~Janet Schwind, editor, interviewer
Editor’s note: When Nancy told me her maiden name I lost it—I really thought she was kidding. Nancy Schmoll. You know, Schmoll, Paul, whatever.
Nancy Paul grew up in the north woods of Minnesota, reading and writing constantly (when she wasn’t fishing, hunting or trapping). After college she got married and became a mom of six, reading and writing constantly (recipes and grocery lists). Then she began to collaborate with God in impossible things--marathons, stand-up comedy, riding a motorcycle, writing a novel (when she’s not fishing things out of the toilet, hunting for the other shoe, or trapping herself in the bathroom for a few moments of sanity). Some things never change.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You’ve written two books…what genre(s) are they?
This should be an easy question to answer, but it’s sort of not. NUBBY is kind of a crime/romance/inspirational fiction thingy. Keeping My Sister is a cross between memoir and historical fiction. Both were difficult to label, maybe because there just aren’t enough genres to choose from. Or maybe I’m just non-committal. One or the other. But I’m not picking.
A home schooler, a mom, a wife, a biker chick …How did a gal like you make the leap to become an author?
It was an accident, really. Growing up, I’d always wanted to be a writer, but gave up that dream for the tyranny of the urgent. One night a couple years ago I had a crazy dream. When I woke up, the main character was stuck in my brain like a splinter. Infected with a desire to know more about her, the idea of writing her story festered until it burst like puss all over my keyboard (changing analogies now because I just threw up in my mouth a little). NUBBY was like a baby growing in my womb which had to be given birth. I couldn’t NOT write it, just as a pregnant woman can’t NOT push when it’s time. After my creative labor, plop, there she was, in all her glory—my first literary baby. What a relief to finally have a newborn who didn’t poop.
Tell us about your first book--Nubby. Funny name. Is this a funny book?
There are some humorous moments in the book, but overall, no, unless the reader is a bit disturbed to begin with, it’s not what I’d consider a comedy. The name Nubby is the tragic nickname given to the main character based on her obvious physical disabilities. “Oh, that’s just Nubby.” The reader quickly discovers that Ann (her real name) isn’t “just” anything. She's amazing, and so are her friends and family, who rescue her from e-vile villains and their horrible human trafficking business.
How did you develop your story? (how did the creative process work for you…describe)
It all started when God said, “Let’s run a marathon together.” I said okay and made room in my schedule for training. He helped me do the rest. Then He was like, “Let’s write a book together.” I said okay and made room in my schedule for writing. He helped me do the rest.
In high school and college I was taught that when you write, you have to have a plan first—an outline, a graphic organizer, at the very least a list, for Pete’s sake! I had none of these when I wrote NUBBY, (sorry, Pete). I had no idea who would be part of the story or where it would go. I just sat down and wrote whatever came. I got to know the characters through their dialogue and actions as I wrote them. I sent it, chapter by chapter, to a couple of friends who were thrilled and annoyed by the suspense. “What’s going to happen next?” I was just as curious as they were, for I hadn’t written it yet.
There were times I’d feel “stuck” with a certain plot line, unsure how to resolve something. I’d maybe say a little prayer about it, leave it alone for awhile and BAM! an idea would hit me when I least expected it—in the shower, on my bike, in my sleep, at church, sitting on the toilet. Too much information? Yeah, I do that sometimes.
What about this book might pique (not peek) a reader’s interest?
I hate the villains. Unapologetically hate them. I don’t want to know their back story, I don’t want to understand the psychology of why they became the monsters they are. I really couldn’t care less. But, just like the other characters introduced in NUBBY, many readers are interested in learning more. So, I suppose the big meanies will make their appearances in the sequels rattling around in my brain. Uninvited. Jerks.
How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
I started in November and finished in March. So, that’s what, 18 months? I’m not very good at math, though, so you might want to check my work. It happened so quickly because the story consumed my every waking moment. You know how it is when you really get into a book and you can’t put it down, not even to go to the bathroom, or eat, or sleep? You sneak it into your purse and read it in church between Communion and the sermon? That’s how it was for me, except I wasn’t just reading it, I was writing it. It was a totally creative, fun, free thinking process where I just wrote what came, refusing to edit through the first draft. I just wrote.
