Today on Inside the Writer's Life we have a very special guest with us-- Suzanne Woods Fisher. Suzanne is probably one of the most widely recognized authorities on the Amish culture. She has authored many books and magazine articles featuring the Plain Life, both in fiction and non-fiction.
Suzanne Woods Fisher's interest in the Anabaptist cultures can be directly traced to her grandfather, W. D. Benedict, who was raised in the Old Order German Baptist Brethren Church in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Benedict eventually became publisher of Christianity Today magazine. Suzanne has maintained a close relationship with her Plain relatives.
Along with being a well known author, Suzanne is also a "wife and mother to four children, ages 17-26, plus one new son-in-law. She loves studying the Bible, gardening and cooking, and puppies. Suzanne has raised seven puppies for Guide Dogs for the Blind. She says it’s like eating a potato chip. You can’t stop after one."
Her most recent addition in her career is her new radio program "Amish Wisdom". Suzanne shares with you ways to "slow down, de-clutter, find peace, and live a simpler life. You don’t have to 'go Amish' to incorporate principles of the Plain People into your life. There's much to learn from them: simple living, everyday joys, and greater value on family, community and church."
"Thank you Suzanne for taking time out of your busy schedule to share with our readers a little about your journey as an author."
Q: How did you get started writing?
A: Ever since I learned to read. I have always loved reading and writing…and yet I was never identified as having any talent as a writer. Still, I persevered out of a passion for the written word.
Q: How old were you?
A: I was in my early twenties when I first started to freelance for magazines. I contributed to non-fiction books in my thirties, then started to write books in my 40s.
Q: After you first started writing--how long was if before you were published?
A: Free lance writing for magazines was a fairly open door, especially as I developed a relationship with editors. It doesn’t mean everything was accepted, but doors kept opening as I kept trying and kept improving my craft.
Q: Do you have a particular degree or other educational experience that has helped you write well?
A: I graduated from Westmont College and worked on the college newspaper. I think attending a small college was a benefit to writing often and learning to write well. Professors actually read my work!
Q: What compels you or has influenced you in your writing?
A: Some kind of inner motor! I just love to write. Even if I weren’t paid for it, I would keep writing. Even if I lost my ability to use my hands, I would figure something out…voice recognition software, perhaps.
Q: How many hours a day do you spend writing?
A: Oh…you don’t want to know. Probably ten or more. Almost every single day.
Q: Where do you write?
A: I have a tiny laundry room with a cramped spot for a computer…but it works!
Q: Who are your mentor(s) and supporters?
A: Good writers are my mentors…and my supporters have been my family and friends. Amazingly supportive!
Q: When you first started writing, what was the biggest mystery to you about the process of publishing? And now?
A: Understanding the publishing business. I strongly recommend writers attend writing conferences, to start to see the business from the editors and agents and publishers’ viewpoint. They need to stay afloat, and as wonderful as a book may be, the audience might be very small for it. It doesn’t mean that there isn’t a market for your unique and wonderful book, but you have to be realistic about the sell-through. I guess that’s the biggest wake-up…to be realistic and objective about the business of writing.
Q: What steps did you take to get your work published?
A: I started with a small royalty press. That book hooked an agent, who connected me to an Acquisitions Editor with a large publishing house. I was willing to start small and get started on that steep learning curve. I really recommend that approach to others. I have found that God likes small beginnings, and nothing…nothing!... is wasted!
Q: Tell me about the day you first received word that your first work was accepted. What was it like? What did you do?
A: I woke up, read the e-mail, and was stunned. Walked around in a daze all day! A happy daze.
Q: Is the “writer’s life” what you thought it would be?
A: It’s better! In so many ways…getting published and having a place to write is such a joy! I have to pinch myself sometimes…to think people are reading my books. But the writer’s life is harder than I expected, too. The promotion side takes up a huge amount of work—it’s fun to connect with readers but it takes away from writing time, too. And you’re very exposed as a writer. People feel free to pass judgment on your work…it’s their right as a reader to do so. Still…sometimes they forget that authors are people, too.
