Welcome, Vannetta. Please make yourself comfortable. Help yourself to my specialty – your favorite cyber beverage and sweet home-baked treat. They’re a lot of work, but SO worth it! Now, if you’re cozy, let’s talk writing!
Vannetta - I'm a bit distracted--as in I really do inhabit another world. To what extent? I find myself looking down as I walk INTO a meeting to check and make sure my shoes match (usually they do). I sometimes become lost driving to a place I've been to many times. And I often can't remember what MONTH it is. That's all a little embarrassing, but I'm hoping someone will tell me I'm not the only one.
Anne – It sounds as if you’re very busy with a great deal on your mind. And no, you’re not the only one. Last month I lost an entire week. I woke up Tuesday, sat at the computer and started to work, and then, bam! I panicked. I thought I’d forgotten to feature Vivian Zabel in the final week of the 2011 Mystery We Write Blog Tour. Turns out, I was a week ahead of myself!
Tell us about your most recent release.
Vannetta – It’s Falling to Pieces.
In the Amish community of Shipshewana, two women—one Amish, one English—reluctantly join forces for a short-term business venture. Neither is looking for friendship, but when the town's newspaper editor is murdered, and an unexpected prime suspect is identified, the women form an unlikely alliance to solve the mystery.
Anne - Is there a message in Falling to Pieces you want readers to grasp?
Vannetta - The message of Falling to Pieces is a message of grace and forgiveness. Odd for a murder mystery? Maybe, but several characters in this story are running from their past. Callie Harper is from Texas Indiana
Anne - How long does it take you to write a book?
Vannetta - Between 6 weeks and 3 months, depending on my deadlines. I prefer 3 months! Honestly, I take the amount of time I have and "chunk it up" ... dividing my word count/page count into weeks and then days. I ALWAYS allow myself some leeway, knowing life will intervene with STUFF to mess with my calendar. Then I give myself time for 3 wonderful ladies who are my pre-readers to comb through it and another 2 weeks to put in their edits. Each morning I know what I have to write that day, and I try to leave my weekends open for resting and family time.
Anne - Describe your home office as appears right now. Is this a good or bad thing?!
Vannetta - Right now it's a good thing! We recently have an empty nest (last baby bird gone), so I've taken over his room. It's small (ten by ten), has a day bed in it in case anyone comes home for the weekend, and a corner desk. I DID have my fabulous husband build wall to wall shelves in the closet which is the most fabulous part of the entire deal. That and the door on the room, which closes. : )
Anne - How long did your journey from wannabe writer to published author take?
Vanetta - A long time! Thirteen years until A Simple Amish Christmas (Abingdon, October 2011) was on shelves. That was my 9th manuscript to complete. Since then I have sold 6 more (3 to Zondervan and 3 to Harvest House), so I'd say it was worth the wait. God's timing is perfect. Refine your craft, keep writing, and do not give up.
Anne - Agreed! Never give up. What is the most surprising thing you’ve learned about yourself from your writing?
Vanetta - My way is different and that's okay. I really don't outline or plot, and when I tried chaos followed. I write from the beginning to the middle, skip and write an ending that I adore. Then I go back and write from the middle toward the end. I LOVE doing this, and it works for me every time. (Though it makes my husband, who is a civil engineer, shudder.) STRANGE, I know ... SURPRISE!
Anne - That's something like my process, and even I shudder!! Are you a glass half-empty or half-full kind of person?
Vanetta - If I have a glass I'm grateful. If there's anything in it, that's a bonus day.
Anne - Outside of writing, what accomplishment are you most proud?
Vanetta - My children, but that's not my accomplishment ... I'd say raising children takes an entire family of friends and relative and guidance from the Lord.
Anne – Where can readers reach you online?
Vannetta – At my website, blog, and on Facebook. Thank you, Anne, for featuring me today. I’d like to encourage readers to leave a comment and tell me their most embarrassing moment. OR, if they’d rather, share why they read and like cozy mysteries. I’ll select one name at random and mail the winner a print copy of Falling to Pieces.
Anne – Thanks so much, Vannetta, for dropping by, chatting and doing a giveaway. It's been an absolute pleasure!
I don't know if this qualifies as embarrassing moment but I remember bringing my daughter home from the hospital without a name because her Dad wanted to name her Vanetta after his mother and I was willing to compromise with Vanessa but he would not give in, so she came home as Baby Girl and later I gave in and she was named Vanetta Louise after his mother and my mother! I love your books..I love that you write about forgiveness.
ReplyDeleteMy most embarrassing moment, I was in 9th grade, new to the school, maybe I'd been there a month or two. We lived in the country and had a dog who liked to chase "other" animals. Well, one night he decided to chase a "beautiful skunk" (cough, cough) and came in the house smelling like that ever endearing "Skunk Cologne". Not only did "use" the cologne, he proceeded to throw up on our carpet.
