An Interview with my Friend . . .
Doug Varrieur



I'm so happy to have you on my blog today, Doug. I'm sure many readers will love hearing and learning about your book and your life!

How long have you known that you were a writer? Did you receive a clear "call?" Or have you just loved writing all your life?

Wow, a calling….if it had only been such a glorious reason! Afraid not though, a bit more mundane than that. J I’ve been an avid dirt bike rider my whole life and occasionally I zig when I should have zagged resulting in more interaction with the dirt then the riding. I ride fast so when I crash it’s usually pretty hard. On this one particular day I broke my left foot which laid me up for a few weeks.





Over the years I’ve been coming up with little one liners, sayings like "You gotta go through what you gotta go through to get to where you’re going" I’ve come up with hundreds of them and have used them to teach my kids and my various employees an easy way to get the message.





I’ve written them down on everything imaginable, the back of a business card, a napkin, a piece of scrap wood, yes . . . even toilet paper.





As I sat at my desk with the broken foot elevated I spied the pile of notes loaded up on the shelf in the corner . . . time to clean the desk I thought and proceeded to open up a .doc file. The plan was simple really, write 'em down and throw away the notes. As I started to write the one liners in succession I found the need to elaborate on their meaning. This in turn resulted in a little paragraph below each one.





As I stared at the screen I recognized that I was writing a book . . . That’s the day THE CHERRY TREE was born. It’s dedicated to my kids, when they ask me for advice now I simply say…."look it up, it’s in the book!" J It begins with my most favorite cherry of all time, here it is;

"The toughest part about getting it done is getting it started! "





It couldn’t be truer! Talk, talk, talk, talk. Quit talking about it and do something about it. Take action, wait no more. Once you’ve begun, the hardest part’s behind you. It makes no difference what it is. Whether it's a project, quitting smoking, losing weight, whatever it is, get it started today and before you know it--it will be done.　

What is the genre you write in? Would you explain what it is?

My chosen genre is weight loss and health recovery. When I reached the weight loss cherry in THE CHERRY TREE I found it needed much more than a paragraph to explain so I opened up another .doc file and FAT TO SKINNY Fast and Easy! was born.



I had lost over 100 pounds a few years earlier and cured my own type two diabetes. Over the years I had been asked over and over and over again, "how did you do it?" I had told the story so many times it was effortless to write it down. Within a couple of weeks it was roughed in and within a few weeks after that it was done. I specialize in teaching the truth about weight loss and weight gain. I uncover the secrets for my readers to reversing insulin resistance and type two diabetes. I give them a simple roadmap to good health and longer life.

How do you spend your writing days? Do you set goals to reach a certain number of words per day? Can you give us a general idea of how long it takes you to write a book?

I'm a deadline kinda guy. I peck away at the keyboard with two or sometimes three fingers until I’ve had enough. Sometimes I’ll put in 8 to 10 hours at a clip, other times I’ll walk away for two or three days and catch up on other things. The amount of time it takes to write my books depends on the type of book I’m writing. Currently I’m in the middle of three books; they are all within sight of finalization.

FAT TO SKINNY Low Sugar Low Carb Cookbook (350 pages)

FAT TO SKINNY Low Sugar Low Carb Product Guide (175 pages) and

FAT TO SKINNY Sugar and Carb Counter (115 pages)

These books are all very detail orientated and require a great deal of time for layout and intricacies. I find it to be very tedious at times but I work through it. I tackled all three at once because they all tie together in my series. I want them all available as a package by mid December.

What is the spiritual message in your latest book? What can readers expect to get from reading it?

My spiritual message is simple; our bodies are a temple and a gift to be respected. We all have the free will granted us to make good choices, make them wisely.

You recently had a book published. Would you take this time to describe it to us? How and where can readers buy your books?

FAT TO SKINNY Fast and Easy! is the simplest most straight forward weight loss book ever written--at least that’s what the publisher tells me. J It starts with my personal story beginning at childhood and ends with recipes. Of course the middle is filled with the problem, the causes and the solutions. The beauty of the FAT TO SKINNY program is no exercise is required, I teach you how to use the body’s own natural metabolics to shed the weight. It’s so easy anyone of any age can master it and once the weight is off it stays off unless you choose to put it back on.





The book will be available for delivery starting 12/15/09 from anywhere books are sold as well as from my web site http://www.FATtoSKINNY.com





As a side note it will be featured in the Barnes and Nobles "New Year New You" program in January, all 800 stores.

Do you ever feel like giving up? Most people don’t understand the stress, the work, and the joy of being a writer. How tenuous becoming a writer is. Do you care to share how it feels, what discouraging/encouraging times you’ve gone through? Who’s inspired you the most?

In my case I really have no option. If you had the cure for cancer would you keep it to yourself? That’s the position I’m in, I have the cure for obesity, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. It’s my responsibility to spread the word. It can be tedious and of course very time consuming; in fact, it will swallow you up if you’re not careful.

My most discouraging times came when the FAT TO SKINNY manuscript was rejected by 56 agents and publishers over a period of 90 days. As all of you know, that’s very disheartening. I self published because I thought they were all idiots for not seeing the magic of the book. My most encouraging times come when I hear from successful readers. To hear from a 75 year old woman thanking me for balancing her blood sugar or from a 13 year old girl who’s no longer the "fat kid" in school is an indescribable reward. Children inspire me more than anybody. Just this week I received news that my program is being taught in my home town schools health class. That’s inspiration J

Would you explain how you "chose" (or was chosen) a publisher? Do you just go "inny, minny, miny, moe?" Grin. Now, that you’re published, can you sit back and relax from the success you’ve experienced?

