AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Hannah Abbott

Tell me about yourself. What got you started in writing?

I've always wanted to be three things: a wife, a mom, and a writer, so I guess you could say I'm living the dream! I've been married to my husband, Harrison, for seven years and I'm a stay-at-home mom to three kids, ages 4, 2, and 1. But I've always wanted to be a writer. When I was about 10 I went to a friend's house one day and she had written a story for a kids' writing contest. Something about seeing that story written on paper just resonated with me and all I wanted to do was write my own story. That hasn't changed since. I have always read a lot of books and even when I'm not writing, I'm probably thinking about writing. 

How do you schedule your writing time? When do you write?

As a busy mom, finding time to write isn't easy! I sneak it in during nap times and late at night when my kids are asleep. But I also try to plan one night a week when my husband stays with the kids and I go to a coffee shop or somewhere quiet and spend time focused on writing. 

How and where do you write? Do you prefer a lap top or some other method of getting your words down? 

I really enjoy writing at a coffee shop where I don't have the distractions of home. I play music in my headphones and that keeps me focused. When I start out a story I like to outline with pen and paper. Sometimes my mind works faster when I'm writing by hand than if I'm typing. But once I'm working on the actual book, I work on a laptop. It's nothing fancy, just a Word document open on the computer and I keep my written outline close. 

What's your favorite part about writing? Your least favorite part about writing?

My favorite part is seeing the characters come to life. I also love it when my characters do something I didn't expect them to do. That might seem funny since I'm writing and creating them, but sometimes I'll type something out and think "Oh, well I didn't know that was going to happen," and that's pretty fun. My least favorite part is major edits, like seeing that a plot just isn't going in the right direction anymore and having to hit the delete button on a lot of work. It happens though, and usually, the writing comes easier and better once I get rid of it and get back on track. It's just hard to lose something after you've worked so hard. 

How did you come up with your book idea? How long did it take you to write your book?

For this particular book, the idea came from one sentence someone said to me. The book doesn't have anything to do with that person, but when they said it it was like I heard a character say it and I could see the circumstance and storyline behind it. I actually started writing the book about ten years ago, but I would just work on it here and there and didn't have any kind of time frame for when I wanted it finished. Once I really got serious and said I was going to finish it, it took me about four months to write the first draft. But then I put it on the backburner and it was close to a year before I picked it back up. Then editing and beta readers and proofing took several months. 

What types of marketing do you do to promote your writing?

I promote through social media, on Instagram and my Facebook page. I also like to cross-promote with others authors and work with book bloggers and reviewers. 

What are you currently working on? Do you have a new book out?

I'm currently working on the sequel to my book, Even Still, and I'm hoping to finish that by the fall. 

Get the Book at Amazon

Do you have a project on the back burner? Tell me about it.

I have lots of projects in my mind at all times. I'm always making notes in my writing notebook for story ideas that I hope to get to someday. 

What would you tell a beginning writer who wants to publish but doesn't believe he/she has enough talent? 

I would say, just start! Read a lot of books that you like and get a feel for your favorite kind of writing. And just write! Your first writings might be just for you, or it might be a terrible first draft, but just write. You've got to start somewhere. And once you've got something put together, find a few people to read it and give you some feedback and just keep going!

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Learn more about Hannah:

My site: www.happymamalife.com

Dancing in the Rain

The heat of the summer has got me bogged down a bit. I love the sun, don't get me wrong, it's just the endless days of it without some sort of break. And today, well, I got it.

Thank you, God.



I am feeling thankful today. Yesterday I talked to some young children whom I teach in church about talents.We listed them all: dancing, singing, playing the piano, even whistling - my personal favorite. We also talked about those talents we rarely see as talents:

Helping a friend
Cooking a batch of cookies to share with a friend
Reading God's word
Praying with our hearts, not just our heads

and so on.

And it got me thinking.

Rain is not only a talent that God has, it is a talent he shares with all of us - even the grass and flowers.

Writing is an obvious talent, but it becomes less of a talent if we don't share it with others - if we bury it deep in the earth for example.

