Can you share a little about your recent book?
Maribel Montgomery may be a lifelong Texan, but growing up in Houston hasn’t prepared her for life west of the Brazos river. The rural town of Turnaround may seem like the perfect place to get away from a long list of mistakes and start over. She doesn’t realize that it may be remote, but it’s filled with resilient and crusty descendants of the town’s original settlers who don’t tolerate living with regrets. Unfortunately, the job she took comes with a list of unexpected challenges when she discovers a dead body in the river on her first morning there. Add in the missing teenager, the good-looking coworker who might be a stalker, and the straight-talking, terminally ill matriarch of the Moreland Ranch dynasty and Maribel will soon understand this isn’t the place to be if you’re afraid of dying…or living fully alive.
Why do you write? Do you have a theme, message, or goal for your books?
I joke about always having one foot in a parallel universe. There is always a story going on in my head that has nothing to do with the reality of where I am or what I am doing… a sort of alternate reality playing out in my mind. I have a constant string of ideas and a serious fascination with using words to communicate thoughts or stir emotions. From those ideas grow stories based on the concept of good overcoming evil, which is, after all, the story of the gospel message. The goal of my stories is to help people, particularly women, relate to my heroines in a way that makes people believe, not only in themselves, but in something bigger than themselves. I want readers to finish the book with a hunger for God’s Word and with the confidence that they have been chosen to live a life of purpose—that they too are Kingdom changers.
How long have you been writing?
In my head, all my life. But since we don’t really want people getting into my head to see what a scary place that is, I decided about five years ago to start putting the words on paper in order to share them. I became serious about writing when my kids (I have twins) turned sixteen and got their driver’s licenses. I was looking at a lot more free time in my future as they neared graduation and independence. With my husband’s encouragement, I started playing with the story that was most on my mind. It took close to four years for that story to finally come together in a form I was comfortable with—and other than setting, the end product looked nothing like the beginning. The most valuable lesson I learned through the process is that the best way to learn how to write a book is by writing a book. Read books on craft, go to conferences, take workshops, but don’t wait until you have it all figured out before you write your book.
And how long did it take you to get your first major book contract? Or are you published non-traditionally? How did that come about?
I published my first book non-traditionally. I found agents interested in the writing, but my platform…well let’s just say a more accurate word would be “flatform.” (Pro tip #1 for new writers… agents don’t find that nearly as humorous a description as I did)
I am somewhat introverted, but my biggest challenge in building a platform or tribe was that I was also incredibly insecure about my writing. I didn’t take the decision to indie publish lightly. If I had received feedback that the writing was not good enough, I would have kept working. That book went through two different editors, two rounds of beta readers, and numerous critique partners. I was committed to not publishing anything that wasn’t the best I could do.
But publishing my first book let me actually feel credible as an author. Having a book out there with actual reviews from readers helped me overcome a lot of insecurity. And overcoming that lack of confidence has helped me get out of my comfort zone and learn how to start building a tribe that may help me convince an agent or publisher to take a chance on my next book (*hint*hint* if you’d like to help me out with that, please head over to my website and subscribe to my newsletter. I would be eternally grateful. Pro tip #2 for new writers…begging is acceptable while you’re getting started).
Which of your books is your favorite?
My first book is special because it is the one that officially made me a novelist. But the second one is also special because I see and understand so much more about the craft of writing fiction. It is coming together with greater depth and greater suspense, I hope.
Do you have a favorite character or scene in one of your books?
I love my character Conner Pierce. He’s full of West Texas charm and knows exactly how to use it. What he doesn’t know is how to deal with his born-again faith. He was a man in search of the next good time until Jesus got hold of him. Now he’s in search of the correct way to share the truth he’s found with every lost soul he can. He’s clumsy and awkward and completely convinced he has been given this mission to share the Good News with everyone he meets.
Tell us about an award you won that was particularly meaningful.
