By Ellie Whyte
Her 2010 release Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico, won the 2011 Will Rogers Medallion Award for excellence in publishing Western Fiction. Maggie’s Journey appeared on a reviewers Top Ten Books of 2011 list. It also won the 2012 Selah award for Historical Novel. Mary’s Blessing released in May 2012 and was included in Book Review Sisters list of top five reads in 2012. Catherine’s Pursuit released in February 2013.
The following is a recent interview with Lena.
PLUS! ENTER THE GIVEAWAY
Tell us a little about yourself.
How did you become a novelist, and did you always want to write?
I grew up in a family where everyone wrote, not for publication, just wrote. I didn't know everyone didn't write until I was almost an adult. I actually have a BA, and most of a Master's degree in Drama. I actually didn't begin writing professionally until 1984 when God used the events of one week in May to tell me to become a professional writer. You can read the testimony about that on the About Me page of my website: www.lenanelsondooley.com
What do you think is significant about Christian fiction?
I love to read and can get lost in an interesting story. I believe many people are that way. An author can use Christian fiction to depict how a person's daily life can be impacted by the presence of God. That's what I try to show without being preachy in any way.
How do you hope your readers react to the stories you write?
Every author hopes that readers will like their stories. But I've learned over the years that you can't please everyone all the time. I just hope that my books will reach the people who can be most affected in a positive way with the stories.
What responses to your novels have affected you the most and why?
I love to hear from readers, whose lives have changed because of a story of mine they read. And they do contact me. Sometimes I even cry when I read how a story made a dynamic difference.
How has being a novelist impacted your relationship with Christ?
I have loved the Lord for a long time. He is woven so deeply into my life that the relationship spills over into the stories I write. I believe that is what true Christian fiction is all about.
Other than writing great novels, what other goals do you have for your life?
I want to bless the Lord with my life. I cannot bless Him even a small part of the amount he blesses me, but I want to. It's important to me to keep my marriage alive and vital. Being a good mother, grandmother, friend--all of these are important as well.
As a writer, what influences have inspired you the most to write, and continue writing?
Knowing in my heart that God created me to be a writer in my mother's womb. In late December when I was seeking God about His word for me in 2014, He told me that He had woven into my DNA all the gifts and talents that I would need this year, so this is a year of Destiny for me.
Every writer struggles with various aspects of their writing journey. What has been the most difficult aspect of writing for you, and what come the most naturally?
Putting the words on paper is easy for me. Usually, ideas spend a lot of time in my head, forming and reforming until they're just right. That's when I pur them on paper.
The most diofficult part is the waiting--waiting for my agent to find a publisher who's interested in my proposal(s), waiting while a publisher goes through all the steps that lead to a contract.
Waiting for the publication date to arrive. AS you can see, I'm not the post patient person on this planet.
What is one piece of advice you would like to give to aspiring writers - either something you adhere to, or something you wish you had known when you started writing?
Give your writing gift back to the Creator of that gift. Then seek Him as you write. He'll keep you on the right track.
As a reader, which stories excite you the most to read, and do you have any favourite novelists?
I love to read, all kinds of genres, except horror. And yes I have favorite authors, but the list is quite long. I invite your readers to visit my blog. http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com
My blog received the TBCN Readers Choice 2013 Blog of the Year AWard. I interview other authors and help promote their books. If you follow this blog, you'll soon discern many of my favorite authors.
What are some of your most favourite places on the internet to visit, that help challenge you as a writer, and encourage you as a reader?
I follow a lot of Christian Authors' blogs and Facebook pages. It helps me keep up with what's happening in our field.
What can you tell us about your most recent and upcoming novels?
If you haven't read them, I'd invite you into the world of my McKenna's Daughters series. Set in the 1880s near the west coast of the US, it's the stories of identical triplets, born on one of the last wagon trains on the Oregon Trail. Their mother dies giving birth, and they are separated. They don't find out until near their 18th birthdays that they have sisters.
MAGGIE'S JOURNEY, MARY'S BLESSING, and CATHERINE'S PURSUIT. MAGGIE'S JOURNEY won the Selah Award. MARY'S BLESSING finaled in the Selah, and CATHERINE'S PURSUIT is in contests right now.
My next project is adapting another author's novel into a movie screenplay. I'm excited about this new projected. ABDUCTED TO KILL should release late this year or early 2015.
Do you have any parting words?
Spend time with the Lord. He's the only one who will never leave you and has only your best in mind.
Visit Lena's Author Portfolio Page at Soul Inspirationz // Christian Fiction Site to find links to her website and other online hangouts, as well as her list of books and a Featured Author Interview.
