BJ Hoff's GRACE NOTES

Q & A

Q.    I keep hearing how ebooks are going to replace bound books. Do you think this will really happen? 

A.    I sincerely hope not. I do have a Kindle, but I still read "real books" far more than books on the Kindle. I like the convenience of an ereader. It's handy for carrying to the doctor's office, hairdresser's, and other places when you don't know how long you're going to wait but don't want to lug a lot of reading material with you. (And something in me, especially with the H1N1 all around, rebels at leafing through waiting room magazines.) Ebooks are great when you're traveling. I like having a variety of books and magazines with me if we go away, but I don't want to carry any weight around with me, so the Kindle works out great. I've discovered that I use the Kindle primarily for books I'm fairly sure I won't want to highlight. I find the highlighting feature in an ereader more trouble than it's worth, so I rarely read research material on it. I need a bound book that I can ink my way through for that. It's just faster for me. 

Opinions differ on just what the future of traditional books will be, but I believe enough of us love the feel and tradition--and even the smell--of bound books that they'll always be with us. And I do my share in buying enough of them to guarantee it!

Q.    What's your favorite word processing program?

A.    Well, it was WordPerfect. But several years ago I switched from PC to Mac, and WordPerfect isn't compatible with the Mac, so I now use MS Word. It's not a "favorite"--not by a long shot--but it works for me, and I don't like trying out a lot of different programs, so I've stayed with it.

Q.    What are you reading, right now?

A.    Don't go by my blog list, because it's usually out of date! I'm always reading more than one book at a time. Currently: And the Dead Shall Rise by Steve Oney. It's about the 1913 murder of young Mary Phagan (in Atlanta). Absolutely brilliant writing. Pursuit of Honor by Vince Flynn. Pure escapism, and much-touted by some of our conservative journalists and newscasters. (Yes, there are some.) John Grisham's new short story collection, Ford County. I love short stories, and, not for the first time, Grisham has proven that he's more than a writer of legal thrillers. Just received a copy of friend Angela Hunt's latest, Let Darkness Come. Looking forward to this one, as she's never written anything I don't enjoy. And then there's the research reading. Always with me. Fortunately, I enjoy it. 

Q.    What's your own favorite book that you've ever written?

A.    I get asked that question a lot, and the answer is always the same: it's whatever I'm working on "now." 

Q.    Is there a particular place you'd rather write about more than any other?

A.    Shame on you! If you'd read more of my books you'd know the answer to your own question! Ireland, of course. And Irish-American immigrant communities. And Appalachia, especially Appalachian small towns.

         

    

Q & A

I'm still working my way through some of the questions that arrived in my mailbox while I was offline, finishing up the manuscript for Where Grace Abides.

Here are a few more replies:

Q.    How long does it take you to write a book?

A.    Typically, anywhere from nine months to a year.

Q.    I have part of a novel manuscript written, several chapters. Should I be looking for an agent?

A.    No, that would definitely be premature. Especially in today's highly competitive publishing climate, you first need to finish the entire book, edit it carefully, then edit it again, until it "shines"--make it the best you possibly can. Then, and only then, you might want to query an agent. And even if you have a great book, be prepared to draw on the limits of your patience. Finding an agent you want to work with who wants to work with you can be a time-consuming process. That's not to discourage you, but simply to give you a realistic answer.

Q.     I'm working on my first novel and hoping to attend a writers conference next year, but I'm on a very limited budget. I'll not be able to afford more than one. Which one would you suggest?

A.      I'm the wrong person to ask, because I've never gone to a writers conference. I'd suggest you check Sally Stuart's Christian Writers Market Guide or the Writers Market annual (published by Writers Digest) for a list of conferences. Also, if you know other writers (or editors) who attend these conferences, get their opinions on which events they've found most helpful.

Q.      I don't like the way many novels are now putting discussion questions at the end of a book. I just want to end a story and keep thinking about it, not try to answer questions. They totally break my mood. What's the reason for these questions? 

A.        Reading groups are very popular all throughout the country, and most members really appreciate having discussion questions available for their convenience. But the questions are there strictly for those who want to use them. If you'd rather not give them any attention, it's certainly your choice to ignore them.

 

Q.        Do you use electronic reference books such as dictionaries and encyclopedias or bound books?

A.         Both.

BJ

         

   

      

       

Q & A

I noticed that a lot of my still unanswered questions had to do with "favorites," so I grouped some of them together for this week's entry:

Q.    What is your favorite part of writing fiction? Plot, characterization, or setting? 

A.    Characterization. But it all has to work together.

Q.    Who is your favorite author?

A.     Oh, my--more than one. Many more. I love authors who can make me think about a book at various times throughout the day and look forward to picking it up again. Authors who clearly love the languge and have a masterful command of it, but who never put "style" above story. I have a special fondness for richly textured Southern or Appalachian fiction with a touch of suspense or courtroom drama. 

