Author Interview & Giveaway: Laura Frantz

By Ellie Whyte

Laura Frantz is a lover of history, is the author of The Frontiersman's Daughter, Courting Morrow Little, and The Colonel's Lady, and currently lives in the misty woods of Washington with her husband and two sons.

Passionate about all things historical, she writes her manuscripts in longhand first. Her stories often incorporate Celtic themes. Her family lineage is Scottish, English, and Irish.

Laura Frantz credits her grandmother as being the catalyst for her fascination with Kentucky history. Frantz's family followed Daniel Boone into Kentucky in the late eighteenth century and settled in Madison County, where her family still resides.

The following is a 2014 interview with Laura.

PLUS! ENTER THE GIVEAWAY

Post a comment about this interview at the end of the blog post and enter the Rafflecopter draw for a copy of one of Laura's books - 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, 25 January.

Tell us a little about yourself.

I was born and raised in the southern U.S. – Kentucky – but currently I live way out west in Washington State in a little house in the misty woods with my real-life hero of 20 years, Randy, and our 2 sons, Wyatt (16) and Paul (14).

How did you become a novelist, and did you always want to write?

I wanted to write from the age of 7 when I penned my first story which was and always has been a historical. The journals I kept when I was a young girl say, “I want to be an author when I grow up.” I still have them in an old trunk and it’s interesting to read that wish many years later. Sometimes I think God instills in us our heart’s desire early on J.

What do you think is significant about Christian fiction?

I think the written word is very powerful. Jesus often spoke in parables/stories that are with us today. Christian fiction is often a seeker’s or non-Christian’s introduction to a Christian worldview and is capable of inspiring hungry souls to dig deeper and meet the Savior or get to know Him better than they do. God is so creative in how He reaches us and I’m thankful He chooses books as one way to get His message across.

How do you hope your readers react to the stories you write?

My books have been described as vivid and intensely emotional. My goal is to make an emotional connection with readers and that may not always be positive! I tend to write out of the box as I don’t sugarcoat history which sometimes means readers are pulled away from predictability and comfort. My hope is that readers will experience the hope and love to be had in Christ through my characters and their lives, however hard or fraught with heartache.  I always promise a hopeful, happy ending.

What responses to your novels have affected you the most and why?

I love reader mail. It’s such a joy hearing from people who say they can’t explain how my novels have moved them but are somehow enriched because of the stories the Lord has given me to write.

How has being a novelist impacted your relationship with Christ?

I am always very grateful for the gift of writing Christ gave me. It’s humbling to think He instilled a love of the written word in a little girl many years ago and brought that to fruition to benefit people even in a small way.  I always tell people I don’t know how to write a novel and I don’t. I never studied the craft of writing other than being a voracious reader as a child. I believe God gives the gift of writing and so it’s His blessing and is to be used for His purposes. My job is to work as hard as I can and leave the results to Him.

Other than writing great novels, what other goals do you have for your life?

My primary goal is to be a godly wife and mother and to love the Lord with all my heart, soul, mind, and spirit, all that is within me. As a writer, I’m always aspiring to write a great novel but never feel I come close to that.

As a writer, what influences have inspired you the most to write, and continue writing?

Since I love to read, books themselves have inspired me - history and historical fiction for the most part starting when I was very small. I believe people are hardwired to write, at least in my case. I'm very conscious that it's a gift and I need to write for the season God gives me. Knowing others will come and take my place is very humbling and keeps my focus on Him. I pray I can keep writing the kind of stories readers love and lose themselves in!

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?

I am a terrible promoter of my writing ~ marketing is like a root canal for me! I think I would have been better off writing 50 years ago before promo had become such a wild animal, before Amazon reviews and Twitter and Facebook, etc. I am truly a writer who needs solitude away from social media chatter. To me writing has little do to with the marketplace and sales and followers. It's more an act of worship. Writing is my passion whereas publishing is work. Writing itself comes the most easily. In fact, I have to make myself STOP writing or I would not eat or sleep much or take care of things at home. Deadlines are easy for me, thankfully, because writing is not work and never has been.

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?

Write your heart out. Write the story of your heart. Not what someone else is telling you to write or what the market wants or is trendy. Write a story you can't put down and readers will feel the same. You need to want to publish really, really badly to put up with the bumps and challenges along the publishing path.

As a reader, which stories excite you the most to read, and do you have any favourite novelists?

I love well-crafted historicals with depth and richness in both prose and characterization and setting. Thankfully Christian fiction is becoming better and better with more genres and authors to choose from. As far as favorites, I think every Christian novelist excels at something and I find admirable things in almost every book. For example, Julie Lessman excels at passionate romance and also the spiritual threads in her novels whereas Serena Miller is great at riveting storylines and Joanne Bischof amazes with fresh, out of the box writing. I could go on and on...!

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 simply love your beautiful site, Ellie - eye candy and chock full of savvy stuff and more :) (Soul Inspirationz // The Christian Fiction Site) But you already know that! My agent, Janet Grant's site at Books&Such is also a great one for those who are seeking publication. I try not to spend too much time on the internet actually and so I'm not a very reliable source! Brandon Hill, the designer/photographer for my book covers always provides inspiration at his site. I also have to put in a plug for your very own Rel at Relzreviewz. She's passionate about books and is a wonderful support to authors, much like you here.

What can you tell us about your most recent and upcoming novels?

I just came home from the cover shoot in Seattle of my next novel, Love's Fortune. Brandon Hill has designed all of the covers for the Ballantyne Legacy series and he's amazing and gifted as a photographer and designer. It was a wonderful experience meeting the model for my character and touching the lovely period costume and watching her get prepped for the shoot, etc. I can't wait to share more of that with you!

Do you have any parting words?              

I'm thrilled to be meeting more Australian and New Zealand readers. My grandmother loved your neck of the woods when she traveled and instilled a desire to visit one day. I want to thank readers there for taking time for my books and writing to tell me they've enjoyed them. I save each and every email and always write back. Thanks so much for hosting me here!

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ENTER THE GIVEAWAY

Post a comment about this interview and enter the Rafflecopter draw for a copy of one of Laura's books - 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, 25 January.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Visit Laura'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.

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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

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