For Readers

When I meet readers, they often ask questions about my writing and getting published. This gave me the idea to create a new section just for readers on my web site. I hope you enjoy this new feature. If you are curious about something that I haven’t addressed, please email your question to gail@gailmartin.com and I’d be happy to answer it for you if I can.

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7. Seems like every time I look up, you have a new book on the stands. Can you tell me how you do it from the time you get an idea?

6. Could you tell me about your 'journey' to inspirational writing -- how you were drawn to it and recognized your 'calling?' I also always enjoy hearing about that very first publisher call that confirmed it!

5. Why do I have a hard time finding your books?

4. Do you set a writing goal each day?

3. Where do you get your ideas?

2. Does an author design the book’s cover?

1. What is your writing schedule?

I write seven days a week when I can, but naturally certain days, like Sunday, doesn’t allow me to begin until later in the day. During the week, I usually begin reading email after breakfast. Because I have so much email, I can spend up to two hours reading and answering my mail. I like to be in front of my writing computer (I’m online on a separate computer) by 10 a.m. I write until lunch. After lunch, I often ride a recumbent exercise bike while reading a novel for a half hour or so. Then I return to my story. While reading, even if the novel is excellent, my mind will sometimes wander back to my story and I’ll brainstorm storyline ideas. I sometimes get wonderful ideas while exercising. I write until dinnertime. Often in the evening I do chapter edits or research, although sometimes, I’ll return to the computer to write. Along the way I fit in my social life, church activities and music rehearsals. Besides writing, authors are always having to drop everything to respond to line/copy edits or galleys from their upcoming books, researching novels, keeping up web sites, responding to interviews, and in my case, because I do much speaking and teaching, I’m often preparing a talk or workshop materials.

2. Does an author design the book’s cover?

In most cases, an author has little impact on the cover. Most authors fill out forms called Cover Art fact sheets which provides a brief story synopsis, information about the major characters, and scene ideas that would make an interesting cover. We’re even ask to describe how the characters are dressed, but often the cover has little to do with the information provided. Authors always wait in trepidation until they see their covers. Then they breathe a sigh of relief or pull out their hair. I’ve had covers I love and an occasional one that doesn’t seem to fit the story. Readers notice. I’ve heard from readers when my hero who had blond hair appeared as a dark-haired man on my cover. I have no control over covers so I’m always thrilled when they fit the story.

3. Where do you get your ideas?

Story ideas come to me in many ways. I hear song lyrics or a song title, I read an article in the newspaper, or I hear about someone’s experience. These events often trigger story idea. I asked myself question - - what if. Sometimes it’s a career and the problems that can occur or two types of people who clash or a serious life issue and how it can be handle by a certain kind of person. Since I write inspirational romance, many times I hear a Bible verse in church or sing a hymn or see stained glass windows that spark an idea, or I ask myself how someone who isn’t a believer might handle a problem in comparison to a Christian. Once a little nugget of an idea gets into my head, it begins to formulate and grow. I see scenes and hear dialogues in my mind like little movies. The longer the story remains in my head the more complete it becomes. Once I begin to write the story, new ideas or subplots may spark to create an even deeper story or give the original idea a new twist. Characters take on lives of their own and struggle to be heard. Sometimes I have to let them go and see what happens. That’s the fun of creating a story.

4. Do you set a writing goal each day?

I write more hours a day than many writers because I have no small children and a husband who has willingly taken over a great deal of the household duties. He does most of the cooking, shopping, and laundry. I don’t set a writing goal, but I’m disappointed if I don’t write at least sixteen pages a day. On occasion I write up to 30 pages which is phenomenal. That would be about two chapters of one of my books.

5. Why do I have a hard time finding your books?

Most of my novels are called "category romance." This means that the books are published monthly like the Steeple Hill Love Inspired novels. If I have an October release, my book will appear on the booksellers shelf at the end of September—a couple of days before October. My books remain on the shelves until the November books arrive. Then many stores tear off the covers, destroy the books, and send the covers back to the publisher for credit. Only a few stores will keep them on hand. Because many of the novels are destroyed, the books go out of print within a half year or less, making them difficult to find. Occasionally they may be ordered from www.eHarlequin.com or www.amazon.com or another on-line bookstore. Some are found as used books. I order some of my books so that I have autographed books for readers once the books are no longer available. Even then, I run out of books too.

