Blog Tour: What is My Writing Process? (And a giveaway!)

Many thanks  to the lovely and talented Rebecca Kanner for including me on this relay blog tour. You can read about her writing process here or take a look at my review of her debut novel, The Sinners and the Sea, here.

For this Blog tour, all I have to do is answer these four questions, then pass the baton on to three more writers. When I’ve done that, I’ll let you know how to win a signed copy of The Thief!  Here goes:

1) What am I working on?

That’s a tougher question than it looks. I’m in the midst of marketing the first two books in The Living Water series, The Well and The Thief, which includes writing blog posts, Facebook and Twitter, interviews, and public speaking appearances. Last week, I turned in the manuscript for the third book in the series, The Tomb. I’m waiting on pins and needles to hear what my editor thinks of it, then I’ll be editing, writing back cover copy and acknowledgements, and editing some more. While I wait, I’m considering what to write next. I have no shortage of ideas, it’s choosing from them that’s the trick.

2) How does my work differ from others of its genre?

My biblical fiction is fast-paced and full of action while still being historically and biblically authentic. We all know what happens in the Bible, so I like to put in some twists and turns along the way that my readers don’t see coming. And after a page-turning stay-up-late read, I hope that my readers are not only satisfied but can go back to the scriptural source with new eyes and fresh understanding.

3) Why do I write what I do?

I love to imagine what it was like to meet Jesus face to face—whether just for a few moments, like the man born blind in The Thief, or to be an intimate friend like Lazarus in The Tomb. I want to answer the questions:

• How did it feel to meet Jesus?
• How did meeting the Incarnation change that person’s life and the lives of their family and friends?
• Did meeting Jesus lead to a happily-ever-after? Or to THE happily-ever-after?

4) How does my writing process work?

1. Read and research for a month or two
2. write out scenes on post-it notes and arrange on a board (a Save the Cat method)
3. write a fast and terrible rough draft
4. do more research
5. re-arrange scenes
6. edit
7. repeat steps 4 through 6 for as long as my editor will allow

Now, on to some of my favorite writers who are next up for the tour. Make sure to check into their blogs next Monday, May 5th. You could visit them now and sign up for their blog updates so you don’t miss out.

Regina Jennings, a great friend and critique partner, can be found at www.reginajennings.com. Regina is a graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University with a degree in English and a history minor. She has worked at The Mustang News and First Baptist Church of Mustang, along with time at the Oklahoma National Stockyards and various livestock shows. She now lives outside Oklahoma City with her husband and four children.

I’ve known LeAnne Hardy since the very beginning of my writing days. She’s given me tons of great advice and is an invaluable critique partner. LeAnne has lived in six countries on four continents. Her Glastonbury Grail series is set in Britain in the time of King Henry VIII. Her YA books reflect various countries where she has lived. Find out more at www.leannehardy.net

Make sure to go to Peggy Wirgau’s brand new website at peggywirgau.com/blog. It’s beautiful! Peggy writes stories, articles, and novels for middle grade readers and young adults. Her work has been published in Appleseeds, Learning Through History, Insight, and other periodicals. She has written a yet-to-be-published contemporary novel for young adults, and a historical for middle grades. She is an active member of ACFW and enjoys attending the national conferences. The mother of two adult children, she writes and edits material for a nonprofit organization and an investment banking firm. She and her husband live in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Peggy is also a Registered Nurse.

Thanks for participating in the Writing Process Blog Tour, ladies!

To win a copy of The Thief, leave a comment below about what YOU write. If you’re not a writer, tell me your favorite kind of book to read. I’ll pick a winner on Monday, May 5th.

(Sorry, only US winners. International postage is ridiculous.)

Click to Tweet: What is my #writing process and a #BookGiveAway. http://www.stephanielandsem.com/?p=1332

Click to Tweet: #Writing process blog tour with @ReginaJennings @PeggyWirgau and LeAnne Hardy. #BookGiveAway http://www.stephanielandsem.com/?p=1332