What actors would you choose to play the characters in the film version of your book?
Sam Elliot would be Dickerson (because he’s hot). Kevin Bacon would be Frank, (same reason, actually). Ann would play herself. Oh, wait, she’s not real. I forget. Ooh, ooh, the soundtrack would totally be Natalie Merchant! That’s all I got so far.
What about your second book...tell us about that, what it’s about, how that story evolved.
Keeping My Sister is about two sisters who may or may not be related to me and my sister (no spoilers here), their survival together through a traumatic childhood, their journeys separate ways, and the unequivocal love of their heavenly Father. I was riding my motorcycle last summer when He gently told me the truth. My {friend’s} sister had been sex trafficked. I’d read enough on the subject to recognize immediately that I could write her story well, but I didn’t want to. I generally avoid pain (unless it’s of the tattoo or bugs in my face on the highway sort) and I knew writing her story would send me into the shadows. But I also knew that if God was opening me up to go down this path that He wouldn’t send me alone. He gave me what I needed throughout this project, from an outline which gave me parameters to professionally distance myself from the story, to an amazing editor who helped me to give the right voices to the two sisters. He even gave me the beautiful, redemptive ending before I sat down to write the hardest, darkest middle parts.
What’s been your biggest joy about becoming a novelist, other than working with me?
The readers’ responses have been phenomenal. From NUBBY readers clamoring for a sequel, to Keeping My Sister readers being given permission—to feel, to grieve, to worship, to heal through my books—has been such an amazing, unexpected joy.
What has been your biggest challenge as an author?
Two things—marketing and finding time to write. I don’t have time to market myself because I’d rather be writing. I don’t have time to write because I’m busy taking myself to the market.
What’s the biggest surprise to you about becoming an author?
It has been easier than I imagined it to be—to be published. But that’s probably because I have a very creative, experienced team behind me who’ve helped me along from start to finish on both my projects. They have been my cheerleaders, given professional input, and led me step by step through the process. [Editor's note: They sound really great.]
What did you learn through the process of publishing your first book(s) that you will apply to your next one?
I learned that Create Space, Kindle Direct, and Amazon make it easy and accessible for authors like me to publish, market, receive royalties and keep organized through clear reports for tax and business purposes.
Will your book be Indie published, self published or represented by an agency and sold to a traditional publisher?
I love self-publishing. I like maintaining creative control, control of royalties, pricing and deadlines. Traditional publishing seems to rely on forms of marketing which aren’t realistic for me where I am in life—travel and book signing tours. Sounds fun, but I have other plates spinning right now. Also, I can do so much through social media. For instance, I did a Kindle promotion recently and sold multiple copies of my book from the comfort of my own home. This wouldn’t have been effective in a book signing scenario. People don’t generally like it when I write my name on their tablets. Plus, I'd probably have to change out of my jammies.
What are you working on now? (job, life, next novel)
I started working on NUBBY NUBBY (the sequel) but am taking a break for now. What I really hope to do is to write a hilarious and inspirational book next. Sort of Bossypants meets The Shack. Or Erma Bombeck meets C.S.Lewis—and they have a lovechild. That’s what I want to do this summer—have a lovechild. We recently moved into the country, so I’m enjoying planting, shooting stuff, watching my kids free range, tending to our chickens and living life from a place of peace and serenity instead of having to work so hard to go find it.
What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
The advice I got was to schedule time for your writing and stick to it unless you have a family emergency or a polar vortex or something like that. If there are things which block your creative flow, remove them. Silence the internal critic, or better yet, kill it. Just write the first draft, then edit.
And personally, since I don’t really know how to write any other way, my advice is to collaborate with God in your creative endeavors. He will do more with your writing than what you expect or imagine.
Where do you see publishing going in the future?
I see more and more writers moving toward self-publishing, for the creative control reasons I listed earlier. And so they can stay in their jammies.
How can readers discover more about you and you work?
My website, desprithousewife.com
My Facebook page
My book links:
NUBBY (* American, UK, etc.)