I have always loved books. I started reading very young and I began writing as a child as well. In the second and third grade, I wrote poetry that the teachers made me read to the class. I'm surprised that didn't end my career. Writing comes easy to me and so when my church needed special programs, puppet skits or other writing needs, I volunteered. I did the same at the high school where I was an educator.
I always dreamed of being a novelist, but never thought it was realistic. I figured it was like all kids want to be a fireman, doctor, nurse, or movie star, so I never pursued publication, but when I was ready to retire from teaching, I decided to give it a try. I first sold some of my church programs that I'd written for my church, then parenting and teen/youth help articles in Christian magazines. I sold poetry and devotionals as well. I figured if I could do that maybe I could write fiction. At a Christian conference, I heard about author boards on AOL. While there I read a message inviting anyone who was interested in writing Inspirational Romance to join a loop. I didn't know what a loop was, but I replied to the message and connected with Annie Jones, writing as Natalie Patrick at that time. The loop that she formed was a blessing. It drew together a wonderful group of Christian writers--some published, some not - but among them were some of today's biggest names in Christian fiction. Through these women, I learned so much about the business and made contacts with wonderful, helpful writers who were so willing to share their expertise. Some how, it just seem to fit that I write inspirational romance. I'm a woman of faith who loves romance so the two elements fit. I do love suspense also - so the inspirational romantic suspense is another love.
My first call came from Tracie Peterson in the form of an email. At that time she was an acquisitions editor to Rebecca Germany at Heartsong Presents. Tracie emailed the rejection of one of my novels, because they thought it might be controversial to their conservative readership, but she and Becky said they admired my writing and wanted me to be part of the Heartsong family. They asked if I had another manuscript and I said yes. . .although I had no idea what that would be. The only novel that wasn't already submitted somewhere was my very first novel. I did a total revision in about a week and within eleven days of mailing it had sold my first novel. After another sale to Heartsong Presents, THE CALL came the following year when Patience Smith called me with a sale to Steeple Hill Love Inspired.

7. Seems like every time I look up, you have a new book on the stands. Can you tell me how you do it from the time you get an idea?

I'm not whipping these off that fast. I just put in long hard hours to do this. I think I'm a little zooney. I've always been a fast thinker. I can speak at the drop of a hat on something I love like writing - so the ability to think and create quickly is a gift that the Lord gave me since I was a child. I have a vivid imagination and ideas flow through me like water in the ocean. Sometimes I wish the waves would stop and let me rest.
First, I must say that I have special circumstances here. Our children are grown, independent, and live on their own. We have only one grandchild who lives out of state so being a grandma and a mom doesn't take much time. Next, my husband is my greatest joy and supporter. He retired four years ago and has taken over most of the household tasks, odd jobs, and errands. He does the laundry, cooks, and grocery shops. He makes trips to the post office for me and to office supply stores. We have a lady who cleans - so I'm basically free to write. My husband also does my web site and is my proofreader. He's so good now, he comes up with plot twists and ideas. I couldn't do this without him.
Next, most stories live in my head for a long period of time. I probably have fifteen or more stories cooking in my head as I type this - besides the ones already sold or in proposal form. As new ideas come for these stories, they begin to connect and formulate into a mini-movie. I see the story in my mind and I feel the emotion. I also hear snatches of dialogue. So when I begin to put this idea on paper, it's like a book report. It's well-developed as a story in that I have a well-established beginning, some major conflicts, the black moment and the ending. The middle of the book is open to creativity. As my story progresses as I'm writing, things happen, characters take off on their own and sometimes surprise me with wonderful twists, new conflict ideas and scenes I never imagined.
As I said, an idea may live years in my head. Many have. Occasionally, like when I'm asked to do a continuity or a surprise book - like the hardcover gift book for Christmas 2004 which I'm sharing with Catherine Palmer - it's something I have to create immediately. That's more difficult and it takes me much longer to write the book.
Including research, writing drafts to the final project, I can write a Steeple Hill in about 1-1/2 to 2 months. A mystery or suspense is more difficult and the single titles take a few weeks longer. I write a Heartsong in about 1 to 1-1/2 months. A novella in a couple of weeks.
As far as how I write, I mentioned that the story is working in my head for a long time . I start research first, if it's a major part of the story. I just finished a book with a character who has MS. The Christmas Kite is about a child with Down Syndrome. Besides learning about the diseases/disabilities from a medical standpoint, I try to find personal diaries on line and read about feelings and experiences. I also locate people who have gone through these problems or have family members with the problem and I interview.
At the same time I begin developing my characters. I talked about that in a previous question. I fill out my character sheets and have established their goals, motivation, and conflicts - plus personality quirks. Then I begin. I write - probably 10- to 15 pages a day when I have interruptions. I can write up to 30 pages a day - and that's a long day. If I begin 10 a.m. after email and breakfast, I'll write until 6 at night or longer. I stop to exercise and eat . . .or a multitude of interruptions.
I edit as I go. I can't just write and not edit. I'd find that frustrating since I want my story to really flow with foreshadowing and thematic feel. I can do that best when I edit as I go. Each time I walk away from the computer, I reread what I wrote and edit. Once I have 3 or 4 chapters I print off the pages and edit - then I continue. I do this as I go so that when I finish the novel it's close to finished. I usually do two more printouts and edits before it goes to my proofreader. I make those changes or corrections and then it's off to my agent.

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