I am very pleased to announce we have a seasoned author among us! Welcome, Tracie Peterson!
"Tracie Peterson is an award-winning, best-selling author of over 100 books. Having given her heart to Jesus at the young age of six, Tracie has always felt called to some form of ministry, and writing fulfills that mission field.
Tracie received her first book contract in November, 1992 and saw A Place To Belong published in February 1993 with Barbour Publishings' Heartsong Presents. She wrote exclusively with Heartsong for the next two years, receiving their readership's vote for Favorite Author of the Year for three years in a row.
In December, 1995 she signed a contract with Bethany House Publishers. Tracie now writes exclusively for Bethany House Publishers. She has co-written with a variety of authors including Judith Pella, Judith Miller, James Scott Bell, Kimberley Woodhouse and her daughter Jennifer.
Throughout her writing career Tracie has found time to speak at writer's conferences where she has a special heart for new authors. She is often joined by her husband Jim, whose background in history offers new authors insight into research. Besides teaching at conferences, Tracie also at one time managed Barbour Publishing's Heartsong Presents book line - overseeing the production of 52 books a year. Tracie teaches at women's conferences around the country and shares her testimony and insight for Christian living through the eyes of an author passionately in love with her Heavenly Father.
Tracie was awarded the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award for 2007 Inspirational Fiction and the 2011 Lifetime Achievement Award from American Christian Fiction Writers. Her books have won numerous awards for favorite books in a variety of contests, including USA "Best Books 2011" Awards, best Religious Fiction for Embers of Love!
Making her home in Montana, this Kansas native enjoys spending time with family--especially her three grandchildren--Rainy, Fox and Max..
For information on having Tracie speak at your event - contact Noelle Buss at Bethany Publishers/Baker Books."
1. What inspired you to become a writer?
I've loved storytelling all of my life. When I was little, my mother would give me pencil and paper to keep me quiet in church. She'd tell me to draw or write a story and after church she'd take time out for me to tell her about my story. I've always loved the power words have to change lives and storytelling seemed a natural way to offer entertainment, education and encouragement. Those 3 E's are important to me. I want the story to be entertaining of course, but I want to throw in history of the times and Spiritual truth, as well as encouragement for those going through hard times.
2. What books have influenced your life most?
Aside from the obvious answer of the Bible - I've been influenced by both non-fiction and fiction, but to name a few - I love My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers, A Closer Walk by Catherine Marshall, A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen and Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. However, it wasn't until after reading the Zion Chronicles and Zion Covenants by Bodie Thoene and the Russian series by Judith Pella and Michael Phillips that I realized historical Christian fiction with strong romantic elements was what I wanted to write.
3. What is the one piece of advice you received about writing that helped you the most?
Years ago another writer told me to 1. Write what you know, 2. Learn what you don't, 3. Never give up on the dream. That along with the first and most important - Pray about each project has been very valuable advice to me. I also highly recommend today's writer get connected. Network with other writers, writer organizations and social media outlets. These are great for helping the new author to learn the publishing ropes and also for honing their skills. I helped co-found American Christian Fiction Writer's with that in mind and today that organization has thousands of members. You can check them out at acfw.com.
4. Do you have any preparation rituals before you begin to write?
The one thing I have to have in place for writing my books is a detailed, chapter by chapter synopsis. This acts as my road map and while I sometimes take a side road or two, I use these to make sure the pacing of the plot and character development is good, that I'm not leaving any issues unresolved and that the spiritual aspect of the story is woven in naturally and not forced. Saves me from having any major rewrites.
5. Which one of your books do you consider your “pride and joy”. Why?
I can't say that there is just one. All 106 that are currently written (the last three aren't yet out) are testaments to God's faithfulness and direction. I'm amazed at what He's accomplished in me through writing, as well as what He accomplishes through the stories.
6. Any fun behind the scenes tidbits you'd like to share with us?
Hmmm, that's not a question I often see. I will say this, I'm a very flexible writer. I can write almost anywhere anytime. I've written in planes, trains, cars, at conferences,in airports, family reunions, while sitting in hospitals and in the dentist's parking lot. It really doesn't matter, although the older I get the more I value writing where it's quiet.
7. Do you pattern you heroes and heroines after people you know?
Absolutely. There are quite a few, however, who aren't really patterned after anyone.
8. What is your favorite time in History?
Post Civil War to 1900
9. We all have family, work and other obligations...how do you maintain balance while in the middle of a writing project?
It used to be that people didn't think I had a real job. Sometimes that's still the case, but for the most part they finally "get it". However, as I mentioned above I tend to be pretty flexible. If I need to take care of something in the daytime then I write at night and so forth. When I was younger and my children were small I tried to keep to a strict schedule so that I had evening time for them as well as weekends. I also try to keep the Sabbath set aside for focusing on the Lord.
10. What is the next project you're working on?
I've been researching and plotting out a new series set in late 1800's Montana. It deals with sapphire mining and the people and pieces that come from these beautiful stones. Montana is famous for Yogo Sapphires that were discovered in the late 1890's at a time when the only really prized sapphires came from Ceylon and Burma. The Yogo's shook things up and I thought it made a truly amazing foundation for a three book series that would show how these were obtained, cut and put into jewelry.
11. Where can we purchase your books? (provide link) and how can we keep up with you? (blog link, webpage, fan page)
The books can be bought through most bookstores. If they don't have them in stock, they will order them. The books are also available at most any online site like christianbooks.com, amazon.com and so forth. My readers can keep up with me at my website www.traciepeterson.com and at my facebook page facebook.com/
12. Last, but not least.....What and when is your next release? Provide a brief synopsis....
I have a brand new series debuting in December. It's a Seattle Brides series set in 1888-1890 that deals with three zany old ladies who along with their adopted ward Abrianna run a bridal finishing school in Seattle. Abrianna is a feisty red-head who is always getting into one mess or another - much to the disappointment of her aunts who long only to properly "finish" her. There are 3 books each dealing with a separate romance, as well as on-going relationships throughout the series. It has more humor than my books usually have, but there's still intrigue and adventure and of course - romance.
Thank you Tracie! That was so much fun!
