Author Interview: Linda Windsor... And a Two book Giveaway!

CONTEST RULES: To win Linda Windsor's Paper Moon, the first of the Moonstruck series and a second copy, its sequel, Fiesta Moon, leave a comment or post a link (& let Gina know) and you will get one entry for each! One winner: 2 novels!



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

Currently the Moonstruck romantic comedy/suspense trilogy is on the shelves—or at least 2/3 of it is. Book one, Paper Moon is the story of two frazzled single parents hornswaggled into chaperoning a busload of hormone-crazed teens across Mexico on their daughters’ class trip.

It becomes a question of who is chaperoning whom—until the girls disappear. Paper Moon was chosen to be part of the Women of Faith to be included in their Walmart store displays near their conferences. The last book in the trilogy, Blue Moon, featuring love and laughter, as well as adventure and danger on a marine archaeological expedition, is to be a feature read in the Women of Faith magazine Connections this coming January.

Tell us about your journey to publication. How long had you been writing before you got the call you had a contract, how you heard and what went through your head.

When I became serious about writing, it took me about two years to get published. One year, I frittered away trying to market the book on my own. The second, I bought The Writers Market, followed directions by sending a query/synopsis instead of the whole ten pound manuscript, and got myself an agent and publisher as a result. Ironically, she sold the first two books to one of the publishers who’d rejected
them when I’d submitted them.

Do you still experience self-doubts regarding your work?

Of course. A writer can be his or her own worst enemy, however, if he/she allows it to consume them. A little self-doubt keeps one on one’s toes. Too much can paralyze an author.

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

Read, read, and read, not just your particular genre, but all genres. Develop tough skin. This isn’t a career for the faint of heart.

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

Any that suggests there is a right or wrong way to craft a novel. The first rule is, there are no rules, only guidelines, which are NOT set in concrete.

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

I wish I’d been aware of professional writers organizations such as Romance Writers of America, where we learn, not only the craft, but the business. If I had, I’d have likely been published when the idea that I could write a book first kindled.

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

This one has been with me since my first publication.
“The LORD [is] my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD [is] the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1

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

See the scripture I just mentioned. It’s hard enough to ride the rollercoaster of a writing career when one is healthy, but when one suffers chemical depression—or any illness for that matter--it ups the ante considerably.

Yet that verse, faith, and my sense of humor have seen me through dark times, both personally and professionally. It came to me in a box of Anne’s Frozen Dumplings during a particularly traumatic time. My dad had passed away at Christmas and on New Year’s Eve, I’d received the two rejections I mentioned earlier—the ones my agent turned around into later sales. To top it all off, I had undiagnosed chemical depression. Boy, did God know how to get my attention. Put His Word in food, one of my favorite foods, I might add.

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

Liz Curtis Higgs Scottish Trilogy—A Thorn in My Heart, Fair is the Rose, and Whence Came a Prince. Carol Umberger’s Scottish Crown Series.

If your authorial self was a character from The Wizard of Oz, which one would you be and why?

Dorothy. I love to travel, but there’s no place like home.

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

My Irish Celtic series Fires of Gleannmara. First, I’m of Irish decent and was inspired to write it after reading Thomas Cahill’s nonfiction, How the Irish Saved Civilization. But the best thing about that series is that the research into early Christian history, which I incorporated into the books, led my daughter back to Christ.

She’d been stalked and assaulted in college, turned against God, and became involved in Wicca. The history-based early Christian history and witness in those books showed how the majority of the Irish druids, not only knew who Christ was, but accepted Him as their druid, which meant teacher in the vernacular of that time. Those who did not, evolved into the pagan stereotype that most Christians envision the word druid to mean.

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

Not really. Every profession has its pros and cons. I do wish that Christian fiction was taken more seriously by Christians as parables akin to those Jesus used, just longer. That’s what they are, entertaining, yet endowed with a subtle spiritual message and presented in such a way that the reader can relate to the various issues addressed.


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

Usually I exercise (Okay, I TRY to make it routine), have breakfast and read my devotionals. Then it’s email time, unless a deadline forces me to skip it and make it my reward for diligence at the day’s end. I begin work by reviewing what I wrote the previous day and editing. After lunch, I start writing fresh pages, all the while working in such chores as need to be done by multi-tasking. Naturally, my work day is interrupted by conversations with mom, phone calls regarding my part time consulting job. Too, I admit to turning on the television to catch up with the news, or surfing the net and doing email when the cursor will do nothing but blink at me.

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

Discipline. Discipline. Discipline. Then a good plotting method that will work for me. I am a seat of the pants plotter. I establish point A and point B, but how I will get to B can be anyone’s guess.

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

Make a good (not necessarily extravagant) living at writing and still have a life.

Was there ever a time in your writing career you thought of quitting?

Not really. I’ve wondered why I do this at stressful times, but the idea of quitting isn’t an option…unless God makes it really clear that He wants me to--a message on a stone table, or something along those lines. He knows how thick-headed I can be.

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

My favorite part is writing with lots of time to do so. My least favorite part is having to write when I’m not in the humor.

How much marketing do you do? Any advice in this area?

I do a little web advertising on romance sites, keep a website with contests and newsletters, print a small number bookmarks with my feature book and backlist on the back for hand distribution and networking…that’s about it to date.

When I was first pubbed, I heard someone say spend no more than 10% of one’s advance on advertising. Since advertising is so hard to gauge, as far as effectiveness, I’d rather spend my time focusing on writing the best book that I can, do some personal advertising as mentioned above and let God do the rest.

Parting words?

Writing is a labor of love, but it is a labor. One must have
pitbull stubbornness, thick skin, and, at least in my case, a death-grip
on faith to survive it. Most of those bestselling authors dominating
the shelves have been through the same emotional and professional
wringer that aspiring and mid-list authors are going through. And
these bestsellers may go through it again, as this business is a
fickle one that rides on the public’s whim. One has to love it to endure and be willing to change with it. But then, isn’t it the same way
with life?
Y0u can visit Linda Windsor's web-site for giveaways, news and to read the first chapters of her books.

www.lindawindsor.com