Interview with Erin Rainwater

Erin Rainwater

Today we are interviewing author Erin Rainwater. Her two most recent books are True Colors and The Arrow That Flieth By Day.

 Erin Rainwater is a Pennsylvania native now living in Colorado. As an Army nurse during the Vietnam War, she cared for the bodies and spirits of soldiers and veterans, including repatriated prisoners of war. Her military experience has helped in writing parts of her novels. In addition to writing, she serves as a nurse in the National Disaster Medical System, and has deployed to disaster areas around the country. One of her favorite pastimes is volunteering at the USO in Denver. Erin has been married to her sweetheart Keith for 35 years, has four children and the four most adorable grandchildren on the planet.

 

True Colors--Her war is not with enemy soldiers but with battles of the heart and of the will. Only truth can conquer this type of foe. And truth is in short supply.

The Arrow That Flieth By Day--The course of her life diverted by a mistaken accusation, Mandy’s journey now leads her into a faith tested by fire, and a love tested by sacrifice.

Erin took a few minutes with me to talk about publishing from a writer's perspective.      

 

Tiffany Colter: Who has really influenced you?

Erin Rainwater: As a devotee of American history, I'd say those who came before have been my greatest influence in what I write. This country is so great because of the men and women who came before, what they thought, how they lived, how they behaved. Imperfect as they were, they built us quite a legacy with which we are to soldier on. There is a scene in True Colors where Michael and Cassie are walking around at a historical spot, and he says, "Anywhere your feet trod you are walking in the footsteps of history, whether those of a famous person or the common man or woman who helped form this great land....I feel like I'm continuing in a history started long ago." Even as I sit at my computer, someone, lots of someones, at some point, took up this very space in Colorado, walking, plowing, setting up a tipi, whatever. And now, I'm continuing in a history started long ago. 

 
TC: How have you marketed your book without the help of a traditional publisher?

ER: Being more of an introverted type, the idea of shameless self-promoting was difficult for me. I constantly asked for the Lord's courage as I went in person to local libraries, independent and chain book stores with my novels in my hands. I emailed book clubs (those are the most fun!), church groups, radio stations (got a couple interviews) and even my county's school library board (who ended up recommending both novels for placement in their high school libraries!). But I hear that "traditionally" published authors are asked to do more of their own self-promoting as well. I think I've had to do more footwork than most of them, but it's been an experience I have the feeling will pay off at some point.
 
 
TC: Anything else you'd like to add?

ER: When I was growing up, I thought I should've been born in the early American West but somehow got flash-forwarded into the 20th century. I was a Bonanza junkie. Still am (reruns on TV Land). I also had a fascination with the complete enigma that was the Civil War. So it was natural that when I began writing fiction, the setting was the American West and the Civil War. My hope is that readers will not only be entertained by my stories and moved by the spiritual messages, but will come away with a greater appreciation of the legacy they have inherited from those who came before.

Read the rest of Erin's interview here at Writing Career Coach