Interview With Andrea Boeshaar
Meet Andrea Kuhn Boeshaar
Interview by Sandra Moore
1) Tell us a little about yourself -- age, married/single, children, how many books authored, etc.
I'm a forty-something year old mother of three sons who are all in their 20s. My husband Daniel and I will celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary next April -- the same month my first women's fiction book is scheduled for release! I've authored 12 books and 7 novellas. Barbour Publishing is my publisher.
2) How did you become interested in writing?
I've been writing stories since I was a little girl. I wrote through high school -- even wrote some short stories for extra credit in English class. Then I sort of forgot about writing when I met my husband. But once my children were born, I started thinking about it again. Soon, I wanted to be the next Danielle Steel. My very first rejection letter came in 1984 -- from AVON Books. I struggled to develop my writing skills and I continued to submit; however, I never published in the secular market. Then in 1991, I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior. From that point on, I felt the Lord calling me away from the secular romances that I was in the process of writing. It took a while, but I finally scrapped all my secular WIPs and began reading Christian fiction. I wrote a book called AN UNWILLING WARRIOR and to my surprise and delight, Heartsong Presents bought it! It was published in 1994.
3) What was your biggest obstacle in regards to writing and/or getting published? How did you overcome it?
One of the hardest things was (and sometimes still is) the waiting. The Bible says "Wait on the Lord and be of good courage..." Yes, it takes courage to wait to hear from editors. *sigh* But through it, God strengthens my faith.
4) What has been the highest moment of your writing career?
I think selling AN UNWILLING WARRIOR. That story represented so much in my life -- and it was the tool God used to spur me on in writing for the Christian market.
5) Who/What is your greatest inspiration to write?
The "WHO" is the Lord Jesus Christ, of course. He is my life and inspiration. He gives me the topics and then has me experience some of the things my characters do in my stories. It's rather amazing. But I must say, Jesus and I make a great team. The "WHAT" is the theme God impressed upon my heart....to write healing fiction for hurting hearts. Never was this "noble theme" so apparent to me as when I saw the many aching souls in the emergency room in which I worked as a registrar. All I asked for was their demographic information, but a lot of times I got their life stories...and they'd break my heart. I think Christians sometimes get very comfortable in their homes and churches and they forget that a lost and dying world is screaming for a better way -- the love of Jesus Christ.
6) Are you a seat-of-the-pants writer, or do you plot extensively before your fingers hit the keyboard?
I'm a seat-of-my SKIRT writer. Those who know me will chuckle at that comment. I don't wear pants. I haven't worn pants in 10 years. It's a personal conviction of mine. However, I have many, many lady friends who wear pants and they look terrific in them. I would never deny another woman her pants -- as long as she doesn't deny me my denim jumpers. :-) But, in answer to your question...I don't plot extensively. I do, however, always know my beginning and my ending...I just don't always know how I'm going to get there. I like the Lord to lead me through it and I think my work is always fresh because of it.
7) What's the nicest thing anyone ever said about your writing?
I've had a lot of nice comments about my writing over the years. But one letter from a reader stands out in my mind. It came after this gal had read THE HAVEN OF REST in which the heroine had been date-raped. The reader wrote to me and said the same thing had happened to her and after reading my book she felt compelled to discuss the "dirty secret" with her husband. They were newly married and he didn't know. After she told him, he promised they would overcome the incident together and, because of my book, their marriage grew stronger. "Healing fiction for hurting hearts."
8) Who is your favorite character in your books, and how did you come up with that character?
I really liked Tom in THE HAVEN OF REST. He was a discouraged gas station attendant who possessed an inner strength that, with the love of a good woman, finally surfaced. Stepping out in faith, he went on to build a hotel and gained the respect of the folks in his small town. He was a lovable hero, not a wimp, but he wasn't a macho guy either. I also liked Shane in TUMBLING BLOCKS (a novella in THE SEWING CIRCLE). Shane was a rambler gambler who did a 160 degree turn around after Christ saved him -- and yet he still had his good sense of humor.
9) ) You now work for Hartline Literary. What is the first thing you look for in a proposal/manuscript?
As an agent working for Hartline Literary Agency, I look for a compelling opening scene. If the very first scene in the book doesn't hook me, it won't hook an editor.
10) If you could give a beginner one piece of advice what would it be?