Keeping My Sister
Editor’s note: When Nancy told me her maiden name I lost it—I really thought she was kidding. Nancy Schmoll. You know, Schmoll, Paul, whatever.
Nancy Paul grew up in the north woods of Minnesota, reading and writing constantly (when she wasn’t fishing, hunting or trapping). After college she got married and became a mom of six, reading and writing constantly (recipes and grocery lists). Then she began to collaborate with God in impossible things--marathons, stand-up comedy, riding a motorcycle, writing a novel (when she’s not fishing things out of the toilet, hunting for the other shoe, or trapping herself in the bathroom for a few moments of sanity). Some things never change.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You’ve written two books…what genre(s) are they?
This should be an easy question to answer, but it’s sort of not. NUBBY is kind of a crime/romance/inspirational fiction thingy. Keeping My Sister is a cross between memoir and historical fiction. Both were difficult to label, maybe because there just aren’t enough genres to choose from. Or maybe I’m just non-committal. One or the other. But I’m not picking.
A home schooler, a mom, a wife, a biker chick …How did a gal like you make the leap to become an author?
It was an accident, really. Growing up, I’d always wanted to be a writer, but gave up that dream for the tyranny of the urgent. One night a couple years ago I had a crazy dream. When I woke up, the main character was stuck in my brain like a splinter. Infected with a desire to know more about her, the idea of writing her story festered until it burst like puss all over my keyboard (changing analogies now because I just threw up in my mouth a little). NUBBY was like a baby growing in my womb which had to be given birth. I couldn’t NOT write it, just as a pregnant woman can’t NOT push when it’s time. After my creative labor, plop, there she was, in all her glory—my first literary baby. What a relief to finally have a newborn who didn’t poop.
Tell us about your first book--Nubby. Funny name. Is this a funny book?
There are some humorous moments in the book, but overall, no, unless the reader is a bit disturbed to begin with, it’s not what I’d consider a comedy. The name Nubby is the tragic nickname given to the main character based on her obvious physical disabilities. “Oh, that’s just Nubby.” The reader quickly discovers that Ann (her real name) isn’t “just” anything. She's amazing, and so are her friends and family, who rescue her from e-vile villains and their horrible human trafficking business.
How did you develop your story? (how did the creative process work for you…describe)
It all started when God said, “Let’s run a marathon together.” I said okay and made room in my schedule for training. He helped me do the rest. Then He was like, “Let’s write a book together.” I said okay and made room in my schedule for writing. He helped me do the rest.
In high school and college I was taught that when you write, you have to have a plan first—an outline, a graphic organizer, at the very least a list, for Pete’s sake! I had none of these when I wrote NUBBY, (sorry, Pete). I had no idea who would be part of the story or where it would go. I just sat down and wrote whatever came. I got to know the characters through their dialogue and actions as I wrote them. I sent it, chapter by chapter, to a couple of friends who were thrilled and annoyed by the suspense. “What’s going to happen next?” I was just as curious as they were, for I hadn’t written it yet.
There were times I’d feel “stuck” with a certain plot line, unsure how to resolve something. I’d maybe say a little prayer about it, leave it alone for awhile and BAM! an idea would hit me when I least expected it—in the shower, on my bike, in my sleep, at church, sitting on the toilet. Too much information? Yeah, I do that sometimes.
What about this book might pique (not peek) a reader’s interest?
I hate the villains. Unapologetically hate them. I don’t want to know their back story, I don’t want to understand the psychology of why they became the monsters they are. I really couldn’t care less. But, just like the other characters introduced in NUBBY, many readers are interested in learning more. So, I suppose the big meanies will make their appearances in the sequels rattling around in my brain. Uninvited. Jerks.
How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
I started in November and finished in March. So, that’s what, 18 months? I’m not very good at math, though, so you might want to check my work. It happened so quickly because the story consumed my every waking moment. You know how it is when you really get into a book and you can’t put it down, not even to go to the bathroom, or eat, or sleep? You sneak it into your purse and read it in church between Communion and the sermon? That’s how it was for me, except I wasn’t just reading it, I was writing it. It was a totally creative, fun, free thinking process where I just wrote what came, refusing to edit through the first draft. I just wrote.
