My Interview with Smashwords

Woot! Woot! I've published an in-depth Q&A interview at Smashwords, and invite you to comment and suggest additional questions you'd like to see answered in my interview. Thanks for joining in friends. I can't wait to hear from you. J

 

Interview with Danie Marie

What is the greatest joy of writing for you?

It's an outlet to let my creative juices flow onto the page. When I get stuck at the end of a scene, which I often do, I pray and ask the Holy Spirit to show me where to go next, and usually, within a minute or two I have an idea. He's the best writing partner ever!

What do your fans mean to you?

Wow, that's easy. EVERYTHING! Without fans, all the hard work I put into writing a novel would be in vain. Between surgeries and illness and such, it's taken five years to get KELLEN'S HOPE in shape. Quite a workout, wouldn't you say?

What are you working on next?

I'm sprucing up my novella Where Darkness Dwells, which might be ready to download this year. I hope. :) It's a different genre, fantasy, but with romantic elements.

Who are your favorite authors?

Linda Hall, Jerry B. Jenkins, Frank Peretti, Ted Dekker, Shannon Dittemore, Jenny Lundquist...

When you're not writing, how do you spend your time?

Sit on my porch with a cup of coffee or tea and read a good book. Simply enjoy nature. Write a blog. Ooops! That's still writing. Hmmm, spending time in God's Word, which I try to do every morning. That's what gets me going each day. Having friends over for tea/coffee, or talking with a good friend on the phone. I also love ministering to women.

How do you discover the ebooks you read?

Sometimes it's an author I know personally, or an author I've read before whose work I enjoy reading, or a book that's been recommended. That doesn't necessarily mean I'll follow whatever is getting hype in the media, such a Fifty Shades of Gray. After hearing about the content of said book, it's something I'd never read.

Do you remember the first story you ever wrote?

Hmmm, a little. One of myEnglish teacher's in high school gave us an assignment to write a short story. If my memory serves me right, I beleive I wrote about a drunk laying in the gutter on a corner, or something like that. I got an 'A', and she read my story to the class.

What is your writing process?

I'm not much of an outliner, but I always start with a main idea, and I know pretty much how the story ends. I usually have a few ideas of what will happen within the story, and once I'm set as to where to start, I sit at my desk or at the kitchen table and let the story take me where it wants to go. Sometimes my characters take me on a different route than I had planned. But that's the exciting part. Those times when they lead me to a painful place I hadn't planned on, sometimes it's difficult to stay put and keep writing. When the tears come as I'm pouring out a tragic scene, I might leave the computer and compose myselt enough to get back to writing.

How do you approach cover design?

I try to convey significant meaning within the story and thus, attract readers. It has to go along with the title as well. I worked with a graphics designer, and being artistic myself, I looked through hundreds of free stock photos through stock.xchng, until I found several that I liked. Robert and I narrowed it down, and I once I was set with the look I wanted, he put the two pictures together along with the title and my name. It took a few tweeks to get it just right, but I'm really happy with the outcome. I hope you are, too. :)

When did you first start writing?

I consider myself a late bloomer. I was in my early forties laid up with a badly broken ankle, when I felt the Lord calling me to write for Him. Shortly after that, I took my first correspondence writing course with Long Ridge Writers Group, and a few years later, I took their course on novel writing. Since then, I've attended several writing conferences; 3-4 at the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference, one at Estes Park, CO, and one in Canada. I'm doing my best to grow as a writer, and I hope it shows in my writing.

When did you first start writing?

I consider myself a late bloomer. I was in my early forties laid up with a badly broken ankle, when I felt the Lord calling me to write for Him. Shortly after that, I took my first correspondence writing course with Long Ridge Writers Group, and a few years later, I took their course on novel writing. Since then, I've gone to several writing conferences; 3-4 at the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference, one at Estes Park, CO, and one in Canada. I'm doing my best to grow as a writer, and I hope it shows in my writing.

 

Well, what 'cha think? Do you have any more questions for me? Leave a comment, and please pass this on to your friends. I'd so appreciate it! And pray the Lord anoints the work of my hands, that He be glorified. My prayer is for lives as well as souls to be saved as people read KELLEN'S HOPE.

 

Ephesians 2:10 - For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them," (ESV).

 

 

Lord, thank you for the gifts you give us. May we use them to your glory that others might be drawn to you, that a harvest be reaped before you come again. In Jesus name, amen.

 

 

Love & Blessings, Friends!

Danie Marie