How Writing is Like Fly Fishing

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During an interview talented author Candace Calvert recently did with me on her blog, she asked me a question I've never received before. She found out one of my hobbies is fly fishing and challenged me to find some similarities between fly fishing and writing. At first I was stumped. But as I began to think, I realized there was a metaphor sitting right in front of me.

Fly fishing is like the process of a writer searching for a publisher. Our flies are our manuscripts. Each cast is us sending out a query letter or proposal. The fish are the editors searching for a project to buy. It’s important to research what the fish like and when they like it.

But just because we cast the line, doesn’t mean the fish will bite. Maybe they’re not hungry. What if the trout aren’t interested in mosquitoes today? Our fly might be tied perfectly, but the fish just aren’t hungry for it right now.

Then sometimes a fish will bite, but right when we think we have them, they spit out the hook. Does that mean we should give up and never fish again? No, it just means we need to keep on casting. Maybe today isn’t our day. But tomorrow might be.

Candace asked me many other fun questions, by the way. If you'd like to read her whole interview, check it out here. She's also giving away a copy of my debut novel Thicker than Blood. Deadline to enter is January 25th.

Fun Christian Devotions SPEAK-UP Interview

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I had the wonderful opportunity of being interviewed by Marianne Jordan of Christian Devotions Speak Up yesterday. It's now archived, and you can listen to it below if you'd like. We talked about when I knew I wanted to write, homeschooling, the whole story of how Thicker than Blood won Operation First Novel, how much research I do, and much more!

Win a signed copy of Thicker than Blood before you can buy it!

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I'm giving away 3 signed copies of my debut novel Thicker than Blood ... before you can buy it! Find out how you could win over at my website.

In other news, Christianbook.com has just posted an in depth interview with me about how I got started in writing, where the idea for Thicker than Blood came from, my writing style, and much more. Check it out here if you're interested.

Today I'm blogging over at the Scribble Chicks blog about "Going with Your Gut" in your writing. That can be read here.

Interview at Erynn Mangum's Blog

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The lovely Erynn Mangum (author of the Laura Holbrook series and the upcoming novel Cool Beans) asked me some great questions about my writing process over at her blog.

Find out my responses to the Qs:

• Why did you decide to write fiction? How did you get published?
• How do you usually get ideas?
• Do you ever have problems finishing a book or an idea? How do you overcome that?
• Are there any books on writing that have helped you?
• What's your favorite part of writing? Your least favorite part of writing?
• How do you take your coffee? :)

I tell the whole story of how my first novel Thicker Than Blood (coming in January 2010 from Tyndale House) found it's publishing home.

Check out the interview here.

Writing Update

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A couple updates:

• The release date for Thicker Than Blood is January 2010!
  
• I should begin the official editing process with Tyndale for Thicker soon.
  
• I am almost finished with my final edit (I think!) of the sequel, tentatively titled Innocent Blood. This novel has not yet been contracted, but we can hope, right? :)
• Still in the beginning stages of my third novel, tentatively titled Flesh & Blood. It's been challenging discovering the story I want to tell, but I'm honing in on it!
• My sister, Tracy Darlington, has done a series of interviews with me over at her new blog. It's in four parts. Start at Part 1 and there are links to the others. She asked fun, and hard!, questions about my writing and Thicker Than Blood!
  
  

In other news, TitleTrakk.com has just posted an interview I did with one of my favorite authors, Sibella Giorello. Click here to read it. Sibella is the author of the Christy Award winning novel The Stones Cry Out, and now its sequel The Rivers Run Dry. She had so many great insights to share, but here's one question and answer to wet your whistle:

Me: How was the process of writing The Rivers Run Dry different from writing your first novel The Stones Cry Out?

Sibella: Picture a Volvo station wagon. Now picture a Maseratti. The first book, like many first novels, was written in safe secrecy. Very few people knew I was writing a novel, and those that did would still love me if I quit. To keep the car analogy going, whenever I felt like a nap, I'd just pull that Volvo over to the side of the road and close my eyes. It was a luxury of time and it made the journey longer, but it felt safe. The second book was like somebody tossed me the keys to a Maseratti, then said I was competing in a road race, beginning right now. Although I was thrilled to get a contract with Thomas Nelson, I was terrified when they said, "And we'd like four books in four years." Pedal to metal, people! I wrote "Rivers" so quickly that when I sat down to work on the second draft of the manuscript, I didn't remember writing some of the scenes. No joke -- it was a literal blur. But now that I've crossed the finish line twice (the third book in the series is finished), I can say that it's possible to write novels fast. Even more importantly, it's possible to write something enjoyable. Read the full interview here.

