We recently had the pleasure of interviewing Nancy Sanders, author of the latest Imagination Station Book, Challenge on the Hill of Fire. I got the opportunity to have lunch with Nancy and her husband Jeff while they were out here, what a very cool couple they are! And it turns out Jeff really likes The Quest for Truth.
Q: Everyone seems to have a “how I got published” story. What is yours?
When I started out, I knew nothing about writing. I didn’t know how to format manuscripts or submit to publishers. I think one of the first manuscripts I ever submitted was handwritten in red pen on lined notebook paper and I mailed it to one of my favorite authors, asking them to publish it. Imagine! That’s how little I knew about the business of writing.
So if I can experience success as a writer and learn the skills of writing and learn about the business of getting published, anyone can!
Q: When did you realize you wanted to become a writer?
After our two sons, Dan and Ben, were born, I loved reading children’s books to them. I started thinking, “I could write one of these!” So I tried it and fell in love with writing children’s books. About a year later, I felt that God was calling me to be His scribe. So I started taking writing seriously as my purpose in life.
Q: Tell me a little about your books.
I’ve had over 80 books published by publishers big and small. Some have won big awards. Some haven’t won any awards at all. Some have made lots and lots of money (enough to help buy our house). Some haven’t made any money at all. Some have been bestsellers for their publishing houses. Some have gone out of print even before I received my author’s copies in the mail. :o) You can learn more about my books at my site: http://nancysbookzone.wordpress.com/
Q: What was your favorite book as a teen?
Jane Eyre
Q: What is the one author, living or dead, who you would like to co-write a book with someday, and why?
I’d love to co-write a book with Charlotte Brontë, the author of Jane Eyre. That’s because Charlotte had fun when she wrote, and I love to have fun, too! Charlotte and her sisters Emily and Anne loved to jot down notes on tiny scraps of paper. Their brother, Branwell, called this habit of theirs scribblemania. They even made miniature books and tiny magazines that are collector’s items today!
They’d also spend the evenings together reading their manuscripts aloud to each other, giving each other encouragement and feedback. Then they’d discuss ideas they had for the upcoming scenes in their novels. Plus, they’d spend time sitting together, each one writing their own manuscripts during the quiet evenings at their home in Yorkshire on the wind-swept moor.
I just think this whole writing process would be so much fun to do together with Charlotte!
Q: What do you want readers to take away from your articles and books?
I write for one purpose only. For my readers to meet Jesus, fall in love with Him, and want to spend every day with Him as their Lord and Savior here on earth and then in eternity.
Some articles and books I write to draw in the person who is totally lost and does not know Jesus at all. Other articles and books I write to draw in people who are searching so that they can find Jesus, the answer to all their questions. Other articles and books I write to draw in people who are Christians, but have either fallen away or don’t yet know what it’s like to live the abundant life and spend quality time with Jesus every day. And other articles and books I write to encourage Christians to run the race and fight the good fight by having a relationship so intimate with Jesus that it influences their entire identity. As a children’s writer, I’m always writing with kids in mind, but I’m also writing for their parents, teachers, and people of influence in their lives. Because those are the people who share my books with them.
Q: In what ways does your faith impact how you approach writing?
Faith drives every word I write. I don’t want to write anything that is on my own. I only want to write with God’s purpose and God’s intention and God’s heart. Even the books and articles that I write for the general market are written out of a purpose and a calling to write according to my marching orders from God.
That’s why I like to meet with God every day. I want to hear directly from Him regarding the writing I do. To learn more about how you can do this, too, visit my site One Hour Each Day at http://onehoureachday.wordpress.com/
You see, Jesus talked about writing very clearly in Matthew 23. The NKJV is especially insightful. Time after time, he said, “Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!” He repeated this phrase 6 times!
But then Jesus declares in Matthew 23:34, “Therefore indeed, I sent you wise men, prophets, and scribes.”
Obviously, according to Jesus, there are two different kinds of scribes. And if Jesus is sending forth one group of scribes, this implies that these scribes are people who hang out with Jesus. How else can He send them out?
So I want to be a scribe who hangs out with Jesus. Every day. I want to sit at His feet and listen to His words. I want to hear what’s on His heart for today and grasp the message He wants to send out for such a time as this.
And then I want to sit down and write and send His message to the world.
How does this translate to practical experience? I cannot tell you the number of times I’ve sat at Jesus’ feet reading the Bible and journaling my prayers to Him, and He’s given me an idea totally out of the blue for a potential writing project. And then when I contact an editor or publisher with that idea, they jump on it and offer me a contract. For instance, one time while I was meeting with Jesus, He gave me the idea for a new book. I called an editor I work with at a top publishing house in the general market and told her my idea. She said, “I just had a dream about that very idea last night! Yes! I want you to write that book!!!” Things like that have happened time and time again over my writing career.
