Interview With Rhonda Gibson
Meet Rhonda Gibson
Interview by Sandra Moore
1) Tell us a little about yourself -- age, married/single, children, how many books authored, etc.
I'm 39 years old this month. This is the first year I've been able to stay home and write full time. I've been happily married for 21 years and have two children and two children in-laws I have sold two books. SCRAPS OF LOVE a Barbour anthology is out right now and another Barbour anthology THE BACHELOR CLUB is coming out April 2005.
2) How did you become interested in writing?
I have been writing most of my life but only seriously for the last 4 years now.
3) You've got a new book out this month. Tell our readers a little bit about it.
SCRAPS OF LOVE is a 4 in 1 collection by Barbour Books. Lena Dooley, Janet Spaeth and Tracey V. Bateman with Frances Devine also have novella's in this book. Together the five of us tell the stories of a family through several generations. Fabric and love are used to tie the stories together.
4) What was your biggest obstacle in regards to writing and/or getting published? How did you overcome it?
My biggest obstacle was wanting to do it on my own. When I turned my writing over to the Lord, He opened the doors.
5) What has been the highest moment of your writing/publishing career?
Laughing, at the 2003 ACRW conference Rebecca Germany gave me my first contract. I'm still on a high from that!
6) Where would you like to be as an author in ten years?
God is the real author here, I'm just the tool He uses to get His messages across. So, in ten years, if it is His will. I want to still be working for Him.
7) Who/What is your greatest inspiration to write? Where do your story ideas come from?
Since God gave me the desire to write He is my inspiration. My ideas come from research, history, newspaper articles, and brainstorming with my friends. God showers ideas upon me so I get them from everything and everywhere.
8) Are you a seat-of-the-pants writer, or do you plot extensively before your fingers hit the keyboard?
I'm a little of both. I used to write solely seat-of-the pants but then Barbour started requesting a chapter-by-chapter synopsis for their Heartsong Presents line. Once I did a couple of those, I found I loved it... So now I write a couple of chapters seat-of-the pants style and then outline the rest of the book using the chapter-by-chapter synopsis. I love writing this way.
10) What's the nicest thing anyone ever said about your writing?
That she liked my touches of humor in my story. I love to make people smile or laugh so this was wonderful for me to hear.
11) Who is your favorite character in your books, and how did you come up with that character?
In LOVE OF A LIFETIME (Scraps Of Love novella) I'd have to say Jenny Walker. She is a fiesty teenager who just wants to do what is right but isn't always sure how to do that, much like teens everywhere.
12) How do you deal with publisher rejections?
Rejections are a part of this buisness... I'm not saying they don't hurt ... I try to learn from them instead of taking them personally. Then I put the rejection aside and keep submitting.
13) If you could give a beginner one piece of advice what would it be?
Write what you love to read! Read Alot! and Never Give Up!!
END
You can find more information on books by Rhonda Gibson at: http://www.rhondagibson.com.
Interview by Sandra Moore
1) Tell us a little about yourself -- age, married/single, children, how many books authored, etc.
I'm 39 years old this month. This is the first year I've been able to stay home and write full time. I've been happily married for 21 years and have two children and two children in-laws I have sold two books. SCRAPS OF LOVE a Barbour anthology is out right now and another Barbour anthology THE BACHELOR CLUB is coming out April 2005.
2) How did you become interested in writing?
I have been writing most of my life but only seriously for the last 4 years now.
3) You've got a new book out this month. Tell our readers a little bit about it.
SCRAPS OF LOVE is a 4 in 1 collection by Barbour Books. Lena Dooley, Janet Spaeth and Tracey V. Bateman with Frances Devine also have novella's in this book. Together the five of us tell the stories of a family through several generations. Fabric and love are used to tie the stories together.
4) What was your biggest obstacle in regards to writing and/or getting published? How did you overcome it?
My biggest obstacle was wanting to do it on my own. When I turned my writing over to the Lord, He opened the doors.
5) What has been the highest moment of your writing/publishing career?
Laughing, at the 2003 ACRW conference Rebecca Germany gave me my first contract. I'm still on a high from that!
6) Where would you like to be as an author in ten years?
God is the real author here, I'm just the tool He uses to get His messages across. So, in ten years, if it is His will. I want to still be working for Him.
7) Who/What is your greatest inspiration to write? Where do your story ideas come from?
Since God gave me the desire to write He is my inspiration. My ideas come from research, history, newspaper articles, and brainstorming with my friends. God showers ideas upon me so I get them from everything and everywhere.
8) Are you a seat-of-the-pants writer, or do you plot extensively before your fingers hit the keyboard?
I'm a little of both. I used to write solely seat-of-the pants but then Barbour started requesting a chapter-by-chapter synopsis for their Heartsong Presents line. Once I did a couple of those, I found I loved it... So now I write a couple of chapters seat-of-the pants style and then outline the rest of the book using the chapter-by-chapter synopsis. I love writing this way.
10) What's the nicest thing anyone ever said about your writing?
That she liked my touches of humor in my story. I love to make people smile or laugh so this was wonderful for me to hear.
11) Who is your favorite character in your books, and how did you come up with that character?
In LOVE OF A LIFETIME (Scraps Of Love novella) I'd have to say Jenny Walker. She is a fiesty teenager who just wants to do what is right but isn't always sure how to do that, much like teens everywhere.
12) How do you deal with publisher rejections?
Rejections are a part of this buisness... I'm not saying they don't hurt ... I try to learn from them instead of taking them personally. Then I put the rejection aside and keep submitting.
13) If you could give a beginner one piece of advice what would it be?
Write what you love to read! Read Alot! and Never Give Up!!
END
You can find more information on books by Rhonda Gibson at: http://www.rhondagibson.com.
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