Spotlight shines on Anita Higman

I am welcoming a fellow Texan to Write by Faith and let me tell you she is a wonderful writer. I love her new book Love Finds you in Humble, Texas. It is about two sisters who fall for the same guy. Anita is a wonderful writer who pulls you in very quickly and keeps you there. I love the "Love Finds You" line and if you haven't picked one up you are missing out. And if you want to win a copy of this novel be sure to follow the directions at the end of this post.



Anita, thanks for stopping by Write By Faith. I love having authors stop by so readers can learn more about them. So tell us about the craziest thing you’ve ever done?
Many years ago—in my young and foolish days—I rappelled off a cliff with my husband-to-be, and then we stopped mid-way down the cliff to kiss. Sweet, but there are safer ways to show affection.J

That is soooo sweet and a bit crazy too.

Let’s pretend money is not a factor. If you could go anywhere in the world where would you go?
A few months ago, I spent about three weeks in Australia, but I’d love to go to New Zealand now.

Oh that would be fun.

What is your favorite children’s book?
Cinderella, because I love fairy tales, romantic stories, and happy endings.

This is my favorite fairy tale. I love the tragedy to happy endings. Of course my five year old daughter loves this story too.

Tell us a little about your road to publication.
I’ve been writing for about twenty-five years, so it’s been a long journey. My twenty-fourth book just came out, Love Finds You in Humble Texas. I really enjoy what I do, but if my career appears like a perfect dream come true, let me burst that fantasy bubble. I experienced a lot of rejection for a long time, but in the midst of my seemingly endless setbacks there were just enough nods that kept me going. I did lots of writing and reading and going to conferences and learning the craft, and it finally paid off.

Wow twenty-five years and twenty four books. That is quite an accomplishment.


If your book were being discussed at a book club what do you think the focus of the discussion would be on?

Love Finds You in Humble Texas is a romance, but it’s also about two sisters who fall in love with the same man and how they deal with that emotional upheaval. So, I think a book club would enjoy talking about the relationship between the two sisters, Trudie and Lane Abernathy. By the way, I have a place on my web site just for book clubs. I created a list of discussion questions they might enjoy using. Also, if the book club is ten or more members, I am willing to do a phone conference with them so they can visit with me about the book. My web site is http://www.anitahigman.com/.

I agree with you. The dynamics between the sisters would be discussed at my bookclub Faith Meets Fiction. It was one of the points in the book that stayed with me. I have an older sister and loved the relationship between Trudie and Lane Abernathy.

What advice do you have for aspiring writers?
Don’t rush the process. Take your time. Read and learn about the craft, network, and attend conferences. Start a blog, and find your own unique voice. Be faithful to your stories and write every day. If you really have a passion for writing, you won’t find my suggestions as a punishment—but a pleasure.

Thanks for the advice. You are the first one to say start a blog. I'm happy I can check that off my list!


What do you want your readers to take away from your novel?
Here is a tiny excerpt from the book. “Life can be a collage of pretty pictures as well as a thousand shattered moments, but God can bring marvel to it all as He takes those broken pieces and, with the light of His grace shining through them, makes something beautiful, something treasured.” I hope people feel that kind of encouragement when they close the book.


By the way, I hired the amazing Circle of Seven Productions to do a book trailer for me, so I’ll let the narrator tell you a bit more about Love Finds You in Humble Texas.

Click here: http://video.yahoo.com/watch/4269149/11475177

Thanks for inviting me on your blog, Donna! It’s been lovely.
Blessings!
Anita Higman

If you would like to win a copy of Love finds you in Humble, Texas.

Be sure to answer the silly question. If your email address is not on your profile page please leave your email in the comment but put it in disguise so net spiders don't snag it. Something like this works well runninmama at sbcglobal dot net. CONTEST ENDS MARCH 25, 2009.





SILLY QUESTION: Do you have any siblings? How many? I have one older sister who has finally found her way back home to Texas. I love you Kim.

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Another Stab at Life by Anita Higman

Another Stab at Lifeby Anita Higman

Bailey Walker loses her family, job and her home only to inherit a rather unusaul mansion, Volstead Manor, from her Granny Minna. The home is full of hidden passages and a rather shady past. Bailey also finds herself surround by strange neighbors and of course a rather handsome bachelor neighbor.

