Interview with Susan May Warren

Susie and me at the 2013 ACFW
Gala Awards Dinner rockin' our vintage dresses

I can't believe it's taken me so long to have Susan May Warren on my blog!! When I started blogging about my road to publication, I quoted an old proverb that says: "A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step." When I met Susie, I felt like she grabbed me by the hand and sprinted me down a leg of that journey. I know, without a doubt in my mind, that I reached "published" so quickly because of her incredible teaching.

Susie is not only a multi-published, multi-award winning author, she is also the creator of My Book Therapy, an organization designed to teach, encourage, and equip authors. She hosts retreats, teaches workshops, and mentors new authors. She has more energy than ten women, and she has an incredible mind for stories. More than that, she's kind, generous, and as nice as you can imagine.

I could go on and on, but she's probably blushing right now... J Without further ado, here's my interview with Susie.

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GM: Welcome to my blog, Susie! I’m thrilled to have you here. (I’m grinning as I write this. J) It’s such an honor to have you stop by. From my first Pitch & Promotion Seminar, to my Storycrafter’s & Deep Thinker’s Retreats, and my Frasier Finals—you’ve been a huge part of my writing journey. Not only are you a wonderful author, teacher, and mentor, you’ve also become a good friend. What’s more, you’re a Minnesotan—can it get any better than that?!?! J

SMW:  Yes, we Minnesotans need to stick together (or we’ll freeze to death!) It’s been so fun to get to know you over the years – and watch you go from just starting to PUBLISHED AUTHOR. SO cool! Thank you for inviting me to your blog today!

GM: You were one of the first published authors I met in person, and you've been such an integral part of my journey. I'm so thankful for you! And I’m also excited to read your newest release, Always on My Mind. Stories often start with a single spark. What sparked your idea for Always on My Mind?

SMW: It started with a true story – a local friend had a daughter who had inadvertently walked into an abusive relationship. I prayed for this woman as she tried to figure out how to help her daughter – going from “I can’t leave him,” to “I’m afraid to leave him.” This beautiful, intelligent woman confessed that she didn’t exactly know how she got there—just that one day she opened her eyes and realized the horrible truth. But, as she traced her path, she realized that she’d told herself a million tiny lies along the journey that eventually landed her at this terrible place.

Those outside the horrific journey warned her. Wanted—tried—to wave her off. And watched with torn hearts as she entwined herself in a situation that nearly cost her—and her children—their lives.

Eventually, the abuser hurt someone else—someone less afraid, less intimidated, less willing to believe lies—and was imprisoned. Justice, finally.

But we so often find ourselves in similar situations – we let lies drive us into decisions that are dangerous and tragic. We even accept abuse because we can’t lift our eyes off ourselves and onto truth.

I’ve always been about grace, and lavish love of God to rescue us from ourselves in my stories. I believe Jesus stands outside the lies, waving at us to stop our self-destruction, to believe Him for freedom, to reach out for His love, to trust His justice. And he asks us, as Christians, to stand in the darkened pathways and shed light. So, I wanted to write a story about a man who couldn’t escape the pull of love God had for the broken, the lost—and yet depict the agony of seeing them run away into destruction. Just as God must feel when we push Him away and stubbornly head into darkness.

GM: What an incredible story of redemption and grace. I love your writing—and so do many other loyal fans. You’ve published over forty novels in the past eleven years, in multiple genres. You’ve also created My Book Therapy, an organization designed to teach and encourage writers along the path to publication. Your love and dedication to the writing industry is unmatched by anyone I know. Where does your love for stories come from? At what point did you realize you wanted to be a published author?

SMW: Oddly, being a novelist wasn’t really a dream for me – not realistically. I wanted to be a career missionary, and dove into writing great newsletters. However, we lived in Siberia and there’s not a lot to do there, so at night, I wrote stories. It wasn’t until I came home on furlough and attended a writing conference that I began to consider that I could publish them. Now, I can’t imagine doing anything different!

GM: I can't imagine you doing anything different, either! You've touched countless lives and accomplished a great deal already, but knowing you, I have a suspicion you’ve only just begun. Where do you see yourself in ten years?

