Please welcome Shannon Taylor Vannatter to my blog today. I first read one of Shannons novels about 2 and a half years ago and love it. Have connected with her on the new goodreads group at https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/129196 and she is also giving one copy away.
1.
Can
you tell us a little about yourself?
I’m
a pastor’s wife/stay at home mom. We live in very rural central Arkansas. Our
son is twelve and is very active in sports. Our church is twelve miles west of
our house and his school is twelve miles east of our house. We spend a lot of
time running back and forth in a twenty-four mile radius.
2.
When
you were a child did you have a favourite book or books?
I
loved the Dr. Suess books when I was little. When I was nine or so, I read The
Little House on the Prairie books. The show was on then and I was an avid fan.
In my teens, my mom introduced me to clean romance novels and I loved them. (Jenny here I loved Little House on the Prairie
books also)
3.
Do
you have a favourite Genre to both read and right write?
Inspirational
Contemporary Romance. When I first started writing, I wrote romantic suspense.
I think I went in that direction because I watched a lot of detective shows as
a teenager and young adult. The problem with my romantic suspense was the bad
guy got caught and the suspense got wrapped up long before the romance did.
I
finally heard a speaker at a writer’s conference say that whatever genre you
read the most is probably the genre you should write. It was an Aha moment for
me and I hit my stride writing straight romance. A few of my books have a
suspense element, but the romance is the focus.
4.
Did
you have favourite authors growing up who have influenced you?
I
wish I could remember the authors of those first romance novels I read. I know
it was Harlequin and it was a clean line, but that’s all I remember. That first
taste of romance definitely influenced me. And it’s surreal that I write for
Harlequin’s inspirational line now.
5.
When
did you know you wanted to be an author?
I was in my thirties. My husband’s
work hours changed and my evenings were free. Our son wasn’t in the picture
yet, so I suddenly had free time in the evenings. I went to the library to get
some clean romance books and couldn’t find any.
At the same time, I’d had a story in
my head since my teens. I’d move scenes around and add complications over the
years. I thought it was a movie, but I didn’t want to go to Hollywood, so I’d
pushed it to the back of my mind.
Not being able to find clean romance
novels and that story collided. It finally hit me that it was a book. But I
didn’t have a computer and I wasn’t that great of a typist. I decided that if I
ever got a computer, I’d write it. Three years later, my father in law got a
new computer and gave me his old one. As soon as it was plugged in and
operational, I was writing the book. It got 52 rejection letters in 1999.
In 2013, I totally rewrote it from
scratch, using all the knowledge gained from years of writer’s groups and
conferences and Rodeo Queen was published.
6.
How
did you go about becoming an author?
I
wrote five books without ever attending a writer’s group meeting or conference,
without ever reading anything about how to write. I just did it. Over two
hundred rejection letters, a Print On Demand published book, and lots of
frustration, I joined two writers groups and started attending conferences. I
bought several books on writing, Writer’s Digest, and The Writer magazines.
After
three years, it seemed like I wasn’t learning anything new, but I was still
getting rejections. I googled Christian Writers Conferences and found American
Christian Fiction Writers. I attended the conference for three years, before I
finally joined the online group, and joined an online critique group. In 2008, I
pitched a book to an editor with Heartsong Presents, which was owned by Barbour
then. I got a request for the full and an offer for a three book contract in
early 2009.
7.
If
you were not a writer what would you like to be?
I
can’t imagine being anything else. I dallied with the idea of being an interior
decorator several years ago. But then a friend of mine went into that business
and it didn’t sound as fun or glamorous as I’d imagined. But I made the heroine
in my latest release an interior decorator. With writing, I can have fun
careers through my heroines.
8.
Outside
reading and writing what do you like to do?
I
love spending time with my family. I’m a homebody and I’m at my happiest doing
something crafty.
9.
Do
you have a place you love to visit or would love to visit?
My
husband has family in Texas and we love visiting there. I have cousins in
Georgia and I spent some growing up years there, so I love going to see them.
I’m not a vacation to somewhere I’ve never been just for the fun of it type.
Vacation to me is visiting family I don’t get to see often.
10.
If
you could have a meal with 3 living people who would you choose and why?
My
son, my husband, and my parents. That’s four, but I can’t leave anyone out. I’m
pretty much about family. We live across a hayfield from my parents. My cousin
lives across the dirt road and my aunt and uncle are moving to the end of the
dirt road. I told you it’s rural. We do live on a paved highway, but you turn
on the dirt road to get to our driveway. All of my aunts, uncles, cousins, and
in laws live in a 20 mile radius except for the Texas, Georgia, and Missouri
branch. (I have had a few say family and
it refreshing to see, as it shows how much they mean to a person. Its also
interesting to see how people read the question as it says 3 living people not
3 famous people although my 3 are not family I needed a 4th to even
out the numbers a bit)
Finally
can you tell us about your current books and/or any that will be coming out
soon.
Rodeo
Song is another of my early attempts at writing. Back in the eighties, I went
to a Michael Bolton concert. I loved his raspy voice. Halfway through the
concert, he did his famous lobby run and sang Georgia on My Mind at the
opposite end of the arena from the stage. That night, I dreamed I was in the
lobby and he grabbed my hand. You know how dreams are—I wasn’t married. He took
me on stage and sang Georgia to me. I thought the dream was funny and told my
husband, family, and friends about it.
Years
later, when I started writing, I decided it could be a book. It got several
rejections. Last year when Harlequin gave the opportunity to continue my Texas
rodeo series, I decided I could rewrite the one about the rock star. I rewrote
it from scratch and the hero became a country star to fit the Texas theme and
added a twist—the heroine he takes on stage was his high school sweetheart.
Also
where we can find you on the web.
Website:
shannonvannatter.com
Blog:
shannonvannatter.com/blog
Facebook:
http://facebook.com/shannontaylorvannatter
Pinterest:
http://www.pinterest.com/stvannatter/
Twitter:
@stvauthor
Rodeo Song
JENNA WENTWORTH FOUND THE MAN OF HER DREAMS
But when silken-voiced Garrett Steele set out for stardom,
he left Jenna—and his cowboy past—far behind. A chance encounter at one of his
concerts propels him back into Jenna's life. But, once burned by love, Jenna
must guard her heart against the captivating singer.
Once upon a time, Garrett vowed he'd be a success, no
matter what. But that path shattered his soul. His reunion with Jenna makes him
long for things he once took for granted. Now he must show her that he's found
what he was looking for all along…right here in his hometown.
Bio
Shannon Taylor Vannatter is a stay-at-home mom/pastor’s
wife/award winning author. She lives in rural central Arkansas in a town with a population of around
100, if you count a few cows. Shannon writes inspirational contemporary
romance and it took her nine years to get published in the traditional market.
Shannon hopes to entertain Christian women and plant seeds
in the non-believer’s heart as her characters struggle with real-life issues.
Their journeys, from ordinary lives to extraordinary romance through
Christ-centered relationships, demonstrate that love doesn’t conquer all—Jesus
does. In her spare time, she loves spending time with her family and doing
craft projects.
Giveaway
Shannon has offered one copy to a reader of my blog (international) if you would like to win this book please leave a comment either asking Shannon a question or a comment on the interview. Entries saying looks good or good interview please enter me will not be accepted. Please leave a way to contact you. You have til Friday 11th. April to enter.
