Author Interview with Shawna K Williams and Giveaway of No Other

Today I'm having Shawna K. Williams, author of No Other visiting us. Read on to see how you can win a copy of No Other at the end of this post.

Interview with Shawna

First of all thanks Shawna for taking time to be here.

How long did it take you to decide to start writing books ?

I actually had never planned to write books until I had this dream that was such an intriguing story I was compelled to. 

Even then I mostly started writing just to satisfy my own need to understand the story in my head. I thought about it for six months, and then started writing. It took me two years to complete it because :-

a) My kids were very small and I had a limited amount of time, and

b) The book was VERY long.

I played with the story off and on for several years - at one point even putting it away for over a year, About two and a half years ago was when I really decided to work toward publication.

Did you face much rejection before publishing?

Yes. It's just part of the process, but it's still tough to take.

What helped you pull through?

Hearing other people's stories helped me, because I realized that it happens to everyone, and the key in perseverance.

What or who is your inspiration to write?

This is a good question and I'm not sure I can verbalize the answer. I just have this deep passion inside of me to share stories that reflect God's grace. I guess "grace" is the inspiration. I know how much I need it, and I see others hurting because they don't know it's there for them too. I want people to know about it.

As far as Christian authors go, Francine Rivers is a great inspiration to me for this very season. I recommend Redeeming Love to everyone.  

What is your favorite childhood memory?

They lived on a wooded, mountain in Arkansas. When I was growing up we used to spend every Christmas with them. All of our extended family would come too. I especially enjoyed the feel of winter, which was something we didn't get much of where I lived on the coast of Texas.

My grandparents' house has these wonderful wood floors that creaked when you walked around, but it was a really comforting sound. My grandmother also had this beautiful chandelier that mesmerized me as a child, and I used to sit and stare at it. Nonnie doesn't know this, but sometimes at night I'd creep into the dining room, sneak off a crystal to look at it, and then put it back.

Nonnie if you read this, I'm sorry. They were just so pretty and I was very careful. I still should have asked though.

Esther, you might remember in No Other, the part where Jakob took down the chandelier in the abandoned house to give to his mother. Well my grandmother's chandelier in the inspiration for that.

Yes, Shawna I do remember and how wonderful to know this.

If you could meet 1 person from  the bible, who would it be? (besides Jesus of course)

King David. I marvel at his fearless faith and complete devotion to God. 

What event in the bible would you like to be at?

Christ's resurrection, when He appeared to the two Mary's after the angel had told them Jesus wasn't at the tomb.

What is your favorite shade of lipstick and your favorite fragrance/perfume?

Tinted lip gloss is my thing. My absolute favorite fragrance as perfume is Aquolina Pink Sugar, but I love Bath and Bodyworks Warm Vanilla Sugar body lotion. 

Do you have any words of wisdom you would like to share with your readers?

I like to think of Christian fiction as a way to learn through characters. People may day, "But it's make believe," and that would be true in a sense. While the characters may be fictional, the situations and lessons come from insights the author has gained through life experience, whether it be their own or through someone they know. There is truth in fiction, and if a fictional story can give guidance and direction to someone who's seeking, that's a wonderful thing. So when readers pick up a story, I hope they'll keep this in mind, and look for that message to take to heart.

My personal hope is that No Other is that readers might consider how ignoring one's conscience when it comes to small things, can often lead to much larger temptation down the road. However, if someone did find them in this situation, God always provides a way back. Also, to trust God's way, even when we want something else. He sees the big picture. We only see the here and now.  

What are your upcoming titles/ projects that we should be on the lookout for and when should we expect it?

In November In All Things releases. If you read No Other, you really need to read In All Things too. It picks up with Jakob and Meri ten years later, and many elements from No Other come full circle in this story.

In December Orphaned Hearts comes out. It's a much shorter book, but sweet and heart-warming as can be. It was inspired by my granddad, who grew up as an orphan in the late '20s and 1930s.

How can your readers connect with you?

My website : http://shawnakwilliams.com/ 

My personal blog : http://shawnawilliams-oldsmobile.blogspot.com/ 

Twitter: http://twitter.com/shawnakwilliams

Facebook fanpage : http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Shawna-K-Williams/236629884245?ref=ts

So to win your copy of No Other just post a comment to say you would like to enter the giveaway.

For extra entries :-

*Become a follower of Shawna's blog here + 2 entries

* Read any of my post under the encouragement tag and leave a comment + 5 entries

Please post separate entries for each that you do. Its easier for me to tally up your entries this way. This giveaway starts today and ends on the 15th August 2010.

Stay blessed.


Esther