The Interview Page
The Intervew Page
Tim, tell us a little about yourself and your writing journey. How did you come to the point of feeling comfortable enough in your writing skills to pen a book? In what areas specifically would you like to grow and how do you plan to do that?
A: First, let me thank you for this opportunity. I began writing in June, 2005 after visiting my birthplace in Kentucky. A flood of memories came back and from that I decided to try and write something that would honor my grandparents. My first book is dedicated to them. I began writing and the words poured out as though I had been doing it all my life. I know that God was entrenched with me in this endeavor. I never thought whether or not I had the writing skills, I just did it. I have had no training or background in writing. I had four ladies read the chapters as I wrote and they encouraged me to keep writing by telling me how much they loved it, they wanted to know what would happen next.
2. You have Kentucky roots. How did/does that affect the theme and scope of your work?
A: My Kentucky roots have greatly influenced my writing. I write a series entitled Kentucky Summers and it is based on my summers I spent with Mamaw and Papaw in Kentucky. The area and some of the characters are real in the books, but the adventures are mostly fictional. The first two books in the series take place in 1959 and 1960 and my memories are what drive the books. Although I was born in Kentucky, my parents moved to Ohio when I was young and the summers spent in Kentucky with my grandparents were my escape and fun.
3. Tell us about the stories and what it means to you to write these stories “in honor” of your family and loved ones.
A: My grandparents meant so much to me. I had a father who was an alcoholic and we were never very close. So when I say it was an escape, it was. My grandfather was the male role model in my life as well as other men in the farming community. The first book in the series: The Cave, The Cabin & The Tattoo Man, takes place in 1959. The book is filled with adventures, comedy and lasting friendships. The young boy, Timmy of course, finds the body of a neighbor and then thinks he knows who the killer is, but has to prove it without letting his grandparents know about it. The book has been compared to a modern day Tom Sawyer. The second book, Coty and the Wolf Pack, takes place the following summer and finds Timmy forming a club, called the Wolf Pack, with three other boys and follows their two day hiking adventure. Kids love the books. But the neat thing is, I’ll have a 8 year old girl tell me how much she loves it and that she couldn’t put it down, and then have a 60 year old man or woman come up to me and say the same thing. They truly are books for all ages.
4. What’s the story behind Sleepy Valley?
A. Sleepy Valley was written because of my great love for the Smoky Mountain National Park. It’s about a teacher from Chicago whose wife divorces him for another man. He’s crushed. He wants seclusion and quiet, so he moves to a small village, Sleepy Valley, in Tennessee. Once there he meets three others who also have had heartbreaks in their life’s and also have moved to the quaint village looking for a new life. Laughter revolves around their dinner parties, and romance blooms as they let go of their past and let God lead their paths. The book describes some of my favorite aspects of the Park and the surrounding beauty. It’s being released on Nov.25th. Advance copies have gotten great response from the readers
5. How did you decide to go with Tate as your publisher? Tell us about how it works, what are the good and not so good things. Agent or no agent? Why? What would you do differently, and why?
A. Tate is a Christian based publisher and it has been a good fit for my style of writing. Finding an agent is difficult for all new writers and I have found this to be especially true with authors with no previous writing experience, I spent a year trying to find an agent so I ended up forgoing the agent and working directly with the publisher. What would I do differently? I’m not one to live in the past, too many folks do that. But I wanted to be sports journalist since high school, but the cost kept me out of college. I have young people always asking for advice on how to become a writer. I tell them to get an education and begin by writing for newspapers, magazines, anything you can put your name to, and then write your Pulitzer Prize novel.
6. Brands – hmmm. If Tim Callahan had to brand himself, what would it be? Are you content with that? Where do you market your stories?
A: If I had to brand myself it would be as a southern fiction feel-good story teller. I want readers to come away from my books feeling better about life, God and with a hope for tomorrow. I’m not a fancy writer. I tell readers that my books do not contain any big words because I don’t know any big words. But readers are always telling me how they love my characters and they feel as though they are in the book, right by the side of the characters. That makes me content. I know this has been a gift from God. The books, as of now, are not carried in nationwide chains. A few stores in Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee carry them. I sell my books on my website: www.timcallahan.net and this past fall I spent three months attending festivals selling my books directly to my readers, a great experience. I met so many wonderful people and made some great contacts. I especially liked the direct feedback about my books from my readers who had bought books before.
7. What’s next for Tim Callahan? Anything you’d like to share with other authors who are at any stage of the writing journey?
A: I’m scheduled to attend a lot of book signings and festivals and schools. The third book in the series is being finished and should be out by the summer of 2009. I’ll keep writing and waiting for the call from that big publisher. Writers should write what they are passionate about. You have to love the story you’re writing or you can’t expect others to.
Thank you, Tim, for your time and encouragement. For a real treat, come by Tim’s website for a fun Cherry Cobbler recipe. http://www.timcallahan.net/
Goldeneyes by Delia Latham
Vintage Romance Publishing, March 2008
Delia Latham, a multi-talented writer and editor, pens a Depression-era novel for Vintage Romance Publishing.
Delia, tell us a little about yourself and your writing career.
It’s not really an exceptional story.... I’m a Christian wife – married to Johnny for over 34 years…and he still likes me! ƒº Mother to four, Nanny to four. I was raised in a little California community called Weedpatch, and lived with my nose in a book and my head in the clouds. Most of the time, I could be found either reading or writing. Not much has changed…
How did you discover Vintage Romance Publishing?