Also, my latest book review for Deceived by James Scott Bell is online! Click here to read it. Bell has been another of my favorite authors for years. He writes the snappiest dialogue and comes up with such amazing twists in his novels. It's always fun to see what comes out of his keyboard next!

New Interviews and Reviews!

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Hi, friends. I've been super busy lately with my work at TitleTrakk.com. Just to keep you abreast, here are links to some of my recent reviews and interviews. If you're interested in more, I have all my work linked in the right hand column of this blog. Enjoy!

Randy Singer Interview
Randy talks about his latest novel By Reason of Insanity, shares one of his embarrassing courtroom moments, how he got involved with street preaching, all about his writing process, his infamous guffaw at the Christy Awards, and a whole lot more.


To coincide, I've written a review of By Reason of Insanity, a terrific legal thriller.

"The verdict is in---Randy Singer is guilty of writing some of the best legal fiction on the market."


Wanda Brunstetter Interview
Wanda shares facts about the Amish readers might not know, how she married her husband after knowing him for only a month, the research that goes into her books, and more!



My Soul Cries Out by Sherri L. Lewis
Book Review

"Lewis is a talented new author who's breaking ground that's needed breaking for quite some time."


The Chronicles of Narnia Prince Caspian: The Official Illustrated Movie Companion by Ernie Malik
Book Review

"Think of this book as a 4 disc DVD collector's edition only on paper."


Stephen Kendrick Interview
This is the guy, who along with his brother Alex, founded Sherwood Pictures, which is behind the movies Facing the Giants, Flywheel, and the upcoming Fireproof. He had much to say on the moviemaking process, Christians and media, and so much more.

Karen Kingsbury Interview

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Karen Kingsbury has been called the Queen of Christian fiction, so it was a great honor to interview her for TitleTrakk.com. She had many insights to share, so I hope you'll hop on over to the site and check out the interview here.

Says Karen:

"I cry whenever I'm writing a novel--tears are good for us. Ice collects around the edges of our hearts. Tears happen when a little bit of that ice melts."

F.P. Lione Interview

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Infuze recently asked me to do an interview with novelist F.P. Lione (aka Frank & Pam Lione). It's up today on the site and can be viewed here.

I've enjoyed each one of the Lione's novels in the Midtown Blue series, and you can read my reviews of the books at Infuze as well (there are links at the top of the interview). They feature a NY cop and sometimes read more like a biography than a novel (which is a great thing if you like watching COPS, like I do).

The Lione's final thoughts in the interview were especially encouraging to writers:

"We hear from so many people telling us that God showed them to write a book, yet they still haven’t done it. Whether they’re intimidated, they don’t know how to go about it, or just lazy, the assignment from God is still there. When he impresses you to do something, he anoints you to do it. But you still have to research and learn as much as you can about what you feel you’re called to write. Then rely on Him. But you have to take the first step. And this isn’t just in writing, it applies to whatever you’re called to do. So get writing, or singing, or whatever it is you’re supposed to be doing."
--F.P. Lione

"My Mom's Best Advice"

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My most recent piece for TitleTrakk.com is a feature for Mother's Day (that can be read any day). 24 authors share the best advice their Mom's ever given them.

Included are quotes from (in no particular order) Jerry Jenkins, Sibella Giorello, Brandilyn Collins, Karen Ball, James Scott Bell, Jenny B. Jones, Deborah Raney, Melanie Wells, Sharon Hinck, Donna Fleisher, John Aubrey Anderson, Robert Liparulo, Rene Gutteridge, Kristin Billerbeck, Tricia Goyer, Amy Wallace, Roxanne Henke, Nancy Moser, Angela Hunt, Nikki Arana, Liz Curtis Higgs, Lorena McCourtney & Tamara Leigh.

Read the article here. And check out other author interviews here.

