Talkshow Thursday: Welcome back, Donna Schlacter

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome back, Donna Schlacter

Linda:  Thanks for joining me today. Congratulations on your upcoming release, Double Jeopardy. It sounds intriguing. Where did you find your inspiration for this story?

Donna: It’s amazing how inspiring this simple question from an editor can be: why aren’t you publishing with me?

Seriously, that’s what happened. Said publisher wanted a story with a cowboy on the cover. Or at least the potential for a cowboy on the cover.

LM: Research is important for any book, but especially so with regard to historic novels. Mining and ranching are part of Double Jeopardy. How did you go about researching these two topics, and was there an especially interesting fact you wanted to include in the story?

Donna: I visited the area, went to a mining museum, read some articles and books, watched a documentary or two, and did some online research. While Colorado is well-known for its gold rush, the silver rush came earlier but didn’t last long. I love to write about lesser-known facts, so settled on silver mining. One thing I learned was they used mules in silver mines, too, so I included a pair in the story.

LM: Your historical novels don’t center around one particular era. When you write, how do you go about choosing which time period to use, and do you have a favorite?

Donna: I usually look for that little nugget (no pun intended) of history or unsolved mystery, and set the story there.

LM: In addition to writing, you also have a speaking ministry, and offer critiquing, editing, and proofreading services. How do you juggle these activities with your personal time?

Donna: Personal time? LOL. Seriously, I’m a To-Do List fiend, so everything gets scheduled on my calendar. When I’m writing, I put an appointment for my butt in my chair and my fingers on the keys to write however many chapters I need to stay on goal. Same with other projects. Speaking in February? Outline in December. Write it in January. Practice it in February. Outline and PowerPoint to organizers whenever they want them. Just so.

LM: You’ve published numerous books. What advice do you have for fledgling writers?

Donna: Never be afraid to tell your story. It’s important because it is your story, and you’re the only one who can tell it.

LM: What is your next project?

Donna: A covered wagons collection. And then coming up with a new cozy mystery series for my alter ego.

LM: Where can folks find you on the web?

Donna: I’d love if you’d join me at my Double Jeopardy Facebook event on January 7th: https://www.facebook.com/events/2220456174726867/

And, if you’re in the Denver, Colorado area, join me at the Launch Party on January 7th at Bear Valley Church, 10001 W Jewell Ave, Lakewood, CO, 7-9 pm. There will be fun, light refreshments, games, prizes, and books to buy. I’ll be the one dressed up as Zeke Graumann’s mother.

Website: www.HiStoryThruTheAges.wordpress.com

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Facebook: www.Facebook.com/DonnaschlachterAuthor

Twitter: www.Twitter.com/DonnaSchlachter

Books: Amazon: http://amzn.to/2ci5Xqq and Smashwords: http://bit.ly/2gZATjm

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Talkshow Thursday: A Guest Post by Donna Schlachter

Talkshow Thursday: A Guest Post by Donna Schlachter

Transformation: a chronological walk through the Bible in a year

Have you ever noticed that the voice of God often comes in the most unexpected moments asking the most unexpected things of us? This happened to me early in January of 2017 during my daily reading. Without a doubt, He stood beside me and said, “Write this book”.

Now, normally when God tells me to write a book, I don’t have any problem. I mean, I have so many stories floating around inside my head, I don’t think I’ll live long enough to get them all written down.

So, naturally, I asked, “Which book?”

“This book.”

“This isn’t a book.” Like I need to tell God that, or anything for that matter. “It’s just my daily journal.”

“Yes. That book.”

Honestly, that was the last thing I wanted to hear. Like I said, I have plenty of other books to write without God adding a devotional to the list. But I couldn’t escape the instruction.

So, here are three things I learned while writing this book:

1. Because it was also my daily reading and quiet time, I had to be honest with my own thoughts, feelings, and understandings, but also be willing to be completely transparent with my reader. In fact, when I transcribed this book into my computer, I only changed about three words, and that’s because I’d written the wrong word in my journal.
2. I waited until almost the end of the year to transcribe the book. Stupid me. I could have started almost immediately. The lesson learned is never put off what God is telling you to do.
3. The process of writing a book kept me on track so I couldn’t skip days or skim the reading. At the end of every reading, I asked God what He wanted me to learn, and what He wanted the reader to learn. As a result, I didn’t use any of the “usual” verses we see in devotionals, and God gave me fresh insight every single day.