SMW: Oh boy – I’m not sure. I’ve never been good at seeing out that far – more of a “take the next step through the open door” girl. I do know I’d like to continue to write great stories, and continue to help people see their publishing dreams come true. I guess I’m just excited where God might take those desires as I surrender them to Him.

GM: I love how you stated that. It's a great adventure to surrender our desires to Him and watch where He takes them. Now that I’ve asked some serious questions, here’s one just for fun. If you could have a meal with three people who are no longer alive, who would they be and why?

SMW: I’d like to have lunch with the Inklings (C.S Lewis, J.R.R Tolkien, etc.) And I’d invite Robin Williams, just because I am still sad about the world losing him.

GM: That would be an incredible meal! Three men who touched the world and left their indelible fingerprints. Thank you for answering my questions, Susie! You’re always a joy to spend time with. I hope we can do it in person again one day soon.

 

SMW: It’s a date! Yes! Thank you for having me, Gabe!

YOUR TURN, READERS: If you could have a meal with three people who are no longer alive, who would they be and why?

 

Be sure to enter below to win a free copy of Susie's newest release, Always on my Mind!
 

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To read an excerpt of Susie’s newest novel, go to: http://www.susanmaywarren.com/books/always-on-my-mind

After a failed dig in Honduras, aspiring archaeologist Casper Christiansen heads home to Minnesota to face his unresolved feelings for Raina Beaumont, the woman of his dreams. But when he arrives unannounced on her doorstep, he receives the shock of a lifetime: Raina is pregnant with someone else’s baby.

Heartbroken, especially when he discovers the identity of the baby’s father, Casper tables his dreams and determines to be dependable for once, helping his older brother, Darek, prepare the family resort for its grand reopening. Casper longs to be the hero of at least one family story, but a never-ending Deep Haven winter and costly repairs threaten their efforts—and the future of the resort.

Worse, one of Casper’s new jobs constantly brings him into contact with Raina, whom he can’t seem to forget. A tentative friendship begins to heal fresh wounds, but can they possibly overcome past mistakes and current choices to discover a future together?

* * * *

Susan May Warren is the bestselling, Christy and RITA Award–winning author of more than forty novels whose compelling plots and unforgettable characters have won acclaim with readers and reviewers alike. She served with her husband and four children as a missionary in Russia for eight years before she and her family returned home to the States. She now writes full-time as her husband runs a lodge on Lake Superior in northern Minnesota, where many of her books are set. She and her family enjoy hiking, canoeing, and being involved in their local church.


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ACFW Conference

Phew! In the past two weeks I've logged over 36 hours of drive time in my mini-van. It's been a whirlwind adventure.

Just outside of Ames, Iowa.

I've been to Indianapolis, Des Moines and Webster City, Iowa.  I reunited with old friends, made new friends and have a whole new treasure trove of memories stored away in my heart. I met God in amazing ways and watched other people encounter God in their own lives.

On Tuesday, September 10th I left my home in Minnesota and traveled five hours south to Des Moines, Iowa to meet up with Melissa Tagg and Alena Tauriainen. We spent the night at Melissa's apartment, loaded up the mini-van and then left for Indianapolis the next day.

The trip to Indianapolis took us about seven and a half hours. We enjoyed catching up, listening to each others pitches, sharing funny stories, and laughing our way to the Hyatt in Indianapolis.

Inside the Hyatt in Indianapolis.

That night we met up with the My Book Therapy Staff and went to the Eagle's Nest Restaurant, a rotating room at the top of the Hyatt, where we shared the highs and lows of our year. It was a humbling experience to hear the amazing things God is doing through the ministry of Reba Hoffman and her bicycle.

Sitting with the My Book Therapy Staff in the rotating Eagle's
Nest Restaurant above the Hyatt.

The next day, Thursday, many writing friends began arriving at the Hyatt and I had the privilege of helping with the registration table for the conference. It was there that I met my agent, Mary Keeley, in person for the first time! I also met new friends and reconnected with old ones.