Q: What can you tell us about your most recent books?
Three of my recently published books this past year include:
Frederick Douglass for Kids: His Life and Times With 21 Activities
Challenge on the Hill of Fire
Yes! You Can Learn How to Write Beginning Readers and Chapter Books
Frederick Douglass for Kids is one of the most awesome journeys I’ve ever taken as a writer! For starters, my husband Jeff and I got to take a two-week photo-research tour where we basically walked in Douglass’s footsteps from his birthplace to the place he was living when he died. Many of the photographs we took are in this book, making this book like no other book written about Frederick Douglass. Plus, Douglass is now my new American hero. What an amazing person he was! And his faith in God compelled him to do the things he did. He talks frankly about his faith in his autobiographies, so I was able to highlight this in my book about him, too. It’s the 2012 Silver NAPPA (National Parenting Publications) winner. You can visit its site for free teacher and parent materials at http://frederickdouglass.wordpress.com/
In Challenge on the Hill of Fire, I got to take young readers on an exciting adventure to meet Patrick, who single-handedly followed God’s call to spread the Gospel in Ireland. How cool is that? Now only can kids read about this awesome man of faith, but my prayer is that they’ll be inspired to follow Patrick’s example and make a difference in their world for Jesus.
I decided to self-publish a second book in my Yes! You Can series of how-to books for children’s writers. I’ve written over 400 beginning reader stories that have been published over the years in a variety of venues, including the bestseller for Scholastic, 25 Read and Write Mini-Books That Teach Word Families. Yet every time I was struggling as a writer to write for the beginning reader market, I couldn’t find any how-to books to help me. So I decided to publish a book on my own to help other authors experience success in this market, too. You can read more about my book and how to purchase Yes! You Can Learn How to Write Beginning Readers and Chapter Books at my site, http://yesyoucanlearn.wordpress.com/
Q: Coke or Pepsi?
I don’t like pop, so I’ve never had either. I much prefer coconut water, carrot juice, a fruit smoothie, or a refreshing bottle of spring water!
Q: Soft shell or Hard Shell tacos?
Taco salads, yummy!
Q: Favorite writing buddies?
My two cats, Sandman and Pitterpat. Lots of times when I sit down on the couch with my laptop for a writing session, I prop my feet up on the recliner, Pitterpat curls up at my feet, and Sandman snuggles up under my arm. They love to help me write. In fact, they even have their own website with all their favorite writing tips, Writing According to Humphrey and Friends! Check it out at http://writingaccordingtohumphrey.wordpress.com/
Q: Do you have a favorite Bible verse?
Every day I have a brand new favorite Bible verse!!!! My husband, Jeff, and I love to read the One Year Bible. We’ve been reading it for over 10 years now, I think. 
In fact, now our whole church is reading it. Every day I have some new issue that I’m dealing with, and when I go read God’s daily dose of His Word, He always gives me the perfect verse to comfort me, encourage me, and anchor my hope upon. So today, my favorite Bible verse is…drumroll please…
Let the saints be joyful in glory;
Let them sing aloud on their beds.
Let the high praises of God be in their mouth,
And a two-edged sword in their hand,
To execute vengeance on the nations,
And punishments on the peoples’
To bind their kings with chains,
And their nobles with fetters of iron;
To execute on them the written judgment—
This honor have all His saints.
Praise the Lord!
-Psalm 149:5-7, NJKV
How’s that for a verse for us as writers?!!!
Q: Favorite pasta dish?
Eggplant Parmesan with whole wheat pasta and marinara sauce at Olive Garden. With their awesome garden salad, of course. All this favorite food stuff is making me hungry!
Q: Do you listen to music while you write? If so what are some examples?
Sometimes I like to choose a song or CD that’s my theme song for a particular book project I’m working on. Other times I like to write when it’s quiet so I can concentrate better.
Most writing days during my lunch break, I put on a worship CD and spend some time just worshipping God and thanking Him for His goodness. Often I’ll play worship CDs when I’m doing writing related tasks such as researching images or creating my bibliography or posting on my blog. All my worship CDs are on my iPod, so I love to listen to them all. Examples include Mercy Me, Hillsongs, Marty Goetz, and the Praise Songs. And when I get good news such as an offer for a book contract or an awesome book review, I always put on “Shouts of Joy,” from Paul Wilbur’s CD, The Watchman, and spend time with God giving him some shouts of joy!
You can listen to “Shouts of Joy” at this link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Psh3_eEh9zo
To learn more about Nancy and her books you can check out her website: www.nancyisanders.com or her blog: http://nancyisanders.wordpress.com/
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