Tina's Writing Advice and Experience

How long does it take to "hatch" a book from conception to publication?

For me, I used to get a book done fairly quickly. I've slowed some. The road to publication was a lot longer. Several years of wondering if I would ever get there. I self-published back when because I got tired of waiting. Then I placed in a contest and thought, this was it. My call for a contract would be coming soon. It came seven years later. But I kept plugging away.

I would still like to get my books into print. As they are in ebook form right now. There is that dream of holding them in my hot little hands.

My biggest dream in writing though, is that my words and stories leave a legacy of life to others. To do that, I want to make sure I write with all the grace and imagination God has instilled in me. To do that, means I have to put myself out there and take a stand for Christ. Some people say writing fiction isn't really a way to touch lives, and I would beg to differ. And tell them they shook take that up with Christ himself, who for some reason thought parables were a fine way to reach people. That and giving all he had because of his love.

Any parting words of advice for would-be writers?  I would like to encourage other writers to keep plugging away and use what God has given them. Even if your words only touch one life, or maybe strengthen your own.

So where can the readers find your books and learn more about you?

My website -- http://www.tinapinson.com/

Twitter:@Tina_Pinson
Facebook--http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=754617103
Purchase my books at:

Desert Breeze Bookstore.

Touched By Mercy - http://tiny.cc/0rgkm
In the Manor of the Ghost http://tiny.cc/we4ul
When Shadow Fall http://tinyurl.com/d93p77a

Amazon:

Touched By Mercy http://tiny.cc/k5tgw
In the Manor of the Ghost http://tiny.cc/doc8w
When Shadows Fall: http://tinyurl.com/6ogulhk

Barnes & Noble

Touched By Mercy— http://tinyurl.com/7ztzjno
In the Manor of the Ghost http://tiny.cc/oh767
When Shadows Fall: http://tinyurl.com/6pxcmmf

Christian Books Distributors

Touched By Mercy – http://tinyurl.com/72p4pml
In the Manor of the Ghost http://tiny.cc/4u5h9
When Shadows Fall

Excerpt from When Shadows Fall by Tina Pinson

Morning brought sunshine, and the pleasant sound of birds singing overhead. Rebekah hoped the rain would hold off, allowing her to make up some lost time.

Two hours on the road, they met up with another band of rebels. They wore ragged uniforms. The hair on their heads and faces was overgrown. Of the six men, only one wore shoes. She began to fear this ragtag group might be deserters. Trouble.

Hoping they'd pass like others had done, she moved on with eyes forward -- yet constantly watching. She feigned disinterest as they drew near the wagon, but they didn't pass. As soon as they were close, they fanned the road to block her passage. She tried to keep moving, but one big and utterly filthy, redheaded man grabbed the horse's reins.

She found herself missing the company of the rain.

"Whoa there," he said as he slowed the horse to a halt. He looked up at Rebekah and grinned. "Now that wasn't very neighborly of ya. We jest wanted ta talk ta ya's is all. We was hoping ya'll had some food ya might be willin' ta share."

"I ain't got much food, son," Rebekah told him, trying to keep her voice steady. "I got me some grain for the horse and some hardtack and jerky fer my grandson and me."

"What are ya doin' out here, ma'am?" Another, not quite so scruffy, young man asked.

"I jest got my son out o' one o' them Yankee prisons, and I'm trying ta get 'im home is all." Rebekah's impatience grew along with the sick feeling in her gut. "He's real sick. Caught himself something in that filthy place. I'm jest tryin' ta get 'im home."

"She tellin' the truth, Zeb?" the big redhead asked. The way he motioned a couple of men to the rear of the wagon, Rebekah believed him to be the leader. Pangs of fear rose as they circled behind her. "Does she got herself a sick man and a boy back ther', Zeb?"

The wagon rocked as Zeb jumped in for a closer look. "Shore nuff does." Zeb's voice sounded behind her. She looked over her shoulder just as Andrew backed up against his mother too terrified to speak. "He looks mighty bad off, Cal, and ther ain't much else in here."

