I’m so pleased to welcome my friend Kim Vogel Sawyer as this week’s Wednesday is Friendsday guest. We’ve known each other nearly four years now, and she’s been an inspiration to me.
You’re one of the first people I met in the American Christian Fiction Writers group–way back at the Kansas City conference. I’ve been blessed by watching the blessings God has bestowed upon you. Today, you’re able to write full time and the cane is gone. Would you like to share a little about those blessings or others?
I, too, remember visiting with you at Kansas City! When I attended that conference in 2002, I had no idea what God had in store for me. My goal at that point was “learn about the publishing world and GET PUBLISHED,” but He had so much more planned… Following the Denver conference in 2004, where He led Ruth Seamands to “insist” *smile* I allow her daughter (Brandilyn Collins) to pray for me–and subsequently healed me from a life-long burden of shame that was literally making me ill, I truly believed He had placed me on the writing pathway just so I could be at that conference at that time to receive His healing touch.
I did a lot of questioning following the Denver conference about my call to write, and whether or not publishing was something I was meant to continue to pursue. I eventually came to the conclusion that being made whole emotionally and physically was more than enough, and if that was what all the writing was about, then I was satisfied. I mean, think about it–juxtapose healing from constant pain against a writing contract… Which would you choose? Truly, it’s a no-brainer. 
) From there I began questioning what I was to do with the healing He had given me.
Because of my health, I had been forced to teach part-time rather than full-time, so I wondered if I was supposed to return to full-time teaching or do something else. In January of 2005, God began prompting me to leave my classroom. I still had no idea where He was taking me, but I stepped out in obedience and told my principal I would be resigning at the end of the school year.
In March I received two contracts–one through Heartsong Presents and one through Bethany House for two full-length historical novels. That was the start of a nine-month floodgate of contracts that resulted in the sale of ten novels. God answered my question resoundingly: I healed you to write. And so, now I write.
(Of course, you realize you’ve been given the nutshell version of my story! I love sharing the entire story of my healing with women’s groups–I get to celebrate it all over again with each telling. *smile*)
How has being involved with a group such as ACFW helped you attain your goals?
Where do I begin? When I joined this group prior to the Kansas City conference, I had self-published a little inspirational novel called A Seeking Heart, but my knowledge of the publishing world was minimal at best. I’ve learned about publishing in general, but there’s so much more… I’ve always been pretty much a loner–the result of being painfully shy–yet God has given me a host of friends and sisters in Christ who have helped crack that shell of shyness. I’ve received encouragement and advice and sincere congratulations. I’ve had the opportunity to laugh with and cry with and pray with people. ACFW has grown me as writer, but also as a Christian and a person. I am so blessed that ACFW is a part of my life’s journey.
What influence did your family history have on your newest book, Waiting for Summer’s Return?
You did a great job of intertwining some phrases of German dialect in the story without making it confusing or cumbersome to read. How difficult was that and what advice do you have for other writers who may wish to incorporate foreign speech in their writing?
My mother’s family, who are of the Mennonite Brethren faith, originally moved from Germany to Russia to escape forced military involvement. When religious persecution began in Russia, many chose to immigrate to the United Statesbecause of its religious freedom. My great-grandparents (Bernard and Maria Klaassen) were the first generation to live in America. Because they hadn’t been treated well, the Mennonites pretty much kept to themselves, starting their own communities and being self-sufficient. When I knew my character would need to be stranded in a place far different from the home of her childhood, using a Mennonite community made sense. The Mennonites would, due to their history of persecution, be uncertain about outsiders, adding to the conflict. I am very proud of my Mennonite heritage. The Mennonite Brethren have withstood hardship and emerged dependent on God’s strength to face life’s challenges. (Plan on seeing more of this particular group in the sequel to Waiting for Summer’s Return. *smile*)
I really appreciate your confirmation, because this was something I stressed over! lol I wanted to use Plautdietsch (Low German) because, not only is it historically accurate (my grandparents, Henry and Elizabeth Klaassen Voth only spoke Plautdietsch at home, so my uncle Bud, who was born in 1918, didn’t learn English until he went to school), it is also a dying language. I had the opportunity to capture a small bit of it for posterity, so to speak. ) I wish all of the foreign speech in the story was Plautdietsch, but because of the difficulty in making literal translation, some parts are pure German. As for weaving it in…you’ll notice actual sentences in German/Plautdietsch are used sparingly. Most of it comes across as the essence of German…the arrangement of words (“Cranky you are this morning, Frau Steadman” rather than “You are cranky this morning…”), the occasional placement of a German word in the middle of a sentence when the remainder will give a clear meaning for that word, and using some of the traditions (Sunday faspa) and foods (Gruznikje and kraut borscht). Just listening to people who speak the language, picking up the nuances of their speech, helped me a great deal. And of course, praying like crazy to find the balance between realistic and overboard!
