Happy Tuesday, writers! Today is Author Interview and Book Give Away Day, and what a joy it is to introduce my friend, Candy Arrington. Candy and I met at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference many, many years ago and have been friends ever since–a confirmation that writer’s conferences are not only good places to learn the craft of writing, but to make those life-long relationships, too!
Candy has published hundreds of articles, stories, and devotions in numerous periodicals including: Focus on the Family, Clubhouse, Thriving Family, Encounter, The Lookout, The Upper Room, CBN.com, The Writer, Writer’s Digest and the Chicken Soup and the Cup of Comfort series. Additionally, Candy is a freelance editor, on staff with The Christian Communicator Manuscript Critique Service, a CLASS graduate, has served on faculty for a number of writers’ conferences, and is a member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors. She is coauthor of When Your Aging Parent Needs Care: Practical Help for This Season of Life (Harvest House 2009) and AFTERSHOCK: Help, Hope, and Healing in the Wake of Suicide (B&H Publishers). You can find out more about Candy Arrington and her ministries here. And you can check out Candy’s website here.
Don’t forget to leave a comment at the end of this post and you’ll be in the drawing for YOUR CHOICE of one of Candy’s books! Now, let’s get started!
Vonda: First of all, please tell us how your writing journey began.
Candy: While my husband and I were at a weekend prayer retreat, the Lord woke me up at 5:00 a.m. with words I couldn’t ignore. I sat on the edge of the tub and wrote the words that flowed from my heart. I shared the poem I’d written with the group later that day. Afterwards, several people asked for a copy of my poem. That was the beginning. I don’t consider myself a poet, but how like God to use a form of writing for which I have little aptitude to speak his words through me!
Vonda: You often write about tough topics. Why?
Candy: I certainly wouldn’t have chosen some of the subjects I’ve written about (suicide, infertility, caregiving, forgiveness, chronic illness, grief) given the chance to write something else, but these topics presented themselves and God blessed my writing efforts. In the process, I’ve discovered readers really connect when you write with transparency about challenging subjects. People are seeking answers for difficulties they encounter in life and are hungry for practical advice and support.
Once, a woman from Canada contacted me. She had read an article I wrote about the emotional impact of my husband’s chronic illness on our family. She said she wept when she read the article because she had experienced the same emotions, but felt guilty because she thought she was the only one who had these thoughts and feelings. Reading my article gave her “permission” to feel as she did and let her know she wasn’t alone in her journey. When I hear from readers like this woman, it gives me courage to continue tackling tough topics with my writing.
Vonda: I know this past year was a hard one for you. What impact did it have on your writing?
Candy: Last year was one I gladly consigned to history at year end. In a 13-month period, my son had a serious accident that required two surgeries, and my mother, mother-in-law, three favorite aunts, and an uncle died. While I was able to squeeze in a little writing between crises, there were times when I wondered if I’d ever be able to recover momentum, or if people would forget me during the time I had nothing published. Gradually, I’m getting back into a writing rhythm, and I’m able to see lessons I learned during this time.
Vonda: I’m glad to hear you’re back to writing! So, do you have some tips to help writers get through challenging circumstances?
Candy: I certainly do!
- Accept, rather than fight, a season of life when you either can’t write or writing doesn’t flow in normal sequence.
- Journal or take notes, even if ideas are sketchy and take the form of thoughts or phrases scribbled on paper napkins.
- Don’t beat yourself up if you sit in front of a blank screen and can’t string a sentence together. Emotional turmoil, stress, grief, and fatigue all factor in to your inability to write.
- Continue to read God’s word. It’s easy to let your spiritual well run dry when you are serving as a caregiver or grieving or going through other difficult situations. Staying in God’s word refuels you spiritually, emotionally, and mentally.
Vonda: Great advice! Do you have any words of wisdom for aspiring writers?
Candy: I do.
- Know what you are writing – I often teach or meet with conferees at writers conferences and over and over I encounter beginning writers who think they have written a book when the manuscript is really an article or devotional. Or a writer refers to something as an article that is really a personal experience story. Or a writer isn’t sure if he’s writing fiction or nonfiction. If you are writing a book, know which category your book fits on the bookstore shelf. Publishers expect you to know.
- Know your audience – Do you have a magazine or book publisher in mind for your manuscript? Novice writers write first and then try to place their manuscript. Professional writers write to the market rather than chasing it. Unless you know your audience, your writing isn’t focused.
- Know your idea – Can you sustain the text and hold reader interest throughout the work? Many times writers repeat or restate ideas, or worse, paraphrase a seminar they’ve attended or a Bible study they’ve taken. If your idea isn’t involved enough to be captivating, or is pirated from someone else, it’s not publishable.
Vonda: Thank you for the great tips. Now, before you go, would you tell us about your latest book?
Candy: When Your Aging Parent Needs Care: Practical Help for This Season of Life resulted from my personal experiences caring for my mother in the final years of her life. The book provides encouragement and practical support for those navigating the challenging role of serving as a caregiver while balancing other aspects of life.
Vonda: That is a much-needed book! Thank you for writing it. And thank you for joining us here at The Christian Writer’s Den. You’ve given us a lot of great advice!
Now friends, don’t forget to leave a comment and y
ou’ll automatically be entered into the drawing for one of Candy’s books. Be sure to check back next week to see if you’re the winner!
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Are You a Woman Who Would You Like to Share a Ride from the Rocky Mount NC Area to Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference?
If so, just email me and I’ll forward it to my female friend who’s looking for someone to share travel expenses with. After all, every penny counts, right? 
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How’s Your MoGo Going?
The good news is, even if you haven’t made much progress so far, there’s still lots of month left! So don’t get discouraged. You could win $100–AND have a book manuscript–by the end of the year!
You can join at any time, so to find out more, check out the MoGo7000 guidelines.
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Ladies, It’s Not Too Late to Plan to Attend the Filming of The Story of a Woman’s Life: Reading Between the Whine!
Yes, it’s coming up THIS Saturday, March 26, 9:30-11:30 at Westside Church in Simpsonville, SC. Deborah Dunn and I will be presenting and filming our brand new, entertaining, original program, The Story of a Woman’s Life: Reading Between the Whines. And we need YOU in the audience!
In addition to original songs and original material, we’ll have light refreshments, lots of laughs, and fun with friends–and it’s all FREE! Check out the Westside Church website for more details.
And just so we have enough food, could you let us know you’re planning to come? All you have to do is either email me, leave a comment, or call the church (the number is at the website). But even if you decide at the last minute you can join us, please do! Nobody’s keeping score or checking a list. We just want you there!
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Don’t forget to leave a comment for Candy and you could win a FREE book! Be sure to check back next week to see who won.
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Parting Words from the Word…
Perhaps you’re going through a year similar to Candy Arrington’s, or my year of 2009. Praise God, He doesn’t waste any hurts.
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
I pray God’s blessing on the work of your hands and your hearts,
Vonda
