Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Check Out Author Alice Wisler's Interview!

If you leave a comment and your email address, you'll be entered to win her book!
Now on to her interview:


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?

Ever since I could write, I wrote short stories. You know the kind stapled together with the stick figures as illustrations. My fellow missionary kid friend, Josephine, and I would spend Saturdays writing romances when we were in middle school. She always cried when I read mine. She claimed they were good, and that encouraged me to continue on!

What is the genre you write in? Would you explain what it is?
I like to think I write literary fiction, and want to do more of that. My three novels by Bethany House Publishers are women’s contemporary fiction. They all take place in the South and they have some romance.

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 like at least eight months to write a novel from start to polished product. I’m slow at writing because I procrastinate and spend too much time promoting my novels instead of writing new ones. But on a good day, I like to set word count goals. I’m all about being able to check my goals for the day off my To Do list, so that helps me get my writing done.

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

My most recent novel is HATTERAS GIRL. This story takes place on the Outer Banks of North Carolina and is about a young woman’s desire to find a man and run a bed and breakfast. The main character faces lots of obstacles along the way.

You can order all my novels—HATTERAS GIRL, HOW SWEET IT IS and RAIN SONG, from Amazon, CBD, Books A Million, or Barnes and Noble.

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

Sometimes dreams take time to come about. Be patient, wait on God, and don’t give up! I also hope that readers find humor in the pages, as well as some sorrow. Life is, after all, a mixture of humor and sorrow, and God is in the midst of it all.

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?

I have to protect my mind and heart from dwelling on negativity or from looking over the fence and seeing what other authors are doing or getting. I have to fight every day with believing those who say they really like my work, and striving hard to continue with my work in progress to make it shine.

Who’s inspired you the most?

My first grade teacher, Miss Terwilliger was a great boost to my ego. She liked my stories and had me read them to the third and fourth grades in my elementary school in Kyoto, Japan.

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

My agent sent my first novel, RAIN SONG, to a bunch of publishers and the first one to say, YES! was Bethany House. From there, I was offered a two-book contract and then another contract for two books. (My fourth novel, A WEDDING INVITATION, comes out this October.)

When RAIN SONG first came out, I was excited. I suppose I did sit back and enjoy that moment. But now, I have so much more I want to accomplish that I am pushing myself more than anything. I’m fifty this month, and have miles to go before I sleep.

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

I love licorice (in fact, I’m eating some my husband got me for Christmas as I write this), sushi, cheesecake, and chocolate. I like picnics on our boat named Rain Song, cooking, and meeting friends for coffee. Okay, onto likes that are not food-related—I love trains and traveling. I’d like to go to Alice Springs, Australia one day. Dislikes? Ungrateful people and mice.

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

My website is: http://www.alicewisler.com/ and my two blogs are: http://www.alicewisler,blogspot.com/ and http://www.writingtheheartache.blogspot.com/

Thanks, for this interview! I had fun doing it! And many thanks to all who read it.



There you have it, readers. Another fun interview from a grand author. Leave those comments and email addresses for a chance to win her book.

Many blessings!

21 comments:

Wendy said...

I would like to read this book. I like to read about singleness, patience and waiting on God as that is where I am at.
wsmarple/at/gmail/dot/com

Kathryn Neff Perry, PhD, MA, LMHC said...

Alice,
I like your suggestion about "checking off daily word count" from your to do list.
I can't wait to read all your books.
Thanks Carole for this great post!
Hugs
Katt

Jo said...

Thank you for the interview. I really enjoyed reading it and your books sound so good. The cover for Hattaras Girl is just beautiful.

Blessings,
Jo
ladijo40(at)aol(dot0com

DALowe Artist said...

I recently read How Sweet It Is, my first book by the author. I immediately purchased Rain Song. I would love to win her newest Hatteras Girl!
daloweartist[at]gmail[dot]com

Carmen said...

Fun interview! I used to play with mice when I was little--baby ones, til one bit me. Please enter me for Hatteras Girl. Have heard great reviews.

desertrose5173 at gmail dot com

Debbie Clark said...

I have never read any of Alice Wislers' books yet, but I shall put them on my to buy list. Would love to win one of her books. Thanks for the chance.
Debbie Clark

debbiemcla (at) msn (dot) com

Linda Kish said...

I like her comment "Sometimes dreams take time to come about. Be patient, wait on God, and don’t give up!" Makes good sense to me.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Giveaway Lady said...

Would love to be entered:) Thanks so much!

esterried[at]yahoo[dot]com

Rose McCauley said...

Thanks Alice and Carole for this interview and a chance to win Alice's book. It sounds great! Sign me up at crmcc at setel dot com thanks, rose

Alice. J. Wisler said...

Thank you, each one of you, for posting here!

~Alice

The Crazy Cat Lady said...

Thank you for the interview. I'd like to read your book! And, I definitely agree ~ sometimes dreams take time to come about.
Thank you for the opportunity

kjv1611as at gmail dot com

Donna Alice said...

Would love to read the book about the bed and breakfast! That is something I'd love to do myself.

Donnaalice540@msn.com

Pegg Thomas said...

The lines between literary fiction and women's fiction blur a lot. I like both, so that's okay. Thanks for entering me in the drawing.

twinwillowsfarm at gmail dot com

Tara said...

This sounds like a great read! Thank you for this giveaway!

TaraTagli at gmail dot com

Charity U said...

Great review! Many reviews with authors just don't hold my attention, but this one did the whole way through! Thank you! It sounds like a good book, and I would love to win/read it!

photographer4ever832[at]gmail[dot]com

Karen said...

Please count me in for this giveaway.
sonflower277 at gmail dot com

MaureenT said...

I love the cover on this book...wish it looked like that outside right now! I agree about mice, and the larger rodents rats! YUCK!


alekee02[at]yahoo[dot]com

Wendy said...

Inspirational interview.
Please enter me in the drawing.
Thank you for the chance.
wdesirees[at]yahoo[dot]com

lgm52 said...

Sounds great..I'd love to read this book.
lgm52@hotmail.com

Unknown said...

First of all, thanks to Carman for sending me to your blog! And then, thank you for the opportunity to win this book. i like to read contemporary books, and lokk forward to what you have in the future.
mitzi_wanham[at]yahoo[dot]com

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the chance of winning a great sounding book. Carmen sent me.

true_sheila at yahoo dot com

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