In my case it was both, Sterling Publishing chose me and I chose them. As mentioned earlier I had pretty much given up on approaching publishers and agents, I simply had too many people to help. The way I saw it every day that went by with my manuscript nestled away on my hard drive was one more day that I should be spreading the word. The e book was available on my web site but the book needed to go into print.

It was during that time frame that I had a heart attack. All the years of high triglycerides (over 400) had finally caught up to me and even though I was now thin and they were in check (55-60) the plaque, once formed never goes away. The heartburn I was experiencing turned out to be a 95% blockage in my left anterior descending artery; they call it the "widow maker".

As I lay in the hospital bed the evening before my surgery I asked myself the questions one does in such a situation. Was I ready to go? Have I done everything I needed to do on earth before moving on? The only thing that haunted me that evening was the book.





It was that evening that I made a promise, a promise to the lord that if in his wisdom he saw fit to leave me here for a while longer that I would dedicate the balance of my life to helping as many people on the planet as I could before going home. The next day a stent was inserted in the artery and two weeks later I was on the phone to a printer in Korea arranging for hard copies.



It was also at that time that my Aunt Polly Craig, author and actor introduced me to her literary agent, Diana Flegal, Hartline Literary Agency. Diana and I hit it off and I sent her a hard copy of my book printed by LULU.com. Once she committed to my cause we agreed to go to contract for publisher representation. I remember her surprise when I told her that I could care less if I ever had a publisher.

The new books, 3000 copies, were to be delivered to Tampa in mid December 2008. My wife Sherri and I spend our summers in the mountains of Western NC and our winters in the islands of the Florida Keys. It was time to head south, and my intention was to take delivery of my books and go bang on the doors of Home Shopping Network--I had a promise to keep.

When I arrived in the Tampa Bay Area I hooked up with an old friend who as it turned out was now the operations manager for 6 bay area radio stations. I was invited on air the week the books arrived and 600 copies sold within 19 days. I was then offered an exhibit space at the Florida State Fair which I gladly accepted. My wife and I spent 12 days 10 hours a day talking, talking then talking some more. Hundreds of books were purchased and I was interviewed a couple more times by radio stations from the show floor.





The fair ended and it was time to travel back to the Florida Keys. Home Shopping Network had declined my offer but there was no denying the success achieved in the Tampa Bay Area. Sherri and I were exhausted, and we both had laryngitis.



I was driving through the Everglades when the phone rang. An excited Diana Flegal was on the line, it seemed she had some news. Diana told me that Sterling Publishing Company had taken a liking to FAT TO SKINNY Fast and Easy! She asked if I could overnight 5 hard copies to NY that very day. The book was heading for an acquisitions meeting 48 hours later and they needed copies.

Within a week the publisher and I were on the phone together. They wanted to know if we could do business. My attitude was simple, this is what I told them, "I don’t need you unless you can help me help others faster than I can help them myself. If you can, we can do business. If you can’t, I’m not interested."





Then the strangest thing happened, I was told by the Sterling execs that not only did they want to help they also didn’t want to change the book! They liked it just the way it was--other than the fact that I had spelled "exercise" wrong on the front cover J I knew right away that I was dealing with the right company. They chose me, and I chose them.

I also knew that the job wasn’t done. It was just beginning. Don’t kid yourself; publishing a book is like opening a door. Inside the room you’ll not find a comfy couch to sit and rest in, you’ll find a hell of allot of work and commitment. If you’re not ready for it quit now, this is not your path. 　

Do you mind telling us some of your likes and dislikes? Hobbies, interests? Where would you like to travel if you could? Etc.

I love to cook for people and I’m a nut for nature. For me happiness is the changing of the leaves and a cool mountain stream, the smell of the ocean and the clatter of the seagulls. It’s the pure satisfaction of recognizing how beautiful and wonderful life is each and every day.





My hobbies mirror these loves, fishing, hiking, diving, and riding my dirt bike through the mountains. Dinner parties with close friends and family are always a joy. These are my foundations for which I build my life upon.



I do have a few dislikes however they are few and far between. I don’t have a big interest in traveling. Sherri and I, accompanied by our 4 Yorkshire Terriers, BJ, Monkey, Bam Bam and Pebbles, have already settled into a wonderful routine. Traveling between and residing in two of the most majestic places in the country feeds my spirit and soul. As I leave the mountains for the ocean and then the ocean for the mountains each year I know I’ve found my path.　

Would you give us your blog or webpage so everyone can check it out? Anything else you’d like to share? Promotional information?

I’m not a blogger, I simply don’t have the time. I do however have a couple of web sites:

• My business web site for my books is http://www.fattoskinny.com/ Here you can read testimonials from readers, listen to interviews and watch video.


• My personal family web site is http://www.varrieur.com/ here you can click on my name and visit photo galleries with pictures of our adventures.

Is there anything else I’d like to share? Yes, I’d like to share myself. I’ll address this to you, dear reader. If I can be of any help to you in any way please feel free to write me at:

DougVarrieur@FATtoSKINNY.com

I’ll do whatever I can for you.

Thank You for the interview, Carole, and I wish you and all you dear readers a blessed day!

We have no excuse now, to not get ourselves in shape and live a healthier life! Thank you, Doug, for a wonderful, inspiring insight into your life and most of all, your book!