Q.    What's your favorite thing to do when you're not writing?

A.    Read. Read. Read.

Q.     What is your favorite place, the place you'd rather be than anywhere else?

A.      Home.

Q.     What are your favorite television programs?

A.      "24" and "Friday Night Lights"--and lots of stuff on Animal Planet. I probably watch more news programming than anything else, though.

BJ

        

         

Q & A

Lots of questions stacked up in my email while I was on break from Grace Notes, so here we go with a few:

Q.    I'm wondering when the second book in your Amish series, The Riverhaven Years, will be available. And in the back of the first book, the title for Book 2 is listed as River Song. But lately I keep seeing it as Where Grace Abides. Could you tell me which is right?

A.    The release date for Book Two in the Riverhaven series is October 1. The title for that book is Where Grace Abides. The title, River Song, listed in Book One (Rachel's Secret) was a "working title" that was changed later to Where Grace Abides. 

Q.    I've tried to find you on Facebook but haven't been able to. Can you help me find your account?

A.     I'm not on Facebook.

Q.    What's your favorite season of the year?

A.    Definitely autumn. It's coming soon, and I am so ready! 

Q.    Are you going to write any more books about Maggie and Jonathan from the Mountainsong series?

A.    Nothing planned, but I never say "never." I loved working with those characters and the Kentucky setting, so anything is possible.

Q.     I like reading historical novels that have real people in them. Can you recommend any?

A.       Author, Nancy Moser, comes to mind right away. You'd probably enjoy her Ladies of History series: Mozart's Sister,  Washington's Lady, How Do I Love Thee?      

Q & A

Q. What's your favorite magazine--the one you won't miss reading or read cover-t0-cover?

A. I don't read any magazine cover-to-cover, but I do have more than one I don't like to miss, including National Review, Publishers Weekly, Writers Digest, Irish America, Christianity Today, and MacWorld.

Q. What are some research books you'd recommend for a new writer just starting to build a research library--not the usual dictionary and thesaurus and atlas, but lesser known books that you've found useful?

A. That could involve a very long list! I think I'm hearing you say that you want ideas for "unusual" resources or ones that don't automatically come to mind when someone asks for a list like this. Here are a few--and this does include a few dictionaries, though not "typical" ones: the Macmillan Visual Dictionary; The Facts on File Visual Dictionary (Corbeil); New Dictionary of American Slang (Chapman); Harper Dictionary of Foreign Terms (Ehrlich); Bernstein's Reverse Dictionary (Bernstein/Grambs); English through the Ages (Brohaugh); What Jane Austen Ate and What Charles Dickens Knew (Pool); Archaeological Study Bible; A History of Private Life (series--various authors); The Wild Shores: America's Beginnings (National Geographic Society); What People Wore (Gorsline); Victorian Fashions & Costumes from Harper's Bazar: 1867-1898 (Blum); A Field Guide to American Houses (McAlester); the Foxfire Books); the Audobon Society Field Guides (for birds, trees, animals, etc.); The Encyclopedia of American Facts and Dates (Gorton/Carruth).

Obviously, there are hundreds more: books on usage, manuals of style, writers' handbooks, period and regional histories, resources for characterization, plotting, structure, self-editing, etc., not to mention that dictionary, thesaurus, and atlas you asked me not to list. I think it's probably safe to say that you can easily spend a lifetime building the library you want and need. And it's never too early to start! 

Q. What's the best way to handle reviews?

A. Well ... that depends on what you mean by "handle." The best advice I could give would be to not read them at all. If you must read them, don't believe them. Bad or good. Trust your editor, trust your agent, and if you have a couple of good friends and/or readers you believe to be totally ruthless about your writing, you might even trust them. But don't trust reviews. The key word to remember about reviews is "subjective." It applies to all reviews, and if you believe what you read you can think either too highly of your work or too poorly. Both can affect the integrity of your work and play havoc with your confidence and self-esteem.

Did I mention the word "subjective?"

Q. What's the first book you remember reading, ever?

A. I haven't the vaguest idea, though I rather wish I did. Remembering my mother, I have a hunch it was probably a children's Bible story.

