Thanks for joining me today, Naomi. 🙂 What’s the first story you remember writing?

I was in 1st or 2nd grade when I wrote Magical Mittens, a (very) short story about a little boy who finds a pair of mittens that can change the color of the snow. Our teacher supplied us with the title, and we had to write a story to match. After that activity, I was hooked on storytelling.

Those mittens would be a hit!

When did you begin to pursue writing seriously?

I wrote my first full-length novel in college, but it was disastrous and will never see the light of day. Later, in graduate school, I began dabbling in the YA genre and churned out another full-length manuscript. Again, the project got away from me before I could figure out what I was doing wrong. Though it’s easy to cringe at these early efforts, they were part of the process of learning how to write a novel, particularly when it comes to sustaining a lengthy storyline and developing characters.

2013 was a turning point. I finally began working on a project that clicked, took hold, and made it further into the publication process, all the way to signing with an agent. Even though that manuscript was shelved, and I ended up working with a different agent, I still consider this project the start of my professional writing career.

Who or what has influenced you most as a writer?

Having been a teacher myself, I have to give proper accolades to all the teachers and professors who have ever stood in front of a classroom and wondered if what they were teaching truly mattered. (Katie: Hear, hear!) From my place as a student, it certainly did. I have been blessed with countless instructors who shared their enthusiasm for literature, history, and religion. Though I was an extremely shy student who often had to be prodded into speaking up in class, they put a tremendous amount of faith in me. They introduced me to some of my favorite authors. They challenged me to think critically about what I was reading. And though my margins were sometimes littered with red ink along the way, they always encouraged me to keep moving forward. 

I feel like I should stand and applaud! I’m so grateful to the teachers (and my mother) who taught me to appreciate and think critically about literature, history, and religion. However, I was definitely not the shy student who had to be prodded into speaking up in class!

What genre do you write, and what is it that draws you to this genre?

I technically fall under the historical Christian fiction umbrella, though I hope to reach readers of all backgrounds. I have always admired Christian authors who are willing to tackle the gritty, sinful side of being human in a way that is honest and true. It makes the rivalling themes of grace and redemption so much more poignant and victorious.

Amen!

What would you say has been your steepest learning curve on your path to publication?

There have been so many learning curves! But, honestly, writing the query letter and reaching out to agents was brutal. I had no idea what I was doing.

What is the most daunting thing about being a debut author?

Developing a thick enough skin to face the rough reviews. Obviously, any writer encounters some rejection on the path to publication, but reviews of the final product are a different beast. Even if ten people say they love the book, hearing from that one person who doesn’t can kick up a lot of doubt and uncertainty. One of my friends called it a “raw” experience, to put your work out there for other people to read, and that’s really the best way to put it.

What has been the most encouraging thing you’ve experienced as a debut author?

I received a video clip of my four-year-old niece pointing at my picture on the back of my book and squealing: “Aunt Naomi, that’s you!” 

Aww! That’s sweet! <3

Briefly share your book’s life story. When was the story conceived, and how long has its journey been to release day?

I started writing Shadow among Sheaves in January of 2016, just a few months after my son was born, because I was spending quite a bit more time at home. At that time, I wrote as much as I possibly could during his nap times. I started querying agents a little over a year later and signed with Adria Goetz of Martin Literary Management in September of 2017. We received an offer from Barbour the following spring. From start to finish, it’s been roughly a three-year process.

How did you celebrate release day?

I spent release day with my husband and kiddos—we went out for lunch, then headed over to the bookstore to buy a copy of the book. I also had a giveaway on my author Facebook page.

RIght now, I’m having a bit of a celebratory book tour, with book signings, a launch party in Michigan, and a few other events. Be sure to check out my author website to see if any of my events will be happening near you! I would love to meet some of my readers along the way.

Thanks for chatting with me today, Naomi! And congratulations on the release of your book!

Readers, don’t forget to enter the giveaway below!