Author Interview ~ Allie Pleiter

Enthusiastic but slightly untidy mother of two, Allie Pleiter writes both fiction and non-fiction. An avid knitter, harp player, and non-reformed chocoholic, she spends her days writing books, doing laundry, running carpools, and finding new ways to avoid housework. Allie grew up in Connecticut, holds a BS in Speech from Northwestern University, spent 15 years in the field of professional fundraising, and currently lives in suburban Chicago, Illinois. The “dare from a friend” to begin writing eight years ago has blossomed into a career that includes numerous public speaking engagements, two books on parenting; BECOMING A CHIEF HOME OFFICER and FACING EVERY MOM'S FEARS, and four novels: BAD HEIRESS DAY and QUEEN ESTHER AND THE SECOND GRADERS OF DOOM, MY SO-CALLED LOVE LIFE out now, and THE PERFECT BLEND in 2007. She has been married for 15 years, is the mother of two children and, most recently, a Havanese dog named Bella. Visit her website at www.alliepleiter.com

What new book or project would you like to tell us about?

I’ve been having a grand time working on THE PERFECT BLEND, my Fall 2007 Love Inspired. It’s in the first person, mouthy style that so many readers enjoyed from MY SO-CALLED LOVE LIFE, which is great fun for me. Plus, it’s about a coffee bar, so I’ve had to visit lots of coffee bars to get the details right (Wow, I love my job…).

Tell us about your publishing journey. How long had you been writing before you got a contract? How did you find out and what went through your mind?

Well, this is the wrong question to ask me. I sold the first book I ever wrote. Please, don’t hate me—it was all God’s idea and he made the journey so fantastic because He knew if I could take credit for it, I would. It took me three years to finish my first book, mostly because I had little children underfoot. I tell people 90% of my first book was written on a laptop in McDonald’s with my kids in the ball pit (ba-a-a-a-d mommy). It took me another year to sell it. As for the sale, I jumped up and down, screamed, and then came back to Earth when my daughter said “That’s nice, Mom. Are you going to be on the phone long?”

Do you still have self-doubts about your writing?

Are you kidding? Absolutely. Actually, I waiver somewhere between “I’m absolutely brilliant” and “this is absolute drivel” on a daily basis. Sometimes on an hourly basis. Even on my eighth book, I still wonder when someone will politely tap me on the shoulder and say “the jig is up—you’re outta here.”

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

No. There was a very scary time when I wasn’t sure I’d get another opportunity to write professionally, but even then I knew I’d probably just write for my own enjoyment. There’s no denying this is a brutal business, though. I tell people “the good is very, very good, but the bad is really, really bad.” A writer who hasn’t entertained the idea of throwing in the towel probably hasn’t been a writer for much longer than a week.

What mistakes did you make while seeking a publisher or agent?

It all happened so quickly and so wonderfully that the whole process seemed like a miracle. Sure, it was bumpy, and it took soooo much longer than I thought, but I have no regrets about how it all took place. Mostly because I feel like I had so little to do with it. I did go with my gut, and I think that’s important because so many times in this business you must make decisions without all the information you’d like to have. I’m a product of divine intervention meeting undiscovered talent (and by that I mean a talent I didn’t even know I had).

What’s the best writing advice you’ve heard?

“Shut up and write the book.” Really. Don’t whine, don’t make excuses about not knowing enough or needing more craft skills. Do it. Get out of your own way and just tell the story. It was the first piece of advice I ever got, and it’s still the best.

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

The whole concept of writing a “breakout” novel paralyzes me. I know it’s very important to take your writing to the next level, but I shoot myself in the foot when I try too hard. And it’s not that it’s bad advice—it’s very good advice—it just takes me to a very bad place where no good work happens. You’ve got to honor that. You’ve got to trust your own system, your own style, and honor what works for you while letting the rest go.

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

I wish it had more to do with worthiness. Great writing goes unnoticed, mediocre writing meeting with outstanding success, your best work may have your worst sales and vice versa. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if inspirational fiction was the one place in life where good work always got you good results?

What do you wish you’d known early in your career that might have saved you some time and/or frustration in writing? In publishing?

