Author Interview ~ Kathy Herman

Kathy Herman, the bestselling author of the Baxter series, Poor Mrs. Rigsby, and the Seaport Suspense novels, is at home in the Christian industry. She spent five years on staff at the Christian Booksellers Association and eleven years as a retailer at Better Books Christian Center in Tyler, Texas, where she specialized in children’s products. Not By Chance is her tenth novel. Kathy and her husband, Paul, have three grown children and five grandchildren. They enjoy world travel, deep sea fishing, and bird watching—often all at the same time!

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


I’d like to introduce you to Not By Chance, the 4th and final book in the Seaport Suspense Series, which released in August 2006.

Not by Chance is the story of thirty-year-old Brandon Jones who walks away from a six-figures job in search of significance and loses his fiancée in the process. He goes to live with his parents in Seaport (a fictitious town in the Florida panhandle) until he can decide what he wants to do with his life.

He befriends Weezie Taylor, an African American woman who offers a good listening ear and intriguing spiritual insights. But when their relationship is misread by a group of racists, he finds himself in the middle of the worst hate crimes since the 60’s.

He develops a strong attachment to a biracial adolescent named Caedmon Nash, who mysteriously disappears just before a dangerous hurricane is predicted to make landfall. Brandon risks his life to find Cade, unaware that the divine appointment that awaits him will answer the deepest question of his heart and teach them both what true significance is.

Not by Chance is fast-paced and suspenseful and touches the hot button of racial prejudice, though on a spiritual level, this story makes us confront the realization that God has a specific plan for every person; and that none of us is here just by chance.

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?

I always knew I had a knack for writing. I aced every essay test in school and used my writing skills in every job I had. Though I never once considered writing a novel, I did hope to write a children’s book.

At age 50, I retired from working in our family-owned Christian retail store due to joint problems. I decided to take a stab at writing a children’s book. I had specialized in them for the previous eleven years and thought for sure I could write them. After two weeks of staring at a blank laptop screen, I got depressed. My husband told me to write something—anything—it didn’t have to be a children’s book.

So I wrote a scene: a detective sitting on a park bench, a lake in front of him and a quaint little town behind him. He was waiting for something to surface in the lake…I had no idea what it was and was intrigued that I didn’t! The next day I wrote the prologue to Tested By Fire, which was my first suspense novel. When it was finished, I let my husband’s employees read it, and they got really excited.

I honestly thought it was a fluke, and that I could never do it again. But the next day I wrote the prologue for Day of Reckoning, and ten weeks later, it was finished. Same reaction from his employees. Then I wrote Vital Signs—same reaction. We decided maybe it was time to seek a publisher.

Long story short, we contacted someone we knew at my publisher of choice simply to find out the “process,” and was given an hour-long interview with their pub board at the Christian booksellers convention. We presented them with all three manuscripts. Two weeks later on a Saturday morning, we got a call at home from the VP of Editorial, who said he’d have a contract for the three novels out to us within ten days. My husband said, “Oh, Kathy’s got at least two more in her.” And believe it or not, the VP said, “Well, then, we’ll give her a contract for five.”

My reaction? Tears, joy, utter disbelief. When we hung up, Paul and I hugged and just thanked the Lord. After it all hit me, I realized I was about to get a contract for two books I hadn’t yet written and hadn’t even thought about. That was a little scary. I think it’s important to add that this simply isn’t the usual and almost never happens.

Do you still have self-doubts about your writing?

Sure. I can’t imagine there’s an author alive who doesn’t. In my case, it might have to do with the sense that I didn’t “pay my dues” by going to all those writer’s conferences before I got published. I didn’t have a chance to learn all the lingo writers use—or the in’s and out’s of writing a novel. I just jumped in and did it. And though I’ve had two CBA national bestsellers, Tested by Fire and All Things Hidden, and a significant reader following, I don’t think I can view my own work objectively.

The one surprise I’ve enjoyed with each of my novels is when reading the galleys. At that point, I’ve been away from the book for about two months—and I’m always shocked at how good it sounds. When I’m in the throes of the writing, I’m too close to my work to tell if it’s good or not.

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

Not quitting, but certainly doing less. Though I’m thrilled to be able to put out two novels a year, it is sometimes hard to manage overlapping deadlines, which involves a lot more than just writing—everything from promotion to cover design to proofing galleys.