Blessings!

My Guest Today is Author,

Loree Lough, promoting Prevailing Love and Tales of the Heart:

Loree is a fun person who loves people and writing. Read on for an insight into what makes her "tick" and such a success in this business. (NOTE: I’ve heard she has over 70 books in print. Whooee!)

How long have you known that you were a writer? Did you receive a clear "call?" Or have you just loved writing all your life?

First, thank you, Carole, for providing authors this opportunity for readers to get to know them a little better! You’re gracious and generous and everything a true Christian should be, and I’m proud to know you!

As a teen, I entertained the kids I babysat by telling stories, and even the most unruly brats grew calm and quiet, hearing themselves as stars of the tales. I moved from those to non-fiction stories in magazines and newspapers, and when publishers started messing with the facts to appease advertisers, I decided as long as I was sorta writing fiction anyway, why not be up front about it and write short stories! I sold quite a few (confession mags, etc.), but I didn’t take the gift seriously until after my first novel hit the shelves. Reader mail made it clear, for the first time in my life, what God wanted me to do. And I’ve been doing it ever since!

What is the genre you write in? Would you explain what it is?

Most of my stories are in the ‘inspirational romance’ genre, and of the 75 books on the shelves, half are historicals. The way I explain "inspirational"? The novels include all the traditional elements of popular fiction, with one fundamental addition: Spirit-based storylines, based on biblical principles, that are tightly woven into the plots.

How do you spend your writing days? Do you set goals to reach a certain number of words per day? Can you give us a general idea of how long it takes you to write a novel?

I work 6 days a week, 8-10 hours a day (and when I’m on a tight deadline, I’m in my office on Sundays after church, too). I don’t set a ‘word count’ goal when I sit down to write. Instead, I review whatever I worked on yesterday, clean it up, and move forward. Depending on the condition of the prior scene(s), editing could take anywhere from an hour to my whole work day, so I might not add to the overall word count at all!

Most novels require a full week’s worth of research and interviews. Then I spend a day charting out the storyline, another developing characters (background, motivation, conflict, etc.). Once those essentials are complete, I dig in my heels and don’t quit until I’ve typed The End… which for a novel that’s 80,000 words long, usually takes an additional eight weeks.

What is the spiritual message in your latest book? What can readers expect to get from reading it?

The working title for my WIP is "The Outlaw Wore Skirts". It’s the first in a 4-book historical series, and features a heroine wrongly accused of several serious crimes. So the overall spiritual theme is forgiveness. As the story progresses, she must forgive her step-father, whose abuse started the dominos toppling in her life. Then she must forgive herself for all the erroneous decisions she made as a result of it. And interwoven into it all, a steadily-growing need for the Lord that allows her to practice trust, faith, and acceptance.

You recently had a book published. Would you take this time to describe it to us? How and where can readers buy your books?

I’m so blessed to be able to say that Love Finds You in North Pole, Alaska (Summerside Press, released Oct. 1, 2009) has already inspired nearly 100 glowing reviews (from pros and readers). I’m doubly blessed, because it’s my 75^th published book!

This is the story of ex-marine Bryce Stone, forced to return to his home town after being wounded in Afghanistan… and he isn’t at all happy about it. For one thing, The City Where It’s Christmas, All Year Long hasn’t felt like home since his parents died a decade earlier. For another, his maiden Aunt Olive’s retirement puts him in the uncomfortable position of taking the helm of his parents’ gift shop, meaning his life-long dream of building one-of-a-kind furniture pieces must move to the back burner, indefinitely.

Enter spunky Samantha Sinclair, whom he hires to run the shop in the hope he can at least attempt to make his dream come true. The youngest of 8 kids, Sam has a lot to prove… to her 7 older brothers, to her parents, to herself, and especially, to Bryce. She quickly realizes that facing the challenges head-on might be enough to satisfy her siblings, but it’ll take more than physical labor and organizational skills to win Bryce over… especially when he loses the only member of his family he has left!

Faith, trust, and love are a powerful combination… but are they enough to heal old wounds and unite these two very different people…?

Where do you get ideas? Character names? Do you find your characters similar to you in any way?

The joke I often make is that I get my ideas from a little elf who lives under my front porch; I poke him with a stick and he’s usually good for at least a few suggestions! But there’s no ‘under’ to my porch, and no ‘elf’, either. So I’m forced to get ideas from newspapers and magazines, from TV news reports, from stories I overhear in line at the grocery store, from friends and relatives who say "Hey, did you hear…?" Everything has the potential of becoming a novel, once I ask those all important questions: "What if?" and "And then what?"

Choosing character names is getting tougher as more books hit the shelves. My ‘baby names’ book is definitely showing signs of wear!

Heroes and heroines in my books all have faults and flaws, just like real people. I share some of those—along with a few bad habits—and I think that’s what makes the characters seem real. In life, I avoid weak, whiny people. Put me in a room with someone who’s overcome adversity, and done it with their back straight and their chin up, and I’ve got the makings of real friend material! Based on letters from my readers, those are the qualities they most identify with, too.

Do you ever feel like giving up? Most people don’t understand the stress, the work, and the joy of being a writer. How tenuous becoming a writer is. Do you care to share how it feels, what discouraging/encouraging times you’ve gone through? Who’s inspired you the most?

