Welcome Tracy Wainwright
|
What is your writing schedule like? My writing schedule is very inconsistent. With homeschooling four children and being involved in several ministries, I squeeze in writing whenever possible. Some days I write for hours, some weeks I don't get any time in. But I'm definitely always writing in my head. |
|
|
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk? I'm not sure how much of a quirk it is, but I am rarely working on only one book at a time. I have anywhere from three to eight manuscripts in progress at a time. Some take me as little as a month to write, while others have taken years to fully develop. |
|
|
How did you come up with your title? When I first began this story, there was just a glimpse of the main character disappearing. One minute she was there, the next she was gone. Just as in life, where everything can change in an instant, it was a single moment that changed everything for Julie and her loved ones. |
|
|
Tell us about your hero and heroine. What makes them likeable? Terrence is a police officer who takes his job very seriously. He doesn't like getting involved in emotionally in his cases, takes pride in solving his cases. He has a tough exterior, but loves his family and is very loyal. Julie is a strong woman, but when she disappears, she has to dig deeper within herself and into her faith than she's ever dug before. |
|
|
How much of the book is based in real life? While there are snippets of the story from real things people have experienced, this book has the least amount of material based on real life than any other I've written. However, it's very much a story that many can relate to, as we all have hurts from our past and healing to do at some point in life. |
|
|
What makes this book special to you? This is the first mystery I wrote and I remember vividly laying on the floor of a hotel room with one of my children cooing beside me when I started it. It is also my first traditionally published book. In addition to the attachment I have to the work and success of this story, it is also special because it addresses a very important issue of domestic violence. My hope is women will be moved to support other women, and be empowered to protect themselves and others. |
|
|
Are plots based on someone you know or events in your own life? This book is not based on anyone I know or personal events in my life. |
|
|
What books have most influenced your life? The Bible, first and foremost, has had the most influence on me. There are several nonfiction books that have impacted me, such as Crazy Love, Radical, The Mended Heart, and The Body Keeps the Score. For fiction, I enjoy a variety of authors, but some of my favorite books which have left the most lasting impact are the Zion Covenant Series by Brock and Brodie Thoene and several books by Francine Rivers. |
|
|
What makes this a "must read" and why? These books taught me a great deal about quality writing that deals with real life issues and each had elements to draw one closer to the Lord. These are books that have characters that jump off of the page and become 3D. There is also a lot of history in them, making reading them my favorite way to learn history. |
|
|
Do you have a person you consider a mentor? I have a woman a little bit older than me and in the next stage of life who I meet with regularly. God brought us together when I was at a very low point in life and she continually encourages, challenges, and reminds me to stay focused on the One who matters the most. |
|
|
What book are you reading now? I'm currently reading The Mended Heart by Suzanne Eller, None Like Him by Jen Wilkins, and Consider the Thorns by Michelle Lynn Brown. Just as with writing, I'm rarely reading one book at at time, too. |
|
|
What do you do when you're not writing? Homeschooling, reading, working on ministry items, taking care of my family and home, or spending time on our boat in the summer. |
|
|
What does your family think of your writing? My husband doesn't mind my "hobby" and my children think it's really neat to have mom's books in print. |
|
|
What is your next project? I'm working on an 8 part women's contemporary fiction series. It starts with the story of a young woman who's heart is broken and discovers a devastating family secret. The series will continue to follow her story as well as several other women in her life circle. |
|
|
If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book? This book has been through multiple levels of editing since I wrote it almost a decade ago, so it has been fine tuned as much as possible. So, no, there's nothing I'd want to change about this story. |
|
|
Is there anything you find particularly challenging when it comes to your writing? Keeping my characters straight. If I don't finish a book quickly, I definitely need notes. I've worked hard to fine tune my writing (it was atrocious in the beginning!) and some days it flows well because an idea strikes and I've learned so much. On other days, it's work to be creative and make the scenes flow and characters 3 dimensional. But it's worth the hard work every time. |
|
|
Who is your faviourte author and what is it that really strikes you abou their work? I read so much, it's very difficult to pick just one, but since that's the question, right now I'd go with Francine Rivers. |
|
|
What is the hardest part about writing? Currently, it's finding the time. Our life is very full and we've recently added some responsibilities that were unexpected. When I'm worn out from family duties and time, it's easier on my brain to read than write, but it's important enough to make it happen. Plus, I have a great village around me helping me to create more of that time. |
|
|
Did you learn anything from writing this book? What was it? I learned that one flash of a scene really can be fleshed out into a story. This is often how my books work, and it's rewarding to see it come to completion. |
|
|
Do you have advice for other writers? Keep writing and read a lot. Don't just read other authors, but read about writing. Talk to authors. Get critique partners. Use a professional editor if you can. Attend seminars and conferences whenever possible, and keep up with the current market via blogs and author websites. I jokingly say I could have a second master's degree with the amount of time I put in on learning the craft of writing, but it is true. While ideas come naturally, writing well for the current market doesn't always. |
|
|
Do you have anything specific you want to say to readers? Thank you so much for taking your precious time to read this story! An author gets satisfaction from writing, but joy comes in sharing our stories with others and having them enjoy them and be blessed by them. I'm grateful you chose my book to read. |
|
|
How can readers connect with you? Author of In An Instant
|
