Welcome, Dineen. How did your story
for the collection come about?
Ronie got the ball rolling and then we just kept throwing
ideas back and forth by email. Before we knew it, we had this really cool
setting, a common element that carried through the stories (the coin), and a
premise about love never failing based upon 1 Cor 13. I love that the stories
span four generations.
What are you reading
right now?
Fiction: Yesterday’s
Tomorrow by Catherine West. My novella is partly set during the Vietnam War
and I wrote it in honor of my father. Cathy’s book is set during the same war.
I just had to read it!
Nonfiction: Out Live
Your Life by Max Lucado. Love his books. The man writes nonfiction like a
polished fiction author. Love that!
What other books have
you had published?
My first nonfiction,
Winning Him Without Words: 10 Keys to Thriving in Your Spiritually Mismatched
Marriage released from Regal in 2011. My debut novel, The Soul Saver, released from Barbour just this May. They
compliment each other. I love that I had the opportunity to do something like
this—write nonfiction and fiction books that dealt with the same issue of being
spiritually mismatched.
What is the hardest
thing about writing a part of a novella collection?
Making sure we had the carry over details and timelines in
sync. That was a real challenge, especially for Ronie and I because our stories
overlap. But it was so much fun! The challenge just made it that more enjoyable
when we made it work and unearthed all this really cool detail to do with the
characters. That’s the creative part of writing that I love most.
How did collaborating
with this team impact you?
Blessed me tremendously! I’d never done anything like this
and thought of myself as the newbie of the group. Ronie, Kim and MaryLu are all
multi-published authors and at the time of contract, I’d just signed the
contract for The Soul Saver and Winning Him was due to release in a few
months. Talk about a crazy time! My mind was spinning with all this great stuff
on the horizon.
How do you choose
your characters’ names?
I keep a list of interesting names I hear or see in movies
or people I come in contact with. My husband is a professional disc golf player
and works in the tech industry. He’s always mentioning people with the most
unusual names. So I started keeping a list and refer to it when I start a new
story. Whatever clicks, I use!
What did you want the
reader to take away from your story?
That blessings can be found even in the trials and losses in
our lives. God is always working for our good (Romans 8:28). Always. He redeems
everything we go through. I love that about Him.
Are you a member of
American Christian Fiction Writers? If so, why?
Yes! What an amazing organization and group of people. I
don’t think I would be published right now if it weren’t for this group.
Correction—I know I wouldn’t be. I have learned so much and made so many
wonderful connections through this group and have benefited hugely through the
yearly conferences. They are the highlight of my year!
What is the best
piece of advice you received as an author?
Don’t be in such a hurry. I wish I’d heeded it more, to be
honest. That time spent on refining and growing your craft is so important. I
wish I’d taken a year to do just that instead of trying to squeeze it in with
all the rest of the stuff I was doing to get published.
Where can my readers
find you on the Internet?
My website is at www.DineenMiller.com
. I'm actually giving away an e-book, The
Making of The Souls Saver, for signing up for my newsletter. It has all the
stories behind the scenes, setting and character pictures, interviews and three
new scenes with The Soul Saver crew.
Lots of good stuff just for letting me send an occasional newsletter. J
Here are some of my other links. Drop me a message! I’d love
to hear from you!
Websites:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dineen.miller
Facebook pages:
Personal Blog: http://authordineenmiller.com/journal/
Twitter: @dineenmiller
GoodReads
author page: http://www.goodreads.com/dineenmillerAnd now we have Kim Vogel Sawyer.
How did your story
for the collection come about?
I think this has probably been answered well enough by my
fellow co-writers. :o)
What are you reading
right now?
MaryLu Tyndalls, Viel of Pearls. Good story!
I loved that book by
Marylu. What other books have you had published?
I’m so blessed to have three Heartsong titles, three women’s
fiction titles with Barbour, another novella set (Montana Mistletoe with
Lena Nelson Dooley, Lisa Harris, and Debby Mayne), four young adult titles with
Zondervan, and eleven historical and one contemporary with Bethany House.
Sometimes I shake my head in wonder at what all God has accomplished in the
past six years!
I so enjoyed being a
part of the Montana Mistletoe
collection with you. And I’m excited about us planning to put that collection
up as individual ebooks soon. What is the hardest thing about writing a part of
a novella collection?
I think making sure all the stories agree with one another.
Ours were so closely intermingled--the modern-day story weaving through the
“steps back in time”--there were lots of margins for error. It required a lot
of communication and compromise!
How did collaborating
with this team impact you?
I felt as though I got to know each of these wonderful
writers on a deeper level--a friendship level. Since writing can be such a
solitary activity, I truly enjoyed the camaraderie we developed as we worked
together.
How do you choose
your characters’ names?
My characters were named for my mom, her siblings, and my
maternal great-grandfather (although he was never nicknamed Bernie!). I
reversed the birth order of my mother’s siblings, however, making her the oldest instead of the youngest.
She liked that. :o)
What did you want the
reader to take away from your story?
I hope the reader recognizes hard times aren’t meant to
drive us away from God, but serve a purpose in binding us closer to Him. His
arms are always open to offer comfort and strength...but we have to be willing
to lean into His arms.
Are you a member of
American Christian Fiction Writers? If so, why?
Yes, I am! I can’t imagine taking this writing journey
without the support and prayers and friendships and knowledge I’ve gained
through ACFW. I view the membership as an extension of my family--such a
marvelous group to which to belong!
What is the best
piece of advice you received as an author?
I’ll share two: “Write for the Audience of One,” from Angela
Hunt; and “To be published takes both talent and perseverance,” from Deborah
Raney.
Where can my readers
find you on the Internet?
Website: www.KimVogelSawyer.com
Facebook page:
Thank you, Dineen and Kim, for taking time out of your busy schedules to visit with us today.
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