Mary Keeley and I

The second night at the hotel was when all my roommates arrived! I roomed with Jessica Patch, Cynthia Herron and Lindsay Harrel. I don't remember the last time I laughed so hard and so much! We had such a good time we didn't realize how late it had become...or how loud we were being...until the lady next to us was kind enough to tell us we needed to be quiet. :)

My funny roommates: Jessica Patch, Cynthia Herron and Lindsay Harrel.

After that, the conference went by in a wonderful blur! Friday night was the genre dinner where I dressed up in a mid-1910's gown. It was fun to see others get into the spirit of the dinner.

Here is Anne Love dressed in her 1890's attire!

I spent my time attending workshops and seminars, pitching my story to editors and visiting with fellow writers. On Saturday night I went to the My Book Therapy Pizza Party where I was a finalist for the Frasier Contest. I didn't win the award, but I felt like a rock star being a finalist!

 

Here I am with the other finalists!

The Pizza Party was a lot of fun. The highlight was watching a spoof on the Wizard of Oz, where Lindsay Harrel sang her heart out.

 

The My Book Therapy Pizza Party performers! Lindsay
is on the left with the silver hair. :) Susan May Warren
is dressed as Dorothy in the blue.

After the Pizza Party I went back to the Eagle's Nest and had tea and dessert with my lovely agent, Mary. We had the opportunity to visit and get to know one another better. We talked about my writing and she encouraged me in wonderful ways. I feel blessed beyond compare by her work on my behalf. It was a much different experience attending a conference with an agent on my side. I'm excited to work with her and I can't wait to see where we go from here.

I also attended the Books & Such Literary Agency breakfast on Sunday morning. This was an amazing event for me. I felt honored to be sitting among the authors represented by my agency. It was fun to meet many authors I've dreamed of meeting my whole life. It was humbling to be included.

The Books & Such Literary Agency Breakfast

Sunday, September 15th marked a very special milestone for my friend Melissa Tagg. Her debut novel, Made to Last, released! I'm so thankful we were there to celebrate with her. Alena, Lindsay and I had release day buttons made to spread the good news.

Here we are showing off our buttons.

I cheered with friends who had successes and I cried with friends who were disappointed. I laughed at funny stories, empathized with those who are struggling, and took a few moments to sit quietly and marvel at this journey God has called me on. Who am I that He would use me?

Susan May Warren and I in our 50's inspired dresses.

The conference ended with the Gala Awards dinner on Sunday night where author Frank Peretti was given the lifetime achievement award. This event was a wonderful time to take all those last minute pictures with friends and to celebrate the work God is doing through Christian Fiction.



One of my favorite mentors, Beth Vogt.

I walked away from the conference sleep-deprived and elated! I am encouraged and equipped for this next leg of my journey. I feel really good about where I'm at and I look forward to where I'm going. It's the best place to be.

Your Turn: If you were at the ACFW Conference, what was your highlight? I've missed being on my blog and visiting with my readers. If you weren't at the conference, I'd love to know what you've been doing these past two weeks.

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On Wednesday I'm hosting author Jody Hedlund on my blog. I'll be sharing information about a fun giveaway for the month of October. You won't want to miss it!

On Friday I'll share some fun pictures from Melissa Tagg's Made to Last Launch Party in Webster City, Iowa!

Deep Thinkers Retreat 2013

I titled this post Deep Thinkers 2013, because I hope there's a Deep Thinkers 2014, 2015, 2016... I've been warned that many people who attend become repeat offenders. :)

This picture may not prove that we're deep thinkers, but
I assure you we are. :)

My heart is so full right now. Full of writing, full of friendship and full of hope. As a writer seeking publication, I can't think of a better place to learn about the craft of writing and I can't think of any other teachers I'd rather study under. Susan May Warren, Rachel Hauck and Beth Vogt are masterminds in this industry.

Susan, Me & Rachel

If you haven't read their stories, I'd encourage you to change that now!

Me, Beth & Lindsay

One thing I was looking forward to the most was connecting with my new craft partner, Alena. We met in person at the ACFW Conference in Dallas last fall, and then again at the Storycrafter's Retreat in Minnesota, but we were looking forward to rooming together at Deep Thinkers to get to know one another better and to work out a plan and schedule for our partnership.