What actors would you choose to play the characters in the film version of your book?
Sam Elliot would be Dickerson (because he’s hot). Kevin Bacon would be Frank, (same reason, actually). Ann would play herself. Oh, wait, she’s not real. I forget. Ooh, ooh, the soundtrack would totally be Natalie Merchant! That’s all I got so far.
What about your second book...tell us about that, what it’s about, how that story evolved.
Keeping My Sister is about two sisters who may or may not be related to me and my sister (no spoilers here), their survival together through a traumatic childhood, their journeys separate ways, and the unequivocal love of their heavenly Father. I was riding my motorcycle last summer when He gently told me the truth. My {friend’s} sister had been sex trafficked. I’d read enough on the subject to recognize immediately that I could write her story well, but I didn’t want to. I generally avoid pain (unless it’s of the tattoo or bugs in my face on the highway sort) and I knew writing her story would send me into the shadows. But I also knew that if God was opening me up to go down this path that He wouldn’t send me alone. He gave me what I needed throughout this project, from an outline which gave me parameters to professionally distance myself from the story, to an amazing editor who helped me to give the right voices to the two sisters. He even gave me the beautiful, redemptive ending before I sat down to write the hardest, darkest middle parts.
What’s been your biggest joy about becoming a novelist, other than working with me?
The readers’ responses have been phenomenal. From NUBBY readers clamoring for a sequel, to Keeping My Sister readers being given permission—to feel, to grieve, to worship, to heal through my books—has been such an amazing, unexpected joy.
What has been your biggest challenge as an author?
Two things—marketing and finding time to write. I don’t have time to market myself because I’d rather be writing. I don’t have time to write because I’m busy taking myself to the market.
What’s the biggest surprise to you about becoming an author?
It has been easier than I imagined it to be—to be published. But that’s probably because I have a very creative, experienced team behind me who’ve helped me along from start to finish on both my projects. They have been my cheerleaders, given professional input, and led me step by step through the process. [Editor's note: They sound really great.]
What did you learn through the process of publishing your first book(s) that you will apply to your next one?
I learned that Create Space, Kindle Direct, and Amazon make it easy and accessible for authors like me to publish, market, receive royalties and keep organized through clear reports for tax and business purposes.
Will your book be Indie published, self published or represented by an agency and sold to a traditional publisher?
I love self-publishing. I like maintaining creative control, control of royalties, pricing and deadlines. Traditional publishing seems to rely on forms of marketing which aren’t realistic for me where I am in life—travel and book signing tours. Sounds fun, but I have other plates spinning right now. Also, I can do so much through social media. For instance, I did a Kindle promotion recently and sold multiple copies of my book from the comfort of my own home. This wouldn’t have been effective in a book signing scenario. People don’t generally like it when I write my name on their tablets. Plus, I'd probably have to change out of my jammies.
What are you working on now? (job, life, next novel)
I started working on NUBBY NUBBY (the sequel) but am taking a break for now. What I really hope to do is to write a hilarious and inspirational book next. Sort of Bossypants meets The Shack. Or Erma Bombeck meets C.S.Lewis—and they have a lovechild. That’s what I want to do this summer—have a lovechild. We recently moved into the country, so I’m enjoying planting, shooting stuff, watching my kids free range, tending to our chickens and living life from a place of peace and serenity instead of having to work so hard to go find it.
What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
The advice I got was to schedule time for your writing and stick to it unless you have a family emergency or a polar vortex or something like that. If there are things which block your creative flow, remove them. Silence the internal critic, or better yet, kill it. Just write the first draft, then edit.
And personally, since I don’t really know how to write any other way, my advice is to collaborate with God in your creative endeavors. He will do more with your writing than what you expect or imagine.
Where do you see publishing going in the future?
I see more and more writers moving toward self-publishing, for the creative control reasons I listed earlier. And so they can stay in their jammies.
How can readers discover more about you and you work?
My website, desprithousewife.com
My Facebook page
My book links:
NUBBY (* American, UK, etc.)
Keeping My Sister