Lindsay Harrel is a lifelong book nerd who lives in Arizona with her young family and two golden retrievers in serious need of training. She’s held a variety of writing and editing jobs over the years, and now juggles stay-at-home mommyhood with writing novels. When she’s not writing or chasing after her children, Lindsay enjoys making a fool of herself at Zumba, curling up with anything by Jane Austen, and savoring sour candy one piece at a time. Connect with her at www.LindsayHarrel.com.
Connect with Lindsay...
Website: https://www.lindsayharrel.com/
Blog: https://www.lindsayharrel.com/blog/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/lindsayharrel
Twitter: www.twitter.com/lindsayharrel
Instagram: www.instagram.com/lindsayharrelauthor
Get to know Lindsay...
Tell us a little bit about you and your writing journey...
My love of writing began with a love of reading. I read all the time—I even tried to sneak books at the table during dinnertime. Much as my parents encouraged me, they were not okay with that. J As far as writing goes, I was that little kindergartner who asked for stacks of printer paper so I could fold it in half, staple it, and call it a book. In high school, I took creative writing as my elective. But it was then that I decided writing books was too hard and there was too much competition.
Instead, I pursued journalism and became a writer/editor in a variety of positions for about ten years. When I did my master’s program in English, I remembered my forgotten love of writing fiction and decided to try my hand at writing a book. It’s really cool to look back on that dream I had as a child finally realized.
Your Writing
What was one thing (or character) that surprised you while writing this book?
When I originally plotted the book, it was going to be about Megan only (she’s the sister who got the heart transplant and decided to fulfill her donor’s bucket list). Her sister Crystal was going to go along, but be an antagonist of sorts. But when I told the story concept to my agent, she said she thought maybe the sister should have her own point of view—that maybe she had a story to tell. And she did. In fact, I ended up relating so much more to her than to Megan. That really surprised me!
Did you get to do any fun research for the book?
Oh yes! It is set all over the world (Paris, London, Greece, Rome, Peru, China, etc.), so I got to do research on all the places I want to see someday! I wish I could have taken a research trip to see it all for myself, but I had a young toddler when I was writing this. Also, I wasn’t making any money from writing yet so I just couldn’t justify it at the time. But I did try to convince my husband! J
Writing
Now let's talk about writing...
How long did you write before you got published?
I got degrees in journalism and English, but I didn’t begin pursuing publication until August 2011. I signed with my agent in November 2013 and got my first contract (for One More Song to Sing) in March 2016. Then I got my two-book contract with Thomas Nelson in late 2016 and signed it in January 2017. (But we all have different journeys!! Don’t be discouraged if your journey doesn’t go as quickly as mine. I have friends on both sides of the spectrum—some who were published before me and some who are still working toward it.)
What’s your encouragement for younger writers aside from “keep writing”? We hear this a lot, but dig deeper. Is there something else that helped you?
I absolutely recommend getting training through My Book Therapy’s Storycrafters Online Program or something similar. Spend time honing your craft and don’t be afraid to invest a bit of money to do so. I 100% believe that part of the reason I was able to learn the writing craft and become published is because I did this and really invested in this. I know not everyone can spend the money; that's okay too. Find ways to learn the craft in a way that works for the type of learner you are, even if it means checking out books or audiobooks from the library. There are plenty of free resources online. Remember, this is a career, not just a hobby. Treat it as such and give it the time and energy it deserves. Stay focused and remember the long game.
How do you balance your writing life with “real” life? Any tips or tricks to share?
I have a baby and a toddler and I stay home with them. If I can do it, so can you. I think the biggest tip I have is to carve time out for it every week. Make an appointment on the calendar and keep it as if it were a doctor’s appointment, Bible study, or one of the million other things you have on your calendar. Set realistic goals too—don’t expect to write an entire scene if you’ve crammed the rest of your day so full that you have no energy at the end of the day.
You
In honor of the fall, what’s your favorite fall treat?
I like the caramel apple spice drink from Starbucks. Oh, and pumpkin cupcakes with cream cheese frosting.
When you were a child, what did you dream of growing up to be?
I did dream of being an author, but also a lawyer. I decided to become an author and married a lawyer, so I think I’m covered!
Will you participate in National Novel Writing Month? If so, what’s your plan to keep your writing on track?
No, because I have a February 1 deadline to turn in my next novel to my publisher, so I’m drafting my book mostly in October! My goal is to write one scene a day, five days a week. If I can do that, then I’ll have finished drafting my book in about 10-11 weeks. Then comes editing!
What are you currently reading?
I just finished Michele Phoenix’s The Space Between Words (highly recommend!) and am about to pick up Lauren Denton’s The Hideaway.
Lindsay has graciously offered an ebook copy of One More Song to Sing as a giveaway! Enter below:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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