From viewing the pictures on your web site, it looks like a lot of exciting things have happened since the birth of your new book. Would you like to share some of the highlights?
In so many ways, the past year has been the most difficult of my life. My family has faced more challenges in the past eleven months…yet it’s also been a time of incredible blessing. In the publishing arena, receiving an endorsement from Janette Oke and then seeing Summer’s story on the CBA bestseller list were both far beyond any expectation I would have had. From the time I was a little girl, I’ve dreamed of being a published author, but God blew my dream up bigger than my mind could comprehend. He truly does bless us beyond our imagination. But more important to me than sales figures are the personal messages I’ve been privileged to receive. God has used both Waiting for Summer’s Return and Dear John (my first Heartsong, which also released in June) to bring healing to burdened hearts. That tells me clearly He had a purpose for these stories, and His purpose is being fulfilled. As Peter told Summer in Waiting for Summer’s Return, it is a humbling thing to be the bringer of God’s love to a hurting soul.
Will you ever do a book tour on the Harley with hubby?
LOL! He would love that! Although he makes cross-country trips with his brother or friends, I’m more into “toodling.” I like the leisurely drives when it’s not too hot, not too cold, and not too windy. Consequently, my Harley time is pretty limited. ;o) I understand Susan Downs actually edits manuscripts on the back of her husband’s Harley as they’re zooming down the highway. I’m too much of a sissy I suppose–I prefer the convenience of my air conditioned van. <g>
I know better than to visit with you without giving you an opportunity to share about your grandkids! Since I’m a grandma, too, I know how fun they are. Tell us how wonderful they are!
Oh, my, yes–there really is nothing better than grandchildren! I have three absolutely adorable grandsons, all belonging to my oldest daughter Kristian. Connor will be three in November and already can identify all the letters of the alphabet and knows the names of nearly every sea creature, including baracudas! He is very sensitive and introspective, and he loves books. I suspect he will be the next generation of writer in our family. Ethan, who will be two in November, is Mr. Ornery. He has the most endearing grin and gives the best hugs. His favorite pastime is playing basketball–with whatever he can find to throw! Baby Rylin, who is about ten weeks old, is a cuddle bug. He is so laid back and contented, it’s a joy just to be around him. Each of these little boys is such a blessing. I don’t know what we’d do without them.
Will you give us a sneak peek into your next project? The quick blurb or premise?(If it’s top secret, that’s okay—we won’t tell!)
Well, the next project to hit the bookshelves will be my second Heartsong, That Wilder Boy, which features a troublemaker-turned-Christian and a rich girl who doesn’t believe anyone can look at her without seeing dollar signs. In the spring, look for my second full-length historical, Where Willows Grow, a depression-era story set in Kansas, near Hutchinson, which includes the WPA-built castle near Lindsborg as well as the true-to-life Kansas happenings of drought, earthquakes, and oil booms. I just turned in the second of the contemporary women’s fiction series set in an Old Order Mennonite community to Barbour, and am currently at work on the substantive edit of my third historical from Bethany House, the story of three orphan train siblings reuniting in adulthood (it’s not as simple as it sounds…).
Linda, thank you so much for the chance to visit with you about how God has opened these doors to me. He truly is a God of dreams-come-true, and He deserves the praise and glory for each blessing!
