I’m thrilled you’ve joined us today and I’m really looking forward to learning more about you.

[Anne] Why don’t we begin with how you got started in writing? How difficult was your journey to publication?

[Michele] My interest in writing stemmed from my love of books and reading. I distinctly remember being in third grade and having my teacher read, “My Father’s Dragon” to us. That book tapped into my imagination and created magic for me. My love affair with books grew with each passing year. When I was twenty-six I read a short story in Good Housekeeping magazine that I thought was terrible. I exclaimed out loud, “I could write a better story than that!” and that became a challenge to myself to see if I really could. It took ten years to finally get published. I first started with the national romance market, but wasn’t comfortable with the content most publishers wanted, so I jumped to YA, then children’s, then juvenile fiction. All with no luck. Finally, I discovered the inspirational market and the rest, they say, is history. By the way, I kept every rejection letter/post card (somewhere around 65) I ever received and have them in a scrapbook.

[Anne] I don’t have my rejections in a scrapbook yet, but I have them in a large file. You have a new release. Will you tell us about it?

[Michele] My latest book, released on March 16, 2010, is a YA romance. It’s a “riches to rags” type of story. It’s the story of Kenzie Williams who has grown up in a wealthy family, in an affluent neighborhood in New York, and comes home one day to find out that her father has declared bankruptcy and has lost everything. Not only that, her parents have decided to split up. While they sort through their problems they send her to live with her aunt and uncle in Paris . . . Idaho! Kenzie’s so embarrassed she tells her friends she’s going to Paris, but doesn’t tell them it’s in Idaho. The transition is anything but easy and Kenzie feels like her life has been destroyed. But slowly, over the summer, she learns valuable lessons about what really is important. She also meets Adam White, a mysterious young man who captures her heart.

[Anne] Hey I like your heroine’s name :-). Where did you come up with the concept for your story?

[Michele] Our family went on a vacation to Bear Lake, Idaho and drove through some of the little towns in the surrounding area. We went through the “don’t-blink-or-you’ll-miss-it” town of Paris, Idaho. Immediately I thought of the storyline and am excited to write the sequel which of course takes place in Paris, France.

[Anne] Okay, say you have this great idea for a book, what do you do next? How much plotting do you do?

[Michele] I’m a major detailed outline writer. It’s the best way for me to sort out the plot and catch weakness and holes. That doesn’t mean that my characters don’t surprise me, because they do. Sometimes they take me on major detours from where I wanted the story to go. When that happens I rework my outline and move forward. It’s like a road map to a destination, with a lot of side trips along the way.

[Anne] I love those side trips! I never know where I’ll end up. In your opinion what are the most important avenues an author should take in promoting their works?

[Michele] I’ve been published now for twelve years and I’ve seen a huge change in marketing and publicity tactics. When I began I sent out hundreds of postcards to readers to announce the release of my book. I did tons of autograph signings aka “the person who points where the restroom is located.” I’ve had my books on TV and I’ve also been on TV, several times. But by and large, social networks are the cheapest and most effective tool an author has. Both of my publishers are capitalizing on social networks and encouraging all of their authors to promote themselves and their books. I still enjoy getting out into the bookstores and meeting real people though.

[Anne] What is one of the most memorable thing’s that has happened to you since you’ve become a published author (for example: an awesome book signing or that one email you received from a reader that really made your day)?

[Michele] This is such a great question. For me the best part of writing is knowing that I’m making a difference in people’s lives. Once I received a letter from a woman in prison who told me that she had totally turned away from God when she was going through a terrible drug problem. She got a hold of one of my books in prison and felt prompted to pray. From that point on she began to soften her heart and feel the spirit work in her life again. And of course, there’s that letter from the eleven-year old boy who told me that he loved my books and that JK Rowling and I were his favorite authors. I still laugh about that.

[Anne] Wow! That is so awesome! And being compared to JK Rowlings…I’d frame that one. Now for a little fun! Do you have any unusual or not so unusual hobbies you’d care to tell us about?

[Michele] Ha! Well, yes, I do have a few hobbies. I collect Steinbach Nutcrackers, I have over thirty and keep them out all year long. I also collect Doris Day movies. I got all of them on video, and then DVD’s came out so now I’m collecting them all on DVD. And I am addicted to Zumba. I actually teach Zumba classes. I’ve taught aerobics for twenty-eight years (started when leg warmers were cool) and just as I was about to retire at 50 I discovered Zumba. If you don’t know what Zumba is, email me and I’ll tell you all about it!