And I guess that's the bottom line with talents. If you have one and don't share it, because it's only one after all, and frankly, you wish you had more, then you're missing out - maybe even missing out on the rain in exchange for mud.

Perhaps you're afraid to share your work. You will probably be criticized. Maybe even made fun of. And you wouldn't want that. If you're feeling like your talent (if indeed you have one) is only meant for you, think again.

Bring out your work. Send it off to a publisher, or get someone in your circle of friends to read it. You may hear something quite surprising. You might even sell your work. But if you don't, you'll definitely learn something.

As far as rain goes, I'd rather dance than wallow anyway, wouldn't you?

When Doubt Strikes in Writing

Sometimes, even after we've published, we find ourselves doubting our own abilities.

Sure, I've published a book, but maybe it was a fluke.
What if I don't have another book in me?
What if the book...sucks?

I have had a somewhat doubting week, yes, even after the fantastic conference.

And I think we all do that.

There are so many writers, so many ideas that may contradict what you have learned what you've come to know, that you may find yourself scrambling for the truth.

Doubt is the opposite of truth. So is fear.

And I can't help but think that we often shut ourselves down because the other option is too scary.

Will I have to speak to large groups now that I've published?
Will readers expect my next book to be as good, or better?
Will I have to actually market?

My new book coming out Sept. 30

Yes, yes, and yes.

If the truth be known, and this is the truth at least for me; I am always learning. Just because I've published doesn't mean I won't learn something new, or change what I am currently doing to make it better. The truth is, I don't want to live in doubt, and the best way I know not to live there, is to continue to move forward.

An easy task?

Not usually.

How much to do you want it?

The Mask of Fear: Why Good Writing Can't Do Without It

Fear. It's one of those things we must have in our book, whether the fear comes from our main character or the place in which our character resides.

Fear, like faith, rounds out the best of books and makes our story as real as life itself.

What of a life without pain?
What of a life without change?
What of a life without mistakes?

If fear or one of the related struggles mentioned here is not a reality when it comes to your book, you'll want to do some re-thinking.

If your fear is masked by sweetness, fine, but make darn sure that the fear comes out at some time and reveals itself. If your mask is a strong main character who isn't as strong as he thinks, or if she is constantly in debt or unfaithful to her husband, make sure that at some point the truth reveals itself.

The main character may be wearing a mask for a time, or the surroundings in which he/she lives may be a mystery to the neighbors, but at some point the mask of fear or pain or change or mistakes must come off.

A revealing of sorts must occur.

Like a masquerade party, where folks dress up and prance around, your main character may not at first appear in his/her true light. But that's what the best books are all about. Just as the most interesting characters in our neighborhood reveal themselves through time and place.

Let the Hermit Rat Go!

I'm always amazed at how people look at writers. I have been through the "Why don't you get a real job?" comments, the "I have a hobby, too," comments, even the "Do you ever think you'll make any 'real money'" comments.

I understand these feelings because I haven't just received them from others, I have given them to myself.

I still remember the day a little over a year ago when I finally decided to take my writing career to the next level. This is after publishing part-time for over 25 years. After searching for a writing job with no results other than fine opportunities to meet great people, I became convinced that the reason I was not finding the writing job of my dreams is because my writing dream was not out there--it was in here. In my heart, and in my home.

The day I discovered this secret my husband and I were sitting across from each other at lunch. He said, "Why don't you go out on your own? Start your own business?"

My grandson sees his potential

I remember telling my husband that he was crazy, and besides, I was too scared to do it on my own.

What I realize now is that fear is an important factor in starting something new and scary. Fear can be conquered or it can live in you like a great hermit rat. I chose to let the rat go, and climbed out on a limb. I moved my writing life forward to entrepreneurship.

I decided that with my skills and desires to help other writers that I could start my own business. I am still in the beginning stages of this business, gathering new clients and opportunities as the days pass.

And I am happy.

I have created a writing career that suits me instead of a mold I must conform to. And I continue to do what I do best.

Write.