 

Me & Alena

Alena is an incredible mom, writer and friend. She and I both have four children and I know that I will learn so much from her - not only about writing, but also about parenting. She'll be visiting me in June (along with Melissa Tagg and Lindsay Harrel) and I can't wait to spend more time together!

I was also really excited to reconnect with some other good writing friends. I've now been to ACFW, Storycrafter's and Deep Thinkers with Lindsay Harrel. She's so much fun! I feel blessed to have her, and Jeanne (and so many others!) in my life.

Lindsay, Me & Jeanne

We spent five days learning from the best and I can't wait to put all the knowledge to work in my novels.



But some of the best moments from Deep Thinkers 2013 were the laughs. When you put twenty-one writers together in one house, there will be some great storytelling going on!

Me, Bethany & Jeanne

What about you? Have you been to a writing retreat before? What is your fondest memory?

I'm Entering the Frasier Contest

A year ago I decided it was time to start pursuing my dream to be a published author. I didn't know the first thing about getting published, but I was excited to find out! Little did I know how much I would learn in one year.

In many ways, learning about the publishing industry us like learning a new language. Not only did I discover foreign acronyms like POV, WIP, RUE, and CP, but I also learned about Beta Readers, Dark Moments, Head Hopping and Pitching – and that's just the tip of the iceberg. Without a guide to help me along the way, I would have easily become lost in a sea of confusion.

Along comes MBT – what? Another acronym? MBT stands for My Book Therapy and it's one of the lifelines in this industry.

My Book Therapy was founded by multi-award winning author Susan May Warren. I can't speak highly enough about Susie. Not only is she an incredible author, but she's also one of my favorite writing craft teachers.

I've been fortunate enough to attend the Pitch & Promotion Seminar at ACFW (don't get me started on another acronym!), and the Storycrafter's Retreat in Otsego, Minnesota (close to my home!), plus I'll be spending a week with her at the Deep Thinker's Retreat in Destin, Florida next week.

My Book Therapy is truly one of the best organizations available to aspiring authors. Through seminars, retreats, classes, teaching books and personal one-on-one book therapy, MBT has it all – but wait – there's one more thing MBT has: The Frasier Contest for unpublished authors!

This is the first year I've entered the Frasier Contest – and I can't wait for the feedback I'll receive. One of the most valuable tools to help me learn this new language is the honest and helpful feedback from other writers. Whether the news is good, or not so good, I know I can trust MBT to deliver constructive criticism of my writing. The Frasier is a great way to have an unbiased eye look at my story and give me the truth I need to make it better.

If you’re on the fence about entering the Frasier Contest, let me assure you that your time and money will be well spent. My Book Therapy is a stellar organization and I’m proud to be a member.

What about you? Have you entered the Frasier Contest before? What advice do you have for an unpublished author thinking about entering a contest?

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Entries for the 2013 MBT Frasier Contest for unpublished novelists will be accepted through Sunday, March 31, at 11:59 p.m. The contest is open to Voices members. The winner will receive a scholarship to a My Book Therapy coaching retreat ($500 value). Final round judges are award-winning author Susan May Warren; literary agent Steve Laube; and Shannon Marchese, senior fiction editor for WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group. For more information, FAQs and to enter, visit www.mybooktherapy.com. 



The Next Step On My Writing Journey

In February I began this blog as a way to share my journey toward publication. In one of the first blog entries I shared an old Chinese Proverb: "The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step."

I'm finding, on this road to publication, some of those steps are more like leaps and bounds, and some are like tiny shuffles, but each one takes me closer to the goal, especially when those steps are guided and directed by God.

On Thursday I'll be taking a huge leap. I'll be submitting my manuscript, for the first time, to two large publishing houses that requested it at the ACFW Conference last month in Dallas. I'm still amazed at how these awesome opportunities were presented to me and I can see God's handiwork all over it. I don't know what the outcome will be, but I know that no matter what, I was able to watch God weave together a chain of events that made this next step possible, and I'm still in awe.

