Author Interview ~ Allison Bottke

Allison Bottke is the creative force behind the God Allows U-Turns series and ministry, author of 20 books, including God Answers Prayers and God Answers Moms’ Prayers, and coauthor of I Can’t Do It All, a self-help book for women. Having spent her first thirty-five years as a nonbeliever, Bottke is a relatively new Christian, coming to the faith in 1989 as a result of a dramatic life U-turn. Before she was a successful writer, in-demand speaker, and sought-after writing teacher, Bottke was a ground-breaking full-figured fashion model for the prestigious Wilhelmina Agency and a savvy professional fundraiser. A Stitch in Time is Bottke’s first novel.

First of all, I want to thank you for taking the time to share with us. I know you’re one busy lady! I also wanted to thank you, for a kindness you served me years ago when I was a new writer. I had sent a story in for one of the God Allows U-Turns compilations and had received my second ever acceptance letter. The story was later cut in a final edit. You sent the sweetest personal letter to me that really softened the blow. I’ve never forgotten that you took the time to do that.

Oh gosh, bless your heart for saying that—and for remembering it. I’d have to say that sending rejection letters is painful for me! I have a heart for authors, that’s why I teach at so many writers conferences. I spent countless years getting rejection letters myself. However, if as writers we are not getting rejection letters, then we are most likely not sending out our work. We need to get tough skin and not take rejection personally. I know personally that I have to reject stories not because they aren’t good enough but for other reasons like too many of the same type of story, or it’s not the correct topic/niche for a particular volume. I try whenever possible to be kind.

You have your first novel, A Stitch in Time, coming out soon. Please tell us about the upcoming book and why you moved into writing fiction.

I love to read all genres of fiction, particularly contemporary women’s fiction. After I had lost 120 pounds from having gastric bypass weight loss surgery (WLS), I had the idea that it might be a kick to write a novel with a character that also had WLS. Plus, all the writers’ conferences I ever attended stressed that we should “write what we know.” I know a lot about fundraising and fashion and special events, so I figured I’d incorporate that into the book as well. I developed a chapter outline and wrote a few chapters and took an intensive fiction writing workshop at a writer’s conference. One thing led to another and that book releases this year in June 2006.

How did you learn to write fiction?

Mostly, by reading it, and by reading about how to write it. I am basically self-taught. I also attend writers conferences and listen to “How To” tapes and CD’s. I had no idea about all of the various POV’s (point of view) so I read a book on point of view and decided to use First Person for A STITCH IN TIME. There are several amazing authors who are also gifted teachers when it comes to generously sharing their knowledge about writing in the CBA market. I’ve learned valuable tools for fiction writing from: James Scott Bell, Brandilyn Collins, Angela Hunt, Randy Ingermanson, Tracie Peterson, and Gayle Roper.

But I guess the most vital way to learn to write fiction is to read fiction! When I hear folks say they’d love to write a novel but don’t read much fiction, it makes me crazy! Read-read-read!

Did you find the experience enjoyable and do you look forward to more fiction titles to flow from your fingertips?

God willing, I would love to write one novel every year. I am contracted with Bethany House for a second novel to release in June 2007. It’s not a sequel to A Stitch in Time, but it does feature one of the characters we met briefly in my debut novel.

I know you tell this story often but some of our readers may not have heard how you came up with the God Allows U-Turns series and how it turned into the ministry it is today.

I came to know the Lord at the age of 35 after living a spiritually empty life. The first 35-years of my life were filled with extreme trials and tribulation. My background includes early childhood molestation, extreme domestic violence, drug and alcohol abuse, abortion, divorce, and more ups and down than humanly imaginable.

Because I have always been a writer, as I walked more closely with Jesus, I found myself pouring out my life story in an epic memoir that never did get published, I mean really, who would want to read it? But one day I was inspired to make my testimony part of a larger group of testimonies that shared how new life could be lived as a Christian … how God allowed us to turn around no matter how many mistakes we made, or how lost we were! “God Allows U-Turns” had been the name of my memoir, and I retained it as the name of my book series. I wrote a book proposal (using online resources for How to Write a Book Proposal) and sent it to a list of agents. Within one month it was picked up by one of the most respected Christian literary agencies in the country – and the rest is history.

Do you find it difficult to share some personal details about your life?

Not any more. At first, many years ago, it was painful to discuss being molested as a child, and then years later the extreme abuse I endured at the hands of a violent husband. Sharing that you are a survivor of childhood abuse and domestic violence is never easy, but the more I talked to others about it, the less painful it became. Plus, and this is the big thing, I began to see how God used my transparency to help others through the same issues.

