Author visit with Donita K. Paul

School starts in my area today and to mark the occasion, we have a former teacher visiting today!

Donita K. Paul is another of the authors that participated in the Motiv8 fantasy fiction tour. I met her on that tour when I heard a young reader say, "You can tell she has fun writing her books." Of course, with an accolade like that, we had to bring home DragonSpell (Dragon Keepers Chronicles, Book 1).

I've since learned that before picking up her pen to write, she worked in the classroom. So let's sit down for a chat with her today while the students are finding their way to their seats.

Q: What is your background and how did that lead to your career in writing?

A: You know that old saying, "Don't quit your day job"? In a manner of speaking, my day job quit me. I was an elementary school teacher, but I became disabled in '96 but didn't give in to not working outside the home for a couple of years. Writing became a career because I was stuck at home - an A type personality in a D body. In order not to go crazy I started writing again, something I've always wanted to do.

I think this is just where God wants me. I kind of wished I'd listened earlier to the gentle nudgings.

Q: Can you tell us a little about your writing process? Do you plan first or let the story develop as you write?

A: I am definitely a seat of the pants writer. I "see" the scenes in my mind and just write them down. Then I go back and do the technical stuff. I have a general idea that will be accomplished by the end of the story, but there are no details on neat 3x5 file cards. No story board. No notebooks. No character sheets. If I die just before the climax of my next book, everyone is out of luck. No ending!

Q: You work in two genres (romance and fantasy) - does the process vary between the two?

A: The process is the same with both my romance and fantasy novels.

Q: Christian fantasy has historically been considered a very tough market. How did you find your publisher? How long was that process for you?

A: It didn't take long at all. I submitted the manuscript and had a contract in eighteen days.

Q: What marketing techniques or events have you found to be most successful for you?

A: Without a doubt more books are sold by word-of-mouth than any other ploy. So you need to consider how you can stimulate conversation about your books. I use bookmarks and t-shirts as giveaways.

Q: How did the Motiv8 tour come about? Had you met any of the other authors before?

A: I knew Christopher Hopper from one quick meeting. This young man is a dynamo and has a wonderful ministry to teens. I know LB Graham from another brief meeting. I was most familiar with Bryan Davis and Sharon Hinck. We've been online writing friends for several years. The fantastic four (Wayne Thomas Batson, Christopher Hopper, Bryan Davis, and Sharon Hinck) did a book tour up the east coast the year before the Motiv8, and they invited us to join the troupe traveling down the west coast.

Q: What were some of the benefits of working together with other Christian fantasy writers?

A: One of the things we did as we talked to readers was to guide them to the authors who had the books best suited for the reader. I would point out that the mother of my young fan would appreciate Sharon's book with a mother protagonist. For younger brothers and sisters of my readers, I could point to Eric's and Jonathan's boks. For those interested in more epic fantasy, we had books by Bryan, Wayne, Christopher, and LB.

Q: Drawbacks?

A: With eight authors and readers with limited funds, the frustration of young readers wanting to buy everything they saw and not having enough was a bit sad. However, we encouraged the patrons to ask their public libraries to get copies of the books and to put the books on their birthday and Christmas lists.

Q: What encouragement would you offer writers that are just beginning their journey to publication?

A: 1. Read. Read. Read.
Read the genre that you intend to write.
Read the books on how-to.
Read the books you like and try to figure out why.
Read the books you hate and try to figure out why.

2. Get in a productive critique group. Don't pick one where everyone says "Oh that was just wonderful!" Don't pick one where there is one person who "knows it all" and has the kind of forceful personality that dominates the group.

Q: Are you already working on another book? What is next for you? For your readers?

A: I have started writing the next book. It picks up where The Vanishing Sculptor: A Novel left off.

Q: One last question - I noticed on your blog that you sometimes take your dragons out for dinner. Are they generally well behaved?

A: They are generally well behaved. However, if the grandsons go also, the dragons become excited and don't behave.

Thank you, Donita!

If you want to know more about Donita K. Paul and her books, visit her website at http://www.donitakpaul.com for games, downloads, a photo gallery, writer's resources and more.

