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Happy Anniversary Day #16

Have you ever had an entire day where you go, "Dude, where'd that entire day go?" That was yesterday for me, so I apologize for the total lack of new blog post. But ta-da!!  Here I am now!!

Thanks to all those who entered to win Janette Rallison's book - the winner is ... Lori!!

Today's prize is donated by Marie Higgins, and is a PDF copy of her historical fiction novel Take My Heart. 

Moving on down the line of my published books and how they came to be ...

I've been writing nonfiction articles for various Internet sites over the last seven years or so, and I've always wanted to write some nonfiction books. I did publish Bless Your Heart, my cookbook, but I had been wanting to do more. One day the idea came to me that I should write a book for women about the inherent strengths that lie within them and the tremendous power they have to do good. I pitched the idea to my publisher, they loved it, I wrote it during NaNoWriMo (but I didn't win, because the book wasn't 50k words long) and it was released in March of this year. Interestingly, this book's release date and my birthday are the same. ISBN: 978-1599928463
LDS Nonfiction

You can purchase Women of Strength at Amazon.com.
Now, let's answer a few more Questions for Tristi.

Andrea asked: What's your favorite meal to cook and your favorite meal to eat?

I answered: Well now, that's a tough question. I enjoy cooking, but lately it's become more of a necessary evil. My favorite thing to cook used to be chocolate chip cookies, but that's not really a meal, and I don't make them anymore.  Thinking ... thinking ... I like to cook chili, and beef stew, and last night I invented a chicken cacciatore that turned out well. Inventing food is the most fun, I'd say.

Now, as far as favorite meal to eat - I enjoy my vegetable lasagna quite a bit. And my spaghetti squash spaghetti.

Andrea also asked: When did you know you wanted to be an author? Apart from wanting to write - when did you know you wanted to make it your profession? Same with editing.

I answered:  I have wanted to be a published author for as long as I can remember, literally. It must have happened around five years old or so. I have always dreamed of having my name on books, and that was a dream that didn't fade away as I got older (my dream of being a ballerina did, however).

The desire to become an editor didn't hit until about ten years ago. I started critiquing for other authors, realized I loved it, started studying and asking questions, and then started taking on paying clients. I spent some time working as the senior editor for a small publishing company, and then went freelance. I've had my own freelance editing company for just over two years now. I say "company" with a bit of a smile - it's just me. It's a company, but it's a company of one person.

Shantal asked: Have you ever had to choose between writing for an audience vs. writing for yourself?  (and hope you have an audience)

I answered: Yes, indeed. I think that's a dilemma every author faces. We know what sells, we know what we want to write, and they aren't always one and the same.

I have always been of the opinion that you should write what makes you happy to write. Creativity is a joyful process, and if you aren't taking joy in what you do, the creativity will dry up and it won't be any good anymore. You also need to feel good about yourself, and many times, authors who only write what their audiences want feel less satisfied with the outcome.

Now, don't misunderstand - I know a lot of authors who have found a great balance between writing what sells and writing what makes them happy. I'm not saying that it has to be a choice one way or the other. But for many authors, it is a choice, and that's what I'm addressing.

Whatever you write, if you're true to yourself and to your own creative juices, you will find an audience. It might take a little longer to ferret them out, but you'll find them, and they'll be faithful to you because they get where you're coming from.

Anji asked: Do you use an agent?

I answered: No, I don't. I write primarily for the LDS market, which doesn't require agents. If I were to go national, I would need to get one because the national publishing houses prefer working with agents, but for now, I'm good.

All righty!! Leave your comments on this post to be entered to win Marie Higgins' book, and stop by tomorrow to enter again. Twice the chances, twice the fun ... no, this is not a gum commercial ...
Posted by Tristi Pinkston at 11:46 AM Tamera Westhoff said...

This sounds like a great book!
 Leigh Seeley said...

I would love to have this book! It sounds very intriguing... :)
 
I LOVE inventing meals! My hubby is better at it than I am... But I've gotten to the point where nearly anything will taste almost yummy. :-) There was this one time where I made something that neither of us would even taste. It was yellowy-green in color... I can't remember what I even put in it to make it that way, but yeah. Totally disgusting. :-)

I've been lucky enough to write what my readers want and to love doing it. I haven't written as much as you, so am not sure what I'll do when I get to the point where I've got an idea I'm in love with but no one to write it for.
 Shantal said...

It's the biggest problem I'm having right now. I know the themes that are close to my heart aren't for the YA market and I think most of my stuff is too edgy for the Deseret Book crowd, so who will read? Thanks for answering my question. Perfect answer:)
