Welcome to Writing for Christ
Shannon Vannatter, it is great to have you here! So you’re a writer? What made
you decide to start creating characters and story world?
I had a creative writing class in the 3rd grade and loved it.
My teacher was very complimentary and encouraging about a few short stories I
wrote. But I never had any other classes like that. As a preteen, we moved away
from all my friends and it took me a while to acclimate. With lots of alone
time, I created a story in my head. Sometimes, I’d act it out in my locked
bedroom with lots of drama.
Since I watched a lot of hunky detective shows, my story was a damsel in
distress and cute detective to the rescue. I’d add scenes, more drama, and
change the end. I thought it was a movie, but I didn’t want to go to Hollywood , so I didn’t
know what to do with it.
When I was fifteen, I met my future husband and started living my own
romance. I forgot about
That’s when I remembered my long ago story and thought—Hey, that could be
a book. Once I started writing it, my characters kept talking to God. Even
though I was unaware of the Christian fiction market, I let them. I didn’t know
about Christian books because the library didn’t really carry them back then. Fourteen
years later, that story became my 8th published title, Rodeo Queen.
I had to go back and completely rewrite it because when I originally wrote it,
I didn’t have a clue what I was doing.
What is the one title that has
significantly impacted your life?
The standard response for a Christian is the Bible, I’m sure. It’s truly
a life changing book. Other than that, I can’t remember the story, title, or
author, but it was a Heartsong Presents book. It was the first inspirational
romance I’d ever read. I’d completed my book, learned there was a Christian
market and a writing friend loaned me a Heartsong. It was an awesome experience
to read a clean romance with a gospel message like I’d written and know it had
gotten published. I had a lot to learn though. I stopped counting rejections at
200 and spent the next 9 1/2 years attending conferences and workshops before I
finally got published.
If you could get a do-over when it
came to learning this whole thing called writing, what would you go back and
tell yourself?
This is a book, you dork. If I’d realized that story in my head was a
book, I’d have started writing sooner.
5 preference questions:
Homemade or take-out?
Homemade, if I don’t have to make it. I sincerely hate cooking. I do it anyway,
but it frustrates the life out of me.
Email or snailmail? Email. I
never was much of a letter writer even before email.
Online shopping or Black Friday
deals? Online. I hide under the covers on Black Friday. Besides I’m not a
morning person. Even though I’m an avid bargain shopper, no bargain is worth
that.
Books or movies? Books
definitely. And I like paper. I only read digital if it’s a title by one of my
favorite authors and it doesn’t come in paper. I like seeing my books lined up
on the shelf. When they’re in my tablet, I don’t feel like I really own the
book.
Note-taker or memorization?
Note-taker definitely. Ever since my son was born, my memory is gone.
Yes, I’m asking you to play
favorites…which of your books is your favorite, published or unpublished? And
if this is your debut novel, has your favorite been published yet?
Rodeo Queen will probably always be my favorite since it lived in my head
for so long. But I love all of them and I miss the characters after I complete
their books. Especially when I end a series. Maybe that’s why my rodeo series
has gone on for so long—I’m attached to the characters.
Places for readers to learn more
about you?
Learn more about Shannon and her books at http://shannonvannatter.com and check
out her real life romance blog at http://shannonvannatter.com/blog/.
Connect with her on Facebook: http://facebook.com/shannontaylorvannatter,
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/29672798-shannon-vannatter,
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/stvannatter/,
and Twitter: @stvauthor.
Thank you for being with us today!
Thanks Casey :)
Readers, enter to win Shannon's book here!
Please leave an email address! If I draw your name and there is no email, you will not win.
For extra entries:
~Be a follower
~Be a subscriber
Contest is only open in the U.S. and void where prohibited. Chances of winning are based on the number of entries and winner is draw from a non-biased third party- Random.org. I am not responsible for any lost or damaged items for said prize.
Thanks for coming by to enter! Contest ends on January 23rd
Attn Readers! If you're struggling to leave a comment on my blog, please email your comment entries (in ONE email) and I will submit it for you. But PLEASE only do this after you've failed to leave a comment. My email is: caseym.writer(@)gmail.com
Hi, I follow and subscribe and would love to read this.Have lots of friends in the rodeo circuit. Would be interesting to me. I too, had trouble finding clean romance books to read, so will love this. sonja dot nishimoto at gmail dot com
ReplyDeleteHi Sonja,
DeleteThe series is set in Aubrey and Fort Worth Texas. Most of the rodeos are at the Fort Worth Stockyards. I've written a bull rider, bull fighter (rodeo clown), announcer, pick up man, rodeo queen, and singer. It's been a fun series.
Great interview. I too hate to cook with a passion, and I'm NOT a morning person at all! The mornings I have to get up at 4:30 am to get ready for work are very tough. Thank goodness it's not everyday. I would love to win this book. Thanks for the giveaway! In a follower and subscriber.
ReplyDeletetumcsec(at)gmail(dot) com
Gail, we're soul sisters. When I had a regular job before my son was born, I got up at 6:00. Nearly killed me.
DeleteI love your story of having that story in your head for so many years and not realizing it was a book. I'm glad it finally got out there! :)
ReplyDeletekawaii dot katers {at)- gmail.com
I'm a follower and a subscriber!
Lady Saotome, I don't know why it took so long, but I'm glad it finally got out there too. It was really easy to rewrite once I got a contract for it. I knew the story by heart.
DeleteThe heroine has a stalker in the book. I used to clip pictures out of magazines to represent characters, so when I rewrote the book, I used the picture I'd clipped out of TV Guide for the stalker. I saw the actor in a movie the other night and said, "That's Caitlyn's stalker." My family had no idea what I was talking about.
I totally agree with Shannon. Give me a book to read any day over an e-reader.
ReplyDeleteI am a follower and a subscriber.
Janet E.
von1janet(at)gmail(dot)com
Hey Janet,
DeleteThe only books I have on my tablet are books by favorite authors that don't come in paper. I mainly use my tablet to play Angry Birds. My husband and son laugh at me, but it's a great stress reliever and helps me stop thinking. With life and all the characters in my head, sometimes I just need a mindless distraction. Angry Birds is perfect because it's not so hard that it frustrates me.
Shannon, I enjoyed reading the story behind the story. I hear you about not enjoying cooking! It would sure be nice to have someone else cook instead.:) kimberlyj503atgmaildotcom
ReplyDeleteHey Kimberly, I had it in one of my early bios that my dream is to hire Alice from the Brady Bunch. Still dreaming.
ReplyDeleteHey there Shannon. more Rodeo books. Always ready for another one. This was a good interview. Thanks Casey. I would love to win Shannon's book. I am a follower of yours and subscriber. Please put my name in. Maxie > mac262(at)me(dot)com <
ReplyDeleteHey Maxie, I aim to please. Even after the rodeo books, I'm sticking with cowboys.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance at this! It sounds like a great read!
ReplyDeleteandysavi.mom@gmail.com
Thanks for stopping by, Angela.
ReplyDeleteI remember when I read my first Heartsong book. I was so happy to find these Christian-based romances. I've spent many hours enjoying them. Shannon, I love your stories.
ReplyDeleteI am a subscriber (different email) and a follower.
may_dayzee (at) yahoo (dot) com
KayM, me too. It was such a relief to read a nice, clean romance with a spiritual element. I haven't read anything secular since. Thanks for the compliment.
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ReplyDelete