The Invisible Mentor

These interviews are meant to provide you with information that you can use. Shannon Van Roekel shares with you the one book that had a profound impact on her life and the five books she’d like to have if stranded on a deserted island. How does she motivate herself and remain motivated? What are the three events that shaped her life? What’s the biggest advance in her industry. Find the answers to these and a lot more! The second part of this interview will be featured on Friday, December 4, 2009.

Tell me a little bit about yourself.

I am married, with five children, two of which are getting married within the next 6 months. Lately I’ve been waking up in the middle of the night “angsting” over table centerpieces, floral arrangements and crash diets.

What’s a typical day like for you?

I am a home school mom to my two youngest boys, 16 and 14 yrs old, so I have the blessing of being able to read with them in the morning before sending them off to complete their remaining assignments. I try to write a minimum word quota and get a load of laundry through before we start school. I try to return to the writing later in the afternoon, but then I am often busy with people stuff: appointments, Bible studies, a cup of latte with a friend…

Supper prep is something I try to remember to do in the morning, but reality has forced me to become the professional “last minute dinner” woman. Evenings I catch up on Facebook, emails and edits or just visit with my kids. The older they are, the more time we TALK! I love it!

How do you motivate yourself and stay motivated?

I am a big advocate of spending time every day journalling and meditating on God’s Word, the Bible. Fellowship with Him gives me renewed focus, clarity and the energy that I know I could not live without.

I try to exercise at least three times a week, but feel better when it’s five times.

If you had to start over from scratch, knowing what you know now, what would you do differently?

I would spend less time worrying over things I am powerless to change and more time committing them to the Lord in prayer and actively choosing to believe that He is who He says He is, that He does love me and takes care of every need that I give to Him

What’s the most important business (or other) discovery you’ve made in the past year?

I have been startled to recognize that God is not at all intimidated by business. That world belongs to Him, too. I am trying to learn to strive less and to depend on His nudges and promptings more. He is the best agent/manager anyone could ever have.

What’s one of the biggest advances in your industry over the past five years?

I write contemporary Christian fiction; the biggest advance in that field over the past five years has probably been the growing interest in reading about real life issues, including international crises.

Describe a major business (or other) challenge you had and how you resolved it.

To have an agent or not? That is the question for most authors. I have no agent and this is how I do it.

What lessons did you learn in the process?

• Get help in polishing the manuscript for an editor’s eyes, join a writer’s critique group or find a fellow writer in your area who is willing to be very honest. (Not your mom!)
• Get your manuscript out of the slush pile and in front of an editor – go to writer’s conferences (Google and look for ones that are affordable and also give you sit down time with an editor of your choice—I highly recommend the Oregon Christian Writer’s Summer Conference, where my manuscript was eventually picked up by my publisher).
• Get help with the contract when it comes – join the Author’s Guild. For a reasonable membership fee, you receive free legal advice, point-by-point, in lay-man terms and a free web-site with links to agents and editors, with minimal monthly upkeep fees.
• Get marketing advice, tips and negotiating expertise on your side – Read the “Writer’s Market” and source other marketing tools. Trust God to guide you into the path He wants you on.
• You can still get an agent, if you really want to, but I haven’t and am very pleased with the experience so far.

Tell me about your big break and who gave you.

I’ve had two big breaks. One was meeting my friend, Elsi Dodge, at my first writer’s conference, who is also my #1 editor. She sees and fine-tooth combs everything I write before it goes to the publisher. A writer needs good editors! She is mine.

The other big break was when I got two acceptance letters for two different manuscripts that are for two different genres, written years apart, on the same day and in back-to-back emails!

That was from God. Only He could do that. It was as if I could hear Him say, “I want you to do this. Keep going.”

Describe one of your biggest failures. What lessons did you learn, and how did it contribute to a greater success?

Biggest failure was not being prepared to give an answer when That Very Important Person said, “So tell me about what you’re writing.” I will never let it happen again.

What has been your biggest disappointment in your life – and what are you doing to prevent its re-occurrence?

In my life? I would have to say my mom and dad’s divorce. I try to use it like preventative medicine in my own marriage: this is what they did wrong; now we don’t have to make the same mistake!

What’s one of the toughest decisions you’ve had to make and how did it impact your life?

Even though it was made a long time ago now, I would say the decision to home school my kids was the hardest decision I’ve made. So many arguments on either side. But I am very grateful that I had the opportunity to do it and incredibly glad I did. I became a more disciplined person through the process, have had a gazillion hours to read out loud so many great books that we otherwise would never have had, and have become a lover of learning somewhere along the way (as have they), which is why I can’t wait to do research for the next novel!

What are three events that helped to shape your life?

1. Living overseas (Malaysia, Columbia and Ecuador) as a child
2. Reading the Bible
3. The decision to home school my children

What’s an accomplishment that you are proudest of?

Having a book published

How did mentors influence your life?

I never had a real mentor, unless I can count my mother, but I have had lots of examples of what not to do and a husband who is wise.

What’s one core message you received from your mentors?

The best thing I can do to market my book is to learn to write well.

Which resources (books, movies, training etc.) did your mentors recommend to you?

The Oregon Christian Writer’s Summer conference.

As an Invisible Mentor, what is one piece of advice that you would give to readers?

I will share a favorite quote: “When under pressure most of us ask the question, “What will become of me?” The real question is “What should I do?” We find the answer in love.” Free Burma Ranger Relief Team Leader

What are the steps you took to succeed in your field?

When I felt the burden on my heart to pursue writing, I did all I could to learn to write well, believing that this was what God was asking of me.

What advice do you have for someone just starting out in your field?

Read about writing; find other writers to talk to; go to a writer’s conference!

If trusted friends could introduce you to five people that you’ve always wanted to meet, who would you choose? And what would you say to them?

Mother Theresa, Corrie Ten Boom, Billy Graham, Adolph Hitler, and Joseph Stalin. I would ask them all the same question: “If you could go back and do it over again, would you do anything differently?”

Which one book had a profound impact on your life? What was it about this book that impacted you so deeply? Did you have an emotional or intellectual attachment to this book? Why?

Exodus by Leon Uris

The fickleness of man and government, the faithfulness of God was the impact the book left on me. I loved the grit and the hope in the story. I want to write like that.

If you were stranded on a deserted island, what are five books that you would like to have with you and why? Summarize the book in two sentences.

The Bible – The chronicle of man from Creation to the end of history, as we understand it. God’s dealings and desire for man.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe - Four siblings get stuck in another reality (Narnia) where it is always winter and never Christmas. The thaw of spring begins when Aslan, the lion (but not a tame lion) sets foot again in the land.

The Last Battle - Last in the series that the previous book begins. I try to read it once every two years or so, just to get perspective on life (and death).

The Fellowship of the Ring – Everyone knows this one. Something about the eating schedules and architecture of hobbits is just perennially appealing.

The Count of Monte Cristo –The book, NOT the movie, is an honest portrayal of the consequences of hatred and revenge. No matter how justly deserved.

I would want these books because I can read them over and over and enjoy them just as much each time.

Have you read any books that inspired you to start a business, service or invent “something”? If yes, which book?

Not sure if this is the right answer, but after reading Randy Alcorn’s Safely Home I thought, “That’s what I want to do. I want to write books like that.”

What one music CD and movie would you like to have with you (on the deserted island) and why?

The Messiah (CD), because then it would always be Christmas and I would always like listening to it.

Sense and Sensibility (the movie) It’s so rich in story, color and message. I can watch it over and over and never get tired of it.

How might you apply the information from this interview? Let’s keep the conversation going, please comment.

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