Get into one of ACFW's critique groups! That's my advice. I've seen so many writers grow because of these critique groups. The free workshops to ACFW members are also extremely valuable. I further suggest that writers READ what's being published. Match your style with a published author's and learn from him or her. Don't read a book like you're devouring an afternoon snack. Read with discernment. Be a critical thinker. Figure out what works and what doesn't in the way of sentence structure, character development and plotting. Most of all, trust the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding. Christ is the essence of a Christian's writing ministry; however, He expects every writer to hone his or her talents before he or she sets out to use them to His glory.
END
You can find more information at Andrea's Website.
Interview by Sandra Moore
1) Tell us a little about yourself -- age, married/single, children, how many books authored, etc.
I'm a forty-something year old mother of three sons who are all in their 20s. My husband Daniel and I will celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary next April -- the same month my first women's fiction book is scheduled for release! I've authored 12 books and 7 novellas. Barbour Publishing is my publisher.
2) How did you become interested in writing?
I've been writing stories since I was a little girl. I wrote through high school -- even wrote some short stories for extra credit in English class. Then I sort of forgot about writing when I met my husband. But once my children were born, I started thinking about it again. Soon, I wanted to be the next Danielle Steel. My very first rejection letter came in 1984 -- from AVON Books. I struggled to develop my writing skills and I continued to submit; however, I never published in the secular market. Then in 1991, I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior. From that point on, I felt the Lord calling me away from the secular romances that I was in the process of writing. It took a while, but I finally scrapped all my secular WIPs and began reading Christian fiction. I wrote a book called AN UNWILLING WARRIOR and to my surprise and delight, Heartsong Presents bought it! It was published in 1994.
3) What was your biggest obstacle in regards to writing and/or getting published? How did you overcome it?
One of the hardest things was (and sometimes still is) the waiting. The Bible says "Wait on the Lord and be of good courage..." Yes, it takes courage to wait to hear from editors. *sigh* But through it, God strengthens my faith.
4) What has been the highest moment of your writing career?
I think selling AN UNWILLING WARRIOR. That story represented so much in my life -- and it was the tool God used to spur me on in writing for the Christian market.
5) Who/What is your greatest inspiration to write?
The "WHO" is the Lord Jesus Christ, of course. He is my life and inspiration. He gives me the topics and then has me experience some of the things my characters do in my stories. It's rather amazing. But I must say, Jesus and I make a great team.
6) Are you a seat-of-the-pants writer, or do you plot extensively before your fingers hit the keyboard?
I'm a seat-of-my SKIRT writer. Those who know me will chuckle at that comment. I don't wear pants. I haven't worn pants in 10 years. It's a personal conviction of mine. However, I have many, many lady friends who wear pants and they look terrific in them. I would never deny another woman her pants -- as long as she doesn't deny me my denim jumpers. :-)
7) What's the nicest thing anyone ever said about your writing?
I've had a lot of nice comments about my writing over the years. But one letter from a reader stands out in my mind. It came after this gal had read THE HAVEN OF REST in which the heroine had been date-raped. The reader wrote to me and said the same thing had happened to her and after reading my book she felt compelled to discuss the "dirty secret" with her husband. They were newly married and he didn't know. After she told him, he promised they would overcome the incident together and, because of my book, their marriage grew stronger. "Healing fiction for hurting hearts."
8) Who is your favorite character in your books, and how did you come up with that character?
I really liked Tom in THE HAVEN OF REST. He was a discouraged gas station attendant who possessed an inner strength that, with the love of a good woman, finally surfaced. Stepping out in faith, he went on to build a hotel and gained the respect of the folks in his small town. He was a lovable hero, not a wimp, but he wasn't a macho guy either. I also liked Shane in TUMBLING BLOCKS (a novella in THE SEWING CIRCLE). Shane was a rambler gambler who did a 160 degree turn around after Christ saved him -- and yet he still had his good sense of humor.
9) ) You now work for Hartline Literary. What is the first thing you look for in a proposal/manuscript?
As an agent working for Hartline Literary Agency, I look for a compelling opening scene. If the very first scene in the book doesn't hook me, it won't hook an editor.
10) If you could give a beginner one piece of advice what would it be?
Get into one of ACFW's critique groups! That's my advice. I've seen so many writers grow because of these critique groups. The free workshops to ACFW members are also extremely valuable. I further suggest that writers READ what's being published. Match your style with a published author's and learn from him or her. Don't read a book like you're devouring an afternoon snack. Read with discernment. Be a critical thinker. Figure out what works and what doesn't in the way of sentence structure, character development and plotting. Most of all, trust the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding. Christ is the essence of a Christian's writing ministry; however, He expects every writer to hone his or her talents before he or she sets out to use them to His glory.
END
You can find more information at Andrea's Website.
For more great interviews, visit our Author Interview Archives.