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

None, really. My husband was my agent in the beginning, and once I got established, getting picked up by a reputable agent wasn’t an issue. But I will say that I think it’s very important for authors to look for publishers that seem to be a good match for the type of writing they do.

I felt I was a good match with my publisher, and that’s why I submitted my manuscripts there. Same holds true when seeking an agent. If an agent truly likes your work, he/she will do a much better job for you than if you’re just another client. Unless an agent is excited about your work, I don’t think he/she will represent you well.

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

Stay teachable. I think the most dangerous thing an author can do is get too full of him or her self and stop listening to the advice of other professionals.

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

Write what you know. I think our work would be boring if we did that exclusively. It’s certainly a benefit to use what you know, but I think it’s important to research and learn as you go.

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

It bugs me that novels that are deemed “Christian” are often immediately assumed to be irrelevant to the majority of the population. Neither the characters in my novels, nor the problems they face are irrelevant. They deal with contemporary issues that could be right off the front page of the news. And they leave the reader with lots to think about.

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?

I wish I had understood that an abundance of beautiful, flowery words doesn’t necessarily make a novel good. I had to learn the idea of less is more—that the fewer words I can use to make the point, the better it reads. I can’t tell you how many words my editor cut in my early novels—paragraphs! They sounded pretty, but they did little or nothing to further the storyline.

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

My first editing experience caused me to question whether or not I had what it takes to write professionally. I was a newbie that needed a lot of direction, and my editor’s comments were tough on my delicate ego. It didn’t take long for me to learn to respect and trust his years of experience. In essence, I feel as though I “paid my dues” that first year after I got published.

What are a few of your favorite books?

A Nest of Sparrows, by Deb Raney; The Oath, Frank Peretti; Walking on Water, Madeline L’Engle; Leota’s Garden, Francine Rivers; Les Miserables, Victor Hugo; Blood of Heaven, Bill Myers; Your God is Too Safe, Mark Buchannan; Bettye, Lyn Cote; Cape Refuge, Terri Blackstock. The Gospel of the Second Chance, Max Lucado. Usually whatever I’m reading at the moment is my favorite. Right now I’m enjoying The Novelist by Angela Hunt.

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

I’m very satisfied with All Things Hidden, #3 in the Seaport Suspense Series. I think it was the best written, had the tightest storyline, and was the most emotionally moving novel I’ve written. I loved the characters, especially a little four-year-old girl who will be with me forever. This book had all the components I like in a novel: strong characters, suspense, emotion, spiritual challenge.

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

Not just lately, but all the time: I Corinthians 1:18: For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but for us who are being saved, it is the power of God.” I am never ashamed to weave the Good News into my stories. It IS the power of God, and it’s surprising how many readers have told me how my books have drawn them back to God—or to God for the first time.

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

After I get my husband off to work around 8:00 AM, I sit down and write till about 6:30 PM. Depending on how much into “the flow” I am, I may not take much of a break. Some days it’s harder to get in the flow, and I take several breaks or go do something else for a while. On Saturday, I get up at 5:00 AM and work until about 1:00. Writing professionally is a full-time job.

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

The actual count varies each day, but the goal is always 2,000 words.

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

SOTP by nature, plotter to the extent that I must give my publisher the storyline a year ahead of pub date. But it always changes for the better as the story develops.

What author do you especially admire and why?

Angela Hunt. She can juggle dozens of projects at the same time and still produce wonderful novels multiple times a year. And she’s always growing and learning. I think she’s amazing.

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

Most favorite: the element of surprise. I don’t have an outline to work from, but even the few times I’ve tried nailing down the story ahead of time, my characters invariably decide they’re going to do it their way. I just get inside them and let my fingers do the talking. It’s great fun!

Least favorite: Balancing my time and arranging my life around deadlines.

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

Truthfully, I don’t do much marketing myself. My husband manages a LifeWay Christian Store and is the marketer in our family. I do put out a quarterly online newsletter to my mailing list. And my publisher does a great job of promoting my books to retailers and consumers. I am always willing to do radio interviews and book signings and public appearances.

Do you have any parting words of advice?

If you have a passion for writing, don’t stop trying to get published. But don’t stop writing in the process! Keep those fingers moving and those ideas flowing. Your writing muscle can only be developed by using it.