Tim Downs Interview

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I've been a fan of Tim's writing ever since his first novel Shoofly Pie. I had the chance to interview him recently for TitleTrakk.com. His clever sense of humor came through, and it was enjoyable to hear his answers.

"I've never taken a writing class, and my last English class was in high school."
--Tim Downs

Tim shares why he started writing fiction after penning a successful comic strip, the hardest part about writing his latest novel Head Game, plus he gives us the lowdown on his next Bugman novel.

Read the interview here.

You can also read my review of Tim's latest novel Head Game here.
My review of his previous novel Plaguemaker is here.

Dabbling Mum Interview

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Alyice Edrich from The Dabbling Mum recently did an interview with me about time management and resting for writers.

The interview begins:

Alyce: Has there ever been a time in your writing career where you had to tell yourself to "slow down"? And if so, what was going on at the time?

Me: Usually what happens for me is I'll spread myself too thin. There was a time recently where I was doing so many "good" writing projects. I was very busy, but I wasn't content. I realized I needed to re-evaluate where I was spending my writing time.

Click here to read the rest of the interview. And while you're at it, check out Alyice's great website The Dabbling Mum. She has an informative newsletter specifically for writers, plus much more.

Sibella Giorello Interview at TitleTrakk.com

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Recently I interviewed Sibella Giorello for TitleTrakk.com. Nominated twice for the Pulitzer Prize, Sibella talked about her journalism roots, why she turned to fiction, how she balances being a homeschooling mom and wife with her writing, and much more. Check it out.

"When I started my book The Stones Cry Out, I knew nothing about the FBI, nothing about forensics, and I am the world's worst scientist."
--Sibella Giorello

Read the full interview here.
Read my review of The Stones Cry Out here.
Read the first chapter of The Stones Cry Out here.

Rene Gutteridge & The Ultimate Gift

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I had the chance to interview Rene Gutteridge for TitleTrakk.com. She talked about her work on the novelization of The Ultimate Gift screenplay, her most embarrassing moment researching, plus much more.

I have perfectionist tendencies and am my own worst critic. I’ve learned that even when it’s not perfect, it’s still purposeful.
--Rene Gutteridge

Check out the full interview here.

Also, my review of The Ultimate Gift movie is up at the site as well. Read it here.

The Ultimate Gift is a winner.
--TitleTrakk.com review

Novel Journey interview

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Today I'm being interviewed at Novel Journey. Gina Holmes, the founder of the site, asked excellent questions about TitleTrakk.com, which gave me a chance to share Tracy and my vision for the site. She also asked about my novel writing, so I got to share a little bit about that as well. Check out the full interview here.

Karen Ball interview at TitleTrakk.com

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Karen Ball had some great answers to the questions I asked for TitleTrakk.com. She candidly shared the struggles she faces in balancing her editing and writing careers, plus much more.

"I think I may have been writing in utero."
--Karen Ball

Check out the whole interview here.

Michael Landon, Jr. Interview at TitleTrakk.com

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As I mentioned in my previous entry, my sister Tracy and I had the great privilege of interviewing acclaimed director/writer Michael Landon, Jr. We talked about his latest project The Last Sin Eater (based on the novel by Francine Rivers), Christians and entertainment, his novel One More Sunrise coming out with Bethany House next year, and more.

"Entertainment and art have power. Our culture is molded more so by entertainment than any other influence."
--Michael Landon, Jr.

Check out the interview here.

My Interview at Infuze

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Matt Conner at Infuze recently conducted an interview with me. We talked about TitleTrakk.com, and my novel writing. It was interesting being on the receiving end of questions for a change.

Check it out here.

Jerry Jenkins Interview

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I recently had the privilege of interviewing best-selling author Jerry Jenkins. He had some great things to say! For example, when I asked him What do you know now that you wish you'd known when you first started writing?, he said:

"Interesting question. I have never liked knowing things in advance. I like to be surprised. I’m not a goal-setter but rather strive to do the best at whatever it is I have been assigned and see what happens. I write the same way: put interesting characters in difficult situations and write to find out what happens. Had I known how remote was the possibility of ever being published, I might have despaired. Instead, I just blithely went for it."

Check out the full interview over at TitleTrakk.com by clicking here.