Patti Hill answers the tough questions. Help!

Can you make up stories on the spot - at the drop of a hat?

I was a champ at this as a child, but Mom considered it lying. Sadly, I was very good at it. I love Jesus for taking my sin and redeeming it into something that benefits His kingdom. At least, that's my intention. Now that I've matured a bit, I percolate story ideas. I believe strongly in the power of staring out the window. It helps to have a splendid view.

Of your favorite books, what one do you wish you had written, and why?

I deeply regret waiting so long to read To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee’s stellar book. I love the story because it confronts a dark truth in our history without ever feeling preachy. And Scout's voice, oh my, it's spot on--strong and clear. The writing is elegant in its simplicity. I really, really wish I’d written it.

Conflict is central to fiction, but how do you create a work of fiction that is tense, difficult, and sometimes even frightening, yet make it a place readers want to go to, spend time in, and get to know well?

As a beginning writer, this was a tough aspect of storytelling. I don’t like conflict, so I was much too nice to my characters. They all lived in La-La Land. Very boring. And then, interestingly enough, I went through a tough trial. The experience transformed me down to my soul. After that, I have no problem dishing out the conflict for my character. How else are they going to change?

More to the point, I have a rather odd sense of humor. I found something amusing in all of my medical tests, even a lumbar puncture and an episode with a car battery! My readers will see my quirky perspective in my writing. In other words, humor makes conflict more palatable.

What is Christian fiction?

Christian fiction is written by someone who relies on the saving grace of Jesus, believes He is the hope of the world, and writes accordingly. The story doesn’t necessarily have Christian content such as believing characters or Bible verses (although mine do), but the story must reflect the eternal truths of Christianity, things like redemption, forgiveness, sacrificial love. Examples of Christian fiction that fit my definition range from The Shack to The Lord of the Rings.

Where is the strangest place that you had a brainstorm and had to stop and write down an idea or snippet of dialogue?

Bonnie and I have this in common. All of my best ideas happen in the shower! And why not, it's warm and quiet in there. I once had a four-idea shower. That’s a record. I’ve learned to step out of the shower to write the ideas down, or they swirl down the drain with my shampoo. I must get some of those bath tub crayons.

Which one of your characters most resembles you and how did you draw from your life to create them?

Amy in The Queen of Sleepy Eye is very close to how I was at seventeen. I knew everything, certainly had God all figured out, and was convinced that I was bulletproof. Fortunately, I remember that part of my life pretty well (but don’t ask me what I had for lunch). My life, however, was much easier than Amy’s. I dragged that poor girl through the mud. Fortunately, by God’s grace, we've both landed on our feet. Phew!

Tell us about the relationship between your writing and your spiritual life.

I consider my office a holy place where God and I get to play together. As I’m writing, I look for His footprints in the dewy grass and do my best to follow. It’s a breath-taking game of follow the leader, that’s for sure.

I thoroughly enjoyed our first visit. I'd like to know what you remember about yourself at seventeen.

If you'd like to post a link to Novel Matters on your web site or blog, go to Kathleen Popa's brilliant blog at http://www.kathleenpopa.blogspot.com/ to snatch the widget.

Grow in grace, dear readers...Patti

About Us

Proverbs 15:22 says, “Without consultation, plans are frustrated, but with many counselors they succeed.”

That’s collective wisdom. That’s what you’ll get from the six fiction authors of Novel Matters. Do we know what we’re talking about? Most of us sold to a publisher our first completed books; and others of us persevered for years.

Here we are, in alphabetical order (mainly because Latayne didn’t want to go in order of age, because she’s, ahem, the eldest….)

Bonnie Grove is our Canadian author. She is the author of Talking to the Dead (David C. Cook). She is also the author of the non-fiction; Your Best You: Discovering and developing the strengths God gave you, a strength based approach to living. She writes fiction for the general market. You can find her at her web site and at the popular blog Fiction Matters . You can follow her on Twitter and check out her daily updates on Face Book. Her keyword is: mouthy-do-gooder.


Patti Hill is the author of Christy-finalist Like A Watered Garden, and two other books in the Garden Gate series, Always Green and In Every Flower (all published by Bethany House), and The Queen of Sleepy Eye (B&H Fiction). Her newest is Seeing Things, as story in which Huckleberry Finn happens to show up as a character. Hmm. Her keyword is: winsome (is this a surprise?) You can visit Patti at http://www.pattihillauthor.com/ or follow her twitterings at: http://twitter.com/PattiHill.

Kathleen Popa’s first book, To Dance in the Desert was followed by the just-released The Feast of St. Bertie (both published by David C. Cook). The novel she's working on now is titled Honey, Bea & Sky. Check in with her at her website or at her blog, Ever Mindful. You can also follow her on Twitter and on Facebook . Her keyword is: quirky.



Latayne C. Scott is a nonfiction writer of 13 books turned to fiction. Her first novel, Latter-day Cipher (Moody) was published in April. She’s working on another novel about the author of the book of Hebrews. Her keyword is: controversial. Her Web site is http://www.latayne.com/.




Sharon K. Souza’s first book, A Heavenly Christmas in Hometown (which was also a adapted as a play) was followed by two novels published by NavPress in 2008: Every Good and Perfect Gift and Lying on Sunday. Her newest WIP is titled The Color of Sorrow Isn't Blue. Her keyword is: optimist. You can visit her website and follow her on Twitter.



Debbie Fuller Thomas is the author of Christy-finalist Tuesday Night at the Blue Moon, and her latest is Raising Rain, both with Moody Publishers. You can visit her website, and follow her on Twitter or Facebook. Her keyword is: tenacious.




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