Taking a break from pounding the keys, yes, but giving up? Not in my DNA! Most people do NOT understand the writing process. My theory? They think ‘cause they can read a book in a few hours, we can write one in maybe twice that long. Only other authors (and the people who share their homes) understand what a tedious, time-consuming job it is.

For the most part, people just don’t ‘get it’. If they did, they wouldn’t say things like "Lucky Loree! She gets paid for her little hobby!" and "I wish I could stay home all day and do nothing…" and "Of course Loree doesn’t want to retire… it isn’t like she’s actually working…" and "Loree can (insert errand or chore) because she doesn’t have an actual job." (Sadly, those are actual quotes, spoken by friends!)

Then there are those times (at family gatherings or parties) when people who didn’t already know I’m an author ask, "What do you write?" My reply: "Inspirational romance." Eyebrows slam into hairlines. "What’s that?" And after a thirty second explanation, foreheads furrow. Not a whole lot. Just enough so I notice. And they say, "So… when are you gonna write a real book?"

My brain runs down what I could say: My books all have covers. Spines. Back jacket copy. Pages inside, with words on them. I bite back what I’d like to say, as the image of Jack Nicholson, on the witness stand, floats in my head; you know that scene where Tom Cruise bellows "I want the truth!" and Jack snarls, "YOU CAN’T HANDLE THE TRUTH!"? Well, picture this: I smile politely and give ‘em a friendly hug, then stand back and say, "Aw, I wouldn’t worry about it, ‘cause… you can’t handle a real book."

Works every time! LOL

Would you explain how you "chose" (or was chosen) a publisher? Do you just go "inny, minny, miny, moe?" Grin. Now, that you’re published, can you sit back and relax from the success you’ve experienced?

Tempting as it was (still is! ), I’ve never gone the "inny, minny, miny, moe" route. The simple answer is, I have always studied the market. The more detailed one is, I looked at my work in progress, then asked myself what it was. (Historical? Contemporary? Suspense? Thriller? Humorous? A combination of any/all of those?) Then, I asked, what’s this book’s overall theme? (Overcoming adversity? Man v. nature? Boy gets girl?) And what’s the book’s spiritual message? (Forgiveness? Acceptance? Tolerance?) Next, I asked myself which companies were buying that kind of fiction, and got online to find out how many of those they’d published lately. Last, I learned how they preferred to receive submissions, and gave them exactly what they asked for.

Now that I have a few books on the shelves, and a very capable agent, I don’t have to complete a full manuscript to make a sale. A synopsis and a few chapters, usually, and in very rare cases (when I’ve worked with a particular editor before), an overview will do.

In all honesty, I don’t think I’ll ever reach a point where I can sit back and relax, thinking about my so-called success, because the sad fact is… I’m only as successful as my last book.

Do you mind telling us some of your likes and dislikes? Hobbies, interests? Where would you like to travel if you could? Etc.

I like people. Well, most people. LOL! Working alone all day as I do, it’s a blessing to come out of the office and have the ability to interact with others. As I said earlier, I shy away from whiners and complainers, because those attitudes are contagious. I stay away from fibbers and truth-stretchers, because they test my Patience Quota. I pray for both types, but the folks I’m drawn to and become friends with are upbeat, spirit-filled, strong and capable.

Gardening is one of many hobbies, and I wish I had more time for it! I love to paint and sketch (one of my pen and ink drawings hangs in the home of actress Lea Thompson!), bang on the piano and strum my Yamaha.

I find myself satisfying my cravings for new information by reading. Cereal boxes (vitamin info!), recipe cards (caloric data!), milk cartons ("have you seen me?"), even junk mail becomes reading material!

The Lord has blessed me with many wonderful and memorable trips, but the one I haven’t taken yet that I’d like to is… an African safari. When I make that one, hoo-boy the novel is gonna be all kinds of dangerous! LOL

Would you give us your blog or webpage so everyone can check it out? Anything else you’d like to share? Promotional information?

I’d love for everybody to visit me via:

• Web site:

http://www.loreelough.com

Blog: www.theloughdown.blogspotcom

Plus

• Facebook, Shoutlife, MySpace, and Twitter.

Shameless self-promotion alert!

• By the time this appears, I will have returned from Detroit, where I taped a segment of the "I’m Just Sayin’" show, hosted by Pastor Dan Willis on the Total Christian Television network (when I find out when it’ll air, I’ll let you know so you can tune in!);
• Be Still…and Let Your Nail Polish Dry (devotional, co-authored with Andrea Boeshaar, Sandie Bricker, and Debby Mayne) hits bookshelves by November 1^st. (All four of us have promised to contribute a generous portion of the proceeds to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund, so every sale will increase the amount we can donate!);
• In January, 2010, two new books will be released from Whitaker House… Tales of the Heart (3 complete historical romances) and Prevailing Love (3 full-length contemporaries).
• In June, #1 in the (tentatively titled) "Rockin’ N Ranch" series, The Outlaw Wore Skirts will be released (followed every 4-6 months by another in the series);
• During the summer of 2011, additional "Rockin’ N Ranch" titles, along with One Forsaken Man, #1 in my First Responders series from Abingdon Press;

and

• Love Finds You in Folly Beach, South Carolina (Summerside).

Thank you, Loree, for being on my blog.

Wasn’t that fun, readers? Run to check out Loree’s books. You’ll love them!

Blessings!

Need Another Unusual Gift?

Try one of these, either for an cat lover or for a family member who has everything.

