I’m not really sure. I’m moving toward opening myself up more for engagements as a motivational speaker, so I’d like to see if that’s a door that God is going to open for me.
Tell us a little about your family.
My family life is not the average “Leave it to Beaver” family. My husband works between home and his office, he owns and operates a web design company, and that’s always a challenge, and never a 9-to-5 job. My sons are getting older and moving into young adulthood, and it leaves me with mixed feelings to watch them drive away in their own cars. What happened to the days of walking them to school and always knowing where they were?
That's a real adjustment, for sure. Has your writing changed your reading habits? If so, how?
Yes, most definitely. I’m much more picky with reading where I consider an established author has become sloppy with the guidelines I try to use to keep raising the bar in my own writing. I also am much more pressed for time than I used to be. Once I started a book, I would finish it. Now, if it doesn’t hook me or if the writing is too flawed, I’ll not finish it. I don’t know if writing has spoiled me as a reader, or if it’s made my reading more enjoyable, because I’ll only read the good stuff. :-)
What are you working on right now?
Believe it or not, I’m co-writing a supernatural thriller with my husband. Angels and demons and all that stuff, with the final scene to be a battle of the supernatural powers at the gateway of a portal to Hell. Curious? Haha.
Sounds as if I would like reading it. What outside interests do you have?
Of course I’m a dog lover, I have 2 dogs, but I the biggest interest I have is music. I play electric jazz bass for a local jazz band, and this past fall I bought myself a double bass and joined my local concert band. I’m still playing bass for the worship team at my church. I don’t have time to play much piano anymore. One day, it is my dream to learn to play the violin.
A lofty goal. How do you choose your settings for each book?
Clinically. I first think of a plotline and my major characters, then I pick the setting that would work best for the plot. Sometimes it’s a place I’ve been, sometimes it’s not. But if it’s not, I find someone who lives there or who has lived there before I start writing about it.
If you could spend an evening with one historical person, who would it be and why?
Edgar Allan Poe. That man knew how to wrap up all the details together for the final scene.
What is the one thing you wish you had known before you started writing novels?
What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now?
Perseverance and not letting distraction get the best of me.
What are the three best things you can tell other authors to do to be successful?
Read with a critical eye, pay attention to the “guidelines”, and never stop striving to learn more about the craft. I don’t think I need to elaborate on any of those things.
Tell us about the featured book?
The Narrow Path is about two Mennonite people. The heroine is from a big city and lives a busy and active modern life. She enjoys a fast pace and loves the technology. The hero is from a small town and lives in a sheltered and traditional community. His lifestyle only incorporates as much from technology and the world around him as he has to in order to survive in the world and not live in a horse-and-buggy commune. The story revolves around the culture class while they work together as best they can to put together a Christmas musical/drama to draw in the people of the communities around them.
Please give us the first page of the book.
I can do better. I can give you the cover and the first three chapters in a PDF flip book. It’s awesome! Here’s a link.
http://issuu.com/abingdonpress/docs/the_narrow_path
How can readers find you on the Internet?
I’m really easy to find.
http://www.gailsattler.com/
http://www.mennoniteromancenovel.com/
http://www.gailsattler.blogspot.com/
http://www.goldenearsjazzband.com/
Thank you, Gail, for spending this time with us.
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