So this book has been a true transformation for me. The way I read was different; I expected God to show up every day; and I was able to be more real in what I wrote. As I transcribed, I saw days where I was upbeat; days where I was discouraged; days where I was angry. And yet God used every one of those days.

If we let Him loose in our lives, He is faithful to change us—to transform us into His likeness and image.

Answer this question for the opportunity to win a free print (US only) or digital copy of Transformation: How would knowing you were writing a book change the way you journal your quiet time?

About Donna:

Donna lives in Denver with husband Patrick, her first-line editor and biggest fan. She writes historical suspense under her own name, and contemporary suspense under her alter ego of Leeann Betts. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Sisters In Crime; facilitates a local critique group, and teaches writing classes and courses. Donna is also a ghostwriter and editor of fiction and non-fiction, and judges in a number of writing contests. She loves history and research, and travels extensively for both. Donna is proud to be represented by Terrie Wolf of AKA Literary Management.

Visit Donna on the Web:

Blog: http://www.HiStoryThruTheAges.wordpress.com

Website: http://www.HiStoryThruTheAges.com (receive a free ebook just by signing up for our free newsletter.

Facebook: http://www.Facebook.com/DonnaschlachterAuthor

Twitter: http://www.Twitter.com/DonnaSchlachter

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2ci5Xqq

Smashwords: http://bit.ly/2gZATjm

Talkshow Thursday: Author Donna Schlacter

Talkshow Thursday: Author Donna Schlacter

I'm so pleased to welcome author Donna Schlacter back for a visit. She's got a fabulous new story out, so grab your favorite beverage, draw up a chair, and listen in!

Linda:  Thanks for joining me today. You have a new novella out with Barbour Publishing about the Pony Express. Where did you find your inspiration for this story?

Donna: I knew Mary Davis from the ACFW Colorado group, and met her at an ACFW conference. I asked her what she was working on, and she said she was putting together a proposal for a novella collection about the Pony Express. I said, “I’d love to be part of a group like that”, and she said, “We have all our authors, but if anything changes, I’ll let you know.” A month later she emailed to say one of the authors had dropped out, and was I still interested? I sure was. I read a lot about the Pony Express, visited sites in Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska, and Kansas, and fell in love with the folklore and romance of the Pony Express.

LM: You have published lots of books. What is your favorite part of the writing process?

Donna: I love writing The End J Seriously, I love coming up with the ideas and then putting those down on paper, seeing the what ifs get answered by filling in the blanks.

LM: Your historical novels don’t center around one particular era. When you write, how do you go about choosing which time period to use, and do you have a favorite?

Donna: Many times, I see or hear something interesting, and I ask what if? I tend to stick to the years before the 1900’s, but I’m game to learn new stuff, I love to travel for research, and have no qualms about visiting a location to get the feel of it.

LM: What do you do to prepare yourself for writing? For example do you listen to music or set up in a specific place?

Donna: I’m always ready to write. But when I sit down to write, I pray: Lord, thank You for letting me be the first one to see and hear this story. Thank You for trusting me to transcribe this story for You. Keep my fingers nimble and my ears focused on You. Amen.

LM: If money were no object, what is your idea of the ultimate vacation?

Donna: Somewhere warm. Where I can sit, and read, and write, without internet (unless I want it), and without cell phones (unless it’s my agent calling).

LM: What is your next project?

Donna: I am currently under contract with Barbour Books for two more novellas. They’re written and just need a final edit. Then I’m going to write the next cozy mystery for my alter ego, Leeann Betts, to be published in June. 

LM: Where can folks find you?

Donna: http://www.HiStoryThruTheAges.com

http://www.HiStoryThruTheAges.wordpress.com

http://www.Facebook.com/DonnaschlachterAuthor

http://www.Twitter.com/DonnaSchlachter

Thanks for visiting!

READERS: Here's the link to Donna's book:

The Pony Express Romance Collection

Talkshow Thursday: Meet Leeann Betts

Meet Author Leeann Betts!

Some authors have so many books to write, they need an alter ego to help them out. Donna Schlacter is one of those folks. She writes historical suspense as Donna Schlacter, and contemporary suspense as Leeann Betts. Leeann recently released a new novel, so I sat down with her to get the scoop:

LM: You write both historical and contemporary suspense. Do you have a preference?

LB: As my real life persona, Donna Schlachter, I love both. As Leeann Betts, well, I’m very contemporary even though I’m getting up in years. I like to write about contemporary characters who need another chance from our second. . . and third. . . and fourth-chance God. Donna likes writing history because she loves researching history. Me not so much.