A greeting card/gift that will give the receiver something to ponder over through the weeks.
Materials

• A collection of items that represent what your family did over the past year
• Holiday decorations
• Family photos
• #9 or #10 business envelopes

Instructions

1. Gather your items, such as ballet slippers for a dance recital, a trophy for a winning season, or a mini house for a move to a new home. Assemble the collection, along with festive holiday decorations and family photos, and take a picture of it.
2. Using a word processing program, compose a greeting that includes a list of what to look for in the photo. If you have a digital camera, insert your photo above the text and print out the page. If you're using a snapshot, leave room at the top, print the page, then tape or glue on the picture. Print or color-copy as many as you need.

Got a cat lover for a best friend and need something unusual and personal that will tell her you love her no matter whether the cat sheds on your good black clothes or not? Then check out this gift:
Materials

• 1 yard of fabric
• Polyester filling
• Chalk
• Scissors
• Pins
• Dried catnip
• 1-foot piece of fabric
• Needle and thread
• Embroidery thread

Instructions

1. To make the cushion, fold the fabric in half so the patterned sides are touching. Draw an oval on the fabric with chalk, then cut along the outline with scissors to make two ovals of equal size. Pin them together and stitch three-quarters of the way around to create a pocket.
2. Turn the fabric right side out and stuff it with polyester filling that has been sprinkled with catnip. Turn in the open edge and hand stitch it closed.
3. The fish is made in the same fashion. Fold a 1-foot piece of fabric in half, draw a fish shape on it, and cut along the outline so to create two fish of equal size. Sew up the sides, leaving the tail open.
4. Turn the pocket right side out, stuff with polyester filling and catnip, and sew closed.
5. As a finishing touch, stitch big green eyes and colorful stripes on the fish with embroidery thread.

Quote: My will shall shape my future. Whether I fail or succeed shall be no man's doing but my own. --Elaine Maxwell

Blessings!

Favorite Kids in my Life

Jaden

One of the sweet kids in my life.

Sunday School kid.

Loves books.

Loves me.

I love him.

Isn't he adorable?

Quote:

Laugh and the world laughs with you; snore and you snore alone. --Anthony Burgess

Blessings!

Interview Today with . . . Michele Levigne, my friend and President elect of the ACFWOhio

How long have you known that you were a writer? Did you receive a clear "call?" Or have you just loved writing all your life?

I've been daydreaming all my life, adding to stories I loved, making the characters' lives continue past the time the story ended – I can remember rewriting Star Trek episodes when I was in elementary school, putting my own twist on things. Or giving Zorro a daughter long before Catherine Zeta-Jones showed up. I had tried writing down some of my stories probably since junior high, and they usually died after a few pages. Then in high school my daydreams got in the way of semester exams. Not a good thing. I started writing down the current daydream to kill it … and haven't stopped writing since.

What is the genre you write in? Would you explain what it is?

My genre is the "Angie Hunt" genre – I write all over the place. Science fiction, fantasy, romance, suspense; with variations into Inspirational and YA. I have several "universes" that I play in. The Commonwealth is science fiction, with a long, complicated history and people with genetically engineered talents and some prophecies and epic battles between good and evil and the question of what it means to be Human. Then there's my Zygradon series – basically Arthurian fantasy, set on another world. I just turned in the 4^th book, which will release in April. The 5^th book (sob) will be the last. Then there's my Tabor Heights, Ohio series, which is my contemporary Inspirational romance series. I'm just getting going with that at Desert Breeze. The 3^rd book was released in November and book 4, "The Family Way," about a marriage in trouble, will come out in March. I have an offshoot series I need to find a publisher for, that's more action/adventure with women as the main characters and a little bit of angelic "interference." There are several more series I've been working on, but I won't mention them here. I could go on and on … but you don't want me to do that.

How do you spend your writing days? Do you set goals to reach a certain number of words per day? Can you give us a general idea of how long it takes you to write a novel?

Unfortunately, I have to make a living at something besides my writing. For now, anyway. Between office work and trying to do promotion, I'm happy if I can manage about 2 hours of actual writing time each day. During NaNoWriMo, I was managing to put in at least 1-1/2 hours on new, rough writing every day, first thing in the morning. I loved it! I don't have a goal of words or pages each day. I just write as much as I can, whenever I can. I've found that I can produce more writing if I do it first thing in the morning. If I wait until the end of the day, after I've spent 6 hours editing other people's books, doing bookkeeping, running errands, cleaning the house … I just don't have the energy to be creative!

It's hard to give an accurate figure for how long it takes to write a book, because some books are longer than others and require more thinking and re-arranging than others. Usually it takes me about 1-1/2 months to do a first draft – if I can manage to put in 1 or 2 hours every day. Say 80 hours for an average book, 75,000 to 85,000 words. Then another 40 hours for the second draft. 40 hours for the third draft. Sometimes I need a fourth and fifth draft, depending on how much revising I need to do – especially if my editor points out instances of "too stupid to live" on my hero or heroine's part. My usual practice is to write a rough draft, then put it aside and work on something else for a few months, then come back and revise it, put it aside, revise, put it aside, revise. With my Zygradon books, I had a deadline of mid-September every year to turn in for April release the following year. So I had to produce each book in about 8 months – in between other projects for other publishers. There are other books that I literally wrote more than 10 years ago, and they've been sitting in my files, waiting for that brainstorm that will make them "work" so I can send them out to find a home.

Does that answer your question?

Tell us about your new book. What is the spiritual message in it? What can readers expect to get from reading it? How and where can readers buy your book?

