Tell us about what you write. Novels, novella, short stories?
I dabble in every one of these areas. My fiction usually runs from 25K to 70K, I have a host of NF articles and essays under my belt and my devotional Love is a Rose parallels the love of God & the Christian journey to the words to The Rose sung by Bette Midler & Conway Twitty.
When did your writing journey begin?
My journey to writing began nearly 40 years ago. I was pregnant with my 2nd child and tired/bored of reading too many books that disappointed me. Thinking I could do better (a mite arrogant LOL!) I picked up pen and paper and started writing. Thus, began years of 5-subject notebooks filled with stories and ideas. After about eleven years of that, I graduated to a word processor then computer.
Can a notorious bad girl find redemption & win the cowboy preacher’s heart?
Lori Strickland (introduced in Tempered Fire) has always been known as her father's "wild child" with no desire to change until she meets ex-bull-rider-turned-preacher Rafe Judson. Her attempts to change her wanton ways come to naught until she realizes redemption only comes with true repentance.
Lori’s Redemption is a spin-off of book 3 in my Tempered series. My initial idea for a book set in Recluse, WY fell through when the line I was gearing the story for folded and publishing company shut down. So, I had this idea of a broken bull rider turned preacher and no clue what to do with it. Lori came to mind and the Lord prompted me to write her and Rafe’s story. You can find the inspiration/setting/backstory and my favorite chapter of Lori’s Redemption as well as the other Tempered books inA Tempered Mess(a FREE ebook!)
Tell us about your experience with the publishing process.
The first 2 Tempered books were initially published by Writer’s Exchange, an Ebook publisher out of Australia and I did the print copies through a local printing press. I then contracted with an “upcoming” publisher that never got off the ground (and this decision cost me 3 years of my career!) The series was then picked up by another small (and I mean SMALL) press–again one that never really got off the ground. Once I got the rights back, I self-published them. I still have 2 books with a traditional small press (Pelican Book Group) but everything else is Indy-Pubbed under my imprint Temperance Publishing.
Words of advice for fellow writers in the trenches:
Don’t give up. Take a break if you have to but never quit. Writing is a talent and gift from God. Don’t bury your talent or hide your gift. Stay flexible and teachable and willing to learn from your mistakes. NEVER give up!
Award-winning author, Pamela S. Thibodeaux is the Co-Founder and a lifetime member of Bayou Writers Group in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Multi-published in romantic fiction as well as creative non-fiction, her writing has been tagged as, “Inspirational with an Edge!” ™ and reviewed as “steamier and grittier than the typical Christian novel without decreasing the message.” Sign up to receive Pam’s newsletter and get a FREE short story!