That “shut up and write the book” really is good advice. That you should take concepts and skills and styles that work for you, and not feel guilty about leaving things that either don’t work or work against you. The author who cranks out 10 pages a day is no less a professional than the one who writes one perfect page. I also wished I’d realized early on that you need to work hard to keep an even keel. It takes effort not to let the huge ups and downs of this industry take you up and down with it. My first years were a roller-coaster emotionally, and that wasn’t much fun for anyone. Jesus will not love you one shred less if you never publish another word—or one shred more if you hit the Times Bestseller list.

Was there ever a difficult set back that you went through in your writing career?

I do think it’s very important to share the setbacks. They humanize this business by allowing us to see both sides. I had one episode where I was blindsided by an inexplicable failure. It wasn’t anything anyone could explain, but it just happened and became a huge threat to my career. It was a very dark place, and it lasted far longer than I would have liked. The strongest lessons, however, often cost you the most. I’m so much more stable now, so much aware of the fragility of what we do, and how I will not be any less of a person without published books. It probably won’t surprise anyone that I believe my best work came out of that season. I’m glad to have survived it and always blessed when I share it.

What are a few of your favorite books?

My all-time favorite novel, hands down, is Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander. I’ve read every book in the series—and they’re enormous.

What work have you done that you’re especially proud of and why?

LOVE LIFE presented a huge change in style and format for me, as well as several risks (a book that talks to you? What was I thinking?!?). I feel like it goes deeper and farther than lots of my books even though it is funnier and smaller. Does that make any sense?

Do you have a scripture or quote that has spoken to you lately in regards to your writing?

I ran across a verse this week (Romans 2:7)that told us to “patiently do good.” I like that. That’s my everyday—patiently do good. The rest—especially in this business—is up to God.

Can you give us a look into a typical day for you?

Typical?!? Ha! I’ll try. Up at the inhuman hour of 5:45 am, crawling to coffeemaker to down the first cup with addict-like zeal. Then two hours of getting various children onto various school busses, after which God and I sit down for some time together over a bit more coffee. I weave my writing work into my day, so my to-do list (I’m a huge list-maker) might read: “laundry, chapter 6, schedule book signing, walk the dog (often to the coffee bar—sense a theme here?), get the oil changed, find red shirt for daughter’s French skit, rewrite synopsis, carpool, attend church committee meeting, vacuum, check email, find name of local rugby team for book research, etc.” I try to wrap things up by the time my kids come home from school, and spend my evenings reading or knitting if I’m lucky, in school or church meetings if I’m not. I probably spend 2-3 hours a day in writing or writing related tasks. If I’m on a tight deadline, then all bets are off (and the coffeemaker’s on….)

Do you have a word or page goal you set for each day?

Yes. I’m very specific about what needs to get done each day. It’s even calculated on a spread sheet. I write in short bursts, so it’s usually somewhere between 3 and 7 pages a day. I wish I could write in big, luxurious chunks, but I just can’t.

Are you an SOTP (seat of the pants) writer or a plotter?

A synopsis is right up there with a root canal for me. I understand the need for them, I know they make me a better writer, but I live for the surprise of not knowing what happens next. I couldn’t write from an outline with a gun to my head. So definitely the SOTP kind of author—that’s me.

What author do you especially admire and why?

Diana Gabaldon. She’s such a talent—rich, deep characters you never forget, huge, sweeping stories, and…rather enviable sales.

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

Favorite: those letters that make you cry and thank God for your gift. And those moments where it’s just singing out of your fingers and you love every word of what you’ve just written.

Least Favorite: I’m an extrovert, so the solitary task of banging it out at my keyboard is a challenge. That and those pesky sales figures—if I wanted to live and die by numbers I’d have been an accountant!

How much marketing do you do? What's your favorite part of marketing?

I love public speaking, so the workshops I give related to my non-fiction books and the events related to my fiction are very energizing for me. I do only as much marketing as I can, however, without detracting from my writing. I do what I like, what’s fun, and what’s wise, but I don’t let it take me away from finishing Chapter 16. I think that’s especially important. For your own personal, professional, and creative health, you have to set your own boundaries—no one’s going to do that for you,

Do you have any parting words of advice?

“Shut up and write the book.” You probably saw that coming. Only, I’d probably soften it to “hush up and write the book,” because that makes me sound more compassionate.