Author visit with Sharon Hinck

The weekend is almost here, and what better way to prepare for it than to sit down for a chat with Sharon Hinck, another of the authors that participated in the Christian fantasy Motiv8 tour. It's been my experience that a person creative in one area will often be gifted in other creative areas and Sharon is no exception.

Q: Can you tell us a little bit about your background? What led you to writing?

A: I've always been an avid reader and have loved to write since I could pencil my letters, but in high-school and college I focused more on music and theatre and dance. I spent years teaching ballet, choreographing for community and college theatres, and acting. In grad school I minored in writing and began to publish magazine articles, which helped get my feet wet in the writing world. After graduate school, I was the founding artistic director of a Christian performing arts company for ten years, and then was busy raising my family. As my children got older and the creative urges grew, God led me to small Christian writer's group, and my early love of writing.

Q: You have written in a variety of genres - Christian fiction, fantasy, "mom-lit" and nonfiction articles - did you find the cross-over difficult either personally or in terms of industry trends?

A: It's much simpler (and general recommended) to write in a specific niche and build readership in that arena. I meant to do that. I wrote contemporary fiction about ordinary moms on their faith journey and the extraordinary things God does along the way. But some of the heroines actually traveled to alternate worlds (Sword of Lyric series) and some dreamed of doing great things while wrestling with their meaning and purpose in the midst of modern-day struggles (the Becky Miller books) while some pursued artistic dreams (Symphony of Secrets) or walked the courageous journey toward healing (Stepping into Sunlight). All I can say is that I wrote the story that God stirred in me each time, and have to trust Him to get the stories to the people He meant them for.

Q: As a writer, do you plan first or let the story develop as you write? How does a typical writing day look for you?

A: I'm a "discovery" writer. The character comes to me first, and I begin to explore with the character and see where things go. When I was working on my novels, I'd usually roll out of bed and write a few hundred words immediately to prime the pump. Then after morning chores, I'd buckle down and write about 1000 words - whether that took a few hours or all day. I also spend time honing the earlier chapters, and then quite a bit of time with the "business and fellowship" side of writing - doing interviews, answering emails, critiquing chapters for critique partners, editing, etc.

Q: What marketing techniques or events have you found to be most successful for you?

A: I've tried many of the things various authors recommended to me, and found the best idea was to prayerfully ask God which things to invest time in. Often He'd guide me to invest a lot of time over an email prayer for a reader who had written to share a struggle they were facing, or open a door for me to meet with a tiny book group - and I wonder if those activities remain closer to the ministry He's called me to than T.V. and radio interviews, or large public events. An author I admire said that she sees two parts to her writing ministry - the themes and truth of the stories that she writes, and the interactions she has with people because of having written those stories. I try to keep that in mind, and keep asking God where He wants me at any given time.

Q: What advice would you offer to newer writers or those that are just beginning their journey into the world of publishing?

A: Be totally focused on the joy of serving Christ, and measure your success by making God smile. Over and over, as you are tempted by discouragement, envy, frustration, or pride, keep trying to release the question of human approval and success to Him and tuning your ears to His Word.

Q: How did the Motiv8 tour come about? Had you met any of the other authors before?

A: The year before Motiv8, I was part of a "Fantasy Four" tour (Val's comment: a clip from the tour is below) of the east coast with Wayne, Christopher, and Bryan. I'd met Bryan at Mt. Hermon writer's conference years earlier, and got to know Wayne and Christopher via email and phone. We all gathered at ICRS in Atlanta, wielded our swords, and began traveling.

For Motiv8, I'd already known Donita from writer's conferences, and had met L.B. And Eric at ICRS. And of course, we all did a lot of communicating (oh, those goofy email threads!) during the year before Motiv8.

Q: What were some of the benefits of working together with other Christian fantasy authors?

A: It's so much more encouraging to share events--Each of the Motiv8 authors was so generous. Over and over, I saw authors telling readers about the books of the other writers.

Q: What's next on the horizon for you and for your readers?

A: I've been doing interviews to support the release of my latest book, Stepping Into Sunlight, and taking a bit of a sabbatical as I seek God about the next step. I have a few things in the works, but I'm not sure where He'll lead me next. Since I love "to do" lists and being organized, and having five-year plans, etc., uncertainty is an uncomfortable place for me. And of course, uncomfortable places are where God can do a lot of work in us. So I'm praying I can stay out of His way and let Him do His work, and that I can be joyfully obedient for whatever He asks me to do or NOT do.

