Welcome Christian fiction writer Hope Toler Dougherty to my Thursday blog.

 

Today I’m happy to welcome Christian fiction writer Hope Toler Dougherty to my blog! Hope, I’m curious to know a little of your personal background. What would you feel comfortable sharing?

I’m so happy to be here! I’m a North Carolinian married to a Pittsburgher. That’s why I cheer for the Pittsburgh Steelers! In 2004, we moved our two daughters and twin sons from Pittsburgh to NC and built a house on land passed down from my great-grandfather. I come from a long line of farmers and readers.

Eons ago, I used to teach English on the college level. I’m a passionate supporter/volunteer for our public library.

When I read your book, Irish Encounter, I wondered if you had spent time in Ireland or just did a very good job of researching. Why did you set this book in Ireland, and how did you research?

My family and I have done three home exchanges to Ireland—one to Galway, one to Bandon in County Cork, and one in Blessington, County Wicklow (near Dublin). Those extended vacations gave me plenty of time to learn about the country and were a tremendous experience for all of us. My favorite city is Galway even over Paris and Rome because it’s an international city but small enough that I felt comfortable navigating it alone. 

I didn’t realize those trips were research trips, however. Our last exchange happened in 2007, and I began Irish Encounter in 2009. I had lots of travel books, my journal, and pictures to help me remember details, and I Googled other specifics I needed.

What is your biggest challenge as a writer? Have you discovered a solution that other writers might try?

Right now I’m having trouble getting started because I have so many questions about the next story. I sometimes have to force myself into my chair to write yucky stuff so that my screen won’t be blank all day. I probably have more problems with rough drafts. Writing is kind of scary for me. 

I’m such a nerd. I love searching for the best word, the best way to put together a sentence. It’s like a puzzle or a challenge for me.

I’m a seat-of-the-pants writer. If I get stuck and don’t know what happens in the next scene, I usually leave the laptop and ride my bike or play the piano or bake something. Notice I didn’t say clean. Getting away from the writing position leaves my mind free to work on the story with no pressure. That and praying, of course!

I am assuming you’re an avid reader, as most writers are. What books did you enjoy while growing up?

I loved The Boxcar Children series by Gertrude Chandler Warner as a child. I loved reading the Little House on the Prairie series by Laura Engalls Wilder, the Betsy-Tacy and Tib series by Maud Hart Lovelace, and the Anne of Green Gables series by Lucy Maud Montgomery to my children.

When did you first begin writing?

I wrote and published sporadically in local magazines and newspapers as I reared my children, not enough to put food on the table but enough to update my clippings portfolio. In May of 2009, our oldest daughter was weeks away from high school graduation. I knew I needed to consider employment options since my chronic volunteer/stay-at-home-mom gig would end in the next few years as my three other children finished high school.

One afternoon I wrote a title on a yellow legal pad of what I hoped would be an article for Guideposts Magazine. I immediately began day dreaming of Ireland, not the topic of the title on the page. That day dream became one of the early scenes in Irish Encounter, but I didn’t know it at the time. I thought I was just having fun. I called it a “writing project” until well into 50,000 words. My children called it “Mom’s book” before I did.

When a writer finally finds a publisher, she may be confused or surprised by the actual process. What, if anything, was a surprise to you?

By the time I was published, I had been attending writing conferences and studying the business for several years. I knew the process took time, a lot of time. I didn’t know how hard it’d be to market the books or how hard it’d be to have readers write Amazon reviews or how important those reviews are.

What advice would you give to writers who have not yet found a publisher?

Keep going—attending writing conferences, reading craft books, reading well-written novels. Most importantly, keep writing. Writing is one of the important ways to learn.

Why do you write Christian fiction? Any plans for mainstream projects?

I write Christian fiction because those are the stories God gives me. Seriously. I would never have chosen to write Christian Romance because as a former college English instructor I’ve seen and heard how some people disparage both Christian writing and the romance genre. 

Steve Laube, of the Steve Laube Literary Agency, told me to own it when I ended up sitting beside him at the American Christian Fiction Writers Conference last September. He related this gem: Literary authors look down their noses at mainstream authors who look down their noses at romance authors who look down their noses on their way into the bank.

Now, I haven’t experienced “laughing all the way to the bank” with my royalty checks, but if Steve Laube says, “own it,” I think that’s pretty good.

I don’t have any plans to write for mainstream because this is the way God has gently led me to share about Him. I never was a very vocal Christian. If people asked me questions, I’d gladly share, but I never initiated conversations about God. Shame on me!

God has given me a way of doing what Christians are called to do (sharing about Him) in a non-threatening way with gifts and talents He gave me. Incredible!

Do you have a favorite Scripture or devotional author?

Two come to mind: “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 73:26 and “[God] is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us” Ephesians 3:20.

How much of a role do your personal interests play in your writing?

Family is always important in my stories. Libraries are important, and they show up either in a quick comment or as a subplot. At least one character always crochets, and I always mention food, food, food! I love to cook!

How do you get ideas for projects?

Each story has begun differently. Irish Encounter began a day dream. Mars…With Venus Rising was my attempt at writing a story set in the US since we couldn’t find a publisher at first interested in a story partially set in Ireland. 

Rescued Hearts really hit me in the head one afternoon as I rode my bicycle by an abandoned house. I thought, “What if a bike rider saw a tangled kitten in front of an abandoned house? What if she stopped to free it? What if a criminal pulled her inside?” I was surprised by those questions because I’d never written suspense before. When the characters began talking, I knew I had to write the story.

Tell us about one of your book Rescued Hearts. What’s it about?

Here’s part of the back cover copy for Rescued Hearts:

Children’s clothing designer Mary Wade Kimball’s soft spot for animals leads to a hostage situation when she spots a briar-entangled kitten in front of an abandoned house. Beaten, bound, and gagged by the two thugs inside, Mary Wade loses hope for escape when a third villain enters the house.

Discovering the kidnapped, innocent woman ratchets the complications for undercover agent Brett Davis. Weighing the difference of ruining his three months’ investigation against the woman’s safety, Brett forsakes his mission and helps her escape, the bent-on-revenge brutes following behind.

Some readers may be surprised by the intensity of the beginning of the story. Don’t worry. This novel is Christian Romantic Suspense!

I enjoyed writing this one because I had to interview our sheriff. He connected me with two undercover agents who helped me get the details right. They were very generous and kind through the whole process with someone who didn’t know anything except what TV shows depict!

Where can readers obtain your books?

My books are on Amazon.com. If you’re local and see me driving in town, I always have books in the back of my car!

Do you have a current project?

I’m making notes on a project. I’m having trouble with fleshing out the characters, the plot, the conflict…pretty much everything! 

What activities do you enjoy in your free time?

BEING WITH MY FAMILY.  My children are all over the world right now—NYC, North Carolina, Ranger School in Florida, and Iraq—so family time gets more difficult to come by.

I love to read, cook, crochet, and travel.

Please share links to your website, social media page, etc. In the space below.

http://hopetolerdougherty.com/

https://www.facebook.com/AUTHORHOPETOLERDOUGHERTY/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13941031.Hope_Dougherty

https://www.pinterest.com/hopetdougherty/

https://www.instagram.com/hopetolerdougherty/

Thank you, Hope, for answering my questions. Best wishes in your writing endeavors!

Thanks for having me, Pam!