ReplyDeleteNeedless to say, our house did not smell very good that morning, but I went to school, NOT KNOWING I was doused with "Skunk Cologne"! In every class I went in, kids, including myself (knowing who the culprit was), would say, "I smell skunk." I agreed with them of course. I don't know if any of them realized where the smell was coming from or not.
That was my most embarrassing moment
Would love to win this book, thank you for the giveaway.
wfnren(at)aol(dot)com
It is very hard for me to pinpoint my most embarrassing moment; it seems as if I do something embarrassing at least once a day! If I had to pick one of the top 5 it would be when I was on my way to the volunteer tea at my kids' school. I was walking with some friends up the path to the entrance. One minute I was upright walking and the next minute I was flat on my face. I don't even remember falling! I, of course, looked around to see if anyone saw me fall except for my friends (who were laughing hysterically once they realized I wasn't hurt). The coast was clear...or so I thought. I made sure I didn't leave any evidence of mud or grass on myself. Later, when the awards were being given out inside the school by one of our county councilman, I was called up to get an award. When the important person saw me he asked me (over the microphone) if I had a nice fall and handed me my certificate. I guess the coast wasn't clear after all! stacey.barbalace@verizon.net
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ReplyDeleteMy most embarrassing moment was when I was in my early twenties and had just started a new job. My boss's name was Charles Shine. I was instructed by him to answer the phone by saying this is Charlie Shine's office. This was my first office job and I was quite nervous. I thought I was doing a pretty good job when the phone rang and I answered it. There was a gentleman on the other end laughing. I was quite perplexed to why he was laughing. When he stopped laughing he asked me, do you know what you just said? I said no, what? He said, you said good morning, Charlie Chan's office! I'm so glad he couldn't see my face!
ReplyDeleteI loved Vanetta's book, "A Simple Amish Christmas". I'd love to win a copy of, Falling to Pieces.
Blessings,
judyjohn2004[at]yahoo[dot]com
I have too many embarrasing moments to count. I guess I will go with when my huband and I were getting married, I put his ring on the wrong hand. That was 40 years ago. Debra B. - Al.
ReplyDeletedebsredbirds@yahoo.com
You all are making me smile with your stories. I think I've done MOST of these things. : ) And thank you for your kind comments about A Simple Amish Christmas.
ReplyDeleteI've been out of my home office today, and away from my computer and have just returned. I absolutely adore all of these wonderful embarrassing moments. A huge round of applause to everyone who's responded so far. Well done!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Vannetta, for allowing me to interrogate you AND for asking that question!
I've had so many embarrassing moments but try to forget them.
ReplyDeleteI love reading cozy mysteries because I try to guess "who done it" & it's so much fun to get it right.
Love Vannetta & her book A Simple Amish Christmas .
Would be thrilled to win this one.
Wilma
wilmamet6(at)gmail(dot)com
I lost a pair of silky knickers on the dance floor once. They just went south of their own accord. It was NOT an invitation. I was mortified.
ReplyDeletemarypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
When I was in high school a mixed group of us were at the playground in a local park clowning around. I was on the merry-go-round with several others. I slipped off. The embarrassing part is that when I slipped off my slacks slipped down to my knees. I was laughing so hard about slipping off that for several minutes I didn't even realize that my slacks were down to my knees. Fortunately, my girlfriends gathered around me so that not too many of the guys saw my drawers.
ReplyDeleteThese really are fabulous stories. The great thing is that we can now laugh at such embarassing moments. : ) Keep them coming. It's not too late to enter to win an autographed copy of Falling to Pieces!
ReplyDeleteLove your review! I always feel really alone in my adoration for this series.
ReplyDeletefirst time I went bowling with a date and some of his friends. I was trying to act cool,and not ask too many questions. We finished bowling and were about to get in the car,when I remembered that I forgot my shoes, I had walked out in the bowling shoes! Apparently,if someone noticed they didn't want to embarass me, and didn't say anything. I was soooo embarassed, I had to walk back in and return the bowling shoes and get my shoes on. I enjoy reading cozy mysteries, and will start to figure out who did it,sometimes I get it right, and sometimes I don't, and what a surprise it is, and that's the fun of reading a cozy mystery.Gotta love em'. Look forward to reading your book, would love to win it!
ReplyDeleteJanie, I have some REALLY awful bowling memories. The worst involve throwing the ball backwards. : )
ReplyDeleteVannetta, I love your book cover and can relate to your work related experiences, especially the shoes. :) I also love the Amish. I lived in Dover, Delaware, as a young bride and worked in Sears where the Amish came to shop once a week in their carriages. They were the happiest people I've ever met and I was immediately drawn to them.
ReplyDeleteJean
www.jeanhenrymead.com
Our winner is Jean Henry Mead. Jean, I'll send you an autographed copy of Falling to Pieces, but I need your email address. Thanks everyone for commenting on Anne's blog!
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