ELLIE WHYTE is a long-time supporter of Christian fiction and is the founder and owner/operator of Soul Inspirationz // The Christian Fiction Site which relaunched after a 5-year hiatus in January 2013. Ellie also has aspirations for her own writing career, and has begun working on a project set in New Zealand in the 1850s. http://soulinspirationz.blogspot.com
Website: http://www.christianfictionsite.com
Blog: http://soulinspirationz.blogspot.com
Facebook: Soul Inspirationz http://www.facebook.com/soulinspirationz
Twitter: @SoulInspiredNZ http://twitter.com/SoulInspiredNZ
I love to hear from readers, whose lives have changed because of a story of mine they read. And they do contact me. Sometimes I even cry when I read how a story made a dynamic difference.
How has being a novelist impacted your relationship with Christ?
I have loved the Lord for a long time. He is woven so deeply into my life that the relationship spills over into the stories I write. I believe that is what true Christian fiction is all about.
Other than writing great novels, what other goals do you have for your life?
I want to bless the Lord with my life. I cannot bless Him even a small part of the amount he blesses me, but I want to. It's important to me to keep my marriage alive and vital. Being a good mother, grandmother, friend--all of these are important as well.
As a writer, what influences have inspired you the most to write, and continue writing?
Knowing in my heart that God created me to be a writer in my mother's womb. In late December when I was seeking God about His word for me in 2014, He told me that He had woven into my DNA all the gifts and talents that I would need this year, so this is a year of Destiny for me.
Every writer struggles with various aspects of their writing journey. What has been the most difficult aspect of writing for you, and what come the most naturally?
Putting the words on paper is easy for me. Usually, ideas spend a lot of time in my head, forming and reforming until they're just right. That's when I pur them on paper.
The most diofficult part is the waiting--waiting for my agent to find a publisher who's interested in my proposal(s), waiting while a publisher goes through all the steps that lead to a contract.
Waiting for the publication date to arrive. AS you can see, I'm not the post patient person on this planet.
What is one piece of advice you would like to give to aspiring writers - either something you adhere to, or something you wish you had known when you started writing?
Give your writing gift back to the Creator of that gift. Then seek Him as you write. He'll keep you on the right track.
As a reader, which stories excite you the most to read, and do you have any favourite novelists?
I love to read, all kinds of genres, except horror. And yes I have favorite authors, but the list is quite long. I invite your readers to visit my blog. http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com
My blog received the TBCN Readers Choice 2013 Blog of the Year AWard. I interview other authors and help promote their books. If you follow this blog, you'll soon discern many of my favorite authors.
What are some of your most favourite places on the internet to visit, that help challenge you as a writer, and encourage you as a reader?
I follow a lot of Christian Authors' blogs and Facebook pages. It helps me keep up with what's happening in our field.
What can you tell us about your most recent and upcoming novels?
If you haven't read them, I'd invite you into the world of my McKenna's Daughters series. Set in the 1880s near the west coast of the US, it's the stories of identical triplets, born on one of the last wagon trains on the Oregon Trail. Their mother dies giving birth, and they are separated. They don't find out until near their 18th birthdays that they have sisters.
MAGGIE'S JOURNEY, MARY'S BLESSING, and CATHERINE'S PURSUIT. MAGGIE'S JOURNEY won the Selah Award. MARY'S BLESSING finaled in the Selah, and CATHERINE'S PURSUIT is in contests right now.
My next project is adapting another author's novel into a movie screenplay. I'm excited about this new projected. ABDUCTED TO KILL should release late this year or early 2015.
Do you have any parting words?
Spend time with the Lord. He's the only one who will never leave you and has only your best in mind.
ENTER THE GIVEAWAYPost a comment about this interview and enter the Rafflecopter draw for a copy of one of Lena's books, MAGGIE'S JOURNEY or MARY'S BLESSING - winner's choice. A valid comment on the blog is an entry requirement into the draw. Contest open to entrants worldwide, and ends on Saturday, 22 March.
Visit Lena's Author Portfolio Page at Soul Inspirationz // Christian Fiction Site to find links to her website and other online hangouts, as well as her list of books and a Featured Author Interview.
ELLIE WHYTE is a long-time supporter of Christian fiction and is the founder and owner/operator of Soul Inspirationz // The Christian Fiction Site which relaunched after a 5-year hiatus in January 2013. Ellie also has aspirations for her own writing career, and has begun working on a project set in New Zealand in the 1850s. http://soulinspirationz.blogspot.comWebsite: http://www.christianfictionsite.com
Blog: http://soulinspirationz.blogspot.com
Facebook: Soul Inspirationz http://www.facebook.com/soulinspirationz
Twitter: @SoulInspiredNZ http://twitter.com/SoulInspiredNZ