Zeb drew back the blanket and studied her husband. "Dear Lawrd," he sputtered when he saw the legs were missing. "Lawrdy, Lawrdy." Zeb couldn't quit staring. He finally laid the blanket back down -- taking care to cover Robert -- and apologized to Andrew for scaring him. "Damn Yankees," he muttered. The springs creaked as he jumped from the wagon.

"Ya got some money then, ma'am?" Cal called to her.

Rebekah returned her attention to the front of the wagon. "Son, if I had me any money, my son would be in some fancy hospital gettin' care right now." Her tone was angry, defiant. She regretted it when Cal's voice grew hard and cold.

"Maybe we orta just take yer wagon here?" Cal gave her a stern look.

"I think we should let 'em alone," Zeb spoke up, coming back to his side. He put a hand to Cal's chest. "She's jest trying ta get her son home. We got no cause ta hurt a fellow soldier."

"I'm agreed. Let 'em pass."

The sentiment echoed down the line. Only Cal stood silent. He took so long thinking it over, Rebekah feared he might not let them go. Then he relented and stepped back from the horse.

Rebekah shook the reins, urging the horse to go.

"Get your boy home so as you can care for him," Zeb said softly as she drove past. Her tears welled at the unexpected kindness. She was afraid to breathe. Afraid Cal might change his mind and come after her. Terrified, Andrew crawled up next to her. He didn't say a thing, just clung to her. She was shaking so badly, she could barely hold the reins let alone her son.

When a good half-hour passed without incident, Rebekah pulled off to the side, and allowed herself to cry.

So where can the readers find your books and learn more about you?

My website -- http://www.tinapinson.com/

Twitter:@Tina_Pinson
Facebook--http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=754617103
Purchase my books at:

Desert Breeze Bookstore.

Touched By Mercy - http://tiny.cc/0rgkm
In the Manor of the Ghost http://tiny.cc/we4ul
When Shadow Fall http://tinyurl.com/d93p77a

Amazon:

Touched By Mercy http://tiny.cc/k5tgw
In the Manor of the Ghost http://tiny.cc/doc8w
When Shadows Fall: http://tinyurl.com/6ogulhk

Barnes & Noble

Touched By Mercy— http://tinyurl.com/7ztzjno
In the Manor of the Ghost http://tiny.cc/oh767
When Shadows Fall: http://tinyurl.com/6pxcmmf

Christian Books Distributors

Touched By Mercy – http://tinyurl.com/72p4pml
In the Manor of the Ghost http://tiny.cc/4u5h9
When Shadows Fall

How pets, people and most of all the Lord influence her books

So give us a quick blurb - what is When Shadows Fall all about?
The Civil War rages, and Rebekah fights to keep her world intact. Loss and sorrow seeps into her heart. Her sights on Oregon, she prays New Eden will be a place of peace for her and her son. A refuge. She travels to Missouri to start her journey and is denied the opportunity to join the train. Matthew battles his way through the war thinking of Rebekah, planning to help her west. He fears his biggest battle lies ahead. Will Rebekah open up her heart and allow him to be the one to hold her When the Shadows Fall?

Makes my heart beat faster, even thought I' know how it turns out. Rebekah is a favorite character of mine. Are there influences from family members, friends and/or pets that you can share? In most of my stories you will find the character has a pet. Because I have a pet. I love my dogs. The dog names in my stories Lady, Shadow and Buster were all names of some of my pets. Shadow was with us for 16 years. Our little teddy bear.

As far as family… I have four sisters, so several of my characters share some of their traits. And many share mine. I have three sons and hubby of course, plus all my nephew and nieces to give me a wealth of attitudes for my characters. And I like to people watch too.

Which character is the most difficult and why? Samantha in Touched by Mercy was difficult for me, because she hit close to home with my feelings. Writing her allowed me the time and perhaps grace to work through things that had happened in my past.

