My friend and fellow author Brenda S. Anderson. Here is Part Two of our interview. Her first novel Chain of Mercy debuts April 22nd, 2014.
Would you classify your genre as Women's Fiction? Do you intend to write exclusively in that genre?
I wouldn’t classify it as Women’s fiction, as I do tend to enjoy telling stories from a male protagonist’s point of view. Rather I would call it contemporary with strong romantic elements. I’ve also called it family / relational drama.
I have written a few novels that would be labeled as contemporary romance. After getting nowhere with my family drama novels, I threw my hands in the hair and said, then I’ll write romance! And wouldn’t you know it, it was my first contemporary romance, Hearts at Risk, that was a Finalist in the ACFW Genesis Awards.
But, my first love is gritty contemporary.
What do you think separates you from other Christian authors in your genre? And what is your hoped-for objective?
I would probably say my stories are grittier, messier than the average, but I believe that gives them the authenticity that many readers crave. Let’s face it, other than Jesus, no one has led the perfect life, and becoming a Christian doesn’t automatically turn people into saints. I’ve found too many saints in Christian fiction.
My hoped-for objective is to show readers they’re not alone in their brokenness, and they don’t have to suffer alone.
We've also discussed the difficulties of marketing. Is there a set plan for you prior to and as Chain of Mercy releases?
Pray!
I’ve set up a street team whose job it is to spread the word about my book. The team includes both bloggers and non-bloggers. Some of my loudest advocates don’t have a blog, but they’re going to stores asking the owners to stock my books; they’re going to community groups and telling them I’ll speak. (to which I say, “I will???”).
I’ve set up a blog tour that’s spanning a few months. Hopefully, it will keep the buzz going until my next book comes out this September!
While it’s important to have a web presence, writing the page-turning story is still the best marketing scheme, and word-of-mouth speaks louder than most blogs I know of.
I’ve created a Facebook author page, and, against my better judgment, opened a Twitter account. I still don’t get it.
Remember that all glory goes to God. This book isn’t about me. I might just have to step out of the way and let Him move.
Pray!
Do you have a specific vision or goal for your individual novels or as a body of work?
To be honest, not really. I’m just writing what intrigues me. As I said above, I want to let the reader know that they’re not alone.
If you could address future readers of your first release (Chain of Mercy), what would you say to them?
I would tell them not to expect their “grandmother’s fiction.” I would tell them Chain of Mercy is the story of my heart, a novel that made me see entirely new perspectives on abortion, that this story challenged me to see people as God sees them—He sees their hearts. Hopefully, that’s what I’ve shown.
Writers find their storylines from all kinds of places: physical, emotional, and spiritual. What inspires you? And from where did the storyline come for Chain of Mercy? Your other novels?
My stories come from many different places. Sometimes I’ll read a novel, and want to know another character’s perspective. Sometimes I’ll be watching the news, and it’ll make me wonder how that criminal came to that life—I’m curious about the story from the *bad guy’s* perspective. One story that’s currently rattling about in my head is inspired by a visit my daughter and I made to a candy shop along the North Shore, north of Duluth, Minnesota. Standing behind the counter was a thirty-something man who looked more like a logger than a candy store clerk. So, naturally, I’m wondering why he’s working there.
My original *what if* for Chain of Mercy disappeared somewhere in the many drafts. I think what initially prompted the story was hearing about doctors who performed late-term abortions. I wondered what would happen if one of those abortion doctors decided to secretly save those babies rather than abort them. Yeah, it’s a goofy premise, but it led me to what Chain of Mercy is today. The other three books in the Coming Home Series all stem from story lines in Chain of Mercy that I wanted to explore further.
You and I mostly prefer male protagonists in our writing andreading. Tell us a little about your male character in Chain of Mercy? Do your other novels feature predominant males?
Richard Brooks grew up on a farm, but found success in corporate Manhattan. That’s also where he abandoned his faith. Chain of Mercy is about Richard’s journey back to faith.
He’s your typical tall, dark, handsome, intelligent, and wealthy leading man, but there’s a purpose for that. It’s that same intelligence, wealth, and good looks that drew him away from God.
He also loves family. No one is more important to him than his nieces and nephews, and there’s a large part of him that longs to be a father, but he feels he’s compromised too much in his life to deserve fatherhood.
Richard Brooks is featured prominently in the entire Coming Home Series, but the prequel, Pieces of Granite, is more about his sister, Debbie.
In my contemporary romance series, I worked very hard to make the heroine the main character, but it’s not natural for me. I tend to write guys better, and I’ve had enough men read my books to know that I usually get them right.
Part Three winds up on Monday.
Brenda S. Anderson writes gritty, life-affirming fiction that offers hope and reminds the readers they’re not alone. She is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, and is currently President of the ACFW Minnesota Chapter, MN-NICE. When not reading or writing, she enjoys music, theater, roller coasters, and baseball (Go Twins!), and she loves watching movies with her family. She resides in the Minneapolis, Minnesota area with her husband of 26 years, their three children, and one sassy cat.
Her debut novel, Chain of Mercy, Book #1 in the Coming Home Series, comes out on April 22, 2014, and Pieces of Granite, the prequel to Chain of Mercy, is scheduled to release on September 16, 2014!
Brenda S. Anderson – Author Photos
Photos courtesy of Portraits from the Heart
Website link: http://brendaandersonbooks.com/
Blog links:
http://brendaandersonbooks.com/blog/
http://inkspirationalmessages.com/
Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/BrendaSAndersonAuthor
Twitter link: https://twitter.com/BrendaSAnders_n
Pinterest link: http://www.pinterest.com/brendabanderson/
Father, continue to provide the stories you have for Brenda to tell. Bless her prayers, her hopes, and her family in all they do to honor you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.