My editor kindly contacted me after seeing one of my posts on a writing forum, just to answer some writing-related question I had posed. We kind of hit it off, and began to communicate back and forth. It was quite awhile before I realized she was the Vice President of a publishing company.
You mention that you grew up in Weedpatch, CA and wanted to use the community as a backdrop. How does the setting and the characters meld to make Weedpatch a unique frame?
Weedpatch – in and of itself – is a unique frame. It’s a farming community that dates back to the Depression era, and not a whole lot has changed there in all that time. Goldeneyes is set in 1936 and 1959, just barely early enough for it to be considered an historical. Most of its characters are old-fashioned, fundamentalist Christians…with a couple of very obvious exceptions. Weedpatch is probably one of only a very few settings in which the kind of core action that happened in the first chapter of Goldeneyes would be possible or plausible.
Why Depression-era?
See the above question/answer. I needed the kind of migrant life that was common in that timeframe to make my story possible. Plus, that area is very well known in California for its farm labor camps and Depression-era history, so it just made sense.
Tell us about the theme of your story.
Here’s the back cover text: Deep in the darkness of a Depression-era night, a man addicted to alcohol commits an unspeakable crime to obtain it. His vile action impacts the lives of two entire families, and it will be over two decades before the horrible wrong begins to be made right again. Two young women – strangers to each other – unknowingly enmeshed in a Pandora’s Box of secrets that could prevent them from finding happiness with the men they love. Two adoring mothers who know more than they are willing to say. A newsman with a story he cannot tell. What is their connection, and who is the golden-eyed stranger who moves in the shadows of their broken lives?
You have quite a varied background in writing, editing, and speaking -----Toastmasters. How do you draw upon all of those skills in your novel writing?
Yikes…caught red-handed! ƒº I’ve always been told to “write what you know.” So I do. My characters have jobs doing the things I do…singing, writing, speaking, etc. It’s easy to add detail about their professions when I’m very familiar with those professions. As far as editing…well, that speaks for itself. I like to send my manuscripts off to my editor as perfect as I can make them, and having a background in editing just makes it a little easier to do.
What do you hope your readers will take away from your story?
Never stop believing that God has a reason for every incident in your life. He does, and His purpose will be manifested in time, always to your good and His glory.
Where can we buy it? I
f you don’t find it on the shelf of your local bookstore, ask them to order it for you, using ISBN 978-0-9793327-8-4. Or order online at: www.bn.com (Barnes & Noble), www.amazon.com, or directly from my publisher: www.vrpublishing.com. Readers interested in learning more can visit my website at http://www.delialatham.com/
Love Finds You in Miracle, Kentucky
by Andrea Boeshaar Summerside Press, 2008
Andrea Boeshaar, popular romance novelist, helps launch Summerside Press with its new "Love Finds You" line of romantic fiction set in unusually-named community settings.
Andrea, tell us a little about yourself and your writing career.
I've been married for over 30 years. My husband, Daniel, have three adult sons, three daughters-in-law, and two precious grandchildren. I've been writing stories and poems since I was a little girl; however, it wasn't until 1984 that that started submitting my work for publication. Eight years after that, I was convicted about writing for the Christian market. I read books in my genre (Inspirational Romance & Women's Fiction), studied the market, and worked hard to hone my craft. Finally my first novel “An Unwilling Warrior” was published in 1994. Since then I've written numerous articles and devotionals. I've also had 31inspiration romance novels, women's fiction, and novellas published. In addition to my writing, I've taught workshops at such writers conferences as: Write-To-Publish; American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW); Oregon Christian Writers Conference; Mount Hermon Writers Conference and many local writers conferences. I also speaks at various churches and women’s groups.
How did you discover Summerside Press?
Actually, in a sense, Summerside Press discovered me. The publisher contacted my agent, Joyce Hart, and asked if I'd submit a proposal. I did, and the rest is history! Did you get to choose the setting? How about the storyline? Yes. I chose both. I had begun the story back in 2005 but then had to set it aside to fulfill other book contracts. After Summerside bought the book, it was such a pleasure to get back to writing it because it had been nagging me over the last three years, begging to be written.
Tell us about the theme of your story. How does the setting and the characters meld to make Miracle a unique frame?
Well, I write healing fiction for hurting hearts. That's what readers can expect when they pick up one of my novels. "Miracle" is no exception in that regard. However, what makes this book unique is that the setting (the rural area of Stanford, Kentucky) shaped the characters because of their upbringing in the small Southern community. But my main character Meg is sort of an outsider, although she has her father and grandmother there. But she also has to battle some demons and prove herself to the community before she's completely accepted.
How did you research the community?
I did research on the Internet and called the mayor of Stanford's office several times with questions. Sandy, the City Clerk, was so sweet and helpful. Then, over the Fourth of July holiday, my husband and I made a fast trip (and I mean FAST) to Stanford and toured the area known as Miracle. We enjoyed a delicious meal at the Depot Restaurant, which I mention in the story, and we cruised around while I snapped pictures and wrote down the names of various streets. We even shopped at the Goodwill.
What do you hope your readers will take away from your story?
I hope readers will realize that no matter how great the sin or how bad the decision, it's never to late too late to make it right. There are consequences, certainly, but the road to the future always looks brighter and hopeful with God's light illuminating the way.
Where can we buy it?
My book is available at any bookstore and Walmart, also amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com.
Andrea Boeshaar http://www.andreaboeshaar.com/