Q: How do you deal with writers block?
A: I haven’t had a true block…certainly times when I’m feeling a little empty of imagination. During those times, I like to read and read. Gets that fire stoked!
Q: Was your work ever rejected?
A: Absolutely! Battlescars are part of this writing gig.
Q: What are your biggest distractions?
A: Promotion. I love getting reader e-mails, I enjoy speaking to groups, I learn so much from interacting with readers…how to improve the next book, for example. But every time I do a promotion task, I’m not writing. It’s a daily tricky balancing act!
Q: What was one of the best moments in your career and what was one of the worst?
A: Recently I found out “The Choice” is #12 on the ECPA bestseller list. Wow, wow, wow. That is such a thrill! Down to my bones kind of thrill!
The worst moment? Probably getting a scathing and rude review from a non-Christian reviewer. For the very same book that is now in its third printing! Just goes to show that critics aren’t always the best source. Still…a battlescar!
Q: What do you like most about being a writer? Least like?
A: What I love most is that everything in life is “grit for the oyster!” It’s all material.
What do I like least? Probably that sitting at the computer is so sedentary. I wish someone would create a stationary bike with a keyboard…stay in shape while you write! That’s where dogs are a big help! I’ve been a puppy raiser for Guide Dogs for the Blind. I walk my dogs every day, rain or shine. And I love to play tennis, too. I try to keep up with my friendships. My friends mean so much to me, and friendships take time. It would be sad to be a bestselling author but without any friends!
Q: What is the role and importance of an agent?
A: Three things…they’re gatekeepers to the editors, they’re connecters, and once you’re on board—they’re your advocate. I think it’s really important to try to find an agent.
Q: What advice would you give to new and aspiring writers?
A: Start small! I’m so glad I started small with my first novel—with a small royalty press. It was a small pond to learn in, make mistakes, gain important skills like public speaking or book promotion. I can’t say enough about the benefits of starting small. Writing for church newsletters, keeping up a blog, freelancing for magazines, sending in contributions for short devotions to book publishers. You can’t get enough experience.
Take your writing very seriously. Set goals, find a writers’ group, attend conferences, learn from others. At the same time, don’t take yourself too seriously. Get a tough hide. Persevere. Laugh at your mistakes. Enjoy this writing gig!
Q: What is your personal ministry focus?
A: In every book I write, I hope the reader ends the story feeling closer to God than she began. I never want to whack someone on the head with faith. I just want to encourage a reader to trust God a little more, rely on Him a little deeper, to get to know Him in a fresh way.
Q: Do you have anything else you would like to share with our readers?
A: Four words God has taught me: “Hangeth Thou In There.”
Q: When you see God, what do you want to ask him?
A: Did you really mean to create mosquitos? Or was it an accident?
Thank you again Suzanne for being here today. Tune in and listen to Suzanne on her radio program Amish Wisdom.
You can also find Suzanne on-line at www.suzannewoodsfisher.com, Facebook and Twitter (suzannewfisher). She loves to hear from readers and tries to get back to each one.
Her books are widely available at most bookstores and online at Amazon.com
New Works by Suzanne Woods Fisher to be released-
"Amish Peace: Simple Wisdom for a Complicated World" (Revell)
There are three books in the Lancaster County Secrets series--
- "The Choice" (Revell) Just released.
- "The Waiting"--will release on October 1st, 2010.
- Third in the series will release January 1st, 2011.
"Amish Proverbs: Words of Wisdom from the Simple Life" (Revell) will release August 1, 2010. It’s a hardcover non-fiction gift book, filled with beautiful photography and short stories about the Amish.
And then five more books are under contract! Lined up like airplanes on a runway.
Agent- Joyce Hart of The Hartline Literary Agency
Publisher -Revell Books, a division of Baker Books
Comments
Laura - great interview! Suzanne - I enjoyed learning more about you. I love that raising puppies is like eating potato chips for you!
Enjoyed this interview about Suzanne, she writes about a life style you don`t hear about very often. I think the idea of a more simplified way of life is definately a good one, especially when God is at the center of it all.
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