Before my novel was finished, I entered a short story in the Foundations contest at the Blue Ridge Christian Writers Conference. It was a surreal moment when I heard my title announced as the winner. Dreaming about being a successful writer (and my definition of successful is to be worthy of being read) is one thing. Having it become a reality is a sacred, yet humbling moment.
I don’t believe writers should look to contest or contracts for validation, but in that moment it was as if the curtain pulled back. I could see the possibility of what God could bring about if I placed my trust in Him and let Him lead — no matter how scary the process or unlikely the outcome seems. I never dreamed I could write an entire book, but I was almost there. I never dreamed I could write a short story that was worth reading, but I’d written an award-winning short story that was subsequently published in a compilation with others. I never dreamed I’d be given the opportunity to share my writing journey in an interview for award winning authors on this blog. If I will be obedient to God, He has a future planned for me that I can’t even begin to fathom.
How long does it take you to write a book?
I tell people it took me fifty-one years to write the first one. In truth, that book about four years — one year to write it and three to rewrite it by learning how I should have done it in the first place. My second book has gone faster, but there is still a learning process as a writer figuring out how much to plot and how much to leave to organic development. My guess is that for the first three to five books, there will be a great deal of trial and error in discovering a method for writing efficiently.
What’s your writing work schedule like?
I’m retired, so I write pretty much all day. My typical day is to get up and have coffee while I read my Bible. Then I start with the most urgent thing on my agenda. Hopefully, that will be writing on my novel, but occasionally I’ll need to get something done to help a fellow writer. The actual writing for the novel may only be three to four hours, with business, correspondence, critiquing for others, and studying the craft. I’m pretty flexible with how I fit all that into the day, which isn’t necessarily a good thing. But I’m also a brand-new Nana so flexibility is the name of the game. I would love to have the discipline to establish a set schedule and stick to it. And did I mention the naps?
Do you have an interesting writing quirk? If so, what is it?
I love to play with words, which isn’t really a quirk—all writers should have this passion—but it is most definitely a source of distraction. I can spend an hour or more experimenting with one word choice. Then I end up frustrated because I will have spent four hours and all I’ll have to show for it is seven words on paper. Not productive. There comes a point where someone needs to take away my thesaurus and dictionary and say just write the story. You can make it pretty later.
What has been your greatest joys in your writing career?
Without hesitation in answering, it’s been the friends I’ve made. Some of my very best friends are fellow writers I’ve met at workshops and conferences. We may only see each other in person once a year, but there is a bond that stretches over time and space. I was recently up for a prestigious award at a well-respected conference. My friends were so incredibly supportive. Too bad they weren’t also the judges. I didn’t win the award, but just being surrounded by these people who believed in me with such enthusiasm was worth far more than any certificate or recognition ever could be.
Could you tell us about a dark moment in your writing career?
The darkest moment in my writing career coincided with a dark moment in my personal life. Without going into too many details, one of our children became a prodigal at the age of sixteen. My entire world just imploded around me. The devastation it brought to our family wrecked me, but it also rebuilt me. God used this time of grieving and seeking direction to teach me and bring me into a deeper relationship with Him. Let’s be honest, He used this time to show me that I was not in control, and I couldn’t “fix” this. All I could do was surrender and trust.
During the first few weeks, though, I wasn’t writing. I was barely functioning. God is key to my writing life. Not only do I want my words to be based on His truth, but it is by His inspiration and power within me that I have any words at all. As I was learning to walk under weight of this burden I carried for my child, I thought who am I to try to write anything for the Lord? I can’t even keep my own world from falling apart. I can’t even save my own child.
I felt like a terrible hypocrite to be writing of anything spiritual, redemptive, or healing. And that’s when God started reforming me, building me up into a writer He could use for His glory.
This dark time in both my personal and my writing life forced me to get past the lie that I needed to have everything all together or that I needed my life to be perfect in order to use my gifts for His glory. In fact, He taught me that it was my mess that helped me minister the most.
It was during this trial that I learned the blessing of being real, being honest, and being present for others — in life and in the words I put on paper.
