Author Interview: Laura Hilton

Not two writers learn or write the same way, and no two publishers work the same way. Author Laura Hilton has learned all about that during her writing career (which includes 30 books). Today she gives us a look at how she started and what she’s learned along the way.

What genre do you write? How did you pick it?
Amish, contemporary romance. I picked it because I love contemporary romance and I thought it would be fun to explore my family background.

What are your favorite genres to read? Why?
Really, it depends on authors. I love Amish, contemporary romance, historical romance, romantic suspense, etc.

How long did it take you complete your first manuscript (published or not)?
My very very first one? Years and years and years. I think I started it when I was single. Was still editing and rewriting after I was married and had three babies. . . The first one that was published took me about three or four months to write.

Have your follow-up novels been easier or harder to write? Why do you think that is?
I think it depends on the story. Easier, as I know what I am doing. Harder in that it seems that life seems to hit about the time I get to the most important parts of the book, making it so hard to focus on story when there is some much stress in my life.

What’s surprised you the most about the book-publishing process?
Editors don’t know (or care) about deep point of view. I can go in and make sure my manuscript is squeaky clean and inevitably, they are sticking in telling words, and things that take the reader out of deep point of view. Oh, and the rules change from publisher to publisher. Publisher A takes out every single use of “that,” but publisher B sticks them back in.

What’s been the most challenging part of getting a book published?
Edits on sometimes multiple books coming in the midst of deadlines – and they both have to be done. It’s hard, sometimes, to stop midstream and completely focus on something else that you wrote over a year ago.

What’s your favorite part of the publishing experience?
I feel I am doing what God called me to do, and it is so fulfilling and satisfying to know He is using me this way.

For learning the writing craft, which do you prefer – books or conferences? Why?
Books. Although not craft books. I am not a technical minded person, and craft books and conferences both focus on the authors who sit down and plot out every detail of their books. I can’t do that. It is easier on me to take a book that really sings for me, and study that to see what the author did that works and figure out how to mimic that style in my own writing.

If you could recommend one writing conference, what would it be? Why? (If you haven’t attended one, which one would you like to attend? Why?)
I would like to go to one of SMWs writing outings because they have so much fun. I never will though, I still have children at home that I can’t leave.

If you could recommend one writing book, what would it be? Why?
I really can’t recommend one. There are so many I started and tossed down in despair because my mind doesn’t work that way.

If you could pick any of your novels to be made into a movie, which one would you pick? Who would you want to play the lead roles, and why?
Ha. Well, One of my novels IS being considered by a movie company, and I don’t have TV so really am not current on who is hot and who is not. So I can’t really answer this question.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?
The best writing advice I ever received is to “Put your butt in the chair and write.” Just do it. If you want to write, don’t wait. You’ll learn by doing. You’ll get it done by doing. It won’t ever get done if you just talk about it.

You can connect with Laura online at:
http://www.amazon.com/Laura-V.-Hilton/e/B004IRSM5Q
visit my blogs: http://lighthouse-academy.blogspot.com/ & http://lauravhilton.blogspot.com/
twitter: @Laura_V_Hilton
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Laura-V-Hilton/161478847242512
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/vernetlh/