The novel reads much like a Nancy Drew novel. With hidden clues that become apparent to the reader very quickly. It was a fun read but not too challenging. Bailey continued to remember quotes from past books that help her to solve the mystery with the aid of her cute neighbor. If you are looking for a fast and light read this is a book that would qualify. If you would like to purchase this book click on the title Another Stab at Life.

Interview with Anita Higman

Anita Higman is the award-winning author of twenty-one books. Her first mystery is entitled, Another Stab at Life, which is part of The Volstead Manor Series.


Another Stab at Life is part of a trilogy. How hard was it to write a series versus a stand-alone novel?
The answer is yes and no. In one way, writing a series is easier because I know my characters really well, and I know what each of them will do when tossed into various emotional tumblers. However, I get slowed down as soon as I’m forced to think about how much back story to include from the last novel and where to place it. And I have to constantly ask myself if I’m keeping the story fresh, or if I’m repeating myself, which would make certain elements come off annoyingly repetitious—like right now! When I weigh everything, I think the series is a little harder for me to write than the stand-alone.

What favorite beverage do you have on hand while you’re writing? Does it help stimulate creativity?
I brew up some incredible Republic of Tea. My favorite flavors are blackberry/sage and ginger/peach. I like it iced, and I make sure I have enough to get me through the after-lunch sleepy hours of 1:00 to 3:00. I don’t think the tea makes me more creative, but it does help me stay awake to write.

Do you write every day? What does a typical day look like?
I try to write every weekday, but sometimes I’m busy with other facets of the writer’s life, such as speaking engagements, book signings, and blog interviews. One typical day might start with breakfast at 5:45, writing until lunch, and then errands. In between all that writing time I’m also checking my email. But I have to be careful, since email can turn into the beast that ate my writing schedule. Sometimes while the family is watching TV I find myself migrating back to my office for some more work. I enjoy renting movies every weekend to watch with my family, but I don’t like sitting in front of the TV every week night. For me watching television feels more like wasting time than fun.

What kinds of writing do you most admire? Does any of these works affect your own style?
Early in my career, I fell in love with the writings of Horton Foote. Many of his plays could be described as heart-tugging family dramas. But now years later, I’m fascinated with the work of Ann Radcliffe and Jane Austen. Ann Radcliffe’s gothic novels have influenced my work, but what is much more fascinating is that Ann’s work influenced Jane Austen. Ms. Austen refers to Ann Radcliffe’s novel, Romance of the Forest within her own novel, Emma. Also, Jane Austen wrote the gothic-style novel, Northanger Abbey, which is an affectionate spoof of Ann Radcliffe’s novel, The Mysteries of Udolpho.

What do you love about writing? And is there any part of the writing process that you don’t like?
I enjoy the challenge of a blank page, although some writers might want to scream like in Poe’s, The Tell-Tale Heart, “But anything was better than this agony!” The great white void of paper doesn’t have to remain that way. If I do some stream-of-consciousness writing for five minutes, suddenly there are words on the page. I wouldn’t necessarily want to keep those words, but sometimes this method can give me an interesting or unexpected beginning. I suppose coming up with the opening page is my favorite part. Or course, making it to the end of the story is also pretty thrilling. My least favorite part is the editing, since it can sometimes get tedious. But I quickly remind myself that skipping the polish is like refusing to put the greenware teapot into the kiln. If you don’t fire it, it remains a useless piece of pottery instead of becoming the beautiful porcelain teapot it was meant to be.

What is the best gift you’ve ever received?
My two kids. They are the finest gifts that God could have ever given to me and my husband.

What was your favorite fairytale story and why?
I loved Cinderella. Stories like Three Little Pigs, Little Red Riding Hood, and Hansel and Gretel were a little too grim for me to wrap my mind around when I was a kid. But Cinderella was and still is a wonderful fantasy of drama and hope and love. I especially liked the movie version Ever After. The heroine is spunky as well as smart and good-natured.

Do you have anything else you’d like to share with us?
I’m into the three Ps—practice, persistence, and patience. Even if you’re born with some natural talent, practice is vital, just as it is with learning the oboe or the backstroke or the foxtrot. You’ll need persistence. (I have a friend who wrote eight full-length novels before she was finally published. Now that’s persistence!) You’ll also need a boatload of patience because the whole writing, submitting, and waiting process can take a serious chunk of your time. But most of all, talk to God every morning about your writing. Ask Him to guide you in your planning phase, your rough draft, and in your revisions. That’s the best advice I have.

Anita would love for you to visit her website at www.anitahigman.com, where you can check out her book trailer for Another Stab at Life.