Happy Sunday, gang. Today I'm privileged to have an interview guest: DBP and ACFW's own Shawna Williams.
DK: When you’re not writing, what do you like most to read? Genre, favorites, etc.
SW: I read a little bit of everything – with the exception of horror and erotica. I don't like to be scared or grossed out. My favorite genres include science fiction, suspense, romance, historical (20th century) and fantasy.
DK: If you didn’t write in your chosen genre, which would you write? Why?
SW: Science fiction, baby! I plan on it, too. My mother is a Trekkie, so how can I not have a little of that in me. Okay, a lot. I love the adventure of it, and the limitless field for one's imagination. Pondering on the vastness of God's universe is pretty inspiring. It's something I've enjoyed since I was a kid and I'd love to create stories that can pass on that same sense of adventure to others.
SW: I read a little bit of everything – with the exception of horror and erotica. I don't like to be scared or grossed out. My favorite genres include science fiction, suspense, romance, historical (20th century) and fantasy.
DK: If you didn’t write in your chosen genre, which would you write? Why?
SW: Science fiction, baby! I plan on it, too. My mother is a Trekkie, so how can I not have a little of that in me. Okay, a lot. I love the adventure of it, and the limitless field for one's imagination. Pondering on the vastness of God's universe is pretty inspiring. It's something I've enjoyed since I was a kid and I'd love to create stories that can pass on that same sense of adventure to others.
DK: Where do you see the Christian fiction market going next?
SW: It's hard to say. I know where I'd like for it to go. I'd like to see it broadened, with more room for genres that many have questioned the appropriateness of in this market, like science fiction and fantasy.
There will always be a place for 'feel good' stories, and I'm glad to have those. My Christmas release is exactly that. But I would also like to see stories with harsher realities to them. Not because anyone enjoys misery or angst, but because there are a lot of people who've had it tough in life, and I think that most of what dominates the Christian fiction market is hard to relate to for them. There just aren't enough commonalities. This is where I see Christian fiction as a ministry, and not just as entertainment. I feel very strongly about this, actually.
DK: What has been your biggest challenge since you decided to seek publication?
SW: Balancing my time. For example, it's 1am on a Sunday morning and I've got church in a few hours. Promotion is probably the biggest time suck. It's necessary, and there are parts that I really enjoy, like meeting new people and answering interview questions J, but my house is a disaster! And I feel like we live off of hamburger helpers, frozen pizza and tacos or spaghetti because those things don't take much time to fix. It's been so long since I ran a load of laundry that I forgot where the washer and dryer are, and hubby has been forced to take over that chore. I think my house has a floor under all of this clutter.
I used to keep a very neat house, so these things actually bother me a lot, and I hope to get a little better at this time management thing.
DK: Name a few of your favorite authors.
SW: Francine Rivers, Susan May Warren, Deanne Gist, Tess Gerritsen, Nicholas Sparks, Tom Clancy and Stephen Ambrose.
DK: Wow, we share quite a few of those! Care to share a holiday tradition?
SW: My kids each have a small tree in their room, and for a week before Christmas I sneak little gifts under it. This started when they were small with silly dollar store items. They thought it was the elves back then. I loved watching the anticipation build on their faces as the big day approached. Now they are teenagers and they still like for me to do it out of nostalgia, but it's stuff like nail polish or lotion for my girls, and beef jerky for my son. Still small stuff, just more age appropriate. Sometimes I include something silly, like a funny pair of socks.
SW: It's hard to say. I know where I'd like for it to go. I'd like to see it broadened, with more room for genres that many have questioned the appropriateness of in this market, like science fiction and fantasy.
There will always be a place for 'feel good' stories, and I'm glad to have those. My Christmas release is exactly that. But I would also like to see stories with harsher realities to them. Not because anyone enjoys misery or angst, but because there are a lot of people who've had it tough in life, and I think that most of what dominates the Christian fiction market is hard to relate to for them. There just aren't enough commonalities. This is where I see Christian fiction as a ministry, and not just as entertainment. I feel very strongly about this, actually.
DK: What has been your biggest challenge since you decided to seek publication?
SW: Balancing my time. For example, it's 1am on a Sunday morning and I've got church in a few hours. Promotion is probably the biggest time suck. It's necessary, and there are parts that I really enjoy, like meeting new people and answering interview questions J, but my house is a disaster! And I feel like we live off of hamburger helpers, frozen pizza and tacos or spaghetti because those things don't take much time to fix. It's been so long since I ran a load of laundry that I forgot where the washer and dryer are, and hubby has been forced to take over that chore. I think my house has a floor under all of this clutter.
I used to keep a very neat house, so these things actually bother me a lot, and I hope to get a little better at this time management thing.
DK: Name a few of your favorite authors.
SW: Francine Rivers, Susan May Warren, Deanne Gist, Tess Gerritsen, Nicholas Sparks, Tom Clancy and Stephen Ambrose.
DK: Wow, we share quite a few of those! Care to share a holiday tradition?
SW: My kids each have a small tree in their room, and for a week before Christmas I sneak little gifts under it. This started when they were small with silly dollar store items. They thought it was the elves back then. I loved watching the anticipation build on their faces as the big day approached. Now they are teenagers and they still like for me to do it out of nostalgia, but it's stuff like nail polish or lotion for my girls, and beef jerky for my son. Still small stuff, just more age appropriate. Sometimes I include something silly, like a funny pair of socks.
Sounds like a winner. Shawna's release from Desert Breeze is pictured below. Neat cover, eh?
4 comments:
It's not nice to say that misery loves company, but I have to admit, it's encouraging to know that the struggle for balance is nearly universal. I'm battling my way through the chaos while trying to get into the holiday mood to.Love your idea for the little gifts. Thanks for the burst of inspiration.
Great interview. I'm halfway through reading Shawna's In All Things and enjoying it. Great writing.
You're welcome Naomi!
Deb, thank you for hosting me. :)
I love that idea of the little Christmas Trees in your children's rooms.
And like Naomi said, I can relate to the time balancing issue.
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