Rebekah is tough, because she reminds me of how hard life can be and what loss feels like. But she is awesome in the fact that she and Samantha too learn how to give their hearts over to the Lord. And the Lord the might just be the toughest ever. Because I so want people to know that he is the biggest Character in my books and the realest. If that makes any sense? And some people just don't want to hear. I can't always blame them, cause sometimes I don't want to have to deal with the truths he hands me either.

And where can we get your books and learn more about you as an author?
My website -- http://www.tinapinson.com/
Twitter:@Tina_Pinson
Facebook-- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=754617103
Purchase my books at:

Desert Breeze Bookstore.

Touched By Mercy - http://tiny.cc/0rgkm
In the Manor of the Ghost http://tiny.cc/we4ul
When Shadow Fall  http://tinyurl.com/d93p77a

Amazon:

Touched By Mercy http://tiny.cc/k5tgw
In the Manor of the Ghost http://tiny.cc/doc8w
When Shadows Fall: http://tinyurl.com/6ogulhk

Barnes & Noble

Touched By Mercy— http://tinyurl.com/7ztzjno
In the Manor of the Ghost http://tiny.cc/oh767
When Shadows Fall: http://tinyurl.com/6pxcmmf

Christian Books Distributors

Touched By Mercy – http://tinyurl.com/72p4pml
In the Manor of the Ghost http://tiny.cc/4u5h9
When Shadows Fall

Childhood Lying Grows Up into Writing?

Tina, I am so excited to have you here today. I enjoy your work and it will be fun to get to know you a little.

First let me say hello, Lynette and thank you for inviting me to your blog.

Tell me about who and what influenced you to write? Have you been writing long? When I was little girl, (many moons ago) I had a big imagination, which to the bane of my parents and existence I used to fabricate awesome stories. Okay, I lied. But I was good at it.

In elementary school I started to use my imagination to work on stories and doodling. I didn't sell any book until I was much older, but my doodling paid off. Because I could draw the human body pretty good at a young age… I made candy money drawing nude women for the boys in school in 4^th and 5^th grades.

I still doodle, (I gave up my sinful ways) and I still have my imagination, which takes me on flights of fancy through fiction and I don't even get in trouble for doing it. Unless of course I break a writing rule somewhere.  

Why this genre? Do you write in others?

I write historical fiction because I've always been interested in that time in our countries history. Such a hard time in life and yet, there was a simplicity.

I also have written some contemporaries and am working on some speculative fiction.

You are a Christian writer - how does that influence your writing?  I know my imagination was given to me for a purpose, I don't want to be preachy, but I want people to see that the truth is out there, and they've been handed a bill of goods that steals their joy. And only God can give that back.

 

How do you feel about authors of Christian lit writing flawed characters? I think flawed characters are more real to life than not. Everyone has flawsYes, everyone wants that escape story sometimes, but following a flawed character through the maze and showing how they reach the oasis, is oftentimes the escape they need. It gives them an answer. Shows them they don’t walk alone and gives them the opportunity to ask questions. Like what if I took the same path as the character in this book?

So where can the readers find your books and learn more about you?

My website -- http://www.tinapinson.com/

Twitter:@Tina_Pinson
Facebook-- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=754617103
Purchase my books at:

Desert Breeze Bookstore.

Touched By Mercy - http://tiny.cc/0rgkm
In the Manor of the Ghost http://tiny.cc/we4ul
When Shadow Fall  http://tinyurl.com/d93p77a

Amazon:

Touched By Mercy http://tiny.cc/k5tgw
In the Manor of the Ghost http://tiny.cc/doc8w
When Shadows Fall: http://tinyurl.com/6ogulhk

Barnes & Noble

Touched By Mercy— http://tinyurl.com/7ztzjno
In the Manor of the Ghost http://tiny.cc/oh767
When Shadows Fall: http://tinyurl.com/6pxcmmf

Christian Books Distributors

Touched By Mercy – http://tinyurl.com/72p4pml
In the Manor of the Ghost http://tiny.cc/4u5h9
When Shadows Fall