Book Giveaway Drawing.
Details below.
Shannon Taylor Vannatter is a stay-at-home mom/pastor’s wife/writer. When not writing, she runs circles in the care and feeding of her husband Grant, their eight-year-old son, and their church congregation. Home is a central Arkansas zoo with two charcoal gray cats, a chocolate lab, a dragonfish, and three dachshunds in weenie dog heaven. If given the chance to clean house or write, she’d rather write. Her goal is to hire Alice from the Brady Bunch.
Her series with Heartsong Presents launched in May with White Roses. White Doves follows in October, and White Pearls in January. Each book ships to a 10,000 member bookclub, then to stores six months later. All three books are set in Romance and Rose Bud, Arkansas. Brides and lovebirds take advantage of the re-mailing program to have wedding invitations and Valentines cards mailed from Romance with a unique postmark. Romance also hosts several annual weddings with Valentine’s Day the most popular date.
Interview
White Roses is a contemporary romance between two Christians who have had a rough few years and are clinging onto their fears instead of trusting God with their futures.
What message do you hope it conveys?
What did you enjoy most about writing this book?
I really enjoyed grounding the book into a real setting. Romance and Rose Bud are both real Arkansas towns with rich local flavor.
What did you dislike most about writing this book?
The black moment. I hate making my characters hurt.
What inspired you to become a writer?
I couldn't find any clean romances at the library, so I decided to write the kind of book I'd like to read. Inspirational romance was just beginning when I started out and I didn't know the genre existed. The more I wrote, the more my characters prayed and I realized that I couldn't leave God out of the story. I was so relieved to realize there was a market for what I was writing.
Tell us about your writing process.
I get the story on the page as fast as I can. Each day, I re-read what I wrote the day before to get me back into the story, but I don't do much editing until the first draft is finished. Then I send it to my poor critque partners. By the time I finish, I've gone through at least five drafts.
What are you working on now?
I just turned in the third book in the Romance series and I pitched a rodeo series to my editor. For now, I'm enjoying the summer with my son.
What books do you enjoy reading?
Inspirational romance is my favorite read. I like knowing there will be a happily-ever-after. Occasionally, I delve into Inspirational romantic suspense. It keys me up and since I usually read to relax, I have to be in the right mood for suspense.
Where can readers buy your book?
Order White Roses at http://www.heartsongpresents.com/book/detail/9781602607552/. It will be in stores in November.
Where can readers find you online?
Website: shannonvannatter.com. My new blog, The Inkslinger, features true love stories, inspirational author’s real-life romances, insight into the love lives of their fictional characters, book excerpts, romantic destinations, and weekly book giveaways at http://www.shannonvannatter.com/blog.
Book Giveaway Drawing: Comment on this post for a chance to win a free copy of White Roses. Entries accepted until Wednesday, July 7th at midnight, Pacific Time (US). The winner will be announced on this blog on Friday, July 9th. Full giveaway drawing rules are in the sidebar of this blog.
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Shannon, many successful authors simply wrote the book they'd like to read. "White Roses" sounds like a good book. Thanks for visiting Book Readers Central.
ReplyDeleteGlad to be here, Janalyn. Thanks for inviting me.
ReplyDeleteHello Shannon, I enjoyed your interview.
ReplyDeleteYou mentioned you have a critique partner. When you began your writing journey, did you belong to any critique groups? If so, how important is it to join a critique group and what should a writer look for in a critique group (or partner)? Thanks!
Hi Kimberli,
ReplyDeleteSorry, I'm just now answering. Promised my son we'd do something fun today.
I wrote for about two years on my own. I got published by a Print on Demand publisher and soon realized that wasn't the road I wanted. I joined a local writers' group and learned a lot, but I wanted someone with more experience to tell me what was right and what was wrong.
A new writers' group started up in my area. I was a charter member and helped decide the direction the new group would take. We all wanted critiques. My first critique, I got mad and wasn't going back. A few meetings later, I realized my fellow group members were trying to help and I was learning.
Eventually, it got to the point where I wasn't learning anything new. That's when I found American Christian Fiction Writers. I attended three conferences, before I finally joined. When I joined, they were setting up critique groups and I applied. I've always thought that God put us together. Each of us have different strengths and weaknesses. Even though none of us were published in the beginnning, we've all learned so much.
Now, ACFW has a large critique group. Once you get involved in that, you get to know each other and members form their own small groups. To me, critiquing was invaluable. But you have to have a thick skin. Don't take the critiques personally. It can also be subjective. I don't do everything my critters suggest, I pray about it and then decide.
I'm sorting out my own critique group commitments right now, so I appreciate this good advice, Shannon. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteShannon, Although I read Christian Fiction all the time, and love it, I don't believe I've ever read any of your books. White Roses sounds great.
ReplyDeleterlee,
ReplyDeleteThis is my first traditionally published book. I don't recommend reading my POD book from 2001. The publisher never published the sequel, so it has a cliffhanger ending. Since I don't have the rights, it will never have an ending.
White Roses is the first in a series of three and each book can stand alone, but if you read all three, you get all the side threads smoothed out.
Shannon, I'm sorry to hear about your POD book. That has to be hard. I'm glad you've moved into a better place in your career.
ReplyDeleteJanalyn
ReplyDeleteI forgot to mention that I really hadn't studied the craft when the POD book was published. So on top of having no ending, it's really badly written.
Thankfully, I joined writers' groups, attended conferences, workshops and joined an awesome critique group. In the intervening years, I learned to write and trusted God, which got me a real contract.
It's all a learning experience and I thank God for where I am now.
Shannon,
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your candor. Yes, every talent needs training.
Hi Shannon, I really enjoyed reading your interview. You gave us a lot of information we need to know if we are wanting to get published. Your books sounds like what I would love to read. Thanks for stopping by to chat.
ReplyDeletemisskallie2000 at yahoo dot com
Hi misskallie,
ReplyDeleteMy rough, long, and winding road to publication happened for a reason. Maybe to encourage other writers. I enjoyed being here and love chatting with writers and readers.