Q&A with Anita Higman

 

In honor of the first anniversary of the launch of my Proofreading Secrets book, I thought my readers might like to know more about the authors who contributed tips to the book. This week’s guest is Anita Higman, the best-selling and award-winning author of forty books.

Anita, thanks so much for contributing a “proofreading secret” to my book and for allowing me to interview you for my blog. Let’s start by sharing with my followers how the two of us know each other.

To be honest, I’m not sure when we first met. But I’m happy to say that I’ve known you for many years and I consider you a friend.

 

The feeling is mutual, Anita! Now, tell something about yourself as a person and as a writer.

I love exotic teas, going to the movies, and having my gal friends over for bunch. I’ve known I wanted to be a writer since I was a kid, but I never had the confidence to really go for it until I was about thirty. I’m glad I did follow the call. However, this calling of mine has been anything but easy. It’s been a ton of hard work in a hundred different ways. Would I do it all over again? Yes.

 

What genre(s) do you write in, and why?

I write Christian romance, but I’m about to change genres over to young adult. I wrote romance because I enjoyed it, but now I’m ready to move on to something else.

 

Tell me about obstacles you had to overcome to become an author.

Too many to count. Do you have a few weeks to chat about this?

 

Do you have a story of a writing setback or failure?

Well, it’s pretty painful when you’re writing a book under contract and the publishing house goes under before your book gets published. That was a major setback. But God is good, and I’m still writing.

 

Tell me about your current work-in-progress.

I’m working on a young-adult novel with my daughter, Hillary. Needless to say, I’m very proud of her. I think we make a dynamic duo. It’s going to be a fun ride.

 

What do you love most about writing?

Losing myself in the story.

 

Describe your most difficult challenge in writing.

Creating convincing conflict that lasts for an entire 300 pages. Not as easy as it might appear to be.

 

Describe your proudest writing success.

That my coauthored book, Love Finds You Under the Mistletoe, made the CBA best-seller list.

 

Do you prefer print or e-books, and why?

Print for now, because I like the feel and smell of a physical book, but that will change as soon as I get into the habit of using my e-reader.

 

When did you know you wanted to be a writer?

When I was a little girl. But I lacked the gumption to go forward until I was about thirty.

 

What is your favorite book on writing?

Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass

 

That is one of my favorites as well. Anita, is there an author who inspires you, and if so, why?

B. J. Hoff, because her storytelling is so wonderfully masterful.

 

What is the best advice on writing you ever received?

Write the first draft fast and then polish slowly.

 

Describe your writing space.

Imagine that a dust devil swept though a room, with papers and junk strewn everywhere. That is my writing grotto.

 

Sounds a lot like my writing space! One last question, Anita. What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

Read a lot. Write a lot. If you’re called to write, never give up.

 

Amen, Anita! Thanks so much for sharing your heart with us.

 

Best-selling and award-winning author Anita Higman has forty books published. She’s been a Barnes & Noble “Author of the Month” for Houston and has a BA in the combined fields of speech communication, psychology, and art. Anita loves good movies, exotic teas, and brunch with her friends. A Marriage in Middlebury is one of her latest novels and is available at Amazon. The sequel, A Matchmaker in Middlebury, is a novella available for Kindle download.

Please visit her website at www.anitahigman.com and drop her a note by clicking the “Contact” button.