Thank you, Sharon!

If you want to know more about Sharon and her books, visit her website at www.sharonhinck.com for interviews with Sharon, music from the Sword of Lyric books, writer's resources and more.

Author visit with Bryan Davis

Pour yourself a coffee and pull up a chair - today we visit with Bryan Davis, another YA fantasy writer that was part of the Motiv8 tour. I first met Bryan when he was promoting his first fantasy series - the Dragons In Our Midst series. He has fascinating stories to share, including those from his own experience. So here we go...

Q: Can you tell us a little about your writing process? Do you plan first or let the story develop as you write?

I am what some call a “discovery” writer, what I call a seat-of-the-pants writer. When I sit down at the computer, I truly don’t know what’s going to happen. I have a vague idea of the story line, but the characters come to life in my mind and take over the action and dialogue. They often surprise me. Sometimes new characters pop up that I never expected to see.

That makes writing an adventure. I can’t imagine writing an outline in advance. The thought of it makes me shudder. Give me adventure! I want to go for a ride.

Q: You have written both Christian YA fantasy and a number of non-fiction books. Did you find the "cross-over" difficult either personally or in terms of industry trends?

My only non-fiction books came early in my career, and I have written fiction ever since, so there have been few, if any, transition issues. I have found a bigger transition in writing fiction for two publishers. The methods, expectations, and author freedom are quite different. I really have to switch gears.

For one publisher I have a set word count. For another, I can write as much as I want. I have titling and cover design freedom for one, but I have very little input for the other. I do most of the editing myself for one and have much more editing help with the other.

It’s an interesting contrast.

Q: I know that your path to publication in fantasy was a rather extended one - could you sum it up for us?

I began writing a novel about 15 years ago as a way to teach and encourage my homeschooled children to write. That ignited a passion for writing in me. That novel was never published, but when I wrote a fantasy novel that was germinated from a dream, I believed in it and pursued publishing it for eight years. I received over 200 rejections, but I knew I had a good novel and that it would have a positive effect on readers, so I never gave up.

I went to writers’ conferences during that time and learned that my work needed more polish. I ended up rewriting the fantasy novel 24 times over that period, so I was never stagnant.

Q: What encouragement would you offer writers that are just beginning that journey?

Writers, if you truly believe in your work, never give up, but also never stop learning. Go to conferences. Meet other authors. Show them your work. Develop a thick skin and take criticisms seriously. Read books on writing.

I never gave up, and now when I go out to speak, I take along a file folder jammed with rejection letters. I hope I can inspire other writers to keep at it and never give up.

Q: You've gone on to publish several series since beginning with Dragons in our Midst? How do you "start fresh" when beginning a new series?

It’s interesting that you ask that, because I am now starting fresh for the first time in four years. My first two series, Dragons in our Midst and Oracles of Fire, were in the same story world, and I started Echoes from the Edge four years ago, so the new, as-yet-untitled, series I’m working on for Zondervan is a fresh start.

Two of my daughters gave me the story idea, so as I conjure up a whole new reality, I keep bouncing the development off them. They have taken some ownership of the concept, so it’s fun to see them criticize the plot and characters.


I am enjoying the fresh start very much. The imagination part of novel writing is the most fun. It is creation out of nothing. What was once not there is now visible in my mind’s eye, and characters are birthed. They breathe and speak, and I feel like a new father all over again.

It’s amazing and fun!


Q: What marketing techniques or events have you found to be most successful for you?

Going to schools and homeschool groups has been the most helpful. I have traveled all over the country and to Canada, speaking to students from kindergarten through college, and I believe that has jump-started my career.

I don’t charge a fee, which, I hear, is unusual for authors. I want to make friends with schools and libraries. I want a partnership, not an employer arrangement. We help each other. It’s about planting seeds and offering help to make literacy and love of reading and writing grow. And this cooperation has worked very well.

Q: How did the Motiv8 tour come about? Had you met any of the other authors before?

