I’ve done ten speaking events so far this year—one every other week!—including a talk at my alma mater’s Business of Literature class. Students in the class are studying the world of publishing and I was invited to represent independent publishing.
I’ve compiled some of the students’ questions to create a three part Q&A series. Part one focuses on me as a writer.
Student Questions
Did you always know you wanted to be a writer? If not, what pushed you in that
direction?
Becoming a writer never once crossed my mind until my sister took me to dinner a few days before I was to leave for the Peace Corps. She gave me a journal and said she’d keep one too. When I got back, we’d trade them. And oh yeah, we’d make them into a book.
I was a voracious reader but I didn’t think being a writer was something ordinary people
like myself did.
In what ways did your experience with the Peace Corps and your work establishing libraries influence your journey toward becoming a published author?
I was a Peace Corps Volunteer at a very rural school in southern Africa—it was 17
kilometers from the nearest paved road. What the school did have was the makings of a
library. I founded and ran the library at my school as well as helped two other schools
found libraries of their own. This meant I designed library curriculum, helped students
fall in love with reading, and did a lot of reading myself. It was the perfect jumping off
point for ideas of what I would do as a writer when I returned home. I also had plenty of
time to write, keeping up with the journal and a blog as well as experimenting with a few creative pieces. Finally, living abroad gave me a global outlook, something I find useful when building dynamic characters that have unique cultures and goals of their own.
Is there any place you like writing in? What environment helps you write the most?
Today, I can write nearly anywhere. Trains, cafes, public libraries, on vacation, in the
evening. I think part of being a professional writer is doing the work regardless of
circumstances.
That said, my favorite place to write is at home, in my office.
What is your writing routine?
My routine has changed widely over time based on the age of my kids and work flow. Right now, I wake up at 6:25 to journal, then write three mornings a week until lunch
time. Admin, marketing, and related tasks fill the other two work mornings and I reserve
afternoons for client work, meetings, and events.
One morning of writing usually equals a chapter which puts me at a first draft in three months.
What comes to you first in the writing process—the characters, setting, or plot?
I usually start with a sense of a character and the problem they’re facing which means
plot and setting in inherent in that first look.
What does success mean to you as an author?
Right now it looks like writing what I want to, living in a historic home in Wisconsin,
traveling one month a year with my kids, and not working on the weekends.
Have your kids impacted your storytelling?
I had a very dangerous first pregnancy and lost a child. Grief is a difficult thing with
which to become familiar. I see how it’s broadened my understanding of the human
experience and reminds me our time and efforts are precious.
My living children are eight- and nine-years-old. I love seeing the world through their
eyes which prompts me to dive deeper into the characters I create and how they should
have their own unique outlook too. My kids are highly supportive of my work and like to celebrate the good news with me.
Who are your biggest cheerleaders when it comes to getting your book out there? Who do you need on your team?
My professional team involves a mix of assistants, editors, and cover designers. I also receive support from librarians and booksellers that help my books reach the right readers. You write a book alone, but it takes many people to produce, launch, and market a new novel.
My husband and my sister are the biggest cheerleaders for my work, strategizing and
offering a listening ear when I want to complain!
How has Lawrence helped you in your writing career? I notice you mention LU in
all your bios, so obviously you are proud of your time here and think it was
worthwhile!
A liberal arts education gave me the understanding that I could learn any topic and apply it to my work. I received a great education at Lawrence and see every day how the skills, work ethic, knowledge, and perspective I gained there have set me up for a successful career.
If you could do one thing differently in your career, what would it be?
I would have disregarded what other people thought earlier. That’s not to say I don’t respect the opinions of others, but rather that I’m choosy about who I listen to.
If you are going to use your voice, there will always be people who disagree with you or seek to put you down. I’m in a place where I am fully committed to my own voice.