Q. Do you have a "hero?"

A. Two of 'em: my husband and my grandfather "Paddy." 

Q & A

Q. What are you working on now?

A. Book Two of The Riverhaven Years, Where Grace Abides, and research for Book Three of the same series.

Q. Is your new book, the American Anthem, the same as the three books released a few years ago in the American anthem series--Prelude, Cadence, and Jubilee?

A. Yes. The new American Anthem is a re-release: a three-in-one edition of those same three titles, all in one book, newly packaged with new covers, etc. by my current publisher, Harvest House. 

Q. What's the biggest challenge you deal with as a writer?

A. Time. There's never enough.

Q. Are you a democrat or a republican?

A. Yes.

Q. Do you have to have a certain number of words in your books? If so, how many?

A. Actually, I'm fortunate to work with a publisher who doesn't confine me to a strict number of words, but more to parameters. They give me guidelines, and I try to stay within those guidelines, but if I vary one way or the other--so long as it's not a major difference--it still works out all right.

BJ

 

Q & A

Q. I've noticed you use a lot of quotes and often talk about A. W. Tozer. Who is he?

A. It would be impossible to give you a fair introduction to this pastor, theologian, and writer in the space a blog post provides. (Which gives me an idea for another blog post.) Briefly, though, A.W. Tozer was one of our great saints of the faith whose sermons and writings have had an enormous impact for the Kingdom. He was often referred to as a prophet in his own time. He was born in Pennysylvania in 1897 and died in 1963, leaving behind a wealth of sermons, editorials, and books. Though relatively unknown throughout much of his ministry, the immeasurable influence of his life and his writings continues to increase through the years. 

You might be interested in his highly readable biography, A Passion for God, by Lyle Dorsett. Also, The Best of A.W. Tozer, Books One and Two, represent an excellent introduction to his writings on various subjects. Among his classic works, my favorites include The Knowledge of the Holy, The Pursuit of God, and Whatever Happened to Worship.

Q. I see comments from other authors on their blogs about what's on their iPods. Do you have an iPod and if you do, what's on it?

A. Yes, I have an iPod, and my husband has things set up so it will play through our sound system throughout the house and in my car. As for what's on it--approximately 3,000 separate selections and lots and lots of albums. (I assume you don't want a list, but here's a hint: mostly classical, Celtic, folk, "cool, relaxed" jazz, and international music.)  

Q. Could you please tell me where I can find a copy of two gift books you wrote called Thorns and Thrones and Faces in the Crowd?

A. I'm sorry, but those have been out of print for quite some time now. They're not available anywhere that I know of.

Q. Do you write in the morning or afternoon?  

A. Yes.

Q. Do you come from a family of writers? Were any of them published?

A. No, other than a great-great-rebel-someone who was run out of Ireland for publishing illegal pamphlets in support of Home Rule. Lots of great storytellers in the family tree branches, but not of the literary kind.

BJ

Q & A

Left over from before the holidays, it's time I replied to these:

Q. What's on your Christmas list?

A. This is after the fact, but to answer, I was dreaming of the newly developed and recently released Logos Bible Software for Mac, and the DVD set of the John Adams television special. (Watched it when it was first shown and knew then I'd want to watch it again. It was just an incredibly good film with excellent acting.) I'm happy to report that Santa was nice enough to deliver. He also managed to fit some new books in my stocking.

Q. Do you prefer cats or dogs?

A. I love them both equally, and to prove the point we are owned by one of each.

Q. Where's your favorite place to go for a "getaway?"

A. The mountains, sans tv and radio. (Although I admit to taking along my MacBook and my iPhone.) 

Q. Do you make New Year's resolutions? What are some that you're making for 2009?

A. Easy answer: Never. None.

Q. What's the best book you've read this year?

A. (2008) The best book I read was probably John Adams, by David McCullough. But I'd have to say that my favorite book of the year was Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World by Vicki Myron and Bret Witter. 

Q & A

Q. How many books did you write before you sold your first? 

A. Actually, I sold the first book I wrote. But I've never published it. Only a few weeks after I signed my first contract, I learned of some major problems taking place in the publishing house. They were the kind of problems I was naive enough (then) to believe never occurred in Christian publishing, and the whole mess scared me off. After a week of ulcer-inducing anxiety and almost constant prayer--and after two friends in the industry advised me to pull the book from that particular publisher--I repaid the advance, voided the contract, and filed the book away with a very unpleasant taste in my mouth.

Later, after I'd published two other books (with a different publisher, as you might have guessed) I took that first manuscript from my file cabinet, read it--and decided not to publish it at all. I'd learned a few things by then (hopefully, you learn at least something with every book you write), and I realized that, despite the first publisher's interest, it wasn't worthy of publication. So I shredded it.