I met Wayne Batson and Christopher Hopper at a booksellers convention in Denver in 2006. Afterwards, they called me and asked if I would be interested in some kind of fantasy tour. That conversation, and the addition of Sharon Hinck to our group, birthed the Fantasy Four Tour in the summer of 2007. We had so much fun and success, we added four authors for the 2008 tour.

I had met all the authors before, so it was easy for us to travel together. Every one of them had a unique and fun personality, so we got along very well.

Q: What were some of the benefits of working together with other Christian fantasy authors? Drawbacks?

I have found that our group worked together fabulously. We believe in each other, and we promote each other’s books. I saw no competitive spirit at all. Many times I saw Wayne or Christopher or one of the other authors point a reader to one of my books. “Oh, you like dragons? Then you should look at Mr. Davis’s books.” And I would return the favor, because I have seen the hearts of these other authors, and I believe in them.

Even after the tour, we still communicate and promote each other. It’s a fellowship that I hope will continue for a long time.

Q: How would you compare it to a "solo" event as an author?

A benefit of a solo tour is freedom and flexibility. I tend to fill my solo schedule to the point that some would not be crazy enough to keep up. I have done up to 12 talks in a day at four different schools. I would never ask a group to try to do that, but it works for me. As long as I have to travel, I push to get the maximum benefit.

Q: What's on the horizon for you and for your readers? When can we expect the next Bryan Davis story?

I’m working on a combined young adult/adult fantasy series for Zondervan that is currently untitled. This will be a new adventure for me, because it will be my first fantasy set in another world. All my other novels are more contemporary—real world, real time, etc.

There will be four YA books in the series and two adult books. My plan is to meld the stories, but a YA reader will get a complete story from the four books, and an adult reader will get a complete story from the two. At the same time, a reader of all six will get a fuller understanding of both. I think this will be fun and challenging. These books will begin coming out in 2010 and will finish in early 2012.

Thank you, Bryan!

To find out more about Bryan Davis and his books, visit www.dragonsinourmidst.com or his Echoes From the Edge website, or visit his blog for the latest information.

Author visit with Eric Reinhold

As I've mentioned before, I had the opportunity to meet a group of Christian fantasy writers last fall when the Motiv8 tour visited my area. As always happens with authors, they have some fascinating stories about the process of writing and their own path to publishing.

Today, we talk with Eric Reinhold, author of the Ryan Watters (The Annals of Aeliana) series.

Q: Your background involves the U.S. Navy, football and financial & wealth management experience. When did you first consider writing fiction? And what drew you to teen fantasy as a genre?

A: Great question! Some people are very surprised that a naval officer, college football player and now financial advisor could write a youth fantasy novel. Perhaps it’s the fact that I am left-handed, which engages the left side of my brain versus the stereotypical right side associated with financial advisors and numbers. The initial impetus for writing came from my two daughters when they were 6 and 9 years old. Every night I would continue a made up fantasy story prior to putting them to bed. After six months, they said, “dad… you need to make this into a book so other kids can enjoy it.” That’s what got me thinking - maybe I could write a book.

Q: Christian fantasy has historically been considered a very tough market. How did you find your publisher?

A: My story is very different in how I came to be published. I outlined the twenty chapters of my book, back in 2000 and planned to have it completed in a few years. Unbeknownst to me, God had other plans. The week before 9-11, I came down with a fever that wouldn’t go away. After a week, I sought medical attention and my doctor sent me over to the hospital immediately. I was hooked up to IV’s and ended up staying in the hospital 10 days. I was diagnosed with a bacterial infection in my heart, in which they had to insert a tube in my chest so that I could administer the IV’s 3 times a day at home for a month until the infection was healed. Then I would need to come back for open-heart surgery to replace the aortic valve in my heart with a titanium valve. Needless to say, that was a shocker! Between the surgery, recovery time and then leaving the company I was with to start my own business, my book plans were put on hold. I had completed 10 of the 20 chapters, but would not return to finishing it until 2007.

My financial planning business is unique in that I work with professional athletes, business owners and some very senior executives at Disney and other Fortune 500 companies. I was at breakfast with Steve Strang, the President of the publishing company, Strang Communications, one morning to discuss his finances. At the end of breakfast I mentioned that I had written a youth fantasy novel and he asked me to send it over to them. They liked it and 4 months later, I had my first book in hand [Ryan Watters and the King's Sword, cover art and illustrations by Corey Wolfe]. I have author friends who have received over 200 rejection letters from publishers and I received none. The moral of the story is to persevere, but God has His timing and His ways.

