Where the Voice Comes From by Peter Leavell

Peter Leavell

“Peter, I haven’t read a single book about how to write.”

The load of books I carried flew from my hands. Like missiles, they launched into the air. “You’ve got to be kidding me! I find that impossible to believe.”

I was at a book signing, and next to my table was one of the world’s leading authors. I’d been setting up when she dropped the bomb. And now, as I looked past raining copies of my book, Gideon’s Call, I saw shame and embarrassment in the author’s eyes.

How to fix this? Being a beginner in the author world, I couldn’t afford to offend. “Your books read as if you’ve mastered the art.”

She shrugged.

The answer hit me about the same time a copy of my book did. “You’re a voracious reader.”

She nodded, and then changed the subject. Thankfully, now we’re close friends.

The truth remains. This author is highly respected, and her books are award winning. So, how is it done?

Simple. A writer analyzes novels. Analyze and reproduce.

The writer I had spoken with had been a critical reader her entire life, and it showed.

She’d read one hundred, sometimes two hundred pages a day, and when she wrote, her analytical mind whispered sweet suggestions into her ear. The plot is too slow here. Kill someone in the manuscript. Or fifty-five secondary characters are too many. Even you can’t just end the book with a nuclear explosion and kill everyone.

I believe in studying the art of writing. I devour books on how to write. But I started analyzing novels as well, and it’s helped. There’s a voice in my head that whispers NO! It doesn’t make sense for two manly cowboys to walk into a saloon and split a cinnamon roll. I take it out, because the voice explains there’s not enough tension. Unless, of course, one cowboy gets a bigger piece and a gunfight ensues. But the idea isn’t marketable.

Don’t forget the importance of reading novels!

~~~~~

Peter Leavell is an award winning historical fiction author. He and his family research together, creating magnificent adventures. Catch up with him on his website at www.peterleavell.com, or friend him on Facebook: Peter R. Leavell. 

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Gideon's Call

Based on true events from the Civil War, Tad longs to better himself, but is hindered by his skin color. When his plantation owners evacuate, they leave their slaves without any money, education, or leadership. Can Tad overcome unimaginable prejudice and family secrets to become the deliverer of thousands? Gideon's Call is winner of Operation First Novel 2011 and Christian Retailing's Best First Novel 2013.

Wherever Books Are Sold by Shannon Taylor Vannatter

Shannon Taylor Vannatter

Wherever books are sold. The ability to say that has eluded me for fourteen years.

In late 1999, I’d realized that story I’d had in my head since I was fifteen could be a book and got a hand me down computer. I started writing and didn’t stop until I’d finished the book. It was badly written, but I didn’t know it at the time. Fifty-two rejections and a second book later, I wrote number three. It got published by a print on demand company. I didn’t know what that was, but soon learned they’re not in stores and they’re usually over-priced.

Three more completed manuscripts and over two hundred rejection letters later, I finally decided I needed help to get where I wanted to be. For the next two years, I attended every writer’s conference in my area and joined two writer’s groups. I learned so much, but there came a point, I wasn’t learning anything new and nothing specific to my genre.

I googled Christian writer’s conferences and found American Christian Fiction Writers. From 2005 – 2008, I attended the conference. In 2009, I finally signed a contract with Heartsong Presents for three books set in Romance and Rosebud, Arkansas. Both are small, real towns about thirty-five minutes from where I live. People go to Romance to get married and send their wedding invitations and Valentine cards to be re-mailed with a unique, hand-stamped postmark from Romance, Arkansas and I incorporated that local flavor into each book.

My dream had come true.

Except that most stores don’t sell Heartsong Presents books.

Heartsong has a book club readers can join. Members receive four new titles each month. If readers aren’t in the book club, HP titles are hard to find except online. A Christian book store in my area carries the line and I’ve had good sales there. I’ve been blessed to have thousands of readers reading my books.

But all writers want their books in stores. Lots of stores. It gets old when people ask where they can get your book and you have to say, online.

I knew from the beginning, that my three books would be combined into one volume at some point and sold wherever books are sold. Finally, that time has come and I’m so excited—I get to say it:

“You can find my book, Arkansas Weddings wherever books are sold.”

“Wow, that felt good!”

Dora here. Writers, how many of you dream of saying these words? 

Raising my hand...

Arkansas Weddings
Purchase Link

Love’s never easy in three Arkansas romances. Pastor Grayson is still grieving his wife’s death. Will a budding relationship with florist Adrea Welch be the healing he needs to plant new love in his life? Laken left home eight years ago and never looked back. Now she’s in Romance, Arkansas, again, but is she too close to her past—and Hayden Winters? Shell doesn’t have a good reputation. But no matter what everyone thinks, she’s back in town with a job to do. Will Ryler Grant disrupt her plans. . .and change her heart?

Shannon Taylor Vannatter is a stay-at-home mom and pastor’s wife. Her debut novel won the 2011 Inspirational Readers’ Choice Award. When not writing, she runs circles in the care and feeding of her husband, their son, and church congregation. Home is a central Arkansas zoo with two charcoal gray cats, a chocolate lab, and three dachshunds in weenie dog heaven. If given the chance to clean house or write, she’d rather write. Her goal is to hire Alice from the Brady Bunch.