(On a side note, the prodigal came home and is passionately pursuing a relationship with God now. One day we may write a book together about the journey.)
How many times in your career have you experienced rejection? How did they shape you?
I make it a point not to keep count of the rejections. If reasons for the rejection are given, I consider them and see what I can learn. Often there is wisdom to be gleaned along with the sting. I also consider the source of the rejection. Proverbs 27:6 says: Faithful are the wounds of a friend. The bottom line is remembering that we won’t ever please everyone, and that’s not what God is asking of us.
Where do you get your ideas?
Ideas come from everywhere if we are open to seeing them. I’m a daydreamer so sometimes a scene or line of dialogue pops into my head and begs me to follow it down a rabbit trail to see where it leads. Letting my mind wander is a tremendous source of ideas — occasionally even some useful ones.
But I am also always on the alert for anything that inspires or presents possibilities: the news, other books, Scripture, an overheard conversation at the Post Office, scene at a restaurant, an abandoned shoe on the side of the road.
The key to a never-ending file of ideas is to always be asking yourself What if… and Why?
Who is your favorite author to read?
I’m going to have to say the apostle Paul is foundational. Seriously, Scripture is the lens through which I relate to all other writing, and thus to other authors. I enjoy reading a wide range of books, both fiction and nonfiction, and in a number of different genres. I never like answering this question, though, because I will never be able to narrow the list to one favorite author.
I wasn’t prepared for how many times I would be asked this question by people who know I’m an author. To help answer their questions and make it easier on myself, I am developing a page on my website where I can share about some of my favorite authors and books, and why they make the list.
What advice can you give aspiring writers that you wished you had gotten, or that you wished you would have heeded?
There are as many different opinions about how to succeed as an author as there are authors. Each path may be perfectly right for one, but completely wrong for another. God has gifted us each uniquely. If we try to fit that uniqueness into a shape it wasn’t created for, we risk losing the joy we find in our writing. I experienced that more than once by trying to follow someone else’s list of must do’s. When that happens (and it will because writing, like everything else, is a process of trial and error) and you find yourself struggling through the motions without the joy or enthusiasm you once felt for your writing, stop and remember why you started. Go back to where your passion is and start there again. This time you’ll be better informed and prepared when it’s time for the next step.
What are common mistakes you see aspiring writers make?
For me personally, overcommitting became a huge stumbling block. Everything looked like a wonderful, once in a lifetime opportunity I was afraid to pass up. I signed up for every newsletter, joined every writing group, and offered to contribute to every blog or writing opportunity I could find. The end result was that I wasn’t left with the time to do the writing I really wanted to do. Don’t be afraid you’ll miss something life changing. The opportunities will keep coming when you consistently do the work. It’s okay to try things out, stick with what helps, and step away from what doesn’t. Just don’t try to do it all at once. As the old adage goes, “Don’t try to be a jack of all trades or you’ll end up a master of none.”
Where/How do you recommend writers try to break into the market?
Find opportunities to share your writing in smaller ways while you are building your writing muscle and your platform. Volunteer to write for blogs, donate articles or devotions to online sites that will foster your relationship with your target audience, or get involved in a compilation with other writers. This identifies you as an author who is willing to contribute to the writing community and help other writers. And it lets your words start finding their way to the hearts of your future readers.
Lori Altebaumer is a writer who only half-jokingly tells others she lives with one foot in a parallel universe. With her boots on the ground, head in the clouds, and heart in His hands, she is a wandering soul with a home-keeping heart in search of life’s best adventures. Lori loves sharing the joys of living a Christ-centered life with others through her writing. Her first novel, A Firm Place to Stand, released in January 2020. She also blogs regularly from her website www.lorialtebaumer.com. In between writing, Lori enjoys traveling with her husband and visiting her adult children where she can rummage through their refrigerators and food pantries while complaining there’s nothing good to eat here.
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We love helping your growing in your writing career.
Love the term “flatform!”