Retired educator and author Rebecca Waters talks about life, faith, and writing.

Welcome my guest, Rebecca Waters, to my blog today! Rebecca, tell us a little about yourself.

Thank you, Pam. I think I have always been a writer. (My first story was published in the school newspaper when I was in second grade.) But my journey to make this my profession was a long one. I was a wife, mother, and teacher. Then I was a mother-in-law, grandmother, and professor.   I came to be a published author when I retired from the university. I’ve lived in the South and in the North. I’ve lived abroad. Each experience brings with it growth as both a believer and a writer.

When did your writing journey begin? 

Apart from the aforementioned second grade experience, I became serious about writing when my husband and I decided to retire. He said he was going to fish and golf every day. I like to fish and I like to golf. But every day? No. I prayed about it, woke up one morning, and told Tom I was going to be a published author. I developed a business plan for my writing during the college spring break. And I have never looked back.

What authors, if any, serve as models for the books you write or would like to write?

I read everything from John Grisham to Cynthia Ruchti. And I love them all. 

How important are writers’ groups to you? What about attending conferences?

I am a part of two writers’ groups. One is  a face-to-face group and the other is an online group. The smaller face-to-face group is made up of Christians. This is where I can get help at any time. Struggling with a situation, name, scene? They are there to read and give me counsel. They are good at editing and critiquing. I depend on them to grow as a writer and put my best work out there. The other group is online and has members from all over the world. They offer a different perspective and they will challenge me in ways I don’t always consider. For example, I had written a scene where a man ran out of the church at the first strains of the doxology. A critique partner from that group didn’t know what a doxology was. I try to remember that when I write. I don’t want to use language people can’t understand if they are not part of the church community.

As for conferences…They are a necessary tool for any serious writer. I did the research when I wrote my business plan. I included time at a conference as part of my plan. I learned stuff at that first conference I still use today. And I pitched my first novel, Breathing on Her Own, at that conference. The conference was the end of May, and I received a contract for the book in August. Conferences are a must.

Every author has his or her unique way of handling the writing process. John Grisham wrote his first book on a legal pad while waiting for his turn in court, and Danielle Steele always set a 20-pages-per-day requirement. What works for you?

Once I have the concept for the story, I create eight to ten scene cards. I plot those cards using an old calendar (Don’t you hate it when someone got so lost in their story they have a character picking apples on their farm in what could only be winter?) Once I have that down, I write from scene to scene. It doesn’t take long before the story takes on a life of its own.

What book would you like to talk about today?

My newest novel, Libby’s Cuppa Joe is scheduled to release (drumroll) tomorrow! March 8. I am really excited about this book. It takes place in Door County, Wisconsin. The main character, Sonja Parker, is sweet and identifiable but terribly flawed. She has lived under the umbrella of her parents’ faith, not her own. She makes blunders—some small and one big one until she finally comes to understand God’s love for her in a very personal way. One of my favorite parts is when she compares a quilt her grandmother made her to the way God takes the fragments of our lives to piece together something useful and good and yes, even beautiful.

Here is the buy link if you’re interested:

Christian fiction is a broader term than people realize. Some writers incorporate Scripture, salvation themes, and ideas aligned to church doctrine. Others write clean stories with a Christian world view. How would you describe your books of this genre?

Well, I’m something of a mix. My work is coming from a Christian world view, indeed. But it is sprinkled with scripture here and there.

People sometimes ask me how I get ideas for my books. I always tell them I have more ideas than time and ability to write them all. What triggers ideas for you?

I’m with you on that one, Pam. I keep a running list of ideas. Most of my work is sparked by conversations or travel. All of it seems to start with “What if?” What if that were me? What if that happened to my daughter? That sort of notion.

Marketing is essential for a writer’s success. How do you market your books?

The key to marketing is, of course, visibility. People have to know it exists before they can even think about buying it. Social media is powerful I tweet nnd use Facebook and Instagram to let people know about my books. But I really love connecting with readers personally. I do a lot of talks for women’s groups and such. (Hey, feed me and let me talk about God and my own journey and I’ll show up!)

What other books of yours have been published? Do you have a work in progress right now?

Breathing on Her Own was my first novel. I also have a novella in an anthology called From the Lake to the River, Several contributions to Chicken Soup for the Soul, and three ebooks for newbies to writing: Designing a Business Plan For Your Writing, Marketing You and Your Writing 101, and Writing with E’s.

Just for fun, tell us your favorite:

Color: Today? Light blue

Meal: Anything Italian

Movie: Legally Blond (Don’t ask…I have no idea why I like it but I do.)

Book: The Firm by John Grisham

Vacation spot: Anywhere with a beach

Hobby: I like a number of crafts and built each of my granddaughters a dollhouse for Christmas this past year.

How can we keep connected with you:

Drop by my website and read my blog at http://www.WatersWords.com

I have a FB page. You can find it at RebeccaWatersAuthor

And my Twitter handle is @WatersAuthor

Is there anything you’d like to add?

My first book was published in March of 2014. Seven months later my husband died in a bicycle accident. I couldn’t write. I didn’t have the energy to even seek publication of books I had completed. I thought I was letting God down. Now I realize he gave me those “works in the mill” because he can see around corners. He knew it was Tom’s time. He knew I would be living in a fog for a while and unable to write anything. So He gave me those books before I lost Tom. My point is this: God has your back. Trust Him. He’ll never let you down.

Thank you, Rebecca, for sharing your writing journey, your personal experiences, and your faith. Best wishes as your writing journey continues!