Welcome to Readers Write to Know! I asked you, my readers, what questions they would ask their favorite authors if given the chance, and the authors visiting my blog answered them! This week, I am pleased to have author Leah Pugh as my guest. I loved reading about how she “journaled” through her brother’s deployment and how she creates differently depending on the genre she’s writing. I hope you enjoy her story as much as I did! Read on to see how you can enter to win a copy of her latest release!
Tell us a little bit about yourself. I’m a wife and mother who enjoys curling up with a good book and a delicious cup of tea when I can find a spare moment. When I’m not doing either of those things, I’m usually jotting down stories or spending time with my family.
Tell us about your current release. Something Warm For Grandma is about little Ryan who wants to visit Grandma in the hospital. When Daddy reminds Mommy to bring something warm for Grandma because she gets cold, Ryan sets out on a mission to find just the right gift to keep Grandma warm, and help her feel better faster.
What do you think is lacking in Christian Fiction? A wider amount of Christian Fiction books geared towards a younger audience. (Kids, middle grade, young adult)
How did you determine whether to self-publish or seek a traditional publisher? One of my friends helped make the decision for me. I’d sent the friend my first manuscript to get her feedback. Unbeknownst to me she knew a publisher. The friend liked my story so much, she forwarded it to the publisher (without my knowledge). The latter also enjoyed the manuscript so much, she signed me on with her publishing house.
What is your preferred method of writing? (computer, pen & paper, etc.) For some reason if I’m writing a picture book, I prefer pen and paper. However, if I’m working on a novel, I do that on a computer. I also like to have music going on in the background when I write because I often feel that music helps the creative writing process. And often a good musical score will go great with the scene I’m writing.
[Tweet “Enter to win SOMETHING WARM FOR GRANDMA by Leah Pugh! @halleeb #giveaway #christfic”]
Who were some of your favorite authors as a child? (Book series, maybe?) Louisa May Alcott, Carolyn Keene, Franklin W. Dixion, Charles Dickens, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
I’m always intrigued by how writers get started…did you always have these books inside you and knew that you wanted to write them or did the idea just pop into your head one day and you decided to put pen to paper? Door number two: I write as they pop in my head. It started back in middle school when I decided to write a story based off the adventures I’d had with my friends. And then when my brother was deployed overseas, instead of keeping a journal, I wrote a story about a girl going through the same experiences as me. That trend has continued through the years, writing as it comes to me, and it doesn’t show any signs of letting up.
I assume when you start a book, you pretty much have the plot laid out. Do you ever change your mind later on in the book, and go in a different direction? Yes. That’s what’s currently happening with a book I’m working on. Halfway through, it’s started going in an entirely differently direction. It can be a bit frustrating when it happens because then I have to go back, and change a lot of stuff. However, often the new direction ends up making the story much better than what I’d originally envisioned.
Do you remember where you were or what you were doing when you started this story? Yes, I’d just lost my grandma and snuck off to the bathroom to cry in peace. My son tagged along, as little ones are apt to do. However, when he saw my tears he said, “Bye, Mommy” and closed the door. We didn’t have a chance to say good-bye before Grandma passed, and I started wondering what he could have done if he’d been able to say good-bye to his great-grandma. He’s a very caring person, and the idea of a young boy trying to find the best get-well gift for his grandmother came to mind.
Here is where you can find Leah online:
www.facebook.com/LeahPughAuthor/
Leah is giving away a copy of SOMETHING WARM FOR GRANDMA to a reader! Click this link to enter: https://kingsumo.com/g/rrcp2z/something-warm-for-grandma-by-leah-pugh
2 comments
informative interview
The story behind your book is very sweet.