A couple of years ago, I read Kissing Adrien. I’d never heard of Siri Mitchell, but once I was finished with that first book, I became an instant fan. I knew I’d found an author who understood what it meant to live in our freedom in Christ. I immediately emailed her and let her know how much I enjoyed the book. I was surprised when she emailed back and asked me if I would review it on Amazon. I told her I would be happy to. (My review is here: Kissing Adrien.
Every once in a while I would send another email just to encourage her or tell her I’d enjoyed another of her books. Though I don’t really know her, I can tell from her emails and writing that she has a beautiful soul. She has graciously given some of her time to answer the questions in my author interview. I am honored and grateful.
Siri Mitchell has written eight novels, two of which (Chateau of Echoes and The Cubicle Next Door) were named Christy Award Finalists. A graduate from the University of Washington with a business degree, she has worked in many levels of government and lived on three continents. She currently resides in the Washington DC metro area. Visit http://sirimitchell.com/
MG: What was the catalyst to get you started in your writing?
SM: The catalyst was a move to Paris. I had plenty of time on my hands and decided to put it to use. I also met a British author at church there who kept wondering how my writing was going and asking when she could see some chapters. I had to either produce something or admit that I wasn’t really a writer!
MG: How long have you been writing?
SM: I started writing in 1994. Four books and 153 rejections later, my fifth book was contracted in 2004.
MG: How often do you write? Do you have a routine?
SM: I write 4 days a week for 4-5 hours. Generally, I work out from 8:00 – 10:00, write from 10:00 – 3:00, and then move on to the other tasks or errands on my list of things to do. Sometimes in the evenings I’ll reply to e-mails and catch up on other writing-related paperwork, but I try to keep my writing confined to those four days.
MG: What kind of stories do you tell?
SM: I tell stories about women discovering how to come to terms with the person God made them to be. How to celebrate themselves without apology or regret. At the moment I’m doing that by writing historicals, but I’ve done it in the past writing chick-lit and contemporaries.
MG: Do you have any other pursuits besides writing?
SM: I enjoy golfing with my family and gardening. I also enjoy reading.
MG: Do you have a favorite author and or genre that you read?
SM: I love the late Rosamunde Pilcher and Ellis Peters. Pilcher wrote contemporary fiction and Peters wrote medieval mysteries.
MG: If you could keep only two writing books, what would they be and why?
The Moral Premise by Stanley D. Williams, PhD is my current favorite. It’s really helped me write a tighter more theme-oriented novel. I think I’d also hang onto my Oxford English Dictionary. The print is so tiny I have to use a magnifying glass, but I’ve come to depend upon its date of first usage information.
MG: If you could visit only two writing blogs, what would they be?
SM: I always enjoy Chip MacGregor’s blog and Rachelle Gardner’s blog. They’re very generous with their time and their information.
MG: Why did you want to pursue publishing?
SM: It seemed like the natural next step. I’d written a book. It was time to send it out on query. (I didn’t realize it would take so long to garner interest…or that I’d have to write another book and another book and another book and another book before it happened…!)
MG: What has been the most difficult aspect of trying to get published?
SM: Manufacturing hope following every rejection.
MG: What one piece of advice would you give other writers, either about writing or about seeking publication?
SM: Persistence pays off.
Read more interviews here.