My most recent release is actually two books – "Seasons," a Tabor Heights, Ohio anthology, from Desert Breeze Publishing (www.desertbreezepublishing.com) and "Just Peachy," the third in my contemporary romantic suspense series at Amber Quill Press (www.amberquill.com). Both books came out November 1.

There is no spiritual message in "Just Peachy." It's a romp, some silliness and some danger – and takes place in Ohio.

With "Seasons," some of the stories don't have an overt spiritual message. They're short stories, romances. What connects all the Tabor Heights books is that the main characters are members of Tabor Christian Church. They'll stop and pray, or they'll be involved with church activities, and sometimes when they're smart they'll wonder what God wants them to do. "Troubleshooting," the second story of the four in the anthology, deals with Jake's bad history with other churches. He misses his childhood commitment to God. When he finds Tabor Christian, he's afraid to open up his heart to "church people" again – especially when the girl he follows to church and eventually falls in love with is the prime suspect in an embezzlement he's investigating!

Where do you get ideas? Character names? Do you find your characters similar to you in any way?
Ideas come at me from all over the place. Dreams. Stories that didn't work on TV or in books I read, that I rewrite. Offshoots of other stories. Daydreams. And some stories, such as the two Tabor Heights books coming out in 2010, "The Family Way" and "A Quiet Place," came when the pharmacy messed up a prescription and I was in hormonal/chemical depression. I'm not joking! You get the most depressing dreams. Fortunately I realized what was wrong before it went on too long – but a couple weeks was bad enough. Both books have some pain in them, and horrid situations that should not happen among families – especially families that claim to be Christians.

With my science fiction and fantasy names, I might just make up names from sounds, or borrow them from similar stories/TV shows/movies. Especially if I pattern a character after an actor or the character he or she played. In my Zygradon stories, since they're Arthurian fantasy, I twist a lot of Arthurian names. Merlin is Mrillis, Morgana is Meghianna, Morgause is Megassa, Guenivere is Ynfara, etc.

I don't think my characters are like me … except maybe that some of them are the way I would like to be someday, strong and capable and able to handle things. And knowing the right words to say at the right time!

Do you ever feel like giving up? Most people don’t understand the stress, the work, and the joy of being a writer. How tenuous becoming a writer is. Do you care to share how it feels, what discouraging/encouraging times you’ve gone through? Who’s inspired you the most?

I've been writing, seriously, aiming at publication, since high school. I'm addicted by now. I can't live without my private playgrounds in my head. For a long time, I wasn't getting anywhere, professionally – BUT I was getting publication and recognition in fanzine writing (amateur publications devoted to various TV shows and movies). That kept me going past the "this is a waste of time" phase. I remember my first book and my first rejection letter. I sent it to Zondervan, my first year of college. I can't remember how long it took them to respond, but of course they rejected it. I must have cried for an hour. Nobody told me that a 2-page, single-spaced letter from the editor who reviewed my book was an unusual thing. I don't know where that letter is, but I'd love to find it someday and find that editor and thank him or her for encouraging me.

Fanzine publication kept me going for probably seven or eight years, until I made my first professional sale, in conjunction with a writing contest. That encouragement lasted me for another 10 years until I signed my first contract, to e-publish "Heir of Faxinor." When I discovered the world of e-publishing, that opened a lot of doors and opportunities. That was in 2000, the same year I discovered RWA and joined the local chapter. When I found a group of people who were writing in somewhat the same area and understood what I was going through, and I learned how to find the information I needed to make that final leap to publication, that made all the difference. I have a lot of gripes with RWA, and I quit several years ago. BUT I can't say enough for belonging to a group of writers who can give you feedback and encouragement – and slap you upside the head when you need a reality check!

Who has inspired me? That's a hard one. Sometimes the best inspiration is something that was so badly written, with flat characters and too many "too stupid to live" moments – yet got published. My reaction is "I can do better than that!" and then I set out to prove it.

I keep going back to some words of C.S. Lewis, talking about science fiction and fantasy. He basically envisioned someone someday making better use of the genre as a tool for Christ. That's a challenge I want to continually rise to meet. I've often failed. For a long time I strayed away from that goal because the allegedly Christian publishing houses weren't giving me the time of day (I wanted to write epic fantasy with strong women and they wanted devotionals and prairie romances) – so I went to publishers and readers who wanted the stories I wanted to write. I'm in the process of "cleaning up my act" and letting the contracts on some stories run out. It's a long process. But I'm getting there.

Would you explain how you "chose" (or were chosen by) a publisher? Do you just go "inny, minny, miny, moe?" Grin. Now, that you’re published, can you sit back and relax from the success you’ve experienced?

Relax? Never! A literature professor made a remark about famous authors never being able to rest on their laurels, because people are always asking "So what have you written lately?"

Choosing a publisher … you read the market listing and find the publisher who is looking for what you write. In my case, I found my first publisher in Sally Stuart's column in "The Christian Communicator." It was a new publisher, venturing into e-publishing, and willing to take proposals in all genres. "Heir of Faxinor" is a fantasy – swords, magic, visions, maiden warriors. My publisher told me her only exposure to SF/F was Star Trek, but she was willing to give me a chance!