[Anne] You’ll be getting an email from me. Sounds interesting! What snack are we likely to see sitting next to your computer when you’re typing away on your next best seller?

[Michele] Pretzels, peanut M&Ms, and string cheese. Depends on time of day and my mood.

[Anne] Now let’s pretend you’ve been stranded on an island somewhere in the pacific. What are three things you would miss the most?

[Michele] If my family isn’t with me, then for sure my family, first and foremost. My house (that way I can include; shower, bed, TV, computer, washing machine . . .). Target.

[Anne] A Target…now that’s my kind of island. What advice can you offer for any aspiring authors out there?

[Michele] DON’T GIVE UP! Really and truly persistence is the quality that is usually the difference between being published and not being published. What you lack in talent can be made up in hard work, but you have to be persistent and not let rejections block you from reaching your goal. Ten years was a long time to try and make a dream come true, but I wanted it badly enough I never stopped trying.

[Anne] Great advice, Michele! Where can we purchase your books? And do you have a website we can visit?

[Michele] All my books are on www.amazon.com. My newest book is available at http://www.valorpublishinggroup.com/authors.php. It will also be available at Amazon.com. My web-site is: www.micheleashmanbell.com and my blog is www.micheleabell.blogspot.com.

[Anne] Is there anything else you’d like to add?

[Michele] Thanks so much for the interview and for letting me share a little about myself with your readers.

[Anne] It’s been a pleasure getting to know more about you, Michele. Thanks so much for taking the time to answer my questions.


Friends, be sure to drop back by on Monday. My guest will be mystery/suspense author, Robin Caroll, who writes deep South mysteries of suspense for an inspired heart. Robin served as president of the American Christian Fiction Writers organization in 2007 & 2008, and is currently a Conference Director. She’ll be joining us to talk about her new release, Deliver Us From Evil, and you’ll have a chance to win a copy of the book. 

Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend!

Heather Justesen – Author of Clean Romance

Joining us today is Clean Romance Author, Heather Justesen.  When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer, Heather?

Unlike so many people I know who have known since they were kids, I didn’t know I wanted to be a writer until I was out of college and married. I don’t think I made a decision one day that I was going to write and then started doing so. Writing started out as an outlet in stressful time, and I enjoyed it so much I couldn’t stop. I’m not sure if I made that transition in my head during the first project I worked on or after I started the second, I just know it was a natural decision for me once the story started to flow. My siblings claim I was the only person in the family who didn’t know all along that I would some day write books. It’s amazing how un-self-aware we can be sometimes.

Were books a big part of your life growing up? If so, what books would you say influenced you most as a child?

Absolutely! I’ve been a big reader from the cradle and picked up everything I could get my hands on. In my early years I probably read and re-read Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House series at least seven times—and a few more times since I became an adult. I read everything by Beverly Cleary and just about anything else I could get my hands on.

Share with us a little about your publication journey.

I submitted my first book about four years after I started writing (which was the first one I ever finished, not the first one I’d started) about January 2004, and it was rejected. I got some great feedback from the publisher, however, and reworked it and resubmitted the next year, and it was rejected again. By then I had numerous other projects I had worked on and turned my focus to one of those. That first book is still on the shelf and I don’t know if it’ll ever be resurrected.

It was 2009 before I was comfortable enough with my writing skills to submit again—after the book had been through several rounds of critiques by other writers. I submitted it to three different publishers before I found one who accepted it. In many ways I think I’m very lucky because I know so many people who send off dozens of submissions before finding a publisher. There were only three major publishers in my market at the time, so I was very happy to be accepted by one of them.

Tell us about your latest release.

My latest release is called “The Ball’s in Her Court” and is an inspirational romance about a woman’s journey as she searches for her birth family and answers to her past of abuse and neglect before she was adopted from foster care. I’ve gotten a lot of feedback from readers who hadn’t understood anything before about adoption and reunion and really felt it helped them understand it all better. My next book, “Rebound” is being released in May, and it’s a spin-off of the first book about a woman whose life falls apart after her husband is arrested for fraud. As she’s putting the pieces of her life together again she develops a friendship and more with the half-brother of the woman in “The Ball’s in Her Court,” who is dealing with his own search for answers to his past before adoption. Both are sweet romances.

Where did you get the idea for it?

When my husband and I were talking about adoption and doing foster care I spent hundreds of hours doing research about adoption and reunion and how it affected the various people involved. This book grew naturally from that research even before we took any foster placements. The second book came about because I fell in love with the half-brother and had to explore his story further.

What most inspires your imagination?