You have been heralded as a marketing whiz. How did you acquire this skill and what have you learned about publicizing and marketing your own books that you could share with some upcoming authors with their first books releasing soon?

Once again, I am self-taught in many ways. Yes, my prior career was as a professional fundraiser which helped to give me some background in marketing, publicity, promotions, and such … but I devoured books and magazines on all those topics to learn more. I still do. It is vital that we stay on top of trends, and learn about marketing. We must do our homework to remain on the cutting edge. It’s not enough just to be a writer, we need to be versed in a host of topics such as marketing, advertising, web sites, branding, strategic planning for our ministry, blogs, trends, and a host of other topics.

How different is it getting publicity for a novel than for a non-fiction book?

I’m not sure, I’m just learning. Because I don’t have a background in this area, and because the window of opportunity is open for only a short time when it comes to releasing a “debut novel,” I opted to hire a professional publicist (at my own expense) to promote my first novel.

You’ve appeared on numerous programs and in publications from CBN to Writers Digest magazine. Are you contacted by producers/editors or do you somehow make that happen?

Both. When my first book released in July of 2001, I was blessed with a cover story feature in Writers Digest Magazine. This was the first time in their 8-year history they had featured on their cover an author working in the CBA market. My publisher at that time also hired a professional publicist to promote the God Allows U-Turns series. Between her work and my follow-up marketing, I began to build a reputation among the media. This is key. You want to make their work easy—by having professional publicity materials, timely responses to their queries, and ongoing communication regarding your ministry. I have a press kit that is available online as well as in hard copy form.

When a new project is developed, I look at key media niches to contact. For example, the lead character in my debut novel has had gastric bypass surgery. There is an international magazine for gastric bypass surgery patients called Obesity Help Magazine, or O.H. for short. Since I’ve also had gastric bypass surgery, I contacted them about my personal story, as well as sharing my novel with them and I was featured on their cover last year. They will also be reviewing A STITCH IN TIME in their June issue. It’s all about staying on top of the market opportunities and making personal contact as a professional.

What do you wish you had learned early in your writing career that could have saved you time or resources?

Web design. I’ve been dependent upon web designers for years and it’s made things a bit challenging from time to time. I saw right away the need for a professional web site when communicating with the public, the media, customers, and even with publishers. The God Allows U-Turns web site is very “deep” in the content it contains, and it requires a lot of work. I’ve been blessed with amazing volunteers and paid professionals over the years. But there are days when I’d just like to go in and make my own changes, but alas I cannot. At least not unless I learned it and right now I don’t have the time blocks to learn this skill set. Way too many writing deadlines.


Do you have a dream for your writing future?

Oh my, yes. My longtime goal has always been to write for the Big Screen. I long to write screenplays. I grew up at the Saturday afternoon matinees in my hometown of Cleveland, Ohio. I watched old RKO films on the TV every chance I could get growing up. Romantic comedy is my favorite genre, and I would love to see my debut novel, as well as my second novel, translated into films. In fact, my second novel, the one I’m working on now, started its life as a screenplay. I had an actress in mind and wrote the outline for the movie and began dialogue on this project many, many years ago. Now, I’ve picked it up, dusted it off, and I’m writing it first as a novel.

I was Playwright-in-Residence at a small theatre in Southern California for many years. Three of my full length plays were produced on stage. I love life theatre. One day, I’d like to own a small theatre, maybe 75-100 seats. I would produce my own original plays, as well as the originals work of other playwrights.

Advice for aspiring novelists?

I know it sounds so easy to say, “Never give up,” and yet that is first and foremost the advice I give. I’m fifty years old! I’ve wanted to write fiction since I was a kid. The second bit of advice I share is to never judge yourself by what others have done or are doing. We set ourselves up for failure when we do this. There’s always going to be someone better, someone different, someone yada-yada-yada … we must look at our individual talents as gifts from God and forge ahead! The third and final bit of advice I will give is to never stop learning. My bookshelves are filled with “How To” books and tapes, and CD’s, and DVD’s. I subscribe to writer magazines, attend writing workshops, and strive to stay on top of the fresh resources available to help fine tune my craft as a writer.

And last but not least … PRAY! Not as a last resort, but as the first line of defense against anything that might happen in daily life! Prayer changes things, no doubt about it!

God’s Peace!
Allison Gappa Bottke
http://www.godallowsuturns.com/