Through that, I became exposed to the whole e-publishing explosion. Whenever I heard about an e-publisher looking for books that I had ready or that I was working on, I queried. I had years of books stored in my computer, just waiting to be polished up and sent out. I was willing to take chances. Sometimes I got burned. As I got more experience with publishers, I was able to relax enough to lose the "gotta get published" desperation, so I could afford to become choosy. And in some instances, I've been invited to submit either because of being nominated for writing awards or because the publisher used to be an editor or a fellow author at a previous publisher, they liked my books, and wanted to see what else I had to offer. Networking is important. Never burn bridges. The same adage in traditional publishing goes for electronic: The go-fer you insult today could be the editor you have to placate tomorrow.

Would you give us your blog or webpage so everyone can check it out? Anything else you’d like to share? Promotional information?

Web site: http://www.mlevigne.com/ Blog: http://www.michellelevigne.blogspot.com/

I'm also listed at Author Island – www.authorisland.com

Publishers:

• Amber Quill Press: http://www.amberquill.com/
• Awe-Struck E-books: http://www.awe-struck.net/
• Desert Breeze Publishing: http://www.desertbreezepublishing.com/
• Hard Shell Word Factory: http://www.hardshell.com/
• Mundania Press: http://www.mundania.com/
• New Concepts Publishing: http://www.newconceptspublishing.com/
• Uncial Press: http://www.uncialpress.com/
• Writers Exchange: http://www.writers-exchange.com/

Contracted but not yet published:

• Oak Tara: http://www.oaktara.com/

Thank you, Michele, for joining me today. I'm sure readers will enjoy reading about your writing journey. May all your novels be sucessful for the glory of God!

Blessings!

Wanna Be Happy?

The Bible says there's a time to remember . . .
And a time to forget . . .

Forget:

• The mean thing others have said about you.
• The injury any person has done you.
• The mistakes you have made in the past, except as they may prepare you for the future.

• The kindness you have tried to do others.
• The ill-natured gossip you have heard.
• The secrets entrusted to your confidence.

• The worry that hinders your happiness.
• The drawbacks that seem to stand in the way of your progress.

Quote:
Hope throws an arch of rainbow light across the blackest sky and makes a man shout in the teeth of the storm.

Blessings!

Special People

One of the highlights of my year! Meeting Diana Flegel, my literary agent.


She's just as wonderful as she sounds over the phone.
Knowlegeable, interested, concerned and prayerful about her clients and their work, fun.

Two of my fellow writers: Max Lewis (in the middle--and he's not really, uh, as snobbish as he looks--snicker--he just had a time getting the rest of us to behave.) His very sweet wife, Valerie, on the end in the white sweater, Connie Cameron between them, wonderful Diana on the end, with me between Max and her.

Books galore from authors like Tamela Murray Hancock and Doug Varrieur and Connie Cameron. Topics like the market, and critique groups, and research. That subject took us down the trail of dogs, but we managed to curb our ever present curiosity. We even got in some critiquing and brainstorming over Connie's newest project--and is it an exciting topic! Can't wait to see it in print.

And, of course, we had some of Tim Horton's famous and delicious coffee, and muffins of each individual choice (although certain people who shall remain nameless, deviously got samples of two different types of muffins by ingeniously cutting them in halves. Hmmm).

• Max writes suspense.
• Connie is a superb and published nonfiction author.
• Valerie is a supportive wife. Smile
• Me, you all KNOW what I write. (That's what comes of having somewhere to talk, I mean write, what I want)
• And Diana. Our agent. The best.

A fun, meaningful day.

Blessings!

What Will Christmas Mean to Me?


Christmas . . .
isn't only music; it's "Joy to the World"
isn't just a baby; but the coming of a King


Not a spirit in a chimney, but a spirit in my heart
Not a gift worth so much money, but a gift of God to man



Not only balls that glitter, but a gladness that will shine
Not only wordy greeting cards, but feelings of good will

Not a time of obligations, but a willingness to share
Not just a star for Wise Men, but a guide that still leads me

Not gifts the shepherds brought to Christ, but myself that I can give
Not only God in Bethlehem, but Emmauel--God with us.
--Merna B. Shank



Quote: It is a brave thing to have courage to be an individual; it is also, perhaps, a lonely thing. But it is better than not being an individual, which is to be nobody at all. --Eleanor Roosevelt



Blessings

An Interview
with my friend . . .

Jennette Levellie
It's so much fun to have Jennette with me today. She's becoming a great writing friend! Read on to find out how she lives her writing career . . .

Jennette, how long have you known that you were a writer? Did you receive a clear "call?" Or have you just loved writing all your life?

• When I was in third grade my favorite hobby was making "books:" stories I’d written and covered with a piece of cardboard folded to make the cover. I wish I still had even one of those early stories. Even if the writing made me groan, it’d be fun to see what was rolling around in my little brain then.
• I’ve written all my life and have been publishing articles, poems, greeting cards and columns since I was twenty-four. I’ve only begun writing books in the last year and a half.
• I did receive a "call" at the Indy Writers’ Conference in November of 2008. It hit me as I was walking down our hallway a few days later and I said, "Lord, this is what I want to do with my life." His answer? "You can’t get there by yourself."

What is the genre you write in? Would you explain what it is?

• Oh dear. Is there a genre called nutty with a dash of meat? I write inspirational non-fiction with as much humor as possible. I use humor as a hook. People need to laugh. If I can make them laugh at me and the stupid things I do, it opens their heart and mind to spiritual truths.
• I’ve written a column for eight years in our local newspaper called, "God is Bigger." I relate stories of my misadventures as a pastor’s wife, and what I’ve learned about God’s faithfulness in the midst of my fax paus. People love this kind of self-effacing humor with Jesus thrown into the mix.
  

