Monday, August 16, 2010

Interview With Lauraine Snelling.

I have an author interview today with Lauraine Snelling. She is well known for her series for girls along with the Red River Series. This to me was a very interesting interview. I love learning more about these authors and you can always learn something new:)


Thank you for being with us today, Lauraine!
How long have you known you wanted to be an author?
I decided when I was a senior in high school that someday I wanted to write horse books for girls. To date I’ve written 21 for girls, including the Golden Filly series and the High Hurdles series. and four for adults that girls are enjoying also. Breaking Free is the most current. Tragedy on the Toutle, about a girl, a horse and Mount Saint Helens, was my first book ever and it has been re-released as What About Cimmaron?

Can you tell me a little bit about your newest book?
My latest novel is titled No Distance too Far and is book two in the Home to Blessing series, starring Astrid Bjorklund. I have loved this young woman ever since she was born so writing about her is a joy. She was to be one of the Daughters of Blessing series, but she needed a trilogy of her own. I am working on the final in that trilogy, titled A Heart for Home with a March 2011 release date.

When a reader gets done with your book, what do you want them to come away with?
I always want my readers to have a renewed joy in reading, that they were taken away for a time to a different place, out of their daily life and finish the book refreshed. And of course, be excited about the next one. Mostly though, I hope they draw closer to our heavenly Father in the reading and find a deeper knowledge of how much He loves them.

Is there a place you have always wanted to visit? A vacation spot, historical monument, overseas, etc?
Because I am Norwegian and I write about Norwegians, I have always wanted to go to Norway. My people came from there, so I have family there and now friends, many of whom I met at Hostfest, a Scandinavian festival every October in Minot, ND. Ingeborg learned cheese making up at the Seder, the high mountain meadows where they pasture the cows in the summer. I want to see that happen. I’ll be writing a pre-quell to An Untamed Land, Ingeborg’s story so I need to be there to make my story authentic. Good a reason as any at the moment. Joining need and want is always a good incentive.

If you could have dinner with 2 people, who would they be?
This one has taken some pondering. Isn’t that a neat word? Two authors came to mind. Madelyn L’Engle and Louisa May Alcott. I wanted to hear Madelyn teach, she is such an incredible writer, teacher, theologian, philosopher, an amazing woman with a brilliant mind and yet so down to earth. I always wanted to be Jo in Little Women and would love chatting with Louisa.

What one event would you love to be at? Historical or future?
Real pondering on this one. The one thing that comes to mind, is that I’d like to still be living when Christ returns. I want to see the incredible event unfold, see how God works all the prophecies out. I always hate to miss out on anything and if I’ve already gone to sleep, as the Bible puts it, I might miss out on some of the details.

Do you have a favorite hobby?
I have several favorite hobbies, needlework of all kinds and sewing being one, flower gardening another, but my mostest favoritest is watercolor painting. I totally lose myself in the painting, similar to how I can in writing when the story is really flowing. I’ve painted landscapes and flowers and want to do birds and animals also. There is a never ending wealth of things to paint. And even repaint. I enjoy painting the same subject more than once. I love learning new things and there is always more to learn both in painting and writing.

Is there something about you most people wouldn't know?
Well, I’ve told tons of people that I hate house cleaning so that can’t be it. Maybe a lot of people don’t know that pigs are one of my favorite animals. Dogs and horses are first but pigs are delightfully smart creatures who like to solve puzzles, like taking fences apart. We’ve had many pigs through the years, giving me lots of good memories and some heart breaking ones too. One day I’m going to write about my pigs.

Do you have any suggestions for the aspiring writer?
Start writing. If you wait until the time is right, you will never write. Learn your craft as you go and keep on keeping on. This is not any easy undertaking if you are writing for publication. There are no guarantees that no matter how hard you work, you’ll make it. But if God is calling you to be a writer, your job will be to keep on until he tells you to quit.

Any last thoughts for your readers?
Teach your children to enjoy reading, your spouse too, read together as a family, just the two of you in the car. Listen to books on tapes and cds, read every day and read all kinds of books, not just your favorites. You can learn so much from books, no matter what format they are in. Life long learning is the only way to go.

And how can they connect with you?
I read all correspondence be it letters, email, Face Book, Twitter. My website is laurainesnelling.com and a second at blessingnd.com. Twitter is laurainesnellin, had to drop the g because my name was too long, and Face Book is my name. You can send letters to my publishers and they will forward them. Everyone says it is wise not to give my address out, but one can find all kinds of information online. All except me, I have an ongoing struggle with finding things online.

1 comment:

Karen Lange said...

Great interview! Thanks to both of you for sharing with us. I've read a few of Lauraine's books and enjoyed them.
Blessings,
Karen

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