It's my pleasure to welcome Love Inspired author Missy Tippens to the blog! Pull up a chair, grab a cool, refreshing beverage, and let's chat with Missy...
Q: Do you plot out your story ahead of time, or do you think it up as you go?
A: Yes, I’m a plotter! I write pages of brainstorming notes, fill out quite a few charts, use index cards (actual paper ones but also some within a computer program), and use other computer programs to help like
The Snowflake Method by Randy Ingermanson.
Q: Do you treat yourself to something special when a project is completed?
A: I usually do. It’s such a relief to send off a manuscript. I always feel like celebrating. I sometimes go for a pedicure or go shopping. Other times I’ll take my family out to eat because they’re usually sick of frozen pizza by that time! :)
Q; What’s your favorite part of the writing business? What’s your least favorite?
A: Favorite: It’s a tie between working in my pajamas and the wonderful reader letters. :)
Least favorite: The fact that nothing is guaranteed and that a lot about the process is out of my control. I’m a control freak, so it’s hard to let go and trust God for the rest.
Q: After becoming a published author, what surprised you the most?
A: The amount of work that goes into the whole process—revisions before selling, art fact sheets, revisions after selling, several rounds of edits, promoting, website maintenance, blogs, signings, learning about contracts. Also, I’ve learned how much work editors do! They’re amazing.
Q: If you weren’t a writer, what would you be doing?
A: I’d probably still be teaching. A couple of years ago, I was an adjunct at the local technical college. I really loved doing that.
Q: What does your family think about your crazy career?
A: They love it. They’re proud of me and get excited with each sale and each release. My husband is reading my recent release right now to see how different it is from the first draft he read. My children even helped me with my last book signing. Of course, I rewarded them with an i-Tunes card, so I imagine they’ll help again! :)
Q: What’s the one far out sci-fi technology you’d most like to see become a household item?
A: I saw this really cool technology using photovoltaic glass by Corning. I can’t even begin to describe it! You just need to watch this You Tube video. :)
http://bit.ly/ejStPY
Thanks for having me on your blog, Jen! I’ve had fun.
I’d love to give away a copy of
A Family for Faith
today! Please leave a comment to be entered. I’d love to hear what far out technology you’d most like in your house.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Missy Tippens is a pastor’s wife and mom of three who lives near Atlanta. After ten years of pursuing her dream, she made her first sale of a full-length novel to Love Inspired in 2007. She still pinches herself to see if it really happened! Her novels have been finalists in the American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year Contest, the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence and the Bookseller's Best Award. Her most recent release from Love Inspired is
A Family for Faith. The next,
A House Full of Hope, will be out in February 2012.
You can find Missy at
http://www.missytippens.com/.
ABOUT THE BOOK – A Family for Faith
When Faith Hagin sees widower cop Gabe Reynolds every day in her coffee shop, she can’t help but feel for the struggling single dad. She’s raised a teenager of her own—and sadly, knows what not to do. But thanks to his matchmaking preteen daughter, Chelsea, the whole town’s praying for Gabe to find a wife!
Even though Faith thinks she’s content being just friends, spending time with him and Chelsea starts to feel like a fresh start at having a family. And their love may be the answer to everyone’s prayers.
WIN THE BOOK
If you’d like to be entered to win a copy of
A Family for Faith
, just leave a comment on this blog (and answer Missy's question for fun!) I’ll pick a winner at random on Friday, April 29th. Please leave an email address so I can contact you if you're the winner. (To prevent spammers from trolling for your email, please use this format with the brackets--you [at] yourmail [dot] com--or something similar.) Good luck!
