Beth Ann Ziarnik Interview

Q: Let me start with asking you to tell us a little bit about yourself.

A: Well now, the fact is, I’m a mother of two fine, grown sons. I have five grandchildren and one great-grandchild. My dear husband went to be with the Lord three years ago. I feel sad that he’s not here to celebrate my novel’s release, but I know he is happy for me and did all he could during our years together.

Q: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

A: I was about ten years old. Standing in my hometown library, I gazed at a whole row of fairy tale books—the red, the green, the blue, the yellow and more. I thought how one day I would like to write stories that would give others the enjoyment that these stories gave me. And I’m not far afield from that dream. After all, romantic suspense is all about a hero and a heroine who overcome huge—and sometimes scary—obstacles to find true love.

Q: Could you give us the highlights of your professional writing career including how you got your first writing break?

A: I began with writing articles for Christian newspapers, newsletters, and magazines. At first, for no pay. Then I went to the Green Lake Christian Writers Conference in 1988 where the editor of The Quiet Hour taught the six of us in his continuing class how to write devotionals for his quarterly magazine. He bought a devotional from each of us, and we all appeared on the same edition that year. Because of connections I made at conferences, I also had articles published in six anthologies. As for the novel, that was a long time coming. For a few years, it seemed I was so close! But no agent or publisher offered a contract. I kept working at my craft, wondering if it would ever happen. The year my husband died, the Lord led me to the right agent, Jim Hart of Hartline Literary Agency. The next year, my novel won an award at the Write-to-Publish Conference, and six months later, Rowena Kuo at Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas offered a contract to publish my novel. God has a right time and a right place in mind to make things happen in our lives.

Q: Would you tell us about your current book release Her Deadly Inheritance?

A: This novel has been a long time in the making. I had a lot to learn about writing novels. It started with my wondering what might be different if Christian heroes and heroines had to face the challenges a romantic suspense tale offers. The story hasn’t changed much down through the years, but my skill of telling of it has.

Q: Where did you get your inspiration for Her Deadly Inheritance?

A: I always loved reading, but Phyllis A. Whitney’s romantic suspense novels hooked me on the genre. When I thought of writing one myself, I knew I’d need a remote and interesting setting. Having grown up in a paper mill town, I wanted that element, too. When I read The Grand Island Story by Beatrice H. Castle, I knew I had my setting. My husband and I visited Grand Island and Munising in Michigan twice, exploring the setting, each time during the Fourth of July. I was troubled by how loopholes in the law let criminals go free and wondered how I would feel if someone I loved were murdered and no justice came to give closure. Scenes came to me and as I wrote, I became acquainted with my characters in the most amazing way—by observing them in action as I wrote.

Q: What is the main thing you hope readers remember from this story?

A: I hope readers will remember that love requires selfless perseverance and forgiveness to grow. I hope they will also see that if they trust God and give him the needed time, he will work all things out for good—at the right time and in the right way—no matter what circumstances look like now.

Q: What is your favorite scene/chapter from the book?

A: That’s a hard one—but I’ll say, I love the ending. I was surprised how it came about and extremely pleased how all the pieces fit together in a way I never anticipated.

Q: What inspires you to write?

A: My love for God and for people, my love for words and story, my love for books which reaches way back into my early childhood.

Q: How has being a published novelist differed from your expectations of the profession?

A: I had NO idea it was this much work!!! But it’s all well worth it.

Q: What advice or tips do you have for writers who are just getting started?

A: (1) Be patient and don’t give up. It takes time, a lot of learning, and a lot of practice to become a published writer. Just keep working at it. (2) Join a local writers group and meet with others who are attempting to write for publication. They will help you grow in your craft, and you will help them. (3) Go to writers’ conferences and seminars where you can learn, network with other writers, and meet editors and agents and publishers. It will speed your path to publication. (4) Pray. God will help you if you take the time to ask, if you take time to grow in your relationship with him as well as work at your craft.

Q: Would you share with us what you are working on now?

A: I’m currently working on the second novel in Jill and Clay’s romance and loving it. They go to her birth father’s house for the Christmas holidays where Jill hopes to connect with him, but they find him gravely ill and his life in danger—a danger that soon engulfs them. They also face new challenges to their growing love. The road to love is never all that easy! It’s what we learn along the way that counts.

Q: When you’re not writing what do you like to do?

A: I enjoy time with family and friends. Playing board and Wii games with them, camping, going out for a good old Wisconsin fish fry. I also love to read, of course!

Q: Where can readers find you on the internet?

1. bethziarnik.com
2. facebook.com/beth.ziarnik
3. bethziarnik.wordpress.com
4. I’m also on Goodreads and have an author page on Amazon.com.

Q: Anything else you’d like to tell or share with us?

A: Being a writer is hard work but a fine way to use one’s time wisely. Written words can change lives. A black clothbound book with its title in purple satin letters did that for me. I will forever be grateful to the unknown author who wrote “The Passion and Death of Jesus Christ.”