with Anita Higman

February 20, 2009

Hosted by: Anne McDonald

Dancing Word Publisher/Editor

Anne McDonald: Lord, thank You so much for meeting our every need; for sticking closer than a brother and for ministering to our hearts. We owe You everything. Please be with us tonight. Guide and guard our time together. Help us to learn more about how to fulfill our calling as writers. Let us be a blessing to You and to others. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Protocol reminder: When the floor is open to participants, please type ? for questions, ! for comments and wait to be called on in turn. To keep us from stepping on each others' toes, please type ga when you have finished typing. "ga" = go ahead

Tonight, I'm excited to introduce a woman who has written 24 books and tackles fiction and nonfiction alike. Please give a warm welcome to Anita Higman. Anita so glad you could join us.

Anita Higman: Thanks. Glad to be here.

Anne McDonald: Anita, how did you get started writing?

Anita Higman: I took an interest in writing at a very early age. But after I wrote the opening of a novel and read it back, I thought, “Wow, this is truly terrible. I will never be a writer.” No one encouraged me or assured me that my writing would get better with practice. So, I gave it up until about age 29 or 30. Then I was reading a love story and suddenly felt a spark of confidence. God was giving me another nudge. This time I paid attention. I hollered to my husband, who was in the other room, “I think I can do this!” I never turned back. I paused once for maybe six months after a particularly painful setback, but I went right back to it. This time I knew God had created me with a desire to express myself through the written word. And this time, I wouldn’t let go.

Lukedamouse: What was the hardest book you've ever written?

Anita Higman: Every one that I'm working on seems the hardest.

Barbara: Do you have a problem switching back and forth between fiction and nonfiction?

Anita Higman: Not really. But now I'm going to try to stay with fiction and build up my readership.

Laura H: I read on ACFW way back when that it is the third book that gets published. Was that true for you? (it isn't for me)

Anita Higman: Yes, I think that's right for me. It was my third novel.

Lukedamouse: What does your writing space look like?

Anita Higman: A total mess. You guys would laugh if you could see it. Stacks of books and papers around me. But somehow in spite of my clutter, I always get my work done.

Judy V: You said you were staying with fiction. Is it better to stay with one or the other and with a specific genre?

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Anita Higman photo

Anita Higman

Congratulations to

Laura V. Hilton

for winning

an autographed copy of Love Finds You In Humble Texas