Literary Spotlight: Lisa Wingate

Lisa Wingate is an inspirational speaker, magazine columnist and national bestselling author. Tending Roses was a selection of the Readers Club of America and is currently in its tenth printing.

Q: How important is getting a feel for writing in school?

A: It's tremendously important. By nature, children are writers. Documenting their “lets pretend” on paper just takes the process one step further. Writing isn't the thing you do with a pencil; it's the thing you do with your mind.

Q: How can aspiring writers delve into their treasure chests of memories to write a book?

A: The trick in mining real life experiences is sorting out which ones would be interesting to readers who don't have a personal connection and which are strictly of personal interest.

Q: What are the advantages/disadvantages of working on two series for two different publishers?

A: The disadvantages of working for two different publishers lie in the fact that publishing schedules, option clauses and deadlines can conflict. The advantages lie in the opportunity to spread your eggs into more than one basket. You benefit from acquiring ideas from two publishing houses, and you're less vulnerable to changes in the publishing program at a single house.

Q: What is the most difficult part of the writing process for you?

A: The most difficult part for me is probably just rear-in-chair. On any given day, life provides a million distractions. When I finally sit down and get started, I'm often lost in the story world for hours.

Carlotta Holton is the author of Salem Pact and Touching The Dead, and is a member of the National Federation of Press Women and an affiliate member of the Horror Writers Association.

Carlotta Holton has just received her second award for Touching the Dead from the National Federation of Press Women Communications Contest. Click here to purchase the book.