How do you spend your writing days? Do you set goals to reach a certain number of words per day? Can you give us a general idea of how long it takes you to write a novel?

• I spend my writing days praying, crying and eating gummy worms to keep my brain functioning. Honestly, I work a full time job during the day, so I squeeze in writing for about an hour each night—thus the gummy worms—and several hours on the weekends. Sometimes an idea sneaks up on me when I’ve not scheduled any writing time, like while I’m eating breakfast. I jot notes on a slip of paper between bites, and flesh it out later.
• I set goals, but since I can only write roughly ten hours a week, I try to keep them reasonable. I recently had to push back a goal I’d set for myself because I was stressing over it, and if I’m not having fun, I can’t create well. My angelic agent, Diana has helped me through a few rough inspiration-less days. She's a gift from Jesus.

What is the spiritual message in your latest book? What can readers expect to get from reading it?

• My two books aren’t published YET, but Diana, God and I—not necessarily in that order—are working on that. My first book is a compilation of my columns form "God is Bigger: Custom Made Grace for Hope Starved Hearts." I explore four aspects of God’s grace: His loving nature, my self-image, relationships, and I forget the fourth. What did I do with those gummy worms?
• My WIP is entitled, "The Secret Life of a Preacher’s Wife: Always Candid, Sometimes Comical Musings behind the Parsonage Walls." I wanted to add the words, "Sometimes Reluctant" after "Preacher’s Wife" but our parishioners might not buy it then . . .
• My readers can expect to (a) laugh--hopefully, I've filled the manuscrip so full of chuckles that you'll have to out and buy a second on for your grumpy Uncle Bill; (b) discover that minister’s and their wives are just like them: they fight, they worry, they have problems with their kids; and (c) know God better than before they picked up my book. Hopefully they can fall in love with Him all over again.
  

You recently had a book published. Would you take this time to describe it to us? How and where can readers buy your books?

• I doubt I'll have a contract and a book out by the time this interview goes live, but miracles do occur! If so, you won't need to read it here--you'll be able to hear me shouting all the way from Paris, IL.
  

Where do you get ideas? Character names? Do you find your characters similar to you in any way?

• I get ideas from observing people, especially the silly things they do. When a friend who makes trophies tells me about a family reunion including a riding mower race, I get a great idea for an article about trophies and Heaven. When I have a pity party, I end up with great ideas for a humor piece on "Ten Rules for the Perfect Pity Party." I waste nothing I experience or see in others. But my family and close friends find themselves in print more often than they’d like, I’m sure. Every situation is fodder for my articles.
• My favorite person to pick on is myself. I love telling about the stupid things I do and what great lessons God teaches me from them. People feel comfortable with my stories because they see themselves in them, and it gives them hope for their own mistakes and failures.

Do you ever feel like giving up? Most people don’t understand the stress, the work, and the joy of being a writer. How tenuous becoming a writer is. Do you care to share how it feels, what discouraging/encouraging times you’ve gone through? Who’s inspired you the most?

• Oh my. This is a constant struggle for me. I feel called to encourage. That is my gift, and humor is the tool I use. Because of this, Satan attacks me most in my thoughts, offering me self-pity, discouragement and depression. I fight his dark thoughts daily. Thoughts that my writing is boring, no one will want to read it, it’s doesn’t sing like others’ writing, etc. You’ve been there.
• What helps me most is the support of my husband, who believes in me even when I don’t believe in Diana's sunny emails, and writing friends and mentors. I am also lifted up and strengthened by worship music. It gets me out of my little world, which is way too small, and brings me into God’s presence. Everything pales compared to the sweetness of His love.

Would you explain how you "chose" (or was chosen by) a publisher? Do you just go "inny, minny, miny, moe?" Grin. Now, that you're published, can you sit back and relax from the success you've experienced?

• At this point I'm not going to be picky about finding a publisher. I would like one who appreciates my wacky sense of humor and who will give me enough money for my work that I can keep myself in French chocolate truffles--apart from that, I trust Diana's judgment in finding the best fit for my work.

Do you mind telling us some of your likes and dislikes? Hobbies, interests? Where would you like to travel if you could?

• My hobbies: I am crazy about cats. I have four, and treat them like children in fur suits. I talk baby talk to them, worry if they’re out too late at night, all the usual stupid things cat addicts do. I love to watch old b & w movies with my husband. And I adore my three grandchildren, who live ten hours away in Tulsa, OK. That’s where I’d travel every weekend if I could. And Ireland. My grandmother was a Kelly. I’ve always wanted to see the isle of a thousand shades of green.
  

Would you give us your blog or webpage so everyone can check it out? Anything else you’d like to share? Promotional information?

• My blog is http://jeanettelevellie.blogspot.com I post Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, mostly about writing for our "Audience of ONE," which is the blog’s title. My two passions are Jesus and encouraging others. I give away lots of prizes, too.
• I travel and speak for women’s groups, civic clubs and other organizations. My email is jeanettelevellie@gmail.com if you’d like to correspond with me or schedule me to speak to your group. I am a trained vocalist and usually include a song or two when I speak.
  

Thank you, Carole, for inviting me today. I appreciate you! Many blessings on your writing, Jen.

Thank you, Jen, for sharing a little bit of your life with us. It's been a real privilege and I wish you much success in your writing endeavors!

Folks, isn't that an interesting interview full of information about a writer?

Blessings!