I went to the conference with few expectations. It was my first conference, so I wanted to go and learn as much as possible. The first day I attended the My Book Therapy Pitch & Promotion Seminar by Susan May Warren and I had the opportunity to practice my fifteen minute pitch with her. I loved telling her my story idea and I was thrilled when she told me she liked it and thought I could sell it. She asked me who I was pitching to and I told her I had only made Mentor Appointments and didn't have pitching appointments planned. When my amazing writing friends, Melissa Tagg and Lindsay Harrel, heard that, they both offered me one of their pitching appointments - to the top two publishing houses on my list.

Armed with support and encouragement from my friends, I went into the two appointments with confidence and practice - and I came out of both of them with a huge smile on my face, and requests to see my work. (To all my writing friends, I have to admit, I really liked the pitching experience!)

After I submit my manuscript, I don't know what the next step will be on my journey, but I'm fully confident that God already has it laid out. I just need to walk in faith.

What about you? Have you seen God's handiwork in your life? Where are you at on your writing journey?

American Christian Fiction Writers Conference

My Pitch & Promotion Buddies

Last week I had the incredible opportunity to attend my first writers conference - and it's the biggest one in the nation. The American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) Conference was held in Dallas, Texas with almost seven hundred people in attendance.

Some of the reasons to go to a writers conference are to connect with other writers, attend workshops/seminars and to pitch your book idea to agents and editors in person - a privilege you don't get anywhere else. If you don't attend a conference, it can take months for an agent to get around to looking at your book proposal and it's almost impossible to get your idea in front of an editor without an agent.

At a conference you are given two fifteen minute appointments with agents and editors of your choice (but you don't always get your first choice). It's your job to communicate your book idea and get the agent/editor excited about it in fifteen minutes - a daunting task, to say the least. 

When I arrived at the conference on Wednesday I signed up to attend the Pitch & Promotion Seminar presented by Susan May Warren with My Book Therapy - and I'm so happy I did. Susie spent four hours teaching us how to present our book idea to agents and editors during our conference experience and then her skilled team members help us practice that pitch until we felt confident to present it.



Susan May Warren and Jim Rubart Teaching

During the Pitch & Promotion Seminar I had the awesome privilege to work with Beth Vogt - one of my favorite authors and friends. Beth helped me craft my "hook" line - the line you start with to grab your audience's attention. Here's what we came up with for my hook:

"Can the ultimate act of love be to break someones heart?"

What do you think? I had quite a few raised eyebrows when I asked that question - and it's the question that my book explores.

Two of my friends offered me pitch sessions with editors from some really amazing publishing houses. I was nervous going into my pitching sessions, but both of them proved to be awesome experiences.

I have much to share over the coming weeks about my time at ACFW, the people I met, the lessons I learned, the doors that were opened, but, for now, I'll leave you with the greatest truth I've gleaned:

God is in the business of blessing - and He's good at it.

What about you? What blessings are you counting today? What do you think about my hook line? :)

Marathon Training...for Writers?

I'm blessed to be surrounded by friends who care about their health. My best friends are mothers, in their early thirties, and most of them are done having children, so they've begun bringing their "baby" bodies back into shape. Last week I had them over for an evening of visiting around the campfire and three of them are either training for half marathons, or they've run them.

It was interesting to hear them talk about their training programs. Since I'm not a runner, I couldn't relate on a physical level with them, but I could on a writing level. In February of this year I decided I was going to start training for a marathon of a different kind: publication.

The difference between writing for fun and writing to be published is like the difference between taking a stroll through the park on a Sunday afternoon versus running 26.2 miles in one day.

Could you imagine the average person waking up one morning and saying: "I think I'll run a marathon today"? Never! It takes months, sometimes years of hard work, dedication and tenacity to be ready to run that far. So why would the average person wake up one morning and think they could produce a publishable novel?

To be honest, I was that kind of person. Before February I had done some writing here and there. I've had publications in Minnesota Moments Magazine, I've done freelance writing for numerous organizations and I started a family blog last fall, but none of those things was anything like writing a full length novel.

So, with very little training, I wrote the first draft of my first novel in about three months. I was proud of myself (how many people can say they actually finished a novel?), but I knew it wasn't good. Wasn't anywhere near publication ready. That's when I decided, if I was ever going to get published, I would have to start a serious training program.

