NovelistGail Gaymer Martin is an award-winning novelist whose name you may recognize through works such as Finding Christmas, Loving Tenderness, Loving Promises, and Christmas Moon, just to name a few. Many of her novels are set in her home state of Michigan.
When did you realize you wanted to be a writer?
Writing always came easily to me. My little child’s dream was to be a novelist, but like any dream, I thought it was just that. I began writing as soon as I could write–second and third grade. I wrote poetry, short stories, plays and puppet scripts; then as a teen, I wrote young adults stories. I wrote for two newspapers when I was in high school. I had a column on the school page in our local county paper and articles and poetry for a city paper. I planned to go into journalism after high school, but once I started college, I switched my major to high school English and public speaking. I didn’t think I was “gutsy” enough for journalism. I’ve always been creative and wrote humorous skits for the teachers’ auditorium programs. I wrote special service programs for church along with puppet scripts, newsletter articles, and dinner theater plays for our choir’s fund raisers. When I planned to retire from education, I knew I was young enough to want to do something, so writing came to mind.
How did you turn this vision into reality?
Before I left my counseling position in the public schools (that was my master’s degree and I’d moved from teaching into the counseling department), I began writing for publication in late1994. I formatted four Christmas programs I’d written for my church and mailed them to CSS Publishing in September 1994. I received my first book contract in January 1995, six months before I retired. I felt that God had validated my desire to write, and so I continued writing parenting articles and teen-help articles for national Christian magazines. I sold most everything I wrote. I sold poetry, devotionals, short stories, articles of all kinds, and finally, I began to think that God was telling me something. DUH! In early 1997, I began writing my first novel. I continued to sell articles, but worked on about four or five novels that year. I began submitting and receiving rejections, but soon the rejections came with editors’ positive comments and I continued to study, hone the craft, and submit. I sold my first novel to Barbour Publishing in 1998 and it was released in Oct 1998. I sold my second shortly thereafter, released in May 1999 and that year in June, I sold to Steeple Hill. I’m still writing for both publishers.
Do you set a certain time of the day aside to write?
I write all day long and often seven days a week. I write in the evenings when I’m under pressure with heavy deadlines. Email takes up too much time and cuts at least 3 hours from my day. Naturally I also have things like this interview, promotional activities, line and copy edits from my publishers, speaking engagement talks and handouts to prepare, conference workshops to outline and prepare. Writing is a full time job when you write as much as I do. Since my first book in 1998, I’ve recently sold my 36th, 37th, and 38th novels in a series to Barbour. That’s 38 books in eight years.
Is there a particular type of character or situation that you like to write about more than others?
No matter what genre I write, I want it to be a story that hooks the reader and one that provides opportunities for growth and healing. I write about women’s issues, whether it be in romance or romantic suspense. I’ve written stories about rape, domestic violence, cancer survivor, divorce, unwed mothers, stalkers, and on and on. My favorite genre is probably suspense, but I have many stories in my mind that fit into the women’s fiction genre. That’s what I read.
Where and what have you found to be your biggest inspiration?
God and my husband. God has validated my writing from day one as I mentioned earlier. He has provided me with untold blessings in terms of writing success. My books have received so many awards, they sell very well, and my proposals keep getting accepted. I have a good agent and wonderful editors. My husband has supported me from day one. He is proud of my work and he believes in me. He has taken over most of the household duties to give me more time to write. He does it with love and respect– and the greatest part is he makes me laugh—a lot.
Have you read or are you reading anything that you would consider a great read?
Being a former-English teacher, I’ve read the classics and those continue to stand out in my mind. I love the work of Maeve Binchy and Rosemunde Pilcher, both UK authors. If I were to name two books that made the greatest impact on me in recent years it would be Francine Rivers’ Redeeming Love and Lisa Samson’s Songbird. Naturally the Bible is right up there at the top as well.
Are there any authors or books that have influenced your writing life?
Certainly the Bible is the major book of influence. My stories are based on biblical truths and spiritual lessons. The Bible not only influences my writing life but my entire life. It is my breath. Writing books that I’ve found very helpful would be Browne and King’s Self-Editing for the Fiction Writer and Donald Maass’ Writing the Breakout Novel. They’re both excellent and give clear and simple examples to help with the craft of writing.
Do you remember what it was like waiting for your first manuscript to be published?
I imagine everyone remembers those long months. I was very blessed to have my first novel published by Barbour. You can’t stop talking about it and then you fear that they’ll change their mind. Barbour does fast turnaround with their books from manuscript to published book. I waited less than a year. When I first saw the book, I cried. It was very thrilling.
What is the greatest joy you’ve received from being a writer?
Touching other people’s lives with words of hope. I do this through the novels, validated by tons of reader mail that thank me for the message that has impacted their lives. I do this through providing workshops and writing helps in the For Writers section on my web site to help newer authors hone their craft and give them hope of publication, and I do this through my speaking ministry at churches and women’s groups where I have a chance to be with them and share the Good News of the Lord’s mercy, grace, love and forgiveness.
Are there any current ventures or back-burner projects that you plan to revive and release?
I’ve recently sold a three book series to Barbour Publishing with no release dates set as yet and am waiting to hear on a two-book proposal to end the Michigan Island Series for Steeple Hill. The major project that happened in record time was my book sale, Writing Christian Romance That Sells to Writers Digest. There are presently no books available on writing Christian romance. Authors can find a few books on writing Christian fiction, but not straight romance; since romance is such a hot genre and always has been it’s time the book was written. Lin Johnson, editor of The Christian Communicator and Library Journal, suggested this idea to me about two years ago – maybe three–and I acted on it in February of this year as I was recuperating from my knee revision surgery. The book went to my agent in the beginning of March. She read it, loved it, and submitted it later in the month. In less than two weeks at the publisher, I had a sale.
Is there a special piece of wisdom that you would like to share with our future authors out there for inspiration?
Selling a novel is a blend of talent, craft, and God’s timing and blessing. The process cannot be rushed. Patience is a must—patience to hone the craft, patience to write and rewrite, patience to wait, and patience for God’s timing. The average writer waits seven years for a sale. Many writers wait twenty-years for a sale. Patience blended with perseverance is the key. God is in charge. We might think we hear His call, but we must be certain—and if we are certain, then we know that He is in charge and He will see the book is sold when it is His time. Taking shortcuts by self-publishing or going the POD route is not always God’s will. If the book is blessed, then the Lord will see that it is blessed to its fullest. He does nothing mediocre unless we botch up His plan.
Is there anything you’d like to share with your readers about yourself that they might not know?
I’m pretty much an open book. I’m a singer as well as a writer. I’m a soloist and choir member at my church where I also play handbells and handchimes, and I am so blessed to sing with a renowned chorale in the metro-Detroit area. It’s an audition group that sings a series of concerts three or four times a year. This year we will record our fifth or sixth CD in June. I love to travel and like to set stories in the places I’ve been. I never travel without collecting brochures, street maps, area maps, event lists and anything that might help me in my research to do a novel in that setting. I also take lots of photos. You can see some of them on my web site under the heading: About Me. My web site is www.gailmartin.com and my blog is www.gailmartin.blogspot.com
To learn more about Gail, please visit her Website, Love Inspired Authors, or Mid-Michigan Romance Writers of America. Ever wonder what’s on her mind? Visit her blog and find out!
Email interview conducted by the TMWQ Editor, Elizabeth Dufraine
