Author Interview: Janice A. Thompson

Plug time. What book or project is coming out or has come out that you’d like to tell us about?

My first-ever non-fiction book, I Must Decrease (Barbour), was just released this week. It’s a humorous dieting devotional for people of all shapes and sizes. I wrote the book after losing 100 pounds in 2002 and 2003. Unfortunately, I put back on a few pounds during the production of the book and have to now read it for motivation to stay on the wagon.

I’m also excited to announce the release of a new Heartsong titled
Sweet Charity. It’s centered around a toddler named Charity who is anything BUT sweet. I dedicated this book to my daughter Megan, who works as a private nanny.

How long had you been writing seriously before you got “the call” that you were going to be published? Tell us how you heard and what went through your head.

I started writing in 1994 and my first book was published in 2000. I still remember the day the editor from Barbour phoned me to say they were buying my novel Duty to Die. I was stunned into silence (and those who know me know I'm rarely silent).

I sat with my jaw hanging down, listening as she told me how much she loved my story, and then made an offer. The advance wasn't large, but she might as well have said $1,000,000. I was floored. Floored. Someone actually wanted to pay me for my story. Not only that, she wanted to get the story out to people all over the country. The whole thing was almost too much to take in. Though I had convinced myself for years this would eventually happen, I'm fairly sure I went into shock.

Do you still experience self-doubts regarding your work?

I’m pretty sure we all do. There is never a point where a writer “arrives.” The minute you think you have, something happens to convince you otherwise. I also struggle with another problem related to my writing that can bring about a few doubts. I have A.D.H.D. I tend to start one project then jump to another, losing interest in the first one.

I'm focusing on focusing these days, and that's a bigger challenge than you might think. My mind still has a tendency to wander and I'm always tempted to jump on every new bandwagon that comes along. I’m always in a rush, and that’s not necessarily a good thing. Being so scatterbrained raises some self-doubts because I often see my lack of patience showing up in my finished product. I need to learn to focus and slow down.

What’s the best advice you’ve heard on writing/publication?

To never take a rejection as a rejection. To remember that a “no” at one house will ultimately lead you to the house the Lord has in mind for you.

What’s the worst piece of writing advice you’ve ever heard?

Hmm. Not sure.

What’s something you wish you’d known earlier on that might have saved you some time/frustration in the publishing business?

I wish I’d known not to be afraid – that editors and agents are just normal people too. Perhaps I would have learned more about the process in the first few years if I hadn’t spent so much time worrying about “how to approach” that editor or agent. Now I know they’re completely human. I wasn’t sure, at first.

Do you have a scripture or quote that has been speaking to you lately?

I’ve been spending time in Nehemiah lately, as I write the sequel to my novel Hurricane. It’s about the re-building of Galveston Island after the big storm of 1900. The Lord has laid it on my heart to parallel the story (which I’ve titled After the Storm) to the story of Nehemiah rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem.

The particular scripture He has led me to is found in Nehemiah 2, verse 20: “"The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding.” This really speaks to me, especially in light of the current situations along the gulf coast. It’s going to take a handful of faithful, standing in the gap, if the areas destroyed by hurricanes are to be successful in their rebuilding.

Is there a particularly difficult set back that you’ve gone through in your writing career you are willing to share?

Ouch. What time to answer this question. I came home from a conference in April feeling rejected and confused. In fact, I was nearly ready to quit writing. I had faced some rejections while there, but there was more to it than that. I just felt a weight (or a spiritual heaviness) over my writing. I struggled for months, to be honest. Nothing seemed to pay off – none of my hours of work. In fact, it often seemed all of my writing was in vain.

The Lord recently had me “re-visit” that conference (spiritually speaking) and do spend a little time with Him talking about the particulars. I had to confess, the whole thing (the desire to quit) was an attack. I know that now. But it took awhile to figure out.

What are a few of your favorite books? (Not written by you.)

There are so many, but I’ll share just a few here:

At the Scent of Water, by Linda Nichols. This book swept me away. I love the fact that Linda “got” me in the end. Marvelous writing

Redeeming Love, by Francine Rivers. An oldie, but a goodie. I love the biblical story of Hosea, so I particularly loved this heart-wrenching tale by Francine.

What a Girl Wants, (and subsequent books by Kristen Billerbeck). I got so wrapped up in one of Kristen’s books that I actually got on the wrong city bus one time and ended up on the far west side of town (when I live to the north). When I need something light, I reach for Kristen’s stories.

Just Hand Over the Chocolate and No One Will Get Hurt, (This awesome non-fiction book about menopause really helped me “where I’m at.” It also brought a smile to my face)

What piece of writing have you done that you’re particularly proud of and why?

As a Texan, I’m so thrilled to have published Hurricane, (about the Galveston storm of 1900 – the largest natural disaster in American history). Of course, I had no way of knowing it would be released during such a volatile hurricane season (2004 – 2005). But God knew. And He made sure all of the pieces were in place for the book to be read by evacuees from several different storms.

I’m so happy about that because the Galveston storm (though tragic) ended with the people linking arms to rebuild. I’m also proud of this story because it has given me a platform to speak to (secular) civic and historical groups. The book is “inspirational” but that doesn’t seem to be a divisive point. I’ve never had a civic group turn me down. It would seem this book is my “Matthew 28” (my “great commission to go into all the world”) and I’m so grateful for the privilege.

Do you have a pet peeve having to do with this biz?

Things tend to move a bit slower than I like. It takes time to write a book. Weeks, months, years. It takes time to shop a book. Weeks, months, years. It takes years to get a book to print. Weeks, months, years. And yet, once a book goes to print, you’ve only got about a one-year guaranteed shelf life before the book is potentially back-listed. Man! Why can’t that year move as slow as the ones leading up to it?

Can you give us a view into a typical day of your writing life?

I’m not a morning person, so my day never gets “rolling” until at least 8:30 or so. I start off by checking emails and doing business-related stuff. (I have an author services company and that takes up some of my time.)

I’m more of a night owl, so my best writing time is late afternoon – the wee hours of the night. Of course, I still have two daughters at home and I need to spend time with them in the evenings. My husband works second shift and usually comes in at night just about the time I’m getting “rolling” with my writing. He’s gotten used to it. I have my first-ever laptop, which is great fun. Now I can write anyplace, anytime. I like to go to the arboretum, to Starbucks or even local restaurants to finish up scenes that don’t seem to be coming at home.

If you could choose to have one strength of another writer, what would it be and from whom?

I love the way Linda Nichols tells a compelling story and “plants seeds” early on that fully blossom towards the end of the story. She is a master at weaving a masterful plotline. She’s also got a real handle on characterization.

Do you have a dream for the future of your writing, something you would love to accomplish?

I’ve love to become known as a Texas author. I’d also like to improve my writing skills, writing poignant stories that evoke deep emotions in the reader.

What is your favorite and least favorite part of being a writer?

My favorite thing: Fulfilling my Matthew 28. My least favorite thing: Staying still long enough to finish what I start.

Parting words?

To everything there is a season, a time and a purpose. To jump ahead of God puts us in a precarious place. I’d rather wait on Him, even if it means temporary sacrifice. Ultimately, the rewards are far sweeter when we follow whole-heartedly after Him and wait on Him.