March 16, 2013


Annette Synder, Brings Family Stories to Life
 

Annette Snyder calls small town Nebraska in the heart of the Midwest, habitat of cornfields and combines, her home.  In an old house, with husband and dog, Annette sits and write. 
Four grown children visit often and the grandkids cause beautiful havoc. 
All her life, Annette paid attention to things around her, stories from her parents, friends, grandparents and great-grandparents, and one day she compiled those stories and wrote a book.  It was that one book that started a wave of ideas and the story characters just keep pestering her so Annette continued to write all the time, work when necessary and vacation as much as possible.   

Visit Annette Snyder  http://annettesnyder.atspace.com There you’ll find contact information, events, purchasing details and a link to her popular blog, Fifty Authors from Fifty States or visit here: http://annettesnyder.blogspot.com   Face Book: Search Annette Snyder-Novelist.    

Available Now: Respectable Affair-http://www.whiskeycreekpress.com
2011 EPIC Award Finalist-Contemporary Romance
 

Please tell us your latest news! 

From my real job, I work at a landfill and everyday is different, to my real life, where my husband and I expect to have grandbaby number five shortly, my life changes every day. Some would say I’m fortunate because I essentially avoid a rutted life.  Since I gave up my part-time temporary job that lasted eighteen years, I occasionally enjoy those quite Sunday afternoons with much appreciation.  I use that time to write and am in the process of completing the third novel in my contemporary series, Going Twice.     

What main genre do you write in? 

I’m a romance author.  I love the happy ever after.  I do have one mystery building in my brain but I’ll have to read more of that to understand how it’s written.  

How does your family feel about having a writer in the family? Do they read your books? 

My daughters and daughters-in-law have read all my books.  My mom encourages me as did both my grandmothers.  Each has their favorites. My hubby isn’t a reader and my oldest boy, though he does read, likes biographies—and I couldn’t get him to read anything in high school.  I remember the first published novel I gave my oldest daughter.  She hadn’t ever read an entire book all the way through and she texted me from work so excited.  “I finished Sally Murphy!  It was awesome!” Now she reads all the time so that’s a good thing.    

Do you recall how your interest in writing originated? 

I always wrote.  Bad poems and poorly written stories began in high school.  Creative writing classes in college showed me that I could actually put a beginning, middle and end to something.  Life got in the way sometime between college and a visit with a friend years later who told me the story of how her family landed in the Midwest.  Leaving that discussion, I thought what a terrific story it would make so I combined pieces of what she told me with pieces of my life and wrote Travis Pass, my first complete novel.  Travis Pass was my third novel published and I dedicated it to my friend—who cried when I gave it to her.   

Do you have a website recommendation for other writers? 

There’s always my site:  http://annettesnyder.atspace.com.  There you’ll find contact information, events, purchasing details and a link to my popular blog, Fifty Authors from Fifty States.  My blog is a fun project I thought of three years ago.  It involves writing professionals from all fifty states.  If you’re a reader, there’s interesting articles each week about one author from one state, sometimes prizes!  If you’re someone involved in the writing world, there’s info about getting involved in my project.    

When you have writer's block how do you break free? 

Writers block plagues everyone, even people who don’t write more than letters and emails.  I usually get a block during the middle of a story or when I’m not quite sure what line a character might take.  On the days that words avoid me, I force myself to write just a few sentences and eventually I get over the hump.   Other I’ve talked to say that they attend a workshop or work on another piece to get through.   

Do you belong to a critique group? If so, how does this help or hinder you? 

I’m not a good joiner so attending a group doesn’t usually work for me.  I also hold a full time job that I love so that cuts into scheduling time to physically attend.  It’s hard to get off work at 5:30 and get home, cook supper and be out the door.  Face it, I chase around all day at work, I don’t want to come home and do the same.  However, I was fortunate enough to be invited to join a small online group. I believe there’s five or six people involved.  The rule is:  honestly critique two and post one.  Sometimes the comments tear my work apart and sometimes they point out the good points.  I’ve learned so much about structure, flow and word usage that I find it invaluable.  The fact that it’s online means I don’t have to schedule more than computer time.   

What's your favorite genre to read? 

I am a historical reader but I read all sorts of stuff.  I also like stories that don’t take too much brain power to figure out and books that I can read in a few days. I suppose that’s why I write books 65,000 to 80,000 words...there’s probably a little ADHD in me.   

What was your first published work and when was it published? 

My first published novel came out in 2005, Sally Murphy.  It was actually the third story I ever wrote but the first one I sold.  That’s a novel based in 1800’s and its part of a series but it’s also readable as a standalone like the other six in that series.  You can find out all about all those plus the rest of my work on my website.  

Is there anyone who really mentored or inspired you to keep writing until you were finally published? 

And I just have to answer this question because I believe everyone is guided over their lifetimes to do just that ‘something.’  In my case, when I was a kid, six sets of grandparents and great-grandparents lived within a twelve mile radius of me.  They were all part of my parents support system so they’d take turns caring for me and my siblings. I listened to the stories they told of tackling horse and buggy drive to towns’ miles away for supplies and battling sickness on ocean voyages while traveling to start new lives.  I knew I was being told those stories for a purpose.  Even as a kid, something told me to remember. I did and one day I started writing.  All my work has bits and pieces of those stories, told to me by family who actually lived through the making of America, The Great Depression, World Wars and all that and, though I write fiction because I enjoy it, the ideas come from real life tales.   

Here’s my Website:  http://annettesnyder.atspace.com
My Publisher:  www.whiskeycreekpress.com
A Nebraska Co-Op organization I’m involved in: www.growne.com


Thanks so much Romancing the Heart for having me today and please stop here often—it’s a great place to get the latest on all your favorite authors plus ones you haven’t read. 
 
Rock Creek, third novel in the Travis Pass Series and the story of Lindsay Hopkins-Pass, her struggle happiness and finding her place in life.
When her mother is murdered during a barroom brawl, Lindsay’s only chance for survival is to live with her father, Travis Pass.
Under his care, she learns love and security until Ernie Atkins destroys it all. Ernie’s evil act forces Lindsay to make choices that affect her life, the life of her fiancé, Luc Fricke, and the life of her unborn child.
With the help of people who live on the shores of Rock Creek, Lindsay may learn that love and commitment can turn even the worst of circumstance around.

 
 

Contest:  Annette is offering one autographed copy of any of her released novels, winners choice, to one person who comments during my blog post. 

 

5 comments:

Annette Snyder said...

Thanks for having me.

jrlindermuth said...

Good interview, Annette. Enjoyed getting your take on writing and life.

Kristy McCaffrey said...

Wonderful getting to know you better, Annette!

Sarah J. McNeal said...

You lucky girl having so many elder relatives around you growing up. Their stories had to be fascinating.
I lived in Nebraska for a year and couldn't take the winter weather. I ran down to Texas to warm up. LOL
I certainly enjoyed your post.

Annette Snyder said...

How funny Sarah--I lived in Houston for 3 years and couldn't take the summers...I do miss the beach though