The Storyteller

A warm welcome to my guest blogger, Nanette Thorsen-Snipes, a contributing author to 21 Days of Love: Stories that Celebrate Treasured Relationships. She wrote “On the Mountaintop.”

Tell something about yourself as a person and as a writer.

I am a mother of four and a grandmother of eight, and I have contributed stories to more than sixty compilation books.

What do you do to relax or blow off steam?

Spend a weekend in the mountains at a bed-and-breakfast and explore the countryside. I especially love the waterfalls.

Tell something that’s quirky about you.

I love teaching my cat to play fetch (ice, milk lids, etc.) He thinks I’m his mother.

When do you have your devotional time with the Lord, and what do you do during that time?

My husband and I are up at 4:30 a.m. and at 5:30, we read our Bibles separately and then together. Afterward, we pray for our families, friends, coworkers, and acquaintances. As the week goes on, we pray for people in our Sunday school class, missionaries, our country, Israel, etc.

What book(s) are you currently reading?

The Battle Plan for Prayer, by Alex Kendrick.

Briefly share one of your favorite Valentine’s Day memories.

My husband is not much of a romantic, so the Valentine’s Day when he surprised me with red roses and two kissing teddy bears holding a heart that says, “Be My Love,” is one of my favorite memories.

What interesting jobs have you had?

My first job was as a secretary for a cemetery. The job only lasted a year.

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?

A storyteller. I never had a desire to be an actress, though.

What else have you written?

One Arch Book for children, Elijah Helps the Widow. Many stories and reprints in Christian magazines. More than sixty stories in compilation books. Work-for-hire stories. Stories and photos for a regional magazine. Columns for weekly newspapers.

Share one of your most rewarding moments connected to your writing.

A story I wrote for Georgia Magazine brought in $15,000 in donations to a nonprofit that cared for wild animals.

What inspired you to write this particular story in 21 Days of Love?

I wanted to write about my own experience of being a single mom coupled with my love for the mountains of North Georgia.

Are any parts of this story taken from something that happened in your own life or the lives of people you know?

Yes. At one point, my husband and I struggled to make ends meet, and I had nothing to give my daughter for her birthday when she turned sixteen. I thought of the stud earrings that my mother had given me, and I gave her those.

How has God used fiction to touch your heart or change your life?

When I was young, God used books with dogs to touch my heart. I read all the Big Red books, Lassie, The Haunted Hound, and others. As a result, I love animals—all animals, but cats have become close to my heart.

Besides Jesus, which person from the Bible would you most like to talk to, and what would you ask or say?

Paul. I would like to hear his many stories of survival and how God worked in his life to overcome everything he suffered.

What story in the Bible do you wish had a different ending? Or in what biblical story do you wish you knew what happened next?

I love the book of Revelation, and I can’t wait to see it come to fruition with the rapture of the saints. I look forward to seeing what heaven’s like.

Have you read 21 Days of Grace or 21 Days of Christmas? If so, which story was your favorite and why?

I have read most of the stories in both, and I am unable to pick one that I like more than the others. They are all heartfelt stories, and they’ve blessed me.

As an editor, Nanette specializes in children’s fiction, nonfiction, and particularly memoirs. She has been professionally editing since 2004. She offers a range of editorial services including proofreading, copyediting, and developmental editing. She has edited for authors who have been published by Tyndale, Zondervan, Revell, among others. She is a member of the Christian Editor Connection (www.ChristianEditor.com) and The Christian PEN: Proofreaders and Editors Network (www.TheChristianPEN.com).

Website: www.FaithWorksEditorial.com