Q: Can you tell us a little about your writing process?

A: I’m definitely someone who plans first. Initially I layout all of my characters for the book, what biblical themes I’d like to incorporate and the major confrontations. Then, I go back through and come up with subplots within the story. Based upon this I’ll write one or two paragraphs on what is going to happen in each chapter of the book. Finally, I’ll sit down to write each chapter based upon these notes. Typically, one of three things happens - one chapter turns into two, I consolidate two chapters into one or a new idea pops into my mind and I figure out where to work it in. So in some ways, the story does develop as I write.

Q: How did the Motiv8 tour come about? Had you met any of the other authors before?

A: In the process of marketing my book, I decided to reach out to other Christian fantasy authors in hopes of linking web sites. My daughter was reading Bryan Davis’s books, so I decided to start with him. His bio said that he lived very close to me. I offered to take him to breakfast and he informed me that he had moved his family to Tennessee, but when he was back in the area we could get together. At that breakfast, about one month later, he asked me if I would be interested in going on the Motiv8 tour. I told him I would be honored and the rest is history. Despite being the junior author with only one book, I added my expertise in finance by starting the Fantasy Fiction Tour, LLC and managing the income and expenses for the tour. In addition, the Character-4-Kids foundation purchased $300 in books from each author for our visit to READ Fresno and the Central California Children’s Hospital.

I had never met 6 of the authors, but with our common interests we gelled immediately. Several authors were typing out stories while we traveled in the 15-passenger van and it was fun to have someone yell out, “can I get a synonym for ________?”

Q. How would you compare it to a "solo" event as an author?

A: It’s much easier going into a store, church or school dressed with a cloak and sword as a group versus on your own!


Q: Was there any sense of competition because you were all in the same market? I understand you each had a different publisher.

A: It is nice to know that every author on this trip was putting the Christian Fantasy genre first and themselves second. Marketing ideas were shared, story concepts, experiences on what has worked and what hasn’t in book promotion, discussions on publishers and so much more. I was very encourage over the future of our genre with no drawbacks… except lack of sleep!

All of us utilized different publishers, which was great. Every author was extremely transparent on the positives and negatives of the publisher they were working with. The bond is so close now that several authors are working on joint projects, we’ve done a post-tour blog to promote each other on all of our websites, and there is talk of putting together a compilation of short stories into one free pdf download or print-on-demand book.

Q: Tell us about the foundation www.Character-4-kids.org. How did that come about?

A: I have a close friend and prayer partner who runs an inner-city after school reading program and another who works at a Children’s Hospital, so it got me thinking about ways I could benefit kids in these areas. I formed the non-profit foundation, Character-4-Kids, so that through donations from corporations, individuals and grants the foundation could purchase books with high moral character for distribution to kids at a disadvantage physically and financially. When possible, the foundation attempts to have the author of the book show up at the place of distribution. It’s a lot of fun!

Q: Ryann Watters and the King's Sword was your first published fiction and I understand you've just finished the second. How soon can we expect to see it and what's planned next?

A: I am very excited to be finished with “Ryann Watters and the Shield of Faith,” book 2 in the Annals of Aeliana series. It is almost twice as long as book 1 and is based upon the four gospels and life of Christ. Ryan Watters and the Shield of Faith will have awesome interior artwork, completed by an up and coming artist, Jared Sloger. (Val's note: Get a sneak peak of some of the upcoming illustrations at the end of the blog.) It will be available on my website in pre-release in April and in stores in May. Since it is based upon Ephesians 6 and the armor of God, I am planning on having book 3 be “Ryann Watters and the Belt of Truth,” which will be based on the book of Acts. Book 4 will be based on the book of Romans and I am planning on book 5 being based on Revelations.


Thank you, Eric!

To find out more about Eric's books or about the Motiv8 Tour visit his website at www.ryanwatters.com, his blog at www.ryannwatters.blogspot.com or find him on Facebook for more tour photos and stories.