It’s amazing what will strike an idea or get the writing juices flowing. Sometimes it’s news stories, sometimes it’s a thread from something I’ve read elsewhere and I wonder what would happen if I took the premise and gave it a serious twist in a different direction. Inspiration is all around us—you just have to keep your eyes and ears open for it.

Do you do a lot of research for your books? If so, how do you go about doing it (internet, books, one on one)?

My books have needed various levels of research, and since I live in a small town I do the majority of my research online. I have interviewed people several times, and I have specific experts whom I contact when I have a medical or police procedural question. I also have a wide and varied collection of writing friends who come from different backgrounds and are happy to provide answers or critique sections for me to make sure I represented things right. Networking really has been one of the biggest boons to my writing career.

What do you know now that you wish you’d known when you first started writing?

Gosh, there are so many things that I had to learn a bit at a time. I’d always loved to read, but it wasn’t until I’d been writing for a while before I paid attention to how authors created suspense or structured their stories, so it took me a while to figure all of that out. I had to write, a lot, to develop my skills, and getting feedback from other writers was the most valuable thing I could have done—I never would have gotten here on my own.

Do you have any advice for aspiring writers out there?

Practice, practice, practice—nothing you write is wasted, even if it never sees the light of day. Play with different genres, because you never know what you might be able to write until you try—It wasn’t until I played with a suspense scene for something that will never be published that I realized I could write that kind of scene into one of my books. And don’t chase the market. Write something you’re passionate about and that love of the story will shine through.

Where is your favorite place to write?

My favorite place would be under a shady tree of a camp ground. Since that’s rarely feasible (and I don’t have any shady trees of my own yet), I do most of my writing while curled up on my bed or living room sofa. I like to be comfortable and my laptop allows me to create from anywhere. Serious editing is easier for me at my desk, however, as it’s not my favorite part of the process, and the desk forces me to remember what I’m supposed to be doing and stay on task.

Do you listen to music when you write? If so, what are some of your favorite bands/artists?

This varies a lot. When I’m editing I can’t listen to anything with words—it’s strictly instrumental. When I’m free writing and the scenes are coming easily, I listen to sounds tracks or whatever strikes my mood, but turned down very low. Sometimes quiet is my best friend, though, and I don’t listen to anything.

When you’re not writing, what do you enjoy doing?

I took up cake decorating last year and have had a ton of fun with that. I really love baking, so I’m always looking for excuses to make a cake and take it somewhere, since it’s just me and my husband at home right now. I also like to garden, and have played around with most crafts from quilt making to cross stitching to making glass totems or scrap books. I tend to be a bit flighty, so I have to be careful not to start too many new things.

What are two things people might be surprised to know about you?

I became an EMT a couple of years back and run with my local volunteer ambulance service—which was a big surprise to me and all of my family when they found out. I blame my husband, who became an EMT years before we ever met.

I used to be a Realtor, but decided it wasn’t for me—I’m not much of a salesman, which had really made publicity a struggle for me, but I’m working on it.

You’re at the checkout counter in your favorite department store and you’re purchasing something from the book, music & movie sections. What are you buying?

Probably Josi Kilpack’s latest culinary mystery, Devil’s Food Cake, which I’m totally excited to pick up. I read pretty eclectically, so it really depends on what strikes my fancy that day.

Are you an animal lover, if so, do you have any pets?

Dozens. At the moment I have two dogs, two cats, and two fish inside the house. I also have two turkeys, four guineas, seven ducks, four geese and too many chickens to count. I love hatching so I have two incubators that I run nonstop about 10 months out of the year—most of the babies are sold to pay for feed.

Do you have a favorite TV show? What’s your favorite movie?

I love watching Chuck and Psyche, though I’ve recently discovered the new Doctor Who series as well. As for movies, I have so many favorites it’s hard to pick just one. I have seen Pride and Prejudice about a million times (I own two versions), and I also own Our Mutual Friend, which was a miniseries of Dickens’ classic that the BBC produced in 1999. We had to buy it overseas and convert it for my player since it wasn’t being sold in the US, but I’ve seen it nearly a dozen time.

Where can we purchase your books, and do you have a website?

My books are available on Amazon.com, through my website. “The Ball’s in Her Court” is available on Barnes and Noble, and Borders is already doing preorders for “Rebound.” I’ve also been told they are supposed to be available for Nook in the near future. Interested readers can check out the first chapter for both books on my website: HeatherJustesen.com

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Thanks for hosting me on your blog, Anne!

Thank you for joining us today, Heather, and congratulations on your books.