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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?
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.
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?
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!