Have I ever regretted the decision not to publish it? No, not for a moment.

Q. Of all the things you've done to further your writing career and develop your craft, what do you believe has been the most important and most helpful? 

A. Reading. Reading excellent books by excellent authors. I'm a life-long reader, and although I've employed any number of helps and resources along the way, hands-down, the most important of them all can be attributed to the books I've read. 

Q. What's your favorite version of the Bible?

A. I tend to use the ESV most often. I also like the NLT a lot for readability, though not necessarily study. And I also use the NKJV regularly.

Q. You admitted in an interview I read that you're a "gadget person." What's your favorite gadget?

A. My iPhone. Definitely. I'd be lost without it. I mean, I'd literally be lost without it. My contacts, address and phone book, maps, to-do and other lists, a few recipes, my music, calendar, weather forecasts--everything that keeps me functioning inhabits this wonderful gadget. You understand that I don't include the Mac computers in the same category as "gadgets." Gadgets are just that: the Mac is ... a work of art.

Well--almost.

Q. Who are some of your favorite characters in the books you've read?

A. Oh, way too many to name! A few include: Atticus Finch (To Kill a Mockingbird), Jane Eyre (Jane Eyre), Francie Nolan (A Tree Grows in Brooklyn), Jonathan Ferrier (Testimony of Two Men), Abraham Lincoln (William Safire's Freedom), Conor Larkin (Trinity), Jean Valjean (Les Miserables), Huw Morgan (How Green Was My Valley)--and, yes, I'll admit it: Rhett Butler from Gone With the Wind). And many, many more!

BJ

Q & A

Q. What do you want readers to come away with after reading one of your novels? 

A. I try not to ascribe any kind of "takeaway value" to any of my novels. If readers remember anything about my stories, I hope it's the story itself--well, more to the point, the characters who tell that story. If there's a particular element of the story that makes it memorable, I believe that varies with individual readers. 

I've collected a number of comments from readers over the years about why they liked this or that about a story, and their remarks have nothing to do with anything I hoped to "plant" or "symbolize." Because I really don't write to accomplish anything. I write to tell a story. Period.

Most of the time, the elements that make up a story evoke emotions or emotional "keepsakes" I could never have planned. For example, many readers have told me they "loved the love story" between one character and another, but others say they were especially taken with the "story of God's love." Others tell me they'll "always remember" the courage of a certain character, while others have been caught up by the strength God gave that same character. 

It's such a subjective and individual thing, this aspect of fiction we sometimes call "takeaway value." I'm convinced that if I actually tried to implant it, it would fall flat to the point of being one of the least memorable parts of the story.

Q. (Along the same line, the same reader asked what I'm most likely to take away from a favorite book.)

A. I can't give a specific answer to this, because it differs from story to story, but I have noticed that what more often resonates with me isn't necessarily what other readers "are talking about" in regard to a particular book. For example, one of my favorite Angela Hunt novels is The Debt. Angie's novels often have twists and turns and surprises that get readers talking (you can always "expect the unexpected" with her novels), but there's a quiet, yet unforgettable point in this one that I've always remembered--and that's when Emma Rose reminds herself that Jesus  meets people "one person at a time." A whisper of a thought--and yet in our crowded, Christian, mega-church, program-oriented culture, it rings through with the clarity of a bell.

And the reason I've read one of my favorite novels, To Kill a Mockingbird, and seen the movie countless times has more to do with the faithfulness and honesty and quiet protectiveness of Atticus Finch in relation to his family than the "mystery" and the trial that so consumes the story.

Q. Where is your favorite place to write?

A. In my home office. I don't feel that I write well anywhere else, although sometimes I have to. I'd much rather be grounded with all my "stuff." 

Q. I know you always do a lot of research for your books. Since you're currently writing a series set in Amish country, what have you discovered about the Amish that interests you most?

A. This isn't a recent "discovery," but I've learned even more about it since I began to develop The Riverhaven Years--and that's the importance of forgiveness to the Amish. It's fundamental to their faith and their way of life, and I've come to a better understanding as to why--and how consistently they practice it. The first book of the Riverhaven series (Rachel's Secret) deals with forgiveness--and the fact that it doesn't always come easy, even to the Amish.

Q. What is your favorite dictionary? And encyclopedia?

A. Random House Webster's Unabridged (Second edition) is the dictionary I use most, although I also use several others. The Britannica is the encyclopedia I use most often. 

Q. What's your greatest "inspiration" for your writing?  

A. The Holy Spirit. And music. 

BJ