Since February, I've learned so much about writing a novel. It isn't for the faint of heart. My training has pushed me to the edge of everything I know and asked me to go even further.

Amidst the character layering, spiritual journeys, plot development, Black Moments and Inciting Incidents I've been learning about, I've discovered there are five essential components for seeking publication:

1. Commit to the Long Haul. When the going gets tough, or the work becomes exhausting, get up and keep going. I've committed to this. It's going to be hard. It's going to require sacrifice. It's going to hurt. But I know how much I want it - and that desire far out weighs the desire to quit.

2. Train with the Best! I've discovered that there are some GOOD writing coaches out there. James Scott Bell, Susan May Warren, Jody Hedlund, Rachelle Gardner, Randy Ingermanson, just to name a few. Study them. Learn from them. Discover what tips and secrets, along with hard fought principles, they've learned and want to share. I can't stress the importance of getting a good coach. It makes all the difference.

3. Don't do it Alone. Get a good cheering section to help you achieve your goal and encourage you on until you've hit the finish line. For me, that's been my friends and family in my personal life, who surround me and believe in me, even when I don't believe in myself. And it's been the amazing, faith filled writing friends I've made online since February. Meeting other authors, in all stages of their journey, has been the best thing I've done in my writing career. I've met and interacted with multi-published authors, who astound me with their wisdom, debut authors who are just beginning to see the fruit of their labor, agented authors who wait in anticipation to hear the word "contract," and aspiring authors, like me, who are just beginning and learning right along side everyone else. What do all of us have in common? A passion to write the words that God has placed on our hearts and to do it with grace and humility.

4. Seek God and His Timing. This one is the most important and the hardest to do. As someone with a dream, we want to push and push until we see it come into reality, but we have to realize that there are limitations. Physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. God has a perfect plan. If we try to do things in our own timing, in our own strength, we'll fall flat on our face - just as a runner would if they pushed themselves too hard. As God is fitting each piece of the puzzle together, we want Him to hurry up so that we can see the big picture materialize. What we need to remember is that He can't fit the wrong piece in at the wrong time - each piece must be put in the puzzle in order so that the next piece can fall into place. 

5. There's No Fast Track to Getting Published. Like everything else worth doing, it's going to be hard. This is the best advice I found when I was looking up marathon training, and it applies to both the runner and the writer: "Don't worry about your speed. Just focus on covering the distance."

What about you? Do you feel like you're running a marathon towards the publication line? If you're published, what's the best advice you have for others on the same course? What have you learned is essential to seeking publication?

Questions about Romance Novels



By Susan May Warren



Hey, Friends! This week will probably be a little quiet with so many of my blogging buddies taking a Fourth of July bloggy-break, so I thought I would keep my post short and sweet! On my Facebook page last week I asked this question:

"I'm currently working my way through Kiss & Tell, How to Write a Romance by Author Susan May Warren. My question for you: What is the best love story you've ever read and why?"

I had a couple people respond that the Bible is their favorite love story ~ that was the best answer and I couldn't agree more! ~ but I was actually looking for fiction titles. I should have been more specific!

I enjoyed reading the varied answers, but I thought I would take the question a step deeper and ask this: What do you like about love stories (okay, I'll call them what they are: romance novels ~ I hate the connotation that the title "romance novel" infers) and what don't you like about them? Do you think they depict "real life" or do you think they give us an unrealistic idea of love? Why do you feel the way you do about your answer?

For me, I love reading a good historical novel with a strong romance woven in. I will only read a romance story if I know it's been published by a Christian Publishing House because I believe the current Christian Fiction Market strives to keep romances realistic and God centered. I almost always walk away with a better perspective on my faith and my marriage and I don't believe an author has achieved what she or he has set out to achieve unless their reader feels the same. Readers today have more expectations for their time and money and they won't settle for anything less.

Thanks for participating today! Please feel free to be honest and open with me, even if you don't agree with what I just wrote! I hope to gain a better understanding of romance novels and why people read them or why they don't. Thanks, guys!

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Congratulations to debut author Keli Gwyn for

her release of A Bride Opens Shop in Eldorado, California 

on July 1st! I'm looking forward to

being a guest blogger on her website July 11th!