LM: You use a pen name for your contemporary fiction? Was that your idea or your agent's? How did you select the name?

LB: It was actually my first agent’s idea. She felt that Schlachter was too far down in the alphabet, and that I needed a name closer to the front. Lee is my husband’s middle name, Ann is his mother’s name, and Betts was my mom’s nickname in nursing school.

LM: Your book "No accounting for Murder" is about a forensic accountant. How much research was required for you to learn about that field?

LB: I--or rather Donna--is an accountant by training. She loves doing audits, and I love asking the What If? Questions. I researched types of accountants when I was coming up with my character, and a forensic accountant uncovers hidden assets such as money and offshore bank accounts, and often testifies in court cases such as divorce and estate issues.

LM: Do you have any unusual research incidents?

LB: So the opening scene for There Was a Crooked Man, the second book in the series, takes place on an airplane. Carly sees what looks like a suspicious death that an equally suspicious-looking doctor on board claims is natural causes. I had no clue how that would be handled on a real airplane, particularly post-9-11. So one day I was in an airport, between flights, and I saw a man in a flight officer’s uniform eating at the next table. I went over, introduced myself, gave him my writer’s business card, and asked, “If someone died on your plane, what is the protocol?” He said he wasn’t sure and that I should call the airline public relations office. As I turned to leave, he pulled out his cell phone. I headed for my gate, and when I turned around, there were two police officers following me. Really. When I walked, they walked. When I stopped, they stopped. I was already through security, so I guess they didn’t see any immediate risk. But they followed me all the way to the gate. That was nerve-wracking!

LM: Where do you get your ideas for stories?

LB: I am fairly observant, and I have good hearing, so I listen in on people’s conversations. I notice oddities, such as if someone goes into a restroom wearing a jacket and comes out without it. That gets me to thinking about disguises. I also read the newspaper from cover to cover, and find ideas in anything from “This day in history” to obituaries. Plus I like to wander in cemeteries and take pictures of peculiar headstones.

LM: I love cemeteries too! Are any of your characters based on real people?

LB: Okay, confession time. Carly is a lot like me. Her husband Mike is a lot like my husband. As for the rest, most are bits and pieces of people I know or have met.

LM: Age-old question for writers: are you a panster or a plotter?  

LB: I am a plotter. I write down 2 to 3 sentences about every chapter to keep me on track. And no, it’s not boring. I still allow my characters to say or do something I wasn’t expecting. They might even take the story in a different direction. Just like when I travel, I might miss an exit or see something else I want to do along the way. Just like when I travel, I have my hotel reservation already made, so I know where I’m going to be at the end, and I have some things selected to do along the way (my major plot points), but I’ve been known to take a 100-mile detour because I saw a sign that said, “point of interest.”

LM: Besides writing, what are your other passions?

LB: My Jesus, my husband, my family, and an international ministry we’re involved in that reaches the lost for Christ. I like to read, watch police procedural and forensics programs, and take part in forensics stuff whenever I can.

LM: Sounds very interesting! What's your next project?

LB: There is rarely a clear dividing line between my current and my next project because it seems I’m always working on several things at once. I am editing several novels on a professional basis, editing one of my own, writing a series of Christian living books that will come out about one every six to eight weeks, and writing a novella for a traditional publisher.

LM: What else should people know about you?

LB: I don’t believe in writer’s block. I believe that writers write. There is a difference between being a writer and wanting to be a writer. You can go to all the conferences you want, but if you never sit down when the writing is tough and push through, you aren’t really a writer. Just saying.

Thanks for taking time to chat with me, Leeann! You are one busy lady. 

Learn more about Leeann and Donna on their website: www.livebytheword.com.

NEW RELEASE: Second Chances and Second Cups – sweet stories about a second-chance God – available on Amazon.com in print and digital, and on Smashwords in digital

WRITING AS LEEANN BETTS: Counting the Days-a 31-day devotional for accountants, bookkeepers, and financial folk. No Accounting for Murder – book 1 in the By the Numbers series, featuring Carly Turnquist, forensic accountant. Carly has a nose for mystery that gets her into trouble. Book 2, There was a Crooked Man, released in Novembr 2015, Book 3, Unbalanced, released January 2016, 5 and 20 Blackbirds is due out April 2016, with more to follow.

WRITING WITH LEEANN BETTS: Writing Nuggets of Gold – a compilation of short essays on writing meant to inspire and educate. Released November 2015